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.

Retrospective Cohort Study to Compare Anesthesia in Living Donor Liver Transplantation Recipients Who Received Single and Dual Liver Grafts.

OBJECTIVE: Dual graft living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an alternative way to overcome small-for-size syndrome in LDLT. Surgical technique and outcome of using dual grafts have been reported, but there are no reports regarding anesthetic management. The aim of the current study is to compare the anesthetic management of single graft and dual graft liver transplantation. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Anesthesia records of 24 single graft liver transplantation recipients (GI) and 6 dual graft recipients (GII) were reviewed, analyzed, and compared retrospectively. Patient characteristics and intraoperative data between groups were compared with Mann-Whitney t test and Fisher's exact test where appropriate. P value less than .05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: Patient characteristics and most of the intraoperative data were similar between groups. Significant difference was noted in the total anesthesia time and the anhepatic time. Both times were significantly longer in GII compared to GI. CONCLUSION: Dual graft living donor liver transplantation is surely a technically more challenging and demanding procedure. Therefore the total anesthesia time is longer, especially the anhepatic phase, because there are more graft vessels to be reconstructed before reperfusion. Overall the anesthetic management in terms of blood transfusion, fluid administration, sodium bicarbonate, calcium supplement, and the number of patients requiring fractional diluted noradrenaline support for maintenance of acceptable hemodynamic were not much different between the 2 groups.

Arsenic uptake in upland rice inoculated with a combination or single arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

A pot trial was conducted to investigate the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on arsenic (As) uptake of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar, Zhonghan 221; where the following 3 species of Glomus geosporum (Gg), G. mosseae (Gm) and G. versiforme (Gv) were applied as single or combined inoculations. In general, Gm significantly enhanced (p<0.05) total As concentration in Zhonghan 221 when compared to the non mycorrhizal (NM) treatment. The treatment inoculated with Gg + Gm increased total phosphorus (P) uptake and decreased total As uptake in the ingestible rice parts (husks and grains). In terms of AMF colonization rates, Gm had significantly higher (p<0.05) average values of 57.3% and 66.6% when grown in As0 and As40 soils, respectively, in comparison to that of Gg and Gv, and finally dropped to 3.63% when grown in As80 soil. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between single AMF species (Gg or Gv) and AMF mixture treatments (Gg + Gv, Gg + Gm, Gv + Gm and Gg + Gv + Gm) in terms of total As concentrations in rice. No significant correlation between AMF colonization rates and As uptake in grains (r = 0.150, p > 0.01) and total P (r = 0.002, p > 0.01) were observed.

Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve grain yield, As uptake and tolerance of rice grown under aerobic conditions?

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) -Glomus intraradices and G. geosporum on arsenic (As) and phosphorus (P) uptake by lowland (Guangyinzhan) and upland rice (Handao 502) were investigated in soil, spiked with and without 60 mg As kg(-1). In As-contaminated soil, Guangyinzhan inoculated with G. intraradices or Handao 502 inoculated with G. geosporum enhanced As tolerance, grain P content, grain yield. However, Guangyinzhan inoculated with G. geosporum or Handao 502 inoculated with G. intraradices decreased grain P content, grain yield and the molar ratio of grain P/As content, and increased the As concentration and the ratio of grain/straw As concentration. These results show that rice/AMF combinations had significant (p < 0.05) effects on grain As concentration, grain yield and grain P uptake. The variation in the transfer and uptake of As and P reflected strong functional diversity in AM (arbuscular mycorrhizal) symbioses.

Porcine peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta mediates the lipolytic effects of dietary fish oil to reduce body fat deposition.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta promotes fatty acid catabolism and energy expenditure in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. A ligand for PPARdelta is required to activate PPARdelta function. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are potential ligands for PPARdelta activation. The current experiment was designed to determine the potential for PUFA, particularly from dietary fish oil, to activate porcine PPARdelta in vivo. Transgenic mice were generated to overexpress porcine PPARdelta in the adipose tissue. Mice were fed a high-saturated fat (13% beef tallow), or high-unsaturated fat (13% fish oil) diet, or a diet containing 4 mg/kg of a PPARdelta ligand (L165041) for 4 mo. Compared with beef tallow feeding, fish oil feeding reduced fat mass and decreased (P < 0.05) plasma triacylglycerol and FFA concentrations in the transgenic mice. Adipose tissue expression of genes involved in adipogenesis (i.e., lipoprotein lipase and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein) was decreased in transgenic mice fed fish oil or the PPARdelta ligand. In the same mice, expression of the lipolytic gene, hormone-sensitive lipase was increased (P < 0.05). Fish oil feeding also stimulated expression of genes participating in fatty acid oxidation in the liver of transgenic mice compared with wild-type mice. Overall, these results indicate that PUFA may serve as natural and effective regulators of lipid catabolism in vivo and many of these effects may be generated from activation of PPARdelta.

