Irisin combined index to diagnose central precocious puberty in girls: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate serum irisin levels in girls at different developmental status and explore the significance of irisin for the diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study 111 girls were enrolled, including 43 cases of CPP, 44 cases of peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) and 24 cases of girls with normal sexual development as controls. The data on age, weight and height, measured blood levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and irisin were collected. Pelvic Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate uterine length, transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameter. The girls were divided into non-CPP group and CPP group according to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test. RESULTS: Serum irisin levels were significantly higher in CPP group than in PPP group and normal control group. Serum irisin level was positively correlated with basal LH level, basal FSH level, peak LH level, peak LH /FSH ratio, uterine volume, bone age, and bone age index. The area under the curve, cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of serum irisin were 0.958, 219.255 pg/ml, 100% and 80.6%. The combined diagnosis of CPP in girls by serum irisin and serum basal LH combined with uterine volume had an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.994, 97.6%, and 100%, superior to that of the single index. CONCLUSIONS: Serum irisin level in girls with CPP is significantly increased. An irisin combined index could help the diagnosis of CPP in girls.

Brain-targeting redox-sensitive micelles for codelivery of TMZ and ß-lapachone for glioblastoma therapy.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a central nervous system cancer with high incidence and poor survival rates. Enhancing drug penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and targeting efficacy is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. In this study, we developed a redox-sensitive targeted nano-delivery system (HCA-A2) for temozolomide (TMZ) and ß-lapachone (ß-Lapa). This system used hyaluronic acid (HA) as the hydrophilic group, arachidonic acid (CA) as the hydrophobic group, and angiopep-2 (A2) as the targeting group. Control systems included non-redox sensitive (HDA-A2) and non-targeting (HCA) versions. In vitro, HCA-TMZ-Lapa micelles released 100 % of their payload in a simulated tumor microenvironment within 24 h, compared to 43.97 % under normal conditions. HCA-A2 micelles, internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis, showed stronger cytotoxicity and better BBB penetration and cellular uptake than controls. In vivo studies demonstrated superior tumor growth inhibition with HCA-A2 micelles, indicating their potential for GBM treatment.

The association of dietary inflammatory potential with sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: Dietary-induced inflammation is potentially associated with sarcopenia. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the structure of the inflammatory diet and its correlation with muscle function and performance in both the upper and lower limbs. This study was performed to explore the association of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) with sarcopenia and its diagnostic parameters. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey on a sample of 515 Chinese community-dwelling older adults selected through multistage cluster sampling from three districts in Shanghai. DII scores were calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Sarcopenia and its diagnostic parameters were determined based on the definition set by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS). RESULTS: The mean age of study participants was 71.31 ± 4.71 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the cohort was 12.4%. Older adults in the highest DII quartile had a 3.339 times increased risk of sarcopenia compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR Quartile4vs1:3.339, 95%CI: 1.232, 9.052, p-trend: 0.004) after adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, a more pro-inflammatory diet was associated with lower appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) (OR Quartile4vs1: 3.005, 95%CI: 1.275, 7.318, p-trend: 0.005), a higher 5-times sit-stand test time score (OR Quartile4vs1: 4.942, 95%CI: 1.745, 13.993, p-trend: 0.005), and lower gait speed (OR Quartile4vs1: 2.392, 95%CI: 1.104, 5.185, p-trend: 0.041) after adjusting for confounding factors. However, there was no significant association between DII, handgrip strength, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score in either the unadjusted or adjusted model. CONCLUSION: This study found that the association between consuming a more pro-inflammatory diet and sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults was mainly due to underlying low intakes of dietary energy, protein, and anti-inflammatory foods, and not due to the high intake of pro-inflammatory foods. Meanwhile, DII was more highly correlated with lower limb muscle strength and performance compared to upper limb muscle strength.

Identification of nucleotide polymorphisms in the key promoter region of chicken annexins A2 gene associatied with egg laying traits.

