Disruption of sex steroid hormones biosynthesis by short-term enrofloxacin antibiotic exposure in Carassius auratus var. Pengze.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that antibiotic enrofloxacin can impair reproductive function of mammals, induces multi-generational oscillatory effects on reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans, and disturbes endocrine system in grass carp. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the effect of short-term enrofloxacin exposure on sex steroid hormones biosynthesis in Carassius auratus var. Pengze through assessing the contents of growth hormone (GH), thyroid hormone 4 (T4), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in plasma, and investigating sex steroid hormones biosynthesis based on targeted metabonomics analysis, and determining expression level of some important genes, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh), gonadotropin hormone 1-ß (gth1-ß), gonadotropin hormone 2-ß (gth2-ß) and cyp19a1a in hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis (HPOA). RESULTS: We found that short-term exposure of enrofloxacin disordered contents of E2 and T in plasma of fish determined by ELISA detection, T content elevation and E2 content decline, which was confirmed by the following data from targeted metabonomics analysis of plasma. The metabonomic results showed that both T and its upstream intermediate products during the process of sex steroid hormones biosynthesis in fish were increased significantly, but E2 content was decreased markedly. At the exposure 24 h of enrofloxacin, expression of gnrh in hypothalamus, gth1-ß and gth2-ß in pituitary were promoted. Meanwhile GH and T4 contents in plasma, two inducers of sex steroid hormones synthesis, were augmented, which indicated that sex steroid hormones biosynthesis was improved. However cyp19a1a expression in ovary was repressed, and content of estriol (E3) was upregulated. These data suggested that enrofloxacin promoted sex steroid hormones biosynthesis and conversion of E2 to estriol (E3), but inhibited the conversion of T to E2. Finally, content of E2 was declined sharply. DISCUSSION: Animal specific antibacterial enrofloxacin is widely detectable in aquatic ecosystem, exposure of the agent can induce adverse effects on plants and animals. This study firstly evidenced induction of disruption of sex steroid hormones by enrofloxacin in fish, which indicates enrofloxacin is an endocrine disruption compound that can induce endocrine disruption of animals, including fish.

The prevalence, hospitalization outcomes and risk factors of euthyroid sick syndrome in patients with diabetic ketosis/ketoacidosis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the prevalence of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) and to evaluate the outcomes and risk factors associated with ESS among hospitalized patients with diabetic ketosis (DK) or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). METHODS: Laboratory and clinical data of 396 adult hospitalized DK/DKA patients with or without ESS were collected and analyzed. Spearman linear analysis and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate correlated factors of thyroid hormones and risk factors of ESS. RESULTS: Most of the individuals were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (359/396, 90.7%). The prevalence of ESS was 57.8% (229/396). Patients in ESS group were older and had a longer course of diabetes. Levels of thyroid hormones, serum lipids, and parameters reflecting acidosis were significantly decreased in ESS group. The proportion of patients with infection, acute renal injury and DKA was significantly higher in ESS group than in control group, accompanied by longer hospitalization stay and higher hospitalization costs. Free triiodothyronine positively correlates with albumin, eGFR, parameters reflecting acidosis and lipid profiles (All P < 0.001), and negatively correlates with age, onset age, 24-h urine albumin, hsCRP and WBC count (All P < 0.001). Hypoalbuminemia, low level of carbon dioxide combining power, high level of HbA1c and WBC, and co-infection are shown to be risk factors for ESS (OR = 0.866, 0.933, 1.112, 1.146, 1.929, respectively; All P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ESS was high in adult DK/DKA patients. Patients with ESS had inferior clinical and socioeconomic outcomes. Early recognition and management of patients with ESS may be necessary to improve outcome.

Enrofloxacin hydrochloride toxicological effects on crucian carp reflected by serological changes and neurotoxicity.

