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Heterosis improves growth and survival of shellfish species. Although breeders have widely exploited heterosis, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a 2 × 2 complete diallel cross was facilitated between two full-sib families to produce two inbred families (A and D) and their reciprocal hybrid families (B and C) of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii . Growth traits of the four families were compared at the adult stages. Transcriptome analysis was conducted on the four families using an Illumina sequencing platform. The results revealed that the growth traits of the four families significantly varied ( P  <   0.05). The mid-parent heterosis values of shell length, shell height, shell width, shell weight, and total weight were 12.9%, 14.9%, 18.2%, 17.2%, and 33.2%, respectively. The B- and C-inbred (A and D) triads had 79 and 68 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively, which were dominantly nonadditive, including overdominance, underdominance, and low-parent dominance. Gene ontology term analysis showed that the DEGs in the B- and C-inbred triads were enriched for metabolic process, cellular process cell part, binding, and catalytic activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs in the B- and C-inbred triads were involved in focal adhesion, the P13K-Akt signaling pathway, the mRNA surveillance pathway, and the focal adhesion pathway. The reliability of the sequencing data was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of six growth-related genes. The findings of this study provide new insights into heterosis for growth traits and the design of genetic breeding programs for this species.

Due to the increasing scale of farms, it is increasingly difficult for farmers to monitor their animals in an automated way. Because of this problem, we focused on a sound technique to monitor laying hens. Sound analysis has become an important tool for studying the behaviour, health and welfare of animals in recent years. A surveillance system using microphone arrays of Kinects was developed for automatically monitoring birds' abnormal vocalisations during the night. Based on the principle of time-difference of arrival (TDOA) of sound source localisation (SSL) method, Kinect sensor direction estimations were very accurate. The system had an accuracy of 74.7% in laboratory tests and 73.6% in small poultry group tests for different area sound recognition. Additionally, flocks produced an average of 40 sounds per bird during feeding time in small group tests. It was found that, on average, each normal chicken produced more than 53 sounds during the daytime (noon to 6:00 p.m.) and less than one sound at night (11:00 p.m.⁻3:00 a.m.). This system can be used to detect anomalous poultry status at night by monitoring the number of vocalisations and area distributions, which provides a practical and feasible method for the study of animal behaviour and welfare.

Natural disasters and environmental pollution are the main problems in traditional offshore cultivation. While culturing pearl oysters through industrial farming can avoid these problems, food availability in this case is limited. This study compares the metabolomics responses of pearl oysters, Pinctada fucata martensii , fed a formulated diet indoors with those of oysters cultured with natural diet outdoors by using a gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS)-based metabolomics approach. The animals were divided into two groups as follows: the experimental group (EG) was fed a formulated diet indoors and the control group (CG) was cultured with natural diet outdoors. After 45 days of feeding, the survival rate of EG was significantly higher than that of CG. The absolute growth rate (AGR) of the total weight of EG did not significantly differ from that of CG, but the AGRs of the shell length, shell height, and shell width of CG were significantly higher than those of EG. EG showed significantly higher amylase activities than CG, and the hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase concentrations of the former were significantly lower than those of the latter. Metabolomics revealed 125 metabolites via mass spectrum matching with a spectral similarity value > 700 in the hepatopancreas, and 48 metabolites were considered to be significantly different between groups (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05). Pathway analysis results indicated that these significantly different metabolites were involved in 34 pathways. Further integrated key metabolic pathway analysis showed that, compared with CG, EG had lower capabilities for cysteine and methionine metabolism, sulfur metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism. This study demonstrated that the formulated diet could be an excellent substitute for natural diet; however, its nutrients were insufficient. Effective strategies should be developed to enhance the utilization of formulated diets.

