[Single extract of Forsythia Suspense versus the prepared drug in pieces: comparison of their anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antibacterial effects in zebrafish].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anti-inflammatory, antitumor and anti-bacterial effects of the single extract (in granules) and the prepared drug in pieces of Forsythia Suspense (Lianqiao, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine). METHODS: In zebrafish embryo models of CuSO4 exposure, tail transection and LPS microinjection-induced inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effects of 10 µg/mL DEX, single extract of Forsythia Suspense, and the water extract of the prepared drug (400, 600, and 800 µg/mL) were evaluated by observing neutrophil counts, RT- qPCR, HE staining and survival analysis. Zebrafish embryo models bearing different human tumor cell xenografts were used to assess the anti-tumor effect of the drugs in different dosage forms by fluorescence staining and HE staining. The microbroth dilution method was used to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of the drugs. RESULTS: In the zebrafish embryo models of inflammation, both of the two dosage forms of Forsythia Suspense significantly inhibited neutrophil aggregation, reduced the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, P38, Jnk, Erk and P65, and increased the survival rate of zebrafish. They both showed obvious inhibitory effects against xenografts of different human cancer cells including colon cancer cells (HCT116), pancreas adenocarcinoma cells (PANC-1), lung cancer cells (A549), liver cancer cells (Hep3B) and cervical carcinoma cells (Hela) in zebrafish embryos, and exhibited strong anti-bacterial effects at the concentration of 15.63 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: The two dosage forms of Forsythia Suspense have similar anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antibacterial effects, but their effects for inhibiting IL-6, P65, and Jnk mRNA expressions and HCT116 cell proliferation differ significantly at low doses in zebrafish.

[Research progress of oral allergy syndrome].

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. Patients with pollen allergy will experience oropharyngeal allergy after eating fresh fruits or vegetables containing homologous pathogenesis-related allergen, occasionally accompanied by systemic symptoms, it is a special type of food hypersensitivity in which respiratory allergens and food allergens are similar structurally and lead to the cross-reactivity. At present, there is little research and attention to it in China. To master the definition, epidemiological characteristics, pathological mechanism, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of OAS is very important to the prevention and control of OAS. This article reviews the research progress of OAS, providing reference and prevention basis for clinicians to improve the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of OAS.

[An investigation of a food poisoning incident caused by Amanita fuliginea].

Mistakenly picking and eating poisonous mushrooms can cause acute poisoning. In August 2020, Qingdao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine handled a poisonous mushroom poisoning incident, conducted epidemiological investigation on all poisoned patients, collected suspicious food, clinical manifestations, clinical test results and treatment conditions, and identified the mushrooms as Amanita fuliginea poisoning after morphological identification. In this incident, 6 people ate grey goose paste, of which 4 were sick with a incubation period of 6~12 h. The clinical manifestations were gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, liver and kidney damage. After symptomatic support treatment, hemoperfusion or continuous hemofiltration treatment, the patients were cured and discharged. It is suggested to strengthen the popular science education on poisonous mushroom poisoning and improve the ability of identification and clinical treatment of poisonous mushrooms in grass-roots medical institutions.

Evidence of Chinese Herbal Medicine Use From an Economic Perspective: A Systematic Review of Pharmacoeconomics Studies Over Two Decades.

Objectives: Pharmacoeconomics evaluation (PE) is increasingly used in the healthcare decision-making process in China. Little is known about PE conducted in Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs). We aimed to systematically review trends, characteristics, and quality of PE of CHMS. Methods: We systematically searched both Chinese (CNKI, WanFang, and VIP) and English (Pubmed) databases. Studies were included if they were PE studies comparing both costs and outcomes between two or more interventions published in Chinese or English. Assessment of the quality of studies was conducted using the Quality of Health Economic Analyses (QHES) instrument. T-test and Chi-square tests were used to compare the studies before and after the first edition of China Guidelines for PE published in 2011, and between studies published in Chinese and English. Results: A total of 201 articles were included. There was an increasing trend of PE studies on CHMs during the study period. The top three studied diseases were central nervous system (CNS), mental, and behavioral disorders; cardiovascular diseases; and blood, immune and endocrine diseases. The average QHES score for the included studies was 63.37. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) accounted for the majority (76.6%) of the included studies. Only a quarter of the articles (27.4%) were funded, and there were significantly more studies funded after the publication of China guidelines for PE. About 96.5% of studies did not specify evaluation perspectives and 89.6% of studies had a sample size of less than 300. Around half of the studies (55%) used incremental analysis, but only a few of them considered using a threshold. Half of the studies lacked sensitivity analysis. There was no significant improvement in the quality of studies published after the publication of China Guidelines for PE, and English articles had significantly higher quality than Chinese articles. Conclusion: This study identified several problems in PE studies on CHMs, including having small sample sizes, lacking necessary research elements, and using single evaluation methods. The quality of PE studies on CHMs was not sufficient. Researchers need to understand the standardized way to conduct PE studies and improve the quality and level of PE studies on CHMs.

