Heat stress can significantly affect the immune function of the animal body. Heat stress stimulates oxidative stress in intestinal tissue and suppresses the immune responses of mice. The protecting ...effects of chitosan on heat stress induced colitis have not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of chitosan on immune function in heat stressed mice. Mice were exposed to heat stress (40 °C per day for 4 h) for 14 consecutive days. The mice (C57BL/6J), were randomly divided into three groups including: control group, heat stress, Chitosan group (LD: group 300 mg/kg/day, MD: 600 mg/kg/day, HD: 1000 mg/kg/day). The results showed that tissue histology was improved in chitosan groups than heat stress group. The current study showed that the mice with oral administration of chitosan groups had improved body performance as compared with the heat stress group. The results also showed that in chitosan treated groups the production of HSP70, TLR4, p65, TNF-α, and IL-10 was suppressed on day 1, 7, and 14 as compared to the heat stress group. In addition Claudin-2, and Occludin mRNA levels were upregulated in mice receiving chitosan on day 1, 7, and 14 of heat stress. Furthermore, the IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α plasma levels were down-regulated on day 1, 7, and 14 of heat stress in mice receiving the oral administration of chitosan. In conclusion, the results showed that chitosan has an anti-inflammatory ability to tolerate hot environmental conditions.
Neurotransmission requires precise control of neurotransmitter release from axon terminals. This process is regulated by glial cells; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We ...found that glutamate release in the brain was impaired in mice lacking low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4), a protein that is critical for neuromuscular junction formation. Electrophysiological studies revealed compromised release probability in astrocyte-specific Lrp4 knockout mice. Lrp4 mutant astrocytes suppressed glutamatergic transmission by enhancing the release of ATP, whose level was elevated in the hippocampus of Lrp4 mutant mice. Consequently, the mutant mice were impaired in locomotor activity and spatial memory and were resistant to seizure induction. These impairments could be ameliorated by blocking the adenosine A1 receptor. The results reveal a critical role for Lrp4, in response to agrin, in modulating astrocytic ATP release and synaptic transmission. Our findings provide insight into the interaction between neurons and astrocytes for synaptic homeostasis and/or plasticity.
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in breast lesions, comparing with contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic microvascular imaging (MVI).
From April to November ...2015, 132 patients (with 132 breast lesions) were enrolled in the retrospective study. All lesions were evaluated with colour Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), colour SMI (cSMI), monochrome SMI (mSMI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic MVI. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic performance of SMI and MVI for discrimination between benign and malignant breast lesions.
Histological analysis showed 58 malignant and 74 benign lesions. mSMI was more sensitive in detecting blood flow signals in breast lesions than CDFI (p < 0.001) and cSMI (p < 0.001). Differences of vessels inside breast lesions and morphologic features of vessels between benign and malignant lesions were statistically significant on mSMI (p < 0.001). Using root hair-like and crab claw-like patterns as the criteria for malignant lesions, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for differentiation based on the microvascular architecture patterns were 77.6, 90.5 and 84.8% for mSMI and 89.6, 87.8 and 88.6% for MVI. Areas under curve of mSMI and MVI were not significantly different (p = 0.129).
mSMI can increase blood flow detection and depict the microvascular architecture of breast lesions. The diagnostic performance of mSMI was not significantly different from MVI. SMI has potential in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions.
mSMI is a non-invasive technique for vascularity evaluation of breast tumours and it is beneficial for breast tumour differentiation.
