Effect and safety of paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Paroxetine is the first non-hormone therapy for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) approved based on the results of two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013.

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the effect and safety of paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms (VMS).

SEARCH STRATEGY

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and four Chinese databases was searched from the date of their inception to 7 June 2014.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs on the effect of paroxetine compared with placebo or no treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who experienced moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers screened records and extracted the information independently. The included studies were appraised by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We synthesised the data in random-effects models and rated the quality of evidence using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach.

MAIN RESULTS

Five articles with six RCTs (1571 participants) were included. Paroxetine significantly reduced the frequency of hot flushes by 8.86 per week (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.69-12.04, P < 0.00001, I(2)  = 83%) at week 4 and 7.36 per week (95% CI, 4.25-10.46, P < 0.00001, I(2)  = 62%) at week 12. The quality of the evidence on the effect of paroxetine for VMS was moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

There was moderate quality of evidence supporting the effectiveness of paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms; however, it causes nausea and dizziness.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Review finds paroxetine effective for menopausal symptoms with some side effects: evidence strength moderate.

Effect of egg weight on composition, embryonic growth, and expression of amino acid transporter genes in yolk sac membranes and small intestines of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of egg weight on the composition of the egg, the growth of the embryo, and the expression of amino acid transporter genes in the yolk sac membranes and small intestines of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia). A total of 240 fertilized eggs were collected and divided into two groups based on the weight of the eggs, light (LE) and heavy (HE). The composition of 20 eggs from each group was measured, and the remaining eggs were weighed and placed in an incubator. On embryonic days (E) 9, 11, 13, and 15 and day of hatch (DOH), 15 embryos/hatchlings from each group were measured for embryonic growth, and samples were collected. The HE had heavier yolk and albumen weights than the LE (P < 0.01). Compared with the LE, the HE had heavier yolk-free embryonic body and yolk sac weights from E13 to DOH (P < 0.05). Additionally, the HE had larger yolk sac membrane weights from E13 to E15 (P < 0.05) and had more residual yolk sac content on DOH than those of the LE (P < 0.01). The yolk absorption was greater for the HE than for the LE from E11 to E13 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of CAT2 and PepT1 mRNA in the yolk sac membranes was greater in the HE than in the LE on E13 (P < 0.05). Compared with the LE, the gene expression of EAAT2 in the intestine on E13 was greater in the HE, whereas the expression of EAAT3 was lower in the HE (P < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that egg weight influenced the composition of the eggs, embryonic development, and expression of amino acid transporter genes in the yolk sac membranes and small intestines of pigeon embryos.

A high frequency of allopolyploid speciation in the gymnospermous genus Ephedra and its possible association with some biological and ecological features

The origin and evolution of polyploids have been studied extensively in angiosperms and ferns but very rarely in gymnosperms. With the exception of three species of conifers, all natural polyploid species of gymnosperms belong to Ephedra, in which more than half of the species show polyploid cytotypes. Here, we investigated the origin and evolution of polyploids of Ephedra distributed in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and neighbouring areas. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to measure the ploidy levels of the sampled species that are represented by multiple individuals from different populations, and then, two single‐copy nuclear genes (LFY and DDB2) and two chloroplast DNA fragments were used to unravel the possible origins and maternal donors of the polyploids. The results indicate that the studied polyploid species are allopolyploids, and suggest that allotetraploidy is a dominant mode of speciation in Ephedra. The high percentage of polyploids in the genus could be related to some of its biological attributes such as vegetative propagation, a relatively high rate of unreduced gamete formation, and a small genome size relative to most other gymnosperms. Significant ecological divergences between allotetraploids and their putative progenitors were detected by PCAs and anova and Tukey's tests, with the exception of E. saxatilis. The overlap of geographical distributions and ecological niches of some diploid species could have provided opportunities for interspecific hybridization and allopolyploid speciation.

