Evaluation of oral Lanzhou lamb rotavirus vaccine via passive transfusion with CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes

AbstractLanzhou Lamb derived Rotavirus (RV) Vaccine (namely LLR) for children is only used in China. Since there were no reports on evaluation of LLR, even the data of phase IV clinical trial, we proceed the evaluation of LLR through focusing on T-cell to investigate whether LLR could induce the potential function involving in protection as a vaccine. Four groups of nude mice were transfused with CD4+/CD8+ T-cells isolated from LLR-immunized (primed) and LLR-unimmunized (naïve) mice via intraperitonea (i.p.) respectively. Consequently, the adoption mice were challenged with mice-origin wild rotavirus EDIM (Epizootic Diarrhea of Infant Mice) by intragastric administration. Series of fecal/serum samples were collected and viral shedding, then serum IgA/IgG and secreted IgA were assayed. Compared to the mice transfused with T lymphocytes from naïve mice, the nude mice transfused with CD4+ T lymphocytes from primed mice induce fecal and serum IgA increasing more rapidly, and have a shorter duration of virus shedding too. Whereas, no significant difference in virus clearance was found between the mice transfused with CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from primed and naïve mice. Therefore, we cleared the distinct roles of transfused CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes for rotavirus clearance in nude mice, that the viral clearance conducted by CD4+ T lymphocytes. Meanwhile, it has ability to help induction of LLR specific immunogenicity. Comparing with the transfusion of cell from primed and naïve mice, LLR can induce CD4+ T lymphocytes memory which is a potential index to reflect the immunogenicity and protection, while CD8+ T lymphocytes remove rotavirus by CTL with little memory ability

MiR-218 Inhibits Invasion and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer by Targeting the Robo1 Receptor

MicroRNAs play key roles in tumor metastasis. Here, we describe the regulation and function of miR-218 in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis. miR-218 expression is decreased along with the expression of one of its host genes, Slit3 in metastatic GC. However, Robo1, one of several Slit receptors, is negatively regulated by miR-218, thus establishing a negative feedback loop. Decreased miR-218 levels eliminate Robo1 repression, which activates the Slit-Robo1 pathway through the interaction between Robo1 and Slit2, thus triggering tumor metastasis. The restoration of miR-218 suppresses Robo1 expression and inhibits tumor cell invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results describe a Slit-miR-218-Robo1 regulatory circuit whose disruption may contribute to GC metastasis. Targeting miR-218 may provide a strategy for blocking tumor metastasis

Physical and psychological correlates of somatic symptom in patients with functional constipation: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The symptoms of functional constipation (FC) were obviously affected by mental symptoms, which was consistent with somatic symptoms. However, the characteristics of FC patients with somatic symptom remains unexplored. Methods Clinical characteristics including somatic symptom (SOM, PHQ-15), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), quality of life (PAC-QOL), constipation (KESS), demographic variables, anatomical abnormalities and symptoms were investigated. Subsequent analyses encompassed the comparison of clinical parameters between patients with SOM + group (PHQ-15 ≥ 10) and SOM- group (PHQ-15 < 10), subgroup analysis, correlation analysis, and logistic regression. Lastly, we evaluated the somatic symptom severity (SSS) among FC patients subjected to various stressors. Results Notable disparities were observed between SOM + and SOM- groups in variety of physiological and psychological variables, including gender, stressful events, sleep disorders, reduced interest, GAD-7, PHQ-15, PHQ-9, PAC-QOL, anterior rectocele, KESS, and internal anal sphincter achalasia (IASA) (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis affirmed consistent findings across mental symptoms. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between SSS and KESS, anterior rectocele, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PAC-QOL (P < 0.05). Logistic regression identified PHQ-9 (OR = 7.02, CI: 2.06–27.7, P = 0.003), GAD-7 (OR = 7.18, CI: 2.00–30.7, P = 0.004), and KESS (OR = 16.8, CI: 3.09–113, P = 0.002) as independent predictors of SSS. Elevated SSS scores were significantly associated with couple, parental, and work-related stressors (P < 0.05). Conclusion A marked heterogeneity was observed between SOM + and SOM- patients of FC, with SOM + accompanied by more severe constipation, anxiety and depression symptoms. This finding underscores the importance of considering somatic symptoms in diagnosis and treatment of FC

Beneficial Effects of Qigong Wuqinxi in the Improvement of Health Condition, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Diseases: Evidence from a Systematic Review

