The Genetic Echo of the Tarim Mummies in Modern Central Asians.

The diversity of Central Asians has been shaped by multiple migrations and cultural diffusion. Although ancient DNA studies have revealed the demographic changes of the Central Asian since the Bronze Age, the contribution of the ancient populations to the modern Central Asian remains opaque. Herein, we performed high-coverage sequencing of 131 whole genomes of Indo-European-speaking Tajik and Turkic-speaking Kyrgyz populations to explore their genomic diversity and admixture history. By integrating the ancient DNA data, we revealed more details of the origins and admixture history of Central Asians. We found that the major ancestry of present-day Tajik populations can be traced back to the admixture of the Bronze Age Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex and Andronovo-related populations. Highland Tajik populations further received additional gene flow from the Tarim mummies, an isolated ancient North Eurasian-related population. The West Eurasian ancestry of Kyrgyz is mainly derived from Historical Era populations in Xinjiang of China. Furthermore, the recent admixture signals detected in both Tajik and Kyrgyz are ascribed to the expansions of Eastern Steppe nomadic pastoralists during the Historical Era.

Markhor-derived Introgression of a Genomic Region Encompassing PAPSS2 Confers High-altitude Adaptability in Tibetan Goats.

Understanding the genetic mechanism of how animals adapt to extreme conditions is fundamental to determine the relationship between molecular evolution and changing environments. Goat is one of the first domesticated species and has evolved rapidly to adapt to diverse environments, including harsh high-altitude conditions with low temperature and poor oxygen supply but strong ultraviolet radiation. Here, we analyzed 331 genomes of domestic goats and wild caprid species living at varying altitudes (high > 3000 m above sea level and low < 1200 m), along with a reference-guided chromosome-scale assembly (contig-N50: 90.4 Mb) of a female Tibetan goat genome based on PacBio HiFi long reads, to dissect the genetic determinants underlying their adaptation to harsh conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Population genomic analyses combined with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed a genomic region harboring the 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthase 2 (PAPSS2) gene showing strong association with high-altitude adaptability (PGWAS = 3.62 × 10-25) in Tibetan goats. Transcriptomic data from 13 tissues revealed that PAPSS2 was implicated in hypoxia-related pathways in Tibetan goats. We further verified potential functional role of PAPSS2 in response to hypoxia in PAPSS2-deficient cells. Introgression analyses suggested that the PAPSS2 haplotype conferring the high-altitude adaptability in Tibetan goats originated from a recent hybridization between goats and a wild caprid species, the markhor (Capra falconeri). In conclusion, our results uncover a hitherto unknown contribution of PAPSS2 to high-altitude adaptability in Tibetan goats on QTP, following interspecific introgression and natural selection.

Large-scale genomic analysis reveals the genetic cost of chicken domestication.

BACKGROUND: Species domestication is generally characterized by the exploitation of high-impact mutations through processes that involve complex shifting demographics of domesticated species. These include not only inbreeding and artificial selection that may lead to the emergence of evolutionary bottlenecks, but also post-divergence gene flow and introgression. Although domestication potentially affects the occurrence of both desired and undesired mutations, the way wild relatives of domesticated species evolve and how expensive the genetic cost underlying domestication is remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the demographic history and genetic load of chicken domestication. RESULTS: We analyzed a dataset comprising over 800 whole genomes from both indigenous chickens and wild jungle fowls. We show that despite having a higher genetic diversity than their wild counterparts (average π, 0.00326 vs. 0.00316), the red jungle fowls, the present-day domestic chickens experienced a dramatic population size decline during their early domestication. Our analyses suggest that the concomitant bottleneck induced 2.95% more deleterious mutations across chicken genomes compared with red jungle fowls, supporting the "cost of domestication" hypothesis. Particularly, we find that 62.4% of deleterious SNPs in domestic chickens are maintained in heterozygous states and masked as recessive alleles, challenging the power of modern breeding programs to effectively eliminate these genetic loads. Finally, we suggest that positive selection decreases the incidence but increases the frequency of deleterious SNPs in domestic chicken genomes. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a new landscape of demographic history and genomic changes associated with chicken domestication and provides insight into the evolutionary genomic profiles of domesticated animals managed under modern human selection.

Ancient Hybridization with an Unknown Population Facilitated High-Altitude Adaptation of Canids.

