Effect of dietary fiber fermentation on short-chain fatty acid production and microbial composition in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The efficient utilization of fiber-rich co-products is important for optimizing feed resource utilization and animal health. This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of fiber-rich co-products, which had equal quantities of total dietary fiber (TDF), at different time points using batch in vitro methods. It considered their gas production, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and microbial composition. RESULTS: The fermentation of wheat bran (WB) and oat bran (OB) showed higher and faster (P < 0.05) gas and SCFA production than corn bran (CB), sugar beet pulp (SBP), and soybean hulls (SH). The α-diversity was higher in the CB, SBP, and SH groups than in the WB and OB groups (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, OB and WB fermentation showed lower (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Actinobacteria than the CB, SBP, and SH groups. At the genus level, OB and WB fermentation increased the Enterococcus population in comparison with the CB, SBP, and SH groups, whereas CB and SBP fermentation improved the relative abundance of the Christensenellaceae R-7 group more than the WB, OB, and SH groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Overall, WB and OB were rapidly fermented by fecal microbiota, in contrast with SBP, SH, and CB. Fermentation of different fiber-rich co-products with an equal TDF content gives different responses in terms of microbial composition and SCFA production due to variations in their physicochemical properties and molecular structure. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Novel germline mutations and unclassified variants of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Chinese women with familial breast/ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes greatly increase a woman's risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. The prevalence and distribution of such mutations differ across races/ethnicities. Several studies have investigated Chinese women with high-risk breast cancer, but the full spectrum of the mutations in these two genes remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, 133 unrelated Chinese women with familial breast/ovarian cancer living in Zhejiang, eastern China, were enrolled between the years 2008 and 2014. The complete coding regions and exon-intron boundaries of BRCA1 and BRCA2 were screened by PCR-sequencing assay. Haplotype analysis was performed to confirm BRCA1 and BRCA2 founder mutations. In silico predictions were performed to identify the non-synonymous amino acid changes that were likely to disrupt the functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2. RESULTS: A total of 23 deleterious mutations were detected in the two genes in 31 familial breast/ovarian cancer patients with a total mutation frequency of 23.3% (31/133). The highest frequency of 50.0% (8/16) was found in breast cancer patients with a history of ovarian cancer. The frequencies of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations were 13.5 % (18/133) and 9.8% (13/133), respectively. We identified five novel deleterious mutations (c.3295delC, c.3780_3781delAG, c.4063_4066delAATC, c.5161 > T and c.5173insA) in BRCA1 and seven (c.1-40delGA, c.4487delC, c.469_473delAAGTC, c.5495delC, c.6141T > A, c.6359C > G and c.7588C > T) in BRCA2, which accounted for 52.2% (12/23) of the total mutations. Six recurrent mutations were found, including four (c.3780_3781delAG, c.5154G > A, c.5468-1del8 and c.5470_5477del8) in BRCA1 and two (c.3109C > T and c.5682C > G) in BRCA2. Two recurrent BRCA1 mutations (c.5154G > A and c.5468-1del8) were identified as putative founder mutations. We also found 11 unclassified variants, and nine of these are novel. The possibility was that each of the non-synonymous amino acid changes would disrupt the function of BRCA1 and BRCA2 varied according to the different algorithms used. CONCLUSIONS: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations accounted for a considerable proportion of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer patients from eastern China and the spectrum of the mutations of these two genes exhibited some unique features. The two BRCA1 putative founder mutations may provide a cost-effective option to screen Chinese population, while founder effects of the two mutations should be investigated in a lager sample size of patients.

Fiber degradation potential of natural co-cultures of Neocallimastix frontalis and Methanobrevibacter ruminantium isolated from yaks (Bos grunniens) grazing on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau.

