NADPH oxidase 4-mediating oxidative stress contributes to endometriosis.

NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) plays an important role in the regulation of oxidative stress, which is associated with endometriosis. This study aims to investigate the effects of NOX4 in endometriosis and its molecular mechanisms. Clinical specimens were collected, and human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were isolated. The knockdown of NOX4 cell lines was established on the HESCs and induced by peritoneal fluid. The levels of NOX4 were determined by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, western blotting, and qPCR, respectively. The levels of oxidative stress markers were determined by using western blotting and ELISAs, respectively. The correlation of NOX4 and oxidative stress markers was analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The levels of NOX4 were dramatically elevated in the ectopic endometrium. Besides, oxidative stress biomarkers were also dysregulated in the ectopic endometrium as compared to the normal endometrium. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis revealed a relationship between NOX4 and oxidative stress biomarkers in the ectopic endometrium. NOX4 modulated the expressions of oxidative stress markers in endometrial stromal cells stimulated by the peritoneal fluid from endometriosis. The effects of NOX4 on endometriosis are in part by its regulatory effects against oxidative stress.

IRF9 inhibits CyHV-3 replication by regulating the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) epithelial cells.

Interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) is an important transcriptional regulator involved in innate and adaptive immunity. Cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3) is a virus causing widespread death and great economic loss in farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio). However, the effect of IRF9 on CyHV-3 infection in common carp has not been reported. In this study, during CyHV-3 infection, IRF9 overexpression in common carp fin epithelial (CCF) cells significantly reduced the expression of viral factor thymidine kinase (TK) and open reading frame 72 (ORF72), and knockdown of IRF9 produced the opposite results (p < 0.05). In CCF cells. The IRF9 protein was expression in the nucleus and was rapidly induced in CCF cells by CyHV-3 infection. In addition, several genes associated with virus infection, including type I interferon (IFNI), IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx1) and Viperin were induced in CCF cells overexpressing IRF9 upon CyHV-3 infection. IRF9 overexpression induced by CyHV-3 infection significantly increased the gene expression of Mx1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and the protein expression of protein kinase B (AKT) (p < 0.01). Interestingly, IRF9 did not significantly affect Mx1 gene expression when AKT protein levels remained unchanged during CyHV-3 infection of CCF cells. Furthermore, a significant resistance-related locus was found in the IRF9 sequence in "Longke-11" mirror carp (M11) and Yellow River carp (p < 0.05). These results indicated that IRF9 inhibited viral replication by upregulating the expression of Mx1 via the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway during CyHV-3 infection in CCF cells and provide some basis for the study of the antiviral molecular mechanisms of common carp.

[Surface modification of multifunctional ferrite magnetic nanoparticles and progress in biomedicine].

Magnetic ferrite nanoparticles (MFNPs) have great application potential in biomedical fields such as magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drugs, magnetothermal therapy and gene delivery. MFNPs can migrate under the action of a magnetic field and target specific cells or tissues. However, to apply MFNPs to organisms, further modifications on the surface of MFNPs are required. In this paper, the common modification methods of MFNPs are reviewed, their applications in medical fields such as bioimaging, medical detection, and biotherapy are summarized, and the future application directions of MFNPs are further prospected.

Effects of Different Dietary Protein Levels on the Growth Performance, Physicochemical Indexes, Quality, and Molecular Expression of Yellow River Carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus).

A 12-week rearing trial was carried out to estimate effects on the growth performance, physicochemical indexes, quality, and the molecular expression of Yellow River Carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus) using five practical diets, including dietary protein levels of 220, 250, 280, 310, and 340 g/kg. The results illustrated that the fish's weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly influenced, with an ascending dietary protein level of up to 250 g/kg (p < 0.05). The carp muscle contents of total saturated fatty acids (∑SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (∑MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑PUFA), and fatty acids (∑FA) decreased significantly with the ascending dietary protein levels, except for the 250 g/kg protein diet (p < 0.05). Only the glutamic acid and total essential amino acid (∑EAA) contents were significantly influenced by the ascending dietary protein levels (p < 0.05). The relative GH expression of the carp muscle significantly decreased with the increase in the dietary protein level up to 310 g/kg, and then it significantly increased (p < 0.05). In the intestines, the peak relative TOR expression was observed on the 220 g/kg protein diet, while the relative 4EBP1 expression was significantly influenced by the dietary protein level up to 250 g/kg (p < 0.05). In the muscle, the peak relative TOR and 4EBP1 expression levels were observed on the 250 g/kg protein diet. In gills, the lowest relative Rhag, Rhbg, and Rhcg1 expression levels were observed on the 250 g/kg protein diet. Based on all of the aforementioned results, the optimal dietary protein level for Cyprinus carpio haematopterus (160.24 ± 15.56 g) is 250-280 g/kg.

