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This note addresses diagnosis and performance degradation detection issues from an integrated viewpoint of functionality maintenance and cyber security of automatic control systems. It calls for more research attention on three aspects: (i) application of control and detection unified framework to enhancing the diagnosis capability of feedback control systems, (ii) projection-based fault detection, and complementary and explainable applications of projection- and machine learning-based techniques, and (iii) system performance degradation detection that is of elemental importance for today’s automatic control systems. Some ideas and conceptual schemes are presented and illustrated by means of examples, serving as convincing arguments for research efforts in these aspects. They would contribute to the future development of capable diagnosis systems for functionality safe and cyber secure automatic control systems.

Contents The survival and development of pre-implantation embryos are determinant factors affecting the outcome of animal reproduction. It is essential to transfer the expression of the genetic material from maternal sources, that is the ovum to the zygote before implantation to ensure successful development. Differentiation and transformation of blastomeres initiated during the morula and blastocyst stages is an important step of the embryonic development prior to implantation. We collected morula and early blastocyst samples from pure-bred Landrace pigs in vivo to study the differential gene expression patterns at these two stages. Total RNA was extracted from individual embryos and two rounds of amplification were employed. Two micrograms of antisense RNA, targets, were prepared and hybridized with each of four custom made oligo microarrays representing 24 000 porcine genes. The analyses of replicate hybridizations showed that among the 24 000 genes, 162 genes were expressed fivefold or greater in the morula compared to early blastocysts and 2126 genes were expressed fivefold or greater in early blastocysts compared to the morula. Of these differentially expressed genes, 1429 genes were functionally annotated with related human Gene Ontology terms. In addition to basic metabolic processes, genes related to signal transduction, transportation and cell differentiation were found in both stages and were up-regulated as embryo development proceeded. Real time polymerase chain reaction was utilized to quantify 12 genes differentially expressed in the 2 embryonic stages and validated the reliability of major evidences shown in microarrays. In conclusion, we have obtained a preliminary landscape of genes differentially expressed during the transition from morula to early blastocysts in pigs and showed a generally increased transcriptional activity, perhaps in preparation for implantation. Our results provide an opportunity to study the functions of these genes in relation to the development and survival of pre-implantation porcine embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Burkitt lymphoma and B cell lymphomas in childhood may arise in many atypical locations, which on rare occasions can include gastric mucosa. A case of primary gastric Burkitt lymphoma is described in a child presenting as a protein-losing enteropathy, including the direct monitoring of the disease response by sequential endoscopic biopsy and molecular analysis. Case presentation We report a 9-year-old boy who presented with gross oedema, ascites and respiratory distress caused by a protein-losing enteropathy. Initial imaging investigations were non-diagnostic but gastroduodenal endoscopy revealed massive involvement of the gastric mucosa with a primary Burkitt lymphoma. His subsequent clinical progress and disease response were monitored directly by endoscopy and he remains in clinical remission 4 years after initial diagnosis. Conclusions This is the first case report of primary Burkitt lymphoma presenting as a protein-losing enteropathy. The clinical course and progress of the patient were monitored by sequential endoscopic biopsy, histology and molecular analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

Fossil epifoliar fungi are valuable indicators of paleoenvironment and paleoecology. The Meliolaceae, members of which typically inhabit the surface of living plants as biotrophs or pathogens, is one of the largest groups of epifoliar fungi. In this study, we report a novel fossil species of Meliolinites Selkirk (fossil Meliolaceae), Meliolinites tengchongensis , on the lower epidermis of compressed fossil Rhodoleia (Hamamelidaceae) leaves from the Upper Pliocene Mangbang Formation of Tengchong, Yunnan, southwestern China. Meliolinites tengchongensis is characterized by web-like, superficial, brown to dark brown, septate, and branching mycelia bearing 2-celled appressoria and unicellular phialides. The fungal colonies also include ellipsoidal, 5-celled, 4-septate ascospores and dark brown perithecia with suborbicular outline and verrucose surface. The well-preserved vegetative and reproductive organs help us to explore the potential disease process of the new fossil species. Besides, the presence of fungal remains indicates that the fungal taxon might have maintained its host preference since at least the Late Pliocene. Furthermore, the occurrence of both fossil fungi and their host plants in Tengchong indicate a subtropical-tropical, warm, and humid climate during the Late Pliocene, whereas the distribution pattern of the fungi on the host leaves suggests that Rhodoleia may have been a part of the middle-upper canopies in the Tengchong Late Pliocene multilayered forest.

Excessive liver fat causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in laying hens, reducing egg production. Addressing NAFLD via bile-acid metabolism is gaining attention. We induced NAFLD in 7-week-old ISA female chickens with a high-cholesterol, low-choline diet (CLC) for 6 weeks. LC/MS was used to analyze serum and cecal bile acids, while cecal digesta DNA underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. The distribution of bile acid varied in healthy (CON) and CLC-fed chickens. CLC increased secondary bile acids (TLCA, TUDCA, THDCA, TDCA) in serum and primary bile acids (CDCA, TCDCA, isoDCA) in serum, as well as glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) in cecal contents. CLC upregulated bile-acid synthesis enzymes (CYP7A1, CYP8B1) in the liver. Bile-acid receptor gene expression (HNF4A, FXR, LXR) was similar between groups. Microbiota abundance was richer in CON (alpha-diversity), with distinct separation (beta-diversity) between CON and CLC. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio slightly decreased in CLC. Taxonomic analysis revealed higher Bacteroides , Alistipes , Megamonas in CLC but lower Barnesiella . CLC had more Mucispirillum, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Shuttleworthia, and Olsenella, while CON had more Enterococcus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014, and Faecalibacterium. This study unveils bile-acid and microflora changes in a chicken NAFLD model, enhancing our understanding of fatty liver disease metabolism and aiding targeted interventions.

Low-cost, small-sized, and easy integrated high-performance photodetectors for photonics are still the bottleneck of photonic integrated circuits applications and have attracted increasing attention. The tunable narrow bandgap of two-dimensional (2D) layered molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe 2 ) from ∼0.83 to ∼1.1 eV makes it one of the ideal candidates for near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors. Herein, we demonstrate an excellent waveguide-integrated NIR photodetector by transferring mechanically exfoliated 2D MoTe 2 onto a silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) waveguide. The photoconductive photodetector exhibits excellent responsivity ( R ), detectivity ( D *), and external quantum efficiency at 1550 nm and 50 mV, which are 41.9 A W -1 , 16.2 × 10 10 Jones, and 3360%, respectively. These optoelectronic performances are 10.2 times higher than those of the free-space device, revealing that the photoresponse of photodetectors can be enhanced due to the presence of waveguide. Moreover, the photodetector also exhibits competitive performances over a broad wavelength range from 800 to 1000 nm with a high R of 15.4 A W -1 and a large D * of 59.6 × 10 9 Jones. Overall, these results provide an alternative and prospective strategy for high-performance on-chip broadband NIR photodetectors., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