The effects of residual tetracycline on soil enzymatic activities and plant growth.

A pot trial was carried out to investigate the adverse effects of tetracycline (TC) on soil microbial communities, microbial activities, and the growth of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L). The results showed that the presence of TC significantly disturbed the structure of microbial communities and inhibited soil microbial activities in terms of urease, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase (p < 0.05). Plant biomass was adversely influenced by TC, especially the roots with a reduction of 40% when compared with the control. Furthermore, TC decreased the assimilation of phosphorus by the plant although the concentration of phosphorus was increased by 20% due to decreased plant biomass. TC seemed to increase the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (by 20%) in soil. The findings implied that the agricultural use of animal manure or fishpond sediment containing considerable amounts of antibiotics may give rise to ecological risks.

The HIV related risks among men having sex with men in rural Yunnan, China: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the characteristics and issues specific to HIV related risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (MSM) in rural China. METHOD: Qualitative study using semistructured in-depth interviews in Dali prefecture, Yunnan. 24 informants recruited through a local MSM network, snowballing and by word of mouth. The main outcome measures were themes identified as increased exposures and risks to HIV. RESULTS: Risk behaviour, social stigma, one child policy and concepts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) had significant roles in the spread of HIV in rural China. Many MSM lead a life with double identities in China and condom use was found to be variable with attempts to "rationalise" the risky behaviour being its major determining factor. Health seeking behaviours of genitourinary problems were infrequent and illogical, which were further held back by the existing healthcare system and lack of sensitivity expressed by the health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Clear education messages to the general public while raising awareness among health professionals of the health risks and needs in MSM are essential in the prevention of the current HIV epidemic.

Effects of sediment phosphorus release associated with the density current on water quality of a subtropical and deep reservoir in Taiwan.

It was found that the increase of sediment P release in the anoxic state associated with the density current initiated by the cold front in the winter was the cause of the deterioration of the water quality of the subtropical, noncalcareous and deep reservoir, Feitsui Reservoir, in recent years. A mathematical model including the analytical solutions of the transport of the density current combined with a simple 2-layered water quality model has been established, describing the hydrodynamics and the water quality variation of the reservoir well. The continued sediment release of P in the anoxic state (from October to March) is an important P source and should be carefully assessed and controlled to reduce the impact of the internal loading of P incorporated with the density current on the water quality in future years.

Mutagenicity and identification of mutagenic compounds of fumes obtained from heating peanut oil.

Since the fume of cooking oil has been reported to increase the risk of lung cancer, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the mutagenicity and to find the mutagens in the fumes of peanut oil heated to the smoke point. Peanut oil prepared from roasted peanut kernel showed a lower smoke point, less unsaturated fatty acids, more fume formation, and stronger mutagenicity than that from unroasted kernel. Further investigation of mutagenic compounds was performed by the Ames test and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Among the 12 compounds identified from the neutral fraction of methanol extract, four compounds at a dose of 10 microg per plate were mutagenic to Salmonella Typhimurium TA98 and TA100 in the order of trans-trans-2,4-decadienal > trans-trans-2,4-nonadienal > trans-2-decenal > trans-2-undecenal. Results report the enal compounds formed as the mutagens in the fumes of peanut oil and indicate that inhaling cooking fumes might cause carcinogenic risk.

Measurement of serum vitamin E isomers in fullterm and preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted with the following aims: (1) to construct a methodology by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure vitamin E levels in our neonatal units; (2) to establish a reference range of serum vitamin E levels in fullterm neonates and their mothers; and (3) to compare these to levels in the preterm group. METHODS: During a 6-month period from September 1996 to February 1997, cord blood of 34 uneventful fullterm neonates (gestational age 38-42 weeks, birth weight 2840-3530 g) and venous blood of their healthy mothers were collected. Venous blood of 35 preterm neonates (gestational age 28-34 weeks, birth weight 940-1980 g) was collected at the same time. Serum vitamin E levels were measured by HPLC. The serum vitamin E/total lipids ratio was also examined. RESULTS: Serum levels of alpha-tocopherol in 34 fullterm neonates and their mothers were 0.212+/-0.127 and 1.160+/-0.513 mg/dl, and of gamma-tocopherol were 0.029+/-0.019 and 0.214+/-0.122 mg/dl, respectively. All fullterm neonates except 2 had serum levels less than 0.5 mg/dl. There was a positive relationship between serum E levels and total lipids. In addition, the correlation between neonatal vitamin E/total lipids ratios and maternal vitamin E/total lipids ratio was statistically significant. The serum level of alpha-tocopherol in 35 preterm infants was 0.170+/-0.090 mg/dl and that of gamma-tocopherol was 0.020+/-0.015 mg/dl; both levels were much lower than those of their fullterm counterparts. But the vitamin E/total lipids ratios did not significantly differ. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that (1) measurement of serum vitamin E levels by the HPLC method is practical, and is useful in evaluating deficiencies in preterm infants and possibly useful in monitoring the adequacy after supplementation in future study, and (2) preterm infants had a much lower level of serum tocopherol, but no difference was seen in vitamin E/total lipids ratio.

