Limonitum Ameliorates Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhoea in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota.

Diarrhoea is a common clinical condition; its pathogenesis is strongly associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Limonitum is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that exerts appreciable benefits regarding the amelioration of diarrhoea. However, the mechanism through which Limonitum ameliorates diarrhoea remains unclear. Here, the efficacy and underlying mechanism of Limonitum decoction (LD) regarding diarrhoea were explored from the aspect of gut microbiota. Castor oil (CO) was used to induce diarrhoea in mice, which were then used to evaluate the effects of LD regarding the timing of the first defecation, diarrhoea stool rate, degree of diarrhoea, diarrhoea score, intestinal propulsive rate, and weight of intestinal contents. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric and valeric acids, were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to evaluate changes in the gut microbiota under exposure to LD. LD was found to effectively ameliorate the symptoms of diarrhoea, and the diversity and relative abundance of gut microbiota were restored to normal levels following LD treatment. Additionally, LD significantly restored the observed reductions in SCFAs. These results provide strong evidence that LD can sufficiently ameliorate diarrhoea in mice by regulating their gut microbiota. The findings presented here highlight that Limonitum may constitute a prospective remedy for diarrhoea.

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.

Label-free quantitative proteomics analysis reveals the fate of colostrum proteins in the intestine of neonatal calves.

The contribution of intestinally absorbed colostral immunoglobulins to the transmission of passive immunity is widely reported in neonatal calves. However, changes in the colostral proteome in the gastrointestinal digesta remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in colostral proteome affected by gastrointestinal proteases in neonatal calves. Twenty-one neonatal Holstein calves were used in this study, including 18 colostrum-fed calves slaughtered at 8 (CI, n = 6), 24 (CII, n = 6), and 36 h (CIII, n = 6) postpartum and 3 milk-fed calves slaughtered 24 h postpartum (MI, n = 3). The ingested colostrum and milk samples were collected from the mid-jejunum segment, following the sacrifice. The undigested colostrum or milk along with their ingested colostrum or milk samples were investigated using a label-free proteomics approach. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis of the quantified proteins revealed that the ingested colostrum from the CII and CIII groups and the ingested mature milk from the MI group appeared to share similar patterns. Analysis of the intestinal digesta revealed a time-dependent decrease in caseins, lactoferrin, and osteopontin protein levels, and an increase in cationic trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase. Several protease inhibitors, such as α-1-antiproteinase, α-2-antiplasmin, and early lactation protein, were identified in the colostrum and intestinal digesta. In addition, we detected identical levels in the intestinal digesta and colostrum for albumin, α-1-acid glycoprotein, and plasminogen. Pathway analysis indicated that proteins increased in the intestinal digesta belonged to the following categories: biosynthesis of antibiotics, carbon metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids. These results indicated that selected colostral proteins were digested by gastrointestinal proteases, contributing to their intestinal absorption in calves. These findings provide new insights into the fate of the colostral proteome in the gastrointestinal tract and may aid in the identification of factors contributing to health management in neonatal calves.

Alterations of the circular RNA profile in the jejunum of neonatal calves in response to colostrum and milk feeding.

Circular RNA (circRNA) have been suggested to contribute to regulating gene expression in various tissues and cells of eukaryotes. However, little is known regarding the expression pattern of circRNA and their potential function in the small intestine of neonatal calves that receive colostrum. In the current study, jejunum tissue samples were collected from control calves (2 h after birth; CT; n = 3) and neonatal calves that ingested colostrum (24 h after birth; CO; n = 3) or milk (24 h after birth; MK; n = 3) to compare the circRNA expression patterns using a high-throughput RNA sequencing approach. A total of 21,213, 17,861, and 21,737 circRNA were identified in the CT, CO, and MK groups, respectively. Only 13,254 of these circRNA were common to the 3 groups, suggesting high specificity of circRNA expression depending on nutrient type. In total, 243, 249, and 283 circRNA were differentially expressed in the CO versus CT, CO versus MK, and MK versus CT comparisons, respectively. Gene ontology analysis showed that the differentially expressed circRNA and their predicted or known target genes from the CO and MK groups were mainly involved in macromolecule metabolic process, response to stress, and vesicle-mediated transport. Moreover, pathway analysis showed that the Rap1 signaling pathway, focal adhesion, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction were the most significantly enriched pathways. These data collectively indicate that circRNA are abundant and dynamically expressed when calves receive colostrum and act as microRNA sponges to regulate their target genes for jejunum function during the early development of newborn calves.

