RNA sequencing analysis of the longissimus dorsi to identify candidate genes underlying the intramuscular fat content in Anqing Six-end-white pigs

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a significant marker for pork quality. The Anqing Six-end-white pig has the characteristics of high meat quality and IMF content. Owing to the influence of European commercial pigs and a late start in resource conservation, the IMF content within local populations varies between individuals. This study analyzed the longissimus dorsi transcriptome of purebred Anqing Six-end-white pigs with varying IMF content to recognize differentially expressed genes. We identified 1528 differentially expressed genes between the pigs with high (H) and low (L) IMF content. Based on these data, 1775 Gene Ontology terms were significantly enriched, including lipid metabolism, modification and storage, and regulation of lipid biosynthesis. Pathway analysis revealed 79 significantly enriched pathways, including the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Moreover, gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the L group had increased the expression of genes related to ribosome function. Additionally, the protein-protein interaction network analyses revealed that VEGFA, KDR, LEP, IRS1, IGF1R, FLT1 and FLT4 were promising candidate genes associated with the IMF content. Our study identified the candidate genes and pathways involved in IMF deposition and lipid metabolism and provides data for developing local pig germplasm resources.

Comparative study on the effect of Y content on grain refinement in the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone of X70 pipeline steels

This study aims to investigate the influence of Y content on grain refinement in the simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) of X70 pipeline steels. The results explored that two different grain refinement mechanisms were presented in 0.034 wt.%-Y and 0.075 wt.%-Y steels, respectively. The Y₂O₂S inclusions and YP precipitates are formed in 0.034 wt.%-Y steel instead of the YP inclusions and more YP precipitates in 0.075 wt.%-Y steel. The grain refinement mechanism in the simulated CGHAZ of 0.034 wt.%-Y steel mainly depends on the formation of acicular ferrite induced by Y₂O₂S inclusion. Whereas, the grain refinement mechanism in the simulated CGHAZ of 0.075 wt.%-Y steel primarily relies on the austenite boundary pinning effect by higher density of YP precipitates.

[An analysis of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute poisoning patients in a general hospital]

Objective: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute poisoning patients in a general hospital, then to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of acute poisoning in the future. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 660 patients with acute poisoning admitted in emergency medical center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from July 2009 to May 2015. Results: More men than women in 660 cases with acute poisoning(the ratio of male to female was 1.36∶1) ; ≥30 years old was the high incidence age (78.79%) ; The top occupation was farmers (39.70%) ; Most were life poisoning (88.18%) , suicide was the main reason (62.42%) especially happened in women, and the main cause of suicide was family conflicts; Toxic species dominated by pesticide (67.58%) , most were severe poisoning (81.82%) ; The top two pesticide poisoning were organic phosphorus and paraquat, and the proportion of blood purification in paraquat was significantly higher (χ²=105.21, P=0.00) ; There were 212 cases with organ dysfunction, main were pesticide poisoning patients, and the proportionof organ dysfunction in paraquat was significantly higher than the rest allpesticide poisoning (χ²=45.09, P=0.00) ; The general fatal rate of acute poisoning was 2.27%, and the proportion in paraquat poisoning was .higher than the rest pesticide poisoning who were death and give up when discharged (χ²=56.83, P=0.00) . Conclusion: The focus of acute poisoning in the general hospital is still pesticide (especially organic phosphorus and paraquat) , and most were severe poisoning.

Spontaneous emission of terbium complex in-filled in single-crystal colloidal multilayer

Highly monodisperse submicron-sized silica spheres were synthesized by a chemical method, and single-crystal colloidal multilayers were prepared by a vertical deposition technique. Rare earth complex Tb(ACAC)3phen was in-filled in this structure to investigate the photonic bandgap effect on the spontaneous emission. The photon density of states in the photonic crystal was calculated numerically to investigate the origin of the abnormally enhanced photoluminescence in the photonic bandgap region. Our results are suggestive of a new way to probe the position of fluorescent molecules in such photonic bandgap materials.

