RESUMO
Solen grandis is an important economic and overexploited bivalve species. In order to perform its fine-scale genetic analyses, 105 pairs of microsatellites with polymorphism were identified through Illumina Hiseq platform and bioinformatic assembly technology in this study. The estimated fragment size ranged from 100 to 268 bp and the number of alleles per locus varied between 2 and 23. Observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.0667 to 1.0000 and 0.0966 to 0.9492, respectively. Fourteen loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction. These microsatellite markers developed in this study would be helpful for future genetic studies on S. grandis and closely related species.
Assuntos
Bivalves/genética , Repetições de Microssatélites , Alelos , Animais , Evolução Molecular , Genética Populacional , Heterozigoto , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Polimorfismo GenéticoRESUMO
Invasive pulmonary fungal infection (IPFI) is a potentially fatal complication in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD). The current study aimed to uncover the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with IPFI-CTD. The files of 2186 CTD patients admitted to a single center in northern China between January 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 47 CTD patients with IPFI were enrolled into this study and assigned to the CTD-IPFI group, while 47 uninfected CTD patients were assigned to the control group. Clinical manifestations were recorded, and risk factors of IPFI were calculated by stepwise logistical regression analysis. Forty-seven (2.15%) CTD patients developed IPFI. Systemic lupus erythematosus patients were responsible for the highest proportion (36.17%) of cases with IPFI. Candida albicans (72.3%) accounted for the most common fungal species. CTD-IPFI patients had significantly elevated white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and fasting glucose values compared to controls (P<0.05). Cough, sputum and blood in phlegm were the most common symptoms. Risk factors of IPFI in CTD included maximum prednisone dose ≥30 mg/day within 3 months prior to infection, anti-microbial drug therapy, and interstitial pneumonia. CTD patients who have underlying interstitial pneumonia, prior prednisone or multiple antibiotics, were more likely to develop IPFI.
RESUMO
Previous research has focused on revealing the functions of each individual gene and/or pathway in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or ischemic cardiomyopathy (IC). However, the common or specific pathways of the initiation and processes of DCM and IC are still unclear. Here, we attempted to uncover the critical genes and potential molecular networks that play important roles in DCM and IC progression commonly or specifically. The transcriptional profiles from normal and DCM or IC patient samples were analyzed and compared using bioinformatic methods. Initially, the normal and DCM or IC sample data were processed and the most notable differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from DCM or IC were identified. By comparing the DEGs from DCM with those from IC, the DCM- and IC-specific DEGs were identified. The gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses indicated the significance of multiple biological processes as well as signaling pathways that affect heart function and DCM or IC progression. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified the relationships between different genes, and some important genes such as MYC and FN1 were found to be hubs, which master each individual module of DCM-specific and IC-specific DEGs, respectively. We discovered commonalities and differences of gene expression profiles and molecular pathways between different cardiomyopathies. The gene discovery and molecular signature analysis in this study could offer insights into disease mechanisms and also identify markers useful for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes.
Assuntos
Cardiomiopatia Dilatada/genética , RNA/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica/métodos , Ontologia Genética , Redes Reguladoras de Genes/genética , Humanos , Mapas de Interação de ProteínasRESUMO
Invasive pulmonary fungal infection (IPFI) is a potentially fatal complication in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD). The current study aimed to uncover the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with IPFI-CTD. The files of 2186 CTD patients admitted to a single center in northern China between January 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 47 CTD patients with IPFI were enrolled into this study and assigned to the CTD-IPFI group, while 47 uninfected CTD patients were assigned to the control group. Clinical manifestations were recorded, and risk factors of IPFI were calculated by stepwise logistical regression analysis. Forty-seven (2.15%) CTD patients developed IPFI. Systemic lupus erythematosus patients were responsible for the highest proportion (36.17%) of cases with IPFI. Candida albicans (72.3%) accounted for the most common fungal species. CTD-IPFI patients had significantly elevated white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and fasting glucose values compared to controls (P<0.05). Cough, sputum and blood in phlegm were the most common symptoms. Risk factors of IPFI in CTD included maximum prednisone dose ≥30 mg/day within 3 months prior to infection, anti-microbial drug therapy, and interstitial pneumonia. CTD patients who have underlying interstitial pneumonia, prior prednisone or multiple antibiotics, were more likely to develop IPFI.