[Association between maternal tea consumption in pregnancy and birth outcomes].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal tea consumption and birth outcomes. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2010, pregnant women were recruited from Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital. The basic information and the situation of tea consumption during pregnancy were investigated using questionnaire and the birth outcomes of newborns were followed up. Finally, 500 pairs of mothers and infants with complete and standard-compliant data were included in the analysis. The differences of birth outcomes between the tea consumption group and the non tea consumption group were compared and the associations between tea consumption and birth outcomes were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Mother's tea consumption rate was 32.8% (164 cases) during pregnancy. The rate of low birth weight in the tea consumption group was (5.5%, 9 cases) and higher than that in the non-tea consumption group (2.1%, 7 cases) (P=0.042). There was no significant difference in the rate of premature birth, small for gestational age, fetal distress, and macrosomia between the two groups After the adjustment of maternal age, education level, family income, weight gain during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, neonatal gender and gestational age, compared with non-tea consumption group, there was a positive effect on low birth weight, OR(95%CI) was 4.76 (1.06-21.48). The OR (95%CI) value of the low birth weight risk of the tea group was 5.30 (1.04-26.92) compared with the non-tea consumption group after the adjustment of additional factors such as passive smoking, coffee consumption, folic acid supplement, mineral supplement, carbonated beverage consumption. Simultaneously, compared with non-tea consumption group, there was no statistically significant association between tea consumption during pregnancy and premature birth, small for gestational age, fetal distress and macrosomia (P>0.05). Conclusion: Tea consumption during pregnancy was a risk factor for low birth weight in offspring.

[Advances in the research of zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation treatment in patients with severe burns].

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements in human body, which plays an important role in regulating acute inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, anti-oxidation, immune and gastrointestinal function of patients with severe burns. Patients with severe burns may suffer from zinc deficiency because of insufficient amount of zinc intake from the diet and a large amount of zinc lose through wounds and urine. Zinc deficiency may affect their wound healing process and prognosis. This article reviews the characteristics of zinc metabolism in patients with severe burns through dynamic monitoring the plasma and urinary concentration of zinc. An adequate dosage of zinc supplemented to patients with severe burns by an appropriate method can increase the level of zinc in plasma and skin tissue and improve wound healing, as well as reduce the infection rates and mortality. At the same time, it is important to observe the symptoms and signs of nausea, dizziness, leukopenia and arrhythmia in patients with severe burns after supplementing excessive zinc.

High stocking density alters bone-related calcium and phosphorus metabolism by changing intestinal absorption in broiler chickens.

Live performance, bone health and metabolic responses to the interaction among stocking density and dietary concentrations of total calcium (TCa) and non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) were determined on 2,232 Ross 308 female broilers over a 3-wk experimental period. From 22 d of age, birds were randomly divided into 48 groups and provided with different corn-soybean meal-based diets varying in TCa (0.70% or 0.90%) and NPP (0.28% or 0.36%) content at 1 of 2 stocking densities [28.6 (LSD, 13 broilers/m2) and 39.6 (HSD, 18 broilers/m2) kg of predicted final BW/m2 floor space], according to a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with 6 replications in each treatment. Regardless of NPP supplementation, a high-TCa (0.90%) diet aggravated the impact of HSD on growth (BW gain and feed efficiency, P < 0.001) and motility (gait score, P < 0.001). This might be explained by deteriorating tibia quality (relative weight, mineral composition and biomechanical property; P < 0.01), due to the involvement of decreasing duodenal absorption (type IIb sodium-phosphate co-transporter mRNA, P < 0.001) in reduced phosphorus retention (P < 0.001). On the contrary, increasing dietary NPP (0.36%), particularly if high in TCa (0.90%), boosted TCa retention (P < 0.05) by improving absorption (calcium-binding protein D28k transcription, P < 0.05) for LSD chickens, hence enhancing bone development (relative tibia weight and tibia breaking strength, P < 0.05) and leg health (walking ability, P < 0.05). Together, HSD and LSD birds show an impaired TCa tolerance and a higher TCa+NPP threshold, respectively, to allow the optimization of bone quality via altered intestinal absorption.

High dietary biotin levels affect the footpad and hock health of broiler chickens reared at different stocking densities and litter conditions.