Effects of spinach powder fat-soluble extract on proliferation of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells

Four kinds of assays were used to study the effect of a fat-soluble extract of spinach powder (SPFE) on the proliferation of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (SGC-7901) in vitro. These studies included: (i) cell growth assay, (ii) colony forming assay, (iii) MTT colorimetric assay, and (iv) 3H-TdR incorporation assay. The concentrations of SPFE expressed as the level of beta-carotene in the medium were 2 x 10(-8), 2 x 10(-7) and 2 x 10(-6) mol/L beta-carotene in assay (i)-(iii), but 4 x 10(-8), 4 x 10(-7) and 4 x 10(-6) mol/L beta-carotene in assay (iv) respectively. The results indicated that SPFE inhibited the proliferation and colony forming ability of SGC-7901 cells. And in MTT assay, SPFE inhibited the viability of SGC-7901 cells, but no inhibitory effect of SPFE was observed on the viability of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of healthy people. Finally, in the 3H-TdR incorporation test, both SPFE and beta-carotene showed significant inhibitory effects on DNA synthesis in SGC-7901 cells, but SPFE was more effective than beta-carotene.

Isolation of ALP, a novel divergent murine CC chemokine with a unique carboxy terminal extension

Chemokines are a family of related proteins that regulate leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissue and play important roles in many disease processes. Chemokines are divided into two major groups, CC or CXC, based on their sequence around the amino terminal cysteines. We report here, the isolation of a novel murine CC chemokine termed ALP for its amino terminal peptide sequence. This novel chemokine is distantly related to other CC chemokines (37% identity with murine Exodus-1/LARC/Mip-3alpha), but has a unique carboxy terminal extension. It is expressed preferentially in testis, heart, and liver, which is atypical for CC chemokines.

Cloning of BRAK, a novel divergent CXC chemokine preferentially expressed in normal versus malignant cells

Chemokines are a family of related proteins that regulate leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissue and play important roles in many disease processes. Chemokines are divided into two major groups, CC or CXC, based on their sequence around the amino terminal cysteines. We report the PCR cloning of a novel human chemokine termed BRAK for its initial isolation from breast and kidney cells. This novel chemokine is distantly related to other CXC chemokines (30% identity with MIP-2alpha and beta) and shares several biological activities. BRAK is expressed ubiquitously and highly in normal tissue. However, it was expressed in only 2 of 18 cancer cell lines. BRAK is located on human chromosome 5q31.

In vivo and in vitro studies on the antitumor activities of MCP (Malva crispa L. Powder)

Four short-term in vivo and in vitro tests were used to further confirm the antitumor activities of MCP, a vegetable powder, prepared from Malva crispa L. (i) In the H22 hepatoma-transplanting test, MCP had antitumor action, but MCP residue did not show such action; 5-FU appeared to have more potent antitumor activities and more harmful effects than MCP. (ii) In the micronucleus (MN) test, MCP significantly decreased MN frequency. (iii) In the cancer cell culture systems, the MCP fat-soluble extract revealed inhibitory effects on the growth and proliferation of the human hepatoma and the gastric cancer cells in a dose-response manner. (iv) In the colony formation test, MCP also altered the morphology of human gastric cancer cells. It was suggested that MCP could be consumed not only by healthy subjects for cancer prevention but also by patients with cancer as supplementary treatment in combination with anticarcinogenic drug such as 5-FU, cyclophosphamide (CP).

Designing appropriate nutrition education for the Chinese: the urban and rural nutrition situation in Sichuan

In the People's Republic of China, as in the West, diet has emerged as an important determinant of morbidity and mortality. In order to provide one of the bases for designing nutrition education, two nutrition knowledge-attitudes-practices surveys of adults aged 18-55 were conducted in 1989 in an urban (N = 1004) and a rural (N = 506) area of Sichuan. Nutrition knowledge levels were low in both sites, but lower in the rural site. Certain general nutrition concepts, such as the value of a varied diet, were reported correctly by over 50 per cent of the population in both areas. However, less than 10 per cent of the urban residents and only 3 per cent of the rural residents reported taking correct measures to prevent or delay cancer or heart disease. Dietary practices, elicited by a food frequency questionnaire, revealed large differences in consumption habits in the two areas. More than half of the urban respondents reported eating rice, vegetable oil, green vegetables, lean meat, and wheat on a daily basis, and other vegetables, pickles, fruit, eggs, soybean products, and meat fat on at least a weekly basis. However, the rural respondents reported eating only rice, vegetable oil, green vegetables, and other vegetables on a daily basis, and no additional foods on a weekly basis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Selecting for efficiency of egg production using food-consumption records in layer-type chickens

