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End-stage ankle osteoarthritis with large cysts of talar dome can be challenging to treat. Twenty patients diagnosed as end-stage ankle arthritis with large talar cysts between 04/2010 and 02/2016 were randomly divided into experimental group (10 cases) and conventional group (10 cases) by random number method. Patients in the experimental group were treated with ankle arthrodesis combined with a concomitant procedure of mosaic bone autograft transplantation, the conventional group under the ankle arthrodesis. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, the time of bone union, and postoperative height of the talus between the 2 groups were compared. The preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale score were also recorded and compared. There was no significant difference in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups. The postoperative height of the talus body and the time of bone union were better in the experimental group than that in the conventional group (p.05). The results of follow-up showed that the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores of the conventional group were lower than those in the experimental group (p.001). And the incidence of complication (10%) in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (40%). The use of tibiotalar arthrodesis combined with mosaic bone autograft transfer may be potentially an effective option for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis with large talar cysts.

Selecting desired variants from protein libraries is always a challenge for directed evolution. Engineering synthetic auxotrophs to establish a link between cell growth and protein property allows growth-coupled in vivo selection, which is high throughput and compatible with continuous evolution. In silico simulation-guided metabolic reprogramming will help in the design of customized synthetic auxotrophs.

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) provides an alternative route for producing propylene. Herein, we demonstrates that h-BN is a promising support of Pt-based catalysts for PDH. The Pt catalysts supported on h-BN were prepared by an impregnation method using Pt(NH3)4(NO3)2 as metal precursors. It has been found that the Pt/BN catalyst undergoing calcination and reduction is highly stable in both PDH reaction and coke-burning regeneration, together with low coke deposition and outstanding propylene selectivity (99%). Detailed characterizations reveal that the high coke resistance and high propylene selectivity of the Pt/BN catalyst are derived not only from the absence of acidity on BN support, but also from the calcination-induced and reduction-adjusted strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) between Pt and BN, which causes the partial encapsulation of Pt particles by BOx overlayers. The BOx overlayers can block the low-coordinated Pt sites and constrain Pt particles into smaller ensembles, suppressing side reactions such as cracking and deep dehydrogenation. Moreover, the BOx overlayers can effectively inhibit Pt sintering by the spatial isolation of Pt during periodic reaction-regeneration cycles. In this work, the catalyst support for PDH is expanded to nonoxide BN, and the understanding of SMSI between Pt and BN will provide rational design strategy for BN-based catalysts.

This study aimed to investigate effects of dietary lycopene supplementation on meat quality, antioxidant ability and muscle fiber type transformation in finishing pigs. In a 70-day experiment, eighteen Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire barrows were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments including a basal diet supplemented with 0, 100 and 200 mg/kg lycopene, respectively. Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates with one pig each. Results showed that dietary 200 mg/kg lycopene supplementation increased muscle redness a* value, intramuscular fat and crude protein contents, and decreased muscle lightness L* and yellowness b* values (P ˂ 0.05), suggesting that addition of 200 mg/kg lycopene to the diet of finishing pigs improved color, nutritional value and juiciness of pork after slaughter. Results also showed that dietary lycopene supplementation enhanced antioxidant capacity of finishing pigs (P ˂ 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg lycopene significantly increased slow myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein level and slow-twitch fiber percentage, and decreased fast MyHC protein level and fast-twitch fiber percentage (P ˂ 0.05), suggesting that the addition of 200 mg/kg lycopene to the diet of finishing pigs promoted muscle fiber type conversion from fast-twitch to slow-twitch. Together, we provide the first evidence that dietary 200 mg/kg lycopene supplementation improves meat quality, enhances antioxidant capacity and promotes muscle fiber type transformation from fast-twitch to slow-twitch in finishing pigs.