[A case of subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord caused by inhaling laughing gas].

Laughing gas (Nitrogen monoxide) is currently abused due to its low price and easy availability. This article discussed the clinical manifestations of a patient with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord caused by inhalation of laughing gas. The patient developed numbness of extremities, unstable walking, and decreased serum vitamin B(12) level. MRI of the cervical spine showed abnormal signals in the lateral and posterior cords of the cervical spinal cord (C2-6) , neuroelectrophysiological examination showed peripheral nerve damage in the extremities. After treatment with vitamin B(12) supplementation, the patient's condition gradually improved. Clinicians diagnose subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, especially when the patient has no gastrointestinal disease, diet, malnutrition, etc., they need to carefully inquire about the history of nitrous oxide inhalation to avoid missed diagnosis.

Vitamin A with L-ascorbic acid sodium salt improves the growth performance, immune function and antioxidant capacity of weaned pigs.

Vitamin A is easily degraded by environmental factors. Therefore, it is very important to add antioxidants during Vitamin A production. In the past, ethoxyquin (EQ) was widely used, but recent studies have found that it has potential toxicity. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antioxidant activities of 4 antioxidants in vitro: EQ, butylated hydroxytoluene, α-tocopherol and L-ascorbic acid sodium salt (Vitamin C sodium). In vitro experiments showed that Vitamin C sodium had better antioxidant capacity. Then, we explored the effects of different antioxidant types of Vitamin A on the growth performance, immune function and antioxidant capacity of weaned pigs. In total, 288 weaned piglets with an initial mean BW of 8.34 ±â€¯0.02 kg at 30 days old were randomly divided into three groups with four replicates and 24 piglets per replicate for 35 days of feeding. The experimental diets were as follows: i) basal diet without external Vitamin A (NC); ii) basal diet supplemented with 12000 IU/kg EQ Vitamin A and iii) basal diet supplemented with 12000 IU/kg Vitamin C sodium Vitamin A. On day 36, two pigs from each replicate were selected to collect serum samples. The in vivo results showed that pigs in the EQ Vitamin A and Vitamin C sodium Vitamin A groups had significantly higher final weight and average daily gain (P < 0.05). During the trial, the levels of IgG and glutathione peroxidase in the EQ Vitamin A and Vitamin C sodium Vitamin A groups were significantly higher than those in the NC group (P < 0.05), and the malondialdehyde content was significantly lower (P < 0.05). On the 36th day, the levels of IgA and total antioxidant capacity in the Vitamin C sodium Vitamin A group were significantly higher than those in the EQ Vitamin A and NC (P < 0.05) groups. Thus, Vitamin C sodium Vitamin A can significantly improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of weaned pigs. Meanwhile, Vitamin C sodium may replace EQ as an antioxidant additive for Vitamin A.

Effects and safety of herbal medicines among community-dwelling residents during COVID-19 pandemic: A large prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT).

BACKGROUND: Since the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, countries are struggling with a shortage of medical capacities. It would be essential if the risk for preventable comorbidities, such as the common cold, can be reduced or prevented, so that the scarce medical resources and facilities can be focused on COVID-19. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of two herbal medicines (Jinhaoartemisia antipyretic granules and Huoxiangzhengqi oral liquids) in reducing the risk of the common cold in community-dwelling residents in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective open-label, parallel-group, cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT), was conducted in Chengdu, China. METHODS: A total of 22,065 participants from 11 communities were recruited during a period of one month. The trial started on 30 January and participants were followed up till 29 February 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a five-day herbal medicine therapy plus a reference manual or a reference manual only if they were allocated to the control group. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of patient-reported common cold symptoms. The secondary endpoint was the time in days from the receipt of herbal drugs/reference manual and the occurrence of the common cold symptoms. RESULTS: Use of herbal medicine reduced the risk of the common cold by 89.6% (95% CI, 52.9% to 97.7%) in all community-dwelling residents, and by 94.0% (95% CI, 52.1% to 99.2%) in residents aged between 16 and 59 years old. Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. CONCLUSION: This community-based RCT found that the use of a herbal medicine therapy (Jinhaoartemisia antipyretic granules and Huoxiangzhengqi oral liquids) could significantly reduce the risks of the common cold among community-dwelling residents, suggesting that herbal medicine may be a useful approach for public health intervention to minimize preventable morbidity during COVID-19 outbreak.