Genetic introgression not only provides material for adaptive evolution but also confounds our understanding of evolutionary history. This is particularly true for canids, a species complex in which genome sequencing and analysis has revealed a complex history of admixture and introgression. Here, we sequence 19 new whole genomes from high-altitude Tibetan and Himalayan wolves and dogs and combine these into a larger data set of 166 whole canid genomes. Using these data, we explore the evolutionary history and adaptation of these and other canid lineages. We find that Tibetan and Himalayan wolves are closely related to each other, and that ∼39% of their nuclear genome is derived from an as-yet-unrecognized wolf-like lineage that is deeply diverged from living Holarctic wolves and dogs. The EPAS1 haplotype, which is present at high frequencies in Tibetan dog breeds and wolves and confers an adaptive advantage to animals living at high altitudes, was probably derived from this ancient lineage. Our study underscores the complexity of canid evolution and demonstrates how admixture and introgression can shape the evolutionary trajectories of species.

Evolution and transition of expression trajectory during human brain development.

BACKGROUND: The remarkable abilities of the human brain are distinctive features that set us apart from other animals. However, our understanding of how the brain has changed in the human lineage remains incomplete, but is essential for understanding cognition, behavior, and brain disorders in humans. Here, we compared the expression trajectory in brain development between humans and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to explore their divergent transcriptome profiles. RESULTS: Results showed that brain development could be divided into two stages, with a demarcation date in a range between 25 and 26 postconception weeks (PCW) for humans and 17-23PCWfor rhesus macaques, rather than birth time that have been widely used as a uniform demarcation time of neurodevelopment across species. Dynamic network biomarker (DNB) analysis revealed that the two demarcation dates were transition phases during brain development, after which the brain transcriptome profiles underwent critical transitions characterized by highly fluctuating DNB molecules. We also found that changes between early and later brain developmental stages (as defined by the demarcation points) were substantially greater in the human brain than in the macaque brain. To explore the molecular mechanism underlying prolonged timing during early human brain development, we carried out expression heterochrony tests. Results demonstrated that compared to macaques, more heterochronic genes exhibited neoteny during early human brain development, consistent with the delayed demarcation time in the human lineage, and proving that neoteny in human brain development could be traced to the prenatal period. We further constructed transcriptional networks to explore the profile of early human brain development and identified the hub gene RBFOX1 as playing an important role in regulating early brain development. We also found RBFOX1 evolved rapidly in its non-coding regions, indicating that this gene played an important role in human brain evolution. Our findings provide evidence that RBFOX1 is a likely key hub gene in early human brain development and evolution. CONCLUSIONS: By comparing gene expression profiles between humans and macaques, we found divergent expression trajectories between the two species, which deepens our understanding of the evolution of the human brain.

Out of Southern East Asia of the Brown Rat Revealed by Large-Scale Genome Sequencing.

The geographic origin and migration of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) remain subjects of considerable debate. In this study, we sequenced whole genomes of 110 wild brown rats with a diverse world-wide representation. We reveal that brown rats migrated out of southern East Asia, rather than northern Asia as formerly suggested, into the Middle East and then to Europe and Africa, thousands of years ago. Comparison of genomes from different geographical populations reveals that many genes involved in the immune system experienced positive selection in the wild brown rat.

An Evolutionary Genomic Perspective on the Breeding of Dwarf Chickens.

The evolutionary history for dwarfism in chickens remains an enigma. Herein, we explore the evolution of the Serama, the smallest breed of chicken. Leveraging comparative population genomics, analyses identify several genes that are potentially associated with the growth and development of bones and muscles. These genes, and in particular both POU1F1 and IGF1, are under strong positive selection. Three allopatric dwarf bantams (Serama, Yuanbao, and Daweishan) with different breeding-histories, form distinct clusters and exhibit unique population structures. Parallel genetic mechanisms underlay their variation in body size. These findings provide insights into the multiple and complex pathways, depending on genomic variation, that chicken can take in response to aviculture selection for dwarfism.

Rapid Evolution of Genes Involved in Learning and Energy Metabolism for Domestication of the Laboratory Rat.

The laboratory rat, widely used in biomedical research, is domesticated from wild brown rat. The origin and genetic mechanism underlying domestication of the laboratory rat remain largely elusive. In the present study, large scale genomes supported a single origin for the laboratory rat, possibly from a sister group to wild rats from Europe/Africa/Middle East. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses uncovered many artificially selected genes (e.g., FOXP2, B3GAT1, and CLOCK) involved in the nervous system. These genes associate with learning ability and regulation of circadian rhythm, which likely enabled the successful domestication of the laboratory rat. Particularly, many genes, including mitochondrial genes responsible for energy metabolism, displayed a substantially increased expression in the brain of laboratory rats compared with wild rats. Our findings demystify the origin and evolution of this model animal, and provide insight into the process of its domestication.

