IKBKE promotes the ZEB2-mediated EMT process by phosphorylating HMGA1a in glioblastoma

IKBKE (Inhibitor of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Kinase Subunit Epsilon) is an important oncogenic protein in a variety of tumors, which can promote tumor growth, proliferation, invasion and drug resistance, and plays a critical regulatory role in the occurrence and progression of malignant tumors. HMGA1a (High Mobility Group AT-hook 1a) functions as a cofactor for proper transcriptional regulation and is highly expressed in multiple types of tumors. ZEB2 (Zinc finger E-box Binding homeobox 2) exerts active functions in epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT). In our current study, we confirmed that IKBKE can increase the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioblastoma cells. We then found that IKBKE can phosphorylate HMGA1a at Ser 36 and/or Ser 44 sites and inhibit the degradation process of HMGA1a, and regulate the nuclear translocation of HMGA1a. Crucially, we observed that HMGA1a can regulate ZEB2 gene expression by interacting with ZEB2 promoter region. Hence, HMGA1a was found to promote the ZEB2-related metastasis. Consequently, we demonstrated that IKBKE can exert its oncogenic functions via the IKBKE/HMGA1a/ZEB2 signalling axis, and IKBKE may be a prominent biomarker for the treatment of glioblastoma in the future.

IKBKE regulates angiogenesis by modulating VEGF expression and secretion in glioblastoma

PURPOSE

As a noncanonical inflammatory kinase, IKBKE is frequently overexpressed and activated and has been identified as an oncogenic protein in glioblastoma. However, the potential function and underlying mechanism of IKBKE contributing to tumor angiogenesis remain elusive.

METHODS

First, we analyzed the correlation between IKBKE and VEGF expression in glioma samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Second, HUVEC-related assays and Western blot were used to detect the regulatory effect of IKBKE on angiogenesis by modulating VEGF expression. Third, IKBKE depletion could alleviate the influence of VEGF expression on IHC of intracranial glioma model.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that depletion of IKBKE markedly inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis in glioblastoma. Mechanistically, IKBKE induces VEGF expression and secretion by regulating AKT/FOXO3a in glioblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that IKBKE is a novel oncogenic molecule that induces angiogenesis through the promotion of VEGF expression and highlights the potential of targeting IKBKE for glioblastoma therapy.

Safety and efficacy of aspirin after combined cerebral revascularization for ischemic moyamoya disease: A prospective study

Objective

To analyze the safety and efficacy of regular aspirin use after combined cerebral revascularization in patients with ischemic moyamoya disease.

Methods

From December 2020 to October 2021, a total of 326 patients diagnosed with ischemic moyamoya disease by global cerebral angiography and undergoing first-time combined cerebral revascularization at the Moyamoya Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Research Center of our hospital were selected. Combined cerebral revascularization: superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) +encephalo-duro-myo-synangiosis (EDMS).Patients were screened by 2 senior physicians according to established inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into aspirin and non-aspirin groups based on whether they received regular oral aspirin after surgery. A total of 133 patients were enrolled in the aspirin group. A total of 71 patients (204 cases) were enrolled in the non-aspirin group. Related data were collected before and 1 year after surgery and statistically analyzed to assess the prognosis of both groups.

Results

In the two groups, the mRS Score was significantly different after one year (P = 0.023). TIA occurred in 26 patients (19.5%) in the aspirin group and 27 patients (38.0%) in the non-aspirin group within one year after surgery, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in cerebral perfusion stage, the improvement rate of cerebral perfusion, Matsushima grading, bypass patency, and other complications within one year after the operation (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In patients with ischemic moyamoya disease who underwent combined cerebral revascularization, postoperative administration of aspirin can reduce the incidence of TIA without increasing the risk of bleeding, but it can not significantly improve the cerebral perfusion of the operation side, Matsushima grading, and bypass patency.

[Impact of sinonasal anatomic changes after endoscopic anterior skull base surgery on nasal airflow and air conditioning: a computational fluid dynamics study]

Objective: To analyze the impact of the sinonasal anatomic changes after endonasal endoscopic anterior skull base surgery on the nasal airflow and heating and humidification by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and to explore the correlation between the postoperative CFD parameters and the subjective symptoms of the patients. Methods: The clinical data in the Rhinology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients received the endoscopic resection of the anterior skull base tumor were selected as the case group, and the adults whose CT scans had no sinonasal abnormalities were chosen as the control group. The CFD simulation was performed on the sinonasal models after reconstructed from the patients' sinus CT images during the post-surgical follow-up. All the patients were asked to complete the Empty Nose Syndrome 6-Item Questionnaire (ENS6Q) to assess the subjective symptoms. The comparison between two independent groups and the correlation analysis were carried out by using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Spearman correlation test in the SPSS 26.0 software. Results: Nineteen patients (including 8 males and 11 females, from 22 to 67 years old) in the case group and 2 patients (a male of 38 years old and a female of 45 years old) in the control group were enrolled in this study. After the anterior skull base surgery, the high-speed airflow moved to the upper part of the nasal cavity, and the lowest temperature shifted upwards on the choana. Comparing with the control group, the ratio of nasal mucosal surface area to nasal ventilation volume in the case group decreased [0.41 (0.40, 0.41) mm^-1 vs 0.32 (0.30, 0.38) mm^-1; Z=-2.04, P=0.041], the air flow in the upper and middle part of the nasal cavity increased [61.14 (59.78, 62.51)% vs 78.07 (76.22, 94.43)%; Z=-2.28, P=0.023], the nasal resistance decreased [0.024 (0.022, 0.026) Pa·s/ml vs 0.016 (0.009, 0.018) Pa·s/ml; Z=-2.29, P=0.022], the lowest temperature in the middle of the nasal cavity decreased [28.29 (27.23, 29.35)℃ vs 25.06 (24.07, 25.50)℃; Z=-2.28, P=0.023], the nasal heating efficiency decreased [98.74 (97.95, 99.52)% vs 82.16 (80.24, 86.91)%; Z=-2.28, P=0.023], the lowest relative humidity decreased [(79.62 (76.55, 82.69)% vs 73.28 (71.27, 75.05)%; Z=-2.28, P=0.023], and the nasal humidification efficiency decreased [99.50 (97.69, 101.30)% vs 86.09 (79.33, 87.16)%; Z=-2.28, P=0.023]. The ENS6Q total scores of all patients in the case group were less than 11 points. There was a moderate negative correlation between the proportion of the inferior airflow in the post-surgical nasal cavity negatively and the ENS6Q total scores (r_s=-0.50, P=0.029). Conclusions: The sinonasal anatomic changes after the endoscopic anterior skull base surgery alter the nasal airflow patterns, reducing the efficiency of nasal heating and humidification. However, the post-surgical occurrence tendency of the empty nose syndrome is weak.

