Correlation between Combined Urinary Metal Exposure and Grip Strength under Three Statistical Models: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Guangxi.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods: We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength. Results: In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (ß = -2.119), As (ß = -1.318), Sr (ß = -2.480), Ba (ß = 0.781), Fe (ß = 1.130) and Mn (ß = -0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength ( P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95% confidence interval: -1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn ( P interactions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively). Conclusion: In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

Correlation between Combined Urinary Metal Exposure and Grip Strength under Three Statistical Models: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Guangxi / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength.@*METHODS@#We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.@*RESULTS@#In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β = -2.119), As (β = -1.318), Sr (β = -2.480), Ba (β = 0.781), Fe (β = 1.130) and Mn (β = -0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength ( P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95% confidence interval: -1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn ( P interactions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).@*CONCLUSION@#In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

Prediction of Severe Esophageal Varices in Patients With Cirrhosis Based on Levitt's CO Breath Test: A Proof of Concept Study.

GOALS: This study investigated the feasibility of using erythrocyte (RBC) lifespan determined by Levitt's CO breath test (LCOBT) to predict esophageal varices needing treatment (VNT) in patients with cirrhosis. BACKGROUND: Esophageal varix bleeding is a common fatal complication of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The gold standard for identifying VNT is esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), an invasive procedure with low patient compliance. VNT screening based on Baveno VI criteria has mediocre specificity. STUDY: RBC lifespan was determined by LCOBT in 53 cirrhotic patients (13 without varices, 11 mild/moderate varices, and 29 severe varices). Correlation of varix severity with RBC lifespan and other variables was analyzed. Rates of shortened RBC lifespan and thrombocytopenia (Baveno VI criteria) were compared. RESULTS: RBC lifespan correlated inversely with severity of varices ( r =-0.793, P <0.001). Mean RBC lifespans were 129±31, 96±21, and 59±21 days for Nonvarix, Mild/Moderate, and Severe groups. Shortened RBC lifespan (<75 d) was observed in 79.3% (23/29) of patients with severe varices, a frequency similar or identical to thrombocytopenia rates [original Baveno VI criteria, 86.2% (25/29), P =0.487; expanded criteria, 79.3% (23/29), P >0.999]. Among 24 patients without severe varices, shortened RBC lifespan was observed in 1 patient whereas thrombocytopenia was detected in 13 and 8 patients based on the original ( P <0.001) and expanded criteria ( P =0.010), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: RBC lifespan correlates inversely with varix severity in patients with cirrhosis. LCOBT may enable specific screening for VNT.

TAS-102 Monotherapy and Combination Therapy with Bevacizumab for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TAS-102 monotherapy and combination therapy with bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for the literature on TAS-102 treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Extracted data include median overall survival (mOS), median progression-free survival (mPFS), and the incidence of adverse events for meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our study found that the mOS of patients treated with TAS-102 monotherapy was 6.95 (95% CI: 6.26-7.72) months and the mPFS was 2.53 (95% CI: 2.31-2.78) months. The mOS in patients treated by TAS-102 combined with bevacizumab was 10.41 (95% CI: 8.40-12.89) months, and the mPFS is 4.35 (95% CI: 3.05-6.20) months. In the control experiment, the patients' mOS and mPFS were improved. TAS-102+B vs. TAS-102 (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18-0.93; OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.63-0.83) and TAS-102 vs. placebo (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29-0.67; OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.42-0.62) were studied to actively prevent the occurrence of neutropenia, leukopenia, febrile neutropenia, anemia, and vomiting. CONCLUSION: TAS-102 monotherapy and combination therapy with bevacizumab can significantly improve the survival of patients and prevent specific adverse events from happening.

