A phenome database (NEAUHLFPD) designed and constructed for broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content.

Effective management and analysis of precisely recorded phenotypic traits are important components of the selection and breeding of superior livestocks. Over two decades, we divergently selected chicken lines for abdominal fat content at Northeast Agricultural University (Northeast Agricultural University High and Low Fat, NEAUHLF), and collected large volume of phenotypic data related to the investigation on molecular genetic basis of adipose tissue deposition in broilers. To effectively and systematically store, manage and analyze phenotypic data, we built the NEAUHLF Phenome Database (NEAUHLFPD). NEAUHLFPD included the following phenotypic records: pedigree (generations 1-19) and 29 phenotypes, such as body sizes and weights, carcass traits and their corresponding rates. The design and construction strategy of NEAUHLFPD were executed as follows: (1) Framework design. We used Apache as our web server, MySQL and Navicat as database management tools, and PHP as the HTML-embedded language to create dynamic interactive website. (2) Structural components. On the main interface, detailed introduction on the composition, function, and the index buttons of the basic structure of the database could be found. The functional modules of NEAUHLFPD had two main components: the first module referred to the physical storage space for phenotypic data, in which functional manipulation on data can be realized, such as data indexing, filtering, range-setting, searching, etc.; the second module related to the calculation of basic descriptive statistics, where data filtered from the database can be used for the computation of basic statistical parameters and the simultaneous conditional sorting. NEAUHLFPD could be used to effectively store and manage not only phenotypic, but also genotypic and genomics data, which can facilitate further investigation on the molecular genetic basis of chicken adipose tissue growth and development, and expedite the selection and breeding of broilers with low fat content.

[Research advances in association between vitamin D and Kawasaki disease and related mechanisms of action].

Vitamin D is an important steroid hormone, which has a wide biological effect and is the protective factor against cardiovascular disease and other diseases. At present, the etiology and pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) remain unknown, but recent studies have shown that vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is associated with KD. Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency may affect KD via its influence on inflammatory response, adipokine, endothelial function, platelet function, and DNA methylation and increase the risk of coronary artery lesions. This article reviews the research advances in the association between vitamin D and KD and possible mechanisms of action.

Effect of Acute and Chronic Exposure to High Altitude on the Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism in Rats.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of acute and chronic exposure to HA on the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in liver by determining the hepatic levels of ICDH and ATP. Lactate levels in liver and blood were also examined. Rats were exposed to an altitude of 4,300 m for 30 days, and those without HA exposure were used as controls. We observed an increased expression of liver ICDH following acute exposure (days 1, 3, and 7), whereas the liver ATP concentration was reduced on day 1. No changes in the hepatic expression of ICDH and ATP were found in rats chronically exposed to HA. Lactate concentrations of liver and blood did not show any significant changes following HA exposure. Thus, aerobic metabolism may be the major metabolic pathway in response to HA hypoxia in order to acclimatize themselves to the stressful environments.

[Erythrocyte oxidative stress in children with left to right shunt congenital heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study erythrocyte oxidative stress status and its association with left to right shunt congenital heart disease (CHD) in children. METHODS: A total of 31 children with left to right shunt CHD were enrolled, including 7 cases of atrial septal defect (ASD), 12 ventricular septal defect (VSD), 4 patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 6 patent foramen ovale (PFO), and 2 complete endocardial cushion defect. Twenty healthy age-matched (1 month to 3 years old) children severed as the control group. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes were determined using ELISA. ESR was measured by Westergen. PaO(2) and PaCO(2) were measured by Blood Gas Analyzer (GEM Premier 3000). RESULTS: The MDA content in erythrocytes in the CHD group was significantly higher, in contrast, SOD content was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The CHD children with heart failure had more decreased SOD and more increased MDA contents compared with the control group (P<0.01). The SOD level was the highest in the PFO group and was the lowest in the complete endocardial cushion defect group. The SOD level in the PFO group was significantly higher than that in the ASD, VSD and complete endocardial cushion defect groups (P<0.05). The MDA level was the highest in the VSD group and was the lowest in the complete endocardial cushion defect group. There were significant differences in the MDA level among CHD subgroups (P<0.05). The ESR was negatively correlated to the SOD level (r=-0.191, P<0.05), while positively correlated to PaO(2) level in CHD children (r=0.216, P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between SOD and MDA levels (r=-0.312, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress exists in children with left to right shunt CHD. The SOD and MDA contents in erythrocytes can be used as markers for the assessment of severity of the disease.

[Diagnostic value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in myocardial injury of neonatal septicemia].

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal sepsis can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, especially including myocardial injury and heart failure. In this study, the authors observed the changes and the levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in myocardial injury of neonatal sepsis at the different stages to search for the early diagnostic index of myocardial injury and heart failure in patients with neonatal septicemia. METHOD: The levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were determined in 96 newborns with neonatal septicemia according to the diagnosis and treatment program of neonatal septicemia in 2003. The 96 cases were divided into myocardial injury group and non-myocardial injury group. Every newborn was tested for the levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the second day, fifth day and tenth day of septicemia and in the different gestational age infants. Meanwhile, the results were compared to creatine kinase isoenzyme and troponin I. RESULT: The levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were significantly different between myocardial injury group and non-myocardial injury group at the fifth day (P<0.05), especially the levels of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were significantly elevated at the early stage (on the second day) between the two groups (P<0.05). On the fifth day, the values of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were (315.5 +/- 69.7) pmol/L in myocardial injury group, but the value of non-myocardial injury group was (179.3 +/- 27.5) pmol/L. On the fifth day, the results of plasma brain natriuretic peptide, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin I were significantly different and had statistical significance between the myocardial injury group and non-myocardial injury group (P<0.05), while the results of creatine kinase isoenzyme had no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The values of plasma brain natriuretic peptide were respectively (215.5 +/- 69.6) pmol/L and (119.3 +/- 37.4) pmol/L, While N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were (315.5 +/- 69.7) pmol/L and (179.3 +/- 27.5) pmol/L in the two groups. The value of troponin I was (1.57 +/- 0.39) microg/L in the myocardial injury group and that in the non-myocardial injury group was (0.55 +/- 0.2) microg/L. The values of creatine kinase isoenzyme were (33.3 +/- 10.1) u/L in the myocardial injury group, but that of non-myocardial injury group was (17.4 +/- 8.5) u/L. In the different gestational age infants, the values of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide of premature infants were the highest in the three groups. The values of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were (159.5 +/- 39.6) pmol/L and (238.5 +/- 49.7) pmol/L in premature infants. CONCLUSION: The levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide evidently increased in myocardial injury of neonatal sepsis, especially in premature infants. The increase of plasma brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide may be helpful in early diagnosis of the myocardial injury of neonatal sepsis associated with cTnI. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide may become a useful index to diagnose the myocardial injury and should be widely used in the neonatal intensive care unit.