Dietary isoleucine supplementation enhances growth performance, modulates the expression of genes related to amino acid transporters and protein metabolism, and gut microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens.

This study investigated the effects of dietary isoleucine (Ile) on growth performance, intestinal expression of amino acid transporters, protein metabolism-related genes and intestinal microbiota in starter phase Chinese yellow-feathered chickens. Female Xinguang yellow-feathered chickens (n = 1,080, aged 1 d) were randomly distributed to 6 treatments, each with 6 replicates of 30 birds. Chickens were fed diets with 6 levels of total Ile (6.8, 7.6, 8.4, 9.2, 10.0, and 10.8 g/kg) for 30 d. The average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were improved with dietary Ile levels (P < 0.05). Plasma uric acid content and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase activity were linearly and quadratically decreased with increasing dietary Ile inclusion (P < 0.05). Dietary Ile level had a linear (P < 0.05) or quadratic (P < 0.05) effect on the jejunal expression of ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1. The relative expression of jejunal 20S proteasome subunit C2 and ileal muscle ring finger-containing protein 1 decreased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary Ile levels. Dietary Ile level had a linear (P = 0.069) or quadratic (P < 0.05) effect on the gene expression of solute carrier family 15 member 1 in jejunum and solute carrier family 7 member 1 in ileum. In addition, bacterial 16S rDNA full-length sequencing showed that dietary Ile increased the cecal abundances of the Firmicutes phylum, and Blautia, Lactobacillus, and unclassified_Lachnospiraceae genera, while decreased that of Proteobacteria, Alistipes, and Shigella. Dietary Ile levels affected growth performance and modulated gut microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens. The appropriate level of dietary Ile can upregulate the expression of intestinal protein synthesis-related protein kinase genes and concomitantly inhibit the expression of proteolysis-related cathepsin genes.

Effect of music intervention during hemodialysis: a comprehensive meta-analysis.

Aggravating disease and the accompanying increase in the frequency of hemodialysis interventions worsen the quality of life of patients leading to poor physical and psychological outcomes. Music-based interventions have been suggested to improve both the physical and psychological prognoses for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Two meta-analyses on the impact of music-based interventions on anxiety in patients undergoing hemodialysis failed to evaluate the impact of these interventions on other physiological outcomes. Therefore, in this study, we gather evidence on the effects of music-based interventions on physical and psychological outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. To determine the influence of music-based interventions on anxiety, pain, heart rate, and blood pressure (systolic, diastolic) in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis, we performed a systematic literature search adhering to PRISMA guidelines on the EMBASE, CENTRAL, Scopus, and MEDLINE academic databases. We performed meta-analyses to consolidate the evidence on the influence of music-based interventions on the physical and psychological outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. From 1,402 studies, we found eight eligible studies with 597 (264 women, 287 men) patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis (mean age, 56.9 ± 10.8 years). Among these patients, 298 received the music-based intervention and 299 were included as controls. Our meta-analysis revealed a small-to-medium effect of the music-based intervention to reduce pain levels (Hedge's g, -0.75), anxiety (-0.16), heart rate (-0.15), and systolic (-0.14) and diastolic blood pressure (-0.11) in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis as compared to the values of the same variables in the control group. The evidence from our analyses supports the beneficial impact of music-based interventions to alleviate anxiety and pain, and to reduce heart rate and blood pressure in these patients.

Effects of dietary incorporation of linseed oil with soybean isoflavone on fatty acid profiles and lipid metabolism-related gene expression in breast muscle of chickens.

