[Discussion on the history of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum(Fa banxia) Processing].

Before the Song Dynasty, the main processing method of Pinelliae Rhizoma was soup washing. The "new method" in Taiping Huimin Heji JuFang is a processing method that concocted with Ginger,white alum and starter-making.The "Fa Banxia" in the Yuan Dynasty's Yuyuan Yaofang comes from the Taiping Huimin Heji JuFang, and the Fa Wen Banxia, Fa Bai Banxia, and Fa Hong Banxia are the processing methods of patent medicine with a variety of other herbs.Fa Banxia appeared in the Ming Dynasty, and its auxiliary materials were ginger and white alum, and medical formulary began to include formulas containing Fa Banxia. Bencao Gangmu abbreviates the Yuan Dynasty's Fabai Banxia as "Fa Banxia", and is elaborated under the item attached "prescription" item instead of the "treatment". In the literature of Materia Medica, it is recorded that the preparation of auxiliary materials in Fa Banxia increased, including lime, licorice, soap horn, and simple nitro.After Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, the Fa Banxia in famous medical cases was more used, and at that time, Fa Banxia was Xian Banxia. There are two recipes for Xian Banxia: one is made with seven processes, and the other is soaked in alum licorice water. During the Republican period, Zhang Cigong also pointed out that Fa Banxia was sliced Xian Banxia after rinsing and boiling, while the preparation method of Xian Banxia was Banxia made of ginger and white alum.Ye Juquan pointed out that the so-called "fa" is neither an ancient method nor a new method, questioning the process of repeated immersion in Banxia. After 1949, the questioning of Fa Banxia continued unceasing.Influenced by this, the 1960 edition Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Slice Cutting Experience included the method of soaking alum, licorice ,lime water, and was included in the 1963 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China.The 1985 version reduced the soaking time and eliminated the soaking process of alum based on the 1963 version, and this method is still used today.

[Whole-course management strategies for gastroesophageal reflux disease: an evidence mapping study based on clinical practice guidelines].

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common digestive diseases with high incidence, complicated clinical symptoms, difficulties in standard treatment, and heavy medical burden. At present, some GERD-relevant clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been issued by different countries and academic organizations, but some recommendations were inconsistent, which has caused some problems for the current clinical whole-course management of GERD. To summarize the relevant evidence among the CPGs on GERD and formulate the whole- course management strategies, we included GERD-relevant CPGs published or updated after 2010 by searching websites of guidelines, relevant professional societies, and electronic databases. We extracted the recommendations and summarized the evidence from the aspects of symptoms, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, which was presented in the form of evidence mapping. We included 24 CPGs, including three in Chinese and 21 in English. The clinical practice management strategies of GERD were formulated based on the evidence from the aspects of clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, medical treatment, anti-reflux surgery and endoscopic treatment, psychological treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment.

[Efficacy observation and compliance analysis of pollen allergen drops in seasonal allergic rhinitis].