Crystallographically Textured and Magnetic LaCu-Substituted Ba-Hexaferrite with Excellent Gyromagnetic Properties.

Excellent gyromagnetic properties of textured, bulk Ba-hexaferrite samples are required for low-loss, self-biased applications for microwave and millimeter-wave (MMW) devices. However, conventionally processed bulk Ba-hexaferrite ceramics typically demonstrate low remanent magnetization values, 4πMr, of 2.0~3.0 kG, and relatively large ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidths, ΔHFMR, of 0.8~2 kOe. These properties lead to the development of high-performance, practical devices. Herein, crystallographically textured Ba-hexaferrite samples, of the composition Ba0.8La0.2Fe11.8Cu0.2O19, having excellent functional properties, are proposed. These materials exhibit strong anisotropy fields, Ha, of ~14.6 kOe, high remanent magnetization, 4πMr, of 3.96 kGs, and a low ΔHFMR of 401 Oe at zero-bias field at the Q-band. Concomitantly, the broadband millimeter-wave transmittance was utilized to determine the complex permeability, µ*, and permittivity, ε*, of textured hexaferrites. Based on Schlöemann's theory of complex permeability, µ*, the remanent magnetization, 4πMr, anisotropy field, Ha, and effective linewidth, ΔHeff, were estimated; these values agree well with measured values.

Association of umbilical cord blood miR-375 with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and adverse neonatal outcomes in premature infants.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a common respiratory disorder occurring in premature infants, and some microRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to play critical roles in NRDS progression. This study aimed to measure relative expression of miR-375 in infants with NRDS, and further evaluate the clinical significance of miR-375 in predicting the onset and clinical prognosis of NRDS in infants. METHODS: This study collected umbilical cord blood from 180 premature neonates, including 90 neonates with NRDS and 90 non-NRDS neonates. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect relative expression level of miR-375. The diagnostic value of miR-375 in screening NRDS neonates from control neonates and its predictive accuracy for clinical prognosis were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The relationship of miR-475 with disease onset and clinical outcomes in NRDS infants was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Relative miR-375 expression was upregulated in NRDS neonates, and high levels of miR-375 were observed in NRDS grade III-IV cases compared to those early-stage neonates. miR-375 had relatively high diagnostic accuracy to screen NRDS neonates and was independently associated with NRDS onset in infants. Moreover, relative miR-375 expression was upregulated in NRDS neonates with poor prognosis and could independently predict the clinical outcomes of NRDS neonates with considerable predictive accuracy. CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord serum miR-375 is elevated and associated with NRDS onset and clinical outcomes in NRDS neonates. Thus, miR-375 may serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of infants with NRDS.

[Application of MRI Water-Fat Separation Technology in Patients with Multiple Myeloma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of magnetic resonance imaging water-fat separation (Dixon) technique in patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: A total of 41 newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who underwent Dixon in The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from April 2019 to April 2021 were included in this study. Patients were divided into observation group and control group according to whether Dixon performance was normal or not. The differences of clinical data and fat fraction (FF) between the two groups were compared. The correlation between FF and clinical data, disease stages and differences before and after treatment were also compared. The receiver operator characteristic curve of patients was drawn to analyze the diagnostic value of FF combined with serum alkaline phosphatase for bone destruction in patients with multiple myeloma. RESULTS: Among the 41 patients, there were 12 cases in the control group and 29 cases in the observation group. There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups. In the observation group, ß2-microglobulin concentration and M protein were significantly higher than those in the control group, while serum alkaline phosphatase and FF were lower (P<0.05). In all 41 patients included in the study, there was a significant negative correlation between FF value and ß2-microglobulin concentration (r=-0.57), and a significant positive correlation between FF value and serum alkaline phosphatase (r=0.31). After treatment, FF value increased, while myeloma cell percentage, ß2-microglobulin concentration and M protein decreased in 11 patients who completed 4 cycles of chemotherapy, and the differences before and after treatment were statistically significant (P<0.05). The value of serum alkaline phosphatase combined with FF value in predicting bone destruction is higher than that of FF value or serum alkaline phosphatase alone. CONCLUSION: Dixon's different imaging manifestations can reflect the severity of the disease. FF value is correlated with clinical examination results and R-ISS staging, and there is a significant difference before and after treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase combined with FF value is better than two indicators alone in predicting bone destruction.