Case Report: Curative effect of OA-PICA protected bypass in severe PICA-complicated vertebral artery stenosis treatment: Results in 3 cases

Objectives

We aimed to explore the results of OA-PICA-protected bypass grafting in patients with severe stenosis of the vertebral artery combined with PICA.

Methods

Three patients with vertebral artery stenosis involving the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, treated by the Department of Neurosurgery of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent Occipital Artery-Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (OA-PICA) bypass surgery followed by elective vertebral artery stenting. Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICGA) showed patency of the bridge-vessel anastomosis. Postoperatively, the ANSYS software was used to assess the flow pressure changes and vascular shear in combination with the reviewed DSA angiogram. CTA or DSA was reviewed 1-2 years postoperatively, and the prognosis was evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) one year postoperatively.

Results

OA-PICA bypass surgery was completed in all patients, with intraoperative ICGA showing a patent bridge anastomosis, followed by stenting of the vertebral artery, and a review of the DSA angiogram. We also employed ANSYS software evaluation of the bypass vessel, which showed stable pressure and low turnover angle, suggesting a low rate of long-term occlusion of the vessel. All patients had no procedure-related complications during their hospitalization, and were followed up for a mean of 24 months postoperatively, with a good prognosis (mRS score of 1) at 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusion

OA-PICA-protected bypass grafting is an effective treatment for patients with severe stenosis of the vertebral artery combined with PICA.

Case Report: The Different Fates of Three Aneurysms: Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms With Other Intracranial Diseases

Intracranial aneurysms are vascular diseases characterized by local aneurysms of intracranial arteries. Their etiology involves a variety of environmental and genetic factors. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are more common in intracranial aneurysms, but once an aneurysm is ruptured, the fatality rate and disability rate are extremely high. Therefore, accurate assessment of each step in the detection of intracranial aneurysms, assessment of the risk of rupture, formulation of treatment strategies, and treatment benefits will help to better treat the disease. At present, the treatment of intracranial aneurysms is limited. Except for surgical intervention, there are no other effective methods. Therefore, when a patient has a UIA, the formulation of treatment and management strategies is a difficult issue facing neurosurgery. This article introduces the choice of different treatment strategies for 3 patients with intracranial aneurysms complicated with other diseases and reviews the literature.

Genetic analyses of blood β-hydroxybutyrate predicted from milk infrared spectra and its association with longevity and female reproductive traits in Holstein cattle

Ketosis is one of the most prevalent and complex metabolic disorders in high-producing dairy cows and usually detected through analyses of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood. Our main objectives were to evaluate genetic parameters for blood BHB predicted based on Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectra from 5 to 305 d in milk, and estimate the genetic relationships of blood BHB with 7 reproduction traits and 6 longevity traits in Holstein cattle. Predicted blood BHB records of 11,609 Holstein cows (after quality control) were collected from 2016 to 2019 and used to derive 4 traits based on parity number, including predicted blood BHB in all parities (BHBp), parity 1 (BHB1), parity 2 (BHB2), and parity 3+ (BHB3). Single- and multitrait repeatability models were used for estimating genetic parameters for the 4 BHB traits. Random regression test-day models implemented via Bayesian inference were used to evaluate the daily genetic feature of BHB variability. In addition, genetic correlations were calculated for the 4 BHB traits with reproduction and longevity traits. The heritability estimates of BHBp, BHB1, BHB2, and BHB3 ranged from 0.100 ± 0.026 (± standard error) to 0.131 ± 0.023. The BHB in parities 1 to 3+ were highly genetically correlated and ranged from 0.788 (BHB1 and BHB2) to 0.911 (BHB1 and BHB3). The daily heritability of BHBp ranged from 0.069 to 0.195, higher for the early and lower for the later lactation periods. A similar trend was observed for BHB1, BHB2, and BHB3. There are low direct genetic correlations between BHBp and selected reproductive performance and longevity traits, which ranged from -0.168 ± 0.019 (BHBp and production life) to 0.157 ± 0.019 (BHBp and age at first calving) for the early lactation stage (5 to 65 d). These direct genetic correlations indicate that cows with higher BHBp (greater likelihood of having ketosis) in blood usually have shorter production life (-0.168 ± 0.019). Cows with higher fertility and postpartum recovery, such as younger age at first calving (0.157 ± 0.019) and shorter interval from calving to first insemination in heifer (0.111 ± 0.006), usually have lower BHB concentration in the blood. Furthermore, the direct genetic correlations change across parity and lactation stage. In general, our results suggest that selection for lower predicted BHB in early lactation could be an efficient strategy for reducing the incidence of ketosis as well as indirectly improving reproductive and longevity performance in Holstein cattle.

Silencing IKBKE inhibits the migration and invasion of glioblastoma by promoting Snail1 degradation

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in adults and has high mortality and relapse rates. Over the past few years, great advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of GBM, but unfortunately, the five-year overall survival rate of GBM patients is approximately 5.1%. Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon (IKBKE) is a major oncogenic protein in tumors and can promote evil development of GBM. Snail1, a key inducer of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor, is subjected to ubiquitination and degradation, but the mechanism by which Snail1 is stabilized in tumors remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IKBKE regulating Snail1 in GBM.