To study the efficacy and compliance analysis of pollen allergen drops in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The method of single-center controlled was used to analyze the dates' results. From July 2021 to September 2021, 80 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were referred to the clinic of otorhinolaryngology in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University.40 patients received sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT group), and the other 40 patients received symptomatic drug treatment as the control group. The total rhinoconjunctivitis symptom score (TRSS), the visual analogue scale(VAS), total medication score (TMS) and combined scores of medication and rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms (CSMRS) of the patient before the start of the treatment and after the first year of the treatment were compared to assess the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy of Artemisia pollen. Follow the shedding during the study, the safety of the drug and the causes for compliance analysis were analyzed and recorded. The results of comparison with TRSS, VAS, TMS and CSMRS in two groups in the period of pretherapy were as follows: TRSS(12.393±3.023, 12.450±3.029, t=-0.077, P=0.939), VAS(8.357±1.026, 8.400±0.982, t=-0.173, P=0.862), TMS(3.214±0.568, 3.175±0.501, t=0.301, P=0.764), CSMRS (5.286±0.680, 5.253±0.677, t=0.199, P=0.843), there was no significant difference (P>0.05); lower observed symptom scores were got in the post-treatment pollen peak SLIT group compared to the control group, TRSS(3.964±1.551, 7.750±2.169, t=-7.918, P<0.05), VAS(2.893±0.956, 5.175±1.481, t=-8.286, P<0.05), TMS (1.821±0.863, 3.175±0.501, t=-8.163, P<0.05), CSMRS (2.489±0.921, 4.468±0.601, t=-10.723, P<0.05), and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (P<0.05); the SLIT group significantly reduced all symptom scores at the first peak compared to the starting, TRSS(12.393±3.023, 3.964±1.551, t=20.576, P<0.05), VAS (8.357±1.026, 2.893±0.956, t=30.070, P<0.05), TMS (3.214±0.568, 1.821±0.863, t=7.151, P<0.05), CSMRS(5.286±0.680, 2.489±0.921, t=14.533, P<0.05) and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). No significant adverse reactions occured during medication in the SLIT group. A total of 12 cases were shed in the SLIT group, so the compliance rate was 70%. The four reasons were that patients considered the course was long (4 cases, 33%); the drugs were expensive (3 cases, 25%); patients were busy with their work and life (3 cases, 25%); patients were affected by the outbreak (2 cases, 17%). In summary, Artemisia pollen sublingual drops may improve the symptoms of the patients who got allergic rhinitis caused by Artemisia pollen after the treatment for one year. However, due to the lack of sufficient understanding of immunotherapy or the difficulty in adhering to standardized medication, the compliance with sublingual immunotherapy is still poor, the compliance with sublingual immunotherapy needs to be further improved through patient education.

Increasing the Efficiency of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Electrocatalysis Using Electrode Modification with Spatially Ordered Anodic Aluminum Oxide-Based Nanostructures for Investigation of Metabolic Transformations of Drugs.

A new approach for modifying electrodes using porous membranes based on anodic aluminum oxide with pore diameters of 0.1 and 0.2 µm and a membrane-like substance didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) was proposed to study the electrocatalytic efficiency of the system. This approach makes it possible to increase the catalytic efficiency of the cytochrome P450 3A4-dependent N-demethylation of erythromycin by 132% when using a membrane with pore diameter of 0.1 µm and by 32% when using a membrane with 0.2 µm pore size. Electrode modification using porous membranes shifted the potential of electrochemical reduction and catalysis of cytochrome P450 3A4 in positive direction by 0.070-0.050 V, which indicates a thermodynamically more favorable process of electron transfer and enzymatic electrocatalysis.

[The making method of Shen Qu in Qi Min Yao Shu].

Shen Qu was distiller's yeast in Qi Min Yao Shu, the most completely preserved of the ancient Chinese agricultural texts in the North Dynasty. The making process of Shen Qu (medicated leaven) in this book had far-reaching influence on the processing of Liu Shen Qu. In terms of pharmaceutical composition, Flour-qu in Shen Qu, which developed into Whole-bran-wheat-qu and then Bran-qu, is still used up to this day. The use of polygonum, as a supplementary material from the buckwheat and knotweed family polygonaceae, was gradually narrowed to polygonum hydropiper and polygonum orientale. In terms of production and processing, fresh herbs were developed from boiling or boiling and juicing in parallel. Wheat processing was simplified from the method of raw wheat, steaming and frying together into the method of using raw wheat only. Psychrometrics of Qu-cake "Sou Yu Gang" is still taken as the measurement of production and processing today. The method of shaping Qu-cake evolved to hand kneading and moulding. The covering material of Qu-cake was developed from wheat straw and Artemisia annua to Vitex negundo. The wrapping material of Qu-cake were Ramie leaves, broussonetia papyrifera leaves and paper. Some techniques in the processing, such as Fan-qu, Ju-qu and Wengsheng, were lost in the historical development of the making method of Shen Qu. The drying method was developed from hanging clusters of Qu-cakes to hanging single paper wraped cakes alone. As a mainstream processing method, Yan-qu was then developed into the methods of Fengqu and Zao Jiang Huang. The making method Bao-qu, which outdated Qu was added, and is still the method of Yan-qu. In this sense, current production and processing technology of Yan-qu and Zao Jiang Huang came from Qi Min Yao Shu.The issues for further studies are: the use of Artemisia annua, Polygonum hydropiper and Xanthium sibiricum, Qu-cake moulding, single strain fermentation or dominant population fermentation, the Feng-qu method, the materials for covering and wrapping Qu-cake, and comparison between Flour-qu, Whole bran wheat- qu and Bran-qu.

