Effects of one-week bilateral cerebellar iTBS on resting-state functional brain network and multi-task attentional performance in healthy individuals: A randomized, sham-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Cerebellar intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) modulates the excitability of the cerebral cortex and may enhance attentional performance. To date, few studies have conducted iTBS on healthy subjects for one week and used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the effect of multiple stimulation sessions on resting-state functional brain networks and the daily stimulation effect on attentional performance. METHODS: 16 healthy subjects participated in a one-week experiment, receiving bilateral cerebellar iTBS or sham stimulation and engaging in multi-task attentional training. The primary measures were the one-week attentional performance and pre- and post-experiment resting-state EEG activities. Amplitude Envelope Correlation (AEC) was used to construct the functional connectivity in the eye-open (EO) and eye-closed (EC) phases. RESULTS: At least three sessions of iTBS were required to enhance multi-task performance significantly, whereas only one or two sessions failed to elicit the improvement. Compared with the control group, iTBS induced significant changes in PSD, AEC functional connectivity, and AEC network properties during the EO phase, while it had little effect during the EC phase. During the EO phase, the network property changes of the iTBS subject were correlated with improved attentional performance. CONCLUSION: The multi-task performance requires multiple stimulations to enhance. iTBS affects the resting-state alpha band brain activities during the EO rather than the EC phase. The AEC network properties may serve as a biomarker to assess the attentional potential of healthy subjects.

Castration alters the ileum microbiota of Holstein bulls and promotes beef flavor compounds.

BACKGROUND: In the beef industry, bull calves are usually castrated to improve flavor and meat quality; however, this can reduce their growth and slaughter performance. The gut microbiota is known to exert a significant influence on growth and slaughter performance. However, there is a paucity of research investigating the impact of castration on gut microbiota composition and its subsequent effects on slaughter performance and meat flavor. RESULT: The objective of this study was to examine the processes via which castration hinders slaughter productivity and enhances meat quality. Bull and castrated calves were maintained under the same management conditions, and at slaughter, meat quality was assessed, and ileum and epithelial tissue samples were obtained. The research employed metagenomic sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics techniques to investigate the makeup of the microbiota and identify differential metabolites. The findings of this study revealed the Carcass weight and eye muscle area /carcass weight in the bull group were significantly higher than those in the steer group. There were no significant differences in the length, width, and crypt depth of the ileum villi between the two groups. A total of 53 flavor compounds were identified in the two groups of beef, of which 16 were significantly higher in the steer group than in the bull group, and 5 were significantly higher in the bull group than in the steer group. In addition, bacteria, Eukaryota, and virus species were significantly separated between the two groups. The lipid metabolism pathways of α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and unsaturated fatty acids were significantly enriched in the Steers group. Compared with the steer group, the organic system pathway is significantly enriched in the bull group. The study also found that five metabolites (LPC (0:0/20:3), LPC (20:3/0:0), LPE (0:0/22:5), LPE (22:5/0:0), D-Mannosamine), and three species (s_Cloning_vector_Hsp70_LexA-HP1, s_Bacteroides_Coprophilus_CAG: 333, and s_Clostridium_nexile-CAG: 348) interfere with each other and collectively have a positive impact on the flavor compounds of beef. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a basic understanding that under the same management conditions, castration does indeed reduce the slaughter performance of bulls and improve the flavor of beef. Microorganisms and metabolites contribute to these changes through interactions.

Verification of Key Target Molecules for Intramuscular Fat Deposition and Screening of SNP Sites in Sheep from Small-Tail Han Sheep Breed and Its Cross with Suffolk.

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is vital for meat tenderness and juiciness. This study aims to explore the IMF deposition mechanism and the related molecular markers in sheep. Two populations, Small-tail Han Sheep (STH) and STH × Suffolk (SFK) F1 (SFK × STH), were used as the research object. Histological staining techniques compared the differences in the longissimus dorsi muscle among populations. A combination of transcriptome sequencing and biological information analysis screened and identified IMF-related target genes. Further, sequencing technology was employed to detect SNP loci of target genes to evaluate their potential as genetic markers. Histological staining revealed that the muscle fiber gap in the SFK × STH F1 was larger and the IMF content was higher. Transcriptome analysis revealed that PIK3R1 and PPARA were candidate genes. Histological experiments revealed that the expressions of PIK3R1 mRNA and PPARA mRNA were lower in SFK × STH F1 compared with the STH. Meanwhile, PIK3R1 and PPARA proteins were located in intramuscular adipocytes and co-located with the lipid metabolism marker molecule (FASN). SNP locus analysis revealed a mutation site in exon 7 of the PIK3R1 gene, which served as a potential genetic marker for IMF deposition. This study's findings will provide a new direction for meat quality breeding in sheep.

