Resumo Os protozoários incluem muitos patógenos humanos intracelulares. A detecção acurada desses patógenos é necessária para tratar as doenças. Na epidemiologia clínica, a identificação molecular de protozoários é considerada o método de identificação mais confiável e rápido do que a microscopia. Entre esses protozoários, o Cryptosporidium é considerado um dos importantes patógenos zoonóticos transmitidos pela água e uma das principais causas de uma doença diarreica denominada criptosporidiose em humanos, animais domésticos e selvagens. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar Cryptosporidium em zoofelídeos (N = 56) pertencentes a diferentes zoológicos da China, mas acidentalmente Colpodella foi encontrada na amostra de zoofelídeos e os dados filogenéticos confirmaram essa amplificação inesperada de amostras fecais usando nested-PCR em duas etapas. A análise filogenética revelou o fato sobre os primers específicos usados anteriormente por muitos pesquisadores e a amplificação entre gêneros. Ficamos sabendo que o amplicon sequenciado geneticamente fornece uma identificação mais acurada das espécies. Este estudo sugere mais investigação sobre Colpodella, que foi negligenciada anteriormente, mas ganha a atenção dos pesquisadores depois de identificada em humanos e animais e é conhecida por se correlacionar com sintomas neurológicos em pacientes.

Abstract The protozoans include many intracellular human pathogens. Accurate detection of these pathogens is necessary to treat the diseases. In clinical epidemiology, molecular identification of protozoan is considered a more reliable and rapid method for identification than microscopy. Among these protozoans, Cryptosporidium considered being one of the important water-borne zoonotic pathogens and a major cause of a diarrheal disease named cryptosporidiosis in humans, domestic animals, and wild animals. This study was aimed to identify Cryptosporidium in zoo felids (N= 56) belonging to different zoo of China, but accidentlly Colpodella was encountered in the zoo felids sample and phylogenetic data confirmed this unexpected amplification from fecal samples using two-step nested-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the fact about the specific primers used previously by many researchers and cross-genera amplification. We came to know that genetically sequenced amplicon gives more accurate identification of species. This study suggests more investigation on Colpodella which has been neglected previously but gains the attention of researchers after identified from humans and animals and has been known to correlate with neurological symptoms in patients.

ABSTRACT Gut microbiota plays an important role in animal health, production and diseases. Little is known about whether heat stress alters the composition of quail gut microbiota; therefore, we studied the effects of heat stress on growth performance, antioxidant functions, heat shock proteins and caecal microbiota. Two groups of 40 (20-day-old) quails were set up, including a control reared at 24 ± 2°C and a heat stress group subjected to heat stress at 36 ± 2°C for 4 h per day for 7 consecutive days. We found that heat stress significantly elevated the relative expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 mRNA in the thymus, bursa and spleen by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay, indicating successful establishment of the experimental model. Heat stress was found to have an effect on gut microbiota composition. At the genus level, Alistipes were significantly increased in the heat stress group. PICRUSt2 function prediction revealed that most of the KEGG pathways with high temperature-induced abundance differences are metabolism-related. These data indicated that heat stress reduced the production performance of quails by affecting antioxidant functions, as well as the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota. The results of this study provide technical information for conducting research on heat stress prevention and control techniques in quails.