Background Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects women in reproductive age, and adenomyosis was known as “endometriosis in the uterus”. Endometriosis is an immune-dysfunction-related disease, contributing to the diversity of microbiota in the lower genital tract. Endometriosis is also an infection-related disease, the number of bacteria may contribute to some unknown mechanisms. Presently, the feature of microbiota between endometriosis patients and normal people is not fully understood. Methods To identify the microbiota differences and features of endometriosis patients, 298 samples from the cervical canal, posterior fornix of the vagina and uterine cavity were analyzed by 16s-rRNA sequencing. Raw data were filtered, analyzed, and visualized. We conducted diversity analysis, statistical data of microbiota abundance, biomarker identification, random forest, and environmental factors analysis. Results Alpha diversity was not distinctive in endometriosis and adenomyosis patients. Posterior fornix near cervix was a better sampling location to analyze the dysmenorrhea-related microbiota feature; few dysmenorrhea-related bacteria were identified. Endometrial bacteria is controversial, and the result of 16s-rRNA sequencing was not good enough to conduct further analysis. Anaerococcus was a possible biomarker of adenomyosis-endometriosis patients. The identified bacteria were representative only in specific periods during the menstrual cycle. GnRH-a treatment impacted microbiota feature the most compared with other environmental factors. Conclusion This study provided us with a new concept of endometriosis and bacteria; different microbiota features may relate to endometriosis. The bacterial involvement should be considered in the future study of endometriosis. New non-invasive diagnosis and therapeutic methods through bacterial medication are prospective.

The toxic C1 compounds methanol and formaldehyde are generated during bioconversion of lignin into value-added chemicals. These toxins can be detoxified and assimilated by methylotrophs to synthesize useful metabolites and cell biomass. We discuss the promising future of constructing integrated biosystems to use toxic C1 byproducts and promote lignin valorization.

Obesity is a metabolic disease and its relation with male subfertility has aroused a growing concern. However, it is unclear whether gene expression and post-translational modifications (PTMs), two vital molecular mechanisms regulating cellular functions, are associated with obesity-induced male reproductive dysfunction. In this study, male obesity with compromised sperm motility was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) using a mouse model. The expression of motility related-genes, the level of histone modifications, and the global profiles of post-translational modifications (PTMs), were examined in testes of HFD and control mice by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Outer dense fiber protein 2, a major component of outer dense fibers in the sperm tail, is the most obviously down-regulated gene out of 11 evaluated genes, showing a reduction of about 50% RNA level in testes of obese male mice compared with that in control mice. Semi-quantitative analysis of the western blot demonstrated that ∼56% enrichment of di-methylated histone (H)3 lysine (K)36, ∼59% enrichment of 2-hydroxyisobutyrylated H4K8, ∼32% decrease of propionylated H3K23, ∼33% decrease of crotonylated H4K8, and ∼45% decrease of acetylated H3K122 and H4K8 were detected in testes of male HFD mice compared with that in control mice. In addition, male obesity up-regulated the testicular levels of ubiquitination by ∼18%, tyrosine nitration by ∼20%, lysine succinylation by ∼25%, lysine benzoylation by ∼28%, lysine malonylation by ∼32%, lysine glutarylation by ∼36%, lysine propionylation by ∼42%, lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation by ∼45%, and SUMO1 modification by ∼59%, and down-regulated the testicular levels of O-GlcNAcylation by ∼12%, lysine crotonylation by ∼22%, and lysine acetylation by 35%. These findings indicate that altered gene expression and PTMs are associated with the obesity-induced male reproductive dysfunction.