Effects of Oregano Essential Oil on IgA+, IgG+, and IgM+ Cells in the Jejunum of Castrated Holstein Bulls.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oregano essential oil on IgA+, IgG+, and IgM+ cells in the jejunum of castrated Holstein bulls. Twelve castrated Holstein bulls were randomly divided into control (YCK) and oregano essential oil (YEO) groups. Pathological changes in the jejunum were observed by HE staining, and the expression levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM in the jejunum were detected by ELISA. The distributions of IgA+, IgG+, and IgM+ cells in the jejunum were analysed by multiplex immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the jejunal villi were detached in the YCK group, which may have been related to inflammation, while the intestinal epithelium was clear and intact in the YEO group. The expressions of IgA, IgG, and IgM were significantly reduced by 40.75%, 30.76%, and 50.87%. The IgA+, IgG+, and IgM+ cells were diffusely distributed in the lamina propria of the jejunum, and were reduced by 17.07%, 6.44%, and 6.15%, respectively. Oregano essential oil did not alter the distribution characteristics of IgA+, IgG+, or IgM+ cells in the jejunum, but it suppressed inflammatory response, decreased immunoglobulin content, and significantly enhanced the formation of an immune barrier in the gastrointestinal mucosa.

A retrospective analysis of the clinical efficacy of pancreatic duct stent implantation in the management of acute biliary pancreatitis requiring ERCP.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of pancreatic duct stenting in managing acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) necessitating endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). It further aimed to provide valuable insights for subsequent clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: This research employs an observational retrospective case-control study design, encompassing patients with ABP who underwent ERCP at the hepatobiliary surgery department of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between August 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020. A total of 229 cases were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Regardless of ABP severity, patients were categorized into the stent group (141) and the non-stent group (88). Changes in blood amylase (Amy), lipase (LIP), leukocyte count (WBC), total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hematocrit (HCT), and creatinine (CR) were compared between the two groups. Moreover, variables such as recovery time for oral feeding, hospitalization duration, hospitalization costs, local complications, systemic complications, and new organ failure were recorded to assess the therapeutic effect of pancreatic duct stenting. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in gender, age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, ABP severity grade, organ failure (OF), cholangitis, or biliary obstruction between the pancreatic stent and non-stent groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications related to acute pancreatitis between the two groups (P > 0.05). The median fasting and hospitalization times of patients in the stent group were significantly shorter than those in the non-stent group (P < 0.05). No significant differences between the groups were observed in hospitalization costs and in-hospital mortality (P > 0.05). There were no significant variations in white blood cell (WBC) count, TBIL, ALT, and creatinine (Cr) at admission, 72 h, and in the differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). The levels of Amy at admission and 72 h in the stent group were significantly higher than those in the non-stent group (P < 0.05). The differences in LIP and HCT in the stent group were considerably higher than in the non-stent group (P < 0.05). Although no significant differences were observed in mean Amy and LIP between the two groups (P > 0.05), the mean 72-h HCT in the stent group was 38.39% (95% confidence interval [CI] 37.82%-38.96%) was lower than that in the non-stent group (39.44%, 95% CI 38.70-40.17%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the stent group, feeding time and hospital stay were significantly shorter than those in the non-stent group. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the incidence of complications and mortality. The HCT value decreased more rapidly in the stent group. Early pancreatic stent implantation demonstrated the potential to shorten the eating and hospitalization duration of patients with ABP, facilitating their prompt recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered as a single-center, retrospective case series (ChiCTR1800019734) at chictr.org.cn.

Oregano essential oil modulates colonic homeostasis and intestinal barrier function in fattening bulls.