We investigated 1805 cases of breast abscesses during lactation to estimate the risk factors for multiple breast abscesses during lactation. A total of 2000 cases of breast abscesses during lactation were investigated using an online questionnaire, and 1805 cases with complete data were analyzed. The survey response rate was 90%. According to the number of abscesses, the patients were divided into 2 groups: single breast abscess (number = 1298) and multiple breast abscess (number = 507). Pearson chi-square test was used to compare the 15 risk factors between the 2 groups. Risk factors with significant differences were substituted into a binary logistic regression model to analyze the independent risk factors associated with multiple breast abscesses during lactation. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in (1) weeks postpartum, (2) separated from the baby, (3) breastfeeding exclusivity, (4) nipple inversion, (5) fever, (6) breast redness/swelling, (7) nipple pain, (8) breast massage by nonmedical staff, with (1), (5), (6), and (8) being independent risk factors. Patients under 6 weeks postpartum, separated from the baby, not exclusively breastfeeding, having an inverted nipple on the affected side, fever, breast skin redness and swelling on the affected side, nipple pain, and having undergone a breast massage by nonmedical staff are more likely to develop multiple breast abscesses., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Molybdenum sulfide (MoS 2 ) as an emerging optoelectronic material, shows great potential for phototransistors owing to its atomic thickness, adjustable band gap, and low cost. However, the phototransistors based on MoS 2 have been shown to have some issues such as large gate leakage current, and interfacial scattering, resulting in suboptimal optoelectronic performance. Thus, Al-doped hafnium oxide (Hf 1- x Al x ) is proposed to be a dielectric layer of the MoS 2 -based phototransistor to solve this problem because of the relatively higher crystallization temperature and dielectric constant. Here, a high-performance MoS 2 phototransistor with Hf 1- x Al x O gate dielectric layer grown by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition has been fabricated and studied. The results show that the phototransistor exhibits a high responsivity of 2.2 × 10 4 A W -1 , a large detectivity of 1.7 × 10 17 Jones, a great photo-to-dark current ratio of 2.2 × 10 6 %, and a high external quantum efficiency of 4.4 × 10 6 %. The energy band alignment and operating mechanism were further used to clarify the reason for the enhanced MoS 2 phototransistor. The suggested MoS 2 phototransistors could provide promising strategies in further optoelectronic applications., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Aluminum-doped Ga 2 O 3 (AGO) thin films were prepared by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD). The growth mechanism, surface morphology, chemical composition, and optical properties of AGO films were systematically investigated. The bandgap of AGO films can be theoretically set between 4.65 and 6.8 eV. Based on typical AGO films, metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (PDs) were created, and their photoelectric response was examined. The preliminary results show that PE-ALD grown AGO films have high quality and tunable bandgap, and AGO PDs possess superior characterizations to undoped films. The AGO realized using PE-ALD is expected to be an important route for the development of a new generation of gallium oxide-based photodetectors into the deep-ultraviolet., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Due to the poor growth rate of the Taiwan black (TB) goat in Taiwan, many exotic breeds were brought into breeding schemes to improve TB goat. However, the excessive cross-breeding of alien species with TB goat has decreased its population numbers, genetic variation and biodiversity. Therefore, TB goat population considered an endemic species in Taiwan that needed to be conservation. The objective of the present study was to analyze the genetic structure and TB goat using genetic markers for genetic improvement and to sustain germplasm conservation and utilization. 15 microsatellite markers, divided into three sets, were used to analyze 690 goats sampled from 10 goat populations. The average number of alleles (Na) and effective alleles (Ne) was 11.87 ± 3.93 and 5.093 ± 1.768, respectively. The average expected heterozygosity (H E ) and observed heterozygosity (H O ) was 0.780 ± 0.084 and 0.602 ± 0.116, respectively. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.747 ± 0.103; F IS was 0.058 ± 0.075. All 15 microsatellite markers were highly polymorphic. The genetic distances between individuals were estimated to construct a phylogenetic tree. In present study, the 690 goat samples were divided into 8 clusters. The results indicated that these 15 microsatellite markers successfully clustered goat populations in Taiwan and could assist in the preservation of TB goats.

In response to cold induction, brown adipose tissues (BAT) and emerged brown-like adipocytes (beige adipocytes) in subcutaneous white adipose tissues (WAT browning/beiging) are activated. Thermogenesis is increased during glucose and fatty acid uptake and metabolism in adult humans and mice. This activation of BAT or WAT beiging to generate heat helps to counteract diet-induced obesity. This protocol applies the glucose analog radiotracer 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), coupled with positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning to evaluate cold-induced thermogenesis in the active BAT (interscapular region) and browned/beiged WAT (subcutaneous adipose region) in mice. The PET/CT scanning technique not only can quantify cold-induced glucose uptake in well-known BAT and beige-fat depots but also helps to visualize the anatomical location of novel uncharacterized mouse BAT and beige fat where cold-induced glucose uptake is high. Histological analysis is further employed to validate signals of delineated anatomical regions in PET/CT images as bona fide mouse BAT or beiged WAT fat depots., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Research has connected Parkinson's disease (PD) with impaired intestinal barrier. The activation of G-protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) protects the intestinal barrier by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Sodium butyrate (NaB), which is a GPR109A ligand, may have anti-PD effects. The current study's objective is to demonstrate that NaB or monomethyl fumarate (MMF, an agonist of the GPR109A) can treat PD mice induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) via repairing the intestinal barrier. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups randomly: control, MPTP + vehicle, MPTP + NaB, and MPTP + MMF. Modeling mice received MPTP (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for a week, while control mice received sterile PBS. Then, four groups each received two weeks of sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), NaB (600 mg/kg/day, i.g.), or MMF (100 mg/kg/day, i.g.). We assessed the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (occludin and claudin-1), GPR109A, and p65 in the colon, performed microscopic examination via HE staining, quantified markers of intestinal permeability and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, and evaluated motor symptoms and pathological changes in the substantia nigra (SN) or striatum. According to our results, MPTP-induced defected motor function, decreased dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the striatum, decreased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and increased activated microglia in the SN, and systemic inflammation were ameliorated by NaB or MMF treatment. Additionally, the ruined intestinal barrier was also rebuilt and NF-κB was suppressed after the treatment, with higher levels of TJ proteins, GPR109A, and decreased intestinal permeability. These results show that NaB or MMF can remedy motor symptoms and pathological alterations in PD mice by restoring the intestinal barrier with activated GPR109A. We demonstrate the potential for repairing the compromised intestinal barrier and activating GPR109A as promising treatments for PD.

