Transcriptome analysis of long non-coding RNA associated with embryonic muscle development in chickens

1. Skeletal muscle is an important component of chicken carcass. In chickens, the number of muscle fibres is fixed during the embryonic period, and muscle development during the embryonic period determines the muscle development potential after hatching.2. Beijing-You (BY) and Cornish (CN) chickens show completely different growth rates and body types, and two breeds were used in this study to explore the role of lncRNAs in muscle development during different chicken embryonic periods. A systematic analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs were conducted in the pectoral muscle tissues of BY and CN chickens at embryonic days 11 (ED11), 13 (ED13), 15 (ED15), 17 (ED17), and 1-day-old (D1) using RNA-seq. A total of 4,104 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified among the five stages, including 2,359 lncRNAs and 1,745 mRNAs.3. The number of DETs between the two breeds at ED17 (1,658 lncRNAs and 1,016 mRNAs) was much higher than the total number of DET at all the other stages (692 lncRNAs and 729 mRNAs), indicating that the two breeds show the largest difference in gene regulation at ED17.4. Correlation analysis was performed for all differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs during the five periods. Forty-three, cis interaction pairs of lncRNA-mRNA related to chicken muscle development were predicted. The expression of four pairs was verified, and the results showed MSTRG.12395.2-FGFBP2 and MSTRG.18590.6-FMOD were significantly up-regulated in CN at ED11 compared to BY and might be important candidate genes for embryonic muscle development.

[Play the "combo fist" in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced gastric cancer]

The incidence of gastric cancer ranks fifth among malignant tumors worldwide, with the fourth highest mortality rate. A noteworthy characteristic of our country is the high prevalence of advanced-stage patients of approximately 40%. Advanced-stage gastric cancer carries an unfavorable prognosis with median survival of around one year. Diagnosis methods for advanced-stage gastric cancer (such as laparoscopic exploration, molecular profiling, and artificial intelligence) are still being continuously improved, while chemotherapy remains the primary treatment. With the rapid development of medical science, the role of surgical intervention in advanced-stage gastric cancer is becoming increasingly prominent. Therefore, as gastric tumor surgeons, we should consider how to use a combination of treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and interventional therapy, based on different pathological stages and the heterogeneity of tumors. With a multidisciplinary approach involving experts from various fields, we can collectively improve the survival rate and quality of life for advanced-stage patients. This article provides a brief overview of the current advances in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced-stage gastric cancer, and discusses therapeutic decision primarily from the perspective of surgeons.

Fluorescence Imaging of Diabetic Cataract-Associated Lipid Droplets in Living Cells and Patient-Derived Tissues

Diabetic cataract (DC) surgery carries risks such as slow wound healing, macular edema, and progression of retinopathy and is faced with a deficiency of effective drugs. In this context, we proposed a protocol to evaluate the drug's efficacy using lipid droplets (LDs) as the marker. For this purpose, a fluorescent probe PTZ-LD for LDs detection is developed based on the phenothiazine unit. The probe displays polarity-dependent emission variations, i.e., lower polarity leading to stronger intensity. Especially, the probe exhibits photostability superior to that of Nile Red, a commercial LDs staining dye. Using the probe, the formation of LDs in DC-modeled human lens epithelial (HLE) cells is validated, and the interplay of LDs-LDs and LDs-others are investigated. Unexpectedly, lipid transfer between LDs is visualized. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of various drugs in DC-modeled HLE cells is assessed. Ultimately, more LDs were found in lens epithelial tissues from DC patients than in cataract tissues for the first time. We anticipate that this work can attract more attention to the important roles of LDs during DC progression.

ZIF-67-modified magnetic nanoparticles for extraction of phenoxy carboxylic acid herbicides

Phenoxy carboxylic acid (PCA) herbicides are commonly used herbicides that can easily accumulate in soil, groundwater, crops, and vegetable surfaces. Thus, they pose a serious risk to human health. Accurate detection of trace amounts of PCAs in various matrixes is crucial. Herein, ZIF-67-modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs, ZIF-67@Fe3O4) were prepared by growing ZIF-67 on the surface of Fe3O4 MNPs. The introduction of ZIF-67 improved the dispersion of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in water and enhanced their extraction performance for PCAs. When an eluent consisting of ammonia water and acetonitrile (5% : 95%; v/v) was employed, 10 mg of ZIF-67@Fe3O4 displayed optimal extraction performance for PCAs in a 20 mL sample solution at a pH of 3. We achieved a limit of detection ranging from 0.014 μg L-1 to 0.056 μg L-1 for four types of PCA herbicides by using the newly developed method. Notably, the values were considerably lower than the maximum concentration levels of PCAs in drinking water set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The relative recovery rate of PCAs using ZIF-67@Fe3O4 ranged from 83.75% to 117.07% when applied to river water and apple samples. These results demonstrate the great potential of ZIF-67@Fe3O4 in determining the residues of organic pesticides in real samples.