Aberrant ENPP2 expression promotes tumor progression in multiple myeloma.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (ENPP2) has been recently linked to tumor development. However, its role in modulating multiple myeloma (MM) disease progression remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that CD138+ cells isolated from MM patients presented with higher expression of ENPP2 compared with CD138- cells. Treatment of MM cells with IL-6 resulted in ENPP2 upregulation. ENPP2 overexpression promoted proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, increased lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) generation, and upregulated osteoclastogenesis mediator expression in MM cells. In contrast, ENPP2 inhibition induced apoptosis, suppressed proliferation and survival, decreased LPA generation and downregulated osteoclastogenesis mediator expression. In an MM xenograft mouse model, ENPP2 knockdown significantly reduced MM tumor burden by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, ENPP2 knockdown decreased the levels of LPA, osteoclastogenesis mediators in sera of mice with MM. Our findings revealed the tumor-promoting role of ENPP2 in MM, thus providing new molecular evidence for targeting the ENPP2-LPA axis in MM therapy.

Integrative Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Immune Mechanism for a CyHV-3-Resistant Common Carp Strain.

Anti-disease breeding is becoming the most promising solution to cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3) infection, the major threat to common carp aquaculture. Virus challenging studies suggested that a breeding strain of common carp developed resistance to CyHV-3 infection. This study illustrates the immune mechanisms involved in both sensitivity and anti-virus ability for CyHV3 infection in fish. An integrative analysis of the protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) using transcriptomic data was performed. Tissues from the head kidney of common carp were extracted at days 0 (the healthy control) and 7 after CyHV-3 infection (the survivors) and used to analyze the transcriptome through both Illumina and PacBio sequencing. Following analysis of the GO terms and KEGG pathways involved, the immune-related terms and pathways were merged. To dig out details on the immune aspect, the DEGs were filtered using the current common carp immune gene library. Immune gene categories and their corresponding genes in different comparison groups were revealed. Also, the immunological Gene Ontology terms for lncRNA modulation were retained. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to reveal the regulation of immune genes by lncRNA. The results demonstrated that the breeding carp strain develops a marked resistance to CyHV-3 infection through a specific innate immune mechanism. The featured biological processes were autophagy, phagocytosis, cytotoxicity, and virus blockage by lectins and MUC3. Moreover, the immune-suppressive signals, such as suppression of IL21R on STAT3, PI3K mediated inhibition of inflammation by dopamine upon infection, as well as the inhibition of NLRC3 on STING during a steady state. Possible susceptible factors for CyHV-3, such as ITGB1, TLR18, and CCL4, were also revealed from the non-breeding strain. The results of this study also suggested that Nramp and PAI regulated by LncRNA could facilitate virus infection and proliferation for infected cells respectively, while T cell leukemia homeobox 3 (TLX3), as well as galectin 3 function by lncRNA, may play a role in the resistance mechanism. Therefore, immune factors that are immunogenetically insensitive or susceptible to CyHV-3 infection have been revealed.

Constructing CeO2/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts for highly efficient visible light photocatalysis.