Objective: Alongside the rise of animal-protection awareness in Taiwan, the public has been paying more attention to dog genetic deficiencies due to inbreeding in the pet market. The goal of this study was to isolate novel microsatellite markers for monitoring the genetic structure of domestic dog populations in Taiwan., Methods: A total of 113 DNA samples from three dog breeds-beagles (BEs), bichons (BIs), and schnauzers (SCs)-were used in subsequent polymorphic tests applying the 14 novel microsatellite markers that were isolated in this study., Results: The results showed that the high level of genetic diversity observed in these novel microsatellite markers provided strong discriminatory power. The estimated probability of identity (P(ID)) and the probability of identity among sibs (P(ID)sib) for the 14 novel microsatellite markers were 1.7×10-12 and 1.6×10-5, respectively. Furthermore, the power of exclusion for the 14 novel microsatellite markers was 99.98%. The neighbor-joining trees constructed among the three breeds indicated that the 14 sets of novel microsatellite markers were sufficient to correctly cluster the BEs, BIs, and SCs. The principal coordinate analysis plot showed that the dogs could be accurately separated by these 14 loci based on different breeds; moreover, the Beagles from different sources were also distinguished. The first, the second, and the third principal coordinates could be used to explain 44.15%, 26.35%, and 19.97% of the genetic variation., Conclusion: The results of this study could enable powerful monitoring of the genetic structure of domestic dog populations in Taiwan.

Endodermal epithelial cells (EECs) within the yolk sac membrane (YSM) of avian embryos are responsible for the absorption and utilization of lipids. The lipids in the yolk are mostly composed of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), uptake mainly depends on clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). The CME relies on vesicle formation through the regulation of dynamin (DNM). However, it is still unclear whether DNMs participate in avian embryonic development. We examined mRNA expression levels of several genes involved in lipid transportation and utilization in YSM during Japanese quail embryonic development using qPCR. The mRNA levels of DNM1 and DNM3 were elevated at incubation d 8 and 10 before the increase of SOAT1, CIDEA, CIDEC, and APOB mRNA's. The elevated gene expression suggested the increased demand for DNM activity might be prior to cholesteryl ester production, lipid storage, and VLDL transport. Hinted by the result, we further investigated the role of DNMs in the embryonic development of Japanese quail. A DNM inhibitor, dynasore, was injected into fertilized eggs at incubation d 3. At incubation d 10, the dynasore-injected embryo showed increased embryonic lethality compared to control groups. Thus, the activity of DNMs was essential for the embryonic development of Japanese quail. The activities of DNMs were also verified by the absorptions of fluorescent VLDL (DiI-yVLDL) in EECs. Fluorescent signals in EECs were decreased significantly after treatment with dynasore. Finally, EECs were pretreated with S-Nitroso-L-glutathione (GSNO), a DNM activator, for 30 min; this increased the uptake of DiI-yVLDL. In conclusion, DNMs serve a critical role in mediating lipid absorption in YSM. The activity of DNMs was an integral part of development in Japanese quail. Our results suggest enhancing lipid transportation through an increase of DNM activity may improve avian embryonic development., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver diseases worldwide. This study examined the potential protective effects of a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, methyl brevifolincarboxylate (MBC) on fatty liver injury in vitro. The results showed that MBC at its non-cytotoxic concentrations, reduced lipid droplet accumulation and triglyceride (TG) levels in the oleic acid (OA)-treated human hepatocarcinoma cell line, SK-HEP-1 and murine primary hepatocytes. In OA-treated SK-HEP-1 cells and primary murine hepatocytes, MBC attenuated the mRNA expression levels of the de novo lipogenesis molecules, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase ( Acc1 ), fatty acid synthase ( Fasn ) and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c ( Srebp1c ). MBC promoted the lipid oxidation factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α ( Pparα ), and its target genes, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 ( Cpt1 ) and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 ( Acox1 ) in both the SK-HEP-1 cells and primary murine hepatocytes. The mRNA results were further supported by the attenuated protein expression of lipogenesis and lipid oxidation molecules in OA-treated SK-HEP-1 cells. The MBC increased the expression of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. On the other hand, MBC treatment dampened the inflammatory mediator's, tumor necrosis factor ( TNF )-α, interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ), IL-8 , and IL-1β secretion, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB expression (mRNA and protein) through reduced reactive oxygen species production in OA-treated SK-HEP-1 cells. Taken together, our results demonstrated that MBC possessed potential protective effects against NAFLD in vitro by amelioration of lipid metabolism and inflammatory markers through the AMPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disease attributed to multifactorial changes. However, its pathological mechanism remains undetermined. Accumulating evidence has revealed the emerging functions of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, which can affect both the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Accordingly, intestinal dysbiosis might be closely associated with PD. This review explores alterations to gut microbiota, correlations with clinical manifestations of PD, and briefly probes the underlying mechanisms. Next, the highly controversial roles of microbial metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), H 2 and H 2 S are discussed. Finally, the pros and cons of the current treatments for PD, including those targeting microbiota, are assessed. Advancements in research techniques, further studies on levels of specific strains and longitudinal prospective clinical trials are urgently needed for the identification of early diagnostic markers and the development of novel therapeutic approaches for PD., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tetranectin (TN), a plasminogen-binding protein originally involved in fibrinolysis and bone formation, was later identified as a secreted adipokine from human and rat adipocytes and positively correlated with adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in adipocytes. To elucidate the nutritional regulation of adipogenic TN from diets containing different sources of fatty acids (saturated, n -6, n -3) in adipocytes, we cloned the coding region of porcine TN from a cDNA library and analyzed tissue expressions in weaned piglets fed with 2% soybean oil (SB, enriched in n -6 fatty acids), docosahexaenoic acid oil (DHA, an n -3 fatty acid) or beef tallow (BT, enriched in saturated and n -9 fatty acids) for 30 d. Compared with tissues in the BT- or SB-fed group, expression of TN was reduced in the adipose, liver and lung tissues from the DHA-fed group, accompanied with lowered plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterols. This in vivo reduction was also confirmed in porcine primary differentiated adipocytes supplemented with DHA in vitro. Then, promoter analysis was performed. A 1956-bp putative porcine TN promoter was cloned and transcription binding sites for sterol regulatory-element binding protein (SREBP)-1c or forkhead box O proteins (FoxO) were predicted on the TN promoter. Mutating binding sites on porcine TN promoters showed that transcriptional suppression of TN by DHA on promoter activity was dependent on specific response elements for SREBP-1c or FoxO. The inhibited luciferase promoter activity by DHA on the TN promoter coincides with reduced gene expression of TN, SREBP-1c, and FoxO1 in human embryonic kidney HEK293T cells supplemented with DHA. To conclude, our current study demonstrated that the adipogenic TN was negatively regulated by nutritional modulation of DHA both in pigs in vivo and in humans/pigs in vitro. The transcriptional suppression by DHA on TN expression was partly through SREBP-1c or FoxO. Therefore, down-regulation of adipogenic tetranectin associated with fibrinolysis and adipogenesis may contribute to the beneficial effects of DHA on ameliorating obesity-induced metabolic syndromes such as atherosclerosis and adipose dysfunctions.