[Epidemiological trend of early-onset gastric cancer and late-onset gastric cancer in China from 2000 to 2019]

Objective: In order to understand the changing trends of gastric cancer incidence and mortality in early-onset and late-onset in China from 2000 to 2019. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease research data was collected, and Excel and R 4.2.1 softwares were used to examine the incidence rate, mortality rate, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of Chinese people from 2000 to 2019, with a focus on gender, age, and year. Results: In 2019, the crude incidence rates were 7.06/100 000 (95%UI: 6.63/100 000-7.59/100 000) and 114.52/100 000 (95%UI: 108.79/100 000-121.63/100 000) for early- and late-onset gastric cancer, respectively. The crude mortality rate for early-onset gastric cancer was 3.29/100 000 (95%UI: 3.11/100 000- 3.50/100 000), while the crude mortality rate for late-onset gastric cancer was 81.88/100 000 (95%UI: 78.15/100 000-86.04/100 000). Additionally, the crude DALY rates for these two types of gastric cancer were 156.48/100 000 (95%UI: 148.82/100 000-165.84/100 000) and 1 750.13/100 000 (95%UI: 1 661.21/100 000-1 852.99/100 000). The standardized incidence of early-onset gastric cancer decreased from 5.49/100 000 in 2000 to 4.76/100 000 in 2019, and that of late-onset gastric cancer decreased from 143.45/100 000 in 2000 to 123.02/100 000 in 2019.The standardized mortality rate of early-onset gastric cancer decreased from 4.16/100 000 in 2000 to 2.18/100 000 in 2019, and that of late-onset gastric cancer decreased from 140.82/100 000 in 2000 to 91.49/100 000 in 2019. The standardized DALY rate for early-onset gastric cancer in 2019 was 105.87/100 000 (95%UI: 87.98/100 000 -125.60/100 000), lower than 198.84/100 000 (95%UI: 179.47/100 000- 219.83/100 000) in 2000. The standardized DALY rate for late onset gastric cancer in 2019 was 1 821.11/100 000 (95%UI: 1 509.42/100 000-2 158.53/100 000), lower than 2 932.52/100 000 (95%UI: 2 665.92/100 000-3 252.60/100 000) in 2000. Conclusions: The standardized mortality rate of early-onset gastric cancer in China showed a decreasing trend from 2000 to 2019. The standardized mortality rate of late onset gastric cancer showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Notably, the incidence, mortality, and DALY of late-onset gastric cancer were significantly higher than those of early-onset gastric cancer during this period. Additionally, male incidence, mortality, and crude DALY rates were higher than female.

Aim2 Deficiency Ameliorates Lacrimal Gland Destruction and Corneal Epithelium Defects in an Experimental Dry Eye Model

Purpose

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that is associated with inflammation. Excessive DNA is present in the tear fluid of patients with DED. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a key DNA sensor. This study aimed to investigate the role of AIM2 in the pathogenesis of DED.

Methods

DED was induced by injection of scopolamine (SCOP). Aberrant DNA was detected by cell-free DNA (cfDNA) ELISA and immunostaining. Corneal epithelial defects were assessed by corneal fluorescein staining, zonula occludens-1 immunostaining and TUNEL. Tear production was analyzed by phenol red thread test. Lacrimal gland (LG) histology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and transmission electron microscopy examination. Macrophage infiltration in LG was detected by immunohistochemistry for the macrophage marker F4/80. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Protein production was examined by immunoblot analysis or ELISA.

Results

Aim2-/- mice displayed a normal structure and function of LG and cornea under normal conditions. In SCOP-induced DED, wild type (WT) mice showed increased cfDNA in tear fluid, and aberrant accumulations of dsDNA accompanied by increased AIM2 expression in the LG. In SCOP-induced DED, WT mice displayed damaged structures of LG, reduced tear production, and severe corneal epithelium defects, whereas Aim2-/- mice had a better preserved LG structure, less decreased tear production, and improved clinical signs of dry eye. Furthermore, genetic deletion of Aim2 suppressed the increased infiltration of macrophages and inhibited N-GSDMD and IL18 production in the LG of SCOP-induced DED.

Conclusions

Aim2 deficiency alleviates ocular surface damage and LG inflammation in SCOP-induced DED.

SIRT1 Inhibits High Glucose-Induced TXNIP/NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Cataract Formation

Purpose

To determine whether SIRT1 regulates high glucose (HG)-induced inflammation and cataract formation through modulating TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and rat lenses.

Methods

HG stress from 25 to 150 mM was imposed on HLECs, with treatments using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting NLRP3, TXNIP, and SIRT1, as well as a lentiviral vector (LV) for SIRT1. Rat lenses were cultivated with HG media, with or without the addition of NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 or SIRT1 agonist SRT1720. High mannitol groups were applied as the osmotic controls. Real-time PCR, Western blots, and immunofluorescent staining evaluated the mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1, TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, and IL-1β. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell viability, and death were also assessed.

