Tributyrin supplementation in pasteurized waste milk: Effects on growth performance, health, and blood parameters of dairy calves.

This study evaluated the effects of incremental tributyrin supplementation in pasteurized waste milk on growth performance, health, and blood metabolism of dairy calves before and after weaning. Forty-eight newborn female Holstein dairy calves (39.6 ± 2.75 kg; mean ± standard deviation) were blocked by age and randomly assigned to 3 treatments: pasteurized waste milk (1) without supplementation, (2) with 1 g/L of tributyrin products (unprotected solid powder; containing 35% tributyrin), or (3) with 2 g/L of tributyrin products. The calves were weaned on d 56 and were raised until d 77. Data were analyzed for the preweaning, postweaning, and overall periods. The results showed that starter intake and hay intake were not different among treatments in any period of the trial, but the crude protein intake tended to increase linearly with tributyrin supplementation during the overall period. Although tributyrin supplementation had no effects on body weight during preweaning and overall periods, body weight increased linearly with tributyrin supplementation postweaning. The average daily gain tended to increase linearly during postweaning and overall periods. No effects were observed on feed efficiency in any period. A positive linear relationship between body length and tributyrin supplementation was observed during the postweaning period, but no differences were found for the other body structural measurements in any period. The results of diarrhea showed that tributyrin concentration had a negative linear relationship with diarrhea frequency during preweaning and overall periods. The rectal temperature did not differ among treatments in any period, but a treatment × week effect for rectal body temperature was observed. For blood metabolism, tributyrin supplementation had no effects on insulin, growth hormone, total protein, albumin, or globulin. No differences were found in serum amyloid A concentration in any of the periods, yet haptoglobin concentration decreased linearly with increasing tributyrin concentration during postweaning and overall periods. Endothelin concentration showed a tendency to decrease linearly during preweaning and postweaning periods and decreased linearly with tributyrin supplementation during the overall period. An increasing tributyrin concentration was associated with a negative linear relationship with IL-1ß concentration during the preweaning period, and no differences were found in the other periods. The concentration of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were not different among treatments in any of the periods. These data suggest that increasing the concentration of tributyrin in pasteurized waste milk could increase growth performance and health of dairy calves, and incremental tributyrin supplementation could linearly reduce haptoglobin, endothelin, and IL-1ß concentrations, indicating a positive effect of tributyrin on alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory status of dairy calves. Calves fed pasteurized waste milk supplemented with tributyrin products (containing 35% tributyrin) at 2 g/L compared with 1 g/L of milk had more improved growth and health.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas or mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved survival in patients with resectable gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas (G-NECs) or mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (G-MANECs). METHODS: The study included patients with G-NECs or G-MANECs who underwent surgery in one of 21 centres in China between 2004 and 2016. Propensity score matching analysis was used to reduce selection bias, and overall survival (OS) in different treatment groups was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In total, 804 patients with resectable G-NECs or G-MANECs were included, of whom 490 (60·9 per cent) received adjuvant chemotherapy. After propensity score matching, OS in the chemotherapy group was similar to that in the no-chemotherapy group. Among patients with G-NECs, survival in the fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy group and the non-5-FU-based chemotherapy group was similar to that in the no-chemotherapy group. Similarly, etoposide plus cisplatin or irinotecan plus cisplatin was not associated with better OS in patients with G-NECs. Among patients with G-MANECs, OS in the non-5-FU-based chemotherapy group was worse than that in the no-chemotherapy group. Patients with G-MANECs did not have better OS when platinum-based chemotherapy was used. CONCLUSION: There was no survival benefit in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy for G-NECs or G-MANECs.

