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The article focuses on the mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes occur in multiple cancer types, lead to global changes in the epigenome, and drive tumorigenesis. It mentions that IDH-mutant gliomas and cholangiocarcinomas display elevated DNA damage; and also mentions the therapeutic effects are markedly enhanced by cotreatment with concurrent, localized radiation therapy.

Ornamental grasses are commonly used in urban landscapes in Utah and the Intermountain West of the United States. The relative salt tolerance of Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud. (purple love grass), Miscanthus sinensis Andersson 'Gracillimus' (maiden grass), Panicum virgatum L. 'Northwind' (switchgrass), and Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem) were evaluated in a greenhouse. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m-1 (control), or saline solution at an EC of 5.0 or 10.0 dS·m-1. At harvest (65 days after the initiation of treatment), P. virgatum and S. scoparium exhibited no foliar salt damage, and E. spectabilis and M. sinensis had minimal foliar salt damage when irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 5.0 dS·m-1. At an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1, P. virgatum and S. scoparium still had no foliar salt damage, but E. spectabilis and M. sinensis displayed slight foliar salt damage, with visual scores greater than 3 (0 = dead; 5 = excellent). Compared with the control, saline solution at an EC of 5.0 and 10.0 dS·m-1 reduced the shoot dry weight of all ornamental grasses by 25% and 46%, respectively. The leaf sodium (Na+) concentration of E. spectabilis, M. sinensis, P. virgatum, and S. scoparium irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1 increased 14.3, 52.6, 5.3, and 1.7 times, respectively, and the chloride (Cl-) concentration increased by 9.4, 11.1, 2.8, and 2.7 times, respectively. As a result of the salt-induced water deficit, plant height, leaf area, number of inflorescences and tillers, net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gS), and transpiration rate of four tested ornamental grasses decreased to some extent. Although high Na+ and Cl- accumulated in the leaf tissue, all ornamental grass species still had a good visual quality, with average visual scores greater than 3. In conclusion, all ornamental grasses showed a very strong tolerance to the salinity levels used in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Activating KRAS mutations are the most common drivers in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, unsuccess of treatment by direct inhibition of KRAS has been proven. Deregulation of PI3K signaling plays an important role in tumorigenesis and drug resistance in NSCLC. The activity of PI3Ka-selective inhibition against KRAS-mutated NSCLC remains largely unknown. Methods: Cell proliferation was detected by sulforhodamine B assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Cell signaling was assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RNA interference was used to down-regulate the expression of cyclin D1. Human NSCLC xenografts were employed to detect therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Results: CYH33 possessed variable activity against a panel of KRAS-mutated NSCLC cell lines. Although CYH33 blocked AKT phosphorylation in all tested cells, Rb phosphorylation decreased in CYH33-sensitive, but not in CYH33-resistant cells, which was consistent with G1 phase arrest in sensitive cells. Combined treatment with the CDK4/6 inhibitor, PD0332991, and CYH33 displayed synergistic activity against the proliferation of both CYH33-sensitive and CYH33-resistant cells, which was accompanied by enhanced G1-phase arrest. Moreover, down-regulation of cyclin D1 sensitized NSCLC cells to CYH33. Reciprocally, CYH33 abrogated the PD0332991-induced up-regulation of cyclin D1 and phosphorylation of AKT in A549 cells. Co-treatment with these two drugs demonstrated synergistic activity against A549 and H23 xenografts, with enhanced inhibition of Rb phosphorylation. Conclusions: Simultaneous inhibition of PI3Ka and CDK4/6 displayed synergistic activity against KRAS-mutated NSCLC. These data provide a mechanistic rationale for the combination of a PI3Ka inhibitor and a CDK4/6 inhibitor for the treatment of KRASmutated NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and practical cascade oxidation/halogenoaminocyclization of trifluoromethylated homoallylic N-acylhydrazines is developed. The protocol enables an efficient access to various biologically interesting CF3-containing pyrazoline compounds from readily accessible trifluoromethylated homoallylic N-acylhydrazines in good to excellent yields under mild conditions without any other additives or catalysts. The produced pyrazoline compounds can be further manipulated to other more complicated derivatives through transformation of residual halogen atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinct patterns in neuronal firing are observed between classes of cutaneous afferents. Such differences may be attributed to end-organ morphology, distinct ion-channel complements, and skin microstructure, among other factors. Even for just the slowly adapting type I afferent, the skin's mechanics for a particular specimen might impact the afferent's firing properties, especially given the thickness and elasticity of skin can change dramatically over just days. Here, we show computationally that the skin can reliably convey indentation magnitude, rate, and spatial geometry to the locations of tactile receptors even amid changes in skin's structure. Using finite element analysis and neural dynamics models, we considered the skin properties of six mice that span a representative cohort. Modeling the propagation of the surface stimulus to the interior of the skin demonstrated that there can be large variance in stresses and strains near the locations of tactile receptors, which can lead to large variance in static firing rate. However, variance is significantly reduced when the stimulus tip is controlled by surface pressure and compressive stress is measured near the end organs. This particular transformation affords the least variability in predicted firing rates compared with others derived from displacement, force, strain energy density, or compressive strain. Amid changing skin mechanics, stimulus control by surface pressure may be more naturalistic and optimal and underlie how animals actively explore the tactile environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate prognosis and its related factors in patients of pT3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Subjects and Methods: From January 2008 to December 2009, 249 patients of stage T3N0M0 thoracic ESCC were treated with two-field esophagectomy. Among them, 171 males and 78 females; the median age was 60 years old (range 33-78 years). Site of lesion: 39 in upper-, 166 in middle-, and 44 patients in lower-thoracic esophagus; the median length of lesion was 5 cm (range 2-12 cm); the degree of adhesion during surgery: No adhesions in 35, mild adhesions in 90, and severe adhesions in 124 patients; the median number of dissected lymph node (LN) was 9 (range 1-27). Ninety-eight patients are treated with surgery alone, 151 patients with postoperative adjuvant treatment (20 with radiotherapy, 110 with chemotherapy, and 21 patients with radiotherapy and chemotherapy). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0 statistical software. Results: Follow-up deadline was July 2013. The 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival (OS) were 90.0%, 68.7% and 55.2%; Univariate analysis identified gender, location of lesion, differentiation of pathology and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were prognostic factors for OS (P < 0.05); multivariate analysis showed, location of lesion, Hb levels, mediastinal small LN (<1 cm in diameter) in computed tomography (CT) image before surgery, and number of removed LN were independent prognostic factors for OS. The 1-, 3-, 5-year progress-free survival (PFS) were 82.1%, 61.7%, and 53.9%; univariate analysis identified, age, site of lesion and degree of adhesion during surgery were associated with PFS (P < 0.05); multivariate analysis showed, site of lesion was the only independent prognostic factor. Postoperative adjuvant therapy did not effect on OS and PFS. Conclusion: For patients of pT3N0M0 thoracic ESCC, the independent factors were the site of a lesion for OS and PFS, Hb levels, small LN in CT, and number of removed LN for OS. The value of postoperative adjuvant therapy need be further proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the chicken pre-adipocyte MicroRNAs in relation to solexa sequencing analysis. It notes that MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs which play an essential role in biological processes. It mentions that the study which involves miRNAs in mammals suggests that many are connected in lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation.

Triiodothyronine (T[sub 3]) regulates the expression of genes involved in muscle metabolism. Therefore, we examined the effects of a 7-day T[sub 3] treatment on the monocarboxylate transporters (MCT)1 and MCT4 in heart and in red (RG) and white gastrocnemius muscle (WG). We also examined rates of lactate transport into giant sarcolemmal vesicles and the plasmalemmal MCT1 and MCT4 in these vesicles. Ingestion of T3 markedly increased circulating serum T[sub 3] (P < 0.05) and reduced weight gain (P < 0.05). T3 upregulated MCT1 mRNA (RG +77, WG +49, heart +114%, P < 0.05) and MCT4 mRNA (RG +300, WG +40%). However, only MCT4 protein expression was increased (RG +43, WG +49%), not MCT1 protein expression. No changes in MCT1 protein were observed in any tissue. T[sub 3] treatment doubled the rate of lactate transport when vesicles were exposed to 1 mM lactate (P < 0.05). However, plasmalemmal MCT4 was only modestly increased (+13%, P < 0.05). We conclude that T[sub 3] 1) regulates MCT4, but not MCT1, protein expression and 2) increases lactate transport rates. This latter effect is difficult to explain by the modest changes in plasmalemmal MCT4. We speculate that either the activity of sarcolemmal MCTs has been altered or else other MCTs in muscle may have been upregulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the effect of hyperammonemia on NADH levels in brain slices and on the rate of oxygen consumption from isolated nonsynaptic brain mitochondria in ammonia-sensitive Wistar rats with that in ammonia-tolerant gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta). The NADH content was significantly decreased (12% less than control after 45 min with 1 mM NH[sub 4]Cl) in rat brain slices, but it was not affected in brain slices from toadfish (with both 1 and 6 mM NH[sub 4]Cl). The rates of oxygen consumption of different sets of enzymes of the electron transport chain (ETC; complexes I, II, III, and IV; II, III, and IV; and IV alone) were unaltered by hyperammonemic conditions in isolated nonsynaptic mitochondria from either rats or toadfish. These results lead us to conclude that the differing effects of ammonia on NADH levels in rat and toadfish brain slices must be due to aspects other than the direct effects of ammonia on enzymes of the ETC. Additionally, because these effects were seen in vitro, our studies enabled us to rule out the possibility that effects of ammonia on metabolism were via indirect systemic effects. These results are discussed in the context of current views on mechanisms of central nervous system damage in hyperammonemic states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a web-like structure of cytosolic and granule proteins assembled on decondensed chromatin, kill pathogens and cause tissue damage in diseases. Whether NETs can kill cancer cells is unexplored. Here, we report that a combination of glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 and 5-FU inhibited the growth of PIK3CA-mutant colorectal cancers (CRCs) in xenograft, syngeneic, and genetically engineered mouse models in part through NETs. Disruption of NETs by either DNase I treatment or depletion of neutrophils in CRCs attenuated the efficacy of the drug combination. Moreover, NETs were present in tumor biopsies from patients treated with the drug combination in a phase II clinical trial. Increased NET levels in tumors were associated with longer progression-free survival. Mechanistically, the drug combination induced the expression of IL-8 preferentially in PIK3CA-mutant CRCs to attract neutrophils into the tumors. Further, the drug combination increased the levels of ROS in neutrophils, thereby inducing NETs. Cathepsin G (CTSG), a serine protease localized in NETs, entered CRC cells through the RAGE cell surface protein. The internalized CTSG cleaved 14-3-3 proteins, released BAX, and triggered apoptosis in CRC cells. Thus, our studies illuminate a previously unrecognized mechanism by which chemotherapy-induced NETs kill cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirea (Spiraea sp.) plants are popular landscape plants in Utah and the Intermountain West United States. Spiraea betulifolia, S. japonica, S. media, S. nipponica, and S. thunbergii were evaluated for salinity tolerance in a greenhouse experiment. Plants were irrigated weekly with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m-1 (control) or saline solution at an EC of 3.0 or 6.0 dS·m-1 for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, all spirea plants survived and retained good visual quality, with average visual scores greater than 4 (0 = dead, 5 = excellent) when irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 3.0 dS·m-1, with the exception of S. thunbergii, which showed slight foliar salt damage and an average visual score of 3.8. When irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 6.0 dS·m-1, all S. thunbergii plants died, S. media exhibited severe foliar salt damage