Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome sequence of Heniochus acuminatus.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Heniochus acuminatus was first sequenced and annotated. The entire mitogenome is 16,584 bp in length, which consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region. The phylogenetic analysis by maximum-likelihood (ML) method revealed that H. acuminatus belongs to the Chaetodontidae family and is closely related to other Heniochus fish. The complete mitochondrial genome of H. acuminatus is helpful in population genetics and molecular systematics.

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Golden trevally Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål, 1775) and the phylogenetic analysis of Carangidae.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Gnathanodon speciosus was determined. The entire mitochondrial DNA sequence is 16,555 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a control region. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 13 PCGs showing that G. speciosus belongs to the Carangidae family, and is most closely related to the species in genera Caranx and Megalaspis.

Combined T2 Mapping and Diffusion Tensor Imaging: A Sensitive Tool to Assess Myofascial Trigger Points in a Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are defined as very small and hypersensitive points in skeletal muscle that are palpable, and produce localized pain on compression. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of combining T2 mapping with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for assessing MTrPs in a rat model and to investigate properties of the pathophysiological mechanisms. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats (model group, n = 14; control group, n = 10) underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination on a 3 T-MRI-scanner with a protocol consisting of T2 mapping and DTI. The MTrPs were established by blunt strike in combination with eccentric exercise. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to detect the levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and their results were correlated with T2 values. Parameters from MRI including T2 values, fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were compared between the two groups. Histological analysis was applied to provide an additional supply for MRI findings. RESULTS: The MTrPs of rats displayed significantly increased T2 values and FA (= 0.000) compared with normal controls, whereas MD and RD values were significantly lower (P= 0.031, = 0.000, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in AD between the two groups (P= 0.400). These differences were accompanied by elevated levels of IL-1ß and interleukin-2 IL-2 in the MTrP group compared with controls. T2 values were positively correlated with elevated IL-1ß levels (r = 0.543, P < 0.05) but were not correlated with IL-2 levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combining T2 and DTI sequences creates a sensitive tool to assess MTrPs in a rat model. These data clarify a hypothesis that a trigger point is a chronic and mild muscle injury with inflammation.

Assessment of the effects of ischaemia/ hypoxia on angiogenesis in rat myofascial trigger points using colour Doppler flow imaging.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common non-articular disorder of the musculoskeletal system that is characterized by the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Despite the high prevalence of MPS, its pathogenesis, which induces the onset and maintenance of MTrPs, is still not completely understood. To date, no studies have investigated the changes in the biochemical milieu caused by ischaemia/hypoxia in the MTrP regions of muscle that are proposed in the integrated hypothesis. Therefore, this study investigated whether ischaemic/hypoxic conditions participate in the formation of active MTrPs and affect angiogenesis using colour Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). METHODS: Twenty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a model group and a normal control group. A model of active MTrPs was established by a blunt strike combined with eccentric exercise. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were employed to detect the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF. Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. CDFI was applied to observe the blood flow signals in the MTrPs, which were classified into four grades based on their strengths. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the active MTrP group exhibited significantly higher HIF-1α and VEGF levels and MVD values. These differences were accompanied by increased blood flow signals. In the active MTrP group, the blood flow signal grade was positively correlated with the MVD (P < 0.05) and independently correlated with the VEGF level (P < 0.05) but was not correlated with the expression of HIF-1α (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ischaemic/hypoxic conditions may be involved in the formation of MTrPs. CDFI is useful for detection of the features of angiogenesis in or surrounding MTrPs via assessment of blood flow signals.

Isolation, identification, and biological control in vitro of tail rot pathogen strain from Hippocampus kuda.

Tail rot disease is associated with major economic losses in the seahorse aquaculture in China. This study aimed to isolate and identify the pathogen causing tail rot disease in seahorses. Three culturable intestinal bacteria strains were isolated from Hippocampus kuda specimens with tail rot disease. Strain HL11, HL12, and HL13 were identified as Pseudoalteromonas spongiae, Bacillus subtilis and Photobacterium ganghwense based on its morphological characteristics, physiological and biochemical properties, through 16S rRNA and gyrB sequencing, respectively. Challenge experiments using these strains on healthy H. kuda and bacterial re-isolation from challenged diseased seahorses showed that the bacteria strain named HL11 induced identical pathological symptoms, indicating that it is the causative pathogen of the disease. Antibiotic-resistance tests against of 32 antibiotics revealed that HL11 was highly sensitive to 13 kinds, while exhibited intermediate susceptibility to 6, and resistance to 13 kinds. Antibacterial tests of the bioactive agents showed that HL11 was susceptible to five kinds, including tea polyphenols, lactic acid, gallic acid, allicin, and polylysine; however, it was not susceptible to the other 13 kinds of bioactive agents. The results demonstrate the potential of using bioactive agents to replace antibiotics to generate an environmentally friendly mode of culturing seahorses.

