299 research outputs found
Effective Silencing of Sry Gene with RNA Interference in Developing Mouse Embryos Resulted in Feminization of XY Gonad
Delivering siRNA or shRNA into the developing embryos is still a main challenge to use of RNAi in mammalian systems. Here we analyze several factors influencing RNAi-mediated silencing of Sry gene, which is a tightly controlled spatiotemporal expressed gene and only shortly expressed in developing mouse embryo gonad. A Sry gene-specific shRNAs expression vector (pSilencer4.1/Sry565) was constructed. The shRNA constructs were mixed with polyethylenimines (PEIs) to form a complex and then injected into pregnant mice though tail vein. Our results showed that Sry gene was downregulated significantly in developing embryos. Further study revealed that knocking-down of Sry expression resulted in feminization of gonad development in mouse embryos and the expression level of Sox9 and Wt1 gene was also significantly changed by downregulation of Sry. The transfection efficiency is associated with the amount of plasmid DNA injection, injection time, injection speed, and volume. Our studies suggest that transplacental RNAi could be implemented by tail vein injection of plasmid vector into pregnant mice
Relation Between Gravitational Mass and Baryonic Mass for Non-Rotating and Rapidly Rotating Neutron Stars
With a selected sample of neutron star (NS) equations of state (EOSs) that are consistent with the current observations and have a range of maximum masses, we investigate the relations between NS gravitational mass Mg and baryonic mass Mb, and the relations between the maximum NS mass supported through uniform rotation (Mmax) and that of nonrotating NSs (MTOV). We find that for an EOS-independent quadratic, universal transformation formula (Mb=Mg+AĂM2g)(Mb=Mg+AĂMg2), the best-fit A value is 0.080 for non-rotating NSs, 0.064 for maximally rotating NSs, and 0.073 when NSs with arbitrary rotation are considered. The residual error of the transformation is ⌠0.1Mâ for non-spin or maximum-spin, but is as large as ⌠0.2Mâ for all spins. For different EOSs, we find that the parameter A for non-rotating NSs is proportional to Râ11.4R1.4â1 (where R1.4 is NS radius for 1.4Mâ in units of km). For a particular EOS, if one adopts the best-fit parameters for different spin periods, the residual error of the transformation is smaller, which is of the order of 0.01Mâ for the quadratic form and less than 0.01Mâ for the cubic form ((Mb=Mg+A1ĂM2g+A2ĂM3g)(Mb=Mg+A1ĂMg2+A2ĂMg3)). We also find a very tight and general correlation between the normalized mass gain due to spin Îm = (Mmax â MTOV)/MTOV and the spin period normalized to the Keplerian period PP, i.e., log10Îm=(â2.74±0.05)log10P+log10(0.20±0.01)log10Îm=(â2.74±0.05)log10P+log10(0.20±0.01), which is independent of EOS models. These empirical relations are helpful to study NS-NS mergers with a long-lived NS merger product using multi-messenger data. The application of our results to GW170817 is discussed
High prevalence of thalassemia in migrant populations in Guangdong Province, China
BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of thalassemia and to analyze the need for public health services for migrant populations in different cities in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 21 cities of Guangdong Province. Twenty-three types of a- and ÎČ-globin gene mutations were detected in a total of 14,230 pregnant women and 14,249 husbands. RESULTS: There was a 16.45% prevalence of thalassemia among the 28,479 individuals, and the prevalences of α-, ÎČ-, and combined α-/ÎČ- thalassemia were 12.03%, 3.80%, and 0.63%, respectively. Compared with the native city residents in the province, the migrants from within the province and the immigrants from outside the province had lower prevalences of thalassemia, but the prevalence values were >11%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence values for thalassemia gene mutations were high in all three population groups studied in Guangdong Province. The results indicate that all segments of the Guangdong population should be screened for thalassemia
Tempol relieves lung injury in a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia via suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress
Objective(s): Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is confirmed to cause lesions in multiple organs, especially in the lung tissue. Tempol is an antioxidant that has been reported to restrain inflammation and oxidative stress, with its role in OSA-induced lung injury being unclear. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of tempol on chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH)-induced lung injury.Materials and Methods: A rat model of OSA was established by IH. There were four groups: normal air (NA), IH, IH+tempol, NA+tempol. Inflammatory response was evaluated by TNF-α, IL-1ÎČ, and IL-6 levels. Oxidative stress was detected by MDA and GSH levels, and SOD activity. The protein levels were assessed by Western blot. DNA binding activity of NF-ÎșB or Nrf2 was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Results: According to the results, tempol administration alleviated pathological changes of the lung tissue, decreased leukocyte count and protein content (