ANTECEDENTES: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si la quimioterapia adyuvante mejoraba la supervivencia en pacientes con carcinomas gástricos resecables neuroendocrinos (gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas, G-NECs) y carcinomas adenoneuroendocrinos mixtos (mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas, G-MANECs). MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron pacientes con G-NECs y G-MANECs tratados quirúrgicamente en 21 centros en China entre 2004 y 2016. Se utilizó un análisis de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión para reducir el sesgo de selección y el método de Kaplan-Meier para estimar la supervivencia global (overall survival, OS) de los pacientes en los diferentes grupos de tratamiento. RESULTADOS: En total, se incluyeron en el estudio 804 pacientes con G-NECs y G-MANECs resecables y 490 pacientes (60,9%) recibieron quimioterapia adyuvante. Después del emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión, la OS del grupo con quimioterapia fue similar a la del grupo sin quimioterapia. En los pacientes con G-NECs, la supervivencia en los grupos con quimioterapia basada en 5-FU (fluorouracilo) y de quimioterapia sin 5-FU fue similar a la del grupo sin quimioterapia. Asimismo, la combinación de etopósido y cisplatino o de irinotecán y cisplatino no se asoció con una mejor OS en pacientes con G-NECs. En pacientes con G-MANECs, la OS del grupo con quimioterapia sin 5-FU fue peor que la del grupo sin quimioterapia. Los pacientes con G-MANECs no presentaron una mejor OS cuando se administró quimioterapia basada en platinos. CONCLUSIÓN: La administración de quimioterapia adyuvante en pacientes con G-NECs y G-MANECs no mejoró la supervivencia.

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products on dairy calves: Ruminal fermentation, gastrointestinal morphology, and microbial community.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) in the calf starter and milk on ruminal fermentation, gastrointestinal morphology, and microbial community in the first 56 d of life. Thirty Holstein bull calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a texturized calf starter containing 0 (CON), 0.5, or 1% SCFP (XPC, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) of dry matter from d 4 to 56. In addition, the XPC-supplemented calves were fed with 1 g/d SCFP (SmartCare, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) in milk from d 2 to 30. All calves were fed 4 L of colostrum within 1 h of birth and were subsequently fed milk twice daily until weaned on d 56. Rumen fluid was collected by an esophageal tube 4 h after the morning feeding on d 28 and 56 to determine ruminal pH, ammonia-N, and volatile fatty acids concentrations. On d 56, 15 (5 per treatment) calves were harvested and slaughter weight, gastrointestinal morphology parameters, and bacteria community were recorded. Papilla length, width, and surface area were measured from 5 locations within the rumen. Villus height, width, surface area, crypt depth, and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio were measured in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Next-generation sequencing technology was used to test the microbial community of the rumen and duodenum samples on d 28 and 56. Data were analyzed by MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) with contrast statements to declare CON versus all SCFP and 0.5 versus 1% SCFP in starter grains. Ruminal pH, ammonia-N, and total volatile fatty acids were not altered by SCFP. However, the supplemented groups exhibited higher ruminal butyrate concentrations coinciding with higher Butyrivibrio and lower Prevotella richness than CON group. Supplementation of SCFP increased papilla length in the rumen. In the small intestine, SCFP reduced crypt depth of jejunum, and increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in all segments of the small intestine, especially when supplemented at a higher dosage in the starter. In conclusion, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products improved gastrointestinal morphology, possibly due to increased Butyrivibrio and decreased Prevotella richness of the rumen fluid, which resulted in an increase in butyrate production, and the effect was slightly greater with the higher dosage of SCFP in the starter.

Effects of calcium oxide treatment at varying moisture concentrations on the chemical composition, in situ degradability, in vitro digestibility and gas production kinetics of anaerobically stored corn stover.

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum conditions for calcium oxide (CaO) treatment of anaerobically stored corn stover by in situ and in vitro methods. Four ruminally cannulated, non-lactating, non-pregnant Holstein cows were used to determine the in situ effective degradabilities of dry matter (ISDMD), organic matter (ISOMD), neutral detergent fibre (ISNDFD), in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) and gas production in 72 h (GP72h ) of corn stover. A completely randomized design involving a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement was adopted. Ground corn stover was treated with different levels of CaO (3%, 5% and 7% of dry stover) at varying moisture contents (40%, 50% and 60%) and stored under anaerobic conditions for 15 days before analysis. Compared with untreated corn stover, the CaO-treated stover had increased ash and calcium (Ca) contents but decreased aNDF and OM contents. The moisture content, CaO level and their interaction affected (p < 0.01) the content of aNDF, ash and OM, and the ratio of aNDF/OM. The greatest ISDMD, ISOMD and ISNDFD were observed when stover was treated with 7% CaO and 60% moisture, while no differences (p > 0.01) in these in situ degradability parameters were observed between the stover treated with 5% CaO at 60% moisture content and those treated with 7% CaO at 60% moisture content. Corn stover treated with 5% CaO at 50% moisture had the maximum IVOMD and GP72 h among the treatments, and there was no difference (p > 0.01) between 50% and 60% moisture. Results from this study suggested that 5% CaO applied at 60% moisture could be an effective and economical treatment combination.

