The Value of Percutaneous Shoulder Puncture with Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Differentiation of Rotator Cuff Tear Subtypes: A Preliminary Prospective Study.

Imaging tests perform relatively well in the detection of rotator cuff tears (RCTs), exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity, mainly among larger full-thickness tears (tear width >1 cm). However, these tests are relatively less accurate in the detection of small full-thickness tears and partial-thickness tears. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of percutaneous ultrasound-guided tendon lesionography (PUTL) using the SonoVue and the value of percutaneous shoulder puncture via contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-a combination of percutaneous ultrasound-guided subacromial bursography (PUSB) and PUTL-in the detection of RCT subtypes. Conventional ultrasound (US), CEUS and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed and prospectively evaluated in 97 patients who had undergone arthroscopy because of suspected RCTs. The rates of detection of the various subtypes of RCTs using CEUS, PUSB, PUTL, US and MRI were evaluated. The RCT subtype detection rate via CEUS was significantly higher than the rates via US and MRI (96.9%, 74.2% and 76.3%, respectively), as were the detection rates for small full-thickness tears combined with partial-thickness tears (98.2%, 60.0% and 61.8%, respectively). The detection rate with PUSB was significantly higher than those with US and MRI in assessing full-thickness tears combined with bursal-side partial-thickness tears (93.9%, 65.3% and 65.3%, respectively). The detection rate with PUTL was significantly higher than those with US and MRI in assessing the corresponding subtypes (100.0%, 69.2% and 76.9%, respectively). On the basis of our findings, we consider PUTL a tolerable and feasible procedure. Percutaneous shoulder puncture using CEUS can be an effective alternative method with better diagnostic performance than US and MRI for the detection of RCT subtypes.

Transcriptome sequencing identifies potential regulatory genes involved in chicken eggshell brownness.

Brown eggs are popular in many countries, and consumers regard eggshell brownness as an important indicator of egg quality. Brown eggshell color is controlled by polygene. However, the responsible genes and detailed molecular mechanisms regulating eggshell brownness have not been defined. In the present study, we applied the RNA-seq technology to analyze the transcriptome data of the shell gland epithelium of hens and investigated the candidate genes associated with eggshell brownness. The results indicated that 8461 genes were expressed in the shell gland epithelium, of which 34 genes were differentially expressed in hens laying dark vs. light brown eggs. Functional analysis revealed that two genes, ovotransferrin (TF) and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), as well as the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were involved in the synthesis and transport of protoporphyrin Ⅸ, which might influence the formation of eggshell brownness and result in different shades of brown.

[Polymorphisms of chicken apoA5 gene and association with carcass traits of chickens].

Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by PCR-SSCP and sequencing in the chicken apoA5 gene in F2 chickens from an experimental cross of White Plymouth Rock x Silkies. One SNP(C-169T) located on the 5'-regulatory region, another two in the second exon were transitions of C to T (600) and T to C (635). Four SNPs in the third exon were found, which were C841G, C914T, C1142G, C1394T. The association of the polymorphisms with carcass traits was investigated. The most significant results were yielded from primer apoA3F/R: the abdominal fat weight of CC chickens were significantly higher than that of AA, AB, AC, BB and BC chickens (P<0.05); AC chickens had lower liver weight than that of AA, AB, BB, BC and CC (P<0.05); BC chickens had lower heart weight than that of BB (P<0.05).

[Expression profiling of GH, GHR, and IGF-1 genes in sex-linked dwarf chickens].

In this study, quantitative real-time PCR was used to compare the mRNA expression of GH, GHR, and IGF-1 genes in livers of sex-linked dwarf chickens with their normal siblings. The results showed that there was no significant difference between dwarf and normal chickens in GH expression. The expression of GHR gene was more than 3-fold higher in dwarf chickens, compared with that of the normal. However, the transcription level of IGF-1 decreased dramatically in the sex-linked dwarf. These observations suggest that the dwarf phenotype occurs independent of GH action, but is due to a dysfunctional GHR. A 1.7 kb deletion has been reported in exon 10 and the 3'untranslated region (UTR) of the GHR gene in dwarf chickens. This transcript could be translated into a protein that does not retain its normal function, which would ac-count for the absence of GH-binding activity in liver membranes of the dwarf chickens.

[Conservation efficiency of local chicken breeds in different farms as revealed by microsatellite markers].

Twenty-eight microsatellite markers were used to analyze the conservation efficiency of two local chicken breeds (Dagu Chicken and Beijing Fatty Chicken) in different farms. Genotypes were detected in 125 samples. The genetic variations among and within the populations were calculated by the number of alleles, gene frequency, genetic heterozygosity (H), PIC, F-statistics, Nei's genetic distance and UPGMA. High polymorphism was found in the four populations, and H and PIC values of each population were more than 0. 5. All loci detected in the study showed polymorphism and the number of alleles ranged from 2 to 22 in total population. Most of these loci were at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except two loci (LE110194, MCW0032). The four conservation farms for the two breeds were shown to have retained substantial biodiversity, indicating that the conservation programs are efficient. However, differences between the farms of the same breeds were observed.