Comparison of growth performance and rumen metabolic pathways in sheep and goats under the same feeding pattern.

Diet and species are important factors affecting the rumen microbiota, with roughage stimulating rumen development and concentrate feeds being broken down by the decomposition of Ruminal flora to provide the organism with a large amount of energy. This study aimed to explore the effects of host and dietary factors on rumen flora composition and diversity, as well as on host metabolism. The study reports the research conducted on 5-month-old male Small-tail Han sheep and 5-month-old male Boer goat, each with an average weight of 33.87 ± 1.70 kg. Five animals of each species were divided into two groups, namely, the S group (Small-tail Han sheep) and the B group (Boer goat). The experiment was carried out in two various periods, namely, X and Y for groups S and B, respectively. The rations were fed with concentrate-to-roughage ratios of 3:7 and 5:5, respectively. Growth performance was measured by the weight increase index. The results showed that, under the same raising conditions, the ratio between body weight increases and the amount of feed was lower in the S group than in the B group, but the differences were not significant. According to the analysis of the apparent digestibility ratio of nutrition ingredients, the XS group had a significantly higher apparent digestibility ratio for acid detergent fiber than the XB group (p < 0.05). Even though the analysis of rumen fermentation parameters showed that the rumen pH has no significant differences between the XS and XB groups, it was significantly lower in the YS group than in the YB group. The XS group contained a significantly lower content of total volatile fatty acids than the XB group (p < 0.05). Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequencing results revealed that, compared to the B group, the S group was highly enriched with the following bacteria: Proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria, Aeromonadales, and Succinivibrionaceae. Thus, the host species affected the abundance and diversity of rumen bacteria. Feed utilization efficiency of Small-tail Han sheep was higher than Boer goats, which might be specifically associated with Succinivibrionaceae. The results from this study show that animals belonging to the same family but different genera and species can differ in metabolic pathways even when they are provided with the same animal feed.

Identification and functional study of GATA4 gene regulatory variants in atrial septal defects.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality from birth defects. In adult CHD patients with successful surgical repair, cardiac complications including heart failure develop at late stage, likely due to genetic causes. To date, many mutations in cardiac developmental genes have been associated with CHD. Recently, regulatory variants in genes have been linked to many human diseases. Although mutations and splicing variants in GATA4 gene have been reported in CHD patients, few regulatory variants of GATA4 gene are identified in CHD patients. METHODS: GATA4 gene regulatory region was investigated in the patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) (n = 332) and ethnic-matched controls (n = 336). RESULTS: Five heterozygous regulatory variants including four SNPs [g.31360 T>C (rs372004083), g.31436G>A, g.31437C>A (rs769262495), g.31487C>G (rs1053351749) and g.31856C>T (rs1385460518)] were only identified in ASD patients. Functional analysis indicated that the regulatory variants significantly affected the transcriptional activity of GATA4 gene promoter. Furthermore, two of the five regulatory variants have evidently effected on transcription factor binding sites. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that GATA4 gene regulatory variants may confer ASD susceptibility by decreasing GATA4 levels.

Early and mid-term outcomes of total repair of tetralogy of Fallot through a right subaxillary thoracotomy.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility and early and mid-term outcomes of total repair of elective tetralogy of Fallot through a right subaxillary thoracotomy. METHODS: Between May 2010 and September 2015, a retrospective review of patients with elective tetralogy of Fallot undergoing primary repair through a right subaxillary thoracotomy was performed. This study included 47 patients [27 males, 20 females; the mean age of 1.7 ± 1.5 years (ranging from 3 to 106 months); body weight of 9.7 ± 2.8 kg (ranging from 5 to 16 kg); McGoon ratio ≥1.5]. The ventricular septal defects were approached through a right atriotomy in 30 patients, a right ventriculotomy in 8 patients and the combination of a right atriotomy and ventriculotomy in 9 patients. Transannular and non-transannular patches were used in 20 and 27 patients, respectively. RESULTS: There was 1 operative death (2.1%), and the others recovered uneventfully. The median cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping times was 79 ± 20.8 (45-136) and 50 ± 15.7 (25-94) min, respectively. The mechanical ventilation time, length of intensive care unit and postoperative hospital stay were 0.9 ± 0.6, 2.6 ± 1.1 and 10.7 ± 2.7 days, respectively. The main complications involved low cardiac output syndrome in 5 patients, arrhythmia in 6 patients, pulmonary infection in 4 patients, small residual shunt in 2 patients, mild residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 2 patients, mild tricuspid regurgitation in 3 patients and atelectasis in 1 patient. The mean follow-up time was 82 ± 22.0 months, and no late deaths occurred during the follow-up. One (2.1%) patient received reintervention for residual significant pulmonary artery stenosis. That was in addition to 2 (4.3%) patients having mild residual right ventricular outflow tract, 1 (2.1%) patient with moderate tricuspid regurgitation and 3 (6.4%) patients with moderate pulmonary valve regurgitation to be followed up. CONCLUSIONS: The right subaxillary thoracotomy, providing a safe and feasible alternative, can be performed with a low mortality rate and satisfactory early and mid-term outcomes for total repair of elective tetralogy of Fallot.