Advanced oxidative protein products (AOPPs) are novel uremic toxins whose concentrations continuously increases in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular cells is the main mechanism underlying CKD pathogenesis. Studies have shown that AOPPs can induce EMT and promote renal fibrosis. However, the mechanism through which AOPPs induce tubular cell-EMT is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to clarify the mechanisms underlying AOPP-induced EMT in human kidney proximal tubular (HKC-8) epithelial cells. Small molecule inhibitor, CRISPR-Cas9 knockout technology, siRNA knockdown technology, western blot, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were applied to investigate the mechanisms underlying AOPP-induced EMT in HKC-8 cells. AOPP treatment was found to significantly induce EMT, as evidenced by increased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and decreased E-cadherin levels, and upregulated Wnt1, β-catenin, Tcf4, and Gsk-3β expression. Conversely, blockade of Wnt/β-catenin signaling using small molecule inhibitor ICG-001 hindered AOPP-induced EMT. Moreover, knockout of receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) reversed these aforementioned effects, whereas AGE receptor 1 (AGER1)-specific siRNA transfection enhanced them. Taken together, these data suggested that AOPPs could induce HKC-8 cell EMT by activating the RAGE/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and AGER1 could restore EMT by antagonizing the role of RAGE. These results may provide a new theoretical basis for EMT and help identify new therapeutic targets for suppressing CKD progression.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of benzoic acid, Bacillus coagulans and oregano oil combined supplementation on growth performance, immune status and intestinal barrier integrity of piglets. In a 26-d experiment, 25 piglets were randomly assigned to 5 treatments: 1) a basal diet, negative control (NC), 2) NC added with antibiotics, positive control (PC); 3) NC added with benzoic acid at 3,000 g/t and Bacillus coagulans at 400 g/t (AB); 4) NC added with benzoic acid at 3,000 g/t and oregano oil at 400 g/t (AO); 5) NC added with 3,000 g/t benzoic acid and Bacillus coagulans at 400 g/t and oregano oil at 400 g/t (ABO). On d 27, all piglets were euthanized to obtain jejunal mucosa to measure immune status and intestinal barrier integrity. Results showed that pigs fed AB diet increased the final body weight and average daily body weight gain and decreased the ratio of feed to gain compared with NC group (P < 0.05). Compared with NC group, AB, AO and ABO decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-α concentration and ABO decreased interleukin-1β concentration in serum and jejunal mucosa (P < 0.05). Compared with NC group, AB up-regulated mRNA expressions of sodium-glucose cotransporte1, claudin-1, occludin and mucin2 in jejunal mucosa and the populations of Bifidobacterium and Bacillus in cecal digesta (P < 0.05). Compared with NC group, ABO increased jejunal mucosal occludin mRNA abundance and Bifidobacterium population in cecal digesta, and decreased Escherichia coli population in cecal digesta (P < 0.05). Furthermore, AB and ABO increased Bacillus population in cecal digesta compared with PC group (P < 0.05). These results indicated that dietary AB supplementation could improve growth performance and intestinal barrier integrity of piglets when fed antibiotic-free diets, which was possibly associated with the improvement of immune status and intestinal microflora. Dietary ABO supplementation is also beneficial to improve immune status and intestinal barrier integrity and microflora of piglets.

As a kind of green additive, pectic oligosaccharide (POS) may regulate some physiological functions of animals, such as gut health, antioxidant capacity, immunity and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to identify whether POS administration can improve maternal reproduction, and to determine the possible metabolism. A total of 48 pregnant Wistar rats randomly allotted into 2 groups, and each group was fed a diet supplemented with 0 or 800 mg/kg of POS. Pectic oligosaccharide administration increased rat born number (P

The prediction of different shear stresses is one of the great challenges of turbulent–turbulentstratified two-phase flow in horizontal pipes. In this work, VOF method, near-wall differential viscosity and local turbulence viscosity distribution coefficient function are introduced and offer an efficient tool to correct the interface turbulence viscosity. The results show that the new method can better predict the shear stresses, liquid holdup and pressure drop of stratified two-phase flow. The fitting relationship between interfacial and wall friction factor ( f i ∕ f W ) is in good agreement with the experimental data. It is found that f i ∕ f W is predicted with a relative error of 12.62% by the new method, which is much less than that by any other method when the gas and liquid superficial Reynolds numbers are 8000 ≤ Re S G ≤ 90000 and 5000 ≤ Re S L ≤ 170000. It provides a reliable method for achieving the closure of stratified flow to predict the shear stresses.

Objectives Epidemiology studies indicated that coke-oven workers with long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) often have some neurobehavioral abnormalities especially impairment for cognitive function, while the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Numerous studies have indicated the antioxidant and anti-apoptosis roles of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). The genetic polymorphisms in HSP70 genes are associated with multiple diseases including neurotoxicity. However, it is unclear whether HSP70 polymorphisms are related to the neurotoxicity of PAH. We, therefore, investigate the possible association between HSP70 polymorphisms and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Methods 188 coke-oven workers and 137 control workers were recruited in this study. Emotional and cognitive function was assessed using the WHO/NCTB. HSP70 polymorphisms (HSP70-1 G190C, HSP70-2 G1267 A and HSP70-hom T2437C) were checked by PCR-RFLP. Results The results indicated that HSP70-1 CC genotypes in coke-oven workers were associated with poor neurobehavioral performance such as the attention /response speed and visual perception/memory, while the HSP70-2 AA genotypes were associated with lower short-term auditory memory. Conclusions HSP70-1 CC and HSP70-2 AA genotypes in coke-oven workers may increase the risk for neurobehavioral damage, especially attention, learning and memory.

