Population genetic analyses of seven Chinese indigenous chicken breeds in a context of global breeds

Jiangxi province in China is rich in indigenous chicken breeds, which have diverse phenotypes and represent a valuable genetic resource for further genetic improvement of modern breeds. Here, we conducted a series of analyses to reveal genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and population structure of seven chicken breeds in Jiangxi province in the context of nine non-local chicken breeds, using 600K SNP data. We show that Jiangxi indigenous breeds have more abundant nucleotide diversity than do European local and commercial breeds. Among Jiangxi breeds, Dongxiang Blue-eggshell (DX) and Chongren Partride (CR) display remarkably reduced genetic diversity, as the two breeds exhibit increased inbreeding coefficients, runs of homozygosity, extent of linkage disequilibrium and reduced expected heterozygosity. DX, CR and Taihe Silkie (TH) represent three ancestral lineages of the Jiangxi chicken and display genetic differentiation from the other four Jiangxi breeds, which show a signature of admixture with European commercial breeds. These findings provide insight for the establishment of an efficient conservation program for Jiangxi chicken breeds. Considering the current status of genetic diversity and ancestral representativeness, particular attention should be paid to DX, CR and TH chickens.

[A comparative study of therapy effects between esomeprazole plus mosapride citrate and botulinum toxin injection on vocal process granuloma]

Objective:Anti-reflux medications or botulinum toxin A injections are the main current therapies for the definite vocal process granuloma. This studies is focusing on comparing the effects of proton pump inhibitors plus prokinetic agents with botulinum toxin A injections on vocal process granuloma. Method:Adult patients in our outpatient department (from December 2014 to June 2016) complaining of trachyphonia and/or abnormal pharyngeal sensations who were found to have contact granulomas (38 cases) were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment selected by themselves: esomeprazole with mosapride citrate (n=28) or botulinum toxin A injection (n=20). The reflux symptom index and reflux finding score determined by electronic fibrolaryngoscopy were utilized to assess efficacy. Result:There was no statistical difference on age, sex and reflux symptom index and reflux finding score before treatment between the two groups. Total effective rate in the esomeprazole with mosapride citrate group and the botulinum toxin A group were 96.43% and 45.00%, separately. The recorded symptoms after therapy resolved with a statistically significant improvement in the esomeprazole with mosapride citrate group. Conclusion:Combined proton pump inhibitor plus prokinetic drug therapy plays a significant role in the treatment of vocal process granulomas.

[Association of occupational stress with job burnout and depression tendency in workers in Internet companies]

Objective: To investigate the association of occupational stress with job burnout and depression tendency in workers in Internet companies. Methods: From July to November, 2016, the cross-sectional method was used to perform a questionnaire survey of 3603 workers in 35 Internet companies in Beijing, Shandong Province, and Zhejiang Province in China, and the association of occupational stress with job burnout and depression tendency was analyzed. Results: Among these workers, 63.70% had occupational stress with job demand-control (JDC) and 34.60% had occupational stress with effort-reward imbalance (ERI) ; among the workers engaged in sales, 75.63% had occupational stress with JDC and 62.70% had occupational stress with ERI. Of all workers, 10.69% had job burnout, and among the workers engaged in sales, 22.12% had job burnout. Of all workers, 18.79% had the tendency of moderate-to-severe or severe depression, and among the workers engaged in sales, 46.13% had such tendency. Occupational stress with JDC increased the risk of job burnout and depression (odds ratio[OR]=3.52 and 1.85, P<0.05) , and occupational stress with ERI also increased the risk of job burnout and depression (OR=8.24 and 5.59, P<0.05) . In addition, irregular diet and insomnia were risk factors for job burnout; age ≥41 years, low income, sales position, working time spent on the screen ≥10 hours/day, insomnia, and poor self-evaluated health status were risk factors for depression tendency. Conclusion: Occupational stress with JDC and ERI increases the risk of job burnout and depression tendency, and among the workers in Internet companies, the workers engaged in sales have the most severe occupational stress, job burnout, and depression tendency.

