[Advances in the research of effects of glutamine on immune function of burn patients].

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in plasma and cells. It is the preferred fuel for enterocytes in the small intestine, macrophages, and lymphocytes. After serious burn, increased requirement of glutamine by the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and lymphocytes, and relatively insufficient self synthesis likely contribute to the rapid decline of glutamine in circulation and cells. Glutamine supplementation can not only protect intestinal mucosa, maintain normal intestinal barrier function, reduce bacterial translocation, and enhance the intestinal immune function, but also increase the number of lymphocytes, enhance the phagocytic function of macrophage, promote the synthesis of immunoglobulin, and reduce the body's inflammatory response, so as to enhance the immune function. Therefore, glutamine supplementation can improve and enhance the immune function, reduce complications and promote the prognosis of severely burned patients.

A randomized phase II trial of induction chemotherapy followed by cisplatin chronotherapy versus constant rate delivery combined with radiotherapy.

Chronotherapy is no longer a novel concept in cancer treatment after approximately 20 years of development. Many clinical trials have provided strong supporting evidence that chronomodulated treatment yields better results than a traditional dosage regimen. This study aimed to evaluate the adverse reactions, effect on immune functions, and therapeutic efficacy of chronomodulated infusion versus flat intermittent infusion of cisplatin (DDP) combined with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 148 patients with biopsy-diagnosed untreated stage III-IVb NPC were randomly assigned to undergo two cycles of chronomodulated infusion (study group) or flat intermittent infusion (control group) of DDP (100 mg/m2 on day 1, 21 days/cycle) synchronized with radical radiotherapy. Patients in the study group received chronomodulated infusion, with peak delivery of DDP at 16:00 pm. Patients in the control group received a routine constant rate of infusion. Both groups were treated with the same radiotherapy techniques. Over a median follow-up of 20 months, the study group had better outcomes for adverse effects and immune functions compared with the control group. During the phase of concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and oral mucositis in the study and control groups was 66.7% and 79.5% (p < 0.05), 47.9% and 71.2% (p < 0.05), and 73.9% and 87.7% (p < 0.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival between the two groups (p > 0.05). Chronochemotherapy significantly reduced the incidence of adverse reactions and enhanced the tolerance for treatment without affecting survival. It is worth mentioning that reduced destruction of immune function is a novel area of exploration in chronotherapy research.

Effect of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite on growth performance, zinc accumulation, and gene expression of zinc transporters in broilers.

This study investigated Zn-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite (Zn-ZCP) as a Zn supplement on performance, organ or tissue development, Zn accumulation in tissues, and gene expression of Zn transporters in the duodenum of broilers. A total of 300 1-d-old Arbor Acres chickens were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicate cages of 10 birds per treatment for a 21-d feeding period. The treatments comprised a basal corn­soybean meal diet without supplemental Zn (the control) or similar diets supplemented with 80 mg/kg Zn from ZnSO4 or 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn- ZCP, respectively. Supplementation of Zn-ZCP had a positive effect on G:F (linear, P < 0.05) and had tendency difference on ADG (linear, P < 0.1) of broilers during 1 to 21 d. Incremental Zn-ZCP inclusion in the diet increased the fresh weight of the pancreas (linear, P < 0.05) and tibia (linear, P < 0.05) in broilers on d 14. The same trend to the fresh weight of the tibia (linear, P < 0.05) and pancreas (linear, P < 0.05) was observed on d 21. Increasing Zn-ZCP level showed a linear response on Zn concentration in the liver (linear, P < 0.001), pancreas (linear, P < 0.05), and tibia (linear, P < 0.05) on d 14. The same trend of Zn concentrations in pancreas (linear, P < 0.05) and tibia (linear, P < 0.001) was observed on d 21. The mRNA levels of Zn transporter 2 (ZnT-2) and Zn transporter 5 (ZnT-5) in the duodenum of chicks fed the diet with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP did not differ from those of chicks fed the control diet, but both were lower (P < 0.05) than those of chicks fed ZnSO4 diet. Metallothionein (MT) mRNA levels of broilers fed the diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP or ZnSO4 was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Dietary treatments did not affect the mRNA expression of Zn transporter 1 (ZnT-1) or metal response element-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1). In conclusion, as a Zn supplement, Zn-ZCP was comparable to ZnSO4 for enhancing Zn accumulation and growth performance of broilers during 1 to 21 d. Broilers fed the diet with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP had different expressions of ZnT-2 and ZnT-5 in the duodenum compared with those fed the ZnSO4 diet.

Methionine improves breast muscle growth and alters myogenic gene expression in broilers.

To investigate the mechanism underlying the regulatory effect of Met on broiler growth, the growth performance, organ development, serum profile, myogenic gene expression, and methylation of myostatin gene exon 1 region in response to dietary Met status were evaluated. A total of 192 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were housed in 3-layer cages in a temperature-controlled room with continuous lighting. The temperature of the room was maintained at 32 to 34°C for the first 3 d and then reduced by 2 to 3°C per week to a final temperature of 20°C. Cages were randomly allocated to 2 dietary treatments with 6 replicate cages (8 males and 8 females/cage) per treatment. Control starter and finisher diets contained 0.50 and 0.43% Met, respectively. Corresponding values for a +Met treatment were 0.60 and 0.53% Met, respectively. The birds receiving the +Met diets had a greater (P < 0.05) G:F throughout the experiment. The +Met diets increased (P < 0.05) the relative weight of breast muscle and the concentrations of uric acid and triglyceride in serum at 42 d of age, whereas other serum measurements were not affected by treatments. Increased myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) and myocyte enhancer factor 2B (MEF2B) and decreased myostatin mRNA expression were observed in broilers fed the +Met diets (P < 0.05). However, methylation of myostatin gene exon 1 region was not different between groups. In conclusion, broilers fed the +Met diets increased breast muscle growth that was reflected in the expected expression of myostatin, Myf5, and MEF2B genes.

[Study on the essential oil components in Thymus quinquecostatus Celak].

AIM: To analyse the essential oil components of Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. METHODS: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used. RESULTS: A total of 78 components were separated. 34 of them were identified, which accounted for 95.93% of the total peak area. The main constituents are o-cymene, carvacrol, caryophyllene, 2-isopropyl-1-methoxy-4-methylbenzene and gamma-terpene. CONCLUSION: Thymus quinquecostatus Celak has perfume and medical development value.

Application of hemodilution in microsurgical free flap transplantation.

The intra-operative hemodilution and blood auto-transfusion is a blood-saving technique that can be performed when major blood loss is expected. The effects of this technique were studied in 30 microsurgical free flap transplantation patients. Between 400-600 ml blood was collected from the patients before surgery. The patients received dextran, a balanced salt solution, and glucose with the ratio of 3:1 to the collected blood volume, bleeding, and urine before the blood auto-transfusion. There were no significant changes in RBC, HCT, MCV, blood pressure, or heart rate. Of the 30 free flaps, 28 were successful with a 93.3% survival rate. The safety of intra-operative hemodilution and autologous blood transfusion in microsurgery as well as the effect of hemodilution on transplanted flap survival are discussed in this study.