Floral nectary, nectar production dynamics, and floral reproductive isolation among closely related species of Pedicularis

Floral nectar is thought to be one of the most important rewards that attract pollinators in Pedicularis; however, few studies have examined variation of nectary structure and/or nectar secretion in the genus, particularly among closely related species. Here we investigated nectary morphology, nectar quality, and nectar production dynamics in flowers of Pedicularis section Cyathophora. We found a conical floral nectary at the base of the ovary in species of the rex-thamnophila clade. Stomata were found on the surface of the nectary, and copious starch grains were detected in the nectary tissues. In contrast, a semi-annular nectary was found in flowers of the species of the superba clade. Only a few starch grains were observed in tissues of the semi-annular nectary, and the nectar sugar concentration in these flowers was much lower than that in the flowers of the rex-thamnophila clade. Our results indicate that the floral nectary has experienced considerable morphological, structural, and functional differentiation among closely related species of Pedicularis. This could have affected nectar production, leading to a shift of the pollination mode. Our results also imply that variation of the nectary morphology and nectar production may have played an important role in the speciation of sect. Cyathophora.

Promise and Challenge of DNA Barcoding in Venus Slipper (Paphiopedilum)

Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of flowering plants, with over 27,000 species described and all orchids are listed in CITES. Moreover, the seedlings of orchid species from the same genus are similar. The objective of DNA barcoding is rapid, accurate, and automated species identification, which may be used to identify illegally traded endangered species from vegetative specimens of Paphiopedilum (Venus slipper), a flagship group for plant conservation with high ornamental and commercial values. Here, we selected eight chloroplast barcodes and nrITS to evaluate their suitability in Venus slippers. The results indicate that all tested barcodes had no barcoding gap and the core plant barcodes showed low resolution for the identification of Venus slippers (18.86%). Of the single-locus barcodes, nrITS is the most efficient for the species identification of the genus (52.27%), whereas matK + atpF-atpH is the most efficient multi-locus combination (28.97%). Therefore, we recommend the combination of matK + atpF-atpH + ITS as a barcode for Venus slippers. Furthermore, there is an upper limit of resolution of the candidate barcodes, and only half of the taxa with multiple samples were identified successfully. The low efficiency of these candidate barcodes in Venus slippers may be caused by relatively recent speciation, the upper limit of the barcodes, and/or the sampling density. Although the discriminatory power is relatively low, DNA barcoding may be a promising tool to identify species involved in illegal trade, which has broad applications and is valuable for orchid conservation.

Tissue culture characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.) haploid coleoptile sections

Doubled haploid (DH) technology, which is used for rapidly purifying genetic resources, is a key technology in modern maize breeding. The present study evaluated the tissue culture characteristics of maize haploid coleoptile sections, in order to provide a new way of haploid doubling. With 20 combinations of haploid coleoptile sections, obtained by hybridization within Reid, Tangsipingtou, and Term-tropical groups, as explants, we analyzed the induction and differentiation rate of callus, observed the number of root tip chromosomes in regenerated plants, and analyzed the pollen fertility. In addition, we used 47 SSR markers to analyze the genotypes of regenerated plants. The Reid and Tangsipingtou groups had significantly higher induction rates of haploid coleoptile callus compared to the Term-tropical group. Fifteen haploid plants were obtained which had 10 chromosomes in the root tips as assessed by I-KI staining. It was also noticed that the pollen of pollinated anthers were partially fertile. The haploid plants had genetic stability and showed no variation. The Reid and Tangsipingtou groups had good culture characteristics of haploid coleoptile sections, while the Term-tropical group had poor culture characteristics. Genotypes of haploid plants generated by tissue culture were evidenced to come from recombinant types of parents. Thus, this study established a tissue culture system of maize haploid coleoptile.

Mid-infrared Photoconductive Response in AlGaN/GaN Step Quantum Wells

AlGaN/GaN quantum structure is an excellent candidate for high speed infrared detectors based on intersubband transitions. However, fabrication of AlGaN/GaN quantum well infrared detectors suffers from polarization-induced internal electric field, which greatly limits the carrier vertical transport. In this article, a step quantum well is proposed to attempt solving this problem, in which a novel spacer barrier layer is used to balance the internal electric field. As a result, a nearly flat band potential profile is obtained in the step barrier layers of the AlGaN/GaN step quantum wells and a bound-to-quasi-continuum (B-to-QC) type intersubband prototype device with detectable photocurrent at atmosphere window (3-5 μm) is achieved in such nitride semiconductors.

