Effects of dietary supplementation with Taiwanese tea byproducts and probiotics on growth performance, lipid metabolism, and the immune response in red feather native chickens.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the catechin composition of different tea byproducts and investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with green tea byproducts on the accumulation of abdominal fat, the modulation of lipid metabolism, and the inflammatory response in red feather native chickens. METHODS: Bioactive compounds were detected, and in vitro anti-obesity capacity analyzed via 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In animal experiments, 320 one-day-old red feather native chickens were divided into 4 treatment groups: control, basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Jinxuan byproduct (JBP), basal diet supplemented with 1% JBP, or basal diet supplemented with 5×106 colony-forming unit (CFU)/kg Bacillus amyloliquefaciens+5×106 CFU/kg Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BA+SC). Growth performance, serum characteristics, carcass characteristics, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. RESULTS: This study compared several cultivars of tea, but Jinxuan showed the highest levels of the anti-obesity compound epigallocatechin gallate. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with Jinxuan extract significantly reduced lipid accumulation. There were no significant differences in growth performance, serum characteristics, or carcass characteristics among the groups. However, in the 0.5% JBP group, mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were significantly decreased. In the 1% JBP group, FAS, ACC and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ levels were significantly decreased. Moreover, inflammation-related mRNA expression levels were decreased by the addition of JBP. CONCLUSION: JBP contained abundant catechins and related bioactive compounds, which reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, however there was no significant reduction in abdominal fat. This may be due to a lack of active anti-obesity compounds or because the major changes in fat metabolism were not in the abdomen. Nonetheless, lipogenesis-related and inflammation-related mRNA expression were reduced in the 1% JBP group. In addition, dietary supplementation with tea byproducts could reduce the massive amount of byproducts created during tea production and modulate lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response in chickens.

Does enhanced diabetes management reduce the risk and improve the outcome of tuberculosis?

SETTING: The Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) has implemented a pay-for-performance (p4p) programme for diabetes mellitus (DM) in Taiwan. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patients with DM enrolled in the p4p programme (DM-p4p) are less likely to develop tuberculosis (TB) and whether they have a better outcome than patients with DM not enrolled in the p4p programme (DM-non-p4p) if they do develop TB. DESIGN: A random sample of 79,471 DM-p4p, 100,000 DM-non-p4p and 100,000 non-diabetic patients (non-DM) was obtained from the 2008-2009 NHI database, and the patients were matched with the National TB Registry to determine whether they had developed TB by the end of 2010. RESULTS: The average annual incidence of TB was respectively 259.9 (95%CI 230.2-293.4), 137.5 (95%CI 116.4-162.5) and 74.1 (95%CI 59.0-93.0) per 100,000 population among DM-non-p4p, DM-p4p and non-DM patients. The relative risk of death over treatment success was 1.79 (95%CI 1.05-3.04) among DM-non-p4p and 1.69 (95%CI 0.84-3.40) among non-DM patients, relative to DM-p4p patients. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced case management of DM reduced risk and improved outcomes of TB among patients with DM.

The relationship between chronic hepatitis B infection and bone mineral, metabolism in peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormality of bone mineral metabolism is a common complication in chronic liver disease and/or chronic renal disease patients. We designed this study to evaluate the relationship between chronic hepatitis B infection and bone mineral metabolism in peritoneal dialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum calcium[adj], phosphorus, calcium and phosphorus product (Ca x P), along with intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were compared in peritoneal dialysis patients with and without chronic hepatitis B infection. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients (142 female, 78 male) with a mean age of 56.30 +/- 14.28 (range 19 - 86) years old were recruited, 23 showed chronic hepatitis B infection and 197 showed none. No statistically significant difference in serum calcium[adj] levels (9.90 +/- 0.85 mg/dl vs. 10.08 +/- 0.80 mg/dl, p = 0.354), phosphorus levels (5.26 +/- 1.58 mg/dl vs. 5.21 +/- 1.35 mg/dl, p = 0.879) and calcium and phosphorus product (Ca x P) (52.23 +/- 17.54 mg(2)/dl(2) vs. 52.42 +/- 14.16 mg(2)/dl(2), p = 0.960) between groups with and without chronic hepatitis B infection was observed. Serum iPTH levels were significantly lower in chronic hepatitis B patients (median 143 pg/ml, range 3.42 - 889) than in the control group (median 235 pg/ml, range 3 - 2381) (p = 0.035). As analyzed by multi-variable linear regression, chronic hepatitis B was a predictor of lower serum iPTH levels (beta = -0.271; p = 0.030) after adjustments for age, gender, serum calcium and phosphorus levels and diabetes. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in serum calcium[adj]), phosphorus and calcium and phosphorus product (Ca x P) levels appeared between peritoneal dialysis patients with and without chronic hepatitis B infection. Serum iPTH levels proved to be definitely lower in chronic hepatitis B infection patients.

