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Spexin2 (SPX2), a paralog of SPX1, is a newly identified gene in non-mammalian vertebrates. Limited studies in fish have evidenced its important role in food intake and energy balance modulation. However, little is known about its biological functions in birds. Using the chicken (c-) as a model, we cloned the full-length cDNA of SPX2 by using RACE-PCR. It is 1189 base pair (bp) in length and predicted to generate a protein of 75 amino acids that contains a 14 amino acids mature peptide. Tissue distribution analysis showed that cSPX2 transcripts were detected in a wide array of tissues, with abundant expression in the pituitary, testis, and adrenal gland. cSPX2 was also observed to be ubiquitously expressed in chicken brain regions, with the highest expression in the hypothalamus. Its expression was significantly upregulated in the hypothalamus after 24 or 36 h of food deprivation, and the feeding behavior of chicks was obviously suppressed after peripheral injection with cSPX2. Mechanistically, further studies evidenced that cSPX2 acts as a satiety factor via upregulating cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) and downregulating agouti-related neuropeptide (AGRP) in hypothalamus. Using a pGL4-SRE-luciferase reporter system, cSPX2 was demonstrated to effectively activate a chicken galanin II type receptor (cGALR2), a cGALR2-like receptor (cGALR2L), and a galanin III type receptor (cGALR3), with the highest binding affinity for cGALR2L. Collectively, we firstly identified that cSPX2 serves as a novel appetite monitor in chicken. Our findings will help clarify the physiological functions of SPX2 in birds as well as its functional evolution in vertebrates.

Hyperlipidemia is regarded as a public health matter, and its effective prevention and treatment are urgently required. However, the treatment of hyperlipidemia is still relatively scarce.Fermented Cerasus humilis fruit (FCHF) had higher total flavonoid, total phenolic, procyanidin, and organic and free amino acid and lower total sugar content than non-fermented Cerasus humilis fruit (NFCHF). Both FCHF and NFCHF treatment significantly prevent putting on weight. Besides, FCHF administration ameliorated hyperlipidemia and cholesterol over-accumulation. Furthermore, FCHF administration activated the antioxidase system and decrease the MDA content to relieve oxidative stress, and showed more efficaciously than NFCHF administration. FCHF treatments significantly reverse the fat deposition in HFD rat liver. FCHF supplementation can relieve the dysbacteriosis induced by Hyperlipidemia, and regulate the composition of rat gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of Prevotella and norank_f_Muribaculaceae.Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) fermentation enhanced the antihyperlipidemic property of Cerasus humilis (C. humilis) fruits by promoting gut microbiota regulation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a baby-led self-attachment breastfeeding support intervention on the prevalence and duration of exclusive breastfeeding and nipple pain at 3 days, 6 weeks, 3 m...

A follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is widely used in the assisted reproduction and a synthetic peptide corresponding to a receptor binding region of the human (h) FSH-β-(34–37) (TRDL) modulated reproduction. Furthermore, a 13-amino acid sequence corresponding to hFSH-β-(37–49) (LVYKDPARPKIQK) was recently identified as the receptor binding site. We hypothesized that the synthetic peptides corresponding to hFSH-β-(37–49) and hFSH-β-(34–49), created by merging hFSH-β-(34–37) and hFSH-β-(37–49), modulate the reproductive functions, with the longer peptide being more biologically active. In male or female prepubertal mice, a single injection of 200 μg/g BW ip of hFSH-β-(37–49) or hFSH-β-(34–49) hastened (p < 0.05) puberty, whereas the same treatments given daily for 4 d promoted (p < 0.05) the gonadal steroidogenesis and gamete formation. In addition of either peptide to the in vitro cell cultures, promoted (p < 0.05) the proliferation of primary murine granulosa cells and the estradiol production by upregulating the expression of Ccnd2 and Cyp19a1, respectively. In adult female mice, 200 μg/g BW ip of either peptide during diestrus antagonized the FSH-stimulated estradiol increase and uterine weight gain during proestrus. Furthermore, hFSH-β-(34–49) was a more potent (p < 0.05) reproductive modulator than hFSH-β-(37–49), both in vivo and in vitro. We concluded that hFSH-β-(37–49) and especially hFSH-β-(34–49), have the potential for reproductive modulation.

