Detecting leptin receptor mutation in Zucker rats with tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR.

Due to the genetic mutation () in the gene encoding for leptin receptor, homozygous Zucker rats () develop excessive adiposity and become an experimental animal model in obesity and metabolic-related diseases research. Based on tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR), we developed a method to quickly genotype Zucker rats with a mutated allele from their wildtype littermates. The three genotypes are clearly discriminated on 2.

Global Landscape of Alternative Splicing in Maize Response to Low Temperature.

Maize ( L.) is an important food crop planted across the world, and low-temperature stress can affect maize germination. Alternative splicing (AS) is widely present in plants under abiotic stress; however, the response of AS to low-temperature stress in maize remains unclear.

Association of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Size With Long-term Patient Outcomes: The KP-TAA Study.

Importance: The risk of adverse events from ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm (TAA) is poorly understood but drives clinical decision-making.

Objective: To evaluate the association of TAA size with outcomes in nonsyndromic patients in a large non-referral-based health care delivery system.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Kaiser Permanente Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (KP-TAA) cohort study was a retrospective cohort study at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a fully integrated health care delivery system insuring and providing care for more than 4.

Using a high density bin map to analyze quantitative trait locis of germination ability of maize at low temperatures.

Low temperatures in the spring often lead to a decline in the emergence rate and uniformity of maize, which can affect yield in northern regions. This study used 365 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), which arose from crossing Qi319 and Ye478, to identify low-temperature resistance during the germination stage by measuring eight low-temperature-related traits. The quantitative trait locis (QTLs) were mapped using software by combining phenotypic data, and the genotyping by sequencing (GBS) method to produce a high-density genetic linkage map.

Inflammation Induced by Lipopolysaccharide and Palmitic Acid Increases Cholesterol Accumulation via Enhancing Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 Expression in HepG2 Cells.

Recently, multiple studies have shown that chronic inflammation disturbs cholesterol homeostasis and promotes its accumulation in the liver. The underlying molecular mechanism remains to be revealed. The relationship between the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inflammatory signaling pathway and cholesterol accumulation was investigated in HepG2 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or palmitic acid (PA) for different lengths of time.

Reduction in the Dietary VA Status Prevents Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats.

We hypothesized that the vitamin A (VA) status regulates type 2 diabetes (T2D) development in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Zucker Lean and ZDF rats at weaning were fed a VA deficient with basal fat (VAD-BF, no VA and 22.1% fat energy), VA marginal with BF (VAM-BF, 0.

The Extraction of β-Carotene from Microalgae for Testing Their Health Benefits.

β-carotene, a member of the carotenoid family, is a provitamin A, and can be converted into vitamin A (retinol), which plays essential roles in the regulation of physiological functions in animal bodies. Microalgae synthesize a variety of carotenoids including β-carotene and are a rich source of natural β-carotene. This has attracted the attention of researchers in academia and the biotech industry.

The Potential Use of Vitamin C to Prevent Kidney Injury in Patients with COVID-19.

The newly found SARS-CoV-2 has led to the pandemic of COVID-19, which has caused respiratory distress syndrome and even death worldwide. This has become a global public health crisis. Unfortunately, elders and subjects with comorbidities have high mortality rates.

Current understanding of glucose transporter 4 expression and functional mechanisms.

Glucose is used aerobically and anaerobically to generate energy for cells. Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are transmembrane proteins that transport glucose across the cell membrane. Insulin promotes glucose utilization in part through promoting glucose entry into the skeletal and adipose tissues.

Vitamin A and Diabetes.

Recently, research data have shown that vitamin A (VA, retinol) as a micronutrient participates in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Since diabetes is a metabolic disease, it is imperative to reveal the relationship of VA and diabetes. This review was aimed to summarize the current understanding of VA and its metabolites in diabetes.

Conductance of connexin hemichannels segregates with the first transmembrane segment.

Gap junction channels are intercellular channels that mediate the gated transfer of molecules between adjacent cells. To identify the domain determining channel conductance, the first transmembrane segment (M1) was reciprocally exchanged between Cx46 and Cx32E(1)43. The resulting chimeras exhibited conductances similar to that of the respective M1 donor.