Abstract: The incidence of granulomatous mastitis (GLM) in multiparae as seriously affected the quality of life and breastfeeding of pregnant women after delivery, but the treatment is rarely reported. In this article, the development, healing, and lactation of 13 cases were reported and a retrospective analysis was performed. 10 cases of GLM were treated at the Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Center of Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing and 3 cases of GLM were treated in the Breast Department of Weihai Municipal Hospital of Shandong province from February 2017 to May 2019.Among the 13 patients, conservative symptomatic treatment was adopted during pregnancy and lactation: anti-infective therapy consisting of oral cephalosporin antibiotic for patients; ultrasound-guided puncture and drainage of pus or incision and drainage after abscess formation. Observation continued during the sinus tract phase. Postpartum breastfeeding was encouraged, especially on the affected side. In this study, the median healing time was 20 months and the average healing time was 30.4 months in 5 healthy breast lactation cases. In 8 cases of bilateral breast lactation, the median healing time was 30 months and the average healing time was 26.5 months. Linear regression test analysis: whether the affected breast was breast-fed after delivery had no effect on the postpartum wound healing time, P = .792. The wounds of 13 patients healed well after lactation, and none of them recurred since the last follow-up visit. There were no adverse events in all infants.Conservative symptomatic treatment for GLM of multiparous women during pregnancy and lactation and encouraging breastfeeding after delivery have no effect on infant health and the recovery time of patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Alternative growth promoters are able to not only effectively replace the traditional use of antibiotics but also provide additional health benefits for livestock and reduce food safety concerns. This study investigated the effects of dry Hydrastis canadensis on the laying performance and fecal microbial community of laying hens. Twenty-four Lohmann (LSL, white layer strain) hens were reared from 40 to 48 weeks of age and randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (six birds/treatment). The dietary treatments comprised a basal diet with no treatment as control, a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots (R) or leaves (L), and a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of a mixture of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves (1:1, LR). No mortality was observed in the whole experimental period. The results indicated that albumen height in the LR group was significantly greater than that in the control group. The diet supplemented with Hydrastis canadensis had no significant effects on egg production rate, egg weight, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, Haugh unit, or yolk height during the whole experimental phase. However, principal coordinate analysis, comparative heat map analysis, and cluster dendrogram analysis of cecal microbiota showed distinct clusters among the groups treated with Hydrastis canadensis and the control group. Regarding blood biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in all Hydrastis canadensis -treated groups compared with those in the control group. Moreover, serum low-density lipoprotein levels were lower in hens supplemented with the leaf of Hydrastis canadensis. The abundances of the phyla Fusobacteria and Kiritimatiellaeota were increased ( p < 0.05) in laying hens fed with 0.6% Hydrastis canadensis leaves, whereas the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes in cecum digesta decreased in response to treatment with Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves. The relative abundance of the Fusobacterium genus was higher in the LR group compared with that in the control. On the contrary, we found a different trend in the Synergistes genus. The potential influences of these microbiota on the performance of laying hens were discussed. The results demonstrate that Hydrastis canadensis can improve the egg albumen height and modulate the cecum digesta microbiota composition of laying hens.

Shewanella oneidensis is a model strain of the electrochemical active bacteria (EAB) because of its strong capability of extracellular electron transfer (EET) and genetic tractability. In this study, we investigated the effect of carbon sources on EET in S. oneidensis by using reduction of palladium ions (Pd(II)) as a model and found that pyruvate greatly accelerated the Pd(II) reduction compared with lactate by resting cells. Both Mtr pathway and hydrogenases played a role in Pd(II) reduction when pyruvate was used as a carbon source. Furthermore, in comparison with lactate-feeding S. oneidensis , the transcriptional levels of formate dehydrogenases involving in pyruvate catabolism, Mtr pathway, and hydrogenases in pyruvate - feeding S. oneidensis were up-regulated. Mechanistically, the enhancement of electron generation from pyruvate catabolism and electron transfer to Pd(II) explains the pyruvate effect on Pd(II) reduction. Interestingly, a 2-h time window is required for pyruvate to regulate transcription of these genes and profoundly improve Pd(II) reduction capability, suggesting a hierarchical regulation for pyruvate sensing and response in S. oneidensis IMPORTANCE The unique respiration of EET is crucial for the biogeochemical cycling of metal elements and diverse applications of EAB. Although a carbon source is a determinant factor of bacterial metabolism, the research into the regulation of carbon source on EET is rare. In this work, we reported the pyruvate-specific regulation and improvement of EET in S. oneidensis and revealed the underlying mechanism, which suggests potential targets to engineer and improve the EET efficiency of this bacterium. This study sheds light on the regulatory role of carbon sources in anaerobic respiration in EAB, providing a way to regulate EET for diverse applications from a novel perspective., (Copyright © 2021 American Society for Microbiology.)

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to exhibit important regulatory roles in multiple malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). hsa-miR-497-5p was reported to involve in cancer progression and poor prognosis in many kinds of tumors. However, the expression and its clinical significance of hsa-miR-497-5p in HCC remain unclear., Methods: In the present study, we investigated the expression of hsa-miR-497-5p in HCC and analyzed the correction of clinical features with prognosis. The expression levels of hsa-miR-497-5p and potential target genes were analyzed in HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze hsa-miR-497-5p levels in 328 HCC tissues and 30 paired adjacent noncancer tissues. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with HCC were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test., Results: The hsa-miR-497-5p expression levels were decreased, and its target genes ACTG1, CSNK1D, PPP1CC, and BIRC5 were upregulated in HCC tissues compared with normal tissues. Lower levels of hsa-miR-497-5p expression and higher levels of the four target genes were significantly associated with higher tumor diameter. Moreover, patients with lower hsa-miR-497-5p expression and higher target genes levels had shorter OS., Conclusion: The expression levels of hsa-miR-497-5p may play an important regulatory role in HCC and are closely correlated with HCC progression and poor prognosis in patients. The hsa-miR-497-5p may be a specific therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Lin-Lin Tian et al.)

