Probiotics maintain intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A levels in healthy formula-fed infants: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Formula-fed infants are more susceptible to infectious diseases because they lack the maternal immune factors transferred from breast milk, while their own immune system is still immature. As timely probiotic administration was suggested to promote immune system development in formula-fed infants, this study aimed at assessing the safety and the effects of a probiotic supplement (Bifidobacterium infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071, and Lactobacillus helveticus R0052) on mucosal immune competence and digestive function in formula-fed infants. Healthy infants (3.5-6 months old) were randomised to receive either probiotic- (n=66) or placebo-supplemented (n=66) formula once a day for four weeks. In the probiotics group, faecal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels remained similar between visit 2 (baseline; V2) and visit 3 (end-of-treatment; V3), but decreased in the placebo group. Changes in SIgA levels following treatment (log10ΔV3-V2 [95%CI]) between the probiotic and placebo groups were statistically significant (23 ng/dl [-57;102] and -137 ng/dl [-212;-62], respectively (P=0.0044; ANCOVA)). While log10ΔV3-V2 [95%CI] for salivary SIgA levels increased in both groups, this trend was more pronounced in the probiotics than in the placebo group with an increase of 123 ng/dl [9;236] and 37 ng/dL [-72;147], respectively (P=0.2829; ANCOVA). The weekly average number of stools/day was significantly higher in the probiotics group compared to placebo during the last week of treatment for the per protocol population. There was no difference in microbiota composition or anthropometric parameters between groups. No serious adverse event was reported, and all adverse events were mild and unrelated to the product or study. Our results show that formula-fed infants receiving probiotics maintained higher faecal SIgA levels at the end of the four-week treatment period, suggesting a positive effect of probiotics on SIgA production. This study demonstrates the safety of this probiotic formulation in infants. Formula-fed infants may benefit from probiotics supplementation to sustain the development of mucosal immunity.

Polyketides with different post-modifications from desert endophytic fungus Paraphoma sp.

Three new polyketides 4,6,8-trihydroxy-5-methyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (1), 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (2) and 1-(4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1,7-dimethyl-3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-1-yl) ethyl acetate (3) together with seven known analogues (4-10) were isolated from desert endophytic fungus Paraphoma sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of NMR data. The absolute configuration of (1-3) was established on the basis of CD experiments. The possible biosynthetic pathway of compounds (1-10) was suggested, which implied that these secondary metabolites might be originated from polyketide biosynthesis with different post-modification reactions. Compounds 2, and 5-8 were evaluated for bioactivities against plant pathogen A. solani, whereas none of them displayed any biological effects. In addition, compounds 1, 2 and 5-10 were also tested for cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2 cells, MCF-7 cells and Hela cells) without biological effects.

[Analysis of related factors for primary hepatic carcinoma caused by chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C].

Objective: To explore the related factors for primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) caused by chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatitis C (CHC). Methods: According to the principle of cross-sectional study, a cluster random sample method was used, a total of 366 chronic hepatitis patients in hospitals were recruited from three provincial tertiary hospitals in Shanxi, Henan and Jilin between July 2016 and October 2016, respectively. Using a self-designed unified questionnaire, face-to-face interviews was conducted on subjects, including sex, age, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, green tea consumption, fish consumption, smoking, HBV/HCV diagnosis and treatment, diabetes mellitus, family history of PHC (whether PHC in first-degree relatives), etc. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression were performed to identify the related factors for PHC with CHB and CHC. According to the clinical diagnosis the patients were divided into a chronic hepatitis group (not developing to PHC) and a PHC group. Results: Among 366 cases patients, 287 (78.4%) cases were male, 79 cases were female (21.6%), average age was (52.7±9.3) years. 202 cases were chronic hepatitis group, 164 cases were PHC group. Multivariate unconditional logistics regression analysis indicated that alcohol consumption (odds ratio (OR)=2.11, 95%CI: 1.18-3.75), family history of PHC (OR=5.12, 95%CI: 2.60-10.08) were positively correlated with the development of PHC in chronic b, green tea consumption (OR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.23-0.88), antiviral treatment (OR=0.19, 95%CI: 0.11-0.32) were negatively correlated. Alcohol consumption (OR=3.98, 95%CI: 1.14-13.85) was positively correlated with the development of PHC in chronic c, antiviral treatment (OR=0.14, 95%CI: 0.04-0.50) was negatively correlated. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption, family history of PHC, green tea consumption and antiviral treatment were the related factors for the development of PHC in chronic hepatitis b. Alcohol consumption and antiviral treatment were the related factors for the development of PHC in chronic hepatitis c.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Chinese herb of Dendrobium loddigesii.