Due to its water solubility and wide applicability, enrofloxacin hydrochloride (EH) may enter aquatic ecosystems and cause negative effects on aquatic organisms. This study aimed to explore toxicological effects via serological changes and neurotoxicity, which were induced by EH exposure in crucian carp (Carassius auratus var. Pengze). The drug residues in brain tissue and protein content in serum were determined to analyze serological changes. Alterations in brain tissue structure and function, cerebral microvessels permeability, and the expressions of gene and protein regarding blood-brain barrier (BBB) were studied to reflect the neurotoxicity. Employing a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, EH residues could be detected at various time-points throughout the experiment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that EH increased the levels of S100B, NSE and GFAP proteins in serum. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between serum S100B, NSE protein contents and EH residues (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed brain damage from EH exposure by the formation of vacuoles in brain glial cells, pyknosis of the nucleus, and a decrease in cell population density. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed morphological changes in microvessels and condensation of astrocyte nucleus. Evans blue (EB) permeability test visualized an obvious increase in cerebral microvessels leakage. The real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) results indicated that EH up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of S100B, NSE and GFAP, down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of P-gp, ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5. The Western blot (WB) results demonstrated increased NSE and GFAP protein expressions, decreased P-gp and Occludin protein expressions following EH exposure in brain, in consistent with the gene expressions, respectively. In conclusion, these findings indicated that EH brought about marked rise in serum biomarker levels and disrupted the central nervous system (CNS) of crucian carp. These data would help elucidate the mechanism underlying EH-induced neurotoxicological effects.

Toxicologic effect of short-term enrofloxacin exposure on brain of Carassius auratus var. Pengze.

To further explore short-term exposure of enrofloxacin (ENR) induced toxicity in crucian carp brain that has been reported by our previous work, as well as the possible toxicological mechanisms, this study investigated the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to low dosage of ENR through comprehensively assessing expression of BBB constitutive molecules zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and permeability glycoprotein (P-gp), as well as ENR residue in brain of crucian carp. Toxicologic effect of ENR on brain tissue was determined through evaluating expression of brain-derived proteins S100B, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in crucian carp brain tissue, as well as contents of the proteins in serum. The toxicological mechanisms were explored through analyzing transcriptome analysis data. Results showed that ENR possessed excellent permeability to crucian carp BBB, which was closely related to deranged BBB structure and declined ENR efflux that were attributed to downregulated expression of ZO-1 and P-gp by ENR exposure. Meanwhile, S100B, NSE and GFAP were upregulated in brain by ENR, and came out into blood across the damaged BBB. These data revealed that ENR induced disruption of BBB and damage of brain tissue in crucian carp. Transcriptome analysis data indicated that ENR induced toxicologic effect might be related to modification of metabolism, organismal systems, and genetic information processing, etc., and that PI3K/Akt, MAPK, HIF-1, and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis involved the mechanisms, most of the mechanisms were attributed to ENR induced oxidative stress in crucian carp brain.

Metabolism and residue differences of Enrofloxacin between the brain and peripheral tissues and the resulting brain damages in crucian carp (Carassius auratus var. Pengze).

This study aimed to explore the metabolism and residue differences of Enrofloxacin (ENR) at two doses between the brain and peripheral tissues (liver, kidney, and muscle) along with the brain damages caused by ENR in crucian carp (Carassius auratus var. Pengze). The concentrations of ENR in tissues were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Relying on the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method, brain damages caused by the drug were evaluated by the section of pathological tissue. Metabolism and residue results showed that ENR could be detected in the brain throughout the experiment both at median lethal dose (LD50 at 96 h, 1949.84 mg/kg) and safe dose (SD, 194.98 mg/kg), as well as in the three peripheral tissues. The maximum residue at LD50 followed the decreasing order of liver >kidney > brain > muscle. Although the Cmax of ENR at SD in the brain was significantly lower than that in other peripheral tissues (p < .05), it still reached 41.91 µg/g. The T1/2 of ENR in brain tissue at the same dose was both shorter than that in peripheral tissues. At LD50 , the amount of ENR residues in brain was lower than that in peripheral tissues on the whole, except that it had been higher than in the muscle for the first 3 h. At SD, the drug residue in brain tissue was lower than that in peripheral tissues from 12 h to 960 h, but it exceeded the muscle and kidney at 1 h and 6 h, respectively. At 960 h, the residual amount of ENR at SD in the brain was 0.09 µg/g, while it was up to 0.15 µg/g following the oral administration at LD50 . Demonstrated by the HE staining, there were pathological lesions caused by ENR in the brain at LD50 , which were characterized by sparse neural network and increased staining of glial cells. The present results indicated that metabolism and residue of ENR in crucian carp were affected by the tissue type and drug dosage, and the ENR could also bring about histopathological changes in the brain.

