Equity evaluation of urban green space in the main urban area of Wuhan based on green view index.

Green space is a kind of resource welfare. The evaluation of green space equity based on green view index (GVI) is important to ensure the equitable distribution of green resources. Taking the central urban area of Wuhan as the research object, based on multi-source data such as Baidu Street View Map, Baidu Thermal Map, and satellite remote sensing images, we evaluated the equity of spatial distribution of GVI in Wuhan by using the locational entropy, Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve. The results showed that 87.6% of the points in the central urban area of Wuhan were below the level of poor green vision, which mainly concentrated in Wuhan Iron and Steel Industrial Base of Qingshan District and south of Yandong Lake. The number of points reaching an excellent level was the least (0.4%), mainly concentrated around the East Lake. The overall Gini coefficient of GVI in the central urban area of Wuhan was 0.49, which indicated that the distribution of GVI was heterogeneous. The Gini coefficient of Hongshan District was the largest at 0.64, indicating a huge gap in the distribution of GVI, while the Gini coefficient of Jianghan District was the smallest at 0.47, with a large gap in the distribution. The central urban area of Wuhan had the most low-entropy areas for 29.7% and the least high-entropy areas for 15.4%. There were two-level differences in entropy distribution within Hongshan District, Qingshan District, and Wuchang District. The nature of land use and the role of linear greenery were the main factors affecting the equity of green space in the study area. Our results could provide theoretical basis and planning reference for optimizing urban green space layout.

Ultrastructural study of closed macular hole- preliminary application of a novel high magnification module combining with OCT.

BACKGROUND: As a novel high magnification module (HMM) combining with OCT (OCT-HMM) is able to detect the microstructure of retina, we apply it to explore the ultrastructure of the macula after closure of the idiopathic macular hole (IMH) by surgery. METHODS: This is an observational case series study in which patients with full-thickness IMHs who had undergone successful macular closure by vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling and healthy subjects were recruited. After comprehensive ophthalmic examinations, the images of macular area were obtained and collected by professional operators using OCT-HMM. Then images were independently analyzed by 4 masked vitreoretinal specialists. RESULTS: A total of 24 IMH eyes and 42 healthy eyes were examined. HMM images were obtained in 10 IMH eyes. Among them, 4 eyes whose macula closed completely with recovery of photoreceptor layer presented a dark arc nasal to the fovea, oriented to the optic, and the notch of arc faced temporally. Six eyes in which the macula closed incompletely with photoreceptor cells loss revealed a dark ring with uneven bright spots inside. The other 14 eyes failed to obtain clear images by OCT-HMM. The contra lateral eyes of the patients and the healthy subjects' eyes succeeded to obtain the HMM images which displayed evenly grey background thickly covered with tiny bright dots that was in similar size and evenly and widely distributed and there no dark arc or ring. OCT B-scan and IR images could be acquired in all of the IMH and healthy eyes. CONCLUSION: The preliminary application of HMM has supplied us a brand-new insight into the microstructure of closed IMH. A dark arc sign could be detected with OCT-HMM in the macula which was functionally closed after surgery that was probably the healing mark on a microstructure photoreceptors level. Its existence and shape indicated that the functional closure followed by a retinal displacement mainly horizontally from temporal side to nasal side but not symmetric centripetally.

Role of Moesin Phosphorylation in Retinal Pericyte Migration and Detachment Induced by Advanced Glycation Endproducts.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) involves persistent, uncontrolled formation of premature blood vessels with reduced number of pericytes. Our previous work showed that advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, mouse retina, and aortic ring, which was associated with moesin phosphorylation. Here we investigated whether moesin phosphorylation may contribute to pericyte detachment and the development of PDR. Primary retinal microvascular pericytes (RMPs) were isolated, purified from weanling rats, and identified by cellular markers α-SMA, PDGFR-ß, NG2, and desmin using immunofluorescence microscopy. Effects of AGE-BSA on proliferation and migration of RMPs were examined using CCK-8, wound healing, and transwell assays. Effects on moesin phosphorylation were examined using western blotting. The RMP response to AGE-BSA was also examined when cells expressed the non-phosphorylatable Thr558Ala mutant or phospho-mimicking Thr558Asp mutant of moesin or were treated with ROCK inhibitor Y27632. Colocalization and interaction between CD44, phospho-moesin, and F-actin were observed. Experiments with cultured primary RMPs showed that AGE-BSA inhibited the proliferation, enhanced the migration, and increased moesin phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. AGE-BSA also triggered the rearrangement of F-actin and promoted the interaction of CD44 with phospho-moesin in RMPs. These effects were abrogated in cells expressing the non-phosphorylatable moesin mutant and the application of ROCK inhibitor Y27632 attenuated AGE-induced alteration in cultured RMPs by abolishing the phosphorylation of moesin. However, those AGE-induced pathological process occurred in RMPs expressed the phospho-mimicking moesin without AGE-BSA treatment. It is concluded that AGEs could activate ROCK to mediate moesin phosphorylation at Thr558, and resulting phospho-moesin interacts with CD44 to form CD44 cluster, which might stimulate the migration of RMPs and subsequent RMP detachment in microvessel. This pathway may provide new drug targets against immature neovessel formation in PDR.