METHODS

First, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of IKBKE and the tumor grade and prognosis through public databases and laboratory specimen libraries. Second, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot were used to detect the correlation between IKBKE and Snail expression in glioma samples and cell lines. Western blot and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments were used to detect the quality and distribution of IKBKE and Snail1 proteins. Third, In situ animal model of intracranial glioma to detect the regulatory effect of IKBKE on intracranial tumors.

RESULTS

In this study, Our study reveals a new connection between IKBKE and Snail1, where IKBKE can directly bind to Snail1, translocate Snail1 into the nucleus from the cytoplasm. Downregulation of IKBKE results in Snail1 destabilization and impairs the tumor cell migration and invasion capabilities.

CONCLUSION

Our studies suggest that the IKBKE-Snail1 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

[Assessment of heart's changes of elite Chinese male weightlifter by speckle tracking echocardiography]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the changes of heart structure and function in elite Chinese weightlifters by spot tracking technique.

METHODS

Chinese elite male weightlifters (weightlifter group, n=16) and age-matched healthy men (control group, n=16) were included as subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography and speckle-tracking automatic functional imaging were used for two-dimensional myocardial strain measurements.

RESULTS

The thickness of septum and left ventricular (LV) posterior wall and the myocardial mass index of LV were all higher than those of the control group [(9.3±1.3) mm vs. (8.0±0.4) mm, (9.2±0.8) mm vs. (8.0±0.8) mm, (77.8±12.8) g/m² vs. (67.8±11.2) g/m², all P < 0.05]. Although the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and global long axis strain value (LVGLS) were not significantly different from those in the control group, the LV mean Sm and Em reflecting the systolic and diastolic functions of the LV were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Further myocardial strain analysis showed that the absolute value of the long axial strain of the basal anteroseptal and mid-inferoseptal segments of the weightlifters were significantly lower than those of the control group [|(-15.1±4.2)%|vs.|(-18.7±3.0)%|, |(-18.8±2.6)%|vs.|(-21.3±2.8)%|, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in other segments. The athletes were divided into two groups according to their best performance in the National Youth Games. The athletes were divided into two sub-groups according to their performance in the National Youth Games. The thickness of the septum in the sub-group with better performance (who ranked the 1^st to 8^th) was larger [(10.2±1.1) mm vs. (8.5±1.0) mm, P < 0.05], and the absolute value of the long-axis strain in the mid-inferoseptal segment was lower [|(-17.1±2.1)%|vs.|(-20.4±2.1)%|, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSION

The thickening of septum is more obvious in the excellent weightlifters, accompanied by the decrease of myocardial systolic function. The speckle-tracking technique of echocardiography can identify the changes of the heart structure and function of elite athletes at an early stage, which may provide a basis for sports medicine supervision and the selection of excellent talents.

CYT387, a potent IKBKE inhibitor, suppresses human glioblastoma progression by activating the Hippo pathway

Recent studies have showed that IKBKE is overexpressed in several kinds of cancers and that IKBKE-knockdown inhibits tumor progression. In this article, we first verified that two glioblastoma cell lines, U87-MG and LN-229, were sensitive to CYT387 by measuring the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) with a CCK-8 assay and then demonstrated that CYT387, as a potent IKBKE inhibitor, suppressed glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Additionally, CYT387 induced cell apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M checkpoint in vitro. Furthermore, we showed that CYT387 did not simply inhibit IKBKE activity but also decreased IKBKE expression at the protein level rather than at the mRNA level. We discovered that CYT387 restrained malignant tumor progression by activating the Hippo pathway in vitro. By coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP), we showed that IKBKE interacted with TEAD2 and YAP1, thus accelerating TEAD2 and YAP1 transport into the nucleus. In subsequent in vivo experiments, we found that CYT387 inhibited subcutaneous nude mouse tumor growth but had little impact on intracranial orthotopic xenografts, probably due to a limited ability to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB). These results suggest that CYT387 has potential as a new antiglioblastoma drug, but an approach to allow passage through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is needed.

miR-451 suppresses EMT and metastasis in glioma cells

The metastasis of tumor cells is a challenge for the clinical treatment of glioma. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to glioma cell invasiveness. Our previous study confirmed that the expression of miRNA-451, which inhibits the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by directly targeting CAB39 and plays a repressive role in glioma, is downregulated in glioma. However, the specific mechanism of miRNA-451 regulation in glioma is unclear. In this study, we investigated whether miRNA-451 blocks the processes of EMT and metastasis in glioma cells in vivo and in vitro. By targeting CAB39, miRNA-451 likely triggers the PI3K/Akt/Snail signaling pathway to reduce glioma proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT. We used Western blotting experiments to demonstrate that overexpression of miRNA-451 significantly reduced p-AKT(Ser473), N-cadherin, Vimentin, Twist, Snail and Cyclin D1 expression and increased E-cadherin expression. We demonstrated that overexpression of miR-451 suppressed glioma cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT by MTT and colony formation assays, Transwell assays, wound healing assays and animal experiments. Taken together, these results suggest that miRNA-451 can reduce EMT and metastasis in glioma cells through the suppression of the PI3K/Akt/Snail signaling pathway by targeting CAB39 in vitro and in vivo. miR-451 may be a new target for glioma treatment.