and an average visual score of 1.5, and S. betulifolia, S. japonica, and S. nipponica displayed slight-to-moderate foliar salt damage and average visual scores greater than 3. Regardless of spirea species, shoot dry weight decreased by 20% and 48% when irrigated with saline solution at ECs of 3.0 and 6.0 dS·m-1, respectively, compared with the control. Saline solution at an EC of 3.0 dS·m-1 did not affect net photosynthesis (Pn) of all spirea species except S. nipponica, but saline solution at an EC of 6.0 dS·m-1 decreased the Pn of all species by 36% to 60%. There were 37, 7, 36, 21, and 104 times more sodium (Na+) concentrations in leaf and 29, 28, 28, 13, and 69 times more chloride (Cl-) concentrations in leaf than in the control when S. betulifolia, S. japonica, S. media, S. nipponica, and S. thunbergii were irrigatedwith saline solution at an ECof 6.0 dS·m-1.Correlation analyses indicated that foliar salt damage and reduced plant growth and photosynthesis were induced mainly by Cl- ions accumulated in the spirea leaves. S. thunbergii was the most sensitive species; it had high mortality and low visual quality at both salinity levels. Spiraea japonica, S. nipponica, and S. betulifolia were relatively more tolerant and had good visual quality at elevated salinity compared with S. media and S. thunbergii. These research results are valuable for growers and landscape professionals during plant selection for nursery production using low-quality water and landscapes in salt-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lynch syndrome (LS) predisposes patients to early onset endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). However, little is known about LS-related EEC in the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of LS and to identify the specific variants of LS in Chinese patients with EEC. Methods: We applied universal immunohistochemistry screening to detect the expression of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, which was followed by MLH1 methylation analysis to identify suspected LS cases, next-generation sequencing (NGS) to confirm LS, and microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis to verify LS. Results: We collected 211 samples with EEC. Twenty-seven (27/211, 12.8%) EEC cases had a loss of MMR protein expression. After MLH1 methylation analysis, 16 EEC cases were suggested to be associated with LS. Finally, through NGS and MSI analysis, we determined that 10 EEC (10/209, 4.78%) cases were associated with LS. Among those cases, 3 unreported mutations (1 frameshift and 2 nonsense) were identified. MSH6 c.597_597delC, found in 4 patients, is likely to be a founder mutation in China. Conclusions: We demonstrated the feasibility of a process for LS screening in Chinese patients with EEC, by using universal immunohistochemistry screening followed by MLH1 methylation analysis and confirmation through NGS and MSI analysis. The novel mutations identified in this study expand knowledge of LS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for energy-efficient recovery of organic solutes from aqueous streams is becoming more urgent as chemical manufacturing transitions toward nonconventional and bio-based feedstocks and processes. In addition to this, many aqueous waste streams contain recalcitrant organic contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, industrial solvents, and personal care products, that must be removed prior to reuse. We observe that rigid carbon membrane materials can remove and concentrate organic contaminants via an unusual liquid-phase membrane permeation modality. Surprisingly, detailed thermodynamic calculations on the chemical potential of the organic contaminant reveal that the organic species has a higher chemical potential on the permeate side of the membrane than on the feed side of the membrane. This unusual observation challenges conventional membrane transport theory that posits that all permeating species move from high chemical potential states to lower chemical potential states. Based on experimental measurements, we hypothesize that the organic is concentrated in the membrane relative to water via favorable binding interactions between the organic and the carbon membrane. The concentrated organic is then swept through the membrane via the bulk flow of water in a modality known as "sorp-vection." We highlight via simplified nonequilibrium thermodynamic models that this "uphill" chemical potential permeation of the organic does not result in second-law violations and can be deduced via measurements of the organic and water sorption and diffusion rates into the carbon membrane. Moreover, this work identifies the need to consider such nonidealities when incorporating unique, rigid materials for the separations of aqueous waste streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture is one of the essential low-carbon technologies required to achieve societal climate goals at the lowest cost. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising adsorbents for CO2 capture because of their well-defined porosity, large surface area, and high stability. Current COF-based CO2 capture is mainly based on a physisorption mechanism, exhibiting smooth and reversible sorption isotherms. In the present study, we report unusual CO2 sorption isotherms featuring one or more tunable hysteresis steps with metal ion (Fe3+, Cr3+, or In3+)-doped Schiff-base two-dimensional (2D) COFs (Py-1P, Py-TT, and Py-Py) as adsorbents. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and computational studies indicate that the sharp adsorption steps in the isotherm originate from the insertion of CO2 between the metal ion and the N atom of the imine bond on the inner pore surface of the COFs as the CO2 pressure reaches threshold values. As a result, the CO2 adsorption capacity of the ion-doped Py-1P COF is increased by 89.5% compared with that of the undoped Py-1P COF. This CO2 sorption mechanism provides an efficient and straightforward approach to enhancing the CO2 capture capacity of COF– based adsorbents, yielding insights into developing chemistry for CO2 capture and conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To minimize surgical complications and staged procedures halo-traction is often used during deformity corrections. But the use of halo-traction in the treatment of refractory cervical kyphosis secondary to infections has never been reported. This study investigated the role of halo-traction in the treatment of cervical infection patients associated with refractory kyphosis. We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients with cervical infection associated with refractory kyphosis who were treated in our spine department. Patients were divided into two groups, the traction group (A) and the non-traction group (B). Group A underwent preoperative halo-traction followed by surgery, while group B underwent surgery alone. Between the two groups, we analyzed the kyphosis deformity correction, level of