As an invaluable herb, Dendrobium loddigesii is widely used in Chinese medicinal field. In order to develop a convenient and efficient identification method and investigate the genetic diversity and structure of this species, twelve microsatellite loci were isolated from two microsatellite-enriched libraries. Twenty-six individuals from Baise population were analysed. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.174 to 0.617 and from 0.182 to 0.608, respectively. These microsatellite loci characterized from D. loddigesii will contribute to research on the individual authentication, population structure, genetic diversity and conservation of this species and its similar species.

SU-E-T-109: An Evaluation of a Newly Available Portal Dosimetry QA Tool for SRS Dynamic Arc and VMAT.

PURPOSE: In our institute, the MatriXX has been used for IMRT, VMAT and dynamic arc QA. However, the small fields (<3cm) shaped by HDMLC for SRS dynamic arc (DA) present QA measurement issues when using the MatriXX due to its limited resolution (7.6 mm). A recently available portal dosimetry (PD) software tool in Eclipse Version 10 is capable of performing QA for arc plans. This study is to evaluate this new tool for QA. METHODS: EPID calibration was performed using a Varian Novalis TX unit with HDMLCs for a 6X high dose rate SRS beam. The PDIP algorithm was configured using measured beam data. Brainlab iPlan was used to generate the DA patient treatment plans. The plans were then exported to Aria via DICOM RT. A verification plan was created in Eclipse and the predicted portal dose calculated. The comparison was done between predicted and measured portal dose distributions. RESULTS: Compared with chamber array analysis, the measured portal dose shows significant improvement in correlation with predicted dose. To eliminate the uncertainty of dose normalization, absolute CU is chosen for analysis. Gamma factor was studied. Thecriterion was set at 3%/1mm using a 10% dose threshold such that 95% of the pixels had a gamma <1. QA was performed on 9 plans and the average gamma passing rate is 98.5%, with passing rates ranging from 95% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: With approximately 0.7mm resolution, it is shown that the newly available PD tool is capable of overcoming the limitations of chamber arrays for small field SRS QA and is also suitable for HDMLC QA to provide detailed dose comparison with highly modulated dose profiles within a small treatment field. In addition, the time needed to perform the QA procedure using the PD tool is significantly shortened compared to the MatriXX.

The effects of fixed orthodontic appliances on saliva flow rate and saliva electrolyte concentrations.

Fixed appliance orthodontic treatment may affect local saliva secretion; however, there is limited information available about this respect in the literature. Understanding how fixed appliance orthodontic treatment affects local saliva secretion could provide insight on possible contributions of salivary changes towards decalcification. In this study, we found that during the first month of fixed orthodontic treatment, the whole saliva flow rate, upper labial saliva flow rate and concentrations of whole saliva sodium and chlorine increased significantly, while the concentrations of calcium, phosphorous and potassium in whole saliva decreased. However, all these were in normal levels after 3 months. This study demonstrated that saliva flow rate was increased and saliva electrolytes were changed at early stage when placing fixed orthodontic appliances, which was considered due to increased mechanosensation.

Analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammatory pain in mice: a model of antipain treatment by acupuncture in mice.

Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied bilaterally to the acupoints of Zu-san-li (ST-36) and Kun-lun (BL-60) in the hindlimbs of mice. The therapeutic effect of EA on inflammatory pain induced by an ipsilateral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the right paw of the mouse was investigated in this study. The time of paw-withdrawal latency (PWL) was used as an indicator for judging the intensity of the pain induced by the CFA injection. The EA effects were divided into immediate (PWL tests within 2 h after EA treatment) and cumulative (PWL tests during and after repetitive EA treatments for 3 weeks) effects. As immediate effects, PWL was significantly shortened in the CFA-injected paw, but was again prolonged 20 min after an EA treatment and lasted until 30 min after. As cumulative effects, PWL was significantly shortened in the CFA-injected paw, but recovered from the 2nd to the 8th day during repetitive EA treatments. No such effects could be observed after sham EA treatment, which resulted in behavior similar to that in untreated animals. These results demonstrate that the CFA-induced inflammatory pain in mice is an ideal model system for the investigation of EA effects and may serve as a valuable reference for the clinical treatment of inflammatory pain in human beings. Furthermore, the mouse pain model opens the possibility to apply the investigation also to transgenic mice.