Chicory fibre improves reproductive performance of pregnant rats involving in altering intestinal microbiota composition.

AIM: Chicory fibre (CF) is rich in fructan, which always functions as a quality dietary fibre source during mammalian pregnancy; however, its effect on reproductive performance remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: 40 pregnant SD rats were randomly allotted to receive one of four diets: basal diet (control group), basal diet + 5% CF, basal diet + 10% CF, and basal diet + 15% CF, respectively. We found that CF significantly increased the number born alive and total litter birth weight (P < 0·05), increased the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, mucins and antimicrobial peptides, accompanied by the increase of villi height and the decrease of crypts depth of pregnant SD rats (P < 0·05). We also observed that CF markedly increased the acetic acid, propanoic acid, butyric acid and total SCFAs concentrations in caecum contents and promoted the expression of SCFAs-related receptors (P < 0·05). Notably, rats fed CF increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0·001), decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, while markedly lowered the Firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio) (P < 0·05). Intriguingly, the number born alive and total litter birth weight were positively correlated with some probiotics and negatively correlated with other harmful bacteria by Pearson correlation analysis. CONCLUSION: Collectively, CF can enhance intestinal barrier function and maintain intestinal health, and may improve reproductive performance by altering intestinal microbiota composition. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Adding suitable dietary fibre to the diet can improve the reproductive performance of sows. Indeed, there exist various problems in the application of traditional dietary fibres, including high insoluble fibre content and anti-nutritional factor level, and mycotoxin contamination. This study demonstrates that dietary CF supplementation improves reproductive performance and intestinal health. Thus, CF can be applied in pregnancy animals as a new dietary fibre additive in animal husbandry.

Novel variants and uncommon cases among southern Chinese children with X-linked hypophosphatemia.

PURPOSE: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common inherited renal phosphate wasting disorder and is often misdiagnosed as vitamin D deficiency. This study aims to provide clinical and mutational characteristics of 65 XLH pediatric patients in southern China. METHODS: In this work, a combination of DNA sequencing and qPCR analysis was used to study the PHEX gene in 80 pediatric patients diagnosed with hypophosphatemia. The clinical and laboratory data of confirmed 65 XLH patients were assessed and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In 65 XLH patients from 61 families, 51 different variants in the PHEX gene were identified, including 23 previously reported variants and 28 novel variants. In this cohort of XLH patients, the c.1601C>T(p.Pro534Leu) variant appears more frequently. Fourteen uncommon XLH cases were described, including four boys with de novo mosaic variants, eight patients with large deletions and a pair of monozygotic twins. The clinical manifestations in this cohort are very similar to those previously reported. CONCLUSION: This study extends the mutational spectrum of the PHEX gene, which will contribute to accurate diagnosis. This study also suggests a supplementary qPCR or MLPA assay may be performed along with classical sequencing to confirm the gross insertion/deletion.

Utilizing integrating network pharmacological approaches to investigate the potential mechanism of Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction in treating COVID-19.

