BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have a duty to maintain basic life support(BLS) skills. This study aims to evaluate medical students' factual knowledge of BLS and the training they receive.METHODS: A cross-se...BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have a duty to maintain basic life support(BLS) skills. This study aims to evaluate medical students' factual knowledge of BLS and the training they receive.METHODS: A cross-sectional, closed-response questionnaire was distributed to the fi rst-and fourth-year students studying at institutions in the United Kingdom. The paper questionnaire sought to quantify respondent's previous BLS training, factual knowledge of the BLS algorithm using five multiple choice questions(MCQs), and valuate their desire for further BLS training. Students received 1 point for each correctly identifi ed answer to the 5 MCQ's.RESULTS: A total of 3,732 complete responses were received from 21 medical schools. Eighty percent(n=2,999) of students completed a BLS course as part of their undergraduate medical studies. There was a signifi cant difference(P<0.001) in the percentage of the fourth-year students selecting the correct answer in all the MCQ's compared to the fi rst-year students except in identifyingthe correct depth of compressions required during CPR(P=0.095). Overall 10.3%(95% CI 9.9% to 10.7%) of respondents correctly identified the answer to 5 MCQ's on BLS: 9% of the first-year students(n=194) and 12% of the fourth-year students(n=190). On an institutional level the proportion of students answering all MCQ's correctly ranged from 2% to 54% at different universities. Eighty-one percent of students(n=3,031) wished for more BLS training in their curriculum.CONCLUSION: Factual knowledge of BLS is poor among medical students in the UK. There is a disparity in standards of knowledge across institutions and respondents indicating that they would like more training.展开更多
The aim of this study was to present the prevalence of self-reported Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) based on a national population-based survey and to characterize people with self-reported IHD with respect to health be...The aim of this study was to present the prevalence of self-reported Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) based on a national population-based survey and to characterize people with self-reported IHD with respect to health behavior, risk factors, health-care services utilization and health-related HRQoL;further to compare people with self-reported IHD to those with other chronic illness and people without chronic illness. Based on the Danish Health Interview Survey 2005 (SUSY), a sample of 10,983 persons aged 35 years or older was examined. Data was collected through personal interviews (response rate = 66.7%) and self-administered questionnaires (51.5%). The sample was divided into three mutual exclusive groups: IHD;other chronic illnesses;and no chronic illness. The prevalence of IHD was 5.6% (5.2 - 6.0). The disease was more common in men than women, and the average age was 67.5 years. People with self-reported IHD were characterized as having poorer health behaviors;more risk factors: 40% smokers, 21% sedentary lifestyle, 26% obese;higher utilization of the health-care services;and poorer HRQoL. When compared to people with other chronic diseases, people with IHD continued to show the same characteristics. The IHD group had more problems affecting their daily lives than the other two groups. The issues that affected the people with IHD have also been shown to increase the load on the health-care system. Therefore, it is important to the patients, health-care, and society that the prevalence of IHD is reduced and the burden of disease is made a priority.展开更多
Knee osteoarthritis(KOA),characterized by heterogeneous arthritic manifestations and complex peripheral joint disorder,is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide,which has become a high burden due to the mul...Knee osteoarthritis(KOA),characterized by heterogeneous arthritic manifestations and complex peripheral joint disorder,is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide,which has become a high burden due to the multifactorial nature and the deficiency of available disease-modifying treatments.The application of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells(MSCs)as therapeutic drugs has provided novel treatment options for diverse degenerative and chronic diseases including KOA.However,the complexity and specificity of the“live”cells have posed challenges for MSC-based drug development and the concomitant scale-up preparation from laboratory to industrialization.For instance,despite the considerable progress in ex vivo cell culture technology for fulfilling the robust development of drug conversion and clinical trials,yet significant challenges remain in obtaining regulatory approvals.Thus,there’s an urgent need for the research and development of MSC drugs for KOA.In this review,we provide alternative solution strategies for the preparation of MSC drugs on the basis of the principle of quality by design,including designing the cell production processes,quality control,and clinical applications.In detail,we mainly focus on the quality by design method for MSC manufacturing in standard cell-culturing factories for the treatment of KOA by using the Quality Target Product Profile as a starting point to determine potential critical quality attributes and to establish relationships between critical material attributes and critical process parameters.Collectively,this review aims to meet product performance and robust process design,and should help to reduce the gap between compliant products and the production of compliant good manufacturing practice.展开更多
Translation regulation is an important layer of gene expression:Generation of genome-wide expression datasets at multi-omics levels in spatial,temporal,and cell-type resolution is essential for deciphering brain compl...Translation regulation is an important layer of gene expression:Generation of genome-wide expression datasets at multi-omics levels in spatial,temporal,and cell-type resolution is essential for deciphering brain complexity.Regulation of gene expression is a highly dynamic process aiming at the production of precise levels of gene products to guarantee optimal cellular function,in response to physiological cues.Speedy advances in next-generation sequencing enabled the understanding of epigenomic and transcriptomic dynamic landscapes of different brain regions along development,aging,and disease progression.However,the correlation of the“transcriptome”with protein levels is poor because numerous mRNAs are subjected to manipulation of their translation efficiency,to warrant a favorable result under certain conditions.Hence,it is widely accepted that regulation at the translation level is a vital layer of gene expression.Quantification of actively translated mRNA populations(i.e.,“translatome”)is a more reliable predictor of the“proteome”(Wang et al.,2020).展开更多
Background Genomic prediction has revolutionized animal breeding,with GBLUP being the most widely used prediction model.In theory,the accuracy of genomic prediction could be improved by incorporating information from ...Background Genomic prediction has revolutionized animal breeding,with GBLUP being the most widely used prediction model.In theory,the accuracy of genomic prediction could be improved by incorporating information from QTL.This strategy could be especially beneficial for machine learning models that are able to distinguish informative from uninformative features.The objective of this study was to assess the benefit of incorporating QTL genotypes in GBLUP and machine learning models.This study simulated a selected livestock population where QTL and their effects were known.We used four genomic prediction models,GBLUP,(weighted)2GBLUP,random forest(RF),and support vector regression(SVR)to predict breeding values of young animals,and considered different scenarios that varied in the proportion of genetic variance explained by the included QTL.Results 2GBLUP resulted in the highest accuracy.Its accuracy increased when the included QTL explained up to 80%of the genetic variance,after which the accuracy dropped.With a weighted 2GBLUP model,the accuracy always increased when more QTL were included.Prediction accuracy of GBLUP was consistently higher than SVR,and the accuracy for both models slightly increased with more QTL information included.The RF model resulted in the lowest prediction accuracy,and did not improve by including QTL information.Conclusions Our results show that incorporating QTL information in GBLUP and SVR can improve prediction accuracy,but the extent of improvement varies across models.RF had a much lower prediction accuracy than the other models and did not show improvements when QTL information was added.Two possible reasons for this result are that the data structure in our data does not allow RF to fully realize its potential and that RF is not designed well for this particular prediction problem.Our study highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate models for genomic prediction and underscored the potential limitations of machine learning models when applied to genomic prediction in livestock.展开更多
