Identifying the function of the PI3K-AKT pathway during the pathogenic infection of Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

The phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase b (PI3K-Akt) pathway is a signalling pathway based on protein phosphorylation and can be activated by a wide range of factors. To investigate the function of the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway in antibacterial immunity, we analysed the gene expression level of three key factors (PI3K, AKT and FoxO) and innate immune factors in immune tissues at different time points after Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus infection. Tissues analysis showed that PI3K, AKT, and FoxO were expressed at high levels in the intestinal, hemocytes and hepatopancreas. Moreover, the expression levels of PI3K, AKT and FoxO can be regulated postinfection by different pathogens. In hemocytes and the intestine, V. parahaemolyticus infection was found to regulate the levels of PI3K, AKT, and FoxO more rapidly; however, an S. aureus infection regulated the levels of these factors more rapidly in the hepatopancreas and gills. Analysis showed that V. parahaemolyticus and S. aureus infection caused changes in the gene expression level of crustin, caspase 3 and NF-κB. Therefore, PI3K-AKT regulates the downstream immune pathway differentially in different immune tissues and participates in the regulation of cell apoptosis and the inflammatory response by activating caspase and NF-κB, respectively, following infection with V. parahaemolyticus and S. aureus.

Transcriptome analysis of Macrobrachium rosenbergii hemocytes in response to Staphylococcus aureus infection.

The aquaculture industry has suffered significant financial losses as a result of disease outbreaks. In particular, disease outbreaks have become a major problem that can seriously affect the sustainable development of the Macrobrachium rosenbergii aquaculture industry. It is crucial to determine the defense mechanism of the host after pathogenic invasion in order to provide effective defense measures after disease outbreaks. Shrimp, like other invertebrates, primarily depend on their innate immune systems to defend against pathogens, and recognize and resist pathogens through humoral and cellular immune responses. In this investigation, we used RNA-seq technology to investigate the transcriptome of hemocytes from M. rosenbergii induced by Staphylococcus aureus. Our main targets were immune pathways and genes related to innate immunity. RNA-seq identified 209,069 and 204,775 unigenes in the control and experimental groups, respectively. In addition, we identified 547 and 1734 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following S. aureus challenge after 6 and 12 h (h), respectively. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in several biological signalling pathways, including NOD-like receptor, PI3K-Akt, Toll and Imd, IL-17, TGF-beta, RIG-I-like receptor, cAMP, apoptosis, and C-type lectin receptor. Sixteen DEGs were chosen at random for qPCR verification; these results concurred with those from sequencing. Our findings revealed that immune-related genes play an important role in antibacterial activities and have specific functions for gram-positive bacteria. These results provide more data for the prevention of M. rosenbergii diseases and offer a basis for the better prevention of diseases.

Chrysin improves diabetic nephropathy by regulating the AMPK-mediated lipid metabolism in HFD/STZ-induced DN mice.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a highly prevalent and severe diabetic complication. It is urgent to explore high efficiency and minor side effects therapy for DN. Chrysin is a natural flavonoid with various biological activities found in honey and propolis, and has considerable potential to improve DN. The study was designed to explore the effects and the specific underlying mechanism of chrysin for DN in high-fat-diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced DN mice. Firstly, the study revealed that chrysin effectively improved obesity, insulin resistance (IR), renal function, and pathological injury in DN mice. Secondly, the study found that chrysin improved the key indices and markers of lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation which are closely related to the development or progression of DN. Moreover, chrysin markedly modulated lipid metabolism by regulating Adenosine 5' monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and essential downstream proteins. Furthermore, AMPK inhibitor (Dorsomorphin) intervention partially suppressed the positive effects of chrysin on all testing indicators, indicating that activated AMPK is crucial for chrysin action on DN. The present study demonstrated that chrysin may improve DN by regulating lipid metabolism, and activated AMPK plays a critical role in the regulation of chrysin. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The study verified the positive effects of chrysin on obesity, insulin resistance, kidney injury, renal function, lipid accumulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which are closely related to the development or progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Moreover, we explored that chrysin improves DN by regulating AMPK-mediated lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the AMPK inhibitor was used to confirm that activated AMPK plays a critical role in the effects of chrysin. These results could offer a full explanation and a potential option for adjuvant therapy of DN diabetes with chrysin.

