RESUMEN: Se realizó un estudio sobre la relación entre el valor de la Unidad Hounsfield (HU) de corte único del húmero proximal chino y la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) mediante TC de tórax de rutina y absorciometría de rayos X de energía dual (DEXA). Se recopilaron datos de 240 personas que se sometieron a DEXA y tomografías computarizadas de rutina de tórax (incluidas imágenes completas del húmero proximal) el mismo día en 967 hospitales entre enero de 2019 y diciembre de 2021. El método para medir los valores de HU de un solo corte del húmero proximal en las tomografías computarizadas de tórax mostraron alta confiabilidad y repetibilidad (coeficiente de correlación intraclase > 0,961, P < 0,001). Se observó una fuerte correlación positiva entre los valores de HU de un solo corte del húmero proximal y los resultados de DEXA, demostrando el valor de HU de 20 mm la correlación más alta. En diferentes grupos de IMC, el área bajo la curva (AUC) para el valor HU de 20 mm fue consistentemente el más grande (AUC = 0,701-0,813, P <0,05). Por lo tanto, el valor de HU de 20 mm puede considerarse una referencia fiable para el cribado oportunista de DMO baja, con valores de referencia de -4 HU para personas con bajo peso, -13 HU para personas con peso normal, -7 HU para personas con sobrepeso y -16 HU para personas obesas. Los valores por debajo de estos umbrales indican un riesgo de DMO baja. Este estudio es un aporte para los datos chinos sobre la DMO y ofrece un enfoque rápido y eficaz para detectar de forma oportunista la DMO baja.

SUMMARY: A Study on Relationship between Single-Slice Hounsfield Unit(HU) value of the Chinese proximal humerus and Bone Mineral Density(BMD) Using Routine Chest CT and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DEXA) was performed. Data were collected from 240 individuals who underwent DEXA and routine chest CT scans (including full images of the proximal humerus) on the same day at 967 Hospitals between January 2019 and December 2021. The method of measuring single-slice HU values of the proximal humerus on routine chest CT scans exhibited high reliability and repeatability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.961, P < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was observed between single-slice HU values of the proximal humerus and DEXA results, with the 20-mm HU value demonstrating the highest correlation. Across different BMI groups, the Area Under Curve (AUC) for the 20-mm HU value was consistently the largest (AUC=0.701- 0.813, P< 0.05). Therefore, the 20-mm HU value can be considered a reliable reference for the opportunistic screening of low BMD, with reference values of -4HU for underweight individuals, -13HU for normal weight individuals, -7HU for overweight individuals, and -16HU for obese individuals. Values below these thresholds indicate a risk of low BMD. This study enriches the Chinese BMD data and offers a swift and effective approach for opportunistically screening low BMD.