Oncogenic viruses include both DNA and RNA viruses which contribute to cancer development by disrupting cellular regulation and interfering in the immune responses.These viruses do not directly cause cancer but instea...Oncogenic viruses include both DNA and RNA viruses which contribute to cancer development by disrupting cellular regulation and interfering in the immune responses.These viruses do not directly cause cancer but instead integrate their genetic material into the host genome thus,affecting cell cycle and tumor suppression.This deregulation also leads to impaired immune function and promotes tumor progression by disrupting the removal of infected cells.Generally,innate immunity consists of two important members,including mitochondria and cell deaths,which impact each other as well.Due to the close correlation between viruses,cell death pathways(apoptosis,necroptosis,and pyroptosis),and mitochondria(mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein and reactive oxygen species generation),targeting these immune system representatives may offer therapeutic strategies to control the progression of oncogenic viral infections.Some previous studies have covered the association of oncogenic viruses with mitochondria and cell death pathways,respectively,but mitochondria and cell death interact with each other,separately,and this interaction may play a role in the progression of cancer induced by oncogenic viruses.Hence,the purpose of this review is to discuss the relationship between cell death,mitochondria,and viral oncogenesis,focusing on the most surveyed oncogenic viruses’mechanisms of action.展开更多
Background:Diabetic retinal neuropathy(DRN)leads to significant visual impairment;however,no existing animal model fully replicates its neural alterations,and inconsistent induction protocols with high mortality rates...Background:Diabetic retinal neuropathy(DRN)leads to significant visual impairment;however,no existing animal model fully replicates its neural alterations,and inconsistent induction protocols with high mortality rates hinder long-term investigations.Methods:Adult male rabbits were randomly assigned to four experimental groups,each receiving a single intravenous injection of varying doses of alloxan and one control group.The safety and efficacy of alloxan in inducing diabetes were evaluated to determine the optimal dose.At 9 weeks following injection with alloxan,retinal function was assessed using full-field electroretinography(ERG)and visual evoked potentials(VEPs).Retinal structure was examined in rabbits using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT),Optos ultra-widefield(Optos UWF)false-color imaging,and widefield fundus fluorescein angiography(WF-FFA).Results:Rabbits in the 80 mg/kg alloxan group exhibited fewer complications,lower mortality,and a higher model success rate compared to other groups.At 9 weeks post-injection,these rabbits demonstrated significantly elevated hemoglobin A1c and total cholesterol(p<0.05)relative to controls.ERG revealed statistically significant reductions in oscillatory potential and b-wave amplitudes(p<0.05),while VEP indicated decreased P2 amplitude(p<0.001)and prolonged P2 latency(p<0.05).SD-OCT,Optos UWF imaging,and WF-FFA demonstrated no significant changes in vascular abnormalities.Additionally,Hematoxylin and Eosin staining revealed retinal swelling(p<0.05),and immunofluorescence confirmed glial activation and neuronal loss.Conclusions:A single intravenous injection of 80 mg/kg alloxan effectively and safely induced DRN in rabbits,resulting in neural retina damage,thereby establishing this model as an ideal model for DRN research.展开更多
Following the publication of Zeng et al.(2023),an inadvertent error was recently identified in Figure 1B and Supplementary Figure S3.To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our published work,we formally request a cor...Following the publication of Zeng et al.(2023),an inadvertent error was recently identified in Figure 1B and Supplementary Figure S3.To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our published work,we formally request a correction to address this issue and apologize for any confusion this error may have caused.For details,please refer to the modified Supplementary Materials.展开更多
Objective:This study aimed to explore the anticancer potential of Cannabis sativa(C.sativa)strains,specifically PARIS,Dairy Queen(DQ),and super cannabidiol(sCBD),on bladder cancer cells.Given the increasing interest i...Objective:This study aimed to explore the anticancer potential of Cannabis sativa(C.sativa)strains,specifically PARIS,Dairy Queen(DQ),and super cannabidiol(sCBD),on bladder cancer cells.Given the increasing interest in cannabinoids like cannabichromene(CBC)and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)for their therapeutic properties,we evaluated their cytotoxic effects on urothelial carcinoma(UC)cell lines and their ability to inhibit cell migration and induce apoptosis in both two-dimensional cell models and three-dimensional ex vivo organ cultures(EVOCs).Methods:C.sativa strains were screened for their cytotoxicity against UC cell lines(HTB-4 and HTB-9)using XTT assays.Their phytocannabinoid content was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography.We employed fluorescence-activated cell-sorting to determine apoptosis and cell cycle,migration assays to determine cell migration,and EVOCs to evaluate the cytotoxic effect on UC.Gene expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:Three commercial C.sativa strains,PARIS,DQ,and sCBD,were found to have the most potent anticancer effects on bladder cancer cells.All extracts contain CBC and THC at different concentrations.In XTT assays on UC cell lines,PARIS had a half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of 21.58 mg/mL,while DQ and sCBD had similar cytotoxic activity with IC_(50) values for 48-h treatment of 17.99 mg/mL and 17.88 mg/mL,respectively.DQ and sCBD extracts were found to significantly reduce cell migration and increase the percentage of cells in S phase and G_(2)/M phase within the cell population.In EVOCs,the extracts initiated cell death with the expression of apoptosis-related genes increased following exposure to treatment.Conclusion:The findings suggest that C.sativa strains PARIS,DQ,and sCBD,containing CBC and THC,exhibit significant anticancer activity against UC cell lines and ex vivo models.These results underscore the therapeutic potential of CBC-and THC-rich C.sativa extracts in bladder cancer treatment.展开更多
Amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau,the two hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease(AD),exhibit distinct toxic effects but also interact synergistically within the disease pathology.The prevailing theory in AD patho...Amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau,the two hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease(AD),exhibit distinct toxic effects but also interact synergistically within the disease pathology.The prevailing theory in AD pathology-the amyloid cascade hypothesis-highlights the pivotal role of increased processing of the amyloid precursor protein(APP).Initially cleaved by the majorβ-secretase(β-amyloid cleaving enzyme-1,BACE1)in the brain,then undergoes further cleavage by theγ-secretase complex,resulting in the production of Aβ_(40-42)and a set of intracellular C-terminal peptides known as Aβand APP intracellular domain(β-AICDs)and soluble amyloid precursor proteinβ(sAPPβ)(Orobets and Karamyshev,2023).展开更多