Oregano essential oil (OEO) primarily contains phenolic compounds and can serve as a dietary supplement for fattening bulls. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains largely elusive. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of adding OEO to diet on the integrity of the intestinal barrier, composition of the colonic microbiome, and production of microbial metabolites in fattening bulls. Our goal was to provide insights into the utilization of plant essential oil products in promoting gastrointestinal health and welfare in animals. We employed amplicon sequencing and metabolome sequencing techniques to investigate how dietary supplementation with OEO impacted the intestinal barrier function in bulls. The inclusion of OEO in the diet resulted in several notable effects on the colon of fattening bulls. These effects included an increase in the muscle thickness of the colon, goblet cell number, short-chain fatty acid concentrations, digestive enzyme activity, relative mRNA expression of intestinal barrier-related genes, and relative expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. Additionally, α-amylase activity and the relative mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines decreased. Moreover, dietary OEO supplementation increased the abundance of intestinal Bacteroides, Coprobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_UCG_001, and Faecalitalea. Metabolomic analysis indicated that OEO primarily increased the levels of 5-aminovaleric acid, 3-methoxysalicylic acid, and creatinine. In contrast, the levels of maltose, lactulose, lactose, and D-trehalose decreased. Correlation analysis showed that altered colonic microbes and metabolites affected intestinal barrier function. Taken together, these results demonstrate that OEO facilitates internal intestinal environmental homeostasis by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting harmful ones.

Unraveling the Impact of Cerebellar Stimulation on Attentional Performance: A Behavioral Study.

Attentional processes play a crucial role in our ability to perceive and respond to relevant stimuli. The cerebellum, traditionally associated with motor control, has recently garnered attention as a potential contributor to attention modulation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cerebellar intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on attentional performance using three behavioral tasks: dot counting, target selection, and multi-tasking. Seventeen healthy participants underwent either real or sham iTBS stimulation over seven days, and their performance on the tasks was assessed. Results revealed that dot counting performance did not significantly differ between the real and sham stimulation groups. However, notable improvements were observed over time, suggesting a learning effect. In contrast, significant effects of iTBS stimulation were found in the target selection task, with participants receiving real stimulation demonstrating enhanced discrimination between targets and distractors. Additionally, the multi-tasking task exhibited significant main effects of both iTBS stimulation and time, indicating improved performance with stimulation and progressive enhancements over the study period. These findings highlight the potential of cerebellar iTBS stimulation to enhance attentional performance in specific task domains. The significant effects observed in the target selection and multi-tasking tasks provide promising evidence for the modulatory role of the cerebellum in attention. Further investigations into the underlying mechanisms and optimal stimulation parameters are warranted to refine our understanding of how cerebellar iTBS stimulation influences attentional processes.

Dietary oregano essential oil supplementation alters meat quality, oxidative stability, and fatty acid profiles of beef cattle.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) supplementation on the meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional value of the longissimus thoracis muscle in steers. Steers were divided into three groups (n = 9) and fed either a basal diet, or a basal diet supplemented with 130 mg/d OEO, or 230 mg/d OEO for 390 days. The results demonstrated that dietary OEO supplementation increased the total antioxidant capacity and activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased pH30min, pH24h, cooking loss, and malondialdehyde content. OEO increased the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. In contrast, saturated fatty acids decreased, accompanied by increased essential amino acids, flavor amino acids, and total amino acids in the longissimus thoracis muscle. In summary, dietary OEO supplementation promotes the nutritional and meat quality of beef by maintaining its water-holding capacity and meat color, enhancing its antioxidative capacity, and preventing lipid oxidation.

Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data and mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 nucleotide sequence reveal the origin of the Akhal-Teke horse.

OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the origin of the Akhal-Teke horse using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data and mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) nucleotide sequences. METHODS: Genome-wide SNP data from 22 breeds (481 horses) and mitochondrial HVR-1 sequences from 24 breeds (544 sequences) worldwide to examine the origin of the Akhal- Teke horse. The data were analyzed using principal component analysis, linkage disequilibrium analysis, neighbor-joining dendrograms, and ancestry inference to determine the population relationships, ancestral source, genetic structure, and relationships with other varieties. RESULTS: A close genetic relationship between the Akhal-Teke horse and horses from the Middle East was found. Analysis of mitochondrial HVR-1 sequences showed that there were no shared haplotypes between the Akhal-Teke and Tarpan horses, and the mitochondrial data indicated that the Akhal-Teke horse has not historically expanded its group. Ancestral inference suggested that Arabian and Caspian horses were the likely ancestors of the Akhal- Teke horse. CONCLUSION: The Akhal-Teke horse originated in the Middle East.