Guanidine-phosphate non-covalent interaction in LAP crystal growth solution evidenced from spectroscopy studies

The similar L-arginine molecule aggregation has been found in L-arginine (LA) and L-arginine phosphate monohydrate (LAP) aqueous solutions. The special fluorescence emission at 380 nm of LA aggregates in LAP solution has been found, compared with the emission of LA solution at 415 nm, which has an obvious blue shift. By comparing the fluorescence spectra of several solutions for L-arginine and L-lysine salts, the interaction between phosphate and guanidine in LAP solution was considered to be the cause of its special fluorescence emission. Meanwhile, when LAP molecule formed in solution, the fluorescence emission wavelength and the UV absorption intensity at 296 nm of L-arginine solutions have mutated. Therefore, the group interaction involved by guanidine has changed the fluorescence properties of L-arginine aggregates in LAP solution, indicating that the specific interaction between phosphate and guanidine exists in LAP molecule.

Isolation and characterization of novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

The large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is one of the largest marine net-cage cultured species in the oceans around China. In the present study, we isolated and characterized 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers from genomic libraries of L. crocea. Loci were screened for 10 wild specimens from 2 sites in southeast of China. All loci were polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 21. The expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.233 to 0.838 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.527 to 0.935. Eleven loci were highly informative (polymorphic information content >0.5). Significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed at 3 loci after Bonferroni's correction. The microsatellite loci may be valuable tools for studying the genetic diversity and genetic structure for conservation planning of the fish.

Multiple species of wild tree peonies gave rise to the 'king of flowers', Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews

The origin of cultivated tree peonies, known as the 'king of flowers' in China for more than 1000 years, has attracted considerable interest, but remained unsolved. Here, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of explicitly sampled traditional cultivars of tree peonies and all wild species from the shrubby section Moutan of the genus Paeonia based on sequences of 14 fast-evolved chloroplast regions and 25 presumably single-copy nuclear markers identified from RNA-seq data. The phylogeny of the wild species inferred from the nuclear markers was fully resolved and largely congruent with morphology and classification. The incongruence between the nuclear and chloroplast trees suggested that there had been gene flow between the wild species. The comparison of nuclear and chloroplast phylogenies including cultivars showed that the cultivated tree peonies originated from homoploid hybridization among five wild species. Since the origin, thousands of cultivated varieties have spread worldwide, whereas four parental species are currently endangered or on the verge of extinction. The documentation of extensive homoploid hybridization involved in tree peony domestication provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the origins of garden ornamentals and the way of preserving natural genetic resources through domestication.

Reticulate evolution and sea-level fluctuations together drove species diversification of slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum) in South-East Asia

South-East Asia covers four of the world's biodiversity hotspots, showing high species diversity and endemism. Owing to the successive expansion and contraction of distribution and the fragmentation by geographical barriers, the tropical flora greatly diversified in this region during the Tertiary, but the evolutionary tempo and mode of species diversity remain poorly investigated. Paphiopedilum, the largest genus of slipper orchids comprising nearly 100 species, is mainly distributed in South-East Asia, providing an ideal system for exploring how plant species diversity was shaped in this region. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of this genus with eight cpDNA regions and four low-copy nuclear genes. Discordance between gene trees and network analysis indicates that reticulate evolution occurred in the genus. Ancestral area reconstruction suggests that vicariance and long-distance dispersal together led to its current distribution. Diversification rate variation was detected and strongly correlated with the species diversity in subg. Paphiopedilum (~80 species). The shift of speciation rate in subg. Paphiopedilum was coincident with sea-level fluctuations in the late Cenozoic, which could have provided ecological opportunities for speciation and created bridges or barriers for gene flow. Moreover, some other factors (e.g. sympatric distribution, incomplete reproductive barriers and clonal propagation) might also be advantageous for the formation and reproduction of hybrid species. In conclusion, our study suggests that the interplay of reticulate evolution and sea-level fluctuations has promoted the diversification of the genus Paphiopedilum and sheds light into the evolution of Orchidaceae and the historical processes of plant species diversification in South-East Asia.

