ABSTRACT Adipose differentiation-related protein (ADFP) is a fatty acid-binding protein that can promote the absorption of long-chain fatty acids. However, few results have been published regarding its role in Yunnan Native chicken breeds. The aim of this study was to determine ADFP gene tissue-specific expression in Piao chickens (PC) and Wuliangshan black-bone chickens (WBC) by RT-qPCR. The ontogenetic expression levels of the ADFP gene were significantly different during growth and development phases in the subcutaneous fat, liver, and pectoralis muscle of PC, and in the subcutaneous fat, liver, and pectoralis muscle of WBC (p<0.05). Individual tissue-differential expression levelswere detectedon d 91 and 112 in PC, with highest levels determined in abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat, respectively. However, in WBC, the highest levels were determined on d 49, 91 and 112 d in the pectoralis muscle and liver. Correlation analysis revealed ADFP expression level in liver of WBC was significantly related with LW and HC (p<0.05), while no significant correlations with carcass fatness (CF) were found in PC (p>0.05). The results suggest ADFPdifferential expression in the liver and pectoral muscles of PC and WBC during the growth and development phases (p<0.05). The observed expression patterns indicate that the ADFP gene plays an important role in lipid metabolism of PC and WBC, and that these patterns are expressed differently in the tissues of different chicken genotypes.

ABSTRACT Objective: Significant liver fibrosis is recognized as the key link of therapy and prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). The present study is designed to estimate the benefits of FibroScan (FS) in diagnosing significant fibrosis in patients with CHB. Methods: Two hundred and eight consecutive CHB patients, who underwent liver biopsy, FS and laboratory tests, were recruited. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the performance of non-invasive models. Results: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and aspartate transaminase (AST) to platelet (PLT) ratio index (APRI), but not age-platelet index (API) or AST to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), were closely correlated with significant fibrosis; areas under ROC curves (AUROC) were 0.817 (p < 0.001), 0.705 (p = 0.003), 0.626 (p = 0.065) and 0.631 (p = 0.055), respectively. When combining LSM with APRI, the AUROC was 0.813, p < 0.001. Conclusion: FibroScan can predict the presence of significant liver fibrosis, so as to avoid liver biopsy. It seems that the combination of FS and APRI does not significantly improve the ability to predict significant fibrosis.

RESUMEN Objetivo: La fibrosis hepática significativa es reconocida como el vínculo clave de la terapia y el pronóstico en pacientes con infección por hepatitis B crónica (HBC). El presente estudio se diseñó con el fin de evaluar los beneficios del FibroScan (FS) en el diagnóstico de la fibrosis significativa en pacientes con HBC. Métodos Se alistaron doscientos ocho pacientes consecutivos de HBC, a los que se les había practicado biopsia del hígado, FS y pruebas de laboratorio. Las curvas de la característica operativa del receptor (ROC) fueron generadas para evaluar el funcionamiento de los modelos no invasivos. Resultados: La medición de la rigidez hepática (MRH) y el índice APRI resultante de la relación aspartato-aminotransferasa (AST)/plaquetas (PLT), guardaron una estrecha correlación con la fibrosis significativa, lo cual no fue el caso con el índice de edad-plaqueta (IEP) ó el índice (AAR) resultante de la relación aspartato-aminotransferasa (AST)/alanina transaminasa (ALT). Las áreas bajo las curvas ROC (AUROC) fueron 0.817 (p < 0,001), 0.705 (p = 0.003), 0.626 (p = 0. 065) y 0.631 (p = 0.055), respectivamente. Al combinarse la MRH con el índice APRI, el AUROC era 0.813, p < 0.001. Conclusión: El FibroScan puede predecir la presencia de fibrosis hepática significativa, de manera que puede evitarse la biopsia del hígado. Según parece, la combinación de FS y APRI no mejora significativamente la capacidad para predecir la fibrosis significativa.