More attention has been paid to immunotherapy for ovarian cancer and the development of tumor vaccines. We developed a trichostatin A (TSA)-modified tumor vaccine with potent immunomodulating activities that can inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer in rats and stimulate immune cell response in vivo. TSA-treated Nutu-19 cells inactivated by X-ray radiation were used as a tumor vaccine in rat ovarian cancer models. Prophylactic and therapeutic experiments were performed with TSA-modified tumor vaccine in rats. Flow cytometry and ELISpot assays were conducted to assess immune response. Immune cell expression in the spleen and thymus were detected by immunohistochemical staining. GM-CSF, IL-7, IL-17, LIF, LIX, KC, MCP-1, MIP-2, M-CSF, IP-10/CXCL10, MIG/CXCL9, RANTES, IL-4, IFN-γ, and VEGF expressions were detected with Milliplex Map Magnetic Bead Panel immunoassay. TSA vaccination in therapeutic and prophylactic models could effectively stimulate innate immunity and boost the adaptive humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to inhibit the growth and tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer. This vaccine stimulated the thymus into reactivating status and enhanced infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor-bearing rats. The expression of key immunoregulatory factors were upregulated in the vaccine group. The intensities of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells were significantly increased in the vaccine group compared to the control group (P<0.05). This protection was mainly dependent on the IFN-γ pathway and, to a much lesser extent, by the IL-4 pathway. The tumor cells only irradiated by X-ray as the control group still showed a slight immune effect, indicating that irradiated cells may also cause certain immune antigen exposure, but the efficacy was not as significant as that of the TSA-modified tumor vaccine. Our study revealed the potential application of the TSA-modified tumor vaccine as a novel tumor vaccine against tumor refractoriness and growth. These findings offer a better understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of the vaccine against latent tumorigenesis and progression. This tumor vaccine therapy may increase antigen exposure, synergistically activate the immune system, and ultimately improve remission rates. A vaccine strategy designed to induce effective tumor immune response is being considered for cancer immunotherapy. vaccines TSAmodified modified vivo TSAtreated treated Nutu19 Nutu 19 Nutu-1 Xray X ray staining GMCSF, GMCSF GM CSF, CSF GM-CSF IL7, IL7 IL 7, 7 IL-7 IL17, IL17 17, 17 IL-17 LIF LIX KC MCP1, MCP1 MCP 1, 1 MCP-1 MIP2, MIP2 MIP 2, 2 MIP-2 MCSF, MCSF M M-CSF IP10/CXCL10, IP10CXCL10 IPCXCL IP 10/CXCL10, 10 CXCL10 CXCL IP-10/CXCL10 MIGCXCL9 MIGCXCL MIG CXCL9 MIG/CXCL9 RANTES IL4, IL4 4, 4 IFNγ, IFNγ IFN γ, γ immunoassay cellmediated mediated tumorbearing bearing CD4 CD CD8 P<0.05. P005 P P<0.05 . 0 05 (P<0.05) extent IL- effect exposure progression system rates Nutu1 Nutu- IL1 IL-1 MCP- MIP- IP10 IP10/CXCL10 IP10CXCL1 10CXCL10 10/CXCL10 CXCL1 IP-10/CXCL1 MIG/CXCL P00 P<0.0 (P<0.05 IP1 IP10/CXCL1 IP10CXCL 10CXCL1 10/CXCL1 IP-10/CXCL P0 P<0. (P<0.0 IP10/CXCL 10CXCL 10/CXCL P<0 (P<0. P< (P<0 (P< (P

ABSTRACT This research aims to investigate the microstructure evolution and related mechanical properties of Mg-9.5Gd-0.8Zn-0.5Zr alloys with different Y contents (x = 0, 1, 2, and 3wt%). The effects of different heat treatment conditions on these alloys were investigated. The results show that the initial microstructure of the as-cast alloy without Y is composed of α-Mg matrix and Mg5Gd phase. Additional phases such as Mg24(Gd,Y)5 and Mg24Y5 appeared with the increase of Y content. After homogenization treatment, these phases are transformed into high temperature stable 14H-LPSO phase. It is noteworthy that the precipitation of the β′ phases in peak-aged alloys significantly enhances the strength, while the addition of Y enhances the plasticity. The peak-aged Mg-9.5Gd-0.8Zn-0.5Zr-2Y alloy exhibits the best mechanical properties, and the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation are 313MPa, 211MPa and 6.51%, respectively. Mg9.5Gd0.8Zn0.5Zr Mg95Gd08Zn05Zr MgGdZnZr Mg 9.5Gd 0.8Zn 0.5Zr 9 5Gd 0 8Zn 5Zr Gd Zn Zr x 1 2 3wt%. 3wt wt 3wt% . 3wt%) investigated ascast cast αMg α MgGd phase Mg24Gd,Y5 Mg24GdY5 MgGdY Mg24 Gd,Y 5 Mg24(Gd,Y) MgY Mg24Y content 14HLPSO HLPSO 14H LPSO H β peakaged peak aged plasticity Mg9.5Gd0.8Zn0.5Zr2Y Mg95Gd08Zn05Zr2Y MgGdZnZrY 2Y 313MPa MPa 651 6 51 6.51% respectively Mg9 5Gd0 8Zn0 95Gd 08Zn 05Zr Mg24Gd Y5 Mg24Gd,Y GdY Mg24GdY Mg2 Mg24(Gd,Y 5Zr2Y 65 6.51 ZrY 6.5 6.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify candidate genes regulating ovarian development following ovarian tissue transplantation through transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Ovarian tissues were collected from 10 thirty-day-old donor chickens, and each ovary was divided equally into three parts of similar size, and transplanted in situ into two-day-old recipient chickens. Samples were collected on days 0 (untransplanted), 6, and 12 after transplantation. RNA was extracted from ovarian samples for construction of a transcriptome library, and then sequenced on the IlluminaHiSeqTM2000 sequencing platform. The sequencing results were evaluated to determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through GO function and the KEGG pathway analyses, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), WGCNA, and PPI networks. Some candidate genes were further validated through real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RNA-seq analysis identified 2242 up-regulated and 3095 down-regulated DEGs at 6 days after ovarian transplantation, and 2181 up-regulated and 2129 down-regulated DEGs were identified at 12 days after transplantation. Enrichment analysis showed that the genes were enriched in multiple inflammatory pathways, pathways involved in signal transduction and cellular processes. Through the WGCNA, five modules were constructed, from which 4 and 5 candidate genes were mined at 6 and 12 days after ovarian transplantation, respectively. Transcription factor prediction showed that GTF3A was the most important transcription factor. The results of RT-qPCR verification confirmed that the expression profile of 8 candidate genes was consistent with that of the sequencing results. In summary, this study presents the candidate genes involved in ovarian vascular remodeling and ovarian proliferation after ovarian transplantation. RNAseq seq (RNA-seq coexpression co WGCNA. WGCNA . (WGCNA) 1 thirtydayold thirty day old chickens size twodayold two untransplanted, untransplanted , (untransplanted) library IlluminaHiSeqTM IlluminaHiSeqTM200 platform (DEGs analyses GSEA, GSEA (GSEA) networks realtime real time RTqPCR. RTqPCR RT qPCR (RT-qPCR) 224 upregulated up regulated 309 downregulated down 218 212 processes constructed respectively GTFA GTF A summary (WGCNA (untransplanted IlluminaHiSeqTM20 (GSEA (RT-qPCR 22 30 21 IlluminaHiSeqTM2 2 3

