Chitosan Oligosaccharides Protect Sprague Dawley Rats from Cyclic Heat Stress by Attenuation of Oxidative and Inflammation Stress.

Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of COS on antioxidant system and inflammatory response in heat-stressed rats. A total of 30 male rats were randomly divided to three groups and reared at either 24 °C or 35 °C for 4 h/d for this 7-day experiment: CON, control group with basal diet; HS, heat stress group with basal diet; HSC, heat stress with 200mg/kg COS supplementation.

The effect of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 5 on triglyceride synthesis in bovine preadipocytes.

Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 5 () is a member of the acyl coenzyme A (CoA) long-chain synthase families (ACSLs), and it plays a key role in fatty acid metabolism. In this study, we proved an association between the gene and triglyceride metabolism at the cellular level in cattle. pBI-CMV3- and pGPU6/GFP/Neo- plasmids were constructed and transfected into bovine preadipocytes by electroporation.

Polymorphisms of the gene and the haplotype are associated with fat deposition traits and fatty acid composition in Chinese Simmental steers.

Unlike specific expression in the skin of wild mice, the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) is expressed widely in the tissue of cattle, including adipose and muscle tissue. Hence, it has been suggested that ASIP plays a role in bovine fat metabolism. An inserted L1-BT element was recently identified upstream of the locus which led to an ectopic expression of mRNA in cattle.

Genetic effects of polymorphisms of candidate genes associated with ovary development and egg production traits in ducks.

Duck eggs are highly nutritious, and demand for consumption has markedly increased in the growing human population, resulting in the need to increase production. Egg production is dependent on the reproductive performance of animals, a trait that is not highly heritable. Improving reproductive performance, therefore, is an essential aim of breeders performing genetic selection to increase egg production.

Dual-target electrochemical aptasensor based on co-reduced molybdenum disulfide and Au NPs (rMoS-Au) for multiplex detection of mycotoxins.

Multiple mycotoxin contamination has posed health risks in the area of food safety. In this study, co-reduced molybdenum disulfide and gold nanoparticles (rMoS-Au) were designed and used for the first time as an efficient platform endowing electrochemical electrodes with superior electron transfer rates, large surface areas and strong abilities to firmly couple with large amounts of different aptamers. After further modification with thionine (Thi) and 6-(Ferrocenyl) hexanethiol (FC6S), a platform enabling sensitive, selective and simultaneous determination of two important mycotoxins, zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisin B1 (FB1), was achieved.

Long noncoding RNAs: emerging roles in pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex and progressive disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery pressure, leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling, right heart failure, and ultimately death. Although several molecular pathways related to vascular remodeling have been reported, the mechanism behind this fatal disease with poor prognosis remains largely unclear. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to be playing crucial roles in various biological processes, and emerging studies demonstrated lncRNAs as essential epigenetic modifiers involved in the onset and development of PH.

Proteomic Analyses of Endarterectomized Tissues from Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is largely unknown. Proteomics offers an approach to overview the molecular activities and signal transduction pathways involved in specific disease processes.

Objectives: In this study, the expression of proteins in endarterectomized tissues from patients with CTEPH was investigated in a novel strategy to explore the pathophysiology of this disease.

Improved hemodynamics and cardiopulmonary function in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has been demonstrated to improve cardiac function and exercise capacity in patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), but its instant impact on cardiopulmonary function has seldom been evaluated. This study aims to determine the safety and efficacy of BPA and its immediate and lasting effects on cardiopulmonary function among CTEPH patients.

Methods: From May 2018 to January 2019, patients with inoperable CTEPH who underwent BPA sessions were consecutively enrolled.

CASQ2 variants in Chinese children with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Biallelic variants of the CASQ2 are known to cause the autosomal recessive form of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), an inherited disease that predisposes young individuals to syncope and sudden cardiac death. To date, only about 24 CASQ2 variants have been reported in association with CPVT pathogenesis; furthermore, studies in Asians, especially in the Chinese population, are relatively rare. The aim of this study was to detect CASQ2 variants in Chinese patients with CPVT.