Several natural anaerobic fungus-methanogen co-cultures have been isolated from rumen and feces source of herbivores with strong fiber degrading ability. In this study, we isolated 7 Neocallimastix with methanogen co-cultures from the rumen of yaks grazing on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. Based on morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer 1 sequences (ITS1), all the fungi were identified as Neocallimastix frontalis. The co-cultures were confirmed as the one fungus - one methanogen pattern by the PCR-denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) assay. All the methanogens were identified as Methanobrevibacter ruminantium by 16s rRNA gene sequencing. We investigated the biodegrading capacity of the co-culture (N. frontalis + M. ruminantium) Yaktz1 on wheat straw, corn stalk and rice straw in a 7 days-incubation. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), acid detergent fiber digestibility (ADFD) and neural detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) values of the substrates in the co-culture were significantly higher than those in the mono-culture N. frontalis Yaktz1. The co-culture exhibited high polysaccharide hydrolase (xylanase and FPase) and esterase activities. The xylanase in the co-culture reached the highest activity of 12500 mU/ml on wheat straw at the day 3 of the incubation. At the end of the incubation, 3.00 mmol-3.29 mmol/g dry matter of methane were produced by the co-culture. The co-culture also produced high level of acetate (40.00 mM-45.98 mM) as the end-product during the biodegradation. Interestingly, the N. frontalis Yaktz1 mono-culture produced large amount of lactate (8.27 mM-11.60 mM) and ethanol (163.11 mM-242.14 mM), many times more than those recorded in the previously reported anaerobic fungi. Our data suggests that the (N. frontalis + M. ruminantium) Yaktz1 co-culture and the N. frontalis Yaktz1 mono-culture both have great potentials for different industrial use.

Microbial release of ferulic and p-coumaric acids from forages and their digestibility in lactating cows fed total mixed rations with different forage combinations.

BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (PCA) are widely distributed in graminaceous plant cell walls. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo digestibility of ester-linked FA (FAest) and PCA (PCAest) in lactating dairy cows. RESULTS: Regarding corn stover, ensiled corn stover, whole corn silage, Chinese wild ryegrass and alfalfa hay with different phenolic acid profiles, the in vitro rumen digestibility of forage FAest and PCAest was negatively correlated with the ether-linked FA content and original PCA/FA ratio in the forages. The concentration of both phenolic acids in culture fluids was low after a 72 h incubation, and the mixed rumen microorganisms metabolized nearly all phenolic acids released into the culture fluids. FAest digestibility in the whole digestive tract was negatively correlated with dietary PCA/FA ratio, but a converse result occurred with dietary PCAest digestibility. The digestibility in either the rumen or the whole digestive tract was greater for FAest than for PCAest. CONCLUSION: Forage PCAest in comparison with FAest is not easily digested in either the rumen or the whole digestive tract, and they were negatively affected by forage FAeth content and lignification extent indicated by the original dietary PCA/FA ratio.

Breast Cancer Disparities: A Multicenter Comparison of Tumor Diagnosis, Characteristics, and Surgical Treatment in China and the U.S.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Incidence of and mortality rates for breast cancer continue to rise in the People's Republic of China. The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in characteristics of breast malignancies between China and the U.S. METHODS: Data from 384,262 breast cancer patients registered in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 2000 to 2010 were compared with 4,211 Chinese breast cancer patients registered in a Chinese database from 1999 to 2008. Outcomes included age, race, histology, tumor and node staging, laterality, surgical treatment method, and reconstruction. The Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare rates. RESULTS: Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common type of malignancy in the U.S. and China. The mean number of positive lymph nodes was higher in China (2.59 vs. 1.31, p < .001). Stage at diagnosis was higher in China (stage IIA vs. I, p < .001). Mean size of tumor at diagnosis was higher in China (32.63 vs. 21.57 mm). Mean age at diagnosis was lower in China (48.28 vs. 61.29 years, p < .001). Moreover, 2.0% of U.S. women underwent radical mastectomy compared with 12.5% in China, and 0.02% in China underwent reconstructive surgery. CONCLUSION: Chinese women were diagnosed at younger ages with higher stage and larger tumors and underwent more aggressive surgical treatment. Prospective trials should be conducted to address screening, surgical, and tumor discrepancies between China and the U.S. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Breast cancer patients in China are diagnosed at later stages than those in America, which might contribute to different clinical management and lower 5-year survival rate. This phenomenon suggests that an earlier detection and treatment program should be widely implemented in China. By comparing the characteristics of Chinese and Chinese-American patients, we found significant differences in tumor size, lymph nodes metastasis, and age at diagnosis. These consequences indicated that patients with similar genetic backgrounds may have different prognoses due to the influence of environment and social economic determinates.