Annotating long intergenic non-coding RNAs under artificial selection during chicken domestication.

BACKGROUND: Numerous biological functions of long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) have been identified. However, the contribution of lincRNAs to the domestication process has remained elusive. Following domestication from their wild ancestors, animals display substantial changes in many phenotypic traits. Therefore, it is possible that diverse molecular drivers play important roles in this process. RESULTS: We analyzed 821 transcriptomes in this study and annotated 4754 lincRNA genes in the chicken genome. Our population genomic analysis indicates that 419 lincRNAs potentially evolved during artificial selection related to the domestication of chicken, while a comparative transcriptomic analysis identified 68 lincRNAs that were differentially expressed under different conditions. We also found 47 lincRNAs linked to special phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a comprehensive view of the genome-wide landscape of lincRNAs in chicken. This will promote a better understanding of the roles of lincRNAs in domestication, and the genetic mechanisms associated with the artificial selection of domestic animals.

An Inexpensive Digital Image Analysis Technique for Liver Fibrosis Quantification in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Quantitative digital imaging analysis to evaluate liver fibrosis is accurate, but its clinical use is limited by its high cost and lack of standardization. We aimed to validate an inexpensive digital imaging analysis technique for fibrosis quantification in chronic hepatitis B patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 142 chronic hepatitis B patients who underwent liver biopsy and analysis of serum fibrosis markers were included. Images of Sirius red stain sections were captured and processed using Adobe Photoshop CS3 software. The percentage of fibrosis (fibrosis index) was determined by the ratio of the fibrosis area to the total sample area, expressed in pixels, and calculated automatically. RESULTS: A strong correlation between the fibrosis index and the Ishak, Metavir, and Laennec histological staging systems were observed (r = 0.83, 0.86, and 0.84, respectively; < 0.001). The cutoff value associated with cirrhosis was 7.7% with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-0.99, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the fibrosis index yielded a cutoff value of 8.9% (AUROC, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.66-0.86), 12% (AUROC, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.93), and 14% (AUROC, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1.0) for the diagnosis of cirrhosis 4a, 4b, and 4c, respectively. No serum markers or fibrosis models were correlated with the fibrosis index in Metavir F2-F4. CONCLUSIONS: The present digital imaging analysis technique is reproducible and available worldwide, allowing its use in clinical practice, and can be considered as a complementary tool to traditional histological methods.

Genomic Analyses Reveal Potential Independent Adaptation to High Altitude in Tibetan Chickens.

Much like other indigenous domesticated animals, Tibetan chickens living at high altitudes (2,200-4,100 m) show specific physiological adaptations to the extreme environmental conditions of the Tibetan Plateau, but the genetic bases of these adaptations are not well characterized. Here, we assembled a de novo genome of a Tibetan chicken and resequenced whole genomes of 32 additional chickens, including Tibetan chickens, village chickens, game fowl, and Red Junglefowl, and found that the Tibetan chickens could broadly be placed into two groups. Further analyses revealed that several candidate genes in the calcium-signaling pathway are possibly involved in adaptation to the hypoxia experienced by these chickens, as these genes appear to have experienced directional selection in the two Tibetan chicken populations, suggesting a potential genetic mechanism underlying high altitude adaptation in Tibetan chickens. The candidate selected genes identified in this study, and their variants, may be useful targets for clarifying our understanding of the domestication of chickens in Tibet, and might be useful in current breeding efforts to develop improved breeds for the highlands.

