Abstract Background Infertility is a growing global health concern affecting millions of couples worldwide. Among several factors, an extreme body weight adversely affects reproductive functions. Leptin is a well-known adipokine that serves as an endocrine signal between adiposity and fertility. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of high leptin level on female reproduction remain unclear. Methods Transgenic pigs overexpressing leptin (♀) were produced by backcrossing and screened for leptin overexpression. The growth curve, fat deposition, reproductive performance, apoptosis, serum hormones and cholesterol production, RNA sequencing, and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of the leptin-overexpressing pigs and wild-type group were evaluated. Results Transgenic pigs overexpressing leptin (♀) were obtained, which exhibited significantly reduced body weight, body size, and back fat thickness. These pigs manifested a late onset of puberty (330 ±54.3 vs. 155 ±14.7 days), irregular estrous behavior characterized by increased inter-estrous interval (29.2 ±0 vs. 21.3 ±0.7 days), and more number of matings until pregnancy (at least 3 times).This reproductive impairment in leptin pigs was related to hormonal imbalances characterized by increased levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, E2, P4, and TSH, altered steroidogenesis such as increased levels of serum cholesterol esters along with steroidogenic markers (StAR, CYP19A), and ovarian dysfunctions manifested by neutrophilic infiltration and low expression of caspase-3 positive cells in the ovaries. Moreover, bulk RNA sequencing of the ovaries also revealed neutrophilic infiltration followed by upregulation of inflammation-related genes. Furthermore, snRNA-seq reflected that leptin overexpression triggered immune response, suppressed follicle development and luteinization, resulting in metabolic dysfunction and hormone imbalance in the ovary. Conclusions Low body weight in leptin overexpressing pigs adversely affects the reproductive performance, causing delayed puberty, irregular estrous cycles, and reduced breeding efficiency. This is linked to metabolic imbalances, an increased immune response, and altered ovarian functions. This study provides a theoretical basis for the complex mechanisms underlying leptin, and infertility by employing leptin-overexpressing female pigs.

Abstract Background Infertility is caused by heterogeneous risks, but most of them are unexplained. The sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) was increasingly acknowledged as a parameter for the evaluation of male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the association between sperm DFI and laboratory and clinical outcomes in a population with unexplained infertility. Methods The clinical data of an infertile population was collected for the selection of reproductive patients with unexplained infertility. The authors classified the patients with normal sperm parameters in a control group (DFI < 25%) and an observation group (DFI ≥ 25%) and compared the difference in basal characteristics, laboratory, and clinical outcomes between the two groups. The authors conducted a correlation analysis to examine the relationship between DFI and the number of D3 good-quality embryos, as well as the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. A total of 176 cases were enrolled in the retrospective study. Results The observation group (n = 88) showed advanced male age, lower sperm concentration, progressive motility, and morphology assessment than the control group. In addition, lower No. of D3 good-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and the live birth rate were shown in the observation group. A negative correlation between the DFI and No. of D3 good-quality embryos (rs = -0.347, p < 0.001) or live birth rate (rs = -0.185, p = 0.028) was shown. Conclusions Sperm DFI was a good indicator for the prediction of D3 good-quality embryos in unexplained infertility couples, but it did not provide sufficient information regarding clinical pregnancy outcome but live pregnancy outcome. risks 25% 25 characteristics groups D goodquality quality 17 n 88 age concentration motility addition No rs 0.347, 0347 0 347 -0.347 0.001 0001 001 0.185, 0185 185 -0.185 0.028 0028 028 couples 2 1 8 0.347 034 34 -0.34 0.00 000 00 0.185 018 18 -0.18 0.02 002 02 0.34 03 3 -0.3 0.0 0.18 01 -0.1 0.3 -0. 0. 0.1 -0 -

Abstract To understand differential expression of genes (DEGs) based on transcriptome and transcription features of fatty acid desaturase genes (fads) in development of oil flax capsules. Three varieties of flax with high, medium and low linolenic acid (C18:3) content was investigated. The differential expressed genes (DEGs) of seed developing periods (15 d and 30 d after flowering, DAF) were compared with that of the flowering day based on RNA sequencing technology. DEGs related to fatty acid accumulation were distinguished and compared with Gene Ontolygy (GO) database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. In the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and α-linolenic acid metabolism, DEGs acted in multiple processes and signaling pathways. Lus_GLEAN_10046787, Lus_GLEAN_10024616, Lus_GLEAN_10024710, Lus_GLEAN_10046516, scaffold280_unigene_193 and scaffold272_unigene_19 participated in 23, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13 processes in GO description, respectively. And they acted in fatty acid degradation (ath00071), metabolism (ath01212), biosynthesis (ath00061) and elongation (ath00062) in the KEGG signaling pathway. The scaffold96_unigene_47 was differentially expressed between FR46 and FR48 with different linolenic acid contents. The DEGs can be utilized describe the structure and transcription expression features, which contribute to the selection and utilization of flax breeding lines.