Previous neuroimaging studies on arithmetic development have mainly focused on functional activation or functional connectivity between brain regions. It remains largely unknown how brain structures ...support arithmetic development. The present study investigated whether early gray matter structural covariance contributes to later gain in arithmetic ability in children. We used a public longitudinal sample comprising 63 typically developing children. The participants received structural magnetic resonance imaging scanning when they were 11 years old and were tested with a multiplication task at 11 years old (time 1) and 13 years old (time 2), respectively. Mean gray matter volumes were extracted from eight brain regions of interest to anchor salience network (SN), frontal-parietal network (FPN), motor network (MN), and default mode network (DMN) at time 1. We found that longitudinal gain in arithmetic ability was associated with stronger structural covariance of the SN seed with frontal and parietal regions and stronger structural covariance of the FPN seed with insula, but weaker structural covariance of the FPN seed with motor and temporal regions, weaker structural covariance of the MN seed with frontal and motor regions, and weaker structural covariance of the DMN seed with temporal region. However, we did not detect correlation between longitudinal gain in arithmetic ability and behavioral measure or regional gray matter volume at time 1. Our study provides novel evidence for a specific contribution of gray matter structural covariance to longitudinal gain in arithmetic ability in childhood.
Global warming has received widespread concern. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) is one of the major factors contributing to global warming. Soil is a major source of GHG. ...Global warming could feed back on soil GHG emission. Warming influences the growth of plants, animals, microbes and their interactions, as well as the cycling of soil matters (especially nitrogen and carbon). Consequently, warming has the potential to affect soil GHG emission. We summarized the effects of warming on soil N
O, and CH
emissions and the underlying mechanisms. In general, warming increased the emission of these two greenhouse gases, which are mainly related to the effects of temperature on the abundance and composition of ammonia oxidizing bacteria, denitrification functional genes, methane-producing bacteria and methane-oxidizing bacteria. Soil GHG emissions are affected by plant species characteristics, nutrient uptake and community composition, as well as soil nutrient element content, water content, pH
Traditional technology of cell disruption has become one of the bottlenecks restricting the industrialization of genetic engineering products due to its high cost and low efficiency. In this study, a ...novel bioprocess of phage lysis coupled with salting‐out extraction (SOE) was evaluated. The lysis effect of T7 phage on genetically engineered Escherichia coli expressing κ‐carrageenase was investigated at different multiplicity of infection (MOI), meanwhile the phage and enzyme released into the lysate were separated by SOE. It was found that T7 phage could lyse 99.9% of host cells at MOI = 1 and release more than 90.0% of enzyme within 90 min. After phage lysis, 87.1% of T7 phage and 71.2% of κ‐carrageenase could be distributed at the middle phase and the bottom phase, respectively, in the SOE system composed of 16% ammonium sulfate and 20% ethyl acetate (w/w). Furthermore, κ‐carrageenase in the bottom phase could be salted out by ammonium sulfate with a yield of 40.1%. Phage lysis exhibits some advantages, such as mild operation conditions and low cost. While SOE can efficiently separate phage and intracellular products. Therefore, phage lysis coupled with SOE is expected to become a viable alternative to the classical cell disruption and intracellular product recovery.
Aberrant expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) is associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression by inducing cancer metastasis. However, the downstream effector(s) in TGF‐β ...signaling pathway is not fully characterized. In the present study, the elevation of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) as a TGF‐β regulated gene in RCC was identified by applying differentially expressed gene analysis and microarray analysis, we further confirmed this result in several RCC cell lines. Clinically, the expression of these two genes is positively correlated in RCC patient specimens. Furthermore, elevated SPARC expression is found in all the subtypes of RCC and positively correlated with the RCC stage and grade. In contrast, SPARC expression is inversely correlated with overall and disease‐free survival of patients with RCC, suggesting SPARC as a potent prognostic marker of RCC patient survival. Knocking down SPARC significantly inhibits RCC cell invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, in vitro cell invasion can be diminished by using a specific monoclonal antibody. Mechanistically, SPARC activates protein kinase B (AKT) pathway leading to elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 that can facilitate RCC invasion. Altogether, our data support that SPARC is a critical role of TGF‐β signaling network underlying RCC progression and a potential therapeutic target as well as a prognostic marker.
Background
Revision of tumor‐type prosthetic fractures is very challenging in clinical work. Traditional repair methods may not be able to meet the needs of complex cases or cause greater bone ...damage. Therefore, more effective and reliable solutions need to be found.