The synthesis of Fe-MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) was conducted using a solution heat method, followed by characterization through XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and TG (thermogravimetry) analysis techniques. Subsequently, the Fe-MOFs were employed for norfloxacin removal. The experimental findings demonstrate that theoretical simulations of norfloxacin adsorption by Fe-MOFs involved the application of pseudo-first kinetic model, pseudo-second kinetic model, and adsorption isotherm. Chemisorption was identified as the primary mechanism observed. Notably, a maximum adsorption capacity of 197.7 mg g-1 was achieved at pH 10. These results underscore the practical feasibility of utilizing Fe-MOFs in applications related to norfloxacin adsorption. FeMOFs Fe MOFs metalorganic metal organic frameworks method Xray X ray diffraction, diffraction , diffraction) scanning microscopy, microscopy microscopy) thermogravimetry (thermogravimetry techniques Subsequently removal pseudofirst pseudo first model pseudosecond second isotherm observed Notably 1977 197 7 197. g1 g 1 g- 10 19

Different Al2O3 carriers were synthesized by co-precipitation and sol-gel method. From them, 4%NiO-20%MoO3/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, NH3 temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and subsequently used for selective hydrogenation of naphthalene to high-value tetralin. The results showed that Ni-Mo/so-ge Al2O3 (900) exhibited better catalytic performance than Ni Mo/commercial Al2O3, achieving 99.56% naphthalene conversion and 99.43% tetralin selectivity. AlO Al O Al2O coprecipitation co precipitation solgel sol gel method them 4%NiO20%MoO3/Al2O3 4NiO20MoO3Al2O3 NiOMoOAlO 4%NiO 20%MoO3/Al2O3 4 NiO 20 MoO3 MoO 4%NiO-20%MoO3/Al2O impregnation Xray X ray XRD, XRD , (XRD) N adsorptiondesorption, adsorptiondesorption adsorption desorption, adsorption-desorption NH TPD (TPD H2temperature Htemperature H2 H TPR (TPR highvalue high value NiMo/soge NiMosoge Mo/so ge Mo so 900 (900 Mocommercial commercial 9956 99 56 99.56 9943 43 99.43 selectivity NiO20 4%NiO20%MoO3/Al2O 4NiO20MoO3Al2O 4NiO 20MoO3Al2O3 MoOAlO 20%MoO3/Al2O 2 (XRD NiMo soge Moso 90 (90 995 9 5 99.5 994 99.4 NiO2 20MoO3Al2O (9 99. (

