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OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to systematically review and meta-analyze the available data on changes in the hormonal profile of postmenopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Full-text articles published up to April 30, 2021, were searched through PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane library and Web of Science (WOS) databases and were screened strictly according to inclusion criteria. Randomized clinical trials and case control studies were enrolled. Studies not reporting steroid serum levels or not providing a control group were excluded from the analysis. Studies enrolling women with genetic defects or severe chronic systemic diseases were excluded. Data are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random effect models were used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: HRT administration increases estradiol (E2) and reduces follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) serum levels compared with pre-treatment. Their changes are evident when oral and transdermal HRT are administered, while vaginal HRT not. No significant effect on E2 and FSH was found between 6 and 12 months, as well as between 12 and 24 months. No significant effect on E2 and FSH was shown between different regimes. No difference was observed between different HRT regarding their effect on lipid profiles, breast pain and vaginal bleeding, but oral estrogen combined synthetic progestin caused a reduction in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHGB). CONCLUSIONS: The review suggested oral and transdermal HRT could lead to a rise in E2 serum levels and a decrease in FSH. The types and doses of HRT did not seem to modify the E2 and FSH level. Also, oral estrogen combined synthetic progestin could cause a reduction in SHGB. This might be crucial when choosing the best possible treatment for each patient individually taking into consideration if potential benefits outweigh the risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium is an essential trace element for pig growth; generally, inorganic or organic selenium is used for dietary selenium supplementation. Newborn piglets obtain all nutrients from the sow; thus, the sow absorption rate of different selenium sources significantly affects sow reproductive performance and piglet development. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to provide insights into whether organic selenium is better than mineral selenium for improving sow reproductive performance and piglet development. The present study investigated the effects of different selenium sources in sow feed using articles published between June 1, 1980, and December 31, 2020, from four databases. In the meta-analysis, 19 articles (347 sows) from seven countries were included. It was shown that feeding organic selenium to sows during pregnancy significantly increased newborn piglet weight (P < 0.05), piglet weight at weaning (P < 0.05), litter weight at weaning (P < 0.01), selenium content in sow colostrum (P < 0.01), milk (P < 0.01) and serum (P < 0.01); and selenium content (P < 0.01) and glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05) in piglet serum. However, it had no effect on the number of liveborn piglets and litter weight at birth. Owing to study heterogeneity (I2 > 50%), we hypothesized that the sow breed or weaning age were the influencing factors. Publication bias and sensitivity analyses indicate that the present results are robust. Further research is needed to better understand how different selenium sources affect sow reproduction and piglet development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of unsaturated fatty acids on clinical plasmids. Methods and Results: Two unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (LA) and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) at final concentration 0, 0·03, 0·3 and 3 mmol l−1, respectively, were used to assess the effects on conjugative transfer of a mcr‐1‐harbouring plasmid pCSZ4 (IncX4) in conjugation experiment. The inhibitory mechanisms were analysed by molecular docking and the gene expression of virB11 was quantitated by qRT‐PCR. Target plasmid diversity was carried out by TrwD/VirB11 homology protein sequence prediction analysis. Our results showed that LA and ALA inhibit plasmid pCSZ4 transfer by binding to the amino acid residues (Phe124 and Thr125) of VirB11 with dose‐dependent effects. The expression levels of virB11 gene were also significantly inhibited by LA and ALA treatment. Protein homology analysis revealed a wide distribution of TrwD/VirB11‐like genes among over 37 classes of plasmids originated from both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. Conclusions: This study demonstrates representing a diversity of plasmids that may be potentially inhibited by unsaturated fatty acids. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our work reported here provides additional support for application of curbing the spread of multiple plasmids by unsaturated fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Converging evidence has demonstrated that there is aberrant connectivity of the default-mode network (DMN) in left temporal lobe epilepsy (lTLE) yet changes in the network homogeneity (NH) of the DMN in people with first-episode, treatment-naive lTLE remains unclear. In this study, we used an NH method to investigate the NH of the DMN in people with first-episode, treatment-naive, lTLE, at rest. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), and attention network test (ANT) data from 43 people with lTLE and 42wellmatched, healthy control subjects. An NH approach was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: People with lTLE have decreased NH in the right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and the left middle temporal lobe (MTG), and increased NH in the bilateral precuneus (PCu) and right inferior parietal lobe (IPL), as compared with the controls. We also found that people with lTLE had a longer executive control reaction time (RT). No significant correlations were found between abnormal NH values and clinical variables in the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that abnormal NH of the DMN exists in lTLE subjects and highlight the significance of the DMN in the pathophysiology of cognitive problems occurring in lTLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different level of copper amino acids complex on growth performance and serum Cu-Zn SOD activity in piglets. A total of 288 (144 castrated males and 144 females) healthy post-weaned at 23-day-old piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an average body weight of (8.79±1.15) kg were randomly divided into 6 groups with 8 replicates in each group, and 6 piglets (3 castrated males and 3 females) per replicate. Control group was fed a basal diet, experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with copper amino acids addition level was 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg Cu or 150 mg/kg Cu from CuSO4 of the control group, respectively. Growth performance, serum biochemical parameters (Cu-Zn SOD activity) and diarrhea incidence were measured in the 2-phase feeding program (1-14 d, 15-42 d). Results showed that: compared with the control diets, 1) Diets supplemented with Av-Cu or CuSO4 did not affect the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of weaned piglets; supplementing the diet with Av-Cu, the average daily gain (ADG) was linearly increased (P < 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was linearly decreased (P < 0.05); 90-100 mg/kg Cu from Av-Cu has the same effects on ADG and FCR compared to150 mg/kg Cu from CuSO4 according to linear analysis. 2) compared with the control diets, supplementing the diet with Av-Cu can decrease diarrhea incidence of piglets during the whole experimental period (P < 0.05). 3) Av-Cu has significant effect on serum Cu-Zn SOD activity on day 14 (P < 0.05). This study showed that, oral administration Av-Cu to weaned piglet has the potential to promote growth performance and antioxidant capacity, and reduce diarrhea incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations of hsa_ circ_0046264 expression with the onset, pathological stage, and chemotherapy resistance of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Firstly, gene expression profiling microarrays were applied to screen the differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) in the tumor tissues of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Secondly, quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was adopted to further verify the circRNAs with significant differences. Thirdly, the correlations of hsa_circ_0046264 expression level with the clinical features of NSCLC patients were explored via statistical analysis. Fourthly, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were utilized to investigate the influence of hsa_circ_0046264 expression level on the survival of the patients. Finally, the role of hsa_circ_0046264 in the process of lung cancer was probed using in vitro experimental methods. RESULTS: It was shown in the results of gene microarray assay that hsa_circ_0046264 was the most prominently upregulated gene, and RT-qPCR assay further proved that hsa_circ_0046264 expression was upregulated remarkably in the tissues of tumor patients. Clinical analysis indicated that the expression level of hsa_ circ_0046264 was notably associated with the patient’s age, tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). In addition, Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis manifested that the patients in hsa_circ_0046264 low-expression group had a markedly longer survival than those in hsa_ circ_0046264 high-expression group. In the tumor tissues and serum of the patients, the area under ROC curve of hsa_circ_0046264 was 0.971 and 0.915, the specificity was 0.973 and 0.957, and the sensitivity was 0.951 and 0.927, while the Youden Index was 0.924 and 0.884 respectively. The results of Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay revealed that the proliferative ability of lung cancer A549 cells was significantly enhanced at 36, 48, and 72 h in hsa_circ_0046264 overexpression group. According to the results of wound-healing assay, the migratory ability of A549 cells was distinctly strengthened in hsa_ circ_0046264 overexpression group compared with that in the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the transwell assay results pointed out that the invasive ability of A549 cell lines at 48 h after overexpression of hsa_circ_0046264 was evidently stronger than that in control group (p<0.05). Under the stimulation of different doses of cisplatin, hsa_circ_0046264 overexpression group had a clearly raised survival rate of A549 cells in comparison with control group, and the differences in data were statistically significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hsa_circ_0046264 may serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis and a possible therapeutic target of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article has been corrected in the Funding section to acknowledge support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81671421).

A novel electrochemical catalyst comprising CoO@Co nanoparticles with a core–shell structure immobilized on N-doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (CoO@Co/N-rGO) has been synthesized using a convenient and controllable technique ― combining a rapid microwave-polyol method with a vacuum thermal treatment. Excellent features including the Co/N-doping effect, introduction of CoO@Co particles with a core–shell structure and good contact between the CoO@Co particles and N-doped graphene result in a highly multi-functional catalytic efficiency. The catalyst exhibits remarkable catalytic activity and superior stability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction, offering a low overpotential of 140 mV for 10 mA cm−2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 237 mV in 0.1 M KOH. The catalyst also shows excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity in 0.1 M KOH, a similar four-electron pathway, which is comparable to that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst, and superior stability. In addition, a good electrochemical performance towards the oxygen evolution reaction was observed for the catalyst, achieving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a small overpotential of 1.67 V in 0.1 M KOH, which is comparable to that of a commercial RuO2 catalyst. The unusual catalytic activities arise from the synergetic chemical coupling effects of metallic Co, cobalt oxides and Co/N-doped graphene. This study provides a new attractive multi-functional catalyst material for unitized regenerative fuel cells and overall water splitting technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]