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Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family members can inhibit multiple biological functions of cytokines, hormones, and growth factors. In this study, a SOCS6 gene homolog from triangle sail mussel Hyriopsis cumingii (HcSOCS6) was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA of HcSOCS6 was 1,823 bp and encoded 458 amino acid residues. No introns were found in the genomic sequence. The deduced HcSOCS6 protein possesses highly conserved functional domains, including the Src homology 2 domain and the SOCS box. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HcSOCS6 was clustered with other molluscan genes. Transcripts of HcSOCS6 were constitutively expressed in all examined tissues, at high levels in the hepatopancreas and gills and low levels in hemocytes. Transcription of HcSOCS6 was significantly upregulated in hemocytes and the hepatopancreas after injecting with lipopolysaccharide, but it was only upregulated in hemocytes after Aeromonas hydrophila stimulation. The expression of HcSOCS6 in mantle significantly increased during wound healing, especially on the third day. These results suggested that HcSOCS6 was involved in the immune response and wound healing in the triangle sail mussel. KEY WORDS: mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii, SOCS6, immune response, mRNA expression, wound healing, INTRODUCTION Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins, part of a classical negative feedback system, are important in regulating cytokine signal transduction. These SOCS proteins may modulate the function, strength, and [...]

The step morphologies of a gas-etched 2-in. 6H-SiC (0001) wafer are investigated by the atomic force microscope. Due to the concave surface induced by bow, undulation surface morphologies were observed in the edge region. In the upside and downside region of the center along the <11[formula]0> miscut direction, ripples and bimodal steps are observed, respectively. In the other edge regions, a complex pattern of waves enveloped in microsteps was formed. The complex reorganized surface morphology is discussed by the viewpoint of the two or three-dimensional phase separation. Compared to the regular unit cell high steps, the formalism of waved surface is interpreted by competing free energy curve through changes in surface structure faceting, where the step separated at a specific orientation and favor to match to surface reconstruction with unit cell high steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common disease that affects brain function in neonates. At present, mild hypothermia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are the main methods for the treatment of neonatal HIE; however, they are independent of each other and cannot be combined for synchronous treatment, without monitoring of brain function-related physiological information. In addition, parameter setting of hyperbaric oxygen chamber and mild hypothermia mattress relies on the experience of the medical practitioner, and the parameters remain unchanged throughout the medical process. This article proposes a new device for the treatment of neonatal HIE, which has the modules of hyperbaric oxygen chamber and mild hypothermic mattress, so that neonates can receive the treatment of hyperbaric oxygen chamber and/or mild hypothermic mattress based on their conditions. Meanwhile, it can realize the real-time monitoring of various physiological information, including amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and near-infrared spectrum, which can monitor brain function, heart rate, rhythm, myocardial blood supply, hemoglobin concentration in brain tissue, and blood oxygen saturation. In combination with an intelligent control algorithm, the device can intelligently regulate parameters according to the physiological information of neonates and give recommendations for subsequent treatment.

