SYVN1 modulates papillary thyroid carcinoma progression by destabilizing HMGB1

E3 ubiquitin ligase synoviolin (SYVN1) has been reported to participate in many human cancers. This study aimed to investigate SYVN1's roles and molecular pathways in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The functions of SYVN1 in PTC were further analyzed using gain- and loss-of-function methods and numerous investigations in cellular function and molecular biology. The findings demonstrated that the overexpression of SYVN1 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cell lines (NPA87 and TPC-1). We found that SYVN1 interacted with HMGB1 and promoted its ubiquitination and degradation. In addition, SYVN1 effectively impairs cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the formation of tumor xenografts in mice models. However, this effect may be partly reversed by overexpressing HMGB1. Thus, SYVN1 may inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cells by disrupting HMGB1. Consequently, SYVN1 might be considered a promising therapeutic target for PTC.

Building Haplotype-Resolved 3D Genome Maps of Chicken Skeletal Muscle

Haplotype-resolved 3D chromatin architecture related to allelic differences in avian skeletal muscle development has not been addressed so far, although chicken husbandry for meat consumption has been prevalent feature of cultures on every continent for more than thousands of years. Here, high-resolution Hi-C diploid maps (1.2-kb maximum resolution) are generated for skeletal muscle tissues in chicken across three developmental stages (embryonic day 15 to day 30 post-hatching). The sequence features governing spatial arrangement of chromosomes and characterize homolog pairing in the nucleus, are identified. Multi-scale characterization of chromatin reorganization between stages from myogenesis in the fetus to myofiber hypertrophy after hatching show concordant changes in transcriptional regulation by relevant signaling pathways. Further interrogation of parent-of-origin-specific chromatin conformation supported that genomic imprinting is absent in birds. This study also reveals promoter-enhancer interaction (PEI) differences between broiler and layer haplotypes in skeletal muscle development-related genes are related to genetic variation between breeds, however, only a minority of breed-specific variations likely contribute to phenotypic divergence in skeletal muscle potentially via allelic PEI rewiring. Beyond defining the haplotype-specific 3D chromatin architecture in chicken, this study provides a rich resource for investigating allelic regulatory divergence among chicken breeds.

Haplotype-resolved 3D chromatin architecture of the hybrid pig

In diploid mammals, allele-specific three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture may lead to imbalanced gene expression. Through ultradeep in situ Hi-C sequencing of three representative somatic tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, and brain) from hybrid pigs generated by reciprocal crosses of phenotypically and physiologically divergent Berkshire and Tibetan pigs, we uncover extensive chromatin reorganization between homologous chromosomes across multiple scales. Haplotype-based interrogation of multi-omic data revealed the tissue dependence of 3D chromatin conformation, suggesting that parent-of-origin-specific conformation may drive gene imprinting. We quantify the effects of genetic variations and histone modifications on allelic differences of long-range promoter-enhancer contacts, which likely contribute to the phenotypic differences between the parental pig breeds. We also observe the fine structure of somatically paired homologous chromosomes in the pig genome, which has a functional implication genome-wide. This work illustrates how allele-specific chromatin architecture facilitates concomitant shifts in allele-biased gene expression, as well as the possible consequential phenotypic changes in mammals.

Terahertz in vivo imaging of human skin: Toward detection of abnormal skin pathologies

Terahertz (THz) imaging has long held promise for skin cancer detection but has been hampered by the lack of practical technological implementation. In this article, we introduce a technique for discriminating several skin pathologies using a coherent THz confocal system based on a THz quantum cascade laser. High resolution in vivo THz images (with diffraction limited to the order of 100 μm) of several different lesion types were acquired and compared against one another using the amplitude and phase values. Our system successfully separated pathologies using a combination of phase and amplitude information and their respective surface textures. The large scan field (50 × 40 mm) of the system allows macroscopic visualization of several skin lesions in a single frame. Utilizing THz imaging for dermatological assessment of skin lesions offers substantial additional diagnostic value for clinicians. THz images contain information complementary to the information contained in the conventional digital images.

TAC3 regulates GnRH/gonadotropin synthesis in female chickens

Neurokinin B (NKB), a peptide encoded by the tachykinin 3 (TAC3), is critical for reproduction in all studied species. However, its potential roles in birds are less clear. Using the female chicken (c-) as a model, we showed that cTAC3 is composed of five exons with a full-length cDNA of 787 bp, which was predicted to generate the mature NKB peptide containing 10 amino acids. Using cell-based luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrated that cNKB could effectively and specifically activate tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3) in HEK293 cells, suggesting its physiological function is likely achieved via activating cTACR3 signaling. Notably, cTAC3 and cTACR3 were predominantly and abundantly expressed in the hypothalamus of hens and meanwhile the mRNA expression of cTAC3 was continuously increased during development, suggesting that NKB-TACR3 may emerge as important components of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis. In support, intraperitoneal injection of cNKB could significantly promote hypothalamic cGnRH-Ι, and pituitary cFSHβ and cLHβ expression in female chickens. Surprisingly, cTAC3 and cTACR3 were also expressed in the pituitary gland, and cNKB treatment significantly increased cLHβ and cFSHβ expression in cultured primary pituitary cells, suggesting cNKB can also act directly at the pituitary level to stimulate gonadotropin synthesis. Collectively, our results reveal that cNKB functionally regulate GnRH/gonadotropin synthesis in female chickens.

17β-estradiol biosensors based on different bioreceptors and their applications

17β-Estradiol (E2) is a critical sex steroid hormone, which has significant effects on the endocrine systems of both humans and animals. E2 is also believed to play neurotrophic and neuroprotective roles in the brain. Biosensors present a powerful tool to detect E2 because of their small, efficient, and flexible design. Furthermore, Biosensors can quickly and accurately obtain detection results with only a small sampling amount, which greatly meets the detection of the environment, food safety, medicine safety, and human body. This review focuses on previous studies of biosensors for detecting E2 and divides them into non-biometric sensors, enzyme biosensors, antibody biosensors, and aptamer biosensors according to different bioreceptors. The advantages, disadvantages, and design points of various bioreceptors for E2 detection are analyzed and summarized. Additionally, applications of different bioreceptors of E2 detection are presented and highlight the field of environmental monitoring, food and medicine safety, and disease detection in recent years. Finally, the development of E2 detection by biosensor is prospected.

Design and Validation of a Short Novel Estradiol Aptamer and Exploration of Its Application in Sensor Technology

The specific and sensitive detection of 17β-estradiol (E2) is critical for diagnosing and treating numerous diseases, and aptamers have emerged as promising recognition probes for developing detection platforms. However, traditional long-sequence E2 aptamers have demonstrated limited clinical performance due to redundant structures that can affect their stability and recognition ability. There is thus an urgent need to further optimize the structure of the aptamer to build an effective detection platform for E2. In this work, we have designed a novel short aptamer that retains the key binding structure of traditional aptamers to E2 while eliminating the redundant structures. The proposed aptamer was evaluated for its binding properties using microscale thermophoresis, a gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric method, and electrochemical assays. Our results demonstrate that the proposed aptamer has excellent specific recognition ability for E2 and a high affinity with a dissociation constant of 92 nM. Moreover, the aptamer shows great potential as a recognition probe for constructing a highly specific and sensitive clinical estradiol detection platform. The aptamer-based electrochemical sensor enabled the detection of E2 with a linear range between 5 pg mL-1 and 10 ng mL-1 (R2 = 0.973), and the detection capability of a definite low concentration level was 5 pg mL-1 (S/N = 3). Overall, this novel aptamer holds great promise as a valuable tool for future studies on the role of E2 in various physiological and pathological processes and for developing sensitive and specific diagnostic assays for E2 detection in clinical applications.