A novel mutation links to von Hippel-Lindau syndrome in a Chinese family with hemangioblastoma

Hemangioblastoma of the central nervous system occurs as sporadic tumors or as a part of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, an autosomal dominant hereditary tumor syndrome caused by a germline mutation in the VHL tumor suppressor gene. We screened a Chinese family with VHL for mutations in the VHL gene and evaluated a genetic test for diagnosing VHL disease and clinical screening of family members. DNA extracted from the peripheral blood of all live members and from tissue of deceased family members with VHL disease was amplified by polymerase chain reaction to 3 VHL gene exons. Mutations in the amplification products were compared against the Human Gene Mutation Database. The involvement of multiple organs among the kindred with VHL disease was confirmed by medical history and radiography. Of the 12 members of the 4-generation family, 5 were diagnosed with VHL disease. Patient age at the initial diagnosis was 26-36 years (mean = 31 years). The mean time was 15 (11-19 months) from symptom appearance to the first patient visit to the hospital. Sequence analysis revealed that the frameshift mutation 327del C (p.Gly39Alafs*26) in exon 1 affected all family members, but not the healthy individuals or 16 unrelated controls. Members without gene mutation showed no clinical manifestation of VHL disease. We detected a conserved novel frameshift mutation in the VHL gene of the family members that contributes to VHL. DNA analysis of VHL is advantageous for VHL diagnosis. We developed a quick and reliable method for VHL diagnosis.

Molecular phylogenetics and evolutionary history of sect. Quinquefoliae (Pinus): implications for Northern Hemisphere biogeography

Climatic changes and tectonic events in the Cenozoic have greatly influenced the evolution and geographic distribution of the temperate flora. Such consequences should be most evident in plant groups that are ancient, widespread, and diverse. As one of the most widespread genera of trees, Pinus provides a good model for investigating the history of species diversification and biogeographic disjunction in the Northern Hemisphere. In this study, we reconstructed the phylogeny and investigated the evolutionary and biogeographic history of sect. Quinquefoliae (Pinus), a species-rich lineage disjunctly distributed in Asia, Europe and North America, based on complete taxon sampling and by using nine DNA fragments from chloroplast (cp), mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear genomes. The monophyly of the three subsections, Krempfianae, Gerardianae, and Strobus, is well-supported by cpDNA and nuclear gene phylogenies. However, neither subsect. Gerardianae nor subsect. Strobus forms a monophyletic group in the mtDNA phylogeny, in which sect. Quinquefoliae was divided into two major clades, one consisting of the North American and northeastern Asian species as well as the European P. peuce of subsect. Strobus, and the other comprising the remaining Eurasian species belonging to three subsections. The significant topological incongruence among the gene trees, in conjunction with divergence time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction, indicates that both ancient and relatively recent introgressive hybridization events occurred in the evolution of sect. Quinquefoliae, particularly in northeastern Asia and northwestern North America. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis suggests that the species of subsect. Strobus from subtropical eastern Asia and neighboring areas may have a single origin, although species non-monophyly is very widespread in the nuclear gene trees. Moreover, our study seems to support a Tethyan origin of sect. Quinquefoliae given the distributions and phylogenetic positions of subsects. Krempfianae and Gerardianae, and also highlights the importance of active mountain buildings and climatic changes during the Late Neogene in shaping the species diversity and geographic distribution of Pinus.

IL-8 -251T/A polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to acute pancreatitis

We conducted a case-control study to clarify the asso-ciations between inflammatory cytokine, including interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, polymorphisms and risk of acute pancreatitis. Genotyping analyses of IL-1β+3954 C/T (rs1143634), IL-1β-511 C/T (rs16944), IL-6 -174 G/C (rs1800795), IL-6 -634 C/G (rs1800796), IL-8 -251T/A (rs4073), IL-10 -1082A/G (rs1800896), and IL-10 -819C/T (rs1800871) were conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length of polymorphism. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was utilized to assess the potential association be-tween genotype frequencies and risk of acute pancreatitis. Multivari-ate regression analyses showed that subjects carrying the IL-8 -251 AA genotype had a significantly increased risk of acute pancreatitis, with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.55 (1.02-2.36). However, we found no significant association between IL-1β +3954 C/T, IL-1β -511 C/T, IL-6 -174 G/C, IL-6 -174 G/C, IL-6 -634 C/G, IL-10 -1082A/G, or IL-10 -819C/T polymorphisms and risk of acute pancreatitis. We found that the IL-8 -251T/A polymorphism was associated with a higher susceptibility to acute pancreatitis in a Chinese population.

