Comparison of Single,Averaged, and Pooled Urine Protein:Creatinine Ratios in Proteinuric Dogs Undergoing Medical Treatment

Background

Monitoring urine protein:creatinine ratios (UPC ) in dogs with protein‐losing nephropathy (PLN ) is challenging because of day‐to‐day variation in UPC results.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Determine whether single, averaged, or pooled samples from PLN dogs receiving medical treatment yield comparable UPC s, regardless of degree of proteinuria.

Animals

Twenty‐five client‐owned PLN dogs receiving medical treatment.

Methods

UPC ratios were prospectively measured in each dog utilizing 3 methods: single in‐hospital sample (day 3), average sample (days 1–3), and pooled sample (equal pooling of urine from days 1–3). Bland‐Altman analysis was performed to evaluate agreement between methods for all dogs, as well as in subgroups of dogs (UPC ≤4 or UPC >4).

Results

For all dogs, Bland‐Altman log‐transformed 95% limits of agreement were ?0.07–0.18 (single versus pooled UPC ), ?0.06–0.16 (single versus average UPC ), and ?0.06–0.04 (pooled versus average UPC ). For dogs with UPC ≤4, Bland‐Altman 95% limits of agreement were ?0.42–0.82 (single versus pooled UPC ), ?0.38–0.76 (single versus average UPC ), and ?0.27–0.25 (pooled versus average UPC ). For dogs with UPC >4, Bland‐Altman 95% limits of agreement were ?0.17–2.4 (single versus pooled UPC ), ?0.40–2.2 (single versus average UPC ), and ?0.85–0.43 (pooled versus average UPC ).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

UPC ratios from all methods were comparable in PLN dogs receiving medical treatment. In PLN dogs with UPC >4, more variability between methods exists likely because of higher in‐hospital results, but whether this finding is clinically relevant is unknown.

     

miR-18a-5p在鸡不同生长时期的表达及其生物信息学分析与靶基因预测

为探究miR-18a-5p在鸡不同生长时期组织表达变化规律及其生物信息学特点,本研究以苏禽3号鸡为试验动物,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测不同生长时期鸡miR-18a-5p的组织表达变化。通过文献和miRBase检索脊椎动物的miR-18a-5p序列,利用Ensembl数据库确定miR-18a-5p在基因组中的位置,根据成熟序列构建系统进化树;使用miRmap、microT、miRanda和TargetScan网站预测miR-18a-5p靶基因,并进行GO和KEGG分析。组织表达分析结果显示,miR-18a-5p序列在鸡心脏、脾脏、肾脏和下丘脑中的表达量显著高于除大脑以外的其他组织(P<0.05)。与3日龄雏鸡相比,90日龄鸡心脏、脾脏、肾脏、腿肌和下丘脑中miR-18a-5p的表达量均显著上升(P<0.05)。在50种脊椎动物中共发现52条miR-18a-5p序列,几乎所有物种都只有1条成熟序列;基因定位分析发现,鸡miR-18a-5p位于1号染色体上的基因间隔区。多序列比对分析表明,不同物种miR-18a-5p的成熟序列同源性较高,物种间较为保守。系统进化树分析发现,鸡miR-18a-5p与原鸽、斑胸草雀等其他鸟类聚为一类,这表明miR-18a-5p进化过程中是保守的。靶基因预测和功能分析发现,miR-18a-5p共有121个靶基因。GO分析结果显示,靶基因主要富集到蛋白质泛素化、细胞周期阻滞、白细胞介素-6产生的负调控等功能。KEGG 通路分析表明,靶基因主要富集到细胞周期及Wnt和FoxO信号通路等。多个与肌肉生长及细胞增殖等相关的基因富集到相关通路之上。综上,鸡miR-18a-5p是组织广泛表达的miRNA,其可能通过Wnt及FoxO信号通路调控肌肉生长及细胞增殖分化。本研究为miR-18a-5p功能及调控机制的深入研究提供参考依据。     