The detection of vitamin D in complex samples is challenging because of the instability of vitamin D in sample preparation. To resolve this problem, packed-fiber solid-phase extraction (PFSPE) has been successfully developed for the pre-treatment of samples containing vitamin D2 (D2) and vitamin D3 (D3) in dairy products. Based on PFSPE, vitamin D could avoid oxidation because of the shorter extraction time. The adsorbent materials, polystyrene/polypyrrole (PS/PPy) nanofibers, were prepared by electrospinning of PS and in situ polymerization of PPy on the surface of PS nanofibers. The linearity was within the range of 1-2000 ng mL−1 in dairy solution, and the recoveries were 91.9-109.1% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) < 13.6%. Therefore, the prepared method could be used for the detection of D2 and D3 in dairy products.

Abstract Background: Neuronal apoptosis plays a critical event in the pathogenesis of early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study investigated the roles of Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in attenuate neuronal apoptosis and underlying mechanisms after SAH. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to model of SAH and TUDCA was administered via the internal carotid injection. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for TGR5 were administered through intracerebroventricular injection 48 h before SAH. Neurological scores, brain water content, Western blot, TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence staining were evaluated. Results: TUDCA alleviated brain water content and improved neurological scores at 24 h and 72 h after SAH. TUDCA administration prevented the reduction of SIRT3 and BCL-2 expressions, as well as the increase of BAX and cleaved caspase-3.Endogenous TGR5 expression were upregulated after SAH and treatment with TGR5 siRNA exacerbated neurological outcomes after SAH and the protective effects of TUDCA at 24 h after SAH were also abolished by TGR5 siRNA. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that TUDCA could attenuated neuronal apoptosis and improve neurological functions through TGR5/ SIRT3 signaling pathway after SAH. TUDCA may be an attractive candidate for anti-apoptosis treatment in SAH.

ABSTRACT Spiders, as predators of insects and other invertebrates, are an important part of the natural enemies, and they are recognized as an important biological control agent. Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758), the diamondback moth (DBM), is a well-known and destructive insect pest of brassicaceous crops worldwide. Here, we analyzed the functional responses of four spiders (Araneae) - Ebrechtella tricuspidata (Fabricius, 1775) (Thomisidae), Pardosa laura (Karsch, 1879) (Lycosidae), Pardosa astrigera (Koch, 1878) (Lycosidae), and Pardosa pseudoannulata (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906) (Lycosidae) - on P. xylostella larvae. We also analyzed intraspecific disturbances in the predation reaction and the intensity of scrambling competition of the spiders to P. xylostella larvae. Our results demonstrated that the functional responses of four spiders of different genera were in line with the Holling II model. Two Lycosidae spiders (P. astrigera and P. pseudoannulata) had the potential to control P. xylostella, and female and male spiders that belonged to the same species had different functional responses to P. xylostella. The functional responses of female predation of P. astrigena, P. laura, and P. pseudoannulata was stronger than the males, but male E. tricuspidatus had stronger functional responses to predation than females. We used the Hassell model to describe the intraspecific disturbance experiments of four spiders. There were intraspecific disturbances in the predation reactions of spiders, indicating that the predation ratio of spiders decreased in relation to the increase of its density, and with the increase of spider density, the intensity of scrambling competition of the spider increased.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate multiplex allele specific polymerase chain reaction as a rapid molecular tool for detecting multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. METHODS: Based on drug susceptibility testing, 103 isolates were multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and 45 isolates were sensitive to isonicotinylhydrazine and rifampin. Primers were designed to target five mutations hotspots that confer resistance to the first-line drugs isoniazid and rifampin, and multiplex allele specific polymerase chain reaction was performed. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed drug resistance mutations identified by multiplex allele specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: DNA sequencing revealed that 68.9% of multidrug-resistant strains have point mutations at codon 315 of the katG gene, 19.8% within the mabA-inhA promoter, and 98.0% at three hotspots within rpoB. Multiplex allele specific polymerase chain reaction detected each of these five mutations, yielding 82.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity for isoniazid resistance, and 97.9% sensitivity and 100% specificity for rifampin resistance as compared to drug susceptibility testing. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that multiplex allele specific polymerase chain reaction is an inexpensive and practical method for rapid detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in developing countries.

In this paper, we consider the pest management model with spraying microbial pesticide and releasing the infected pests, and the infected pests have the function similar to the microbial pesticide and can infect the healthy pests, further weaken or disable their prey function till death. By using the Floquet theory for impulsive differential equations, we show that there exists a globally asymptotically stable pest eradication periodic solution when the impulsive period τ < τmax, we further prove that the system is uniformly permanent if the impulsive period τ > τmax. Finally, by means of numerical simulation, we showthatwith the increaseof impulsive period, the system displays complicated behaviors.

According to biological strategy for pest control, we investigate the dynamic behavior of a pest management SEI model with nonlinear incidence concerning impulsive strategy-periodic releasing infected pests at fixed times. We prove that all solutions of the system are uniformly ultimately bounded and there exists a globally asymptotically attractive pest-eradication periodic solution when the impulsive period satisfies A1. When the impulsive period satisfies A2, the stability of pest-eradication periodic solution is lost, the system is uniformly permanent. Thus, we can use the stability of the positive periodic solution and its period to control insect pests at acceptably low levels.