[The use of prostate extract preparations in patients after transurethral resection of prostate for its benign hyperplasia].

The purpose of the study is to study the efficacy and safety of the prostate extract (GEROFARM LLC, Russia) in the postoperative period in patients after transurethral bipolar resection of the prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical study included 127 men aged 50 to 78 years with grade II benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma) who underwent a typical bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate. Patients of the main (n=60) group received tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day for 30 days in the postoperative period in combination with prostate extract 10 mg rectally for 21 days. In the control group (n=67) - tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day for 30 days as monotherapy. To assess the results of treatment, the questionnaire of the international system of total assessment of symptoms in prostate diseases (IPSS) with the definition of quality of life (QoL), the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) and uroflowmetry were used. The control was carried out in terms of 1 and 3 months after the operation. RESULTS: In the main group, in the observation period of 1 and 3 months after the operation, a decrease in the average IPSS score by 40.2% and 52.9% was revealed, and an improvement in the quality of life by 45% and 64.7%, respectively, was noted. In the control group, at the same time of observation, a decrease in the average IPSS score by 34% and 44.7%, respectively, was revealed, and the quality of life improved by 25.5% and 37.3%, respectively. The increase in the average rate of urination in the main group by the end of 1 and 3 months of treatment was 59.2% and 85.7%, respectively, and in the control group, these figures were 40.5% and 50%. The positive effect of the proposed combination therapy on erectile function in the main group by the end of 1 and 3 months of treatment was 5.2% and 9.2%, respectively, and in the control group, these figures were 2.9% and 5.2%. DISCUSSION: There is a significant decrease in the symptoms of the lower urinary tract in the group of patients who received the drug Prostateks (GEROFARM LLC, Russia). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy results of Prostatex (GEROFARM LLC, Russia) (reduced symptom severity on IPSS (11.7 1.2 ) and QoL (2.3 0.3)) scales are comparable to those of Vitprost Plus which allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of two drugs equally.

Comparison of Different Intensity Modes of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in the Rehabilitation of Elderly Patients with Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure.

Aim        To compare effects of neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) with various intensity of induced muscle contractions on its tolerance and effect on physical work ability in elderly patients admitted for chronic heart failure (CHF).Material and methods        The study included 22 patients older than 60 years admitted for decompensated CHF. NMES was performed from the 2nd or 3d day of stay in the hospital to the discharge from the hospital. Patients choose the stimulation regimen themselves based on the result of the first session: the high intensity to achieve maximum tolerable muscle contractions (group 1) or the lower intensity to achieve visible/ palpable muscle contractions (group 2). Prior to the onset and after the completion of the training, the 6-min walk test (6MWT) was performed and the general condition of the patient was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS).Results   More patients, mostly women, chose the less intensive NMES (14 vs. 8). The groups did not differ in age, comorbidity, and functional condition. Both groups achieved considerable increases in the 6MWT distance (7.3 [5.6; 176] and 9.8 [7.0; 9.9] %, respectively, p>0.05) and VAS scores without a significant difference between the groups. Among the patients who were compliant with continuing NMES after the discharge from the hospital, 69% were patients of the group of the less intensive stimulation.Conclusion            The less intensive NMES (with achieving visible muscle contractions) was characterized by better tolerance and better compliance in elderly patients with decompensated CHF compared to the more intensive NMES (with achieving maximum contractions), but the less intensive NMES was not inferior to the more intensive NMES in effectiveness.

[The method of boiling gelatin in Qimin Yaoshu and its contemporary value].

Qimin Yaoshu(, Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People), written in the Northern Wei Dynasty, had a specific record of process of boiling down gelatin, it involved 12 steps. Comparing with the methods of later generations, we find that the main differences lie in 6 aspects: shaving hair, adding accessories, duration and degree of heating for gel-forming, preventing gelatin from scorching, drying method, checking water quality. Especially, it is considered that the experience of no hair shaving and excipients adding is of great reference value to the cooking methods of modern donkey-hide gelatin and ox-hide gelatin.