Trends in Radical Surgical Treatment Methods for Breast Malignancies in China: A Multicenter 10-Year Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Incidence rates of breast cancer continue to rise in the People's Republic of China. The purpose of this study was to describe Chinese trends in radical surgical modalities and influential imaging and demographic factors for breast malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a hospital-based, multicenter, 10-year (1999-2008), retrospective study. Descriptive statistical tests were used to illustrate information regarding radical surgical trends for the treatment of breast malignancies. Chi-square tests were used to assess effect of demographic factors in addition to imaging and pathological data on the specific surgical method. RESULTS: A total of 4,211 patients were enrolled in the survey. Among them, 3,335 patients with stage 0 to stage III disease undergoing mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) were included in the final analysis. The rate of BCS increased from 1.53% in 1999 to 11.88% in 2008. The rate of mastectomy declined over this time period, from 98.47% in 1999 to 88.12% in 2008, with increasing use of diagnostic imaging methods and pathological biopsies. A significantly greater percentage of patients with office work, high education levels, unmarried status, younger age, and early pathological stages preferred BCS compared with mastectomy. CONCLUSION: Rates of mastectomy in China remain elevated due to diagnosis at higher stages; however, because of increased use of diagnostic imaging, improvement of biopsy methods, and patient education, rates of less invasive lumpectomy are increasing and rates of mastectomy have decreased in China. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In this study, 4,211 cases were collected from 1999 to 2008 through a multicenter retrospective study of varying geographic and socioeconomic areas to illustrate trends of surgeries in the People's Republic of China. The correlations between demographic and tumor characteristics and among methods of surgical treatment were explored. This study shows that the rate of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) increased and the rate of mastectomy declined over this time period with increasing use of diagnostic imaging methods and pathological biopsies. Patients with office work, high education levels, unmarried status, younger age, and early pathological stages preferred BCS compared with mastectomy in China.

[Treatment of Chemotherapy Related Leukocytopenia by Oral Administration of Multiple Leucogenic Drugs Combined with G-CSF: an Experimental Study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacies of three commonly used oral drugs including Berbamine Hydrochloride Tablet (B), Qijiao Shengbai Capsule (Q), and Leucogen Tablet (L) (by single drug, two drugs or three drugs) combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for treat ment of chemotherapy related leukocytopenia in mice. METHODS: Totally 156 Kunming male mice were divided into the normal control group (A, n=24), the model group (B, n=24), the G-CSF group (C, n =24), the G-CSF+Q group (D, n=12), G-CSF+ B (E, n=12), the G-CSF+L group (F, n=12), the G-CSF + Q + B group (G, n=12), the G-CSF + Q + L group (H, n=12), the G-CSF + L + B group (I, n=12), and the G-CSF + L + Q + B (J, n=12). Mouse models of chemotherapy related leukocytopenia were established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX). A G-CSF group was set up as a positive control. Mice were treated by a single oral drug, a single oral drug combined with G-CSF, and two or three drugs combined with G-CSF respectively, and the death rate calculated. Hemocytes [such as white blood cells (WBC) and its classification, red blood cells (RBC), platelet (PLT), hemoglobin (Hb)] were calculated by hematology analyzer. Mice were anatomized and important organs weighed. Organ indices were calculated. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the mortality rate among all groups (P > 0.05). Compared with Group B, WBC was elevated in all other groups (P < 0.01). WBC and PLT were elevated most in Group J, Hb and RBC were also increased at the same time (P < 0.05, P < 0. 01). Compared with Group B, RBC increased in Group E, F, G, I, and J (P < 0.01); Hb obviously increased in Group C, E, F, H, I, and J (P<0.01). Compared with Group B and D, the promotion of erythroid hematopoiesis by G-CSF could be elevated in any group contained drug B and L (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The spleen index of model mice could be significantly improved in Group C, D, and G (P < 0.01). The thymus index of model mice could be significantly improved in Group H (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The best scheme to treat mice with chemotherapy related leukopenia or decreased three blood series was to administrate three commonly oral drugs combined with G-CSF. Authors speculated that G-CSF and Q might have a certain effect on CTX induced immune inhibition.

