ObjectiveTo investigate the dynamic expression profiles and potential regulatory mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs （lncRNAs） in male reproductive system aging. MethodsA naturally aging C57BL/6 mouse model was used and 4 mice were selected each at 3， 15， and 21 months of age. RNA was extracted from seven regions of the male reproductive tract （testis， efferent duct， initial segment of epididymis， caput epididymis， corpus epididymis， cauda epididymis， and vas deferens）， followed by RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. ResultsRegion-specific dynamic expression profiles of lncRNAs were constructed in the testis， epididymis （efferent duct， initial segment， caput， corpus， and cauda）， and vas deferens of male mice. Combined with gene functional enrichment analysis， the functional associations of lncRNAs were elucidated in reproductive system aging. The differentially expressed lncRNAs in the aging testis were primarily involved in hormone biosynthesis and extracellular matrix organization， while those in the initial segment of the epididymis were closely related to cell recognition and epithelial cell migration. A comprehensive lncRNA expression atlas associated with male reproductive aging was established. ConclusionLncRNAs may participate in male reproductive aging through the regulation of the reproductive microenvironment， which provides key molecular targets and a research foundation for understanding age-related fertility decline.

Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) is a chronic debilitating disease of domestic and wild ruminants. However, widespread point-of-care testing is infrequent due to the lack of a robust method. The isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) technique has applied for rapid diagnosis. Herein, RPA combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assay was developed to estimate DNA from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. First, analytical specificity and sensitivity of the RPA-nfo primer and probe sets were assessed. The assay successfully detected M. paratuberculosis DNA in 30 min at 39℃ with a detection limit of up to eight copies per reaction, which was equivalent to that of the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. The assay was specific, as it did not amplify genomes from five other Mycobacterium spp. or five pathogenic enteric bacteria. Six hundred-twelve clinical samples (320 fecal and 292 serum) were assessed by RPA-LFD, qPCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The RPA-LFD assay yielded 100% sensitivity, 97.63% specificity, and 98.44% concordance rate with the qPCR results. This is the first report utilizing an RPA-LFD assay to visualize and rapidly detect M. paratuberculosis. Our results show this assay should be a useful method for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in resource-constrained settings.
Animals ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genome ; Limit of Detection ; Methods ; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis ; Mycobacterium avium ; Mycobacterium ; Paratuberculosis ; Point-of-Care Testing ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinases ; Ruminants ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND:There are numerous laboratory reports concerning β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) bioceramics;however, its application in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the short-term efficacy of core decompression combined with β-TCP bioceramics in the treatment of ARCO Ⅰ/Ⅱ/ⅢA non-traumatic ONFH. METHODS:Twelve patients (16 hips) suffered from ARCO Ⅰ/Ⅱ/ⅢA non-traumatic ONFH were treated by core decompression combined with β-TCP implantation. The Harris hip scores (HHS) and radiological observation were performed before and after treatment. The HHS at the last follow-up or the HHS prior to the radiographs showing deterioration or severe complication occurrence was recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were followed up for 19 months averagely (11-30 months) and no fracture, infection and other complications occurred. The HHS significantly increased from (73.61±3.70) to (84.88±7.11) points after treatment (P<0.001). The postoperative outcome was excellent in five cases with five hips, good in five cases with nine hips, mild in one case with one hip, poor in one case with one hip, and the excel ent and good rate was 87.5%(14/16). The radiographs of only one case of ARCO ⅡC and one case of ARCO ⅢA showed deterioration, and the latter was given the total hip arthroplasty. These results indicate that the core decompression combined with β-TCP implantation achieve short-term efficacy for ARCO Ⅰ/Ⅱ/ⅢA non-traumatic ONFH.