[Development and clinical application of universal screwdriver].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a universal screwdriver for sealing the end of the central hole of the femoral interlocking intramedullary nail, so as to shorten the operation time of the tail cap implantation of the intramedullary nail and improve the accuracy of implantation. METHODS: Total 77 patients with intertrochanteric fractures underwent femoral interlocking intramedullary nail (FIIN) surgery from June 2018 to June 2019. There were 28 males and 49 females, aged 55 to 80 (76.22± 7.32) years old, and course of disease was 20 to 40 h. All patients were divided into universal screwdriver group (39 cases) and ordinary screwdriver group (38 cases) according to whether the self-developed universal screw was applicable during the operation. The blood loss during tail cap implantation, the time of tail cap implantation, the success rate of one-time implantation, and the postoperative curative effect were compared between two groups. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months, with an average of(20.00±6.38) months. The bleeding volume and the time of tail cap implantation in the universal screwdriver group were significantly lower thanthose in the ordinary screwdriver group (P<0.05);The one-time success rate (100%) of the universal screwdriver group was significantly higher than that of the ordinary screwdriver group (75.4%)(P< 0.05);at the last follow-up, the efficacy scores of two groups were improved compared with preoperatively, but the efficacy scores of the universal screwdriver group were significantly better than those of the ordinary screwdriver group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The universal screwdriver is easy to operate during the operation when using the cap of the femoral intramedullary nail, the operation time is shortened, the amount of bleeding is reduced, and the treatment effect is satisfactory.

Investigation of Proteus vulgaris and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica invasion on muscle oxidative stress and autophagy in Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis).

Muscle is an important structural tissue in aquatic animals and it is susceptible to bacterial and fungal infection, which could affect flesh quality and health. In this study, Chinese soft-shelled turtles were artificially infected with two pathogens, Proteus vulgaris and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica and the effects on muscle nutritional characteristics, oxidative stress and autophagy were assayed. Upon infection, the muscle nutritional composition and muscle fiber structure were notably influenced. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of Nrf2 was down-regulated and Keap1 up-regulated, thus resulting in a decrease in antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress. However, with N-acetylcysteine treatment, the level of oxidative stress was decreased, accompanied by significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activities and the mRNA levels of SOD, CAT, GSTCD, and GSTO1. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in autophagy in the muscle tissue after the pathogen infection, but this increase could be reduced by N-acetylcysteine treatment. Our findings suggest that muscle nutritional characteristics were dramatically changed after pathogen infection, and oxidative stress and autophagy were induced by pathogen infection. However, N-acetylcysteine treatment could compromise the process perhaps by decreasing the ROS level and regulating Nrf2-antioxidant signaling pathways.

Effect and cost-effectiveness of three commonly used molluscicides in largescale field application / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect and cost-effectiveness of three commonly used molluscicides, 4% "Luo-wei" (tea-seed distilled saponins, TDS), 50% niclosamide ethanolamine salt wettable powder (NESWP), and 26% metaldehyde and niclosamide suspension concentrate (MNSC) in large-scale field application, so as to provide the references for formulating the strategy of snail control. Methods The field test and parallel comparison were implemented. A marshland with Oncomelania hupensis snails of the Yangtze River was divided into 4 parts (10 hm2) for the research, and three of them were experimental areas while the last one was a blank control area. The experimental areas were sprayed with 4% "Luo-wei", 50% NESWP and 26% MNSC respectively for 3 times and the interval was 1 week. Seven days after each spraying the effect of snail control was investigated, and the costs of molluscicides, labor, transportation, fuel consumption and mechanical loss were recorded. The cost of each molluscicide, snail mortality, snail density, and the cost of increasing 1% of snail mortality per 100 m2 were analyzed and compared. Results After the first, second and third spraying, the corrected snail mortality rates were 67.34%, 76.55% and 84.60% respectively in the 4% "Luo-wei" group; the corrected snail mortality rates were 64.71%, 75.17% and 83.89% respectively in the 50% NESWP group; the corrected snail mortality rates were 66.55%, 76.27% and 86.67% respectively in the 26% MNSC group. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in the snail mortality at the same spraying time (χ2 = 1.590, 0.571, 3.238, all P > 0.05) . In addition, along with the increase of the spraying times, the snail mortality of each group was increased significantly compared to that of the control group (χ2 = 79.333, 94.718, 117.020, all P < 0.01) . After the first, second and third spraying, the reduction rates of snail density were 69.82%–86.60% in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 68.66%–86.55% in the 50% NESWP group, and 71.89%–88.87% in the 26% MNSC group respectively. The decreasing amplitude of the snail density was more than 85% in all the experimental areas after 3 rounds of spraying molluscicide. The snail control costs per 100 hm2 were 19.57, 11.97 Yuan and 10.47 Yuan in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 50% NESWP group, and 26% MNSC group respectively. After the first, second and third spraying, the costs of increasing 1% of snail mortality per 100 m2 were 0.30, 2.08 Yuan and 2.38 Yuan in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 0.20, 1.10 Yuan and 1.32 Yuan in the 50% NESWP group, and 0.17, 1.04 Yuan and 0.97 Yuan in the 26% MNSC group respectively, and the cost-effectiveness was the highest at the first spraying in all the three groups. Conclusions The effects of the three molluscicides for snail control are similar, but the efficacy of snail control is reduced as the spraying time increases.

