Information fields of written texts protect cells from oxidative damage and accelerate repair.

OBJECTIVE: Written words demonstrated specific effects on biochemical measures and cell growth in cultured mammalian cells in previous study. We examined the protection and reparative effects of Chinese texts with positive meaning and the word "Buddha" on oxidative-damaged cells, with the goal of exploring the therapeutic effect of such characters. METHODS: The human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293T was utilized, with the oxidative- damaged cell model produced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Double-blind experiments were set up to ensure all operators involved in the experiments did not know the contents of the texts in envelopes. Petri-dishes (9 plates) containing oxidative-damaged cells were selected randomly for three controls, three treatments by texts with positive meaning, and another three treatment by the word "Buddha". Cells were sub-sampled at 3 h and 24 h to examine growth and mitochondrial functions. All data are expressed relative to the controls. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, mitochondrial functions were enhanced as evidenced by increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, accompanied by the significant improvement in cell growth rate for the groups treated by positive texts and the word "Buddha". Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were decreased significantly in positive texts treatment, which suggested that the antioxidant capacity of cells was also improved. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that certain texts can potentially offer protection and accelerate the cellular repair for oxidative-damaged cells.

A New High-throughput Real-time PCR Assay for the Screening of Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Broiler Fecal Samples from China.

OBJECTIVE: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global concern and is especially severe in China. To effectively and reliably provide AMR data, we developed a new high-throughput real-time PCR assay based on microfluidic dynamic technology, and screened multiple AMR genes in broiler fecal samples. METHODS: A high-throughput real-time PCR system with an new designed integrated fluidic circuit assay were performed AMR gene detection. A total of 273 broiler fecal samples collected from two geographically separated farms were screened AMR genes. RESULTS: The new assay with limits of detection ranging from 40.9 to 8,000 copies/reaction. The sensitivity rate, specificity rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and correct indices were 99.30%, 98.08%, 95.31%, 99.79%, and 0.9755, respectively. Utilizing this assay, we demonstrate that AMR genes are widely spread, with positive detection rates ranging from 0 to 97.07% in 273 broiler fecal samples. blaCTX-M, blaTEM, mcr-1, fexA, cfr, optrA, and intI1 showed over 80% prevalence. The dissemination of AMR genes was distinct between the two farms. CONCLUSION: We successfully established a new high-throughput real-time PCR assay applicable to AMR gene surveillance from fecal samples. The widespread existence of AMR genes detected in broiler farms highlights the current and severe problem of AMR.

Simultaneous determination of α-asarone and ß-asarone in Acorus tatarinowii using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence coupled with chemometrics methods.

A chemometrics-assisted excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence method was proposed for simultaneous determination of α-asarone and ß-asarone in Acorus tatarinowii. Using the strategy of combining EEM data with chemometrics methods, the simultaneous determination of α-asarone and ß-asarone in the complex Traditional Chinese medicine system was achieved successfully, even in the presence of unexpected interferents. The physical or chemical separation step was avoided due to the use of "mathematical separation". Six second-order calibration methods were used including parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), alternating trilinear decomposition (ATLD), alternating penalty trilinear decomposition (APTLD), self-weighted alternating trilinear decomposition (SWATLD), the unfolded partial least-squares (U-PLS) and multidimensional partial least-squares (N-PLS) with residual bilinearization (RBL). In addition, HPLC method was developed to further validate the presented strategy. Consequently, for the validation samples, the analytical results obtained by six second-order calibration methods were almost accurate. But for the Acorus tatarinowii samples, the results indicated a slightly better predictive ability of N-PLS/RBL procedure over other methods.

Obesity increases the risk of renal involvement in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

UNLABELLED: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and renal involvement in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). A retrospective study of 141 pediatric patients with HSP was conducted in our hospital. The clinical data of all patients were collected from the electronic medical record management system from January 2010 to June 2014. The possible risk factors of renal involvement, especially obesity, were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Renal involvement occurred in 45/141 of the patients. A univariate analysis showed that an age more than 7 years at onset, persistent purpura, obesity, time from symptoms onset to diagnosis more than 14 days, and decreased C3 all increased the risk of renal involvement in HSP. The forward stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated obesity (odds ratio (OR) 4.43, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.896 to 10.358), age more than 7 years at onset (OR 2.81, 95 % CI 1.142 to 6.907), and persistent purpura (OR 2.57, 95 % CI 1.119 to 5.909) were independent risk factors for renal involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that obesity can increase the hazard of renal involvement in children with HSP and reconfirm that older age at onset and persistent purpura are the independent risk factors for renal involvement. WHAT IS KNOWN: • There have been some reports that obesity was associated with the development of renal injury. • It is not clear whether obesity can increase the risk of renal involvement in children with HSP. What is New: • The main finding of this study is that obesity can increase the hazard of renal involvement in children with HSP.

