RESUMO Fatores climáticos desempenham papel essencial no crescimento da largura dos anéis das árvores. Neste estudo, objetivou-se avaliar a correlação entre variáveis climáticas e características de crescimento de anéis de árvores de Pinus sibirica nas montanhas de Altai, noroeste da China. Este estudo é o primeiro desse tipo na análise do crescimento climático de Pinus sibirica no noroeste da China. O estudo mostrou grande potencial para entender as espécies que crescem sob as condições climáticas específicas. Total de 70 testemunhos coletados em três locais na área de amostragem, dos quais 63 testemunhos considerados para este estudo. O efeito das variáveis climáticas estudadas incluem precipitação, temperatura e PDSI. Nossos resultados mostraram que a cronologia da Largura do Anel da Árvore tem uma correlação significativamente positiva com a temperatura do final do inverno (março) e uma correlação negativa significativa com as temperaturas de julho. Uma correlação significativa foi observada com a precipitação do final do verão, enquanto nenhuma relação significativa foi encontrada com o Índice de Severidade de Seca de Palmer. Essas correlações significativas com a temperatura e precipitação sugeriram que esta espécie de árvore tinha o potencial para a reconstrução do clima passado na área.

Abstract Climatic factors play an essential role in the growth of tree ring width. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between climatic variables and tree-ring growth characteristics of Pinus sibirica in Altai mountains, northwestern China. This study being is first of its kind on climate growth analysis of Pinus sibirica in northwestern China. The study showed great potential to understand the species growing under the specific climatic conditions. Total of 70 tree cores collected from three sites in the sampling area, out of which 63 tree cores considered for this study. The effect of climatic variables which was studied include precipitation, temperature and PDSI. Our results showed that Tree Ring Width chronology has a significantly positive correlation with the late winter (March) temperature and significant negative correlation with the July temperatures. A significant correlation was observed with the late summer precipitation whereas no significant relation found with the Palmer Drought Severity Index. These significant correlations with temperature and precipitation suggested that this tree species had the potential for the reconstruction of the past climate in the area.

ABSTRACT The current experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of Pancreatin supplementation at different levels on ileal and fecal digestibility in layer-type cockerels. A total of 480-day-old silver brown Hy-Line male chicks were randomly allocated into 5 treatments, 6 replicates (16 birds per pen) arranged in a completely randomized design. Pancreatin enzyme was supplemented on a basal corn-soybean meal-based diet at 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/kg and was fed in two growth phases (starter and grower). The results indicated that at the end of the starter stage, except for 1000 mg/kg, dietary Pancreatin supplementation levels increased (p<0.05) the ileal crude protein (CP). Similarly, addition of Pancreatin increased (p< 0.05) apparent ileal amino acids (AA) digestibility (AIAAD) total means of AA (MTAA), means of indispensable AA (MIAA) and dispensable AA (MDAA) with the optimum performance on 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. However, except for histidine and alanine which were negatively affected (p<0.05), and MIAA, MDAA, MTAA which were also positively affected, the addition level at 1000 mg/kg did not affect most of the AIAAD compared to the non-supplemented. Further, Pancreatin supplementation had no effect (p>0.05) on nitrogen digestibility (ND), nitrogen retention (NR), digestible energy (DE), apparent metabolizable energy (AME), dry matter digestibility (DMD), dry matter retention (DMR), and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AME-n) on fed starter diet. On the other hand, at the end of the grower stage, dietary Pancreatin enzyme supplementation reduced (p<0.05) the ileal CP, MIAA, MDAA, MTAA, AIAAD, AME, AME-n, ND, NR, DE, DMD, and DMR in a dose-dependent manner. The rate of reduction was more marked on Pancreatin addition level 1000 mg/kg. In conclusion, Pancreatin supplementation at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg improved AIAAD and ileal CP, especially at the young age. The rate of pancreatin enzyme effect was dependent on enzyme supplement level to the ileal CP and individual amino acid.

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fiber on growth performance, fat deposition, serum lipids, fat metabolism, and mRNA (messenger RNA) expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in Jilin white and Carlos geese. Sixty Jilin white and sixty Carlos geese aged six-weeks and of similar health and weight (average weight 313.11g) were selected. Geese of each breed were randomly divided into two groups (n=30), and with each group containing three replicate subgroups of 10 geese. The diet was supplemented with 8% or 11% fiber (corn straw powder). The Jilin white geese are divided into A1 (8%) and A2 (11%) groups, and Carlos geese are divided into B1 (8%) and B2 (11%) groups. The experiment lasted 35 days. The results showed that high dietary fiber can significantly (p<0.05) increase average daily feed intake (ADFI), significantly (p<0.05) reduce final weight (FW) and average daily gain (ADG) of both varieties, and increase LPL mRNA expression levels in abdominal fat, liver, sebum, and urethral glands. High dietary fiber accelerates intestinal peristalsis, affects the absorption of other nutrients, reduces the available energy value of the absorbed feed, and increases fat loss. Compared with the to Carlos geese, high dietary fiber content had a more significant effect on the live, slaughter, and sebum weights and sebum percentage of the Jilin white geese, indicating that the Carlos geese have higher requirements for dietary fiber content. High fiber content will reduce the growth performance, slaughter performance, and fat deposition of geese.