Mammalian sperm must undergo a series of biochemical and physiological modifications, collectively called capacitation, in the female reproductive tract prior to the acrosome reaction （AR）. The mechanisms of these m...Mammalian sperm must undergo a series of biochemical and physiological modifications, collectively called capacitation, in the female reproductive tract prior to the acrosome reaction （AR）. The mechanisms of these modifications are not well characterized though protein kinases were shown to be involved in the regulation of intracellular Ca2＋ during both capacitation and the AR. In the present review, we summarize some of the signaling events that are involved in capacitation. During the capacitation process, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase （PI3K） is phosphorylated/activated via a protein kinase A （PKA）-dependent cascade, and downregulated by protein kinase C a （PKCa）. PKCa is active at the beginning of capacitation, resulting in PI3K inactivation. During capacitation, PKCa as well as PP172 is degraded by a PKA-dependent mechanism, allowing the activation of PI3K. The activation of PKA during capacitation depends mainly on cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） produced by the bicarbonate-dependent soluble adenylyl cyclase. This activation of PKA leads to an increase in actin polymerization, an essential process for the development of hyperactivated motility, which is necessary for successful fertilization. Actin polymerization is mediated by PIP2 in two ways： first, PIP2 acts as a cofactor for phospholipase D （PLD） activation, and second, as a molecule that binds and inhibits actin-severing proteins such as gelsolin. Tyrosine phosphorylation of gelsolin during capacitation by Src family kinase （SFK） is also important for its inactivation. Prior to the AR, gelsolin is released from PIP2 and undergoes dephosphorylation/activation, resulting in fast F-actin depolymerization, leading to the AR.展开更多
Soils play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and can be major source or sink of CO2 depending upon land use, vegetation type and soil management practices. Fine roots are important component of a forest ecos...Soils play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and can be major source or sink of CO2 depending upon land use, vegetation type and soil management practices. Fine roots are important component of a forest ecosystem in terms of water and nutrient uptake. In this study the effects of thinning and litter fall removal on fine root production and soil organic carbon content were examined in 20-year-old Masson pine （Pinus resinosa） plantations in Huitong, Hunan Province of China in the growing seasons of 2004 and 2005. The results showed that fine root production was significantly lower in the thinning plots than in the control plots, with a decrease of 58% and 14% in 2004 and 2005 growing seasons, respectively. Litter fall removal significantly increased fine root production by 14% in 2004. Soil temperature （Tsoil） and soil moisture （Msoil） were higher in the thinning plots than those in the controls. Litter fall removal had significant effects on Tsoil and Msoil. Soil organic carbon content was higher in the thinning plots but was lower in the plots with litter fall removal compared with that in the controls. Our results also indicated that annual production of fine roots resulted in small carbon accumulation in the upper layers of the soil, and removal of tree by thinning resulted in a significant increase of carbon storage in Masson pine plantations.展开更多
As selenium and carotenoids are essential micronutrients, the determination of their concentrations in different varieties is important in the breeding of foxtail milet （Setaria italicaL. P.Beauv.）. To identify sele...As selenium and carotenoids are essential micronutrients, the determination of their concentrations in different varieties is important in the breeding of foxtail milet （Setaria italicaL. P.Beauv.）. To identify selenium- and carotenoid-enriched foxtail milet varieties and to analyze correlations between trace elements and agronomic traits, we measured the selenium and carotenoid concentrations of 200 Chinese accessions by high-performance liquid chromatography and atomic lfuorescence spectrometry. Our analysis revealed that lutein concentration in 200 foxtail milet accessions folowed normal distribution and average was 3.1 μg g–1. The mean value of zeaxanthin concentration in 200 accessions was 8.6 μg g–1. Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations were higher in the foxtail milet from Liaoning than in varieties from other locations, with averages of 10.0 and 3.5 μg g–1, respectively. The average measured selenium concentration was 100.3 μg kg–1. The highest average selenium concentration, 110.3 μg kg–1, was found in varieties from Shanxi. Varieties from Inner Mongolia had the lowest average selenium concentration, 84.7 μg kg–1, which was signiifcantly lower （P〈0.05） than that of Shanxi. Selenium con-centrations of 23 varieties were higher than 117.9 μg kg–1, accounting for 11.5% of the total, thereby were considered to be enriched in selenium. In addition, we identiifed 29 lutein-enriched varieties （〉4.27 μg g–1） and 30 zeaxanthin-enriched ones （〉12.63 μg g–1）, which corresponded to 14.5 and 15% of tested accessions, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that selenium concentration was signiifcantly positively correlated with spikelet length （P〈0.01）, while zeaxanthin concentration was signiifcantly correlated with grass weight （P〈0.05） and spikelet length （P〈0.01）. No correlation was found between lutein concentration and agronomic characters, selenium content or zeaxanthin content. Our results should contribute substantialy to the selection of suitable varieties for the development of plants with desired levels of these nutritionaly important elements. These results wil signiifcantly contribute towards selection of the most suitable varieties for obtaining plants with desired levels of these nutritionaly important elements.展开更多
The evaluation and follow up of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis have been traditionally performed by liver biopsy. However, during the last 20 years, it has become evident that this "gold-standard" is imperfect...The evaluation and follow up of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis have been traditionally performed by liver biopsy. However, during the last 20 years, it has become evident that this "gold-standard" is imperfect; even according to its proponents, it is only "the best" among available methods. Attempts at uncovering non-invasive diagnostic tools have yielded multiple scores, formulae, and imaging modalities. All are better tolerated, safer, more acceptable to the patient, and can be repeated essentially as often as required. Most are much less expensive than liver biopsy. Consequently, their use is growing, and in some countries the number of biopsies performed, at least for routine evaluation of hepatitis B and C, has declined sharply. However, the accuracy and diagnostic value of most, if not all, of these methods remains controversial. In this review for the practicing physician, we analyze established and novel biomarkers and physical techniques. We may be witnessing in recent years the beginning of the end of the first phase for the development of non-invasive markers. Early evidence suggests that they might be at least as good as liver biopsy. Novel experimental markers and imaging techniques could produce a dramatic change in diagnosis in the near future.展开更多
Forest management is expected to influence soil CO2 effiux （FCO2） as a result of changes in microenvironmental conditions, soil microclimate, and root dynamics. Soil EGO2 rate was measured during the growing season ...Forest management is expected to influence soil CO2 effiux （FCO2） as a result of changes in microenvironmental conditions, soil microclimate, and root dynamics. Soil EGO2 rate was measured during the growing season of 2006 in both thinning and non-thinning locations within stands ranging from 0 to 8 years after the most recent thinning in Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook） plantations in Huitong Ecosystem Research Station, Hunan, China. Soil temperature and moisture were also measured to examine relationships between FCO2 and soil properties. Forest thinning resulted in huge changes in FCO2 that varied with time since cutting. Immediately following harvest （year 0） FCO2 in thinning area increased by about 30%, declined to 20%-27% below pre-cutting levels during years 4-6, and recovered to pre-cutting levels at 8 years post-cutting. A similar temporal pattern, but with smaller changes, was found in non-thinning locations. The initial increase in FCO2 could be attributed to a combination of root decay, soil disturbance, and increased soil temperature in gaps, while the subsequent decrease and recovery to the death and gradual regrowth of active roots. Strong effects of soil temperature and soil water content on FCO2 were found. Forest thinning mainly influenced FCO2 through changes in tree root respiration, and the net result was a decrease in integrated FCO2 flux through the entire felling cycle.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the antibacterial potential of the polar and non-polar extracts of the seeds of Melia azedarach(M.azedarach) L.