Biosafety assessment of laying hens fed different treatments of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) under doxycycline stress.

The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is a resource insect that can utilize livestock and poultry feces. However, BSFs may also increase the risk of transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (AGRs) that are widespread in livestock and poultry farm environments. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the biosecurity risks of different BSF treatments in the laying chicken food chain using the "chicken manure-BSF-laying hens" model. Our results indicated that different BSF treatments significantly affected antibiotic residue, ARGs, MGEs, bacterial antibiotic resistance, and bacterial microbial community composition in the food chain of laying hens fed BSFs. These risks can be effectively reduced through starvation treatment and high-temperature grinding treatment. Comprehensive risk assessment analysis revealed that starvation combined with high-temperature milling (Group H) had the greatest effect.

A Pilot Study of Ratiometric Creatine CEST MRI Assessment of Rabbit Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism at 3 T.

BACKGROUND: pH MRI may provide useful information to evaluate metabolic disruption following ischemia. Radiofrequency amplitude-based creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CrCEST) ratiometric MRI is pH-sensitive, which could but has not been explored to examine muscle ischemia. PURPOSE: To investigate skeletal muscle energy metabolism alterations with CrCEST ratiometric MRI. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. ANIMAL MODEL: Seven adult New Zealand rabbits with ipsilateral hindlimb muscle ischemia. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T/two MRI scans, including MRA and CEST imaging, were performed under two B1 amplitudes of 0.5 and 1.25 µT after 2 hours of hindlimb muscle ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion recovery, respectively. ASSESSMENT: CEST effects of two energy metabolites of creatine and phosphocreatine (PCrCEST) were resolved with the multipool Lorentzian fitting approach. The pixel-wise CrCEST ratio was quantified by calculating the ratio of the resolved CrCEST peaks under a B1 amplitude of 1.25 µT to those under 0.5 µT in the entire muscle. STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: MRA images confirmed the blood flow loss and restoration in the ischemic hindlimb at the ischemia and recovery phases, respectively. Ischemic muscles exhibited a significant decrease of PCr at the ischemia (under both B1 amplitudes) and recovery phases (under B1 amplitude of 0.5 µT) and significantly increased CrCEST from normal tissues at both phases (under both B1 levels). Specifically, CrCEST decreased, and PCrCEST increased with the CrCEST ratio. Significantly strong correlations were observed among the CrCEST ratio, and CrCEST and PCrCEST under both B1 levels (r > 0.80). DATA CONCLUSION: The CrCEST ratio altered substantially with muscle pathological states and was closely related to CEST effects of energy metabolites of Cr and PCr, suggesting that the pH-sensitive CrCEST ratiometric MRI is feasible to evaluate muscle injuries at the metabolic level. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.

The tigecycline resistance gene tetX has an expensive fitness cost based on increased outer membrane permeability and metabolic burden in Escherichia coli.

Livestock-derived tetX-positive Escherichia coli with tigecycline resistance poses a serious risk to public health. Fitness costs, antibiotic residues, and other tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) are fundamental in determining the spread of tetX in the environment, but there is a lack of relevant studies. The results of this study showed that both tetO and tetX resulted in reduction in growth and an increased in the metabolic burden of E. coli, but the presence of doxycycline reversed this phenomenon. Moreover, the protection of E. coli growth and metabolism by tetO was superior to that of tetX in the presence of doxycycline, resulting in a much lower competitiveness of tetX-carrying E. coli than tetO-carrying E. coli. The results of RNA-seq showed that the increase in outer membrane proteins (ompC, ompF and ompT) of tetX-carrying E. coli resulted in increased membrane permeability and biofilm formation, which is an important reason for fitness costs. Overall, the increased membrane permeability and metabolic burden of E. coli is the mechanistic basis for the high fitness cost of tetX, and the spread of tetO may limit the spread of tetX. This study provides new insights into the rational use of tetracycline antibiotics to control the spread of tetX.

Testosterone administration modulates inequality aversion in healthy males: evidence from computational modeling.