Significant genetic differentiation of Gobiopterus lacustris, a newly recorded transparent goby in China.

In our recent survey, the transparent small Lacustrine goby, Gobiopterus lacustris had reported as the endemic species of Luzon, Philippines, was identified as an abundant species in mangroves of Leizhou Peninsula, China. Here, high diversity and significant differentiation of five sites of samples representing the west and east populations were revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences. Five haplotypes of 56 cytochrome oxidase subunit I (Cox1) with the lengths of 623 base pairs (bp) have the high pairwise identity (>98.8%). Moreover, a total of 31 haplotypes for 129 partial D-loop regions were clustered into two clades corresponding to the east and west sampling sites. The strong population structure was confirmed (ΦST = 0.43017, p < .0001) with high haplotype diversity (h = 0.880 ± 0.017) and low nucleotide diversity (p=.00484). Moreover, both the mismatch distribution analysis and neutral test of D-loop revealed that the west group might experience a recent demographic expansion. Lastly, the isolation-with-migration analysis supported the expansion and indicated that the east-west split happened at approximately 7.1 kyr ago. Given the distribution and diversity, G. lacustris could be a good model for the study of the sea-level fluctuations and coast evolution of the South China Sea.

[Effect and cost-effectiveness of three commonly used molluscicides in largescale field application].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and cost-effectiveness of three commonly used molluscicides, 4% "Luo-wei" (tea-seed distilled saponins, TDS), 50% niclosamide ethanolamine salt wettable powder (NESWP), and 26% metaldehyde and niclosamide suspension concentrate (MNSC) in large-scale field application, so as to provide the references for formulating the strategy of snail control. METHODS: The field test and parallel comparison were implemented. A marshland with Oncomelania hupensis snails of the Yangtze River was divided into 4 parts (10 hm2) for the research, and three of them were experimental areas while the last one was a blank control area. The experimental areas were sprayed with 4% "Luo-wei", 50% NESWP and 26% MNSC respectively for 3 times and the interval was 1 week. Seven days after each spraying the effect of snail control was investigated, and the costs of molluscicides, labor, transportation, fuel consumption and mechanical loss were recorded. The cost of each molluscicide, snail mortality, snail density, and the cost of increasing 1% of snail mortality per 100 m2 were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: After the first, second and third spraying, the corrected snail mortality rates were 67.34%, 76.55% and 84.60% respectively in the 4% "Luo-wei" group; the corrected snail mortality rates were 64.71%, 75.17% and 83.89% respectively in the 50% NESWP group; the corrected snail mortality rates were 66.55%, 76.27% and 86.67% respectively in the 26% MNSC group. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in the snail mortality at the same spraying time (χ2 = 1.590, 0.571, 3.238, all P > 0.05) . In addition, along with the increase of the spraying times, the snail mortality of each group was increased significantly compared to that of the control group (χ2 = 79.333, 94.718, 117.020, all P < 0.01) . After the first, second and third spraying, the reduction rates of snail density were 69.82%-86.60% in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 68.66%-86.55% in the 50% NESWP group, and 71.89%-88.87% in the 26% MNSC group respectively. The decreasing amplitude of the snail density was more than 85% in all the experimental areas after 3 rounds of spraying molluscicide. The snail control costs per 100 hm2 were 19.57, 11.97 Yuan and 10.47 Yuan in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 50% NESWP group, and 26% MNSC group respectively. After the first, second and third spraying, the costs of increasing 1% of snail mortality per 100 m2 were 0.30, 2.08 Yuan and 2.38 Yuan in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 0.20, 1.10 Yuan and 1.32 Yuan in the 50% NESWP group, and 0.17, 1.04 Yuan and 0.97 Yuan in the 26% MNSC group respectively, and the cost-effectiveness was the highest at the first spraying in all the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of the three molluscicides for snail control are similar, but the efficacy of snail control is reduced as the spraying time increases.