Dietary Zinc Intake Affects the Association Between Dietary Vitamin A and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Dietary vitamin A concentrations correlate with depression. Zinc has been reported to be associated with lower depression. In addition, zinc is an important cofactor in the activation of vitamin A. However, there are few studies investigating relationships between of dietary zinc intake, dietary vitamin A intake and depression. Materials and Methods: The data for this study came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018 and involved 70,190 participants. We stratified participants by recommended dietary zinc intake (recommended dietary zinc intake for women: 8 mg/day, recommended dietary zinc intake for men: 11 mg/day). We further assessed the association between vitamin A and depression in participants with low and high zinc intake (interaction test) using univariate logistic regression of intake participants. Result: In the female population we grouped the population into low and high zinc intake groups using the recommended dietary zinc intake of 8 (mg/day), with an increase in total vitamin A, the risk of depression was significantly lower in the low zinc intake group (OR: 0.85 95 CI: 0.76-0.96), while the risk of depression was increased in the high zinc intake group (OR: 1.05 95 CI: 0.95 to 1.17). Thus, in the female population, there was a significant interaction between insufficient vitamin an intake and depression (interaction likelihood ratio test of p = 0.011). In the male population we grouped the population by the recommended dietary zinc intake of 11(mg/day). Again, the population was divided into two groups with low and high zinc intake, however we did not find significant results for the interaction (p = 0.743 for the interaction likelihood ratio test). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that zinc intake may influence the relationship between dietary vitamin A and depression. Of course, our findings require further randomized controlled trials to enhance the credibility.

Immunoproteomic analysis of the sporozoite antigens of Eimeria necatrix.

Eimeria necatrix, an apicomplexan protozoa of the genus Eimeria, causes intestinal coccidiosis that can reduce growth performance of poultry and result in high mortality in older chickens. In this report, the whole sporozoite proteins of E.necatrix were studied by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and Western blotting using hyper-immune chicken serum containing E.necatrix-specific antibodies. Approximately 680 protein spots for E.necatrix sporozoite were detected by 2-DE with silver staining, where 98 spots were cross-reacted with the E. necatrix-specific immune sera. Out of the 56 spots that were selected for MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analysis, 50 unique proteins were identified using the MASCOT software, 8 proteins were identified as known E.necatrix proteins and the rest were all putative proteins. These proteins have a wide range of known or predicted structures, cellular locations and functions, including proteins in category nuclear location & function, multifunctional- or multifunctional motifs-containing proteins, cellular transport and structure-related proteins, proteins of enzymatic activities, motor proteins-related, cell surface and organelle-related proteins. These new findings will enhance our understandings of parasite immunogenicity and immune evasion mechanisms of E. necatrix and facilitate the discovery phase of highly effective vaccine candidates.

Effects of probiotic supplements on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of partridge shank broiler chicks.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of probiotics being used in animals are well-documented via evidenced growth performance improvement and positive modulations of gut microbiota (GM). Thus, a combination of effective microorganisms (EM) has been frequently used in animal production, including broilers. However, there are only very limited reports of EM on the growth performance and the modulation in GM of partridge shank broiler chicks. METHODS: We attempted to evaluate the effects of a basal diet with the addition of an EM mixture on the growth performance and gut microbiome of the chicks. A total of 100 ten-day-old female partridge shank broiler chicks were randomly divided into two groups of 50 chicks each, of which, one group fed with EM supplementation in the basal diet (designated as EM-treated group), the other group just fed with a basal diet (referred as to non-EM treated group or control group). The body weight, daily feed intake, daily gain, feed conversion ratio and other growth parameters were observed and compared between EM-treated and non-EM-treated chicks, and the gut microbiota was profiled by 16S rRNA-based next generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: EM-treated chicks showed significantly increased performances in body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR). Histological observation indicated that dietary supplementation of EM significantly increased the villus heights (VH) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD), while decreased the CD of jejunum, ilea, and ceca. The results of 16S rRNA-based gut microbiota analyses showed that Firmicutes accounted for the most of the relative abundance (63.24%∼92.63%), followed by Proteobacteria (0.62%∼23.94%), Bacteroidetes (0.80%∼7.85%), Actinobacteria (0.06%∼13.69%) and others in both EM-treated and non-EM-treated broiler chicks. The addition of EM could not alter the alpha diversity of gut microbiota. Compared with the non-EM-treated chicks, the abundances of bad bacteria in the phyla of Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, and Ruminococcus were dramatically decreased in that of EM-treated chicks, while the abundances of good bacteria in the phyla of Actinobacteria and WPS-2 were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: The supplementation of EM in feed could improve the growth performance and positively influence the morphological characteristics of the intestine, and ameliorate the community and structure of the intestinal microbiota of partridge shank broiler chicks.