Automated annotation and visualisation of high-resolution spatial proteomic mass spectrometry imaging data using HIT-MAP

Spatial proteomics has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of biology, physiology and medicine. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a powerful tool in the spatial proteomics field, enabling direct detection and registration of protein abundance and distribution across tissues. MALDI-MSI preserves spatial distribution and histology allowing unbiased analysis of complex, heterogeneous tissues. However, MALDI-MSI faces the challenge of simultaneous peptide quantification and identification. To overcome this, we develop and validate HIT-MAP (High-resolution Informatics Toolbox in MALDI-MSI Proteomics), an open-source bioinformatics workflow using peptide mass fingerprint analysis and a dual scoring system to computationally assign peptide and protein annotations to high mass resolution MSI datasets and generate customisable spatial distribution maps. HIT-MAP will be a valuable resource for the spatial proteomics community for analysing newly generated and retrospective datasets, enabling robust peptide and protein annotation and visualisation in a wide array of normal and disease contexts.

AMOTL2‑knockdown promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma by regulating β‑catenin nuclear localization

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent type of malignant cancer in the adult central nervous system; however, its mechanism remains unclear. Angiomotin-like 2 (AMOTL2) is a member of the motin family of angiostatin-binding proteins. It has been reported as an oncogene in cervical and breast cancer, but its association with glioma remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate AMOTL2-regulated processes in glioma cell lines using extensive in vitro assays and certain bioinformatics tools. These results revealed that AMOTL2 was downregulated in high-grade glioma cells and tissues, with patients with glioma exhibiting a high AMOTL2 expression having a higher survival rate. The results of the glioma cell phenotype experiment showed that AMOTL2 suppressed GBM proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, immunoblotting, co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that AMOTL2 could directly bind to β-catenin protein, the key molecule of the Wnt signaling pathway, and regulate its downstream genes by regulating β-catenin nuclear translocation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that AMOTL2 inhibited glioma proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating β-catenin nuclear localization. Thus, AMOTL2 may serve as a therapeutic target to further improve the prognosis and prolong survival time of patients with glioma.

Occlusion of the Anterior Cerebral Artery Mimicking a Cerebral Aneurysm: Clinical Presentation and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

 Intracranial aneurysms may be misdiagnosed with other vascular lesions such as vascular loops, infundibulum, or the stump of an occluded artery (very rare and reported compromising only the middle cerebral artery and the posterior circulation territory). Our aim was to describe a unique case of occlusion of an anterior cerebral artery mimicking a cerebral aneurysm in a probable moyamoya disease patient, and to highlight its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management, and to perform an extensive literature review.

CASE

 A 67-year-old man suffering from recurrent dizziness for 3 months. Previous medical history was unremarkable. Brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) demonstrated occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) associated with a "probable moyamoya disease" and an aneurysm-like shadow protruding lesion at the anterior communicating artery (AcomA). Perfusion images showed ischemia along the right temporo-occipital lobe. Due to MCA occlusion with perfusion deficits and unspecific symptoms, we offered a right side encephalo-duro-myo-synangiosis (EDMS) and clipping of the AcomA aneurysm in one session. Intraoperatively, there was no evidence of the AcomA aneurysm; instead, this finding corresponded to the stump of the occluded right anterior cerebral artery (A1 segment). This segment appeared to be of yellowish color due to atherosclerosis and lacked blood flow. The patient underwent as previously planned a right side EDMS and the perioperative course was uneventful without the presence of additional ischemic attacks.

CONCLUSION

 Arterial branch occlusions can sometimes present atypical angiographic characteristics that can mimic a saccular intracranial aneurysm. It is relevant to consider this radiographic differential diagnosis, especially when aneurysm treatment is planned.

LncRNA HAS2-AS1 Promotes Glioblastoma Proliferation by Sponging miR-137

GBM (Glioblastoma multiform) is the most malignant tumor type of the central nervous system and has poor diagnostic and clinical outcomes. LncRNAs (Long non-coding RNAs) have been reported to participate in multiple biological and pathological processes, but their underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed to explore the role of the lncRNA HAS2-AS1 (HAS2 antisense RNA 1) in GBM. GSE103227 was analyzed, and qRT-PCR was performed to measure the expression of HAS2-AS1 in GBM. FISH (Fluorescence in situ hybridization) was performed to verify the localization of HAS2-AS1. The interaction between HAS2-AS1 and miR-137 (microRNA-137) was predicted by LncBook and miRcode followed by dual-luciferase reporter assays, and the relationships among HAS2-AS1, miR-137 and LSD1 (lysine-specific demethylase 1) were assessed by WB (western blot) and qRT-PCR. Colony formation and CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8) assays were performed as functional tests. In vivo, nude mice were used to confirm the function of HAS2-AS1. HAS2-AS1 expression was upregulated in GBM cell lines, and HAS2-AS1 was localized mainly in the cytoplasm. In vitro, high HAS2-AS1 expression promoted proliferation, and knockdown of HAS2-AS1 significantly inhibited proliferation. Furthermore, HAS2-AS1 functioned as a ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA) of miR-137, leading to the disinhibition of its downstream target LSD1. The miR-137 level was downregulated by HAS2-AS1 overexpression and upregulated by HAS2-AS1 knockdown. In a subsequent study, LSD1 expression was negatively regulated by miR-137, while miR-137 reversed the LSD1 expression levels caused by HAS2-AS1. These results were further supported by the nude mouse tumorigenesis experiment; compared with xenografts with high HAS2-AS1 expression, the group with low levels of HAS2-AS1 exhibited suppressed proliferation and better survival. We conclude that lncRNA HAS2-AS1 promotes proliferation by functioning as a miR-137 decoy to increase LSD1 levels and thus might be a possible biomarker for GBM.

