Effects of dietary methionine supplementation from different sources on growth performance and meat quality of barrows and gilts

Methionine is indispensable for growth and meat formation in pigs. However, it is still unclear that increasing dietary sulphur-containing amino acid (SAA) levels using different methionine sources affects the growth performance and meat quality of barrows and gilts. To investigate this, 144 pigs (half barrows and half gilts) were fed the control (100% SAA, CON), DL-Methionine (125% SAA, DL-Met)-supplemented, or OH-Methionine (125% SAA, OH-Met)-supplemented diets during the 11-110 kg period. The results showed that plasma methionine levels varied among treatments during the experimental phase, with increased plasma methionine levels observed following increased SAA consumption during the 25-45 kg period. In contrast, pigs fed the DL-Met diet had lower plasma methionine levels than those fed the CON diet (95-110 kg). Additionally, gilts fed the DL-Met or OH-Met diets showed decreased drip loss in longissimus lumborum muscle (LM) compared to CON-fed gilts. OH-Met-fed gilts had higher pH45min values than those fed the CON or DL-Met diets, whereas OH-Met-fed barrows had higher L45min values than those fed the CON or DL-Met diets. Moreover, increased consumption of SAA, regardless of the methionine source, tended to decrease the shear force of the LM in pigs. In conclusion, this study indicates that increasing dietary levels of SAA (+25%) appeared to improve the meat quality of gilts by decreasing drip loss and increasing meat tenderness.

[Diagnostic and epidemiological features of the first two HIV-2 indigenous infections in Hunan province]

Objective: To study the diagnostic and epidemiological features of the first two HIV-2 indigenous cases in Hunan province. Methods: Blood samples from two individuals with "HIV antibody indeterminate" and HIV-2 specific band showed by HIV-1/2 western blotting method, were repeatedly collected and detected under HIV 1+2 strip immunoassay and PCR, in Changsha city, Hunan province, through March to November, 2017. An epidemiological survey was carried out at the same time. Results: Our findings showed that the two cases were sex partners, without histories of sexual contact with foreigners and the source of infection was unknown. Results from the HIV 1+2 antibody confirmation test showed that they were "HIV-2 antibody positive" . Through amplifying and sequencing the gag area of HIV-2 and BLAST, the similarity of HIV-2 strains presented as 98%. The results also showed that there were HIV-2 specific fragments in the two cases. Conclusion: HIV-2 indigenous cases had never been reported in China. These cases had brought new challenge on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS in China.

Genetic diversity of mitochondrial control region (D-Loop) polymorphisms in Coilia ectenes taihuensis inhabiting Taihu Lake, China

Coilia ectenes is a commercially important fishery species in China. C. ectenes taihuensis is an endemic and dominant species found in Taihu Lake of China. When compared with C. ectenes, C. ectenes taihuensis lacks anadromous behavior, and can independently grow and reproduce in Taihu Lake. In this study, the mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop) sequences were employed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of C. ectenes taihuensis. Sixty-eight individuals collected from 4 localities in Taihu Lake were examined. Results indicated that in the 887-bp D-loop region, seventy-seven (8.68%) sites were variant, contributing to 53 distinct haplotypes. Although the population haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.971 to 1.000) was generally high, the nucleotide diversity (π = 0.616 to 0.731%) was relatively low among the 4 populations. Additionally, the genetic distances ranged from 0.62 to 0.74% within the populations and from 0.67 to 0.74% between the populations. The neighbor-joining tree indicated that a distinct distribution of phylogenetic structure existed among haplotypes. Analysis of molecular variance and F_ST statistics suggested that a divergence existed among populations in 4 localities, indicating that gene communication might have occurred among those populations. Furthermore, neutral tests and analysis of mismatch distribution reflected that C. ectenes taihuensis might have undergone a population expansion during the evolution process. Our study showed the population genetic diversity and structure of C. ectenes taihuensis. Results from this study might be helpful in the development and protection of fishery resource within the localities in Taihu Lake in future.

Molecular cloning, expression analysis, and function of decorin in goat ovarian granulosa cells

Decorin (DCN), a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), participates in ECM assembly and influences cell proliferation and apoptosis in many mammalian tissues and cells. However, expression and function of DCN in the ovary remain unclear. This study cloned the full-length cDNA of goat DCN obtained from the ovary of an adult goat. Sequence analysis revealed that the putative DCN protein shared a highly conserved amino acid sequence with known mammalian homologs. The tissue distribution of DCN mRNA expression was evaluated by real-time PCR, and the results showed that DCN was widely expressed in the tissues of adult goat. Immunohistochemistry results suggested that DCN protein existed in the granulosa cells and oocytes from all types of follicles and theca cells of antral follicles. Moreover, hCG-induced DCN mRNA expression was significantly reduced by the inhibitors of protein kinase A, PI3K, or p38 kinase (P < 0.05), which are key mediators involved in hCG-induced DCN expression. Overexpression of DCN significantly increased apoptosis and blocked cell cycle progression in cultured granulosa cells (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis also showed that overexpression of DCN upregulated the expression levels of p21 protein (P < 0.05), whereas no effects were observed on the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 and on Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P > 0.05). These findings suggested that DCN regulates the apoptosis and cell cycle of granulosa cells.