Effect and cost-effectiveness of three commonly used molluscicides in largescale field application / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect and cost-effectiveness of three commonly used molluscicides, 4% "Luo-wei" (tea-seed distilled saponins, TDS), 50% niclosamide ethanolamine salt wettable powder (NESWP), and 26% metaldehyde and niclosamide suspension concentrate (MNSC) in large-scale field application, so as to provide the references for formulating the strategy of snail control. Methods The field test and parallel comparison were implemented. A marshland with Oncomelania hupensis snails of the Yangtze River was divided into 4 parts (10 hm2) for the research, and three of them were experimental areas while the last one was a blank control area. The experimental areas were sprayed with 4% "Luo-wei", 50% NESWP and 26% MNSC respectively for 3 times and the interval was 1 week. Seven days after each spraying the effect of snail control was investigated, and the costs of molluscicides, labor, transportation, fuel consumption and mechanical loss were recorded. The cost of each molluscicide, snail mortality, snail density, and the cost of increasing 1% of snail mortality per 100 m2 were analyzed and compared. Results After the first, second and third spraying, the corrected snail mortality rates were 67.34%, 76.55% and 84.60% respectively in the 4% "Luo-wei" group; the corrected snail mortality rates were 64.71%, 75.17% and 83.89% respectively in the 50% NESWP group; the corrected snail mortality rates were 66.55%, 76.27% and 86.67% respectively in the 26% MNSC group. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in the snail mortality at the same spraying time (χ2 = 1.590, 0.571, 3.238, all P > 0.05) . In addition, along with the increase of the spraying times, the snail mortality of each group was increased significantly compared to that of the control group (χ2 = 79.333, 94.718, 117.020, all P < 0.01) . After the first, second and third spraying, the reduction rates of snail density were 69.82%–86.60% in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 68.66%–86.55% in the 50% NESWP group, and 71.89%–88.87% in the 26% MNSC group respectively. The decreasing amplitude of the snail density was more than 85% in all the experimental areas after 3 rounds of spraying molluscicide. The snail control costs per 100 hm2 were 19.57, 11.97 Yuan and 10.47 Yuan in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 50% NESWP group, and 26% MNSC group respectively. After the first, second and third spraying, the costs of increasing 1% of snail mortality per 100 m2 were 0.30, 2.08 Yuan and 2.38 Yuan in the 4% "Luo-wei" group, 0.20, 1.10 Yuan and 1.32 Yuan in the 50% NESWP group, and 0.17, 1.04 Yuan and 0.97 Yuan in the 26% MNSC group respectively, and the cost-effectiveness was the highest at the first spraying in all the three groups. Conclusions The effects of the three molluscicides for snail control are similar, but the efficacy of snail control is reduced as the spraying time increases.

Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Palinura homarus.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Palinura homarus was obtained using PCR amplification and walking sequencing (GenBank accession no. JN_542716). The complete mitochondrial genome of P. homarus was 15,665 bp long and showed significant AT bias (67% AT content, 33% GC content). The A + T-rich region included copy-related control information and a poly (dT) structure that related to replication and transcription. In this study, the gene arrangement was consistent with other Palinura mitochondrial genomes and the sequence was strikingly similar to Panulirus ornatus, which would be useful in species identification and natural resources conservation.

