Effects of Castration Age on the Growth Performance of Nubian Crossbred Male Goats.

To determine the optimal timing for performing castration on goats, eighteen male Nubian crossbred goats were randomly assigned to two groups and castrated at 3 months and 6 months of age, respectively. Daily dry matter intake, biweekly body weights, and ultrasonic measurements of longissimus dorsi muscle growth were recorded. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the blood parameter analysis (except testosterone, 0.36 ± 0.26 vs. 3.61 ± 0.27 ng/mL at 25 weeks old), economic analysis, and growth performance, including final body weight, total weight gain, average daily gain, total dry-matter intake, and feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05). However, the longissimus dorsi muscle depth of goats castrated at 6 months of age was significantly higher than that of goats castrated at 3 months of age. In conclusion, castration timing does not have a significant effect on the growth performance of goats; therefore, castrating goats at 3 months of age may be the best practice considering animal welfare and possible risks associated with late castration.

Demethylation of the MIR145 promoter suppresses migration and invasion in breast cancer.

miR-145 has been implicated in the progression of breast cancer. Here, we report that its expression is decreased in breast cancer specimens and cell lines and that this low level of expression is associated with DNA methylation of its gene, MIR145. Methylation of MIR145 has previously been correlated with cell migration and invasion, both in vivo and in vitro. We found that demethylation of MIR145 reactivates miR-145 and contributes to the anti-cancer properties of 5-aza-2'-deoxyazacytidine (5-AzaC). Therefore, miR-145 is a potentially valuable biomarker for breast cancer.

Serum deprivation elevates the levels of microvesicles with different size distributions and selectively enriched proteins in human myeloma cells in vitro.

AIM: To investigate the effects of serum deprivation (SD) on microvesicles (MVs) secreted from human myeloma cells and the implications for disease progression. METHODS: RPMI 8226, U266, and KM3 human myeloma cells were incubated in medium containing 10% (non-SD) or 1% fetal bovine serum (SD) and MVs were isolated. The levels and size distribution of MVs were analyzed with flow cytometry. The protein profiles of MVs were studied using 2D SDS-PAGE, MALDI-TOF-MS, and Western blotting. NF-κB activation was analyzed using EMSA. Angiogenesis was examined in Eahy926 endothelial cells. RESULTS: Exposure of RPMI 8226 cells to SD for 24 h did not alter the number of apoptotic cells. However, SD increased the number of MVs from RPMI 8226, U266, and KM3 cells to 2.5-, 4.3-, and 3.8-fold, respectively. The size distribution of SD MVs was also significantly different from that of non-SD MVs. Three proteins ZNF224, SARM, and COBL in SD MVs were found to be up-regulated, which were involved in cell cycle regulation, signal transduction and metabolism, respectively. Co-culture of SD MVs and RPMI 8226 cells increased NF-κB activation in the target RPMI 8226 cells. Furthermore, SD MVs from RPMI 8226 cells significantly increased the microtubule formation capacity of Eahy926 endothelial cells compared with non-SD MVs. CONCLUSION: SD elevates the levels of microvesicles with different size distribution and selectively enriched proteins in human myeloma cells in vitro. The selectively enriched proteins, especially ZNF224, may play key roles in regulation of myeloma cells, allowing better adaptation to SD.

Angiogenesis-related cytokines in serum of proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients before and after vitrectomy.

AIM: To evaluate serum concentrations of angiogenesis-related cytokines in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) before and after vitrectomy. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 30 PDR patients with varying severity before and after vitrectomy. Serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Serum concentrations of VEGF, PEDF, IL-8 and IP-10 were significantly higher in PDR patients than that in controls, respectively (P<0.05). VEGF concentration decreased significantly in postoperative samples than that in preoperative samples (P<0.05). The concentrations of PEDF, IL-8 and IP-10 did not exhibit significant changes after vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: Elevated cytokines levels in serum may be diagnostically useful in PDR. Angiogenesis-related cytokines play important roles in the development of PDR, and would instruct the risk assessment of pathogenetic condition in PDR patients.