Evolution of the platycodonoid group with particular references to biogeography and character evolution

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is an important center of origin and diversification for many northern temperate plants. The hypothesis "out-of-QTP" suggests that the majority of northern temperate plants have originated and dispersed from the QTP and adjacent regions. An interesting question is whether the biogeographic history of the platycodonoids (Campanulaceae), a group mainly distributed in the QTP and adjacent regions, coincides with the hypothesis "out-of-QTP"? Furthermore, how have the diagnostic characters of the platycodonoids evolved? In the present study, all 10 genera of the platycodonoids were sampled for molecular phylogeny and dating analyses, and ancestral states of distribution and characters were reconstructed. The results do not support the platycodonoids as an "out-of-QTP" group, but instead they might have descended from Tethyan ancestors. The dispersal and diversification of the platycodonoids in Asia might have been driven by the uplift of the QTP. The present study highlights the importance of the Tethyan Tertiary flora for the origin of the Sino-Himalayan flora and the influence of the uplift of QTP on diversification of northern temperate plants. In addition, character state reconstruction reveals that the inferior ovary, capsule, long-colpate pollen, and chromosome number 2n = 14 are probably ancestral states.

Phylogeny and divergence times of gymnosperms inferred from single-copy nuclear genes

Phylogenetic reconstruction is fundamental to study evolutionary biology and historical biogeography. However, there was not a molecular phylogeny of gymnosperms represented by extensive sampling at the genus level, and most published phylogenies of this group were constructed based on cytoplasmic DNA markers and/or the multi-copy nuclear ribosomal DNA. In this study, we use LFY and NLY, two single-copy nuclear genes that originated from an ancient gene duplication in the ancestor of seed plants, to reconstruct the phylogeny and estimate divergence times of gymnosperms based on a complete sampling of extant genera. The results indicate that the combined LFY and NLY coding sequences can resolve interfamilial relationships of gymnosperms and intergeneric relationships of most families. Moreover, the addition of intron sequences can improve the resolution in Podocarpaceae but not in cycads, although divergence times of the cycad genera are similar to or longer than those of the Podocarpaceae genera. Our study strongly supports cycads as the basal-most lineage of gymnosperms rather than sister to Ginkgoaceae, and a sister relationship between Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae and between Cephalotaxaceae-Taxaceae and Cupressaceae. In addition, intergeneric relationships of some families that were controversial, and the relationships between Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae and between conifers and Gnetales are discussed based on the nuclear gene evidence. The molecular dating analysis suggests that drastic extinctions occurred in the early evolution of gymnosperms, and extant coniferous genera in the Northern Hemisphere are older than those in the Southern Hemisphere on average. This study provides an evolutionary framework for future studies on gymnosperms.

Molecular phylogeny of Asian Meconopsis based on nuclear ribosomal and chloroplast DNA sequence data

The taxonomy and phylogeny of Asian Meconopsis (Himalayan blue poppy) remain largely unresolved. We used the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) trnL-F region for phylogenetic reconstruction of Meconopsis and its close relatives Papaver, Roemeria, and Stylomecon. We identified five main clades, which were well-supported in the gene trees reconstructed with the nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL-F sequences. We found that 41 species of Asian Meconopsis did not constitute a monophyletic clade, but formed two solid clades (I and V) separated in the phylogenetic tree by three clades (II, III and IV) of Papaver and its allies. Clade V includes only four Asian Meconopsis species, with the remaining 90 percent of Asian species included in clade I. In this core Asian Meconopsis clade, five subclades (Ia-Ie) were recognized in the nrDNA ITS tree. Three species (Meconopsis discigera, M. pinnatifolia, and M. torquata) of subgenus Discogyne were imbedded in subclade Ia, indicating that the present definition of subgenera in Meconopsis should be rejected. These subclades are inconsistent with any series or sections of the present classifications, suggesting that classifications of the genus should be completely revised. Finally, proposals for further revision of the genus Meconopsis were put forward based on molecular, morphological, and biogeographical evidences.