1. The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate the use of food consumption records in selection to improve layer-type chickens. 2. Twelve subpopulations of Leghorns, including 5878 tested birds, were used in a selection experiment which lasted 5 generations. Four were selected using an index (I1) that combined information on body weight (BW), egg-mass output (EM), and individual food-consumption records (FC). Four were selected using an index (I2) that combined information just on BW and EM. The remaining 4 served as controls, with selection differentials set to zero in each generation. 3. Differences between the selected groups, control-corrected each generation, measured the "food-record effect". 4. Including food-consumption records in the selection criterion resulted in increased body weight (7%), reduction in food consumption (6 to 9%), increase in food efficiency (egg mass/food consumption) (2 to 5%), and increase in income over food costs (10%), relative to selection not involving food records.

[An analysis of 26 cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia]

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a polymorphous malignant hematological stem cell disorder, characterized by abnormal hyperplasia of mature or immature cells of both monocytic and granulocytic series and with abnormal cellular morphology. It is an independent entity of chronic leukemia, as its prestage course is manifested by refractory anemia with monocytosis and the disease gradually evolves to CMML. In some cases, it finally becomes acute leukemia. In this study, the average white cell count of the patients was 29.3 x 10(9)/L.14 cases had leucocytosis, 7 leucopenia and 5 normal count. The absolute value of monocytes was 19 x 10(9)/L and the proportion of monocytes was 10-87%, with an average of 49%. In the leukopenic group with white cell count less than 4 x 10(9)/L, the absolute value of monocytes was less than 1 x 10(9)/L in 5 of the 7 cases. However, it was noticed that all the 5 cases had a proportion of monocytes greater than or equal to 10%. The authors would like to take this percentage as the diagnostic criteria for CMML, which is different from that adopted in FAB classification of 1982 as well as in the literatures. Statistics showed that P value of M/E, Mo/E, Mo/M were of apparent significance in the differentiation of CMML from normal controls and patients with other hematological diseases such as RA, RAEB, CML, CNL, M4 and M5.

Primary dapsone resistance in China

Ninety-seven strains of Mycobacterium leprae recovered from patients with previously untreated multibacillary leprosy were tested for dapsone susceptibility. The specimens originated from Shanghai Municipality, Jiang-su Province and Fu-jian Province. Approximately 28% of the strains either did not infect the mice or the results of susceptibility were inconclusive due to the low proportion of viable organisms in the bacterial populations. Among the 70 strains in which dapsone susceptibility could be tested in mice, 31 (44%) strains were found with primary dapsone resistance. Although the majority of the primary dapsone resistant strains were shown to be of a low- or intermediate-degree, one-sixth of them were of high-degree resistance.

[A clinical study on myelodysplastic syndrome. Report of 64 cases]

Systematic clinical and laboratory observations of 64 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were made. The results showed that malignant clone already exists in the bone marrow of patients with MDS. Eighteen cases of them have transformed into AML. The rates of transforming into AML in RAEB, RAEB-T and CMML were markedly higher than that in RA. The courses of MDS which transformed into AML from the various types were different. The transformation in RA was obviously longer than those in RAEB and RAEB-T. Two cases transformed into myelofibrosis. Diagnosis of CMML according to the FAB classification criteria revealed that it has two forms. One shows only increase of mature monocytes and it has no relation with the types of acute leukemia to be transformed. It is considered as a reactive monocytosis. The other form, in addition to increase of mature monocytes, also has increase of a few monoblasts and promonocytes. These are considered as true CMML and usually quickly developed into M4 or M5 which are related with monocytes.