Case Presentation
This study presents a novel revision technique for managing fractures of tumor‐type total elbow prostheses. A 57‐year‐old female patient was diagnosed with a left distal humeral bone tumor accompanied by pathological fracture and underwent customized tumor‐type total elbow prosthesis arthroplasty. After 5 years, she experienced pain and encountered difficulty in flexing the left elbow while lifting heavy objects. The X‐ray examination revealed a fracture of the distal humeral prosthesis. As a response, the elbow joint was initially explored, and the damaged component of the prosthesis was extracted. Subsequently, we utilized 3D printing technology to design a split‐piece sleeve prosthesis and effectively restored the fractured left distal humerus implant. During the 2‐year follow‐up, The X‐ray demonstrated satisfactory positioning of the prosthesis, which remained securely affixed without any indications of loosening. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) reached 80 points, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) attained a score of 28 points, and the range of motion of the elbow was measured between 25° and 110°, revealing favorable functional outcomes.
Conclusion
The utilization of a 3D printed split‐piece sleeve prosthesis presents a viable clinical treatment strategy for addressing fractures in tumor‐type elbow prostheses.
A 57‐year‐old female patient was diagnosed with a left distal humeral bone tumor accompanied by pathological fracture and underwent customized tumor‐type total elbow prosthesis arthroplasty. After 5 years, the X‐ray examination revealed a fracture of the distal humeral prosthesis (A). The damaged components of the prosthesis are extracted (B). Using 3D printing technology to design split‐piece sleeve prosthesis (C). The radiographs obtained during the 2‐year follow‐up demonstrated optimal prosthesis positioning without any evident signs of implant loosening, periprosthetic fracture, or breakage (D).
Soil nitrogen (N) transformation is mainly controlled by microorganisms. Different plant species have specific effects on soil ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB). Furthermore, plant ...secondary metabolites have dramatic influences on soil N transformation and soil ammonia‐oxidizers. However, no study has directly linked the changes in soil AOA and AOB communities to N transformation due to different plant species' leaf leachates, including comparing invasive versus native plants. We selected three invasive species, Wedelia trilobata, Ipomoea cairica and Mikania micrantha, and two native species, Wedelia chinensis and Merremia hederacea, and incubated soil with high and low concentrations of leaf leachates from the five species. Soil N transformation and ammonia oxidizer communities (based on quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA high‐throughput sequencing) were determined. Leaf leachates significantly affected soil N transformation and soil AOA and AOB abundance, and the effects were dependent on the plant species and leachate concentration. The leachate of W. chinensis increased soil net nitrification rates (NNR), whereas that of M. micrantha increased soil nitrate (NO3−) and NNR. The leachate of M. micrantha increased AOB amoA genes, whereas that of M. hederacea decreased AOA amoA genes. At the higher concentration, all leachates showed inhibitory effects on the relative abundance of all AOA taxonomic groups. Phenolics, flavonoids and organic carbon in leaf leachates had a negative correlation with soil NO3−, NNR and the amoA genes of AOA and AOB, whereas NH4+ and NO3− in leachates showed a positive correlation. Among the five species, the invasive species M. micrantha had the strongest positive effect on soil N transformation and AOB abundance. The altered soil ammonia oxidizer communities and modified N process rates induced by leaf leachates provide an explanatory mechanism for the differential effects of plant species on N cycling.
Highlights
Link changes in soil AOA and AOB to N cycling due to leaf leachates.
Specific plants can dramatically alter soil ammonia‐oxidizer presence and abundance.
Effects of invasive plants on soil N and AOB are mainly driven by M. micrantha.
High concentrations of plant leachates reduced the relative abundance of AOA groups.
The problem of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation for sparse array is addressed. The perspective that DOA estimation in virtual array response model can be cast as the problem of sparse recovery ...is introduced. Two methods are proposed, based on different optimization problems, which are solvable using second-order cone (SOC) programming. Without the knowledge of the number of sources, the proposed methods yield superior performances, which are verified by numerical simulations.
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