Leiomyoma of the third eyelid in a dog

A 14‐year‐old neutered male Dachshund presented for the evaluation of oculus dexter (OD) third eyelid elevation ongoing for approximately 2 months. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed a large, nonpainful, well‐demarcated, soft mass at the base of the right third eyelid causing elevation and mild hyperemia. The mass was freely moveable with the third eyelid, and no right globe deviation was noted. No other abnormalities were noted on physical examination, routine blood chemistry, complete blood count, serum T4, urinalysis, or urine cortisol/creatinine ratio. Ocular B‐mode ultrasonography showed an anechoic, well‐demarcated, homogenous, soft tissue mass at the base of the third eyelid with no orbital extension. A leiomyoma was diagnosed after multiple punch biopsies were obtained from the palpebral surface of the mass. The right third eyelid was excised surgically. Histopathology confirmed a completely excised, nodular, unencapsulated, expansile mass within the third eyelid. Positive smooth muscle actin and negative S‐100 immunohistochemistry confirmed a leiomyoma. Bundles of normal smooth muscle were also present adjacent to the mass. The mass was compressing the adjacent lacrimal gland and associated with moderate dacryoadenitis. Twelve months postoperatively, the right globe position and motility remain normal with no evidence of mass regrowth. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of a leiomyoma of the third eyelid in any species. In this case, the mass was completely excised and no regrowth has occurred twelve months after surgery. This case along with independently reviewed canine third eyelids clearly demonstrates the presence of smooth muscle within the canine third eyelid.     

Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of the ovine myostatin gene (MSTN) and their effect on growth and carcass muscle traits in New Zealand Romney sheep

Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle growth and development in mammals, and variation in ovine myostatin gene (MSTN) has been demonstrated to be associated with variation in the muscularity of sheep. Polymerase chain reaction–single‐stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) was used to look for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a 304‐bp amplicon from the promoter region of ovine MSTN. Sequence analyses revealed two previously identified SNPs (c.?2449G/C and c. ?2379T/C) that resulted in three haplotypes (H₁ (c.[?2449G; ?2379C]), H₂ (c.[?2449C; ?2379C]) and H₃ (c.[?2449G; ?2379T]). The effect of these SNPs on growth and carcass traits was investigated in 357 NZ Romney lambs. General linear mixed‐effect models revealed that sheep with the genotype c.?2449GC had a higher loin meat yield (p = 0.032) and proportion loin yield (p = 0.028), than those with the genotype c.?2449GG. The genotype c.?2379CC was associated with an increase in three weight traits: birthweight (p = 0.003), tailing weight (p = 0.009) and weaning weight (p = 0.028), when compared with the genotype c.?2379TC, but it was not found to have an association with growth rate. This suggests that c.?2379T/C has an effect that originates at, or before birth. Haplotype H₃ was associated with a decrease in birthweight (p = 0.002), tailing weight (p = 0.003) and weaning weight (p = 0.011). Haplotype H₂ was associated with increased loin yield (p = 0.012) and proportion loin yield (p = 0.002). The SNPs may have value as genetic markers for improved Romney breeding.     

早期限饲对肉鸡肌肉生长及生产性能的长期影响

本研究旨在比较不同生长阶段隔日限饲(早期限饲:1~14日龄限饲,后期限饲:50~63日龄限饲)对肉鸡肌肉生长及相关激素水平的影响,并探讨早期限饲对肉鸡肌肉生长的程序化作用。试验结果:1)早期限饲组整个试验阶段体重均极显著低于对照组,后期限饲组限饲一周后体重显著低于对照组并于63日龄实现完全补偿生长;2)早期限饲组14日龄和63日龄胸肌、腓肠肌重均显著低于对照组;后期限饲组63日龄胸肌、腓肠肌重均显著低于对照组,且二者与早期限饲组均差异不显著;3)早期限饲显著降低了14日龄肉鸡肌肉中DNA、RNA和蛋白含量,63日龄恢复至正常水平,且核酸、蛋白水平在胸肌和腓肠肌内的趋势表现不一致;4)早期限饲组14日龄血清中T3、T4水平均显著低于对照组,63日龄血清T3水平仍显著低于对照组;后期限饲组63日龄血清T3水平显著低于对照组,T4水平与对照组差异不显著。结果表明:1)限饲可显著阻碍肉鸡肌肉的生长;2)不同部位的肌肉对限饲的敏感度不同;3)早期营养因子对肉鸡肌肉的生长具有"程序化"作用,甲状腺激素可能参与这些过程的调节。     