fusions, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), functional improvement by Neck disability index (NDI) score, and complications. Group A had a better correction of kyphosis deformity compared to group B (27.01 ± 11.54)0 versus (18.08 ± 10.04)0 (P = 0.01, Z = − 2.44). No statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of functional improvement, level of fusions, ESR and CRP. Group B had 3 revision surgery cases. Preoperative halo-traction followed by surgery is superior in kyphosis correction in the treatment of patients with cervical infections with refractory kyphosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents materials science research study on how Aluminum formate, an earth-abundant material for CO2 capture. Topics include combination of gas adsorption and gas breakthrough measurements show that the metal-organic framework, Al(HCOO)3 (ALF), which can be made inexpensively from commodity chemicals; and preferential adsorption of CO2 is a size-selective separation that depends on the subtle difference between the kinetic diameters of CO2 and nitrogen gas (N2).

Siberian wildrye (Elymus sibiricus L.) is a perennial and self-fertilizing forage grass that support animal husbandry and environmental sustenance in the world. In order to explore influence of nitrogen(N) application in Siberian wildrye seed production, the field experiments were conducted to evaluated the effect of different N treatments (of 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg/hm² ) on dry matter, N accumulation, transport and utilization, yield components and seed yield of Siberian wildrye DJ-01, which was generated and stored in our lab. The results showed that the 90 kg/hm² group significantly improved Fertile tillers m−2, spikelets per fertile tiller, 1000-grain weight and seed yield. Furthermore, the seed yield of 90 kg/hm² group reached 899.3 kg/hm² and elevated 45.6% compared with 0(CK) group. Moreover, we found that Siberian wildrye exhibited more advantages in dry matter and N translocation. The increment of grain N depended on pre-anthesis dry matter translocation (Pre-DMT) and pre-anthesis N translocation (Pre-NT), but not post-anthesis dry matter accumulation (Post-DMA) and post-anthesis N uptake (Post-NU) to seed yield. With the increase of N, N partial productivity and N absorption efficiency gradually decreased. All data showed the 90 kg/hm² had the best effects on seed yield components, seed yield, dry matter accumulation (DMA), N accumulation and N efficiency. These results provide an ideal strategy to expand the plant area of Siberian wildrye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Proximal junction kyphosis (PJK) is the postsurgical radiographic event seen in the surgical plane after the fusion of a spinal deformity. Unfavorable health outcomes have been reported in symptomatic PJK patients compared to non-PJK patients. Methods. The data for adult scoliosis patients who underwent curve correction were extracted from the hospital database. Pelvic and spinal parameters were measured and calculated to compare four predictive formulae for occurrences of PJK. Formula 1. Restoration of hypothetical values of lumbar lordosis (LL) and thoracic kyphosis (TK) according to pelvic incidence (PI). Formula 2. Evaluation of global sagittal alignment. Formula 3. Restoration of the apex of LL to its hypothetical position according to the spine shape. Formula 4. Evaluation of positive-sum and negative-sum of (LL + TK). Results. A total number of cases were 52. There were 14 cases of PJK. The incidence of PJK was 26.9%, and the mean age for PJK cases was 63.2 ± 5.2. The excellent predictor for occurrences of PJK was formula 3. Postsurgical sagittal apexes of lumbar lordosis were located in their hypothetical position in 24 cases, and 12.5% of these cases developed PJK. While sagittal apexes were not located in their hypothetical position in 28 patients, PJK occurred in 39.3% of them (P = 0.03 , OR: 4.53, (95% CI: 1.09–18.9)). The second good predictor for occurrences of PJK was formula 2 (GSA >45° versus GSA <45° OR = 2.5, (95% CI: 0.67–9.38), P = 0.17). The other two formulae (1 and 4) were not good predictors for occurrences of PJK. Conclusion. Among the four proposed formulae for predicting occurrences of PJK, the position of the sagittal apex of lumbar lordosis is an excellent predictor of the development of PJK, followed by GSA. Hypothetical values of LL and TK, and positive or negative-sum of (LL + TK), are weak predictors for occurrences of PJK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goldfish and crucian carp at low temperature exhibit plasticity in gill morphology during exposure to hypoxia to enhance gas exchange. Hypoxia-induced changes in gill morphology and cellular ultrastructure of the high altitude scaleless carp from Lake Oinghai, China, were investigated to determine whether this is a general characteristic of cold water carp species. Fish were exposed to acute hypoxia (0.3 mg 02 I-i) for 24 h followed by 12 h recovery in normoxic water (6 mg 02 I~ at 3200 m altitude), with no mortality. Dramatic alterations in gill structure were initiated within 8 h of hypoxia and almost complete by 24 h, and included a gradual reduction of filament epithelial thickness (>50%), elongation of respiratory lamellae, expansion of lamellar respiratory surface area (>60%) and reduction in epithelial water-blood diffusion distance (<50%). An increase in caspase 3 activity in gills occurred following 24 h exposure to hypoxia, indicating possible involvement of apoptosis in gill remodeling. Extensive gill mucous production during hypoxia may have been part of a general stress response or may have played a role in ion exchange and water balance. The large increase in lamellar surface area and reduction in diffusion distance presumably enhances gas transfer during hypoxia (especially in the presence of increased mucous production) but comes with an ionoregulatory cost, as indicated by a 10 and 15% reduction in plasma [Nal and [Cr], respectively, within 12-24 h of hypoxia. Within 12 h of hypoxia exposure, `wavy-convex'-mitochondria rich cells (MRCs) with large apical crypts and numerous branched microvilli were transformed into small `shallow-basin' cells with a flattened surface. As the apical membrane of MRC5 is the site for active ion uptake from the water, a reduction in apical crypt surface area may have contributed to the progressive reduction in plasma [Nal and [Cr] observed during hypoxia. The changes in the macro- and ultra-structure of fish gills, and plasma [Nal and [Cr] during hypoxia were reversible, showing partial recovery by 12 h following return to normoxia. Although the large morphological changes in the gill observed in the scaleless carp support the hypothesis that gill remodeling during hypoxia is a general characteristic of cold water carp species, the reduced magnitude of the response in scaleless carp relative to goldfish and crucian carp may be a reflection of their more active lifestyle or because they reside in