[Ginsenoside F1 inhibits cholesterol overload in oxidative-damaged cells through SREBP2/HMGCR pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the inhibitory mechanisms of ginsenoside F1 on hydrogen peroxide induced cholesterol metabolism disorder and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells.

METHODS

1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC) tests were used to detect the scavenging effect of ginsenoside F1 on nitrogen and oxygen free radicals. HepG2 cells were treated with 400 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide and pretreated with 10, 20 and 40 μmol/L ginsenoside F1. Mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP) and total cholesterol levels were detected by JC-1 method and cholesterol kit, respectively. The protein expression levels of sterol-regulatory element binding proteins(SREBP2)and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(HMGCR) in cholesterol synthesis pathway were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

The DPPH clearance rate of ginsenoside F1 was much lower than that of 6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, 8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid(Trolox), but the ORAC capability of ginsenoside F1 was stronger, which was comparable to Trolox. The MMP and protein expression of SREBP2 were significantly decreased in injured group(P<0.05). The cholesterol and protein expression of HMGCR were significantly increased(P<0.05). Whereas, compared with the injured group, the MMP and protein expression of SREBP2 were significantly increased after 10, 20 and 40 μmol/L ginsenoside F1 pretreatment of injured cells(P<0.05). The cholesterol level and protein expression of HMGCR were significantly lower than injured group with concentration-dependent decreases(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ginsenoside F1 can protect against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells by inhibiting oxygen free radicals and protecting mitochondria. And its mechanism may be related to the intervention of SREBP2/HMGCR pathway in regulating cellular cholesterol anabolism.

Integrated Three-Electrode Dual-Mode Detection Chip for Place Cell Analysis: Dopamine Facilitates the Role of Place Cells in Encoding Spatial Locations of Novel Environments and Rewards

The functioning of place cells requires the involvement of multiple neurotransmitters, with dopamine playing a critical role in hippocampal place cell activity. However, the exact mechanisms through which dopamine influences place cell activity remain largely unknown. Herein, we present the development of the integrated three-electrode dual-mode detection chip (ITDDC), which enables simultaneous recording of the place cell activity and dopamine concentration fluctuation. The working electrode, reference electrode, and counter electrode are all integrated within the ITDDC in electrochemical detection, enabling the real-time in situ monitoring of dopamine concentrations in animals in motion. The reference, working, and counter electrodes are surface-modified using PtNPs and polypyrrole, PtNPs and PEDOT:PSS, and PtNPs, respectively. This modification allows for the detection of dopamine concentrations as low as 20 nM. We conducted dual-mode testing on mice in a novel environment and an environment with food rewards. We found distinct dopamine concentration variations along different paths within a novel environment, implying that different dopamine levels may contribute to spatial memory. Moreover, environmental food rewards elevate dopamine significantly, followed by the intense firing of reward place cells, suggesting a crucial role of dopamine in facilitating the encoding of reward-associated locations in animals. The real-time and in situ recording capabilities of ITDDC offer new opportunities to investigate the interplay between electrophysiology and dopamine during animal exploration and reward-based memory and provide a novel glimpse into the correlation between dopamine levels and place cell activity.

Dynamic changes of fecal microbiota in a weight-change model of Bama minipigs

Introduction

Obesity is closely related to gut microbiota, however, the dynamic change of microbial diversity and composition during the occurrence and development process of obesity is not clear.

Methods

A weight-change model of adult Bama pig (2 years, 58 individuals) was established, and weight gain (27 weeks) and weight loss (9 weeks) treatments were implemented. The diversity and community structures of fecal microbiota (418 samples) was investigated by using 16S rRNA (V3-V4) high-throughput sequencing.

Results

During the weight gain period (1~27 week), the alpha diversity of fecal microbiota exhibited a "down-up-down" fluctuations, initially decreasing, recovering in the mid-term, and decreasing again in the later stage. Beta diversity also significantly changed over time, indicating a gradual deviation of the microbiota composition from the initial time point. Bacteroides, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, and Escherichia-Shigella showed positive correlations with weight gain, while Streptococcus, Oscillospira, and Prevotellaceae UCG-001 exhibited negative correlations. In the weight loss period (30~38 week), the alpha diversity further decreased, and the composition structure underwent significant changes compared to the weight gain period. Christensenellaceae R-7 group demonstrated a significant increase during weight loss and showed a negative correlation with body weight. Porphyromonas and Campylobacter were positively correlated with weight loss.

Discussion

Both long-term fattening and weight loss induced by starvation led to substantial alterations in porcine gut microbiota, and the microbiota changes observed during weight gain could not be recovered during weight loss. This work provides valuable resources for both obesity-related research of human and microbiota of pigs.

Impaired Spatial Firing Representations of Neurons in the Medial Entorhinal Cortex of the Epileptic Rat Using Microelectrode Arrays

Epilepsy severely impairs the cognitive behavior of patients. It remains unclear whether epilepsy-induced cognitive impairment is associated with neuronal activities in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), a region known for its involvement in spatial cognition. To explore this neural mechanism, we recorded the spikes and local field potentials from MEC neurons in lithium-pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats using self-designed microelectrode arrays. Through the open field test, we identified spatial cells exhibiting spatially selective firing properties and assessed their spatial representations in relation to the progression of epilepsy. Meanwhile, we analyzed theta oscillations and theta modulation in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Furthermore, we used a novel object recognition test to evaluate changes in spatial cognitive ability of epileptic rats. After the epilepsy modeling, the spatial tuning of various types of spatial cells had suffered a rapid and pronounced damage during the latent period (1 to 5 d). Subsequently, the firing characteristics and theta oscillations were impaired. In the chronic period (>10 d), the performance in the novel object experiment deteriorated. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the detrimental effect on spatial representations and electrophysiological properties of MEC neurons in the epileptic latency, suggesting the potential use of these changes as a "functional biomarker" for predicting cognitive impairment caused by epilepsy.

