ABSTRACT
Numerous studies have demonstrated the vital roles of gut microbes in the health, immunity, nutrient metabolism, and behavior of adult worker honeybees. However, a few studies have been conducted on gut microbiota associated with the larval stage of honeybees. In the present study, we explored the role of a gut bacterium in larval development and larval-pupal transition in the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana. First, our examination of gut microbial profiling showed that Bombella apis, a larvae-associated bacterium, was the most dominant bacterium colonized in the fifth instar larvae. Second, we demonstrated that tetracycline, an antibiotic used to treat a honeybee bacterial brood disease, could cause the complete depletion of gut bacteria. This antibiotic-induced gut microbiome depletion in turn, significantly impacted the survivorship, pupation rate and emergence rate of the treated larvae. Furthermore, our analysis of gene expression pattens revealed noteworthy changes in key genes. The expression of genes responsible for encoding storage proteins vitellogenin (vg) and major royal jelly protein 1 (mrjp1) was significantly down-regulated in the tetracycline-treated larvae. Concurrently, the expression of krüppel homolog 1(kr-h1), a pivotal gene in endocrine signaling, increased, whilethe expression of broad-complex (br-c) gene that plays a key role in the ecdysone regulation decreased. These alterations indicated a disruption in the coordination of juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid synthesis. Finally, we cultivated B. apis isolated from the fifth instar worker larval of A. cerana and fed tetracycline-treated larvae with a diet replenished by B. apis. This intervention resulted in a significant improvement in the pupation rate, emergence rate, and overall survival rate of the treated larvae. Our findings demonstrate the positive impact of B. apis on honeybee larvae development, providing new evidence of the functional capacities of gut microbes in honeybee growth and development.
Subject(s)
Acetobacteraceae , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Insect Proteins , Bees , Animals , Larva/metabolism , Pupa/metabolism , Insect Proteins/genetics , Insect Proteins/metabolism , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism , Tetracyclines/metabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the clinical therapeutic effects on slow transit constipation (STC) among the combined therapy of acupuncture and herbal medicine, simple use of herbal medicine and simple use of western medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients of STC were randomized into three groups, 30 cases in each one. In the combined therapy group, acupuncture was used in combination with the modifiedformula. In the Chinese herbal medicine group, the modifiedformula was adopted. In the western medication group, mosapride citrate capsules were used. The duration of the treatment was 28 days. Before and after treatment, the colonic transit test was applied, the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were selected for assessment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the combined therapy group, better than 90.0% (27/30) in the Chinese herbal medicine group and 76.7% (23/30) in the western medication group (<0.05). In each group, before and after treatment, the residual marker amount was reduced apparently in the colonic transit test (all<0.01). After treatment, the residual marker amount in the combined therapy group was less than that in the Chinese herbal medicine group (<0.05) and that in the western medication group (<0.01). The residual marker amount in the Chinese herbal medicine group was less than that in the western medication group (<0.01). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of SAS and SDS were decreased in the combined therapy group and Chinese herbal medicine group (both<0.01). After treatment, the scores of SAS and SDS in the combined therapy group were lower obviously than those in the other two groups (both<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Under the guidance oftheory, the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine improve appa-rently colonic function and relieve the conditions of anxiety and depression in STC patients. The therapeutic effects are better than those treated with simple use of Chinese herbal medicine and simple use of western medication.</p>
ABSTRACT
During the course of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) treatment, meibomian gland massage is an effective auxiliary method. Based on an extrusion method using anti-phase massage rollers and a theory on envelope plane, a massage mechanism was proposed in this paper for the defect of the traditional mechanical assist massage structure to discharge obstruction of Meibomian gland more smoothly and to enlarge massage coverage. Meanwhile, for the case that the power of motor was significantly limited by size, an evaluation, about the input, output and loss, was carried out to initially verify the feasibility of the designed mechanism.