Fatty liver diseases, common metabolic diseases in chickens, can lead to a decrease in egg production and sudden death of chickens. To solve problems caused by the diseases, reliable chicken models of fatty liver disease are required. To generate chicken models of fatty liver, 7-week-old ISA female chickens were fed with a control diet (17% protein, 5.3% fat, and 1,300 mg/kg choline), a low protein and high fat diet (LPHF, 13% protein, 9.1% fat, and 1,300 mg/kg choline), a high cholesterol with low choline diet (CLC, 17% protein, 7.6% fat with additional 2% cholesterol, and 800 mg/kg choline), a low protein, high fat, high cholesterol, and low choline diet (LPHFCLC, 13% protein, 12.6% fat with additional 2% cholesterol, and 800 mg/kg choline) for 4 wk. Our data showed that the CLC and LPHFCLC diets induced hyperlipidemia. Histological examination and the content of hepatic lipids indicated that the CLC and LPHFCLC diets induced hepatic steatosis. Plasma dipeptidyl peptidase 4, a biomarker of fatty liver diseases in laying hens, increased in chickens fed with the CLC or LPHFCLC diets. Hepatic ballooning and immune infiltration were observed in these livers accompanied by elevated interleukin 1 beta and lipopolysaccharide induced tumor necrosis factor mRNAs suggesting that the CLC and LPHFCLC diets also caused steatohepatitis in these livers. These diets also induced hepatic steatosis in Plymouth Rock chickens. Thus, the CLC and LPHFCLC diets can be used to generate models for fatty liver diseases in different strains of chickens. In ISA chickens fed with the CLC diet, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1, and fatty acid synthase mRNAs increased in the livers, suggesting that lipogenesis was enhanced by the CLC treatment. Our data show that treatment with CLC or LPHFCLC for 4 wk induces fatty liver disease in chickens. These diets can be utilized to rapidly generate chicken models for fatty liver research., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Adult humans and mice possess significant classical brown adipose tissues (BAT) and, upon cold-induction, acquire brown-like adipocytes in certain depots of white adipose tissues (WAT), known as beige adipose tissues or WAT browning/beiging. Activating thermogenic classical BAT or WAT beiging to generate heat limits diet-induced obesity or type-2 diabetes in mice. Adiponectin is a beneficial adipokine resisting diabetes, and causing "healthy obese" by increasing WAT expansion to limit lipotoxicity in other metabolic tissues during high-fat feeding. However, the role of its receptors, especially adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), on cold-induced thermogenesis in vivo in BAT and in WAT beiging is still elusive. Here, we established a cold-induction procedure in transgenic mice over-expressing AdipoR1 and applied a live 3-D [ 18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) scanning to measure BAT activity by determining glucose uptake in cold-acclimated transgenic mice. Results showed that cold-acclimated mice over-expressing AdipoR1 had diminished cold-induced glucose uptake, enlarged adipocyte size in BAT and in browned WAT, and reduced surface BAT/body temperature in vivo. Furthermore, decreased gene expression, related to thermogenic Ucp1 , BAT-specific markers, BAT-enriched mitochondrial markers, lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation, and increased expression of whitening genes in BAT or in browned subcutaneous inguinal WAT of AdipoR1 mice are congruent with results of PET/CT scanning and surface body temperature in vivo. Moreover, differentiated brown-like beige adipocytes isolated from pre-adipocytes in subcutaneous WAT of transgenic AdipoR1 mice also had similar effects of lowered expression of thermogenic Ucp1 , BAT selective markers, and BAT mitochondrial markers. Therefore, this study combines in vitro and in vivo results with live 3-D scanning and reveals one of the many facets of the adiponectin receptors in regulating energy homeostasis, especially in the involvement of cold-induced thermogenesis.

Heat strain experienced by individuals wearing chemical protective clothing (CPC) is severe and dangerous especially in hot-humid environment. The development of material science and interdisciplinary studies including ergonomics, physiology and heat transfer is urgently required for the reduction of heat strain. The aim of this paper was to study the relationship among clothing thermal properties, physiological responses and environmental conditions. Three kinds of CPC were selected. Eight participants wore CPC and walked (4 km/h, two slopes with 5% and 10%) on a treadmill in an environment with (35±0.5) °C and RH of (60±5)%. Core temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, heat storage and tolerance time were recorded and analyzed. Physiological responses were significantly affected by the clothing thermal properties and activity intensity in hot-humid environment. The obtained results can help further development of heat strain model. New materials with lower evaporative resistance and less weight are necessary to release the heat strain in hot-humid environments., (© Central South University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021.)

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is involved in lipid metabolism; however, the role of LRRK2 in lipid metabolism to affect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is still unclear. In the mouse model of NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet, we observed that LRRK2 was decreased in livers. In HepG2 cells, exposure to palmitic acid (PA) down-regulated LRRK2. Overexpression and knockdown of LRRK2 in HepG2 cells were performed to further investigate the roles of LRRK2 in lipid metabolism. Our results showed that β-oxidation in HepG2 cells was promoted by LRRK2 overexpression, whereas LRRK2 knockdown inhibited β-oxidation. The critical enzyme of β-oxidation, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), was positively regulated by LRRK2. Our data suggested that the regulation of CPT1A by LRRK2 may be via the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). The overexpression of LRRK2 reduced the concentration of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), induced by PA. The increase in β-oxidation may promote lipid catabolism to suppress inflammation induced by PA. These results indicated that LRRK2 participated in the regulation of β-oxidation and suggested that the decreased LRRK2 may promote inflammation by suppressing β-oxidation in the liver.

Background and Objective: We investigated whether (1) there are any differences in lactational breast abscesses between patients from whom methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and those from whom methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were isolated from pus samples and (2) there are differences in the effects of ultrasound-guided aspiration. Materials and Methods: The clinical data of 171 patients with lactational breast abscesses treated by ultrasound-guided aspiration in Beijing from January to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into MSSA infection ( N  = 132) and MRSA infection ( N  = 39) groups according to their bacterial culture results. Abscess cavity location, abscess cavity number, maximum abscess cavity size, antibiotic utilization rate, and cure rate were compared between the groups. Cure rate refers to the proportion of the total number of cases remaining after the elimination of failed cases. The number of ultrasound-guided aspiration procedures performed for healing between the two groups was also compared. Results: There were no significant differences in abscess cavity location, abscess cavity amount, and abscess cavity size between both groups. The antibiotic utilization rate of the two groups were 58.3% (MSSA, 77/132) and 69.2% (MRSA, 27/39), respectively, and there were no significant differences between both groups. The cure rates of ultrasound-guided aspiration of the two groups were 97.7% (MSSA, 129/132) and 92.3% (MRSA, 36/39), and there were no significant differences between both groups. There were also no significant differences in the median number of aspiration performed for cure between the MRSA infection group (median = 3, range = 1-10) and the MSSA infection group (median = 3, range = 1-14). Conclusion: Lactational breast abscesses are the same irrespective of the type of S. aureus infection. Treatment by ultrasound-guided aspiration for patients with MRSA infection can achieve the same effect as that for those with MSSA infection.

Objective: A set of microsatellite markers with high polymorphism from Tsaiya duck were used for the genetic monitoring and genetic structure analysis of Brown and White Tsaiya duck populations in Taiwan., Methods: The synthetic short tandem repeated probes were used to isolate new microsatellite markers from the genomic DNA of Tsaiya ducks. Eight populations, a total of 566 samples, sourced from Ilan Branch, Livestock Research Institute were genotyped through novel and known markers. The population genetic variables were calculated using optional programs in order to describe and monitor the genetic variability and the genetic structures of these Tsaiya duck populations., Results: In total 24 primer pairs, including 17 novel microsatellite loci from this study and seven previously known loci, were constructed for the detection of genetic variations in duck populations. The average values for the allele number, the effective number of alleles, the observed heterozygosity, the expected heterozygosity, and the polymorphism information content were 11.29, 5.370, 0.591, 0.746, and 0.708, respectively. The results of analysis of molecular variance and principal component analysis indicated a contracting Brown Tsaiya duck cluster and a spreading White Tsaiya duck cluster. The Brown Tsaiya ducks and the White Tsaiya ducks with Pekin ducks were just split to six clusters and three clusters when K was set equal to 6 and 3 in the Bayesian cluster analysis. The individual phylogenetic tree revealed eight taxa, and each individual was assigned to its own population., Conclusion: According to our study, the 24 novel microsatellite markers exhibited a high capacity to analyze relationships of inter- and intra-population in those populations with a relatively limited degree of genetic diversity. We suggest that duck farms in Taiwan could use the new (novel) microsatellite set to monitor the genetic characteristics and structures of their Tsaiya duck populations at various intervals in order to ensure quality breeding and conservation strategies.

