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Objective: To investigate the expression and clinicopathological significance of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), glucose transporter 1(GLUT-1) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)-5 in colorectal cancer. Methods: The expression levels of HIF-1α, GLUT-1 and LDH-5 were detected by immunohistochemical staining in 142 specimens of human carcinoma in comparison with adjacent normal tissues. Results: The expression levels of HIF-1α(78.2%, 111/142), GLUT-1(75.4%, 107/142) and LDH-5(68.3%, 97/142) were higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues(14.8%, 21/142; 11.3%, 16/142; 7.0%, 10/142; P<0.01 for all three proteins), and such over-expression was significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion, tumor grade and pathological stages(all P<0.01). Additional studies showed that HIF-1α, GLUT-1 and LDH-5 were positively associated with each other(r<0.3, P<0.05 for all three proteins). Conclusion: The data suggest that HIF-1α, GLUT-1 and LDH-5 expression may serve as prognostic indicators for colorectal cancer patients.

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We investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on the Nrf2 signaling pathway in secondary injury following traumatic brain injury, using a rat model. An improved Feeney freefall method was used to establish the rat traumatic brain injury model. Sixty rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham surgery group, a traumatic brain injury group, and a group receiving hyperbaric oxygen treatment after traumatic brain injury. Neurological function scores were assessed at 12 and 24 h after injury. The expression levels of Nrf2, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) in the cortex surrounding the brain lesion were detected by western blotting 24 h after the injury. Additionally, the TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis of nerve cells 24 h after traumatic injury and Nissl staining was used to detect the number of whole neurons. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment significantly increased the expression of nuclear Nrf2 protein (P < 0.05), HO-1, and NQO-1 in the brain tissues surrounding the lesion after a traumatic brain injury (P < 0.05) and also significantly reduced the number of apoptotic and injured nerve cells. The neurological function scores also improved with hyperbaric oxygen treatment (P < 0.05). Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen has a neuroprotective role in traumatic brain injury, which is mediated by up-regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

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Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is characterized by expansion of the proximal growth plates of the tibiotarsus that fail to form bone, lack blood vessels, and contain non-viable cells. Thiram (a carbamate pesticide), when fed to young broiler chicks, induces TD with high regularity and precision. We used this experimental model to understand the cause of the defects associated with TD by selecting and identifying the genes differentially expressed in the TD growth plate of broiler chickens. Broiler chicks at 7 days of age were randomly divided into two groups. After fasting overnight, they were fed with regular diet (control) or the same diet containing 100 mg/kg thiram for 96 h to induce TD (thiram-fed). mRNA was purified from the growth plates of control and thiram-fed broilers. Forward and reverse-subtracted cDNA libraries were generated by suppression subtractive hybridization technology. Ten selected genes from cDNA libraries were identified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. All were differentially expressed in TD growth plates (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The levels of collagen type X (Col X), pro-alpha-1 collagen type I (Col I alpha1), collagen type IX (Col IX), NADH dehydrogenase (NADH DH), cytochrome C oxidase subunit III (COX III), enolase 1, alpha (ENO1), carbonic anhydrase II (CA2) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) mRNA transcripts were up-regulated, while the expression levels of Matrilin 3 (MATN3) and chondromodulin-I (ChM-I) were down-regulated. Col I and Hsp90 were detected by immunohistochemistry at different stages. Given that these genes are involved in matrix formation, endochondral ossification, developmental regulation, electron transport in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and vascularization, our findings may provide new insights into understanding the pathogenesis of TD.

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The product of the OTUB1 gene is a member of the OTU superfamily of predicted cysteine proteases and inhibits cytokine gene transcription via its interaction with a ubiquitin protease and E3 ubiquitin ligase. To further understand the functions of the porcine OTUB1 gene, the subcellular localization of porcine OTUB1 protein was analyzed. We first cloned a partial DNA sequence of porcine OTUB1 which contained an 816 bp ORF encoding 271 amino acids. The deduced protein product was found to contain an OTU domain. The corresponding porcine OTUB1 protein was subsequently demonstrated to localize predominantly in the nucleus by confocal fluorescence microscopy. By spatial expression analysis, we further found that OTUB1 is highly expressed in the brain, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, ovary, uterus and thymus. In contrast, only low levels of this gene were evident in the heart, dorsal muscles and leg muscle of the pig. This is the first report to show the subcellular localization of porcine OTUB1, and our current data provides us with an important basis for conducting further studies on the functions and regulatory mechanisms underlying the role of OTUB1 gene in the immune system.

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EDG4 and EDG7 are identified as cellular receptors for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), belonging to the endothelial cell differentiation gene (EDG) family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) which play an important role in the function of LPA. In this study, we presented the complete coding sequences of porcine EDG4 and EDG7 genes. The nucleotide sequences and the predicted protein sequences share high sequence identity with other mammals. Spatial expression analysis by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that porcine EDG4 and EDG7 genes are mainly expressed in brain, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, large intestine, small intestine, but absent in muscle tissues. Radiation hybrid mapping data indicated that EDG4 and EDG7 map to q2.1 of pig chromosome 2 (SSC2) and q2.6-3.2 of pig chromosome6 (SSC6), respectively. A T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the coding sequence of porcine EDG4 was identified. A PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was employed to genotype this locus among Guizhou Miniature, Guangxi Miniature, Laiwu, Wuzhishan, Tongcheng, Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. The association analysis suggested that the EDG4 genotype was associated with carcass length (P < 0.05) and drip loss percentage (P < 0.05) in the experimental population consisting of Tongcheng, Landrace, Yorkshire and two crossbred porcine populations (Wang et al. Biochem Genet (1-2):51-62, 2007).