The meat quality of chicken is an important factor affecting the consumer's health. It was hypothesized that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) could be effectively deposited in chicken, by incorporating antioxidation of soybean isoflavone (SI), which led to improved quality of chicken meat for good health of human beings. Effects of partial or complete dietary substitution of lard (LA) with linseed oil (LO), with or without SI on growth performance, biochemical indicators, meat quality, fatty acid profiles, lipid-related health indicators and gene expression of breast muscle were examined in chickens. A total of 900 males were fed a corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 4% LA, 2% LA + 2% LO and 4% LO and the latter two including 30 mg SI/kg (2% LA + 2% LO + SI and 4% LO + SI) from 29 to 66 days of age; each of the five dietary treatments included six replicates of 30 birds. Compared with the 4% LA diet, dietary 4% LO significantly increased the feed efficiency and had no negative effect on objective indices related to meat quality; LO significantly decreased plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol (TCH); abdominal fat percentage was significantly decreased in birds fed the 4% LO and 4% LO + SI diets. Chickens with LO diets resulted in higher contents of α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), EPA (C20:5n-3) and total n-3 PUFA, together with a lower content of palmitic acid (C16:0), lignoceric acid (C24:0), saturated fatty acids and n-6:n-3 ratio in breast muscle compared to 4% LA diet (P < 0.05); they also significantly decreased atherogenic index, thrombogenic index and increased the hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic ratio. Adding SI to the LO diets enhanced the contents of EPA and DHA (C22:6n-3), plasma total superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione and muscle GSH content, while decreased plasma total triglyceride and TCH and malondialdehyde content in plasma and breast muscle compared to its absence (P < 0.05). Expression in breast muscle of fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), FADS2, elongase 2 (ELOVL2) and ELOVL5 genes were significantly higher with the LO diets including SI than with the 4% LA diet. Significant interactions existed between LO level and inclusion of SI on EPA and TCH contents. These findings indicate that diet supplemented with LO combined with SI is an effective alternative when optimizing the nutritional value of chicken meat for human consumers.

Sodium and chloride requirements of yellow-feathered chickens between 22 and 42 days of age.

Sodium and chloride are the key factors maintaining normal osmotic pressure (OSM) and volume of the extracellular fluid, and influencing the acid-base balance of body fluids. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Na+ and Cl- level on growth performance, excreta moisture, blood biochemical parameters, intestinal Na+-glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) messenger RNA (mRNA), and Na+-H+ exchanger 2 (NHE2) mRNA, and to estimate the optimal dietary sodium and chlorine level for yellow-feathered chickens from 22 to 42days. A total of 900 22-day-old Lingnan yellow-feathered male chickens were randomly allotted to five treatments, each of which included six replicates of 30 chickens per floor pen. The basal control diet was based on corn and soybean meal (without added NaCl and NaHCO3). Treatments 2 to 5 consisted of the basal diet supplemented with equal weights of Na+ and Cl-, constituting 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4% of the diets. Supplemental dietary Na+ and Cl- improved the growth performance (P<0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) showed a quadratic broken-line regression to increasing dietary Na+ and Cl- (R2=0.979, P<0.001), and reached a plateau at 0.1%. Supplemental Na+ and Cl- increased (P<0.05) serum Na+ and OSM in serum and showed a quadratic broken-line regression (R2=0.997, P=0.004) at 0.11%. However, supplemental Na+ and Cl- decreased (P<0.05) serum levels of K+, glucose (GLU) and triglyceride. Higher levels of Na+and Cl- decreased duodenal NHE2 transcripts (P<0.05), but had no effect on ileal SGLT1 transcripts. The activity of Na+ /K+-ATPase in the duodenum decreased (P<0.05) with higher levels of dietary Na+ and Cl-. In conclusion, the optimal dietary Na+ and Cl- requirements for yellow-feathered chickens in the grower phase, from 22 to 42 days of age, to optimize ADG, serum Na+, OSM, K+ and GLU were 0.10%, 0.11%, 0.11%,0.17% and 0.16%, respectively, by regression analysis.

Effects of oxidative stress induced by high dosage of dietary iron ingested on intestinal damage and caecal microbiota in Chinese Yellow broilers.