Objective The purposes of this study were to verify the effectiveness of the narrow band imaging (NBI) system in diagnosing nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) as compared with white light endoscopy. Data Sources PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wan Fang databases. Review Methods Data analyses were performed with Meta-Disc. The updated Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to assess study quality and potential bias. Publication bias was assessed with a Deeks asymmetry test. The registry number of the protocol published on PROSPERO is CRD42015026244. Results This meta-analysis included 10 studies of 1337 lesions. For NBI diagnosis of NPC, the pooled values were as follows: sensitivity, 0.83 (95% CI, 0.80-0.86); specificity, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.89-0.93); positive likelihood ratio, 8.82 (95% CI, 5.12-15.21); negative likelihood ratio, 0.18 (95% CI, 0.12-0.27); and diagnostic odds ratio, 65.73 (95% CI, 36.74-117.60). The area under the curve was 0.9549. For white light endoscopy in diagnosing NPC, the pooled values were as follows: sensitivity, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.75-0.83); specificity, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.90); positive likelihood ratio, 5.02 (95% CI, 1.99-12.65); negative likelihood ratio, 0.34 (95% CI, 0.24-0.49); and diagnostic odds ratio, 16.89 (95% CI, 5.98-47.66). The area under the curve was 0.8627. The evaluation of heterogeneity, calculated per the diagnostic odds ratio, gave an I 2 of 0.326. No marked publication bias ( P = .68) existed in this meta-analysis. Conclusion The sensitivity and specificity of NBI for the diagnosis of NPC are similar to those of white light endoscopy, and the potential value of NBI for the diagnosis of NPC needs to be validated further.

Pinctada fucata martensii is cultured for pearl production. Growth improvement has received considerable research interest. Transforming growth factor β type Ⅰ receptor (TβR-I), which is involved in signals transmission of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), participates in cell proliferation and growth. In this study, we characterized a Tgfbr1 gene which encoded TβR-I from P. fucata martensii ( Pmtgfbr1 ). Pmtgfbr1 cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1569 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 522 amino acids (aa). Pmtgfbr1 possesses a typical TβR-I structure (extracellular receptor ligand domain, transmembrane domain, and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase catalytic domain). Pmtgfbr1 is expressed in all the studied tissues and exhibited the highest expression level in the adductor muscle. Moreover, Pmtgfbr1 exhibited the lower expression level in the larger group (L) than that in the smaller group (S) and is negatively correlated with growth traits ( P  < 0.01). Our results indicated that Pmtgfbr1 is a candidate functional gene associated with growth traits.

In this study, we formulated five diets, namely, P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5, with Chlorella sp. powder, Spirulina platensis powder, yeast powder, soybean meal and corn gluten, respectively, as major protein sources. A feeding experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of formulated diets on the growth performance, immunity and antioxidant and biomineralization capacity of juvenile pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii). In the experiments, the five groups were separately fed with P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 diets. After 45 days of feeding, pearl oysters fed on P1, P2, P3 and P4 diets showed significantly higher absolute growth rate and protease and amylase activities than those fed on P5 diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, pearl oysters fed on P1, P2, P3 and P4 diets exhibited significantly higher activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (P < 0.05). Significantly higher expression levels of SOD, GPx, CAT, heat shock protein (HSP) 70, HSP90, nacrein, pif177 and pearlin mRNA were observed in pearl oysters fed on P1, P2, P3 and P4 diets relative to those fed on P5 (P < 0.05). Results suggested the suitability of Chlorella sp. powder, S. platensis powder, yeast powder and soybean meal as protein sources for development of formulated diets for pearl oyster P. f. martensii., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Nacre, the iridescent material found in pearls and shells of molluscs, is formed through an extraordinary process of matrix-assisted biomineralization. Despite recent advances, many aspects of the biomineralization process and its evolutionary origin remain unknown. The pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii is a well-known master of biomineralization, but the molecular mechanisms that underlie its production of shells and pearls are not fully understood. We sequenced the highly polymorphic genome of the pearl oyster and conducted multi-omic and biochemical studies to probe nacre formation. We identified a large set of novel proteins participating in matrix-framework formation, many in expanded families, including components similar to that found in vertebrate bones such as collagen-related VWA-containing proteins, chondroitin sulfotransferases, and regulatory elements. Considering that there are only collagen-based matrices in vertebrate bones and chitin-based matrices in most invertebrate skeletons, the presence of both chitin and elements of collagen-based matrices in nacre suggests that elements of chitin- and collagen-based matrices have deep roots and might be part of an ancient biomineralizing matrix. Our results expand the current shell matrix-framework model and provide new insights into the evolution of diverse biomineralization systems., (© The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common fatal cancers among head and neck carcinomas, whose mechanism, however, remains unclear. The proneural basic-helix-loop-helix protein achaete-scute complex homologue-1, a member of the basic helix-loop-helix family, plays a very important role in many cancers. This study aims to explore the clinical value and mechanism of achaete-scute complex homologue-1 in laryngeal cancer. Methods including Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, Transwell invasion assays, and scratch assay were adopted to further explore the bio-function of achaete-scute complex homologue-1, whose expression was examined in fresh and paraffin chip of laryngeal carcinoma tissues by means of western blot and immunohistochemistry, after the interference of achaete-scute complex homologue-1; achaete-scute complex homologue-1, an overexpression in laryngeal carcinoma whose carcinogenicity potential was confirmed via western blot, was correlative with T classification (p = 0.002), histological differentiation (p = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.000), and poor survival (p = 0.000). Multivariate analysis shows that achaete-scute complex homologue-1 overexpression is an independent prognostic factor unfavorable to laryngeal carcinoma patients (p = 0.000). Moreover, knocking down achaete-scute complex homologue-1 expression could significantly suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma cell in vitro and disorder epithelial-mesenchymal transformation-associated protein expression. Achaete-scute complex homologue-1 plays an important role in the genesis and progression of laryngeal carcinoma and may act as a potential biomarker for therapeutic target and prognostic prediction.

