Enhanced Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Replication in Nsp4- or Nsp2-Overexpressed Marc-145 Cell Lines.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses to the swine industry. The killed PRRSV vaccine has been reported to be safe and could elicit humoral responses. The killed PRRSV vaccine with a high viral antigen load combined with robust adjuvants could provide good protection against the infection.

Inflammation, nutrition, and biological aging: The prognostic role of Naples prognostic score in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease outcomes.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) for predicting mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and compare its performance with established non-invasive fibrosis scores, including the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS).

Methods: Data from 10,035 NAFLD patients identified within the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Cox regression models assessed the association between NPS and all-cause mortality, while time-dependent ROC analysis compared its predictive accuracy with FIB-4 and NFS.

MicroRNA-376b is involved in the pathogenesis of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy by regulating HAS2.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients and to explore the molecular mechanisms of MicroRNA-376b (miR-376b) in the pathogenesis of TAO.

Methods: PBMCs from TAO patients and healthy controls were analyzed by miRNA microarray to screen for the significantly differentially expressed miRNAs. The miR-376b expression in PBMCs were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

The serum levels of activin A and bone morphogenetic protein-4 and -6 in patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Background: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultrarare and disabling genetic disorder of connective tissue characterized by congenital malformation of the great toes, and progressive heterotopic ossification (HO) in soft connective tissues. A gain-of-function mutation of activin A receptor type I (ACVR1) enables ACVR1 to recognize activin A as an agonist with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling that leads to HO. Previous studies confirmed that activin A stimulates BMP signalling in vitro and drives HO in mouse models of FOP.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Protects Against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Modulating microRNA-29b-3p/SLMAP.

Purpose: Our aims were to investigate the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to explore the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) on DCM.

Methods: After 12 weeks of treatment with exenatide-loaded microspheres, a long-acting GLP-1RA, in DCM mice, cardiac structure and function were evaluated by plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), echocardiography, H&E, oil red and Sirius staining. The expression of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor in mouse heart tissue was determined by immunofluorescence staining.

Correlation of multiple lipid and lipoprotein ratios with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic mellitus: A retrospective study.

Background And Objective: The diagnostic value of lipid and lipoprotein ratios for NAFLD in newly diagnosed T2DM remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between lipid and lipoprotein ratios and the risk of NAFLD in subjects with newly diagnosed T2DM.

Methods: A total of 371 newly diagnosed T2DM patients with NAFLD and 360 newly diagnosed T2DM without NAFLD were enrolled in the study.

Oral Bacteriome and Mycobiome across Stages of Oral Carcinogenesis.

Oral microbial dysbiosis contributes to the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Numerous studies have focused on variations in the oral bacterial microbiota of patients with OSCC. However, similar studies on fungal microbiota, another integral component of the oral microbiota, are scarce.

Evaluation of an I177L gene-based five-gene-deleted African swine fever virus as a live attenuated vaccine in pigs.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild pigs caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). The current research on ASF vaccines focuses on the development of naturally attenuated, isolated, or genetically engineered live viruses that have been demonstrated to produce reliable immunity. As a result, a genetically engineered virus containing five genes deletion was synthesized based on ASFV Chinese strain GZ201801, named ASFV-GZΔI177LΔCD2vΔMGF.

Semaglutide May Alleviate Hepatic Steatosis in T2DM Combined with NFALD Mice via miR-5120/ABHD6.

Objective: Although the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been extensively studied, the role of its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear, and there is currently no approved therapeutic strategy for NAFLD. The purpose of this study was to observe the beneficial effects of Semaglutide on NAFLD in vivo and in vitro, as well as its potential molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Semaglutide was used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with NAFLD mice for 12 weeks.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Improves Renal Tubular Damage in Mice with Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the renal protective effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) on improving renal tubular damage in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to explore the potential mechanism of GLP-1RA on renal tubular protection.

Methods: Long-acting GLP-1RA was used to treat DKD mice for 12 weeks. The label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of renal proteins was conducted to explore the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the renal tissues of the control, DKD and GLP-1RA groups.

High L-Valine Concentrations Associate with Increased Oxidative Stress and Newly-Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are essential AAs which are widely used as antioxidants in patients with liver and kidney dysfunction. However, BCAAs are strongly correlated with insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship among BCAAs, oxidative stress, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a Chinese population.

NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor cucurbitacin B suppresses gout arthritis in mice.