[Clinical analysis of 134 cases of central nervous system leukemia]

134 cases of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) were reported. The clinical manifestations and the relationship of its occurrence with the duration of the disease and the effectiveness of prophylaxis were discussed. It was found that most cases of CNSL occurred 3 months after the diagnosis of leukemia. It was quite different from the reports in literature that most CNSL usually occurred after complete remission, with CSF routine examination the into cranial pressure, the protein content, the white cell count and the smear for leukemic cells were of significant diagnostic help. Among these, the founding of leukemic cells in the fresh specimen by using natural precipitation method is the most reliable diagnostic criterion of CNSL.

In vitro pollen plant induction and embryoid clone establishment of Panax ginseng

In anther culture of Panax ginseng, its callus formation showed a wide adaptability to culture media. Large numbers of calli were induced on media exhibiting better effects of induction. Supplements of 5 mg 2,4-D/1 and 1 mg KT/1 to the media proved to be much effective. Regeneration of the whole plantlets from anther culture of Panax ginseng is usually quite difficult. During the past three years, however, sixteen of the 100 medium formulae tested were proved to be suitable. The formulae of MS + 0.5 mg BA/1 + 2 mg GA/1 + 1000 mg LH/1 + 3% sucrose were considered good and effective. A visibly differentiated body, which was light-milky white and later turned into a light green spot, was formed 40 days after the callus was transferred to the differentiation media. This body differentiated subsequently into buds, roots and, eventually, seedlings. The embryoid clones have been established in order to maintain its ability of continual differentiation into plantlets through successive culturings of many generations. The test-tube ginseng thus formed were transferred to regular flowerpots and grew well. Based upon chromosome examination of the callus cells and the root tips, we tentatively affirmed that the majority of these regenerated from anther of Panax ginseng were originated from pollen cells.

Research note: differences in major histocompatibility complex gene frequencies associated with feed efficiency and laying performance

Associations between egg production and feed efficiency and the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the chicken were investigated. Breeders were selected on the basis of indexes incorporating information on body weight and egg mass, with or without feed consumption information. Over 1,000 progeny were serotyped for the erythrocyte antigen B (Ea-B) after the 6th generation of selection. The B2 and B13 haplotypes accounted for over 75% of the Ea-B gene pool in all lines. Comparing each index-selected line with the control B2 significantly increased in frequency at the expense of B13. This study further implicates MHC-linked genes as important in the physiology of growth and reproduction in the chicken.

Antimycobacterial activities of two newer ansamycins, R-76-1 and DL 473

The antimycobacterial activities of two newer ansamycins, isobutylpiperazinylrifamycin SV (R-76-1) and cyclopentylrifamycin SV (DL 473), were compared with those of rifampin (RMP) both in vitro and in vivo. In terms of minimal inhibitory concentrations against a number of cultivable mycobacteria, R-76-1 was about eight times more active in vitro than RMP; whereas DL 473 was only slightly more active than RMP. Therapeutic activities of R-76-1 versus RMP and DL 473 versus RMP were compared, respectively, in the experimental infection of mice with Mycobacterium lepraemurium by different treatment schedules (immediate and delayed) and dosage regimens. R-76-1 appeared to have been three times more effective than RMP; DL 473 was also more effective than RMP in that an equivalent therapeutic effect could be obtained by fewer doses of DL 473 than of RMP, and in that DL 473 exerted a more prolonged activity than RMP. With the kinetic method and a dosage of 0.001% in the diet, R-76-1 demonstrated a bactericidal-type effect against M. leprae whereas RMP did not; with the proportional bactericidal method, R-76-1 possessed about three times the bactericidal activity of RMP against M. leprae. When drugs were administered once in 4 weeks, the RMP dose required to prevent multiplication of M. leprae in the foot pads of half of the mice was in the range of 1.25 to 2.5 mg/kg; whereas that of DL 473 was less than 0.625 mg/kg. With the proportional bactericidal method, even a single dose of 1.25 mg DL 473 per kg was active against M. leprae; whereas the smallest single active dose of RMP was 10 mg/kg. DL 473 in single doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg was significantly more effective than RMP in equal doses and, among the intermittent regimens administered four times, once every 4 weeks, no significant differences of bactericidal activity were observed between RMP at 20 mg/kg and DL 473 at 0.625 mg/kg. A preliminary clinical trial of R-76-1 in 20 patients with lepromatous leprosy showed that the compound, administered in a dosage of 150 mg daily, was very effective.