Berberine promotes apoptosis of human breast cancer cells by regulating miRNA-146a

ATM: To observe the effect of berberine on apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and its potential mechanism. METHODS: The MCF-7 cells were divided into control group and the groups with 3 different doses of berberine. The cell viability was detected by MTT assay, while the cell apoptosis was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry assay. The protein levels of p-P65, Bax and Bcl-2 were Western blot. The levels of microRNA-146a(miRNA-146a) in the MCF-7 cells were detected by RT-qPCR. The miRNA-146a siRNA was transfected to the MCF-7 cells after an evaluation of transfection efficacy, which was co-incubated with berberine to observe its effects on the mRNA levels of Bax and Bcl-2. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the cell viabilities were decreased significantly in medium and high doses of berberine treatment groups with a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). The cell apoptosis was increased significantly in medium and high doses of berberine treatment groups dose-dependently (P<0.05). The protein levels of Bax were up-regulated, while those of Bcl-2 and p-P65 were down-regulated significantly by the treatment of berberine (P<0.05). In addition, the miRNA-146a levels were increased significantly in medium and high doses of berberine treatment groups (P<0.05) and showed a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA levels of Bax were decreased, while the mRNA levels of Bcl-2 were increased after transfection with miRNA-146a siRNA and co-incubated with berberine.CONCLUSION: Berberine promotes apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The mechanism may be related to inhibit the activity of NF-κB by incresing the levels of miRNA-146a.     

Retrospective Review of Carriage Horse and Mule Welfare in Charleston,South Carolina (2009–2012)

Equine Welfare and Carriage Horse Companies have been recently highlighted as matters of public concern, although little data exists to describe working conditions, municipal regulations, and veterinary attention. In light of the current pandemic of unwanted horses in this country, it is prudent for the veterinary community to identify objective measurements of satisfactory equine welfare in the carriage horse industry to regulate and maintain working horses in sound conditions. Retrospective data from a carriage company in South Carolina was collected from 2009 to 2012. Variables included days in work, hours and/or tours worked, veterinary charges, management practices, and environmental conditions. City veterinary reports were also reviewed for all five local carriage companies. The average number of days in work per animal ranged from 163 to 188 per year. On average, each animal performed 4.6 hour long tours per working day, resulting in an average 865 tours per year. Each animal cost on average $2.00 per day in veterinary costs, and $0.84 of each animal's tour went toward veterinary bills. Welfare among carriage horses is a subject on which equine veterinarians should be well versed; not only to answer questions from clientele but also to promote good working and living conditions for these animals in an effort to stem the number of unwanted horses in America. The carriage company reported in detail here provides acceptable welfare for their animals. Prospective studies are needed to collect objective, evidence-based data regarding stress levels in the animals.     

宁夏农产品出口安全问题探讨

宁夏天赋优势、地载特色、人为骄绩,是全国唯一的回族自治区,是生产安全农产品的最佳地域之一。农产品出口是拉动宁夏经济发展的＂三辆马车＂之一,其质量安全与出口效益息息相关。笔者分析了宁夏农业和农产品质量安全的特点,从生产和监管2个方面10个单项剖析宁夏农产品的质量安全存在的问题及对出口贸易的影响,并提出了对策建议。对于认识宁夏农产品新优势和硬＂瓶颈＂,把握国际农产品质量安全新常态,推进政府决策和部门履职及提升宁夏农产品出口竞争力具有重要意义。     

Cryopreservation of Nili‐Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen in AndroMed® extender; in vitro and in vivo evaluation