Histologic Disease in Chinese Chronic Hepatitis B Patients With Low Viral Loads and Persistently Normal Alanine Aminotransferase Levels.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to evaluate the histopathologic characteristics of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients with low hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels (<2000 IU/mL) and persistently normal ALT levels and to determine indicators of significant liver disease. METHODS: We examined 102 consecutive subjects who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy. Significant predictors of liver disease (stage ≥2 fibrosis or stage 1 fibrosis plus grade ≥2 inflammation), including demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables, were evaluated by means of univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Among the patients, 75.5% (77/102) had grade 0-1 inflammation and 77.5% (79/102) had stage 0-1 fibrosis. However, 38.2% (39/102) had significant liver disease. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical parameters such as age, biochemical profile, HBV DNA levels, HBsAg levels, and platelet count between patients with significant and those with nonsignificant liver disease. Patients with significant liver disease had higher values of aspartate transferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and FIB-4 index compared with those with nonsignificant liver disease (0.35±0.21 vs. 0.27±0.12, P=0.02; 1.58±0.97 vs. 1.13±0.54, P=0.009, respectively). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of APRI for identifying active liver histology was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.53-0.75; P=0.019); the cutoff value was 0.24 with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 55%. In comparison, FIB-4 had equal power (the AUROC was 0.66) in predicting active liver histology. CONCLUSION: Among patients presenting with low HBV DNA levels and normal ALT levels, about 38.2% had significant liver disease. Neither serum HBsAg nor HBV DNA levels correlate with liver histology. However, APRI≥0.24 might be considered an indicator of liver biopsy.

A scoring system for predicting significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with normal or mildly elevated alanine aminotransferase levels.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to develop a clinically useful scoring system to predict the probability of significant fibrosis (the Scheuer score ≥S2) in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels 2-fold lower than the upper limit of normal (ULN), in order to facilitate the clinical decision to perform a subsequent liver biopsy. METHODS: Consecutive subjects who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy were examined. The predictors evaluated included demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables. A clinical scoring system was developed by rounding the estimated regression coefficients for the independent predictors in multivariate logistic models for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis. RESULTS: A total of 283 patients with ALT levels 2-fold lower than the ULN were divided into 2 groups to develop (n=190) and validate (n=93) the scoring system. Of the 190 subjects examined, 52 (27.4%) had significant fibrosis. Aspartate transferase levels, platelet counts, and hepatitis B surface antigen levels were independently associated with significant liver fibrosis. A fibrosis clinical scoring system comprising these 3 variables in CHB patients with ALT levels 2-fold lower than the ULN was developed to predict the probability of significant fibrosis in 4 categories (low, intermediate, high, and very high risk). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed fibrosis scoring system predicted the probability of significant fibrosis in CHB patients with ALT levels 2-fold lower than the ULN with sufficient accuracy. It identified individuals with a very high risk for significant fibrosis in whom liver biopsy would most likely yield a diagnostic benefit. It also identified individuals with a low risk of moderate fibrosis in whom a liver biopsy can be delayed or avoided.

PGC-based cryobanking, regeneration through germline chimera mating, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TYRP1 modification in indigenous Chinese chickens.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are vital for producing sperm and eggs and are crucial for conserving chicken germplasm and creating genetically modified chickens. However, efforts to use PGCs for preserving native chicken germplasm and genetic modification via CRISPR/Cas9 are limited. Here we show that we established 289 PGC lines from eight Chinese chicken populations with an 81.6% success rate. We regenerated Piao chickens by repropagating cryopreserved PGCs and transplanting them into recipient chickens, achieving a 12.7% efficiency rate. These regenerated chickens carried mitochondrial DNA from female donor PGC and the rumplessness mutation from both male and female donors. Additionally, we created the TYRP1 (tyrosinase-related protein 1) knockout (KO) PGC lines via CRISPR/Cas9. Transplanting KO cells into male recipients and mating them with wild-type hens produced four TYRP1 KO chickens with brown plumage due to reduced eumelanin production. Our work demonstrates efficient PGC culture, cryopreservation, regeneration, and gene editing in chickens.

Recent selection and introgression facilitated high-altitude adaptation in cattle.

During the past 3000 years, cattle on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau have developed adaptive phenotypes under the selective pressure of hypoxia, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and extreme cold. The genetic mechanism underlying this rapid adaptation is not yet well understood. Here, we present whole-genome resequencing data for 258 cattle from 32 cattle breeds/populations, including 89 Tibetan cattle representing eight populations distributed at altitudes ranging from 3400 m to 4300 m. Our genomic analysis revealed that Tibetan cattle exhibited a continuous phylogeographic cline from the East Asian taurine to the South Asian indicine ancestries. We found that recently selected genes in Tibetan cattle were related to body size (HMGA2 and NCAPG) and energy expenditure (DUOXA2). We identified signals of sympatric introgression from yak into Tibetan cattle at different altitudes, covering 0.64%-3.26% of their genomes, which included introgressed genes responsible for hypoxia response (EGLN1), cold adaptation (LRP11), DNA damage repair (LATS1), and UV radiation resistance (GNPAT). We observed that introgressed yak alleles were associated with noncoding variants, including those in present EGLN1. In Tibetan cattle, three yak introgressed SNPs in the EGLN1 promoter region reduced the expression of EGLN1, suggesting that these genomic variants enhance hypoxia tolerance. Taken together, our results indicated complex adaptation processes in Tibetan cattle, where recently selected genes and introgressed yak alleles jointly facilitated rapid adaptation to high-altitude environments.