Responses to stocking density (SD), dietary biotin concentration and litter condition were evaluated on 2016 Ross 308 male broilers in the fattening period (day 22-day 42). The birds were placed in 48 pens with either dry or wet litter to simulate the final stocking density of 30 kg (12 broilers/m2 ; normal stocking density, NSD) and 40 kg (16 broilers/m2 ; high stocking density, HSD) of body weight (BW)/m2 floor space. A corn-soybean meal-based diet was supplemented with biotin to provide a normal (NB; 155 µg/kg) or high (HB, 1521 µg/kg) level of dietary biotin. There were six repetitions per treatment. The inappropriate moisture content of litter associated with HSD was avoided (p < 0.05) by good management (SD difference: dry litter, 6.65% vs. wet litter, 13.23%; 42 days), which made it advantageous (p < 0.01) for footpad (SD difference: dry litter, 0.118 vs. wet litter, 0.312; weekly average value) and hock health (SD difference: dry litter, 0.090 vs. wet litter, 0.303; weekly average value) of HSD birds, but not (p > 0.05) for growth and processing yield. In HSD, the biotin effect (gains, FCR) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in NSD. The similar response of HSD birds to supplemental biotin was observed (p < 0.05) for lesion scores of footpad and hock in particularly finishing chickens, and a significant interaction (p < 0.01) among stocking density, biotin supplementation and litter condition existed from 35 to 42 days of age. Taken together, increasing dietary biotin improves the performance and well-being of broiler chickens stocked at high densities in litter-independent and litter-dependent manners respectively.

Maternal dietary linoleic acid supplementation promotes muscle fibre type transformation in suckling piglets.

As meat quality is basically dependent on muscle fibre characteristics, it is important to know how muscle fibres are regulated and transformed. This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal dietary supplementation on muscle fibre types using 3% saturated fatty acid (palmitic acid, PA) or 3% unsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid, LA) from 80 days of gestation to the weaning of offspring (25 days post-natal). The results indicated that higher mRNA levels of MyHCI type genes were found in the soleus muscles of piglets that suckled from LA-supplemented sows than from PA-supplemented sows. In addition, LA treatment increased the gene expression of the type I muscle fibre marker troponin I (p < 0.01), suggesting that LA promoted muscle fibre type transformation to type I fibres. Moreover, PGC-1α (p < 0.01) and MEF2c (p < 0.05) mRNA levels were higher in the piglets from the LA treatment group than in those from the PA treatment group. Furthermore, LA supplementation also significantly increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mRNA levels (p < 0.05), which is an upstream regulator of PGC-1α. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that maternal dietary LA supplementation promoted muscle fibre transformation to type I fibre and that this process may be mediated through an AMPK-dependent pathway.

[Manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging investigation in the central auditory pathway of the cat].

OBJECTIVE: To compare enhancement of the central auditory pathway in cats receiving auditory stimulation between manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) with intraperitoneal manganese injection route and MEMRI with intratympanic manganese injection route, and investigate the optimal method for displaying enhancement of the central auditory pathway. METHODS: Twenty-seven normal hearing adult cats were randomly divided into three groups, receiving intraperitoneal manganese injection, left intratympanic manganese injection or left intratympanic gadolinium injection respectively.All cats received white noise stimulation of 80 dB in twenty-four hours after injection.Three dimensionally coronal T1-weighted imaging of the cat brain was obtained with an animal dedicated MRI scanner.The signal noise ratios (SNRs) of bilateral cochlear nuclei (CN), dorsal nuclei of the trapezoid bodies (DNTB), caudal colliculi (CC) and auditory cortices (AC) were measured on reconstructed images and compared. RESULTS: Obvious increased SNRs on both sides were shown in intraperitoneal mangasese injection group while left predilection was shown in intratympanic manganese injection group: left CN 45.7±6.0, 37.4±11.9, 23.9±2.7, F=17.694, P=0.000; left DNTB 50.5±11.2, 37.1±11.2, 27.6±7.3, F=11.781, P=0.000; left CC 37.6±3.9, 22.6±3.1, 17.9±0.7, F=111.898, P=0.000; left AC 27.7±2.5, 17.3±2.3, 14.5±1.0, F=105.132, P=0.000; right CN 42.7±8.3, 23.9±3.0, 22.7±2.1, F=41.492, P=0.000; right DNTB 44.1±8.3, 21.9±3.0, 23.9±4.0, F=27.862, P=0.000; right CC 38.0±4.0, 21.9±3.0, 17.6±0.9, F=120.032, P=0.000; right AC 26.7±3.4, 17.1±2.9, 14.9±1.3, F=64.587, P=0.000.Compared with the left intratympanic gadolinium injection group, the intraperitoneal manganese injection group showed higher SNRs in bilateral CN and CC (P<0.05), and the left intratympanic manganese injection group showed higher SNRs in left CN, AC and bilateral CC.The SNRs of right CN, bilateral DNTB, CC and AC were significantly higher in the intraperitoneal manganese injection group than those in the left intratympanic manganese injection group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MEMRI with intraperitoneal manganese injection might be the optimal method for displaying enhancement of the central auditory pathway in cats receiving auditory stimulation.

