Multimarker and rare variants genomewide association studies for bone weight in Simmental cattle

Bone weight, defined as the total weight of the bones in all the forequarter and hindquarter joints, can reflect somebody conformation traits and skeletal diseases. To gain a better understanding of the genetic determinants of bone weight, we used a composite strategy including multimarker and rare‐marker association to perform genomewide association studies (GWAS) for that character in Simmental cattle. Our strategy consisted of three models: (i) A traditional linear mixed model (LMM) was applied (Q+K‐LMM); (ii) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with p‐values less than .05 from the LMM were selected to undergo the least absolute shrinkage and selector operator (Lasso) in the second stage (LMM‐Lasso); (iii) genes containing two or more rare SNPs were examined by performing the sequence kernel association test (gene‐based SKAT). A total of 1,225 cattle were genotyped with an Illumina BovineHD BeadChip containing 770,000 SNPs. After the quality‐control procedures, 1,217 individuals with 608,696 common SNPs and 105,787 rare SNPs (with 0.001 < minor allele frequency [MAF] <0.05) remained in the sample for analysis. A traditional LMM successfully mapped three genes associated with bone weight, while LMM‐Lasso identified nine genes, which included all genes found by traditional LMM. Only a single gene, EPHB3, surpassed the significance threshold after Bonferroni correction in gene‐based SKAT. In conclusion, based on functional annotation and results from previous endeavours, we believe that LCORL, RIMS2, LAP3, PRKAR2B, CHSY1, MAP2K6 and EPHB3 are candidate genes for bone weight. In general, such a comprehensive strategy for GWAS may be useful for researchers seeking to probe the full genetic architecture underlying economic traits in livestock.     

FGF4在肺癌细胞体内和体外中表达差异的研究

FGF4已经被证明是癌基因,它涉及肿瘤的生长和转移,为了解FGF4的表达与肿瘤微环境的关系。我们利用FGF4抗体通过免疫组化对一名肺癌患者癌旁,癌组织,癌组织小鼠移植瘤,二次移植瘤以及原代培养的细胞爬片进行FGF4检测,探究其表达差异。通过对比癌组织与对照组（癌旁组织）,FGF4在癌巢中高表达;同样,移植瘤与二次移植瘤的癌巢中与癌旁组织比较,FGF4表达相对较高;但是将癌组织进行原代培养后,免疫组化检测细胞爬片FGF4,发现仅有5%±0.21%的肿瘤细胞表达FGF4,对照蛋白Cytokine作为肿瘤标记物,则在100%的肿瘤细胞中表达。研究提示免疫组化检测到FGF4在体内和体外表达不同,提示肿瘤细胞FGF4的表达与肿瘤微环境调控密切相关,肿瘤微环境对肿瘤细胞的FGF4的调控有着重要作用。     

Bioinformatics Analysis of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) of Sheep

The assay was aimed to explore the biological characteristics of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) of sheep,NCBI,DNAMAN DNAStar,TMHMM Server v.2.0,PsortⅡ,SignalP various bioinformatical softwares were used to speculate the physical and chemical properties,hydrophobic property,phosphorylation site,conservative structure domain,protein secondary structure of BMP4 protein.Also,the three-dimensional structure was forecasted with the SWISS-MODEL Workspace software.The results indicated that the BMP4 of sheep had high homologies with the BMP4 of various species.The encoded protein was a hydrophilic protein which was unstable.There was no transmembrane regions and it was likely to be located in the nucleus.What was more,there was signal peptide and eighteen phosphorylation sites.Through the forecast of functional domains,the protein had two functional domains,including the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and TGF-beta propeptide superfamily.The result was consistent with the function of BMP4 gene family,it also demonstrated that BMP4 was a growth factor and it had the function of signal transduction.The amino acid homology between the predicted 3D structure of protein and template 3bmp.1.A was 88.29%.The bioinformatics analysis of BMP4 gene could provide reference for the further study in practice.     

EZH2-mediated regulation of NF-κB target gene expression in gastric cancer

AIM: To explore the mechanism by which over-expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in a panel of gastric cancer cell lines is involved in tumorigenesis of gastric cancer. METHODS: Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to examine the mRNA and protein levels of EZH2, respectively. MTS assay, cell migration and soft agar assay were performed to investigate the role of EZH2 in the regulation of stomach cancer behaviors. The effect of EZH2 on NF-κB target gene expression was determined by Luciferase reporter and real-time PCR. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to analyze the interaction of EZH2 and p65 in HEK293T cells. RESULTS: The expression levels of EZH2 were significantly increased in the gastric cancer cells compared with normal gastric epithelial cells. Pharmacological inhibition by DZNep or knockdown of EZH2 significantly compromised AGS and SNU-16 cell activity, cell migration and anchorage-independent cell growth. Moreover, siRNA knockdown of EZH2 impaired NF-κB downstream targets, such as IL-8, CXCL5 and CCL20. In addition, the interaction of EZH2 and p65 was detected. CONCLUSION: EZH2 mediates the growth of gastric cancer cells through the regulation of NF-κB downstream gene expression.     