Colostrum quality affects immune system establishment and intestinal development of neonatal calves.

The first meal of a neonatal calf after birth is crucial for survival and health. The present experiment was performed to assess the effects of colostrum quality on IgG passive transfer, immune and antioxidant status, and intestinal morphology and histology in neonatal calves. Twenty-eight Holstein neonatal male calves were used in the current study, 24 of which were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: those that received colostrum (GrC), transitional milk (GrT, which was obtained after the first milking on 2-3 d after calving), and bulk tank milk (GrB) only at birth. The 4 extra neonatal calves who were not fed any milk were assigned to the control group and were killed immediately after birth to be a negative control to small intestinal morphology and histology detection. Calves in GrC gained more body weight than in GrT, whereas GrB calves lost 0.4 kg compared with the birth weight. Serum total protein, IgG, and superoxide dismutase concentrations were highest in GrC, GrT was intermediate, whereas GrB was the lowest on d 2, 3, and 7. Apparent efficiency of absorption at 48 h, serum complement 3 (C3), and complement 4 (C4) on d 2, 3, and 7 in GrB was low compared with GrC and GrT. On the contrary, malondialdehyde on d 7 increased in GrB. Calves in GrC had better villus length and width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth (V/C) value, and mucosal thickness in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, whereas GrT calves had lower villus length and width, crypt depth, and mucosal thickness than those fed colostrum. Villi of calves in GrB were nonuniform, sparse, severely atrophied, and apically abscised, and Peyer's patches and hydroncus were detected. Overall, colostrum is the best source for calves in IgG absorption, antioxidant activities, and serum growth metabolites, and promoting intestinal development. The higher quality of colostrum calves ingested, the faster immune defense mechanism and the more healthy intestinal circumstances they established.

[Expression characteristics of epithelial markers in human embryonic stem cells differentiating into keratinocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into keratinocytes (K-hESCs) and analyse the expression characteristics of biomarkers of K-hESCs. METHODS: The hESCs of line H9 were seeded on matrigel in mTeSR1 medium. The hESCs were directly differentiated into keratinocytes in epithelial differentiation medium with bone morphogenetic protein 4, retinoic acid and N2 supplement. The karyotype of K-hESCs was analyzed, comparing the gene expression differences of K-hESCs with human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs), human immortalized oral epithelial cells (HIOECs) and HaCaT by Real-time PCR. Molecular characteristics of the cell differentiation were observed throughout the process by immunocytochemical techniques. RESULTS: H9-hESCs were successfully differentiated into the cells that exhibited characteristics of keratinocytes in epithelial differentiation medium. The karyotype of K-hESCs was 46, XX; and the keratinocyte gene p63 expression in K-hESCs was significantly lower than that in HaCaT (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference of p63 expression in K-hESCs, comparing with that in HGECs and HIOECs (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: H9-hESCs could be directly differentiated into K-hESCs. The gene expression of K-hESCs was similar to that of epithelial cells in the early stage of monolayer cells differentiation with high proliferative activity.

Effects of methionine hydroxy copper supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters in lactating cows.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of methionine hydroxy Cu [(HMTBA)(2)-Cu] supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters in lactating cows. Thirty lactating Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized block design: (1) Cu sulfate only (S): 12 mg of Cu provided by CuSO(4) per kilogram of concentrate; (2) Cu sulfate and (HMTBA)(2)-Cu (SM): 6 mg of Cu provided by CuSO(4) and 6 mg of Cu provided by (HMTBA)(2)-Cu per kilogram of concentrate; or (3) (HMTBA)(2)-Cu only (M): 12 mg of Cu provided by (HMTBA)(2)-Cu per kilogram of concentrate. The level of dietary Cu was determined according to the NRC (2001) requirement. This experiment lasted for 120 d, with the first 20 d for adaptation and with sample and data collection beginning on d 21. The milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk yield of cows in the SM treatment tended to increase compared with those in the S and M treatments. Cows fed SM also tended to have higher NDF and ADF apparent digestibility values than did cows fed S or M. Plasma Cu concentration significantly increased for the SM treatment compared with the S and M treatments. Cows fed S had higher plasma K concentration than did cows in the other 2 treatments. In conclusion, replacing one-half of the dietary Cu sulfate with (HMTBA)(2)-Cu increased plasma Cu concentration and tended to improve the neutral and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility values and the lactation performance of lactating dairy cattle.