Beginning in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), due to 2019-nCoV infection, emerged in Wuhan and spread rapidly throughout China and even worldwide. Employing combined therapy of modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine has been proposed, in which Ma Xing Shi Gan Decoction (MXSGD) was recommended as a basic prescription and applied widely in the clinical treatment of COVID-19. We investigated the underlying mechanism of MXSGD in treating COVID-19 utilizing the approaches of integrating network pharmacology. A total of 97 active ingredients of MXSGD were screened out, and 169 targets were predicted. The protein-protein interaction network exhibited hub targets of MXSGD, such as Heat shock protein 90, RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase, Transcription factor AP-1, Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, Cellular tumor antigen p53, Vascular endothelial growth factor A, and Tumour necrosis factor. Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the biological processes altered within the body after taking MXSGD were closely related to the regulation of such processes as the acute inflammatory response, chemokine production, vascular permeability, response to oxygen radicals, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, T cell differentiation involved in the immune response, immunoglobulin secretion, and extracellular matrix disassembly. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the targets of MXSGD were significantly enriched in inflammation-related pathways, immunomodulation-related pathways, and viral infection-related pathways. The therapeutic mechanisms of MXSGD on COVID-19 may primarily involve the following effects: reducing inflammation, suppressing cytokine storm, protecting the pulmonary alveolar-capillary barrier, alleviating pulmonary edema, regulating the immune response, and decreasing fever.

Dietary taurine supplementation enhances antioxidative capacity and improves breast meat quality of broiler chickens.

1. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary taurine supplementation on growth performance, meat quality and antioxidant responses in breast muscle of broiler chickens.2. A total of 72 Arbor Acres broiler chickens (28-day-old) with similar body weight were randomly allocated into two groups, and fed either 0 g/kg (control; C) or 5 g/kg taurine-supplemented diets (TS) for 14 days.3. The results showed that TS had no effect on growth performance or chemical composition of breast muscle in broilers. The drip and cooking losses were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the pH24h of breast muscle were increased (P < 0.05) in the TS group. Meanwhile, broilers in the TS group exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) scavenging activities of superoxide and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals, and lower (P < 0.05) contents of carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal. TS increased (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activities. Moreover, TS significantly upregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.4. These findings suggested that TS enhanced antioxidative capacity and improved breast meat quality of broilers via activating the Nrf2 pathway.

The effects of feeding yeast bioactives to broiler breeders and/or their offspring on growth performance, gut development, and immune function in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria.

Yeast bioactives (YB) may stimulate broiler breeders (BB) to increase deposition of immunoglobulins (Ig) in eggs. We investigated the effects of feeding YB (mixture of derivatives from whole yeast subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis) to BB and/or their offspring on growth performance, gut development, and immune function in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria. The BB (Ross 708 ♀ and Ross ♂) were assigned to 2 groups (60 ♀ and 10 ♂) and fed basal or basal diet supplemented with 500 g of YB/Mt. A total of 250 fertile eggs per treatment were collected, incubated, hatched, and sexed. Additional egg samples were analyzed for IgA and IgY contents. A total of 160 broiler chicks (80 ♀ and 80 ♂) from each breeder experimental group were placed in cages based on sex and BW resulting in 32 cages for each BB treatment group. Cages (16 per BB treatment group) were allocated to basal broiler chick diet or basal diet supplemented with 500 g of YB/Mt. On day 9, half of each BB by broiler chick dietary treatments was challenged with 1 mL of Eimeria culture (100,000 oocysts of Eimeria acervulina and 25,000 oocysts of Eimeria maxima). On day 14, all birds were necropsied for intestinal lesion scores and samples. Feeding YB to BB increased (P < 0.05) IgA concentration in egg yolk. Eimeria challenge decreased (P < 0.05) pancreas weight, jejunal villus height (VH), and growth performance but increased spleen weight, intestinal mass and jejunal mucosa IgA concentration. Independent of Eimeria challenge, feeding YB to BB and/or to chicks resulted in higher (P < 0.001) jejunal VH compared with feeding it to BB only or not at all. In conclusion, Eimeria challenge reduced growth performance and had negative effects on indices of intestinal function and health. Feeding YB to BB increased deposition of IgA in hatching eggs and improved jejunal VH independent of Eimeria challenge when fed to BB and/or to broiler chicks.