The analysis of injured and poisoned patients during the construction of urbanization and industrialization from 1998 to 2002.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the causes of injury and poisoning during construction of urbanization and industrialization and to explore proper measures. METHODS: The data of the patients with injury and poisoning during construction of urbanization and industrialization treated in out hospital from 1998 to 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The number of discharged patients of injury and poisoning accounted for 29.2% of the total number (49800) of discharged patients in the corresponding period in our hospital, which was greater than that of other city and county hospitals, and accounted for 94.3% of the total number (15,411) of discharged patients of the Surgery Department in the corresponding period in our hospital. Injuries caused by motor vehicle traffic accidents, cutting and piercing instruments or objects, homicide and injury purposely inflicted by other persons and accidental falls held 78.9%. The number of the inpatients in 2002 increased by 83.3% compared with that of 1998, the number of injured and poisoned inpatients increased by 76.1% and these patients aged mainly at age of 15-39 years, holding 80.1%. In a year, the peak period of trauma patients was in summer because of hot weather; the fewest in February for the floating people went home for Spring Festival holidays. CONCLUSIONS: During construction of rural urbanization and industrialization, injuries and poisoning increase evidently and are the main tasks of surgical management. So to raise its treatment level and therapeutic effect is a key point.

Clinical analysis of craniocerebral trauma complicated with thoracoabdominal injuries in 2165 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the optimal treatment for craniocerebral trauma complicated with thoraco-abdominal injuries. METHODS: A total of 2165 cases of craniocerebral trauma complicated with thoraco-abdominal injuries admitted to our hospital between July 1993 and June 2003 were retrospectively studied. Among them, 382 cases sustained severe craniocerebral trauma (in which 167 were complicated with shock), 733 thoracic injuries, 645 abdominal injuries and 787 thoraco-abdominal injuries. On admittance, 294 cases had developed shock. With the prime goal of saving life, respiratory and circulatory systems and encephalothilipsis were especially treated and monitored. Priority in management was directed to severe or open injures rather than to moderate or closed injures. For cases with cerebral hernia due to intracranial hematoma and severe shock due to blood loss, cerebral hernia and shock were treated concurrently. RESULTS: After treatment, 2024 (93.49%) cases survived and the other 141 (6.51%) died. Among patients who had severe craniocerebral injury with shock and those without, 78 (46.71%) and 53 (24.56%) died, respectively. For patients who had underwent craniocerebral and thoraco-abdominal operations concurrently and those who had not, the death rates were 58.49%-65.96% and 28.57% respectively, indicating a significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment for hematoma hernia, shock and disturbed respiration is the key in the management of multiple trauma of craniocerebral, thoracic or abdominal injuries, especially when two or three conditions occurred simultaneously. Unless it is necessary, operations at two different parts at the same time is not recommended. It is preferred to start two concurrent operations at different time.

[Changes and distribution of ATPase activity in the paranodules of Nicotiana tabacum].

Lead phosphate deposition technique was used to investigate the changes and characteristic distribution of ATPase activity in the paranodules of tabacoo. We found that ATPase activity was closely associated with cell type and cell developmental state, thus it was different in various cells and rhizobia. No lead phosphate granules were located in the menstematic cells, although there were a small number of lead phosphate granules in the cytoplasm and organelles of the cells without rhizobia, they did not exist in the young and mature rhizobia. On the contrary, upon the senscence of the cells and rhizobia, a large number of lead phosphate granules appeared on the plasmalemmas and in the cell walls and the inside surfaces of the rhizobia. When the cells and rhizobia progressively senesced, lead phosphate granules increased in number, and they were widely distributed on the tonoplasts, plasmalemmas, cell walls, intercellular layers and in the intercellular spaces. At the same time, they also appeared on the surfaces and in the cytoplasm and nucleoids of the rhizobia. Due to cell disintegration, lead phosphategranules obviously decreased in number, they were only located on the plasmalemmas and membrane-vesicular structures which came from disintegrated organelles.

Antagonism of Paenibacillus lentimorbus to Botryosphaeria dothidea and Biological Control of Panicle and Shoot Blight of Pistachio.

A potential microbial fungicide, Paenibacillus lentimorbus isolate CBCA-2, against Botryosphaeria dothidea, the pistachio panicle and shoot blight fungus, was obtained from healthy pistachio leaves by both in vitro and in vivo screening techniques. CBCA-2 caused 100% inhibition of pycnidiospore germination after 24 h incubation at 25°C. Malformation of pycnidiospores and hyphae, and lysis and swollen pycnidiospores of B. dothidea occurred in the presence of cell suspensions of CBCA-2. Among the five media tested, nutrient yeast dextrose broth significantly increased the production of antifungal compounds. Application of culture filtrates of CBCA-2 suppressed disease on detached pistachio leaves, but washed bacterial cells did not inhibit lesion development. Development of lesions on excised dormant stems was inhibited only when the culture filtrate was applied before fungal inoculation. Survival of the CBCA-2 after treatment with azoxystrobin (Abound), benomyl (Benlate), tebuconazole (Elite), propiconazole (Break), or trifloxystrobin (Flint) at the highest recommended concentration was not affected, but survival was affected by iprodione (Rovral). Spraying a suspension of CBCA-2 on pruning wounds before inoculation with pycnidiospores of B. dothidea significantly reduced infection compared with the unsprayed, inoculated controls.

[Quantitation of telomerase activity using the polymerase chain reaction-based enzyme immunoassay and its clinical application].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate detective methodology of telomerase activity and its clinical application. METHODS: The telomerase activity was quantitated by polymerase chain reaction-base enzyme immunoassay (PCR-EIA). The TS primer was biotinylated (TS-B), and CX primer was digoxigeninated (CX-D). The amplicons containing TS-B were combined with microtiter plate coated streptavidin, then combined with anti-digoxigenin antibody labeled with POD and finally reacted to tetramethylbenzidine substrate solution. RESULTS: Telomerase activity measured by the PCR-EIA method was comparable to that obtained from TRAP-silver stain protocol. The CV of the PCR-EIA method was 4.138%. Telomerase activity was detected in 90% of various tumer tissues. In control tissues, telomerase activity was detected only in 7.1%. CONCLUSION: The PCR-EIA method offers a rapid, quantitative, and nonisotopic assay for the determination of telomerase activity. It is simpler than silver stain protocol. The detection of telomerase activity may play a significant role in the diagnosis of clinical tumors.

Genetic Variation Among Fusarium oxysporum Isolates Associated with Root Rot of Amaranthus hybridus in South Africa.

Thirty isolates of Fusarium oxysporum were recovered from six substrates: (i) tap roots of Amaranthus hybridus showing symptoms of root rot, (ii) side roots of A. hybridus showing symptoms of root rot, (iii) soil surrounding plants of A. hybridus, (iv) pigweed weevils (Hypolixus haerens) that feed on A. hybridus, (v) rhizosphere of maize plants growing adjacent to a field of amaranth, and (vi) rhizosphere of dry bean plants growing adjacent to a field of amaranth. The isolates were characterized by means of pathogenicity tests, isozyme analysis, and vegetative compatibility group (VCG) tests. In the pathogenicity tests, toothpick tips were infested with F. oxysporum and inserted into amaranth stems. All 30 isolates were pathogenic on A. hybridus, with significant differences in pathogenicity based on lesion length measured 4 weeks after inoculation. The isolates were grouped into nine VCGs by complementation tests using nitrate nonutilizing mutants. Self-incompatibility was not observed for any of the isolates. The most common VCG was VCG1, which comprised 20 of the 30 isolates tested. The second most common group was VCG3, which included three isolates, while the remaining seven VCGs each consisted of a single isolate. The results indicate that the population of the amaranth root rot pathogen examined in this study is relatively homogeneous. Results of the isozyme analysis supported the results of VCG tests. Three major groups were delineated within the 30 isolates of F. oxysporum following cluster analysis of electrophoretic phenotypic values for seven isozymes (EST, IDH, G6PDH, ACP, PEP1, PEP2, and PEP3) tested. No relationship was found between isozyme phenotype and the substrate from which the isolates were recovered.