Higher Levels of Pre-operative Peripheral Lymphocyte Count Is a Favorable Prognostic Factor for Patients With Stage I and II Rectal Cancer.

The clinical significance of peripheral blood parameters has been considered to be a potential prognostic indicator for malignancies. In this study, 224 colorectal cancer (CRC; ncolon = 103; nrectal = 121) patients who underwent resection were enrolled, and the pre- and post-operative clinical laboratory data within 1 week, before and after surgery, were collected. The prognostic value of the counts of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet, the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were analyzed. Data revealed that pre-operative lymphocyte count (pre-LC) was much higher than that of post-LC (p < 0.001), and only rectal cancer patients with pre-LChigh (>median: 1.61 × 109/L) had a significantly better overall survival (OS) and 5-year survival rate (SR) than those with pre-LClow (OS: 62.3 vs. 49.5 months; SR: 74.0 vs. 43.0%; p = 0.006). Cox's proportional hazard models revealed that pre-LChigh was an independent, favorable prognostic factor for rectal cancer patients (hazard ratio = 0.348; p = 0.003). Moreover, when the disease stages were stratified, the pre-LChigh was significantly associated with better prognosis of rectal cancer patients with stage I + II rectal cancer (n = 65; OS: 67.5 vs. 54.3 months; p = 0.011). Taken together, our study revealed that pre-operative lymphocyte count is an independent prognostic factor for patients with stage I and II rectal cancer.

d-Limonene protects PC12 cells against corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity by activating the AMPK pathway.

The stress-induced hormone corticosterone initiates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, culminating in cell apoptosis and neurological changes. We assessed the effects of d-Limonene on a PC12 cellular model of corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity, and whether these effects involved the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα) pathway. PC12 cells were treated with corticosterone with or without d-limonene for 24 h. Western blots were performed to measure activation of AMPK pathway members [Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1), AMPKα, and nuclear factor (NFκB)], reactive oxygen species, inflammatory cytokines, and markers of apoptosis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to measure cell death after treatment. d-Limonene reversed the effects of corticosterone on PC12 cells: it decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), activities of NADPH oxidase (p67-phox and p47-phox), expression of pro-inflammatory markers [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)], and expression of pro-apoptotic proteins [Bcl2 associated with X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3)]. d-Limonene also increased levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 while decreasing the number of TUNEL-positive cells. d-limonene significantly activated AMPKα and suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation through up-regulation of SIRT1. Addition of compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, severely weakened these neuroprotective effects of d-limonene. d-Limonene has a neuroprotective effect on corticosterone-induced PC12 cell injury induced by activating the AMPKα signaling pathway, and thereby inhibiting reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors. These data suggest that d-limonene might protect against neuronal death to improve depressive symptoms.

Improved Production of Spores and Bioactive Metabolites from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in Solid-state Fermentation by a Rapid Optimization Process.

A dipicolonic acid fluorimetry assay was used instead of plate counting for the assessment of spore yields for enhanced optimization efficiency. The associated parameters, including the ratio of solid substrates, composition of liquid substrates, and cultivation conditions, were systematically optimized in a shake-flask culture. The maximum spore yield of 7.24 × 1010 CFU/g of wet substrate was achieved. The optimization process produced a 25.7-fold increase in spore yields compared with those before optimization. In addition, the maximum release of bioactive metabolites during spore accumulation was subsequently obtained with 573.0 U/g of protease, 188.8 U/g of amylase, 186.8 U/g of cellulase, and 3.45 mg/g of acid-soluble protein. The experiment provides a methodological basis for the rapidly optimized production of Bacillus spores in pure solid-state fermentation.

Rapid and simple detection of endospore counts in probiotic Bacillus cultures using dipicolinic acid (DPA) as a marker.