Genetic parameters of hair cortisol as an indicator of chronic stress under different environments in Holstein cows

Chronic stress is a risk factor for a variety of physiological disorders because of its increased activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; however, it is difficult to reveal environmental and genetic effects contributing to long-term HPA activity because of the complexity of chronic stress. The hair cortisol concentration (HCC) can be used to reflect the accumulation of HPA axis activity over time. Some studies suggest that the HCC might be associated with the protein concentration (PC) in the hair shaft; however, no studies have revealed a dynamic relationship between them. In the present study, 1,086 hair samples from 418 Holstein cows were collected, and the effects of environmental factors on HCC, PC, and ratio of HCC to PC (HCCP) were studied. Subsequently, regression analysis and curve fitting were used to identify for better-performing indicators of chronic stress. Additionally, univariate and bivariate genetic evaluation were used to estimate the genetic components of cortisol traits and genotype by environment interactions (G × E) under different environmental and physiological states. The results showed that HCC and PC are significantly affected by hair color, sampling year, and season, whereas HCCP is not influenced by hair color. Adjusted PC and HCCP, where confounding effects are excluded, were moderately related with chronic stress indicators. Moderate to high heritabilities were obtained for HCC (0.347 and 0.390 for winter and summer, respectively), PC (0.402 and 0.495 for winter and summer, respectively) and HCCP (0.289 and 0.460 for winter and summer, respectively) when animals in the same season were evaluated. A moderate G × E interaction was detected in this study, as indicated by the low or negative genetic correlation for the same cortisol trait in different environments (e.g. heat stress condition and thermoneutral condition). In conclusion, HCCP is not affected by hair color compared with the other 2 traits; thus, it has potential as an indicator of chronic stress. Hair cortisol traits could monitor stress response process in cattle, as well as provide a better understanding of genetic mechanism for long-term HPA activity.

Immunotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma: practical insights and challenging prospects

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common high-grade intracranial malignant tumor with highly malignant biological behavior and a high recurrence rate. Although anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies have achieved significant survival benefits in several kinds of solid tumors, the phase III clinical trial Checkmate 143 demonstrated that nivolumab, which targets PD-1, did not achieve survival benefits compared with bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma (rGB) patients. Nevertheless, neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy followed by surgery and adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy could effectively activate local and systemic immune responses and significantly improve the OS of rGB patients. Furthermore, several studies have also confirmed the progress made in applying tumor-specific peptide vaccination or chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy to treat rGB patients, and successes with antibodies targeting other inhibitory checkpoints or costimulatory molecules have also been reported. These successes inspired us to explore candidate combination treatments based on anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies. However, effective predictive biomarkers for clinical efficacy are urgently needed to avoid economic waste and treatment delay. Attempts to prolong the CAR-T cell lifespan and increase T cell infiltration through engineering techniques are addressing the challenge of strengthening T cell function. In this review, we describe the immunosuppressive molecular characteristics of rGB; clinical trials exploring anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, tumor-specific peptide vaccination, and CAR-T cell therapy; candidate combination strategies; and issues related to strengthening T cell function.

Genetic parameters for rectal temperature, respiration rate, and drooling score in Holstein cattle and their relationships with various fertility, production, body conformation, and health traits

Genetic selection for improved climatic resilience is paramount to increase the long-term sustainability of high-producing dairy cattle, especially in face of climate change. Various physiological indicators, such as rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate score (RR), and drooling score (DS), can be used to genetically identify animals with more effective coping mechanisms in response to heat stress events. In this study, we investigated genetic parameters for RT, RR (score from 1-3), and DS (score from 1-3). Furthermore, we assessed the genetic relationship among these indicators and other economically important traits for the dairy cattle industry. After data editing, 59,265 (RT), 30,290 (RR), and 30,421 (DS) records from 13,592 lactating Holstein cows were used for the analyses. Variance components were estimated based on a multiple-trait repeatability animal model. The heritability ± standard error estimate for RT, RR, and DS was 0.06 ± 0.01, 0.04 ± 0.01, and 0.02 ± 0.01, respectively, whereas their repeatability was 0.19, 0.14, and 0.14, respectively. Moderate genetic correlations of RR with RT and DS (0.26 ± 0.11 and 0.25 ± 0.16) and nonsignificant correlation between RT and DS (-0.11 ± 0.14) were observed. Furthermore, the approximate genetic correlations between RT, RR, and DS with 12 production, 29 conformation, 5 fertility and reproduction, 5 health, and 9 longevity-indicator traits were assessed. In general, the approximate genetic correlations calculated were low to moderate. In summary, 3 physiological indicators of heat stress response were measured in a large number of animals and shown to be lowly heritable. There is a value in developing a selection index including all the 3 indicators to improve heat tolerance in dairy cattle. All the unfavorable genetic relationships observed between heat tolerance and other economically important traits can be accounted for in a selection index to enable improved climatic resilience while also maintaining or increasing productivity in Holstein cattle.

Mechanisms and functions of long non‑coding RNAs in glioma (Review)

Glioma is one of the most common primary malignancies of the adult central nervous system with malignancy grades between I‑IV. Among these four grades, glioblastoma is the most malignant and aggressive type of tumor and is characterized by a poor prognosis, high recurrence rate and short median survival time after initial diagnosis. Existing treatments, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical resection, have poor therapeutic effects; therefore, it is necessary to discover novel targeted therapies to enhance the curative effect and improve prognosis. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the vast majority of key physiological and pathological processes. Moreover, aberrant expression levels of lncRNAs are closely associated with the occurrence and development of glioma and other malignant phenotypes. The present review summarizes new insights into the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs at the epigenetic, transcriptional and post‑transcriptional levels, describes their ability to encode functional peptides in glioma and discusses their clinical potential as new biomarkers and prospective therapeutic targets.