(Meliaceae) against eighteen hospital isolated human pathogenic bacterial strains...Objective:To investigate the antibacterial potential of the polar and non-polar extracts of the seeds of Melia azedarach(M.azedarach) L.(Meliaceae) against eighteen hospital isolated human pathogenic bacterial strains.Methods:Petrol,benzene,ethyl acetate,methanol,and aqueous extracts at five different concentrations(1,2,5,10 and 15 mg/mL) were evaluated.Disk diffusion method was followed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy.Results:All extracts of the seeds demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against tested pathogens.Among all extracts,ethyl acetate extract revealed the highest inhibition comparatively.The present study also favored the traditional uses reported earlier.Conclusions:Results of this study strongly confirm that the seed extracts of M.azedarach could be effective antibiotics,both in controlling gram-positive and gram-negative human pathogenic infections.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the presence and antibiogram pattern of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)in retail poultry meat products.Methods:Foodborne pathogens(Salmonella and S.aureus)were isolated from poultr...Objective:To evaluate the presence and antibiogram pattern of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)in retail poultry meat products.Methods:Foodborne pathogens(Salmonella and S.aureus)were isolated from poultry meat and confirmed with the help of biochemical and immunological test.Antibiogram of the isolates were examined by following CLS1 methods.Results:A total number of 209 poultry meat samples were collected and studied in this study.Out of which,5.26%were found contaminated with Salmonella while 18.18%were found contaminated with S.aureus.All the Salmonella and S.aureus isolates were found resistant to at least one antibiotic.About 72.72%of the Salmonella isolates showed resistance to tetracycline,while S.aureus isolates were also found highly resistant to tetracycline equal to 44.73%.One of the Salmonella isolates showed multi-drug resistance to almost six antibiotics out of nine antibiotics used in the study.Multidrug resistant S.aureus isolates were also found in the study.Conclusions:The study confirmed the presence of Salmonella and S.aureus in retail poultry meat.It is a potential threat to consumer health.To reduce the risk of contamination,good hygiene practices are necessary from processing to storage.展开更多
As a unique ecological system with low temperature and low nutrient levels, glaciers are considered a "living fossil" for the research of evolution. In this work, a lytic cold-active bacteriophage designated...As a unique ecological system with low temperature and low nutrient levels, glaciers are considered a "living fossil" for the research of evolution. In this work, a lytic cold-active bacteriophage designated VMY22 against Bacillus cereus MYB41-22 was isolated from Mingyong Glacier in China, and its characteristics were studied. Electron microscopy revealed that VMY22 has an icosahedral head(59.2 nm in length, 31.9 nm in width) and a tail(43.2 nm in length). Bacteriophage VMY22 was classified as a Podoviridae with an approximate genome size of 18 to 20 kb. A one-step growth curve revealed that the latent and the burst periods were 70 and 70 min, respectively, with an average burst size of 78 bacteriophage particles per infected cell. The pH and thermal stability of bacteriophage VMY22 were also investigated. The maximum stability of the bacteriophage was observed to be at pH 8.0 and it was comparatively stable at p H 5.0–9.0. As VMY22 is a cold-active bacteriophage with low production temperature, its characterization and the relationship between MYB41-22 and Bacillus cereus bacteriophage deserve further study.展开更多
To bind and fertilize the egg, the spermatozoon should undergo few biochemical and motility changes in the female reproductive tract collectively called capacitation. The capacitated spermatozoon binds to the egg zona...To bind and fertilize the egg, the spermatozoon should undergo few biochemical and motility changes in the female reproductive tract collectively called capacitation. The capacitated spermatozoon binds to the egg zona pellucida, and then undergoes the acmsome reaction （AR）, which allows its penetration into the egg. The mechanisms regulating sperm capacitation and the AR are not completely understood. In the present review, we summarize some data regarding the role and regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） in these processes. In the capacitation process, the EGFR is partially activated by protein kinase A （PKA）, resulting in phospholipase D （PLD） activation and actin polymerization. Protein kinase C alpha （PKCα）, which is already activated at the beginning of the capacitation, also participates in PLD activation. Further activation of the EGFR at the end of the capacitation enhances intracellular Ca2＋ concentration leading to F-actin breakdown and allows the AR to take place. Under in vivoconditions, the EGFR can be directly activated by its known ligand epidermal growth factor （EGF）, and indirectly by activating PKA or by transactivation mediated by G protein-coupled receptors （GPCRs） activation or by ouabain. Under physiological conditions, sperm PKA is activated mainly by bicarbonate, which activates the soluble adenylyl cyclase to produce cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）, the activator of PKA. The GPCR activators angiotensin II or Ivsoohosphatidic acid, as well as ouabain and EGF are phvsioloeical comoonents oresent in the female reoroductive tract.展开更多
Non-human primates （NHPs） are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biom...Non-human primates （NHPs） are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biomedical research. Compared with developed countries in America and Europe, China has relatively rich primate resources and has continually aimed to develop NHPs resources. Currently, China is a leading producer and a major supplier of NHPs on the international market. However, there are some deficiencies in feeding and management that have hampered China＇s growth in NHP research and materials. Nonetheless, China has recently established a number of primate animal models for human diseases and achieved marked scientific progress on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, reproductive diseases, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, etc. Advances in these fields via NHP models will undoubtedly further promote the development of China＇s life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, and enhance China＇s position as a leader in NHP research. This review covers the current status of NHPs in China and other areas, highlighting the latest developments in disease models using NHPs, as well as outlining basic problems and proposing effective to better utilize NHP resources and further foster NHP research in China.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have a duty to maintain basic life support(BLS) skills. This study aims to evaluate medical students' factual knowledge of BLS and the training they receive.METHODS: A cross-sectional, closed-response questionnaire was distributed to the fi rst-and fourth-year students studying at institutions in the United Kingdom. The paper questionnaire sought to quantify respondent's previous BLS training, factual knowledge of the BLS algorithm using five multiple choice questions(MCQs), and valuate their desire for further BLS training. Students received 1 point for each correctly identifi ed answer to the 5 MCQ's.RESULTS: A total of 3,732 complete responses were received from 21 medical schools. Eighty percent(n=2,999) of students completed a BLS course as part of their undergraduate medical studies. There was a signifi cant difference(P<0.001) in the percentage of the fourth-year students selecting the correct answer in all the MCQ's compared to the fi rst-year students except in identifyingthe correct depth of compressions required during CPR(P=0.095). Overall 10.3%(95% CI 9.9% to 10.7%) of respondents correctly identified the answer to 5 MCQ's on BLS: 9% of the first-year students(n=194) and 12% of the fourth-year students(n=190). On an institutional level the proportion of students answering all MCQ's correctly ranged from 2% to 54% at different universities. Eighty-one percent of students(n=3,031) wished for more BLS training in their curriculum.CONCLUSION: Factual knowledge of BLS is poor among medical students in the UK. There is a disparity in standards of knowledge across institutions and respondents indicating that they would like more training.