Risk factors for breast cancer among Chinese women: a 10-year nationwide multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of established risk factors for breast cancer may vary among countries. A better understanding of local characteristics of risk factors may help in devising effective prevention strategies for breast cancer. METHODS: Information on exposures to risk factors was collected from the medical charts of 4211 women with breast cancer diagnosed during 1999-2008. The distributions of these exposures among regions, and by menopausal status and birth period, were compared with the χ(2) test. Crude associations between the selected factors and breast cancer were estimated using the cases in the present study and a representative control population, which was selected from qualified published studies. RESULTS: As compared with cases from less developed regions, those from more developed regions were significantly more likely to be nulliparous, had fewer childbirths (P < 0.05), and were less likely to have breastfed (P = 0.08). As compared with premenopausal cases, postmenopausal cases were more likely to be overweight and to have breastfed and had more childbirths (P < 0.05). The number of live births and rate of breastfeeding decreased in relation to birth period (P for trends <0.001). Overweight, late menopause, and family history of breast cancer were significantly associated with breast cancer among Chinese women. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer incidence was associated with nulliparity and history of breastfeeding. Population attributable risks should be assessed, especially for more developed areas and young women. The effects of body mass index, age at menopause, and family history of breast cancer should be given priority during assessment of breast cancer risk among Chinese women.

Diurnal variations of progesterone, testosterone, and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione in the rumen and in vitro progesterone transformation by mixed rumen microorganisms of lactating dairy cows.

Five Holstein lactating dairy cows fed 5 total mixed rations (TMR) with different forage combinations were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design to investigate diurnal variations of progesterone (P4), testosterone, and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) concentrations in the rumen. Meanwhile, different P4 inclusion levels [0 (control), 2, 20, 40, 80, and 100 ng/mL in culture fluids] were incubated in vitro for 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h together with rumen mixed microorganisms grown on a maize-rich feed mixture (maize meal:Chinese ryegrass hay = :1) with an aim to determine microbial P4 transformation into testosterone and ADD. Ruminal P4, testosterone, and ADD concentrations of lactating dairy cows were greater in the TMR with forage combination of corn silage plus alfalfa hay or Chinese wild ryegrass hay than the TMR with the corn stover-based forage combination. The diurnal fluctuation pattern showed that P4, testosterone, and ADD concentrations in the rumen were greater at nighttime than daytime and peaked 6h after feeding in the morning or afternoon. The in vitro batch cultures showed that the P4 elimination rate was highest at the P4 addition of 20 ng/mL and declined with the further increased addition of P4. The treatments after dosing P4 exhibited a shorter time than the control group until half of the initial P4 inclusion was eliminated (i.e., half time), and the lowest half time (1.46 h) occurred at the P4 addition of 20 ng/mL. In summary, the ruminal steroids concentration was affected by forage type and quality, and the rumen microorganisms exhibited great ability to transform P4 into testosterone and ADD, depending on incubation time and initial P4 addition level, suggesting that the host might affect the metabolism of its rumen microorganisms via the endogenous steroids.

The impact of cyclin D1 overexpression on the prognosis of ER-positive breast cancers: a meta-analysis.