Organic trace minerals improve eggshell quality by improving the eggshell ultrastructure of laying hens during the late laying period.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low inclusion levels of organic trace minerals (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) on performance, eggshell quality, serum hormone levels, and enzyme activities of laying hens during the late laying period. A total of 405 healthy hens (HY-Line White, 50-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 9 replications per treatment and 15 birds per replication. The dietary treatments included a basal diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet supplemented with inorganic trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (ITM), and a basal diet supplemented with proteinated trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (TRT). The trial lasted 56 D (8 wk). Compared with the CON group, the ITM group showed decrease in (P < 0.05) egg production, eggshell strength, eggshell palisade layer, palisade layer ratio, serum estrogen, luteinizing hormone, glycosaminoglycan concentration, and carbonic anhydrase activity and increase in (P < 0.05) egg loss and mammillary layer ratio. However, the TRT group almost kept all the indices close to the CON group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, hens fed with low inclusion levels of organic trace minerals had smaller mammillary knobs (P < 0.05) than those in the CON and ITM groups. In conclusion, hens fed with low inclusion levels of proteinated trace minerals had better performance and eggshell strength than those fed with identical levels of inorganic compounds; organic trace minerals improved eggshell quality by improving the eggshell ultrastructure of laying hens during the late laying period.

Probiotic Bacillus enhance the intestinal epithelial cell barrier and immune function of piglets.

Bacillus is widely used in the livestock industry. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SC06 (Ba), originally isolated from soil, in piglets diet as an alternative to antibiotics (aureomycin), mainly on intestinal epithelial barrier and immune function. Ninety piglets were divided into three groups: G1 (containing 150 mg/kg aureomycin in the diet); G2 (containing 75 mg/kg aureomycin and 1×108 cfu/kg Ba in the diet); G3 (containing 2×108 cfu/kg Ba in the diet without any antibiotics). The results showed that, compared with the antibiotic group (G1), villus length, crypt depth and villus length/crypt depth ratio of intestine significantly increased in the G2 and G3 groups. In addition, intestinal villi morphology, goblet-cell number, mitochondria structure and tight junction proteins of intestinal epithelial cells in G2 and G3 were better than in G1. The relative gene expression of intestinal mucosal defensin-1, claudin3, claudin4, and human mucin-1 in G3 was significantly lower, while the expression of villin was significantly higher than in the antibiotic group. Probiotic Ba could significantly decrease serum interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-4 levels, whereas increase tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 secretion. Ba could also significantly decrease cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, and IL-4 level in liver, whereas it significantly increased IFN-α. Furthermore, replacing antibiotics with Ba also significantly down-regulated gene expression of TNF and IL-1α in intestinal mucosa, but up-regulated IL-6 and IL-8 transcription. Dietary addition of Ba could significantly reduce the gene expression of nuclear factor kappa beta (NFκB)-p50 and Toll-like receptor (TLR)6, while there was no significant difference for that of myeloid differentiation primary response 88, TNF receptor-associated factor-6, nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-containing protein 1, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that probiotic Ba could increase the intestinal epithelial cell barrier and immune function by improving intestinal mucosa structure, tight junctions and by activating the TLRs signalling pathway.

Metabolic/inflammatory/vascular comorbidity in psychiatric disorders; soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) as a possible new target.

The common and severe psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), are associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and changes in peripheral and brain lipid metabolism. Those pathways are implicated in the premature development of vascular and metabolic comorbidities, which account for considerable morbidity and mortality, including increased dementia risk. During endoplasmic reticulum stress, the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme converts anti-inflammatory fatty acid epoxides generated by cytochrome p450 enzymes into their corresponding and generally less anti-inflammatory, or even pro-inflammatory, diols, slowing the resolution of inflammation. The sEH enzyme and its oxylipin products are elevated post-mortem in MDD, BD and schizophrenia. Preliminary clinical data suggest that oxylipins increase with symptoms in seasonal MDD and anorexia nervosa, requiring confirmation in larger studies and other cohorts. In rats, a soluble sEH inhibitor mitigated the development of depressive-like behaviors. We discuss sEH inhibitors under development for cardiovascular diseases, post-ischemic brain injury, neuropathic pain and diabetes, suggesting new possibilities to address the mood and cognitive symptoms of psychiatric disorders, and their most common comorbidities.