The study was designed to evaluate AndroMed^® for the freezability and fertility of Nili‐Ravi buffalo semen. Semen was collected from four adult Nili‐Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls for 3 weeks (replicate). Semen ejaculates from each buffalo bull were divided into three aliquots. One aliquot was used for evaluation of motility, plasma membrane integrity, livability, viability, DNA integrity and normal apical ridge. Remaining two aliquots were diluted (37°C; 50 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/ml) in tris‐citric egg yolk or AndroMed^® extender and cryopreserved in 0.5 ml French straws. After thawing, per cent post‐thaw motility (47.9 ± 0.8, 49.2 ± 1.7), plasma membrane integrity (44.4 ± 1.2, 46.8 ± 1.8) and normal apical ridge (81.4 ± 0.3, 83.2 ± 0.3) were recorded similar (p > .05) in tris‐citric egg yolk and AndroMed^® extender. Higher (p < .05) percentage of sperm livability (70.5 ± 1.4 and 64.4 ± 1.0), viability (67.5 ± 1.5 and 61.5 ± 0.6) and DNA integrity (97.0 ± 0.3 and 93.4 ± 0.21) were recorded in AndroMed^® compared to tris‐citric egg yolk post‐thaw. Values for all the aforementioned spermatozoal quality parameters were observed lower (p < .05) in frozen‐thawed compared to fresh semen irrespective of the experimental extenders. Fertility rates of buffalo semen did not differ (p > .05) either cryopreserved in tris‐citric egg yolk or AndroMed^® extender (45.5% vs. 49%). It is concluded that AndroMed^® is capable in protecting the buffalo bull sperm during freeze‐thawing process and can be adopted safely for routine use replacing the tris‐citric egg yolk extender in artificial insemination programme.     

黄河小浪底库区土壤侵蚀驱动因子定量归因分析

为评价小浪底库区30年来土壤侵蚀特征及其影响因素,基于RUSLE模型,估算小浪底库区1990—2020年土壤侵蚀模数,分析土壤侵蚀时空变化特征,并结合地理探测器定量分析植被覆盖度、土地利用类型、海拔、坡度和降雨量等影响因子对土壤侵蚀格局的影响。结果表明：(1)小浪底库区土壤侵蚀模数从1990年的3 150 t/(km²·a)下降至2020年的1 554 t/(km²·a),土壤流失总量减少50.00%。高等级土壤侵蚀持续向低等级侵蚀转变,从1990—2020年,剧烈、极强烈、强烈、中度和轻度侵蚀面积分别下降53.92%,64.51%,55.65%,39.68%和3.28%,而微度侵蚀面积则上升41.13%。现阶段土壤侵蚀强度以微度侵蚀为主,其次是轻度侵蚀,两者分别占总侵蚀面积的60.02%和24.08%。(2)小浪底库区严重的土壤侵蚀主要分布在库区西南部(平陆县、陕州区)、东南部(济源市、孟津县)和中部(垣曲县)等人类活动集中的部分地区,但在时空上呈收缩聚集的特征。(3)植被覆盖度与土地利用类型对小浪底库区土壤侵蚀强度的解释力高于其他因子,植...     

清水池塘吊水饥饿处理对大口黑鲈品质的提升效果

为了研究吊水饥饿处理对土塘养殖大口黑鲈（Micropterus salmoides）鱼肉品质的提升效果,本研究在种植苦草(Vallisneria spiralis)的清水池塘中,比较了不同暂养时间下（0、1、4、7、10、13、16 d）,鱼肉的营养成分、质构特性和土腥味物质的变化情况。结果发现,暂养不同时间后：（1）大口黑鲈鱼肉的水分含量显著下降至74.90±2.40%（第7 d）,灰分含量显著上升,达到1.27±0.17%（第7 d）;总糖含量先下降,后恢复至初始含量水平0.49±0.03 g/100 g（第13 d）。（2）鱼肉中不饱和脂肪酸新增加3种（C20:3n3、C20:4n3、C22:4n6）,总脂肪酸达到23种（第10 d）;游离氨基酸有16种,氨基酸滋味活性值（taste active value,TAV）随着暂养时间延长有显著变化（P<0.05）,其中具有鲜味的谷氨酸TAV>1（第4 d）,呈苦味的组氨酸TAV<1（第16 d）。（3）暂养10 d后,鱼肉硬度和咀嚼性显著增加（P<0.05）。（4）鱼肉中土腥味物质2-MIB和GSM含量分别由开始的0.42±0.01 μg/Kg和0.54±0.06 μg/Kg下降到0.33±0.05 μg/Kg、0.35±0.06 μg/Kg（第16 d）。本研究表明清水池塘暂养处理能显著改善大口黑鲈的鱼肉品质,综合提升效果和经济效益,暂养时间为10 d较好。     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒17-ZJ-HZ毒株的分离鉴定与分子流行病学分析