Effects of the ginkgo biloba extract on the superoxide dismutase activity and apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells from diabetic peripheral blood.

Although ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) was shown to have antioxidant effects, little has been reported on the ability to GBE to help endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) resist oxidative stress. The present study evaluated the influence of different concentrations of GBE on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and apoptosis of diabetic peripheral blood EPCs. Twenty-five diabetic patients without any vascular complications were included in the experimental group, while 15 healthy adults made up the control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated with density gradient centrifugation, and, after in vitro differentiation, were determined to be EPCs using FITC-UEA-I and Dil-Ac-LDL dual staining. After the colony and fusiform adherent cells were observed, on day 7, various concentrations of ginkgo biloba extract (0, 10, 25, 50 mg/L) were added to the culture medium for a 24-h incubation. EPC-SOD activity and apoptosis were subsequently detected. We found that within the experimental group, GBE significantly improved SOD activity within EPCs and reduced the rate of apoptosis. These effects became more obvious with increasing GBE concentrations (25 mg/L, P < 0.05; 50 mg/L, P < 0.01). GBE also improved SOD activity and reduced the rate of apoptosis within EPCs of the control group; however, the changes were not statistically significant. We conclude that GBE can improve SOD activity and reduce the rate of apoptosis of EPCs within the peripheral blood of diabetic patients, effects that are dose-dependent.

Effects of the preoperative administration of Yunnan Baiyao capsules on intraoperative blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Yunnan Baiyao is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine that has been used as a haemostatic drug for nearly 100 years. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yunan Baiyao capsules on the reduction of blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. 87 consecutive patients scheduled for simultaneous maxillary Le Fort I osteotomies and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies (BSSRO) were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients were administered Yunnan Baiyao capsules or placebo capsules, orally for 3 days before surgery. Intraoperative blood loss was estimated and the safety of Yunnan Baiyao capsules was evaluated. The total blood loss in the Yunnan Baiyao group (mean, 330.5+/-134.4 ml) was significantly lower than in the control group (mean, 420.3+/-175.9 ml). No allergic reactions, thromboembolic events or other side effects were recorded in this trial. It can be concluded that the preoperative use of Yunnan Baiyao capsules, in combination with hypotension anaesthesia, results in a reduction in intraoperative blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Yunnan Baiyao capsules are an effective and safe haemostatic Chinese medicine.

Effects of oren-gedoku-to and unsei-in, Chinese traditional medicines, on interleukin-8 and superoxide dismutase in rats.

This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of action of two Chinese traditional drugs, Oren-gedoku-to and Unsei-in, which have been used for many years in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. In rats with acetic acid-induced inflammation, both drugs reduced interleukin-8 concentrations in the serum. Neither drug significantly affected superoxide dismutase activity in the serum, although Unsei-in increased superoxide dismutase activity in liver after 1 month of administration. Oren-gedoku-to showed no significant effect on liver superoxide dismutase activity. It was considered that these medicines exert their anti-inflammatory effects mainly on the early stages of inflammation, wherein increased capillary permeability and migration of leucocytes occur.

Ultrastructural observation on macrophage-lymphocyte interactions in semen from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. takers.

Sixty-nine specimens from Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook.f. (TWH) users were investigated by electron microscopy. No macrophages were demonstrated in the 21 specimens collected prior to the administration of TWH. However, it was found in 23 out of the 48 semen specimens obtained following the TWH administration. The macrophages were functionally active as shown by the presence of a large number of cytoplasmic processes and pseudopodia on the surface, and primary and secondary lysosomes in the cytoplasm. The macrophages phagocytized sperm debris and degenerated or dead spermatids with formation of specific phagosomes. Around those macrophages, lymphocytes were commonly noted. The cytoplasmic processes of the two cell types could come into contact or even fuse with each other, leading to tight junction-like structure; in some of the contacts, the plasma membranes were found dissolved so as to form direct cytoplasmic linkage.