[Investigation and analysis of airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City]

Objective: To investigate the species, concentration and seasonal trends of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. Methods: The Department of allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University conducted a cross-sectional study about monitoring the airborne allergenic pollen from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 by the gravitational method in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City, which include Yuquan District, Xincheng District, Huimin District, Saihan District, Tuoketuo County, Helingeer County, Tumotezuoqi County, Wuchuan County and Qingshuihe County. Daily pollens were counted and identified by optical microscopy, and the data were analyzed. Results: The airborne allergenic pollen was collected every month all year round in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot city. Through the whole year of the total quantity of pollens ranged from 24 850 to 50 154 grains per 1 000 mm2 and two peaks of pollen concentration in air were observed,which happened in spring (from March to May) and in summer and autumn (from July to September). In spring, the main pollens were tree pollens, which principally distributed in Populus pollen (18.29%), Ulmus pollen (8.36%), Pinus pollen (6.20%), Cupressaceae pollen (5.23%), Betulaceae pollen (2.73%), Salix pollen (1.80%) and Quercus pollen (1.16%). In summer and autumn, the main pollens were weed pollens, which mainly included Artemisia pollen (42.73%), Chenopodiaceae pollen or Amaranthaceae pollen (7.46%), Poaceae pollen (2.26%), Humulus pollen or Cannabis pollen (0.60%). Conclusion: There were two peaks of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. In the spring peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were tree pollens. In the summer and autumn peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were weed pollens. The Artemisia pollen was the most major airborne pollen in this area.

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone affects thymic T cell production, migration, and colonization in male rat lymphoid tissue

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) inhibits animal reproduction and has become a friendly alternative to surgical castration, which has been reported to affect the proportion of thymic T cell subpopulations. The effects of active immunization against GnRH on T cell migration from the thymus to the periphery and T cell distribution in lymphoid tissues remain unclear. Here, we showed that active immunization against GnRH increased thymic size and weight, enlarged the number of thymocytes, and enhanced CD4+ recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) and CD8+ RTEs migration to the blood and spleen. Active immunization against GnRH had no significant effect on naïve CD4+, naïve CD8+, CD4+ memory/activated, or CD8+ memory/activated T cells. In addition, active immunization against GnRH increased the proportion of CD3+ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. The percentages of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells in the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes were not significantly affected by GnRH immunization. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of thymic T cell production, migration, and colonization in rat lymphoid tissues affected by GnRH immunization.

Dynamic chromatin architecture of the porcine adipose tissues with weight gain and loss

Using an adult female miniature pig model with diet-induced weight gain/weight loss, we investigated the regulatory mechanisms of three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture in adipose tissues (ATs) associated with obesity. We generated 249 high-resolution in situ Hi-C chromatin contact maps of subcutaneous AT and three visceral ATs, analyzing transcriptomic and chromatin architectural changes under different nutritional treatments. We find that chromatin architecture remodeling underpins transcriptomic divergence in ATs, potentially linked to metabolic risks in obesity development. Analysis of chromatin architecture among subcutaneous ATs of different mammals suggests the presence of transcriptional regulatory divergence that could explain phenotypic, physiological, and functional differences in ATs. Regulatory element conservation analysis in pigs and humans reveals similarities in the regulatory circuitry of genes responsible for the obesity phenotype and identified non-conserved elements in species-specific gene sets that underpin AT specialization. This work provides a data-rich tool for discovering obesity-related regulatory elements in humans and pigs.

Comparative three-dimensional genome architectures of adipose tissues provide insight into human-specific regulation of metabolic homeostasis

Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of human adipose tissues (ATs) evolution is essential for understanding human-specific metabolic regulation, but the functional importance and evolutionary dynamics of three-dimensional (3D) genome organizations of ATs are not well defined. Here, we compared the 3D genome architectures of anatomically distinct ATs from humans and six representative mammalian models. We recognized evolutionarily conserved and human-specific chromatin conformation in ATs at multiple scales, including compartmentalization, topologically associating domain (TAD), and promoter-enhancer interactions (PEI), which have not been described previously. We found PEI are much more evolutionarily dynamic with respect to compartmentalization and topologically associating domain. Compared to conserved PEIs, human-specific PEIs are enriched for human-specific sequence, and the binding motifs of their potential mediators (transcription factors) are less conserved. Our data also demonstrated that genes involved in the evolutionary dynamics of chromatin organization have weaker transcriptional conservation than those associated with conserved chromatin organization. Furthermore, the genes involved in energy metabolism and the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis are enriched in human-specific chromatin organization, while housekeeping genes, health-related genes, and genetic variations are enriched in evolutionarily conserved compared to human-specific chromatin organization. Finally, we showed extensively divergent human-specific 3D genome organizations among one subcutaneous and three visceral ATs. Together, these findings provide a global overview of 3D genome architecture dynamics between ATs from human and mammalian models and new insights into understanding the regulatory evolution of human ATs.

Preoperative Esketamine Alleviates Postoperative Pain after Endoscopic Plasma Adenotonsillectomy in Children

Objective: We aimed to investigate preoperative esketamine alleviating postoperative pain in children after endoscopic plasma total adenotonsillectomy.Methods: We recruited 200 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy at Wuhan Children's Hospital between September 2021 and April 2022. The children were randomly assigned to receive preoperative esketamine (ESK group) or fentanyl (FEN group). The primary endpoint was serum c-fos and c-jun levels. The secondary endpoints were face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) score and adverse events.Results: After surgery, c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were increased significantly in both groups. Postoperatively, c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were higher in FEN group compared with the ESK group (P<0.05). The FLACC scores were higher in the FEN group compared with the ESK group at 1 and 24 hours after surgery (P<0.05). Prediction probability (P_k) values indicated that c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were quantitative predictors for early postoperative pain and stress reaction after surgery.Conclusions: Esketamine-based anesthesia (1mg/kg) can alleviate postoperative pain and regulate the inflammatory reaction in children undergoing endoscopic plasma adenotonsillectomy.

Reduced Graphene Oxide and Gold Nanoparticles-Modified Electrochemical Aptasensor for Highly Sensitive Detection of Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin (DOX) is the most clinically important antibiotic in cancer treatment, but its severe cardiotoxicity and other side effects limit its clinical use. Therefore, monitoring DOX concentrations during therapy is essential to improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Here, we fabricated a sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for DOX detection. The sensor used gold wire as the working electrode and was modified with reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to improve the sensitivity. An aptamer was used as the recognition element for the DOX. The 5' end of the aptamer was modified with a thiol group, and thus immobilized to the AuNPs, and the 3' end was modified with methylene blue, which acts as the electron mediator. The combination between the aptamer and DOX would produce a binding-induced conformation, which changes the electron transfer rate, yielding a current change that correlates with the concentration of DOX. The aptasensor exhibited good linearity in the DOX concentration range of 0.3 μM to 6 μM, with a detection limit of 0.1 μM. In addition, the aptasensor was used for DOX detection in real samples and results, and showed good recovery. The proposed electrochemical aptasensor will provide a sensitive, fast, simple, and reliable new platform for detecting DOX.

