Correlation between leptin and IFN-γ involved in granulosa cell apoptosis in PCOS.

OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to explore the relationship between leptin and IFN-γ in PCOS patients, and confirmed the effect of leptin-induced IFN-γ on granulosa cells furtherly. METHODS: 29 patients with PCOS and 36 healthy controls were enrolled. Leptin level and the proportion of Th1 cells were detected and association between them were analyzed. Meanwhile, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from PCOS patients were treated with leptin and then the proportion of Th1 was analyzed. Besides that, the apoptotic level of KGN cells was monitored after IFN-γ treatment. RESULTS: In the circulation of PCOS patients, leptin level dramatically increased compared with controls. And, this was associated with upregulated Th1 cells proportion and IFN-γ level. In vitro, Th1 cells proportion increased after leptin treated PBMCs from PCOS patients. Furthermore, for KGN cells, the percentage of live cells decreased and later apoptosis cells increased after IFN-γ treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that leptin takes part in process of PCOS via inducing expression of IFN-γ. Our findings highlight the importance of the connection between leptin and inflammation in PCOS and provide new insights therapeutic strategy for this disease.

RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED Genes Specifically Control Inner Floral Organ Morphogenesis and Pollen Development in Rice.

RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED (RBR) is an essential gene in plants, but its molecular function outside of its role in cell cycle entry remains poorly understood. We characterized the functions of OsRBR1 and OsRBR2 in plant growth and development in rice using both forward- and reverse-genetics methods. The two genes were coexpressed and performed redundant roles in vegetative organs but exhibited separate functions in flowers. OsRBR1 was highly expressed in the floral meristem and regulated the expression of floral homeotic genes to ensure floral organ formation. Mutation of OsRBR1 caused loss of floral meristem identity, resulting in the replacement of lodicules, stamens, and the pistil with either a panicle-like structure or whorls of lemma-like organs. OsRBR2 was preferentially expressed in stamens and promoted pollen formation. Mutation of OsRBR2 led to deformed anthers without pollen. Similar to the protein interaction between AtRBR and AtMSI1 that is essential for floral development in Arabidopsis, OsMSI1 was identified as an interaction partner of OsRBR1 and OsRBR2. OsMSI1 was ubiquitously expressed and appears to be essential for development in rice (Oryza sativa), as the mutation of OsMSI1 was lethal. These results suggest that OsRBR1 and OsRBR2 function with OsMSI1 in reproductive development in rice. This work characterizes further functions of RBRs and improves current understanding of specific regulatory pathways of floral specification and pollen formation in rice.