文摘The aim of this study was to present the prevalence of self-reported Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) based on a national population-based survey and to characterize people with self-reported IHD with respect to health behavior, risk factors, health-care services utilization and health-related HRQoL;further to compare people with self-reported IHD to those with other chronic illness and people without chronic illness. Based on the Danish Health Interview Survey 2005 (SUSY), a sample of 10,983 persons aged 35 years or older was examined. Data was collected through personal interviews (response rate = 66.7%) and self-administered questionnaires (51.5%). The sample was divided into three mutual exclusive groups: IHD;other chronic illnesses;and no chronic illness. The prevalence of IHD was 5.6% (5.2 - 6.0). The disease was more common in men than women, and the average age was 67.5 years. People with self-reported IHD were characterized as having poorer health behaviors;more risk factors: 40% smokers, 21% sedentary lifestyle, 26% obese;higher utilization of the health-care services;and poorer HRQoL. When compared to people with other chronic diseases, people with IHD continued to show the same characteristics. The IHD group had more problems affecting their daily lives than the other two groups. The issues that affected the people with IHD have also been shown to increase the load on the health-care system. Therefore, it is important to the patients, health-care, and society that the prevalence of IHD is reduced and the burden of disease is made a priority.
基金Supported by Taishan Scholar Special Funding,No.tsqnz20240858Medical and Health Technology Project of Shandong Province,No.202402050122+4 种基金Science and Technology Development Plan of Jinan Municipal Health Commission,No.2024301008Clinical Medical Science and Technology Innovation Program of Jinan Science and Technology Bureau,No.202430055Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province,No.20224BAB206077Gansu Provincial Hospital Intra-Hospital Research Fund Project,No.22GSSYB-6and the 2022 Master/Doctor/Postdoctoral Program of National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor,No.NHCDP2022004 and No.NHCDP2022008.
文摘Knee osteoarthritis(KOA),characterized by heterogeneous arthritic manifestations and complex peripheral joint disorder,is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide,which has become a high burden due to the multifactorial nature and the deficiency of available disease-modifying treatments.The application of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells(MSCs)as therapeutic drugs has provided novel treatment options for diverse degenerative and chronic diseases including KOA.However,the complexity and specificity of the“live”cells have posed challenges for MSC-based drug development and the concomitant scale-up preparation from laboratory to industrialization.For instance,despite the considerable progress in ex vivo cell culture technology for fulfilling the robust development of drug conversion and clinical trials,yet significant challenges remain in obtaining regulatory approvals.Thus,there’s an urgent need for the research and development of MSC drugs for KOA.In this review,we provide alternative solution strategies for the preparation of MSC drugs on the basis of the principle of quality by design,including designing the cell production processes,quality control,and clinical applications.In detail,we mainly focus on the quality by design method for MSC manufacturing in standard cell-culturing factories for the treatment of KOA by using the Quality Target Product Profile as a starting point to determine potential critical quality attributes and to establish relationships between critical material attributes and critical process parameters.Collectively,this review aims to meet product performance and robust process design,and should help to reduce the gap between compliant products and the production of compliant good manufacturing practice.
基金funded by the Israel Science Foundation(grants No.1036/12 and 1228/20)(to OES).
文摘Translation regulation is an important layer of gene expression:Generation of genome-wide expression datasets at multi-omics levels in spatial,temporal,and cell-type resolution is essential for deciphering brain complexity.Regulation of gene expression is a highly dynamic process aiming at the production of precise levels of gene products to guarantee optimal cellular function,in response to physiological cues.Speedy advances in next-generation sequencing enabled the understanding of epigenomic and transcriptomic dynamic landscapes of different brain regions along development,aging,and disease progression.However,the correlation of the“transcriptome”with protein levels is poor because numerous mRNAs are subjected to manipulation of their translation efficiency,to warrant a favorable result under certain conditions.Hence,it is widely accepted that regulation at the translation level is a vital layer of gene expression.Quantification of actively translated mRNA populations(i.e.,“translatome”)is a more reliable predictor of the“proteome”(Wang et al.,2020).
基金the financial support from China Scholarship Council(CSC,File No.202007720040)which has sponsored Jifan Yang's PhD study at Wageningen University&Research.
文摘Background Genomic prediction has revolutionized animal breeding,with GBLUP being the most widely used prediction model.In theory,the accuracy of genomic prediction could be improved by incorporating information from QTL.This strategy could be especially beneficial for machine learning models that are able to distinguish informative from uninformative features.The objective of this study was to assess the benefit of incorporating QTL genotypes in GBLUP and machine learning models.This study simulated a selected livestock population where QTL and their effects were known.We used four genomic prediction models,GBLUP,(weighted)2GBLUP,random forest(RF),and support vector regression(SVR)to predict breeding values of young animals,and considered different scenarios that varied in the proportion of genetic variance explained by the included QTL.Results 2GBLUP resulted in the highest accuracy.Its accuracy increased when the included QTL explained up to 80%of the genetic variance,after which the accuracy dropped.With a weighted 2GBLUP model,the accuracy always increased when more QTL were included.Prediction accuracy of GBLUP was consistently higher than SVR,and the accuracy for both models slightly increased with more QTL information included.The RF model resulted in the lowest prediction accuracy,and did not improve by including QTL information.Conclusions Our results show that incorporating QTL information in GBLUP and SVR can improve prediction accuracy,but the extent of improvement varies across models.RF had a much lower prediction accuracy than the other models and did not show improvements when QTL information was added.Two possible reasons for this result are that the data structure in our data does not allow RF to fully realize its potential and that RF is not designed well for this particular prediction problem.Our study highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate models for genomic prediction and underscored the potential limitations of machine learning models when applied to genomic prediction in livestock.