Effects of dietary supplementation of microencapsulated Enterococcus fecalis and the extract of Camellia oleifera seed on laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical parameters, and cecal microflora diversity in laying hens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microencapsulted Enterococcus faecalis (MEF) and the extract of Camellia oleifera seed (ECOS) on laying performance, serum biochemical parameters, and cecal microflora diversity in laying hens. A total of 180 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, 26-wk-old, were randomly allocated to 6 treatments with 10 replicates and 3 hens per replicate. Dietary treatments were as follows: (A) control group, basal diet; (B) basal diet + 100 mg MEF/kg diet (1 × 1010 cfu/g MEF); (C) basal diet + 300 mg ECOS/kg diet; (D) basal diet + 100 mg MEF/kg diet + 300 mg ECOS/kg diet; (E) basal diet + 500 mg ECOS/kg diet; (F) basal diet + 100 mg MEF/kg diet + 500 mg ECOS/kg diet. The results showed that diets supplemented with MEF and ECOS had no significant effects on laying rate, average egg size, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, eggshell thickness, albumen height, and yolk color (P > 0.05), but had significant effects on egg shape index, eggshell strength, and Haugh unit (P < 0.05) during whole feeding phases. Compared to the control group, the serum IgA and IgG levels of birds in Group F significantly increased (P < 0.05). The serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total triglyceride, and blood urea nitrogen levels of birds in Group D and Group F significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of birds in Group D and Group F significantly increased (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, Firmicutes decreased (P < 0.05) and Bacteroidetes increased (P < 0.05) in the birds of Group D. Ruminococcus and Bacteroides were significantly affected by dietary treatments (P < 0.05), and Bacteroides in the birds of Group D significantly increased at the genus level. Therefore, diet supplemented with MEF and ECOS can significantly improve serum biochemical parameters and increase cecal microflora diversity.

The alleviative effects and related mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress.

To investigate the alleviative effects and molecular mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress, 144 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d old) were randomly distributed to positive control (PC, 22°C, basal diet), heat stress (HS, consistent 32°C, basal diet), or heat stress + taurine (HS + T, consistent 32°C, basal diet + 5.00 g/kg taurine) groups, with 6 cages per group and 8 birds per cage. Chronic heat stress significantly decreased body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake, and increased cloacal temperature and feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.05). Though taurine supplementation tended to decrease the FCR in the HS + T group compared with the HS group after 14 d of heat exposure (P = 0.071), there were no significant alleviative effects of taurine supplementation on the increased cloacal temperature and decreased growth performance in chronic heat-stressed broilers (P > 0.05). After 7 and 14 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased the proportion of breast muscle and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in the abdominal fat (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of muscle atrophy F-box protein (MAFbx) and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) in breast muscle compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). After 7 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased serum non-esterified fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1c (ACC) and muscular isoform of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (M-CPT1) compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA expressions of M-CPT1 and ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70 kDa (p70S6K) in the HS + T group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups after 14 d of heat exposure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, taurine supplementation can improve carcass characteristics of chronic heat-stressed broilers by facilitating lipolysis for energy, enhancing protein synthesis, and suppressing protein degradation of the breast muscles.

[The protective effect of Xuebijing on paraquat-induced HK-2 cells apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Xuebijing (XBJ) on paraquat (PQ) -induced apoptosis in Human kidney cell line-2 (HK-2) cells. Methods: Routinely cultured HK-2 cells, (1) Cell growth inhibition experiment after PQ and XBJ intervention: PQ was divided into 0、200、400、800、1600 and 3200 µmol/L PQ groups, and the cell survival rate was detected after intervening 24、48 and 72 h. XBJ was divided into 0、5、10、20、40 mg/ml XBJ groups, and the cell survival rate was detected after intervening 24、48 and 72 h.To determine the rational drug concentration and the duration of action of XBJ and PQ. (2) PQ-induced HK-2 cell growth inhibition experiment antagonized by XBJ: The cells were divided into normal control group, PQ group (800 µmol/L) and PQ+XBJ group (The cells were pretreated with 5、10 and 20 mg/ml XBJ for 1 h, then cultured with PQ of 800 µmol/L) , After cultured 24 h、48 h and 72 h separately, the cell survival rate was detected. (3) HK-2 cells were divided into normal control group、PQ group (800 µmol/L PQ cultured for 24 h) 、PQ+XBJ group (pretreated with 10 mg/ml XBJ for 1 h, and then 800 µmol/L PQ cultured for 24 h) and XBJ group (10 mg/ml XBJ cultured 24 h). The apoptosis of cells was detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression of Bcl-2 and BAX in each group was detected by Western blotting. The expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity kit active. Results: (1) PQ could significantly reduced the survival rate of HK-2 cells and showed time and concentration dependence. The survival rate of HK-2 cells was about 55% after 800 µmol/L PQ contacted 24 h, XBJ under 20 mg/ml was no significant effect on the survival rate of HK-2 cells after cultured 72 h. (2) Compared with the PQ group, the survival rate of HK-2 cells of PQ+XBJ group was significantly increased (P<0.05). (3) Compared with the normal control group, the cell apoptosis rate of PQ group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the PQ group, the cell apoptosis rate of PQ+XBJ group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). (4) Compared with the normal control group, Bcl-2 protein expression in PQ group was significantly decreased and BAX protein expression in PQ group was significantly increased (P<0.05) ; compared with PQ group, Bcl-2 protein expression in PQ+XBJ group was significantly increased, BAX protein expression in PQ+XBJ group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). (5) Compared with the normal control group, the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in PQ group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with PQ group, the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in PQ+XBJ group were decreased significantly (P<0.05) . Conclusion: XBJ (10 mg/ml) has obvious protective effect on HK-2 cell injuried by PQ (800 µmol/L) , It can improve the survival rate of cells through reducing the apoptosis of HK-2 cells which induced by PQ.