Evidence for progesterone acting as an inhibitor of stress axis via stimulating pituitary neuropeptide B/W receptor 2 (NPBWR2) expression in chickens

In vertebrates, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland (HPA) axis is the main endocrine pathway regulating the stress response, thus also called the stress axis. It has been well-accepted that the stress axis is tightly controlled by both hypothalamic stimulators and inhibitors [e.g. corticotropin (ACTH)-releasing inhibitory factor (CRIF)]. However, the identity of authentic CRIF remains unclear for decades. Recently, neuropeptide W (NPW) was proved to be the physiological CRIF in chickens. Together with its functional receptor (NPBWR2), they play critical roles in attenuating the activity of the chicken stress axis. Because increasing pieces of evidence suggested that sex steroids could regulate the stress axis, using chicken as a model, we investigated whether the newly identified CRIF and its receptor are under the control of sex steroids in this study. Our results showed that: (1) expression of NPW-NPBWR2 in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis was sexually dimorphic and developmental stage-dependent; (2) progesterone (P₄), rather than 17β-estradiol (E₂) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), could dose- and time-dependently upregulate NPBWR2 expression, which was accompanied with the decrease of ACTH synthesis and secretion, in cultured pituitary cells; (3) intraperitoneal injection of P₄ could elevate the mRNA level of pituitary NPBWR2; (4) P₄-stimulated NPBWR2 expression was relevant to both nPR-mediated genomic action and mPRs-triggered nongenomic route associated with MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT cascade, and calcium influx. To our knowledge, our results discover a novel route of sex steroids in modulating the stress axis of chickens, which lays a foundation to reveal the complicated interaction network between reproduction and stress axes in chickens.

Mechanic Insight into the Distinct and Common Roles of Ovariectomy Versus Adrenalectomy on Adipose Tissue Remodeling in Female Mice

Dysfunctions of the ovaries and adrenal glands are both evidenced to cause aberrant adipose tissue (AT) remodeling and resultant metabolic disorders, but their distinct and common roles are poorly understood. In this study, through biochemical, histological and RNA-seq analyses, we comprehensively explored the mechanisms underpinning subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) remodeling, in response to ovariectomy (OVX) versus adrenalectomy (ADX) in female mice. OVX promoted adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation in both SAT and VAT, by potentiating the Pparg signaling, while ADX universally prevented the cell proliferation and extracellular matrix organization in both SAT and VAT, likely by inactivating the Nr3c1 signaling, thus causing lipoatrophy in females. ADX, but not OVX, exerted great effects on the intrinsic difference between SAT and VAT. Specifically, ADX reversed a large cluster of genes differentially expressed between SAT and VAT, by activating 12 key transcription factors, and thereby caused senescent cell accumulation, massive B cell infiltration and the development of selective inflammatory response in SAT. Commonly, both OVX and ADX enhance circadian rhythmicity in VAT, and impair cell proliferation, neurogenesis, tissue morphogenesis, as well as extracellular matrix organization in SAT, thus causing dysfunction of adipose tissues and concomitant metabolic disorders.

Chemical Components Analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS and In Vitro Antitumor Effects of the Chestnut Mushroom Pholiota adiposa (Agaricomycetes)

We investigated the chemical constituents and anti-tumor activity of cultivated Pholiota adiposa in vitro using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. HepG-2, A549, HeLa, and MCF-7 cells, which are 4 kinds of human cancer cell lines, were cultured in vitro, treated with different concentrations of the ethanol extract of Ph. adiposa (EPA), and cytotoxicity was determined using the cell counting kit-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the apoptosis of HepG-2 cells via annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining. Expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins were determined via Western blotting analysis. Thirty-five components were consistent with those recorded in the chemical composition database, with sterols, fatty acids, and polysaccharide compounds accounting for a relatively high proportion. EPA showed the strongest cytotoxicity against HepG-2 cells, increasing the apoptosis rate up to 23.71 ± 1.59% at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. Ph. adiposa has various functional chemical constituents and potential anti-tumor applications. We found that the functional constituents exerted anti-tumor activity by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression levels of BCL-2-associated X were increased, whereas those of BCL-2 were decreased in cells after treatment with EPA. These results suggest that EPA induces HepG-2 cell apoptosis via a caspase-mediated pathway.

Repeated sevoflurane exposures inhibit neurogenesis by inducing the upregulation of glutamate transporter 1 in astrocytes

Sevoflurane is a widely used general anaesthetic in paediatric patients. Although repeated sevoflurane exposure is known to cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children, the mechanism of this neurotoxicity remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the role of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) in sevoflurane-induced decreased neurogenesis. Neonatal rat pups (postnatal Day 7, PN7) were exposed to 3% sevoflurane for 2 h for three consecutive days. Neuron loss and decreased neurogenesis have been observed in the neonatal rat brain, along with decreased number of astrocytes. Apoptotic astrocytes were observed after repeated sevoflurane exposure in vitro, resulting in decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Calcium overload was observed in astrocytes after repeated sevoflurane exposure, in addition to upregulation of GLT1. Inhibition of GLT1 activity ameliorates repeated sevoflurane exposure-induced cognitive deficits in adult rats. Mechanically, the upregulation of GLT1 was caused by the activation of mRNA translation. RNA-sequencing analysis further confirmed that translation-related genes were activated by repeated sevoflurane exposure. These results indicate that cognitive deficits caused by repeated sevoflurane exposure during PN7-9 are triggered decreased neurogenesis. The proposed underlying mechanism involves upregulation of apoptosis in astrocytes induced by GLT1; therefore, we propose GLT1 as a potential pharmacological target for brain injury in paediatric practice.

Corticosterone stage-dependently inhibits progesterone production presumably via impeding the cAMP-StAR cascade in granulosa cells of chicken preovulatory follicles

Stress can suppress reproduction capacity in either wild or domestic animals, but the exact mechanism behind it, especially in terms of steroidogenesis, remains under-investigated so far. Considering the important roles of progesterone in avian breeding, we investigated the modulation of corticosterone on progesterone production in cultured granulosa cells of chicken follicles at different developmental stages. Using enzyme immunoassays, our study showed that corticosterone could only inhibit progesterone synthesis in granulosa cells from F5-6, F4, and F3 follicles, but not F2 and F1 follicles. Coincidentally, both quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting revealed that corticosterone could downregulate steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression, suggesting the importance of StAR in corticosterone-related actions. Using the dual-luciferase reporter system, we found that corticosterone can potentially enhance, rather than inhibit, the activity of StAR promoter. Of note, combining high-throughput transcriptomic analysis and quantitative real-time PCR, phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A), protein kinase cAMP-dependent type II regulatory subunit alpha (PRKAR2A) and cAMP responsive element modulator (CREM) were identified to exhibit the differential expression patterns consistent with cAMP blocking in granulosa cells from F5-6, F4, and F3, but not F2 and F1 follicles. Afterward, the expression profiles of these genes in granulosa cells of distinct developmental-stage follicles were examined by quantitative real-time PCR, in which all of them expressed correspondingly with progesterone levels of granulosa cells during development. Collectively, these findings indicate that corticosterone can stage-dependently inhibit progesterone production in granulosa cells of chicken preovulatory follicles, through impeding cAMP-induced StAR activity presumptively.

