From inflammation to pyroptosis: Understanding the consequences of cadmium exposure in chicken liver cells.

Hepatotoxicity is frequently observed following acute cadmium (Cd) exposure in chicken. Oxidative stress and subsequent inflammation are regarded as the main reasons for cadmium-induced liver injury. NOD-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-induced pyroptosis is involved in various inflammatory diseases, including liver injury. Poultry are more susceptible to harmful effects of heavy metals. However, the mechanism of cadmium-induced liver injury in chicken is still elusive. In this study, the effect of cadmium on chicken liver cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results showed mitochondria was damaged and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated in chicken liver cell line LMH after cadmium exposure. Furthermore, cadmium-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the cell membrane rupture indicated LMH cells pyroptosis. The ROS scavengers, acetylcysteine (NAC) and Mito-TEMPO prevented pyroptosis in LMH cells, suggesting that ROS were responsible for the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome induced by cadmium. Additionally, anti-oxidative transcription factor Nrf2 was inhibited after cadmium exposure, explaining the excessive ROS generation. In summary, our study showed that cadmium leads to ROS generation by inducing mitochondrial damage and inhibiting Nrf2 activity, which promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation and eventually induces pyroptosis in LMH cells.

Low-threshold random lasers enhanced by titanium nitride nanoparticles suspended randomly in gain solutions.

In this article, we report a low-threshold random laser enhanced by TiN nanoparticles (NPs) suspended randomly in gain solutions. Results show that the random laser with TiN NPs has a lower threshold than the random laser with TiO2 NPs and the underlying mechanisms are discussed in detail. The localized surface plasmon resonance of individual TiN NPs increases the pump efficiency and strengthens the fluorescence amplification efficiency of the DCM. The multiple scattering of integral TiN NPs extends the dwelling time of light in random systems, which provides more possibilities for the light amplification in the gain medium. Then, the random laser threshold as a function of the number density of TiN NPs is studied. Results show that the optimum number density of TiN NPs for the lowest-threshold random lasers is about 1.468 × 1012ml-1. When we substitute the ethanol solution with the nematic liquid crystal (NLC), the random laser threshold can be further decreased to 5.11 µJ/pulse, which is about 7.7 times lower than that of DCM dye solution with TiN NPs under the same conditions. These findings provide a cost-effective strategy for the realization of low-threshold random lasers with high-quality.

Treadmill running attenuates neonatal hypoxia induced adult depressive symptoms and promoted hippocampal neural stem cell differentiation via modulating AMPK-mediated mitochondrial functions.

Neonatal hypoxia can induce the persisting brain dysfunctions and subsequently result in the behavioral abnormalities in adulthood. Improving mitochondrial functions were suggested as the effective strategy for brain functional recovery. In this study, we tested the effects of physical exercise, a well-established way benefits mitochondrion, for its functions to prevent hypoxia induced adult behavioral dysfunctions and the underlying molecular mechanism. Mice was induced with hypoxia and treadmill running were then administrated until the adulthood. The treadmill running resulted in the improved behavioral performance in depressive and anxiety tests together with the enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis. We then detected treadmill running restored the mitochondrial morphology in adult neural stem cells (NSCs) as well as the ATP production in hippocampal tissue. In addition, activity of AMPK, which playing key roles in regulating mitochondrial functions, was also elevated by treadmill running. Blockage of AMPK with selective inhibitor compound C prohibited effects of treadmill running in attenuating neonatal hypoxia induced neurogenic impairment and antidepressant behavioral deficits in adulthood. In conclusion, treadmill running could prevent neonatal hypoxia induced adult antidepressant dysfunctions and neurogenic dampening via AMPK-mediated mitochondrial regulation.

Effect of Bile Acids Supplementation in Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome, Production Performance, Physiological and Quality Characteristics of Laying Hen Eggs.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of bile acids (BAs) supplementation on fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS), production performance, and physiological and quality characteristics of laying hen eggs. Sixty Sanhuang laying hens, aged 28 weeks, were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments over a 4-week period, including the control (CON) group (feeding basal diet), the high-fat diet (HFD)-treated group (basal diet containing 10% soybean oil), and HFD supplemented with 0.01% and 0.02% of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) or hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) groups. Production performance, egg quality, liver morphology, serum biochemical indexes, antioxidant capacity, proinflammatory cytokines, and intestinal microbiota were evaluated. The average body weight in 0.01% CDCA was larger than in the HFD group (p < 0.05). Eggshell Thickness in the CON group was greater than in the HFD, 0.01% CDCA, and HDCA groups (p < 0.05). Albumen height in the 0.02% HDCA group was higher than the HFD group (p < 0.05). Eggshell weight in the HFD group was less than the CON group (p < 0.05). Haugh unit (HU) in the HDCA group was larger than the HFD group (p < 0.05). Albumen weight in the 0.02% HDCA group was greater than the CON and HFD groups (p < 0.05). In the HFD group, the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipo-protein cholesterol (LDL-C) were surpassing the other groups (p < 0.05). The levels of catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the HFD group was smaller than the other groups (p < 0.05). The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the HFD group was higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were larger in the HFD group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis indicated significant variations in the relative abundance of specific bacterial populations among the different treatment groups. The treatment and CON groups exhibited a higher presence of bacteria that inhibit host energy absorption or promote intestinal health such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Ruminococcus, whereas the HFD group showed an increased prevalence of potentially pathogenic or deleterious bacteria, such as Desulfovibrio spp. In conclusion, the supplementation of BAs in poultry feed has been demonstrated to effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of FLHS in laying hens. This intervention regulates lipid metabolism, bolsters antioxidant defenses, reduces inflammation, and modulates the gut microbiota, offering a novel perspective on the application of BAs in the poultry industry.

