Evaluation of Taraxacum mongolicum flavonoids in diets for Channa argus based on growth performance, immune responses, apoptosis and antioxidant defense system under lipopolysaccharide stress.

To ascertain the effects of Taraxacum mongolicum flavonoids (TMF) on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immune indices, inflammatory response and antioxidant capacity of Channa argus, 400 C. argus with an average body weight of (8.08 ± 0.21) g were selected and divided randomly into four groups. They were fed with four experimental diets supplemented with TMF of 0 (control), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg for 56 d, and then challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 96 h, afterwards indices were detected. The results manifested that the addition of TMF above 50 mg/kg in the dietary could significantly improve the final body weight, WGR, SGR and PER of C. argus, while decreased FCR (P < 0.05). Similarly, the 50 mg/kg group had the highest activity of digestive enzymes (protease, lipase, amylase) in intestine and hepatopancreas, which were notably higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, 100 mg/kg group could effectively inhibit the liver and gut injury caused by LPS and reduce the contents of ALT and AST, LPS and LBP in serum. In the immune (LY, AKP, ACP, IgM, C3) and antioxidant (T-AOC, SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, GR, ASA, MDA) systems, 100 mg/kg groups were the optimal group, which were remarkably higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of genes revealed that 100 mg/kg group could noteworthy restrain the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (tnf-α, il-1ß, il-8) and pro-apoptosis (cas-3,8,9, p53, bax, bcl-2) related genes, up-regulate the expression of anti-inflammatory (il-10, tgf-ß) factors, antioxidant-related (nrf2, gpx, gst, cat) genes and heat shock proteins (hsp70, hsp90). Simultaneously, the survival rate of C. argus in the 100 mg/kg TMF-supplemented group was the highest after LPS challenge. Our results elucidate that dietary supplementation TMF protects C. argus from LPS-induced inflammatory injury, to ameliorate digestion, immune response, antioxidant status and apoptosis, implying that TMF could be regarded as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent adding to aquatic animal feed.

Polysaccharide from dandelion enriched nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity, and inhibited bioaccumulation and inflammation in Channa asiatica under hexavalent chromium exposure.

Taraxacum mongolicum polysaccharide (TMP) exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, making it an attractive candidate for aquatic-product-safety applications. Here, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of dietary TMP on the growth, nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity, bioaccumulation and inflammation in Channa asiatica under hexavalent chromium stress. The C. asiatica was randomly distributed into five groups: The first group served as the blank control group (CK), the subsequent groups were fed TMP-supplemented feed (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg), respectively, and exposed to waterborne Cr6+ for 28 days. Our results indicated that the TMP effectively increased (P < 0.05) C. asiatica muscle flavour amino acid, total free amino acids, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and EPA + DHA contents, enhanced positively antioxidant enzyme activity (GPX, SOD, CAT, T-AOC), reduced oxidative stress parameters (MDA, PC), and up-regulated antioxidant-related genes mRNA expression. Meanwhile, the appropriate amount of TMP supplementation also inhibited the bioaccumulation of Cr6+ in tissues and alleviated the inflammatory response (P < 0.05). Furthermore, sensory evaluation implied that the overall score of sashimi and cooked fillet in the 2.0 g/kg TMP group was the highest in the experimental group, second only to CK. In brief, these results elucidate that TMP-supplemented diets excellently ameliorated the growth, enriched nutritional composition and antioxidant capacity, and inhibited bioaccumulation and inflammation in C. asiatica exposed to waterborne Cr6+.

Delineating the Decussating Dentato-rubro-thalamic Tract and Its Connections in Humans Using Diffusion Spectrum Imaging Techniques.

The objective of this study was to identify the decussating dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (d-DRTT) and its afferent and efferent connections in healthy humans using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) techniques. In the present study, the trajectory and lateralization of the d-DRTT was explored using data from subjects in the Massachusetts General Hospital-Human Connectome Project adult diffusion dataset. The afferent and efferent networks that compose the cerebello-thalamo-cerebral pathways were also reconstructed. Correlation analysis was performed to identify interrelationships between subdivisions of the cerebello-dentato-rubro-thalamic and thalamo-cerebral connections. The d-DRTT was visualized bilaterally in 28 subjects. According to a normalized quantitative anisotropy and lateralization index evaluation, the left and right d-DRTT were relatively symmetric. Afferent regions were found mainly in the posterior cerebellum, especially the entire lobule VII (crus I, II and VIIb). Efferent fibers mainly are projected to the contralateral frontal cortex, including the motor and nonmotor regions. Correlations between cerebello-thalamic connections and thalamo-cerebral connections were positive, including the lobule VIIa (crus I and II) to the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and lobules VI, VIIb, VIII, and IX, to the MPFC and motor and premotor areas. These results provide DSI-based tratographic evidence showing segregated and parallel cerebellar outputs to cerebral regions. The posterior cerebellum may play an important role in supporting and handling cognitive activities through d-DRTT. Future studies will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of cerebello-cerebral connections.