The surface eroding thermocouple for fast heat flux measurement in DIII-D

A novel type of surface eroding thermocouple (SETC) has been tested and demonstrated in the small angle slot (SAS) divertor of DIII-D for fast local heat flux measurements. The thermojunction of the SETC is formed between two thin (10 μm) ribbons, which are filed over to create microfiber junctions. These thermocouples are able to be exposed directly to the plasma at surface temperatures exceeding 2000 °C and are capable of sub-10 ms time resolution. Before installation in SAS, the SETCs were exposed in the lower DIII-D divertor during L-mode and H-mode discharges, from which results are presented. In preliminary tests, SETCs proved to be a qualified diagnostic to accurately measure both the intra-edge localized mode (ELM) and inter-ELM heat flux during H-mode shots with high frequency ELMs (hundreds of Hz) and to resolve heat flux profiles during strike point sweeps. The heat fluxes measured by using SETCs are consistent with the heat fluxes measured by using IR cameras and Langmuir probes. These new diagnostic capabilities will complement the existing IR camera measurements and will be of particularly significant value to measure surface heat flux in the SAS divertor or other regions where the IR camera lacks line of sight.

Supplementation with CTGF, SDF1, NGF, and HGF promotes ovine in vitro oocyte maturation and early embryo development

The strategies for improving the in vitro maturation (IVM) of domestic animal oocytes focus on promoting nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. The identification of paracrine factors and their supplementation in the culture medium represent effective approaches for oocyte maturation and embryo development. This study investigated the effects of paracrine factor supplementation including connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and stromal derived factor 1 (SDF1) on ovine oocytes and early parthenogenetic embryos using an in vitro culture system. First, we identified the optimal concentrations of CTGF (30 ng/mL), SDF1 (10 ng/mL), NGF (3 ng/mL), and HGF (100 ng/mL) for promoting oocyte maturation, which combined, induced nuclear maturation in 94.19% of oocytes. This combination also promoted cumulus cell expansion and inhibited oocyte/cumulus apoptosis, while enabling a larger proportion (33.04%) of embryos to develop into blastocysts than in the controls and prevented embryo apoptosis. These novel findings demonstrate that the paracrine factors CTGF, SDF1, NGF, and HGF facilitate ovine oocyte and early parthenogenetic embryo development in vitro. Thus, supplementation with these factors may help optimize the IVM of ovine oocytes and early parthenogenetic embryo development strategies.

Genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic relationships of three indigenous pig breeds from Jiangxi Province, China, in a worldwide panel of pigs

Dongxiang Spotted, Pingxiang Two-End-Black and Yushan Black pigs are three indigenous breeds in Jiangxi Province, China, that have been listed in the national conservation program for Chinese indigenous livestock germplasm. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of the nucleus populations of these three breeds in a worldwide context of European and Chinese pigs using Illumina Porcine 60K chips. Our data indicate that Dongxiang Spotted and Yushan Black pigs have recently experienced severe inbreeding. The two breeds show large runs-of-homozygosity values, long-range extents of linkage disequilibrium and reduced observed heterozygosity. In contrast, Pingxiang Two-End-Black pigs are rich in genetic diversity and have few inbred individuals. Both phylogenetic and admixture analyses illustrate that Dongxiang Spotted and Yushan Black pigs are genetically close to their geographical neighbors in East China and that Pingxiang Two-End-Black pigs have a close relationship with three other Two-End-Black breeds in central China. Finally, we reconstructed the family structures of the three breeds and propose a reliable breeding strategy to better conserve these breeds.

[Clinical analysis of plasma cell granuloma in nasal cavity and nasal sinus]

The plasma cell granuloma occurred in nasal cavity and sinus, which is rarely seen in clinical practice,the common clinical features included nasal congestion,nose bleeding,eye protrusion and olfactory impairment.Its clinical manifestations are similar to the clinical manifestations of malignant tumors, the correct diagnosis depends on histopathology and immunohistochemistry, and surgical treatment is the main method, can be supplemented by hormone therapy, radiotherapy,the prognosis could be better.

[Research status and challenges of vocal cord leukoplakia]

Vocal cord leukoplakia is a clinical diagnosis defined as a whitish patch or a plaque on a mucosal surface. Because of the diversity of histopathological types, the complexity and unpredictability risks for malignant transformation, there are still many controversies about its histopathological classification, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this article is to review the epidemiology, etiology, pathological classification, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of vocal cord leukoplakia.

