De novo full length transcriptome analysis and gene expression profiling to identify genes involved in phenylethanol glycosides biosynthesis in Cistanche tubulosa.

BACKGROUND: The dried stem of Cistanche, is a famous Chinese traditional medicine. The main active pharmacodynamic components are phenylethanol glycosides (PhGs). Cistanche tubulosa produces higher level of PhGs in its stems than that of Cistanche deserticola. However, the key genes in the PhGs biosynthesis pathway is not clear in C. tubulosa. RESULTS: In this study, we performed the full-length transcriptome sequencing and gene expression profiling of C. tubulosa using PacBio combined with BGISEQ-500 RNA-seq technology. Totally, 237,772 unique transcripts were obtained, ranging from 199 bp to 31,857 bp. Among the unique transcripts, 188,135 (79.12%) transcripts were annotated. Interestingly, 1080 transcripts were annotated as 22 enzymes related to PhGs biosynthesis. We measured the content of echinacoside, acteoside and total PhGs at two development stages, and found that the content of PhGs was 46.74% of dry matter in young fleshy stem (YS1) and then decreased to 31.22% at the harvest stage (HS2). To compare with YS1, 13,631 genes were up-regulated, and 15,521 genes were down regulated in HS2. Many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified to be involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, phenylalanine metabolism pathway, and tyrosine metabolism pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of transcriptome study of C. tubulosa which provided the foundation for understanding of PhGs biosynthesis. Based on these results, we proposed a potential model for PhGs biosynthesis in C. tubulosa.

Inhibition of the miR-193b-3p protects against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced HUVECs injury by upregulating ALDH2.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the most dangerous factor for human death, which is a lipid-driven chronic inflammatory disorder of the arteries. Growing evidence has showed that microRNAs play an important role in AS. However, the role of mir-193b-3p in atherosclerosis has been poorly studied to date. Therefore, we focused on the potential role of miR-193b-3p in atherosclerosis. The expressions of miR-193b-3p in the serum of AS patients were detected. We also established an oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) apoptosis model in vitro. The mRNA and protein levels of target molecules were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Apoptosis of HUVECs was determined by Annexin V/PI staining on a flow cytometry. The potential molecular targets of miR-193b-3p were investigated by applying such technologies as dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assay. Our study showed that miR-193b-3p expression level was significantly lower in AS patients than controls. ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve (AUC) of plasma miR-193b-3p was 0.859. We also found that miR-193b-3p was decreased in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs and knockdown of miR-193b-3p suppressed ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury. By using bioinformatics analysis, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) was predicted as a downstream target of miR-193b-3p. The ALDH2 gene is also involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Meanwhile, inhibition of miR-193b-3p and ALDH2 protects ox-LDL-induced HUVECs against endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) stress. In conclusion, inhibition of miR-193b-3p was able to suppress ox-LDL-induced injury in AS through targeting ALDH2 and reducing ER stress.

Perioperative coronary artery spasm after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in the non-manipulated coronary artery.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative coronary artery spasm (CAS) following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a severe or lethal condition that is rarely reported. In addition, rare cases with CAS following CABG in the non-manipulated coronary artery are angiographically documented in the perioperative period. We aimed to report our experiences on the diagnosis and treatment of a case with CAS following off-pump CABG in the non-manipulated coronary artery. METHODS: A 57-year old male with coronary heart disease and unstable angina willing to undergo CABG was admitted to our department. CABG was recommended as he showed 90% stenosis in distal left anterior descending artery, 90% stenosis in intermediate branch, 90% stenosis in left circumflex coronary artery, as well as 50% stenosis in proximal right coronary artery (RCA). RESULTS: After CABG, the patient showed Adams-Stokes syndrome and ST-segment elevation. Then CPR was conducted and coronary angiography indicated perioperative CAS in the non-manipulated posterior descending artery. For the treatment, the patient received nitroglycerin injection into the coronary artery by catheter and pumping of diltiazem. Finally, the patient was discharged on day 7 after surgery. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to summarize the studies focused on the diagnosis and treatment of such condition, which indicated that all of the CAS cases occurred in the manipulated vessels, except one study showing CAS in the untouched native coronary artery which was similar with our case. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative CAS in the non-manipulated coronary artery following CABG is a severe or lethal condition that is rarely reported, which deserves close attention by the clinicians in clinical practice.