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) using the ambient ionization technique enables a direct chemical investigation of biological samples with minimal sample pretreatment. However, detailed morphological information of the sample is often lost due to its limited spatial resolution. In this study, predictive high-resolution molecular imaging was produced by the fusion of ambient ionization MSI with optical microscopy of routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Specifically, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nanoDESI) mass spectrometry were employed to visualize lipid and protein species on mice tissue sections. The resulting molecular distributions obtained by ambient ionization MSI-microscopy fusion were verified with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MSI and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Label-free molecular imaging with 5-μm spatial resolution can be acquired using DESI and nanoDESI, whereas the typical spatial resolution of ambient ionization MSI was ∼100 μm. In this regard, sharpened molecular histology of tissue sections was achieved, providing complementary references to the pathology. Such a multi-modal integration enables the discovery of potential tumor biomarkers. After image fusion, more than a dozen potential biomarkers on a metastatic mouse lung tissue section and Luminal B breast tumor tissue section were identified., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The heart is a highly oxidative tissue, thus mitochondria play a major role in maintaining optimal cardiac function. Our previous study established a dietary-induced obese minipig with cardiac fibrosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in cardiac fibrosis of obese minipigs., Design: Four-month-old Lee-Sung minipigs were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (C) and an obese group (O) by feeding a control diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 months. Exposure of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts to palmitate was used to explore the effects of high-fat on induction of myocardial injury in vitro., Results: The O pigs displayed greater heart weight and cardiac collagen accumulation. Obese pigs exhibited a lower antioxidant capacity, ATP concentration, and higher oxidative stress in the left ventricle (LV). The HFD caused downregulation in protein expression of PGC-1α and OPA1, and upregulation of DRP1, FIS1, and PINK1 in the LV of O compared to C pigs. Furthermore, palmitate induced apoptosis and decreased ATP content in H9c2 cells. Palmitate elevated the protein expression of DRP1 and PINK1 in these cells. Inhibition of DRP1 protein expression by siDRP1 in H9c2 cells resulted in enhanced ATP and decreased palmitate-induced apoptosis., Conclusions: These results suggest that mitochondrial dynamics were linked to the progression of obesity-related cardiac injury. Inhibition of DRP1 after palmitate exposure in H9c2 cells resulted in improved ATP level and decreased apoptosis in vitro suggesting that mitochondrial fission serves a key role in progression of obesity-induced cardiac fibrosis., (© 2020 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation.)

Nutrients are utilized and re-constructed by endodermal epithelial cells (EECs) of yolk sac membrane (YSM) in avian species during embryonic development. Sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1) is the key enzyme to convert cholesterol to cholesteryl ester for delivery to growing embryos. During embryonic development, yolk absorption is concomitant with significant changes of SOAT1 mRNA concentration and enzyme activity in YSM. Presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) are observed in the embryonic liver and muscle during avian embryogenesis. However, the expression of miRNAs in YSM during embryogenesis and the involvement of miRNAs in lipid utilization are not known. Using a miRNA sequencing technique, we found several miRNA candidates and confirmed their expression patterns individually by real time PCR. MiRNA candidates were selected based on the expression pattern and their possible roles in inhibiting transforming growth factor beta receptor type 1 (TGFBR1) that would regulate the function of SOAT1. Similar to SOAT1 mRNA, the gga-miR-181a-5p expression was gradually elevated during embryonic development. However, the expression of gga-miR-429-3p in YSM was gradually decreased during embryonic development. The inhibitory effects of gga-miR-181a-5p or gga-miR-429-3p on the potential targets (SOAT1 and TGFBR1) were demonstrated by transient miRNA transfections in EECs. We also found that mutated TGFBR1 3'UTR prevented the direct pairings of gga-miR-181a-5p and gga-miR-429-3p. Treatment of TGFBR1 inhibitor, LY364947, further decreased SOAT1 transcription. Similar results were also observed by the miRNA transfection studies. The results showed the vital participations of gga-miR-181a-5p and gga-miR-429-3p in regulating TGFβ pathway, and affecting downstream SOAT1 expression and function in the YSM. This is indicative of possible regulation of avian yolk lipid utilization by changing YSM miRNA expressions., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Adiponectin is a circulatory cytokine secreted from adipose tissues and exerts critical metabolic functions in mammals. However, expression profiles of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors in the avian species that may be very different from mammals, especially under affluent nutrition conditions, remain unexplored to examine the effects of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors in chicken adipose tissues under high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Twenty Taiwan country chickens (L2 bred) of 12 weeks old were challenged with a 10% high-fat diet for 6 weeks. Results showed that body weights and plasma triglycerides, cholesterol and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) were all increased in the HFD treatments. Interestingly, we first demonstrated that chicken circulating macromolecule adiponectin and fat disulphide-bond A oxidoreductase-like protein (DsbA-L), a regulator involved in adiponectin secretion, were elevated upon HFD feeding. Moreover, the mRNA expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors as well as additional adipose-related genes such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were also increased in the chicken abdominal fats under HFD conditions. These results suggest that HFD treatment alters adiponectin and metabolic genes in chicken adipose tissues. In conclusion, in the present study, we examine expression profiles of adiponectin, adiponectin receptors, adiponectin secretion regulator DsbA-L, and metabolic genes in chicken fats upon HFD supplementation and provide new insights for how adiponectin entail the pathophysiologically obesogenic conditions in the avian species., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The genus Phyllanthus (L.) is one of the most important groups of plants belonging to the Phyllantaceae family. Phyllanthus urinaria (L.) is an annual perennial herbal species found in tropical Asia, America, China, and the Indian Ocean islands. P. urinaria is used in folk medicine as a cure to treat jaundice, diabetes, malaria, and liver diseases. This review provides traditional knowledge, phytochemistry, and biological activities of P. urinaria . The literature reviewed for this article was obtained from the Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar journal papers published prior to December 2017. Phytochemical investigations reveal that the plant is a rich source of lignans, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and other secondary metabolites. Pharmacological activities include anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective effects. Thus, this present review summarizes the phytochemical constituents and their biological activities including biological studies on various crude extracts and fractions both in vitro and in vivo , and on clinical trial information about P. urinaria . This review compiles 93 naturally occurring compounds from P. urinaria along with their structures and pharmacological activities. The review is expected to stimulate further research on P. urinaria , and its pharmacological potential to yield novel therapeutic agents.

