Development and characterization of microsatellite markers of the eastern keelback mullet (Liza affinis).

Twenty-four polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for Liza affinis using a (GT)13-enriched genomic library. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 9, with a mean number of 6.250. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.417 to 1.000 and from 0.550 to 0.861, with an average of 0.859 and 0.779, respectively. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg proportions was detected at three loci. Evidence of null alleles was found at two loci. These markers will be useful in further studies investigating the genetic variation and population structure of this species, and may provide insights into the maintenance and efficient management of eastern keelback mullet resources.

Development of polymorphic microsatellite loci for a new fish species, Chinese sillago (Sillago sinica).

Sillago sinica is a newly identified species belonging to Sillaginidae, Perciforms, and was found along the coast of China in 2011. In the present study, 81 microsatellite loci were isolated from an enriched genomic library, and 24 positive clones containing microsatellite repeats had adequate flanking sequences for the development of PCR primers. Sixteen of these primers were monomorphic or would not amplify. Eight were polymorphic in an examined population with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 14. The number of observed and expected heterozygosities per locus varied from 0.125 to 0.958 and from 0.120 to 0.904, respectively. The polymorphism information content ranged from 0.110 to 0.721. All loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05) after Bonferroni correction. There was no significant linkage disequilibrium between the eight polymorphic loci. These results suggest that these markers may be very useful for the characterization of natural populations of this species.

Prognostic value of ZFP36 and SOCS3 expressions in human prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: ZFP36 ring finger protein (ZFP36) and the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) have been reported to, respectively, regulate NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways. To better understand the correlation of NF-κB and STAT3 negative regulates pathway, we have investigated the involvement of ZFP36 and SOCS3 expressions in human prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: In the present study, paired patient tissue microarrays were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and the ZFP36 protein expression was quantitated as immunoreactive scores in patients with PCa. Associations between ZFP36/SOCS3 expression and various clinicopathological features and prognosis of PCa patients were statistically analyzed based on the Taylor database. Then, the functions of ZFP36 and SOCS3 in cancerous inflammation were determined using qPCR and immunohistochemistry in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: ZFP36 protein expression in PCa tissues was significantly lower than those in non-cancerous prostate tissues (P < 0.05). In mRNA level, ZFP36 and SOCS3 had a close correlation with each other (P < 0.01, Pearson r = 0.848), and its upregulation was both significantly associated with low Gleason score (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), negative metastasis (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), favorable overall survival (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), and negative biochemical recurrence (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Functionally, LPS treatment could lead to the overexpression of ZFP36 and SOCS3 in vitro and vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our data offer the convincing evidence for the first time that the aberrant expressions of ZFP36 and SOCS3 may be involved into the progression and patients' prognosis of PCa, implying their potentials as candidate markers of this cancer.

Biocompatibility of differently proportioned HA/PLGA/BMP-2 composite biomaterials in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to assess the histocompatibility of hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) composite materials in rabbits. Thirty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 10). HA/PLGA/BMP-2 composite materials with the HA/PLGA proportions of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 were implanted in the animals, which were subsequently sacrificed on the 30th and 60th days post-implantation to allow for differences in routine blood and biochemical indices to be assessed between the animal groups. The degree of biomaterial degradation was also assessed in the three groups. Thirty and 60 days after the implantation of titanium plates and composite materials, no rabbits succumbed to inflammatory reactions, adverse reactions, abnormal blood routine and biochemical indices, or unstable liver functions. The presence of newborn tissues was identified within the 60 days post-implantation. No significant differences were observed between the three groups (P < 0.05). The wide clinical application of HA/PLGA/BMP-2 composite biomaterial, which is highly compatible with rabbits with no apparent effects on the animals, is highly feasible.

Curative effect and costs of surgical and gamma knife treatments on intractable epilepsy caused by temporal-hippocampal sclerosis.

This study aimed to investigate the curative effect and costs of surgical and gamma knife treatments on intractable epilepsy caused by temporal-hippocampal sclerosis. The subjects comprised patients who suffered from intractable epilepsy caused by temporal-hippocampal sclerosis and received treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery of our hospital between 2010 and 2011. After obtaining their consent, patients were evaluated and selected to receive surgical or gamma knife treatments. In the surgical group, the short-term curative rate was 92.60% and the average cost was US$ 1311.50 while in the gamma knife group, the short-term curative rate was 53.79%, and the average cost was US$ 2786.90. Both surgical and gamma knife treatments of intractable epilepsy caused by temporal-hippocampal sclerosis are safe and effective, but the short-term curative effect of surgical treatment is better than that of gamma knife, and its cost is lower.

A cytological study of anther and pollen development in Camellia oleifera.

The plant species Camellia oleifera is an important producer of edible oil in China. However, it suffers from a low fruit-setting rate. This study used high resolution scanning electron microscopy of semi-thin tissue sections to investigate anther development and pollen formation, and to determine whether problems in forming functional pollen cause low seed setting rates. During anther development, cell sizes within the epidermis and end othecium gradually increase, and at the beginning of the microsporocyte phase, the cells become highly vacuolated. The cell walls of the inner wall cells thicken in a ribbon pattern during the later part of the two-cell pollen stage. Middle layer cells become flattened during the later part of the secondary sporogenous cell stage. A tapetum also forms at this stage; the secondary sporogenous cells begin to degrade at the early microspore stage and completely disappear by the time the pollen is mature, thus forming a glandular tapetum. In microsporocyte, cytokinesis occurs simultaneously with microsporocyte meiosis, and a tetrahedral arrangement is present in tetrads. Reproductive cells begin to form at the later stage of microsporogenesis; the nuclei of the reproductive cells are enlarged as the reproductive cells begin to move away from the pollen wall. Two-cell pollen is first formed after reproductive cells have left the pollen wall, and the number of inclusions in the pollen subsequently increases. The pollen matures for 5-8 days before flowering occurs. No pollen abortion phenomena were observed, suggesting that anther development in C. oleifera is normal and that functional pollen are formed.

