The in vitro effects of melatonin and Cry gene on the secretion of estradiol from camel ovarian granulosa cells.

Bactrian camel as endemic economic species to the Northwest of China, its seasonal reproduction severely limits litter rates. In addition to melatonin, seasonal reproduction of animals is also regulated by the biological clock, but the specific molecular mechanism is not clear. To investigate the effects of melatonin and Cryptochrome (Cry) genes on seasonal reproduction, they were placed in ovarian granulosa cells, and their effects on reproduction were determined by measuring the concentrations of estradiol. Immunohistochemistry revealed that melatonin receptor protein (MT) was expressed in the cytosol and membrane of the ovarian granulosa cells, and the highest levels of CRY were expressed in the nuclei. The concentrations of estradiol in the cell culture supernatant were increased after the addition of exogenous melatonin or overexpression of MT, but these were decreased after MT was over expressed, and exogenous melatonin was added to the cells. In addition, there was a significant increase in the concentrations of estradiol after the Cry genes were overexpressed; however, the estradiol concentrations were decreased after the Cry genes were silenced. Our findings demonstrate that the MT and Cry genes play important roles in ovarian granulosa cell production of estradiol in a seasonally breeding species.

Lagged effect of temperature on non-accidental mortality and years of life lost in Wuxi: a time-series study / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of air temperature on non-accidental mortality (A00-R99) and years of life lost in Wuxi city. Methods Data on daily non-accidental mortality and meteorology index were collected from 2012 to 2017. Distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to assess the effect of temperature on non-accidental death and YLL and the cumulative effects between cold and hot temperature on non-accidental mortality and years of life lost with different lag days. Results A V-shaped relationship was noticed between temperature and mortality. Cold effects were delayed by 3 days and persisted for 14 days. Hot effects appeared acute and reached the peak at the same day. Low temperature had stronger gross effect than high temperature had. There were differences of temperature effects between different age and gender groups. Conclusions Low and high temperature were associated with elevated mortality risk. Cold effect had lagged effect and persisted for long time, however, hot effects appeared acute and the impact of low temperature was greater.

Magnetic Resonance Gd-RGD Imaging Study of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with High and Low Metastatic Potential before and after Human Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Intervention / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Biotherapy based on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is currently the focus of research, especially in the field of autologous stem cell transplantation. A novel type of metastasis-associated magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging probe was constructed, and the changes in metastasis and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after BMSC intervention were observed through MR imaging (MRI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Metastasis-associated MR molecular imaging probe, integrin αvβ3ligand cRGD-PEG-DGL-DTPA-Gd (Gd-RGD), were constructed. After human BMSC intervention was performed for 6 weeks, tumor weight inhibition rates were calculated, and the RGD molecular probe was imaged through MRI with molecular imaging agent Gd-DTPA as control. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the MRI experiment were used as semi-quantitative indicators. Polymerase chain reaction method was performed to detect proliferation- and metastasis-associated indicators, transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ1), osteopontin (OPN), and integrin subunit αvand β3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The highest tumor weight inhibition rates were observed 3 weeks after the BMSC transplantation. The MR Gd-RGD in the HCC tissues after the BMSC intervention showed less enhancement than Gd-DTPA. The Gd-DTPA MRI of control group had higher SNR and CNR than Gd-RGD MRI in the experimental groups (P < 0.05). For high metastatic potential hepatocellular carcinoma (MHCC97-H), significant differences were observed in the SNRs and CNRs of Gd-RGD MRI before and after the BMSC intervention (P < 0.05). For low metastatic potential hepatocellular carcinoma (MHCC97-L), the CNRs of Gd-RGD MRI were statistically different before and after BMSC intervention (P < 0.05). With regard to MHCC97-H, OPN, β3, and TGFβ1 expression significantly decreased after BMSC intervention (P < 0.05). In MHCC97-L and OPN, β3, TGFβ1, and αv expression after BMSC intervention decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The CNR index of MRI is a good indicator for distinguishing high- and low-metastatic potential HCC tissues. After BMSC transplantation of MRI through the two kinds of tracer, the SNR and CNR indexes can distinguish two kinds of high and low metastatic potential HCC tissues, and Gd-RGD imaging is more suitable in distinguishing the metastatic potential changes through BMSC intervention.</p>