[Nutrition management in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of nutrition management in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG). METHODS: Clinical data of 22 obese T2DM patients undergoing LSG from March 2013 to July 2015 in Fudan University Pudong Medical Center were collected. All the patients strictly followed the specialized instruction by nutritionists: diabetic and low calorie diet 3347.2 to 5020.8 kJ (800 to 1200 kcal) per day before the operation; low calorie liquid diet 2510.4 kJ(600 kcal) per day before operation for promoting gastric emptying; fasting diet before postoperative ventilation; clear liquid diet 1673.6 to 2510.4 kJ (400 to 600 kcal) per day after postoperative ventilation (liquid intake >2000 ml); low fat liquid diet 2928.8 to 3765.6 kJ (700 to 900 kcal) per day (protein 60 g per day at least, 2000 ml liquid) 2 weeks after the operation; semi-liquid diet 1 month after operation and gradually normal diet. All the 22 patients were followed up at 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months after operation on time. Changes of body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index(BMI), blood glucose indexes induding fasting blood glucose(FBG), 2-hour postparandial blood glucose(PBG), fasting C-peptide, 2-hour postprandial C-peptide, fasting serum inculin(FINS), 2-hour postprandial inculin(INS), HbAlc, blood pressure and blood lipid indexes were observed and analyzed before and 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months after operation. RESULTS: The average age of 22 patients (10 men and 12 women) was 38.6 years (18 to 66 years). The duration of diabetes varied from 1 month to 15 years. Comorbidity included 12 patients of high blood pressure, 14 of fatty liver, 1 of coronary heart disease, 1 of gout, 1 of chronic thyroiditis and 1 of menstrual disorder. LSG was performed successfully in all the patients and no severe complications and transference to laparotomy occurred. As compared to pre-operation, at 6 months after operation, the average body weight decreased from (103.9±20.2) kg to (80.9±12.6) kg (t=6.294, P=0.000), waist circumference from (118.6±13.8) cm to (96.4±8.0) cm (t=6.331, P=0.000), hip circumference from (116.9±12.6) cm to (104.0±7.7) cm (t=3.854, P=0.000), BMI from (36.2±5.9) kg/m2 to (27.9±3.5) kg/m2 (t=5.630, P=0.000), showing a decreasing trend over time. There was no underweight patient after 6 months follow-up. As compared to pre-operation, at 6 months after operation, the average FBG reduced from (7.4±1.4) mmol/L to (6.0±0.9) mmol/L (t=3.172, P=0.003), 2 h PBG from (14.1±4.9) mmol/L to (7.5±2.2) mmol/L (t=7.026, P=0.000), FINS from (160.0±71.9) mIU/L to (43.8±20.8) mIU/L (t=7.259, P=0.000), 2-hour postprandial INS from (437.6±261.4) mIU/L to (140.5±104.6) mIU/L (t=5.858, P=0.000), fasting C-peptide from (1.1±0.6) µg/L to (0.7±0.3) µg/L (t=3.560, P=0.000), 2-hour postprandial C-peptide from (2.5±0.9) µg/L to (1.5±0.7) µg/L (t=3.865, P=0.000), HbAlc from (8.0±1.6)% to (5.9±0.6)% (t=5.953, P=0.000), showing a decreasing trend over time except FBG, 2h postprandial C-peptide and HbAlc(all P<0.05). FBG and 2-hour PBG of 16 patients returned to normal 3 months after the operation. Blood pressure and trigly ceride decreased obviously 6 months after operation compared to pre-operation with significant difference(P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, blood pressure of 8 comorbidity patients with high blood pressure became normal (8/12, 66.7%) and of 4 patients improved(4/12, 33.3%); B ultrasound examination revealed normal in 11 comorbidity patients with fatty liver(11/14,78.6%) and improvement in 3 patients (3/14,15.4%). Blood uric acid of the gout patient and the menstruation of the menstrual disorder patient returned to normal 3 months and 1 month after the operation respectively. CONCLUSION: As for obese patients with T2DM undergoing LSG, reasonable nutrition management is helpful to decrease body weight, and to obtain an ideal improvement of blood glucose and blood lipid levels.

Eimeria maxima phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase: locus sequencing, characterization, and cross-phylum comparison.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) may play an important role in host-cell invasion by the Eimeria species, protozoan parasites which can cause severe intestinal disease in livestock. Here, we report the structural organization of the PIP5K gene in Eimeria maxima (Weybridge strain). Two E. maxima BAC clones carrying the E. maxima PIP5K (EmPIP5K) coding sequences were selected for shotgun sequencing, yielding a 9.1-kb genomic segment. The EmPIP5K coding region was initially identified using in silico gene-prediction approaches and subsequently confirmed by mapping rapid amplification of cDNA ends and RT-PCR-generated cDNA sequence to its genomic segment. The putative EmPIP5K gene was located at position 710-8036 nt on the complimentary strand and comprised of 23 exons. Alignment of the 1147 amino acid sequence with previously annotated PIP5K proteins from other Apicomplexa species detected three conserved motifs encompassing the kinase core domain, which has been shown by previous protein deletion studies to be necessary for PIP5K protein function. Phylogenetic analysis provided further evidence that the putative EmPIP5K protein is orthologous to that of other Apicomplexa. Subsequent comparative gene structure characterization revealed events of intron loss/gain throughout the evolution of the apicomplexan PIP5K gene. Further scrutiny of the genomic structure revealed a possible trend towards "intron gain" between two of the motif regions. Our findings offer preliminary insights into the structural variations that have occurred during the evolution of the PIP5K locus and may aid in understanding the functional role of this gene in the cellular biology of apicomplexan parasites.