文摘Oncogenic viruses include both DNA and RNA viruses which contribute to cancer development by disrupting cellular regulation and interfering in the immune responses.These viruses do not directly cause cancer but instead integrate their genetic material into the host genome thus,affecting cell cycle and tumor suppression.This deregulation also leads to impaired immune function and promotes tumor progression by disrupting the removal of infected cells.Generally,innate immunity consists of two important members,including mitochondria and cell deaths,which impact each other as well.Due to the close correlation between viruses,cell death pathways(apoptosis,necroptosis,and pyroptosis),and mitochondria(mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein and reactive oxygen species generation),targeting these immune system representatives may offer therapeutic strategies to control the progression of oncogenic viral infections.Some previous studies have covered the association of oncogenic viruses with mitochondria and cell death pathways,respectively,but mitochondria and cell death interact with each other,separately,and this interaction may play a role in the progression of cancer induced by oncogenic viruses.Hence,the purpose of this review is to discuss the relationship between cell death,mitochondria,and viral oncogenesis,focusing on the most surveyed oncogenic viruses’mechanisms of action.
基金Key Project of Joint Special Funds for Applied Basic Research of Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Kunming Medical University,Grant/Award Number:2018FE001-(180)Clinical Research Center of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province,Grant/Award Number:2023YJZX-LN01+2 种基金Kunming University of Science and Technology School of Medicine Postgraduate Innovation FundResearch Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:82460210Provincial Key Clinical Specialty Platform of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province,Grant/Award Number:2024EKKFKT-04。
文摘Background:Diabetic retinal neuropathy(DRN)leads to significant visual impairment;however,no existing animal model fully replicates its neural alterations,and inconsistent induction protocols with high mortality rates hinder long-term investigations.Methods:Adult male rabbits were randomly assigned to four experimental groups,each receiving a single intravenous injection of varying doses of alloxan and one control group.The safety and efficacy of alloxan in inducing diabetes were evaluated to determine the optimal dose.At 9 weeks following injection with alloxan,retinal function was assessed using full-field electroretinography(ERG)and visual evoked potentials(VEPs).Retinal structure was examined in rabbits using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT),Optos ultra-widefield(Optos UWF)false-color imaging,and widefield fundus fluorescein angiography(WF-FFA).Results:Rabbits in the 80 mg/kg alloxan group exhibited fewer complications,lower mortality,and a higher model success rate compared to other groups.At 9 weeks post-injection,these rabbits demonstrated significantly elevated hemoglobin A1c and total cholesterol(p<0.05)relative to controls.ERG revealed statistically significant reductions in oscillatory potential and b-wave amplitudes(p<0.05),while VEP indicated decreased P2 amplitude(p<0.001)and prolonged P2 latency(p<0.05).SD-OCT,Optos UWF imaging,and WF-FFA demonstrated no significant changes in vascular abnormalities.Additionally,Hematoxylin and Eosin staining revealed retinal swelling(p<0.05),and immunofluorescence confirmed glial activation and neuronal loss.Conclusions:A single intravenous injection of 80 mg/kg alloxan effectively and safely induced DRN in rabbits,resulting in neural retina damage,thereby establishing this model as an ideal model for DRN research.
文摘Following the publication of Zeng et al.(2023),an inadvertent error was recently identified in Figure 1B and Supplementary Figure S3.To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our published work,we formally request a correction to address this issue and apologize for any confusion this error may have caused.For details,please refer to the modified Supplementary Materials.
文摘Objective:This study aimed to explore the anticancer potential of Cannabis sativa(C.sativa)strains,specifically PARIS,Dairy Queen(DQ),and super cannabidiol(sCBD),on bladder cancer cells.Given the increasing interest in cannabinoids like cannabichromene(CBC)and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)for their therapeutic properties,we evaluated their cytotoxic effects on urothelial carcinoma(UC)cell lines and their ability to inhibit cell migration and induce apoptosis in both two-dimensional cell models and three-dimensional ex vivo organ cultures(EVOCs).Methods:C.sativa strains were screened for their cytotoxicity against UC cell lines(HTB-4 and HTB-9)using XTT assays.Their phytocannabinoid content was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography.We employed fluorescence-activated cell-sorting to determine apoptosis and cell cycle,migration assays to determine cell migration,and EVOCs to evaluate the cytotoxic effect on UC.Gene expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:Three commercial C.sativa strains,PARIS,DQ,and sCBD,were found to have the most potent anticancer effects on bladder cancer cells.All extracts contain CBC and THC at different concentrations.In XTT assays on UC cell lines,PARIS had a half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of 21.58 mg/mL,while DQ and sCBD had similar cytotoxic activity with IC_(50) values for 48-h treatment of 17.99 mg/mL and 17.88 mg/mL,respectively.DQ and sCBD extracts were found to significantly reduce cell migration and increase the percentage of cells in S phase and G_(2)/M phase within the cell population.In EVOCs,the extracts initiated cell death with the expression of apoptosis-related genes increased following exposure to treatment.Conclusion:The findings suggest that C.sativa strains PARIS,DQ,and sCBD,containing CBC and THC,exhibit significant anticancer activity against UC cell lines and ex vivo models.These results underscore the therapeutic potential of CBC-and THC-rich C.sativa extracts in bladder cancer treatment.
文摘Amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau,the two hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease(AD),exhibit distinct toxic effects but also interact synergistically within the disease pathology.The prevailing theory in AD pathology-the amyloid cascade hypothesis-highlights the pivotal role of increased processing of the amyloid precursor protein(APP).Initially cleaved by the majorβ-secretase(β-amyloid cleaving enzyme-1,BACE1)in the brain,then undergoes further cleavage by theγ-secretase complex,resulting in the production of Aβ_(40-42)and a set of intracellular C-terminal peptides known as Aβand APP intracellular domain(β-AICDs)and soluble amyloid precursor proteinβ(sAPPβ)(Orobets and Karamyshev,2023).