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a member of the A subfamily of a multifunctional calcium dependent membrane phospholipid binding protein family. The mRNA expression of ANXA2 is consistent with ovary function and egg laying in chickens. In this study, six nucleotide polymorphisms in the key promoter region of chicken ANXA2 gene (-2861 bp to -1394 bp), i.e.,: g.-2337 indel (GT), g.-2255 C > T, g. -2248 A > G, g.-2188 A > G, g.-2169 G > A, g.-2160 A > C, were identified. Their distributions in populations of Xinyang Brown, Recessive White Rock, Wenchang and Wenshang Barred chickens were analyzed. In the Recessive White Rock chicken population, CAA, CAG and TGG were three major haplotypes. Association analysis indicated that the individuals with diplotype TGG/TGG laid more eggs at 32 weeks, and the individual with diplotype CAG/TGG laid at the earlier age. Luciferase activity assay showed that mutation from C to T at -2255 increased trascriptional activity of chicken ANXA2, which is consistent with its effect on egg laying traits.

Resveratrol ameliorates penconazole-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish larvae.

Penconazole (PEN) is a typical systemic triazole fungicide with cardiac toxic effects. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenolic phytochemical with antioxidation properties. This study aimed to investigate if RES could protect against PEN-induced cardiotoxicity and to determine the underlying mechanisms. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L of PEN from 4 to 96 h post fertilization (hpf) and cardiac developmental toxicity was assessed. Our results showed that PEN decreased hatching rate, survival rate, heart rate and body length, with increased malformation rate and spontaneous movement. PEN induced pericardial edema and abnormal cardiac structure in myl7:egfp transgenic zebrafish, as well as downregulation of cardiac development related genes (nkx2.5, tbx2.5, gata4, noto, and vmhc). In addition, PEN elevated oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and triggered cardiomyocytic apoptosis by upregulation of p53, bcl-2, bax and caspase 3. These adverse outcomes were counteracted by RES, indicating that RES ameliorated PEN-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish. Taken together, this study revealed the important role of oxidative stress in PEN-induced cardiotoxicity and identified dietary RES supplementation as a novel strategy to mitigate its toxicity.

Constructing the vacancies and defects by hemp stem core alkali extraction residue biochar for highly effective removal of heavy metal ions.

Defects and vacancies are the essential reasons for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by low-cost biochar materials. This study aimed to use chemically activated hemp stem core alkali extraction residue biochar as an adsorbent to remove nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) ions from the simulated waste liquid. A large number of defects and vacancies were introduced into the pyrolysis process to study the efficient removal of heavy metal ions Cu and Ni by hemp rod biomass carbon material (HSR-BC) with different carbon base mass ratios and temperatures. The specific surface area of the prepared hemp rod active biochar was highly correlated with the aperture and carbon base ratio and temperature, and reached the maximum value (1429 m2/g) at 600 °C with the ratio of carbon to base (1:3.5). The removal rates of heavy metals Ni(II) and Cu(II) were as high as 94.25% and 99.54%, respectively, and the adsorption capacities were up to 7.85 mg/g and 24.88 mg/g. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir equation and chemo-adsorption was the main adsorption process. Comparing the surface defects and vacancies of biochar materials before and after adsorption showed that the defects of sp-C and oxygen vacancies produced on the edge of the carbon were the main active sites of the biochar material, an amount of carbon defects would become an anchor site for the Lewis acidic groups, the defective acid site strengthened the electron transfer between the functional group and the Ni(II)/Cu(II), promoted the strong cooperation of Ni(II)/Cu(II) ions with -COOH group to enable efficient and rapid adsorption removal. In addition, a large number of carbon-deficient structures could quickly anchor the Ni(II)/Cu(II) due to their local electron deficiency state, which was difficult to desorb. This study provided an in-depth understanding and guidance for the development of low-cost biochar materials with excellent removal performance of heavy metal ions.

A potential signaling axis between RON kinase receptor and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in pancreatic cancer.