Daily rhythmicity of clock gene transcript levels in fast and slow muscle fibers from Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi).

BACKGROUND: Clock genes are considered to be the molecular core of biological clock in vertebrates and they are directly involved in the regulation of daily rhythms in vertebrate tissues such as skeletal muscles. Fish myotomes are composed of anatomically segregated fast and slow muscle fibers that possess different metabolic and contractile properties. To date, there is no report on the characterization of the circadian clock system components of slow muscles in fish. RESULTS: In the present study, the molecular clock components (clock, arntl1/2, cry1/2/3, cry-dash, npas2, nr1d1/2, per1/2/3, rorα and tim genes) and their daily transcription levels were characterized in slow and fast muscles of Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi). Among the 15 clock genes, nrld2 and per3 had no daily rhythmicity in slow muscles, and cry2/3 and tim displayed no daily rhythmicity in fast muscles of the adult fish. In the slow muscles, the highest expression of the most clock paralogs occurred at the dark period except arntl1, nr1d1, nr1d2 and tim. With the exception of nr1d2 and tim, the other clock genes had an acrophase at the light period in fast muscles. The circadian expression of the myogenic regulatory factors (mrf4 and myf5), mstn and pnca showed either a positive or a negative correlation with the transcription pattern of the clock genes in both types of muscles. CONCLUSIONS: It was the first report to unravel the molecular clock components of the slow and fast muscles in vertebrates. The expressional pattern differences of the clock genes between the two types of muscle fibers suggest that the clock system may play key roles on muscle type-specific tissue maintenance and function.

Molecular characterization of Myf5 and comparative expression patterns of myogenic regulatory factors in Siniperca chuatsi.

Myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) are muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that plays an essential role in regulating skeletal muscle development and growth. To investigate molecular characterization of Myf5 and compare the expressional patterns of the four MRFs, we cloned the Myf5 cDNA sequence and analyzed the MRFs expressional patterns using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi). Sequence analysis indicated that Chinese perch Myf5 and other MRFs shared a highly conserved bHLH domain with those of other vertebrates. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree showed that Chinese perch MRFs had the highest identity with the MRFs of Epinephelus coioides. Spatio-temporal expressional patterns revealed that the MRFs were primarily expressed in muscle, especially in white muscle. During embryonic development period, Myf5, MyoD and MyoG mRNAs had a steep increase at neurula stage, and their highest expressional level was predominantly observed at hatching period. Whereas the highest expressional level of the MRF4 was observed at the muscular effect stage. The expressional patterns of post-embryonic development showed that the Myf5, MyoD and MyoG mRNAs were highest at 90 days post-hatching (dph). Furthermore, starvation and refeeding results showed that the transcription of the MRFs in the fast skeletal muscle of Chinese perch responded quickly to a single meal after 7 days of fasting. It indicated that the MRFs might contribute to muscle recovery after refeeding in Chinese perch.

Morphological Characters and Transcriptome Profiles Associated with Black Skin and Red Skin in Crimson Snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus).

In this study, morphology observation and illumina sequencing were performed on two different coloration skins of crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus), the black zone and the red zone. Three types of chromatophores, melanophores, iridophores and xanthophores, were organized in the skins. The main differences between the two colorations were in the amount and distribution of the three chromatophores. After comparing the two transcriptomes, 9200 unigenes with significantly different expressions (ratio change ≥ 2 and q-value ≤ 0.05) were found, of which 5972 were up-regulated in black skin and 3228 were up-regulated in red skin. Through the function annotation, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the differentially transcribed genes, we excavated a number of uncharacterized candidate pigment genes as well as found the conserved genes affecting pigmentation in crimson snapper. The patterns of expression of 14 pigment genes were confirmed by the Quantitative real-time PCR analysis between the two color skins. Overall, this study shows a global survey of the morphological characters and transcriptome analysis of the different coloration skins in crimson snapper, and provides valuable cellular and genetic information to uncover the mechanism of the formation of pigment patterns in snappers.

Selection of reference genes for microRNA quantitative expression analysis in Chinese perch, Siniperca chuatsi.