文摘Mammalian sperm must undergo a series of biochemical and physiological modifications, collectively called capacitation, in the female reproductive tract prior to the acrosome reaction （AR）. The mechanisms of these modifications are not well characterized though protein kinases were shown to be involved in the regulation of intracellular Ca2＋ during both capacitation and the AR. In the present review, we summarize some of the signaling events that are involved in capacitation. During the capacitation process, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase （PI3K） is phosphorylated/activated via a protein kinase A （PKA）-dependent cascade, and downregulated by protein kinase C a （PKCa）. PKCa is active at the beginning of capacitation, resulting in PI3K inactivation. During capacitation, PKCa as well as PP172 is degraded by a PKA-dependent mechanism, allowing the activation of PI3K. The activation of PKA during capacitation depends mainly on cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP） produced by the bicarbonate-dependent soluble adenylyl cyclase. This activation of PKA leads to an increase in actin polymerization, an essential process for the development of hyperactivated motility, which is necessary for successful fertilization. Actin polymerization is mediated by PIP2 in two ways： first, PIP2 acts as a cofactor for phospholipase D （PLD） activation, and second, as a molecule that binds and inhibits actin-severing proteins such as gelsolin. Tyrosine phosphorylation of gelsolin during capacitation by Src family kinase （SFK） is also important for its inactivation. Prior to the AR, gelsolin is released from PIP2 and undergoes dephosphorylation/activation, resulting in fast F-actin depolymerization, leading to the AR.
基金Supported by the "948" Grant of the National Forestry Administration of China (No.2007-4-19)the Special Grantof Chinese Forestry Public Benefits (Nos.200804030 and 2007-4-15)the Provincial Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hunan, China (No.07JJ1004)
文摘Soils play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and can be major source or sink of CO2 depending upon land use, vegetation type and soil management practices. Fine roots are important component of a forest ecosystem in terms of water and nutrient uptake. In this study the effects of thinning and litter fall removal on fine root production and soil organic carbon content were examined in 20-year-old Masson pine （Pinus resinosa） plantations in Huitong, Hunan Province of China in the growing seasons of 2004 and 2005. The results showed that fine root production was significantly lower in the thinning plots than in the control plots, with a decrease of 58% and 14% in 2004 and 2005 growing seasons, respectively. Litter fall removal significantly increased fine root production by 14% in 2004. Soil temperature （Tsoil） and soil moisture （Msoil） were higher in the thinning plots than those in the controls. Litter fall removal had significant effects on Tsoil and Msoil. Soil organic carbon content was higher in the thinning plots but was lower in the plots with litter fall removal compared with that in the controls. Our results also indicated that annual production of fine roots resulted in small carbon accumulation in the upper layers of the soil, and removal of tree by thinning resulted in a significant increase of carbon storage in Masson pine plantations.
基金supported by the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (ASTIP) and the National Millet Crops Research and Development System, China (CARS-07-12[1].5-A1)
文摘As selenium and carotenoids are essential micronutrients, the determination of their concentrations in different varieties is important in the breeding of foxtail milet （Setaria italicaL. P.Beauv.）. To identify selenium- and carotenoid-enriched foxtail milet varieties and to analyze correlations between trace elements and agronomic traits, we measured the selenium and carotenoid concentrations of 200 Chinese accessions by high-performance liquid chromatography and atomic lfuorescence spectrometry. Our analysis revealed that lutein concentration in 200 foxtail milet accessions folowed normal distribution and average was 3.1 μg g–1. The mean value of zeaxanthin concentration in 200 accessions was 8.6 μg g–1. Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations were higher in the foxtail milet from Liaoning than in varieties from other locations, with averages of 10.0 and 3.5 μg g–1, respectively. The average measured selenium concentration was 100.3 μg kg–1. The highest average selenium concentration, 110.3 μg kg–1, was found in varieties from Shanxi. Varieties from Inner Mongolia had the lowest average selenium concentration, 84.7 μg kg–1, which was signiifcantly lower （P〈0.05） than that of Shanxi. Selenium con-centrations of 23 varieties were higher than 117.9 μg kg–1, accounting for 11.5% of the total, thereby were considered to be enriched in selenium. In addition, we identiifed 29 lutein-enriched varieties （〉4.27 μg g–1） and 30 zeaxanthin-enriched ones （〉12.63 μg g–1）, which corresponded to 14.5 and 15% of tested accessions, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that selenium concentration was signiifcantly positively correlated with spikelet length （P〈0.01）, while zeaxanthin concentration was signiifcantly correlated with grass weight （P〈0.05） and spikelet length （P〈0.01）. No correlation was found between lutein concentration and agronomic characters, selenium content or zeaxanthin content. Our results should contribute substantialy to the selection of suitable varieties for the development of plants with desired levels of these nutritionaly important elements. These results wil signiifcantly contribute towards selection of the most suitable varieties for obtaining plants with desired levels of these nutritionaly important elements.
文摘The evaluation and follow up of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis have been traditionally performed by liver biopsy. However, during the last 20 years, it has become evident that this "gold-standard" is imperfect; even according to its proponents, it is only "the best" among available methods. Attempts at uncovering non-invasive diagnostic tools have yielded multiple scores, formulae, and imaging modalities. All are better tolerated, safer, more acceptable to the patient, and can be repeated essentially as often as required. Most are much less expensive than liver biopsy. Consequently, their use is growing, and in some countries the number of biopsies performed, at least for routine evaluation of hepatitis B and C, has declined sharply. However, the accuracy and diagnostic value of most, if not all, of these methods remains controversial. In this review for the practicing physician, we analyze established and novel biomarkers and physical techniques. We may be witnessing in recent years the beginning of the end of the first phase for the development of non-invasive markers. Early evidence suggests that they might be at least as good as liver biopsy. Novel experimental markers and imaging techniques could produce a dramatic change in diagnosis in the near future.
基金Project supported by the State Forestry Special Fund for non-profit industries of China (Nos.2007-4-15 and 20080430)the Key Program of the State Forestry Administration of China (No.2006-11)+2 种基金the Introducing Advance TechnologyProgram (948 Program) from the State Forestry Administration of China (No.2007-4-19)the Provincial Fund for Distin-guished Young Scholars of Hunan, China (No.07JJ1004)the Key Project of Science and Technology Department of Hunan Province, China (Nos.06FJ3083 and 2007SK4030).