Cyclin D1 (CCND1), a key regulator of cell cycle progression, is overexpressed in many human cancers, including breast cancer. However, the impact of CCND1 overexpression in these cancers remains unclear and controversial. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and EMBASE with the search terms "cyclin D1", "CCND1", "breast cancer", "prognosis", and potential studies for analysis were selected. Studies with survival data, including progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) or metastasis-free survival (MFS), were included in this meta-analysis. A total of 33 studies containing 8,537 cases were included. The combined hazard risk (HR) and its 95 % confidence interval (CI) of OS, PFS and MFS were 1.13 (95 % CI 0.87-1.47; P = 0.35), 1.25 (95 % CI 0.95-1.64; P = 0.12), and 1.04 (95 % CI 0.80-1.36; P = 0.76), respectively, for primary breast cancer patients with tumors exhibiting CCND1 overexpression. Interestingly, the impact of CCND1 expression on OS was a 1.67-fold (95 % CI 1.38-2.02; P = 0.00) increased risk for ER-positive breast cancer patients. However, CCND1 overexpression exhibited no association with the PFS or OS of patients who received epirubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy, for which the P values were 0.63 and 0.47, respectively. In summary, CCND1 overexpression impacts the prognosis of ER-positive breast cancer patients, but not patients with unselected primary breast cancer or patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Overexpression of ILK1 in breast cancer associates with poor prognosis.

Integrin-linked kinase 1 (ILK1), a member of the serine/threonine kinases, has been demonstrated to be associated with numerous biological and pathological processes. However, the role of ILK1 in breast cancer has not been thoroughly elucidated. The purpose of this study was to assess ILK1 expression and to explore its contribution to breast cancer. The ILK1 mRNA expression was measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, ILK1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 163 clinicopathologically characterized breast cancer cases. The relationship between ILK1 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed by appropriate statistics. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to investigate the correlation between ILK1 expression and prognosis of breast cancer patients. The relative mRNA expression of ILK1 was significantly higher in breast cancer tissues than in adjacent noncancerous tissues (P < 0.001). In addition, ILK1 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.016), grade (P = 0.024), stage (P = 0.029), lymph node metastases (P = 0.007), and estrogen receptor status (P = 0.002). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with high ILK1 expression had poor overall survival (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that high ILK1 expression was an independent predictor of overall survival. In conclusion, our data suggest for the first time that the increased expression of ILK1 in breast cancer is associated significantly with aggressive progression and poor prognosis. ILK1 may be an important molecular marker for predicting the carcinogenesis, progression, and prognosis of breast cancer.

Four phenolic acids determined by an improved HPLC method with a programmed ultraviolet wavelength detection and their relationships with lignin content in 13 agricultural residue feeds.

BACKGROUND: Lignification-associated phenolic acids are widely distributed in graminaceous plant cell walls. This study developed a rapid and sensitive reversed-phase method for the simultaneous quantification of protocatechuic (PRA), vanillic (VA), ferulic (FA) and p-coumaric (PCA) acids and investigated the relationship between these compounds and lignin contents in 13 fibrous feeds. RESULTS: The phenolic acids were identified at a column temperature of 15 °C in a single run, in which the wavelength was programmed at 260 nm for PRA and VA, then switched to 310 nm for FA and PCA determinations. Satisfactory precision, recovery, and linearity were obtained with this method. Among 13 feeds, PCA was most abundant, followed by FA, VA and PRA. Great variations in phenolic acid and lignin contents were found. FA content was much richer than PCA content in maize and wheat brans, and the highest PCA content occurred in maize stalks. Lignin content was correlated with proportions of FA (r = - 0.95) and PCA (r = 0.90) in the summed phenolic acids and the PCA:FA ratio (r = 0.91). CONCLUSION: The improved method appears to be useful for simultaneous quantification of target phenolic compounds. Both FA and PCA may be good indicators for plant cell wall lignification associated with feed digestibility.