Nano-surface layers were prepared on the surface of 6061 aluminum alloy using the ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP). The surface morphology, surface roughness, microstructure, hardness, and corrosion resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy were systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), optical microscope(OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and other testing methods. The results showed that ultrasonic surface rolling strengthening did not change the surface phase composition of 6061 aluminum alloy. It changed the size of the surface phases and the distance between the phases while refining the surface grains. The static pressures has a great influence on the surface properties of 6061 aluminum alloy. The best surface properties were obtained under 500N static pressures. The surface hardness reached 129.5HV0.5, the surface morphology was flat and continuous, the surface roughness was reduced to Ra0.191μm, and the corrosion resistance was significantly improved. Nanosurface Nano 606 USRP. USRP . (USRP) microstructure Xray X ray XRD, XRD , (XRD) LSCM, LSCM (LSCM) microscopeOM, microscopeOM microscope OM microscope(OM) SEM, SEM (SEM) EDS, EDS (EDS) methods grains N 1295HV05 HV 129 5HV0 5 129.5HV0.5 continuous Ra0191μm Raμm Ra0 191μm Ra μm Ra0.191μm improved 60 (USRP (XRD (LSCM microscope(OM (SEM (EDS 1295HV0 12 5HV 129.5HV0. 6 1295HV 1 129.5HV0 129.5HV

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) to the basal diets of chickens at late laying period on clutch trait, reproductive organs, serum reproductive hormones and reproduction-related genes expression. A total of 350 hens (37 weeks old) with similar laying rate and clutch trait were randomly allocated into five groups, and fed 0 (Control, CON), 2.5 (MOLP2.5), 5, 7.5 and 10% MOLP supplemented diets for 6 weeks. The hens supplemented with 2.5% MLOP had the average clutch length, clutches and clutch intensity close to those in CON. The numbers and weight of hierarchal follicle were significantly increased at the supplementation 2.5% MOLP group. The estrogen concentration was highest in MOLP2.5 group and lowest in MOLP10 group. Expression levels of steroidogenesis-related genes of StAR and Cyp19a1 were higher in MOLP2.5, MOLP5 and MOLP7.5 groups compared with that in the control. These findings suggested that dietary supplementation with 2.5% MOLP effectively increased hierarchal follicle numbers, estrogen level and gene expression of StAR and Cyp19a1, which has a potential beneficial effect on laying performance in laying chicken.

ABSTRACT Fat deposition is higher in fast growing chickens than in slow growing chickens. The liver is the major organ for lipogenesis and fat deposition in chickens, although genetic background, age, and gender also influence fat deposition. In the present study, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying fat deposition in liver and abdominal fat. We determined the expression abundances of the key genes regulating fat metabolism in fast-growing (FG) broilers (Cobb) and slow-growing (SG) broilers (HS1) and found that ACC, FAS, PGC-1α, PPARγ, SREBP-1c and PLIN1genes were expressed in the abdominal fat and liver tissues of FG and SG. ANOVA analysis showed that the breed, age, and tissue factors influenced the expressions of ACC, FAS, PGC-1α, PPARγ, SREBP-1c, and PLIN1 genes in the liver and abdominal fat of FG and SG. Also, the expressions of PPARγ and PLIN1 in the liver of SG were higher than that of FG. The results suggest that the differences in adipocyte development and adipose deposition between breeds are due to genetic factors.

SUMMARY: This study aimed to investigate the sagittal spinal-pelvic morphological changes, as well as the relationship between pelvic anatomical changes and the spinal-pelvic plane in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), in order to provide guidelines for orthopedic surgery in AIS. X-ray data were collected for retrospective analysis from 30 patients diagnosed as AIS in the Departments of Radiology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University and the Inner Mongolia International Mongolian Medical Hospital from April 2014 to November 2018, along with 30 normal adolescents as control. Pelvic parameters, including pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS), a spinal parameter, lumbar lordosis (LL), and anatomical parameters, including sacral width (SW) and femoral head- sacrum distance (FH-S), were measured. The spinal-pelvic parameters were compared between AIS patients and normal controls and also between male and female AIS patients. Pearson correlation was performed to analyze correlation between spinal-pelvic parameters and between spinal-pelvic parameters and anatomical parameters in both AIS patients and normal controls. PT was significantly lower in AIS patients than in normal controls (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in the other spinal-pelvic parameters, i. e. , LL, PI, and SS. There was a significant difference in PT between sexes in AIS patients. SS was significantly correlated with LL in EIA patients (P < 0.05, r > 0.5). SS was significantly correlated with LL and PI, and PT with LL, PI, and SS in normal controls (all P < 0.05), and there was no significant correlation between the other sagittal spinal-pelvic parameters (P > 0.05). FH-S was significantly correlated with LL, PI, SS, and PT in AIS patients (all P < 0.05). AIS affects some of the sagittal spinalpelvic parameters and anatomical parameters. In AIS, there is a significant correlation between the spinal-pelvic parameters, and the anatomical parameter is significantly correlated with multiple spinal-pelvic parameters.

