Enhancing Growth and Gut Health in Squabs: The Impact of Fermented Mixed Feed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fermented mixed feed (FMF) (soybean meal-rapeseed meal-corn bran (6:3:1, m/m/m)) on the growth performance, intestinal microbial communities, and metabolomes of squabs. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old squabs were randomly allocated to two groups, each containing six replicates of fifteen squabs cared for by 60 pairs of breeding pigeons secreting crop milk. Each pair of breeding pigeons cared for three squabs. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the experimental group was fed the basal diet containing 5% FMF. The results showed that daily weight gain, carcass weight, villus height, and the mRNA level of ZO-1 in the ileum were increased in the birds fed FMF compared to the control squabs (p < 0.05). Greater abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Bacillus as well as fewer harmful bacteria (i.e., Enterococcus, Veillonella, and Corynebacterium) in the ilea of squabs fed FMF. Six differential metabolites were identified in the FMF-treated squabs; one metabolite was increased (ω-salicoyisalicin) and five were decreased (3-benzoyloxy-6-oxo-12-ursen-28-oic acid, estradiol-17-phenylpropionate, aminotriazole, phosphatidyl ethanolamine (22:6/0:0), and 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoinositol). Positive correlations were observed between the abundance of Lactobacillus and villus height. Overall, FMF treatment improved both growth and intestinal health in pigeons, suggesting potential benefits for pigeon production.

Whole-genome sequencing reveals the artificial selection and local environmental adaptability of pigeons (Columba livia).

To meet human needs, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) with various phenotypes have been bred to provide genetic material for our research on artificial selection and local environmental adaptation. Seven pigeon breeds were resequenced and can be divided into commercial varieties (Euro-pigeon, Shiqi, Shen King, Taishen, and Silver King), ornamental varieties (High Fliers), and local varieties (Tarim pigeon). Phylogenetic analysis based on population resequencing showed that one group contained local breeds and ornamental pigeons from China, whereas all commercial varieties were clustered together. It is revealed that the traditional Chinese ornamental pigeon is a branch of Tarim pigeon. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses revealed significant differences in the genetic diversity of the three types of pigeons. Genome sweep analysis revealed that the selected genes of commercial breeds were related to body size, reproduction, and plumage color. The genomic imprinting genes left by the ornamental pigeon breeds were mostly related to special human facial features and muscular dystrophy. The Tarim pigeon has evolved genes related to chemical ion transport, photoreceptors, oxidative stress, organ development, and olfaction in order to adapt to local environmental stress. This research provides a molecular basis for pigeon genetic resource evaluation and genetic improvement and suggests that the understanding of adaptive evolution should integrate the effects of various natural environmental characteristics.

Ningmitai capsule promotes calculi expulsion after RIRS for 10-20-mm upper urinary stones: a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of Ningmitai capsule as an adjunctive stone expulsion therapy after RIRS. All patients were diagnosed with upper urinary tract calculi measuring 10-20 mm. The patients who successfully underwent RIRS were randomly assigned to the NMT capsule group (Ningmitai capsule, 1.52 g, three times daily) or the control group for 4 weeks based on the random number table method. The primary endpoints were the stone expulsion rate (SER) and stone-free rate (SFR). The average stone expulsion time (SET), average stone-free time (SFT) and complications were recorded. Between July 2, 2019, and December 17, 2020, 220 participants successfully underwent RIRS across 6 centers; 123 of them were randomized according to the exclusion criteria, and 102 (83%) were included in the primary analysis. The SERs on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days were significantly increased in the NMT capsule group compared with the control group (78.95% vs. 31.11%, 92.98% vs. 55.56%, 94.74% vs. 64.44%, 100% vs. 82.22%, respectively, p < 0.05). The SFRs on the 3rd and 7th days were not different (p > 0.05), while those on the 14th and 28th days were higher in the NMT capsule group (63.16% vs. 24.44% and 92.98% vs. 68.89%, p < 0.05). The average SET and average SFT of the NMT capsule group were remarkably shorter than those of the control group (p < 0.001). During the follow-up period, there were no significant differences in urine RBC counts between the two groups (p > 0.05). The urine WBC counts of the NMT capsule group were significantly lower than those of the control group on the 14th day (p = 0.011), but there was no difference on the 3rd, 7th or 28th day (p > 0.05). The analgesic aggregate of the NMT capsule group was also much lower (p = 0.037). There were no significant differences in adverse events (p > 0.05), and they improved significantly without sequelae. This study indicated that NMT capsules can significantly promote stone clearance and are more effective and safer for upper urinary calculi after RIRS.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registration No. ChiCTR1900024151.Date of registration June 28, 2019.

Comparative Genome and Transcriptome Integration Studies Reveal the Mechanism of Pectoral Muscle Development and Function in Pigeons.