Safety evaluation of zinc methionine in laying hens: Effects on laying performance, clinical blood parameters, organ development, and histopathology.

The study was conducted to investigate whether high-dose zinc methionine (Zn-Met) affected the safety of laying hens, including laying performance, hematological parameters, serum chemical parameters, organ index, and histopathology. A total of 540 20-week-old Hy-Line White laying hens was randomly allocated to 6 groups with 6 replicates of 15 birds each. Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 70, 140, 350, 700, or 1,400 mg Zn/kg diet as Zn-Met. The experiment lasted for 8 wk after a 2-week acclimation period. Results showed that dietary supplementation with 70 or 140 mg Zn/kg diet as Zn-Met significantly increased average daily egg mass (ADEM), laying rate (LR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.05) and lowered broken and soft-shelled egg ratio (BSER) (P < 0.05) in comparison with the control group; no significant differences were detected among hens fed with 0, 350, or 700 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Met (P > 0.05); hens administered 1,400 mg Zn/kg showed a significant increase in BSER and remarkable decreases in ADEM, LR, and FCR (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences among hens receiving 0, 70, 140, 350, or 700 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Met in serum chemical parameters (P > 0.05); supplementation with 1,400 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Met remarkably elevated the concentrations of serum total bilirubin (TBILI), glucose (GLU), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (CRE) (P < 0.001), and enhanced activities of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. No significant histopathological changes were found in hens administered 0, 70, 140, 350, or 700 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Met, while significant histological lesions were observed in the heart, liver, lung, and kidney tissues of hens receiving 1,400 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Met. No significant differences were detected in hematological parameters or organ index (P > 0.05). In conclusion, a nominal Zn concentration of 700 mg/kg as Zn-Met is considered to be no-observed-adverse-effect level following daily administration to hens for 56 days.

[Diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Diagnostika i lechenie kognitivnykh narushenii pri sindrome defitsita vnimaniia u vzroslykh.

AIM: To qualify cognitive impairment in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and evaluate the efficacy of memoplant in the treatment of this pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors present the results of the clinical, psychological and electroencephalographic examination of 40 patients with ADHD, aged from 18 to 45 years. All patients received memoplant in dose of 240 mg a day for 8 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Adult patients with ADHD were characterized by both subjective and objective disorders of memory and attention. The results of the electroencephalographic study suggested the dysfunction of the frontal-thalamic regulatory system and the lack of non-specific activation of the reticular formation. After treatment, clinical improvement was observed in 24 patients (60.0%). Repeated psychological and neuropsychological examinations showed a reduction of inattention and improvement of memory performance.

Maternal dietary linoleic acid supplementation promotes muscle fibre type transformation in suckling piglets.

As meat quality is basically dependent on muscle fibre characteristics, it is important to know how muscle fibres are regulated and transformed. This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal dietary supplementation on muscle fibre types using 3% saturated fatty acid (palmitic acid, PA) or 3% unsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid, LA) from 80 days of gestation to the weaning of offspring (25 days post-natal). The results indicated that higher mRNA levels of MyHCI type genes were found in the soleus muscles of piglets that suckled from LA-supplemented sows than from PA-supplemented sows. In addition, LA treatment increased the gene expression of the type I muscle fibre marker troponin I (p < 0.01), suggesting that LA promoted muscle fibre type transformation to type I fibres. Moreover, PGC-1α (p < 0.01) and MEF2c (p < 0.05) mRNA levels were higher in the piglets from the LA treatment group than in those from the PA treatment group. Furthermore, LA supplementation also significantly increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mRNA levels (p < 0.05), which is an upstream regulator of PGC-1α. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that maternal dietary LA supplementation promoted muscle fibre transformation to type I fibre and that this process may be mediated through an AMPK-dependent pathway.

Antibiotic inclusion in the diet did not alter the standardized ileal digestible tryptophan to lysine ratio for growing pigs.