Recent progress and perspectives of continuous in vivo testing device

Devices for continuous in-vivo testing (CIVT) can detect target substances in real time, thus providing a valuable window into a patient's condition, their response to therapeutics, metabolic activities, and neurotransmitter transmission in the brain. Therefore, CIVT devices have received increased attention because they are expected to greatly assist disease diagnosis and treatment and research on human pathogenesis. However, CIVT has been achieved for only a few markers, and it remains challenging to detect many key markers. Therefore, it is important to summarize the key technologies and methodologies of CIVT, and to examine the direction of future development of CIVT. We review recent progress in the development of CIVT devices, with consideration of the structure of these devices, principles governing continuous detection, and nanomaterials used for electrode modification. This detailed and comprehensive review of CIVT devices serves three purposes: (1) to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of existing devices, (2) to provide a reference for development of CIVT equipment to detect additional important markers, and (3) to discuss future prospects with emphasis on problems that must be overcome for further development of CIVT equipment. This review aims to promote progress in research on CIVT devices and contribute to future innovation in personalized medical treatments.

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A detailed and comprehensive review of continuous in vivo testing device.

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The nanomaterials, delicate structures and detection principles of the works are discussed.

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The achievements and shortcomings of the existing devices are summarized.

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The problems that should be solved in the further development of the devices and the future prospects are put forward.

The Analysis of Transcriptomes and Microorganisms Reveals Differences between the Intestinal Segments of Guinea Pigs

Simple Summary

Functional differences between the various segments of the intestine and differences in the intestines between species have been demonstrated in previous studies. Guinea pigs are commonly used model animals in intestinal-related research. As well as modeling disease states, it is important to study the intestinal tract of guinea pigs to derive basic data for the rational use of guinea pig models. Therefore, we collected six different segments of the intestinal tissue of guinea pigs and analyzed the gene expression profiles and microbial composition of each of these regions. The results revealed the functional regionalization of the intestine, with changes in functional gene expression between different intestinal segments, an association between microbial abundance and gene expression, and differences in intestinal gene expression between different species. Our study provides a reference for future intestinal-related research.

Abstract

The intestine is a tubular organ with multiple functions such as digestion absorption and immunity, but the functions of each intestinal segments are different. Intestinal regionalization is necessary for normal physiological function, but it also means the research results obtained at specific sites may not be applicable to other intestinal segments. In order to comprehensively describe the functional changes in the intestine, different intestinal segments and their contents (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum) of guinea pigs were collected for RNA seq and 16S rRNA seq, respectively. The results showed differential genes of each intestinal segment mainly involve mucosa, digestion, absorption, and immunity. The gene sets related to fat, bill salts, vitamins, aggregates, amino acids, and water absorption were highly expressed in the small intestine, and the gene sets related to metal ions, nucleotides, and SCFAs were highly expressed in the large intestine. In terms of immunity, the CD8⁺ T, Th1, eosinophils, pDCs, and natural killer (NK) T cells in the small intestine showed higher scores than those in the large intestine, while the pattern-recognition receptor signaling pathway-related genes are highly expressed in the large intestine. In terms of microbial composition, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria are abundant in the small intestine, while Firmicutes and Spirochaete are abundant in large intestine. The correlation analysis showed a high correlation between intestinal microorganisms and gene modules related to digestion and absorption. In addition, cross-species analysis showed the SCFA metabolism gene expression trends in human and rodent intestine were different. In conclusion, we analyzed the changes in substance transport, immune and microbial composition between different intestinal segments of guinea pigs, and explored the relationship between intestinal transcriptome and microorganisms, our research will provides a reference for subsequent intestinal-related research.

Characterization of spexin (SPX) in chickens: molecular cloning, functional analysis, tissue expression and its involvement in appetite regulation

Spexin (SPX) is a conservative tetradecapeptide which has been proven to participate in multiple physiological processes, including anxiety, feed intake, and energy metabolism in fish and mammals. However, whether SPX exists and functions in birds remain largely unknown. Using chicken (c-) as a model, the full-length cDNA encoding cSPX precursor was cloned, and it was predicted to generate a mature peptide with 14 amino acids conserved across vertebrates. The pGL4-SRE-luciferase reporter system-based functional analysis demonstrated that cSPX was effective in activating chicken galanin type Ⅱ receptor (cGALR2), cGALR2-like receptor (cGALR2L) and galanin type Ⅲ receptor (cGALR3), thus to stimulate intracellular MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that SPX was widely expressed in chicken tissues, especially abundant in the central nervous system, pituitary, testes, and pancreas. Interestingly, it was noted that chicken hypothalamic SPX mRNA could be up-regulated by 24-h and 36-h fasting, heralding its latent capacity in appetite regulation. In accordance with this speculation, peripheral injection of cSPX was proved to be functional in reducing feed intake of 3-wk-old chicks. Furthermore, we found that cSPX could reduce the expression of AgRP and MCH, with a concurrent rise in CART1 mRNA level in the hypothalamic of chicks. Collectively, our findings not only provide the evidences that SPX can act as a satiety factor by orchestrating the expression of key feeding regulators in the chicken hypothalamus but also help to facilitate a better understanding of its functional evolution across vertebrates.

Oral and fecal microbiome of confiscated Bengal slow lorises in response to confinement duration

Slow lorises are small arboreal and nocturnal primates. Due to the illegal trade, a large number of slow lorises were confiscated into wildlife sanctuaries or rescue centers. The re-release has been considered a preferable approach for alleviating the captive pressure, but inappropriate and long-term confinement make it difficult to achieve this goal. In this study, we investigated and compared the fecal and oral microbiome of Bengal slow lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) under long-term captivity (LC) and short-term captivity (SC) groups based on 16s rRNA high-throughput gene sequencing. The oral microbiome displayed higher Chao1 richness but lower Shannon and Simpson indices than the fecal microbiome. The Bengal slow lorises under long-term captivity had abundant pathogenic genera in both gut and oral microbiomes, such as Desulfovibrio, Actinomyces, Capnocytophaga, Neisseria, and Fusobacterium, while some specific bacterial taxa associated with intestinal balance were more enriched in the SC group. Due to the plant gum scarcity in the diet, both groups had a low abundance of Bifidobacterium. Function profile prediction indicated that the LC group was enriched with genetic information processing and metabolism pathways due to the stable food intake. The increased membrane transport and xenobiotic metabolism and degradation functions in the SC group could be explained by the function of the host microbiome in facilitating adaptation to changing environments and diets. The results demonstrated that the oral microbiome had the potential to be used as a regular surveillance tool. Also, current captive management should be improved to ensure reintroduction success.

[Progress of researches on albendazole for treatment of alveolar echinococcosis]

Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection, is a highly deadly zoonotic parasitic disease. As a benzimidazole compound, albendazole has a strong and broad-spectrum anti-parasitic action. For alveolar echinococcosis patients that are unwilling to receive surgical treatment, lose the timing for surgery, or are intolerant to surgery due to poor physical status, administration of albendazole may delay disease progression. Recently, a large number of advances have been achieved in experimental studies on alveolar echinococcosis. In order to increase the understanding of the therapeutic efficacy of albendazole for alveolar echinococcosis, this review summarizes the advances in albendazole treatment for alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide insights into the clinical treatment of alveolar echinococcosis with albendazole.

