Research progress on the mechanisms underlying poultry immune regulation by plant polysaccharides.

With the rapid development of poultry industry and the highly intensive production management, there are an increasing number of stress factors in poultry production. Excessive stress will affect their growth and development, immune function, and induce immunosuppression, susceptibility to a variety of diseases, and even death. In recent years, increasing interest has focused on natural components extracted from plants, among which plant polysaccharides have been highlighted because of their various biological activities.

Huaier Extract Attenuates Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease Transition by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis via miR-1271 Upregulation.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is strongly associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition. Huaier extract (HE) protects against kidney injury; albeit, the underlying mechanism is unknown. We hypothesized that HE reduces kidney injury by inhibiting ERS.

[Progress on signal pathways related to bone metabolism in animals].

Bone is a hard organ that makes up vertebrate endoskeleton, which plays a role in movement, support and protection for the body. The normal growth and development of bone is in the dynamic balance of bone metabolism, which is composed of bone formation and bone absorption. This balance is very important for maintaining bone mass and mineral homeostasis.

Clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-monocyte ratio on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Background: The interaction between tumor cells and inflammatory cells has not been systematically investigated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether preoperative lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil-monocyte ratio (NMR) could predict the prognosis of ESCC patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Methods: A total of 1,883 patients with histologically diagnosed ESCC who underwent radical esophagectomy from May 2005 to May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

Expressions of Shell Matrix Protein Genes in the Pearl Sac and Its Correlation with Pearl Weight in the First 6 Months of Pearl Formation in Hyriopsis cumingii.

Matrix proteins regulate crystal nucleation, morphology, and polymorphism during pearl biomineralization and have significant correlations with pearl quality traits in nucleated pearls. However, there is little information about the connection between pearl quality traits and matrix proteins in non-nucleated pearls. In this study, we analyzed CaCO deposition during the first month of non-nucleated pearl formation and examined the expression patterns of ten shell matrix protein genes (Hcperlucin, hic31, silkmapin, hic22, hic74, hic52, HcTyr, HcCA3, hic24 and Hc-upsalin) in the pearl sac of Hyriopsis cumingii.

Screening of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and differential expression of complement-related genes induced by PAX2 in renal tubules.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to screen and verify downstream genes involved in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by paired box 2 (PAX2) in NRK-52E cells.

Methods: NRK-52E cells were transfected with lentivirus carrying PAX2 gene or no-load virus respectively. Total RNA was isolated 72 h after transfection from PAX2-overexpressing cells and control cells.

Attenuation of the progression of articular cartilage degeneration by inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling in a mouse model of osteoarthritis.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is implicated in osteoarthritis. We therefore studied the role of TGF-β1 signaling in the development of osteoarthritis in a developmental stage-dependent manner. Three different mouse models were investigated.