Catalpol enhanced physical exercise-mediated brain functional improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder model via promoting adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric disorder characterized by hyper-response to environmental cues as well as the associated depressive and cognitive dysfunctions. According to the key roles of hippocampus for cognitive and emotional regulation, improving hippocampal functions, particularly hippocampal neural plasticity, is the necessary pathway to attenuate the core symptoms of PTSD. The effects of the alternative therapies such as exercise and natural compounds to reduce PTSD symptoms and promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis have been widely demonstrated. However, what is the effect of combining the exercise with traditional Chinese medical compounds remains unknown. In current study, we evaluated the effects of catalpol, which showed the pro-neurogenic effects in previous report, in regulating exercise-mediated PTSD therapeutic effects. With behavioral tests, we found that catalpol treatment promoted the effects of exercise to reduce the response of mice to dangerous cues, and simultaneously enhanced the antidepressant and cognitive protection effects. Moreover, by immunofluorescence we identified that catalpol promoted exercise-mediated hippocampal neurogenesis by enhancing the neural differentiation and mature neuronal survive. We further found that the promote effects of catalpol to exercise-induced environmental hyper-response, antidepressant effects and cognitive protective effects were all compromised by blocking neurogenesis with temozolomide (TMZ). This result indicates that hippocampal neurogenesis is prerequisite for catalpol to promote exercise-mediated brain functional improvement in PTSD model. In conclusion, our research identified the new function of natural compounds catalpol to promote the exercise-mediated brain functional changes in PTSD model, which depend on its effect promoting adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

Experimental use of a novel single-port gasless laparoendoscopic operative field formation device.

INTRODUCTION: Traditional laparaendoscopic surgery using CO2 pneumoperitoneum is associated with complications and the existing gasless laparaendoscopic surgery has shortcomings such as poor visibility in the operation field. To overcome the disadvantages of the current lifting gasless laparaendoscopic operation platforms, we developed an inflatable device for gasless laparoscopic operation field formation (LOFF) that can be internally installed and applied in practice. METHODS: We initially designed operation platforms for gasless laparaendoscopic single-port (GLESP) surgery. Subsequently, a triangular prismatic LOFF device was selected and applied successfully to GLESP cholecystectomy of five pigs. Ultimately, using pigs as a model, three surgical approaches (LOFF-assisted laparaendoscopic single-site (LOFF-LESS), LESS surgery, and traditional lifting (GLESP) were compared, and the advantages and drawbacks of inflatable devices for gasless laparoscopic operation field assessed. RESULTS: The use of the LOFF device in GLESP cholecystectomy was first evaluated. The time for surgical space formation (4.4 ± 1.2 and 4.8 ± 1.0), the operating time for gallbladder removal (25.2 ± 4.8 and 25.4 ± 2.7), and the loss of blood (9.4 ± 3.1and 9.2 ± 2.4) was similar between LESS and LOFF, respectively (Table 2). In contrast these parameters were higher in GLESP (6.6 ± 1.0, 30.3 ± 4.4 and 10.1 ± 2.0, respectively. The LOFF-LESS surgery exhibited a clearer exposure of the surgical field and shorter operating time than the GLESP surgery. LESS technology showed less postoperation pain, fast recovery, and extremely high cosmetic satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The LOFF device provides a safe, effective, and feasible operation platform that can be internally installed and inflated for GLESP surgery during cholescytectomy in animal models.

Early adaptive humoral immune responses and virus clearance in humans recently infected with pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Few studies on the humoral immune responses in human during natural influenza infection have been reported. Here, we used serum samples from pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza infected patients to characterize the humoral immune responses to influenza during natural infection in humans. We observed for the first time that the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza induced influenza A-specific IgM within days after symptoms onset, whereas the unit of IgG did not changed. The magnitude of influenza A-specific IgM antibodies might have a value in predicting the rate of virus clearance to some degree. However, the newly developed IgM was not associated with hemagglutination inhibition (HI) activities in the same samples but correlated with HI activities of subsequently collected sera which were mediated by IgG antibodies, indicating that IgM was critical for influenza infection and influences subsequent IgG antibody responses. These findings provide new important insights on the human immunity to natural influenza infection.