Jeremiah 29:5-7 is well known for exhorting the exiles to settle down and pray for the welfare of Babylon. The idea of settling down conflicts with the prophecy of returning home in the book of Jeremiah, and it sounds odd to encourage prayer for the enemy. Typical solutions focus on the strategy of survival. However, these solutions are not convincing enough because the language used in Jeremiah 29:5-7 indicates that the exhortation involves not survival but restoration. Given the background of national trauma behind the book of Jeremiah, this article proposes rereading Jeremiah 29:5-7 from the perspective of post-traumatic growth (PTG). Accordingly, the exhortation to settle down reflects the domain of appreciation of life in PTG, and the exhortation to pray for Babylon indicates the belief in a just world for self (BJW-self), which is closely related to PTG and entails forgiving others.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades antimicrobianas y antioxidantes in vitro de hojas y extractos acuosos de cuatro plantas medicinales (Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, Morinda citrifolia y Moringa oleifera). En el estudio se utilizaron seis cepas bacterianas y se determinó la concentración mínima bactericida (CMB) para las hojas, mientras que para los extractos acuosos se evaluó la concentración mínima inhibidora (CMI) y la CMB. Además, la actividad antioxidante in vitro se midió utilizando 1,1-difenil-2-picril-hidrazilo y los metabolitos secundarios se identificaron y cuantificaron mediante cromatografía líquida de ultra alta resolución. Los resultados mostraron que A. occidentale y P. guajava tuvieron la mayor actividad antimicrobiana contra todas las cepas bacterianas, y A. occidentale y P. guajava también demostraron la mayor actividad antioxidante. A. occidentale tenía una alta concentración de quercetina 3-O-glucósido-7-O-ramnósido, kaempeferol-7-O-glucósido, quercetina, ácido cafeico y ácido cinámico en sus hojas. En conclusión, A. occidentale y P. guajava son las plantas más efectivas en términos de actividad antimicrobiana y antioxidante in vitro en sus hojas y extractos acuosos, mientras que Moringa oleifera tiene buena actividad antioxidante pero ningún efecto bactericida, y Morinda citrifolia no tiene efecto antimicrobiano o efecto antioxidante.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of leaves and aqueous extracts from four medicinal plants (Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, Morinda citrifolia, and Moringa oleifera). Six bacterial strains were used in the study, and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined for leaves, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and MBC were evaluated for aqueous extracts. Additionally, the in vitro antioxidant activity was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, and secondary metabolites were identified and quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Results showed that A. occidentale and P. guajava had the highest antimicrobial activity against all bacterial strains, with A. occidentale and P. guajava also demonstrating the highest antioxidant activity. A. occidentale had a high concentration of quercetin 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, kaempeferol-7-O-glucoside, quercetin, caffeic acid, and cinnamic acid in its leaves. In conclusion, A. occidentale and P. guajava are the most effective plants in terms of in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in their leaves and aqueous extracts, while Moringa oleifera has good antioxidant activity but no bactericidal effect, and Morinda citrifolia has no antimicrobial or antioxidant effect.

ABSTRACT Toll-like receptors 3 and 7 (TLR3 and 7) mediate immune responses through the recognition of viral single-stranded RNA and double-stranded RNA and therefore play important roles in host defense. Differences in TLR3 or 7 may affect host resistance to RNA viral infection. To illuminate these differences, the partial coding sequence (CDS) of TLR3 and 7 genes were cloned and amplified from the Phasianus colchicus and Numida meleagris, total 64 avian species of TLR3 and 7 sequences were later analyzed. Based on the results, 315 non-synonymous mutation sites and 202 synonymous mutation sites were also observed in the avian TLR3, and 227 non-synonymous mutation sites and 174 synonymous mutation sites were observed in the avian TLR7. Among these sites, 44 and 45 sites were observed in functional regions of TLR3 and 7, used common variation of amino acids in most avian species. A number of these different sites appeared to affect the recognition and were also visualized. H59Y, E60K, G64R, E93K, L112S, K117E, N118K, R120H, V123M, L163F, R443Q, R459K, E460D, C485H, and F511L for TLR3, and I432V, M437V, and T732S for TLR7 were considered. It is possible that these sites bind to ligands and play crucial roles in viral recognition. These data indicated that the positive selection has occurred in the avian TLR3 and 7 genes.

ABSTRACT Abdominal cocoon syndrome is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, which is difficult to diag- nose preoperatively. We here report a case of abdominal cocoon. A 47-year-old male patient was referred to the general surgery department with complaints of abdominal pain, distension, nausea and vomiting for 1 day. An abdominal computed tomography examination detected the dilated small intestinal loops clustered in the abdomen and surrounded by a sac-like membrane. During the exploratory surgery, a capsular structure was identified in the lower quadrant with a regular surface that was solid fibrous in nature. The combination of physical examination, imaging signs and medical history may be helpful in the diagnosis.