Tumour necrosis factor stimulated gene 6 intrinsically regulates PD-L1 expressions in breast cancer cells,leading to modulation of tumour microenvironment

Recent studies have shown that tumour cells express tumour necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 (TSG-6) and its protein, which is known to play a key role in regulating excessive immune responses and proliferation and growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It has not been confirmed whether the inhibition of TSG-6 for tumour cells can suppress tumour cell growth and regulate the activation of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment (TME). TSG-6-specific small interfering RNA was transfected into canine and human breast cancer cells (CIPp, CIPm and BT-20). TSG-6-down-regulated (siTSG-6) cells showed decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. Decreased mRNA expressions of NF-κB, STAT3 and Sox2, confirming that TSG-6 is an upper factor governing tumour growth and metastasis. Notably, siTSG-6 cells showed significantly decreased expression levels of CD44 and PD-L1. Direct and indirect co-culture of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) and the siTSG-6 cells showed significant activation in M1 type macrophages and cytotoxic T cells. They also showed a tendency to decrease in the expression of CTLA-4 and increase in the expression of PD-1. In conclusion, this study suggests that the down-regulation of TSG-6 in breast cancer cells could not only suppress tumour growth and metastasis, and but also regulate TME. Since modulation of immune checkpoint proteins occurs in both tumour cells and immune cells, inhibiting TSG-6 and its protein within the TME could be novel therapeutic target for anticancer treatment.     

Estrogen treatment enhances mesenteric lymphatic contractility in rats after hemorrhagic shock

AIM To investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol （E2） treatment on the mesenteric lymphatic microcirculation and isolated lymphatic contractility in rats after hemorrhagic shock, and to explore the relationship between contractility and the difference between intra- and extracellular calcium ion concentrations （［Ca²⁺］） of lymphatic smooth muscle cells （LSMCs）. METHODS Male Wistar rats were divided into sham group, shock group and shock+E2 group. The rats were subjected to hemorrhage ［（40±2） mmHg for 90 min］ and resuscitation with or without subcutaneous injection of E2 （2 mg/kg）. After resuscitation for 3 h, the mesenteric lymphatic microcirculation in vivo was observed. Moreover, the isolated mesenteric microlymphatic rings were prepared for the observations of lymphatic contractility evaluated by the indexes including end-systolic diameter, end-diastolic diameter, contraction frequency （CF） and passive diameter. Meanwhile, the difference between intra- and extracellular ［Ca²⁺］ of LSMCs was recorded during lymphatic contraction. RESULTS Treatment with E2 significantly enhanced the CF, total contractile fraction and lymphatic dynamics index in vivo in the rats after hemorrhagic shock, and increased the CF, the fractional pump flow and the difference between intra- and extracellular ［Ca²⁺］ of LSMCs in isolated lymphatics from the shocked rats （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION Estrogen treatment enhances lymphatic contractility in rats after hemorrhagic shock, which is related to enhancement of difference between intra- and extracellular ［Ca²⁺］ of LSMCs.     

用鱼肌核酸指示水体污染的初步研究

选择了4种家鱼作指示生物，用紫外分光光度法测定其白肌中RNA和DNA的含量。结果表明：同种鱼，污染区的RNA含量显著低于对照区，白鲢和鳊鱼白肌中RNA／DNA低于对照区；不同种的鱼，污染区鱼肌核酸比对照区下降的程度有鳊鱼＞白鲢＞鲫鱼和鲤鱼的趋势。鱼肌核酸下降同水体重金属污染有一定联系，RNA是比RNA／DNA更合适的指标，鳊鱼和白鲢是比鲫鱼和鲤鱼更敏感的指示生物。     

