Expression and functional study of cholecystokinin-A receptors on the interstitial Cajal-like cells of the guinea pig common bile duct.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that interstitial Cajal-like cell (ICLC) abnormalities are closely related to a variety of dynamic gastrointestinal disorders. ICLCs are pacemaker cells for gastrointestinal movement and are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. AIM: To elucidate the expression profile and significance of cholecystokinin-A (CCK-A) receptors in ICLCs in the common bile duct (CBD), as well as the role of CCK in regulating CBD motility through CCK-A receptors on CBD ICLCs. METHODS: The levels of tyrosine kinase receptor (c-kit) and CCK-A receptors in CBD tissues and isolated CBD cells were quantified using the double immunofluorescence labeling technique. The CCK-mediated enhancement of the movement of CBD muscle strips through CBD ICLCs was observed by a muscle strip contraction test. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence showed co-expression of c-kit and CCK-A receptors in the CBD muscularis layer. Observations of isolated CBD cells showed that c-kit was expressed on the surface of ICLCs, the cell body and synapse were colored and polygonal, and some cells presented protrusions and formed networks adjacent to the CBD while others formed filaments at the synaptic terminals of local cells. CCK-A receptors were also expressed on CBD ICLCs. At concentrations ranging from 10-6 mol/L to 10-10 mol/L, CCK promoted CBD smooth muscle contractility in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, after ICLC removal, the contractility mediated by CCK in CBD smooth muscle decreased. CONCLUSION: CCK-A receptors are highly expressed on CBD ICLCs, and CCK may regulate CBD motility through the CCK-A receptors on ICLCs.

Chronic exposure to cortisone induces thyroid endocrine disruption and retinal dysfunction in adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Cortisone has a large content in rivers because of its wide range of medical applications and elimination by organisms that naturally secrete it. As a steroid hormone, cortisone is recognized as a novel endocrine disruptor. Although ecotoxicological effects of the reproductive endocrine system have mainly been reported recently, thyroid endocrine in fish remains relatively less understood. Here, adult female zebrafish were exposed to cortisone at 0.0 (control), 3.2, 38.7, and 326.9 ng/L for 60 days. Evidence in this study came from fish behavior, hormone levels, gene expression, histological and morphological examinations. The results showed that THs (thyroid hormone) level disruption and pathohistological changes occurred in the thyroid gland, which may account for the gene expression changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid gland axis. Specifically, more conversion of T4 (thyroxine) to T3 (triiodothyronine) led to an increased TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level in plasma. Severe thyroid tissue damage mainly occurred in the zebrafish exposed to 326.9 ng/L of cortisone. Meanwhile, consistent with the THs trend, the fish locomotion activity displayed more anxiety and excitement, the partial blockage of GABA (γ - aminobutyric acid) synthetic pathway genes might be the explanation of the underlying mechanism. Cortisone affected the gene expressions in the visual cycle and the circadian rhythm network also suggested interactions between thyroid endocrine disruption, retinal dysfunction, and abnormal behaviors of zebrafish. In summary, these findings suggest chronic exposure to cortisone induced various adverse effects in adult female zebrafish, which may help us better understand the risk of cortisone to fish in the wild.

Impact of simethicone on bowel cleansing during colonoscopy in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: Four-liter polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions are effective for bowel cleansing, but their large volume might hinder patient compliance. Due to the unique features of Asians, 4 L PEG might be a suboptimal bowel preparation in predominantly ethnically Asian countries. In view of this, a balance should be achieved between the volume and effectiveness. The ideal bowel cleansing regimen for a colonoscopy has yet to be determined in a Chinese population. AIM: To compare the cleansing efficacy of 3 L PEG plus simethicone with 4 L PEG. METHODS: A total of 291 patients were randomly allocated to two groups: Group 1 (n = 145) received 4 L split-dose PEG (4-P); group 2 (n = 146) received 3 L split-dose PEG plus simethicone (3-PS). Bowel-cleansing efficacy was evaluated by endoscopists using the Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) and the bubbles score. RESULTS: Although there were no significant differences in the total BBPS score or the adequate rate of bowel preparation between the two groups, the BBPS score of the right-side colon was significantly higher in the 3-SP group (2.37 ± 0.54 vs 2.21 ± 0.78; P = 0.04). Moreover, the use of simethicone significantly reduced bubbles in all colon segments (P < 0.001). The mean withdrawal time was significantly shorter in the 3-PS group (8.8 ± 3.4 vs 9.6 ± 2.3; P = 0.02). Furthermore, significantly more proximal adenomas were detected in the 3-PS group (53.6% vs 45.7%; P = 0.03). In addition, the proportions of patients with nausea and bloating were significantly lower in the 3-SP group (P < 0.01 for both). More patients in the 3-PS group expressed willingness to repeat the bowel preparation (87.7% vs 76.6%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Three-liter PEG shows satisfactory bowel cleansing despite the decrease in dosage, and addition of simethicone with better bubble elimination and enhanced patient acceptance offers excellent potential impact on the detection of proximal adenomas in Chinese patients.

[Identification of a Facultative Bacterium Strain with the Ability to Methylate Mercury Under Both Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions].

A strain with the ability to methylate mercury under both the aerobic and anaerobic conditions was isolated from soil of the water-level-fluctuation-zone in the Three Gorge Reservoir in Shibaozhai Village, Zhongxian Country, Chongqing, China (E108°12'3″ and N30°24'36″). The soil was classified as Purple soil with a pH of 7.97 (0-20 cm depth). The isolation was performed under 1.0 mg·L-1 HgCl2 conditions. After its morphological and physiological characterization, and its phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA gene sequence, the strain was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens sp., and named as Pseudomonas fluorescens XD-MeHg-B2 (GenBank accession number: KU954349). On one hand, at 30℃ under aerobic condition, the concentration of methylmercury (MeHg) in the PBS (phosphate buffer saline) solution, which was inoculated with 1×1011 cfu·mL-1 suspension of P. fluorescens XD-MeHg-B2 and an initial Hg2+ of 200 ng·L-1, was exponentially increased to 1.22 ng·L-1±0.15 ng·L-1 after 60 min incubation and then approached to the maximum of 3.85 ng·L-1±0.33 ng·L-1 160 min after incubation. The largest mercury methylation rate was 1.93%. On the other hand, at 30℃ under anaerobic condition, the concentration of MeHg in the PBS solution, which was also inoculated with 1×1011 cfu·mL-1 suspension of P. fluorescens XD-MeHg-B2 and an initial Hg2+ of 200 ng·L-1, was 2.86 ng·L-1±0.73 ng·L-1 and the largest mercury methylation rate was 1.43% 180 min after incubation. As a result, P. fluorescens XD-MeHg-B2 showed its ability to methylate mercury under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions while with a comparatively hysteretic and lower ability of mercury methylation. These results demonstrated that P. fluorescens XD-MeHg-B2 could be a promising candidate for further studies on mercury biogeochemical cycle, particularly under dry-wet alternative conditions.