Ternary CeO2/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot (NCQD)/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) heterojunction nanocomposites were prepared by a high-temperature calcination and hydrothermal method and tested for degrading tetracycline (TC) and generating H2. Compared with CeO2 and g-C3N4, the Z-scheme CeO2/NCQDs/g-C3N4 (CSNx, where x represents the amount of CeO2 in wt%) nanoparticles showed a higher TC photodegradation capacity and H2 evolution ability owing to enhanced efficient charge separation and photocatalytic stability. CSN5 showed the best photodegradation activity for TC degradation (100 mL, 20 mg L-1; 100% degradation in 60 min; λ≥ 420 nm) and the highest H2 evolution rate of 1275.42 µmol h-1 g-1 was approximately 3.73- and 32.25-times higher than those of pristine g-C3N4 (341.85 µmol h-1 g-1) and pure CeO2 (39.55 µmol h-1 g-1), respectively. Superoxide (˙O2-) and hydroxyl (˙OH) radicals were also confirmed to be formed on the sample surface for TC photocatalytic degradation. As an electronic medium, NCQDs transferred electrons between the g-C3N4 and CeO2 interface to promote the electron-hole separation. This work affords a helpful perspective for synthesizing efficient charge separation and environmentally friendly photocatalysts by controlling the surface heterostructure.

Annexin A8 (ANXA8) regulates proliferation of porcine endometrial cells via Akt signalling pathway.

Annexin A8 (ANXA8) gene, a member of the annexin family, encodes an anticoagulant protein involved in blood coagulation cascade and acts as an indirect inhibitor of the thromboplastin-specific complex. However, little is known about the function of ANXA8 in porcine endometrial cells so far. Here, ANXA8 mRNA was found to be abundant in porcine endometrium on days 11-13 of pregnancy. Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that the mRNA expression of the leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) was upregulated by ANXA8 in porcine endometrial cells. Immunofluorescence technology and cell cycle analysis revealed that ANXA8 promoted the proliferation of endometrial cells, as evidenced by the abundant proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and an increase in the S phase. Western blot analysis results indicated that ANXA8 activated the phosphorylation of the target protein kinase B (Akt) protein. Immunofluorescence technology results showed that the PCNA protein had no significant change in porcine endometrial cells with both ANXA8 overexpression and the addition of Akt inhibitor. Furthermore, the number of implantation sites was significantly reduced by injection of mus-siRNA-ANXA8 into the uterine horn of mice. Collectively, these results suggest that ANXA8 promotes the proliferation of endometrial cells through the Akt signalling pathway.

Calculation of exchange integrals and Curie temperature for La-substituted barium hexaferrites.

As the macro behavior of the strength of exchange interaction, state of the art of Curie temperature Tc, which is directly proportional to the exchange integrals, makes sense to the high-frequency and high-reliability microwave devices. Challenge remains as finding a quantitative way to reveal the relationship between the Curie temperature and the exchange integrals for doped barium hexaferrites. Here in this report, for La-substituted barium hexaferrites, the electronic structure has been determined by the density functional theory (DFT) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA). By means of the comparison between the ground and relative state, thirteen exchange integrals have been calculated as a function of the effective value Ueff. Furthermore, based on the Heisenberg model, the molecular field approximation (MFA) and random phase approximation (RPA), which provide an upper and lower bound of the Curie temperature Tc, have been adopted to deduce the Curie temperature Tc. In addition, the Curie temperature Tc derived from the MFA are coincided well with the experimental data. Finally, the strength of superexchange interaction mainly depends on 2b-4f1, 4f2-12k, 2a-4f1, and 4f1-12k interactions.

Identification of four squid species by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Squids are distributed worldwide, including many species of commercial importance, and they are often made into varieties of flavor foods. The rapid identification methods for squid species especially their processed products, however, have not been well developed. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) systems based on specific primers and TaqMan probes have been established for rapid and accurate identification of four common squid species (Ommastrephes bartramii, Dosidicus gigas, Illex argentinus, Todarodes pacificus) in Chinese domestic market. After analyzing mitochondrial genes reported in GenBank, the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene was selected for O. bartramii detection, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene for D. gigas and T. Pacificus detection, ATPase subunit 6 (ATPase 6) gene for I. Argentinus detection, and 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rDNA) gene for designing Ommastrephidae-specific primers and probe. As a result, all the TaqMan systems are of good performance, and efficiency of each reaction was calculated by making standard curves. This method could detect target species either in single or mixed squid specimen, and it was applied to identify 12 squid processed products successfully. Thus, it would play an important role in fulfilling labeling regulations and squid fishery control.