文摘Forest management is expected to influence soil CO2 effiux （FCO2） as a result of changes in microenvironmental conditions, soil microclimate, and root dynamics. Soil EGO2 rate was measured during the growing season of 2006 in both thinning and non-thinning locations within stands ranging from 0 to 8 years after the most recent thinning in Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook） plantations in Huitong Ecosystem Research Station, Hunan, China. Soil temperature and moisture were also measured to examine relationships between FCO2 and soil properties. Forest thinning resulted in huge changes in FCO2 that varied with time since cutting. Immediately following harvest （year 0） FCO2 in thinning area increased by about 30%, declined to 20%-27% below pre-cutting levels during years 4-6, and recovered to pre-cutting levels at 8 years post-cutting. A similar temporal pattern, but with smaller changes, was found in non-thinning locations. The initial increase in FCO2 could be attributed to a combination of root decay, soil disturbance, and increased soil temperature in gaps, while the subsequent decrease and recovery to the death and gradual regrowth of active roots. Strong effects of soil temperature and soil water content on FCO2 were found. Forest thinning mainly influenced FCO2 through changes in tree root respiration, and the net result was a decrease in integrated FCO2 flux through the entire felling cycle.
基金Supported by SERC Fast Track OYS Schem,Department of Scienceand Technology(DST).New Delhi,India[No.304/2004(SR/FT/L-129/2004)]
文摘Objective:To investigate the antibacterial potential of the polar and non-polar extracts of the seeds of Melia azedarach(M.azedarach) L.(Meliaceae) against eighteen hospital isolated human pathogenic bacterial strains.Methods:Petrol,benzene,ethyl acetate,methanol,and aqueous extracts at five different concentrations(1,2,5,10 and 15 mg/mL) were evaluated.Disk diffusion method was followed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy.Results:All extracts of the seeds demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against tested pathogens.Among all extracts,ethyl acetate extract revealed the highest inhibition comparatively.The present study also favored the traditional uses reported earlier.Conclusions:Results of this study strongly confirm that the seed extracts of M.azedarach could be effective antibiotics,both in controlling gram-positive and gram-negative human pathogenic infections.
基金Supported by University of Balochistan,Quetta,Pakistan(award letter:No.Reg/133/08)the Asian Institute of Technology,Thailand
文摘Objective:To evaluate the presence and antibiogram pattern of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)in retail poultry meat products.Methods:Foodborne pathogens(Salmonella and S.aureus)were isolated from poultry meat and confirmed with the help of biochemical and immunological test.Antibiogram of the isolates were examined by following CLS1 methods.Results:A total number of 209 poultry meat samples were collected and studied in this study.Out of which,5.26%were found contaminated with Salmonella while 18.18%were found contaminated with S.aureus.All the Salmonella and S.aureus isolates were found resistant to at least one antibiotic.About 72.72%of the Salmonella isolates showed resistance to tetracycline,while S.aureus isolates were also found highly resistant to tetracycline equal to 44.73%.One of the Salmonella isolates showed multi-drug resistance to almost six antibiotics out of nine antibiotics used in the study.Multidrug resistant S.aureus isolates were also found in the study.Conclusions:The study confirmed the presence of Salmonella and S.aureus in retail poultry meat.It is a potential threat to consumer health.To reduce the risk of contamination,good hygiene practices are necessary from processing to storage.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31160121)the Yunnan Provincial Education Fund project (2013Z138)funded by the Open Research Fund Program of the State Key Laboratory of Virology of China (2013002)
文摘As a unique ecological system with low temperature and low nutrient levels, glaciers are considered a "living fossil" for the research of evolution. In this work, a lytic cold-active bacteriophage designated VMY22 against Bacillus cereus MYB41-22 was isolated from Mingyong Glacier in China, and its characteristics were studied. Electron microscopy revealed that VMY22 has an icosahedral head(59.2 nm in length, 31.9 nm in width) and a tail(43.2 nm in length). Bacteriophage VMY22 was classified as a Podoviridae with an approximate genome size of 18 to 20 kb. A one-step growth curve revealed that the latent and the burst periods were 70 and 70 min, respectively, with an average burst size of 78 bacteriophage particles per infected cell. The pH and thermal stability of bacteriophage VMY22 were also investigated. The maximum stability of the bacteriophage was observed to be at pH 8.0 and it was comparatively stable at p H 5.0–9.0. As VMY22 is a cold-active bacteriophage with low production temperature, its characterization and the relationship between MYB41-22 and Bacillus cereus bacteriophage deserve further study.
文摘To bind and fertilize the egg, the spermatozoon should undergo few biochemical and motility changes in the female reproductive tract collectively called capacitation. The capacitated spermatozoon binds to the egg zona pellucida, and then undergoes the acmsome reaction （AR）, which allows its penetration into the egg. The mechanisms regulating sperm capacitation and the AR are not completely understood. In the present review, we summarize some data regarding the role and regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） in these processes. In the capacitation process, the EGFR is partially activated by protein kinase A （PKA）, resulting in phospholipase D （PLD） activation and actin polymerization. Protein kinase C alpha （PKCα）, which is already activated at the beginning of the capacitation, also participates in PLD activation. Further activation of the EGFR at the end of the capacitation enhances intracellular Ca2＋ concentration leading to F-actin breakdown and allows the AR to take place. Under in vivoconditions, the EGFR can be directly activated by its known ligand epidermal growth factor （EGF）, and indirectly by activating PKA or by transactivation mediated by G protein-coupled receptors （GPCRs） activation or by ouabain. Under physiological conditions, sperm PKA is activated mainly by bicarbonate, which activates the soluble adenylyl cyclase to produce cyclic adenosine monophosphate （cAMP）, the activator of PKA. The GPCR activators angiotensin II or Ivsoohosphatidic acid, as well as ouabain and EGF are phvsioloeical comoonents oresent in the female reoroductive tract.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81172876,81273251,U1202228,81471620)the National Special Science Research Program of China(2012CBA01305)+1 种基金the National Science and Technology Major Project(2013ZX10001-002,2012ZX10001-007)the Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS(KSCX2-EW-R-13,KJZD-EW-L10-02)
文摘Non-human primates （NHPs） are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biomedical research. Compared with developed countries in America and Europe, China has relatively rich primate resources and has continually aimed to develop NHPs resources. Currently, China is a leading producer and a major supplier of NHPs on the international market. However, there are some deficiencies in feeding and management that have hampered China＇s growth in NHP research and materials. Nonetheless, China has recently established a number of primate animal models for human diseases and achieved marked scientific progress on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, reproductive diseases, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, etc. Advances in these fields via NHP models will undoubtedly further promote the development of China＇s life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, and enhance China＇s position as a leader in NHP research. This review covers the current status of NHPs in China and other areas, highlighting the latest developments in disease models using NHPs, as well as outlining basic problems and proposing effective to better utilize NHP resources and further foster NHP research in China.