Photoresponse of Solution-Synthesized Graphene Nanoribbon Heterojunctions on Diamond Indicating Phototunable Photodiode Polarity.

Graphene nanoribbon heterostructures and heterojunctions have attracted interest as next-generation molecular diodes with atomic precision. Their mass production via solution methods and prototypical device integration remains to be explored. Here, the bottom-up solution synthesis and characterization of liquid-phase-processable graphene nanoribbon heterostructures (GNRHs) are demonstrated. Joint photoresponsivity measurements and simulations provide evidence of the structurally defined heterostructure motif acting as a type-I heterojunction. Real-time, time-dependent density functional tight-binding simulations further reveal that the photocurrent polarity can be tuned at different excitation wavelengths. Our results introduce liquid-phase-processable, self-assembled heterojunctions for the development of nanoscale diode circuitry and adaptive hardware.

Antimicrobial peptides act on the rumen microbiome and metabolome affecting the performance of castrated bulls.

BACKGROUND: Many countries have already banned the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, making it extremely difficult to maintain animal health in livestock breeding. In the livestock industry, there is an urgent need to develop alternatives to antibiotics which will not lead to drug resistance on prolonged use. In this study, eighteen castrated bulls were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (CK) was fed the basal diet, while the antimicrobial peptide group (AP) was fed the basal diet supplemented with 8 g of antimicrobial peptides in the basal diet for the experimental period of 270 d. They were then slaughtered to measure production performance, and the ruminal contents were isolated for metagenomic and metabolome sequencing analysis. RESULT: The results showed that antimicrobial peptides could improve the daily weight, carcass weight, and net meat weight of the experimental animals. Additionally, the rumen papillae diameter and the micropapillary density in the AP were significantly greater than those in the CK. Furthermore, the determination of digestive enzymes and fermentation parameters showed that the contents of protease, xylanase, and ß-glucoside in the AP were greater than those in the CK. However, lipase content in the CK was greater than that in the AP. Moreover, the content of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate was found to be greater in AP than those in CK. The metagenomic analysis annotated 1993 differential microorganisms at the species level. The KEGG enrichment of these microorganisms revealed that the enrichment of drug resistance-related pathways was dramatically decreased in the AP, whereas the enrichment of immune-related pathways was significantly increased. There was also a significant reduction in the types of viruses in the AP. 187 probiotics with significant differences were found, 135 of which were higher in AP than in CK. It was also found that the antimicrobial mechanism of the antimicrobial peptides was quite specific. Seven low-abundance microorganisms (Acinetobacter_sp._Ac_1271, Aequorivita soesokkakensis, Bacillus lacisalsi, Haloferax larsenii, Lysinibacillus_sp._3DF0063, Parabacteroides_sp._2_1_7, Streptomyces_sp._So13.3) were found to regulate growth performance of the bull negatively. Metabolome analysis identified 45 differentially differential metabolites that significantly different between the CK and the AP groups. Seven upregulated metabolites (4-pyridoxic acid, Ala-Phe, 3-ureidopropionate, hippuric acid, terephthalic acid, L-alanine, uridine 5-monophosphate) improve the growth performance of the experimental animals. To detect the interactions between the rumen microbiome and metabolism, we associated the rumen microbiome with the metabolome and found that negative regulation between the above 7 microorganisms and 7 metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that antimicrobial peptides can improve the growth performance of animals while resisting viruses and harmful bacteria and are expected to become healthy alternatives to antibiotics. We demonstrated a new antimicrobial peptides pharmacological model. We demonstrated low-abundance microorganisms may play a role by regulating the content of metabolites.

Molecular mechanism of antibody neutralization of coxsackievirus A16.

Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) causes hand, foot and mouth disease in infants and young children. However, no vaccine or anti-viral agent is currently available for CVA16. Here, the functions and working mechanisms of two CVA16-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 9B5 and 8C4, are comprehensively investigated. Both 9B5 and 8C4 display potent neutralization in vitro and prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of CVA16 infection. Mechanistically, 9B5 exerts neutralization primarily through inhibiting CVA16 attachment to cell surface via blockade of CVA16 binding to its attachment receptor, heparan sulfate, whereas 8C4 functions mainly at the post-attachment stage of CVA16 entry by interfering with the interaction between CVA16 and its uncoating receptor SCARB2. Cryo-EM studies show that 9B5 and 8C4 target distinct epitopes located at the 5-fold and 3-fold protrusions of CVA16 capsids, respectively, and exhibit differential binding preference to three forms of naturally occurring CVA16 particles. Moreover, 9B5 and 8C4 are compatible in formulating an antibody cocktail which displays the ability to prevent virus escape seen with individual MAbs. Together, our work elucidates the functional and structural basis of CVA16 antibody-mediated neutralization and protection, providing important information for design and development of effective CVA16 vaccines and antibody therapies.

Castration alters the cecal microbiota and inhibits growth in Holstein cattle.

To determine the effects of castration on growth performance, serum hormone levels, cecal microbiota composition, and metabolites in cattle. A total of 18 Holstein bulls and steers were divided into bull and steer groups and randomly assigned to 3 pens (3 cattle per pen, and each cattle were separated by a fence) to determine the average daily gain (ADG), daily dry matter intake (DMI), and feed efficiency (G/F). After the finishing trial, six cattle per group were randomly slaughtered. Serum was collected to measure the hormone concentration, and the cecal content was collected to measure the pH, short-chain fatty acids, and digestive enzyme activities. Metagenome sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were used to investigate the microbiota composition, functional profiles, and differential metabolites of the cecal contents. We found that castration significantly decreased ADG, DMI, and G/F in cattle (P < 0.05). The serum testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone (P < 0.05), and triiodothyronine (P < 0.01) concentrations significantly decreased in the steer group when compared to those of the bull group. The activities of cellulase, xylanase, pectinase, and ß-glucosidase (P < 0.05) significantly decreased in the steer group, whereas the activities of lipase and α-amylase significantly increased. Moreover, castration significantly decreased the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_bacterium, Treponema_porcinum, Oscillibacter_sp. (P < 0.05), and Alistipes_senegalensis (P < 0.01), whereas the relative abundance of Phocaeicola_plebeius (P < 0.05) was significantly increased. Also, the relative abundance of Phocaeicola_plebeius was negatively correlated with testosterone levels, and the function of the cecal microbiota was enriched in the GH29 and GH97 families in the steer group. Metabolomic analysis indicated that castration increased the levels of L-valine, L-phenylalanine, L-aspartic acid, L-isoleucine, L-lysine, methionine, L-glutamic acid, and L-leucine, while decreasing the levels of α-ketoglutaric acid through the 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism pathway. In addition, α-ketoglutaric acid was negatively correlated with Oscillibacter_sp. (P < 0.01). Overall, castration can inhibit cattle growth by altering the composition of the cecal microbiota. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical and practical basis for improving the growth performance of steers.

The castration of male cattle is a routine management practice in the United States. It improves the quality grade and tenderness of beef, and steers have a more desirable meat quality than intact males. Thus, it is conducted to meet the human demand for quality meat. However, castration reduces the body and carcass weights of steers, resulting in increased feeding costs. Therefore, it is important to study the mechanisms of weight loss in steers to provide a theoretical basis for improving their growth in the future. Our results found that castration reduced the testosterone and growth hormone concentrations in serum, changed the cecal microbial composition and function, and decreased the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_bacterium and Oscillibacter_sp especially. These changes in the cecal microbiota decreased the activities of digestive enzymes that degrade cellulose and hemicellulose and decreased the levels of the metabolite α-ketoglutaric acid, thus, inhibiting steer growth. Therefore, the cecal microbiota may affect the growth performance of steers and provide a theoretical and practical basis for improving their growth.

Research on Price Influencing Factors of Third-Party Payment Platforms: An Empirical Study From China.

In this article, we use the two-sided market theory as a support and take the operating data of eight Chinese third-party payment platform companies as samples, based on pricing models and multiple regression analysis, to build a price feature model for a third-party payment platform. The results show that under the two-sided market environment, the scale of consumer and the same-side network externality of the merchant have a negative significant effect on the pricing of the third-party payment platform to the seller; The market share of the platform and the bank fee cost of the platform have a positive significant effect on the pricing of a third-party payment platform to the merchant. At the same time, the same-side network externality of the seller, the scale of a merchant, and the selection of the business model of the platform have no significant effect on the pricing of the third-party payment platform to the merchant. These conclusions provide a scientific basis for a third-party payment platform enterprise to develop an appropriate pricing strategy and operating model.