Comparison of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy under nasal endoscopy guidance versus first-line drug treatment in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy under nasal endoscopy guidance could provide better efficacy and safety in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) than the first-line drugs recommended by the World Health Organization. A total of 120 adult patients with PAR were randomly divided into 2 groups (N = 60 each). One group underwent HIFU therapy under nasal endoscopy guidance using an ultrasound rhinitis therapeutic machine. The other group served as the control group and was treated with corticosteroid nasal spray and oral cetirizine hydrochloride. All patients underwent follow-up treatment for 1 year, after which the efficacy and safety were evaluated. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05) in the total effective rate. Moreover, no complications such as nasal adhesion, septal perforation, mucosal atrophy, and hyposmia were observed, indicating that HIFU was as effective as the first-line drug treatments recommended by the World Health Organization for symptom relief in PAR patients. The treatment efficacy, repeatability, safety, economical aspects, ease of performance, and few complications of HIFU therapy strongly suggest that HIFU should be routinely incorporated into clinical practice.

Interleukin-10 polymorphisms and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis.

It has been reported that interleukin-10 (IL-10) promoter genes (1082 A/G, 819 T/C, 592 A/C) are associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the results remain controversial and ambiguous. To resolve inconsistencies in published data, we performed a meta-analysis to ascertain the association between IL-10 polymorphisms and NPC risk. Two case-control studies and two cohort studies were quantitatively analyzed to evaluate IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms and NPC risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each genetic model and allelic comparison. A random-effect model or a fixed-effect model was used to calculate the overall combined risk estimates. Overall, the variant genotypes (AA and AG) of the IL-10-1082 A/G polymorphism were associated with elevated risk of NPC compared with the GG homozygote (AG vs GG: OR = 1.77; 95%CI = 1.39-2.26; AG + GG vs AA: OR = 1.78; 95%CI = 1.42-2.22); no significant associations were observed in allelic contrast and the recessive model. Strong positive association was seen in the cohort studies but not in the case-control studies. No statistically significant association was detected between IL-10-819 T/C and IL-10-592 A/C polymorphisms and NPC. Additionally, publication bias was not found. Based on the current evidence, this meta-analysis suggests that IL-1082 A/G polymorphism may increase the risk of NPC, but IL-10-819 T/C and IL-10-592 A/C polymorphisms do not. Further multicenter studies that are better controlled are required to confirm these findings.

Effects of dietary betaine supplementation subjected to heat stress on milk performances and physiology indices in dairy cow.

This study aimed to determine whether feeding betaine to cows elevates their production performance during summer heat stress. Thirty-two lactating Holstein cows were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, which received a total mixed ration (TMR), and 3 experimental groups that received TMR blended with 10 g/day (group I), 15 g/day (group II), and 20 g/day (group III) betaine for 8 weeks. Milk and blood were sampled throughout the experimental period. The average maximum and minimum air temperatures were 28.3 and 24.1°C, respectively. The average temperature-humidity index was 78.6 units. The results showed that feeding betaine to cows increased feed intake, milk yield, milk lactose, milk protein, plasma cortisol, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde levels (P<0.05); however, it caused HSP70 levels to decrease (P<0.05). The milk performance of group II was significantly affected. These results indicate that supplementing betaine to the diet of dairy cows increases their milk performance and improves their antioxidant capacity; these processes help relieve the cow from heat stress. In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows with 15 g/day betaine generated the most positive influence on performance and productivity, and hence caused the greatest reduction in heat stress.

Effect of phytosterols on rumen fermentation in vitro.

We investigated the effect of phytosterols on rumen fermentation in vitro using gas syringes as incubators. Phytosterols were dissolved in ethyl acetate (8.3%) and added at various concentrations to the common diet in rumen fluid. In vitro gas production (GP) was recorded after 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h incubation. Incubation was stopped at 6, 12, and 24 h and the inoculants were then tested for pH, dry matter digestibility (DMD), microbial protein yield (MCP), lactic acid, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). GP was consistently higher than the control; particularly, treatments at 12, 18, and 24 h reached extremely significant levels (P < 0.01). Compared to the control group, the pH of ruminal fluid was slightly lower after incubation, and DMD and MCP increased with increasing phytosterol level except for the content of MCP at 6 h, which changed only minimally. Lactate was significantly lower after treatment compared to the control at 12 h (P < 0.01) and 24 h (P < 0.05), while NH3-N at 12 h (P < 0.05) and 24 h (P < 0.01) after treatment decreased significantly. Acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total VFA for all treatments were higher than those of the control, particularly for butyrate at 6 h (P < 0.01). These results suggest that phytosterols modify rumen fermentation by inhibiting released harmful products and promoting the release of beneficial product, which may be useful for improving nutrient utilization and animal health.

Partial loss compensation in dielectric-loaded plasmonic waveguides at near infra-red wavelengths.

We report on the fabrication and characterization of straight dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polaritons waveguides doped with lead-sulfide quantum dots as a near infra-red gain medium. A loss compensation of ~33% (an optical gain of ~143 cm⁻¹) was observed in the guided mode. The mode propagation, coupling efficiency and stimulated emission were characterized using leakage radiation microscopy. The guided mode signature was separated using spatial filters in the Fourier plane of the microscope for quantitative measurements of stimulated emission.