Effects of acute and chronic heat stress on the rumen microbiome in dairy goats.

Objective: The objective of this study was to reveal the influence of acute and chronic heat stress (HS) on the abundance and function of rumen microbiome and host metabolism.

Methods: Forty mid-lactation goats were randomly divided into two artificial environments: control group and heat-stressed group. This study was recorded from two periods, 1 day and 28 days.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of (Moraceae) from Sichuan province.

is an important contributor to tropical forest biodiversity. Here, we provide the first report of the complete chloroplast genome, thereby providing a basis for subsequent phylogenetic analyses of the family. The final assembled chloroplast genome was 160,331 bp in size and included a 20,018 bp long small single-copy (SSC) region, an 88,541 bp long large single-copy (LSC) region, and two 25,886 bp inverted repeats (IRs).

Inhibition of Ca-dependent protein kinase C rescues high calcium-induced pro-arrhythmogenic cardiac alternans in rabbit hearts.

Cardiac alternans closely linked to calcium dysregulation is a crucial risk factor for fatal arrhythmia causing especially sudden death. Calcium overload is well-known to activate Ca-dependent protein kinase C (PKC); however, the effects of PKC on arrhythmogenic cardiac alternans have not yet been investigated. This study aimed to determine the contributions of PKC activities in cardiac alternans associated with calcium cycling disturbances.

Curcumin, a Multi-Ion Channel Blocker That Preferentially Blocks Late Na Current and Prevents I/R-Induced Arrhythmias.

Increasing evidence shows that Curcumin (Cur) has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of Cur in the electrophysiology of cardiomyocytes is currently not entirely understood. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Cur on the action potential and transmembrane ion currents in rabbit ventricular myocytes to explore its antiarrhythmic property.

Eleutheroside B, a selective late sodium current inhibitor, suppresses atrial fibrillation induced by sea anemone toxin II in rabbit hearts.

Eleutheroside B (EB) is the main active constituent derived from the Chinese herb Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) that has been reported to possess cardioprotective effects. In this study we investigated the effects of EB on cardiac electrophysiology and its suppression on atrial fibrillation (AF). Whole-cell recording was conducted in isolated rabbit atrial myocytes.

A Predictive Scoring System Based on Inflammatory and Tumor Markers for Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Resection.

Purpose: Inflammation is closely associated with prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). We aimed to assess the predictive value of existing inflammatory and tumor markers in GC, to establish a systemic score based on valuable predictors for early risk stratification of patients, and to create a nomogram for individual risk prediction.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 401 GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy from 2007 to 2016.

High Expression Levels of Long Noncoding RNA Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 18 and Semaphorin 5A Indicate Poor Prognosis in Multiple Myeloma.

Background: The aim of this study was to detect the expression of long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 18 (SNHG18) andsemaphorin 5A (SEMA5A) genes in multiple myeloma (MM) patients and to explore the correlation of the expression of these genes with the clinical characteristics and prognosis of MM patients.

Methods: Forty-seven newly diagnosed MM, 18 complete remission MM, 13 refractory/relapse MM, and 22 iron deficiency anemia (serving as control) samples were extracted at the Department of Hematology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University between January 2015 and December 2016. The clinical features of the MM patients are summarized.

Emerging Role for Exosomes in the Progress of Stem Cell Research.

Exosomes are small secretory vesicles that are involved in intercellular communication. Exosomes are secreted by many types of cells and exert important functions in plasma-membrane exchange as well as the transport of bioactive substances, such as proteins, messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs), micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) and organelles. Exosomes may regulate physiological processes by altering gene regulatory networks or epigenetic recombination.

Barbaloin inhibits ventricular arrhythmias in rabbits by modulating voltage-gated ion channels.

Barbaloin (10-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone) is extracted from the aloe plant and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and other biological activities. Here, we investigated the effects of barbaloin on cardiac electrophysiology, which has not been reported thus far. Cardiac action potentials (APs) and ionic currents were recorded in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes using whole-cell patch-clamp technique.