Associations between knee structural measures, circulating inflammatory factors and MMP13 in patients with knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate cross-sectional associations between serum level of Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)13 and knee structural measures and circulating inflammatory factors in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA).

DESIGN

A total of 149 subjects with symptomatic knee OA were included. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) volume, IPFP signal intensity alternation, cartilage volume and cartilage defects. Knee radiography was used to assess radiographic OA using the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading system. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum levels of inflammatory factors and MMP13.

RESULTS

In multivariable analyses, serum MMP13 was negatively associated with cartilage volume at patellar site (β: -32.94 mm³ per 10 ng/ml, P < 0.05), and positively associated with cartilage defect at medial femoral site (OR: 1.13 per 10 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Also, MMP13 was positively associated with K-L grading and IPFP signal intensity alteration (OR: 1.14 and 1.15 per 10 ng/ml, respectively, both P < 0.05), and negatively associated with IPFP volume (β: -0.34 cm³ per 10 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum level of adiponectin was negatively associated serum MMP13 quartiles (OR: 0.66 per 10 μg/ml, P < 0.05), and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-18 were positively associated with serum MMP13 quartiles (ORs: 1.01-1.18 per 10 pg/ml, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum level of MMP13 was associated with knee structural abnormalities as well as serum inflammatory factors. These suggest that systemic MMP13 may play a role in knee OA, and could be regulated by inflammatory factors.

North Pacific freshwater events linked to changes in glacial ocean circulation

There is compelling evidence that episodic deposition of large volumes of freshwater into the oceans strongly influenced global ocean circulation and climate variability during glacial periods^1,2. In the North Atlantic region, episodes of massive freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic Ocean were related to distinct cold periods known as Heinrich Stadials^1-3. By contrast, the freshwater history of the North Pacific region remains unclear, giving rise to persistent debates about the existence and possible magnitude of climate links between the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans during Heinrich Stadials^4,5. Here we find that there was a strong connection between changes in North Atlantic circulation during Heinrich Stadials and injections of freshwater from the North American Cordilleran Ice Sheet to the northeastern North Pacific. Our record of diatom δ¹⁸O (a measure of the ratio of the stable oxygen isotopes ¹⁸O and ¹⁶O) over the past 50,000 years shows a decrease in surface seawater δ¹⁸O of two to three per thousand, corresponding to a decline in salinity of roughly two to four practical salinity units. This coincided with enhanced deposition of ice-rafted debris and a slight cooling of the sea surface in the northeastern North Pacific during Heinrich Stadials 1 and 4, but not during Heinrich Stadial 3. Furthermore, results from our isotope-enabled model⁶ suggest that warming of the eastern Equatorial Pacific during Heinrich Stadials was crucial for transmitting the North Atlantic signal to the northeastern North Pacific, where the associated subsurface warming resulted in a discernible freshwater discharge from the Cordilleran Ice Sheet during Heinrich Stadials 1 and 4. However, enhanced background cooling across the northern high latitudes during Heinrich Stadial 3-the coldest period in the past 50,000 years⁷-prevented subsurface warming of the northeastern North Pacific and thus increased freshwater discharge from the Cordilleran Ice Sheet. In combination, our results show that nonlinear ocean-atmosphere background interactions played a complex role in the dynamics linking the freshwater discharge responses of the North Atlantic and North Pacific during glacial periods.

Inhibition of ZERO-BK by PKC is involved in carbachol-induced enhancement of rat colon smooth muscle motility

BACKGROUND

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) activation is an important factor to enhance the motility of gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle. Large conductance Ca²⁺ -activated potassium (BK) channels are widely expressed in GI smooth muscle. Roles of BK in carbachol (a mAChR agonist) induced enhancement of GI motility and the molecular mechanisms remains unknown and were investigated in this study.

METHODS

Colonic smooth muscle (CSM) strip was perfused to record motility in vitro. The patch-clamp technique was used to record BK currents. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of BK channels in rat CSM tissues. Two different types BK channels were constructed in HEK293 cells to investigate the regulation mechanism. Paired t tests were set with a P < .05 regarded as significant.