Heterodimeric PEBP2/CBFs are key regulators in diverse biological processes, such as haematopoietic stem-cell generation, bone formation and cancers. In this work, we cloned runt-like transcriptional factor (designated as PmRunt) and CBF β (designated as PmCBF) gene, which comprise the heterodimeric transcriptional factor in Pinctada martensii. PmRunt was identified with an open reading frame that encodes 545 amino acids and has typical Runt domain. Phylogenetic analysis results speculated that runt-like transcriptional factors (RDs) in vertebrates and invertebrates are separated into two branches. In molluscs, PmRunt and other RDs are clustered in one of these branches. Direct interaction between PmRunt and PmCBF was evidenced by yeast two-hybrid assay results. Gene repression by RNA interference decreased the expression level of PmRunt, and subsequent observation of the inner surface of the nacre by scanning electron microscopy demonstrated disordered growth. The luciferase activities of reporters that contain promoter regions of Collagen VI-like (PmColVI) and PmNacrein were enhanced by PmRunt. Meanwhile, Pm-miR-183 apparently inhibited the relative luciferase activity of reporters containing the 3'-UTR of PmRunt. The expression level of PmRunt was repressed after Pm-miR-183 was overexpressed in the mantle tissue. Therefore, we proposed that PmRunt could be targeted by Pm-miR-183 and regulate the transcription of PmColVI and PmNacrein by increasing their transcriptional activity, thereby governing nacre formation.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of combination therapy (combined intratympanic and systemic use of steroids, CT) with systemic steroid therapy (SST) as a primary treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)., Methods: An electronic database search (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases) was performed. Review Manger 5.3 was used for data synthesis. Data were collected on the following outcomes of interest: the proportion of patients with hearing improvement, changes in pure tone averages (PTA), and speech discrimination score (SDS)., Results: A total of 14 RCTs including 756 subjects allocated to CT and 638 to SST were selected. The proportion of patients with hearing improvement as outcome measure was observed in 13 studies, which resulted in an odds ratio (OR) of 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.95-2.1). The PTA changes (in dB) as outcome measure was observed in 12 studies, which resulted in mean difference (MD) 13 (95% CI: 9.24-16.77). SDS changes (in %) as outcome measure were reported in five studies, which resulted in MD 15.72 (95% CI: 5.11-26.33)., Conclusion: CT seems to confer a certain degree of benefit as a primary treatment of SSNHL as compared with SST. Further validation based on high quality studies is required.

Objective To evaluate the performance of narrow band imaging (NBI) for the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer and to compare the diagnostic value of NBI with that of white light endoscopy. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases. Review Methods Data analyses were performed with Meta-DiSc. The updated Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to assess study quality and potential bias. Publication bias was assessed with the Deeks's asymmetry test. The protocol used in this article has been published on PROSPERO and is in accordance with the PRISMA checklist. The registry number for this study is CRD42015025866. Results Six studies including 716 lesions were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio for the NBI diagnosis of laryngeal cancer were 0.94 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.91-0.96), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85-0.92), and 142.12 (95% CI: 46.42-435.15), respectively, and the area under receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.97. Among the 6 studies, 3 evaluated the diagnostic value of white light endoscopy, with a sensitivity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76-0.86), a specificity of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88-0.95), and a diagnostic odds ratio of 33.82 (95% CI: 14.76-77.49). The evaluation of heterogeneity, calculated per the diagnostic odds ratio, gave an I 2 of 66%. No marked publication bias ( P = .84) was detected in this meta-analysis. Conclusion The sensitivity of NBI is superior to white light endoscopy, and the potential value of NBI needs to be validated in future studies.