The expression profile of Gasdermin C-related genes predicts the prognosis and immunotherapy response of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has a poor prognosis and is relatively unresponsive to immunotherapy. Gasdermin C (GSDMC) induces pyroptosis in cancer cells and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. However, whether GSDMC expression in PAAD is associated with survival or response to immunotherapy remains unknown. GSDMC expression and the relationship between GSDMC and patient survival or immune infiltration in PAAD were examined using data in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Ominbus (GEO), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) databases. The TCGA PAAD cohort could be divided into two distinct risk groups based on the expression of GSDMC-related genes (GRGs). The TIDE algorithm predicted that the low-risk group was more responsive to immune checkpoint blockade therapy than the high-risk group. A novel 15-gene signature was constructed and could predict the prognosis of PAAD. In addition, the 15-gene signature model predicted the infiltration of immune cells and Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment response. Immunohistochemical staining assessment of patient-derived human tissue microarray (TMA) from 139 cases of local PAAD patients revealed a positive correlation between GSDMC expression and PD-L1 expression but a negative correlation between GSDMC expression and infiltration of low CD8+ T cells. Moreover, the overexpression of GSDMC was related to poor overall survival (OS). This study suggests that GSDMC is a valuable biomarker for predicting PAAD prognosis and predicts the immunotherapy response of PAAD.

Wheat silage partially replacing oaten hay exhibited greater feed efficiency and fibre digestion despite low feed intake by feedlot lambs.

This study aimed to investigate the feeding effect of wheat silage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbiota composition in feedlot lambs. Sixty-four male crossbred Chinese Han lambs (BW = 27.8 ± 0.67 kg, 3 months of age) were randomly assigned to four ration groups with wheat silage replacing 0% (WS0), 36% (WS36), 64% (WS64), and 100% (WS100) of oaten hay on forage dry matter basis. The concentrate-to-forage ratio was 80:20 and the feeding trial lasted 52 d. Increasing wheat silage inclusion linearly decreased dry matter intake by 4% to 27% (P < 0.01). However, increasing the wheat silage replacement of oaten hay by no more than 64% improved the feed efficiency by 14% as noted by the feed-to-gain ratio (P = 0.04). Apparent digestibility of organic matter (P < 0.01), neutral detergent fibre (P = 0.04) and acid detergent fibre (P < 0.01) quadratically increased. Ammonia nitrogen (P = 0.01) decreased while microbial protein production (P < 0.01) increased with the increase of wheat silage inclusion. Total volatile fatty acids concentration increased quadratically with the increase of wheat silage inclusion (P < 0.01), and the highest occurred in WS64. The molar proportion of acetate (P < 0.01) and acetate-to-propionate ratio (P = 0.04) decreased while butyrate (P < 0.01) and isovalerate (P = 0.04) increased. Increasing wheat silage inclusion increased the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio by 226% to 357%, resulting in Firmicutes instead of Bacteroidota being the most abundant phylum. The relative abundance of cellulolytic Ruminococcus numerically increased but that of amylolytic Prevotella (P < 0.01) decreased as increasing wheat silage inclusion. Taken together, increasing wheat silage replacement of oaten hay by no more than 64% exhibited greater feed efficiency and fibre digestion despite low feed intake by feedlot lambs due to the change of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio in the rumen.

Dietary Guanidine Acetic Acid Addition Improved Carcass Quality with Less Back-Fat Thickness and Remarkably Increased Meat Protein Deposition in Rapid-Growing Lambs Fed Different Forage Types.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether guanidine acetic acid (GAA) yields a response in rapid-growing lambs depending on forage type. In this study, seventy-two small-tailed Han lambs (initial body weights = 12 ± 1.6 kg) were used in a 120-d feeding experiment after a 7-d adaptation period. A 2 × 3 factorial experimental feeding design was applied to the lambs, which were fed a total mixed ration with two forage types (OH: oaten hay; OHWS: oaten hay plus wheat silage) and three forms of additional GAA (GAA: 0 g/kg; UGAA: Uncoated GAA, 1 g/kg; CGAA: Coated GAA, 1 g/kg). The OH diet had a greater dry matter intake, average daily gain, and hot carcass weight than the OHWS diet. The GAA supplementation increased the final body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and ribeye area in the longissimus lumborum. Meanwhile, it decreased backfat thickness and serum triglycerides. Dietary GAA decreased the acidity of the meat and elevated the water-holding capacity in mutton. In addition, the crude protein content in mutton increased with GAA addition. Dietary GAA (UGAA or CGAA) might be an effective additive in lamb fed by different forage types, as it has potential to improve growth performance and meat quality.