Growth performances, gastrointestinal epithelium and bacteria responses of Yellow-feathered chickens to kudzu-leaf flavonoids supplement.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing antibiotics with Kudzu-leaf flavonoids (KLF) on the growth performances, gut epithelial development, and gastrointestinal bacteria diversities of Yellow-feathered broilers. For this purpose, total of 216 1-day-old male Yellow-feathered chickens with the similar birth weight (31.0 ± 1.0 g) were randomly divided into 3 treatments: the control treatment (CON), the kudzu-leaf flavonoids supplement treatment (KLF), and the antibiotics supplement treatment (AGP). All birds were provided with a 56 d-feeding procedure, followed by the measurement of production performances, immune organs, blood anti-oxidant parameters, intestine epithelium development, and cecal microbiota. Results showed the feed conversion ratio significantly decreased after KLF supplement compared with CON (P < 0.05). KLF supplement partly promoted the anti-oxidant capacity on account of the increased activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the decrease content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Further, as referred to the gastrointestinal development and bacteria, ratio of villus/crypt significantly increased of ileum in KLF treatment (P < 0.05) while a significant promition of bacterial diversity and partial representative probiotic bacteria (P < 0.05) after KLF supplementation. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that probitics including Bifidobacterium, Butyricimonas, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus positively correlated with production performances. In conclusion, KLF supplement may promote feed efficiency and benefit the gastrointestinal health through improving gut bacterial diversity and probiotic bacteria. The KLF might be applied as a proper antibiotic alternative.

Metagenomic Insights Into the Effects of Rare-Earth Elements Supplementation on Rumen Digestibility and Meat Quality of Beef Cattle.

Rare-earth elements (REE), supplemented as feed additives, effectively improved feed conversion and production performances of monogastrics. However, very little information exists on how REE supplementation affects ruminants. In the present study, twenty-four 18-month-old Jinjiang bull cattle, with initial body weight (BW) of 374.75 ± 14.02 kg, were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments with a 15-day-long preliminary trial: a control treatment (basal diet), a 400 mg/kg REE treatment (basal diet supplemented with 400 mg REE/kg DMI), an 800 mg/kg REE treatment (basal diet supplemented with 800 mg REE/kg DMI), and a 1,200 mg/kg REE treatment (basal diet supplemented with 1,200 mg REE/kg DMI). Based on the results, the optimum supplementation scale was chosen for a 60-day-long follow-up feeding procedure. At the end of the feeding period, all bull cattle were slaughtered. Feed intake, average daily weight gain, carcass performances, meat quality, and rumen microbiota were measured. Results indicate a positive response in terms of growth performance and gastrointestinal digestibility to REE supplementation, and 400 mg/kg DMI treatment presented the most average daily feed intake (ADFI), the best average daily weight gain (ADG), and the least F/G. REE also significantly decreased the ruminal propionate content compared with control treatment. As to microbiota, despite no increases in bacterial community abundance, there was a proliferation of Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes and suppression of Actinobacteria under REE treatment. Furthermore, REE treatment significantly increased the meat protein content and decreased meat fat content. There was also an increase in the activities of the enzymes related to lipid syntheses. Fatty acid synthetase (FAS) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were significantly suppressed, while the activity of the lipolysis-related enzyme, lipoproteinesterase (LPL), was enhanced. In summary, REE supplementation provided an effective regulation on ruminal microbiota, facilitation of ruminal fiber digestibility, promotion of feed conversion, suppression of lipid deposition, and finally, improved the production and meat quality of beef cattle.

Effect of probiotic supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier integrity, and inflammatory response in broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress.