The application of nasal synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation in primary apnea of prematurity.

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nasal synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (nSIMV) in preterm infants with primary apnea of prematurity (AOP). Forty-four preterm infants with AOP were divided into the nSIMV group or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) group. Clinical symptoms, signs and blood gas results following nSIMV or nCPAP were compared between the two groups. Infants receiving nSIMV had a greater reduction in apneic spells and a greater decrease in bradycardia than those receiving nCPAP. Compared with the nCPAP group, the nSIMV group had a lower incidence of respiratory support failure (9.1% vs. 27.3%; p<0.05), a lower incidence of hypercarbia (4.5% vs. 18.2%; p<0.05) and a lower incidence of gastrointestinal complications (4.5% vs. 13.6%; p<0.05). This study showed that nSIMV was more effective in respiratory support in preterm infants with AOP.

Establishment and comparison of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis and automated ribotyping methods for subtyping of Citrobacter strains.

OBJECTIVE: To establish and compare the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and automated ribotyping for subtyping of Citrobacter strains. METHODS: PFGE protocol was optimized in terms of plug preparation procedure, restriction enzymes and configuration of electrophoretic parameters. MLVA method was evaluated by finding variable number tandem repeats in two genomes of Citrobacter strains. The ribotyping was performed by using the automated RiboPrinter system. RESULTS: We optimized the plug preparation procedure, focused on the cell suspension concentration (turbidity of 2.5 to 3.5), SDS addition (no SDS needed) and lysis time (1 h), and selected the appropriate restriction enzyme (XbaI) and the electrophoretic parameters (1.0 s-20.0 s for 19 h) of PFGE. There was nearly no discriminatory power of MLVA between Citrobacter strains. For 51 Citrobacter strains, automated ribotyping gave a D-value of 0.9945, while PFGE gave a D-value of 0.9969. Both PFGE and automated ribotyping clustered strains from the same sources (with the same species from the same place at the same time identified as the same source) and divided strains from different sources (from different years, places and hosts) into different subtypes. CONCLUSION: PFGE protocol established in this paper and automated ribotyping are suitable for application in Citrobacter subtyping.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of total flavonoids from Inula helenium.

BACKGROUND: Inula helenium was a perennial herb belonging to composite family and the roots of I. helenium have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, I. helenium was used as an experimental matrix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of total flavonoids from I. helenium was studied with dual wavelength UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Effects of various factors including ratio of material to liquid, ultrasonic time, ethanol concentration and extraction times on extraction yield of total flavonoids were evaluated. Then, orthogonal design of four factors at three levels was applied for optimization the extraction yields of flavonoids from the root of I. helenium. RESULT: The optimal extracting process of the total flavonoids from the root of the I. helenium was 1 g plant sample with 20 ml of 60% ethanol, extracting twice and each time for 20 min. CONCLUSION: Under these optimal conditions, the yield of total flavonoids was (17.36±0.94) mg/g. UAE was more efficient and time saving for the extraction of flavonoids from plant materials.

[Development of a protocol on pulsed field gel electrophoresis analysis for Streptococcus suis].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a PFGE protocol for Streptococcus suis. METHODS: We developed and optimized a PFGE protocol for S. suis, in terms of plug preparation, choice of restriction endonucleases and optimized electrophoresis parameters. By analyzing the genome sequences of S. suis P1/7 with Mapdraw of DNAStar, we found three restriction enzymes, Swa I, Sma I and Apa I, were more suitable than others. RESULTS: Analysis of 100 isolates of S. suis including 34 of 35 serotypes identified, 59, 53 and 43 patterns were obtained from Swa I, Sma I and Apa I restriction, respectively. The enzyme Swa I had the greatest power for discrimination ability. CONCLUSION: By optimization of the protocol at various conditions, a rapid, reproducible, economic and practical PFGE method for S. suis was developed.

[Determination of catalpol in dried rehmannia root and Taohong Siwu Decoction with high performance liquid chromatography].

OBJECTIVE: To determinate the catalpol contents in dried rehmannia root and Taohong Siwu Decoction containing rehmannia root with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). METHODS: Catalpol was separated on a YWG-C18 column using water-acetonitrile (99.4:0.6) as mobile phase and detective wavelength at 210 nm. RESULTS: The linear curve of tested catalpol concentration within the range of 0.0536-5.3600 microg/microl was ideal (n=5, r=0.999 7). The average recovery rate of the dried rehmannia root and Taohong Siwu decoction was 98.7% (RSD=0.48%) and 98.2% (RSD=1.29%) respectively. CONCLUSION: HPLC method is accurate and valuable for the quality control of Radix Rehmanniae and Taohong Siwu Decoction.