Effects of supplementing sow diets with fermented corn and soybean meal mixed feed during lactation on the performance of sows and progeny.

In the present study, two experiments were performed to study the effects of feeding fermented corn and soybean meal mixed feed (FMF) with Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium to lactating sows on the performance of the sows and their progeny. In experiment 1, 60 sows were allocated to the following three dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a corn and soybean meal basal diet (control) from day 3 before parturition to weaning, 2) sows fed a diet with 7.5% FMF, and 3) sows fed a diet with 15% FMF. Results indicated that feeding 15% FMF significantly improved (P < 0.05) the sows' ADFI, the individual piglet weaning weights, and piglet weight gain and reduced (P < 0.05) the backfat loss of sows compared with the control group. However, the 7.5% FMF treatment did not alter the performance of the sows or their progeny. Therefore, we considered the level of 15% FMF to be more efficient than 7.5% FMF. To verify the results of experiment 1, we performed experiment 2, in which 60 sows at 111 d of gestation were allocated into the following two dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a basal lactation diet (control) from d 111 of gestation to weaning and 2) sows fed a basal diet with 15% FMF. Compared with the control group, 15% FMF inclusion significantly increased (P < 0.05) the sows' ADFI, litter weight gain, and individual piglet weight gain during lactation and markedly decreased the backfat loss of sows (P < 0.05) and piglet diarrhea incidence (P < 0.05). Additionally, the milk yield and IgA contents of the milk in sows fed 15% FMF were greater (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. Furthermore, the apparent total tract digestibility of GE, DM, and total P of sows was increased (P < 0.05) with 15% FMF supplementation. Therefore, the present study indicates that supplementing sow diets with 15% FMF from parturition to weaning has the potential to 1) increase sow ADFI, milk production, milk IgA content, and nutrient digestibility and promote sow reproductive performance by shortening the weaning-to-estrous interval and 2) promote the growth performance of their progeny and decrease diarrhea incidence.

[The localization diagnosis of patients with adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent Cushing's syndrome in adolescence].

Objective: To elucidate the clinical characteristics and localization diagnosis of patients with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome (CS) in adolescence. Methods: The clinical data, laboratory examination and localization diagnosis from 35 patients aged less than 18 years old with adolescent CS who were treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1990 and March 2012 were analyzed. Results: There were 29 cases of Cushing's disease (CD) and 6 cases of ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS). Compared to patients with EAS, those with CD were older at diagnosis[(15.2±2.7) vs (12.8±4.4) years], and had longer disease course[(1.9±1.5) vs (0.7±0.3) years]and higher serum potassium[(3.8±0.6) vs (2.5±0.7) mmol/L], however the plasma ACTH level[(15.4±14.9) vs (42.5±22.7) pmol/L]was lower (all P<0.05). If the cut-off of the ratio of 24-hour urine free cortisol (24 h UFC) after low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) to before LDDST was 0.65, the sensibility to diagnose CD was 70.8%, and the specificity was 100%. If the cut-off of the 24 h UFC ratio after high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST) to before HDDST was 0.54, the sensibility to diagnose CD was 91.7%, and the specificity was 100%. If the cut-off of the plasma ACTH ratio of inferior petrosal vein[bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS)]to peripheral vein was 2, only 6 CD patients (6/8) met it. Conclusion: The study suggested that HDDST was more meaningful in the localization diagnosis of patients with ACTH-dependent CS in adolescence.