a moderately hypoxic environment at altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sego SupremeTM is a designated plant breeding and introduction program at the Utah State University Botanical Center and the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping. This plant selection program introduces native and adapted plants to the arid West for aesthetic landscaping and water conservation. The plants are evaluated for characteristics such as color, flowering, ease of propagation, market demand, disease/pest resistance, and drought tolerance. However, salt tolerance has not been considered during the evaluation processes. Four Sego SupremeTM plants [Aquilegia barnebyi (oil shale columbine), Clematis fruticosa (Mongolian gold clematis), Epilobium septentrionale (northern willowherb), and Tetraneuris acaulis var. arizonica (Arizona four-nerve daisy)] were evaluated for salt tolerance in a greenhouse. Uniform plants were irrigated weekly with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.25 dS·mL1 as control or a saline solution at an EC of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 dS·m-1 for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of irrigation, A. barnebyi irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 5.0 dS·m-1 had slight foliar salt damage with an average visual score of 3.7 (0 = dead; 5 = excellent), and more than 50% of the plants were dead when irrigated with saline solutions at an EC of 7.5 and 10.0 dS·m-1. However, C. fruticosa, E. septentrionale, and T. acaulis had no or minimal foliar salt damage with visual scores of 4.2, 4.1, and 4.3, respectively, when irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1. As the salinity levels of treatment solutions increased, plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry weight of C. fruticosa and T. acaulis decreased linearly; plant height of A. barnebyi and E. septentrionale also declined linearly, but their leaf area and shoot dry weight decreased quadratically. Compared with the control, the shoot dry weights of A. barnebyi, C. fruticosa, E. septentrionale, and T. acaulis decreased by 71.3%, 56.3%, 69.7%, and 48.1%, respectively, when irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1. Aquilegia barnebyi and C. fruticosa did not bloom during the experiment at all treatments. Elevated salinity reduced the number of flowers in E. septentrionale and T. acaulis. Elevated salinity also reduced the number of shoots in all four species. Among the four species, sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) concentration increased the most in A. barnebyi by 53 and 48 times, respectively, when irrigated with saline solution at an EC of 10.0 dS·m-1. In this study, C. fruticosa and T. acaulis had minimal foliar salt damage and less reduction in shoot dry weight, indicating that they are more tolerant to salinity. Epilobium septentrionale was moderately tolerant to saline solution irrigation with less foliar damage, although it had more reduction in shoot dry weight. On the other hand, A. barnebyi was the least tolerant with severe foliar damage, more reduction in shoot dry weight, and a greater concentration of Na+ and Cl-. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) on the expression of fatty acid synthesis regulators and triglyceride production were investigated in primary cultured chicken hepatocytes. The full-length chicken IGFBP2 coding region was synthesized by overlap extension PCR and cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector. An in situ digestion method was used to prepare the chicken hepatocytes. Primary chicken hepatocytes were maintained in monolayer culture. Real-time PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of IGFBP2, PPARG, IGF1, IGF1R, APOAI, and LFABP, after the overexpression of IGFBP2 in chicken hepatocytes. Triglyceride production and glucose content were also evaluated using triglyceride and glucose analysis methods. The expression level of IGFBP2 increased after transfection of the IGFBP2-containing vector. The expression levels of PPARG, IGF1, and IGF1R also increased in cultured chicken hepatocytes after the overexpression of IGFBP2, whereas the expression of LFABP and APOAI decreased. Triglyceride production in primary cultured chicken hepatocytes increased after the overexpression of IGFBP2. These results suggest that IGFBP2 is involved in lipogenesis, increasing both the expression of fatty acid synthesis regulators, and triglyceride production in primary cultured chicken hepatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Monitoring the appearance and progression of tumors are important for improving the survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer. This study aims to examine circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients to evaluate their clinical significance in comparison to the existing biomarker CA125. Methods: Immuomagnetic bead screening, targeting epithelial antigens on ovarian cancer cells, combined with multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex RT-PCR) was used to detect CTCs in 211 samples of peripheral blood (5 ml) from 109 EOC patients. CTCs and CA125 were measured in serial from 153 blood and 153 serum samples from 51 patients and correlations with treatment were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of tumor-associated proteins in tumor tissues and compared with gene expression in CTCs from patients. Results: CTCs were detected in 90% (98/109) of newly diagnosed patients. In newly diagnosed patients, the number of CTCs was correlated with stage (p=0.034). Patients with stage IA-IB disease had a CTC positive rate of 93% (13/14), much higher than the CA125 positive rate of only 64% (9/14) for the same patients. The numbers of CTCs changed with treatment, and the expression of EpCAM (p=0.003) and HER2 (p=0.035) in CTCs was correlated with resistance to chemotherapy. Expression of EpCAM in CTCs before treatment was also correlated with overall survival (OS) (p=0.041). Conclusion: Detection of CTCs allows early diagnose and expression of EpCAM in CTC positive patients predicts prognosis and should be helpful for monitoring treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian hedgehog protein (Ihh) is evolutionarily conserved and serves important roles in controlling the differentiation of progenitor cells into osteoblasts. Ihh null mutant mice exhibit a failure of osteoblast development in endochondral bone. Although studies have demonstrated that Ihh signaling is a potent local factor that regulates osteoblast differentiation, the specific transcription factors that determine osteoblast differentiation remain unclear. Further studies are required to determine the precise mechanism through which Ihh regulates osteoblast differentiation. In the present study, Ihh was knocked down in osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells using short hairpin RNA, to investigate the function of Ihh in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation and to