ABSTRACT To explore the important long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and its target genes in Tibetan chicken ovarian tissue, whole transcriptome sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods were used to analyze and predict lncRNA, differential expression of mRNA, and lncRNA between the two different breeds using DESeq2 software. The study predicted the Antisense and Cis regulatory target genes of differentially expressed lncRNA and performed functional annotation of GO, and analysis of the KEGG signaling pathway in these target genes. Quantitative fluorescence PCR was conducted in real time to validate the expression of important target genes. The results showed the discovery of 532 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 340 of which upregulated and 292 downregulated, as well as 2314 differentially expressed mRNAs, with 983 being upregulated and 1331 downregulated. The differentially expressed lncRNAs were found to regulate 48 differentially expressed mRNAs in the sense direction, and 14 in the antisense direction. Enrichment analysis on the intersection of target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs showed enrichment mainly in KEGG signaling pathways such as TGF-β signaling pathway (ko04350), organic selenium compound metabolism (ko00450), and oocyte meiosis (ko04114). The quantitative fluorescence PCR validation of important target genes such as CYP17A1, PTPN5, ACSL3, Nf2, CYP11A1 showed consistent results with RNA-seq results. This indicates the presence of lncRNA and mRNA with different expression levels and specific expression in the ovarian tissues of Tibetan and Roman chickens, and that genes such as CYP17A1, PTPN5, ACSL3, Nf2, and CYP11A1 may be key factors regulating the laying performance of Tibetan chickens. (lncRNA tissue DESeq software GO 53 34 29 downregulated 231 98 133 4 direction 1 TGFβ TGF β ko04350, ko04350 ko , (ko04350) ko00450, ko00450 (ko00450) ko04114. ko04114 . (ko04114) CYP17A1 CYPA CYP A PTPN5 PTPN ACSL3 ACSL Nf2 Nf CYP11A RNAseq seq chickens 5 3 2 23 9 13 ko0435 (ko04350 ko0045 (ko00450 ko0411 (ko04114 CYP17A ko043 (ko0435 ko004 (ko0045 ko041 (ko0411 ko04 (ko043 ko00 (ko004 (ko041 ko0 (ko04 (ko00 (ko0 (ko

OBJECTIVE: Urban Jamaican adolescent girls face significant risk for sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Studies from the United States of America have found that parents influence adolescents' sexual risk attitudes and behaviours through parent-child sexual communication and monitoring/ supervision. Data from an ongoing mother-daughter HIV risk reduction intervention study in Kingston, Jamaica identified an additional influence of adolescent girls' sexual risk - maternal sexual role modelling (MSRM). As no reliable and valid questionnaires existed to measure MSRM, one was developed. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Jamaican Maternal Sexual Role Modelling questionnaire. METHOD: Data were collected from 209 Jamaican female adolescents recruited from Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine parishes. RESULTS: The final 19-item Jamaican MSRM questionnaire was found to have excellent internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89). Content validity expert ratings and modified kappa statistics were all 1.0. Principal component analysis identified a three-factor structure that accounted for 53.7% of the variance. Greater MSRM scale scores, indicating more positive and protective maternal sexual role modelling, were associated with less sexual experience, lower intentions to have sex, greater intentions to use condoms if having sex and greater condom use self-efficacy among adolescent girls. CONCLUSION: The MSRM scale was found to be a reliable and valid measure of Jamaican adolescent females' perceptions of their mothers' sexual role modelling. Further research is needed to assess the reliability and validity of the instrument with other populations.

OBJETIVO: Las jóvenes adolescentes urbanas de Jamaica, enfrentan un riesgo significativo de infecciones de trasmisión sexual, incluyendo el VIH. Estudios de los Estados Unidos de América han encontrado que los padres influyen en las conductas y actitudes de riesgo sexual de los adolescentes a través de la comunicación entre padres e hijos sobre asuntos de sexo, acompañada de supervisión y monitoreo. Datos obtenidos a partir de un estudio de intervención que se desarrolla actualmente en Kingston, Jamaica, para reducir el riesgo de VIH madre-hija, identificaron una influencia adicional de riesgo sexual entre las adolescentes: la modelación del rol sexual materno (MRSM). Como que no existían cuestionarios válidos y fiables para medir la MRSM, se desarrolló uno a propósito de este trabajo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de la modelación del rol sexual materno jamaicano. MÉTODO: Se recopilaron datos de 209 adolescentes jamaicanas reclutadas en los distritos de Kingston, St Andrew y St Catherine. RESULTADOS: Se halló que el cuestionario final MRSM jamaicano de 19 ítems poseía excelente fiabilidad interna (alfa de Cronbach = 0.89). Las valoraciones (ratings) de los expertos con respecto a la validez del contenido, así como las estadísticas Kappa modificadas, fueron todas 1.0. El análisis del componente principal identificó una estructura de tres factores que daba cuenta del 53.7% de la varianza. Mayores puntuaciones de la escala MRSM, que indicaban una modelación del rol sexual materno más positiva y protectora, estuvieron asociadas con menor experiencia sexual, menos intenciones de tener sexo, más intenciones de usar condón a la hora de mantener relaciones sexuales, y mayor auto-eficacia en el uso de condón entre las adolescentes. CONCLUSIÓN: Se halló que la escala MRSM es fiable y constituye una medida válida de las percepciones que las adolescentes jamaicanas tienen en relación con la modelación del rol sexual de sus madres. Se necesita continuar las investigaciones a fin de evaluar la fiabilidad y validez del instrumento con otras poblaciones.

It is important to identify characteristics related to poor disease control and frequent visits to the emergency department (ED). The objective of the present study was to compare the characteristics of patients attending the adult ED for treatment of asthma exacerbation with those attending an asthma specialist clinic (AC) in the same hospital, and to determine the factors associated with frequent visits to the ED. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients (12 years and older) attending the ED (N = 86) and the AC (N = 86). Significantly more ED patients than AC patients reported ED visits in the past year (95.3 vs 48.8%; P < 0.001) and had difficulty performing work (81.4 vs 49.4%; P < 0.001. Significantly more AC than ED patents had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids (75.6 vs 18.6%; P < 0.001) used to increase or start steroid therapy when an attack was perceived (46.5 vs 20.9%; P < 0.001) and correctly used a metered-dose inhaler (50.0 vs 11.6%; P < 0.001). The history of hospital admissions (odds ratio, OR, 4.00) and use of inhaled corticosteroids (OR, 0.27) were associated with frequent visits to the ED. In conclusion, ED patients were more likely than AC patients to be dependent on the acute use of the ED, were significantly less knowledgeable about asthma management and were more likely to suffer more severe disease. ED patients should be considered an important target for asthma education. Facilitating the access to ambulatory care facilities might serve to reduce asthma morbidity.