Oregano Essential Oils Mediated Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites and Improved Growth Performance and Intestinal Barrier Function in Sheep.

With the increased demand for safe and sustainable alternatives to growth promoting antibiotics in the livestock industry, oregano essential oils (OEO) and Lactobacillus reuteri (LR) have been examined as alternatives to antibiotics for growth promotion and to improve animal health and performance. However, the mechanism underlying the OEO and LR mediation of sheep growth remains unknown. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were used to determine the role of the gut microbiota in the growth improvements observed. The potential modulating roles of intestinal microbial metabolites of OEO and LR to intestinal health were systematically explored as well. It was observed that both OEO and LR had greater average daily gain (ADG) and lower F/G ratio. Furthermore, OEO also appeared to have produced a greater amylase enzyme activity and mucin gene expression in the jejunal mucosa. It was also observed that OEO reduced serum IL-2 and TNF-ß as well as mRNA levels of NF-κB p65, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), and IL-6 in the jejunal mucosa. Moreover, dietary OEO supplementation increased the abundances of Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus, while the relative abundances of Succiniclasticum, Marvinbryantia and Streptococcus were enriched in LR group. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the abundances of Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus and Enterococcus were positively correlated with the mRNA expression of mucins. Moreover, the relative abundance of Enterococcus was positively correlated with amylase activity. Metabolomics analysis indicated that OEO and LR increased the levels of indole acetaldehyde and indole-3-acetic acid through the tryptophan metabolism pathway. It was observed that LR also decreased the inflammatory metabolites including tryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. Collectively, these results suggested that OEO exerted a beneficial effect on growth performance and the mucosal barrier, affected tryptophan metabolism and improved the intestinal microbiota of sheep.

Screening of Genes Related to Growth, Development and Meat Quality of Sahan Crossbred F1 Sheep Based on RNA-Seq Technology.

This study aimed to identify genes related to sheep growth, development and meat quality. Small-tailed Han sheep (STH), and small-tailed Han sheep and Suffolk crossbred F1 (STH×SFK), were selected to determine the growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality. The longissimus dorsi muscle was selected for transcriptome sequencing, and the target gene was screened based on bioinformatics analysis; real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting (WB) were conducted to verify the target gene. Locations of genes in tissues were confirmed via immunofluorescence. The results showed that the pre-slaughter live weight, bust circumference, slaughter performance, and marbling score of the STH×SFK population were significantly higher than those of the STH population (P < 0.01). Sequencing results showed that 560 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the STH×SFK population, of which 377 exhibited up-regulated and 183 exhibited down-regulated expression levels. GO annotation revealed that DEGs could be classified into 13 cell components, 10 molecular functions, and 22 biological processes. The KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in the Rap1 signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, and other pathways related to growth and meat quality. Based on the GO and KEGG analyses, four candidate genes related to sheep growth and meat quality, namely myostain (MSTN), interferon-related developmental regulator 1 (IFRD1), peroxisome proliferator activator receptor delta (PPARD), and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2 or MYL2), were screened. The expression levels of genes and proteins were verified via RT-PCR and WB, and the results were consistent with the trend of transcriptome sequencing. Immunofluorescence results showed that IFRD1 was expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and MYL2 was expressed in the cytoplasm. This study revealed the mechanism of gene regulation of sheep growth and development at the molecular level and provided a theoretical basis for studying sheep genetics and breeding.