[Analysis of a consanguineous pedigree featuring hereditary coagulation factor â ¤ deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To screen potential mutation and explore the underlying mechanism for a consanguineous pedigree featuring hereditary coagulation factor Ⅴ (FⅤ) deficiency. METHODS: Clinical diagnosis was validated by coagulant parameter assays of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), FⅤ procoagulant activity (FⅤ:C) and FⅤ antigen (FⅤ:Ag). Potential mutations of the F5 gene in the proband and his family members were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing of PCR products of all exons, exon-intron boundaries and 3', 5' untranslated regions. Suspected mutation was confirmed by reverse sequencing. RESULTS: The PT and APTT in the proband were significantly prolonged, which measured 23.5 s (reference range 11.8-14.8 s) and 50.5 s (reference range 27.0-41.0 s), respectively. FⅤ activity and FⅤ antigen of the proband were significantly reduced to 8% and <1%, respectively. PT and APTT in the younger sister of the proband were also significantly prolonged (24.1 s and 62.4 s, respectively). Her FⅤ activity and FⅤ antigen were also significantly decreased (7% and <1%, respectively). PT and APTT of other family members were within the normal range. The homozygous missence mutation causing T→C transition at position 29170 in exon 5 of F5 gene has resulted in a Phe190Ser substitution in the proband. His younger sister was also homozygous for Phe190Ser. Heterozygosity for Phe190Ser was confirmed in his elder brother, elder sister, two daughters and niece, and their FⅤ activity were slightly decreased (57%, 73%, 72%, 66% and 75%, respectively). A normal wild type was observed in two younger brothers of the proband, and their FⅤ activity and FⅤ antigen were in the normal range. CONCLUSION: Homozygous missence mutation of Phe190Ser has been found in above family featuring hereditary FⅤ deficiency. The homozygous missence mutation was inherited from the parents by consanguineous marriage. Phe190Ser probably underlies may underlie the pathogenesis of hereditary FⅤ deficiency in this pedigree.

[Feasibility study of bilateral thoracic paravertebral block for postoperative analgesia in patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of bilateral thoracic paravertebral block for postoperative analgesia in patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). METHODS: Upon the approval of institutional Ethics Committee and informed consent, forty patients ASAII or III aged 52-77 yr with BMI (body mass index) < 30 kg/m(2), undergoing OPCABG, were randomly divided by random numbers into two groups(n = 20 each):thoracic paravertebral block for postoperative analgesia group (group P) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) group (group I). Bilateral thoracic paravertebral block and insertion epidural catheter were performed at T3, 4 interspace prior to induction of anesthesia in group P. At the end of the operation , an infusion of 0.375% ropivacaine was injected at the rate of 5 ml/h up to 48 h.Group I received PCIA with morphine. Dermatomes of hypoalgesia in group P were recorded. The following indexes were recorded at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after postoperative analgesia beginning: VAS scores of rest pain, cough pain and sedation score. To evaluate stability of circulation. Cycle time, complications and side effects after operation were recorded. RESULTS: Dermatomes of hypoalgesia was 5.1 ± 1.0 segments in group P. VAS scores of rest pain (2.4 ± 0.4, 2.6 ± 0.5, 2.4 ± 0.4, 2.2 ± 0.3 vs 3.7 ± 0.7, 3.6 ± 0.8, 3.4 ± 0.6, 3.1 ± 0.6, all P < 0.01), cough pain (3.7 ± 0.8, 3.9 ± 1.0, 3.8 ± 1.1, 3.8 ± 0.9 vs 4.4 ± 1.1, 4.9 ± 1.3, 4.8 ± 1.3, 4.3 ± 1.2, P < 0.05, <0.01) and sedation scores (2.2 ± 0.4, 2.0 ± 0.4, 1.9 ± 0.3, 1.8 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.5, 2.5 ± 0.4, 2.4 ± 0.5, 2.2 ± 0.4, P < 0.05) in group P were significantly lower than in group I at the four points. The incidences of sinus tachycardia (5% vs 25%) and hypertension (0 vs 30%) in group P were significantly reduced than in group I (P < 0.05), and there were no significant difference in the incidences of sinus brachycardia (30% vs 15%) and hypotension (20% vs 10%) (P > 0.05) . Compared with group I, extubation time (5.5 ± 1.4 vs 7.1 ± 1.7) and residence time in ICU (17.3 ± 4.2 vs 21.4 ± 5.8) were shortened significantly in group P (P < 0.05), and there were no significant difference in length of stay after operation (10.5 ± 2.6 vs 11.7 ± 2.8, P > 0.05). The incidence rate of nausea in group P was significantly lower than in group I (5% vs 25%, P < 0.05), and there were no significant difference in the other complications and side effects after operation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Bilateral thoracic paravertebral block for postoperative analgesia could be used safely and efficiently and accelerate the cycle time in patients after OPCABG.