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of betaine (BET) supplementation in diets with reduced net energy (NE) levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum metabolomic profiles in growing pigs. In experiment 1, 24 growing pigs (initial body weight, BW, 30.83 ± 2.50 kg) were allotted to one of the four treatments (six replications with 1 pig per pen) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, including two dietary NE levels (2475 [N-NE] or 2395 [R80-NE] kcal/kg) and two BET doses (0 or 1500 mg/kg). In experiment 2, 72 growing pigs were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, including three dietary NE levels (2475 [N-NE], 2415 [R60-NE], or 2355 [R120-NE] kcal/kg) and two BET doses (0 or 1500 mg/kg). Pigs with initial BW of 31.44 ± 1.65 kg were divided to one of the six treatments (six replications with 2 pigs per pen). In experiment 1, lowing NE concentrations increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) by 10.69% in pigs fed the diet without BET (P > 0.05). BET significantly increased ADFI in N-NE diet (P 0.05). BET enhanced the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), gross energy (GE), and ether extract (EE) in R80-NE diet (P 0.05) and decreased average daily gain (ADG; P

Whole-cell biosensors based on transcriptional regulators are powerful tools for rapid measurement, high-throughput screening, dynamic metabolic regulation, etc. To optimize the biosensing performance of transcriptional regulator, its effector-binding domain is commonly engineered. However, this strategy is encumbered by the limitation of diversifying such a large domain and the risk of affecting effector specificity. Molecular dynamics simulation of effector binding of LysG (an LysR-type transcriptional regulator, LTTR) suggests the crucial role of the short linker helix (LH) connecting effector- and DNA-binding domains in protein conformational change. Directed evolution of LH efficiently produced LysG variants with extended operational range and unaltered effector specificity. The whole-cell biosensor based on the best LysG

Oceanic subduction is an important trigger for mantle heterogeneity, which further increases melt production and controls the compositions of intraplate basalts. Such a role played by the (Paleo-) Pacific subduction have been extensively studied and well constrained based on the widespread mantle xenoliths and intraplate magmatism in the eastern North China Craton. By contrast, the recycled materials from other Phanerozoic subducted slabs beneath the craton are relatively poorly recognized. Here, a reappraisal is made to the recently reported peridotite xenoliths and ~89 Ma host basalts from the Langshan area in the northwest North China Craton and regional data on xenoliths and basalts, with the emphasis on the mass transfer in the mantle wedge from the subducted Paleo-Asian oceanic slab. The Langshan peridotites are fertile in composition and record complex melt extraction and metasomatism. One episode of metasomatism is likely induced by silicate melts with concomitant enrichments in large ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements and positive Eu anomaly, suggestive of the contribution from recycled materials. This metasomatism should take place in Paleozoic according to the diffusion modelling. The host basalts are comparable with partial melts of pyroxenite under 2–3 GPa and have oceanic island basalts-like trace-element compositions. Positive Sr and Eu anomalies, low Rb/Sr and high Ba/Rb ratios, and the moderated depleted but slightly decoupled Sr–Nd isotopes suggest the involvement of subducted oceanic crustal materials in the mantle source. The Pb isotopic compositions are best modeled by the mixing between depleted mantle, altered oceanic crust with minor young (

Adequate ovarian hormones secretion is essential for pregnancy success. Oxidative damage and following inflammation can destroy the ovarian normal function in mammals. Daidzein (DAI) is a classical isoflavonic phytoestrogen with specific oestrogenic activity. This study aimed to explore the effects of daidzein supplementation on fertility and ovarian characteristics of sows through biochemical analysis and RNA-seq technology. Twelve multiparous Yorkshire × Landrace sows were randomly divided into CON and DAI groups. We found that DAI increased total number of embryos as well as P4 and E2 levels of serum. DAI not only elevated the activities of T-AOC and GSH-Px, but also tended to decrease the content of MDA and IL-6 in the serum. In ovary, RNA-Seq identified 237 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and GO analysis showed that these DEGs were linked to functions associated with immune dysfunction. Moreover, STRING analysis demonstrated that most interacting nodes were TLR-4, LCP2, and CD86. Furthermore, DAI decreased the content of MDA, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and increased the activities of T-AOC and CAT in ovarian tissue. Interestingly, a partial mantel correlation showed that T-AOC was the strongest correlation between the ovarian dataset and selected DEGs. Additionally, DAI supplementation not only increased the protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, but also decreased the protein expressions of TLR-4, p-NFκB, p-AKT, and p-IκBα. Altogether, our results indicated that DAI could ameliorate ovarian oxidative stress and inflammation in sows, which might be mediated by suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.