examine the potential mechanism through which Ihh induces osteoblast apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. It was observed that the knockdown of Ihh induced a marked inhibition of cell growth and increased the apoptosis rate compared with the negative control osteoblasts. Downregulation of Ihh resulted in a cell cycle arrest at the G1 to S phase boundary in osteoblasts. In addition, the knockdown of Ihh decreased the alkaline phosphatase activity and mineral deposition of osteoblasts. The inhibitory roles of Ihh downregulation in osteoblast growth and differentiation may be associated with the transforming growth factor-β/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11B/tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 11 signaling pathways. Manipulating either Ihh expression or its signaling components may be of benefit for the treatment of skeletal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many high-altitude vertebrates have evolved increased capacities in their oxygen transport cascade (ventilation, pulmonary diffusion, circulation and tissue diffusion), enhancing oxygen transfer from the atmosphere to mitochondria. However, the extent of interspecies variation in the control processes that dictate hypoxia responses remains largely unknown. We compared the metabolic, cardiovascular and respiratory responses to progressive decreases in inspired oxygen levels of bar-headed geese (Anser indicus), birds that biannually migrate across the Himalayan mountains, with those of Andean geese (Chloephaga melanoptera) and crested ducks (Lophonetta specularioides), lifelong residents of the high Andes. We show that Andean geese and crested ducks have evolved fundamentally different mechanisms for maintaining oxygen supply during low oxygen (hypoxia) from those of bar-headed geese. Bar-headed geese respond to hypoxia with robust increases in ventilation and heart rate, whereas Andean species increase lung oxygen extraction and cardiac stroke volume. We propose that transient high-altitude performance has favoured the evolution of robust convective oxygen transport recruitment in hypoxia, whereas life-long high-altitude residency has favoured the evolution of structural enhancements to the lungs and heart that increase lung diffusion and stroke volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gga-miR-21 is abundantly expressed in chicken pre-adipocytes, but its role is unclear. The present study investigated the role of gga-miR-21 in chicken pre-adipocyte proliferation. Cell proliferation assay and gene expression analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed that the gga-miR- 21 mimic inhibited pre-adipocyte proliferation. In contrast, the gga-miR-21 inhibitor enhanced pre-adipocyte proliferation. The subsequent investigation identified Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) mRNA as a target of ggamiR- 21. The gga-miR-21 mimic inhibited KLF5 3'UTR reporter activity and decreased endogenous KLF5 expression in primary pre-adipocytes. KLF5 knockdown using RNAi had a similar effect to that of the gga-miR- 21 mimic on cell proliferation. The promoting effect of the gga-miR-21 inhibitor on pre-adipocyte proliferation was partially attenuated by KLF5 knockdown. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-21 inhibits chicken pre-adipocyte proliferation, at least in part, by targeting KLF5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preadipocyte differentiation biological process involves a cascade of transcriptional events that culminates in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ. The differentiation cocktail [insulin (INS), dexamethasone (DEX) and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX)] can induce preadipocyte differentiation in mammals, but it is insufficient for chicken (Gallus gallus) adipogenesis. Oleate can induce chicken preadipocyte differentiation, but these differentiated preadipocytes may not be fully functional. The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether chicken preadipocytes can be induced to mature adipocytes by a novel induction method using differentiation cocktail supplemented with PPARγ agonist(s). Chicken preadipocytes cultured in cocktail supplemented with rosiglitazone or troglitazone resulted in a marked increase in lipid droplet accumulation (P<0.05), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity (P<0.05), mRNA expression level of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2; P<0.05), G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2; P<0.05) and lipolysis (P<0.05). In addition, supplementation of the cocktail with rosiglitazone promoted PPARγ mRNA expression (P<0.05). In conclusion, our data indicated that chicken preadipocytes can be induced to mature adipocytes using differentiation cocktail supplemented with rosiglitazone. The results of the present study provide a novel induction method for in vitro chicken preadipocyte differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical interventions are commonly advocated for correcting kyphotic deformities and relieving severe back pain in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of osteotomy performed through the gap of a pathological fracture for the treatment of kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis and to introduce the key points of this novel surgical approach. Methods: From January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014, 13 consecutive AS patients who were treated with osteotomy through the fracture gap were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent the radiographic assessment of sagittal balance parameters. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were used to assess improvement in back pain. Results: The average follow-up time was 2 years and 1 month. The median operation time was 280 min (range, 220-460 min). The mean blood loss was 1100 mL (range, 820-1300 mL). No major acute complications such as death or complete paralysis occurred. There were no neurologic complications or cerebrospinal fluid leaks in any patient. One patient had postoperative wound infection, which subsided after a switch of antibiotics. The global kyphosis Cobb angle of patients decreased from the preoperative 55.8° ± 11.0° to 23.2° ± 6.7° (P < 0.001) after surgery. The C7 plumb line was used to assess global balance; its relationship with the posterosuperior corner of the sacrum decreased from 166 ± 37 mm to 111 ± 20 mm (P < 0.001). The thoracolumbar kyphosis Cobb angle decreased from 51.0° ± 9.9° to 21.6° ± 11.0° (P < 0.001). VAS scores for back pain decreased from 7.2 ± 1.2 to 2.1 ± 1.1 (P < 0.001). Lumbar lordosis increased from 5.7° ± 23.2° to 10.5° ± 29.2° (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Osteotomy through the pathological fracture gap is a safe and effective surgical procedure for kyphosis correction and improvement of back pain in AS patients with pathological fractures. A significant kyphosis correction and improvement of back pain can be