Effects of Jiedu-Qingfei mixture on NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways in lung tissues of rats with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection

AIM: To observe the therapeutic effect of Jiedu-Qingfei mixture on Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-infected rat lung tissues and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats (n=40) were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank control group, model group, Jiedu-Qingfei group and positive control group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in experimental groups were slowly dripped with 1×10⁹ CFU/L MP solution into their nostrils for 4 d. One rat in each group was sacrificed for MP nucleic acid detection at the second day after inoculation, and the other rats were given gavage therapy. The rats in blank control group and model group were intragastrically given the same volume of normal saline, the rats in Jiedu-Qingfei group were given 8 mL/kg Jiedu-Qingfei mixture daily for 4 weeks, and the rats in psoitive control group were given dexmethasone sodium phosphate (0.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1). After the experiment, the rats were killed. The serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected for detecting the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-13 and TNF-α by ELISA. The right lung tissues were used for pathological observation and HE staining, while the left lung tissues were used to detect the expression of NF-κB p50, I-κBα and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) at mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The results of MP nucleic acid detection showed that all the rats except blank control group were MP nucleic acid positive, indicating that the rat model of MP infection was successfully established. On the 1st day of the treatment, the pathological scores of the lung tissues in model group and Jiedu-Qingfei group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the pathological scores of the lung tissues in mo-del group were significantly higher than those in blank control group and Jiedu-Qingfei group. The levels of IL-12 in the serum and BALF in model group were significantly lower than those in blank control group after MP infection (P<0.05), while those after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture were significantly higher than those in model group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-13 and TNF-α in the serum and BALF of MP-infected rats were increased significantly, while those after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture were significantly lower than those in model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK in model group were increased significantly (P<0.01). After treatment, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK were decreased significantly compared with model group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of I-κBα in model group was significantly lower than that in control group. After treatment, the mRNA expression of I-κBα in Jiedu-Qingfei group was significantly higher than that in model group (P<0.05). The protein levels of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK in the lung tissues of model group were significantly higher than those of blank control group. After treatment, the protein expression of NF-κB p50 and p38 MAPK was decreased significantly. The protein level of I-κBα in model group was significantly lower than that in blank control group, and after treatment with Jiedu-Qingfei mixture, the protein expression level of I-κBα was increased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Jiedu-Qingfei mixture may attenuate lung tissue inflammation caused by MP through NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways.     

巴西橡胶树乳管细胞HblMYC3互作蛋白筛选与功能分析

MYC是b HLH转录因子家族的亚家族成员,在植物茉莉酸信号转导过程中发挥着重要的调节作用。Hbl MYC3是从巴西橡胶树的乳管细胞中分离鉴定到的MYC类转录因子,其基因表达受割胶和茉莉酸上调。采用酵母双杂交方法初步筛选Hbl MYC3蛋白的互作蛋白,旨在进一步了解Hbl MYC3的功能。结果表明:Hbl MYC1、Hbl MYC2、DNAJ蛋白、谷氧还蛋白2、含A20和AN1锌指结构域的胁迫相关蛋白5、28 ku热和酸稳定的磷蛋白以及25 ku泛素连接酶E2等7种蛋白不同程度地与Hbl MYC3蛋白互作。基于这些互作蛋白的功能,推测Hbl MYC1或Hbl MYC2通过与Hbl MYC3形成二聚体对小橡胶粒子膜蛋白基因表达进行调控,其他蛋白参与胁迫条件下维持二聚体的稳定性和胁迫反应后降解该二聚体。     

β-carotene attenuates weaning-induced apoptosis via inhibition of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK signalling pathways in piglet jejunum