Effects and Mechanism of Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation in a Rat Model of Heart Failure Due to Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND Impaired heart function induced by myocardial infarction is a leading cause of chronic heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in a rat model of HF due to myocardial infarction. MATERIAL AND METHODS To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of NIPPV on acute myocardial infarction-induced HF, we established a rat model of HF by ligating the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery and confirmed by ultrasonic cardiography and brain natriuretic peptide 45 detection. RESULTS The levels of heat-shock protein (HSP)-70 increased and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha decreased in the group that received NIPPV treatment compared with the control group. In addition, the histopathologic results showed less severe inflammatory infiltration and a smaller area of myocardial fibrosis in the NIPPV treatment group. CONCLUSIONS In a rat model of HF due to myocardial infarction, NIPPV resulted in increased levels of HSP70 and reduced expression of MMP2, MMP9, and TNF-alpha and reduced myocardial neutrophil infiltration and fibrosis. Taken together, we showed that NIPPV is an effective treatment for HF induced by myocardial infarction by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and preventing microvascular embolism.

Effects of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma on Intraoperative Transfusion and Short-Term Outcomes in Total Arch Replacement (Sun's Procedure): A Prospective, Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of collecting and retransfusing autologous platelet rich plasma (aPRP) on the amount of allogeneic blood usage in total arch replacement (Sun's surgery) and the outcomes 30 days after surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized trial. SETTING: A tertiary university hospital specialized in cardiovascular diseases. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 120 patients undergoing Sun's surgery for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. INTERVENTIONS: aPRP was harvested before incision and was re-transfused after heparin neutralization for patients in the treatment group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative demographic data between the 2 study groups. Intraoperative transfusions of erythrocyte (p = 0.009), plasma (p = 0.017), cryoprecipitate (p = 0.002), and platelets (p < 0.001) in the treatment group were reduced significantly. In addition, less blood loss was observed in the treatment group (p = 0.002). The durations of postoperative mechanical ventilation (p = 0.029) and hospitalization (p = 0.002) of the treatment group were significantly shorter. There were no statistically significant differences in the length of intensive care unit stay, the incidence of complications, and mortality 30 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: In total arch replacement (Sun's surgery), collecting and retransfusing aPRP reduced intraoperative transfusions of erythrocyte, plasma, and cryoprecipitate and decreased the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation and hospitalization. This technique had no significant effect on the incidence of complications and mortality 30 days postoperatively.

[Efficacies of tricuspid valve replacement versus repair for moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation with right heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacies of tricuspid valve replacement versus plasty for moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation with right heart failure. METHODS: From January 2003 to June 2008, a total of 228 patients with right heart failure undergoing tricuspid valve operations were selected. And the procedures included tricuspid valve plasty (n=127) and tricuspid valve replacement (n=101). During a follow-up period of 65 months, their perioperative data were collected to evaluate the surgical outcomes. RESULTS: The abnormal liver function rate and average pulmonary artery systolic pressure in tricuspid valve plasty group were lower than those in tricuspid valve replacement group (P=0.023, 0.033). In replacement group, average aortic cross-clamping time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, ventilation time and stay length of intensive care unit (ICU), the usage of inotropic drug was significantly higher than repair group (P<0.01). The early complication rate (15.8%) and case fatality rate (6.3%) of repair group were much lower than those of replacement group (27.3%, 16.8%) (P=0.042, 0.011). Long-term follow-ups revealed that the tricuspid valve thrombosis rate in replacement group was higher than that in repair group (P=0.036). And the recurrence rate of moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation in repair group was higher than that in replacement group (28.7% vs 8.8%) (P=0.011). The survival rate of patients in repair group was much higher than that of replacement group at 3 months, 1, 3, 5 years post-operation. However, the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.231, 0.089, 0.133, 0.078). CONCLUSION: For moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation leading to right heart failure, the early efficacy of tricuspid valve plasty is much better than that of tricuspid valve replacement. The mid-term recurrence rate after tricuspid valve repair is higher than that of replacement.

Simultaneous detection of five enteric viruses associated with gastroenteritis by use of a PCR assay: a single real-time multiplex reaction and its clinical application.