Bta-miR-124a Affects Lipid Metabolism by Regulating Gene.

According to our previous studies, bta-miR-124a was differentially expressed in breast tissue between high-fat and low-fat dairy cows. However, the function of bta-miR-124a in lipid metabolism of dairy cows and the identification of its target genes have not been reported. Therefore, this study will identify the target gene of bta-miR-124a and explore its role in the regulation of milk lipid metabolism.

Revealing the Position Effect of an Alkylthio Side Chain in Phenyl-Substituted Benzodithiophene-Based Donor Polymers on the Photovoltaic Performance of Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells.

In this work, position effects of an alkylthio side chain were investigated by designing and synthesizing two copolymers based on a phenyl-substituted benzo[1,2-:4,5-']dithiophene (BDTP) and difluorobenzotriazole (FTAZ). The polymer based on the -position-alkylthiolated BDTP, named -PBDTPS-FTAZ, showed a relatively broader bandgap (2.00 vs 1.

Analysis of the Carry-Over of Ochratoxin A from Feed to Milk, Blood, Urine, and Different Tissues of Dairy Cows Based on the Establishment of a Reliable LC-MS/MS Method.

A rapid and reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) and its metabolite ochratoxin α (OTα), for the first time, in dairy cow plasma, milk, urine, heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. The established method was extensively validated by determining the linearity (R ≥ 0.990), sensitivity (lower limit of quantification, 0.

Effects of Dietary Betaine on Growth Performance, Digestive Function, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality in Indigenous Yellow-Feathered Broilers under Long-Term Heat Stress.

Heat stress has a profound effect on poultry health and productivity. The present study evaluated whether feeding betaine could ameliorate long-term heat stress-induced impairment of productive performance in indigenous yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 240 five-week-old male broilers were randomly allocated to five treatments with six replicates of eight broilers each.

Bta-miR-152 affects intracellular triglyceride content by targeting the UCP3 gene.

According to our previous studies, bta-miR-152, PRKAA1 and UCP3 are differentially expressed in mammary gland tissues of high milk fat and low milk fat cows, and the trend in bta-miR-152 expression is opposite from those of PRKAA1 and UCP3. To further identify the function and regulatory mechanism of bta-miR-152 in milk fat metabolism, we investigated the effect of bta-miR-152 on cellular triglyceride content in bovine mammary epithelial cells cultured in vitro, on the basis of bta-miR-152 overexpression and inhibition assays. The target genes of bta-miR-152 were identified through qPCR, Western blotting and dual luciferase reporter gene detection.

Identification and quantification of anthocyanins in purple-fleshed sweet potato leaves.

As phytochemical-enriched edible greens, sweet potato () leaves have become popular. However, the profile and content of phytochemicals in sweet potato leaves are mostly unknown. We previously bred a purple-fleshed sweet potato P40 that demonstrated cancer prevention due to high levels of anthocyanins in the tuberous roots.

EXPRESS: Left ventricular early diastolic strain rate detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and disease severity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

We investigated and compared the correlations between two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography detected left ventricular peak early diastolic strain rates (global: left ventricular global peak early diastolic strain rate; septum: left ventricular peak early diastolic strain rate of septum; free wall: left ventricular peak early diastolic strain rate of free wall) and disease severity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension. Seventy-four pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension patients (23 males and 51 females, 35 ± 13 years) and thirty healthy controls were consecutively recruited for two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography analyses in our study. Medical records of pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension patients were reviewed to capture clinical data; risk assessments were performed based on the 2015 ESC Guidelines.

Metabolomic study of the soybean pastes fermented by the single species Penicillium glabrum GQ1-3 and Aspergillus oryzae HGPA20.

