Summary
This prospective randomized clinical study is aimed to evidence the reproductive impairment of frequent scrotal heat exposure. A total of 20 normozoospermic subjects were randomly divided ...into two groups to undergo testicular warming in a 43 °C water bath 10 times, for 30 min each time; the subjects in group 1 underwent testicular warming for 10 consecutive days and those in group 2 once every 3 days. Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis, and seminal plasma‐soluble Fas (sFas) were analyzed before treatment and every 2 weeks after, for a total of 10 times. In group 1, some critical proteins involved in heat stress, hypoxia, structure, and function of sperm mitochondria and flagella were evaluated before hyperthermia and 2, 6, 10, and 16 weeks after hyperthermia. Both groups showed a reversible increase in the proportion of spermatozoa with a disrupted MMP (both p < 0.05 when the minimums were compared with baseline levels, the same below), sperm apoptosis (both p < 0.01) and high DNA stainability (both p < 0.05). The sFas concentration in both groups showed no obvious changes except one: the value at week 2 was significantly increased over baseline in group 1 (p = 0.036). The level of Bcl‐2 decreased significantly at weeks 6 and 10 (p = 0.017 and 0.05, respectively) and recovered to baseline at week 16. Proteins involved in heat stress and mitochondria functions were up‐regulated, whereas in flagella structure and function was down‐regulated (all p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that transient and frequent scrotal hyperthermia severely and reversibly damaged spermatogenesis, consecutive heat exposure had more serious effects than intermittent exposure, whereas intermittent exposure led to a later recovery of sperm damage.
Photoperiodic control is essential for manipulating the reproductive performance of avian species. This study was conducted to assess the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate reproductive ...functions of Yangzhou geese when there are different monochromatic light colors from light emitter diode (LED) sources. A flock of geese was divided into four groups with white, red, blue, and green light treatments being imposed. The results indicated that peak laying rates and reproductive performance were greater in geese treated with white or red as compared with blue or green light treatments. The fertilization rate of eggs and hatchability of fertilized eggs were greater with the white or red as compared with blue or green light treatments. There was a greater abundance of OPN5, Dio2, c-Fos, and GnRH-I mRNA in the hypothalamus earlier in the treatment period and abundances of these hypothalamic factors were greater with the white or red light treatments. Abundances of pituitary LH beta and FSH beta mRNA increased at a lesser rate with the blue or green light treatments and were in greater abundances with the white or red light treatments. The lighting regimen also resulted in photo-refractoriness with there being greater abundances of GnIH, VIP, and PRL mRNA with the use of white or red light treatments. The results indicate that the use of white or red monochromatic lights while imposing a long photoperiod of 11 h daily could result in sustaining functions of the reproductive system of Yangzhou geese for considerably longer times, thus, resulting in greater egg-laying performance.
Cadherin proteins, aminopeptidase N (APN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) bind to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in the lepidopteran midgut, but the inherent function of these receptors remains ...unclear. To clarify whether these three potential receptors contribute to the resistance of lepidopteran insects to the Bt toxin, the transcription patterns of these genes in Cry1Ac‐susceptible Plutella xylostella strains and strains highly resistant to Cry1Ac were examined using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Both gene expressions of cadherin and APNs were most abundant in the midgut of fourth larval instars but were also found in pupae. The transcription levels of cadherin, APN2 and ALP genes in the midgut were more abundant in the susceptible strain than in the resistant strain and also clearly differed between the two strains. Moreover, the transcription levels of cadherin increased as the insect developed from the second to the fourth larval instars and then decreased in pupae. mRNA of the APN2 gene was more abundant than that of the APN1, APN3 and APN4 genes in the susceptible strain. The results suggested that these differences were attributable to the adaptation of the resistant strain to the Bt toxin and demonstrated a possible link between the gene expression of cadherin, ALP and APN2 and the resistance of P. xylostella to Bt. The information provided in the current study can be useful for the development of resistance management strategies.
There has been a rapid increase in the number of human adenovirus type 7 (HAdV-7) and invasive pulmonary fungal infections (IPFIs) co-infection.
In this study, we included patients with confirmed ...HAdV-7 infection during the period from 2018 to 2019 to explore clinical characteristics of severe HAdV-7 pneumonia combined with IPFIs.
Among the 143 patients, 35 cases were co-infected with IPFIs. Others were assigned to the control group (n Z 108). Patients wereprone to be complicated with respiratory failure, heart failure and hemophagocytic syndromein IPFIs group. Thirty-one species of fungi were detected in the IPFIs group, among whichAspergillus was the most common species. Compared to control group, patients had lowerlevels of WBC, CD3þ T lymphocyte counts and CD19þ B lymphocyte counts in IPFIs group.
Aspergillus is the most common species in IPFIs combined with severe HAdV-7 pneumonia. For children with severe HAdV-7 pneumonia who are younger, have a long course of disease, and have been admitted to the ICU, we should predict the occurrence of IPFIs when there is multi-system dysfunction and the reduction of CD3+ T lymphocyte counts and CD19+ B lymphocyte counts in course of their disease.
Highlights ► Descending controls differ in the modulation of peripheral nociceptive afferents. ► Thalamic MD and VM nuclei discriminate mechanically and heat mediated nociception. ► Thalamic MD ...nucleus facilitates mechanically evoked nociception. ► Heat-evoked nociception is inhibited by thalamic VM nucleus.
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