Subject(s)
Humans , Eyelid Diseases , Therapeutics , Massage , Meibomian GlandsABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of prevention and treatment of urinary retention for patients after abdominal surgery using electroacupuncture unit model 6805.Methods 180 cases of ab-dominal surgery patients were randomly divided into three groups, the treatment group(64 patients)were treated with electroacupuneture at the points of sanyinjiao, zhongji, pangguangyu, the control group 1(57patients)Was treated with moxibustion and foment were used in the control group 2(259 patients).The incidence rate of urinary retention Was compared between the three groups. Results The rate of spontaneously emiction was 56.25%in 30 minutes and 35.94%in 40 minutes in the treatment group, the results in the control group 1 and 2 were 22.81% and 15.79%,23.73% and 13.56% respectively. There were significant differences between three groups. Conclusions Electroacupuncture Can effectively prevent and treat urinary retention after abdominal operation.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine arbutin contents in different populations of Bergenia purpurascens in Yunnan province, for screening out the best resource and best part of B. purpurascens.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The SB-C18 column was used with methanol-water (15: 85) as the mobile phase, at the flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1) and column temperature of 30 degrees C, and 282 nm was selected as the detected wavelength.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>There were much significant differences in arbutin contents among various parts of the same B. population. The sequence of parts from high to low was lamina > petiole > root > rhizome. Arbutin contents in laminae of different B. populations were different at the most significant level and varied between 6.36% and 1.51%. Arbutin contents in rhizomes of different B. populations were also dignificantly different at varied between 1.72% and 0.40%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lamina is the best part for extracting arbutin. B. population distributed in Laojunshan mountain in Lanping county is the best resource for arbutin exploitation in B. purpurascens.</p>
Subject(s)
Arbutin , China , Plant Extracts , Saxifragaceae , ChemistryABSTRACT
Objective To study the effects of self-made Chinese sherbal gargle on AIDS related oral lesion.Methods 353 hospitalized AIDS patients from June 2007 to December 2009 were divided randomly into the experimental group(179 patients)and the control group(174 patients).ALL the patients were treated with systemic anti-viral therapy while the experimental group was mouthwashed by self-made herbal gargle and the control group with normal saline solution.The incidence of new oral lesion and the changes of the originM lesion were observed.Results The incidence of new oral lesion in the experimental group was obviously lower than that of the control group.The cure rate and effective rate of original oral lesion were much higher than the control group.Conclusions Self-made herbal gargle shows good effect in preventing and treating the AIDS related oral lesion.
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To study the effects of Pingchuan Recipe, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating bronchial asthma, on macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) contents and CD86 expression in a mouse model of bronchial asthma, and to investigate the mechanism of Pingchuan Recipe in regulating airway remodeling in mice with bronchial asthma.
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Objective To investigate the effects of esmolol and remifentanil on minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery. Methods One hundred ASAⅠorⅡpatients aged 18-60 yr undergoing upper abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=20 each):group A isoflurane alone; group B isoflurane + large dose esmolol; group C isoflurane + remifentanil; group D isoflurane + remifentanil + small dose esmolol and group E isoflurane + remifentanil + large dose esmolol. In group B and E esmolol was infused at 250 μg·kg-1·min-1 after a loading dose of 1 mg/kg (large dose esmolol). In group D esmolol was infused at 50 μg'kg-1·min-1 after a loading dose of 0.5 mg/kg (small dose esmolol). In group C, D and E remifentanil was infused at 0.05 μg·kg-1·min-1 after a loading dose of 0.25 μg/kg. As soon as the patients lost consciousness, tracheal intubation was facilitated with succinyl choline 1.5 mg/kg. The patients were mechanically ventilated (VT=8 ml/kg, RR 12 bpm, FiO2= 100% ). PET CO2 was maintained at 32-38 mm Hg and naso-pharyngeal temperature above 35.5℃. End-tidal isoflurane concentration was continuously monitored. If the patient moved his/her hand, foot, head or body within 60 seconds after skin incision was made the end-tidal isoflurane concentration was increased by 10% in the next patient; if the patient did not respond to skin incision the end-tidal concentration of isoflurane was decreased by 10% in the next patient. The initial end-tidal isoflurane concentration was 1.24% in group A and B, 0.78% in group C, D and E. Results The MAC of isoflurane was 1.24% ± O.14%, 1.22%±0.09%, 0.77%± 0.05%, 0.75% ±0.06%, 0.60%±0.05% in group A, B, C, D, E respectively. Remifentanil significantly reduced MAC of isoflurane in group C, D and E as compared with group A. The MAC of isoflurane was significantly lower in group E than in group C. Conclusion Remifentanil infusion at 0.05 μg·kg-1·min-1 combined with large dose esmolol can reduce MAC of isdlurane by 52% in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery.
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To observe the long-term therapeutic effect of the integrated therapy of radiotherapy and Chinese herbal drugs for treatment of abdominal malignant tumor and explore the applied value of differential treatment during radiotherapy. Sixty cases of abdominal malignant tumor with hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency or deficiency of both qi and blood were randomly divided into an integrated treatment group of 30 cases and a control group of 30 cases. The integrated treatment group was treated by combination of radiotherapy and Chinese herbal drugs and the control group by simple radiotherapy. The results shows that in the integrated treatment group, the score of physical state was 23.17 +/- 7.18, score of psychological quality 21.23 +/- 4.53 and total score of living quality 44.40 +/- 11.22, and survival rate for three years was 67.55%, which were significantly superior to those of the control group (P < 0.01). It is then concluded that differential treatment of TCM could play a valuable role in treating abdominal malignant tumor during radiotherapy, which can improve the long-term living quality and prolong the survival time of the patients.