Spore counting in probiotic Bacillus cultures using dipicolinic acid (DPA) as a marker was studied for developing a rapid and simple detection method. The newly developed method is based on the fluorescence enhancement by a new chelating agent, which forms a complex with EuCl3 and DPA. The results showed that 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid (CyDTA) greatly enhanced the fluorescence intensity in all selected chelating agents. The optimal composition of the fluorescence complex DPA-Eu-CyDTA had a detection limit of 0.3 nM of DPA. Metal ions in high concentrations, including Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, and Zn2+, might lower the detection sensitivity, which could be eliminated by diluting the sample with the metal ions below 10 µM. The maximum release of DPA was achieved by heating treatments at 121 °C for at least 10 min for two types of Bacillus endospores. The spore concentrations and corresponding released DPA fluorescence intensities were linearly associated (coefficient R2 = 0.9993 and 0.9995 for Bacillus subtilis MA139 and Bacillus licheniformis BL20386, respectively). The detection limit for both strains reached approximately 6800 spores/mL. The verification results showed that the DPA fluorimetry assay developed in the present study was fully consistent with the plate-counting assay. The study shows that the fluorescence complex DPA-Eu-CyDTA can be reliably used for the detection of endospores in Bacillus fermentation for the production of probiotics.

Rapid optimization of spore production from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in submerged cultures based on dipicolinic acid fluorimetry assay.

Some optimization techniques have been widely applied for spore fermentation based on the plate counting. This study optimized the culture medium for the spore production of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BS-20 and investigated the feasibility of using a dipicolonic acid (DPA) fluorimetry assay as a simpler alternative to plate counting for evaluating spore yields. Through the single-factor experiment, the metal ions and agro-industrial raw materials that significantly enhanced spore production were determined. After conducting a response surface methodology (RSM) analysis of several metal ions, the combined use of optimum concentrations of Mn2+, Fe2+, and Ca2+ in culture media produced a 3.4-fold increase in spore yields. Subsequently, supplementing soybean meal and corn meal with optimum concentrations determined by another RSM analysis produced an 8.8-fold increase. The final spore concentration from a culture medium incorporating optimum concentrations of the metal ions and raw materials mentioned above was verified to reach (8.05 ± 0.70) × 109 CFU/mL by both DPA fluorimetry and plate counting. The results suggest that the use of DPA fluorescence intensity as an alternative value to colony counting provides a general method for assessing spore yields with less work and shorter time.

Pectus excavatum and congenital cystic lung lesion: simultaneous surgery advocated.

BACKGROUND: Severe pectus excavatum (PE) may be concomitant with congenital cystic lung lesions (CCLLs) that also require surgery. It is ideal to correct these two deformities concurrently, but the safety and efficacy of a simultaneous surgical technique remain unknown. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2017, 635 patients with severe PE were admitted at our medical center. Eight patients underwent minimally invasive repair of PE and lobectomy simultaneously. The patient characteristics and operative data were analyzed and compared with another group of patients who underwent lobectomy alone for contemporaneous CCLLs. RESULTS: The severity of PE (mean Haller index 5.70) and CCLLs were confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Simultaneous minimally invasive repair and lobectomy were performed successfully. There were no significant differences in the mean blood loss (14 mL/kg), the mean weaning time from mechanical ventilation (900 minutes) and the mean hospital stay (16 days) (P>0.05). The mean operative time (170 minutes) was extended, as expected (P=0.02). With a mean follow-up of 22 months, the overall cosmetic results were good. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous minimally invasive repair and lobectomy appears to be a technically safe and reliable method for the treatment of concurrent PE and CCLLs, although further studies are needed in the long-term follow-up.

Trichosanthin attenuates vascular injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia following balloon catheter injury in rats.

Trichosanthin (TCS), isolated from the root tuber of Trichosantheskirilowii, a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal plant, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, was found to exhibit numerous biological and pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory. However, the effects of TCS on arterial injury induced neointimal hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration remains poorly understood. The aim of study was to examine the effectiveness of TCS on arterial injury-mediated inflammatory processes and underlying mechanisms. A balloon-injured carotid artery induced injury in vivo in rats was established as a model of vascular injury. After 1 day TCS at 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg/day was administered intraperitoneally, daily for 14 days. Subsequently, the carotid artery was excised and taken for immunohistochemical staining. Data showed that TCS significantly dose-dependently reduced balloon injury-induced neointima formation in the carotid artery model rat, accompanied by markedly decreased positive expression percentage proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). In the in vitro study vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were cultured, proliferation stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) (20 ng/ml) and TCS at 1, 2, or 4 µM added. Data demonstrated that TCS inhibited proliferation and cell cycle progression of VSMC induced by PDGF-BB. Further, TCS significantly lowered mRNA expression of cyclinD1, cyclinE1, and c-fos, and protein expression levels of Akt1, Akt2, and mitogen-activated protein kinase MAPK (ERK1) signaling pathway mediated by PDGF-BB. These findings indicate that TCS inhibits vascular neointimal hyperplasia induced by vascular injury in rats by suppression of VSMC proliferation and migration, which may involve inhibition of Akt/MAPK/ERK signal pathway.