SDSS J013127.34032100.1: A newly discovered radio-loud quasar at with extremely high luminosity
Only very few z>5 quasars discovered to date are radio-loud, with a
radio-to-optical flux ratio (radio-loudness parameter) higher than 10. Here we
report the discovery of an optically luminous radio-loud quasar, SDSS
J013127.34-032100.1 (J0131-0321 in short), at z=5.18+-0.01 using the Lijiang
2.4m and Magellan telescopes. J0131-0321 has a spectral energy distribution
consistent with that of radio-loud quasars. With an i-band magnitude of 18.47
and radio flux density of 33 mJy, its radio-loudness parameter is ~100. The
optical and near-infrared spectra taken by Magellan enable us to estimate its
bolometric luminosity to be L_bol ~ 1.1E48 erg/s, approximately 4.5 times
greater than that of the most distant quasar known to date. The black hole mass
of J0131-0321 is estimated to be 2.7E9 solar masses, with an uncertainty up to
0.4 dex. Detailed physical properties of this high-redshift, radio-loud,
potentially super-Eddington quasar can be probed in the future with more
dedicated and intensive follow-up observations using multi-wavelength
facilities.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted to ApJ
Duration of viral shedding of Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection treated with oseltamivir and/or Traditional Chinese Medicine in China: A retrospective analysis
AbstractObjectiveH1N1 was a new and potentially serious infectious disease, in human, the severity of influenza can vary from mild to severe, thus to find an effective and safety way to control the influenza pandemic is of crucial importance. This retrospective study describes the duration of viral shedding in H1N1 patients that were hospitalized and treated in China.MethodsClinical data were collected from May to July, 2009 in China for 963 patients with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Patients were treated based on the guidelines issued by the Chinese Ministry of Health. The primary outcome was duration of viral shedding and statistical comparisons were performed.ResultsIn the patients with body temperature greater than 38.0°C, there were no differences in virus shedding duration among the patients taking oseltamivir within two days, patients undergoing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy or those receiving no drug therapy. In patients with body temperature â„38.1°C, TCM therapy reduced the viral shedding duration (P<0.05, vs. oseltamivir therapy). Furthermore, taking oseltamivir two days after onset of symptoms might prolong the virus shedding duration (P<0.05, vs. taking oseltamivir less than 2 days of onset).ConclusionTCM therapy is effective for reducing the length of virus shedding in patients with body temperature â„38.0°C. Oseltamivir used for reducing virus shedding duration should be taken within two days of onset
A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies on the potential association between NAFLD/MAFLD and risk of incident atrial fibrillation
Background and objectiveThe association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been explored in recent cohort studies, however, the results have been controversial and inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to explore this potential association.MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify all relevant cohort studies investigating the association between NAFLD/MAFLD and AF published from database inception to October 30, 2022. Random-effects models were utilized to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for summary purposes. Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsA total of 13 cohort studies with 14 272 735 participants were included. Among these, 12 cohort studies with 14 213 289 participants (median follow-up of 7.8 years) showed a significant association between NAFLD and an increased risk of incident AF (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12-1.23, P < 0.00001). Our subgroup analyses mostly yielded similar results, and the results of sensitivity analyses remained unchanged. However, meta-analysis of data from 2 cohort studies with 59 896 participants (median follow-up of 2.15 years) showed that MAFLD was not linked to incident AF (HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.63-2.92, P = 0.44).ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that NAFLD may be linked to a slightly higher risk of developing AF, particularly among Asian populations and those diagnosed with NAFLD using FLI criteria. Nevertheless, there is not enough evidence to support the proposed association between MAFLD and an increased risk of AF. To better understand this relationship, future studies should consider factors such as specific population, the severity of NAFLD/MAFLD, diagnostic methods of NAFLD and AF, and cardiometabolic risk factors.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42022371503
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