We developed a highly sensitive reverse transcription and multiplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay that can identify five viruses, including six genogroups, in a single reaction: norovirus genogroups I and II; sapovirus genogroups I, II, IV, and V; human rotavirus A; adenovirus serotypes 40 and 41; and human astrovirus. In comparison to monoplex rtPCR assays, the sensitivities and specificities of the multiplex rtPCR ranged from 75% to 100% and from 99% to 100%, respectively, evaluated on 812 clinical stool specimens.

Rapid genetic typing of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli using a two-tube modified molecular beacon based multiplex real-time PCR assay and its clinical application.

BACKGROUND: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC), including Enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC), Enteroaggregative E.coli (EAEC), Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC), Enterohemolysin E.coli (EHEC) and Enteroinvasive E.coli (EIEC) causes diarrhea or hemolytic uremic syndromes among infants and travelers around the world. A rapid, reliable and repeatable method is urgent for identifying DEC so as to provide the reference for responding to diarrheal disease outbreak and the treatment of the diarrheal patients associated with DEC. METHODS: In this study, specific primers and modified molecular beacon probes of nine specific virulence genes, whose 5'end were added with homo tail sequence, were designed; and a two-tube modified molecular beacon based multiplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay for the identification of five Escherichia coli pathotypes, including ETEC, EAEC, EPEC, EHEC and EIEC was developed and optimized. Totally 102 bacterial strains, including 52 reference bacterial strains and 50 clinical strains were detected to confirm whether the target genes selected were specific. Then detection limits of the assay were tested. Lastly, the assay was applied to the detection of 11860 clinical samples to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the developed assay compared with the conventional PCR. RESULTS: The target genes were 100% specific as assessed on 102 bacterial strains since no cross-reactions were observed. The detection limits ranged from 88 CFU/mL (EHEC) to 880 CFU/mL (EPEC). Compared with the conventional PCR, the specificity and sensitivity of the multiplex rtPCR was 100% and over 99%, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) for each target gene ranged from 0.45% to 1.53%. 171 positive clinical samples were mostly identified as ETEC (n = 111, 64.9%) and EPEC (n = 38, 22.2%), which were the dominating pathotypes of DEC strains. CONCLUSION: The developed multiplex rtPCR assay for the identification of DEC was high sensitive and specific and could be applied to the rapid identification of DEC in clinical and public health laboratories.

Identification of important genes related to HVSMC proliferation and migration in graft restenosis based on WGCNA.

The great saphenous vein is the most commonly used vessel for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but its use has been associated with a high restenosis rate at 10-year follow-up. This study sought to determine the key genes associated with vein graft restenosis that could serve as novel therapeutic targets. A total of 3075 upregulated and 1404 downregulated genes were identified after transcriptome sequencing of three pairs of restenosed vein grafts and intraoperative spare great saphenous veins. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed that the floralwhite module had the highest correlation with vein graft restenosis. The intersection of the floralwhite module gene set and the upregulated gene set contained 615 upregulated genes strongly correlated with vein graft restenosis. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified six hub genes (ITGAM, PTPRC, TLR4, TYROBP, ITGB2 and CD4), which were obtained using the STRING database and CytoHubba. Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses showed that the common hub genes were mainly involved in the composition of the cell membrane; in biological processes such as neutrophil degranulation, receptor binding and intercellular adhesion, innate immune deficiency; and other signaling pathways. Finally, ITGB2 was selected as the target gene, and its expression was verified in tissues. The results showed that ITGB2 was significantly overexpressed in occluded vein grafts. To study the function of ITGB2 in HVSMCs, primary HVSMCs were cultured and successfully identified. EdU incorporation, wound healing and transwell assays showed that ITGB2 silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of HVSMCs stimulated by PDGF-BB. Overall, our study provides a basis for future studies on preventing restenosis following CABG.

Molecular mechanisms of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian/thyroid axis regulating age at first egg in geese.