The pathologic characteristics of breast cancer in China and its shift during 1999-2008: a national-wide multicenter cross-sectional image over 10 years.

In China, breast cancer is currently the most common malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer death in women. But, the characteristics of breast cancer in the whole population are not determined. The aim of this study was to perform a detailed study on pathologic characteristics of breast cancer representing the whole population in China during 1999-2008 and to compare the difference in invasive breast cancer between the Western and Chinese. We randomly collected 4,211 inpatient at seven hospitals in representative geographical regions of China during 1999-2008. All the hospitals had the ability of comprehensive cancer treatment. The pathologic characters including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status were surveyed. The shift of pathologic characters was evaluated and the data from China were also compared with those of the Western, both using Chi-square test. We found as follow. (i) The median age of the patients was 48 years and showed the similar characters of Asia. (ii) Breast cancer in China showed more invasive ductal carcinoma with larger tumor size, later stage, lower ER and PR expression and higher HER2 overexpression than those in the Western (p < 0.001). (iii) Both tumor size and stage at diagnosis decreased year by year (p < 0.001). Breast cancer in China showed more aggressive behavior than those in western countries, although tumor size and stage at diagnosis decreased by year during 1999-2008. We addressed the urgent needs for employ race-specific breast cancer screen, diagnosis methods, and therapeutic models in China.

Breast cancer stage at diagnosis and area-based socioeconomic status: a multicenter 10-year retrospective clinical epidemiological study in China.

BACKGROUND: Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been focused on as a key determinant of cancer stage at diagosis in western countries, there has been no systemic study on the relationship of SES and breast cancer stage at diagnosis in China. METHODS: The medical charts of 4,211 eligible breast cancer patients from 7 areas across China who were diagnosed between 1999 and 2008 were reviewed. Four area-based socioeconomic indicators were used to calculate area-based SES by cluster analysis. The associations between area-based SES and stage at diagnosis were analyzed by trend chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios for individual demographic characteristics' effects on cancer stages, stratified by area-based SES. RESULTS: The individual demographic and pathologic characteristics of breast cancer cases were significantly different among the seven areas studied. More breast cancer cases in low SES areas (25.5%) were diagnosed later (stages III & IV) than those in high (20.4%) or highest (14.8%) SES areas (χ² for trend = 80.79, P < 0.001). When area-based SES is controlled for, in high SES areas, cases with less education were more likely to be diagnosed at later stages compared with more educated cases. In low SES areas, working women appeared to be diagnosed at earlier breast cancer stages than were homemakers (OR: 0.18-0.26). CONCLUSIONS: In China, women in low SES areas are more likely to be diagnosed at later breast cancer stages than those in high SES areas.