Background: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) volume is highly associated with the presence and severity of cardiometabolic diseases, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. We previously demonstrated that a high-fat diet (HFD) induced metabolic dysregulation, cardiac fibrosis and accumulation of more PAT in minipigs. This study used our obese minipig model to investigate the characteristics of PAT and omental visceral fat (VAT) induced by a HFD, and the potential link between PAT and HFD-related myocardial fibrosis., Materials and Methods: Five-month-old Lee-Sung minipigs were made obese by feeding a HFD for 6 months., Results: The HFD induced dyslipidemia, cardiac fibrosis and more fat accumulation in the visceral and pericardial depots. The HFD changes the fatty acid composition in the adipose tissue by decreasing the portion of linoleic acid in the VAT and PAT. No arachidonic acid was detected in the VAT and PAT of control pigs, whereas it existed in the same tissues of obese pigs fed the HFD. Compared with the control pigs, elevated levels of malondialdehyde and TNFα were exhibited in the plasma and PAT of obese pigs. HFD induced greater size of adipocytes in VAT and PAT. Higher levels of GH, leptin, OPG, PDGF, resistin, SAA and TGFβ were observed in obese pig PAT compared to VAT., Conclusion: This study demonstrated the similarities and dissimilarities between PAT and VAT under HFD stimulus. In addition, this study suggested that alteration in PAT contributed to the myocardial damage., (© 2018 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation.)

Background: The Mikado pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado) is a nearly endangered species indigenous to high-altitude regions of Taiwan. This pheasant provides an opportunity to investigate evolutionary processes following geographic isolation. Currently, the genetic background and adaptive evolution of the Mikado pheasant remain unclear., Results: We present the draft genome of the Mikado pheasant, which consists of 1.04 Gb of DNA and 15,972 annotated protein-coding genes. The Mikado pheasant displays expansion and positive selection of genes related to features that contribute to its adaptive evolution, such as energy metabolism, oxygen transport, hemoglobin binding, radiation response, immune response, and DNA repair. To investigate the molecular evolution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) across several avian species, 39 putative genes spanning 227 kb on a contiguous region were annotated and manually curated. The MHC loci of the pheasant revealed a high level of synteny, several rapidly evolving genes, and inverse regions compared to the same loci in the chicken. The complete mitochondrial genome was also sequenced, assembled, and compared against four long-tailed pheasants. The results from molecular clock analysis suggest that ancestors of the Mikado pheasant migrated from the north to Taiwan about 3.47 million years ago., Conclusions: This study provides a valuable genomic resource for the Mikado pheasant, insights into its adaptation to high altitude, and the evolutionary history of the genus Syrmaticus, which could potentially be useful for future studies that investigate molecular evolution, genomics, ecology, and immunogenetics.

Background: Adiponectin (ADN) is an adipokine derived from adipocytes. It binds to adiponectin receptor 1 and 2 (AdipoR1 and R2) to exert its function in regulating whole-body energy homeostasis and inflammatory responses. However, the role of ADN-AdipoR1 signaling in intestinal inflammation is controversial, and its role in the regulation of neutrophils is still unclear. Our goal was to clarify the role of AdipoR1 signaling in colitis and the effects on neutrophils., Methods: We generated porcine AdipoR1 transgenic mice (pAdipoR1 mice) and induced murine colitis using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to study the potential role of AdipoR1 in inflammatory bowel disease. We also treated a THP-1 macrophage and a HT-29 colon epithelial cell line with ADN recombinant protein to study the effects of ADN on inflammation., Results: After inducing murine colitis, pAdipoR1 mice developed more severe symptoms than wild-type (WT) mice. Treatment with ADN increased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in THP-1 and HT-29 cells. Moreover, we also observed that the expression of cyclooxygenase2 (cox2), neutrophil chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL5), and the infiltration of neutrophils were increased in the colon of pAdipoR1 mice., Conclusions: Our study showed that ADN-AdipoR1 signaling exacerbated colonic inflammation through two possible mechanisms. First, ADN-AdipoR1 signaling increased pro-inflammatory factors. Second, AdipoR1 enhanced neutrophil chemokine expression and recruited neutrophils into the colonic tissue to increase inflammation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to create a set of microsatellite markers with high polymorphism for the genetic monitoring and genetic structure analysis of local goose populations., Methods: Novel microsatellite markers were isolated from the genomic DNA of white Roman geese using short tandem repeated probes. The DNA segments, including short tandem repeats, were tested for their variability among four populations of geese from the Changhua Animal Propagation Station (CAPS). The selected microsatellite markers could then be used to monitor genetic variability and study the genetic structures of geese from local geese farms., Results: 14 novel microsatellite loci were isolated. In addition to seven known loci, two multiplex sets were constructed for the detection of genetic variations in geese populations. The average of allele number, the effective number of alleles, the observed heterozygosity, the expected heterozygosity, and the polymorphism information content were 11.09, 5.145, 0.499, 0.745, and 0.705, respectively. The results of analysis of molecular variance and principal component analysis indicated a contracting white Roman cluster and a spreading Chinese cluster. In white Roman populations, the CAPS populations were depleted to roughly two clusters when K was set equal to 6 in the Bayesian cluster analysis. The founders of private farm populations had a similar genetic structure. Among the Chinese geese populations, the CAPS populations and private populations represented different clads of the phylogenetic tree and individuals from the private populations had uneven genetic characteristics according to various analyses., Conclusion: Based on this study's analyses, we suggest that the CAPS should institute a proper breeding strategy for white Roman geese to avoid further clustering. In addition, for preservation and stable quality, the Chinese geese in the CAPS and the aforementioned proper breeding scheme should be introduced to geese breeders.

Hormonal changes that cause metabolic complications are a common problem in postmenopausal women. Adiponectin and osteocalcin are cytokines associated with glucose regulatory and insulin sensitized function in postmenopausal stages. The current study investigated the role of adiponectin signaling and osteocalcin mediated function in glucose metabolism in ovariectomized mice. In a mouse menopausal-related metabolic disorder model, overexpression of adiponectin receptor 1 improved glucose tolerance and caused resistance to body weight increase and decline of serum osteocalcin. Furthermore, adiponectin receptor 1 transgenic ovariectomized mice had higher GPRC6A (the putative osteocalcin receptor) expression in muscle tissue. Immunofluorescence indicated that GPRC6A and adiponectin receptor 1 were co-localized in mouse muscle tissues. The present finding suggested adiponectin receptor 1 can mediate the improvement of glucose metabolism by osteocalcin in ovariectomized mice. Our findings imply the possibility to ameliorate menopause-induced metabolic disorder by GPRC6A and adiponectin signaling.

During avian embryonic development, endodermal epithelial cells (EECs) absorb yolk through the yolk sac membrane. Sterol O-acyltransferase (SOAT) is important for esterification and yolk lipid utilization during development. Because the major enzyme for yolk sac membrane cholesteryl ester synthesis is SOAT1, we cloned the avian SOAT1 promoter and elucidated the cellular functions of SOAT1. Treatments with either glucagon, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), an adenylate cyclase activator (forskolin), a cAMP analog (dibutyryl-cAMP), or a low glucose concentration all increased SOAT1 mRNA accumulation in EECs from Japanese quail, suggesting that SOAT1 is regulated by nutrients and hormones through a cAMP-dependent pathway. Activity of protein kinase A (PKA) was increased by IBMX, whereas co-treatment with the PKA inhibitor, H89 negated the increase in PKA activity. Cyclic AMP-induced EECs had greater cholesterol esterification than untreated EECs. By promoter deletion and point-mutation, the cAMP-response element (-349 to -341 bp) was identified as critical in mediating transcription of SOAT1. In conclusion, expression of SOAT1 was regulated by a cAMP-dependent pathway and factors that increase PKA will increase SOAT1 to improve the utilization of lipids in the EECs and potentially modify embryonic growth.

