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The study aimed to investigate the effect of Huoxiang longhuang powder on the serum biochemical, antioxidant and immune indexes of fattening cattle. Eighty healthy, disease-free, well-conditioned Simmental crossbred cattle with an average weight of (385.0 ± 16.3) kg and similar age were selected and randomly divided into four groups, with four replicates in each group and five cattle in each replicate. The cattle in the control group, experimental group I, experimental group H, and experimental group M were fed with rations containing 0, 1%, 2%, and 4% Huoxiang longhuang powder, respectively. The preliminary trial lasted for 10 days, followed by a formal experimental period of 60 days. The results showed that compared to the control group, the total protein, globulin content, and alkaline phosphatase activity of fattening cattle in the experimental group H increased by 10.87%, 17.83% and 24.82%, respectively (P<0.05), and the urea nitrogen content decreased by 20.25% (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the superoxide dismutase, catalase activities, and total antioxidant capacity in the serum of fattening cattle in the experimental group H increased by 36.70%, 28.63% and 35.28%, respectively (P<0.05). The concentrations of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G of fattening cattle in the experimental group H increased by 18.99% and 29.98%, respectively (P<0.05). The study indicates that adding 2% Huoxiang longhuang powder to the diet of fattening cattle can improve the serum biochemical indexes, promote the deposition of fat and protein, and enhance antioxidant and immunity capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the exact effects of dietary choline on hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and explore the potential mechanisms, male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were randomly divided into five groups as follows: WKY group, WKY + Choline group, SHR group, SHR + Choline group, and SHR + Choline + NaHS group. In choline treatment groups, rats were fed with 1.3 % (w/v) choline in the drinking water for 3 months. The rats in the SHR + Choline + NaHS group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS (100 µmol/kg/day, a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor) for 3 months. After 3 months, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (LVFS), the indicators of cardiac function measured by echocardiography, were increased significantly in SHR as compared to WKY, although there was no significant difference in collagen volumes and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio between the two groups, indicating the early stage of cardiac hypertrophy. There was a significant decrease in LVEF and LVFS and an increase in collagen volumes and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in SHR fed with choline, meanwhile, plasma H2S levels were significantly decreased significantly in SHR fed with choline accompanying by the decrease of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) activity. Three months of NaHS significantly increased plasma H2S levels, ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and inhibited cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis in SHR fed with choline. In conclusion, choline aggravated cardiac dysfunction in HHD through inhibiting the production of endogenous H2S, which was reversed by supplementation of exogenous H2S donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) is an orphan adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which performs a tumor-promoting role in certain cancers; however, it has not been systematically investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we utilized multiple databases to analyze the expression and diagnostic and prognostic value of ADGRG2 in HCC and its correlation with immune infiltration and inflammatory factors. The function and upstream regulatory miRNA of ADGRG2 were validated through qPCR, Western blot, CCK8, wound healing, and dual luciferase assays. It turned out that ADGRG2 was significantly higher in HCC and had a poor survival rate, especially in AFP ≤ 400 ng/mL subgroups. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ADGRG2 may be involved in cancer pathways and immune-related pathways. In vitro, siRNA-mediated ADGRG2 silencing could inhibit the proliferation and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. There was a highly significant positive correlation between ADGRG2 and neutrophils. Moreover, NET-related genes were filtered and confirmed, such as ENO1 and S100A9. Meanwhile, the high expression of ADGRG2 was also accompanied by the highest number of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors and good immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, AGDGR2 may be sensitive to two drugs (PIK-93 and NPK76-II-72-1) and can be targeted by miR-326. In conclusion, ADGRG2 may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for HCC diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis and was related to neutrophils and the inflammatory process of liver cancer development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising trend in the cultivation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic crops may cause a destabilization of agroecosystems, thus increasing concerns about the sustainability of Bt crops as a valid pest management method. Azotobacter can be used as a biological regulator to increase environmental suitability and improve the soil nitrogen utilization efficiency of crops, especially Bt cotton. A laboratory test investigated effects on the development and food utilization of Helicoverpa armigera fed with different Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac proteins and nitrogen metabolism‐related compounds from cotton (transgenic variety SCRC 37 vs non‐Bt cotton cv. Yu 2067) inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense (Ab) and Azotobacter chroococcum (Ac). The findings indicate that inoculation with Azotobacter significantly decreased the partial development and food utilization indexes (pupal weight; pupation rate; adult longevity; fecundity; relative growth rate, RGR; efficiency of conversion of digested food, ECD; and efficiency of conversion of ingested food, ECI) of H. armigera fed on Bt cotton, but contrasting trends were found among these indexes in H. armigera fed on non‐Bt cotton inoculated with Azotobacter, as a result of differences in Bt toxin production. Overall, the results showed that inoculation with Azotobacter had negative effects on the development and food utilization of H. armigera fed on Bt cotton, leading to enhanced target insect resistance. Presumably, Azotobacter inoculation can be used to stimulate plant soil nitrogen uptake to increase nitrogen metabolism‐related compounds and promote plant growth for Bt and non‐Bt cotton, simultaneously raising Bt protein expression and enhancing resistance efficacy against cotton bollworm in Bt cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]