KEY RESULTS

Carbachol enhanced CSM contraction through M₃ receptor (M₃ R) were attenuated by IbTX, an inhibitor of BK. Carbachol inhibited BK currents in CSM cells and Go6983, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), reversed the effect. PKC activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), inhibited BK currents. Two types of BK channels (ZERO-BK and STREX-BK) were detected in CSM. ZERO- but not STREX-BK channels expressed in HEK293 cells were inhibited by PMA.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide strong evidence that inhibition of ZERO-BK but not STREX-BK channels via PKC pathway is involved in the enhancement of CSM motility by mAChR activation. Besides the activation of BK by an increase in intracellular calcium, inhibition of BK played an important role in GI motility regulation during mAChR activation.

Limits on Light Weakly Interacting Massive Particles from the First 102.8 kg×day Data of the CDEX-10 Experiment

We report the first results of a light weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) search from the CDEX-10 experiment with a 10 kg germanium detector array immersed in liquid nitrogen at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory with a physics data size of 102.8 kg day. At an analysis threshold of 160 eVee, improved limits of 8×10^{-42} and 3×10^{-36}  cm^{2} at a 90% confidence level on spin-independent and spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections, respectively, at a WIMP mass (m_{χ}) of 5  GeV/c^{2} are achieved. The lower reach of m_{χ} is extended to 2  GeV/c^{2}.

Gene expression profiling reveals candidate genes related to residual feed intake in duodenum of laying ducks

Feed represents two-thirds of the total costs of poultry production, especially in developing countries. Improvement in feed efficiency would reduce the amount of feed required for production (growth or laying), the production cost, and the amount of nitrogenous waste. The most commonly used measures for feed efficiency are feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). As a more suitable indicator assessing feed efficiency, RFI is defined as the difference between observed and expected feed intake based on maintenance and growth or laying. However, the genetic and biological mechanisms regulating RFI are largely unknown. Identifying molecular mechanisms explaining divergence in RFI in laying ducks would lead to the development of early detection methods for the selection of more efficient breeding poultry. The objective of this study was to identify duodenum genes and pathways through transcriptional profiling in 2 extreme RFI phenotypes (HRFI and LRFI) of the duck population. Phenotypic aspects of feed efficiency showed that RFI was strongly positive with FCR and feed intake (FI). Transcriptomic analysis identified 35 differentially expressed genes between LRFI and HRFI ducks. These genes play an important role in metabolism, digestibility, secretion, and innate immunity including (), (), (), β (), and (). These results improve our knowledge of the biological basis underlying RFI, which would be useful for further investigations of key candidate genes for RFI and for the development of biomarkers.

Selective HDAC6 inhibition decreases early stage of lupus nephritis by down-regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses

We have demonstrated previously that histone deacetylase (HDAC6) expression is increased in animal models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and that inhibition of HDAC6 decreased disease. In our current studies, we tested if an orally active selective HDAC6 inhibitor would decrease disease pathogenesis in a lupus mouse model with established early disease. Additionally, we sought to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) of action of a selective HDAC6 inhibitor in SLE. We treated 20-week-old (early-disease) New Zealand Black (NZB)/White F₁ female mice with two different doses of the selective HDAC6 inhibitor (ACY-738) for 5 weeks. As the mice aged, we determined autoantibody production and cytokine levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and renal function by measuring proteinuria. At the termination of the study, we performed a comprehensive analysis on B cells, T cells and innate immune cells using flow cytometry and examined renal tissue for immune-mediated pathogenesis using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Our results showed a reduced germinal centre B cell response, decreased T follicular helper cells and diminished interferon (IFN)-γ production from T helper cells in splenic tissue. Additionally, we found the IFN-α-producing ability of plasmacytoid dendritic cells was decreased along with immunoglobulin isotype switching and the generation of pathogenic autoantibodies. Renal tissue showed decreased immunoglobulin deposition and reduced inflammation as judged by glomerular and interstitial inflammation. Taken together, these studies show selective HDAC6 inhibition decreased several parameters of disease pathogenesis in lupus-prone mice. The decrease was due in part to inhibition of B cell development and response.