Age at first egg (AFE) has consistently garnered interest as a crucial reproductive indicator within poultry production. Previous studies have elucidated the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes in regulating poultry sexual maturity. Concurrently, there was evidence suggesting a potential co-regulatory relationship between these 2 axes. However, as of now, no comprehensive exploration of the key pathways and genes responsible for the crosstalk between the HPO and HPT axes in the regulation of AFE has been reported. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of morphological differences and performed transcriptomic analysis on the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma between normal laying group (NG) and abnormal laying group (AG). Morphological results showed that the thyroid index difference (D-) value (thyroid index D-value=right thyroid index-left thyroid index) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the NG than in the AG, while the ovarian index was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the NG than in the AG. Furthermore, between NG and AG, we identified 99, 415, 167, and 1182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis highlighted that DEGs from 4 tissues were predominantly enriched in the "biological processes" category. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that 16, 14, 3, and 26 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma. The MAPK signaling pathway emerged as the sole enriched pathway across all 4 tissues. Employing an integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and correlation analysis, we found GREB1 emerged as a pivotal component within the HPO axis to regulate estrogen-related signaling in the HPT axis, meanwhile, the HPT axis influenced ovarian development by regulating thyroid hormone-related signaling mainly through OPN5. Then, 10 potential candidate genes were identified, namely IGF1, JUN, ERBB4, KDR, PGF, FGFR1, GREB1, OPN5, DIO3, and THRB. These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the physiological and genetic mechanisms by which the HPO and HPT axes co-regulate goose AFE.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation states basilar artery thrombectomy and left posterior cerebral artery stent thrombectomy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a new type of extracorporeal respiratory and circulatory assistance device. It can drain venous blood out of the body and inject it into veins or arteries after being oxygenated by an oxygenator (membrane lung) to replace lung and heart functions in a short time. ECMO can provide tissue blood perfusion and gas exchange almost equivalent to cardiac output and extend the effective treatment time window for patients with acute circulatory failure to restore cardiopulmonary function. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of an 81-year-old woman who underwent whole cerebral angiography, basilar artery thrombectomy and stent thrombectomy in the posterior artery of the left brain after implantation of ECMO. The patient was admitted to the hospital due to myocardial infarction. Considering that the cause of the patient's disturbance of consciousness was unknown and cerebrovascular accident could not be ruled out after the implantation of ECMO, the department of Radioactive Intervention performed cerebral angiography. And the result of the angiography indicated vascular occlusion. After the basilar artery thrombectomy and stent thrombectomy in the posterior artery of the left brain, the patency of the occlusive vessel was achieved. CONCLUSION: Although the patient eventually died of circulatory failure, the result of this case verifies the feasibility of cerebral angiography and thrombectomy in patients with implanted ECMO in the intubated state.

Effects of cage vs. net-floor mixed rearing system on goose spleen histomorphology and gene expression profiles.

Due to the demands for both environmental protection and modernization of the goose industry in China, the traditional goose waterside rearing systems have been gradually transitioning to the modern intensive dryland rearing ones, such as the net-floor mixed rearing system (MRS) and cage rearing system (CRS). However, the goose immune responses to different dryland rearing systems remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate and compare the age-dependent effects of MRS and CRS on the splenic histomorphological characteristics and immune-related genes expression profiles among three economically important goose breeds, including Sichuan White goose (SW), Gang goose (GE), and Landes goose (LD). Morphological analysis revealed that the splenic weight and organ index of SW were higher under CRS than under MRS (p < 0.05). Histological observations showed that for SW and LD, the splenic corpuscle diameter and area as well as trabecular artery diameter were larger under MRS than under CRS at 30 or 43 weeks of age (p < 0.05), while the splenic red pulp area of GE was larger under CRS than under MRS at 43 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Besides, at 43 weeks of age, higher mRNA expression levels of NGF, SPI1, and VEGFA in spleens of SW were observed under MRS than under CRS (p < 0.05), while higher levels of HSPA2 and NGF in spleens of LD were observed under MRS than under CRS (p < 0.05). For GE, there were higher mRNA expression levels of MYD88 in spleens under CRS at 30 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Moreover, our correlation analysis showed that there appeared to be more pronounced positive associations between the splenic histological parameters and expression levels of several key immune-related genes under MRS than under CRS. Therefore, it is speculated that the geese reared under MRS might exhibit enhanced immune functions than those under CRS, particularly for SW and LD. Although these phenotypic differences are assumed to be associated with the age-dependent differential expression profiles of HSPA2, MYD88, NGF, SPI1, and VEGFA in the goose spleen, the underlying regulatory mechanisms await further investigations.

Comparative transcriptomics analysis identifies crucial genes and pathways during goose spleen development.

