Spermatogenesis is a continual process that occurs in the testes, in which diploid spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) differentiate and generate haploid spermatozoa. This highly efficient and intricate process is orchestrated at multiple levels. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), an epigenetic modification prevalent in mRNAs, is implicated in the transcriptional regulation during spermatogenesis. However, the dynamics of m⁶A modification in non-rodent mammalian species remains unclear. Here, we systematically investigated the profile and role of m⁶A during spermatogenesis in pigs. By analyzing the transcriptomic distribution of m⁶A in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids, we identified a globally conserved m⁶A pattern between porcine and murine genes with spermatogenic function. We found that m⁶A was enriched in a group of genes that specifically encode the metabolic enzymes and regulators. In addition, transcriptomes in porcine male germ cells could be subjected to the m⁶A modification. Our data show that m⁶A plays the regulatory roles during spermatogenesis in pigs, which is similar to that in mice. Illustrations of this point are three genes (SETDB1, FOXO1, and FOXO3) that are crucial to the determination of the fate of SSCs. To the best of our knowledge, this study for the first time uncovers the expression profile and role of m⁶A during spermatogenesis in large animals and provides insights into the intricate transcriptional regulation underlying the lifelong male fertility in non-rodent mammalian species.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Cell Differentiation/genetics* ; Mammals/metabolism* ; Methylation ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Swine/genetics* ; Testis/metabolism* ; Transcriptome ; RNA Methylation/genetics*

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of stent-assisted coil embolization of acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Methods One hundred and sixty patients with acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms (160 ruptured aneurysms), admitted to and underwent stent-assisted coil embolization in our hospital from January 201l to May 2018, were chosen. The clinical data, outcomes and complications of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. The differences of clinical data between patients with and without complications were compared. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the prognoses of these patients. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the risk factors of prognoses. Results All 160 stents were successfully released. Complete occlusion after endovascular procedures was achieved in 127 patients (79.4％); 17 aneurysms (10.6％) had neck residual and 16 aneurysms (10.0％) had aneurysm residual. Surgery-related complications occurred in 17 patients (10.6％), of which, 6 (3.8％) showed hemorrhagic events and 11 (6.9％) had ischemic events. The distributions of aneurysm sites between patients with ischemia related complications and those without ischemia related complications were statistically different (P<0.05). Poor prognosis was noted in 24 patients (15％) and good prognosis was noted in 136 (85％). The mRS scores, preoperative Hunt-Hess grades and distributions of stent types between patients with good prognosis and patients with poor prognosis were statistically different (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that baseline mRS scores ≥4 (OR=39.000, 95％ CI:10.861-140.038, P=0.000), preoperative Hunt-Hess grading IV-V (OR=13.000, 95％CI: 4.063-41.596, P=0.015), and Solitaire stents placement (OR=3.333, 95％CI: 1.332-8.339, P=0.028) were the independent risk factors for poor clinical outcomes in patients with acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Conclusion Stent-assisted coil embolization is suggested to be a safe and efficacious way to treat acutely ruptured wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, and patients with baseline mRS scores≥4, preoperative Hunt-Hess grading IV-V and Solitaire stents placement are more prone to having poor clinical outcomes.