Objective: To screen for the Echinococcus granulosus 01883（Eg-01883） specifically expressed at the protoscolex period, clone and express this molecule as well as analyse its immunogenicity., Methods: Eg-01883, which is highly expressed at the protoscolex period but not in oncosphere， was screened by analysing the published mRNA sequences of E. granuolosus. Total RNA of E. granuolosus was extracted, Eg-01883 was cloned by RT-PCR, and the recombinant plasmid pET28a-Eg-01883 was constructed. Expression of the recombinant protein rEg-01883 was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside （IPTG）. ICR mice were randomized into 3 groups （n=12 in each group）. Mice in the immunization group received subcutaneous injections of 10 μg rEg-01883 in 100 μl PBS emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant at multiple sites, followed by immune enhancement after 2 weeks. Mice in the adjuvant group were injected with PBS and adjuvant. Mice in the control group received no treatment. Blood was obtained through caudal vein before immunization, and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the first immunization, and through the eyeball at 6 weeks after immunization. Serum levels of IgG, IFN-γ and IL-4 were determined by ELISA. The immunogenicity of rEg-01883 was identified by Western blotting., Results: Eg-01883 was screened, cloned, expressed and purified to obtain the recombinant protein rEg-01883, which mainly existed as the inclusion body. ELISA results showed that immunization with rEg-01883 induced production of specific IgG antibody. The serum IgG level in the immunization group increased from 1 week after the first immunization, peaked at 6 weeks（2.344±0.153）, which was significantly higher than those of the adjuvant group（0.206 1±0.006） and the control group （0.241±0.01） （P<0.01）. At 6 weeks after the first immunization, the serum levels of IFN-γ （43.23 pg/ml） and IL-4（24.88 pg/ml） in the immunization group were significantly higher than those in the adjuvant group（21.77 pg/ml, 13.27 pg/ml） and the control group（17.40 pg/ml, 12.25 pg/ml）（P<0.05）. Western blot showed that the recombinant protein rEg-01883 could be recognized by His-Tag antibodies, serum of immunized mice, and serum of mice with secondary infection., Conclusion: The recombinant protein rEg-01883 shows good immunogenicity in ICR mice.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between formation of pyrrole adducts and concentration of 2, 5-hexanedione (2, 5-HD) and to provide an experimental basis for the study on toxicity of n-hexane., Methods: Serum samples were collected from normal persons and were then filtered and sterilized. They were mixed with 2,5-HD to obtain sera with final 2, 5-HD concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L, and blank serum was also prepared. The sera were cultured at 37°C and taken at different time points. Colorimetry was used to quantify the pyrrole adducts formed in sera, and gas chromatography was used to measure the remaining 2, 5-HD levels in sera., Results: The content of pyrrole adducts increased as the culture proceeded and was dependent on the dose of 2, 5-HD; at the end of the experiment, the content of pyrrole adducts differed significantly across all concentration groups (P < 0.5). The concentrations of 2,5-HD decreased as the culture proceeded; at the end of the experiment, the concentrations of 2, 5-HD, from the highest to the lowest, decreased by 29%, 55%, 22%, 44%, and 40%, respectively. The decrease in 2, 5-HD had a positive correlation with the increase in pyrrole adducts, and the correlation coefficients for 200∼10 mg/L 2, 5-HD were 0.865, 0.697, 0.835, 0.823, and 0.814, respectively., Conclusion: The content of formed pyrrole adducts increases as the concentration of 2,5-HD rises; there is a positive correlation between the decrease in 2, 5-HD and the increase in pyrrole adducts in human serum.

Objective: To obtain specific antibodies of the three recombinant antigens obtained previously, rEgZW-5, rEg14-3-3 and rEgP-29, for identifying the corresponding proteins in two-dimensional electrophoretogram of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex., Methods: The distribution of proteins from E. granulosus protoscoleces was judged by SDS-PAGE previously. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to separate proteins from E. granulosus protoscoleces, and the result was scanned and analyzed by the PDquest software to get the information about the quantity of proteins as well as their isoelectric point (IP) and relative molecular mass (MA,). Rabbits were immunized with the 3 recombinant antigens and antibodies were purified from antisera. Western blotting was used to identify the protein as marker in two-dimensional electrophoretogram of protoscolex., Results: SDS-PAGE displayed that the proteins separated from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces mainly distributed in the M, region of 18,000-90,000. 240 proteins were obtained by two-dimensional electrophoresis with M, 15,790-117,050 and IP 4.0-9.5, and 85.8% (206/241) of the proteins showed the IP ranged from 5 to 9. Western blotting showed that the specific antibody of rEg14-3-3 identified the 14-3-3 protein in two-dimensional electrophoretogram of protoscolex with Mr 33 000 and IP 4.86, the specific antibody of rEgZW-5 identified the ZW-5 protein with Mr 23,000 and IP 4.98, and the specific antibody of rEg P-29 identified the P-29 protein with Mr 29,000 and IP 5.65., Conclusion: The antibodies against the three recombinant proteins from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces can identify corresponding proteins in the two-dimensional electrophoregrams.

In many cases, Bayesian methods can solve problems of interest more directly than a classical approach. Its utility lies on the incorporation of prior information. In recent years, with the development of high-speed computer and advances of MCMC algorithm, Bayesian methods have been employed in many genetic areas, such as population genetics, molecular evolution, linkage mapping, and quantitative genetics and so on. In this review, we reviewed the development of Bayesian approaches for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in quantitative genetics.