Lactobacillus casei YRL577 combined with plant extracts reduce markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Probiotics and plant extracts are considered to prevent the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study explores the effects of using both probiotics and plant extracts on NAFLD. The present study evaluated the effects of plant extracts on lipid droplet accumulation and the growth of probiotics in vitro. A C57BL/6 mouse model was used to examine the effects of probiotics and plant extracts on NAFLD. Body weight and food intake were measured. The levels of serum lipids, oxidative stress and the liver injury index were determined using commercial kits. Haematoxylin and eosin staining, GC and real-time PCR were also used for analysis. The results revealed that administration of Lactobacillus casei YRL577 and L. paracasei X11 with resveratrol (RES) or tea polyphenols (TP) significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, TAG and LDL-cholesterol and increased the level of the HDL-cholesterol. The groups of L. casei YRL577 with RES and TP also regulated the liver structure, oxidative stress and injury. Furthermore, L. casei YRL577 with TP exhibited a more positive effect towards improving the NAFLD and increased the concentrations of the butyric acid than other three combined groups. L. casei YRL577 with TP up-regulated the mRNA levels of the farnesoid X receptor and fibroblast growth factor 15 and decreased the mRNA levels of the apical Na-dependent bile acid transporter. These findings showed that L. casei YRL577 + TP-modified genes in the intestinal bile acid pathway improved markers of NAFLD.

Lactobacillus casei YRL577 ameliorates markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver and alters expression of genes within the intestinal bile acid pathway.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the main cause of end-stage liver disease. Probiotics have the potential effect of alleviating NAFLD. The aim of this study was to explore functional probiotics and their underlying mechanisms. The bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity in thirty-four strains was determined in vitro. Then, C57BL/6 mice were used to explore the effects of probiotics on NAFLD. Body weight and food intake were measured, and serum lipid concentrations, oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines levels were determined using commercial kits. The expressions of intestinal bile acid pathway genes were evaluated via real-time PCR. The results showed that Lactobacillus casei YRL577 and L. paracasei X11 had higher BSH activity. L. casei YRL577 significantly reduced liver weight and liver index and could regulate the levels of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines as compared with L. paracasei X11. Furthermore, the results indicated that L. casei YRL577 up-regulated the mRNA levels of farnesoid X receptor and fibroblast growth factor 15, whereas down-regulated the mRNA level of apical Na-dependent bile acid transporter. These findings suggested that L. casei YRL577 modified genes in the intestinal bile acid pathway which might contribute to the alleviation of NAFLD.

Blended learning with Moodle in medical statistics: an assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to e-learning.

BACKGROUND: Blended learning that combines a modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment (Moodle) with face-to-face teaching was applied to a medical statistics course to improve learning outcomes and evaluate the impact factors of students' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to e-learning. METHODS: The same real-name questionnaire was administered before and after the intervention. The summed scores of every part (knowledge, attitude and practice) were calculated using the entropy method. A mixed linear model was fitted using the SAS PROC MIXED procedure to analyse the impact factors of KAP. RESULTS: Educational reform, self-perceived character, registered permanent residence and hours spent online per day were significant impact factors of e-learning knowledge. Introversion and middle type respondents' average scores were higher than those of extroversion type respondents. Regarding e-learning attitudes, educational reform, community number, Internet age and hours spent online per day had a significant impact. Specifically, participants whose Internet age was no greater than 6 years scored 7.00 points lower than those whose Internet age was greater than 10 years. Regarding e-learning behaviour, educational reform and parents' literacy had a significant impact, as the average score increased 10.05 points (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This educational reform that combined Moodle with a traditional class achieved good results in terms of students' e-learning KAP. Additionally, this type of blended course can be implemented in many other curriculums.

Ecological sustainability assessment of building glass industry in China based on the point of view of raw material emergy and chemical composition.

Severe environmental destruction is being driven by excessive resource consumption in the industrial production process. Therefore, there is a necessity to evaluate the sustainability of the production system. In this study, the emergy method has been adopted to assess the flat building glass production in China based on raw material and chemical composition. A series of problems including key contributors, primary sustainable indexes, unit emergy value (UEVs), sensitivity ratios, and waste impact was studied. The results illustrate that (1) the nonrenewable resources and imported resources showed the dominant impacts. (2) Silica sand and sandstone were the foremost items for the raw material angle emergy. (3) Excessive EIR, serious ELR, and tiny ESI were the main contributors to the unsustainability of the evaluated system. (4) Four UEVs were revealed, which are 1.69E + 12sej/kg, 1.80E + 12sej/kg, 1.60E + 12sej/kg, and 1.71E + 12sej/kg, respectively. (5) The nonrenewable resources showed the biggest fluctuation (7.09%), followed by imported resources (1.62%) in view of the raw material perspective; for the chemical composition, the nonrenewable resources were 7.15%, and imported resources were 1.49%, respectively. (6) Waste gas emissions were found as the major emergy contributor to the economic loss. Furthermore, positive solutions were discussed for improving the sustainability of glass production, including the proportion increase of renewable energy, recycling material replacement, and promotion of energy-saving equipment.