Tolterodine reduces veratridine-augmented late I, reverse-I and early afterdepolarizations in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes.

Aim: The augmentation of late sodium current (I) not only causes intracellular Na accumulation, which results in intracellular Ca overload via the reverse mode of the Na/Ca exchange current (reverse-I), but also prolongs APD and induces early afterdepolarizations (EAD), which can lead to arrhythmia and cardiac dysfunction. Thus, the inhibition of I is considered to be a potential way for therapeutic intervention in ischemia and heart failure. In this study we investigated the effects of tolterodine (Tol), a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist, on normal and veratridine (Ver)-augmented I, reverse-I and APD in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes, which might contribute to its cardioprotective activity.

Association of Mixed Lineage Kinase Domain-Like Protein Expression With Prognosis in Patients With Colon Cancer.

Background: The mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein has recently been identified as a key downstream component of tumor necrosis factor-induced necroptosis, which is an important pathway of cancer cell death. The goal of the current study is to explore the expression of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein in colon cancer tissues and evaluate the prognostic value in patients with colon cancer.

Methods: We collected normal and cancer colon tissues from 135 patients diagnosed with colon cancer after radical operation during July 2007 to April 2009 at The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University.

Ketamine attenuates the Na+-dependent Ca2+ overload in rabbit ventricular myocytes in vitro by inhibiting late Na+ and L-type Ca2+ currents.

Aim: Intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) overload occurs in myocardial ischemia. An increase in the late sodium current (INaL) causes intracellular Na(+) overload and subsequently [Ca(2+)]i overload via the reverse-mode sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX). Thus, inhibition of INaL is a potential therapeutic target for cardiac diseases associated with [Ca(2+)]i overload.

Ranolazine attenuates the enhanced reverse Na⁺-Ca²⁺ exchange current via inhibiting hypoxia-increased late sodium current in ventricular myocytes.

Ranolazine (RAN), a novel antianginal agent, inhibits the increased late sodium current (INa.L) under many pathological conditions. In this study, the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to explore the effects of RAN on INa.

[Identification of differently expressed microRNAs in keloid and pilot study on biological function of miR-199a-5p].

Objective: To screen out related microRNAs in keloid tissue, and identify their effect on the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts.

Methods: 8 cases of keloid tissue and 8 cases of normal skin tissue were collected as specimens. The differently expressed miRNA in keloid tissue from normal skin tissue were screened out with gene chip( Exiqon company), which was validated with quantitative real-time PCR.

Procaine, a state-dependent blocker, inhibits HERG channels by helix residue Y652 and F656 in the S6 transmembrane domain.

The article evaluated the inhibitory action of procaine on wild-type and mutated HERG potassium channel current (I(HERG)) to determine whether mutations in the S6 region are important for the inhibition of I(HERG) by procaine. HERG channels (WT, Y652A, and F656A) were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and studied using the standard two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. The results revealed that WT HERG is blocked in a concentration-, voltage-, and state-dependent manner by procaine ([IC₅₀] = 34.

Hepatoprotective activity of puerarin against carbon tetrachloride-induced injuries in rats: a randomized controlled trial.

The protective effects of puerarin on liver damage were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male rats were orally treated with puerarin daily, and received CCl₄ intraperitoneally twice a week for 4 weeks. Our results showed that puerarin at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.

Sophocarpine attenuates the Na(+)-dependent Ca2(+) overload induced by Anemonia sulcata toxin-increased late sodium current in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

Many studies indicate that an increase in late sodium current (I(Na.L)) of cardiomyocytes causes intracellular Na overload and subsequently raises the reverse Na/Ca exchanger current (INCX), ultimately resulting in intracellular Ca overload. Therefore, using drugs to inhibit the increased INa.

[Involvement of veratridine-induced increase of reverse Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current in intracellular Ca(2+) overload and extension of action potential duration in rabbit ventricular myocytes].