This study investigated the protective effects of probiotic on heat stress-induced intestinal injury and inflammatory response in broilers. A total of 180 male broilers were randomly allocated to three treatments with four replicates each from 22 to 42 days of age. The broilers were either raised under thermoneutral (TN) conditions (23 ± 1°C) or subjected to cyclic heat stress (28-35-28°C for 12 hr daily). The broilers kept at TN conditions were fed a basal diet, and those exposed to heat stress were fed basal diets supplemented with or without probiotic at a dose of 1.5 × 108  cfu/kg. Compared with the TN group, heat stress decreased (p < .05) the growth performance, reduced (p < .05) villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio in intestinal mucosa, increased (p < .05) serum levels of D-lactic acid on day 28 and endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 on day 42, and decreased (p < .05) serum IL-10 content on day 42. Dietary supplementation of probiotic reversed (p < .05) all these changes except for the growth performance in heat-stressed broilers. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of probiotic could improve intestinal morphology and barrier function, alleviate inflammatory response, but exert no ameliorative effect on growth performance of broilers under cyclic heat stress.

Retracted: Protection of miR-19b in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury by targeting PTEN.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role and mechanism of microRNA 19b (miR-19b) in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury by targeting PTEN. METHODS: PC12 and BV2 cells induced by H/R were treated with miR-19b mimics/inhibitors or small interfering PTEN (si-PTEN), respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) content was detected. Besides, cell viability and apoptosis were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Hoechst33342 staining, and flow cytometry, whereas mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) tested by JC-1 assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluated by the dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay. The ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rats model was used to investigate the effects of miR-19b in vivo test. The infarct area and apoptosis rates in brain tissues were detected by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling staining, respectively. miR-19b and PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway-related proteins were detected by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. RESULTS: miR-19b mimics could reduce LDH, MDA, and ROS levels and decline cell apoptosis, but enhance the viability, MMP, and SOD activity with decreased PTEN and cleaved caspase, as well as increased p-Akt/Akt and Bcl-2/Bax ratios in H/R-induced PC12 and BV2 cells. However, miR-19b inhibitors led to completely opposite results to aggravate H/R-induced cell injury. Meanwhile, si-PTEN could reverse the effect of miR-19b inhibitors on H/R-induced injury. Moreover, treatment with miR-19b agomir after I/R in vivo sufficiently decreased infarct area and reduced apoptosis rates by targeting PTEN through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. CONCLUSION: miR-19b could inhibit oxidative stress, enhance cell MMP, promote cell survival, and inhibit cell apoptosis by targeting PTEN via the regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, thus playing the neuronal protective effects.

Iodine-catalyzed ammoxidation of methyl arenes.

The development of organic transformation using cheap and readily available substrates under mild conditions will be pivotal for green and sustainable synthetic organic chemistry. Concerning our continued interest in the cyanation reaction, a metal-free direct ammoxidation of readily available methyl arenes leading to nitriles was established under mild conditions. A series of aryl methanes especially heteroaryl methanes (30 examples) were applicable in moderate to good yields with good functionality tolerance.

In vivo lipid regulation mechanism of polygoni multiflori radix in high-fat diet fed rats.

Mechanisms of the water extracts of Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) and its processed products (PMRP) on liver lipid metabolism were observed in this paper. Aqueous extract of PMR and PMRP was given to nonalcoholic fatty liver model rats, respectively. PMR was better in reducing the contents of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) than PMRP and the positive control groups. In the aspect of regulating TG, medium dose PMR reduced the activity of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) to 1536 ± 47.69 pg/mL (P < 0.001) and promoted the expression of hepatic lipase (HL) to 23.59 ± 0.2758 U/mL (P < 0.05). HL promotion ability of medium dose PMR was similar with the simvastatin positive control. Both medium and high dose of PMR showed significant alterations in TC, which were related to the downregulation effects on hydroxyl methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and upregulation effects on cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase or cytochrome P450 7A (CYP7A). Quantitative relationships research indicated that the prominent effect on inhibiting the content of HMGCR (r = 0.756, P < 0.05) was strongly positive correlated with to the TC regulation effects. Effects of PMR on enhancing decomposition rate or reducing de novo synthesis rate of TG and TC were better than PMRP.