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is one of the most effective and sensitive techniques in gene expression assay, for which selection of reference genes is a prerequisite. In teleost species, such as Chinese perch, the expression profiling of miRNAs as reference genes for RT-qPCR has not been intensively studied. In the present study, the expression profiles of six miRNAs (miR-101a, miR-146a, miR-22a, miR-23a, miR-26a and let-7a) and one small nuclear RNA (U6) were assayed with RT-qPCR in different adult tissues, developmental stages and growth conditions of Chinese perch, Siniperca chuatsi. The analyses revealed that embryonic developmental stage is an important variability factor in the expression stability of miRNAs. All six miRNAs exhibited better expression consistency than U6 in most of the conditions examined, and therefore, they may be more suitable as a reference gene for miRNA quantification. When different tissues and developmental stages were considered, miR-22a demonstrated the most consistent expression pattern, and the best combination of reference genes was miR-22a and miR-23a. Our study offers useful data for selecting miRNAs as reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis of miRNAs in teleost fishes under different conditions.

MicroRNA signature in response to nutrient restriction and re-feeding in fast skeletal muscle of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is one of the most important cultivated fish species in China. Mounting evidences suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) may be key regulators of skeletal muscle among the grass carp, but the knowledge of the identity of myogenic miRNAs and role of miRNAs during skeletal muscle anabolic state remains limited. In the present study, we choose 8 miRNAs previously reported to act as muscle growth-related miRNAs for fasting-refeeding research. We investigated postprandial changes in the expression of 8 miRNAs following a single satiating meal in grass carp juveniles who had been fasting for one week and found that 7 miRNAs were sharply up-regulated within 1 or 3 h after refeeding, suggesting that they may be promising candidate miRNAs involved in a fast-response signaling system that regulates fish skeletal muscle growth.

The phylogenetic placement of Siniperca obscura base on complete mitochondrial DNA sequence.

Abstract The extant freshwater sinipercids represent a group of 12 species and they are endemic to East Asia. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the complete mitochondrial DNA of Siniperca obscura from the Lijiang River. The size of the complete mitochondrial genome is 16,492 bp. The organization of the mitochondrial contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA and 22 transfer RNAs) and a major non-coding control region as well as those reported sinipercid fishes. Among the 13 protein-coding genes, three reading-frame overlaps were found: ATP8 and ATP6 overlap by 10 nucleotides and ND4 and ND4L overlap by 7 nucleotides and ND5 and ND6 overlap by 5 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analyses using N-J and maximum parsimony (MP) computational algorithms showed that S. chuatsi and S. kneri are sister species, next joined by S. Obscura, based on combined 12 protein-coding genes (excluding DN6).

Correlation between the length and weight of Arius maculatus off the southwestern coast of Taiwan

In this study, Arius maculatus were collected using the samples caught by bottom trawling off the southwestern coast of Taiwan. Length-weight and length-length, fork (FL), standard (SL) and total (TL) lengths, relationships were determined. The relationships between the lengths were all significantly linear (p<0.01), the b value in the length-weight relationship for this value was significantly lower than 3 in the fall (p<0.01), when the temporal changes were taken into account, indicating that only the sampling time affected the growth pattern of A. maculatus. The growth was isometric in the spring, summer and winter, but it was negative and allometric in the fall.

DNA barcoding South China Sea fishes.

We have determined 222 DNA barcode sequences of 95 fish species in 86 genera of 69 families from 15 orders. Fish were captured by trawl from two important fisheries regions in South China Sea: Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands) and Beibu Gulf. The average genetic distances between intraspecies were about 60-fold less than those of interspecies within different taxonomic levels, as Kimura two-parameter genetic distances averaged 17.260% among congeners, 20.097% among genus, and only 0.317% for intraspecific individuals. There were a few examples of deep divergence within species, suggesting the need for further taxonomic work, and a few examples of closely allied species, perhaps reflecting introgressive hybridization. The results provide further evidence for the reliability and accessibility of DNA barcodes for marine fish identification, and also highlight their effectiveness for flagging cases needing taxonomical reexamination.