Two 21-d experiments were conducted to determine the optimum standardized ileal digestible (SID) Trp:Lys ratio for growing pigs; 1 experiment fed diets supplemented with or without an antibiotic. The primary response variables in both experiments were ADG, ADFI, G:F, and plasma urea N (PUN) concentrations with the optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio detected using broken-line analysis. Experiment 1 evaluated the optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio in growing pigs fed diets supplemented with an antibiotic. This experiment used 120 crossbred pigs that were blocked by sex and initial BW (24.13 ± 2.72 kg) and allotted to 6 SID Trp:Lys ratios in 4 replicates. Dietary treatments were formulated by the addition of crystalline Trp to create 6 SID Trp:Lys ratios (13.08%, 14.06%, 15.04%, 17.00%, 18.95%, and 20.91%) with a constant SID Lys level of 0.655%. As SID Trp:Lys ratios increased, ADG, ADFI, and G:F increased, and PUN concentrations decreased linearly ( < 0.05) and quadratically ( < 0.05). Linear broken-line analysis yielded optimum SID Trp:Lys ratios of 17.93% ( < 0.001) and 16.17% ( = 0.009) for ADG and PUN, respectively, resulting in a mean optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio of 17.05%. Experiment 2 evaluated the optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio in growing pigs fed diets supplemented with or without an antibiotic. It used a total of 324 crossbred pigs (initial BW: 30.81 ± 3.56 kg) that were allotted to 6 SID Trp:Lys ratios in 6 replicates. Dietary treatments were formulated by the addition of crystalline Trp to create 6 SID Trp:Lys ratios (12.52%, 14.86%, 17.20%, 19.54%, 21.88%, and 24.22%) with a constant SID Lys level of 0.67%. As SID Trp:Lys ratios increased, ADG, ADFI, and G:F increased, and PUN concentrations decreased linearly ( < 0.001) and quadratically ( < 0.001) regardless of antibiotic inclusion. There were no differences by the antibiotic treatment in ADG, ADFI, G:F, or PUN concentrations ( > 0.49) and no interactions between antibiotics and Trp:Lys ratios ( > 0.29). When the data for all pigs were pooled for the various Trp:Lys ratios, the optimum SID Trp:Lys ratios for ADG and PUN based on linear broken-line analysis were 14.58% ( < 0.001) and 14.54% ( < 0.001), respectively, resulting in an optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio of 14.56% as the mean of the determined optima for ADG and PUN responses. These results demonstrate that the optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio for 30- to 50-kg growing pigs is not impacted by the dietary inclusion of an antibiotic as long as the diets are formulated on an SID AA basis.

Antifungal modes of action of tea tree oil and its two characteristic components against Botrytis cinerea.

AIMS: The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) has been evaluated as a potential eco-friendly antifungal agent against Botrytis cinerea. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity and mode of action of tea tree oil (TTO) and its components against B. cinerea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the components we tested in contact phase, terpinen-4-ol had the highest antifungal activity, followed by TTO, α-terpineol, terpinolene, then 1,8-cineole. As one of characteristic components of TTO, terpinen-4-ol treatment led to pronounced alterations in mycelial morphology, cellular ultrastructure, membrane permeability under scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and fluorescent microscope, and also reduced the ergosterol content of fungi. As another characteristic component, 1,8-cineole caused serious intracellular damage but only slightly affected B. cinerea otherwise. When terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole were used together, the synergistic antifungal activity was significantly higher than either component by itself. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study confirmed that terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole act mainly on the cell membranes and organelles of B. cinerea, respectively, and when combined are similar to TTO in antifungal activity due to their differences. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Understanding the mechanism of terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole antifungal action to B. cinerea is helpful for investigation on their synergistic effect and explaining antifungal action modes of TTO.

Differential expression proteins associated with bud dormancy release during chilling treatment of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa).

Endo-dormant flower buds of tree peony must have sufficient chilling duration to reinitiate growth, which is a major obstacle to the forcing culture of tree peony in winter. We used a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) to identify the differentially expressed proteins of tree peony after three different chilling treatments: endo-dormancy, endo-dormancy release and eco-dormancy stages. More than 200 highly reproducible protein spots were detected, and 31 differentially expressed spots (P < 0.05) were selected for further analysis. Finally, 20 protein spots were confidently identified from databases, which were annotated and classified into seven functional categories: response to abiotic or biotic stimulus (four), metabolic processes (four), other binding (three), transcription or transcription regulation (two), biological processes (one), cell biogenesis (one) and unclassified (five). The results of qPCR of five genes were mainly consistent with that of the protein accumulation analysis as determined by 2-DE. This indicated that most of these genes were mainly regulated at transcriptional level. The activity of nitrate reductase and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 was consistent with the 2-DE results. The proteomic profiles indicated activation of citrate cycle, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, energy production, calcium signalling and cell growth processes by chilling fulfilment to facilitate dormancy release in tree peony. Analysis of functions of identified proteins will increase our knowledge of endo-dormancy release in tree peony.