Objective To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on recovery of neurological functions and Nogo-A expression in cerebral ischemia rats at recovery stage.Methods BMSCs were isolated and cultured by whole bone marrow adherence method.Thirty-six SD rats were randomized into sham-operated group,ischemia group and BMSCs transplantation group (n=12).The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models in the ischemia group and BMSCs transplantation group were established with Zea Longa line embolism.After 21 d of MCAO,one mL ofBMSCs (3×106) were transplanted into rats of the BMSCs transplantation group,and same amount of phosphate buffer was given to the rats of the sham-operated group and ischemia group.After 14 and 28 d of treatment,neurological functions of the rats were evaluated by modified neurological severity scale (mNSS);the brain infarct sizes were tested by TTC staining;the pathological alterations were tested by HE staining,and the Nogo-A expression was determined by immunofluorescence.Results After 14 and 28 d of treatment,as compared with the ischemia group,BMSCs group had significantly lower mNSS scores (14 d∶ 7.50±0.55 vs.6.17±0.75;28 d∶ 7.33±0.52 vs.5.67±0.82),statistically smaller brain infarct sizes (14 d∶ 31.38％±1.02％ vs.26.32％±1.19％;28 d∶27.71％±0.55％ vs.21.68％±1.09％),and significantly lower Nogo-A expression (14 d∶ 39.33％±2.08％ vs.33.67％±2.52％;28 d∶ 30.33％±0.58％ vs.25.67％±4.39％,P＜0.05).What's more,rats in the BMSCs group had milder cell damage and decreased scar tissues as compared with those in the ischemia group.Conclusion BMSCs transplantation can improve the neurological function of cerebral ischemia rats at recovery stage,and it may work via regulation of Nogo-A expression.

Objective To investigate and summarize the clinical and high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) characteristics of invasive pulmonary fungal infections(IPFIs)in children.Methods Clinical and HRCT data of 35 cases with IPFIs admitted in our hospital between March 2007 and July 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical and HRCT characteristics were summarized.Results Thirty-five patients consisted of 23 boys and 12 girls with mean age of(3.2±1.9) years.Host factors included acute leukemia (n=12),primary immunodeficiency disease (n=4),congenital heart disease (n=2),cerebral palsy (n=2),severe influenza A infection (H1N1) (n=2),ichthyosis (n=1),acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(n=1),systemic lupus erythematous (n=1),tubercular meningitis(n=1),mechanical ventilation(n=2).All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotic,ranking by descending order:third-generation cephalosporins (28 cases),carbapenems(19 cases)and vancomycin (18 cases).Seventeen cases were treated with corticosteroids systemically and 12 cases with acute leukemia took antineoplastic medicine.The symptoms of IPFIs were intermittent or persistent fever,cough and rales.HRCT results:nodules (n=25,71.4％),subpleural patchy opacities (n=24,68.6％),mass (＞3cm) (n=4,11.4％),halo sign (n=27,77.1％),cavities (n=8,22.9％),air crescent sign (n=4,11.4％),miliary nodules (n=2,5.7％),pleural effusion (n=14,40％).Conclusion There are certain specific characteristics of IPFIs in children in clinical and HRCT aspects.The possible diagnosis of IPFIs can be made based on clinical and HRCT features.

Objective To explore the MRI features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in central nervous system (CNS) in children. Methods Clinical and MRI data of 25 cases with LCH in CNS from three children's hospitals between January 2009 and December 2014 were retrospectively studied. All cases were confirmed by surgery or biopsy. All cases underwent non?contrast and contrast pituitary and/or cranial MRI examinations. The location, morphology, MRI signal and enhanced patterns of LCH lesions were observed and analyzed. Result A total of 17 cases had hypothalamic-pituitary LCH, with 2 of them complicated with pineal cyst, 2 complicated with brain parenchymal lesions, and one complicated with both pineal cyst and brain parenchymal lesions. MR images showed that neurohypophysis lost its original hyper?intensity on T1WI, and nodular or homogeneous thickening was seen in the pituitary stalks. Dura matter was involved in 3 cases, 2 of them had single lesion, and the other one got multiple lesions. Neoplasm in choroid plexus was seen in trigone of left lateral ventricles in one case. Three cases with pineal gland involved demonstrated cystic change. Four cases had gray matter involved, with cerebellar dentate nuclei involvement in 2 cases, and both thalamus and basal ganglia involvement in the other two cases. Three cases showed white matter involvement without obvious Virchow-Robin space enlargement and brain atrophy. Conclusions MR imaging of LCH in CNS shows certain specific characteristics. The diagnosis can be made comprehensively based on both clinic features and other imaging findings.