Amlexanox Enhances Temozolomide-Induced Antitumor Effects in Human Glioblastoma Cells by Inhibiting IKBKE and the Akt-mTOR Signaling Pathway

Temozolomide (TMZ), as the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), often fails to improve the prognosis of GBM patients due to the quick development of resistance. The need for more effective management of GBM is urgent. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy with TMZ and amlexanox, a selective inhibitor of IKBKE, for GBM. We found that the combined treatment resulted in significant induction of cellular apoptosis and the inhibition of cell viability, migration, and invasion in primary glioma cells and in the human glioma cell line, U87 MG. As expected, TMZ enhanced the expression of p-AMPK and amlexanox led to the reduction of IKBKE, with no impact on p-AMPK. Furthermore, we demonstrated that compared to other groups treated with each component alone, TMZ combined with amlexanox effectively reversed the TMZ-induced activation of Akt and inhibited the phosphorylation of mTOR. In addition, the combination treatment also clearly reduced in vivo tumor volume and prolonged median survival time in the xenograft mouse model. These results suggest that amlexanox sensitized the primary glioma cells and U87 MG cells to TMZ at least partially through the suppression of IKBKE activation and the attenuation of TMZ-induced Akt activation. Overall, combined treatment with TMZ and amlexanox may provide a promising possibility for improving the prognosis of glioblastoma patients in clinical practice.

Effects of sodium selenite and coated sodium selenite on lactation performance, total tract nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation in Holstein dairy cows

Se can enhance lactation performance by improving nutrient utilization and antioxidant status. However, sodium selenite (SS) can be reduced to non-absorbable elemental Se in the rumen, thereby reducing the intestinal availability of Se. The study investigated the impacts of SS and coated SS (CSS) supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation and microbiota in dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were blocked by parity, daily milk yield and days in milk and randomly assigned to five treatments: control, SS addition (0.3 mg Se/kg DM as SS addition) or CSS addition (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg Se/kg DM as CSS addition for low CSS (LCSS), medium CSS (MCSS) and high CSS (HCSS), respectively). Experiment period was 110 days with 20 days of adaptation and 90 days of sample collection. Dry matter intake was higher for MCSS and HCSS compared with control. Yields of milk, milk fat and milk protein and feed efficiency were higher for MCSS and HCSS than for control, SS and LCSS. Digestibility of DM and organic matter was highest for CSS addition, followed by SS addition and then control. Digestibility of CP was higher for MCSS and HCSS than for control, SS and LCSS. Higher digestibility of ether extract, NDF and ADF was observed for SS or CSS addition. Ruminal pH decreased with dietary Se addition. Acetate to propionate ratio and ammonia N were lower, and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration was greater for SS, MCSS and HCSS than control. Ruminal H ion concentration was highest for MCSS and HCSS and lowest for control. Activities of cellobiase, carboxymethyl-cellulase, xylanase and protease and copies of total bacteria, fungi, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus amylophilus increased with SS or CSS addition. Activity of α-amylase, copies of protozoa, Ruminococcus albus and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and serum glucose, total protein, albumin and glutathione peroxidase were higher for SS, MCSS and HCSS than for control and LCSS. Dietary SS or CSS supplementation elevated blood Se concentration and total antioxidant capacity activity. The data implied that milk yield was elevated due to the increase in total tract nutrient digestibility, total VFA concentration and microorganism population with 0.2 or 0.3 mg Se/kg DM from CSS supplementation in dairy cows. Compared with SS, HCSS addition was more efficient in promoting lactation performance of dairy cows.

Effects of glucocorticoids on osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We evaluated the effects of glucocorticoids on bone mineral density (BMD), and prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by meta-analysis. Until June 26, 2019, we conducted a systematic literature search in EMBASE, Web of science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library to obtain BMD and the prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture in glucocorticoid-treated subjects with RA. The BMD of the treatment and control groups were analyzed by meta-analysis (Stata. version 15), and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. We identified 15 observational studies, including 46,711 RA subjects and 857 healthy controls. The BMD of the lumbar spine (- 0.038 g/cm²; CI, - 0.052, - 0.024) and femoral neck (- 0.017 g/cm²; - 0.030, - 0.003) in RA treated with glucocorticoids were significantly lower than those in RA controls. Compared with healthy control group, the BMD of the lumbar spine (- 0.094 g/cm²; - 0.126, - 0.061) and femoral neck (- 0.097 g/cm², - 0.109, - 0.085) of RA treated with glucocorticoids decreased more significantly. The prevalence of osteoporosis in whole body, spine, and femur was 38.6% (0.305, 0.466), 32.9% (0.277, 0.381), and 21.7% (0.106, 0.328), respectively. And the prevalence of vertebral fracture was 13.0% (0.058, 0.203). Glucocorticoids may lead to a decline in skeletal health in subjects with RA, especially in vertebral and femoral BMD, compared with normal people or RA without glucocorticoid therapy. Meanwhile, osteoporosis and fractures were also common. Therapeutic measures should be targeted at individuals, which needs further study. Through meta-analysis, we found that glucocorticoids have some negative effects on the bone health of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, when using glucocorticoids to treat rheumatoid arthritis, we should take strategic measures to prevent the decline of bone quality.

IKBKE enhances TMZ-chemoresistance through upregulation of MGMT expression in glioblastoma

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant type of brain tumor. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, the prognosis of patients with GBM has remained dismal. Multidrug resistance and high recurrence are two of the major challenges in successfully treating brain tumors. IKBKE (inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon) is a major oncogenic protein in tumors and can inhibit glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IKBKE enhancing the resistance of glioma cells to temozolomide.

METHODS

For the in vitro experiments, LN18 and U118 glioblastoma cells were treated with a combination of sh/oe-IKBKE lentivirus and TMZ. Cell proliferation was determined by the EdU assay and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was analyzed by the TUNEL assay. In vivo, LN18 NC and LN18 sh-IKBKE cells were implanted into the cerebrums of nude mice to detect the effect of combination therapy. The protein and mRNA levels were assayed by western blot, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrated that IKBKE enhances the resistance of glioblastoma cells to temozolomide (TMZ) by activating the AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway to upregulate the expression of the DNA repair enzyme o6-methylguanine-dna methyltransferase (MGMT). In glioblastoma cells, IKBKE knockdown enhances apoptosis and suppresses cell proliferation, clone formation, and tumor development in vivo induced by TMZ. However, overexpression of IKBKE reduces the effects of TMZ.