Fairness concerns play a prominent role in promoting cooperation in human societies. Social preferences involving fairness concern have been associated with individual testosterone levels. However, the causal effects of testosterone administration on fairness-related decision making remain to be elucidated. Here, we used a randomized, double-blind, between-participant design and administered testosterone or placebo gel to 120 healthy young men. Three hours after administration, participants performed a modified Dictator Game from behavioral economics, in which they were asked to choose one of two monetary allocations between themselves and anonymous partners. Participants were either in a position of advantageous inequality (i.e., endowed with more than others) or disadvantageous inequality (i.e., endowed with less than others). Computational modeling showed that inequality-related preferences explained behavior better than competing models. Importantly, compared with the placebo group, the testosterone group showed significantly reduced aversion to advantageous inequality but enhanced aversion to disadvantageous inequality. These findings suggest that testosterone facilitates decisions that prioritize selfish economic motives over fairness concerns, which in turn may boost status-enhancing behaviors.

Assessment and mechanisms of microalgae growth inhibition by phosphonates: Effects of intrinsic toxicity and complexation.

The effects of phosphonates, the heavily-used antiscalants in reverse osmosis systems, on microalgae are controversial, although they are harmless to most aquatic organisms. Herein, we assessed the inhibitory effects of etidronic acid (HEDP) and diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP) on algal growth and revealed the mechanisms involved in both intrinsic toxicity and complexation. The phosphonates showed weak influences on Scenedesmus sp. LX1 in the first 4 d of cultivation. In contrast, a significant growth inhibition was observed subsequently with half maximal effective concentrations of 57.6 and 35.7 mg/L for HEDP and DTPMP, respectively, at 10 d. The phosphonates had little effect on cellular energy transfer and oxidative stress, quantified by adenosine triphosphate level and superoxide dismutase activity, respectively, demonstrating weak intrinsic toxicities to algal cells. Phosphonates blocked the algal assimilation of iron ions through complexation. Severe iron deficiency limited photosynthetic activity and caused chlorophyll decline, resulting in a functional loss of the photosystem followed by complete algal growth inhibition at the late cultivation stage. Our findings point to a potential ecological impact wherein harmful algal blooms are induced by the natural degradation of phosphonates due to the release of both iron and phosphate ions that stimulate algal regrowth after disinhibition.

Determination of ribavirin in chicken muscle by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new analytical method for the determination of ribavirin in chicken muscle using a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was developed and validated. Samples were extracted with acidified methanol (methanol:acetic acid, 99:1, v/v). The extract was further purified by QuEChERS method using primary-secondary amine (PSA) and C18. Finally, the extract was dried by nitrogen under 45°C and reconstituted in water. The separation was performed on a Hypercarb analytical column under a gradient elution. The mobile phase was composed of water buffered with ammonium acetate (2.0mM) and acetonitrile. The proposed method was validated according to the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The values of the decision limit (CCα) and the detection capability (CCß) were 1.1 and 1.5µg/kg, respectively. The mean recoveries of ribavirin ranged from 94.2% to 99.2%. The repeatability (expressed as coefficient of variation, CVr) of the method ranged from 4.5% to 4.9% and the reproducibility (CVR) of the method ranged from 4.8% to 5.4%. The method is demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of ribavirin in chicken muscle in conformity with the current EU performance requirements through validation. The total time required for the analysis of one sample, including sample preparation, was about 45min.

Laser speckle contrast imaging for assessment of abdominal visceral microcirculation in acute peritonitis: does sequential impairments exist?