Gut Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Potential of Long-Living People in China

Individuals with naturally long-life spans have been extensively studied to gain a greater understanding of what factors contribute to their overall health and ability to delay or avoid certain diseases. Our previous work showed that gut microbiota can be a new avenue in healthy aging studies. In the present study, a total of 86 Chinese individuals were assigned into three groups: the long-living group (90 + years old; n = 28), the elderly group (65–75 years old; n = 31), and the young group (24–48 years old; n = 27). These groups were used to explore the composition and functional genes in the microbiota community by using the metagenomic sequencing method. We found that long-living individuals maintained high diversity in gene composition and functional profiles. Furthermore, their microbiota displays less inter-individual variation than that of elderly adults. In the taxonomic composition, it was shown that long-living people contained more short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and a decrease in certain pathogenic bacteria. Functional analysis also showed that the long-living people were enriched in metabolism metabolites methanol, trimethylamine (TMA), and CO₂ to methane, and lysine biosynthesis, but the genes related to riboflavin (vitamin B2) metabolism and tryptophan biosynthesis were significantly reduced in long-living individuals. Further, we found that long-living people with enriched SCFA- and lactic-producing bacteria and related genes, highly centered on producing key lactic acid genes (ldhA) and the genes of lysine that are metabolized to the butyrate pathway. In addition, we compared the gut microbiota signatures of longevity in different regions and found that the composition of the gut microbiota of the long-lived Chinese and Italian people was quite different, but both groups were enriched in genes related to methane production and glucose metabolism. In terms of SCFA metabolism, the Chinese long-living people were enriched with bacteria and genes related to butyric acid production, while the Italian long-living people were enriched with more acetic acid-related genes. These findings suggest that the gut microbiota of Chinese long-living individuals include more SCFA-producing bacteria and genes, metabolizes methanol, TMA, and CO₂, and contains fewer pathogenic bacteria, thereby potentially contributing to the healthy aging of humans.

Dynamic 3D genome reorganization during development and metabolic stress of the porcine liver

Liver development is a complex process that is regulated by a series of signaling pathways. Three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture plays an important role in transcriptional regulation; nonetheless, its dynamics and role in the rapid transition of core liver functions during development and obesity-induced metabolic stress remain largely unexplored. To investigate the dynamic chromatin architecture during liver development and under metabolic stress, we generated high-resolution maps of chromatin architecture for porcine livers across six major developmental stages (from embryonic day 38 to the adult stage) and under a high-fat diet-induced obesity. The characteristically loose chromatin architecture supports a highly plastic genome organization during early liver development, which fundamentally contributes to the rapid functional transitions in the liver after birth. We reveal the multi-scale reorganization of chromatin architecture and its influence on transcriptional regulation of critical signaling processes during liver development, and show its close association with transition in hepatic functions (i.e., from hematopoiesis in the fetus to metabolism and immunity after birth). The limited changes in chromatin structure help explain the observed metabolic adaptation to excessive energy intake in pigs. These results provide a global overview of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with the transition of physiological liver functions between prenatal development and postnatal maturation, and a foundational resource that allows for future in-depth functional characterization.

Synergy of Dietary Quercetin and Vitamin E Improves Cecal Microbiota and Its Metabolite Profile in Aged Breeder Hens

In the present study, the synergistic effects of quercetin (Q) and vitamin E (E) on cecal microbiota composition and function, as well as the microbial metabolic profile in aged breeder hens were investigated. A total of 400 (65 weeks old) Tianfu breeder hens were randomly allotted to four experimental groups (four replicates per group). The birds were fed diets containing quercetin at 0.4 g/kg, vitamin E (0.2 g/kg), quercetin and vitamin E (QE; 0.4 g/kg and 0.2 g/kg), and a basal diet for a period of 10 wks. After the 10 week experimental period, the cecal contents of 8 aged breeder hens per group were sampled aseptically and subjected to high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis. The results showed that the relative abundances of phyla Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota were the most prominent among all the dietary groups. Compared to the control group, the relative abundance of the families Bifidobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Tannerellaceae, Mathonobacteriaceae, Barnesiellaceae, and Prevotellaceae were enriched in the QE group; and Bacteroidaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Peptotostretococcaceae, and Fusobacteriaceae were enriched in the Q group, whereas those of Lactobacillaceae, Veillonellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Akkermansiaceae, and Rikenellaceae were enriched in the E group compared to the control group. Untargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that Q, E, and QE modified the abundance of several metabolites in prominent pathways including ubiquinone and other terpenoid–quinone biosynthesis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, insulin secretion, pancreatic secretion, nicotine addiction, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450. Furthermore, key cecal microbiota, significantly correlated with important metabolites, for example, (S)-equol positively correlated with Alistipes and Chlamydia in E_vs_C, and negatively correlated with Olsenella, Paraprevotella, and Mucispirillum but, a contrary trend was observed with Parabacteroides in QE_vs_C. This study establishes that the synergy of quercetin and vitamin E alters the cecal microbial composition and metabolite profile in aged breeder hens, which lays a foundation for chicken improvement programs.

Altitude-adaption of gut microbiota in Tibetan chicken

Low oxygen levels and extremely cold weather in high-altitude environments requires more energy intake to maintain body temperature in animals. However, little is known about the characteristics of cecal and ileac microbiota in Tibetan chicken and how the high and low altitude environments affect the gut microbiota communities in Tibetan chicken. In the present study, In the present study, Tibetan chickens (Group HA, 3572 m, 578.5 Pa) and their introduced flatland counterparts (Group LA, 580 m, 894.6 Pa) in the cecum and ileum to identify the possible bacterial species that are helpful for their host in environmental adaption. High-throughput sequencing was used to sequence the V3 to V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. By comparing the gut microbial diversity of HA chicken with that of LA, the results indicated that the microbial diversity of the cecum and ileum in group HA was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those in group LA. The cecum microbiome maintained higher population diversity and richness than the ileum (P < 0.05). Four phyla Firmicutes, Bacterioidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria were dominant in two groups. Interestingly, there were significant differences in abundance ratio among the four groups (P < 0.05). The predominant bacteria in HA and LA ileum belong to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, whereas in cecum, Bacterioidetes and Actinobacteria were predominant in both groups (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Sporosarcina, Enterococcus, and Lactococcus were strongly related to air pressure, and Peptoclostridium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 are related to altitude and gut microbiota of LA group was influenced by altitude, while HA group affected by air pressure. Meanwhile, the Ruminococcus-torques-group was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Paenibacillus, and positive correlated with those of other microorganisms. Furthermore, HA has higher abundance of microbiota involved in energy and glycan biosynthesis metabolism pathway, while LA has higher abundance of microbiota involved in membrane transport, signal transduction, and xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism. Generally, our results suggested that the composition and diversity of gut microbes changed after Tibetan chickens were introduced to the plain. Tibetan chicken may adapt to new environment via reshaping the gut microbiota. Gut microbes may contribute to the host adaption to high altitude environments by increasing host energy and glycan biosynthesis.