As the largest peripheral lymphoid organ in poultry, the spleen plays an essential role in regulating the body's immune capacity. However, compared with chickens and ducks, information about the age- and breed-related changes in the goose spleen remains scarce. In this study, we systematically analyzed and compared the age-dependent changes in the morphological, histological, and transcriptomic characteristics between Landes goose (LG; Anser anser) and Sichuan White goose (SWG; Anser cygnoides). The results showed a gradual increase in the splenic weights for both LG and SWG until week 10, while their splenic organ indexes reached the peak at week 6. Meanwhile, the splenic histological indexes of both goose breeds continuously increased with age, reaching the highest levels at week 30. The red pulp (RP) area was significantly higher in SWG than in LG at week 0, while the splenic corpuscle (AL) diameter was significantly larger in LG than in SWG at week 30. At the transcriptomic level, a total of 1710 and 1266 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between week 0 and week 30 were identified in spleens of LG and SWG, respectively. Meanwhile, a total of 911 and 808 DEGs in spleens between LG and SWG were identified at weeks 0 and 30, respectively. Both GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the age-related DEGs of LG or SWG were dominantly enriched in the Cell cycle, TGF-beta signaling, and Wnt signaling pathways, while most of the breed-related DEGs were enriched in the Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, ECM-receptor interaction, and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, through construction of protein-protein interaction networks using significant DEGs, it was inferred that three hub genes including BUB1, BUB1B, and TTK could play crucial roles in regulating age-dependent goose spleen development while GRIA2, GRIA4, and RYR2 could be crucial for the breed-specific goose spleen development. These data provide novel insights into the splenic developmental differences between Chinese and European domestic geese, and the identified crucial pathways and genes are helpful for a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating goose immune functions.

Use of the Neuroform Atlas Stent or LVIS Jr Stent for Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in Parent Arteries of <2 mm in Diameter: A Multicenter Experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Neuroform Atlas stent and the LVIS Jr stent are intracranial microstent systems for the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms. Hence, this study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the Neuroform Atlas stent and the LVIS Jr stent for the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in parent arteries of <2 mm in diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2022 to April 2023, the clinical and imaging data of 135 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coiling using the Neuroform Atlas or LVIS Jr stent in parent arteries of <2 mm in diameter were retrospectively analyzed. Stent apposition was evaluated by high-resolution conebeam CT (HR-CBCT). Immediate aneurysm-embolization attenuation and occlusion at 6-month follow-up were evaluated using 2D DSA and the modified Raymond-Roy classification. Adverse events were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken to determine the independent factors affecting incomplete stent apposition. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five patients (135 aneurysms) underwent stent-assisted coiling (66 Neuroform Atlas stents and 69 LVIS Jr stents). Intraoperative HR-CBCT showed that 1 Neuroform Atlas stent and 11 LVIS Jr stents had incomplete stent apposition at the aneurysm neck (P < .05). Perioperative complications occurred in 3 cases (2.22%). These comprised 2 cases of neurologic complications (1 case of distal intracranial vascular embolism and 1 case of cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage) and 1 case of severe postprocedural gastrointestinal hemorrhage. DSA follow-up showed 3 cases of aneurysm recurrence in the LVIS Jr group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that a stent angle of ≥75° (OR, 23.963; P = .005) or a parent artery diameter mismatch ratio of ≥1.25 (OR, 8.043; P = .037) were risk factors for incomplete stent apposition, especially for the LVIS Jr stent (OR, 20.297; P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: The Neuroform Atlas stent and LVIS Jr stent are efficacious in the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in parent arteries of <2 mm in diameter. Apposition of the LVIS Jr stent was worse than in the Neuroform Atlas stent at the neck of some aneurysms.

The combined use of D-dimer testing and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the early differential diagnosis of aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to ascertain whether a diagnostic strategy combining D-dimer with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could improve the discriminative performance for aortic dissection (AD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Baseline levels of D-dimer and NLR were measured in patients suspected of AD. The diagnostic performance and clinical usefulness of D-dimer, NLR, and their combination were assessed and compared using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, logistic regression analysis, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: The levels of D-dimer and NLR were both significantly higher in AD patients. The combined use displayed good discriminatory performance with an area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.869, which was preferable to that of D-dimer. Although no meaningful improvement was found in the AUC by comparison with NLR alone, the combined use could significantly improve the discrimination power with a continuous NRI of 60.0% and an IDI of 4.9%. DCA demonstrated that the net benefit of the combined use was preferred over that of either single test. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of D-dimer and NLR could improve the discriminatory efficiency for AD with the potential in clinical application. This study may provide a novel diagnostic strategy for AD. More studies need to be done to confirm the findings of this study.