Gouty arthritis is a common inflammatory disease characterized by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation with upregulated caspase 1 protease and IL-1β in macrophages. Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a tetracyclic triterpene that possesses a potential anti-inflammatory activity. However, the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of CuB on gout have not been well characterized.

SodA Contributes to the Virulence of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli O2 Strain E058 in Experimentally Infected Chickens.

Strains of avian pathogenic (APEC), the common pathogen of avian colibacillosis, encounter reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the infection process. Superoxide dismutases (SODs), acting as antioxidant factors, can protect against ROS-mediated host defenses. Our previous reports showed that the gene (encoding a Mn-cofactor-containing SOD [MnSOD]) is highly expressed during the septicemic infection process of APEC.

Preparation and application of melamine cross-linked poly ammonium as shale inhibitor.

In this paper, a series of poly ammonium shale inhibitors were prepared from diethylamine, epichlorohydrin, and melamine (DEM) and their inhibition to shale were evaluated by bentonite linear expansion test, anti-swelling experiments, and mud ball experiments. Additionally, other properties of drilling fluid treated by poly ammonium were evaluated. Anti-swelling results showed that anti-swelling rate of DEM-8 reaches up to 97.

Preparation and Application of a New Crosslinked Polyammonium as a Shale Inhibitor.

Background: Despite the fact that a number of traditional shale inhibitors have been utilized widely in drilling operations, the same additive may be unfavorable for different drilling due to environmental protection requirements which limit scales of use. Hence, a series of polyammonium compounds was prepared from dimethylamine, epichlorohydrin, and melamine (DEM).

Methods: To concentrate our efforts, we used both standard and extra methods to investigate the inhibitive properties of a melamine crosslinking agent using mud balls immersion tests, linear expansion measurements, laser particle distribution measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

Thyroid stimulating hormone exhibits the impact on LDLR/LDL-c via up-regulating hepatic PCSK9 expression.

Context: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) has received increasing attention as being closely associated with increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) level and higher atherosclerotic risks. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is known for increasing circulating LDL-c level by inducing LDL receptor degradation. However, whether TSH influences hepatic PCSK9 expression and LDL-c metabolism remains unclear.

Virulence traits and pathogenicity of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates with common and uncommon O serotypes.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common human diseases worldwide. This study aimed to collect uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates from Jiangsu Province and obtain insights into the molecular epidemiology of UPEC in this region. The O serotypes, phylogenetic groups, and virulence factors of 183 UPEC isolates were determined.

Serum Calcium and Risk of Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND Clinical cases of nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma (NMTC) in combination with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) have been reported occasionally. However, the clinical characteristics and risk factors of concomitant NMTC in PHPT patients remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between PHPT and NMTC, and evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of NMTC in Chinese patients with PHPT.

Relationship between Branched-Chain Amino Acids, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Risk Profile in a Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), metabolic syndrome (MS), and other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in middle-aged and elderly Chinese population at high risk for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods.

RstA is required for the virulence of an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O2 strain E058.

Certain strains of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) cause severe extraintestinal infections in poultry, including acute fatal septicemia, subacute pericarditis, and airsacculitis. These bacteria contain an RstA/RstB regulatory system, a two-component system that may help APEC strains adapt to the extra-intestinal environment and survive under stressful conditions. Whether RstA correlates with APEC pathogenesis or acts as an APEC virulence factor has not been established.

RfaH promotes the ability of the avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O2 strain E058 to cause avian colibacillosis.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) infection causes avian colibacillosis, which refers to any localized or systemic infection, such as acute fatal septicemia or subacute pericarditis and airsacculitis. The RfaH transcriptional regulator in E. coli is known to regulate a number of phenotypic traits.

A novel missense mutation, GGC(Arg454) --> TGC(Cys), of CYP11B1 gene identified in a Chinese family with steroid 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency.

Background: Steroid 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency (11beta-OHD), an autosomal recessive inherited disease, accounts for 5% - 8% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It was scarcely reported in China. This article reports two Chinese girls with 11beta-OHD.

Expression of Rho GDIalpha in rat osteoblasts intermittently exposed to parathyroid hormone in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To investigate the mechanism of the bone-forming effects of intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration and to search for novel molecules of bone anabolism via the PTH signaling pathway.

Methods: Primary cultures of rat osteoblasts (ROBs) were divided into an intermittent PTH-treated group (Itm) and a control group (Ctr). Imitating the pharmacokinetics of intermittent PTH administration in vivo, the ROBs in the Itm group were exposed to PTH for 6 h in a 24-h incubation cycle, and the ROBs in the Ctr group were exposed to vehicle for the entire incubation cycle.