First molecular report of Babesia gibsoni infection in pet dogs in Hunan province, subtropical China.

Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia spp. is a noteworthy tick-borne zoonotic disease of domestic dogs and wild canids. In present study, a total of 556 blood samples were randomly collected from pet dogs in eight cities of Hunan province, subtropical China. Genomic DNA was extracted and Babesia DNA was detected by amplification of partial 18S rRNA gene sequences. A total of 56 (10.1%) blood samples were tested positive for Babesia species. Sequence analysis showed that 29 dogs (5.2%) were positive for B. gibsoni, and other 27 dogs for B. vogeli (4.9%). The age and health status were considered as important risk factors for B. gibsoni and B. vogeli infections in pet dogs in this study (P<0.05). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the examined positive samples were highly clustered in the same branch with B. gibsoni and B. vogeli, respectively. This is the first molecular report of B. gibsoni infection in pet dogs in Hunan province, subtropical China. Our finding has provided a guide for the control of dog babesiosis in China and elsewhere.

First molecular report of Babesia gibsoni infection in pet dogs in Hunan province, subtropical China

@#Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia spp. is a noteworthy tick-borne zoonotic disease of domestic dogs and wild canids. In present study, a total of 556 blood samples were randomly collected from pet dogs in eight cities of Hunan province, subtropical China. Genomic DNA was extracted and Babesia DNA was detected by amplification of partial 18S rRNA gene sequences. A total of 56 (10.1%) blood samples were tested positive for Babesia species. Sequence analysis showed that 29 dogs (5.2%) were positive for B. gibsoni, and other 27 dogs for B. vogeli (4.9%). The age and health status were considered as important risk factors for B. gibsoni and B. vogeli infections in pet dogs in this study (P<0.05). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the examined positive samples were highly clustered in the same branch with B. gibsoni and B. vogeli, respectively. This is the first molecular report of B. gibsoni infection in pet dogs in Hunan province, subtropical China. Our finding has provided a guide for the control of dog babesiosis in China and elsewhere.

Effect of appetite-conditioned reflex stimulation on early enteral nutrition tolerance after surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to discuss the effects of appetite-conditioned reflex stimulation on the early enteral nutrition (EEN) tolerance, complications, and postoperative hospital stay in patients who underwent surgery. METHODS: Seventy patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer surgery in our hospital between February and December 2017 were randomly divided into a stimulated appetite group (experimental group, including visual stimulation, nasal stimulation, taste stimulation and hearing stimulation) and a control group (n = 35). Both groups received EEN. EEN tolerance, complications, and postoperative hospital stay were then compared between the groups. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients, including 34 in the experimental group and 32 in the control group, completed the relevant experiment. The experimental group had significantly lower incidence rates of nausea, vomiting, bloating, use of prokinetic drugs, and gastric tube replacement (P < 0.05), and shorter tolerable regular eating time (5.0 ± 1.0 d vs 6.4 ± 1.9 d, P < 0.05) and postoperative hospital stay (7.0 ± 2.0 d vs 8.0 ± 1.8 d, P < 0.05) than the control group. No significant difference in complication rate was detected (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Appetite-conditioned reflex stimulation can improve EEN tolerance, decrease the risk of complications, and shorten ordinary diet recovery time and hospital stay.

[Dihydrotestosterone inhibits foam cell formation via a lectin-like ox-low-density lipoprotein receptor mediated mechanism in J774.1 cell line].

Objective: To investigate the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on lectin-like ox- low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor(LOX-1)expression and foam cell formation in the female macrophage cell line J774.1. Methods: In cultured J774.1 cells, after pretreated with DHT at concentrations of 1×10-9 mol/L and 1×10-8 mol/L, ox-LDL-induced LOX-1 expression and foam cell formation were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and oil-red O staining. Results: DHT at concentrations of 1×10-9 mol/L and 1×10-8 mol/L inhibited ox-LDL-induced LOX-1 mRNA (2.81±0.46 and 2.29±0.21 vs 4.71±0.31, both P<0.01) and protein expression (1.35±0.06 and 1.09±0.04 vs 1.75±0.11, both P<0.05). The effect was partly reversed by the androgen receptor (AR) blocker flutamide (87.6%, P=0.004). Oil-red O staining also revealed that DHT at concentrations of 1×10-9 mol/L and 1×10-8 mol/L suppressed ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation as quantified by the number of foam cells per high-power field (HPF) (36.0±3.0 and 29.1±1.3 vs 45.9±3.7, both P<0.05) and by the area of oil-red O stained particles per HPF (7 983±1 035 and 4 060±390 vs 14 750±2 489, both P<0.05). Conclusion: DHT at concentrations of 1×10-9 mol/L and 1×10-8 mol/L decreases LOX-1 expression and foam cell formation via AR.