Fucoidan and Cancer: A Multifunctional Molecule with Anti-Tumor Potential

There is a wide variety of cancer types yet, all share some common cellular and molecular behaviors. Most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment are designed to target common deregulated mechanisms within cancer cells. Many healthy tissues are also affected by the cytotoxic effects of these chemical agents. Fucoidan, a natural component of brown seaweed, has anti-cancer activity against various cancer types by targeting key apoptotic molecules. It also has beneficial effects as it can protect against toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Thus the synergistic effect of fucoidan with current anti-cancer agents is of considerable interest. This review discusses the mechanisms by which fucoidan retards tumor development, eradicates tumor cells and synergizes with anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Challenges to the development of fucoidan as an anti-cancer agent will also be discussed.     

重组人骨形态发生蛋白2复合物对犬胫骨骨折愈合中4种相关细胞因子的作用

研究重组人骨形态发生蛋白2(rhBMP-2)、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、纤维蛋白凝胶(FG)与妥布霉素复合物加速骨折愈合。bFGF与rhBMP-2和妥布霉素以纤维蛋白胶为载体复合,将具有抗生素缓释系统的复合物注入犬胫骨骨折处,并做内固定,于术后第2周,采集犬胫骨骨折处样品,每隔2周采集1次,共采集4次,将每次采集的样品制成组织切片,采用免疫组织化学的方法检测4种因子,并对组织切片进行分析,用多功能真彩色细胞图象分析管理系统,分析所得数据用SPSS18.0版统计软件进行统计学分析。血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)在试验组第2周表达强阳性,而对照组阳性表达较弱;前4周,试验组血小板源性生长因子(PDGF)阳性率呈上升趋势,强于对照组;前8周,试验组胰岛素样生长因子(IGF)和转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)阳性率均高于对照组。说明bFGF与rhBMP-2和妥布霉素以纤维蛋白胶为载体的复合物在骨折愈合具有中促进细胞增殖、黏附、趋化、分化,以及骨折末端血管生长和形成的作用。     

Correcting Campylorrhinus Lateralis in a Foal by Bone Distraction: A Case Report

Campylorrhinus lateralis, also known as “wry nose,” is a congenital malformation that mainly affects Thoroughbreds. These horses have a unilateral deviation of the maxillae that may be to one side or the other side, and it causes airway obstruction and dental malocclusion. The choice of treatment is not necessarily operation; however, the treatment of choice, which aims to repair the maxillae deviation, is surgical to improve the horse’s respiratory condition and correct the dental occlusion. There are currently no reports describing the first surgical technique for such deformity described by Valdez et al. The present study describes the case of a 2-month-old foal of the Mangalarga Marchador breed that was diagnosed with wry nose. The foal presented with accentuated maxillae deviation to the right side, malocclusion of the incisor teeth, and respiratory noises. After diagnosis and physical examination, the foal was treated by surgical correction of the deviation. To correct the deviation, the bone distraction technique with unilateral osteotomy of the right maxillae and fixation of the external bone distractor was chosen. After 90 days, the bone distractor was removed; consequently, malocclusion of the incisors was greatly improved, and respiratory noises were eliminated.     

利用自制骨炭除氟剂处理农村高氟地下水研究

在不同实验条件下将家畜骨制成骨炭除氟剂,通过除氟效果的比较筛选出最佳除氟剂制备方法。利用所制得的骨炭进行除氟静态吸附实验,研究了骨炭对氟的吸附效果以及温度、pH和地下水中常见阴阳离子等不同影响因素对骨炭除氟效果的影响。实验结果表明温度对骨炭除氟效果影响不大;低pH条件有利于骨炭对氟的去除;地下水常见阴阳离子中,Ca2＋和Mg2＋对骨炭除氟有一定的促进作用,而阴离子则起到不同程度的抑制作用。除氟后的骨炭可以利用NaOH浸泡方法进行再生,经三次再生后其吸附容量仍可达原来的94.3%,说明骨炭除氟剂具有良好的再生能力且可反复用于水中除氟。