The impaired redox status and activated nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element pathway in wooden breast myopathy in broiler chickens

Pan Xiaona,Zhang Lin,Xing Tong,Li Jiaolong,Gao Feng 아세아·태평양축산학회 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.4

Objective: Wooden breast (WB) is a novel myopathy affecting modern broiler chickens, which causes substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of WB abnormality on meat quality, redox status, as well as the expression of genes of the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Methods: A total of 80 broilers (Ross 308, 42 days of age, about 2.6 kg body weight) raised at Jiujin farm (Suqian, Jiangsu, China) were used. Twelve unaffected (no detectable hardness of the breast area) and twelve WB-affected (diffuse remarkable hardness in the breast muscle) birds were selected from the commercial broiler farm according to the criteria proposed by previous studies. Results: The results indicated that WB showed histological lesions characterized by fiber degeneration and fibrosis, along with an increase of muscle fiber diameter (p<0.05). Moreover, higher pH value, lightness, yellowness, drip loss and cooking loss were observed in the WB group (p<0.05). Compared with the normal breast (NOR) group, the WB group showed higher formation of reactive oxygen species (p<0.05), increased level of oxidation products and antioxidant activities (p<0.05), accompanied with mitochondrial damages and lower mitochondrial membrane potential (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the relative mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes including heme oxygenase‐1, NAD(P)H qui none dehydrogenase 1, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutamate-cysteine ligase were higher than those of the NOR group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, WB myopathy impairs meat quality by causing oxidative damages and mitochondrial dysfunction in broilers, even though the activated Nrf2/antioxidant response element pathway provides protection for the birds. Objective: Wooden breast (WB) is a novel myopathy affecting modern broiler chickens, which causes substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of WB abnormality on meat quality, redox status, as well as the expression of genes of the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway.Methods: A total of 80 broilers (Ross 308, 42 days of age, about 2.6 kg body weight) raised at Jiujin farm (Suqian, Jiangsu, China) were used. Twelve unaffected (no detectable hardness of the breast area) and twelve WB-affected (diffuse remarkable hardness in the breast muscle) birds were selected from the commercial broiler farm according to the criteria proposed by previous studies.Results: The results indicated that WB showed histological lesions characterized by fiber degeneration and fibrosis, along with an increase of muscle fiber diameter (p<0.05). Moreover, higher pH value, lightness, yellowness, drip loss and cooking loss were observed in the WB group (p<0.05). Compared with the normal breast (NOR) group, the WB group showed higher formation of reactive oxygen species (p<0.05), increased level of oxidation products and antioxidant activities (p<0.05), accompanied with mitochondrial damages and lower mitochondrial membrane potential (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the relative mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes including heme oxygenase‐1, NAD(P)H qui none dehydrogenase 1, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutamate-cysteine ligase were higher than those of the NOR group (p<0.05).Conclusion: In conclusion, WB myopathy impairs meat quality by causing oxidative damages and mitochondrial dysfunction in broilers, even though the activated Nrf2/antioxidant response element pathway provides protection for the birds.

Evaluation of AC Resistance in Litz Wire Planar Spiral Coils for Wireless Power Transfer

Xiaona Wang,Pan Sun,Qijun Deng,Wengbin Wang 전력전자학회 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.4

A relatively high operating frequency is required for efficient wireless power transfer (WPT). However, the alternating current (AC) resistance of coils increases sharply with operating frequency, which possibly degrades overall efficiency. Hence, the evaluation of coil AC resistance is critical in selecting operating frequency to achieve good efficiency. For a Litz wire coil, AC resistance is attributed to the magnetic field, which leads to the skin effect, the proximity effect, and the corresponding conductive resistance and inductive resistance in the coil. A numerical calculation method based on the Biot–Savart law is proposed to calculate magnetic field strength over strands in Litz wire planar spiral coils to evaluate their AC resistance. An optimized frequency can be found to achieve the maximum efficiency of a WPT system based on the predicted resistance. Sample coils are manufactured to verify the resistance analysis method. A prototype WPT system is set up to conduct the experiments. The experiments show that the proposed method can accurately predict the AC resistance of Litz wire planar spiral coils and the optimized operating frequency for maximum efficiency.

Dysfunction of Shh signaling activates autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility in recurrent miscarriage

Pan Yibin,Yan Lili,Chen Qiaoqiao,Wei Cheng,Dai Yongdong,Tong Xiaomei,Zhu Haiyan,Lu Meifei,Zhang Yanling,Jin Xiaoying,Zhang Tai,Lin Xiaona,Zhou Feng,Zhang Songying 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

In early pregnancy, the placenta anchors the conceptus and supports embryonic development and survival. This study aimed to investigate the underlying functions of Shh signaling in recurrent miscarriage (RM), a serious disorder of pregnancy. In the present study, Shh and Gli2 were mainly observed in cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), Ptch was mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and Smo and Gli3 were expressed in both CTBs and STBs. Shh signaling was significantly impaired in human placenta tissue from recurrent miscarriage patients compared to that of gestational age-matched normal controls. VEGF-A and CD31 protein levels were also significantly decreased in recurrent miscarriage patients. Furthermore, inhibition of Shh signaling impaired the motility of JAR cells by regulating the expression of Gli2 and Gli3. Intriguingly, inhibition of Shh signaling also triggered autophagy and autolysosome accumulation. Additionally, knockdown of BECN1 reversed Gant61-induced motility inhibition. In conclusion, our results showed that dysfunction of Shh signaling activated autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility, which suggests the Shh pathway and autophagy as potential targets for RM therapy.

Evaluation of AC Resistance in Litz Wire Planar Spiral Coils for Wireless Power Transfer

Wang, Xiaona,Sun, Pan,Deng, Qijun,Wang, Wengbin The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.4

A relatively high operating frequency is required for efficient wireless power transfer (WPT). However, the alternating current (AC) resistance of coils increases sharply with operating frequency, which possibly degrades overall efficiency. Hence, the evaluation of coil AC resistance is critical in selecting operating frequency to achieve good efficiency. For a Litz wire coil, AC resistance is attributed to the magnetic field, which leads to the skin effect, the proximity effect, and the corresponding conductive resistance and inductive resistance in the coil. A numerical calculation method based on the Biot-Savart law is proposed to calculate magnetic field strength over strands in Litz wire planar spiral coils to evaluate their AC resistance. An optimized frequency can be found to achieve the maximum efficiency of a WPT system based on the predicted resistance. Sample coils are manufactured to verify the resistance analysis method. A prototype WPT system is set up to conduct the experiments. The experiments show that the proposed method can accurately predict the AC resistance of Litz wire planar spiral coils and the optimized operating frequency for maximum efficiency.