Objective: To determine whether education level and occupation are risk factors of vaginitis in pregnant women and to investigate relationship between vaginitis occurrence during pregnancy and perinatal mortality rates., Methods: A total of 319 women of early pregnancy or mid-pregnancy were enrolled. Six specimens were collected from posterior fornix of each pregnant woman and then cultured for identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, intestinal bacteria, general bacteria, fungi, mycoplasma, and chlamydia, respectively., Results: The pregnant women in the "elementary school or below" group and the "middle school" group had significantly higher incidences of vaginitis compared with the pregnant women in the groups of "high school", "skill education", and "college or above". The pregnant women in the groups of "Worker", "Government employee", "Company employee", and "Professionals" had significantly lower vaginitis incidences. The women with infections of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, intestinal bacteria, and general bacteria had higher perinatal mortalities (0.063 ± 0.011, 0.052 ± 0.012, and 0.017 ± 0.008, respectively) than women with infections of fungi, mycoplasma, and Chlamydia (0.002 ± 0.007, 0.003 ± 0.004, and 0.001 ± 0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: Education level and occupation are risk factors related to incidences of vaginitis in pregnant women. The bacteria-related vaginitis is a major reason of perinatal mortality.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of sublingual immunotherapy with dust mite for allergic rhinitis., Method: The symptom score of 188 patients with dust mite allergic rhinitis were recorded before and after treatment for six months, a year, and compare the treatment effects., Result: Symptom scores of 188 patients were decreased after treatment than before, the symptoms of treatment were improved significantly after six months, symptoms were improved more significantly after one year, the difference was significant (P<0.01)., Conclusion: Sublingual immunotherapy with dust mite is a safe and effective treatment for allergic rhinitis, and it is worthy of promotion.

Objective: To study the relationship between fibrinogen level and pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHI.)., Method: Fifty patients (55 ears) with SSHL within 7 days of the onset were studied: a control group was consist of 50 normal-hearing people who were individually matched on a pairwise basis according to the same gender and age. Both the patients and the normal people were tested for the parameters of hemorheology, blood biochemistry, whole blood cell count and clotting function., Result: Fibrinogen level and plasma viscosity in patients with SSHL were significantly higher than that in control subjects. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastic time were significantly less in the patients group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There were statistical difference. The parameters of blood biochemistry, whole blood cell count and platelet adhesion test of two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Elevated plasma fibrinogen may be a major pathogenesis of SSHL. An increase in plasma fibrinogen level may lead to elevated plasma viscosity. All these may promote a prothrombin or hypercoagulable state and impair blood perfusion of cochlea.

Objective: To assess the value of urinary uric acid excretion and urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio as the marker of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)., Method: Twenty three cases diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnography (PSG) were treated as trial group, 12 cases excluded from OSAHS by PSG were taken as control group,and 15 patients of the trial group were treated by UPPP and were taken as before UPPP therapy group and after UPPP therapy group. The makers above were compared in these groups., Result: The overnight change in urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio in trial group is 0.46+/-0.25, and after UPPP therapy group (0.13+/-0.2) significantly lower than before UPPP therapy group (0.49 +/-0.32), P < 0.01., Conclusion: The urinary uric acid excretion and overnight change in urinary uric acid/creatinine are good markers to determine the effects of UPPP on OSAHS.

Objective: To study the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) mRNA in laryngeal carcinoma and hypopharyngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance., Method: The tissue samples (laryngeal carcinoma, 40; hypopharyngeal carcinoma, 12; adjacent tissue, 50; laryngeal papilloma, 10; amyloidosis of larynx, 2; and normal laryngeal mucosa, 7) were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)., Result: 1. The target gene of iNOS were detected in 41 of 52 tumor tissues, 10 of 50 adjacent tissues, 5 of 12 benign tumor tissues and 0 of 7 normal tissues. The difference was significant (P < 0.0001, P < 0.005, P < 0.0001); 2. No significant difference was found among the expression of iNOSmRNA in different primary locations, there was significant statistical difference between the early clinical stages (T1-T2) and the advanced stages (T3-T4); 3. The poorly differentiated tumor cell showed a higher iNOSmRNA expression than that in moderate differentiated tumor cell (P < 0.05) and the iNOSmRNA expression in the lymph node metastasis group was higher than the non-metastasis group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: It suggests that iNOS gene expression occurs in human laryngeal carcinoma and hypopharyngeal carcinoma, it might involve in the development of head and neck neoplasms in gene level by generating NO.