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) of a pancreatic cancer cohort identified high MST1R (RON tyrosine kinase receptor) expression correlated with poor prognosis in human pancreatic cancer. RON expression is null/minimal in normal pancreas but elevates from pan-in lesions through invasive carcinomas. We report using multiple approaches RON directly regulates HIF-1α, a critical driver of genes involved in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. RON and HIF-1α are highly co-expressed in the 101 human PDAC tumors analyzed and RON expression correlated with HIF-1α expression in a subset of PDAC cell lines. knockdown of RON expression in RON positive cells blocked HIF-1α expression, whereas ectopic RON expression in RON null cells induced HIF-1α expression suggesting the direct regulation of HIF-1α by RON kinase receptor. RON regulates HIF-1α through an unreported transcriptional mechanism involving PI3 kinase-mediated AKT phosphorylation and Sp1-dependent HIF-1α promoter activity leading to increased HIF-1α mRNA expression. RON/HIF-1α modulation altered the invasive behavior of PDAC cells. A small-molecule RON kinase inhibitor decreased RON ligand, MSP-induced HIF-1α expression, and invasion of PDAC cells. Immunohistochemical analysis on RON knockdown orthotopic PDAC tumor xenograft confirmed that RON inhibition significantly blocked HIF-1α expression. RON/HIF-1α co-expression also exists in triple-negative breast cancer cells, a tumor type that also lacks molecular therapeutic targets. This is the first report describing RON/HIF-1α axis in any tumor type and is a potential novel therapeutic target.

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Integrating Airway Hyperresponsiveness (AHR) Examination Promotes Etiologic Diagnosis and Treatment for Children with Chronic Cough.

BACKGROUND Chronic cough is the main reason why parents seek medical treatment for their children. This study aimed to evaluate changes in airway function and inflammation levels and associated values in diagnosing and treating chronic cough. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study involved 118 children with chronic cough, including 45 cough-variant asthma (CVA) patients, 53 upper-airway cough syndrome (UACS) patients, and 20 post-infection cough (PIC) patients. Chronic cough was diagnosed as described by guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians for evaluating chronic cough. Pulmonary ventilation function and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were evaluated. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and eosinophilic airway inflammation were measured. Eosinophil (EOS) count in sputum was also examined. CVA patients were treated with inhaled glucocorticoids, which have anti-inflammatory effects. RESULTS FeNO and sputum EOS levels were higher in CVA patients compared with UACS and PIC patients (P<0.05). CVA patients demonstrated significantly higher small airway indexes, including 25% forced expiratory flow (FEF), 50% FEF, and 75% FEF, compared with UACS and PIC patients (P<0.05). FeNO level was positively correlated with EOS in sputum (r=0.468, P=0.0001) and cough symptom scores (r=0.402, P<0.05). FeNO, EOS, and cough symptoms were significantly improved in CVA patients after glucocorticoid treatment. AHR was improved in all chronic cough patients after treatment. Cough-relief CVA patients demonstrated significantly higher FeNO levels compared with those without cough relief (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS FeNO integrating pulmonary function and AHR examination can improve etiologic diagnosis and treatment for chronic cough in children.

Immune Reconstitution Syndrome with Initiation of Treatment of HBV/HIV Co-infection: Activity Flare associated with E antigen Seroconversion.

Immune reconstitution syndrome is a recognized complication with initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients co-infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis B flares are seen in 20%-25% of patients after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy, an estimated 1%-5% of whom develop clinical hepatitis. We present a case of highly active antiretroviral therapy initiation for HIV that led to a flare of HBV activity despite antiviral therapy directed towards both. Liver biopsy and longitudinal serologic evaluation lend support to the hypothesis that the flare in activity was representative of IRIS. Importantly, we document eAg/eAb seroconversion with the IRIS phenomenon.

All-trans retinoic acid upregulates the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Retinopathy of prematurity, a leading cause of visual impairment in low birth-weight infants, remains a crucial therapeutic challenge. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a promyelinating trophic factor that promotes rod and cone photoreceptor survival and cone outer segment regeneration in the degenerating retina. Ciliary neurotrophic factor expression is regulated by many factors such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). In this study, we found that ATRA increased CNTF expression in mouse retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and PKA signaling pathway is necessary for ATRA-induced CNTF upregulation. Furthermore, we showed that ATRA promoted CNTF expression through CREB binding to its promoter region. In addition, CNTF levels were decreased in serum of retinopathy of prematurity children and in retinal tissue of oxygen-induced retinopathy mice. In mouse RPE cells cultured with high oxygen, CNTF expression and secretion were decreased, but could be recovered after treatment with ATRA. In conclusion, our data suggest that ATRA administration upregulates CNTF expression in RPE cells.

Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Learning and Memory and Suppresses Proinflammatory Cytokines in Repetitive Febrile Seizures.

OBJECTIVE: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as a novel gasotransmitter, plays important roles in a number of physiological and pathological processes. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in different types of brain disorders but not in repetitive febrile seizure (febrile status epilepticus; FSE) models. This study aims to test whether a donor of H2S sodium sulfhydrate (NaHS) is also effective for FSE in rats. METHODS: FSE was induced in rat pups on postnatal day 10 in water at 45.0 ± 0.1°C for 10 consecutive days with or without preadministration of NaHS. Following evaluation of the latency and duration of hyperthermic seizures, impairment in learning and memory was measured by the Morris water maze test. Moreover, alterations of the microglial response and the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and TNF-α were calculated in the hippocampus. RESULTS: We found that NaHS significantly increased the latency and decreased the duration of hyperthermic seizures. Furthermore, NaHS-treated pups showed less impairment in learning and memory. In addition, NaHS inhibited FSE-induced microglial responses and suppressed the production of IL-1ß and TNF-α in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: NaHS appears to be effective for the treatment of FSE in infants and children, in part due to its anti-inflammatory action.

Effects of nutrition intervention on the nutritional status and outcomes of pediatric patients with pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to explore the correlation between nutrient level and pneumonia via the analysis and intervention of nutrient levels in pediatric patients with pneumonia. METHODS: Nutrient deficient children with pneumonia were randomized into intervention and non-intervention groups, and healthy children with the same age served as controls. Serum vitamin and trace element levels were determined. The nutrient levels, average hospital stay and nutrient deficiency rate were compared between groups. RESULTS: The pneumonia group showed significantly higher rates of iron, zinc and vitamin A deficiencies than the control group. The serum vitamin D level in asthmatic pneumonia group was lower than that in non-asthmatic pneumonia group and control group. Serum zinc, iron and vitamin A levels in the pneumonia group distinctly increased after intervention therapy. After vitamin D supplementation, the serum vitamin D level in asthmatic pneumonia group was significantly improved. Children in the intervention group had shorter hospital stays than children in the non-intervention group, whose hospital stays were longer than pediatric patients with normal nutrient levels. However, the difference between the intervention and normal nutrient groups was insignificant. CONCLUSION: Clinical nutrition intervention could improve the efficacy of pneumonia in pediatric patients and shorten hospital stay.

Rapid and sensitive analysis of multiple bioactive constituents in tripterygium glycosides tablets using liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A simultaneous determination method based on liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was developed for the analysis of 11 bioactive constituents in tripterygium glycosides tablets, an immune and inflammatory prescription used in China. The analysis was fully optimized on a 1.8 µm particle size C18 column with linear gradient elution, permitting good separation of the 11 analytes and two internal standards in 21 min. The quantitation of each target constituent was carried out using the narrow window extracted ion chromatograms with a ±l0 ppm extraction window, yielding good linearity (r(2) > 0.996) with a linear range of 10-1000 ng/mL. The limits of quantitation were low ranging from 0.25 to 5.02 ng/mL for the 11 analytes, and the precisions and repeatability were better than 1.6 and 5.3%, respectively. The acceptable recoveries obtained were in the range of 93.4-107.4%. This proposed method was successfully applied to quantify the 11 bioactive constituents in commercial samples produced by nine pharmaceutical manufacturers to profile the quality of these preparations. The overall results demonstrate that the contents of the 11 bioactive constituents in different samples were in great diversity, therefore, the quality, clinical safety, and efficacy of this drug needs further research and evaluation.

Increasing GSH-Px Activity and Activating Wnt Pathway Promote Fine Wool Growth in FGF5-Edited Sheep.

Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) plays key roles in promoting the transition from the anagen to catagen during the hair follicle cycle. The sheep serves as an excellent model for studying hair growth and is frequently utilized in various research processes related to human skin diseases. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate four FGF5-edited Dorper sheep and only low levels of FGF5 were detected in the edited sheep. The density of fine wool in GE sheep was markedly increased, and the proportion of fine wool with a diameter of 14.4-20.0 µm was significantly higher. The proliferation signal in the skin of gene-edited (GE) sheep was stronger than in wild-type (WT) sheep. FGF5 editing decreased cortisol concentration in the skin, further activated the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and regulated the expression of Wnt signaling pathways containing Wnt agonists (Rspondins, Rspos) and antagonists (Notum) in hair regeneration. We suggest that FGF5 not only mediates the activation of antioxidant pathways by cortisol, which constitutes a highly coordinated microenvironment in hair follicle cells, but also influences key signals of the Wnt pathway to regulate secondary hair follicle (SHF) development. Overall, our findings here demonstrate that FGF5 plays a significant role in regulating SHF growth in sheep and potentially serves as a molecular marker of fine wool growth in sheep breeding.

Characterization of immunologic properties of a second HLA-A2 epitope from a granule protease in CML patients and HLA-A2 transgenic mice.

The serine proteases, neutrophil elastase (HNE) and proteinase 3 (PR3), are aberrantly expressed in human myeloid leukemias. T-cell responses to these proteins have been correlated with remission in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Human PR3/HNE-specific CD8(+) T cells predominantly recognize a nonameric HLA-A2-restricted T-cell epitope called PR1 which is conserved in both Ags. However, CML patients have CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood recognizing an additional HLA-A2 epitope termed PR2. To assess immunologic properties of these Ags, novel recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVV) expressing PR3 and HNE were evaluated in HLA-A2 transgenic (Tg) mice (HHDII). Immunization of HHDII mice with rVV-PR3 elicited a robust PR3-specific CD8(+) T-cell response dominated by recognition of PR2, with minimal recognition of the PR1 epitope. This result was unexpected, because the PR2 peptide has been reported to bind poorly to HLA. To account for these findings, we proposed that HHDII mice negatively selected PR1-specific T cells because of the presence of this epitope within murine PR3 and HNE, leading to immunodominance of PR2-specific responses. PR2-specific splenocytes are cytotoxic to targets expressing naturally processed PR3, though PR1-specific splenocytes are not. We conclude that PR2 represents a functional T-cell epitope recognized in mice and human leukemia patients. These studies are registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00716911.

A Rare Type of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presenting With Cardiac Thrombus.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complication of end stage liver disease. Even rarer is right atrial tumor thrombus burden due to HCC. Common metastatic sites of HCC in descending order are lung, peritoneum, and bone. We present a patient with liver cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) admitted due to incidental finding of right atrial thrombus on echocardiography after missing HCC surveillance for four years. Patient received a computed tomography (CT) scan that showed an inconclusive liver lesion despite two liver biopsies, and patient was incidentally found to have clear cell HCC diagnosed after right hepatectomy. Right atrial thrombus was treated with surgical thrombectomy and pathology showed necrotic HCC thrombi in right atrium with bile pigment. Due to the possibility of tumor growth with extrahepatic manifestations, screening in compensated cirrhosis is essential.

Effect of CrF3 Addition on Photoluminescence Properties of Lead-Free Cs4SnBr6-xFx Zero-Dimensional Perovskite.