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.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women. Semaphorin 4D (sema 4D) is involved in the progress of multiple cancers. In the presence of estrogen-like ligands, estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) participate in the progress of breast and ovarian cancers by transcriptional regulation. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of sema 4D and elucidate the regulatory pattern of ERα and ERβ on sema 4D expression in ovarian cancers. Sema 4D levels were up-regulated in ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells. Patients with malignant ovarian cancers had significantly higher sema 4D levels than controls, suggesting an oncogene role of sema 4D in ovarian cancer. ERα expressions were up-regulated in SKOV-3 cells compared with normal ovarian IOSE80 epithelial cells. Conversely, down-regulation of ERβ was observed in SKOV-3 cells. Forced over-expression of ERα and ERβ in SKOV-3 cells was manipulated to establish ERα+ and ERβ+ SKOV-3 cell lines. Incubation of ERα+ SKOV-3 cells with ERs agonist 17β-estradiol (E2) significantly enhanced sema 4D expression and rate of cell proliferation. Incubated with E2, ERβ+ SKOV-3 cells showed lower sema 4D expression and cell proliferation. Blocking ERα and ERβ activities with ICI182-780 inhibitor, sema 4D expressions and cell proliferation of ERα+ and ERβ+ SKOV-3 cells were recovered to control levels. Taken together, the data showed that sema 4D expression was positively correlated with the progress of ovarian cancer. ERα positively regulated sema 4D expression and accelerated cell proliferation. ERβ negatively regulated sema 4D expression and inhibited cell multiplication.

Ziyuglycoside II is an active compound of Sanguisorba officinalis L. that has anti-inflammation, antioxidation, antibiosis, and homeostasis properties. We report here on the anticancer effect of ziyuglycoside II on human gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells. We investigated the effects of ziyuglycoside II on cell growth, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis of this cell line. Our results revealed that ziyuglycoside II could inhibit the proliferation of BGC-823 cells by inducing apoptosis but not cell cycle arrest, which was associated with regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 expression, and activation of the caspase-3 pathway. Our study is the first to report the antitumor potential of ziyuglycoside II in BGC-823 gastric cancer cells. Ziyuglycoside II may become a potential therapeutic agent against gastric cancer in the future.

OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate maternal thyroid function in a new self-sequential longitudinal reference interval (SLRI) which we established recently. By this method, we analysed the correlation between pregnancy outcome, neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and maternal thyroid diseases. METHODS: A total of 1744 pregnant women participated in the study and 1747 babies were born from those women (three bore twins). The levels of TSH, free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) of mothers were quantified by electrochemistry immunoassay (ECL). The levels of neonatal blood TSH were detected by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA). All data were collected and statistically analysed by SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS: With our new SLRI method, we found that 0.11%~3.84% pregnant women would get thyroid diseases. Subclinical hypothyroidism was the most common maternal thyroid disorder. Being positive for thyroid peroxidase antibodies was a significant risk factor of subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy. The median, P2.5~P97.5, and interquartile range (IQR) of neonatal TSH (N-TSH) of 1747 babies were 2.72 mIU/L, 0.10~8.01 mIU/L and 2.62 mIU/L, respectively; 28.6% of pregnant women with thyroid diseases developed pregnancy complications. The prevalence was significantly higher than in the normal thyroid function group (p< 0.001). The levels of N-TSH were low correlated with maternal TSH levels (p < 0.05), but there were no significant correlations between N-TSH and maternal FT4 and maternal TPO-Ab (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid disorders, especially subclinical hypothyroidism, are common in pregnant women. These disorders are associated with pregnancy and fetal outcome. Routine maternal thyroid function screening is important and should be recommended.

OBJETIVO: Intentamos evaluar la función tiroidea materna en un nuevo intervalo de referencia longitudinal auto-secuencial (SLRI) que establecimos recientemente. Por este método, analizamos la correlación entre el resultado del embarazo, el nivel de la hormona estimulante de la tiroides (TSH) en neonatos, y las enfermedades tiroideas maternas MÉTODOS: Un total de 1744 mujeres embarazadas participó en el estudio y 1747 bebés nacieron de esas mujeres (tres de ellas tuvieron gemelos). Los niveles de TSH, la tiroxina libre (FT4), y los anticuerpos de la peroxidasa tiroidea (TPO-Ab) de las madres, fueron cuantificados mediante inmunoensayo electroquímico (ECL). Los niveles de TSH en la sangre de los neonatos, fueron determinados mediante inmunoensayo por fluorescencia resuelto en el tiempo (TRFIA). Todos los datos fueron recogidos y analizados estadísticamente usando el software SPSS 13.0 RESULTADOS: Con nuestro nuevo método SLRI, encontramos que 0.11%~3.84% de las mujeres embarazadas contraerán enfermedades tiroideas. El hipotiroidismo subclínico fue el trastorno de la tiroides materna más común. Ser positivo a los anticuerpos de la peroxidasa tiroidea fue un factor de riesgo significativo del hipotiroidismo subclínico durante el embarazo. La mediana, P2.5~P97.5, y el rango intercuartil (IQR) de la TSH (N-TSH) neonatal de los 1747 bebés fueron 2.72 mIU/L, 0.10~8.01 mIU/L y 2.62 mIU/L respectivamente. El 28.6% de las mujeres embarazadas que tenían enfermedades tiroideas, desarrollaron complicaciones del embarazo. La prevalencia fue significativamente más alta que en el grupo con función tiroidea normal (p < 0.001). Los niveles de N-TSH fueron bajos en correlación con los niveles de TSH maternos (p < 0.05), pero no hubo ninguna correlación significativa entre la N-TSH y la FT4 materna, y la TPO-Ab materna (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIÓNS: Los trastornos tiroideos, especialmente el hipotiroidismo, son comunes en las mujeres embarazadas.Estos trastornos se hallan asociados con el resultado del embarazo y el resultado fetal. El tamizaje de rutina de la función tiroidea materna es importante y debe recomendarse.