Sex-specific maternal calcium requirements for the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by altering the intestinal microbiota and lipid metabolism in the high-fat-diet-fed offspring mice.

The significance of maternal appropriate calcium intakes for energy metabolism in the offspring has been recognized. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. So in this study, we proposed that there were long-term effects of maternal calcium status on the progress of NAFLD by altering the intestinal microbiota and lipid metabolism with attention to potential sex differences among the mouse offspring.

Maternal dietary calcium status during pregnancy and lactation affects brain DHA accretion through modifying DNA methylation of fatty acid desaturases in the mouse offspring.

Disturbed calcium homeostasis has detrimental effects on brain development and function, particularly in early life because of epigenetic determination of early nutrition on later health. We hypothesized that the imbalance of calcium status in early life might have long-lasting effects on brain DHA accretion though epigenetic modification on fatty acid desaturases (Fads). Three to four week old C57BL/6J female mice were fed 3 reproductive diets with different calcium concentrations - low (LC, 0.

Genome-wide screen of promoter methylation identifies novel markers in diet-induced obese mice.

Objective: To investigate the genome-wide promoter methylation and gene expression for the identification of methylation markers in obesity.

Methods: Using a high-fat, diet-induced obese mouse model, we performed comprehensive DNA methylation profiling of gene promoters to determine the differentially methylated genes using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation followed by hybridization to the NimbleGen MM8 CpG plus Promoter Microarray. We further integrated epigenomics data with gene expression profiling to identify promoters exhibiting an association between methylation status and the expression of downstream genes.

A replicating modified vaccinia tiantan strain expressing an avian-derived influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin induce broadly neutralizing antibodies and cross-clade protective immunity in mice.

To combat the possibility of a zoonotic H5N1 pandemic in a timely fashion, it is necessary to develop a vaccine that would confer protection against homologous and heterologous human H5N1 influenza viruses. Using a replicating modified vaccinia virus Tian Tan strain (MVTT) as a vaccine vector, we constructed MVTTHA-QH and MVTTHA-AH, which expresses the H5 gene of a goose-derived Qinghai strain A/Bar-headed Goose/Qinghai/1/2005 or human-derived Anhui Strain A/Anhui/1/2005. The immunogenicity profiles of both vaccine candidates were evaluated.

Enhanced oral bioavailability and anti-tumour effect of paclitaxel by 20(s)-ginsenoside Rg3 in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of paclitaxel in combination with 20(s)-ginsenoside Rg3 on its anti-tumour effect in nude mice. In the Caco-2 transport assay, the apparent permeability from the apical side to the basal side (P(app)) (A-B) and P(app) (B-A) of paclitaxel were measured when co-incubated with different concentrations of 20(s)-ginsenoside Rg3. The results indicated that the penetration of paclitaxel through the Caco-2 monolayer from the apical side to the basal side was facilitated by 20(s)-ginsenoside Rg3 in a concentration-dependent manner.

Rutin inhibits β-amyloid aggregation and cytotoxicity, attenuates oxidative stress, and decreases the production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, multi-factorial neurodegenerative disease. The aggregation of soluble β-amyloid (Aβ) into fibrillar deposits is a pathological hallmark of AD. The Aβ aggregate-induced neurotoxicity, inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide (NO) generation are strongly linked to the etiology of AD.

Aβ1-16 can aggregate and induce the production of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and inflammatory cytokines.

Amyloid-β (Aβ40/42) aggregates containing the cross-β-sheet structure are associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is generally accepted that the N-terminal peptide of Aβ40/42, Aβ1-16, does not aggregate, and is not cytotoxic. However, we here show that Aβ1-16 can aggregate, and form cytotoxic aggregates containing β-turns and regular non-amyloid β-sheet structures.

Cardiomyocyte overexpression of miR-27b induces cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in mice.

Recent studies have begun to reveal critical roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. In this study, we tested whether a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-regulated miRNA played a pivotal role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF). We observed that miR-27b was upregulated in hearts of cardiomyocyte-specific Smad4 knockout mice, which developed cardiac hypertrophy.

[Animal experimental study of compression anastomosis ring for low anterior resection].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of nickel-titanium compression anastomosis ring (CAR27) in colorectal anastomosis after low anterior rectal resection in animal models.

Methods: End-to-end colorectal anastomosis was performed using CAR27 in 6 experimental pigs after resection of the middle and lower third of the rectum. The animals were observed postoperatively for up to 56 days.

Virulence of H5N1 virus in mice attenuates after in vitro serial passages.

The virulence of A/Vietnam/1194/2004 (VN1194) in mice attenuated after serial passages in MDCK cells and chicken embryos, because the enriched large-plaque variants of the virus had significantly reduced virulence. In contrast, the small-plaque variants of the virus and the variants isolated from the brain of mice that were infected with the parental virus VN1194 had much higher virulence in mice. The virulence attenuation of serially propagated virus may be caused by the reduced neurotropism in mice.

H5N1 avian influenza re-emergence of Lake Qinghai: phylogenetic and antigenic analyses of the newly isolated viruses and roles of migratory birds in virus circulation.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus has swept west across the globe and caused serious debates on the roles of migratory birds in virus circulation since the first large-scale outbreak in migratory birds of Lake Qinghai, 2005. In May 2006, another outbreak struck Lake Qinghai and six novel strains were isolated. To elucidate these QH06 viruses, the six isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing.

[Construction of a gastric cancer related gene GCRG213-specific siRNA expression vector and its effect on gastric cancer cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of gene GCRG213 siRNA transfection into gastric cancer cell line MKN45 cells.

Methods: Two pairs of DNA sequences containing small hairpin structure to GCRG213 were designed and synthesized. The complement form was obtained by annealing and inserted into RNAi expression vector IMG-800.

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy in monkeys of purified inactivated Vero-cell SARS vaccine.

Background: In 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) resulted in hundreds of infections and deaths globally. We aim to assess immunogenicity and protective efficacy of purified inactivated Vero-cell SARS vaccine in monkeys.

Methods: The cultures of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) BJ-01 strain infected Vero cells were inactivated with beta-propiolactone.

Immune responses of a designed HIV-1 DNA vaccine on rhesus monkeys.

An effective HIV-1 vaccine will be the ultimate solution for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, though HAART plays important roles in treating the disease. In this study, a large-scale recombinant DNA plasmid containing a designed HIV-1 multi-epitope-p24 chimeric gene was prepared and purified. Rhesus monkeys were then inoculated muscularly with the plasmid for four times in week 0, 4, 8 and 18.

[Study on the animal model for severe acute respiratory syndrome].

To screen small animals susceptible to SARS-CoV, five species of animals, including guinea pig, hamster, albino hamster, chicken and rat, were experimentally infected with SARS-CoV strain BJ-01 by different routes. On the basis of this, further cynomolgus and rhesus macaques were selected and experimentally inoculated SARS-CoV, the quality they serve as animal model for SARS was evaluated. The results showed that, all five species of small animals chosed were not susceptible to SARS-CoV, no characterized changes in clinical sign and histopathology were observed after infection, but from the lung samples of large rat and pig guinea, the genomic RNA of SARS-CoV could be detected by RT-PCR at day 14 post infection, this suggested that SARS-CoV could replicate in these animals.