Effects of dietary Astragalus Propinquus Schischkin polysaccharides on growth performance, immunological parameters, antioxidants responses and inflammation-related gene expression in Channa argus.

The present study investigated the effects of dietary Astragalus Propinquus schischkin polysaccharides on growth, immune responses, antioxidants responses and inflammation-related genes expression in Channa argus. Channa argus were randomly divided into 5 groups and fed 5 levels diets of A. propinquus schischkin polysaccharides (0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) for 56 days. The results showed, dietary A. propinquus schischkin polysaccharides addition can increase the final body weight, weight gain and specific growth rate, decrease the feed conversion ratio of Channa argus. And dietary A. propinquus schischkin polysaccharides supplementation can increase the levels of serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, lysozyme, complement 3, complement 4, immunoglobulin M and alkaline phosphatase, decrease the levels of serum malondialdehyde, cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. Furthermore, dietary A. propinquus schischkin polysaccharides can decrease the gene expression levels of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-, tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-κB, increase the gene expression levels of glucocorticoid receptor in liver, spleen, kidney, intestine. To sum up, dietary A. propinquus schischkin polysaccharides can accelerate growth, enhance immune responses and antioxidants responses, regulate inflammation-related genes expression in Channa argus and the optimum amount is 1000 mg/kg.

Amelioration of hexavalent chromium-induced bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, tight junction proteins and immune-related signaling factors by Allium mongolicum Regel flavonoids in Ctenopharyngodon idella.

Chromium (Cr) is the most common heavy metal and that becomes toxic when present at higher concentrations in aquatic environments. Allium mongolicum Regel flavonoids (AMRF) has been documented to possess detoxification, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of dietary AMRF and Cr exposure on bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and immune response in Ctenopharyngodon idella. After acclimation, 360 fish were randomly distributed into six groups. The fish were fed with diets supplemented with Cr and/or AMRF for 4 weeks (28 days), the Cr concentrations were 0, 120, and 240 mg/kg and the concentrations of AMRF were 0 or 40 mg/kg, respectively. The results shown that Cr accumulation in the kidney, liver, spleen, intestine and gill were significantly increased following Cr exposure, dietary AMRF supplementation attenuated the increased in Cr accumulation. Dietary AMRF supplementation significantly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) in liver, spleen and gill compared with the same Cr dose groups. When fish were supplemented with AMRF significantly increased lysozyme activity (LZM), complement 3 (C3) in kidney and intestine compared with the same Cr dose groups. Serum glutamic oxalate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were significantly increased following exposure to Cr. Dietary AMRF supplementation significantly decreased GOT and GPT activity in the serum. In addition, AMRF supplementation can decrease the expression of inflammatory (NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-1ß) and increased the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) following Cr exposure in C. idella. These results indicate that AMRF has the potential to alleviate the effects of Cr toxicity in C. idella.

The effectiveness of cupping therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: We investigated the effectiveness of cupping therapy with three different pressures in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants were randomly assigned to three groups, as follows: cupping pressure of -0.02 mpa (n = 38), -0.03 mpa (n = 38), or -0.05 mpa (n = 36). Each group received cupping treatment that consisted of 10 sessions over 5 weeks (2 sessions per week). The primary outcomes were Fatigue Scale (FS-14) score and Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) score after 5 and 10 sessions. The secondary outcomes were the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score, the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. RESULTS: There were 91 participants who completed the trial. After five sessions of treatment, the primary outcome of FS-14 score decreased by 3.20 (2.19, 4.21) in the -0.02 mpa group, by 2.39 (1.51, 3.27) in the -0.03 mpa group, and by 3.40 (2.28, 4.52) in the -0.05 mpa group (P = 0.667). After 10 sessions of treatment, the outcome of FS-14 score decreased by 5.00 (3.79, 6.21) in the -0.02 mpa group, by 4.06 (3.07, 5.05) in the -0.03 mpa group, and by 4.77 (3.52, 5.94) in the -0.05 mpa group (P = 0.929). And, the results were statistically different between 5 sessions and 10 sessions of treatment (P < 0.01). However, there were no statistical differences in FAI, SAS, SDS, and PSQI scores between the three groups after 5 sessions and 10 sessions of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, cupping therapy has significantly relieved fatigue symptoms and improved emotion and sleep condition of CFS patients, and 10 sessions of treatment had superior results compared with 5 sessions in each group. Moreover, in 5 sessions of treatment, cupping with high pressure showed better improvement in fatigue syndromes and sleep condition according to effective rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR1800017590); Ethical approval number: ChiECRCT-20180085.

Alleviative effects of dietary microbial floc on copper-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, intestinal apoptosis and barrier dysfunction in Rhynchocypris lagowski Dybowski.