achieved with this surgical procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) fly at high altitudes during their migration across the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau. However, we know relatively little about whether rearing at high altitude (i.e. phenotypic plasticity) facilitates this impressive feat because most of what is known about their physiology comes from studies performed at sea level. To provide this information, a comprehensive analysis of metabolic, cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to progressive decreases in the equivalent fractional composition of inspired oxygen (FIO2: 0.21, 0.12, 0.09, 0.07 and 0.05) was made on bar-headed geese reared at either high altitude (3200 m) or low altitude (0 m) and on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis), a low-altitude migrating species, reared at low altitude (0 m). Bar-headed geese reared at high altitude exhibited lower metabolic rates and a modestly increased hypoxic ventilatory response compared with low-altitude-reared bar-headed geese. Although the in vivo oxygen equilibrium curves and blood-oxygen carrying capacity did not differ between the two bar-headed goose study groups, the blood-oxygen carrying capacity was higher than that of barnacle geese. Resting cardiac output also did not differ between groups and increased at least twofold during progressive hypoxia, initially as a result of increases in stroke volume. However, cardiac output increased at a higher FIO2 threshold in bar-headed geese raised at high altitude. Thus, bar-headed geese reared at high altitude exhibited a reduced oxygen demand at rest and a modest but significant increase in oxygen uptake and delivery during progressive hypoxia compared with bar-headed geese reared at low altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine whether a novel nutrient mixture (NM), composed of lysine, ascorbic acid, proline, green tea extracts and other micronutrients, attenuates impairments induced by spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the related molecular mechanisms. A mouse model of SCI was established. Thirty-two mice were divided into four groups. The sham group received vehicle only. The SCI groups were treated orally with saline (saline group), a low dose (500 µg 3 times/day) of NM (NM-LD group) or a high dose (2,000 µg 3 times/day) of NM (NM-HD group). The levels of mouse hindlimb movement were determined every day in the first week post-surgery. The protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were determined by western blotting. Wild-type and mutant MMP-2- and MMP-9-directed luciferase constructs were generated and their luciferase activities were determined. NM significantly facilitated the recovery of hindlimb movement of the mice in comparison to that in the saline group. The expression levels of MMP-2 in the NM-LD and NM-HD groups were decreased by ~50% compared with the saline group as indicated by western blotting results. The expression levels of MMP-9 in the NM-LD and NM-HD groups were decreased to ~25 and ~10%, respectively. These results suggest that NM significantly inhibits the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction results indicated that NM reduced the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA. Furthermore, the luciferase results indicated that site-directed mutagenesis comprising a -1306 C to T (C/T) base change in the MMP-2 promoter and a -1562 C/T base change in the MMP-9 promoter abolished the inhibitory effects of NM on MMP-2 and MMP-9 promoters. These results suggest that NM attenuates SCI-induced impairments in mice movement by negatively affecting the promoter activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes and thus decreasing the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to providing energy and constituting cell membrane, fatty acids also play an important role in adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. As an important member of monounsaturated fatty acids, oleate, together with other components, is widely used to induce chicken preadipocyte differentiation. However, it is not clear whether oleate alone can induce chicken preadipocyte differentiation. In the present study, four different treatments were designed to test this question: basal medium, IDX [insulin, dexamethasone and IBMX (isobutylmethylxanthine)], oleate and IDX plus oleate. Cytoplasmic lipid droplet accumulation and mRNA expression for adipogenesis-related genes were monitored. After treatment of oleate on chicken preadipocytes, apparent lipid droplet formation and lipid accumulation were observed, accompanied by increasing expression of PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ ) and AFABP (adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein), but decreasing level of GATA2 (GATA-binding protein 2). In contrast, for cells cultured in the basal medium with or without IDX supplementation, lipid droplet barely occurred. These results suggest that exogenous oleate alone can act as an inducer of preadipocyte differentiation into adipocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are members of lipid-binding proteins that participate in lipid uptake and intracellular transport. This study was designed to investigate the effects of the liver bile acid-binding protein (LBABP) and the liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) genes on chicken growth and body composition traits. Three SNPs (SNP1, SNP2 and SNP3) of the L-BABP and six SNPs (SNP7-SNP9, SNP11-SNP13) of the L-FABP were detected firstly by DNA sequencing. Seven SNPs (SNP6 and SNP15-SNP20) of the L-FABP were detected by DNA sequencing and were found in the chicken genomic databases at the same time. Sequenom MassARRAY was developed to genotype 966 birds from the Northeast Agricultural University F2 (NEAUF2) resource population and the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF) population. Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that the L-BABP SNPs appeared to be strongly linked with each otherand were located within a haplotype block in both populations. SNP7 and SNP8, SNP12 and SNP13, SNP19 and SNP20 of the L-FABP were in strong linkage disequilibrium, respectively. The L-BABP polymorphisms were significantly associated with body weight (BW) (P<0.05) in the NEAUF2 and the NEAUHLF populations and abdominal fat weight (AFW) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) (P<0.05) in the NEAUHLF population. The LBABP diplotypes were significantly associated with BW (P<0.05) in the NEAUF2 and the NEAUHLF populations. There was no consistent association between the thirteen SNPs of the L-FABP and the growth and body composition traits in either the NEAUF2 or the NEAUHLF populations. The research suggests that the L-BABP could be a candidate locus to affect growth traits in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is highly heterogenous and is composed of various subtypes that are in diverse differential stages. The newly identified