Dietary supplementation of coated sodium butyrate improves growth performance of laying ducks by regulating intestinal health and immunological performance.

Introduction: This study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of coated sodium butyrate (CSB) on the growth performance, serum antioxidant, immune performance, and intestinal microbiota of laying ducks. Methods: A total of 120 48-week-old laying ducks were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups: the control group (group C fed a basal diet) and the CSB-treated group (group CSB fed the basal diet + 250 g/t of CSB). Each treatment consisted of 6 replicates, with 10 ducks per replicate, and the trial was conducted for 60 days. Results: Compared with the group C, the group CSB showed a significant increase in the laying rate (p<0.05) of the 53-56 week-old ducks. Additionally, the serum total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase activity and immunoglobulin G level were significantly higher (p<0.05), while the serum malondialdehyde content and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a level were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the serum of the group CSB compared to the group C. Moreover, the expression of IL-1b and TNF-a in the spleen of the group CSB was significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to that of the group C. In addition, compared with the group C, the expression of Occludin in the ileum and the villus height in the jejunum were significantly higher in the group CSB (p<0.05). Furthermore, Chao1, Shannon, and Pielou-e indices were higher in the group CSB compared to the group C (p<0.05). The abundance of Bacteroidetes in the group CSB was lower than that in the group C (p<0.05), while the abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were higher in the group CSB compared to the group C (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the dietary supplementation of CSB can alleviate egg-laying stress in laying ducks by enhancing immunity and maintaining the intestinal health of the ducks.

Effects of Compound Probiotics on Cecal Microbiome and Metabolome of Shaoxing Duck.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of compound probiotics on intestinal microflora and metabolome of Shaoxing ducks. A total of 640 1-day-old Shaoxing ducks were randomly divided into two treatments with eight replicates and forty ducks for each replicate. The ducks were fed basal diet (Ctrl) and basal diet supplemented with 0.15% compound probiotics (MixP). The experiment lasted for 85 days. The results showed that the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Bacteroides in MixP was higher than that in Ctrl (P < 0.05). However, the abundance of Firmicutes and Oscillospira and Desulfovibrio in MixP was lower than that in Ctrl (P < 0.05). Concentrations of 71 metabolites differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the MixP and the Ctrl groups; for example, Pyridoxal (Vitamin B6), L-Arginine, and Betaine aldehyde were up-regulated (P < 0.05), and 7-oxocholesterol, 3-hydroxy-L-kynureni-ne, and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine were down-regulated (P < 0.05). KEGG was enriched in 15 metabolic pathways. The pathways of Vitamin B6 metabolism, Vascular smooth muscle contraction, Vitamin digestion and absorption, and Protein digestion and absorption were influenced by compound probiotics supplementation. Thus, supplementation of compound probiotics improved cecal heath through shifts in the cecal microbiome and metabolome.

Molecular cloning, expression and mimicking antiviral activity analysis of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I in duck (Anas platyrhynchos).

Intracellular double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a chief sign of replication for many viruses. Pattern recognition receptors(PRRs) of the innate immune system detected the dsRNA and initiate the antiviral responses. Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), a member of PRRs, plays an essential regulatory role in dsRNA-induced signalling. In this study, the full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) of duck RIG-I (duRIG-I) was cloned using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of the cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA of duRIG-I contained 97-bp 5'UTR, 141-bp 3'-UTR and 2802 bp complete open-reading frame (ORF) encoding 933 amino acids. Multiple sequence alignments showed that duRIG-I shared high similarity with RIG-I from other vertebrates. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that duRIG-I mRNA was expressed in all tested tissues, with high levels in the liver, heart, spleen, kidney and thymus, while lower in the duodenum. duRIG-I could be induced by treatment with poly(I:C). Further, overexpression of duRIG-I significantly activated the transcription of poly(I:C)-induced IFN-b, IRF7, TRIF, Mx, STAT1 and STAT2 mRNA, and duRIG-I knockdown showed the opposite results. Overall, our results suggested that duRIG-I could be an important receptor for mimicking antiviral state in duck, which warrant further studies to show the possible mechanism.

Association between skin reactions and efficacy of summer acupoint application treatment on chronic pulmonary disease: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the variations in the prevalence of skin reactions and the association between skin reactions and efficacy of summer acupoint application treatment (SAAT) on chronic pulmonary disease (CPD). METHODS: A total of 2,038 patients with CPD were enrolled at 3 independent hospitals (defined as Groups A, B and C, respectively) in China. All patients were treated by SAAT, as applying a herbal paste onto the acupoints of Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13) on the dog days of summer, according to the lunar calendar, in 2008. Ten days after treatment, skin reaction data (no reaction, itching, stinging, blistering, and infection) were obtained via face-to-face interviews. Patients were retreated in the same hospital one year later, thereby allowing doctors to assess treatment efficacy based on the patients' symptoms, the severity of the spirometric abnormalities, and the concomitant medications used. RESULTS: A large number of patients (85.3%) displayed reactive symptoms; however, the marked associations between reactive symptoms and age or gender were not observed. An increased number of patients from Group B (99.3%) and Group C (76.5%) displayed reactive symptoms due to the increased mass of crude Semen Sinapis Albae. The effective rate of SAAT was as high as 90.4% for patients of Group B, which was followed by Group A (70.9%) and Group C (42.2%). Using stratified analyses, a convincing association between reactive symptoms and therapeutic efficacy was observed for patients with asthma [itching: odds ratio (OR)=2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49 to 3.14; blistering: OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.73; and no reaction: OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.90]. However, the same tendency was not observed for patients with chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CONCLUSIONS: SAAT can induce very mild skin reactions for patients with CPD, among which patients with asthma displayed a strong association between skin reactions and therapeutic efficacy. The skin reactions may be induced by the crude Semen Sinapis Albae.