OBJECTIVE: It is believed that the microcirculation of multiple organs is impaired during acute peritonitis, however whether distinct susceptibilities of visceral microvasculature exist is still unknown. The present study aims to verify whether the microcirculatory alterations occur sequentially among multiple abdominal viscera during acute peritonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute peritonitis was achieved on 29 Sprague-Dawley rats through colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP) model. With laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), the microcirculation of the liver, ileum and renal cortex was monitored in each rat at baseline before CASP sepsis and continued monitoring at 4h, 8h, or 12h after the surgery. Another 9 rats served for sham operation. One-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Dunnett's test was used for analysis. RESULTS: The ileum microcirculation was impaired earliest from 342.1±61.0 laser speckle perfusion unit (LSPU) at baseline to 271.7±74.0 LSPU at 4h (P<0.05), while the decline of renal microcirculation was not obvious until 8h after peritonitis (289.1±111.2 vs 376.2±53.4, P<0.05). However hepatic microcirculation was not significantly changed during 12h of observation period. CONCLUSION: The microcirculation of various viscera has shown distinct susceptibilities to acute peritonitis: the ileum is more susceptible than the kidney, while the hepatic microcirculation seems to be the most resistant to peritonitis.

Assessment of the translational value of mouse lupus models using clinically relevant biomarkers.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease with a poorly understood etiology that manifests with a diverse pathology. This heterogeneity has been a challenge to clinical drug development efforts. A related difficulty is the uncertain translational power of animal models used for evaluating potential drug targets and candidate therapeutics, because it is unlikely that any 1 preclinical model will recapitulate the spectrum of human disease. Therefore, multiple models, along with an understanding of the immune mechanisms that drive them, are necessary if we are to use them to identify valid drug targets and evaluate candidate therapies successfully. To this end, we have characterized several different mouse lupus models and report their differences with respect to biomarkers and symptoms that are representative of the human disease. We compared the pristane-induced mouse lupus disease model using 3 different strains (DBA/1, SJL, BALB/c), and the spontaneous NZB x NZW F1(NZB/W) mouse model. We show that the models differ significantly in their autoantibody profiles, disease manifestations such as nephritis and arthritis, and expression of type I interferon-regulated genes. Similar to the NZB/W model, pristane-induced disease in SJL mice manifests with nephritis and proteinuria, whereas the pristane-treated DBA/1 mice develop arthritis and an interferon-driven gene signature that closely resembles that in human patients. The elucidation of each model's strengths and the identification of translatable biomarkers yields insight for basic lupus research and drug development, and should assist in the proper selection of models for evaluating candidate targets and therapeutic strategies.

Brain activity in fairness consideration during asset distribution: does the initial ownership play a role?

Previous behavioral studies have shown that initial ownership influences individuals' fairness consideration and other-regarding behavior. However, it is not entirely clear whether initial ownership influences the brain activity when a recipient evaluates the fairness of asset distribution. In this study, we randomly assigned the bargaining property (monetary reward) to either the allocator or the recipient in the ultimatum game and let participants of the study, acting as recipients, receive either disadvantageous unequal, equal, or advantageous unequal offers from allocators while the event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Behavioral results showed that participants were more likely to reject disadvantageous unequal and equal offers when they initially owned the property as compared to when they did not. The two types of unequal offers evoked more negative going ERPs (the MFN) than the equal offers in an early time window and the differences were not modulated by the initial ownership. In a late time window, however, the P300 responses to division schemes were affected not only by the type of unequal offers but also by whom the property was initially assigned to. These findings suggest that while the MFN may function as a general mechanism that evaluates whether the offer is consistent or inconsistent with the equity rule, the P300 is sensitive to top-down controlled processes, into which factors related to the allocation of attentional resources, including initial ownership and personal interests, come to play.

[Application of Monte Carlo techniques in designing compensatory scheme of new cooperative medical system].

To design a workable compensatory scheme of new cooperative medical system (NCMS) in rural China, 'Monte Carlo Simulation Techniques' is developed based on the data of a multistage random sampling survey. The total compensation rate, the decreased percentages of poverty caused by diseases and the deficit ratio of fund a 0.3782, 0.6540 and -0.0794 respectively, when the main strategy of inpatient reimbursement is recognized as 'serious illness'. The deficit ratios of funding appeared to be 0.4840, 0.4091 and -0.3789 when the main strategy of outpatient reimbursement is recognized on minor diseases. Compensation for minor diseases is more important than that of serious diseases. Considering the further impact of minor diseases on peasants, we should incorporate compensation for minor diseases into the compensatory scheme of NCMS.