Purpose. Qigong is a modality of traditional Chinese mind-body medicine that has been used to prevent and cure ailments, to improve health in China for thousands of years. Wuqinxi, a Chinese traditional Qigong that focuses on mind-body integration, is thought to be an effective exercise in promoting physical and mental wellbeing. Thus, we summarized the evidence and aim to unravel effects of Wuqinxi on health outcomes. Methods. We performed a systematic review of Wuqinxi studies published in English or Chinese since 1979. Relevant English and Chinese language electronic data bases were used for literature search. The selection of studies, data extraction, and validation were performed independently by two reviewers. Results. A total of 28 eligible studies were included in this review, among which three are 3 in English and 25 in Chinese. The studies included in this review involve three different experimental designs: (1) 16 RCTs; (2) 2 historical cohort studies; and (3) 10 pretest and posttest studies (PPS). Participants in this review are categorized as either healthy or clinical populations. The results from this systematic review support the notion that Wuqinxi may be effective as an adjunctive rehabilitation method for improving psychological and physiological wellbeing among different age of healthy populations in addition to alleviating and treating diseases among various clinical populations. Conclusion. The results indicated that Wuqinxi has been thought to be beneficial to improve health and treat chronic diseases. However, the methodological problems in the majority of included studies make it difficult to draw firm conclusive statements. More methodologically rigorous designed large-scale RCTs with a long-term follow-up assessment should be further conducted to examine the effects of Wuqixi on health-related parameters and disease-specific measures in different health conditions. This systematic review lends insight for future studies on Wuqinxi and its potential application in preventive and rehabilitation medicine

High-density linkage map construction and mapping QTL for yield and yield components in autotetraploid alfalfa using RAD-seq

Abstract Background Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage crop grown worldwide. Alfalfa is called the “queen of forage crops” due to its high forage yield and nutritional characteristics. The aim of this study was to undertake quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of yield and yield-related traits in an F1 population of two alfalfa varieties that differ in their yield and yield-related traits. Results We constructed a high-density linkage map using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated by restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq). The linkage map contains 4346 SNP and 119 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, with 32 linkage groups for each parent. The average marker distances were 3.00 and 1.32 cM, with coverages of 3455 cM and 4381 cM for paternal and maternal linkage maps, respectively. Using these maps and phenotypic data, we identified a total of 21 QTL for yield and yield components, including five for yield, five for plant height, five for branch number, and six for shoot diameter. Among them, six QTL were co-located for more than one trait. Five QTL explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variation. Conclusions We used RAD-seq to construct a linkage map for alfalfa that greatly enhanced marker density compared to previous studies. This high-density linkage map of alfalfa is a useful reference for mapping yield-related traits. Identified yield-related loci could be used to validate their usefulness in developing markers for maker-assisted selection in breeding populations to improve yield potential in alfalfa

Genome-Wide Identification of microRNAs in Response to Salt/Alkali Stress in Medicago truncatula through High-Throughput Sequencing

Saline-alkaline stress is a universal abiotic stress that adversely affects plant growth and productivity. Saline-alkaline conditions results in plant abnormal transcriptome expression finally manifesting as defective phenotypes. Considerable research has revealed the active role of microRNA in various stress conditions. This study was aimed to identify novel miRNAs and the miRNA expression patterns in the leguminous model plant R108 (Medicago truncatula). The miRNA contained in the total RNA extracted from Medicago truncatula seedlings (72 h) that had been treated with solutions mimicking saline and alkaline soils was subjected to miRNA deep sequencing. The Illumina HiSeq sequencing platform was used to analyze nine small RNA libraries of three treatment groups: distilled water, 20 mM NaCl + Na2SO4 and 5 mM Na2CO3 + NaHCO3. Sequencing revealed that 876 miRNAs including 664 known miRNAs and 212 potential novel miRNAs were present in all the libraries. The miR159 family, miR156 family, miR2086-3p, miR396, miR166, miR319, miR167, miR5213-5p, miR1510 and miR2643 were among the most expressed miRNAs in all libraries. The results of miRNAs expression under treatments were validated by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Target gene prediction through computational analysis and pathway annotation analysis revealed that the primary pathways affected by stress were related to plant development, including metabolic processes, single-organism processes and response to the stimulus. Our results provide valuable information towards elucidating the molecular mechanisms of salt/alkali tolerance in Medicago truncatula and provide insight into the putative role of miRNAs in plant stress resistance

Water depth modulates the species richness–biomass relationship in submerged macrophytes

The effect of biodiversity on ecosystem productivity has been a controversial issue in ecological research. The species richness–productivity relationship is highly variable in natural ecosystems, with a positive relationship being one of the most commonly observed relationships. Previous regional studies from terrestrial ecosystems have demonstrated that environmental gradients can regulate the species richness–productivity relationship. However, how this relationship varies in freshwater ecosystems across spatial environment gradients remains unclear. In this study, we propose that the species richness–productivity relationship can be modulated by the water depth. Here, we surveyed the submerged macrophyte community structure by establishing 24 transects and 642 quadrats in Erhai Lake, Yunnan Plateau, China. Our findings highlight that the species richness–productivity relationship gradually changed from slightly positive to strongly positive as the environment became more light-limited with the increasing water depth, supporting the stress-gradient hypothesis. The results from this study provide new insights into the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships and in managing lake macrophyte communities and productivity