Physiological Responses of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Under the Stress of Sagittaria sagittifolia Extract.

The algal growth and physiological characters of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae were studied under the stress of Sagittaria sagittifolia extract. The results showed that the growth of A. flos-aquae was significantly inhibited by S. sagittifolia extract. The exopolysaccharide (EPS), total soluble protein, intracellular phosphorus (o-PO4-P) contents and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in A. flos-aquae cells increased significantly. These results suggested that A. flos-aquae can adapt to stress by increasing its normal metabolic activity. The algal cellular antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), were triggered to different degrees when exposed to S. sagittifolia extract. The MDA contents and activities of SOD, CAT and POD in algal cells suggested that oxidative damage induced by S. sagittifolia extract via the oxidation of ROS (O2·-) might be an important factor responsible for the inhibition of the growth of A. flos-aquae. In addition, SOD may be an important site for the inhibition of S. sagittifolia extract on A. flos-aquae cells. These results indicate that S. sagittifolia may be a good candidate for controlling A. flos-aquae blooms.

First report of seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic geese in Hunan province, subtropical China.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoan parasites with widespread distribution globally. However, little information is available about the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in geese (Anser domestica) in China. In the present study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in geese were investigated in Hunan province, China. A total of 900 serum samples were collected from ten administrative regions in Hunan province, China, and assayed for T. gondii antibodies by Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test. Overall, 21.1% of the animals were positive for T. gondii antibodies. The results of the present survey indicated the presence of T. gondii infection in geese in Hunan province, China. Therefore, it is important to execute integrated control strategies and measures to prevent and control T. gondii infection in geese in this province. This is the first report seroprevalence of T. gondii in geese in Hunan province, China.

First report of seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic geese in Hunan province, subtropical China

. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoan parasites with widespread distribution globally. However, little information is available about the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in geese (Anser domestica) in China. In the present study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in geese were investigated in Hunan province, China. A total of 900 serum samples were collected from ten administrative regions in Hunan province, China, and assayed for T. gondii antibodies by Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test. Overall, 21.1% of the animals were positive for T. gondii antibodies. The results of the present survey indicated the presence of T. gondii infection in geese in Hunan province, China. Therefore, it is important to execute integrated control strategies and measures to prevent and control T. gondii infection in geese in this province. This is the first report seroprevalence of T. gondii in geese in Hunan province, China.

Association of homozygous 7048G7049 variant in the intron six of Nurr1 gene with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Nurr1 gene, which is critical for the development and maintenance of nigral dopaminergic neurons, is a risk factor associated with PD. BACKGROUND: The Nurrl gene is highly expressed in the dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. Knockout of the gene results in agenesis of nigral dopaminergic neurons and heterozygous knockout mice increases 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: This study included 105 patients with familial PD (fPD) and 120 patients with sporadic PD (sPD) and 221 age-matched healthy control subjects. The polymorphisms and mutations of the Nurr1 gene in patients with PD were initially examined by heteroduplex analysis and sequencing analysis from PCR-amplified Nurr1 gene fragments. A polymorphism in the BseRI restriction site was identified, and a relatively large-scale analysis then was conducted by three independent investigators who were blinded to the clinical status of the subjects. RESULTS: A homozygous 7048G7049 polymorphism was found in intron 6 of the Nurr1 gene, which was significantly higher in fPD (10/105; 9.5%) and in sPD (5/120; 4.2%) compared with healthy control subjects (2/221; 0.9%). The mean age and the SD at onset of these homozygote patients with PD was 52 +/- 15 years for fPD and 46 +/- 7 years for sPD. The clinical features of these homozygote patients with PD did not differ from those of typical PD. CONCLUSIONS: The homozygote polymorphism of 7048G7049 in intron 6 of the Nurr1 gene is associated with typical PD.