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In this paper, we present our work on the electrodeposited CdSe semiconducting nanowires. Using a low cost and low temperature approach by electrochemistry, CdSe nanowires were successfully grown using polycarbonate template. Depending on the host pore dimension of the substrate, wire diameter can be varied from 400 nm down to 30 nm and wire length from a few microns to tens microns. The as-deposited nanowires exhibit predominantly metastable zinc blende (ZB) structure but after the heat treatment they become wurtzite (W) structure. A combination of different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM-HRTEM and EDXS, was used to investigate the growth morphology, crystalline structure and defects in the nanowires. The luminescent properties of CdSe nanowires have also been studied by means of photoluminescence.

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Surgical castration of young female pigs is common practice in Chinese pig farming today. The purpose of the present study is to investigate anti-GnRH immunization as a practical alternative to surgical castration for female pigs. Thirty-six Chinese female crossbred pigs (Chinese Yanan x Yorkshire) were selected from 12 litters, three pigs from each litter, at the age of 10-13 weeks. One pig from each litter was immunized with 62.5 microg D-Lys6-GnRH-tandem-dimer peptide conjugated to ovalbumin in Specol adjuvant at Week 0 (0 week post-vaccination, wpv), and a booster vaccination was given 8 weeks later (8 wpv). Its intact and castrate littermates (surgically castrated at the time of weaning, i.e. at 6 weeks of age) were administered the vehicle and served as controls. Antibody titers, serum LH and inhibin A were determined at the day of first vaccination, every 4 weeks thereafter and at the day of slaughter (18 wpv). At slaughter, ovaries were inspected for the presence of follicles and corpora lutea, and ovarian and uterine weights were recorded. Ten of twelve immunized pigs responded well to the immunization (immunocastrated animals), while the remaining two pigs responded poorly (nonresponders). Antibody titres in immunocastrated animals steadily increased after immunization, became maximal at 12 wpv and remained high until slaughter. Serum LH levels were reduced (P < 0.05) in immunocastrated pigs as compared to intact controls and surgical castrates. Serum inhibin A levels decreased after vaccination, and equaled surgical castrate levels from 8 wpv until the end of the experiment. Ovarian and uterine weights (1.3 +/- 0.2 and 43.9 +/- 11.4 g, respectively; mean +/- S.E.M.) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in immunocastrates than in intact controls (9.4 +/- 1.1 and 390.9 +/- 67.2 g, respectively). Antibody titers were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in nonresponders than in immunocastrated pigs from 12 wpv to slaughter. Ovarian and uterine weights were similar in nonresponders and in intact controls. Macroscopically, no follicular structures were found in ovaries of immunocastrated pigs, while large follicles or corpora lutea were observed in the ovaries of both nonresponders and intact controls. Although not significant, immunocastrates had a numerically higher average daily gain than surgical castrates and intact controls (0.74 +/- 0.04 versus 0.66 +/- 0.04 versus 0.66 +/- 0.03 kg per day, respectively; mean +/- S.E.M., P = 0.09). Results obtained in the present study demonstrate that anti-GnRH immunization can be an attractive alternative to surgical castration for Chinese crossbred female pigs. Our results also question the beneficial effect of surgical castration on growth as compared to intact controls.

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We have investigated, under the normal conditions of local Chinese pig farming, castration of young male pigs by vaccination with a newly developed vaccine against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH). Because of the very early onset of puberty, long fattening period and relatively harsh circumstances in Chinese pig production, an investigation of the endocrine response of Chinese breeds to this type of vaccination was of particular interest. Fifteen crossbred boars (Yorkshire x Yanan) from three different litters were randomly assigned to three groups of five animals each. The first group was immunized at 13 weeks of age with a GnRH tandem dimer OVA-conjugate in Specol and received a booster immunization 8 weeks later. The second group was injected with Specol alone and served as untreated controls. The remaining group was surgically castrated at the time of weaning (at 6 weeks of age). Pigs were fed ad libitum from weaning onwards. All animals were slaughtered at 31 weeks of age. Immunized boars had undetectable or low serum testosterone (0.09 +/- 0.12 ng/ml), low fat androstenone (0.05 +/- 0.01 microg/g) levels and very low testes weights (19.1 +/- 4.3 g). Intact controls had much higher serum levels of testosterone (9.76 +/- 4.81 ng/ml), fat androstenone levels (2.26 +/- 0.87 microg/g) and testes weights (114.3 +/- 29.41 g) at slaughter. Both the immunized and castrated group grew significantly faster than intact boars (p < 0.01). Average daily gains in immunized, castrated and intact animals were 0.69 +/- 0.08, 0.63 +/- 0.05 and 0.42 +/- 0.07 kg (mean +/- SD), respectively. The present data demonstrate for the first time that the newly developed anti-GnRH vaccine works very well under practical Chinese pig farming conditions, and can be an attractive alternative to surgical castration.

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