Penicillium glabrum GQ1-3 and Aspergillus oryzae HGPA20 isolated from home-made soybean pastes were separately inoculated into soybean paste subjected to brine fermentation for 90 days. The amino acid nitrogen contents of the two fermentation systems were detected every 10 days, and both reached the maximum level at 40 days. The samples fermented for 40 days were analyzed via gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Retinol binding protein 4 abundance in plasma and tissues is related to body fat deposition in cattle.

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) facilitates the transport of retinol in the body but is also an adipokine and fatty acid transporter. Our study was aimed at investigating the associations between RBP4 abundance and fat deposition in cattle. Blood samples of 246 crossbred bulls were taken at 8 months of age and at slaughter at 18 months of age for the determination of RBP4, hormone levels, and fatty acid composition.

Identification and characterization of circular RNAs in chicken hepatocytes.

CircRNAs play important roles in chicken's growth. In this context, we studied the expression profiles of circRNAs between the GHR antisense transcript overexpressed and the control groups of chicken hepatocytes by using the deep RNA-sequencing technique to identify the key circRNAs involved in chicken's growth. A total of 4772 circRNAs were detected in both groups and 92 circRNAs displayed significant differential expression between two groups.

Preparation of Ion-Exchanged TEMPO-Oxidized Celluloses as Flame Retardant Products.

Cellulose, as one of the most abundant natural biopolymers, has been widely used in textile industry. However, owing to its drawbacks of flammability and ignitability, the large-scale commercial application of neat cellulose is limited. This study investigated some TEMPO-oxidized cellulose (TOC) which was prepared by selective TEMPO-mediated oxidation and ion exchange.

Research progress on the pathogenesis of CTEPH.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an established long-term complication of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). However, studies have shown that many patients with a definitive CTEPH diagnosis have no history of symptomatic PTE, suggesting that PTE is not the only cause of CTEPH. Despite extensive progress in research on pulmonary hypertension in recent years, due to a lack of relevant studies on the pathophysiology of CTEPH, implementing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in patients has many challenges, and the prognosis of patients with CTEPH is still not optimistic.

Advances in targeted therapy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized by unresolved thrombi in the pulmonary arteries and microvasculopathy in nonoccluded areas. If left untreated, progressive pulmonary hypertension will induce right heart failure and, finally, death. Currently, pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) remains the only method that has the potential to cure CTEPH.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography assessed right ventricular function and exercise capacity in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.

Resting two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) identified right ventricular (RV) systolic function were reported to predict exercise capacity in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients, but little attention had been payed to 2D-STE detected RV diastolic function. Therefore, we aim to elucidate and compare the relations between 2D-STE identified RV diastolic/systolic functions and peak oxygen consumption (PVO) determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in pre-capillary PH. 2D-STE was performed in 66 pre-capillary PH patients and 28 healthy controls.

A force-measuring and behaviour-recording system consisting of 24 individual 3D force plates for the study of single limb forces in climbing animals on a quasi-cylindrical tower.

This study describes the design of a new force measuring array with a quasi-cylindrical surface for measuring the 3D ground reaction forces of animals climbing on a surface with high curvature. This force-measuring array was assembled from 24 individual 3D force sensors, each with a resolution at the millinewton (mN) level, which were installed from top to bottom in four columns and six rows, with sensors in neighbouring columns staggered in height. Three cameras were used to simultaneously record the climbing behaviours of animals (in these experiments tree frogs) on the cylinder-like force measuring array.

The effect of exogenous melatonin on reducing scoliotic curvature and improving bone quality in melatonin-deficient C57BL/6J mice.

It is well-documented that melatonin deficiency has been linked to the etiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In this study, we intended to apply melatonin in melatonin-deficient mice to ascertain whether melatonin could reduce the incidence/severity of scoliosis, and investigate the role of melatonin on bone mineral density in scoliosis. A total of 80 mice were divided into 4 groups: 20 quadrupedal mice and 20 bipedal mice served as controls; 20 quadrupedal and 20 bipedal mice received oral melatonin (8 mg/kg BW) daily.