A Dual-Channel Intelligent Point-of-Care Testing System for Soluble Programmed Death-1 and Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Detection Based on Folding Paper-Based Immunosensors

Both programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) are important proteins in cancer immunotherapy. Soluble forms (sPD-1 and sPD-L1) have potential for determining treatment and prognosis monitoring. However, there is a lack of detection methods for point-of-care testing (POCT) of these two proteins, so a low-cost rapid detection platform is urgently needed. To solve this problem, a dual-channel electrochemical platform, including a folding paper-based immunosensor and a POCT system for rapid simultaneous detection of these two proteins was designed and fabricated. The immunosensor consists of a three-electrode system and a reaction cell. The surface of the working electrode was modified with nanocomposites synthesized from amine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes, new methylene blue, and gold nanoparticles. Antibodies to sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were also immobilized on the working electrode surface. A differential pulse voltammetry electrochemical method was adopted. The immunosensor was able to detect sPD-1 and sPD-L1 in the ranges of 50 pg/mL to 50 ng/mL and 5 pg/mL to 5 ng/mL, respectively. The limits of detection were 10 and 5 pg/mL. Using this detection platform, sPD-1 and sPD-L1 in plasma were detected by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the immunosensor, which has good application potential.

Hepatoprotective effect and metabonomics studies of radix gentianae in rats with acute liver injury

CONTEXT

As a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for protecting the liver, the mechanism of Radix Gentianae (RG) remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The hepatoprotective effect and metabonomics of RG were studied to explore the molecular and metabolic mechanisms of RG protecting the liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and model group (n = 10, orally given distilled water), intervention group (4 subgroups, n = 10, prophylactically and orally given 0.63, 2.5 and 5.6 g/kg RG and 0.2 g/kg bifendatatum for 7 d). On day 7 of the intervention, all rats except the control were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5% carbon tetrachloride vegetable oil solution (1.5 mL/kg) to induce liver injury. After 24 h of carbon tetrachloride injection, rat serum and liver tissue were collected for determining AST, ALT, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, SOD, MDA, GSH, and GSH-PX. Rat serum was used for analysing endogenous metabolism by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

RESULTS

Different doses of RG can significantly decrease the levels of AST, ALT, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6 and MDA, and increase the levels of SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX in rats with liver injury (p < 0.05; TNF-α, and IL-6, p < 0.05 only at 5.6 g/kg dose). Eight biomarkers of liver injury were obtained in serum metabonomics, involving five significant metabolic pathways. RG can improve steroid biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis.

CONCLUSION

RG demonstrated a good ability to protect the liver and improving endogenous metabolism in rats with liver injury. This can help us understand the mechanism of RG and more clinical verifications were inspired.

Electrochemical Microfluidic Paper-Based Aptasensor Platform Based on a Biotin-Streptavidin System for Label-Free Detection of Biomarkers

Timely and rapid detection of biomarkers is extremely important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, going to the hospital to test biomarkers is the most common way. People need to spend a lot of money and time on various tests for potential disease detection. To make the detection more convenient and affordable, we propose a paper-based aptasensor platform in this work. This device is based on a cellulose paper, on which a three-electrode system and microfluidic channels are fabricated. Meanwhile, novel nanomaterials consisting of amino redox graphene/thionine/streptavidin-modified gold nanoparticles/chitosan are synthesized and modified on the working electrode of the device. Through the biotin-streptavidin system, the aptamer whose 5'end is modified with biotin can be firmly immobilized on the electrode. The detection principle is that the current generated by the nanomaterials decreases proportionally to the concentration of targets owing to the combination of the biomarker and its aptamer. 17β-Estradiol (17β-E2), as one of the widely used diagnostic biomarkers of various clinical conditions, is adopted for verifying the performance of the platform. The experimental results demonstrated that this device enables the determination of 17β-E2 in a wide linear range of concentrations of 10 pg mL^-1 to 100 ng mL^-1 and the limit of detection is 10 pg mL^-1 (S/N = 3). Moreover, it enables the detection of targets in clinical serum samples, demonstrating its potential to be a disposable and convenient integrated platform for detecting various biomarkers.

Mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway is involved in synaptic plasticity of the spinal dorsal horn and neuropathic pain in rats by regulating autophagy

Unveiling the etiology and the underlying mechanism of neuropathic pain, a poorly treated disease, is essential for the development of effective therapies. This study aimed to explore the role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in autophagy-mediated neuropathic pain. We established a spared nerve injury (SNI) model in adult male SD rats by ligating the common peroneal nerve and tibial, with the distal end cutoff. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and C/A-fiber evoked field potentials were determined by electrophysiologic tests at day 0 (before operation), day 7 and day 14 postoperation, and SNI significantly increased field potentials (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry and western blots using spinal cord tissues showed that the expressions of GluR1, GluR2, Beclin-1, p62, mTOR and 4EBP1 were significantly increased after SNI (all P < 0.05), whereas the expressions of LC3 and LAMP2 were significantly decreased after SNI (all P < 0.05). Rapamycin efficiently counteracted the effect of SNI and restored the phenotypes to the level comparable to the sham control. In conclusion, rapamycin inhibits C/A-fiber-mediated long-term potentiation in the SNI rat model of neuropathic pain, which might be mediated by activation of autophagy signaling and downregulation of GluRs expression.

Effect of almond hulls on the performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and body composition of laying hens

The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 varieties of almond hulls (prime and California type hulls) as an alternative feed ingredient on the performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and body composition using a total of 100 23-week-old Hy-Line W36 hens. Treatments consisted of a control diet based on corn and soybean meal; T2 and T3 were formulated to contain 7.5 and 15% of prime hulls; and T4 and T5 contained 7.5 and 15% of California type hulls. Inclusion of prime hulls and California type hulls had no effects on feed intake, egg laying rate, and feed conversion ratio, but California type hulls at 7.5% decreased (P < 0.001) body weight gain compared to the control. Prime hulls at 7.5% and California type hulls at both levels improved (P ≤ 0.022) AMEn and N digestibility. Both prime hulls and California type hulls had no effects on egg size, specific gravity, Haugh unit, and percentages of yolk, albumen and shell, but yolk color appeared greener and less yellow (P ≤ 0.009) by prime hulls and less yellow (P = 0.001) by California type hulls. For body composition, prime hulls and California type hulls at both levels lowered (P ≤ 0.017) body fat, and California type hulls at 7.5% decreased (P = 0.001) lean weight. In summary, inclusion of prime hulls and California type hulls up to 15% had no negative effect on egg production and egg quality while reduced the body fat percentage and mass.