Abstract Shallow lowland lakes are critical components of the water cycle, providing an essential service function. However, the impacts of microcystin from phytoplankton communities on benthic macroinvertebrate community diversity and structure have seldom been investigated. During 2008-2012, the impacts of water environmental variables on the diversity of macrobenthic communities, including water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency, conductivity, the permanganate index, Chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and microcystin-LR (L for leucine and R for arginine), were measured in a typical shallow lowland lake, Ge Lake. The results of the present study demonstrated that there were 31 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa in Ge Lake, including 7 oligochaetes, 7 Mollusca, 14 chironomids, and 3 other taxa. Among the macrobenthic taxa in the benthic community, opportunistic taxa such as Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri are present and can occur at greater densities in disturbed habitats. However, a significant reduction/disappearance of sensitive and clean taxa was observed among the benthic macroinvertebrates. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, ammonia nitrogen, transparency and total phosphorus were the main environmental variables influencing macrobenthic community structure, while water temperature, conductivity, ammonia nitrogen, Chlorophyll a, the permanganate index, total phosphorus and total nitrogen were the main factors that influenced macrobenthic community diversity indices (the numbers of taxa, Shannon’s diversity index, Margalef’s richness index, and Pielou’s evenness index). Our results underscore the severity of the effects of human activity on Ge Lake and strongly suggest that restoring the benthic invertebrate community to previous conditions would require the control and reduction of environmental pollutants and nutrients in Ge Lake.

Abstract In order to study the spatial changes in the Yellow River basin, a new nonparametric method called the 0-1 test algorithm is introduced to detect the change rule between runoff and basin area. The test approach has the virtue of applying directly to the time series without phase-space reconstruction. This thesis takes the logistic map as an example, the numerical results demonstrate the advantages of the method. Then, the runoff time series (2002-2009) collected by the six hydrologic stations (Tangnaihai, Lanzhou, Toudaoguai, Longkou, Sanmenxia and Huayuankou) of Yellow River, are selected to analyze the laws of evolution in different spatial scales. The asymptotic growth rates of Kc are 0.8751, 0.8985, 0.9783, 0.9793, 0.9848 and 0.9976, respectively. Multiple spatial scales runoff data of Yellow River Basin shows chaotic characteristic. The minimum value of Kc is in the upper reaches of the Yellow River (Tangnaihai). The maximum value of Kc is in the lower reaches of the Yellow River (Huayuankou). The spatial runoff process changes greatly in temporal and spatial scales. And the drainage area is an important factor in causing chaos variation. The conclusion illustrates the feasibility of this method and provides scientific data for runoff prediction.

RESUMO: Carex physodes é uma espécie efêmera no deserto frio de Gurbantunggut, no noroeste da China, que possui padrões reprodutivos tanto sexuais como assexuais. Os objetivos principais deste estudo foram caracterizar os sistemas de reprodução e identificar o papel da dispersão dos frutos na reprodução sexual de C. physodes. Foram medidas a biomassa aérea e de raízes, a razão raiz-parte aérea, a biomassa de inflorescência e a frutificação de C. physodes e estudada a dispersão de estames perigínicos e aquênios em habitat natural e ambiente interno. A biomassa das raízes de C. physodes foi aproximadamente dez vezes maior do que a biomassa aérea. A maior parte da biomassa aérea é alocada para a inflorescência, o que sugere que C. physodes aloca a maioria da biomassa para a parte reprodutiva. Ela produz estames perigínicos com pericarpo contendo um aquênio. Os estames perigínicos se dispersam a uma distância muito maior do que os aquênios na velocidade do vento de 1 e 4 m s-1, e o tempo de flutuação dos estames perigínicos na água foi muito maior que o dos aquênios. Os estames perigínicos podem reter mais água e aderir ao solo muito mais facilmente do que os aquênios, o que sugere que esses estames são apropriados para dispersão por vento; além disso, estão adaptados para dispersão por grande distância quando ocorrem chuvas ocasionais. No entanto, os aquênios podem permanecer perto das plantas-mãe e dispersar-se apenas por distâncias curtas. C. physodes é adaptada morfológica e fisiologicamente ao ambiente do deserto frio por meio de uma combinação de caracteres associados aos rizomas e aos estames perigínicos. Essa adaptação pode aumentar a oportunidade de sobrevivência e expansão da população de C. physodes.