CRA(Crosolic Acid) isolated from Actinidia valvata Dunn.Radix induces apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line BGC823 in vitro via down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway.

A natural ursolic compound, 2α,3ß-dihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (corosolic acid, CRA) was isolated from the root of Actinidia valvata Dunn. (A. valvata Radix). Since a large number of triterpenoid compound has marked anticancer effects toward various types of cancer cell lines in vitro, this study was carried out to investigate the anticancer effect of CRA in human gastric cancer cell line BGC823 cells and the underlying apoptotic mechanism of CRA was examined in BGC823 cell lines. The results showed that CRA significantly suppressed the viability of BGC823 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. CRA also significantly increased the sub G1 population by cell cycle analysis in a concentration dependent manner. Exposure to CRA decreased p65, bcl-2, Fas, smac mRNA and protein expression, and increased IκBα, bax, survivin mRNA and protein expression. Results of immunofluorescence staining and EMSA further indicated CRA induced apoptosis by inhibiting nuclear translocation of nuclear factor NF-κB subunit p65. Consistently overall, our findings suggest that CRA induces apoptosis via inhibition of NF-κB (p65) expression level and activation of IκBα in BGC cells as a potent anticancer candidate for gastric cancer treatment.

Role of moesin, Src, and ROS in advanced glycation end product-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction.

The disruption of endothelial integrity and the occurrence of angiogenesis in response to AGEs contribute greatly to micro- and macrovascular complications associated with DM. Among human dermal, brain, and retinal vascular ECs, activation of ERM, moesin, by phosphorylation of Thr-558 is involved in AGE-induced hyperpermeability and angiogenesis via the Rho and ROCK (Rho/ROCK) and p38 pathways. Src also plays an important role in AGE-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction by phosphorylating moesin, VE-cadherin, and FAK. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that ROS serve as a key mediator of the AGE-induced endothelial response. ROS inhibition would greatly benefit ECs. This review focuses on the role of moesin in microvascular permeability and angiogenesis, and on the involvement of Src and ROS in endothelial barrier disruption.

[Role of RAGE in lipopolysaccharide-induced cytoskeletal changes in mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes of cytoskeletal filamentous actin in primary isolated pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) from wild-type and RAGE knock-out mouse. METHODS: The lungs of wild-type and RAGE knock-out mice were digested with collagenase type I to obtain endothelial cells purified by anti-CD31-coupled magnetic beads. The PMVEC identified by factor VIII labeling were stimulated with LPS at different concentrations and the changes of filamentous actin were observed by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: The cultured primary cells showed typical endothelial cell phenotype as examined with factor VIII labeling. LPS stimulation caused rearrangement of the cytoskeletal filament F-actin in wild-type mouse PMVECs with stress fiber formation, but such changes were not obvious in RAGE knock-out mouse PMVECs. CONCLUSION: Mouse PMVECs of a high purity can be obtained by immune magnetic beads. RAGE is involved in LPS-induced destruction of mouse PMVEC cytoskeletons.

Blockage of protease-activated receptor 1 ameliorates heat-stress induced intestinal high permeability and bacterial translocation.

Accumulated evidences indicate intestinal lesions play an important role in the pathogenesis of heatstroke. However, the underlying mechanisms by which heat stress causes intestinal barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) in heat stress-induced intestinal hyper-permeability and bacterial translocation. Intestinal permeability in heat stressed mouse was evaluated by determining plasma endotoxin concentration and urinal lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio with gastric administration of L/M solution. Venous blood, liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph node tissues were collected for bacterial load test. Real time PCR was used to determine ileum PAR1 mRNA expression. In vitro study, permeability was assessed by determining trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in human intestinal Caco-2 cell line. RWJ-58259, a selective antagonist of PAR1, was used both in vivo and in vitro studies. The results showed that heat stress could increase ileum PAR1 mRNA level, urinal L/M ratio, plasma endotoxin concentration and bacterial load in the blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Blocking PAR1 with RWJ-58259 (10 mg/kg) pretreatment could significantly reduce heat stress-induced above changes, but have no role to PAR1 mRNA level. In Caco-2 cells, heat stress-induced high permeability could also be reduced by RWJ-58259 (5-20 µmol/L). In summary, our results demonstrated that PAR1 signaling pathway may play an important role in the heat stress-induced elevation of intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation and the occurrence of endotoxemia.