Results

HG stress induced a decline in SIRT1 expression and caused TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a concentration-dependent manner in HLECs, which was not observed in the high mannitol-treated groups. Knocking down NLRP3 or TXNIP inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome-induced IL-1β p17 secretion under HG stress. Transfections of si-SIRT1 and LV-SIRT1 exerted inverse effects on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting that SIRT1 acts as an upstream regulator of TXNIP/NLRP3 activity. HG stress induced lens opacity and cataract formation in cultivated rat lenses, which was prevented by MCC950 or SRT1720 treatment, with concomitant reductions in ROS production and TXNIP/NLRP3/IL-1β expression levels.

Conclusions

The TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway promotes HG-induced inflammation and HLEC pyroptosis, which is negatively regulated by SIRT1. This suggests viable strategies for treating diabetic cataract.

Observation of HOCl generation associated with diabetic cataract using a highly sensitive fluorescent probe

Diagnosis of diabetic cataract (DC) in the early stage is of great significance for drug intervention and surgery circumvention for DC patients. However, the lack of reliable imaging tools greatly limits the diagnosis of early DC. In this context, a fluorescent probe BBPy for hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is presented based on the oxidation of phenothiazine. The probe displays apparent emission enhancement at 562 nm toward HOCl with high selectivity, superb sensitivity (detection limit: 12.6 nM), and rapid response (within seconds). Using the probe, the HOCl generation in diabetic human lens epithelial cells was monitored, as well as the HOCl down-regulation during antioxidant treatment. Therefore, it is proposed that HOCl can be a promising biomarker for DC and fluorescence imaging technique can be regarded as a candidate tool for DC diagnosis.

Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Water Samples Using a Needle Trap Device Combined with Gas Chromatography

In this study, a fiber-packed needle trap device (NTD) was developed by packing heat-resistant fibers with a polyethylene glycol sol-gel coating into a 21-gauge, stainless steel needle. The polyethylene glycol sol-gel coating has numerous advantages, including uniform roughness and a large specific surface area. The prepared NTD was used for headspace extraction of five polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water samples, determined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The main experimental parameters, including the extraction and desorption conditions, ionic strength, and fiber bundles, were investigated to improve the extraction efficiency. After optimization, satisfactory linearity (r > 0.99) in the concentration range of 0.02–500 μg/L was obtained, and the enrichment factor of NTD for the five PCBs was between 1150 and 9537 times. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) of five PCBs were measured in ranges of 0.0021–0.01 μg/L. Furthermore, the fiber-packed NTD has excellent durability, and can be reused for 60 cycles. After being stored at room temperature for three days, the storage ability of the NTD had a loss of PCBs less than 10%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 10%. When analyzing the PCBs in real water samples, good accuracies (spiked recoveries were in the range of 92.19–98.56%) and precision (the RSD was lower than 12.8%) was obtained.

[Modified mattress inversion suturing with double barbed sutures used for totally laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy overlap anastomosis after radical total gastrectomy]

Objective: To explore the advantages and safety of a modified mattress inversion suturing using double barbed sutures compared with the traditional overlap method in totally laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy overlap anastomosis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients were aged 18 - 80 years old; (2) adenocarcinoma was preoperatively confirmed by pathological analysis; (3) patients had undergone a complete laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy; (4) patients had undergone esophagojejunostomy using the overlap method; (5) patients received a grade of I-III on the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system; (6) patients' complete follow-up data had been collected. Patients with a history of other malignant tumors, multi-origin tumors, emergency surgery, non-R0 radical resection or distant metastasis were excluded. The clinical data of 89 gastric cancer patients who underwent total laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2019 to December 2020 were collected. These patients were grouped according to the esophagojejunostomy method used. Of 89 patients, 32 received modified mattress inversion suturing with double barbed sutures to close the common opening of esophagojejunostomy (the modified anastomosis group), while 57 received traditional overlap anastomosis in which the common opening was closed by barbed suture (the traditional anastomosis group). The operation conditions (incision length, conversion to laparotomy, duration of esophagojejunostomy) and postoperative recovery (time to commencement of a liquid diet, duration of postoperative hospital stay, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis, and anastomotic bleeding) were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference in the baseline data of the two groups for any parameter (all P>0.05). All patients received complete laparoscopic radical gastrectomy without conversion to laparotomy. There were no significant differences in the length of the median incision, the proportion of food intake on the first day after surgery, or in the incidence of anastomotic complications such as anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis, and anastomotic bleeding between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the traditional anastomosis group, patients in the modified anastomosis group had shorter anastomosis time [26 (19-62) minutes vs. 36 (20-50) minutes, Z=-2.546, P=0.011] and postoperative hospital stay [7 (6-12) days vs. 9 (7-42) days, Z=-4.202, P<0.001]. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). In a subgroup analysis of tumor TNM stage III, Siewert type II and neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients, there was no significant difference in the incidence of anastomotic complications between the modified group and the traditional group. However, the postoperative hospital stay duration in the modified anastomosis group was less than in the traditional anastomosis group. The duration of anastomosis in Siewert type II patients was also shorter in the modified anastomosis group than in the traditional anastomosis group [26 (19-62) minutes vs. 38 (21-50) minutes, Z=-2.105, P=0.035], and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Complete laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy using modified mattress inversion suturing with double barbed sutures is a safe and feasible anastomosis method to close the common opening of esophagojejunostomy, with shorter operation time, faster postoperative recovery and shorter hospital stay than the traditional method.