ABSTRACT: Carex physodes is an ephemeral species in the cold desert of Gurbantunggut in Northwest China. It has both asexual and sexual reproductive patterns. The primary aims of this study were to characterize the reproduction systems and identify the role of fruit dispersal in the sexual reproduction of C. physodes. Aboveground and underground biomass, root-shoot ratio, inflorescence biomass, fruit-set of C. physodes were measured and dispersal of perigynia and achenes in the natural habitat and indoor condition were studied. The underground biomass of C. physodes was approximately 10 times more than the aboveground biomass. The most parts of aboveground biomass is allocated to the inflorescence, which suggests that C. physodes allocates most biomass to the reproductive part. C. physodes produces perigynium with a pericarp containing one achene. The perigynia disperse at a much greater distance than achenes at both 1 and 4 m s-1 wind velocity, and the floating time of perigynia in water was much longer than that of achenes. Perigynia can hold more water and adher soil much more easily than achenes, which suggests that perigynia are suitable for wind dispersal, and they also adapt to spread at a long distance by occasionally rainfall. However, achenes may remain near the mother plants and only disperse at short distances. C. physodes is morphologically and physiologically adapted to the cold desert environment via a combination of characters associated with the rhizomatous and perigynium. This adaption may increase the opportunity of survival and expansion of population of C. physodes.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer among women in most countries (WHO). Ovarian hormone disorder is thought to be associated with breast tumorigenesis. The present study investigated the effects of estrogen and progesterone administration on cell proliferation and underlying mechanisms in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. It was found that a single administration of estradiol (E2) or progesterone increased MCF-7 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and promoted cell cycle progression by increasing the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase. A combination of E2 and progesterone led to a stronger effect than single treatment. Moreover, cyclin G1 was up-regulated by E2 and/or progesterone in MCF-7 cells. After knockdown of cyclin G1 in MCF-7 cells using a specific shRNA, estradiol- and progesterone-mediated cell viability and clonogenic ability were significantly limited. Additionally, estradiol- and progesterone-promoted cell accumulation in the G2/M phase was reversed after knockdown of cyclin G1. These data indicated that estrogen and progesterone promoted breast cancer cell proliferation by inducing the expression of cyclin G1. Our data indicated that novel therapeutics against cyclin G1 are promising for the treatment of estrogen- and progesterone-mediated breast cancer progression.

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) has caused foodborne infections over decades. It is transmitted mainly from contaminated eggs to humans. SE is commonly present in layer houses, and closely interacts with environmental factors. The objective of the present study was to develop a viable PCR method to identify SE in environmental samples collected in layer farms of different sizes, and to evaluate SE contamination status in four main egg-production provinces of northern China. After specificity retrieval using Primer-BLAST against the NCBI database, three SE specific oligonucleotide primers were selected as candidate primers. The primers targeting Prot6e gene were adopted and primers targeting Sdf I were also selected to validate the results, after testing eight different types of pooled poultry environmental samples (overshoe, air, drinking nipple, feed, egg collection belt, eggshell, air inlet, and air outlet) by PCR. A PCR detection limit of 1 CFU/mL was determined using cell lysates from pure cultures. Testing time was less than 48 h. On-farm samples were collected from two layer farm sizes (one housing more than 50,000 layers, and the other, less than 50,000 layers) in each province. The applied PCR method was shown to be simple, inexpensive and effective for screening SE in a large amount of farm samples. The study identified only one SE-positive farm, which a large farm and where nine samples were found to be contaminated with SE: drinking nipples (3), egg collection belt (1), air inlet (1), air (1), overshoe (1) and eggshell (2).