[10-year changes and development of surgical treatment for breast cancer in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and development of surgical treatment for breast cancer from 1999 to 2008 in China, and compare the differences between the surgical methods used in high-resource and low-resource areas. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of surgical treatment for female primary breast cancer was collected via medical chart review at hospitals in seven geographic areas in China. Chi-square test and chisqure test for linear trends were used to analyze the changes and development of the surgical methods used for breast cancer in the 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 4211 primary breast cancer patients were selected from the 10-year database, including 4078 women (97.5%) treated by surgical operation. Among 3271 women (80.21%) treated with modified radical mastectomy, the surgical rate was rising from 68.89% in 1999 to 80.17% in 2008, ascending by 11.28% (χ(2) = 31.143, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of modified radical mastectomy was rising from 45.64% in 1999 to 76.13% in 2008, ascending by 30.49% (χ(2) = 89.393, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it kept a steady rate at 80% in the ten years (χ(2) = 2.113,P = 0.146). Among 231 women (5.66%) treated with breast-conserving surgery, the surgical rate was rising from 1.29% in 1999 to 11.57% in 2008, ascending by 10.28% (χ(2) = 102.835, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of breast-conserving surgery was rising from 2.68% in 1999 to 16.87% in 2008, ascending by 14.19% (χ(2) = 69.544, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it was rising from 0.42% in 1999 to 6.22% in 2008, ascending by 5.80% (χ(2) = 30.003, P < 0.001). Among 469 women (11.50%) treated with Halsted radical mastectomy, the surgical rate was declining from 28.28% in 1999 to 4.96% in 2008, descending by 23.32% (χ(2) = 206.202, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of Halsted radical mastectomy was declining from 50.34% in 1999 to 3.29% in 2008, descending by 47.05% (χ(2) = 274.830, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it was declining from 14.58% in 1999 to 6.64% in 2008, descending by 7.94% (χ(2) = 8.166, P = 0.004). Among 3786 women treated with breast mastectomy (including modified radical mastectomy and Halsted radical mastectomy), the surgical rate was declining from 98.46% in 1999 to 86.36% in 2008, descending by 12.10% (χ(2) = 95.744, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of breast mastectomy was declining from 96.64% in 1999 to 80.66% in 2008, descending by 15.98% (χ(2) = 53.446, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it was declining from 99.58% in 1999 to 92.12% in 2008, descending by 7.46% (χ(2) = 36.758,P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The main primary surgical treatment for breast cancer is modified radical mastectomy during the period 1999 - 2008. Halsted radical mastectomy is gradually replaced by modified radical mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery. The rate of changes for breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy is higher in high-resource areas than that in low-resource areas. Breast-conserving surgery will become the main treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

[Study on the infrared fingerprint of Evodia rutaecarpa based on the methods of sequential analysis of dual-indexes].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method to identify the different origins of herba Evodia rutaecarpa by IR and provide a new technique for their identification and quality evaluation. METHODS: The herba materials were extracted by chloroform and absolute alcohol, the powder and the extracts of Evodia rutaecarpa were mixed and pelleted with KBr. The slides were detected within 4000 - 400 cm(-1) by FIR spectrophotometry. The Difference of samples was studied. RESULTS: The infrared spectrums of Evodia rutaecarpa extracted by chloroform were obviously different. CONCLUSION: The method can be used to identify and appraise the different origins of herba Evodia rutaecarpa.

The release and catabolism of ferulic acid in plant cell wall by rumen microbes: A review.

Ferulic acid (FA) is one of the most abundant hydroxycinnamic acids in the plant world, especially in the cell wall of grain bran, in comparison with forage and crop residues. Previous studies noted that FA was mainly linked with arabinoxylans and lignin in plant cell walls in ester and ether covalent forms. After forages were ingested by ruminant animals or encountered rumen microbial fermentation in vitro, these cross-linkages form physical and chemical barriers to protect cell-wall carbohydrates from microbial attack and enzymatic hydrolysis. Additionally, increasing studies noted that FA presented some toxic effect on microbial growth in the rumen. In recent decades, many studies have addressed the relationships of ester and/or ether-linked FA with rumen nutrient digestibility, and there is still some controversy whether these linkages could be used as a predicator of forage digestibility in ruminants. The authors in this review summarized the possible relationships between ester and/or ether-linked FA and fiber digestion in ruminants. Rumen microbes, especially bacteria and fungi, were found capable of breaking down the ester linkages within plant cell walls by secreting feruloyl and p-coumaroyl esterase, resulting in the release of free FA and improvement of cell wall digestibility. The increasing evidence noted that these esterases secreted by rumen microbes presented synergistic effects with xylanase and cellulase to effectively hydrolyze forage cell walls. Some released FA were absorbed through the rumen wall directly and entered into blood circulation and presented antioxidant effects on host animals. The others were partially catabolized into volatile fatty acids by rumen microbes, and the possible catabolic pathways discussed. To better understand plant cell wall degradation in the rumen, the metabolic fate of FA along with lignin decomposition mechanisms are needed to be explored via future microbial isolation and incubation studies with aims to maximize dietary fiber intake and enhance fiber digestion in ruminant animals.