Copy number variation in HOXB7 and HOXB8 involves in the formation of beard trait in chickens

The derived feathering phenotype beard in domestic birds is an ideal resource to investigate the genetic mechanisms controlling feather development and differentiation. In the present study, we performed a GWAS and QTL linkage analysis on the trait of beard in Beijing fatty chicken. One major QTL (1.2-1.9 Mb) was identified that could explain 34% of the phenotypic variation. The copy number variation that was copied from the region (GGA27:3 578 409-3 592 890 bp) containing homebox B7 (HOXB7) and homebox B8 (HOXB8) was validated to be only exhibited in the genome of bearded chickens. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated that HOXB7 and HOXB8 proteins could highly interact with the HOXB family members, including HOXB4, HOXB5 and HOXB6, whose genomic locations near HOXB7 and HOXB8 suggested that they may regulate their family members to involve in the formation of the beard trait in chickens. Overall, our work provides basic data for understanding the mechanisms regulating beard development and differentiation.

[Analysis of 15 cases of avian influenza virus (H7N9) infection]

Objective: To describe the clinical, chest imaging, pathological manifestations and therapeutic experience of human infection with A/H7N9 virus. Methods: The features of 15 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with A/H7N9 virus in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The 15 patients with confirmed viral pneumonia included 12 males and 3 females, with a median age of 61 years(ranging from 33 to 81 years). Twelve patients had a history of exposure to the poultry trading places, or direct contact with ill/dead avian, while 3 patients denied exposure or contact. The most common initial symptoms were fever, coughing, and respiratory distress. The illness progressed rapidly to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Lab tests showed normal (8 cases) or decreased (7 cases)white blood cell count , decreased (13 cases) lymphocyte count and proportion , increased creatine kinase (CK, 12 cases) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 15 cases), and respiratory failure (13 cases). Chest radiographic examination showed that the most common features were inflammatory infiltration in the lung, with partial consolidation. The average time of the diagnosis with influenza viral nucleic acid and onset of an oral anti-influenza drug were 7.1 days and 6.5 days. All patients were treated by antiviral drugs (oral oseltamivir 150 mg q12 h and/or intravenous paramivir 600 mg qd), with mechanical ventilation in 9 cases, glucocorticoid therapy in 5 cases (intravenous methylprednisolone in 3 and dexamethasone in 2 patients), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in 2 cases, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in 6 cases, and artificial liver therapy in 1 case. The pulmonary pathology was observed from post-mortem biopsy for 2 fatal cases. Patient 1 had diffuse alveolar damage with inflammatory exudation, hyaline membrane formation, and cellular infiltration. Patient 2 had widened alveolar septum, lymphocyte and monocyte cell infiltration in the alveolar septa, and interstitial fibrous proliferation. Nine patients were discharged, and 6 died. Conclusions: Patients with influenza A/H7N9 virus mostly presented with fever, cough, and were prone to progression to viral pneumonia. Once acute respiratory distress and important organ dysfunction occurred, the fatality rate was higher. Early diagnosis and rational treatment were critical for better outcomes.

[Expression and clinical significance of KIAA1199 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of KIAA1199 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A total of 136 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and paired adjacent tissues were collected. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of KIAA1199 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and paired adjacent tissues. The relationship between KIAA1199 and clinicopathological parameter of primary hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed. Results: The positive rate of KIAA1199 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma was 82.3% (112/136), which was higher than that in paired para-cancerous tissues (14.7%, 20/136). High expression of KIAA1199 was significantly correlated with age, cirrhosis history, tumor size, tumor number, degree of differentiation, TNM staging and microvenous invasion (MVI) (P<0.05), but without gender, drinking alcohol hobby, hepatitis history, family genetic history, tumor location (P>0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that high KIAA1199 expression was associated with poor survival (P<0.01). In addition, Cox proportional hazards model showed that the expression of KIAA1199 was related to age, cirrhosis history, tumor size, tumor number, degree of differentiation, TNM staging and MVI (P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of KIAA1199 is up-regulated in primary hepatocellular carcinoma, which is significantly correlated with the clinicopathological features and prognosis, high expression of KIAA1199 increased the risk of death in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Correlation between intermittent hypoxia-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and release of cytochrome C from mitochondria]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlation between intermittent hypoxia (IH)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and release of cytochrome C (cytC) from mitochondria.

METHODS

HUVECs in IH groups were exposed to repetitive cycles (1% O2 5 min alternating with 21% O2 5 min, 37 ℃, 5% CO2) for different exposure time (8, 16 and 24 h, respectively), while the control group were placed in an ordinary incubator (21% O2, 37 ℃, 5% CO2) for 24 h. Apoptosis rate of HUVECs were determined by using Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit. The mitochondria ultrastructure was observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mitochondria and cytoplasm of HUVECs were isolated by differential centrifugation, and the expression cytC in two separations were detected by Western blot. The correlation between the release of cytC and apoptosis rate was analyzed.

