Cathelicidin-encoding Lactococcus lactis promotes mucosal repair in murine experimental colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The preventive effect of intrarectal administration of mouse cathelicidin (mCRAMP) and oral administration of mCRAMP-encoding Lactococcus lactis (N4I) has been shown in murine experimental colitis. It is pivotal to understand the ability of N4I whether it can promote mucosal repair in existing colitis. METHODS: Mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) were treated orally with L. lactis or its transformed strain with or without nisin induction. The body weight, clinical symptoms, and histological changes of colonic tissues were determined. Sulfasalazine was used as a reference drug. Young adult mouse colon cells were used to further elucidate the direct action and possible mechanisms of mCRAMP to promote colonic wound repair. RESULTS: Results showed that N4I could improve the clinical symptoms, maintain crypt integrity and preserve mucus-secreting layer in colitis animals. The preparation also could prevent cell death and promote cell proliferation. In contrast, effective dose of sulfasalazine only alleviated clinical symptoms but not the mucosal damage and repair in the colon. In vitro study further showed that mCRAMP could directly promote wound repair by accelerating cell migration but not cell proliferation through the GPCR/MAPK pathway. CONCLUSIONS: mCRAMP-encoding L. lactis could be a potential therapeutic preparation better than the traditional anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of UC.

A novel laser-collider used to produce monoenergetic 13.3 MeV (7)Li (d, n) neutrons.

Neutron energy is directly correlated with the energy of the incident ions in experiments involving laser-driven nuclear reactions. Using high-energy incident ions reduces the energy concentration of the generated neutrons. A novel "laser-collider" method was used at the Shenguang II laser facility to produce monoenergetic neutrons via (7)Li (d, n) nuclear reactions. The specially designed K-shaped target significantly increased the numbers of incident d and Li ions at the keV level. Ultimately, 13.3 MeV neutrons were obtained. Considering the time resolution of the neutron detector, we demonstrated that the produced neutrons were monoenergetic. Interferometry and a Multi hydro-dynamics simulation confirmed the monoenergetic nature of these neutrons.

Neutron yield enhancement in laser-induced deuterium-deuterium fusion using a novel shaped target.

Neutron yields have direct correlation with the energy of incident deuterons in experiments of laser deuterated target interaction [Roth et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 044802 (2013) and Higginson et al., Phys. Plasmas 18, 100703 (2011)], while deuterated plasma density is also an important parameter. Experiments at the Shenguang II laser facility have produced neutrons with energy of 2.45 MeV using d (d, n) He reaction. Deuterated foil target and K-shaped target were employed to study the influence of plasma density on neutron yields. Neutron yield generated by K-shaped target (nearly 10(6)) was two times higher than by foil target because the K-shaped target results in higher density plasma. Interferometry and multi hydro-dynamics simulation confirmed the importance of plasma density for enhancement of neutron yields.