[Effects of parecoxib sodium analgesia on serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase and S-100ß and postoperative cognitive function of elderly patients undergoing acute replacement of femoral head].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of parecoxib sodium analgesia on serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100ß and postoperative cognitive function of elderly patients undergoing acute replacement of femoral head. METHODS: After the approval of institutional review board and the provision of informed consent, 80 patients over 70 years old, undergoing acute replacement of femoral head under combined spinal and epidural anesthesia and midazolam sedation at Qingdao Municipal Hospital and Qingdao Hiser Medical Center from January 2011 to May 2012, were randomly assigned into control group (group C, n = 40) and parecoxib group (group P, n = 40). In group P, parecoxib sodium 20/40 mg (based on weight 50 kg) was administered via an intravenous injection after admission with 12 hours intervals for six times. In group C, morphine 2/4 mg was given initially. Additional morphine 2 mg was given to maintain the pain visual analog scale (VAS) of 3 points or less in both groups. Primary observation indices: (1) postoperative time and additional amount of morphine; (2) rate of postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) at 3 days, 1 week, 3 months and 6 months postoperation (T1-T4); (3) se rum levels of NSE and S-100ß were measured at the timepoints of before analgesia (t0), before anesthesia (t1), end of surgery (t2) and 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours postoperation (t3-t5); (4) other serious complications. RESULTS: Compared with group C, the additional amount of morphine, postoperative time, rate of POD and POCD at T1-T4, the level of NSE at t2-t5 and S-100ß at t1-t5 were lower in group P (P < 0.05). No other serious complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Parecoxib sodium analgesia reduces the rate of POD and POCD in elderly patients with neuroprotective effects.

Mid-Pleistocene Transitions Forced Himalayan ibex to Evolve Independently after Split into an Allopatric Refugium.

Pleistocene glaciations had profound impact on the spatial distribution and genetic makeup of species in temperate ecosystems. While the glacial period trapped several species into glacial refugia and caused abrupt decline in large populations, the interglacial period facilitated population growth and range expansion leading to allopatric speciation. Here, we analyzed 40 genomes of four species of ibex and found that Himalayan ibex in the Pamir Mountains evolved independently after splitting from its main range about 0.1 mya following the Pleistocene species pump concept. Demographic trajectories showed Himalayan ibex experienced two historic bottlenecks, one each c. 0.8-0.5 mya and c. 50-30 kya, with an intermediate large population expansion c. 0.2-0.16 mya coinciding with Mid-Pleistocene Transitions. We substantiate with multi-dimensional evidence that Himalayan ibex is an evolutionary distinct phylogenetic species of Siberian ibex which need to be prioritized as Capra himalayensis for taxonomic revision and conservation planning at a regional and global scale.

​Comparative genomics of Balto, a famous historic dog, captures lost diversity of 1920s sled dogs.

We reconstruct the phenotype of Balto, the heroic sled dog renowned for transporting diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, in 1925, using evolutionary constraint estimates from the Zoonomia alignment of 240 mammals and 682 genomes from dogs and wolves of the 21st century. Balto shares just part of his diverse ancestry with the eponymous Siberian husky breed. Balto's genotype predicts a combination of coat features atypical for modern sled dog breeds, and a slightly smaller stature. He had enhanced starch digestion compared with Greenland sled dogs and a compendium of derived homozygous coding variants at constrained positions in genes connected to bone and skin development. We propose that Balto's population of origin, which was less inbred and genetically healthier than that of modern breeds, was adapted to the extreme environment of 1920s Alaska.