RESUMO
The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), also known as a mitochondrial porin, plays an important role in the regulation of metabolic and energetic functions of mitochondria, as well as in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is of major economic importance for commercial hybrid production and a research model for the interaction be-tween nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes. Recent research has revealed that CMS is associated with programmed cell death. Here, we used the Honglian (HL)-CMS line of rice (Oryza sativa) as material to investigate the association of O. sativa VDAC (OsVDAC) expression to CMS. Eight VDACs were extracted from rice in this study. Bioinformatic analysis of the rice VDACs was conducted at the DNA, cDNA, and protein level. Expression patterns of OsVDACs were analyzed in different organs and during different stages of pollen development using sterile line YuetaiA (YTA), and its maintainer line YuetaiB (YTB). Differential expression of OsVDACs between YTA and YTB was observed, suggesting that VDACs may be involved in the formation of HL-CMS.
Assuntos
Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Genômica , Família Multigênica , Oryza/genética , Canais de Ânion Dependentes de Voltagem/genética , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Análise por Conglomerados , Biologia Computacional/métodos , Duplicação Gênica , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Ordem dos Genes , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Loci Gênicos , Genoma de Planta , Oryza/classificação , Oryza/metabolismo , Filogenia , Canais de Ânion Dependentes de Voltagem/metabolismoRESUMO
The main aim of this study was to understand the relationship between the drug-resistant characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae and CTX-M-type extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs), and to detect the distributions of CTX-M-type ESBLs in clinically isolated strains. CTX-M ESBL genes isolated from the clinical samples were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and identified by sequence analysis; the antibiotic susceptibility of the samples was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method. One hundred and five strains among the 246 isolated strains of K. pneumoniae tested positive for ESBL production (42.68%); 92 of these produced CTX-M ESBLs. Of the 92 CTX-M ESBL strains, 81 produced CTX-M-1 ESBLs and 11 produced CTX-M-25 ESBLs. Fifty-seven of the CTX-M-1 ESBL- and six of the CTX-M-25 ESBL-producing bacteria had CTX-M ESBL genes that coexisted in the plasmid and chromosome. The Kirby-Bauer antibiotic susceptibility method revealed that CTX-M ESBL-positive strains showed a higher rate of resistance to cefazolin, cefoxitin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, aztreonam, levofloxacin, and cotrimoxazole, compared to the CTX-M ESBL-negative strains (P < 0.05). The CTX-M ESBL genes were commonly observed in the K. pneumoniae isolated from respiratory tract samples; these were significantly associated with the drug-resistant characteristics of K. pneumoniae to ß-lactam antibiotics.
Assuntos
Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Klebsiella pneumoniae/enzimologia , Mucosa Respiratória/microbiologia , beta-Lactamases/genética , Humanos , Klebsiella pneumoniae/efeitos dos fármacos , Klebsiella pneumoniae/genética , Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
The regulatory region of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit gene SRS4 from soybean (Glycine max) was cloned using TAIL-PCR and general PCR, and named the rbcS promoter. The promoter was fused with the GUS gene and introduced into Nicotiana tabacum via Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disk transformation. In 4-week-old transgenic tobacco plants, the highest GUS expression levels were observed in the leaves, GUS activity was 7.13- and 7.40-fold higher in leaves than in stems and roots, respectively. Moreover, GUS activity was stimulated by light. In conclusion, spatial and light regulation of the soybean rbcS promoter was observed in N. tabacum, thus illustrating a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter.