Efficacy evaluation of summer acupoint application treatment on asthma patients: a two-year follow-up clinical study.

UNLABELLED: fill out a questionnaire evaluating asthma degree, exacerbation frequency, concomitant medications and self-satisfaction. The self-rate and doctor-report outcomes obtained in parallel were evaluated to assess the efficacy of SAAT. RESULTS: A total of 527 asthma patients were initially enrolled in this study, of which 97 elderly patients and those with more severe cases of asthma were lost to follow-up. Thus, a total of 430 patients were valid for analysis using self-rate data. Nevertheless, occasional negative returns were obtained; almost all of the outcomes were rated as "No change", "Moderate effective", or "Very effective". In addition, 80% of the patients were satisfied with this treatment. Moreover, 391 (91.4% ) patients were somewhat improved after SAAT in 2009, and further improvement was observed in 2010. After SAAT, the average asthma-degree score decreased from 5.3 in 2008 to 4 in 2009 and, subsequently to 3.5 in 2010. CONCLUSION: With pronounced patient satisfaction, SAAT can reduce the exacerbation severity and frequency, concomitant medications and asthma degree. Prolonging the treatment course might enhance the efficacy of SAAT. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the self-efficacy and satisfaction of asthma patients subjected to summer acupoint application treatment (SAAT). METHODS: A two-year follow-up clinical study was conducted. Patients with asthma were treated by applying a herbal paste onto the Feishu (BL 13) and Fengmen (BL 12) acupoints on the three hottest days of summer, according to the traditional Chinese calendar, from 2008 to 2010. During a two-year follow-up, these patients were asked to

[Evaluation for Merchandise Character and Quality of Bupleurum chinense Root from Different Habitats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the merchandise character and quality of Bupleurum chinense root from different habitats. METHODS: The spectrophotometer method was used to determine the content of total saponins and total flavonoids in Bupleurum chinense root. The content of alcohol-soluble extract and total ash were determined according to the method in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. RESULTS: The quality of Bupleuri Radix from different habitats varied greatly. There were also differences (P < 0.05) between the merchandise packaged with selection and the merchandise packaged without selection of Bupleurum chinense root from the same habitats. The merchandise packaged without selection had the better quality, whose root length, root diameter, weight, total length proportional share of residual stems, total saponins, total flavonoids, total alcohol-soluble extract and total ash was 14.50 cm/plant, 0.59 cm/plant, 5.14 g/plant, 36.85%, 0.721%, 0.615%, 12.993% and 4.890%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bupleurum chinense root from Tong'an, Jiangsu has the best quality in the test samples from different habitats.

[Treating influenza patients of wind-heat affecting Fei syndrome by jinhua qinggan granule: a double-blinded randomized control trial].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect and safety of Jinhua Qinggan Granule (JHG) in treating influenza patients of wind-heat affecting Fei syndrome (WHAFS). METHODS: Totally 136 influenza patients of WHAFS were randomized by stratification into 3 groups, the high dose JHG group (44 cases, 10 g each time), the low dose JHG group (45 cases, 5 g JHG + 5 g placebo each time), and the placebo control group (47 cases, 10 g placebo each time). All medication was administered three times daily for 5 days. The fever disappearance time, the fever disappearance rate, efficacy of TCM syndrome, the disappearance rate of main symptoms and physical signs of flu, the negative rate of virus nucleic acid in the pharyngeal secretion, and safety indicators were assessed. RESULTS: The median fever disappearance time was 32.8 h (95% CI: 22.5-41.0 h) in the high dose JHG group, 26.0 h (95% CI: 14.5-36.5 h) in the low dose JHG group, 39.5 h (95% CI: 29.0-46.0 h) in the placebo control group. There was statistical difference in the median fever disappearance time between the low dose JHG group and the placebo control group (P = 0.011). Three days after treatment, the markedly effective rate of TCM symptoms in the low dose JHG group was 66.7%, higher than that of the placebo control group (38.3%), and its effective rate was superior to that of the high dose JHG group (P = 0.043). Five days after treatment, the recovery rate of the low dose JHG group (42.2%) was higher than that of the high dose JHG group (25.0%, P = 0.026) and that of the placebo control group (14.9%, P = 0.002). The markedly effective rate of the low dose JHG group (86.7%) was higher than that of the placebo control group (55.3%, P = 0.001). Similar effects were obtained in the low dose JHG group and the high dose JHG group, but slightly poor in partial indicators of the high dose JHG group. There was no statistical difference in adverse reaction among these three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: JHG was effective and safe in treating influenza patients of WHAFS. Routinely low dose was the optimal dosage of JHG.