MicroRNA-10b suppresses goat granulosa cell proliferation by targeting brain-derived neurotropic factor

Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and its high-affinity receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor B, have been assumed to be involved in female reproduction and have recently shown to play an essential role in follicle activation and oocyte maturation. In this study, we analyzed the expression of miR-10b and BDNF in the ovary and discovered that the expression of miR-10b was higher in monotocous goat ovaries than in polytocous goat ovaries, whereas the expression pattern of BDNF in ovary was opposite. Moreover, human chorionic gonadotropin induced rapid and transient expression of BDNF messenger RNA and protein. In contrast, human chorionic gonadotropin upregulated miR-10b expression in a time-dependent manner. The BDNF gene was identified as a direct target of miR-10b using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Transfection of granulosa cells with miR-10b decreased BDNF messenger RNA and protein levels. MiR-10b overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, whereas BDNF promoted cell proliferation. However, a combined treatment with miR-10b and BDNF promoted cell proliferation, indicating that the reintroduction of BDNF reversed the suppressive effect of miR-10b. These results demonstrate that miR-10b downregulates BDNF expression in granulosa cells by directly targeting the 3' untranslated regions and plays an important role in inhibiting granulosa cell proliferation by targeting BDNF.

Molecular characterization and hormonal regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 in goat ovarian granulosa cells

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) belongs to a group of endogenous inhibitors that control the activity of matrix metalloproteinases and other metalloproteinases. TIMP1 is ubiquitously expressed and implicated in many physiological and pathologic processes. In this study, the full-length complementary DNA of goat (Capra hircus) Timp1 was cloned from adult goat ovary for the first time to better understand the regulatory role of TIMP1. The putative TIMP1 protein shared a high amino acid sequence identity with other species. Real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that Timp1 was widely expressed in adult goat tissues, and messenger RNA expression was higher in the ovary than in other tissues; meanwhile, increasing expression of Timp1 was also discovered during the process of follicle growth and corpus luteum. We then investigated Timp1 expression patterns in different types of ovarian follicular cells from goats. In small or large antral follicles, Timp1 expression was higher (P < 0.05) in theca cells than in granulosa cells, cumulus cells, and oocytes. Increasing expression of Timp1 in theca and granulosa cells was observed as the variation of the follicle size. Immunohistochemical analyses further revealed the presence of the TIMP1 proteins in follicles at all antral stages of development. The most intense staining for TIMP1 was observed in the theca cells and granulosa cells of large antral follicles and corpus luteum. Timp1 was highly (P < 0.05) induced in granulosa cells in vitro after treatment with the luteinizing hormone agonist, human chorionic gonadotropin. Treatments with forskolin, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate + forskolin could also stimulate Timp1 messenger RNA expression. The effects of human chorionic gonadotropin were reduced (P < 0.05) by the inhibitors of protein kinase A, protein kinase C, MAPK kinase, or p38 kinase, indicating that Timp1 expression could be adjusted by luteinizing hormone-initiated activation of these signaling mediators. Our results suggested that TIMP1 may be involved in regulating ovarian follicle development and ovulation.

Construction of Foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A-based bicistronic expression vector and coexpression of two genes in goat mammary epithelial cells

Using animal mammary glands as bioreactors for producing commercially important proteins is a cutting-edge direction in the field of biotechnology development and application. Dairy goats are an important dairy livestock, with roughage-resistance, fast propagation, long lactation periods and high milk production per bodyweight; these characteristics make dairy goats ideal for use as mammary gland bioreactors. Foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A (FMDV 2A) is an efficient viral cleavage element that mediates proteolytic cleavage independent of the presence of other FMDV sequences. It is often incorporated into recombinant vectors to generate cleavage in the presence of heterologous sequences. To achieve specific co-expression of two heterologous genes in goat mammary gland epithelial (GMGE) cells, a mammary gland-specific bicistronic expression vector, pFIEβ, containing the β-casein 5′ flanking sequence and FMDV 2A, was successfully constructed and the specific expression of human interleukin 2 (hIL-2) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was conducted in primary GMGE cells. Another bicistronic expression vector, pFIEC, driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter, was constructed as a positive control. In cells transfected with pFIEβ and pFIEC, RT-PCR verified the existence of recombinant fusion mRNA of hIL-2 upstream of EGFP within the FMDV 2A cassette fragment and western blot analysis showed the existence of the fusion between hIL-2 and EGFP. It is concluded that FMDV 2A generated specific co-expression of multiple genes for the first time in primary GMGE cells driven by the β-casein promoter.