Inhibins suppress the FSH production in pituitary gonadotrope cells by robustly antagonizing activin signaling by competitively binding to activin type II receptors (ACTR II). The binding of inhibin A to ACTR II requires the presence of its co-receptor, namely, betaglycan. In humans, the critical binding site for betaglycan to inhibin A was identified on the inhibin α subunit. Through conservation analysis, we found that a core 13-amino-acid peptide sequence within the betaglycan-binding epitope on human inhibin α subunit is highly conserved across species. Based on the tandem sequence of such a conserved 13-amino-acid betaglycan-binding epitope (INHα13AA-T), we developed a novel inhibin vaccine and tested its efficacy in promoting female fertility using the female rat as a model. Compared with placebo-immunized controls, INHα13AA-T immunization induced a marked (p < 0.05) antibody generation, enhanced (p < 0.05) ovarian follicle development, and increased ovulation rate and litter sizes. Mechanistically, INHα13AA-T immunization promoted (p < 0.05) pituitary Fshb transcription and increased (p < 0.05) serum FSH and 17β-estradiol concentrations. In summary, active immunization against INHα13AA-T potently increased FSH levels, ovarian follicle development, ovulation rate and litter sizes, thus causing super-fertility in females. Therefore, immunization against INHα13AA is a promising alternative to the conventional approach of multiple ovulation and super-fertility in mammals.

A series of doped rather than supported 3DOM Ce0.7Fe0.2M0.1O2 and bulk Ce0.7Fe0.2Cu0.1O2 catalysts were prepared for the CO-SCR reaction. The formation of the 3DOM structure not only improves the reduction performance and surface-active sites but also promotes the generation of more surface-adsorbed oxygen species. Thus, the 3DOM Ce0.7Fe0.2Cu0.1O2 catalyst shows high CO-SCR activity in the broad operating temperature window of 150–700 °C, with T50 at 150 °C and T100 at 350 °C. It also has the highest CO oxidation activity in a series of samples. Moreover, the appearance of Cu+–CO species and the fast transition between Ce4+ and Ce3+ (Cu2+ + Ce3+ ↔ Cu+ + Ce4+) are the reasons why 3DOM Ce0.7Fe0.2Cu0.1O2 has better catalytic activity than other catalysts at lower temperature. Simultaneously, the oxygen vacancies produced by the reduction of Fe3+ → Fe2+ and those adjacent to Ce3+ are more significant at higher temperatures, and are favorable for the dissociation of NO. The cause of partial deactivation of the optimal catalyst under specific reaction conditions is also discovered, which further confirms the importance of Cu+ and number of active sites. Further, the CO-SCR reaction on 3DOM Ce0.7Fe0.2Cu0.1O2 follows the mechanism of L–H and E–R at low and high temperatures, respectively.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is crucial for ovarian folliculogenesis and thus essential for female fertility. Here, we developed a novel FSH vaccine based on the tandem of a 13-amino acid receptor-binding epitope of FSHβ (FSHβ13AA-T) and used a mouse model to test its efficacy in female fertility regulation. Compared to placebo-immunized controls, FSHβ13AA-T vaccination: induced a marked (P 0.05) antibody generation; reduced (P 0.05) serum concentrations of FSH, inhibin B and 17β-estradiol; disrupted (P 0.05) normal estrous cyclicity; delayed (P = 0.08) establishment of pregnancy; blocked (P 0.05) folliculogenesis; and reduced (P 0.05) litter size. Mechanistically, FSH vaccination reduced (P 0.05) ovarian estrogen production by decreasing Lhcgr, Cyp19a1 and HSD3β1 expression, and suppressed ovarian follicular development by decreasing ovarian Fshr, Inhα, Foxo3a, Bmp15 and Cdh1 expression. Overall, vaccination of female mice with FSHβ13AA-T substantially disrupted FSH-dependent ovarian steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis, and caused subfertility. Therefore, vaccines based on FSHβ13AA-T have potential as anti-fertility/contraceptive agents in females.