The objective of this trial was to test the effects of oxidative stress induced by a high dosage of dietary iron on intestinal lesion and the microbiological compositions in caecum in Chinese Yellow broilers. A total of 450 1-day-old male chicks were randomly allotted into three groups. Supplemental iron (0, 700 and 1,400 mg/kg) was added to the basal diet resulting in three treatments containing 245, 908 and 1,651 mg/kg Fe (measured value) in diet respectively. Each treatment consisted of six replicate pens with 25 birds per pen. Jejunal enterocyte ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that a high dosage of dietary iron induced oxidative stress in broilers. Dilated endoplasmic reticulum (ER), autophagosome formation of jejunal enterocytes and decreased villi were caused by this oxidative stress. Compared to the control, concentration of the malondialdehyde (MDA) in jejunal mucosa in the 908 and 1,651 mg/kg Fe groups increased by 180% (p < .01) and 155% respectively (p < .01); activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) increased in jejunum (p < .01); and the concentration of plasma reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased by 34.9% (p < .01) in birds fed 1,651 mg/kg Fe. Gene expression of nuclear factor, erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), in the higher dietary Fe groups was enhanced (p < .05). Species of microbial flora in caecum increased caused by oxidative stress. The PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) dendrograms revealed different microbiota (65% similarity coefficient) between the control and iron-supplemented groups (p < .05). These data suggest high dosage of iron supplement in feed diet can induce oxidative stress in Chinese Yellow broilers, and composition of microbiota in the caecum changed. It implied there should be no addition of excess iron when formulating diets in Chinese Yellow broilers.

Effects of high peanut meal with different crude protein level supplemented with amino acids on performance, carcass traits and nitrogen retention of Chinese Yellow broilers.

This study assessed the effects of feeding high peanut meal diets of reduced crude protein (CP) content supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) on growth performance, carcass traits, biochemical indices in plasma, and nitrogen (N) retention of male and female Lingnan Yellow broilers from day 22 to day 42 of age. Each of four dietary treatments (19%, 18%, 17% or 16% CP, dietary CP level reduced by the reduced dietary peanut meal) contained six replicate pens with 35 birds of each sex (males and females with equal number), separately (1680 in total). The three diets with reduced CP were supplemented with 5 EAA to meet the requirements and provide the same levels as in the 19% CP diet. Average daily gain decreased and feed:gain ratio was worse in both sexes with reduced CP% (linear, p < 0.05). Dressing percentage increased as CP% decreased in males (linear, p < 0.05) and thigh muscle percentage reduced slightly in females (linear, p < 0.05). Abdominal fat percentage of males fed the 17% CP was the lowest (quadratic, p < 0.05). The plasma metabolic indices, concentrations of triglycerides and malondialdehyde, showed linear responses to reduced CP% (p < 0.05) with triglycerides increasing while malondialdehyde decreased. Plasma uric acid increased in females (linear, p < 0.05), but not in males, as CP% decreased. Efficiency of N retention increased and N excretion strikingly decreased with lower CP diets (p < 0.001), and both variables showed significant (p < 0.05) linear and quadratic effects. It is concluded that there was a limit to which dietary CP of broilers could be reduced without adverse effects. Dietary CP could be reduced to 17% for males and 18% for females (or 18% when fed together) between day 22 and day 42, if diets are supplemented with synthetic EAA.

Protective effects of zinc-bearing clinoptilolite on broilers challenged with Salmonella pullorum.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc-bearing clinoptilolite (ZnCP) on broilers challenged with Salmonella pullorum for a 21-d feeding trial. A total of 240 one-day-old chickens was allocated into 4 treatment groups: 1) nonchallenged control (CON) fed basal diet; 2) S. pullorum-challenged control (SCC) fed basal diet; 3) Salmonella challenge fed basal diet plus antibiotic (ANT); 4) Salmonella challenge fed basal diet plus 0.2% ZnCP (ZnCP). Compared with CON, Salmonella challenge caused adverse effects on ADG (P<0.05), ADFI, feed/gain ratio in broilers, Salmonella and Lactobacillus colonies at 7 d (P<0.05) and 21 d, and serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. Moreover, the relative weight of spleen of 21-d birds, malondialdehyde (MDA) content of jejunual and ileal mucosa at 21 d, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of ileal mucosa were also significantly negatively affected by SCC treatment (P<0.05). Supplementation of ZnCP in basal diet significantly improved ADG and reduced Salmonella colonies in cecal contents and serum DAO activity both at 7 and 21 d (P<0.05), compared with SCC. Furthermore, supplementation with ZnCP as well as ANT significantly decreased the relative weight of spleen at 21 d, reduced MDA contents of jejunual and ileal mucosa at 21 d (P<0.05), and improved the SOD activity of ileal mucosa at 7 d as compared with SCC (P<0.05). The results suggested that ZnCP addition in feed exerted protective effects on performance and gut health of broilers against S. pullorum infection.