RESULTS

TEM showed that mitochondria in HUVECs treated with IH appeared significant swelling, cristae rupture and vacuolization, compared with intact mitochondria in control group. Apoptosis rates in IH groups of 8, 16 and 24 h were significantly higher than control group[(6.710±0.599)%, (8.863±1.190)% and (9.607±1.266)% vs (2.450±0.795)%]in a time-dependent manner (all P<0.05). Apoptosis rates in IH groups positively correlated with cytC expression in cytoplasm (r=0.741, P=0.022).

CONCLUSION

IH-induced cytC release from mitochondria promotes apoptosis of HUVECs, which participates in IH-induced endothelial injury.

[Serum γ-glutamyltransferase in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and its role in predicting concomitant diabetes mellitus]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) with serum γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GT) and whether serum γ-GT is an independent predictor for diabetes mellitus(DM) in OSAHS patients.

METHODS

A total of 172 Han Chinese subjects were enrolled and divided into three groups based on full-night polysomnography(PSG): severe OSAHS group(AHI>30 events/h), mild to moderate OSAHS group (5<AHI≤30 events/h) and control group(AHI<5 events/h). Serum γ-GT levels were measured after an overnight fast and measurements were compared among groups.Stepwise multiple linear regressions were conducted to determine the independent linear correlation of serum γ-GT with PSG parameters.In subgroup analysis, serum γ-GT levels were further compared between OSAHS with DM and without DM group.DM prevalence was compared between high-γ-GT and low-γ-GT OSAHS group.Binary logistic regressions were conducted to determine the role of serum γ-GT in predicting DM prevalence in OSAHS patients.

RESULTS

Serum γ-GT levels in OSAHS groups were higher than those in control group(25.00, 34.00 and 42.50 IU/L respectively in control, mild to moderate and severe OSAHS group, P=0.001). Serum γ-GT levels were positively correlated with oxygen desaturation index(ODI) in stepwise multiple linear regressions(Beta=0.185, P=0.024). In subgroup analyses, serum γ-GT levels were higher in OSAHS patients with DM than in those without DM (P=0.006). The prevalence of DM was higher in high-γ-GT than in low-γ-GT OSAHS group (P=0.030). Logistic regressions showed that serum γ-GT was an independent predictor for DM prevalence in OSAHS patients(OR=1.011, P=0.033).

CONCLUSION

Serum γ-GT level increases with OSAHS severity and correlates independently with oxygen desaturation during sleep.Serum γ-GT is an independent predictor for DM prevalence in OSAHS patients.

[Factors influencing glucose metabolism in young obese subjects with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the factors influencing glucose metabolism in young obese subjects with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODS

A total of 106 young obese subjects[18-44 years old, body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2)]were enrolled and divided into two groups based on full-night polysomnography (PSG), OSAHS group[apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 events/h]and non-OSAHS group (AHI<5 events/h). Oral glucose tolerance-insulin releasing test (OGTT-IRT) was performed and serum glycosylated hemoglobin A1 (HbA1c) levels were measured after an overnight fast. Homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR), Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (MI), homeostasis model assessment-β (HOMA-β), the early phase insulinogenic index (ΔI(30)/ΔG(30)), total area under the curve of insulin in 180 minutes (AUC-I180) and oral disposition index (DIo) were calculated to evaluate insulin resistance and pancreatic β cell function. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were conducted to determine the independent linear correlation of glucose measurements with PSG parameters.

RESULTS

Prevalence of diabetes was higher in OSAHS than in non-OSAHS group (22.0% vs 4.3%, P=0.009). OGTT 0, 30, 60 min glucose and HbA1c levels were higher in OSAHS group than those in non-OASHS group (all P<0.05). DIo were lower in OSAHS group than those in non-OASHS group (P=0.024), HOMA-IR, MI, HOMA-β, ΔI(30)/ΔG(30), and AUC-I(180) were similar between two groups (all P>0.05). In stepwise multiple linear regressions, OGTT 0, 30 and 60 min glucose were positively correlated with oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (β=0.243, 0.273 and 0.371 respectively, all P<0.05). HOMA-β was negatively correlated with AHI (β=-0.243, P=0.011). DIo was negatively correlated with ODI (β=-0.234, P=0.031).

CONCLUSION

OSAHS worsens glucose metabolism and compensatory pancreatic β-cell function in young obese subjects, which could probably be attributed to sleep apnea related oxygen desaturation during sleep.

Tissue polypeptide specific antigen in hepatitis B carriers

Forty-three normal and thirty-five healthy Chinese hepatitis B carriers were included in our study for comparison with each other. The serum levels of tissue polypeptide specific antigen were measured with a method of immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). The results revealed that the mean +/- SD TPS levels in the 43 normal Chinese and 35 carriers are 85.0 +/- 16.0 and 131.9 +/- 20.1 U/L respectively. There is a significant statistical difference for the TPS level between the two groups. In conclusion, we suggest that the existence of hepatitis B surface antigen is an important factor affecting the serum level of TPS.