[Clinical efficacy of burning mouth syndrome treated by livial]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical efficacy of livial on postmenopause women with burning mouth syndrome.

METHODS

Fifty six postmenopause women with burning mouth syndrome were randomly divided into two groups, 26 patients were treated with livial as the treatment group, 30 patients were treated with oryzanol and vitamin E as the control. To evaluate the effect, all the patients were observed in 3-6 months after therapy.

RESULTS

The result showed that the total effective rate of the treatment group was 84.62% after 3 months, 88.46% after 6 months, and significantly higher than that in the control(P < 0.005).

CONCLUSION

It is indicated that livial is safer and more effective than nylestriol in treatment with burning mouth syndrome.

Catalytic growth and characterization of gallium nitride nanowires

The preparation of high-purity and -quality gallium nitride nanowires is accomplished by a catalytic growth using gallium and ammonium. A series of catalysts and different reaction parameters were applied to systematically optimize and control the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of the nanowires. The resulting nanowires show predominantly wurtzite phase; they were up to several micrometers in length, typically with diameters of 10-50 nm. A minimum nanowire diameter of 6 nm has been achieved. Temperature dependence of photoluminescence spectra of the nanowires revealed that the emission mainly comes from wurtzite GaN with little contribution from the cubic phase. Moreover, the thermal quenching of photoluminescence was much reduced in the GaN nanowires. The Raman spectra showed five first-order phonon modes. The frequencies of these peaks were close to those of the bulk GaN, but the modes were significantly broadened, which is indicative of the phonon confinement effects associated with the nanoscale dimensions of the system. Additional Raman modes, not observed in the bulk GaN, were found in the nanowires. The field emission study showing notable emission current with low turn-on field suggests potential of the GaN nanowires in field emission applications. This work opens a wide route toward detailed studies of the fundamental properties and potential applications of semiconductor nanowires.

Multiple isoforms of metallothionein are expressed in the porcine liver

Isogenes are highly homologous to each other and are often difficult to ascertain, as has been the case with metallothionein, a metal-binding protein rich in cysteines. Conventional separation of metallothionein isoforms relied on ion exchange chromatography of the proteins, or screening for the sequences from gene libraries. In this study, a combination of RT-PCR and partial protein sequencing is used in the identification of metallothionein isogenes expressed in porcine liver. By this approach, we have identified expressed coding sequences which constitute 10 new isogenes. Of the four known groups of metallothioneins (MT), phylogenetic analyses place these pig isogenes in the MT-1 group, except two which are identified as being closely related to MT-2, and none in groups 3 and 4. The isogenes are thus namedpMT-1a to -1g, andpMT-2a and -2b. While each of the isogene sequences is unique, two isogenes,pMT-1e1 andpMT-1e2, share an identical amino acid sequence, differing only in specific codons. Two others,pMT-1b andpMT-1g, have a cysteine substituted by arginine, the first such sequence ever detected in MT.pMT-2a andpMT-2b are closely aligned with the MT-2 group of vertebrates, in spite of the absence of a characteristic acidic amino acid at position 10 or 11, common in other mammalian metallothioneins.

[A clinical study of autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in 41 patients with leukemia and other malignant diseases]

41 patients (35 with leukemia, 4 lymphoma, 1 myeloma and 1 neuroblastoma) were treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation. 8 patients were treated with autologous bone marrow transplant without purging (ABMT) 15 with autologous bone marrow transplant and purging (pABMT) and 18 with autologous blood hematopoietic stem cells transplant (ABHSCT). The mean hematopoietic reconstitution time was 60, 53, and 29.5 days respectively and the mean GM-CFU recovery time was 37, 44, and 30.5 days respectively in these three groups. The infection complication rates were 37.5%, 26.6% and 16.6% and the relapse rates were 37.5%, 30% and 18.7% respectively in the three groups. The results indicated that the ABHSCT had an earlier hematopoietic reconstitution time, a lesser infection complication rate and a lower relapse rate. Comparing with conventional chemotherapy, all the three transplant groups had an obviously longer disease-free survival time and a better curative effect.