Effects of spray-dried animal plasma on serous and intestinal redox status and cytokines of neonatal piglets.

The study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, as well as serum and intestinal cytokines and antioxidant indicators of artificially reared neonatal piglets. Three diets, 1) control (a fish meal basal diet), 2) SDAP (containing 10% SDAP), and 3) autoclaved SDAP (auSDAP; containing 10% auSDAP), were fed to 36 weaned piglets (3 d old), which were randomly allotted to 3 groups. At 21 d of age, blood and intestinal mucosal samples were collected from all piglets after they were slaughtered. Compared with the control, both SDAP and auSDAP improved ADFI and duodenal villus height of piglets (P < 0.05), whereas SDAP increased ADG and duodenal villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). Piglets fed SDAP and auSDAP had reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in mucosa (P < 0.05). The concentration of serum MDA was decreased and mucosal catalase (CAT) activities were increased in piglets fed SDAP diet than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). In the mucosa, both SDAP and auSDAP decreased tumor necrosis factor α, IL-6, transforming growth factor ß, and soluble IL-2 receptor contents (P < 0.05). Mucosal IL-1ß was decreased in SDAP compared with auSDAP and control groups (P < 0.05). The SDAP and control groups had increased mucosal IL-2 compared with auSDAP group (P < 0.05). The cytokines in serum were not affected by SDAP and auSDAP. The results indicate that both SDAP and auSDAP improved the growth performance of neonatal piglets, whereas the SDAP had a greater effect. The benefits of SDAP probably resulted from the promotion of the intestinal development, which were accompanied by the increased antioxidant capacity and the decreased production of inflammatory factors in the intestinal mucosa.

Dietary supplementation with carnosine improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of finishing pigs.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary carnosine (ß-alanyl-L-histidine) supplementation on antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs. 72 pigs approximately 60 kg were fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg carnosine per kg diet for 8 weeks. Carnosine supplementation did not affect growth performance and carcass traits of pigs. However, the addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased pH value of muscle at 45 min, 24 h and 48 h postmortem. It also decreased drip loss at 48 h postmortem and increased redness value of muscle at 45 min postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet enhanced glycogen concentration and Ca-ATPase activity at 24 and 48 h postmortem, and reduced malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein complexes concentrations in muscle at 24 h postmortem (p < 0.05). The addition of 100 mg carnosine per kg diet increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in plasma, liver or muscle, as well as SOD and GSH-Px genes expression in muscle (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings indicate that carnosine supplementation improves antioxidant capacity and meat quality of pigs.

Conjugated linoleic acid differentially regulates fat deposition in backfat and longissimus muscle of finishing pigs.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of extracellular CLA on proliferation and differentiation of cultured adipocytes and its dietary supplementation on backfat and intramuscular fat deposition in finishing pigs. Seven-day-old Duroc x Landrace x Large White pigs were killed to obtain adipocytes for culture. Adding 3 forms of CLA (cis-9, trans-11 CLA, trans-10, cis-12 CLA, or CLA mixture) at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 microM to culture medium for 10 d increased cell differentiation (P < 0.05). In addition, 3 forms of CLA enhanced cell proliferation (P < 0.05) at 50 to 350 microM and inhibited cell proliferation (P < 0.05) at a concentration of 400 microM. Seventy-two Duroc x Landrace x Large White crossbred gilts weighing 60.7 +/- 2.8 kg were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments (control, 1.25% CLA, and 2.5% CLA). The pigs were slaughtered at 100.0 +/- 5.7 kg. Dietary CLA increased lean percentage (3.5 to 4.7%; P = 0.07), intramuscular fat content (P < 0.05), and shear force (P < 0.05), but reduced 10th- and first-rib backfat depth (P