Weaning may cause oxidative injury, immune response impairment, apoptosis and other injuries in piglets. Oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) can elicit inflammatory responses, and persistent oxidative and ERS also may lead to apoptotic cascades, which is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. β-carotene, a natural carotenoid, has potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. However, the effect of β-carotene on apoptosis in weaned piglets and the detailed molecular mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we found that β-carotene decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in piglet serum. β-carotene could inhibit the mRNA levels of caspase-3 significantly, but had no significant inhibitory effect of the mRNA levels of caspase-9 and caspase-12 in the piglet jejunum. In addition, β-carotene decreased the activation of GRP78, CHOP, and JNK/p38 MAPK and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Furthermore, β-carotene had a significant influence on the activation of ERS and apoptosis-related signals in TG-induced IPEC-J2. In the present study, β-carotene pre-treatment attenuated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and prevented TG-induced increases in the level of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK pathway activation in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, these findings indicate that β-carotene may protect weaning-induced apoptosis through inhibiting ERS.     

Phenotypic and allelic variation for wort protein Z in Australian and Canadian barleys

Protein Z is a major component in beer foam. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to analyze wort proteins of two Australian (Buloke and Commander) and two Canadian (CDC Meredith and Bentley) varieties. The Canadian barley contained more abundant proteins from MW 40–45 kDa (pI 5 to 7). These proteins were identified as either protein Z4 or protein Z7 using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Full-length gene of protein Z4 and Z7 were sequenced from Canadian and Australian barleys. Sequence differences were identified in the coding region and upstream regions of the two genes, resulting in protein sequence and expression variations. Molecular markers were designed according to the indels in the upstream regions of protein Z4 and Z7 genes. These markers were highly correlated to wort protein Z content in Canadian and Australian varieties. The Canadian barleys contained ‘high level’ genotypes for protein Z4 and Z7 while most Australian barleys had ‘low level’ genotypes for protein Z4, Z7 or both. The markers identified in this study provide a valuable tool for the selection of protein Z alleles in marker-assisted breeding. Total protein Z content was assessed using different steeping conditions, and increasing air-rest time increased protein Z content in 15 varieties.     

Effect of germination time and temperature on the functionality and protein solubility of sorghum flour

Sorghum was germinated for different time (12, 24, 36 and 48 h) at different temperatures (25, 30 and 35 °C) and the changes in their nutritional and functional properties of germinated sorghum flour were assessed and compared with native sorghum flour. Germination inversely affects the crude protein, fat, fibre and ash content. A decrease in water absorption and swelling power and increase in oil absorption capacity was observed due to enzymatic starch modification as the germination duration progressed. Germination of sorghum increased the gel consistency while paste clarity was decreased as compared to native flour. Proteins were modified by action of enzymes during higher germination time and temperature conditions, which results in significantly higher protein solubility of germinated sorghum flour, which also result in enhancing the foaming and emulsifying properties of the flour. Lowest % synersis value and least gelation concentrations were observed in native sorghum has, which increased during germination and were highest in sorghum germinated for 48 h at 35 °C. Germination in overall can be used as low cost natural bio-processing technique for the preparation of modified flour with enhanced function properties without chemical modification or genetic engineering.     

miR-106b-5p靶向KLF4调控山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化

旨在明确miR-106b-5p对山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化的影响，并确定这种作用是通过靶向KLF4来实现的。本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR （quantitative real-time PCR，qRT-PCR）技术检测miR-106b-5p在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化过程中的表达模式，通过脂质体转染技术将miR-106b-5p mimic和miR-106b-5p inhibitor转入体外培养的山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞，油红O染色法从形态学验证miR-106b-5p对脂肪细胞中脂滴积聚的影响，qRT-PCR检测预测的靶标基因KLF4和脂肪分化标志基因的表达情况，利用双荧光素酶报告系统鉴定miR-106b-5p与KLF4的靶标关系。qRT-PCR结果显示，miR-106b-5p在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞诱导分化第3天时表达量最高。在山羊肌内脂肪细胞中干扰miR-106b-5p后油红O染色显示脂滴聚积减少，过表达miR-106b-5p后脂滴聚积增加。在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞中转染miR-106b-5p inhibitor后PPARγ表达量显著降低（P<0.05），而KLF4表达量极显著升高（P<0.01）；转染miR-106b-5p mimic后LPL和PPARγ表达量极显著升高（P<0.01）。荧光素酶活性试验结果显示，过表达miR-106b-5p可显著抑制KLF4荧光活性。miR-106b-5p通过靶向并负调节KLF4的表达促进山羊肌内脂肪细胞分化。     