Adaptive Renewal of Mountainous Historical Towns Based on the Stability of the Social Network Structure: A Case Study in Chongqing, China.

The stability of social network structure (SSNS) in historical towns is influenced by changes in built environments and demographic factors. The historical towns in China have evolved into massive rural-urban migration under the rapid urbanization over the past forty years. In this context, many of these historical towns experienced "declining built environment and disintegrating social networks," which does not contribute to the adaptive renewal of the built environment and social networks in historical towns, as well as the psychological health of residents. This article intends to explore the adaptive renewal of the built environment and social networks of historical towns based on the SSNS. Data on "households" and "social ties" (i.e., kinship, geographic, and job relationship) among households were collected via a field survey in seven historical towns in Chongqing, China. K-core models of social network analysis (SNA) were calculated to analyze SSNS. The result shows that the social networks of historical towns with centripetal-shaped structures were more stable than historical towns with divergent-shaped structures. Moreover, spatial layout forms and functions of households might affect the stability of social networks in historical towns. Based on the results of the analysis of SSNS, strategies for adaptive renewal of the built environments and social networks were put forward in two aspects. The built environment, such as the classification of public spaces and service facilities, can be designed based on the k-core indicator for increasing the spatial connection of households in the historical towns. In addition, increased social activities in historical towns with weak SSNS may promote social connection of households, and are also helpful in boosting public health in psychological aspects.

Konjac glucomannan with probiotics acts as a combination laxative to relieve constipation in mice by increasing short-chain fatty acid metabolism and 5-hydroxytryptamine hormone release.

OBJECTIVES: Various probiotics and natural products can help to relieve constipation. This study aimed to explore the constipation-relieving effects and potential mechanism of a combination laxative of konjac glucomannan and probiotics. METHODS: This study evaluated the gastrointestinal-tract viability of probiotics in vitro. A constipation model was constructed in BALB/c mice, and the efficacies of the combinations verified in terms of their bowel movement-promoting effects, including the first black-stool defecation time and gastrointestinal transit rates of mice. Colonization by the probiotics was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, gas chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot were also used for analysis. RESULTS: Lactobacillus paracasei X11 (X11) and L. casei YRL577 (YRL577) had outstanding gastrointestinal-tract viability. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) + X11, Prunus persica + X11, and Prunus persica + YRL577 significantly relieved constipation. In addition, KGM promoted the colonization of X11. Meanwhile, KGM + X11 effectively promoted the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids in mice better than other combinations, and the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content in the KGM + X11 group was the highest among all the groups. Therefore, KGM + X11 was selected for further research. The combination laxative promoted the secretion of 5-HT, up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of 5-HT receptor 4 and serotonin transporter via the 5-HT pathway, and effectively relieved constipation. CONCLUSIONS: The combination laxative konjac glucomannan-probiotic (KGM + X11) promoted defecation in constipated mice, possibly by increasing short-chain fatty acid metabolism and 5-HT hormone release.

The edible Lactobacillus paracasei X11 with Konjac glucomannan promotes intestinal motility in zebrafish.

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a gastrointestinal symptom with high incidence rate and large number of patients. It is becoming one of the urgent medical problems. Poor intestinal motility is one of the important causes of constipation. Current drug treatments for constipation are associated with many side effects; thus, it is necessary to study more effective treatment methods and potential mechanism. METHODS: A zebrafish model of intestinal motility obstruction was established by loperamide hydrochloride to evaluate the effect of probiotic, food ingredients, and combination on intestinal peristalsis according to intestinal peristalsis frequency counts. The gastrointestinal survival ability of the best probiotics was evaluated by surface hydrophobicity, self-aggregation, acid and bile salt tolerance, and gastrointestinal transit tolerance. Interactions between probiotics and food ingredients were studied in vivo and in vitro. The expression of 5-HT was detected by ELISA and fluorescence immunoassay, and 5-HT related genes were detected by RT-PCR. KEY RESULTS: We obtained the probiotics, food ingredients, and combination that effectively promoted intestinal peristalsis, X11 and YRL577, P. persica and KGM, KGM + X11, respectively. Both KGM and P. persica promoted colonization of probiotics in vivo. KGM + X11 could effectively promote the increase in 5-HT synthesis in zebrafish via up-regulating gene expression of TPH-1, TPH-2, and 5-HTR and down-regulating gene expression of SERT. The specific in-depth mechanism needs further study. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: The combinations of KGM with X11 effectively promoted intestinal peristalsis. We provide a theoretical basis for new modalities that can promote intestinal peristalsis and alleviate constipation.

Screening of intestinal peristalsis-promoting probiotics based on a zebrafish model.