integrin-interacting proteins Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 are the activators of transmembrane receptor integrins that play important roles in cancer progression. In this report we present the expression profiles of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 in lung cancers using patient specimens and established their correlation with lung cancer progression. We found that Kindlin- 1 was expressed in epithelia-derived non-small-cell lung cancer, especially in squamous cell lung cancer but expressed at low levels in poorly differentiated large cell lung cancer. However, Kindlin-2 was highly expressed in large cell lung cancer. Both Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 were found not expressed or expressed at very low levels in neuroendocrine-derived small cell lung cancer. Importantly, the Kindlin-1 expression level was positively correlated with the differentiation of squamous cell lung cancer. Surprisingly, we found that the very homologous Kindlin family proteins, Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2, displayed counteracting functional roles in lung cancer cells. Ectopic expression of Kindlin-1 in non-small-cell lung cancer cells inhibited in vitro cell migration and in vivo tumor growth, while Kindlin-2 promoted these functions. Mechanistically, Kindlin-1 prohibited epithelail to mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung cancer cells, while Kindlin-2 enhanced epithelail to mesenchymal transition in these cells. Taken together, we demonstrated that Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 differentially regulate lung cancer cell progression. Further, the expression levels of Kindlin-1 might be potentially used as a marker for lung cancer differentiation and targeting Kindlin-2 might block the invasive growth of large cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a selection signature analysis using the chicken 60k SNP chip in two chicken lines that had been divergently selected for abdominal fat content (AFC) for 11 generations. The selection signature analysis used multiple signals of selection, including long-range allele frequency differences between the lean and fat lines, long-range heterozygosity changes, linkage disequilibrium, haplotype frequencies, and extended haplotype homozygosity. Multiple signals of selection identified ten signatures on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 15, 20, 26 and Z. The 0.73 Mb PC1/PCSK1 region of the Z chromosome at 55.43-56.16 Mb was the most heavily selected region. This region had 26 SNP markers and seven genes, Mar-03, SLC12A2, FBN2, ERAP1, CAST, PC1/PCSK1 and ELL2, where PC1/PCSK1 are the chicken/human names for the same gene. The lean and fat lines had two main haplotypes with completely opposite SNP alleles for the 26 SNP markers and were virtually line-specific, and had a recombinant haplotype with nearly equal frequency (0.193 and 0.196) in both lines. Other haplotypes in this region had negligible frequencies. Nine other regions with selection signatures were PAH-IGF1, TRPC4, GJD4-CCNY, NDST4, NOVA1, GALNT9, the ESRP2-GALR1 region with five genes, the SYCP2-CADH4 with six genes, and the TULP1-KIF21B with 14 genes. Genome-wide association analysis showed that nearly all regions with evidence of selection signature had SNP effects with genome-wide significance (P<10-6) on abdominal fat weight and percentage. The results of this study provide specific gene targets for the control of chicken AFC and a potential model of AFC in human obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naked carp is an endangered cyprinid that migrates annually between freshwater rivers, where it spawns, and Lake Qinghai, where it feeds and grows. Lake Qinghai is a high-altitude lake (3,200 m) in western China that currently exhibits the following composition (in mmol L-1: [Na+] 200, [Cl-] 173, [Mg2+] 36, [Ca2+] 0.23, [K+] 5.3, total CO2 21, titration alkalinity 29; osmolality 375 mOsm kg-1; pH 9.3), but concentrations are increasing because of water diversion and climate change. We studied the physiology of river water to lake water transfer. When river fish are transferred to lake water, there is a transitory metabolic acidosis followed by a slight respiratory alkalosis, and hemoconcentration occurs. All plasma electrolytes rise over the initial 48 h, and final levels in lake water-acclimated fish are very close to lake water concentrations for[Na+}, [Cl-], [K+], and osmolality, whereas [Ca2+] continues to be regulated well above ambient levels. However, [Mg2+] rises to a much greater extent (fourfold in 48 h); final plasma levels in lake fish may reach 12 mmol L-1 but are still much lower than in lake water (36 mmol L-1). At the same time, urine flow rate decreases drastically to !5% of river water values; only the renal excretion of Mg2+ is maintained. Both gill and kidney Na+,K+-ATPase rapidly decline, with final levels in lake water fish only 30% and 70%, respectively, of those in river water fish. Metabolic rate also quickly decreases on exposure to lake water, with O2 consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates eventually falling to only 60% and 30%, respectively, of those in river fish, while plasma ammonia rises fivefold. The fish appear to be benefiting from a metabolic holiday at present because of decreases in iono- and osmoregulatory costs while in lake water; elevated plasma [Mg2+] and ammonia may be additional factors depressing metabolic rate. If the lake continues to dehydrate, these benefits may change to pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chicken is an important model organism that bridges the evolutionary gap between mammals and other vertebrates and provides a major protein source from meat and eggs throughout the world. Excessive accumulation of lipids in the adipose tissue is one of the main problems faced by the broiler industry nowadays. In order to visualize the mechanisms involved in the gene expression and regulation of lipid metabolism in adipose tissue, cDNA microarray containing 9024 cDNA was used to construct gene expression profile and screen differentially expressed genes in adipose tissue between broilers and layers of 10 wk of age. Sixty-seven differentially expressed sequences were screened out, and 42 genes were found when blasted with the GenBank database. These genes are mainly related to lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, transcription and splicing factor, protein synthesis and degradation. The remained 25 sequences had no annotation available in the GenBank database. Furthermore, Northern blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR were developed to confirm 4 differentially expressed genes screened by cDNA microarray, and it showed great consistency between the microarray data and Northern blot results or semi-quantitative RT-PCR results. The present study will be helpful for clarifying the molecular mechanism of obesity in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]