Intravenous iron attenuates postvaccination anti-HBsAg titres after quadruple hepatitis B vaccination in dialysis patients with erythropoietin therapy.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is commonly treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), often in combination with an adjuvant iron supplement. There is much evidence that rHuEPO can influence the immune response by its effect on lymphocytes. Also, iron catalyses the formation of radicals and increases the risk of major infections by negatively affecting the immune system. The relationship between antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) responsiveness after hepatitis B vaccination and rHuEPO/adjuvant iron supplementation has not been reported before. AIM: To determine the effects of subcutaneous erythropoietin and intravenous (i.v.) iron therapy on the responsiveness of anti-HBsAg after quadruple hepatitis B vaccination among ESRD patients. METHODS: Retrospective medical records were reviewed in a hospital with a tertiary teaching facility. Eighty-three ESRD patients, including 51 who underwent haemodialysis and 32 who underwent peritoneal dialysis therapy, received a quadruple recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. We investigated anti-HBsAg titres in those patients who either received rHuEPO alone (n = 50) or rHuEPO in combination with i.v. iron (n = 33). RESULTS: We found that the postvaccination anti-HBsAg titre was significantly lower in the rHuEPO plus i.v. iron group when compared with the group with rHuEPO alone (p < 0.05). The increment of anti-HBsAg between the initial month and the seventh month was positively correlated with therapeutic rHuEPO dosages in the group with rHuEPO alone (r = 0.303, p = 0.033). This relationship was not present in the rHuEPO with i.v. iron group (r = -0.289, p = 0.229). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of anti-HBsAg after hepatitis B vaccination are positively correlated with the dose of rHuEPO treatment during the vaccinated period among ESRD patients without i.v. iron supplementation. Also, i.v. iron negatively impacts the responsiveness of anti-HBsAg titre after hepatitis B vaccination in ESRD patients who have undergone rHuEPO therapy.

Effects of music on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans.

The aim was to study the effects of listening to music on gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using surface electrogastrography from 17 healthy volunteers before and for 30 min after they listened to music. All subjects listened to the same music. Ten perceived the music as enjoyable and seven did not. The percentages of normal slow wave, dominant frequency and dominant power did not differ significantly between baseline and during music intervention. An analysis of covariance model that included the subjects' feelings about the music and dominant power showed significantly higher dominant power during music intervention in subjects who enjoyed the music (p < 0.01). In the individuals who enjoyed the music, dominant power (55.0 +/- 9.2 dB) was significantly higher during music intervention than at baseline (49.5 +/- 6.8 dB, p = 0.03). In the subjects who did not enjoy the music, dominant power was significantly lower during music intervention than at baseline (48.8 +/- 6.8 and 55.7 +/- 6.2 dB, respectively; p < 0.01). Listening to enjoyable music increases the amplitude of gastric myoelectrical activity in healthy humans. Music therapy may improve gastric motility and may be used to stimulate gastric emptying.

Chitosan hydrogel as a base for transdermal delivery of berberine and its evaluation in rat skin.