Effect of ultrasonic waves on the freezing rates of potatoes in degassed coolant and untreated coolant.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonic waves are shown to enhance the rate of freezing. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the mechanism of immersion freezing of potatos with ultrasonic waves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound is applied to potato samples immersed in degassed coolant and untreated coolant. Sonic waves were intermittently applied at temperature below -1 degree C. The freezing rates were measured under different experimental conditions. RESULTS: The use of ultrasonic waves increased the freezing rates of potatoes immersed in both degassed coolant and untreated coolant. However, the freezing rate in the degassed coolant was less than that in the untreated coolant. CONCLUSION: Heat transfer on the interface between the potato sample and sonicated degassed coolant appears to be less than that within the sample in the absence of cavitation. The interface heat transfer between the potato sample and untreated coolant is likely improved due to ultrasonic cavitation.

Molecular cloning of type I collagen cDNA and nutritional regulation of type I collagen mRNA expression in grass carp.

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) are important Chinese freshwater fish, and in China, the faba bean has been used as the sole food source for grass carp to transform them into crisp grass carp. Because of this, crisp grass carp has become an economically important fish because of its increased muscle hardness. To study the nutritional regulation of type I collagen in faba bean-fed grass carp, we isolated type I collagen alpha 2 (COL1A2) on the basis of our isolation of COL1A1. The COL1A2 cDNA was found to be 4899 bp in length and included a 4059-bp coding sequence (CDS) and encoded a polypeptide of 1352 AA. The protein peptide molecular weight was 127.39 kD, and the theoretical isoelectric point was 9.37. The COL1A2 protein possessed five α-helixes, eight ß-sheets, 16 regions of triple helical repeats, 21 low-complexity regions, 10 function domains and two zinc-binding sites; however, no calcium-binding sites were observed. The mRNA expression of COL1A1 and COL1A2 was assessed in eight tissues (muscle, hepatopancreas, intestine, gills, skin, fin, kidney and spleen) from grass carp and crisp grass carp by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Expression of COL1A1 in the muscle, intestines and skin of crisp grass carp was higher than that in grass carp, and expression of COL1A2 in the muscle, gills, fin and skin of crisp grass carp was higher than that in grass carp. In the muscle of crisp grass carp, expression of COL1A1 and COL1A2 was higher than that in grass carp, which was further confirmed by real-time PCR, and collagen content also was enhanced. These results demonstrated that type I collagen was closely related to the increased muscle hardness of faba bean-fed grass carp.

Influence of dietary inclusion of Bacillus licheniformis on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant enzyme activities, and intestinal barrier function of laying hens.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of Bacillus licheniformis on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant enzyme activities, and intestinal barrier function of laying hens. Hy-Line Variety W-36 hens (n = 540; 28 wk of age) were randomized into 6 groups, each group with 6 replications (n = 15). The control group received the basal diet formulated with maize and soybean meal. The treatment groups received the same basal diets supplemented with 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09% Bacillus licheniformis powder (2 × 10(10) cfu/g) for an 8-wk trial. The results showed that dietary supplementation with 0.01 and 0.03% B. licheniformis significantly increased egg production and egg mass. However, no significant differences were observed in egg weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion efficiency among the 6 groups. Supplementation with different levels of B. licheniformis was found to be effective in improvement of egg quality by increasing egg shell thickness and strength. Compared with control, d-lactate content, diamine oxidase activity, and adrenocorticotropic hormone level in serum decreased significantly, and the level of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone increased significantly in plasma of all the experimental groups. Dietary supplementation with B. licheniformis increased the intestinal villus height and reduced the crypt depth. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of B. licheniformis could improve laying performance and egg quality significantly in a dose-dependent manner by decreasing the stress response, upregulating the growth hormone, and improving intestinal health.