An improved method for extraction of sorghum polymeric protein complexes

A method for fractionating sorghum proteins using extraction solvents and techniques designed to obtain polymeric protein structures (especially disulfide linked) was developed. Extraction and separation conditions were optimized in terms of completeness of protein extraction, sample stability, and analytical resolution. After pre-extraction of albumins and globulins, a 3-step sequential procedure involving no reducing agents was applied to ground whole sorghum flour. The three fractions obtained represented proportionally different protein polymer contents and molecular weight distribution as evidenced by comparative size exclusion chromatography. Protein composition also varied among the extracts with differences in kafirin composition and non-kafirin proteins detected in the fractions by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis. The ability to quantify and further characterize sorghum polymeric protein complexes will be useful for additional studies linking protein structures with functionality and digestibility and variations for these properties within diverse sorghum germplasm.     

抗凋亡融合蛋白PTD-Bcl-xL原核表达载体的构建及表达纯化

人工抗凋亡蛋白PTD-Bcl-x L能保护多种因素引起的细胞异常凋亡,为了获得高纯度Bcl-x L与PTD(Protein transduction domains)的融合蛋白,首先采用TRIzol法提取SD大鼠肝脏总RNA,将RNA反转录为c DNA,设计引物以c DNA为模板,PCR扩增Bcl-x L基因,构建p UM19-T-Bcl-x L质粒,并对质粒双酶切鉴定和测序鉴定;其次设计包含PTD序列的Bcl-x L引物,以测序正确的p UM19-T-Bcl-x L质粒为模板,PCR扩增PTD-Bcl-x L序列,将扩增序列克隆入p ET28a载体,构建PTD-Bcl-x L蛋白的原核表达质粒p ET28a-PTD-Bcl-x L,并对p ET28a-PTD-Bcl-x L载体双酶切鉴定和测序鉴定;将p ET28a-PTD-Bcl-x L重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),用IPTG诱导表达,并对IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达的浓度和诱导时间进行了优化;SDS-PAGE分析表达蛋白的可溶性情况,在变性条件下用Ni-NTA琼脂纯化融合蛋白;最后用SDS-PAGE、Western Blot及质谱对融合蛋白进行鉴定。结果表明:双酶切p UM19-T-Bcl-x L质粒出现约774 bp大小条带,p UM19-T-Bcl-x L质粒测序结果与NCBI数据库比对序列一致,表明成功构建p UM19-T-Bcl-x L质粒;双酶切p ET28a-PTD-Bcl-x L质粒出现约744 bp大小条带,p ET28a-PTD-Bcl-x L质粒测序结果与预期序列一致,表明成功构建了p ET28a-PTD-Bcl-x L原核表达载体;在IPTG诱导下p ET28a-Bcl-x L重组质粒在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达出36 k Da大小蛋白,最优IPTG诱导浓度为0.1 mmol/L,最佳IPTG诱导时间为6 h;SDS-PAGE电泳显示融合蛋白主要出现在菌液超声后的沉淀里,以包涵体形式表达,经Ni-NTA琼脂纯化获得了高纯度的融合蛋白;Western Blot和质谱鉴定证明IPTG诱导表达蛋白和纯化的融合蛋白为PTD-Bcl-x L蛋白。纯化得到了PTD-Bc L-x L融合蛋白,推进了PTD-Bcl-x L蛋白在猪、牛等家畜精液冷冻保存的应用进程。