Transcriptomic analysis of the thyroid and ovarian stroma reveals key pathways and potential candidate genes associated with egg production in ducks.

The importance of thyroid-related genes has been repeatedly mentioned in the transcriptome studies of poultry with different laying performance, yet there are few systematic studies to unravel the regulatory mechanisms of the thyroid-ovary axis in the poultry egg production process. In this study, we compared the transcriptome profiles in the thyroid and ovarian stroma between high egg production (GP) and low egg production (DP) ducks, and then revealed the pathways and candidate genes involved in the process. We identified 1,114 and 733 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the thyroid and ovarian stroma, separately. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that a total of 504 and 189 GO terms were identified in the thyroid and ovarian stroma (P < 0.05). Three common GO terms were identified from the top 5 GO terms with the highest significant level in two tissues, including extracellular space, calcium ion binding, and integral component of plasma membrane. The enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that 15 and 14 KEGG pathways were significantly (P < 0.05) enriched in the thyroid and ovarian stroma, respectively. And, there were 8 common pathways, including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, PPAR signaling pathway, melanogenesis, wnt signaling pathway, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Notably, the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway was the most significantly enriched by the DEGs both in the thyroid and ovarian stroma. The interaction among DEGs enriched in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and ECM-receptor interaction suggested that the thyroid may regulate ovarian development by these genes. Through integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and KEGG pathway maps, 9 key DEGs (PTH, THBS2, THBS4, CD36, ADIPOQ, ACSL6, PRKAA2, CRH, and PCK1) were identified, which could play crucial roles in the thyroid to regulate ovarian function and then affect egg-laying performance between GP and DP. This study serves as a basis to explore the molecular mechanism of the thyroid affecting ovarian function and egg production in female ducks and may help to identify molecular markers that can be used for duck genetic selection.

NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 play a role in atherosclerosis and chronic stress.

OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of fibrofatty plaques in the intima of arteries, resulting in thickening of the vessel wall and narrowing of the lumen. Chronic stress refers to individuals in a state of long-term chronic stress. However, the relationship between NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 and atherosclerosis and chronic stress is unclear. METHOD: The atherosclerosis with chronic stress group data file was used. DEGs were screened and WGCNA was performed. Construction and analysis of PPI Network. Functional enrichment analysis, GSEA, gene expression heatmap, immune infiltration analysis and mRNA analysis were performed. CTD was used to find diseases most related to core genes. WB was performed. TargetScan was used to screen miRNAs of DEGs. RESULTS: 1708 DEGs were identified. According to GO analysis, they were mainly enriched in catabolic processes, organic acid metabolism processes, carboxylic acid metabolism processes. KEGG analysis showed that they were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, fatty acid metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis / gluconeogenesis, fructose and mannose metabolism. Gene expression heatmap showed that the core genes (NDUFB11, NDUFS3) were lowly expressed in samples of those with atherosclerosis accompanied by chronic stress and highly expressed in the normal samples. NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 were associated with necrosis, hyperplasia, inflammation, renal disease, weight loss, memory impairment, and cognitive impairment. WB showed that the expression level of NDUFS3 in atherosclerosis and chronic stress was lower than that in control group. CONCLUSIONS: NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 are underexpressed in atherosclerosis and chronic stress; the lower NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 levels, the worse the prognosis.

Role of SNPs located in the exon 9 of ATAPA1 gene on goose egg production.