[Randomized controlled trial of xiaochuangao acupoint paste to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the stable phase: treating winter diseases in summer].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical efficacy of Xiaochuangao Acupoint Paste (XAP) to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the stable phase. METHODS: By using a multi-center randomized double-blinded placebo controlled design, 142 patients with COPD were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the treatment group were treated with XAP, while those in the control group were treated with the placebo paste. One therapeutic course consisted of six pastes, three times on dog-days within one year, for two successive years. The SGRQ life quality score, BODE index, yearly average times of common cold and acute attack, times of emergency clinics and hospitalization, the lung function, and so on were observed. RESULTS: The post-treatment 1- and 2-year SGRQ life quality scores decreased more than before treatment in the two groups. Compared with one year after treatment, the posttreatment 2-year activities and influence of SGRQ life quality score,and the total score decreased significantly in the treatment group (P<0.05). Besides, the decrement was more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The decrement of the BODE index between the post-treatment 2-year and before treatment and between the post-treatment 2-year and the post-treatment 1-year was higher in the treatment group when compared with the control group during the same time periods (P<0.01). The yearly average times of common cold and acute attack were obviously lower 2 years after treatment than those of the control group 2 years after treatment, Besides, they were lower than those before treatment and 1 year after treatment in the treatment group (P<0.05). The yearly average times of emergency clinics and hospitalization were obviously less in the treatment group 2 years after treatment than before treatment of the same group and those of the control group during the same time period (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the lung function between the two groups. CONCLUSION: XAP showed positive effects on improving the quality of life of patients with COPD in the stable phase, lessening their acute aggravation times, and lowering medical costs.

Effect of dietary fatty acids on serum parameters, fatty acid compositions, and liver histology in Shaoxing laying ducks.

The effects of different fatty acid (FA) contents in diet on serum parameters, FA compositions of eggs and meat, and liver morphological changes were studied in Shaoxing laying ducks. A total of 264 ducks at 17 weeks were fed a control diet or a diet containing 30 g/kg fish oil (FO), 25 g/kg sunflower oil (SO), or 30 g/kg palm oil with 20 g/kg beef tallow (PBO). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver and the serum of ducks fed the PBO diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of ducks fed the other diets. Triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in ducks fed the FO diet. Serum TC also was lower in ducks fed the SO diet. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was also affected by diets. The contents of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) in eggs and meat were significantly higher (P<0.001) in ducks fed the FO and SO diets than in ducks fed the control diet. The level of C22:6 (n-3) FA in ducks fed the FO diet was significantly higher than that in ducks fed the other diets. However, the conversion efficiency of the longer-chain C20:5 (n-3) FA was higher than that of C22:6 (n-3). Ducks fed the PBO diet exhibited lipid droplet accumulation in the liver. These results demonstrate that a diet enriched with different FAs has strong effects on serum lipid levels and the deposition of PUFAs into tissue lipids.

[Effects of Chinese medicine internal-external combined therapy in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the stable period].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of Chinese Medicine internal-external combined therapy (consisting of orally taking Chinese drugs and external acupoint sticking) for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the stable period. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-eight COPD patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group was treated with Atrovent Metered Dose Inhalation, oral taking Mucosolvan and Bailing Capsule, and acupoint sticking with dummy plaster; the treatment group was treated with ipratropium bromide aerosol, ambroxol hydrochloride, Chinese recipe prescribed according to syndrome differentiation, and combined with acupoint sticking with Xiaochuan Plaster applied in winters and summers (3 times in a season). All were treated for three months. Changes of the Chinese medicine syndrome scores, quality of life (QOL), and the pulmonary function in patients before and after treatment were observed. RESULTS: Scores of Chinese medicine syndrome and QOL in the treatment group were significantly improved after treatment with the effect better than those in the control group (P < 0.05), but the change of the pulmonary function was insignificant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese medicine internal-external combined therapy shows definite effect in treating COPD patients in the stable stage, it could distinctively alleviate clinical symptoms and improve the QOL of patients.

Clinical observation on the therapeutic effects of zhongyan-2 recipe in treating 29 HIV-infected and AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Zhongyan-2 Recipe (ZY-2), a recipe consisting of Chinese herbal medicine. METHODS: Twenty-nine HIV-infected patients were treated with ZY-2 for 3 months as one treatment course; and viral load, immune function and symptoms-signs were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the absolute values of CD4 were elevated in 8 cases, and lowered in 14 cases, 7 cases were not changed; the ratio of CD4/CD8 were elevated in 2 cases, lowered in 1 case, 16 of them were not changed obviously. The CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio were elevated simultaneously in 2 cases. Neopterin lowered in 4 cases, elevated in 11 cases, and not changed in 1 case. Viral load (VL) was lowered in 6 cases, elevated in 8 cases and not changed in 2 cases. The total effective rate was 42.28% on the basis of comprehensive assessment of VL, immune function, body weight and symptoms-signs. CONCLUSION: ZY-2 is an effective Chinese recipe in treating HIV-infected patients.