The heavy metal poisoning in humans and fish represents a significant global problem. Copper (Cu), as an essential micronutrient in human and animal metabolism, often accumulates excessively in aquatic environment. The microbial floc is rich in a variety of probiotics and bioactive compounds, which has been documented to have the functions of antioxidant and immunoenhancement. A 64-day experiment was conducted to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of dietary supplementation of microbial floc and Cu exposure on inflammatory response, oxidative stress, intestinal apoptosis and barrier dysfunction in Rhynchocypris lagowski Dybowski. A total of four hundred fifty R. lagowski were fed five experimental diets containing graded levels of microbial floc from 0% to 16% (referred to as B0, B4, B8, B12 and B16, respectively) in the first 60 days, and 96 h of acute copper exposure test was carried out in the last four days. The results showed that microbial floc exerted significant alleviative effects by preventing alterations in the levels of bioaccumulation, caspase3, caspase8, caspase9, malondialdehyde and interleukin-6, improving the activities of lysozyme, complement C3, complement C4, immunoglobulin M, alkaline phosphatase, heat shock protein 70, heat shock protein 90 and glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity. In addition, microbial floc assisted in regulating the expression of NF-κB/Nrf2 signaling molecule genes, including NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-ß, Keap1, Nrf2, Maf, HO-1, CAT, CuZn-SOD, GCLC and GPX. Overall, our results suggest that dietary supplementation with of microbial floc can alleviate copper-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, intestinal apoptosis and barrier dysfunction in R. lagowski. A suitable supplementation level of approximately 12% microbial floc is recommended in the present study.

Effect of sub-chronic exposure to selenium and astaxanthin on Channa argus: Bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

Selenium (Se) is the most common micronutrient and that becomes toxic when present at higher concentrations in aquatic environments. Astaxanthin (AST) has been documented to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of dietary AST and Se exposure on oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in Channa argus. After acclimation, 540 fish were randomly distributed into nine groups housed in twenty-seven glass tanks. The fish were exposed for 8 weeks to waterborne Se at 0, 100 and 200 µg L-1 or dietary AST at 0, 50 and 100 mg kg-1. The results shown that Se accumulation in the kidney, liver, spleen, intestine and gill were significantly increased following Se exposure, dietary 50 and 100 mg kg-1 AST supplementation decreased the accumulation of Se in the kidney, liver, spleen, and intestine. In addition, AST supplementation can decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the liver and spleen following exposure to waterborne Se. These results indicate that AST has the potential to alleviate the effects of Se toxicity in C. argus.

Effect of sub-chronic exposure to selenium and Allium mongolicum Regel flavonoids on Channa argus: Bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, immune responses and immune-related signaling molecules.

Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient that becomes toxic when present at higher concentrations in fish tissues. Allium mongolicum Regel flavonoids (AMRF) have been documented to possess antioxidant, immunoenhancement and anti-inflammation properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of dietary supplementation of AMRF and Se exposure on oxidative stress, immune responses and immune-related genes expression in Channa argus. A total of 480 C. argus were randomly divided into eight groups housed in twenty-four 200 L glass aquarium (3 tanks per group, 20 fish per tank). The fish were exposed for 56 days to waterborne Se at 0, 50, 100 and 200 µg/L and/or dietary AMRF at 40 mg/kg. The result indicated that AMRF exerted significant protective effects by preventing alterations in the levels of bioaccumulation, malondialdehyde, lysozyme, complement C3 and immunoglobulin M. AMRF also assists in the elevation of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the liver and spleen while regulating the expression of immune-related genes including NF-κB p65, IκB-α, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-8, HSP70, HSP90, and glucocorticoid receptor after 56 days of Se exposure. Our results suggest that administration of AMRF (40 mg/kg) has the potential to combat Se toxicity in C. argus.

Effects of dietary Allium mongolicum Regel polysaccharide on growth, lipopolysaccharide-induced antioxidant responses and immune responses in Channa argus.

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary Allium mongolicum Regel polysaccharide (AMRP) on growth, lipopolysaccharide-induced antioxidant responses and immune responses in Channa argus. A basal diet was supplemented with AMRP at 0, 1, 1.5 or 2 g/kg feed for 56 days. After the 56 days feeding period, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly increased or decreased (P < 0.05) by dietary AMRP, with the highest WG, SGR and the minimum FCR occurring in 1.5 g/kg AMRP group. Furthermore, AMRP supplementation conferred significant protective effects against LPS challenge by preventing alterations in the levels of complements 3 (C3) and complements 4 (C4), lysozyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) while regulating the expression of immune-related genes including heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), SOD, GST, IL-1 and TNF-α. Finally, AMRP supplementation significantly increased serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations and reduced mortality after LPS challenge. Taken together, our results suggest that the administration of AMRP could attenuate LPS-induced negative effects in C. argus, with 1.5 g/kg considered a suitable dose.