Sensitivity of the Dorsal-Central Retinal Pigment Epithelium to Sodium Iodate-Induced Damage Is Associated With Overlying M-Cone Photoreceptors in Mice

Purpose

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in retinal degenerative diseases, but the mechanism of RPE regional degeneration remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate the sensitivity of RPE to sodium iodate (SI) injury in the dorsal and ventral visual fields in mice and analyze whether overlaying cone photoreceptors regulate the sensitivity of RPE to SI-induced damage.

Methods

SI was used to induce RPE degeneration in mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunostaining, and TUNEL assay were used to evaluate retinal degeneration along the dorsal-ventral axis. Flat-mounted and sectional retinal immunostaining were used to analyze the distribution of cones along the dorsoventral axis in C57BL/6, albino, and 129 mice. Electroretinography was used to examine the retinal function.

Results

Dorsal-central RPE was more sensitive to SI-mediated injury along the dorsal-ventral axis in C57BL/6 mice. Compared with the ventral RPE, the dorsal-central RPE was dominantly covered by M cone photoreceptors in these mice. Interestingly, M cone photoreceptor degeneration was followed by dorsal RPE degeneration under a low dose of SI. Furthermore, the sensitivity of dorsal RPE to a low dose of SI was reduced in both albino and 129 mouse strains with dominant mixed cones instead of M cones in the dorsal visual field.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that dorsal-central RPE is more sensitive to SI injury and that SI-induced RPE degeneration could be controlled by modifying the dominant overlying cone population in the mouse dorsal retina, thereby highlighting a potential role of M cones in RPE regional degeneration.

Determination of Organophosphate Esters in Water Samples Using Gas Chromatography– Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) Based on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)

A method based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), coupled with magnetic solid-phase extraction (SPE) with multi-walled carbon-nanotube (MWCNT)-coated iron oxide (Fe3O4) as the adsorbent, was developed for analyzing four organophosphate esters in ambient water samples. The magnetic, MWCNT composites were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry (SQUID). The extraction and desorption conditions, such as adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, eluent type, and eluent volume, were studied. The adsorbent was used to extract analytes within 50 min. The limit of detection (LOD) was between 0.038–1 μg/L, and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was between 0.10–3.59 μg/L. The method was applied to analyze organophosphate esters in environmental water samples. A 72.5–89.1% recovery was obtained by analyzing spiked samples with low-, medium-, and high-concentration analytes. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 10%. This method displayed better sensitivity and accuracy; therefore, it could be successfully used to detect organophosphate esters in environmental water samples.

Coating layered double hydroxides with carbon dots for highly efficient removal of multiple dyes

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and layered double oxides (LDOs) are desirable adsorption materials for printing and wastewater treatment owing to their outstanding anion exchange abilities, abundant active sites, and eco-friendly nature. In this study, a versatile LDO hybrid coated with carbon dots (CDs@MgAl-LDO) was constructed by modifying sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate on the surface of MgAl-LDH as a carbon precursor, followed by ligand carbonization and hydrotalcite dehydration at 450 °C under N₂ flow. CDs@MgAl-LDO displayed a hexagonal lamellar architecture with a plate lateral size of approximately 500 nm. It had a higher BET specific surface area (28.61 m²/g) than MgAl-LDO (11.48 m²/g). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that CDs@MgAl-LDO maintained the "memory effect" of LDOs and could retrieve the original structure when dispersed in water. Moreover, the modified carbon dots change the intrinsically hydrophilic nature of LDOs and help to improve the affinity for organic contaminants, including both cationic and anionic dyes. The adsorption of dyes on CDs@MgAl-LDO followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with correlation coefficients (R²) ranging from 0.9901 to 0.9911 and exhibited Freundlich-type heterogeneous adsorption. It showed superior adsorption performance for three dyes, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 3628.9-5174.1 mg/g, thereby outperforming previously reported LDH-based adsorbents. This work developed a facile approach for preparing new carbon dots-LDH hybrids for the highly efficient removal of multiple dyes.

A molecular beacon-like Ag nanocluster fluorescence probe for nucleic acid detection

We have developed a type of low-cost, label-free silver nanocluster molecular beacon-like fluorescence sensor with a DNA template. To detect target DNA with this probe, we use a hairpin DNA sequence based on a "turn-on" strategy. The transformation of hairpin DNA would visibly influence the formation of Ag nanoclusters, such that the stronger fluorescence will be measured with the solution containing target nucleic acids than that without targets nucleic acids. There is a good liner relationship between the fluorescence and the target DNA concentrations, ranging from 1 to 750 nmol L-1. Importantly, the detection sensing platform allows down to 1 nmol L-1, which is much lower than other studies.