[Glabridin attenuates MPTP-induced parkinson disease by inhibiting extracellular regulated protein kinases signaling pathway].

Objective: To investigate whether Glabridin had a beneficial effect on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) induced parkinson disease (PD) in mice, and explore the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Forty C57BL/6N mice were randomly assigned into control group, MPTP group, Glabridin therapy(MPTP+ GLA)group, Levodopa therapy(MPTP+ LD)group, with 10 in each group. PD model was induced by intraperitoneal administration of MPTP(20 mg/kg). The mice in MPTP+ GLA group, MPTP+ LD group and control group were gavaged by glabridin (50 mg/kg), levodopa (40 mg/kg), and equal volume of normal saline, respectively. The behavioral changes of each group were observed and Y-type electric maze test was performed. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed. The protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK) protein expression of hippocampus tissue was detected using immunohistochemical techniques. TH and pERK protein expression of hippocampus tissue were detected by Western blotting. Results: Mice in MPTP group showed typical behavior of PD, and the ability of learning and memory was significantly lower than those in the control group. Compared with MPTP group, the expressions of TNF-α and IL-18 were suppressed by GLA in hippocampus[TNF-α(µg/L): 84.04±18.66 vs 106.53±28.54; IL-18(µg/L): 42.34±6.01 vs 58.42±8.39]. The levels of MDA in hippocampus were down-regulated significantly in groups administrated with GLA[MDA(nmol/mgprot): 2.64±0.52vs 3.78±0.31], while the SOD level increased after GLA administration[SOD(U/mgprot): 93.45±9.59 vs 77.83±8.98]. The results of immunohistochemistry showed the expression of TH protein in MPTP group was significantly decreased compared with that in control group, while the p-ERK protein in MPTP group was significantly increased. In MPTP+ GLA group and MPTP+ LD group, the expression of TH protein was significantly higher than that in MPTP group, and the expression of p-ERK protein was significantly lower than that in MPTP group. Western blot results showed that compared with control group, the expression of TH was significantly decreased, and p-ERK protein in hippocampus was significantly higherin MPTP group. The expression of TH protein was significantly higher in MPTP+ GLA group than that in MPTP group, while the expression of p-ERK protein were inhibited by GLA in MPTP-induced PD mice. Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine glabridin can protect the learning and memory ability of PD mice induced by MPTP by inhibition of the ERK signal pathway, antioxidation and reduction of inflammation.

Effects of supplementing sow diets with Saccharomyces cerevisiae refermented sorghum dried distiller's grains with solubles from late gestation to weaning on the performance of sows and progeny.

We performed 2 experiments to study the effects of supplementing sow diets with refermented sorghum dried distiller's grains with solubles (SSDDGS) from late gestation to weaning on the performance of sows and their progeny. In Exp. 1, 24 sows at 85 d of gestation were allocated to the following 3 dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a basal diet from late gestation to weaning ( = 8), 2) sows fed a diet with 2% SSDDGS ( = 8), and 3) sows fed a diet with 4% SSDDGS ( = 8). The 4% SSDDGS treatment significantly improved the sows' ADFI, the litter weaning alive rate, and the individual piglet weaning weights and significantly reduced the litter stillbirth rate and the levels of urea N and somatic cell counts (SCC) in the milk. However, the 2% SSDDGS treatment did not alter the performance of the sows or progeny. Therefore, we considered the volume of 4% SSDDGS to be more efficient than 2% SSDDGS. To verify the results of Exp. 1, we performed Exp. 2, in which 60 sows at 85 d of gestation were allocated into the following 2 dietary treatments: 1) sows fed a basal gestation diet from 85 d of gestation to weaning ( = 30) and 2) sows fed a basal diet with 4% SSDDGS from 85 d of gestation to weaning ( = 30). The 4% SSDDGS supplementation tended to increase the sows' ADFI, litter weaning size, litter weight gain during lactation, and individual piglet weaning weight and weight gain during lactation, and it also increased the milk yield and the fat and DM contents of the milk. This treatment also decreased the levels of urea N and SCC in the milk. Therefore, the present study indicates that supplementing sow diets with 4% SSDDGS from late gestation to weaning has the potential to 1) increase sow ADFI, 2) promote progeny growth performance, 3) increase sow milk production and quality, and 4) improve the maternal health status as indicated by improved protein utilization and reduced potential inflammatory response.