Building a disease risk model of osteoporosis based on traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and western medicine risk factors.

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) cross-sectional survey conducted by our team, we were interested in determining the risk factors of osteoporosis. To analyze this TCM study, we had to deal with three statistical problems: (1) a very large number of potential risk factors, (2) interactions among potential risk factors, and (3) nonlinear effects of some continuous-scale risk factors. To address these analytic issues, we used two data mining methods, support vector machine recursive feature elimination and random forest; to deal with the curse of high-dimensional risk factors, we applied another data mining technique of association rule learning to discover the potential associations among risk factors. Finally, we employed the generalized partial linear model (GPLM) to determine nonlinear effects of an important continuous-scale risk factor. The final GPLM model shows that TCM symptoms play an important role in assessing the risk of osteoporosis. The GPLM also reveals a nonlinear effect of the important risk factor, menopause years, which might be missed by the generalized linear model.

Chromatographic analysis of Fritillaria isosteroidal alkaloids, the active ingredients of Beimu, the antitussive traditional Chinese medicinal herb.

Bulbus Fritillariae derived from plants of various Fritillaria species is the most commonly used antitussive traditional Chinese medicinal herb and is called Beimu. Herbs derived from similar and/or different species of Fritillaria are also used in Japan and Turkey as traditional or folk medicines. Isosteroidal alkaloids are the main bioactive ingredients in Fritillaria species. As the contents and structure types of these bioactive alkaloids vary in different Fritillaria species, quality control of these active principles in herbal Beimu is very important to ensure its safe and effective clinical use. This review describes the development of chromatographic analyses for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determination of the main bioactive Fritillaria isosteroidal alkaloids in herbal and biological samples. The recently developed direct HPLC-evaporative light scattering detection method is the most simple, selective and sensitive assay, and is readily used as a suitable quality control method for the analysis of the active principles of herbal Beimu.

[Determination of imperialine and imperialine-3 beta-D-glucoside in bulbs of Fritillaria pallidiflora by HPLC-ELSD].

AIM: To establish an HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography)-ELSD (evaporative light scattering detector) method for the quantification of chromophore-lacking imperialine (I) and imperialine-3 beta-D-glucoside (II) in bulbs of Fritillaria pallidiflora. METHODS: By optimizing the chromatographic conditions of HPLC and the parameters of ELSD to test the methodology. Column: Kromasil C-18 (5 microns, 200 mm x 4.6 mm), mobile phase: acetonitrile-water-triethylamine (71:29:0.03), flow rate: 1.0 mL.min-1, drift tube temperature: 88 degrees C, gas flow-rate: 2.38 L.min-1. RESULTS: The calibration curves were linear in the range of 60.72-161.92 micrograms.mL-1 for I and 48.72-194.88 micrograms.mL-1 for II. The precisions (RSD) of intra-day and inter-day were less than 1% for I and II. The recoveries of the amounts of 24.28, 30.35 and 36.42 micrograms for I were 97.1%, 96.6% and 96.8%, and 24.20, 30.24 and 36.29 micrograms for II were 95.8%, 96.9% and 96.0%. The minimal detectable concentrations of I and II were 2.43 and 1.53 micrograms.mL-1 respectively. CONCLUSION: The established method is simple, rapid, accurate and sensitive, and can be utilized to determine the contents of imperialine and imperialine-3 beta-D-glucoside in crude drug Yibeimu (derived from the bulbs of Fritillaria pallidiflora).

Pre-column derivatization and gas chromatographic determination of alkaloids in bulbs of Fritillaria.