The effectiveness of acupressure in improving the quality of sleep of institutionalized residents.

BACKGROUND: Elderly people often suffer from disturbed sleep. Because traditional Chinese medicine indicates that acupressure therapy may induce sedation, testing the effectiveness of acupressure in enhancing the quality of sleep of institutionalized residents with a well-designed scientific study is needed. METHODS: A randomized block experimental design was used. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire was used as a screening tool to select subjects with sleep disturbance. By matching the effects of hypertension, hypnosis, naps, and exercise, subjects were randomly assigned to an acupressure group, a sham acupressure group, and a control group. Each group had 28 subjects for a total of 84 subjects. The same massage routine was used in the acupressure group and the sham acupressure group, whereas only conversation was employed in the control group. RESULTS: There were significant differences in PSQI subscale scores of the quality, latency, duration, efficiency, disturbances of sleep, and global PSQI scores among subjects in the three groups before and after interventions. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in the frequencies of nocturnal awakening and night wakeful time in the acupressure group compared to the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the effectiveness of acupressure in improving the quality of sleep of elderly people and offered a nonpharmacological therapy method for sleep-disturbed elderly people.

Is serum transferrin receptor a sensitive marker of iron repletion in patients with iron-deficiency anemia and hemodialysis patients?

BACKGROUND: Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentration has been recognized as a reliable laboratory indicator of iron deficiency in recent years. But its response to iron supplementation has not been investigated. METHODS: We evaluated the sTfR concentrations in 15 patients diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, in 30 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (HD) with iron repletion and in 31 healthy controls. The serial changes of sTfR concentration and their correlation with serum ferritin in patients with iron deficiency under iron repletion were also examined in three patients. RESULTS: In patients with iron-deficiency anemia, the sTfR concentration was 5.6 +/- 2.4 mg/ml, significantly higher than that in the control group (1.8 +/- 0.4 mg/ml) and patients receiving maintenance HD with iron repletion (1.7 +/- 0.5 mg/ml). The three patients with iron-deficiency anemia who received eight to 16 weeks of iron supplementation showed steady and significant decreases in sTfR concentration and significant increases in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. However, the decreases in sTfR concentration did not occur immediately, as did the increases in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, following iron repletion. There was a four-week delayed response in the decrease of sTfR concentrations as measured against serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. CONCLUSIONS: sTfR concentration may not be as effective as an early index of iron repletion compared with serum ferritin and transferrin saturation.

Zolpidem distribution in postmortem cases.

Zolpidem is the prototype of a class of sedative hypnotic drugs that are derivatives of imidazopyridine and is sold in the United States under the trade name Ambien. Over a four-year period, zolpidem was identified in eight cases investigated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland. Zolpidem was identified by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GC-NPD) following an alkaline extraction and was confirmed by full-scan electron impact gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Zolpidem was quantitated by GC-NPD in all specimens received. Five of the cases presented were deaths due to drug intoxication. In three of these cases, zolpidem was an incidental finding because the drug fatalities resulted from other drugs. In the other two cases of drug intoxication, zolpidem was present in elevated concentrations and was a contributing, but not exclusive cause of the drug intoxication. The remaining three cases were deaths that were not caused by drugs. The blood zolpidem concentrations in these cases were therapeutic (0.28, 0.12 and 0.19 mg/L, respectively). In six of the eight cases where both blood and urine were analyzed, the blood concentration was higher than the urine concentration. The distribution of zolpidem into the liver and kidney failed to identify any sequestration of the drug into either specimen.

Characterization of an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene induced by auxin in elongating pea epicotyls.

A gene (EGL1) encoding an endo-beta-1,4-D-glucanase (EGase, EC 3.2.1.4) of pea (Pisum sativum) has been cloned and characterized. EGL1 encodes a 486-amino acid polypeptide, including a 24-mer putative signal peptide. The mature protein has a calculated molecular mass of 51.3 kD and an isoelectric point of 9.1. This pea EGase shares significant similarity with EGases from other plant species, but it appears to be distinct from the EGases associated with abscission and fruit ripening. Although EGL1 transcripts are detected in all parts of pea plants, they are relatively abundant in flowers and young pods undergoing rapid growth and most abundant in elongating epicotyls of etiolated seedlings. When epicotyl segments (6 mm long, 4 mm from the apical hook) are incubated in a 5 microM solution of the synthetic auxin analog 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, the concentration of EGL1 mRNA increases about 10-fold when the segments elongate most rapidly.