Analysis of differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in adipose tissue of tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) under gradient cooling acclimation.

In order to investigate the influence of gradient cooling acclimation on body mass regulation in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri), white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) in T. belangeri between the control group and gradient cooling acclimation group on day 56 were collected, body mass, food intake, thermogenic capacity, differential metabolites, and related metabolic pathways in WAT and BAT were measured, the changes of differential metabolites were analyzed by non-targeted metabolomics method based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results shown that gradient cooling acclimation significantly increased body mass, food intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), and masses of WAT and BAT. 23 significant differential metabolites in WAT between the gradient cooling acclimation group and the control group, of which the relative contents of 13 differential metabolites were up-regulated and 10 differential metabolites were down-regulated. 27 significant differential metabolites in BAT, of which 18 differential metabolites decreased and 9 differential metabolites increased. 15 differential metabolic pathways in WAT, 8 differential metabolic pathways in BAT, and 4 differential metabolic pathways involved in both WAT and BAT, including Purine metabolism, Pyrimidine metabolism, Glycerol phosphate metabolism, Arginine and proline metabolism, respectively. All of the above results suggested that T. belangeri could use different metabolites of adipose tissue to withstand low temperature environments and enhance their survival.

Genomic insights into the evolution of the critically endangered soft-shelled turtle Rafetus swinhoei.

The 2019 death of the female Swinhoes soft-shelled turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) individual in China put this species in a dire conservation state. To avoid the loss of genetic information from the female individual and facilitate the protection and preservation of R. swinhoei, we sequenced and assembled its draft chromosome-level genome by combining BGISEQ short reads, Nanopore long reads, and Hi-C sequencing reads. We characterized its potential ZZ/ZW sex determination system. Phylogeny and divergence time analyses indicated that R. swinhoei has a close relationship with Pelodiscus sinensis, and they shared a common ancestor ~54.4 Ma. Population history analyses indicated that R. swinhoei has the lowest heterozygosity among all turtles examined, and its population size has declined dramatically over the past 10 million years. Many core genes involved in autophagy and DNA damage response, such as Rab5a and Parp1, were under positive selection and/or evolving rapidly, and these genes may make important contributions to the long lifespan and evolutionary adaptation of R. swinhoei. The loss of several tooth-related genes in turtle genomes explains the genetic basis of their toothless phenotype. This study not only provides a genomic resource for scientists to study the species using the strategy of comparative genomics, but also provides a data basis for us to find more potential R. swinhoei individuals in the wild.

Metabonomics of white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue in Tupaia belangeri during cold acclimation.

In the present study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) was used to perform untargeted metabolomics analysis of white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) in Tupaia belangeri during cold acclimation. Differences in biochemical composition between WAT and BAT were compared. Clarifying how the two adipose tissues respond to the lower temperature in terms of metabolomics, which elucidate the metabolic process and energy homeostasis regulation mechanism in T. belangeri. The results showed that there were 34, 59 and 20 differential metabolites in the WAT, BAT and WAT compared with BAT, respectively. WAT and BAT had significant differences in various metabolic pathways such as sugar metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, which were closely related to the different biological roles of the two tissues. Increasing the concentrations of intermediate products of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, pyruvic acid, and phosphoenolpyruvic acid (PEP) in WAT and increasing the metabolites in TCA cycle, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism pathways in BAT, likely to increase the thermogenic capacity in T. belangeri in response to cold stress. There were more differential metabolic pathways in BAT during cold acclimation than that of in WAT. Moreover, compared to WAT, BAT responds to cold stress by adjusting the concentration of nucleotide metabolites.

Metabolomics on serum levels and liver of male Tupaia belangeri from 12 locations in China by GC-MS.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate adaptive strategies of Tupaia belangeri to environmental factors in different populations, 12 locations were selected, including higher and lower altitude areas. RESULTS: Total of 96 and 90 metabolites were annotated in serum and liver respectively, which were mainly concentrated in primary metabolites. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the locations were divided into two groups in serum metabolites, but each group had a few samples overlap. The samples of each group overlap to some degree in the liver metabolites. The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle occupies a central position in metabolism. The concentrations of TCA intermediates, lipid metabolites and amino acid metabolites were higher in higher altitude areas, and the concentrations of carbohydrate and glycolysis intermediates were higher in lower altitude areas. CONCLUSIONS: Different areas adapted to the changes of environmental and altitude by regulating the concentration of metabolites in serum and liver, and revealed the adaptive mechanism of T. belangeri in different living environments.