Pigeon breed resources provide a genetic model for the study of phenomics. The pectoral muscles play a key role for the meat production performance of the meat pigeon and the athletic ability of the High flyers. Euro-pigeons and Silver King pigeons are commercial varieties that exhibit good meat production performance. In contrast to the domestication direction of meat pigeons, the traditional Chinese ornamental pigeon breed, High flyers, has a small and light body. Here, we investigate the molecular mechanism of the pectoral muscle development and function of pigeons using whole-genome and RNA sequencing data. The selective sweep analysis (F ST and log2 (θπ ratio)) revealed 293 and 403 positive selection genes in Euro-pigeons and Silver King, respectively, of which 65 genes were shared. With the Silver King and Euro-pigeon as the control group, the High flyers were selected for 427 and 566 genes respectively. There were 673 differentially expressed genes in the breast muscle transcriptome between the commercial meat pigeons and ornamental pigeons. Pigeon genome selection signal combined with the breast muscle transcriptome revealed that six genes (SLC16A10, S100B, SYNE1, HECW2, CASQ2 and LOC110363470) from commercial varieties of pigeons and five genes (INSC, CALCB, ZBTB21, B2M and LOC110356506) from Chinese traditional ornamental pigeons were positively selected which were involved in pathways related to muscle development and function. This study provides new insights into the selection of different directions and the genetic mechanism related to muscle development in pigeons.

Genomic analysis of GBS data reveals genes associated with facial pigmentation in Xinyang blue-shelled layers.

Facial pigmentation is an important economic trait of chickens, especially for laying hens, which will affect the carcass appearance of eliminated layers. Therefore, identifying the genomic regions and exploring the function of this region that contributes to understanding the variation of skin color traits is significant for breeding. In the study, 291 pure-line Xinyang blue-shelled laying hens were selected, of which 75 were dark-faced chickens and 216 were white-faced chickens. The population was sequenced and typed by GBS genotyping technology. The obtained high-quality SNPs and pigmentation phenotypes were analyzed by a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a F ST scan. Based on the two analytical methods, we identified a same genomic region (10.70-11.60 Mb) on chromosome 20 with 68 significant SNPs ( - log⁡ 10 ( P ) > 6 ), mapped to 10 known genes, including NPEPL1, EDN3, GNAS, C20orf85, VAPB, BMP7, TUBB1, ELMO2, DDX27, and NCOA5, which are associated with dermal hyperpigmentation.

MELK is Upregulated in Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Promotes Disease Progression by Phosphorylating PRAS40.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer. However, stage IV ccRCC is generally incurable and its molecular mechanism has not yet been fully clarified. In this study, in order to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between stage IV and stage I ccRCC specimens, we initially analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE73731). We found that maternal and embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is upregulated in stage IV ccRCC samples and that upregulation of MELK is significantly correlated with advanced disease status. Furthermore, both loss and gain-of-function assays strengthen the evidence that MELK enforces the malignant phenotype of ccRCC cells through over-activating the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway. Mechanistically, we verified that the oncogenic effect of MELK occurs through phosphorylating PRAS40, an inhibitory subunit of mTORC1, and through disrupting the interaction between PRAS40 and raptor. In summary, these results elucidate the important role of MELK in the progression of ccRCC and indicate that MELK may be a novel regulator of ccRCC progression by over-activating the mTORC1.

Long noncoding RNA lnc-DILC stabilizes PTEN and suppresses clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence has indicated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulators affecting the progression of human cancers. Recently, lncRNA downregulated in liver cancer stem cells (lnc-DILC) was identified to function as a tumor suppressor inhibiting the tumorigenesis and metastasis in liver cancer and colorectal cancer. However, to date, little is known about the functional roles of lnc-DILC in modulating malignant phenotypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cells. METHODS: lnc-DILC expression in human ccRCC tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. Overexpression and knockdown experiments were carried out to determine the effects of lnc-DILC on ccRCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of lnc-DILC functions in ccRCC cells. RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down, in vivo ubiquitination, co-immunoprecipitation and western blot assays were performed. RESULTS: Here, we identified that lnc-DILC levels were dramatically downregulated in ccRCC tissues. Loss of lnc-DILC expression was correlated with larger tumor size, advanced tumor grade and lymph node metastasis, and also predicted worse prognosis in patients with ccRCC. Functionally, knockdown and overexpression experiments demonstrated that lnc-DILC inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ccRCC cells. Mechanistic investigation revealed that lnc-DILC bound to tumor suppressor PTEN and suppressed its degradation. lnc-DILC repressed the PTEN ubiquitination through blocking the interaction between PTEN and E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and recruiting the deubiquitinase USP11 to PTEN. Moreover, we demonstrated that PTEN-AKT signaling was crucial for lnc-DILC-mediated suppressive effects. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our research revealed a novel mechanism by which lnc-DILC regulates PTEN stability via WWP2 and USP11, and shed light on potential therapeutic strategies by the restoration of lnc-DILC expression in patients with ccRCC.

Knockdown of Serine-Arginine Protein Kinase 1 Inhibits the Growth and Migration in Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells.

The pre-mRNA splicing regulator serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), a member of the SR kinase family, plays an essential role in cancer development and various pathophysiological processes. However, its expression pattern and functions in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the role of SRPK1 in RCC. Our data showed that SRPK1 was significantly upregulated in human RCC tissues and cell lines. SRPK1 interference significantly inhibited the proliferation of RCC cells and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, SRPK1 interference also suppressed migration and invasion in RCC cells. A mechanistic study showed that SRPK1 interference inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt in RCC cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SRPK1 interference inhibits the growth and invasion of RCC cells through suppressing the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Thus, SRPK1 might be a therapeutic target for the treatment of RCC.