Effects of dietary glycyl-glutamine on growth performance, small intestinal integrity, and immune responses of weaning piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of dietary glycyl-glutamine (Gly-Gln) on postweaning growth, small intestinal morphology, and immune response of stressed or nonstressed piglets. Pigs (n = 144; initially 4.49 kg and 14 d of age) were randomly allocated to 24 pens (6 pigs/pen) in an environmentally controlled nursery and assigned to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (PBS vs. LPS) and Gly-Gln supplementation (0 vs. 0.15%) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 6 pens/treatment. The LPS was the stress-inducing agent, and it was injected on d 7 and 14 of the 21-d experiment. Inflammatory challenge with LPS reduced ADG (P < 0.05) and tended to reduce ADFI (P = 0.06) of piglets from d 7 to 21 of the experiment. Supplementation of Gly-Gln increased ADG and G:F from d 0 to 21 (P < 0.05). On d 21 (1 wk after the second LPS injection), there was an LPS challenge x diet Gly-Gln interaction for ADFI (P < 0.05), but it was difficult to ascertain whether Gly-Gln increased ADFI. A trend for an LPS challenge x diet Gly-Gln interaction was observed for ADG (P = 0.07). There were no differences in lymphocyte proliferation among treatments. The LPS challenge increased crypt depth (CD) of the duodenum and decreased the ratio of villus height (VH) to CD of the ileum (P < 0.05) on d 14 (1 wk after the first LPS injection), whereas dietary supplementation of Gly-Gln increased VH of the ileum and VH:CD of the duodenum (P < 0.05). The concentration of peripheral blood IL-1beta was increased by injection of LPS (P < 0.05) and was decreased by dietary Gly-Gln supplementation during the experimental period (P < 0.05); however, there was no interaction of LPS challenge x Gly-Gln addition for IL-1beta concentration. Concentrations of peripheral blood IL-2 tended to increase at d 14 (P = 0.09) and soluble IL-2 receptor tended to decrease at d 7 (P = 0.06) in piglets supplemented with Gly-Gln; therefore, the peripheral blood IL-2/soluble IL-2 receptor system tended to favor the secretion of IL-2 during the first 2 wk of the experiment. In conclusion, considerable suppression of growth and immune function occurred in early weaning piglets challenged with LPS, and such depression could be alleviated by dietary Gly-Gln supplementation independent of the LPS challenge.

Effects of soybean isoflavone on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidation in male broilers.

To investigate the effects of a synthetic soybean isoflavone (ISF) on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidation in male broilers, 1,500 birds that were 42 d old were allotted to 5 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment (50 birds per replicate). Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg of ISF/kg, respectively, for a period of 3 wk ad libitum. The results showed that dietary supplementations with 10 or 20 mg of ISF/kg increased weight gain by 13.6 and 16.2% (P < 0.01) and elevated feed intake by 7.37% (P < 0.05) and 11.2% (P < 0.01), respectively. Addition of 10 mg of ISF/kg decreased feed:gain by 5.5% (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 40 mg of ISF/kg in the diet slightly increased water-holding capacity by 17.24% (P < 0.1), and the addition of 20 or 40 mg/kg of ISF significantly increased the pH value of meat (P < 0.01), although adding 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg increased the lightness of meat color (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde production was slightly reduced in plasma of 20 mg of ISF/kg supplemented chickens (P < 0.1) and significantly decreased in breast muscles of 20, 40, or 80 mg of ISF/kg supplemented chickens (P < 0.01). The addition of 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg significantly increased total antioxidant capability (P < 0.01) and slightly elevated total superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.1) in plasma of chickens. The dose of 80 mg of ISF/kg slightly improved catalase activity in plasma (P < 0.06). In breast muscle, treatment of birds with 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg caused an increase of total superoxide dismutase activity by 25.36% (P < 0.05) or 63.93% (P < 0.01). Catalase activity significantly increased by 70.61% by the supplemental ISF at the 40-mg level (P < 0.05). Also, 10, 20, or 40 mg doses of ISF/kg decreased lactic acid production (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that dietary ISF could improve growth performance and meat quality by decreasing lipid peroxidation and improving antioxidative status in male broilers.