Magnetic porous carbons derived from iron-based metal-organic framework loaded with glucose for effective extraction of synthetic organic dyes in drinks

The conversion of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to porous carbon has attracted extensive attention for developing multifunctional adsorbent materials. Herein, we demonstrated a facile method to prepare magnetic porous carbon via calcinating MIL-101(Fe) precursor loaded with glucose at 700 °C in an N₂ atmosphere. The obtained magnetic porous carbon (MPCG) contained plenty of oxygen-containing functional groups and exhibited an enlarged specific surface area (177.7 m²/g) compared with its precursor (41.2 m²/g). In addition, MPCG can be easily separated from the matrix by a magnet. Benefitting from these advantages, the magnetic porous carbon exhibited high affinity toward four synthetic organic dyes (amaranth, ponceau 4R, sunset yellow, and lemon yellow) in an aqueous solution. Moreover, the adsorbent can be applied to quantitatively detect synthetic organic dyes in drinks coupled with chromatography. A new magnetic solid-phase extraction method for dye analysis yielded reasonable linearity (r □ 0.99), low limits of detection (0.047-0.076 μg/L), and good precision within the analyte concentration range of 0.25-50 μg/L.

High dose expression of heme oxigenase-1 induces retinal degeneration through ER stress-related DDIT3

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is a common cause of neurodegeneration and plays a central role in retinal degenerative diseases. Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) is a redox-regulated enzyme that is induced in neurodegenerative diseases and acts against oxidative stress but can also promote cell death, a phenomenon that is still unexplained in molecular terms. Here, we test whether HMOX1 has opposing effects during retinal degeneration and investigate the molecular mechanisms behind its pro-apoptotic role.

METHODS

Basal and induced levels of HMOX1 in retinas are examined during light-induced retinal degeneration in mice. Light damage-independent HMOX1 induction at two different expression levels is achieved by intraocular injection of different doses of an adeno-associated virus vector expressing HMOX1. Activation of Müller glial cells, retinal morphology and photoreceptor cell death are examined using hematoxylin-eosin staining, TUNEL assays, immunostaining and retinal function are evaluated with electroretinograms. Downstream gene expression of HMOX1 is analyzed by RNA-seq, qPCR examination and western blotting. The role of one of these genes, the pro-apoptotic DNA damage inducible transcript 3 (Ddit3), is analyzed in a line of knockout mice.

RESULTS

Light-induced retinal degeneration leads to photoreceptor degeneration and concomitant HMOX1 induction. HMOX1 expression at low levels before light exposure prevents photoreceptor degeneration but expression at high levels directly induces photoreceptor degeneration even without light stress. Photoreceptor degeneration following high level expression of HMOX1 is associated with a mislocalization of rhodopsin in photoreceptors and an increase in the expression of DDIT3. Genetic deletion of Ddit3 in knockout mice prevents photoreceptor cell degeneration normally resulting from high level HMOX1 expression.

CONCLUSION

The results reveal that the expression levels determine whether HMOX1 is protective or deleterious in the retina. Furthermore, in contrast to the protective low dose of HMOX1, the deleterious high dose is associated with induction of DDIT3 and endoplasmic reticulum stress as manifested, for instance, in rhodopsin mislocalization. Hence, future applications of HMOX1 or its regulated targets in gene therapy approaches should carefully consider expression levels in order to avoid potentially devastating effects.

KIT ligand protects against both light-induced and genetic photoreceptor degeneration

Photoreceptor degeneration is a major cause of blindness and a considerable health burden during aging but effective therapeutic or preventive strategies have not so far become readily available. Here, we show in mouse models that signaling through the tyrosine kinase receptor KIT protects photoreceptor cells against both light-induced and inherited retinal degeneration. Upon light damage, photoreceptor cells upregulate Kit ligand (KITL) and activate KIT signaling, which in turn induces nuclear accumulation of the transcription factor NRF2 and stimulates the expression of the antioxidant gene Hmox1. Conversely, a viable Kit mutation promotes light-induced photoreceptor damage, which is reversed by experimental expression of Hmox1. Furthermore, overexpression of KITL from a viral AAV8 vector prevents photoreceptor cell death and partially restores retinal function after light damage or in genetic models of human retinitis pigmentosa. Hence, application of KITL may provide a novel therapeutic avenue for prevention or treatment of retinal degenerative diseases.

Pressure-stabilized polymerization of nitrogen in alkaline-earth-metal strontium nitrides

High-pressure technology can help us to obtain excellent materials. We have explored alkaline-earth-metal strontium nitrides under different pressures, theoretically. A variety of stable Sr-N structures were predicted by the structure searching method using CALYPSO code. Six new stoichiometries, SrN, Sr₂N₃, SrN₂, SrN₃, SrN₄, and SrN₅, were predicted. And our calculation proved that all these compounds were stable existing under ambient pressure up to 100 GPa. A rich variety of poly-nitrogen forms appeared in the newly predicted SrN_x compounds, including four nitrogen polymerization forms: ranging from N₂, N₃, N₄, and N₅ molecules, to zig-zag nitrogen chains and extended chains connected by puckered "N₆" rings. Significantly, the 1D extended polymeric chain of puckered "N₆" rings was firstly identified in the P1[combining macron]-SrN₃ structure at 60 GPa. Another N-rich C2/c-SrN₄ was stable only under the relatively high-pressure of 20 GPa, but this phase can be quenched under atmospheric pressure. The N-rich phase SrN₅ maintained structural stability when the pressure reached 50-70 GPa. The delocalization of π electrons from N atoms was the principal cause for its metallicity in SrN₅. In this paper, our calculated results indicated that the energetic poly-nitrides in alkaline-earth-metal nitrides can be obtained by the high-pressure method.

