COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY: CRITERIA FOR ACCURATE NEEDLE TIP IDENTIFICATION

Precise localization of the needle tip during CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is considered to be a key element of a successful procedure. To ensure accuracy, the true needle tip must be differentiated from a false or simulated tip which appears when the CT slice encompasses only the shaft of an angled needle. By obtaining images of an aspiration biopsy needle inserted vertically into a phantom and then incrementally tilting the gantry, the authors were able to compare the characteristic features of the true tip to the simulated tip. The true tip was abrupt and distinct and had an adjacent flame-like low density artifact. The simulated tip was indistinct and tapered, yet still produced the adjacent artifact. We concluded that the shape and distinctness of the end portion of the needle itself, rather than the attendant artifact, were the most reliable criteria for accurate needle tip identification.     

Study on relationship between expression of PKCα in glomeruli and development of nephropathy in diabetic rats

AIM:To observe the dynamic changes of expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA in glomeruli of diabetic rats induced by the alloxon and to invesitigate their roles in the diabetic nephropathy(DN).METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (group A), diabetic group of one week (group B), diabetic group of one month (group C), diabetic group of two months (group D). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA in renal tissue of all groups. Blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine and urine protein were analysed by chemical methods. The morphological changes of renal tissue were checked through microscopy.RESULTS:The expression of PKCα and TGF-β₁ in renal tissue of diabetic groups were increased comparing with those of nomal control group(P<0.05). The mesangial cells expressed α-SMA in two months group. Chronologically the expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA were positively correlative with each other and the impairment of kidney was also observed.CONCLUSIONS: During the DN process the expression of PKCα increased. PKCα raised GFR and the permeability of glomerular filtration membrane which enhanced urinary albumin excretion. PKCα also increased expression of TGF-β and therefore to induce the expression of α-SMA. The appearance of α-SMA was a marker of the phenotypic transform of renal cells.     

Regulation of muscular glutamate metabolism by high‐protein diet in broiler chicks

The major taste active component, glutamate (Glu), improves the taste of meat. In this study, we investigated the effect of a short‐term high‐protein (HCP) diet on the intramuscular free Glu content to improve the taste of meat. Furthermore, we elucidated how the muscle free Glu content was controlled by the HCP diet. Chicks (14 days old) were fed the control diet or HCP diet for 10 days. Plasma and muscle free amino acid concentrations, and activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of muscle enzymes related to Glu metabolism were determined. Muscle free Glu content was increased (P < 0.01) by 51%. Activity and mRNA expression of glutaminase (GA), which is one of the major Glu‐related enzymes, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the HCP group because of feedback inhibition. The mRNA expression of lysine α‐ketoglutarate reductase (LKR), which is the enzyme involved in lysine (Lys) degradation and Glu production, was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the HCP group. These results suggest that short‐term dietary HCP feeding is an effective treatment for improving the taste of meat. Furthermore, our results suggest that the free Glu content in muscle is regulated by GA and LKR.     

Gastrointestinal motility modulation by stress is associated with reduced smooth muscle contraction through specific transient receptor potential channel

Excessive stress response causes disability in social life. There are many diseases caused by stress, such as gastrointestinal motility disorders, depression, eating disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels underlie non-selective cation currents and are downstream effectors of G protein-coupled receptors. Ca²⁺ influx is important for smooth muscle contraction, which is responsible for gastrointestinal motility. Little is known about the possible involvement of TRP channels in the gastrointestinal motility disorders due to stress. The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in gastrointestinal motility caused by stress and to elucidate the mechanism of these changes. The stress model used the water immersion restraint stress. Gastrointestinal motility, especially the ileum, was recorded responses to electric field stimulation (EFS) by isometric transducer. EFS-induced contraction was significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. Even under the conditions treated with atropine, EFS-induced contraction was significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. In addition, carbachol-induced, neurokinin A-induced, and substance P-induced contractions were all significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. Furthermore, the expression of TRPC3 was decreased in the ileum of stressed mouse. These results suggest that the gastrointestinal motility disorders due to stress is associated with specific non-selective cation channel.     