The meat and egg of goose is one of the main components of human food supply. The improvement of goose egg production is particularly important for the increasing human population. However, limited information is available about the effective molecular markers and mechanisms of egg production in goose. In this study, we jointly utilized the data of genome resequencing in different egg production Sichuan white goose and transcriptome at different follicle development stages to identified the molecular markers and mechanisms of egg production. The coefficient of variation of individual egg production in Sichuan white goose population is 0.42 to 0.49. Fifty individuals with the highest (laying 365 days egg number, LEN365 = 79-145) and 50 individuals with the lowest (LEN365 = 8-48) egg production were divided into high and low egg production groups. Based on whole-genome sequencing data of the selected samples, 36 SNPs (annotation novel.12.470, CELF2, ATP1A1, KCNJ6, RAB4A, UST, REV3L, DHX15, CAVN2, SLC5A9, Cldn5, MRPS23, and Tspan2) associated with the LEN365 were identified, involving multiple pathways such as metabolism and endocrinology. Notably, 5 SNPs located in the exon9 of ATP1A1 were identified by GWAS analysis. The association analysis with LEN365 showed the phenotypic variance explained of this haplotype consisting of 5 SNPs is 20.51%. Through transcriptome data analysis, we found the expression of ATP1A1 in the granular layers was increased in the stage of small yellow follicle to large yellow follicle (LYF) and LYF to F5, while decreased in F2 to F1. For the first time, we report the haplotype region formed by 5 SNPS on exon9 of ATP1A1 is associated with egg production in goose and involved in follicle selection and maturation processes.

NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 regulate arterial atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis: Potential markers of atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that thickens the blood vessel walls and narrows the lumen. Venous thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in the body's deep veins or pulmonary arteries. However, the relationship between NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 and atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis is unclear. We employed data files that combined atherosclerosis and chronic stress groups. Subsequently, we conducted differential gene expression analysis (DEGs) and performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We constructed and analyzed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Further analyses included functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene expression heatmaps, immune infiltration analysis, and mRNA analysis. By comparing our findings with the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), we identified the most relevant diseases associated with the core genes. Additionally, we utilized TargetScan to screen for miRNAs regulating the central DEGs. To validate our results, we conducted Western Blot experiments at the cellular level. A total of 1747 DEGs were co-identified. According to the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of differentially expressed genes, they were primarily enriched in mitochondrial gene expression, mitochondrial envelope, organelle membrane, and mitochondrial inner membrane categories. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the target cells were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, ribosomes, and histidine metabolism. The intersection of enriched terms from both GO and KEGG analyses showed significant enrichment in mitochondrial gene expression, mitochondrial envelope, organelle inner membrane, ribosomal structural constituents, histidine metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. Eight core genes were identified, including NDUFS5, UQCRQ, COX6C, COX7B, ATP5ME, NDUFS3, NDUFA3, and NDUFB11. The gene expression heatmap demonstrated that core genes (NDUFB11 and NDUFS3) were downregulated in atherosclerosis with venous thrombosis samples and upregulated in normal samples. CTD analysis revealed that the core genes NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 were associated with pain, arterial diseases, atherosclerosis, arteritis, venous thrombosis formation, and venous thromboembolism. We added Western Blot basic cell experiment for verification. NDUFB11 and NDUFS3 are downregulated in atherosclerosis and venous thrombosis, associated with poorer prognosis, and may serve as potential biomarkers for both diseases.

[Clinical efficacy of malignant obstructive jaundice treated by domestic biliary metallic stent insertion].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of implanted biliary metallic stents in the management of malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). METHODS: Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and stent insertion were performed in 241 consecutive patients to treat malignant biliary obstruction between December 1998 and February 2009. The study end point was patient death. All patients were followed-up until death or until February 2010. The therapeutic efficacy was determined by statistical analysis of life span and pre- and post-operative laboratory indices. RESULTS: All 241 patients were successfully stented. The level of bilirubin descended obviously within four weeks of implantation (P less than 0.05), and the early mortality rate was 4.56% (11/241). Two-hundred-and-two patients were followed-up (range: 8-193 weeks post-transplantation) and showed a median survival of 43.55 weeks. The survival rates at 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks post-transplantation were 87%, 66%, 56%, and 41%, respectively. The stent patency rates at 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks post-transplantation were 70%, 46%, 36% and 24%, respectively; the mean stent patency was 27.57 weeks. Cox regression analysis identified the strong predictors of improved survival as an initial bilirubin level of less than 221 mumol/L (P = 0.01) and a stent-induced bilirubin reduction of more than 50% (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Transhepatic metallic biliary stenting is a safe and effective therapeutic intervention for malignant biliary obstruction. Significant periods of survival and palliation of jaundice can be achieved with this method. Hyperbilirubinemia and a stent-induced bilirubin reduction of less than 50% are independent predictive factors for the survival of MOJ patients.