Effect of berberine on copper and zinc levels in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella.

Berberine, a traditional Chinese medicine, was found to exhibit anticoccidial activity. However, its mechanism is unclear. Trace metals such as copper and zinc are extremely low (less than 0.01% of the total weight of the body) but play a vital role in organisms. In the present study, we investigated the effect of berberine on copper and zinc levels in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella. Firstly, our data confirmed that infected chickens with E. tenella exhibited classic impairment on the 8th day of post infection, such as weight loss and increased feed conversion. Further study showed that E. tenella infection decreased the contents of copper and zinc in the liver and serum of chickens. Berberine was similar to amprolium and significantly improved the pathogenic conditions. Berberine could restore copper and zinc imbalance caused by E. tenella in chickens to a large extent. Studies on the development of cecum lesions demonstrated that the protective effect of berberine on the intestinal cecum was similar to that of the Cu/Zn mixture. Additionally, the mRNA expression of several metal transport related genes of the chick small intestine, including zinc transporter 1, copper transporter 1 and divalent metal ion transporter 1, was elevated by the treatment with berberine. Taken together, we speculate that the anticoccidial activity of berberine may be related to the maintenance of certain metals (Cu/Zn) homeostasis by affecting mRNA expression of their transport genes. However, the mode of action of BBR on these vital metals in the chicks infected with E. tenella still needs to be further studied.

Genome Reduction Uncovers a Large Dispensable Genome and Adaptive Role for Copy Number Variation in Asexually Propagated Solanum tuberosum.

Clonally reproducing plants have the potential to bear a significantly greater mutational load than sexually reproducing species. To investigate this possibility, we examined the breadth of genome-wide structural variation in a panel of monoploid/doubled monoploid clones generated from native populations of diploid potato (Solanum tuberosum), a highly heterozygous asexually propagated plant. As rare instances of purely homozygous clones, they provided an ideal set for determining the degree of structural variation tolerated by this species and deriving its minimal gene complement. Extensive copy number variation (CNV) was uncovered, impacting 219.8 Mb (30.2%) of the potato genome with nearly 30% of genes subject to at least partial duplication or deletion, revealing the highly heterogeneous nature of the potato genome. Dispensable genes (>7000) were associated with limited transcription and/or a recent evolutionary history, with lower deletion frequency observed in genes conserved across angiosperms. Association of CNV with plant adaptation was highlighted by enrichment in gene clusters encoding functions for environmental stress response, with gene duplication playing a part in species-specific expansions of stress-related gene families. This study revealed unique impacts of CNV in a species with asexual reproductive habits and how CNV may drive adaption through evolution of key stress pathways.

Clinical curative effect of fuzi-cake-separated moxibustion for preventing dysuria after operation for lower limb fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical curative effect of fuzi-cake-separated moxibustion at Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) for preventing dysuria after internal fixation of lower limb fractures. METHODS: Sixty patients conforming to the inclusion standards were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Fuzi-cake-separated moxibustion was performed at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhongji (CV 3), 20 min at a time, twice a day, for 3 days before operation in the treatment group. No fuzi-cake-separated moxibustion was performed in the control group. After treatment, the score for symptoms of first urination, urinary time, urinary volume, 24 h remaining urinary volume, incidence of uroschesis, and rate of controlling dysuria were compared to evaluate the curative effect of preventing post-operative dysuria. RESULTS: The score for symptoms of first urination, 24 h remaining urinary volume (maximum 120 mL vs 250 ml, and less than 10 ml in 24 cases vs 15 cases), and the rate of controlling dysuria (83.34% vs 30%) were significantly better (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively) in the treatment compared with the control group. There was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) between the two groups in first post-operative urinary time, urinary volume, or incidence of 24 h uroschesis. CONCLUSION: Fuzi-cake-separated moxibustion at Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) can better prevent post-operative dysuria, effectively promote the functional restoration of the urinary bladder, and control the incidence of post-operative dysuria.