Objective To explore the correlation between HIF-1α expression and RANKL/OPG pathway activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLSs)induced by Ti particles in aseptic loosening interfacial membrane. Method FLSs were extracted from the synovial tissue collected in surgeries and then co-cultured with Ti particles. QRT-PCR and Western blotting were conducted to measure the mRNA and protein expression of RANKL ,OPG and HIF-1αin FLSs at different concentration and time. Results Genes and protein expression levels of RANKL/OPG and HIF-1α were up-regulated with the increase of concentration of Ti particles. Expression of HIF-1α gene and protein increased time-dependently;the mRNA and protein expression of RANKL/OPG increased firstly and then declined alongside the increase of HIF-1αexpression. Conclusions Ti particles induce the up-regulation of HIF-1α expression and activate RANKL/OPG pathway. Up-regulation of HIF-1α may suppress the activation of RANKL/OPG pathway in FLSs of the interfacial membrane induced by Ti particles.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of nuclear hormone receptors belonging to the steroid receptor superfamily. Three PPAR isoforms, PPAR?, PPAR? (also known as PPAR?) and PPAR? have been found in the mouse. They can activate expression of many genes, including those involved in lipidmetabolism. PPAR? is ubiquitously expressed, but the level of expression differs markedly between different cell types. PPAR? is expressed in skeletal muscle at 10- and 50-fold higher levels compared with PPAR? and PPAR?, respectively. A role for PPAR? in skeletal muscle is to increase the genes expression with relation to oxidative metabolism. In order to determine the molecular mechanisms governing PPAR? gene expression in muscle, a 2 kb 5′ flanking region was cloned and analyzed. The DNA fragment is able to transcribe GFP in COS7 cells. Dual luciferase assay is used to quantify promoter activity. Deletion analysis of the 2 kb PPAR? promoter fragment in COS7 and NIH 3T3 cells shows that the proximal promoter sequence, nt -197 to +120, confers basal transcriptional activity of the mouse PPAR? gene. Computational analysis of putative cis-acting elements located within the ～2.0 kb mouse PPAR? 5′-flanking sequence was performed using the TRANSFAC database and MatInspector software and 4 potential MEF2A binding sites were found. And there is a potential binding site sharing 100% identity with positive element of MEF2A in the proximal promoter (nt -261). Co-transfection experiments of the PPAR? promoter reporter and pMEF2A expression plasmid (pMEF2A) showed that MEF2A significantly enhanced transcription activity of PPAR? promoter in NIH 3T3. Moreover, the enhancive effect depended on the concentration of plasmid pMEF2A transfected into cells. The results suggested that MEF2A may enhance transcription activity of the PPAR promoter in muscle cells.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a positive-sense RNA virus which has caused severe damage to world-wide livestock industry. The extensive genetic and antigenic diversity observed in the evolution of FMDV is generally the obstacle for controlling the disease. The homologous recombination, as a significant force driving the evolution of virus, has also effect on the epidemiological trait of FMDV. However,the role of homologous recombination in the diversification of FMDV in China has not investigated. So it is necessary to study the homologous recombination underlying the evolution of FMDV to control FMD. Based on a sound evolutionary framework, molecular evolutionary analysis was used to identify the putative recombinants. All complete FMDV genomes from China were respectively retrieved from GenBank. Homologous recombination was identified using Simplot program. Phylogenetic relations were analyzed to determine the recombination events among these FMDV isolates by using MEGA 4. The isolates O/NY00, O/China/1/99Tibet, O/Tibet/CHA/99, O/OMIII and O/ES/2001 among 16 FMDVs were identified as putative recombinants by analyzing the FMDV genomic sequences extracted from GenBank. The recombination events frequently happen between serological type Asia1 and O which are endemic FMDV circulating in China, suggesting frequent cross infection of FMDV in China. This situation further makes controlling FMDV in China more difficult. Moreover, serotypic conversion of FMDV between Asia1 and O was detected to be due to homologous recombination. These results provided clues for understanding the antigenic and genetic diversification in FMDV, and shed lights on the potential vaccination and treatment of FMD.