Berberine is the main ingredient of Coptis spp. This study selected berberine as a model drug to design a transdermal delivery system for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Berberine was incorporated into chitosan hydrogel to prepare ointments. The physicochemical properties of the ointments and the release profile of berberine were investigated. The results indicated that the viscosity of chitosan hydrogel increased with an increasing amount of lactic acid or EDTA. The effect of EDTA on the viscosity was greater than that of lactic acid. By differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement, no interaction was found to occur between chitosan and the soluble berberine. The release rate of berberine was inversely proportional to ointment viscosity. In in vitro skin perfusion studies, only trace amounts of berberine permeated through the rat skin due to its low oil-water partition coefficient. Surfactants were used as penetration enhancers to increase the percutaneous absorption of berberine. Among the enhancers, benzalkonium chloride was found to be the most efficient. Additionally, Tween 80 could increase the loading amount of berberine in the skin.

Identification and characterization of a seven transmembrane hormone receptor using differential display.

Targeted mutagenesis analysis has shown that the Cmyb proto-oncogene, which encodes a sequence-specific DNA binding protein, is required for normal murine fetal liver erythropoiesis and myelopoiesis. To identify novel genes involved in hematopoiesis, differential display analysis was conducted using total liver RNA isolated from 14.5-day postcoitus Cmyb wildtype, heterozygous, and homozygous mutant littermates. Using 4 oligo(dT) 3' primers and 5 arbitrary decamers as 5' primers, 22 differentially expressed genes have been identified. Eight putatively novel genes were identified from 12 cDNAs that were sequenced. One gene, initially designated DD7A5-7, is primarily expressed in cells of the myeloid lineage. The full-length DD7A5-7 cDNA is 3239 nucleotides, encoding a putative protein of 931 amino acids. The protein is a member of a family of hormone receptors containing 7 transmembrane segments. The receptor also contains 7 epidermal growth factor-like (Egf-like) motifs at the amino terminal of the predicted protein. The gene is alternatively spliced, resulting in the deletion of one or more copies of the Egf-like motif. DD7A5-7 maps to mouse Chromosome 17 and is the putative homologue of EMR1, a recently described Egf-like module containing mucin-like hormone receptor with 7 transmembrane segments in humans. Our results indicate that the Cmyb mutant fetuses represent a unique resource for identifying genes involved in hematopoiesis.

Absence of infection in breast-fed infants born to hepatitis C virus-infected mothers.

The role of breast-feeding in perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was explored in 15 HCV-infected mothers and their infants. The 15 carrier mothers had anti-HCV titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:40,000 and also had HCV-ribonucleic acid with concentrations ranging from 10(4) to 2.5 x 10(8) copies/ml. Both anti-HCV antibody and HCV-ribonucleic acid were present in colostral samples in much lower levels, but none of the 11 breast-fed infants had evidence of HCV infection for up to 1 year of age. Thus breast-feeding seems safe for these infants.

Hepatitis B virus in the colostra of HBeAg-positive carrier mothers.

To investigate the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in colostra of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive carrier mothers and the relationship of HBV amount between colostrum and maternal blood, 50 HBeAg-positive carrier mothers were recruited and studied for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titer, HBeAg titer, and HBV-DNA concentration in their sera and colostra. According to the presence or absence of seral HBV-DNA determined by dot hybridization, these 50 HBeAg-positive carrier mothers could be divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 28, HBV-DNA < 0.04 ng/ml), and group 2 (n = 22, HBV-DNA > or = 0.04 ng/ml). The colostral HBsAg and HBeAg titers were both significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. In addition, both colostral HBsAg and HBeAg titers had positive correlation with each corresponding maternal blood. Although the colostral HBV-DNA was undetectable by dot hybridization, all were positive by polymerase chain reaction with Southern blot hybridization. Because HBV-DNA can be detected in all HBeAg-positive carrier mother's milk, it reinforces the necessity of hepatitis B vaccination for the neonates born to these carrier mothers, particularly in countries with a high carrier rate.