Effects of dietary lysine levels on apparent nutrient digestibility and serum amino Acid absorption mode in growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of different dietary lysine levels on the apparent nutrient digestibility, the serum amino acid (AA) concentration, and the biochemical parameters of the precaval and portal vein blood in growing pigs. In Experiment 1, 15 noncannulated pigs received diets with different lysine densities (0.65%, 0.95%, and 1.25% lysine) for 13 d. A total collection digestion test was performed, and blood samples were collected from the precaval vein at the end of the experiment. In Experiment 2, four cannulated pigs were fed the same diets of Experiment 1. The experiment used a self-control experimental design and was divided into three periods. On d 5 of each period, at 0.5 h before feeding and hourly up to 8 h after feeding, single blood samples were collected from catheters placed in the portal vein. In Experiment 1, some serum AAs (including lysine), serum urinary nitrogen (SUN), and total protein (TP) concentrations were significantly affected by the dietary lysine levels (p<0.05). Moreover, the 0.65% lysine treatment showed a significant lower apparent digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, crude protein, and phosphorus than the other treatments (p<0.05). In Experiment 2, serum lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, isoleucine (p = 0.0588), triglyceride, and SUN (p = 0.0572) concentrations were significantly affected by the dietary lysine levels (p<0.05). Additionally, almost all of the determined serum AA and total AA concentrations reached their lowest values at 0.5 h before feeding and their highest values at 2 h after feeding (p<0.05). These findings indicate that the greatest absorption of AA occurred at 2 h after feeding and that the dynamic profile of serum AA is affected by the dietary lysine levels. Moreover, when the dietary lysine content was 0.95%, the growing pigs achieved a better nutrient digestibility and serum metabolites levels.

Effects of dietary thiazolidinedione supplementation on growth performance, intramuscular fat and related genes mRNA abundance in the longissimus dorsi muscle of finishing pigs

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with thiazolidinedione (TZD) on growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs. In Experiment 1, 80 castrated finishing pigs (Large White×Landrace, BW = 54.34 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments with 5 replicates of 8 pigs each. The experimental pigs in the 2 groups were respectively fed with a diet with or without a TZD supplementation (15 mg/kg). In Experiment 2, 80 castrated finishing pigs (Large White×Landrace, BW = 71.46 kg) were divided into 2 treatments as designed in Experiment 1, moreover, carcass evaluations were performed. The results from Experiment 1 showed that TZD supplementation could significantly decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p<0.05) during 0 to 28 d, without impairing the average daily gain (ADG) (p>0.05). In Experiment 2, the ADG was significantly increased by TZD supplementation during 14 to 28 d and 0 to 28 d (p<0.05) and the feed:gain ratio (F:G) was significantly decreased by TZD supplementation during 0 to 28 d (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, TZD group had significantly higher serum triglyceride (TG) concentration at 28h and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels at 14 d (p<0.05). Moreover, there was an apparent improvement in the marbling score (p<0.10) and intramuscular fat (IMF) content (p<0.10) of the longissimus dorsi muscle in pigs treated by TZD supplementation. Real-time RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that pigs of TZD group had higher mRNA abundance of PPARγ coactivator 1 (PGC-1) (p<0.05) and fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) (p<0.05) than pigs of control group. Taken together, these results suggested that dietary TZD supplementation could improve growth performance and increase the IMF content of finishing pigs through regulating the serum parameters and genes mRNA abundance involved in fat metabolism.

Enhanced performance configuration for fast-switching deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal continuous tunable Lyot filter

In this paper, we present a novel design configuration of double DHFLC wave plate continuous tunable Lyot filter, which exhibits a rapid response time of 185 μs, while the high-contrast ratio between the passband and stop band is maintained throughout a wide tunable range. A DHFLC tunable filter with a high-contrast ratio is attractive for realizing high-speed optical processing devices, such as multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems, real-time remote sensing, field sequential color display, and wavelength demultiplexing in the metro network. In this work, an experimental prototype for a single-stage DHFLC Lyot filter of this design has been fabricated using photoalignment technology. We have demonstrated that the filter has a continuous tunable range of 30 nm for a blue wavelength, 45 nm for a green wavelength, and more than 50 nm for a red wavelength when the applied voltage gradually increases from 0 to 8 V. Within this tunable range, the contrast ratio of the proposed double wave plate configuration is maintained above 20 with small deviation in the transmittance level. Simulation and experimental results showed the proposed double DHFLC wave plate configuration enhances the contrast ratio of the tunable filter and, thus, increases the tunable range of the filter when compared with the Lyot filter using a single DHFLC wave plate. Moreover, we have proposed a polarization insensitive configuration for which the efficiency of the existing prototype can theoretically be doubled by the use of polarization beam splitters.