Assuntos
Glycine max/genética , Nicotiana/genética , Ribulose-Bifosfato Carboxilase/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Clonagem Molecular , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Luz , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Folhas de Planta/genética , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Glycine max/enzimologia , Nicotiana/enzimologiaRESUMO
Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPre) can prevent myocardial injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the beneficial effects of long-term regular RIPre on human arteries. Forty patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were assigned randomly to a RIPre group (n=20) or coronary heart disease (CHD) group (n=20). Twenty patients scheduled for mastectomy were enrolled as a control group. RIPre was achieved by occluding arterial blood flow 5 min with a mercury sphygmomanometer followed by a 5-min reperfusion period, and this was repeated 4 times. The RIPre procedure was repeated 3 times a day for 20 days. In all patients, arterial fragments discarded during surgery were collected to evaluate endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), CD34+ monocyte count, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS expression). Phosphorylation levels of STAT-3 and Akt were also assayed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Compared with the CHD group, long-term regular RIPre significantly improved FMD after 20 days (8.5±2.4 vs 4.9±4.2%, P<0.05) and significantly reduced troponin after CABG surgery (0.72±0.31 and 1.64±0.19, P<0.05). RIPre activated STAT-3 and increased CD34+ endothelial progenitor cell counts found in arteries. Long-term, regular RIPre improved endothelial function in patients with CHD, possibly due to STAT-3 activation, and this may have led to an increase in endothelial progenitor cells.
Assuntos
Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doença das Coronárias/fisiopatologia , Doença das Coronárias/prevenção & controle , Endotélio Vascular/fisiopatologia , Precondicionamento Isquêmico Miocárdico/métodos , /análise , Western Blotting , Ponte de Artéria Coronária/métodos , Doença das Coronárias/cirurgia , Células Progenitoras Endoteliais , Citometria de Fluxo/métodos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Contagem de Leucócitos , Infarto do Miocárdio/fisiopatologia , Infarto do Miocárdio/prevenção & controle , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo III/análise , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , /análise , Estatísticas não Paramétricas , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 (VD3) on the regulation of chicken intestinal ß-defensin genes under normal and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) conditions. Four treatment groups were used, including a negative control group, VD3-injection group, LPS-injection group, and both VD3-injection and LPS-injection group. At 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection, intestines were collected and RNA was isolated to measure the chicken ß-defensin genes with putative vitamin D responsive elements using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of all 7 chicken ß-defensin genes was detectable in the intestines. Significant increases in GAL-6, -7 and -9 were found following LPS injection treatment at 4, 24, and 48 h post-injection, respectively, whereas VD3 injection did not affect the expression of any investigated genes under normal conditions. However, the expression of GAL-4, -5, -6, and -10 were synergistically upregulated by VD3 in combination with LPS. These results suggest that VD3 enhances the immune immunity during LPS challenge by inducing the expression of chicken ß-defensin genes when birds are exposed to immune stressors.
Assuntos
Proteínas Aviárias/metabolismo , Colecalciferol/farmacologia , Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Lipopolissacarídeos/farmacologia , beta-Defensinas/metabolismo , Animais , Proteínas Aviárias/genética , Galinhas , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos , Intestinos/imunologia , Masculino , Regulação para Cima , Elemento de Resposta à Vitamina D/fisiologia , beta-Defensinas/genéticaRESUMO
Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPre) can prevent myocardial injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the beneficial effects of long-term regular RIPre on human arteries. Forty patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were assigned randomly to a RIPre group (n=20) or coronary heart disease (CHD) group (n=20). Twenty patients scheduled for mastectomy were enrolled as a control group. RIPre was achieved by occluding arterial blood flow 5 min with a mercury sphygmomanometer followed by a 5-min reperfusion period, and this was repeated 4 times. The RIPre procedure was repeated 3 times a day for 20 days. In all patients, arterial fragments discarded during surgery were collected to evaluate endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), CD34(+) monocyte count, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS expression). Phosphorylation levels of STAT-3 and Akt were also assayed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Compared with the CHD group, long-term regular RIPre significantly improved FMD after 20 days (8.5±2.4 vs 4.9±4.2%, P<0.05) and significantly reduced troponin after CABG surgery (0.72±0.31 and 1.64±0.19, P<0.05). RIPre activated STAT-3 and increased CD34(+) endothelial progenitor cell counts found in arteries. Long-term, regular RIPre improved endothelial function in patients with CHD, possibly due to STAT-3 activation, and this may have led to an increase in endothelial progenitor cells.