Quantifying the dosimetric effects of neck contour changes and setup errors on the spinal cord in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: establishing a rapid estimation method.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of neck contour changes and setup errors on spinal cord (SC) doses during the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to establish a rapid dose estimation method. The setup errors and contour changes in 60 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 10 NPC patients were analysed in different regions of the neck (C1-C3, C4-C5 and C6-C7). The actual delivered dose to the SC was calculated using the CBCT images, and univariate simulations were performed using the planning CT to evaluate the dose effects of each factor, and an index ${\mathrm{Dmax}}_{\mathrm{displaced}}$ was introduced to estimate the SC dose. Compared with the planned dose, the mean (maximum) Dmax increases in the C1-C3, C4-C5 and C6-C7 regions of the SC were 2.1% (12.3%), 1.8% (8.2%) and 2.5% (9.2%), respectively. The simulation results showed that the effects of setup error in the C1-C3, C4-C5 and C6-C7 regions were 1.5% (9.7%), 0.9% (8.2%) and 1.3% (6.3%), respectively, and the effects of contour change were 0.4% (1.7%), 0.7% (2.5%) and 1.5% (4.9%), respectively. The linear regression model can be used to estimate the dose effect of contour changes (R2 > 0.975) and setup errors (R2 = 0.989). Setup errors may lead to a significant increase in the SC dose in some patients. This study established a rapid dose estimation method, which is of great significance for the daily dose evaluation and the adaptive re-planning trigger of the SC.

Graphene-based nanomaterials for cancer therapy and anti-infections.

Graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNMs) has been thoroughly investigated and extensively used in many biomedical fields, especially cancer therapy and bacteria-induced infectious diseases treatment, which have attracted more and more attentions due to the improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced reverse effect. GBNMs, as classic two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, have unique structure and excellent physicochemical properties, exhibiting tremendous potential in cancer therapy and bacteria-induced infectious diseases treatment. In this review, we first introduced the recent advances in development of GBNMs and GBNMs-based treatment strategies for cancer, including photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and multiple combination therapies. Then, we surveyed the research progress of applications of GBNMs in anti-infection such as antimicrobial resistance, wound healing and removal of biofilm. The mechanism of GBNMs was also expounded. Finally, we concluded and discussed the advantages, challenges/limitations and perspective about the development of GBNMs and GBNMs-based therapies. Collectively, we think that GBNMs could be potential in clinic to promote the improvement of cancer therapy and infections treatment.

Early endoscopic transpapillary drainage through the minor papilla in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

Background: To explore the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary drainage through the minor papilla in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary drainage via the minor papilla among AP patients who were treated in our hospital from September 2018 to March 2020. Results: The present study included 18 patients (12 males and 6 females). All patients successfully received endoscopic transpapillary drainage via the minor papilla and were discharged upon recovery. No patient died, received ICU treatment, or had endoscopic operation-related complications. Two patients (11.11%) received additional abdominal paracentesis due to local complications. Fifteen patients (83.33%) resumed oral feeding within 3 days. The postoperative 24-hour leukocyte level, APACHE II score, serum amylase level, and lipase level significantly decreased compared with those at admission. The median hospitalization stay was 5 (3.75-9) days. The median hospitalization cost was 25,123.82 (22,942.50-43,874.68) RMB. The patients were followed up at 6-24 months, during which 4 patients (22.22%) had recurrence. Two patients had recurrence after pancreatic duct removal and other 2 patients in the period of carrying ducts. Conclusions: Early endoscopic transpapillary drainage via the minor papilla in cases of difficult cannulation or stenting via the major papilla is safe and effective in the treatment of AP, and is worthy of further popularization.

Exploring effects of different male parent crossings on sheep muscles and related regulatory genes using mRNA-Seq.

OBJECTIVE: With improvements in living standards and increase in global population, the demand for meat products has been increasing; improved meat production from livestock could effectively meet this demand. In this study, we examined the differences in the muscle traits of different male crossbred sheep and attempted to identify key genes that regulate these traits. METHODS: Dubo sheep×small-tailed Han sheep (DP×STH) and Suffolk×small-tailed Han sheep (SFK×STH) were selected to determine meat quality and production performance by Masson staining. Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to meat quality. The presence of DEGs was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The production performance of SFK×STH sheep was better than that of DP×STH sheep, but the meat quality of DP×STH sheep was better than that of SFK×STH sheep. The muscle fiber diameter of DP×STH sheep was smaller than that of SFK×STH sheep. Twenty-two DEGs were identified. Among them, four gene ontology terms were related to muscle traits, and three DEGs were related to muscle or muscle fibers. There were no significant differences in the number of single nucleotide mutations and mutation sites in the different male parent cross combinations. CONCLUSION: This study provides genetic resources for future sheep muscle development and cross-breeding research.