Intercross population study reveals that co-mutation of mitfa genes in two subgenomes induces red skin color in common carp ( Cyprinus carpio wuyuanensis)

Common carp are among the oldest domesticated fish in the world. As such, there are many food and ornamental carp strains with abundant phenotypic variations due to natural and artificial selection. Hebao red carp (HB, Cyprinus carpio wuyuanensis), an indigenous strain in China, is renowned for its unique body morphology and reddish skin. To reveal the genetic basis underlying the distinct skin color of HB, we constructed an improved high-fidelity (HiFi) HB genome with good contiguity, completeness, and correctness. Genome structure comparison was conducted between HB and a representative wild strain, Yellow River carp (YR, C. carpio haematopterus), to identify structural variants and genes under positive selection. Signatures of artificial selection during domestication were identified in HB and YR populations, while phenotype mapping was performed in a segregating population generated by HB×YR crosses. Body color in HB was associated with regions with fixed mutations. The simultaneous mutation and superposition of a pair of homologous genes ( mitfa) in chromosomes A06 and B06 conferred the reddish color in domesticated HB. Transcriptome analysis of common carp with different alleles of the mitfa mutation confirmed that gene duplication can buffer the deleterious effects of mutation in allotetraploids. This study provides new insights into genotype-phenotype associations in allotetraploid species and lays a foundation for future breeding of common carp.

[Correlation study of blood drug concentration and nephrotoxicity on high dose methotrexate therapy in suggestion of diagnosis and treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the 4th revised edition]

Objective: To explore the influence of the 4th revised treatment recommendations in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on high dose methotrexate(HD-MTX)-induced nephrotoxicity and MTX blood concentrations. Method: The clinical data from 330 ALL children who received 1 242 courses of HD-MTX therapies from September 2012 to November 2016 was collected. The courses were divided into two groups based on the chemotherapies: original scheme group was treated with the 3rd revised regimen, and new scheme group was treated with the 4th revised regimen. The two groups in acute kidney injury (AKI) and MTX blood concentrations were compared. Result: The incidences of AKI with low risk (LR) and intermediate risk (IR) in new scheme group were significantly lower than those in original scheme group (1.3%(3/229) vs. 7.9%(24/303), 4.9%(10/204) vs. 12.8%(26/203), χ(2)=11.831 and 7.888 respectively, both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of AKI with high risk (HR) in the two groups (15.2%(10/66) vs. 10.5%(25/237), χ(2)=1.071, P>0.05). The 48h MTX blood concentrations and the interphase from onste to MTX concentrations decreased to the safe level with LR and IR children in new scheme group were significantly lower than those in original scheme group (0.36(0.08-4.00) vs. 0.44(0.06-32.00) μmol/L, 0.49(0.22-33.00) vs. 0.60(0.18-83.00) μmol/L, 3(2-6) vs. 3(2-11) d, 3(2-11) vs. 3(2-19) d, Z=-5.953, -2.658, -4.490 and -4.729 respectively, all P<0.05). The differences with HR were not observed between the two groups (0.61(0.14-36.00) vs. 0.71(0.11-68.00) μmol/L, 3(2-15) vs. 3(2-13) d, Z=-1.465 and -1.179 respectively, both P>0.05). Conclusion: Decreased renal toxicity and acceleration of MTX excretion may occur when childhood ALL with LR and IR were treated with the 4th revised regimen. However, nephrotoxicity and MTX blood concentrations have no significant differences with HR in the two regimens, and close monitoring are necessary.