P-wave abnormality predicts recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF) is related to atrial electrical inhomogeneity and resultant chaotic reentry. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that abnormalities of P morphology on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) predict recurrent AF following electrical cardioversion (ECV). METHODS: A 12-lead ECG was recorded after ECV for persistent AF in 77 patients (51 men, 65 ± 10 years) and repeated 1 month later. P-wave duration was obtained in each lead using blinded on-screen measurement. Maximum P-wave duration (P-max) was defined as the longest measurable P-wave duration in any lead. P-wave dispersion (PWd) was calculated as the maximum-minimum P-wave duration. RESULTS: One month after ECV, 29 (38%) patients maintained sinus rhythm. Compared with the sinus rhythm group, those with recurrent AF had significantly greater PWd (66 ± 19 vs 57 ± 16 ms, P = 0.024) and included more patients with P-max ≥142 ms (65% vs 38%, P = 0.023). Using a cutoff of ≥62 ms for PWd and ≥142 ms for P-max, both indices had similar predictive value (sensitivity 66.7 and 64.6%, specificity 58.6 and 62.1%, respectively). In multiple regression analysis, including established clinical predictors, P-max ≥142 ms was the only independent predictor of AF recurrence (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: A prolonged P-wave duration measured by 12-lead ECG predicts recurrent AF within 1 month after ECV.

Enhanced viability of Lactobacillus reuteri for probiotics production in mixed solid-state fermentation in the presence of Bacillus subtilis.

In order to develop a multi-microbe probiotic preparation of Lactobacillus reuteri G8-5 and Bacillus subtilis MA139 in solid-state fermentation, a series of parameters were optimized sequentially in shake flask culture. The effect of supplementation of B. subtilis MA139 as starters on the viability of L. reuteri G8-5 was also explored. The results showed that the optimized process was as follows: water content, 50 %; initial pH of diluted molasses, 6.5; inocula volume, 2 %; flask dry contents, 30∼35 g/250 g without sterilization; and fermentation time, 2 days. The multi-microbial preparations finally provided the maximum concentration of Lactobacillus of about 9.01 ± 0.15 log CFU/g and spores of Bacillus of about 10.30 ± 0.08 log CFU/g. Compared with pure fermentation of L. reuteri G8-5, significantly high viable cells, low value of pH, and reducing sugar in solid substrates were achieved in mixed fermentation in the presence of B. subtilis MA139 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mixed fermentation showed the significantly higher antimicrobial activity against E. coli K88 (P < 0.05). Based on the overall results, the optimized process enhanced the production of multi-microbe probiotics in solid-state fermentation with low cost. Moreover, the viability of L. reuteri G8-5 could be significantly enhanced in the presence of B. subtilis MA139 in solid-state fermentation, which favored the production of probiotics for animal use.

Comparative evaluation of three Lactobacilli with strain-specific activities for rats when supplied in drinking water.

To test the in vivo benefits of three lactobacilli and to compare their different efficacies based on strain-specific activities by using rats as an experimental model, a growth-promotion and a challenge trial were conducted. The three strains, Lactobacillus salivarius G1-1, Lactobacillus reuteri G22-2, and Lactobacillus reuteri G8-5 shared antimicrobial, bile-salt-hydrolase and amylolytic activities in vitro, respectively. In the 17 day growth-promotion trial, 48 rats were allotted to four treatments with 12 replicates per treatment: a control group, which received saline, as well as three experimental groups, which received 10(8) cells/ml of one of the three lactobacilli in saline suspension. The results showed that compared with the control group, L. reuteri G8-5 significantly improved feed efficiency and decreased fecal pH values on days 8 and 17, concomitant with reduced faecal coliform counts on d 17 (p < 0.05). All treatments with lactobacilli caused an increase in the moisture content of the faeces and a decrease in the serum total cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen levels. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was only elevated for rats which received L. reuteri G22-2. In the Salmonella-challenge trial, 40 rats were allotted to five treatments (8 replicates per treatment) which consisted of a positive control (infected, no Lactobacillus pretreatment), a negative control (uninfected, no Lactobacillus pretreatment) and three Lactobacillus-pretreated groups (10(9) cells/ml in saline). The results showed that rats in all Lactobacillus pretreated groups were protected from infection with significantly higher weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency compared with positive control rats (p < 0.05). Rats treated with L. salivarius G1-1 and L. reuteri G22-2 tended to exhibit higher weight gains than those pretreated with L. reuteri G8-5. Significantly lower Salmonella shedding in faeces, Salmonella numbers in the spleen and the relative weight of the spleen were observed in the Lactobacillus groups (p < 0.05). Based on the overall results, it can be concluded that not all strains within the same lactobacilli species show similar effects and that some of the beneficial functionalities to animals were strain-specific. Therefore strains for practical application need to be carefully selected based on their strain-specific characters.