Intrauterine ectopic pregnancy - ultrasound typing and treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the correlation between ultrasound typing and treatment modality of patients with an intrauterine ectopic pregnancy (cervical and cesarean scar). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 65 patients diagnosed with cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) or cervical pregnancy (CP) between February 2014 and May 2018. The cases were divided into two types according to the ultrasound presentation with a gestational sac (GS, type I) or a heterogeneous mass (HM, type II). Type I was further divided into type Ia (< 8 weeks) and type Ib (≥ 8 weeks); type II was defined as type IIa (with poor or no vascularity) and type IIb (with rich vascularity). Three treatment methods were applied in each group. RESULTS: Of included cases, there were 53 CSP and 12 CP. There was no significant difference between Type I and Type II groups in any variable. The beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) level and gestational age of type IIb were significantly higher compared to type IIa (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between ultrasound categories and treatment methods (rs = 0.723, p = 0.000). Analysis of CSP cases of initial treatment failure indicated success rate of initial dilation and curettage (D&C) was dependent upon ultrasonic types, mean sac diameter, gestational age, hCG level, and number of cesarean sections. CONCLUSIONS: The features of ultrasound imaging might provide an additional reference for the selection of clinical treatment methods.

XBP1 promotes tumor invasion and is associated with poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

X­box­binding protein 1 (XBP1) contributes to various types of cancer including breast, bladder cancer and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of the study was to examine the metastatic role of XBP1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and identify possible downstream molecules. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted on tissue microarrays comprising 96 OSCC cases to determine the expression level of XBP1 and analyze its association with metastasis, clinicopathological characteristics and survival prognosis. Compared with the adjacent normal tissues of OSCC, the expression of XBP1 was significantly increased in the tumor center and front area, and lymph nodes metastases (P<0.05). A relatively high XBP1 expression was associated with histological grades (P<0.05), advanced clinical stages (P<0.05), unfavorable 5­year survival (P=0.027). Suppressed XBP1 expression caused a significant reduction of cell invasion capability (P<0.05). AXL and the downstream molecules, such as PI3K, MMP1, MMP3, and uPA were significantly suppressed when XBP1 expression was inhibited in OSCC cells. Once XBP1 was activated by Thapsigargin, AXL expression was restored. Moreover, aberrant AXL expression was associated with XBP1 overexpression in OSCC tissues (P<0.05). In conclusion, XBP1 is a potential target that is relevant to suppressing cell invasion and is associated with patient prognosis in OSCC.

MiR-34a suppresses amphiregulin and tumor metastatic potential of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

MiR-34a is a well-known tumor metastasis inhibitor, but only a few target genes involved in metastasis have been identified. In HNSCC, the role of miR-34a in metastasis has not been fully elaborated, and the target gene of miR-34a is still blind. Here we addressed that, the relative lower expression of miR-34a is associated with HNSCC lymphatic metastasis. HNSCC metastasis was found to be strongly suppressed in vitro and in vivo by over-expressing miR-34a. In order to screen the possible target genes of miR-34a in HNSCC, a microarray-based differential mRNA profiling mediated by miR-34a over-expression was performed, and AREG was identified as a pivotal target. We demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of AREG were greatly reduced when forcing miR-34a expression. The correlation between AREG mRNA levels and HNSCC metastatic phenotype was also significant in HNSCC tissues (p < 0.01). Moreover, the results of luciferase assay provided the further evidence that miR-34a degraded AREG mRNA through targeting the 3'-UTR site. Restoration of AREG expression partially rescued miR-34a-mediated cell invasion defects in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, Over-expressing miR-34a greatly reduced EGFR and uPA, which were reversed by re-expression of AREG. Taken together, these findings indicate that miR-34a targets AREG, and is essential in inhibition of HNSCC metastasis.

Cloning and expression of a gene with phospholipase B activity from Pseudomonas fluorescens in Escherichia coli.

A gene from Pseudomonasfluorescens BIT-18 encoding a protein with phospholipase B activity (Pf-PLB) was cloned in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The open reading frame consists of 1272 bp and potentially encodes a protein of 423 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 45.8 kDa. The nucleotide sequence of Pf-PLB is 45%, 42%, 41%, 40%, 33%, and 31% identical to that of Bifidobacterium animals, Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum, Acidobacterium capsulatum, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Moraxella bovis, and Moraxella catarrhalis, respectively. The His-tagged protein was purified by affinity chromatography and the eluted protein hydrolyzed both the 1- and 2-ester bond of phosphatidylcholine. The recombinant Pf-PLB had optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 30 °C, and it showed 20.1% higher efficiency in the conversion rate of the phosphorus content than the wild-type.

Degumming of vegetable oils by a novel phospholipase B from Pseudomonas fluorescens BIT-18.

Pseudomonas fluorescens BIT-18 was isolated from soil near a vegetable oil factory and shown to produce a B-type phospholipase. The enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Gas chromatography demonstrated that the enzyme preparation hydrolyzed both the 1- and 2-ester bonds of phosphatidylcholine. When degumming of soybean, rapeseed, and peanut oil was performed with this enzyme preparation, oils with phosphorous contents lower than 5mg/kg were obtained after 5h of enzyme treatment at 40°C. The enzyme preparation did not show lipase activity, thus free fatty acids were only generated from the phospholipids. Therefore, this novel phospholipase B is potentially useful for the refining of high-quality oils with attractive yields.