杭州某猪场断奶仔猪群出现高热、呼吸困难等症状,疑似猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)感染,3头病猪肺脏病变样本送本实验室检测,通过RT-PCR方法检测其病原核酸。肺脏匀浆液无菌处理接种到MARC-145细胞,细胞病变观察、Western-blot、间接免疫荧光等方法验证PRRSV病毒分离情况;RT-PCR方法分五段扩增获得全长病毒基因组序列,采用MEGA等软件分析该毒株的核苷酸序列以及GP5、NSP2氨基酸序列;分离病毒接种3日龄PRRSV阴性仔猪,评价该病毒的毒力。结果表明:该场送检样品为PRRSV阳性;成功分离得到17-ZJ-HZ病毒;获得15 325 bp的 PRRSV全基因组序列。序列分析表明,该毒株与经典北美株的NSP2存在典型的29+1个氨基酸的缺失,且进化分析归于HP-PRRSV亚群。攻毒60 h后猪只出现典型的PRRSV临床症状和病理变化,以上结果表明该毒株为高致病性PRRSV(highly pathogenic PRRSV, HP-PRRSV)的北美株。     

Morphometry and abnormalities of the feet of Kaimanawa feral horses in New Zealand

Objective The present study investigated the foot health of the Kaimanawa feral horse population and tested the hypotheses that horses would have a large range of foot morphology and that the incidence of foot abnormality would be significantly high. Procedures Abnormality was defined as a variation from what the two veterinarian assessors considered as optimal morphology and which was considered to impact negatively on the structure and/or function of the foot. Fifteen morphometric variables were measured on four calibrated photographic views of all four feet of 20 adult Kaimanawa feral horses. Four morphometric variables were measured from the lateromedial radiographs of the left forefoot of each horse. In addition, the study identified the incidence of gross abnormality observed on the photographs and radiographs of all 80 feet. Results There was a large variation between horses in the morphometric dimensions, indicating an inconsistent foot type. Mean hoof variables were outside the normal range recommended by veterinarians and hoof care providers; 35% of all feet had a long toe conformation and 15% had a mediolateral imbalance. Abnormalities included lateral (85% of horses) and dorsal (90% of horses) wall flares, presence of laminar rings (80% of horses) and bull-nose tip of the distal phalanx (75% of horses). Both hypotheses were therefore accepted. Conclusions The Kaimanawa feral horse population demonstrated a broad range of foot abnormalities and we propose that one reason for the questionable foot health and conformation is lack of abrasive wearing by the environment. In comparison with other feral horse populations in Australia and America there may be less pressure on the natural selection of the foot of the Kaimanawa horses by the forgiving environment of the Kaimanawa Ranges. Contrary to popular belief, the feral horse foot type should not be used as an ideal model for the domestic horse foot.     

Intake of trichostrongylid larvae by goats and sheep grazing together

SUMMARY Cashmere goats and Merino sheep were grazed together at 7.5 animals per ha on annual rye grass and clover pasture in southern Victoria, a winter rainfall area. Intake of parasitic larvae was measured in oesophageal extrusa samples collected from 2 animals of each species, 4 times in one week, on 7 occasions between mid-March (autumn) and mid-June (winter). Pasture contamination with larvae was measured at the same times. The number of larvae per kg of green grass was lower than on green clover; the most heavily contaminated portion of the pasture was the mat of dead herbage on the ground. The diet selected by goats contained more green grass and dead herbage and less clover that that of sheep (P < 0.01). Goats ingested 643 infective trichostrongylid larvae per kg dry matter intake (DMI) versus 274 per kg DMI for sheep in autumn, increasing to 1892 versus 1143 in early winter. The heavier trichostrongylid burdens of goats compared with sheep, when grazed together, are due in part to greater rates of infection consequent on different grazing patterns as well as greater susceptibility to infection.