3D-CT measurements of facial symmetry in severe CFM patients: A comparative study between mandibular ascending ramus distraction osteogenesis and bone grafting.

This study aims to compare the effects of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) and bone grafting on the facial symmetry of children with Pruzansky-Kaban type IIB and III craniofacial microsomia (CFM). Medical records and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) data of CFM patients who had primarily undergone MDO and bone grafting were collected. A retrospective analysis of pre-and post-operative 3D imaging data was conducted to compare the improvement rate in facial symmetry between the two groups based on occlusal cant, affected/unaffected ramus height ratio and chin point deviation. The data were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. When the data followed a normal distribution, a paired sample t-test was employed for the comparison between preoperative and postoperative data. When the data did not follow a normal distribution, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples was used for preoperative and postoperative comparison. The study included 18 children with type IIB and III CFM, 11 in the MDO group and 7 in the bone grafting group. In the MDO group, postoperative Gn-FH and Gn-Cor distances increased significantly, whereas the postoperative Gn-Mid distance decreased significantly. Occlusal cant decreased significantly and ramus height affected/unaffected ratio increased significantly after MDO. In the bone graft group, there was no statistically significant difference in the postoperative ratios of chin deviation, occlusal cant, and ramus height affected/unaffected compared to the preoperative values. Compared to bone grafting, MDO can significantly enhance ramus height ratio, level occlusal plane, and centralize the chin point among patients with CFM. Furthermore, MDO achieves superior enhancements in facial symmetry.

The CD146-HIF-1α axis regulates epithelial cell migration and alveolar maturation in a mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common challenge in preterm neonates. Retardation of alveolar development characterizes the pulmonary pathology in BPD. In the present study, we explored the roles of the CD146-HIF-1α axis in BPD. We demonstrated that the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and soluble CD146 (sCD1146) were increased in the peripheral blood of preterm neonates with BPD. In alveolar epithelial cells, hyperoxia promoted the expression of HIF-1α and CD146, which reinforced each other. In a mouse model of BPD, by exposing pups to 65% hyperoxia, HIF-1α and CD146 were increased in the pulmonary tissues. Mechanistically, CD146 hindered the migration of alveolar epithelial cells; in contrast, movement was significantly enhanced in CD146-knockout alveolar epithelial cells. As expected, CD146-knockout ameliorated alveolarization and improved BPD disease severity. Taken together, our findings imply that the CD146-HIF-1α axis contributes to alveolarization and that CD146 may be a novel candidate in BPD therapy.

Molecular cloning, characterization of CAT, and eco-toxicological effects of dietary zinc oxide on antioxidant enzymes in Eisenia fetida.

The full-length cDNA of catalase (EfCAT) from Eisenia fetida was cloned (GenBank accession no. JN617999). Sequence characterization revealed that EfCAT protein sequence contained proximal heme-ligand signature sequence ((351)RLFSYSDTH(359)), two glycosylation sites (N(145) and N(436)), the proximal active site signature ((61)FDRERIPERVVHAKGAGA(78)), and 12 amino acids (N(145), H(191), F(195), S(198), R(200), N(210), Y(212), K(234), I(299), W(300), Q(302), and Y(355)), which were identified as putative residues involved in NADPH binding. These conserved motifs and catalase signature sequences were essential for the structure and function of EfCAT. The present study also investigated the effect of the veterinary food additive zinc oxide on antioxidant processes in E. fetida, at different concentrations and exposure durations. A significant increase (by 106.0 % compared to controls) in CAT activity at 500 mg/kg was registered at day 15. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity at 500 mg/kg increased to the maximum value (by 44.0 %) measured at day 15. There was a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity for all concentrations after 5 days. The results showed that dietary Zn (500 mg/kg) causes oxidative damage to earthworms. At early stages of earthworms exposed to ZnO, GPx is the main enzyme to impair the oxidative status; while at later stages the enzymes CAT and SOD were the main indicators of oxidative stress. The antioxidant enzymatic variations may be an adaptive response of earthworms to survive in contaminated soils.

Fate of florfenicol in a simulated aquatic ecosystem and effects on sediment microflora.

Four controlled microcosms were prepared, one of which served as control, whereas the other three received treatments of 10, 50, and 150 mg/L of florfenicol, an antibacterial drug developed initially for aquaculture applications. Water and sediment samples were collected according to a pre-set time schedule to determine its fate in the aquatic environment. The results demonstrated that florfenicol amine was not detectable in any treatment groups. The half-life of florfenicol in pond water was 30.76, 52.92, and 51.48 hours for the 10, 50, and 150 mg/L treatment groups, respectively; the corresponding half-lives in sediment were 25.42, 38.40, and 53.59 days. Further, the 50 and 150 mg/L florfenicol treatment groups inhibited alkaline protease activity; however, all treatment groups inhibited sediment microflora structural diversity.

Molecular cloning, characterization of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and expression analysis of stress-responsive genes from Eisenia fetida against dietary zinc oxide.

The full length cDNA of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) from Eisenia fetida (E. fetida) was cloned (GenBank accession no. JN579648). Sequence characterization revealed that the cDNA contained characteristic Cu/Zn-SOD family signatures ((45)GFHVHEFGDNT(55) and (138)GNAGGRLACGVI(149)), cysteines (Cys-58 and-146) predicted to form one disulphide bond, Cu-binding (His-47, -49, -64 and -120) and Zn-binding (His-64, -72, -81 and Asp-84). They were essential for the structure and function of Cu/Zn-SOD. Differential expression of stress-responsive genes like Cu/Zn-SOD, catalase (CAT), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and metallothionein (MT) was applied as potential biomarkers to assess their efficacy for the ecotoxicological effects of dietary zinc oxide (ZnO) on E. fetida. The results showed that the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD and MT increased to reach the highest levels of 6.22 and 7.68 fold in a dose-dependent manner at day 10 respectively. The highest expression of 3.03 fold of CAT was registered at day 10. The transient expression of Hsp70 without consistent time- or/and dose-dependent was observed. It implied that the transcriptional patterns of Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT and MT could serve as early warning signals in ecotoxicological assessment of dietary ZnO on earthworms while the expression of Hsp70 was not well done, which is helpful to monitoring and regulation of ZnO in veterinary application.