[Analysis of fatty acids in rice by pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry]

A pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the analysis of fatty acids in rice. A total of 16 fatty acids were detected in rice. The method was used to identify the difference between fatty acid profiles in rice. The total intensity of the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was used as the evaluation index. The effects of six extraction methods and four extraction solvents on the extraction efficiencies of the fatty acids were compared. The developed method was used to investigate the fatty acid profiles in five types of rice (Daohuaxiang, Jixing, Jinlangzi, Nongda, and Zhuangyuan). The fatty acid profile in Daohuaxiang rice was different from that in the other four species. The fatty acids in Jinlangzi and Nongda rice were markedly different, while those in Jixing and Jinlangzi rice were similar. The method is simple, stable and accurate, and it can provide basic data for the improvement of rice quality and nutritional value.

High-pressure formation of antimony nitrides: a first-principles study

The structural phase transition, electronic properties, and bonding properties of antimony nitrides have been studied by using the first principles projector augmented wave method. The relationship between the formation enthalpy and the composition of the Sb–N system has been explored. The novel Sb₂N₃ with the Cmcm space group is stable in a narrow pressure range from 100 GPa to 120 GPa. Apart from the Sb₂N₃, two nitrogen-rich phases SbN₂ and SbN₄ were predicted. The SbN₂ with the C2/m space group is stable at 12 GPa and then transforms to the high-pressure phase at 23 GPa. The nitrogen-rich SbN₄ appears at 14 GPa then undergoes C2/m → P1̄ → P1̄ phase transitions, and the calculated pressures of the phase transitions are 31 and 60 GPa, respectively. The nitrogen-rich SbN₂ and SbN₄ have similar structural features. Both SbN₂ and SbN₄ can be seen as a sandwich structure composed of the Sb–N layers and N₂ dimers. The pressure-induced phase transitions of SbN₂ and SbN₄ are accompanied by the electron transfer between the Sb–N layers and N₂ dimers. Moreover, the nitrogen-rich SbN₄ has a higher energy density of 2.42 kJ g⁻¹ and is a potentially high energy density material.

The structural phase transition, electronic properties, and bonding properties of antimony nitrides have been studied by using a first principles method.

Synthesis of 3D magnetic porous carbon derived from a metal–organic framework for the extraction of clenbuterol and ractopamine from mutton samples

Synthesis of MIL-100(Fe)-derived MPC and its application for the MSPE of CLB and RAC.

Design and Synthesis of Ag Nanocluster Molecular Beacon for Adenosine Triphosphate Detection

This study presents a fluorescence method for detecting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) based on a label-free Ag nanocluster molecular beacon (MB) with high sensitivity. The sensor contains a hairpin-shaped MB, two short single-stranded DNA strands, and T4 DNA ligase. The MB consists of three parts, which are the template DNA sequence for synthesizing Ag nanoclusters at the 5' end, the middle DNA with a hairpin-shaped structure, and the guanine base-rich DNA sequence at the 3' end. The sensor exhibits high fluorescence intensity in the absence of ATP. However, when the probe is used for ATP detection, the two short DNA sequences in the sensor would form a long sequence by enzymatic ligation reaction; this long sequence opens the hairpin-shaped structure of the MB and decreases the fluorescence of the system. Under optimal analytical conditions, a clear linear relationship is observed between ATP concentration and fluorescence intensity in the range of 0.1-10 μM. The interference presented by other small molecules during ATP detection is evaluated, and results confirm the good selectivity of the proposed sensor. Compared with traditional methods, the sensor is label free, easy to operate, inexpensive, and highly sensitive.

Fabrication of glucose-derived carbon-decorated magnetic microspheres for extraction of bisphenols from water and tea drinks

Glucose-derived carbon-decorated magnetic microspheres were synthesized by an easy hydrothermal carbonization method and used as a high-efficiency adsorbent to extract bisphenols in water and tea drinks. The as-prepared carbon-decorated magnetic microspheres had a well-defined core-shell structure with a shell thickness of about 5 nm. The microspheres possessed high saturation magnetization at 60.8 emu/g and excellent chemical stability in aqueous solution. The experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, including extraction time, pH, adsorbent dosage, desorption solvents, desorption time, and solution volume were evaluated. Electrostatic and π-π interactions were the major driving forces during extraction. Overall, a new magnetic solid-phase extraction method of determining bisphenols was developed on the basis of as-prepared magnetic microspheres. The method had a wide linear range, low limits of detection (0.03-0.10 µg/L), and high recoveries (85.4-104.6%).