RESUMEN: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los cambios morfológicos sagitales de la columna vertebral-pélvica, así como la relación entre los cambios anatómicos pélvicos y el plano espinal-pélvico en pacientes con escoliosis idiopática adolescente (EIA), con el fin de proporcionar pautas para la cirugía ortopédica en AIS. Se obtuvieron los datos de rayos X para el análisis retrospectivo de 30 pacientes diagnosticados como EIA en los Departamentos de Radiología del hospital Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University y el hospital Inner Mongolia International Mongolian Medical Hospital, desde abril de 2014 hasta noviembre del 2018, junto con 30 adolescentes normales como control. Se midieron los parámetros pélvicos, que incluyeron incidencia pélvica (IP), inclinación pélvica (P) y pendiente sacra (PS), un parámetro espinal, lordosis lumbar (LL) y parámetros anatómicos, que incluyeron el ancho sacro (AS) y la distancia del sacro cabeza femoral (FH-S). Los parámetros espinalpélvicos se compararon entre los pacientes con EIA y los controles normales, como también entre pacientes con EIA masculinos y femeninos. La correlación de Pearson se realizó para analizar la correlación entre los parámetros espinal-pélvicos y entre los parámetros espinal-pélvicos y los parámetros anatómicos tanto en pacientes con EIA como en controles normales. PT fue significativamente menor en pacientes con EIA que en los controles normales (P <0,05), mientras que no se encontraron diferencias significativas en los otros parámetros espinal-pélvicos, i. mi. , LL, PI y SS. Hubo una diferencia significativa en PT en pacientes de ambos sexos con EIA. SS se correlacionó significativamente con LL en pacientes con EIA (P <0,05, r> 0,5). SS se correlacionó significativamente con LL y PI, y PT con LL, PI y SS en controles normales (todos P <0,05), y no hubo correlación significativa entre los otros parámetros sagitales de la columna vertebral-pélvica (P> 0,05) FH-S se correlacionó significativamente con LL, PI, SS y PT en pacientes con EIA (todos P <0,05). EIA afecta algunos de los parámetros sagitales de la columna vertebral-pélvica y los parámetros anatómicos. En EIA, existe una correlación significativa entre los parámetros espinal-pélvicos, y el parámetro anatómico se correlaciona significativamente con múltiples parámetros espinales-pélvicos.

ABSTRACT Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are present on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix in all metazoans. HSPGs interact with growth factors and receptors through heparan sulfate (HS) chains. The sulfation pattern of heparan sulfate chains influences signaling events mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans located on the cell surface. SULF1 and SULF2 are two endo-sulfatases that can cleave specific 6-O-sulfate groups within the heparan chains. To determine their possible roles in tissues and satellite cells in vitro, their expression pattern was examined in tissues from 40-day-old chickens and in satellite cells from the breast muscles of 1-week-old and 2-week-old chickens using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analyses. The SULF1 and SULF2 transcripts were widely distributed in various tissues. Upon increasing culture times in chicken´s primary skeletal muscle satellite cells, SULF1 and SULF2 expression in 1-week-old chickens was significantly higher than in 2-week-old chickens, suggesting that sulfatases play a key role in satellite cell development. Therefore, our findings increase our knowledge of sulfatase expression diversity and provide a solid basis for further research concerning this molecular mechanism.