CONCLUSION

Our studies suggest that inhibition of IKBKE can enhance the therapeutic effect of TMZ on GBM in vitro and in vivo, providing new research directions and therapeutic targets for the treatment of GBM.

Piperine, a functional food alkaloid, exhibits inhibitory potential against TNBS-induced colitis via the inhibition of IκB-α/NF-κB and induces tight junction protein (claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1) signaling pathway in experimental mice

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Piperine, an alkaloid, has been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antiulcer potential.

AIM

To elucidate the plausible mechanisms of action of piperine on experimental trinitrobenzenesufonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis by assessing various biochemical, molecular, histological, and ultrastructural modifications.

METHODS

Colitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats via intrarectal instillation of TNBS. Then, the rats were treated with piperine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days.

RESULTS

TNBS induced significant (p < 0.05) colonic damage, which was assessed by disease activity index, macroscopic score, and stool consistency. The administration of piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) these damages. Treatments with piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) notably inhibited (p < 0.05) the TNBS-induced elevation of oxido-nitrosative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide), 5-hydroxytryptamine, and hydroxyproline content in the colon. Furthermore, colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-gamma, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions were upregulated after TNBS instillation and piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly attenuated (p < 0.05) these elevated mRNA expressions. TNBS decreased the expressions of tight junction (TJ) protein (claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)) and increased the expressions of proapoptotic (caspase-1) protein. These expressions were markedly inhibited (p < 0.05) by piperine treatment. Histological and ultrastructural studies of transmission electron microscopy suggested that piperine significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05) TNBS-induced colonic aberrations.

CONCLUSION

Piperine ameliorated the progression of TNBS-induced colitis by modulating the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-alpha/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, thus inhibiting the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL's), COX-2, iNOs, oxido-nitrosative stress, and proapoptotic proteins (caspase-1) that may improve the expression of TJ protein (claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1).

Investigation of Streptococcus agalactiae using pcsB-based LAMP in milk, tilapia and vaginal swabs in Haikou, China

AIMS

To develop a pcsB-based Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the detection of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) in milk, tilapia and vaginal swabs.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The sensitivity of the LAMP method using real-time turbidity monitoring was 1 pg of template within 1 h at 64°C, 100-fold higher than conventional PCR. The sensitivity of visual detection dropped an order of magnitude using SYBR Green I or hydroxynaphthol blue. The validity of the visual LAMP assay was assessed by the detection of GBS in 180 vaginal swabs from one hospital, 14 brain tissues samples of diseased tilapias from two fishponds and fresh milk of 67 dairy cattle from one farm. In total, 17 samples (4 vaginal swabs, 13 tilapia brain tissues but no milk sample) tested positive for GBS. Subsequent bacterial identification confirmed the specificity and reliability of the LAMP method. Molecular serotyping and multilocus sequence typing demonstrated that all 13 tilapia GBS isolates were identical (serotype Ia, ST7), whereas the four human GBS isolates were more diverse and could be classified into two serotypes (Ia, III) and four sequence types (ST19, ST23, ST24, ST862). Virulence gene testing showed that only the bac, rib and lmb genes were not present in all isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates were basically consistent with their genotypes, except for sulphonamide and fluoroquinolone.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a reliable pcsB-based LAMP assay for GBS detection. Our results demonstrated that the prevalence of GBS was 92·9% among diseased tilapia, 2·2% among female patients and 0% on a dairy farm in Hainan.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The pcsB-based LAMP method is suitable for GBS detection and contains great potential of application in dairy industry, aquiculture and clinical.

Parathyroid hormone reference ranges in healthy individuals classified by vitamin D status

PURPOSE

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations are routinely measured in the diagnosis and management of bone and kidney diseases, but reference ranges can be overestimated if determined in otherwise healthy individuals for whom vitamin D deficiency was not evaluated. We establish PTH reference ranges in apparently healthy, normocalcemic, normophosphatemic individuals categorized by 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status using the Elecsys^® PTH (cobas e 601) and Elecsys^® Vitamin D total II electrochemiluminescence immunoassays (cobas e 411).

METHODS

This prospective, non-interventional study measured PTH in serum from 653 apparently healthy adults [56.7% female; 68.2% white/Caucasian; 28.6% African American; median age 44 years (range 21-83)] from three diverse geographic sites across the USA during summer and winter months. Subjects were classified by concomitant vitamin D sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/mL), insufficiency (> 20 to < 30 ng/mL) or deficiency (≤ 20 ng/mL).

RESULTS

In vitamin D sufficiency, median PTH was 31.9 pg/mL [range (2.5th-97.5th percentile) 17.9-58.6] compared with 35.5 pg/mL (17.0-60.4) for insufficiency, and 39.8 pg/mL (19.5-86.4) for deficiency. A significant inverse relationship was found between PTH and 25(OH)D (P < 0.001). After accounting for vitamin D, potential effects of race or season as covariates were relatively small or absent.

CONCLUSIONS

Upper reference limits (URL) for PTH in vitamin D sufficiency/insufficiency were similar and lower than current values. Clinically important PTH elevations were observed in vitamin D deficiency, where revised reference ranges with a higher URL may be appropriate. These data may help to distinguish vitamin D-related PTH elevations from other causes [e.g., primary (normocalcemic) or secondary hyperparathyroidism].