Ultrasensitive Biosensor for Detection of Mercury(II) Ions Based on DNA-Cu Nanoclusters and Exonuclease III-assisted Signal Amplification

This paper describes a novel method for label-free mercury(II) ion detection based on exonuclease III-induced target signal recycling amplification using double-stranded DNA templated copper nanoclusters. The synthesized DNA-Cu nanoclusters were used with exonuclease III loop amplification technology for ultra-high sensitivity detection of mercury(II) ions, which were detected by significantly decreased fluorescence intensity. Under the optimal experimental conditions, there was a clear linear relationship between Hg²⁺ concentration in the range of 0.04 to 8 nM and fluorescence intensity. The detection limit for Hg²⁺ was 4 pM. In addition, the interference of other metal ions on the mercury(II) ion detection was also studied. To confirm the application of the fluorescent sensor, it was applied to determine the concentrations of mercury(II) ions in tap water, and the results showed that the method can be used to detect mercury(II) ions in water samples successfully.

Metabolic responses ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeto ethanol stress using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Metabolic responses ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeunder ethanol stress by a metabolomics method based on GC-MS.

Fe-doped H3PMo12O40 immobilized on covalent organic frameworks (Fe/PMA@COFs): a heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclooctene with H2O2

Fe/PMA@COF composites for the epoxidation of cyclooctene: the spatial configuration and nitrogen content of the COF support significantly influence the catalytic activity and stability.

Structural phase transition and bonding properties of high-pressure polymeric CaN3

Two new monoclinic P1̄-CaN₃ and C2/m-CaN₃ are predicted to become energetically stable under low pressure. For the first time, we identify one novel phase featuring charged “N₆” chain in the P1̄-CaN₃ structure.

Association between high visceral fat area and postoperative complications in patients with Crohn's disease following primary surgery

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the association between visceral fat area (VFA) on CT and postoperative complications after primary surgery in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHOD

Inclusion criteria were patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CD who had preoperative abdominal CT scan. The areas of total fat, subcutaneous fat and visceral fat were measured using an established image-analysis method at the lumbar 3 (L3) level on CT cross-sectional images. Visceral obesity was defined as a visceral fat area (VFA) of ≥ 130 cm(2) . Clinical variables, intra-operative outcomes and postoperative courses within 30 days were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 164 patients met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-three (38.4%) patients had postoperative complications. The mean age of the patients with complications (the study group) was 40.4 ± 15.4 years and of those without complications (the control group) was 35.8 ± 12.9 years (P = 0.049). There were no differences in disease location and behaviour between patients with or without complications (P > 0.05). In multivariable analysis, VFA [odds ratio (OR) = 2.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-6.62; P = 0.032] and corticosteroid use (OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.32-6.21; P = 0.008) were found to be associated with postoperative complications. Patients with visceral obesity had a significantly longer operative time (P = 0.012), more blood loss (P = 0.019), longer bowel resection length (P = 0.003), postoperative ileus (P = 0.039) and a greater number of complications overall (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

High VFA was found to be associated with an increased risk for 30-day postoperative complications in patients with CD undergoing primary surgery.

Avian sarcoma and leukosis virus gag gene in the Anser anser domesticus genome

Endogenous retroviruses are regarded as ideal genetic markers for evolutionary analyses. Birds were some of the initial vertebrates found to contain endogenous retroviruses. However, few studies have investigated the presence and distribution of endogenous retroviruses in goose. In this study, we detected the avian sarcoma and leukosis virus gag gene in the genomic DNA of 8 Chinese native breeds using polymerase chain reaction method. The results indicated that a 1.2-kb avian sarcoma and leukosis virus gag sequence was integrated into all 8 goose breeds. The mean genetic pairwise distance was 0.918% among the investigated geese. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the presence of the endogenous retroviruses in the domestic goose genome. The genetic structure should be further examined in the domestic goose.

A fluorescence probe based on biomolecule-stabilized gold nanoclusters for the detection of pazufloxacin mesilate

In the present study, biomolecule-stabilized Au nanoclusters were demonstrated as a novel fluorescence probe for sensitive and selective detection of pazufloxacin mesilate (PZFX) for the first time. The linear decrease in the fluorescence intensity of Au nanoclusters induced by PZFX allowed for the quantitative detection of PZFX in the range of 0.15 μg/mL to 1 mg/mL, and the detection limit for PZFX was 0.2 μg/mL. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and fluorescence decay studies were then performed to discuss the quenching mechanism. In addition, practical application of the present approach was also demonstrated for real samples, which suggested its great potential for accurate analysis of similar drugs.