Tamsulosin for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tamsulosin has been used for the off-label treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. Over the past few years, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported the clinical effectiveness and safety of tamsulosin for LUTS in women. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tamsulosin in treating LUTS in women, which may resolve some of the current controversies over use of the drug and provide more reliable evidence for the use of tamsulosin. A literature review was performed to identify all published RCTs of tamsulosin for the treatment of LUTS in women. The search included the following databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trail Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database (VIP) and Wanfang Database. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Six RCTs studies involving 764 female participants were included in the analysis. Four out of the six RCTs compared tamsulosin with placebo, one RCT compared tamsulosin with prazosin and the other study compared tamsulosin with tamsulosin combined with tolterodine. Two RCTs evaluated total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and improved total IPSS compared with the placebo (standardized mean difference=-4.08, 95% confidence interval=-5.93 to -2.23, P<0.00001). IPSS (storage symptom score), IPSS (voiding symptom score) and quality-of-life score also showed the similar effects. In addition, tamsulosin improved the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire score when compared with placebo in only one RCT. For urodynamic parameters, tamsulosin improved the average flow rate and the post-void residual volume when compared with prazosin and tolterodine combined with tamsulosin, respectively. Beyond that, the other parameters showed no significant difference between the treatment and control groups. On the basis of the present evidence, tamsulosin is an effective treatment for the relief of LUTS in women when compared with placebo. However, the safety of the tamsulosin remains unknown. Further, well-conducted trials that examine long-term outcomes are required.

[An investigation of trichloroethylene-induced effects on histone methylation in L-02 hepatic cells]

Objective: To further explore TCE-induced hepatotoxicity and its mechanisms by identification of trichloroethylene (TCE) induced abnormal histone methylation in human liver cells. Methods: L-02 cells were treated with 0 and 8 mmol/L TCE for 24 h. Histones were extracted by acid. Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS/MS) were used to identify and quantify TCE related histone methylations. TCE induced abnormal methylation of H3K79 me2 and H3K79 me3 were validated by Western blot analysis. The further analysis of the function of histone abnormal methylation modifications were done by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and Western blot analysis of p53 and ɤH2AX. Results: After treatment with TCE for 24 h in L-02 cells, the 36 TCE related histone methylation sites in 28 peptide segments were identified by MS. After treatment with TCE in concentrations of 0 and 8.0 mmol/L in L-02 cells for 24 h, the relative expression level of histone H3K79 me3 were 1.00±0.06, 0.70±0.09 (t=15.01, P=0.015); the relative expression level of histone H3K79 me2 were 1.00±0.05, 0.74±0.07 (t=16.69, P=0.018); the Olive Tail Moment about DNA damage were 1.46±0.28, 3.12± 0.68 (t=15.22, P=0.018); the relative expression levels of p53 were 1.00±0.04, 1.24±0.04 (t=18.71, P= 0.012); and the relative expression levels of ɤH2AX were 1.00 ± 0.03, 1.56 ± 0.11 (t=8.32, P=0 045). Conclusion: TCE can induce changes in the relative expression level of H3K79 me2 and H3K79 me3 in L-02 cell, and induce DNA damage, suggesting that TCE may induce changes in the relative expression level of H3K79 me2 and H3K79 me3 by DNA damage.

Vasculoprotective Effects of Water Extracts of Black, Green and Dark Tea in Vitro

To investigate the preventive effects of tea on hyperglycemia and vascular complications of diabetes, we report the extraction and composition as well as the vasculoprotective effects of black tea extract (BTE), green tea extract (GTE), and dark tea extract (DTE). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and colorimetric methods were conducted to analyze for tea catechins, caffeine, polyphenols, amino acids and polysaccharides of BTE, GTE and DTE. The inhibitory effects of α-glucosidase, aldose reductase (AR), advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and glucose uptake promotion effect in BTE, GTE and DTE were explored in vitro. Contents of six major catechin forms and total catechin as well as polyphenols are higher in GTE and DTE than BTE. BTE, GTE, and DTE showed the inhibitory effects of a-glucosidase, AR, and AGEs, but only DTE exhibited the glucose uptake promotion effect in HepG2 cells. The results suggest that regular consumption of tea can help prevent the progression of hyperglycemia and the vascular complications of diabetes.

Synthesis, nitric oxide release, and α-glucosidase inhibition of nitric oxide donating apigenin and chrysin derivatives

α-Glucosidase (AG) play crucial roles in the digestion of carbohydrates. Inhibitors of α-glucosidase (AGIs) are promising candidates for the development of anti-diabetic drugs. Here, five series of apigenin and chrysin nitric oxide (NO)-donating derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for their AG inhibitory activity and NO releasing capacity in vitro. Except for 9a-c, twelve compounds showed remarkable inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with potency being better than that of acarbose and 1-deoxynojirimycin. All organic nitrate derivatives released low concentrations of NO in the presence of l-cysteine. Structure activity relationship studies indicated that 5-OH, hydrophobic coupling chain, and carbonyl groups of the coupling chain could enhance the inhibitory activity. Apigenin and chrysin derivatives therefore represents a new class of promising compounds that can inhibit α-glucosidase activity and supply moderate NO for preventing the development of diabetic complications.