Determination of eight pharmaceuticals in an aqueous sample using automated derivatization solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

An automated aqueous derivatization solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was developed for simultaneous determination of eight pharmaceuticals in water samples. Dimethyl sulfate and tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate were selected as derivatization and activation reagents for the esterification reaction. An experimental design approach, central composition design (CCD), was employed to investigate and optimize the operative factors influencing the extraction efficiency, including extraction time, extraction temperature and ionic strength. The other parameters such as type of fiber coating, pH and derivatization conditions were also evaluated. SPME was finally carried out in headspace mode at 80°C for 60min with the presence of 3.00g Na2SO4, using a home-made 44µm PDMS fiber. Wide linear ranges and low limits of detection (0.06-1.24ng L(-1)) were obtained under the optimized conditions. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) and recoveries ranged from 0.5% to 12.3% and 85% to 110%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of the real surface water samples from the Pearl River Estuary.

Hydrodynamics Analysis and CFD Simulation of Portal Venous System by TIPS and LS.

In cirrhotic patients, portal hypertension is often associated with a hyperdynamic changes. Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) and Laparoscopic splenectomy are both treatments for liver cirrhosis due to portal hypertension. While, the two different interventions have different effects on hemodynamics after operation and the possibilities of triggering PVT are different. How hemodynamics of portal vein system evolving with two different operations remain unknown. Based on ultrasound and established numerical methods, CFD technique is applied to analyze hemodynamic changes after TIPS and Laparoscopic splenectomy. In this paper, we applied two 3-D flow models to the hemodynamic analysis for two patients who received a TIPS and a laparoscopic splenectomy, both therapies for treating portal hypertension induced diseases. The current computer simulations give a quantitative analysis of the interplay between hemodynamics and TIPS or splenectomy. In conclusion, the presented computational model can be used for the theoretical analysis of TIPS and laparoscopic splenectomy, clinical decisions could be made based on the simulation results with personal properly treatment.

Radiofrequency ablation versus cryosurgery ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the meta-analysis of the effect between radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryosurgery ablation (CSA) in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODOLOGY: Systematic literature search of relevant clinical studies was carried out in Pubmed, Embase, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library Central databases and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Data were ed independently by two reviewers. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Primary outcomes were the mortality, complication and local recurrence. Three prospective study and one retrospective studies were finally eligible for meta-analysis, involving a total of 433 HCC patients (180 with RFA and 253 with CSA). RFA was significantly superior to CSA in complication (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.54-5.09); local recurrence of patient (OR: 4.02, 95% CI: 1.93-8.39); local recurrence of tumor (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.12-3.42). No significant difference was found in mortality (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 0.45-10.8) between RFA and CSF. CONCLUSIONS: Although multiple confounders exist in the clinical trials especially the bias in patient selection, RFA was significantly superior to CSA in the treatment of HCC.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) ablation as a remedy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this research was to investigate the application of carbon dioxide (CO2) ablation and determine if carbon dioxide plays a role in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Twelve mice with subcutaneous xenografts of a hepatocellular cancer cell line were randomly separated into 2 groups. One group underwent CO2 ablation with their liver tumor in vivo while the other group in vitro, respectively. All mice were killed on day 28. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed on the mice to estimate the pathological change. RESULTS: Just after 4 weeks, no significant difference in tumor size was detected between the two groups. The dimensions of the principal tumor varied from 2-3 cm with an average size of 2.2 cm in the greatest dimension. HE staining demonstrated an array of construct damage and necrosis in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: CO2 ablation could be an important treatment in the management of cancer.