[Correlation between serum uric acid levels and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome in children].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the level of serum uric acid (UA) in children with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHOD: Between Sep. 2008 and Mar. 2010, 138 children with OSAHS were enrolled in study group. Sixty-five children with accessory auricle or ptosis of upper lid were enrolled into the control group. Furthermore, according to apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) or obstructive apnea index (OAI) the study group was further divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate and severe group). At last, the study group and control group were divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI), separately. The fasting serum UA level was compared among the different groups. Then the correlation between the serum UA level and AHI, BMI, oxygen desaturation index, least arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) and the percentage of total sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation < 0.92 was also analyzed in OSAHS children with or without overweight and obesity respectively. RESULT: The difference of serum UA level between the study group and control group (z = -0.443), and the difference among the three groups (χ(2) = 1.241) was not significant(P > 0.05). The serum UA level in overweight and obese children [study group, 273.0 (238.3 - 357.3); control group, 298.0 (253.0 - 336.0)] was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI [study group, 246.5(215.8 - 300.0); control group, 266.0 (224.0 - 303.3)] (z = -2.084, -2.214, P < 0.05). That serum UA level did not correlate with the above index of OSAHS was observed in children with or without overweight and obesity in study group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings of higher serum UA level were not observed in children with OSAHS. There was no correlation between serum UA level and the above indices of OSAHS. The serum UA level in overweight and obese children was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI.

Hemoglobin A(1c) proportion, mortality rate, and risk factors for death in diabetic patients with severe hypoglycemia: a multicenter retrospective survey over ten years.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the HbA(1c) proportion and mortality rate across diabetic patients with severe hypoglycemia and the risk factors for death. METHODS: All the diabetic patients with severe hypoglycemia were divided into HbA(1c)<6.5% group and HbA(1c)≥6.5% group. The proportion of HbA(1c), mortality rate and the risk factors for death were analyzed. Common causes for severe hypoglycemia were also analyzed. RESULTS: The percentages of HbA(1c) in the HbA(1c)<6.5% and HbA(1c)≥6.5% groups were 51.2% and 48.8%, respectively. The mortality rates were not significantly different between the 2 groups (5.3% vs. 5.1%, χ(2)=0.01, p=0.17). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that in both groups, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and uric acid levels were the risk factors for death. In the HbA(1c)<6.5% and HbA(1c)≥6.5% groups, 65.0% and 64.2% showed common causes of severe hypoglycemia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to severe hypoglycemia, equal attention should be paid to patients with an HbA(1c) level of ≥6.5% and those with an HbA(1c) level of <6.5%. The mortality rate is approximately 5% in severe hypoglycemia no matter how the HbA(1c) level is. Creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and uric acid are the main risk factors in both groups. Two-thirds of severe hypoglycemia cases could be prevented.

[Antimicrobial resistance and penicillin resistance-associated genes of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children with respiratory tract infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antimicrobial resistance and penicillin resistance-associated genes (TEM and pbp2B) of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) isolated from sputum specimens of Guangzhou children with respiratory tract infection. METHODS: E-test and Kirby-Bauer methods were applied to detect the antibiotic susceptibility of 44 strains of S. pneumoniae. PCR was used to detect resistance genes pbp2B and TEM, followed by DNA sequence analysis of pbp2B gene. The sequence results were compared to those of penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae R6. RESULTS: Of the 44 isolates of S. pneumoniae, only 5 (11.4%) were susceptible to penicillin. All strains were resistant to erythromycin but susceptible to ofloxacin and vancomycin. The resistance rate of the isolates to clindamycin and trimoxazole was more than 90%. The S. pneumoniae isolates showed a high susceptibility to amoxicillin, imipenem and ceftriaxone, with a resistance rate of 0, 2.6% and 3.9%, respectively. The sequence analysis showed that more than 99% nucleotide sequence of pbp2B gene of five penicillin-susceptible isolates was the same as penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae R6, without any amino acid replacement. Site mutation was found in the remaining 39 penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates with a nucleotide mutation rate ranging from 13.2% to 23.1% and amino acid replacement rate from 6.5% to 10.9%. The 39 penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates were classified into 4 types according to the mutation site between Ser391 and Thr492 of pbp2B: type I (n=30), type II (n=7), type III (n=1) and type IV (n=1). No TEM gene was detected in all the 44 S. pneumoniae isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The S.pneumoniae isolates from Guangzhou children with respiratory tract infection are resistant to penicillin and erythromycin. Amoxicillin and the third generation cephalosporin may be recommended for treating S. pneumoniae infection. The mutation of pbp2B gene plays an important role in the development of S. pneumoniae resistance to penicillin.

[Distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogens isolated from children with infectious diarrhea in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution and antibiotic resistance of the isolated pathogens from children with infectious diarrhea in Guangzhou. METHODS: The fecal samples of 2 409 children with infectious diarrhea between January 2006 and December 2007 were collected and cultured. Pathogenic bacterium were isolated and identified by biochemical and serological methods. The antibiotic susceptibilities were tested by the Kirby-Bauer method. RESULTS: A total of 448 isolates of pathogenic bacterium (18.6%) were obtained, including Shigella (n=159), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (n=141), Salmonella (n=76), Vibrion (n=11), fungus (n=41), and C jejuni (n=20). All of isolates of the three major pathogenic bacterium, Shigella, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella, were susceptible to imipenem and less than 10% of the isolates were resistant to the third generation cephalosporins and beta-lactamase inhibitors. However, the isolates showed a high resistance to ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (>75%). CONCLUSIONS: Shigella, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella were major pathogenic bacterium of diarrhea in children from Guangzhou. The major isolates were susceptible to imipenem, the third generation cephalosporins and beta -lactamase inhibitors, but were resistant to ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.

[Effect of small interfering RNA on matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in vascular endothelial cells stimulated by serum from children with Kawasaki disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in vascular endothelial cells stimulated by the serum obtained from children with Kawasaki disease (KD) during the acute phase in the absence and presence of MMP-9 small interfering RNA (siRNA). METHODS: MMP-9 siRNA plasmids were constructed and transduced into vascular endothelial cells (ECV-304) by liposomal transfection. ECV-304 were cultured in 6 different conditional media: KD serum + siRNA negative control, normal serum, KD serum + MMP-9 siRNA1 (pSilencer3.1-MMP1), KD serum + MMP-9 siRNA2 (pSilencer3.1-MMP2), KD serum + gamma-globulin, and KD serum. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect MMP-9 expression at mRNA and protein levels in ECV-304. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9 in ECV-304 cultured with 10% serum from KD patients (2.49 +/- 0.03, 1.20 +/- 0.04) and KD serum + siRNA negative control plasmid (2.45 +/- 0.03, 1.15 +/- 0.03) were significantly higher than those cultured with 10% serum from normal control children (1.21 +/- 0.03, 0.52 +/- 0.03, respectively; all P < 0.01) and the increased MMP-9 expression could be significantly inhibited by MMP-9 siRNA1, MMP-9 siRNA2 and gamma-globulin (100 mg/ml, all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The increase of MMP-9 expression in vascular endothelial cells induced by the serum from KD patients might take part in the formation of coronary artery lesions. Two customized MMP-9 siRNA plasmids (pSilencer3.1-MMP1 and pSilencer3.1-MMP2) can significantly inhibit both MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression.

[Effect of PEG400 on the luminescent Eu(BA)3/SiO2].

Rare earth organic complexes combined with inorganic compounds can enhanced thermal stability, but inorganic compounds matrix has great influence on the luminescence characteristic of rare earth organic complexes. The luminescence characteristic of organic and inorganic compound material was improved by PEG doping in the material. Eu(BA)3/SiO2 and Eu(BA)3/PEG400-SiO2 were synthesized by Sol-Gel method. The result of luminescence analysis showed that the excitation spectra and emission spectra of Eu(BA)3 accorded with those of Eu(BA)3/SiO2 and Eu(BA)3/PEG400-SiO2, but the luminescence intensity of Eu(BA)3/SiO2 was improved by PEG400-SiO2 in SiO2 gel. This was because PEG400 as a hard Lewis base, could be combined with rare earth ion and increase the luminescence intensity of Eu(BA)3. It was shown that the amount of PEG400 in Eu(BA)3/SiO2 had influence on luminescence intensity of Eu(BA)3, namely there was better luminescence intensity in Eu(BA)3/SiO2 with increment of the PEG400 addition, but when the amount of PEG400 exceeded 50 wt% of that of SiO2, the luminescence intensity of Eu(BA)3 hardly increased. When the amount of PEG400 exceed 15 wt% of that of SiO2, PEG400 had little influence on the content of water and hydroxy in the matrix, as verified by IR spectrum. The surface characteristic of SiO2 gel was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM).