The complete mitochondrial genomes of Tarsiger cyanurus and Phoenicurus auroreus: a phylogenetic analysis of Passeriformes

Huabin Zhang,Yuze Bai,Xuejia Shi,Linxia Sun,Zhengfei Wang,Xiaobing Wu 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.2

Passeriformes is the largest group within aves and the phylogenetic relationships between Passeriformes have caused major disagreement in ornithology. Particularly, the phylogenetic relationships between muscicapoidea and sylvioidea are complex, and their taxonomic boundaries have not been clearly defined. Our aim was to study the status of two bird species: Tarsiger cyanurus and Phoenicurus auroreus. Furthermore, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of Passeriformes. Complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of both species were determined and the lengths were 16,803 (T. cyanurus) and 16,772 bp (P. auroreus), respectively. Thirteen protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region were identified in these mtDNAs. The contents of A and T at the base compositions was significantly higher than the content of G and C, and this AT skew was positive, while the GC skew was negative. The monophyly of Passeriformes is divided into four major clades: Corvoidea, Sylvioidea, Passeroidea, and Musicicapoidea. Paridae should be separated from the superfamily Sylvioidea and placed within the superfamily Muscicapoidea. The family Muscicapidae and Corvida were paraphyly, while Carduelis and Emberiza were grouped as a sister taxon. The relationships between some species of the order passeriformes may remain difficult to resolve despite an effort to collect additional characters for phylogenetic analysis. Current research of avian phylogeny should focus on adding characters and taxa and use both effectively to obtain a better resolution for deeper and shallow nodes.

Alterations in antioxidant function and cell apoptosis in duck spleen exposed to molybdenum and/or cadmium

Mengmeng Zhang,Junrong Luo,Caiying Zhang,Huabin Cao,Bing Xia,Guoliang Hu 대한수의학회 2017 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.18 No.2

To investigate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and/or cadmium (Cd) on antioxidant function and the apoptosis-related genes in duck spleens. Sixty healthy 11-day-old ducks were randomly divided into six groups of 10 ducks (control, low Mo group, high Mo, Cd, low Mo + Cd, and high Mo + Cd groups). All were fed a basal diet containing low or high dietary doses of Mo and/or Cd. Relative spleen weight, antioxidant indices, apoptosis-related gene mRNA expression levels, and ultrastructural changes were evaluated after 120 days. The results showed that the relative spleen weight decreased significantly in the high Mo + Cd treatment group which compared with control group. Malondialdehyde levels increased and xanthine oxidase and catalase activities decreased in the Mo and/or Cd groups compared with levels in the control group. Bak-1 and Caspase-3 expressions were upregulated in the high Mo + Cd group, while Bcl-2 was downregulated. In addition, mitochondrial crest fracture, swelling, vacuolation, deformed nuclei, and karyopyknosis in both Mo + Cd treated groups were more severe than in the other groups. The results suggest that Mo and/or Cd can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis of spleen via effects on the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. Moreover, the results indicate the two elements have a possible synergistic relationship.

Chinese Society of Allergy Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

Lei Cheng,Jianjun Chen,Qingling Fu,Shaoheng He,Huabin Li,Zheng Liu,Guolin Tan,Zezhang Tao,Dehui Wang,Weiping Wen,Rui Xu,Yu Xu,Qintai Yang,Chonghua Zhang,Gehua Zhang,Ruxin Zhang,Yuan Zhang,Bing Zhou,Do 대한천식알레르기학회 2018 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.10 No.4

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem that causes major illnesses and disabilities worldwide. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of AR has increased progressively over the last few decades in more developed countries and currently affects up to 40% of the population worldwide. Likewise, a rising trend of AR has also been observed over the last 2-3 decades in developing countries including China, with the prevalence of AR varying widely in these countries. A survey of self-reported AR over a 6-year period in the general Chinese adult population reported that the standardized prevalence of adult AR increased from 11.1% in 2005 to 17.6% in 2011. An increasing number of original articles and imporclinical trials on the epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, management and comorbidities of AR in Chinese subjects have been published in international peer-reviewed journals over the past 2 decades, and substantially added to our understanding of this disease as a global problem. Although guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AR in Chinese subjects have also been published, they have not been translated into English and therefore not generally accessible for reference to non-Chinese speaking international medical communities. Moreover, methods for the diagnosis and treatment of AR in China have not been standardized entirely and some patients are still treated according to regional preferences. Thus, the present guidelines have been developed by the Chinese Society of Allergy to be accessible to both national and international medical communities involved in the management of AR patients. These guidelines have been prepared in line with existing international guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of AR in China.

Adsorption behavior of α-tocopheryl succinate and α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate onto weakly basic anion exchange resins

Liyun Kong,Zhiguo Zhang,Huabin Xing,Qiwei Yang,Baogen Su,Zongbi Bao,Yiwen Yang,Qilong Ren 한국화학공학회 2015 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.32 No.3

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) esters are important, nontoxic and biodegradable non-ionic surfactants. A keyprocedure in producing PEG esters is their separation from unreacted or excess acids. We propose an adsorptionmethod using the weakly basic anion exchange resins for the separation of organic acids and PEG esters for the firsttime. With α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) and α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TS) as the examples ofPEG ester and organic acid, respectively, single-component equilibrium experiments revealed the great potential of thismethod. Studies on the adsorption equilibrium, thermodynamics and kinetics of α-TS onto a weakly basic anion exchangeresin were also carried out. This research is not only important for the production of TPGS, but also instructivefor the separation of other PEG-esters from the reaction mixtures.

Expression and Regulation of Transcription Factor FoxA2 in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With and Without Nasal Polyps

Qing Luo,Jia Zhang,Hongtian Wang,Fenghong Chen,Xi Luo,Beiping Miao,Xingmei Wu,Renqiang Ma,Xiangqian Luo,Geng Xu,Jianbo Shi,Huabin Li 대한천식알레르기학회 2015 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.7 No.5

Purpose: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by the excessive production of mucus. However, the molecular mechanism underlying mucin overproduction in CRS with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP, respectively) is poorly understood. This study was conducted to assess the importance of the transcription factor FoxA2 in mucin production and to investigate the targeting of FoxA2 as a potential therapeutic strategy for mucus hypersecretion in CRS patients. Methods: We enrolled 15 CRSwNP patients, 15 CRSsNP patients, and 10 normal controls in this study. The expression levels of FoxA2, MUC5AC, and MUC5B in inflamed and healthy nasal tissues were examined via immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the levels of several proinflammatory cytokines in nasal secretions were measured via FlowCytomix analysis. In addition, the expression of MUC5AC and FoxA2 was determined in polyp-derived epithelial cells and NCI-H292 cells after in vitro stimulation. Results: FoxA2 was significantly down-regulated, and MUC5AC and MUC5B were significantly up-regulated in both the CRSwNP and CRSsNP patients compared to the controls (P<0.05), and the protein level of FoxA2 was negatively associated with the IL-6 level in the CRS patients (P<0.05). IL-6 significantly increased MUC5AC expression but inhibited FoxA2 expression in vitro (P<0.05). Transfection with a FoxA2 expression plasmid significantly decreased MUC5AC promoter activity (P<0.05) and inhibited IL-6-induced MUC5AC production (P<0.05). In addition, clarithromycin significantly alleviated IL-6-induced FoxA2 suppression and decreased MUC5AC expression in vitro (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that FoxA2 may be considered a therapeutic target for the modulation of mucus hypersecretion in CRS patients.

Design and Experiment of an Automatic Temperature Control Device of Composite Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Material for Concrete Box Bridges

Zhen Wang,Jianting Zhou,Leng Liao,Jinquan Zhang,Huabin Zhang 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.2

To solve the problem of bridge surface cracking caused by an uneven temperature field inside and outside the web of a concrete box structure, an automatic temperature control device applied to the beam surface of a concrete box bridge in the daytime is developed. The device, hanging on the surface of the box girder webs, consists of a radiation cooling coating and a composite shape-stabilized phase change material. With reference to a bridge in Guizhou Province, finite element analysis, short-term temperature monitoring and temperature-drop monitoring are carried out using the device. The result shows that the automatic temperature control device works well continuously. For a box girder without an automatic temperature control device, the inside and outside of the web demonstrate different sensitivities to the temperature of the external environment, with a high temperature fluctuation and a relatively high temperature stress. For a box girder with an automatic temperature control device, as the cooling coating reflects part of the solar radiation and the phase transformation of the composite shape-stabilized phase change material releases or absorbs part of the latent heat to or from the external environment, the temperature fluctuation and temperature stress of the inside and outside of the web are relatively small. When the temperature suddenly drops, the automatic temperature control device works better than under conventional weather conditions because it can reduce the external temperature by approximately 50% on the outer surface of the box girder webs.

Chinese Society of Allergy and Chinese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Guideline for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Zheng Liu,Jianjun Chen,Lei Cheng,Huabin Li,Shixi Liu,Hongfei Lou,Jianbo Shi,Ying Sun,Dehui Wang,Chengshuo Wang,Xiangdong Wang,Yongxiang Wei,Weiping Wen,Pingchang Yang,Qintai Yang,Gehua Zhang,Yuan Zhan 대한천식알레르기학회 2020 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.12 No.2

The current document is based on a consensus reached by a panel of experts from the Chinese Society of Allergy and the Chinese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rhinology Group. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects approximately 8% of Chinese adults. The inflammatory and remodeling mechanisms of CRS in the Chinese population differ from those observed in the populations of European descent. Recently, precision medicine has been used to treat inflammation by targeting key biomarkers that are involved in the process. However, there are no CRS guidelines or a consensus available from China that can be shared with the international academia. The guidelines presented in this paper cover the epidemiology, economic burden, genetics and epigenetics, mechanisms, phenotypes and endotypes, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, management, and the current status of CRS in China. These guidelines—with a focus on China—will improve the abilities of clinical and medical staff during the treatment of CRS. Additionally, they will help international agencies in improving the verification of CRS endotypes, mapping of eosinophilic shifts, the identification of suitable biomarkers for endotyping, and predicting responses to therapies. In conclusion, these guidelines will help select therapies, such as pharmacotherapy, surgical approaches and innovative biotherapeutics, which are tailored to each of the individual CRS endotypes.

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Pro-motes NIH3T3 Fibroblast Proliferation by Activating p-Akt and Cell Cycle Progression

Yang Lu,Shuxin Liu,Shujia Zhang,Guangyan Cai,Hongwei Jiang,Huabin Su,Xiaofan Li,Quan Hong,Xueguang Zhang,Xiangmei Chen 한국분자세포생물학회 2011 Molecules and cells Vol.31 No.3

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) plays various roles in cell growth in different cell types. However, few studies have focused on TIMP-1’s effect on fibroblast cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of TIMP-1 overexpression on NIH3T3 fibroblast proliferation and potential transduction signaling pathways involved. Overexpression of TIMP-1, by transfection of the pLenti6/ V5-DESTTIMP-1 plasmid, significantly promoted NIH3T3 proliferation as determined by the BrdU array. Neither 5 nor 15 nM GM6001 (matrix metalloproteinase system inhibitor) affected NIH3T3 proliferation, but 45 nM GM6001 inhibited proliferation. TIMP-1 overexpression activated the p-Akt pathway, but not the p-ERK or p-p38 pathway. In TIMP-1-transfected cells, cyclinD1 was upregulated and p21CIP1 and p27^(KIP1) were downregulated, which promoted cell entry into the S and G2/M phases. The PI3-K inhibitor LY294002 abolished the TIMP-1-induced effects. Overexpression of intracellular TIMP-1 stimulated NIH3T3 fibroblast proliferation in a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-independent manner by activating the p-Akt pathway and related cell cycle progression.

Elevated level of renal xanthine oxidase mRNA transcription after nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus infection in growing layers

Huayuan Lin,Qiqi Huang,Xiaoquan Guo,Ping Liu,Weilian Liu,Yuelong Zou,Shuliang Zhu,Guangfu Deng,Jun Kuang,Caiying Zhang,Huabin Cao,Guoliang Hu 대한수의학회 2015 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.16 No.4

To assess relationships between xanthine oxidase (XOD) and nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (NIBV) infection, 240 growing layers (35 days old) were randomly divided into two groups (infected and control) of 120 chickens each. Each chicken in the control and infected group was intranasally inoculated with 0.2 mL sterile physiological saline and virus, respectively, after which serum antioxidant parameters and renal XOD mRNA expression in growing layers were evaluated at 8, 15 and 22 days post-inoculation (dpi). The results showed that serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in the infected group were significantly lower than in the control group at 8 and 15 dpi (p < 0.01), while serum malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.01). The serum uric acid was significantly higher than that of the control group at 15 dpi (p < 0.01). In addition, the kidney mRNA transcript level and serum activity of XOD in the infected group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 8, 15 and 22 dpi (p < 0.05). The results indicated that NIBV infection could cause the increases of renal XOD gene transcription and serum XOD activity, leading to hyperuricemia and reduction of antioxidants in the body.

Differential Hrd1 Expression and B-Cell Accumulation in Eosinophilic and Non-eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Kun Chen,Miaomiao Han,Mengyao Tang,Yadong Xie,Yuting Lai,Xianting Hu,Jia Zhang,Jun Yang,Huabin Li 대한천식알레르기학회 2018 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.10 No.6

Purpose: Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of B-cells in autoimmune diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation and their possible roles in CRSwNP. Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting were used to assess gene and protein expression in nasal tissue extracts. Cells isolated from nasal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Local antibody production was measured in tissue extracts with a Bio-Plex assay. Additionally, changes in Hrd1 expression in response to specific inflammatory stimuli were measured in cultured dispersed polyp cells. Results: Nasal polyps (NPs) from patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) had increased levels of Hrd1, B-cells and plasma cells compared with NPs from patients with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRS) or other control subjects (P < 0.05). The average Hrd1 levels in B-cells in NPs from ECRS patients were significantly higher than those from non-ECRS patients and control subjects (P < 0.05). NPs also contained significantly increased levels of several antibody isotypes compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Hrd1 expression in cultured polyp cells from ECRS patients, but not non-ECRS patients, was significantly increased by interleukin-1β, lipopolysaccharide and Poly(I:C) stimulation, and inhibited by dexamethasone treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Differential Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation between the ECRS and non-ECRS subsets suggests that they can exhibit distinct pathogenic mechanisms and play important roles in NP.