Challenges and potential of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade immunotherapy for glioblastoma

PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades have achieved significant progress in several kinds of tumours. Pembrolizumab, which targets PD-1, has been approved as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with positive PD-L1 expression. However, PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades have not achieved breakthroughs in treating glioblastoma because glioblastoma has a low immunogenic response and an immunosuppressive microenvironment caused by the precise crosstalk between cytokines and immune cells. A phase III clinical trial, Checkmate 143, reported that nivolumab, which targets PD-1, did not demonstrate survival benefits compared with bavacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma patients. Thus, the combination of a PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade with RT, TMZ, antibodies targeting other inhibitory or stimulatory molecules, targeted therapy, and vaccines may be an appealing solution aimed at achieving optimal clinical benefit. There are many ongoing clinical trials exploring the efficacy of various approaches based on PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades in primary or recurrent glioblastoma patients. Many challenges need to be overcome, including the identification of discrepancies between different genomic subtypes in their response to PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades, the selection of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades for primary versus recurrent glioblastoma, and the identification of the optimal combination and sequence of combination therapy. In this review, we describe the immunosuppressive molecular characteristics of the tumour microenvironment (TME), candidate biomarkers of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades, ongoing clinical trials and challenges of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockades in glioblastoma.

Three species of Aeromonas (A. dhakensis, A. hydrophila and A. jandaei) isolated from freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) with pneumonia and septicemia

Hundreds of farmed Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) died during July 2016 at a farm in Wenchang, Hainan, China. In two necropsied crocodiles, we observed symptoms of dermatorrhagia, hepatomegaly and hepatic congestion. Pulmonitis was diagnosed by pulmonary congestion and pulmonary fibrinous exudate. Septicaemia was diagnosed by isolation of three Aeromonas species from blood and visceral tissues; A. dhakensis, A. hydrophila and A. jandaei were identified by biochemical and molecular tests. We used a zebrafish model to determine the half-maximal lethal dose (LD₅₀ ), and A. dhakensis was found to be the most virulent species, with an LD₅₀ of 8·91 × 10⁵ CFU per ml. The results of a drug sensitivity test indicated that these species were sensitive to 11 antibiotics. This is the first report of A. dhakensis, A. hydrophila and A. jandaei being isolated from a mixed infection in Siamese crocodiles. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this study, we isolated three species of Aeromonas (A. dhakensis, A. hydrophila and A. jandae) from farmed Siamese crocodiles with fatal fibrinous pneumonia and septicaemia. This is the first description of a mixed infection with three Aeromonas species among captive crocodilians.

Genetic analysis of skinfold thickness and its association with body condition score and milk production traits in Chinese Holstein population

The skin has many important roles in dairy cattle, and skinfold thickness could be used as an indicator of body fat deposition. The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters of skinfold thickness and to explore its association with body condition score (BCS) and milk production traits in a Chinese Holstein population. Skinfold thicknesses over the neck (STN) and the last rib (STR), BCS, and test-day records of milk production traits were available for 6,416 lactating Holstein cows in the summers of 2015 and 2016 in Beijing, China. Multi-trait animal models were used to estimate variance and covariance components using the DMU software. The average STN was 7.15 ± 1.28 mm, and the average STR was 11.76 ± 1.95 mm (mean ± standard deviation). Estimated heritability was 0.13 ± 0.03 for STN and 0.26 ± 0.04 for STR. We detected a high genetic correlation (0.79 ± 0.08; heritability ± standard error) between STN and STR. Genetic correlations between skinfold thickness and BCS were low to moderate: 0.18 between STR and BCS, and 0.33 between STN and BCS. Genetic correlations between skinfold thickness and milk yield, milk fat percentage, and milk protein percentage were negligible, ranging from -0.02 to 0.15. Collectively, skinfold thickness is characterized as a trait with moderate heritability. Skinfold thickness is sensitive to changes in body condition or fat deposition across parities and lactation stages in milking cows, and we confirmed the complementary nature of skinfold thickness and BCS genetically as well as phenotypically by comparing their changing trends throughout lactation and across lactations. The use of skinfold thickness, together with BCS, can assist in the monitoring of changes in body fat deposition to achieve higher management precision.

Effects of applying lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production of forage-based total mixed ration silage in Tibet

Total mixed ration (TMR) silage technology has been practically used to feed ruminants in Tibet. This study was conducted on forage-based TMR to evaluate the effects of supplementing lactic acid bacteria and propionic acid on its fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability and in vitro gas production kinetics and digestibility. Experimental treatments included four variants: (1) TMR supplemented with 10 mL deionised water per kilogram fresh matter (Control); (2) TMR supplemented with 1 × 106 cfu/g Lactobacillus plantarum (L); (3) TMR supplemented with 0.3% propionic acid (P); (4) TMR supplemented with a combination of 1 × 106 cfu/g Lactobacillus plantarum and 0.3% propionic acid (LP). The latter three additives were first dissolved in deionised water and then applied as a water solution (10 mL/kg fresh matter). All treatments were ensiled in laboratory-scale silos for 45 days, and then exposed to air for 12 days to evaluate the aerobic stability of TMR silage. Further, the four experimental treatments were fermented with buffered rumen fluid to measure in vitro gas production and nutrients’ digestibility. The results indicated that all TMR silages possessed good fermentation characteristics with low pH values (&lt;4.18) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) contents (&lt;100 g/kg total nitrogen), and high lactic acid contents (&gt;66 g/kg DM) and Flieg points (&gt;80). The addition of L and LP stimulated a more efficient homofermentation of TMR silage than in the variant without L, as evidenced by higher ratios of lactic:acetic acid. The addition of P had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on lactic acid production of TMR silage compared with the Control, whereas it decreased NH3-N content (P &lt; 0.05). Under aerobic conditions, L silage showed less aerobic stability compared with the Control silage, whereas P and LP silages were more (P &lt; 0.05) aerobically stable. Compared with the Control, all additives elevated (P &lt; 0.05) the total gas production and in vitro dry matter digestibility of TMR silages. L silage had a higher (P &lt; 0.05) in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility than the Control silage. Data obtained from this study suggested that TMR silage based on oat and common vetch can be well conserved with or without additives. Lactic acid bacteria were compatible with propionic acid, and addition of lactic acid bacteria together with propionic acid can improve the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro dry matter digestibility of TMR silage.