Differential expression of Toll-like receptor genes in lymphoid tissues between Marek's disease virus-infected and noninfected chickens

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are trans-membrane sensors recognizing invading microbes. Toll-like receptors play a central role in initiating immune responses against several pathogens. In this study, we investigated the response of TLR and downstream genes to Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection. Forty 1-d-old chicks were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 20 chicks infected with MDV and 20 chicks mock-infected. Four chickens were euthanized respectively from infected and age-matched noninfected groups at 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d postinfection (dpi). Bursas, spleens, and thymuses were removed. The differential expression of TLR genes, including TLR3, TLR5, TLR7, TLR15, and TLR21, and downstream genes of TLR7, including MyD88, TRAF3, TRAF6, IFNA, IFNB, and IL6, in lymphoid tissues of MDV-infected and noninfected chickens was determined by real-time PCR. The results showed that the change of TLR genes was different in 3 lymphoid tissues. Expression of TLR7 and MyD88 was upregulated at 14 dpi and downregulated at 28 dpi in MDV-infected compared with noninfected spleens. The TRAF6 and IFNB were upregulated, and TRAF3, IFNA, and IL6 genes showed increasing trends in MDV-infected compared with noninfected spleens at 14 dpi. The expression of TLR3 and TLR15 genes was downregulated in MDV-infected compared with noninfected spleens at 28 dpi. The results indicated that TLR7 and its downstream genes were a response to MDV infection at 14 dpi. However, the function of TLR was impaired when the infection entered the tumor transformation phase. In bursas, TLR3 and TLR15 genes were upregulated at 7 and 4 dpi, respectively. It indicated that TLR3 and TLR15 might be involved in response to MDV infection in bursa at early phases. However, no differential expression of TLR genes was observed between MDV-infected and noninfected thymuses, which indicated that the thymus had little response to MDV infection mediated by TLR.

Gene expression analysis of host spleen responses to Marek's disease virus infection at late tumor transformation phase

Marek's disease is a viral neoplastic disease of chickens caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV). Gene expression patterns have been investigated at different MDV infection stages, but there is limited research about the late tumor transformation phase. In this experiment, 44K Agilent chicken genome-wide expression microarrays were used to profile differential expression in tumorous spleens (TS) from severely morbid chickens and apparently normal spleens from survivors (SS) after MDV infection and expression in noninfected spleens (NS) from controls. There were 4,317 differentially expressed (DE) genes in TS versus NS. However, no DE genes were detected in SS versus NS, suggesting that maintenance of, or return to, homeostasis of gene activity in survivor spleens. Downregulated genes in tumorous spleens mainly enriched in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, and commonly investigated genes in Marek's disease study, IL6, IL18, IFNA, and IFNG were nondifferentially expressed, which indicates host inflammatory response was impaired. The IL10 and TNFRSF8 genes were upregulated in tumorous spleens. We speculated that IL10 might be exploited by MDV to escape from host immune surveillance, as reported for Epstein-Barr virus, which stimulated T cells secreting IL10 to subvert immune response. Previous study reported that transcription from TNFRSF8 promoter could be enhanced by MDV oncogene Meq. In this study, the increased expression of TNFRSF8 indicated interaction between MDV and TNFRSF8, which might facilitate pathogenesis and tumor transformation. The expression of many members in IGF system was changed in tumorous compared with noninfected spleens. The downregulation of IGFBP7 was considered to be associated with MD lymphoma transformation. Gene expression change of multiple regulatory pathways indicated their involvements in facilitating tumor transformation.

Whole-genome scan for signatures of recent selection reveals loci associated with important traits in White Leghorn chickens

Chicken is considered to be an excellent model for genetic studies of phenotypic and genomic evolution, with large effective population size, specialized commercial lines, and strong human-driven selection. High-density chicken SNP chips can help to achieve a better understanding of the selection mechanisms in artificially selected populations. We performed the genome-wide tests for the selection signature in 385 White Leghorn hens and mapped positively selected regions to the genome annotations. Ten QTL related to egg production, egg quality, growth, and disease resistance traits were selected for extended haplotype homozygosity tests to give a brief overview of recent selection signatures in chicken QTL. We also reported 185 candidate genes/CDSs showing top P-values and slower decay of haplotype homozygosities. Some of these genes seemed to have significant effects on important economical traits, and most of them have not been reported in chickens. The current study provides a genome-wide map of linkage disequilibrium extents and distributions and selection footprints in the chicken genome. A panel of genes, including PRL, NCKX1, NRF1, LHX2, and SFRP1 associated with egg production, metabolism traits, and response to illumination were identified. In addition, there were more genes identified that have not yet been reported in chickens, and our results provide new clues for further study.

Hypomethylation upregulates the expression of CD30 in lymphoma induced by Marek's disease virus

Epigenetic modification is widely known to be involved in embryo development, aging, tumorigenesis, and many complex diseases. Both hypermethylation of CpG islands at the gene promoters and global hypomethylation are involved in the initiation and progression of carcinogenesis. However, only a small portion of hypomethylation occurs at gene promoters and leads to the overexpression of certain oncogenes. To determine whether DNA methylation plays a role in tumorigenesis of Marek's disease, we selected one putative oncogene and 8 tumor suppressor genes from the gene expression profile for the analysis of DNA methylation variation. Four normal spleen tissues and 4 Marek's disease virus-infected tumor spleen tissues were collected, and the methylation level of the promoter region of each gene was analyzed using MassARRAY. As a result, the promoter region of CD30 was hypomethylated and displayed a significantly higher expression in Marek's disease virus-infected tumor spleen tissues compared with normal ones (P < 0.05). In neoplastic cells, CD30 was known to promote the survival and proliferation of T-cell lymphomas. This result suggests that activation of CD30 is possibly associated with the tumorigenesis of Marek's disease.