Hypoglycemic effect of the water extract of Pu-erh tea

The water extraction and composition of pu-erh tea, as well as the hypoglycemic effect of the water extract of pu-erh tea (WEPT) in vivo and in vitro, are reported to investigate its hypoglycemic effect on diabetes. High-performance liquid chromatography and colorimetric methods are used to analyze the tea catechins, caffeine, polyphenols, amino acids, and polysaccharides of the WEPT. The effect of the WEPT on glucose uptake by cultured HepG2 cells and the inhibition effect of rat intestinal sucrase, maltase, and porcine pancreatic amylase are determined in vitro. Then, the blood glucose and insulin levels of intragastrically administered WEPT on fasting and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using type 2 diabetic db/db (BKS.Cg-m +/+ Lepr(db)/J) mice are determined in vivo. The results showed that the WEPT dose-dependently and significantly increased glucose uptake by HepG2 cells and inhibited rat intestinal sucrase, maltase, and porcine pancreatic amylase activity. The WEPT intragastrically given for 4 weeks suppressed the increase in blood insulin and glucose levels of db/db mice fasted overnight. In OGTT, the WEPT improved impaired glucose tolerance and ameliorated retarded insulin response at 60 and 120 min in db/db mice. These results suggest that the WEPT has beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes and in amendment of insulin resistance.

Synthesis, characterization and vasculoprotective effects of nitric oxide-donating derivatives of chrysin

Vascular complications are major causes of disability and death in patients with diabetes mellitus. It is often characterized by endothelial dysfunction. Studies have shown that either the loss of nitric oxide bioactivity or the decreased biosynthesis of NO is a central mechanism in endothelial dysfunction. As such, the delivery of exogenous NO is an attractive therapeutic option that has been used to slow the progress of diabetic vascular complications. In this paper, a novel group of hybrid nitric oxide-releasing chrysin derivatives was synthesized. The results indicated that all these chrysin derivatives exhibited in vitro inhibitory activities against aldose reductase and advanced glycation end-products formation. And some of them were even found to increase the glucose consumption of HepG2 cells. Furthermore, all compounds released NO upon incubation with phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. These hybrid ester NO donor prodrugs offer a potential drug design concept for the development of therapeutic or preventive agents for vascular complications due to diabetes.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine impairs glucose utilization via ROS/TLR4 pathway in adipocytes: an effect prevented by vitamin E

BACKGROUND

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), has been reported to be associated with glucose metabolism, but its mechanisms remain unknown.

METHODS

In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we measured the effects of ADMA on glucose transport process under basal or insulin-induced condition, and examined the production of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).

RESULTS

ADMA significantly impaired basal or insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy- [3H] glucose uptake, and decreased the expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4). Phosphorylated protein of IRS-1 and translocation of GLUT4 with insulin-stimulation were also inhibited by ADMA. NO decreased, while production of ROS and TNF-alpha, and expression of TLR4 increased after ADMA treatment. Vitamin E reduced the effects of ADMA on glucose transport system, and on NO, ROS and TLR4. Moreover, vitamin E decreased ADMA contents by up-regulating dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity in adipocytes. Though L-arginine also increased NO level, but failed to reduce the effects of ADMA.

CONCLUSION

ADMA significantly impairs both basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes, which may relate to activation of the ROS/TLR4 pathway.

Synthesis and promotion angiogenesis effect of chrysin derivatives coupled to NO donors

Two types of new chrysin derivatives were prepared by coupling NO donors of alkyl nitrate and furazan derivatives and were fully characterized by (1)H NMR and other techniques. These compounds were tested in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs-12) and all the compounds exhibited cell proliferation. Notable effects of promoting angiogenesis were observed for all the modified compounds using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.