Simplified procedure for transient transformation of plant protoplasts using polyethylene glycol treatment

A modification of the polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation procedure which eliminates the manual polyethylene glycol dilution step is presented. A transformation mixture of protoplasts, DNA and polyethylene glycol was plated directly onto agarose blocks after incubation. The procedure was simple and fast, thereby suitable for screening the gene activity of large numbers of plasmid constructions. It has been tested for both maize and rice protoplasts.

Migration of bipolar subependymal cells, precursors of the granule cells of the rat olfactory bulb, with reference to the arrangement of the radial glial fibers

In order to examine the relationship between radial glial fibers and the migrating bipolar subependymal cells which are considered to be post-mitotic precursors of granule cells in the rat olfactory bulb, the arrangement of radial glial fibers along the anterior lateral and olfactory ventricles was analysed by Golgi techniques, immunohistochemical demonstration of glial fibrillary acidic protein, and electron microscopy. In rats during their first 3 weeks of life, the bipolar subependymal cells migrate along the anterior lateral and olfactory ventricles into the center of the olfactory bulb, whereas the radial glial fibers radiating from the ventricular surface are arranged rather perpendicularly to the direction of migration of bipolar cells. Hence radial glial fibers in this region are not considered to act as guides for the rostralwards migration of subependymal cells.

[The distribution, characteristics and effects of ir-BNP in central and peripheral tissues in rat]

The present study first investigated the distribution, biochemical characteristics, receptor binding and biological effects of immunoreactive brain natriuretic peptide (ir-BNP), in the central nervous system and some peripheral tissues in rats, using highly specific radioimmunoassay, radioreceptor assay and immunohistochemical method. The results suggest that BNP may be a novel neurotransmitter or circulatory hormone, which is widely distributed in various tissues and involved in the regulation of water electrolyte balance and cardiovascular activity.

[Distribution of substance K in the rat heart and its cardiovascular effects]

The present work was to investigate the distribution of Substance K (SK) in the rat heart and its cardiovascular effects. The content of SK-like immunoreactive material (SKLI), determined by using specific radioimmunoassay, was higher in the atrium (19.9 +/- 3.5 pmol/g tissue) than in the ventricle (4.1 +/- 0.8 pmol/g tissue). SKLI in the heart existed in the nerves fibers and its molecular form was identical with synthetic SK. There were high affinity binding sites of SK on the cardiohybricyte CP 8401: KD = 0.161 nmol/L, Bmax = 8.08 pmol/L. SK stimulated the release of ANF from the cardiohybricytes and from the isolated rat atria. Furthermore, SK injected intravenously induced a hypotensive effect in rats, and decreased left ventricle end systolic pressure (LVESP), +/- LVdp/dtmax, as well as slightly increased heart rate (HR). In isolated Langendorff perfusion heart of rat, SK increased HR, LVdp/dtmax, left ventricle peak systolic pressure (LVPSP) and perfusion pressure (PP). These effects of SK were inhibited by a tachykinin receptor antagonist, (D-Pro2, D-Trp7.9)-SP. These findings suggest that SK exist in the heart and might be able to bind with its specific binding sites on the cardiocytes, thus inducing the release of ANF from the atrium and regulating cardiovascular functions.

Relationship between coronary artery size and ventricular hypertrophy

The relationship between coronary blood flow and ventricular hypertrophy has been studied in animal models. But, this relationship in the human body is scarcely evaluated. In this study we measured coronary arterial sizes by coronary arteriograms and correlated them with ventricular hypertrophy. Patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary arteriography and showed no significant coronary arterial lesions were included in this study. There were 131 patients, 75 men and 56 women, with a mean age of 53 +/- 10 years (S.D.). After evaluation with electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and left ventriculograms these patients were divided into 4 groups: (1) the non-hypertrophy (NVH) group, 50 cases; (2) the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) group, 38 cases; (3) the right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) group, 23 cases; and (4) the biventricular hypertrophy (BVH) group, 20 cases. The proximal portion of the 3 major coronary arteries and the left main stem were measured from coronary arteriograms with the catheter tip as a size reference. The results showed that the left main stem was larger than the 3 major coronary arteries in the NVH, LVH and BVH groups. But in the RVH group, the left main stem was not significantly larger than the right coronary artery. In all 4 groups the left circumflex coronary artery was the smallest while the left anterior descending coronary artery and the right coronary artery were similar in size. Patients with LVH showed dilatation of all 3 left coronary measurements (left main stem, left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery) as compared with the NVH patients and the RVH patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of traditional birth attendants in family planning programs in Southeast Asia

The training and utilization of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in maternal and child health and family planning programs in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia are discussed. Special efforts to organize and train TBAs for family planning in Malaysia are examined in detail. Import factors for successful utilization of TBAs include: (a) definite assignment of functions and tasks, (b) organization of good operational steps and (c) implementation of good supervisory activities.