Ventricular pauses during atrial fibrillation predict relapse after electrical cardioversion: a prospective study.

AIMS: To investigate the use of ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in atrial fibrillation (AF) to predict recurrence after electrical cardioversion (ECV). METHODS: RR interval variables were obtained from 24 hours ECGs recorded before ECV in 119 patients (85 men, age 66 +/- 10 years) with persistent AF. Patients were followed for 1 month. RESULTS: Of the 119 patients, 16 (13%) failed ECV and 65 (55%) were in AF at 1 week and 81 (68%) at 1 month after ECV. The maximum RR interval (RR-max) and the minimum RR interval (RR-min) during AF were found to be reproducible. The RR-max was longer in those who had AF 1 week (2.55 +/- 0.49 vs 2.01 +/- 0.52 seconds, P = 0.005) and 1 month (2.56 +/- 0.50 vs 1.89 +/- 0.43 ms; P < 0.001) after ECV than in those who maintained sinus rhythm. Those in AF at 1 month included more patients with RR-max > or = 2.8 seconds (31% vs 11% P = 0.021). The average heart rate was lower in patients with RR-max > or = 2.8 seconds, but the average rate was not predictive of AF recurrence. CONCLUSION: Ventricular pauses during AF predict relapse after ECV.

Screening lactic acid bacteria from swine origins for multistrain probiotics based on in vitro functional properties.

Lactic acid bacteria originated from swine feces and intestines were selected for potential probiotics based on their bile-salt resistance, low pH tolerance, potential adhesion to epithelial cells and especially functional properties, including production of antimicrobial substances, bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) and amylolytic activity. Results showed 7 isolates with antimicrobial activity, 5 with BSH activity and 3 with amylolytic activity were preliminarily selected from 485 lactic acid bacteria based on their highest potential with functional properties in vitro. The 15 isolates were further assayed on the essential characteristics as potential probiotics. All isolates were fully tolerant to 0.3% bile salts and 11 of them were able to resist pH 3 for 3 h without loss of viable cells. The eleven isolates were then evaluated on their adhesion capability. Wide variation in the hydrophobic character and specific adhesion efficiency was observed and three isolates G1-1, G22-2 and G8-5, with respective antimicrobial, BSH and amylolytic activities were finally selected. In addition, the three isolates were compatible in the coexistence assay. Isolate G1-1 was identified as Lactobacillus salivarius by API system and a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Both G8-5 and G22-2 showed the closest homology to Lactobacillus reuteri according to their 16S rRNA gene sequences (99%). From the study, the three Lactobacilli strains were shown to share the functional properties necessary for probiotics use in animal additives. Their compatibility with respective in vitro activities was expected to show enhanced in vivo efficacy after combination for multistrain probiotics use.

A distinctly bimodal distribution pattern in the RR interval histogram predicts early recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Abnormal AV nodal behaviour could contribute to recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) after electrical cardioversion (ECV). We constructed RR interval histograms from 24-hour ECGs recorded before ECV in 98 patients with persistent AF. RR histograms were classified as unimodal or bimodal, and bimodal histograms classified into distinctly or indistinctly bimodal. At 1 week after ECV, 52 patients (53%) were in AF and at one-month 66 (67%) were in AF. A bimodal RR interval distribution during AF was found in 17 patients (18%), a distinctly bimodal RR histogram in 8 of these (47%). Compared to those with indistinct bimodality, patients with a distinctly bimodal RR histogram were more likely to have AF at one-week and one-month (88 vs. 33%, 100 vs. 33%, p=0.01, p=0.009, respectively).