[Effect of central administration of motilin on the activity of gastric-related neurons in brain stem and gastric motility of rats].

To investigate the effect of microinjection of motilin into ventral medail hypothalamus (VMH) or intracerebroventricle (icv) on gastric motility, extracellular unit responses of dorsal vagal complex (DVC) in anesthetized rats and gastric motility of conscious rats were recorded. The results are as follows. (1) The firing rate of gastric distention related neurons in DVC was modified. (2) VMH and icv administration of motilin induced obvious enhancement in gastric motility. (3) The effect of motilin on gastric motility was abolished by vagotomy. These results imply that central motilin appears to work as an excitatory neuromodulator in the regulation of gastric motility through VMH-DVC-vagal nerve axis.

Effect of diallyl trisulfide on the activation of T cell and macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity.

At high concentration (50 micrograms/ml), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) had an inhibitory effect on T cell activation (compared with control group, P < 0.05). But at appropriate concentrations (3.125-12.5 micrograms/ml), DATS augmented the activation of T lymphocytes by Con A (compared with control group, P < 0.01). The augmentation of T cell activation by DATS was related to its inhibitory effect on the production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages. In a wide range of concentrations (1-100 micrograms/ml), DATS can inhibit the production of NO by macrophages (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In addition, DATS can antagonize the inhibition of tumor-derived immunosuppressive factors produced by S180 cells and Ehrlich ascitic cancer cells on the activation of T cells, and reduce the inhibitory rate significantly (P < 0.01). DATS, despite its inhibition of the production of NO by macrophages, can significantly enhance the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by macrophages. When macrophages were pretreated with DATS for 24 h, the cytotoxicity % of macrophages to three tumor cell lines was significantly higher than that in corresponding control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the presence of both DATS and LPS, the cytotoxicity of macrophages was further enhanced so that the cytotoxicity % of macrophages to tumor cells was significantly higher than either that in the presence of DATS alone or that in the presence of LPS alone (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). These results indicate that DATS can augment the activation of T cells and enhance the anti-tumor function of macrophage, suggesting that DATS may be potentially useful in tumor therapy.

[Inhibitory effect of selenium on complement activation and its clinical significance].

In immunopathological study of complement activation, we recognised a marked inhibitory effect of sodium selenite on the haemolysis induced by complement fixation in vitro, thereafter on mouse complement activation in vivo induced by endotoxin, inulin or aggregated IgG indicated by a special rocket immunoelectrophoresis test of C3 split products. The effective inhibition usually began at the concentration of 0.002 mol/L of selenite in vitro, and 20 micrograms/25 g BW intravenously in vivo. The inhibitory effect was found evident on alternative pathway. This inhibitory effect was further identified in cases of epidemic haemorrhagic fever (EHF) treated by multiple dosages of 2 mg selenite per day in the first 9 days of hospitalization other than general management of 80 severe cases, including fulminant and moderate grade EHF cases. C3 activation was inhibited accordingly and the mortalities also dropped markedly from 100% of the non-treated group to 36% of the selenite treated group of fulminant type, and from 22% to zero of severe type group.

Effect of "re du qing" on the activation, proliferation and membrane fluidity of lymphocytes.

Effects of Chinese Medicinal Preparation "Re Du Qing" (RDQ) on the activation, proliferation and membrane fluidity of T lymphocytes from human peripheral blood were studied by means of 3H-TdR incorporation and DPH fluorescence polarization. The results showed that "RDQ" can: 1) significantly inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes; 2) restrain the proliferation of activated T lymphoblasts in the presence of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2); and 3) increase the membrane fluidity of T lymphocytes and antagonize the decreased fluidity of lymphocyte membrane mediated by Con A or PHA. The functional abnormalities of T lymphocytes in some autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and the usefulness of RDQ in the treatment of these diseases were also discussed.