Identification and functional analysis of NOD2 and its two splicing variants associated with a novel pattern of signal regulation in teleost fishes

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) has been identified as an important sensor for microorganic invasion in both mammals and teleost fishes. In this study, two splicing variants of NOD2 (NOD2-v1 and NOD2-v2) were identified as truncating the functional domains of wild-type NOD2 in the teleost fish Schizothorax prenanti. NOD2-v1 included an intron sequence that terminated within the third leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, while NOD2-v2 incorporated an insertion of one and half intron sequences and truncated within the second caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD). NOD2, NOD2-v1 and NOD2-v2 genes were ubiquitously expressed. All three genes positively responded to exposure of Aeromonas hydrophila and lipopolysaccharide stimulation in varying degrees. Using luciferase activity assays in HEK293T cells, our results revealed that NOD2 activated the NF-κB signal and recognized muramyl dipeptide (MDP). NOD2-v1 exhibited deficiency in the LRR domains and could not sense MDP, but maintained the ability to activate NF-κB and enhanced NOD2-mediated MDP recognition. Given the significant change to the functional structure, NOD2-v2 lost its capacity for NF-κB activation, but interestingly repressed NOD2-mediated MDP sensing and NF-κB activation, and even NOD2-v1-induced NF-κB activation. Altogether, our study reveals a novel pattern of signal regulation by splicing variants in teleost fishes.

Declarations: management of a pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae by uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a case report

BACKGROUND

A pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare condition that is associated with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM). Few reports have described managing PAVMs using uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

CASE PRESENTATION

A 13-year-old child with PAVF in the left inferior pulmonary artery was treated by uniportal VATS with left lower lobectomy. After surgery, hemoptysis did not recur and there were no postoperative complications. Six months after the operation, postoperative review of computerized tomography showed no recrudescence of PAVF.

CONCLUSIONS

PAVF is a rare case that should be diagnosed and treated early. 3D- computerized tomography (CT) reconstruction is useful for diagnosis and preoperative assessment. The case shows that PAVF can be managed with uniportal VATS.

Gut microbiota in healthy and unhealthy long-living people

The human gut microbiota in long-living people has been characterized, however, its metabolic potential is still largely unknown in this group. In this study, the gut microbiota was assessed in 37 Chinese long-living participants (aged 90 + years) by metagenomic sequencing of stool samples. Participants were categorized into two groups, healthy long-living (n = 28) and unhealthy long-living (n = 9). Gut microbiota composition and function were compared among these two groups. We found that the gut microbiota in the healthy long-living group was significantly separated from the unhealthy group. The healthy long-living group contained a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes and more functional pathways in energy metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. The unhealthy group contained a higher abundance of Streptococcus and other pathogenic bacteria, and also contained more functional pathways for xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism than the healthy group. Additionally, the unhealthy group had decreased levels of carbohydrate-active enzymes, including host-glycan and fiber degrading enzymes, and an increase in starch-degrading enzymes. In conclusion, the gut microbiota of unhealthy long-living people contains more pathogenic bacteria, and the overall gut microbiota may be in an unhealthy state, "dysbiosis", which leads to a decrease in carbohydrate digestion, glycan and thiamine (B1) metabolites, and fatty acid biosynthesis.

Maintenance treatment in advanced HER2-negative gastric cancer

Survival for patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) remains poor. Systemic chemotherapy which has reached a plateau stays the standard first-line (1L) treatment for advanced human epidermal growth-factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative GC. To maximize the benefit of 1L treatment, the concept of maintenance treatment is constantly being explored. In advanced HER2-negative GC, current clinical guidelines do not recommend a standard maintenance therapy strategy. In addition to the monotherapy maintenance with fluorouracil after 4-6 cycles of 1L chemotherapy, some agents that are active against novel targets have been evaluated in clinical trials for maintenance treatment. Whereas most of these trials do not reach their primary endpoints, they open new horizons for the 1L treatment of advanced HER2-negative GC. Therefore, we reviewed the clinical trials in the field of maintenance treatment in advanced HER2-negative GC and discussed some of the problems in clinical trials.

Inbreeding Alters the Gut Microbiota of the Banna Minipig

Simple Summary

The mammalian gut microbiota is an indispensable part of host health. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in nutrient digestibility, preventing colonization of pathogens and maintaining the host immune system. Host genetics has been conclusively shown to closely related to gut microbiota. Inbreeding can cause a decrease of the host’s genetic diversity, however, remarkably little is understood about the gut microbiota of pigs during inbreeding. The Banna minipig inbred is the world’s first successful large mammalian experimental animal inbred line since 1980 from full and half-siblings of the Diannan small-ear pig. Now, Banna minipig inbred has been inbred for over 37 generations, and the inbreeding coefficient is more than 99%. This study is the first to characterize and compare the composition and function of gut microbiota between the Diannan small-ear pig and Banna minipig inbred, aiming to better understand the influence of inbreeding on the gut microbiota.

Abstract

The gut microbiota coevolve with the host and can be stably transmitted to the offspring. Host genetics plays a crucial role in the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. Inbreeding can cause a decrease of the host’s genetic diversity and the heterozygosity. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to compare the differences of gut microbiota between the Diannan small-ear pig and Banna minipig inbred, aiming to understand the impact of inbreeding on the gut microbiota. Three dominant bacteria (Stenotrophlomonas, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus) were steadily enriched in both the Diannan small-ear pig and Banna minipig inbred. After inbreeding, the gut microbiota alpha diversity and some potential probiotics (Bifidobacterium, Tricibacter, Ruminocaccae, Christensenellaceae, etc.) were significantly decreased, while the pathogenic Klebsiella bacteria was significantly increased. In addition, the predicted metagenomic analysis (PICRUSt2) indicated that several amino acid metabolisms (‘‘Valine, leucine, and isoleucine metabolism’’, ‘‘Phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis’’, ‘‘Histidine metabolism’’) were also markedly decreased after the inbreeding. Altogether our data reveal that host inbreeding altered the composition and the predicted function of the gut microbiome, which provides some data for the gut microbiota during inbreeding.

FSH promotes fat accumulation by activating PPARγ signaling in surgically castrated, but not immunocastrated, male pigs

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was recently implicated as a novel regulator of fat accumulation. Surgical castration causes high FSH concentrations and increases fat accumulation, whereas immunocastration results in low FSH concentrations and less fat in immunocastrated boars versus barrows. However, detailed information regarding the role of FSH in regulation of fat accumulation in male pigs is unclear. First, expression of FSH receptor was confirmed (real-time quantitative PCR) in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues (SAT and VAT, respectively) of boars. Then, surgical castration (high FSH model) was compared to immunocastration (low FSH model) to investigate potential roles of FSH in adipogenesis and fat accumulation. High FSH concentrations after surgical castration activated PPARγ signaling by upregulating expression of CREB (P < 0.05), and then recruited an array of PPARγ target adipogenic genes, including transcription factor (C/EBPα), long-chain fatty acid uptake (LPL), fatty acid de novo synthesis (FASN, ACACA) and lipid droplet formation (PLIN1) in both SAT and VAT, promoting fat accumulation in barrows. In contrast, much lower serum FSH concentrations in immunocastrates attenuated (P < 0.05) expressions of PPARγ and PPARγ target genes in both SAT and VAT, resulting in less fat accumulation in immunocastrated boars versus barrows. We concluded that the substantially elevated FSH concentrations in barrows promoted fat accumulation by activating the PPARγ signaling pathway in adipose tissues, whereas immunocastrates accumulated less fat due to low FSH.