Based on the difference of the intestinal tract fluorescence intensity of zebrafish, the precise screening of strains with high retention capacity in vivo was completed and probiotics for intestinal peristalsis were quickly screened from strains with high retention capacity using the transparent visibility of zebrafish. In order to study the relationship between probiotic retention and intestinal peristalsis and develop constipation-resistant probiotics, this study used 2 types of strain and 6 potential functional strains and screened them based on the fluorescence intensity and intestinal peristalsis-promoting in the zebrafish model. The methods and results were as follows: (1) the zebrafish were immersed in the strains labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and the intestinal fluorescence intensity was taken as the index. The strain L. paracasei X11 with good retention capacity was screened out. (2) 220 zebrafish were randomly selected and divided into 11 groups with 20 tails in each group. 1 group was the normal control group and the other 10 groups were used to construct the constipation zebrafish model by the loperamide hydrochloride method, namely, 1 model control group, 1 model + positive drug control group (domperidone), 2 model + type strains control groups, and 6 model + potential strain treatment groups. The intestinal peristalsis frequency of each group within 1 min was calculated after immersing the model zebrafish in 108 CFU mL-1 strain solution. The results showed that L. paracasei X11 had a better function of intestinal peristalsis-promotion.

Study of gastrointestinal tract viability and motility via modulation of serotonin in a zebrafish model by probiotics.

The relationship between bacterial strains and serotonin regulation was studied via the in vitro screening of the strains. Using the transparent visibility of zebrafish, the strains for intestinal peristalsis were quickly screened. The methods and results were as follows: (1) 18 strains with outstanding gastrointestinal viability via their surface hydrophobicity, self-aggregation ability, acid tolerance, bile tolerance, simulated gastric digestion and intestinal fluid tolerance were determined from 54 unpublished strains. (2) 5dpf zebrafish were randomly selected and divided into 22 groups with 12 tails in each group. The intestinal peristalsis frequency of each group within 1 min was calculated after immersing the model zebrafish in a 108 CFU mL-1 strain solution, with 5 effective strains obtained. (3) The serotonin in zebrafish was measured by Elisa and fluorescence immunization. The regulation mechanism of serotonin by Bifidobacterium animalis F1-7 was revealed by RT-PCR and the results show that this most effective strain promotes intestinal peristalsis in zebrafish via the modulation of serotonin release and key genes for serotonin synthesis in zebrafish.

Polymersome-hydrogel composites with combined quick and long-term antibacterial activities.

We present an antibacterial polymersome-hydrogel composite that combines the advantages of both antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics. The polymersomes are self-assembled from poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(lysine-stat-phenylalanine) [PCL-b-P(Lys-stat-Phe)], exhibiting long-acting intrinsic antibacterial capabilities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, penicillin is encapsulated into the polymersomes, showing quick and enhanced antibacterial activities. Furthermore, a dynamic hydrogel network is prepared based on the Schiff base linkages between the aldehyde groups of dibenzaldehyde-functionalized PEG (DF-PEG) and the amino groups of chitosan. During this process, the penicillin-loaded polymersomes are grafted into the hydrogel networks by Schiff base linkages to afford polymersome-hydrogel composites, which exhibit two-stage antibacterial behavior: (1) penicillin can be released from the hydrogel networks for quick antibacterial function; (2) the polymersomes and the remaining penicillin can be further released for long-term antibacterial effects. Overall, this polymersome-hydrogel composite represents a new type of injectable antibacterial biomaterial for quick and long-acting antibacterial applications.

Rationally Separating the Corona and Membrane Functions of Polymer Vesicles for Enhanced T2 MRI and Drug Delivery.

It is an important challenge to in situ grow ultrafine super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in drug carriers such as polymer vesicles (also called polymersomes) while keeping their biodegradability for enhanced T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and drug delivery. Herein, we present a new strategy by rationally separating the corona and membrane functions of polymer vesicles to solve the above problem. We designed a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PEO43-b-PCL98-b-PAA25) triblock copolymer and self-assembled it into polymer vesicle. The PAA chains in the vesicle coronas are responsible for the in situ nanoprecipitation of ultrafine SPIONs, while the vesicle membrane composed of PCL is biodegradable. The SPIONs-decorated vesicle is water-dispersible, biocompatible, and slightly cytotoxic to normal human cells. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, energy disperse spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer revealed the formation of ultrafine super-paramagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (1.9 ± 0.3 nm) in the coronas of polymer vesicles. Furthermore, the CCK-8 assay revealed low cytotoxicity of vesicles against normal L02 liver cells without and with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The in vitro and in vivo MRI experiments confirmed the enhanced T2-weighted MRI sensitivity and excellent metastasis in mice. The loading and release experiments of an anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl), indicated that the Fe3O4-decorated magnetic vesicles have potential applications as a nanocarrier for anticancer drug delivery. Moreover, the polymer vesicle is degradable in the presence of enzyme such as Pseudomonas lipases, and the ultrafine Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the vesicle coronas are confirmed to be degradable under weakly acidic conditions. Overall, this decoration-in-vesicle-coronas strategy provides us with a new insight for preparing water-dispersible ultrafine super-paramagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with promising theranostic applications in biomedicine.