Liquid crystal Fresnel zone lens based on single-side-patterned photoalignment layer

In this article, we disclose a method to fabricate a liquid crystal (LC) Fresnel zone lens (FZL) with high efficiency. The LCFZL, based on patterned planar-aligned regions, has been prepared by means of a two-step photoalignment technique. The proposed binary-phase LCFZL manifests 39% diffraction efficiency at the focal point, which is close to the theoretical limit, 41%. Moreover, because of a lower driving voltage and faster response time, these elements could find application in many modern devices.

Revealing of the transition from n- to p-type conduction of InN:Mg by photoconductivity effect measurement

We report evidence of the transition from n- to p-type conduction of InN with increasing Mg dopant concentration by using photoconductivity (PC) measurement at room temperature. This transition is depicted as a conversion from negative to positive PC under above-bandgap optical excitation. The n- to p-type transition in InN:Mg is further confirmed by thermopower measurements. PC detection method is a bulk effect since the optical absorption of the surface electron accumulation is negligibly low due to its rather small thickness, and thus shows advantage to detect p-type conduction. This technique is certainly helpful to study p-type doping of InN, which is still a subject of discussions.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine induces α-smooth muscle actin expression in human lung fibroblasts and fibroblast-mediated gel contraction via S1P2 receptor and Rho/Rho-kinase pathway

Chronic airway diseases like COPD and asthma are usually accompanied with airway fibrosis. Myofibroblasts, which are characterized by expression of smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), play an important role in a variety of developmental and pathological processes, including fibrosis and wound healing. Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), a sphingolipid metabolite, has been implicated in many physiological and pathological conditions. The current study tested the hypothesis that SPC may modulate tissue remodeling by affecting the expression of α-SMA in human fetal lung fibroblast (HFL-1) and fibroblast mediated gel contraction. The results show that SPC stimulates α-SMA expression in HFL-1 and augments HFL-1 mediated collagen gel contraction in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The α-SMA protein expression and fibroblast gel contraction induced by SPC was not blocked by TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody. However, it was significantly blocked by S1P2 receptor antagonist JTE-013, the Rho-specific inhibitor C3 exoenzyme, and a Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632. These findings suggest that SPC stimulates α-SMA protein expression and HFL-1 mediated collagen gel contraction via S1P2 receptor and Rho/Rho kinase pathway, and by which mechanism, SPC may be involved in lung tissue remodeling.

The role of hexokinases from grape berries (Vitis vinifera L.) in regulating the expression of cell wall invertase and sucrose synthase genes

In plants, hexokinase (HXK, EC 2.7.1.1) involved in hexose phosphorylation, plays an important role in sugar sensing and signaling. In this study, we found that at Phase I of grape berry development, lower hexose (glucose or fructose) levels were concomitant with higher HXK activities and protein levels. After the onset of ripening, we demonstrated a drastic reduction in HXK activity and protein levels accompanied by a rising hexose level. Therefore, our results revealed that HXK activity and protein levels had an inverse relationship with the endogenous glucose or fructose levels during grape berry development. A 51 kDa HXK protein band was detected throughout grape berry development. In addition, HXK located in the vacuoles, cytoplasm, nucleus, proplastid, chloroplast, and mitochondrion of the berry flesh cells. During grape berry development, HXK transcriptional level changed slightly, while cell wall invertase (CWINV) and sucrose synthase (SuSy) expression was enhanced after véraison stage. Intriguingly, when sliced grape berries were incubated in different glucose solutions, CWINV and SuSy expression was repressed by glucose, and the intensity of repression depended on glucose concentration and incubation time. After sliced, grape berries were treated with different glucose analogs, CWINV and SuSy expression analyses revealed that phosphorylation of hexoses by hexokinase was an essential component in the glucose-dependent CWINV and SuSy expression. In the meantime, mannoheptulose, a specific inhibitor of hexokinase, blocked the repression induced by glucose on CWINV and SuSy expression. It suggested that HXK played a major role in regulating CWINV and SuSy expression during grape berry development.