HGF and its receptor c-Met are critical molecules in various biological processes. Others and we have previously shown that the small GTPase Arf6 plays a pivotal role in HGF signaling in hepatocytes. However, the molecular mechanism of how Arf6 regulates HGF signaling is unclear. Here, we show that Arf6 plays an important role in HGF-stimulated hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration through the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 )-producing enzyme PIP5K1A. We find that knockdown of Arf6 and PIP5K1A in HepG2 cells inhibits HGF-stimulated proliferation, Akt activation, and generation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP 3 ) and its precursor PIP 2 . Interestingly, PIP5K1A is recruited to c-Met upon HGF stimulation in an Arf6 activity-dependent manner. Finally, we show that hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy are suppressed in Pip5k1a knockout mice. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanism for HGF-stimulated hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration: Arf6 recruits PIP5K1A to c-Met and activates it upon HGF stimulation to produce PIP 2 and subsequently PIP 3 , which in turn activates Akt to promote hepatocyte proliferation, thereby accelerating liver regeneration after liver injury.

Background: The cellular mechanisms of obesity-induced cardiomyopathy are multiple and not completely elucidated. The objective of this study was to differentiate two obesity-associated cardiomyopathy miniature pig models: one with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and one with a metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). The cellular responses during the development of obesity-induced cardiomyopathy were investigated., Methods: Five-month-old Lee-Sung (MetS) and Lanyu (MHO) minipigs were made obese by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 months., Results: Obese pigs exhibited a greater heart weight than control pigs. Interstitial and perivascular fibrosis developed in the myocardium of obese pigs. The HFD induced cardiac lipid accumulation and oxidative stress and also decreased the antioxidant defense in MetS pigs. This diet activated oxidative stress without changing cardiac antioxidant defense and lipid content in MHO pigs. The HFD upregulated the expression of Grp94, CHOP, caspase 12, p62, and LC3II, and increased the ratio of LC3II to LC3I in the left ventricle (LV) of MetS pigs. Compared to obese MetS pigs, less Grp94 and elevated CHOP expression was found in the obese MHO heart. The HFD did not change the ratio of LC3II to LC3I and p62 expression in obese MHO pigs. The obese MetS pigs had an extensive and greater inflammatory response in the plasma than the obese MHO pigs, which had a lesser and milder inflammation., Conclusion: Oxidative stress and ER stress were involved in the progression of MHO-related cardiomyopathy. Inflammation, autophagy, ER stress, oxidative stress, and lipotoxicity participated in the pathological mechanism of MetS-related cardiomyopathy., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

The Rab protein family is the largest family of the small GTP-binding proteins. Among them, the RabG genes are known to be responsive to abiotic stresses, but the molecular mechanisms of the stress responses mediated by RabG genes in plants is poorly understood. To investigate the molecular mechanism of AhRabG gene in peanut, transgenic plants overexpressing the AhRabG gene (S6) with relatively higher salinity resistance than the non-transgenic plants (S7) were obtained. Digital gene expression (DGE) sequencing was performed with the leaves of S6 and S7 plants before and after salinity-stress treatment. The AhRabG gene in peanut was found to be involved in a few pathways such as "photosynthesis", "oxidative phosphorylation", "AMPK signaling pathway", "plant hormone signal transduction", etc. A total of 298 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be upregulated or downregulated at five sampling time points based on the comparison between S6 and S7 plants. Among them, 132 DEGs were responsive to salinity stress in S6 and/or S7 after salinity-stress treatment. These 132 DEGs included genes encoding various transcription factors and proteins involved in resistance to salinity stress such as MYB, AP2, RING-H2 zinc finger proteins, late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, dehydration-responsive protein RD22, peroxidases, CBL-interacting protein kinases, calcium-binding proteins, and others. The information from this study will be useful for further studies on elucidating the mechanism of salinity resistance conferred by RabG genein peanut.

The unique advantage of easy access and abundance make the adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) a promising system of multipotent cells for transplantation and regenerative medicine. Among the available sources, porcine ADSCs (pADSCs) deserve especial attention due to the close resemblance of human and porcine physiology, as well as for the upcoming availability of humanized porcine models. Here, we report on the isolation and conversion of pADSCs into glucose-responsive insulin-secreting cells. We used the stromal-vascular fraction of the dorsal subcutaneous adipose from 9-day-old male piglets to isolate pADSCs, and subjected the cells to an induction scheme for differentiation on chitosan-coated plates. This one-step procedure promoted differentiation of pADSCs into pancreatic islet-like clusters (PILC) that are characterized by the expression of a repertoire of pancreatic proteins, including pancreatic and duodenal homeobox (Pdx-1), insulin gene enhancer protein (ISL-1) and insulin. Upon glucose challenge, these PILC secreted high amounts of insulin in a dose-dependent manner. Our data also suggest that chitosan plays roles not only to enhance the differentiation potential of pADSCs, but also to increase the glucose responsiveness of PILCs. Our novel approach is, therefore, of great potential for transplantation-based amelioration of type 1 diabetes.

Background: Prevalent worldwide obesity is associated with increased incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome. The identification of noninvasive biomarkers for NAFLD is of recent interest. Because primary de novo lipogenesis occurs in chicken liver as in human liver, adult chickens with age-associated steatosis resembling human NAFLD is an appealing animal model. Objective: The objective of this study was to screen potential biomarkers in the chicken model for NAFLD by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Methods: Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were fed standard feed from 25 to 45 wk of age to induce fatty liver. They were killed every 4 wk, and liver and plasma were collected at each time point to assess fatty liver development and for transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Next, selected biomarkers were confirmed in additional experiments by providing supplements of the hepatoprotective nutrients betaine [300, 600, or 900 parts per million (ppm) in vivo; 2 mM in vitro] or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 1% in vivo; 100 μM in vitro) to 30-wk-old Hy-Line W-36 laying hens for 4 mo and to Hy-Line W-36 chicken primary hepatocytes with oleic acid-induced steatosis. Liver or hepatocyte lipid contents and the expression of biomarkers were then examined. Results: Plasma acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase (AACS), dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4), glutamine synthetase (GLUL), and glutathione S -transferase (GST) concentrations are well-established biomarkers for NAFLD. Selected biomarkers had significant positive associations with hepatic lipid deposition ( P < 0.001). Betaine (900 ppm in vivo; 2 mM in vitro) and DHA (1% in vivo; 100 μM in vitro) supplementation both resulted in lower steatosis accompanied by the reduced expression of selected biomarkers in vivo and in vitro ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study used adult laying hens to identify biomarkers for NAFLD and indicated that AACS, DPP4, GLUL, and GST could be considered to be potential diagnostic indicators for NAFLD in the future., (© 2017 American Society for Nutrition.)