Zero-dimensional (0D) tin halide perovskites, characterized by their broadband and adjustable emissions, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and absence of self-absorption, are crucial for the fabrication of high-efficiency optoelectronic devices, such as LEDs, solar cells, and sensors. Despite these attributes, boosting their emission efficiency and stability poses a significant challenge. In this work, Cr3+-doped Cs4SnBr6-xFx perovskites were synthesized using a water-assisted wet ball-milling method. The effect of CrF3 addition on photoluminescence properties of Cs4SnBr6-xFx Perovskites was investigated. We found that Cr3+-doped Cs4SnBr6-xFx Perovskites exhibit a broad emission band, a substantial Stokes shift, and an efficient green light emission centered at about 525 nm at ambient temperature. The derived photoluminescence quantum yield amounted to as high as 56.3%. In addition, these Cr3+-doped Cs4SnBr6-xFx perovskites outperform their undoped counterparts in terms of thermal stability. Through a comprehensive analysis of photoluminescence measurements, our findings suggested that the elevated photoluminescence quantum yield can be attributed to the enhanced exciton binding energy of self-trapped excitons (STEs) and the suitable electron-phonon coupling resulting from the substantial distortion of [SnBr6]4- octahedra instigated by the addition of CrF3.

Synthesis and Improved Photoluminescence of SnF2-Derived CsSnCl3-SnF2:Mn2+ Perovskites via Rapid Thermal Treatment.

We report a rapid synthesis method for producing CsSnCl3:Mn2+ perovskites, derived from SnF2, and investigate the effects of rapid thermal treatment on their photoluminescence properties. Our study shows that the initial CsSnCl3:Mn2+ samples exhibit a double luminescence peak structure with PL peaks at approximately 450 nm and 640 nm, respectively. These peaks originate from defect-related luminescent centers and the 4T1→6A1 transition of Mn2+. However, as a result of rapid thermal treatment, the blue emission is significantly reduced and the red emission intensity is increased nearly twofold compared to the pristine sample. Furthermore, the Mn2+-doped samples demonstrate excellent thermal stability after the rapid thermal treatment. We suggest that this improvement in photoluminescence results from enhanced excited-state density, energy transfer between defects and the Mn2+ state, as well as the reduction of nonradiative recombination centers. Our findings provide valuable insights into the luminescence dynamics of Mn2+-doped CsSnCl3 and open up new possibilities for controlling and optimizing the emission of rare-earth-doped CsSnCl3.

Reproduction and viscera organ characteristics of MSTN and FGF5 dual-gene knockout sheep.

Introduction: Myostatin (MSTN) negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. However, its function in reproductive performance and visceral organs has not been thoroughly investigated. Previously, we prepared a MSTN and fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) double-knockout sheep, which was a MSTN and FGF5 dual-gene biallelic homozygous (MF-/-) mutant. Methods: To understand the role of MSTN and FGF5 in reproductive performance and visceral organs, this study evaluated the ejaculation amount, semen pH, sperm motility, sperm density, acrosome integrity, rate of teratosperm, and seminal plasma biochemical indicators in adult MF-/- rams. We also compared the overall morphology, head, head-neck junction, middle segment and the transection of middle segment of spermatozoa between wildtype (WT) and MF-/- rams. Results: Our results showed that the seminal plasma biochemical indicators, sperm structure and all sperm indicators were normal, and the fertilization rate also has no significant difference between WT and MF-/- rams, indicating that the MF-/- mutation did not affect the reproductive performance of sheep. Additional analysis evaluated the histomorphology of the visceral organs, digestive system and reproductive system of MF+/- sheep, the F1 generation of MF-/-, at the age of 12 months. There was an increased spleen index, but no significant differences in the organ indexes of heart, liver, lung, kidney and stomach, and no obvious differences in the histomorphology of visceral organs, digestive system and reproductive system in MF+/- compared with WT sheep. No MF+/- sheep were observed to have any pathological features. Discussion: In summary, the MSTN and FGF5 double-knockout did not affect reproductive performance, visceral organs and digestive system in sheep except for differences previously observed in muscle and fat. The current data provide a reference for further elucidating the application of MSTN and FGF5 double-knockout sheep.

Angiolipoma of the Colon: A Rare Cause of Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Angiolipomas are benign, subcutaneous tumors that are rarely found in the gastrointestinal tract. Still, because they may present with abdominal pain and rectal bleeding, it is important to recognize the clinical, radiological, and endoscopic findings associated with these masses. Herein we report a case of an angiolipoma of the colon diagnosed in a 49-year-old male presenting with self-limited gastrointestinal bleeding who subsequently underwent surgical resection without complications.