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of veratridine (VER) on persistent sodium current (I(Na.P)), Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current (I(NCX)), calcium transients and the action potential (AP) in rabbit ventricular myocytes, and to explore the mechanism in intracellular calcium overload and myocardial contraction enhancement by using whole-cell patch clamp recording technique, visual motion edge detection system, intracellular calcium measurement system and multi-channel physiological signal acquisition and processing system. The results showed that I(Na.

Adenovirus-mediated human interleukin 24 (MDA-7/IL-24) selectively suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts.

Keloids are fibroproliferative dermal lesions characterized by the proliferation of fibroblasts and the formation of excess scar tissue, for which no effective treatment exists. We transfected a replication-incompetent adenovirus vector expressing green fluorescent protein and interleukin-24 gene (Ad-GFP/IL-24) into keloid fibroblasts (KF) and normal dermal fibroblasts (NDF) in vitro to investigate the suppression effects by observation on cell lines growth, apoptosis, mitosis cycle, etc. The expression of GFP and IL-24 mRNA confirmed that Ad-GFP/IL-24 was transfected into KF and NDF successfully.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor-coated polylactic-polyglycolic acid chitosan nerve conduit promotes peripheral nerve regeneration in canine tibial nerve defect repair.

A variety of nerve conduits incorporated with chemical and biological factors have been developed to further stimulate nerve regeneration. Although most of the nerve guides in studies are basically limited to bridge a short gap of nerve defect in rat models, it is vital to evaluate effects of conduits on nerve regeneration over distance greater than 20 mm, or more clinically relevant nerve gap lengths in higher mammals. In this study, a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nerve conduit, treated with pulsed plasma and coated with ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) as well as chitosan, was used to repair 25-mm-long canine tibial nerve defects in eighteen cross-bred dogs.

Blocking effect of methylflavonolamine on human Na(V)1.5 channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and on sodium currents in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

Aim: To investigate the blocking effects of methylflavonolamine (MFA) on human Na(V)1.5 channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and on sodium currents (I(Na)) in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

Methods: Human Na(V)1.

Modulation of K(ATP) currents in rat ventricular myocytes by hypoxia and a redox reaction.

Aim: The present study investigated the possible regulatory mechanisms of redox agents and hypoxia on the K(ATP) current (I(KATP)) in acutely isolated rat ventricular myocytes.

Methods: Single-channel and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were used to record the K(ATP) current (I(KATP)) in acutely isolated rat ventricular myocytes.

Results: Oxidized glutathione (GSSG, 1 mmol/L) increased the I(KATP), while reduced glutathione (GSH, 1 mmol/L) could reverse the increased I(KATP) during normoxia.

Quercetin activates human Kv1.5 channels by a residue I502 in the S6 segment.

1. The aims of the present study were to investigate the pharmacological effects of quercetin on wild-type (WT) and mutant (I502A) human (h) Kv1.5 channel currents (I(kur)) and to identify whether mutation in the S6 segment is critical to activation of I(kur) by quercetin.

Verapamil blocks HERG channel by the helix residue Y652 and F656 in the S6 transmembrane domain.

Aim: The objectives of this study were to investigate the inhibitory action of verapamil on wild-type(WT) and mutation HERG K+ channel current (I(HERG)), and to determine whether mutations in the S6 region are important for the inhibition of I(HERG) by verapamil.

Methods: HERG channels (WT, Y652A, and F656A) were expressed in oocytes of Xenopus laevis and studied using the 2-electrode voltage- clamp technique.

Results: WT HERG is blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by verapamil (half-maximal inhibition concentration [IC(50)]=5.

[Low extracellular pH increases the persistent sodium current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes].

Whole-cell and cell-attached patch-clamp techniques were used to record the changes of persistent sodium current (I(Na.P)) in ventricular myocytes of guinea pig to investigate the effect of low extracellular pH on I(Na.P) and its mechanism.