不同植物油对大规格吉富罗非鱼生长性能、组织脂肪酸组成的影响

本试验旨在探究大规格吉富罗非鱼(GIFT)对不同植物油的利用效果,筛选出大规格吉富罗非鱼饲料中合适的植物脂肪源。分别以大豆油(SO)、棕榈油(PO)、棉籽油(CO)、菜籽油(RO)、磷脂油(SL)和大豆油∶棕榈油∶棉籽油∶菜籽油∶磷脂油=1∶1∶1∶1∶1的混合油(MIX)为脂肪源配制6种等氮等脂的试验饲料,饲喂初始体重为(229.92±0.31)g的吉富罗非鱼8周。每种试验饲料投喂4个网箱(重复),每个网箱放养50尾。结果表明:对于增重率和特定生长率,棉籽油组和混合油组显著低于菜籽油组(P0.05)。菜籽油组饲料系数显著低于混合油组(P0.05),其他各组间无显著差异(P0.05)。混合油组蛋白质效率显著低于菜籽油组和磷脂油组(P0.05)。混合油组肝体指数显著高于棕榈油组和菜籽油组(P0.05)。大豆油组、菜籽油组、棕榈油组和磷脂油组在增重率、特定生长率和饲料系数方面没有显著差异(P0.05)。大豆油组和菜籽油组肌肉饱和脂肪酸总量显著低于其他各组(P0.05)。对于肌肉中n-3系脂肪酸/n-6系脂肪酸,菜籽油组显著高于其他各组(P0.05),棉籽油显著低于其他各组(P0.05)。棉籽油组肝脏饱和脂肪酸总量显著高于其他各组(P0.05),菜籽油组则显著低于其他各组(P0.05);对于肝脏n-3/n-6,菜籽油组显著高于其他各组(P0.05)。各组肌肉脂肪酸组成与饲料脂肪酸组成的相关系数均高于肝脏脂肪酸组成与饲料脂肪酸组成的相关系数。在饲料脂肪酸组成与肌肉或肝脏脂肪酸组成的相关系数中,均以棕榈油组最大,磷脂油组最小。由此得出,大豆油、棕榈油、菜籽油和磷脂油可以作为大规格吉富罗非鱼(体重为230~790 g)饲料中良好的脂肪源。大规格吉富罗非鱼肌肉中脂肪酸组成一定程度上被饲料脂肪酸组成影响,但肝脏脂肪酸组成与饲料脂肪酸组成的相关性较小。     

Kruppel样因子15对脂肪沉积和肌纤维类型的影响及其可能机制

Kruppel样因子15(KLF15)是一种新发现的Kruppel样因子家族(KLFs)成员,为一种真核锌指蛋白转录因子。KLF15在动物体内呈现多组织表达特性,该基因过表达能促进动物脂肪沉积,且能影响肉质性状候选基因和Ⅰ型肌纤维基因的表达。因此,深入研究KLF15对脂肪沉积和肌纤维类型的影响及其可能机制,将为改善动物肉品质提供新的思路。本文综述了KLF15的发现、结构特征、表达规律及其与脂肪沉积和Ⅰ型肌纤维之间的关系。     

Oral administration of β-alanine modifies carnosine concentrations in the muscles and brains of chickens

Carnosine, and its derivative anserine, are known to function as anti‐oxidants and putative neurotransmitters. They are especially rich in the breast muscle (Musculus pectoralis superficialis, MPS) of chickens. To clarify whether the concentrations of carnosine and anserine are altered by dietary management, the effect of oral administration of their constituent, β‐alanine (β‐Ala), was determined in the MPS and brains of chickens. Birds were orally administered β‐Ala (22 mmol/kg) twice a day for five consecutive days (from 2 to 6 days old). In the MPS, carnosine was increased by β‐Ala, whereas anserine and taurine were decreased. The concentrations of other free amino acids in the MPS were also modified by β‐Ala. In the brain, the oral administration of β‐Ala increased anserine and carnosine and decreased taurine, but caused no changes to other free amino acid concentrations. These results suggest that orally administered β‐Ala increases carnosine concentrations in both the MPS and brains of chickens. However, the effects of β‐Ala on other concentrations differ depending on the tissues.