Constituents from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

The isolation of griffonilide (1), lithospermoside (2) and magnoflorine (3) from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides is reported.

[Analysis of tannins in Fructus Chebulae and its confusion varieties by HPCE].

AIM: To analyze the hydrolyzable tannins-chebulinic acid (I) and chebulagic acid(II) in Fructus Chebulae and its confusion varieties by using high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method. METHODS: Using a capillary (375 microns OD x 50 microns ID; 81.5 cm x 61.5 cm) and a power supply set at 24 kV, with phosphate-borate buffer containing 20 mmol.L-1 Na2HPO4-60 mmol.L-1 boric acid and a UV detector at 280 nm, sample solution was loaded in decompression mode at the positive end of the capillary, the loading time was 5 s. RESULTS: The linear ranges of I and II were 0.0842-0.842 and 0.842 and 0.0940-0.940 mg.mL-1 respectively, the correlation coefficient were 0.9966 and 0.9957, the average recoveries were 95.6% (RSD = 4.0%, n = 5) and 95.0% (RSD = 4.4%, n = 5), the RSDs (n = 5) of measurement precision test were 2.2% and 1.7%, the RSDs (n = 6) of reproduction test were 5.4% and 4.0% respectively. The contents of I and II were obviously interrelated with the variety and characteristics of Fructus Chebulae, the contents of I and II in the confusion varieties of Fructus Chebulae were very low. CONCLUSION: It is suitable to use I and II as the criterion in quality evaluation of Fructus Chebulae, and the HPCE method is effective for quality evaluation of the crude Fructus Chebulae.

[Assay of three hydrolyzable tannins in Fructus Chebulae from different habitats by RP-HPLC].

Three hydrolyzable tannins chebulinic acid (I), chebulagic acid(II) and 1,3, 6-tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (III) in Fructus Chebulae from different habitats were determined by RP-HPLC method. The contents of I and II were obviously interrelated with the variety and characteristics of Fructus Chebulae. It's suitable to use I and II as indexes in quality evaluation of the crude drug of Fructus Chebulae.

Measurement of Prepl Pwall factors in electron beams and in a 60Co beam for plane-parallel chambers.

This paper describes a method to measure the product of Prepl Pwall correction factors for ionization chambers and presents our measured values of Prepl Pwall for Markus plane-parallel chambers in electron beams. It is shown that the measured values of Prepl Pwall can be fitted to an equation, Prepl Pwall = c1 + c2 R50 + c3 (R50)2, for Markus chambers at the new reference depth for electron beams (6 MeV < or = nominal energy E < or = 20 MeV). We also present our measured values of Prepl Pwall for NACP and Markus chambers in a water phantom irradiated in a 60Co beam.

Measurements of electron beam peak scatter factors.

We have measured the peak scatter factor (PSF) for electron beams which in analogy to photon beams is defined as the ratio of the absorbed dose to water at the depth of dose maximum in a water phantom to the absorbed dose in free air at the same location for a given incident beam. In this study we have measured the PSFs as a function of the incident electron beam energy and field size. We have used both an RK ionization chamber and a silicon diode as radiation detectors. After applying the water/air stopping power ratio and fluence correction factors to the ionization chamber readings, the values of measured PSFs by using two different detectors are in a good agreement. The results show that the value of PSF increases with the increase of the field size and decreases with the increase of the beam energy. The range of the variation with field size between 2 x 2 and 10 x 10 cm2 is 1.24-1.42, 1.15-1.30, 1.15-1.17 for 6, 11, and 20 MeV beams, respectively.

[Clinical study on effect of bushen jiangu capsule on postmenopausal osteoporosis].