Copper transportion of WD protein in hepatocytes from Wilson disease patients in vitro.

AIM: To study the effect of copper transporting P-type ATPase in copper metabolism of hepatocyte and pathogenesis of Wilson disease (WD). METHODS: WD copper transporting properties in some organelles of the cultured hepatocytes were studied from WD patients and normal controls.These cultured hepatocytes were incubated in the media of copper 15 mg x L(-1) only, copper 15 mg x L(-1) with vincristine (agonist of P-type ATPase) 0.5mg x L(-1), or copper 15 mg x L(-1) with vanadate (antagonist of P-type ATPase) 18.39 mg x L(-1) separately. Microsome (endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus), lysosome, mitochondria, and cytosol were isolated by differential centrifugation. Copper contents in these organelles were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and the influence in copper transportion of these organelles by vanadate and vincristine were comparatively analyzed between WD patients and controls. WD copper transporting P-type ATPase was detected by SDS-PAGE in conjunction with Western blot in liver samples of WD patients and controls. RESULTS: The specific WD proteins (M(r)155,000 lanes) were expressed in human hepatocytes, including the control and WD patients. After incubation with medium containing copper for 2 h or 24 h, the microsome copper concentration in WD patients was obviously lower than that of controls, and the addition of vanadate or vincristine would change the copper transporting of microsomes obviously. When incubated with vincristine, levels of copper in microsome were significantly increased, while incubated with vanadate, the copper concentrations in microsome were obviously decreased. The results indicated that there were WD proteins, the copper transportion P-type ATPase in the microsome of hepatocytes. WD patients possessed abnormal copper transporting function of WD protein in the microsome, and the agonist might correct the defect of copper transportion by promoting the activity of copper transportion P-type ATPase. CONCLUSION: Copper transportion P-type ATPase plays an important role in hepatocytic copper metabolism. Dysfunction of hepatocytic WD protein copper transportion might be one of the most important factors for WD.

[Identification of medicinal plant Xanthium L. produced in China].

OBJECTIVE: To gain a clear idea on the resources and pharmacognostic identification of medicinal plant Xanthium in China. METHOD: Identification of botanical origin, analysis of fruit shapes and properties, microscopic characteristics, TLC and UV. RESULT: Identification criteria have been worked out for Xanthium and its confused species. CONCLUSION: The resources of medicinal plant Xanthium may be appropriately expanded.

[Changes in histopathology and enzyme histochemistry of thymus in cadmium exposure mice].

The changes in histopathology and enzyme histochemistry of thymus induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of sublethal doses of cadmium chloride into Kunming male mice were examined. The swollen endothelium of capillaries was observed, with an obviously decreased activity of ICDH, LDH and ATPase, which seemed to be due to direct inhibition by cadmium at the 4th hour. The necroses of the cortex thymocytes were found at the 8th hour after injection and reached an extreme at the 16-24th hour, while few necroses of the lymphocytes in the medulla. Beginning 4th to 8th hour after exposure, the activity of enzymes was located in mitochondria of the cortex thymocytes, i.e., SDH, ICDH, CCO and ATPase, was decreased gradually. It suggested that thymic cortex had a marked impairment of blood supply and anoxia. Within 2 days after a single injection the cortex of the gland was mainly populated by epithelial reticular cells except a few lymphocytes. It was noted that there were some bigger cells which were characterized by their large size, basophilic cytoplasma, rough chromatin and high mitotic ability and activity of MDH, LDH, G-6-PD increased in these cells. From above observation the author concluded that the cause of cadmium-induced acute thymic atrophy was lymphocyte necroses within thymic cortex. The mechanism of the cortex thymocytes necrosis was possibly secondary to an anoxia of cortex resulting from capillary damage in the cortex. The ability of thymic regeneration is strong after being damaged. The regenerate cells possessed characteristics of morphology and enzyme histochemistry of immature cells, which probably came from the bone marrow.