Objective: To investigate the effect of an evidence-based activity management program for pregnant women after intraspinal labor analgesia based on their delivery outcomes. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 96 pregnant women who received intraspinal labor analgesia in our hospital. The control group (48 cases) received routine nursing care after analgesia, and the intervention group (48 cases) received evidence-based activity management program after analgesia. The labor time, sense of birth control, physiological and psychological stress reactions, analgesic effect, delivery outcome and early postpartum pelvic floor function were compared between the two groups. Results: Compared with the control group, the first, second and third stages of labor time and the total labor time of the intervention group were significantly shorter, while the Labor Agentry Scale (LAS) score was significantly higher (P

This study combines a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescent detection method (HPLC-FLD) with in-situ cell imaging for the sensitive analysis of glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcys), using BODIPY®507/545 IA as a labeling reagent. The analytical potential of BODIPY®507/545 IA in cell imaging was deeply explored, concerning fluorescent response, selectivity, cell-permeability, biotoxicity and so on. It is demonstrated that BODIPY®507/545 IA has good biocompatibility and the fluorescence intensity is enhanced remarkably after reacting with thiols. The best derivative condition was obtained in boric acid buffer (0.05 mmol/L, pH 9.5) at 45 °C for 15 min. For chromatographic method, two sensitive methods, HPLC-FLD and capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) were both developed, validated, and compared. The detection limits for the thiols ranged from 5 to 10 nmol/L with HPLC-FLD and 0.5 nmol/L for the CE-LIF method. Finally, HPLC-FLD is adopted to quantify the thiols in HepG2 cell samples after cell imaging.

In the present study, by using a briefly masked prime display paradigm, we investigated whether the pointing relation (same or different) between two unconsciously perceived arrows in the prime cou...

Activated carbon made from agricultural waste (walnut shells) was investigated as a suitable adsorbent for effectively removing quinoline from industrial wastewater. The activated carbon was treated with phosphoric acid and oxidized by ammonium persulfate and its ability to adsorb pyridine and quinoline in aqueous solution was investigated. Kinetic parameters for the adsorption process were determined through pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models and intraparticle diffusion models. Equilibrium experiments and adsorption isotherms were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. After reaching equilibrium, the activated carbon adsorbed quinoline in preference to pyridine: the equilibrium adsorptions from individual aqueous solutions (200 μL L−1) of quinoline and pyridine were 166.907 mg g−1 and 72.165 mg g−1, respectively. Thermodynamic studies of quinoline adsorption were conducted at different temperatures and indicated that quinoline adsorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The column-adsorption of quinoline and pyridine was consistent with the Thomas model and the Yoon-Nelson model. The removal efficiency of quinoline reached more than 97% for a velocity of 6 mL min−1 at the initial adsorption stage.

[Abstract] Objective: To investigate the influence factors of hemorrhage and stroke with retriever with Solitaire AB stent in patients with acute intracranial artery occlusion. Methods: A retrospective of 43 cases of patients with acute intracranial artery occlusion for endovascular treatment with Solitaire AB stent enrolled from March 2016 to June 2018 in our hospital, combining the characteristics of the patients of our city, through the clinical baseline data statistical analysis, complications screening of risk factors of complications. Results: There were 81.4% of patients who were dredged totally. The incidences of cerebral hemorrhage and infarction were 18.6% and 16.3%, cerebral hemorrhage group compared with control group, diabetes, blood pressure, revascularized time, NIHSS score, ASPECTS score had statistically significant differences, when infarction group compared with control group, age, opening time, ASITN_SIR score and grade of mTICI had statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Mechanical thrombectomy with Solitaire AB stent in patients with acute intracranial artery occlusion, the occurred of complications associated with various clinical factors, and the occurrence of complications seriously affect the prognosis of patients, therefore, selecting the indications strictly, and adopt individualized treatment to reduce complications.

Polysaccharides production from star anise was carried out. The effects of extraction temperature, time, ratio of water to raw material and number of extraction were optimized by using an orthogonal L9(3)4 test design. The optimum extraction conditions were determined as follows: extraction temperature 100°C, time 4 h, number of cycle 2 and ratio of water to raw material at 11. Under optimized conditions, the experimental yield 10.50 ± 0.08% agreed closely with the predicted yield. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Infrared (IR) methods were used for qualitative and quantitative determination of the polysaccharides. HPLC analysis showed that the polysaccharides were composed of three kinds of monosaccharide, namely xylose, arabinose and glucose in molar ratios of 1:4.8:18.3. Pharmacological studies revealed star anise polysaccharides could inhibit the growth of Sarcoma 180 tumor in vivo. The tumor inhibition ratio of high dose polysaccharides (720 mg/kg) was 30.92%. No significant difference of spleen and thymus index was observed at three doses of the polysaccharides while compared with model control. Key words: Star anise, polysaccharides, extraction, characterization, antitumor effect.