[Evaluation of different ultrasonic modalities for prenatal screening congenital heart diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of four chamber view, outflow tract view and color Doppler echocardiography for detecting the fetal congenital heart defects among high-risk populations. And to discuss the significance of screening congenital heart defects by three methods and select the suitable method for wider applications. METHODS: The echocardiographic records of all pregnant women performed at our hospital from January 2006 to December 2007 were reviewed retrospectively by screening of clinical epidemiology. All cases received ultrasonic examinations. The abnormal cases with postnatal confirmation by echocardiogram or autopsy were included. The abnormalities detected in each view were analyzed and classified. RESULTS: A total of 52 fetuses with congenital heart defects were detected by gray scale sonography and color Doppler sonography in 1310 cases. Each specific cardiac defect had its typical finding in these three planes. The sensitivities of three methods were 61.5%, 88.5% and 96.1% respectively. CONCLUSION: Four chamber view, outflow tract view and color Doppler sonography have played an important role in screening fetal common congenital heart defects. Outflow tract view is easy to operate and it may be recommended as a suitable method.

[Early diagnosis of endometrial disorder in women with postmenopausal bleeding by three-dimensional transvaginal sonography and hysterosonography].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of three-dimensional transvaginal sonography and hysterosonography in the diagnosis of endometrial lesion in women with postmenopausal bleeding. METHODS: A total of 74 patients with postmenopausal bleeding were prospectively studied by two- and three-dimensional transvaginal sonography. Endometrial thickness and volume were measured by 2D and 3D ultrasound respectively. Endometrial thickness was found by hysterosonography at greater than 5 mm in 32 cases. Changes of endometrium and compliance of muscularis uteri were observed. The results were correlated with histopathological findings. RESULTS: When 10 ml of endometrial volume was set as the cut-off point of endometrial abnormalities in postmenopausal women with bleeding, the sensitivity and false positive rate were 95.4%, 21.2% whereas 100%, 18.2% were obtained respectively when it was used to predict endometrial malignancy and premalignancy. The accurate rate of 2D-HSG diagnosing endometrial disorders and endometrial malignancy and pre-malignancy was 96. 8% and 100% respectively. Changes of endometrium and compliance of muscularis uteri showed a significant difference between the groups of benign and malignancy after the injection of fluid into uterine cavity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 3D-TVS and 2D-HSG are reliable methods in screening endometrial lesions. 2D-HSG should be regarded as an important tool in diagnosing and differentiating endometrial lesions especially in early stages of this malignant disease. Changes of endometrium and compliance of muscularis uteri may help to differentiate benign disorders from endometrial cancer.

[Prenatal ultrasonography for fetus with hydronephrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between classification and prognosis of hydronephrosis in fetus. METHODS: 226 pregnant women in their pregnant weeks 20 - 40 who were suggested to be with fetuses suffering from hydronephrosis underwent ultrasonography to observe the configuration of the kidneys, form and size of renal pelvis, extent of calyces, and thickness of renal cortex of their fetuses. The ultrasonography was conducted regularly and the outcome after birth was followed up. RESULTS: 143 fetuses (186 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade I with the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis from 0.3 to 1.1 cm that fadeawayed soon after birth with a good prognosis. 47 fetuses (52 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade II with the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis from 1.0 to 1.8 cm, most of which remised gradually after birth, and only about 5% of which became worse along with the time of pregnancy and needed surgery after birth. 10 fetuses (10 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade III with the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis from 1.5 to 3.3 cm about 70% of which showed a tendency to deteriorate along with the time of pregnancy and after birth, and the neonates needed surgery after birth. Eight fetuses (10 kidneys) were diagnosed as with hydronephrosis of grade IV with the anteroposterior diameter of renal pelvis from 1.5 to 7.2 cm that needed surgery after birth. CONCLUSION: Follow-up and monitoring are not necessary for those fetus with hydronephrosis of grade I; however, regular ultrasonography is needed for the those with hydronephrosis of grade II and over.