Abstract Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathological basis of coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction and peripheral vascular disease, which seriously endanger people's life and health. In recent years, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been found to be involved in gene expression regulation, but the research on AS is still in the initial stage. In this study, we mainly studied the role of HCG11 in patients with AS. Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of HCG11 and miR-144 in the serum of AS patients and healthy volunteers. Oxidation Low Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) radiation were used to establish human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro model. Cell proliferation was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry (FACS) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL) staining. The expression levels of Forkhead box protein F1 (FOXF1), B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and BCL2-Associated X (Bax) were detected by qRT-PCR. Luciferase gene reporter and RNA pull down experiments confirmed the relationship between HCG11 and miR-144, miR-144 and FOXF1. Results: This study showed that HCG11 was significantly upregulated in patients with AS, while miR-144 was down-regulated in patients with AS. Ox-LDL and IL-6 in VSMCs induced up-regulation of HCG11 and down-regulation of miR-144. Overexpression of HCG11 promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of VSMCs. Luciferase gene reporter gene assay showed that HCG11 could bind to miR-144, and miR-144 could bind to FOXF1. Overexpression of miR-144 reversed the effect of HCG11 on VSMCs. Conclusions: LncRNA HCG11 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell through targeting miR-144-3p/FOXF1 axis.

ABSTRACT The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene plays a key role in controlling the deposition of melanin. In mammals, the MC1Rgene is regarded as a major candidate gene in the control of melanin formation. In domestic animals, the MC1R gene mainly controls the expression of coat, skin, and plumage color in mammals and birds. In order to breed chickens with dark-green shank faster, we screened the molecular markers for shank color in a HS chicken population by exploring the relationship between polymorphism of the MC1R gene and three different shank colors (light green, dark green and yellow). Two primer pairs for code region of the MC1R gene were designed in the basic of chicken genomic sequence. DNA sequencing was performed to detect the polymorphisms and PCR was used to amplify DNA fragment. Sequences analysis indicated that 7 SNPs were predominant the three HS chicken populations with different shank color, including g.18,287,945C>T, g.18,288,088T>C, g.18,288,150G>A, g.18,288,303A>G, g.18,288,512G>A, g.18,288,513T>C, and g.18,288,520A>C. Association analysis revealed that the dark-green shank population showed moderate polymorphism, whereas the light-green shank population showed low polymorphism among overall 7 SNPs and that SNP6 (g.18,288,513T>C) may be significantly associated with three different shank colors in HS chickens. The haplotype CTGGACA had the largest haplotype frequencies, accounting for 56.22%, and the haplotype combination H1H1 is mainly distributed in the dark-green shank population, and may be used as molecular maker for marker-assisted selection of shank color in HS chickens.

ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) plays critical roles in regulating various stages of ovarian follicle development in mammals. However, the mechanisms of regulation of BMP6 in the chicken ovary remain unclear. In this study, mRNA and protein expression level of BMP6 in chicken ovarian follicles at different development stages were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot separately. Different concentrations of BMP6 protein and FSH were added to the culture medium, and the effects to proliferation of granulose cells were detected, further effect on expression pattern of progesterone synthesis associated genes were also analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting and the secretion of progesterone was detected by ELISA. The results showed that mRNA and protein expression level of BMP6 increased significantly in the follicle with the development of follicle (p<0.05) and reached a peak at F1 follicle. Adding concentration of 50ng/ml and 100ng/ml of BMP6 protein promoted significantly the proliferation of granulosa cells (p<0.05), as well as up-regulated the expression of Steroid hormone synthesis acute regulatory protein (StAR) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) genes in mRNA and protein level. Meanwhile, the secretion of progesterone was significantly higher in the group that added BMP6 and FSH separately than blank control group (p<0.05) and reached a peak in the group that both added BMP6 and FSH. Collectively, these findings highlight that BMP6 is associated with proliferation of follicular cells and the synthesis of progesterone, which indicated that it took an important role in the follicular development of chicken.

ABSTRACT In this study, a method utilizing PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of a mitochondrial gene was developed for the identification of chicken (Gallus gallus), quail (Coturnix coturnix), and common pigeon (Columba livia) meat. PCR products of ~440 bp were obtained from the 12S rRNA gene of these three birds using a pair of universal primers. The three terrestrial birds can be distinguished using one restriction endonuclease, Alu I, which was selected based on species-specific variations in the mt 12S rRNA gene sequence using 9 newly-obtained and 44 published chicken, quail and pigeon sequences. This method was also successfully used to identify commercial quail and pigeon meat products, which were found to be adulterated with chicken meat. Additionally, our method had relatively high sensitivity for detecting a meat mixture. Ten percent of chicken meat in the mixed quail and pigeon sample was detectable. This assay can be useful for the accurate identification of meats from terrestrial birds, avoiding mislabeling or fraudulent species substitution in meat products.