The therapeutic effect of Kidney Tonifying principle and Bushen Jiangu (BSJG) capsule on postmenopausal osteoporosis (17 cases) was observed and compared with calcium treatment group (17 cases) in double-blind method. The result showed that 3 months after treatment with BSJG capsule, the symptoms of 92.85% patients were improved, and 6 months after treatment, the bone density (BD) of lumbar vertebra of 68.8% patients was significantly higher than that of before treatment, but the BD of control group was lower (P < 0.05). This suggested that BSJG capsule could prevent and improve postmenopausal osteoporosis. The therapeutic mechanisms probably is improving the bone formation and declining the bone absorption.

Experimental study of chuanxiong on cerebrovascular hemodynamic parameters.

In the experimental rabbit arteriosclerosis, the change of the cerebrovascular hemodynamic parameters (CVHP) and the effect of Chuanxiong (CX) on CVHP were observed. In arteriosclerosis group (AS group), the mean flow (Qmean), mean velocity (Vmean), maximal velocity (Vmax) and minimal velocity (Vmin) of the carotid blood flow and cerebrovascular compliance for zero pressure (CO) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, 0.01), but the values of cerebrovascular peripheral resistance (R) and characteristic impedance (Zc) were significantly increased (P < 0.05 and 0.01), and the value of R showed significant positive correlation with the extent of carotid lesions (P < 0.01). All indexes of CVHP of the Chuanxiong group (CX group) were close to and had no significant difference from those of the normal group (N group) but Qmean, Vmean, Vmin, CO and R were significantly better than those of the AS group (P < 0.05, 0.01). These results showed that CX can effectively improve cerebrovascular hemodynamics.

[Animal experiments on meridian-reaching actions of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs].

With the level variations of cAMP and cGMP in cat tissues as the criteria, the meridian actions reaching of Fructus Schisandrae, Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae and Herba Houttuyniae were studied tentatively in animal experiments. The result obtained in this way approximates to the understanding of the meridian reaching actions of Chinese medicinal herbs as approved by traditional Chinese medicine.

[Primary observation on antidotal effect of the Chinese drug mutong against fuzi].

Mutong can reduce Fuzi's toxicity markedly. This reducing effect is directly proportional to the dosage of Mutong within a certain range and the content of alkaloid in Fuzi drops clearly after Fuzi and Mutong are used in the same prescription.

[Effects of Epimedium sagittatum Maxim. Polysaccharides on DNA synthesis of bone marrow cells of "yang deficiency" animal model caused by hydroxyurea].

A study was made on the effects of Epimedium sagittatum polysaccharides on DNA synthesis of bone marrow cells of "yang deficiency" animal model caused by hydroxyurea with methods of cell culture in vitro and determination of 3H-TdR incorporating DNA of bone marrow cells. The results showed that after the treatment with 100 micrograms of Epimedium sagittatum polysaccharides, the cell multiplication rate was increased by 72% and DNA synthesis rate increased by 68%, in 1 x 10(6) cells.

[Experimental study of thyroid hormone and bone metabolism in the rat].

Thyroid hormones (T3, T4) stimulate bone turnover. Calcitonin is a potent inhibitor of osteoporostic bone resorption. In patients with thyrotoxicosis, bone mineral content is reduced. We investigated the influence of calcitonin deficiency in thyroidectomized parathyroid-autotransplanted rats with L-thyroxine (T4) supplementation. Thyroidectomy resulted in a reduction of bone volume, bone calcium content and in a decrease in trabecular bone volume. T4-supplementation corrected this loss of bone calcium content but not trabecular bone volume. In thyroidectomized parathyroid-autotransplanted rats matched for T3-levels to intact controls, there was still a reduction in both bone calcium content and trabecular bone volume. We assume this decrease in bone mass in thyroidectomized parathyroid-autotransplanted animals to be caused by the lack of calcitonin.

Important Chinese herbal remedies.

This review presents seven examples of effective drugs derived from the ancient Chinese therapeutics. They are artemisinin (qinghaosu) and its derivatives for malaria, henbane drugs for microcirculatory and other disturbances, tetrahydropalmatine as a dopamine receptor antagonist, yuanhuacine and yuanhuadine for abortion, trichosanthin for abortion, moles, and choriocarcinoma, indirubin for leukemia, and Tripterygium plants for autoimmune and various other diseases.