A method of precolumn derivatization GC with FID detection was developed for a simultaneous analysis of five major steroidal alkaloids of Fritillaria species, namely ebeiedine, ebeiedinone, verticine, verticinone and imperialine. Derivatization was carried out by trimethylsilylation of the hydroxyl-containing Fritillaria alkaloids to the corresponding trimethylsilylates with trimethylsilylimidazole. Reaction conditions were optimised and the alkaloids derivatives were characterised by on-line GC-MS. The validated GC method demonstrated a good linearity at the sampling ranges used. This analytical method is simple, convenient and reproducible. The developed assay was successfully applied to the determination of the major pharmacologically active alkaloids in three commonly used antitussive Fritillaria species: F. cirrhosa, F. thunbergii and F. pallidiflora.

[The experimental study of repairing bone defects with allogeneic bone matrix gelatin and plaster].

OBJECTIVE: To study the function of the composite of bone matrix gelatin(BMG) and plaster in the repairing process of bone defects. METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand rabbits which were defected in corpus radii were made as implant zone of bone. Sixteen sides of radii were implanted with the composite of BMG and plaster as experimental group. Others were implanted with BMG(8 sides) and bone stored in alcohol(8 sides) as control groups. The repairing process in bone defects were observed by X-ray and histological examination. RESULTS: There was an obvious osteogenesis in experimental group. The defects of radii were almost healed at 12th week after operation. There were osteogenesis in both control groups, but the repairing process was slower than that of the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The composite of BMG and plaster is a good material for bone transplantation.

Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on myocardial adenosinetriphosphatase.

Effects of total Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) and Panax notoginseng saponin monomers Rb1 and Rg1 (Rb1, Rg1) on total ATPase and Na(+)-K(+)-exchanging ATPase of guinea pig heart were studied. It was found that PNS inhibited the total myocardial ATPase, but had no significant effect on the myocardial Na(+)-K(+)-exchanging ATPase. The total ATPase was inhibited by Rg1, and more clearly by Rb1. The automaticity and contractility of isolated guinea pig atria were inhibited by Rb1. Rg1 decreased the spontaneous frequency of isolated guinea pig right atrium, but not markedly the contractility of the left atrium. These results demonstrate that Rb1 is the main ingredient in PNS.

[Analysis of patients of psoriasis coexisting with chylothorax].

Six patients diagnosed as Psoriasis with complication of chylothorax (3 of chylothorax, 3 of both chylothorax and chyloperitoneum, age from 21 to 50, male 4, female 2) were reported. All patients have a history of taking a chinese medicine named "complex Wulong powder" for treating psoriasis. All patients have not the history of trauma, operation, and the history of living in epidemic focus of filariasis. Their X-ray exam and CT exam of chest did not show lung lesion but pleural effusion. Chylothorax coexisting with psoriasis was not found in literature. This result suggests that using complex WuLong powder might be the cause of chylothorax. The mechanism was unknown.

[Clinical and experimental studies on membranous pulp-capping agent with Chinese medicinal herbs].

A membranous pulp-capping agent of Chinese medicinal herbs was made by ourselves prescription, and was filled in capsules for medication. Direct pulp-capping and pulpotomy were performed on 102 permanent teeth. During the observation period of more than one year, the successful rate was 82.4%. Under light microscope, the artificial exposed sites of normal sheep teeth were fully sealed after capping for 45 days. There were calcification under the exposed sites. The inner lines were preparative dentins. Experiments on dogs' teeth revealed that the pulps were normal after two month's direct pulp-capping, and the new dentins appeared. The bacteria culture test was made before and after the pulp-capping agent was used on ten deep carious teeth. It revealed that the bacteria all converted negative after medication of two weeks. Clinical and experimental studies indicated that the pulp-capping agent is valuable in clinical treatment.

[Diagnostic significance of the cuticular patterns on leaf surface of Sarcandra glabra].

The cuticular patterns on leaf surface of Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai were studied with scanning electron microscope. It was found that the cuticular patterns vary not only with the district of specimen collection, but also with the developmental stage of the leaf. The characteristics of the cuticular patterns are described in detail with 2 plates of illustrations.

Planned simple carotid resection in surgery of paraganglioma fixed to the carotid artery.

Of 25 surgically treated cases (1956-1986) of paraganglioma, eleven underwent simple carotid resection. The collateral cerebral crossflow was promoted preoperatively with the use of compressing exercises of the carotid artery and controlled by rheoencephalography. There was no operative mortality. One died with a malignant lesion, and nine survived 3 months to 21 years without cerebrovascular complications. It appears that this procedure is worthwhile in selected cases.