Transcriptome-based analyses reveal venom diversity in two araneomorph spiders, Psechrus triangulus and Hippasa lycosina.

The spiders Psechrus triangulus and Hippasa lycosina are widely distributed in Yunnan Province, China, and are important natural enemies of agricultural pests, yet studies regarding the composition of their venom are lacking. In this study, cDNA libraries were constructed from venom gland tissue of P. triangulus and H.

Toxin diversity revealed by de novo transcriptome assembly for venom gland in two species of spiders (Trichonephila clavata and Sinopoda pengi).

During long-term predator-prey coevolution, spiders have generated a vast diversity of toxins. Trichonephila clavata is a web-spinning spider whose large, well-constructed webs and venomous arsenal facilitate prey capture. In contrast, Sinopoda pengi is an ambush predator with agile locomotion and strong chelicerae for hunting.

Magnetic-activated cell sorting of nonapoptotic spermatozoa with a high DNA fragmentation index improves the live birth rate and decreases transfer cycles of IVF/ICSI.

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) in sperm preparation for male subjects with a sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) ≥30%. A total of 86 patients who had undergone their first long-term long protocol were selected. The protocol involved in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, and the patients were divided into the MACS or control groups.

[Advances in the study of ovarian dysfunction with aging].

Societal changes regarding the role of women have significant impacts on women's willingness and the timing of childbearing. Ovarian reserve in woman typically begins to decline at the age of 35, and it is primarily characterized by a reduction in the number of ovarian follicles and a decline in oocyte quality. The clinical diagnosis of ovarian insufficiency relies on multiple variables including changes of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, antral follicle count, menstruation and age.

Scaffold Hopping and Optimization of Maleimide Based Porcupine Inhibitors.

Porcupine is an O-acyltransferase that regulates Wnt secretion. Inhibiting porcupine may block the Wnt pathway which is often dysregulated in various cancers. Consequently porcupine inhibitors are thought to be promising oncology therapeutics.

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Interacting Kinase (MNK) 1 and 2 and BCR-ABL1 Inhibitors Targeting Chronic Myeloid Leukemic Cells.

Clinically used BCR-ABL1 inhibitors for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia do not eliminate leukemic stem cells (LSC). It has been shown that MNK1 and 2 inhibitors prevent phosphorylation of eIF4E and eliminate the self-renewal capacity of LSCs. Herein, we describe the identification of novel dual MNK1 and 2 and BCR-ABL1 inhibitors, starting from the known kinase inhibitor 2.

Discovery and Optimization of a Porcupine Inhibitor.

Wnt proteins regulate various cellular functions and serve distinct roles in normal development throughout life. Wnt signaling is dysregulated in various diseases including cancers. Porcupine (PORCN) is a membrane-bound O-acyltransferase that palmitoleates the Wnts and hence is essential for their secretion and function.

Tripterygium glycosides impairs the proliferation of granulosa cells and decreases the reproductive outcomes in female rats.

This study was carried out to investigate the impact of tripterygium glycosides (TGs) on ovarian function of female rats in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies showed that TG induced cells decrease at G1 phase and inhibited cell proliferation in rat granulosa cells. In vivo, female rats were intragastrically administered with TG at the dose of 60 mg/kg/day for consecutive 50 days.

MicroRNA miR-302 inhibits the tumorigenicity of endometrial cancer cells by suppression of Cyclin D1 and CDK1.

MicroRNA miR-302 has been found to induce some tumor cell lines to "transdifferentiate" into miRNA-induced pluripotent stem cells (mirPS), thereby inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and reducing tumorigenicity. This study firstly found that miR-302 inhibited the proliferation and migration of endometrial cell line, Ishikawa and HEC-1-B, and arrested cell cycle at the G2/M phase. In addition, miR-302 inhibited tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice transplanted with Ishikawa cells.

FSH modulates the expression of inhibin-alpha and the secretion of inhibins via orphan nuclear receptor NUR77 in ovarian granulosa cells.

It has been previously reported that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) regulates the expression of inhibin-alpha in human granulosa cells, but the precise molecular pathway remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of the orphan nuclear receptor, NUR77, in both the transcriptional regulation of the inhibin α-subunit gene and the secretion of inhibins. Our results showed that in a human granulosa cell tumor-derived cell line (KGN) and in human granulosa-lutein cells (hGL), FSH induced the expression of NUR77 and inhibin-alpha, although inhibin-alpha expression did not increased following FSH treatment if NUR77 was knocked down.

Withdrawal of GnRH agonist decreases oestradiol and VEGF concentrations in high responders.

This study evaluated whether the withdrawal of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist before triggering ovulation reduces the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk infertility patients who were treated with gonadotrophins. GnRH agonist was withdrawn for 2 or 3 days when dominant follicles were ≥14 mm in diameter, according to the GnRH agonist long protocol. Non-withdrawal of GnRH agonist was used as control.

[Controlling effect of coagulation and sedimentation on naidid in water treatment process].

To control naidid pollution in water treatment conducted by O3-BAC, the removal effects of coagulation and sedimentation to naidid were estimated by field sampling of water plant, jar test and simulation study. The results showed that both coagulation and sedimentation of water plant and jar test had obvious removal efficiency on naidids. In the former the mean population density of naidid was decreased from 0.

FSH acts on the proliferation of type A spermatogonia via Nur77 that increases GDNF expression in the Sertoli cells.

The molecular mechanism responsible for the regulation of GDNF in Sertoli cells remains largely unknown. In the present study, FSH induced the expression of Nur77 and GDNF in mouse testis tissue and human fetal Sertoli cells. Moreover, FSH increased the number of A spermatogonia co-cultured with Sertoli cells.

[Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

Methods: A sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. Normal gastric wall was examined by CEUS in 8 healthy volunteers and the results were compared with the findings on multislice computed tomography.

Transgenic sperm produced by electrotransfection and allogeneic transplantation of chicken fetal spermatogonial stem cells.

To study self-renewal, genetic modification, and differentiation of avian spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), we isolated chicken SSCs from fetal testes on the 16th hatching day via enzyme digestion, and then cultured the SSCs over 2 months after purification in vitro. SSCs were identified by alkaline phosphatase staining and SSEA-1 fluorescence. The EGFP gene was transfected into SSCs by three different methods: electroporation, liposome transfer and calcium acid phosphate precipitation.

[The effect of controlled mechanical ventilation on the diaphragm of rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) on the diaphragm of rats, and therefore to understand the theoretic basis of difficulty weaning due to dysfunction and morphology in diaphragm induced by inappropriate mechanical ventilation.

Methods: Twenty-four adult male SD rats were randomly assigned into 3 experimental groups: a control group, a 18 h CMV group, and a 24 h CMV group. Trans-diaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), maximal trans-diaphragmatic pressure (Pdimax), diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi), and diaphragm muscle force were measured during CMV at various stimulation frequencies.

Different intervals of ovum pick-up affect the competence of oocytes to support the preimplantation development of cloned bovine embryos.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different frequencies of transvaginal ovum pick-up (OPU) on the quantity of recovered cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) and subsequently the competence of matured oocytes to support the preimplantation development of cloned bovine embryos. The COCs were aspirated from the ovaries of 6 Chinese Holstein cows by transvaginal follicle aspiration twice a week (every 3 or 4 days) (Group I), every 5 days (Group II), once a week (every 7 days) (Group III), every 10 days (Group IV), and once every 2 weeks (every 14 days) (Group V). The developmental stages of the follicles were confirmed by the diameter of the dominant follicle (DF) and harvested COCs, and the dynamics of the follicular wave were clarified.