m6A甲基化在鸡肌肉生长发育中的表达研究

试验旨在研究RNA m6A修饰相关基因去甲基化酶Alk B同源蛋白5（Alk B homologue 5,ALKBH5）、去甲基化酶肥胖相关蛋白（fat mass and obesity-associated protein,FTO）、甲基转移酶样蛋白3（methyltransferase like 3,METTL3）、甲基转移酶样蛋白14（methyltransferase like 14,METTL14）和成肾细胞瘤1-结合蛋白（Wilms’tumor 1-associating protein,WTAP）在鸡骨骼肌发育过程中的表达,分析其与骨骼肌m6A甲基化水平的相关性。首先,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测m6A甲基化相关基因在金茅花鸡12（E12）、14（E14）、16（E16）、18（E18）胚龄和1日龄腿肌和胸肌组织中mRNA表达水平,以及其在鸡成肌细胞50%、100%增殖期和1、2、3、4、5 d分化期的mRNA表达水平;随后,利用m6A甲基化试剂盒检测金茅花鸡E12和1日龄腿肌和胸肌组织中m6A甲基化修饰水平,与m6A甲基化相关基因表达水平进行相关性分析。结果显示,m6A去甲基化基因ALKBH5和FTO mRNA表达水平在骨骼肌发育过程中显著上调（P<0.05）,即在E12、E14低表达,E16、E18逐渐上调,1日龄达到最高。m6A甲基化写入基因METTL14、METTL3和WTAP mRNA表达水平在E12、E14、E16逐渐上升,E18下降,随后至1日龄表达量回升。在细胞增殖过程中,ALKBH5、FTO、METTL14、METTL3和WTAP基因表达均上调;在细胞分化过程中ALKBH5和FTO基因表达水平显著上调（P<0.05）,在分化第5天达到最高。METTL14、METTL3和WTAP基因mRNA表达水平在细胞诱导分化的1、2、3、4 d表达量呈下降趋势,而在诱导分化的第5天有所回升。甲基化水平检测结果显示,腿肌和胸肌m6A甲基化水平变化趋势一致,均在胚胎发育过程中显著下降（P<0.05）,至1日龄达到最低。相关性分析结果显示,鸡骨骼肌RNA m6A甲基化水平与m6A去甲基化修饰基因ALKBH5、FTO mRNA表达水平呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。综合以上试验结果,推测m6A甲基化修饰与鸡骨骼肌发育相关,而去甲基化基因ALKBH5、FTO可能通过调控RNA m6A甲基化水平,影响鸡骨骼肌发育。本研究结果为进一步研究m6A甲基化修饰调控鸡骨骼肌生长发育的功能和分子机制提供理论依据。     

Dietary linseed supplementation improves meat quality and flavor of sheep by altering muscle fiber characteristics and antioxidant capacity

Linseed as a common oil crop that has been implicated in regulating the meat quality of animals. The aim of this investigation was to establish the effects of dietary linseed supplementation on carcass traits, meat quality, muscle fiber characteristics, volatile compounds and antioxidant capacity of sheep. Twenty-four Sunit sheep were distributed into 2 groups with different diet: control (CO) fed a standard diet and linseed (LS, 8% of extruded linseed). The results showed that linseed not only increased M. longissimus thoracis (LT) increased the loin-eye area but also decreased pH24h, L* and shear force. Meanwhile, linseed increased mRNA expression of MyHCI and MyHCIIx and decreased in cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle fiber diameter. In addition, linseed altered the composition of meat volatile flavor compounds, such as Z-10-Pentadecen-1-ol, pentanal, 2-Octenal, (E)-, decanal, butane, and 2-heptanone. Moreover, linseed increased total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) activity, the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Overall, the results suggest that linseed is an effective feed additive in improving meat quality and flavor. The underlying mechanisms for its effectiveness may be partly due to a change in muscle fiber characteristics and antioxidant capacity.     

APPLICATION AND MACHINE ACCURACY OF A NEW FRAMELESS COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY‐GUIDED STEREOTACTIC BRAIN BIOPSY SYSTEM IN DOGS

The purpose of this study was to describe application and machine accuracy for a new computed tomography (CT) guided, frameless, stereotactic brain biopsy system in dogs. Heads from ten canine cadavers were secured to a bite‐plate with six attached fiducial markers and imaged using CT. Fiducialized CT images were imported into stereotactic software and spherical phantom lesions between 3.9 and 5.5 mm in diameter were created in six locations. Infrared cameras and reflective markers were used to register fiducials to the reconstructed image set. Coordinates in the X, Y, and Z planes were identified for each lesion center. Iohexol (1.5 μl of 240 mgI/ml) was injected into the center of each lesion and CT scans were repeated. Pre‐ and postinjection CT images for each cadaver were fused using the system software. Application accuracy was calculated using the center of each phantom lesion and the center of each injected contrast material location. Machine accuracy was calculated using a phantom with known distances between four fixed points in the X, Y, and Z planes. Mean application accuracy in the first 5 cadavers was 4.3 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9–4.3 mm) and in the second 5 cadavers was 2.9 mm (95% CI 2–3.9 mm). The more superficial lesions were targeted significantly less accurately than the deeper lesions (P = 0.0183). Median machine accuracy was 0.1 mm and the range was 0.1–0.2 mm. Findings supported use of the new biopsy system for canine brain lesions >3.9 mm in diameter.     

The Expression of Long Noncoding RNA (H19) in Mouse Skeletal Muscle Development

This experiment was intend to study the changes of long non-coding RNA (H19) expression levels in skeletal muscle development and regeneration,and lay the foundation of its mechanism reach in skeletal muscle development.C2C12 cell line and ICR mice were used as experimental material,bioinformatics assay was used to exploit its non-coding character and low conservatism in different species,and the expressions of H19 in C2C12 cell differentiation,skeletal muscle development and the phase of muscle regeneration were detected by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).The results showed that,H19 expression levels in postnatal mouse skeletal muscle decreased with increasing age;during C2C12 cell differentiation,H19 mRNA increased gradually,and then maintained a high level;The expression of H19 was maintained at a high level through days 4 to 6 after injury.In consideration of its express character in C2C12 cell differentiation and skeletal muscle damage repair model,H19 may play an important role in promoting myogenesis and skeletal muscle regeneration.