[Ligation and resection of the inferior vena cava during surgical removal of the retroperitoneal tumors involving the inferior vena cava: feasibility and safety assessment].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of excising or patching the inferior vena cava (IVC) without replacement in patients with primary retroperitoneal tumors (PRPT) involving the IVC. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 116 consecutive patients with PRPT presented to our Hospital between December 2007 and December 2008. IVC involvement was found in 11.2% of the cases, and in 93 cases receiving surgical tumor removal, the complete resection rate was 93.55%. According to the location of IVC involvement by the PRPT, the cases were classified into 3 groups with IVC involvement in the segment from the second hepatic portal vein to the renal vein (segment A), the segment on the bilateral renal vein plane (segment B), and the segment from the caval bifurcation to the renal vein (segment C). RESULTS: The most common vascular involvement occurred in segment C (61.54%, 8/13), and 2 cases presented with segment A involvement and 2 had segment B involvement. All the 3 segments of IVC were involved in 1 case. Five cases with IVC involvement received IVC patching only, and 4 had resection or ligation of the segment C of the IVC, and resection of the segment A and B of the IVC was performed in 2 and 1 case, respectively. One patient received complete resection of whole IVC involved. All patients recovered smoothly and were discharged. CONCLUSION: The infrarenal IVC can be ligated or resected safely without reconstruction. Combined resection of the bilateral renal vein and segment B of the IVC may result in renal insufficiency. IVC involvement and occlusion between the second hepatic portal and renal veins can be ligated safely without affecting the renal function.

[Reliability and validity of a Short-Form Health Survey Scale (SF-36), Chinese version used in an elderly population of Zhejiang province in China].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a Chinese version on the Short-Form Health Survey Scale (SF-36) among elderly population. METHODS: Questionnaire including SF-36 Chinese version was administered in a cross-sectional study from October to December 2007. 4241 elderly people over 60 years old from rural and urban area in Zhejiang province were face-to-face interviewed by well-trained investigators, and then analyses on correlation, reliability, factors, t-test and one-way ANOVA were made to evaluate on reliability and validity of the scale. RESULTS: The SF-36 Chinese version had good split-half reliability (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) and all the internal consistency Cronbach's alpha coefficients exceeded 0.8 except for VT (alpha = 0.65), SF (alpha = 0.65) and MH (alpha = 0.40). The correlative coefficients between each item and its domain were all greater than the 0.4 thresholds except item 9 - 2, and they were greater than the correlation between the item and other domains for all but item 9 - 8. These results demonstrated that the SF-36 Chinese version had good convergent validity and discriminant validity. The distribution of 35 items in 6 public factors (the cumulative variance = 67.04%) extracted from them was consistent with the basic conceived concept. All domains except MH had good validity to discriminate different categories. CONCLUSION: The SF-36 Chinese version had good reliability and validity. It was acceptable for the evaluation on quality of life in elderly population, but the reliability and validity of MH were relative low and the items such as 9 - 2, 9 - 8 in MH and 3 - 1 in PF were not suitable for Chinese elderly population.

Psychosocial adjustment among pediatric cancer patients and their parents.

Children with cancer face both physical and psychosocial challenges. However, there is not enough empirical evidence in Taiwan regarding how they and their families cope with their illness. The purpose of the present study was to explore the psychosocial impact of cancer on target children and their families as well as the degree of depression experienced by these children. Twenty-four pediatric cancer patients, aged 8 through 17 years, completed the Chinese version of Children Depression Inventory (CDI). Both these patients and 18 parents completed questionnaires about their psychosocial adjustment since the diagnosis of cancer. The results showed: (i) patients did not perceive significant changes in their psychosocial adjustment, whereas parents indicated significantly lower mood of patients and a slight decrease in the number of friends; (ii) both parents and siblings showed positive adjustment; and (iii) there was neither significant difference on the CDI scores between the pediatric cancer patients and a normative group, nor significant relationships between patients' CDI scores and demographic characteristics of both patients and their parents, parenting attitudes, as well as variables related to the illness. Lastly, the results are discussed in terms of issues of methodology and instruments. Possible direction for further investigations is suggested.