MiR-30a regulates the atrial fibrillation-induced myocardial fibrosis by targeting snail 1.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aims at assessing the association between miR-30a along with its target gene snail 1 and atrial fibrillation (AF)-induced myocardial fibrosis. METHODS: Ang II was used to up-regulate cardiac fibroblasts fibrosis in vitro, and then the cardiac fibroblasts were divided into the mimics group (mimics miR-30a), inhibitors group (inhibitors miR-30a), NC group (transfected miR-30a, negative control) and blank control group (non-transfected cells). Two-group (sham operated group and rapid pacing group) AF rabbit models were constructed according to whether rapid pacing was presented in the subject. Then the establishment of rabbit models was examined using histopathology after Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of snail 1 and periostin in cardiac fibroblasts and myocardial tissues were detected using the method of RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In vitro, our experiment showed that overexpression of miR-30a in cardiac fibroblasts contribute to a significant decrease in the average expression level of snail 1 and periostin (P < 0.05) whereas inhibition of miR-30a significantly increased the average expression level of snail 1 and periostin (P < 0.05). In vivo, the average expression level of miR-30a significantly decreased in myocardial tissues with an increased degree of myocardial fibrosis, while the snail 1 and periostin expression level significantly increased during a certain period of time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that miR-30a target snail 1 protein may be related to AF-induced myocardial fibrosis. The average expression levels of snail 1 increased significantly in both myocardial cells and tissues, while miR-30a could inhibit the expression of snail 1. Thus, we speculate that miR-30a and snail 1 may be potential therapeutic targets for curing AF-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Totally thoracoscopic surgical treatment for atrial septal defect: mid-term follow-up results in 45 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Totally thoracoscopic operation provides minimally invasive alternative for patients with atrial septal defect. In this study, we report the mid-term follow-up results of 45 patients with atrial septal defect who underwent totally thoracoscopic operation and discuss the feasibility and safety of this new technique. METHODS: From January 2010 to February 2012, 45 patients with atrial septal defect underwent totally thoracoscopic closure as an alternative to traditional median sternotomy surgery. The mean age of the patients was 33.2±12.5 years (range 6.3-61.5 years), and mean weight was 55.7±11.1 kg (range 30.5-80 kg). Based on echocardiography the mean size of the atrial septal defect was 16.0±10.8mm (range 13-39 mm). RESULTS: All patients underwent totally thoracoscopic repair. Twenty-five patients with a pericardial patch and 20 patients were sutured directly. Five patients underwent concomitant tricuspid valvuloplasty with Kay technique. No death, reoperation or complete atrioventricular block occurred. The mean time of cardiopulmonary bypass was 70.5±20.6 min (range 31.0-153.0 min), the mean time of aortic cross-clamp was 28.8±13.3 min (range 0.0-80.0 min) and the mean time of operation was 155.8±36.8 min (range 65.0-300.0 min). Postoperative mechanical ventilation averaged 5.1±2.8h (range 3.6-12.6h), and the duration of intensive care unit stay 20.0±5.6h (range 16.2-25 h). The mean volume of blood drainage was 156±36 ml (range 51-800 ml). No death, residual shunt, lung atelectasis or moderate tricuspid regurgitation was found at three-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Totally thoracoscopic repair is feasible and safe for patients with ASD, even with or without tricuspid regurgitation however more clinical data is needed in the future study.