ABSTRACT Marek’s disease (MD), a lymphoproliferative disorder of chickens caused by the MD virus (MDV), is economically significant. The resistance/susceptibility to MD is controlled by host genetics. The host response to different virus strains varies. The pathogenicity of REV-LTR deleted GX0101∆LTR MDV has been previously reported. However, the precise molecular mechanism of the response of chickens to GX0101ΔLTR remains unclear. The current study aimed at identifying the genes and pathways involved in the response to GX0101ΔLTR virus infection in specific pathogen-free chicken embryo fibroblast cells using global transcriptome analysis. A total of 1,633 genes associated with GX0101ΔLTR infection were identified. Functional analysis showed that the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction plays an important role in the response to GX0101ΔLTR infection.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of thoracic sarcoidosis. Methods: A retrospective dataset of 35 patients who receive d EBUS-TBNA was analysed. These patients underwent EBUS-TBNA due to suspected sarcoidosis (radiographic stages I and II) with enlarged hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes (≥ 1.0 cm) revealed by computed tomography. When EBUS-TBNA was considered to be nondiagnostic, surgical biopsy and clinical and radiological follow-up was performed. Results: Twenty-eight of 35 (80%) patients had a final diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Among them, 25 (89.3%) were diagnosed by EBUS-TBNA. Conclusion: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is a safe and effective procedure for the diagnosis of stages I and II of thoracic sarcoidosis.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de la aspiración con aguja transbronquial guiada por ultrasonido endo-bronquial (EBUS-TBNA, por sus siglas en inglés) en el diagnóstico de la sarcoidosis torácica. Métodos: Se analizó un conjunto de datos retrospectivos de 35 pacientes que recibieron EBUS-TBNA. Estos pacientes experimentaron EBUS-TBNA debido a sospecha de sarcoidosis (etapas radiográficas I y II) con agrandamiento de los ganglios linfáticos o hiliares (≥ 1,0 cm) revelados por tomografía com-putarizada. Cuando se consideraba que el EBUS-TBNA no conducía a un diagnóstico, se realizaba una biopsia quirúrgica y un seguimiento clínico y radiológico. Resultados: Veintiocho de 35 (80%) pacientes tuvieron un diagnóstico final de sarcoidosis. De ellos, 25 (89.3%) fueron diagnosticados mediante EBUS-TBNA. Conclusión: La aspiración mediante aguja transbronquial guiada por ecografía endobronquial es un procedimiento seguro y eficaz para el diagnóstico de la sarcoidosis torácica en las etapas I y II.

The aim of this study was to determine the proliferation and osteogenic activity of fibroblasts induced with fibronectin and their possible dose-dependent relationship. The fibroblasts obtained by tissue explants adherent method were induced with fibronectin at different concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 μg/mL for 14 days. The 3H-thymidine and 3H-proline incorporation test was used to evaluate the synthesis of DNA and collagen by fibroblasts, respectively. The mineralized nodules and osteocalcin secretion, as vital osteogenic indicators, were detected with tetracycline labeling and 125I-labeled competitive immunoassay, respectively. Fibronectin significantly increased the synthesis of DNA and collagen by fibroblasts, especially at the concentration of 40 μg/mL (P<0.05). The increased secretion of osteocalcin in the supernatant was also statistically significant at the concentration of 40 μg/mL (P<0.05). The mineralized nodules with trabecula-like structure derived from induced fibroblasts were positive for tetracycline labeling. The granulation tissue-derived fibroblasts induced with fibronectin exhibited increased proliferative, functional and osteogenic potential. Fibroblasts are considered a possible in situ stem cell in tissue engineering.

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) have great potential to treat various dental-related diseases in regenerative medicine. They are usually maintained with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in vitro. Modified platelet-rich plasma (mPRP) would be a safe alternative to 10% FBS during SHEDs culture. Therefore, our study aimed to compare the proliferation and differentiation of SHEDs cultured in mPRP and FBS medium to explore an optimal concentration of mPRP for SHEDs maintenance. Platelets were harvested by automatic blood cell analyzer and activated by repeated liquid nitrogen freezing and thawing. The platelet-related cytokines were examined and analyzed by ELISA. SHEDs were extracted and cultured with different concentrations of mPRP or 10% FBS medium. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured. Mineralization factors, RUNX2 and OCN, were measured by real-time PCR. SHEDs were characterized with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) markers including vimentin, CD44, and CD105. mPRP at different concentrations (2, 5, 10, and 20%) enhanced the growth of SHEDs. Moreover, mPRP significantly stimulated ALP activity and promoted expression of RUNX2 and OCN compared with 10% FBS. mPRP could efficiently facilitate proliferation and differentiation of SHEDs, and 2% mPRP would be an optimal substitute for 10% FBS during SHEDs expansion and differentiation in clinical scale manufacturing.