A measurement method of knee joint space width by ultrasound: a large multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Although plain radiology is the primary method for assessing joint space width (JSW), it has poor sensitivity to change over time in regards to determining longitudinal progression. We, therefore, developed a new ultrasound (US) measurement method of knee JSW and aimed to provide a monitoring method for the change of JSW in the future. METHODS: A multicenter study was promoted by the Professional Committee of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, the Ultrasound Society, and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. US study of knee specimens determined the landmarks for ultrasonic measurement of knee JSW. The US of 1,272 participants from 27 centers was performed to discuss the feasibility and possible influencing factors of knee JSW. The landmarks for US measurement of knee JS, the inflection point of medial femoral epicondyle and the proximal end of the tibia, were determined. RESULTS: The mean knee JSW1 (medial knee JSW) was 8.57±1.95 mm in females and 9.52±2.31 mm in males. The mean knee JSW2 (the near medial knee JSW) was 9.07±2.24 mm in females and 10.17±2.35 mm in males. The JSW values of males were significantly higher than those of females, with a statistical difference. JSW values were negatively correlated with age and body mass index (BMI) to different degrees and positively correlated with height. CONCLUSIONS: The novel US measurement method can be used to measure knee JSW.

Detection of differentially expressed genes between Erhualian and Large White placentas on day 75 and 90 of gestation.

BACKGROUND: Placental efficiency is strongly associated with litter size, fetal weight and prenatal mortality. Together with its rapid growth during late gestation, the Large White pig breed shows a significant increase in placental size and weight, but this does not occur in the highly prolific Chinese pig breeds. To understand the molecular basis of placental development during late gestation in Chinese indigenous and Western breeds with different placental efficiency, female placental samples were collected from six pregnant Erhualian gilts at gestation day 75 (E75) and day 90 (E90) and from six pregnant Large White gilts at gestation day 75 (L75) and day 90 (L90). Two female placentas from one sow were used to extract RNA and then pooled in equal volumes. Twelve pooled samples were hybridized to the porcine Affymetrix GeneChip. RESULTS: A total of 226 and 577 transcripts were detected that were differentially expressed between E75 and L75 and between E90 and L90 (p < 0.01, q < 0.2), respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes belong to the class of genes that participate in angiogenesis and development. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the differential expression of eight selected genes. Significant differential expression of five genes in the VEGF pathway was also detected between the breeds. A search of chromosomal location revealed that 44 differentially expressed genes located to QTL regions related to reproduction. Differential expression of six candidate imprinted genes was also confirmed. Three of the six genes (PLAGL1, DIRAS3, and SLC38A4) showed monoallelic expression in the porcine placenta. CONCLUSION: Our study detected many genes that showed differential expression between placentas of two divergent breed of pigs, and confirmed the imprinting of three genes. These findings help to elucidate the genetic control of placental efficiency and improve the understanding of placental development.

Understanding Haemophilus parasuis infection in porcine spleen through a transcriptomics approach.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) is an important swine pathogen that causes Glässer's disease, which is characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, meningitis and arthritis. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of the disease remain poorly understood, particularly the resistance of porcine immune system to HPS invasion. In this study, we investigated the global changes in gene expression in the spleen following HPS infection using the Affymetrix Porcine Genechip. RESULTS: A total of 931 differentially expressed (DE) transcripts were identified in the porcine spleen 7 days after HPS infection; of these, 92 unique genes showed differential expression patterns based on analysis using BLASTX and Gene Ontology. The DE genes involved in the immune response included genes for inflammasomes (RETN, S100A8, S100A9, S100A12), adhesion molecules (CLDN3, CSPG2, CD44, LGALS8), transcription factors (ZBTB16, SLC39A14, CEBPD, CEBPB), acute-phase proteins and complement (SAA1, LTF, HP, C3), differentiation genes for epithelial cells and keratinocytes (TGM1, MS4A8B, CSTA), and genes related to antigen processing and presentation (HLA-B, HLA-DRB1). Further immunostimulation analyses indicated that mRNA levels of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 in porcine PK-15 cells increased within 48 h and were sustained after administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Poly(I:C) respectively. In addition, mapping of DE genes to porcine health traits QTL regions showed that 70 genes were distributed in 7 different known porcine QTL regions. Finally, 10 DE genes were validated by quantitative PCR. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate previously unrecognized changes in gene transcription that are associated with HPS infection in vivo, and many potential cascades identified in the study clearly merit further investigation. Our data provide new clues to the nature of the immune response in mammals, and we have identified candidate genes that are related to resistance to HPS.