Effects of Chinese medicine herbal residues on antibiotic resistance genes and the bacterial community in chicken manure composting.

The use of livestock manure is an important way for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to enter the environment, and composting is an effective method for removing ARGs from livestock manure. In this study, different volume ratios of Chinese medicinal herbal residues (CMHRs) were added to laboratory-scale chicken manure composting to evaluate their effects, if any, on the behavior of ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and the bacterial community. At the end of the composting period, the composition of the microbial community changed. Firmicutes decreased and Bacteroidetes increased. The most striking effect was that the relative abundance of the 21 ARGs and 5 MGEs detected decreased by varying degrees in the different treatments (except for sulI and intI1). The removal rate of the ARGs increased with the increased addition of CMHRs. The correlations between transferase genes (tnpA and tnpA-02) and ARGs were significant (p < 0.05); therefore, transposons play an important role in the horizontal gene transfer of ARGs in chicken manure. The results imply that CMHRs would be an effective bulking agent for the removal of ARGs from chicken manure composting.

Efficacy of clomifene citrate for the treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A protocol of systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of clomifene citrate (CC) for the treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: In this study, we will comprehensively search MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, ACMD, PsycINFO, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for original articles published from their inceptions to the January 1, 2020 without language restrictions. All studies will undergo relevance and a design selecting process. Data from qualified studies will be collected by 2 independent authors. Additionally, we will conduct a risk of bias evaluation using a Cochrane risk of bias tool. We will undertake statistical analysis utilizing RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study will summarize the up-to-date evidence to investigate the efficacy and safety of CC for the treatment of patients with PCOS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will provide helpful evidence of CC for the treatment of patients with PCOS, as well as may help develop treatment guidelines. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42020162818.

[Effect of Co-composting of Chicken Manure with Chinese Medicinal Herbal Residues on Antibiotic Resistance Genes].

Livestock manure is an important pathway by which antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) enter the environment. To reduce the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in manures, we studied the variations of ARGs and mobile gene elements (MGEs) during the 46-day co-composting of chicken manure with Chinese medicinal herbal residues. The abundance of 100 ARGs and 5 MGEs were measured by Real-Time Quantitative PCR with 0, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 46 d co-composting. We detected 21 ARGs, 2 integrase genes (intI1 and intI2), and 3 transposase genes (tnpA-01, tnpA-02, and tnpA-03). The abundance of 5 MGEs significantly declined with co-composting time, particularly tnpA-01 and tnpA-02, which were reduced by two orders of magnitude. The abundance of aacA/aphD and aadE were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in aminoglycoside resistance genes. In ß-lactam resistance genes, the strongest relationships were demonstrated between blaOXA1 and compost days (P=0.016), and the removal rate was 78.63%. The average removal rate was 90.39% for amide resistance genes, which decreased significantly with composting time. The removal ratios were different among tetracycline resistance genes. For example, the removal ratios of tetG and tetR were 99.77% and 31.72%, respectively. The highest removal rate of qnrD was 99.89%. The removal rate of sulⅢ was as high as 99.88%, while sulⅠ showed an increasing trend. Correlations between ARGs and MGEs were significant correlation for tnpA-01 and ARGs (P<0.05). The trend of ARGs with composting time indicates that the composting of Chinese medicine residues and chicken manure can significantly reduce the abundance of ARGs, thus reducing the risk of ARGs being distributed via livestock manure application.

Serum soluble TWEAK levels in severe traumatic brain injury and its prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is characterized by a high mortality. Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) participates in inflammation. We determined serum soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) levels with respect to its prognostic ability. METHODS: This was a single-center prospective, observational study that was performed from December 2014 to December 2017. A total of 114 sTBI patients who met the inclusion criteria and 114 randomly selected healthy controls were included in the study. Serum sTWEAK levels were gauged. Patients were followed-up until death or completion of 6 months. Poor outcome was referred to as Glasgow outcome scale score of 1-3. RESULTS: In comparison with controls, patients displayed predominantly higher serum sTWEAK levels. Serum sTWEAK levels were strongly correlated with Glasgow coma scale scores and serum C-reactive protein levels. 32 patients (28.1%) died and 60 patients (52.6%) suffered from a poor outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis clearly showed that serum sTWEAK levels had substantially high predictive performance for 6-month mortality and poor outcome. Serum sTWEAK emerged as an independent predictor for 6-month mortality, overall survival and poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Raised serum sTWEAK levels are closely related to increasing inflammatory response, elevated trauma severity and worse clinical outcome after sTBI.

Electroacupuncture alleviates cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury via modulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory actions, but whether the neuroprotective effect of EA against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury involves modulation of the extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is unclear. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 hours followed by reperfusion for 24 hours. A 30-minute period of EA stimulation was applied to both Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) acupoints in each rat (10 mm EA penetration depth, continuous wave with a frequency of 3 Hz, and a current intensity of 1-3 mA) when reperfusion was initiated. EA significantly reduced infarct volume, alleviated neuronal injury, and improved neurological function in rats with MCAO. Furthermore, high mRNA expression of Bax and low mRNA expression of Bcl-2 induced by MCAO was prevented by EA. EA substantially restored total glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels. Additionally, Nrf2 and glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) expression levels were markedly increased by EA. Interestingly, the neuroprotective effects of EA were attenuated when ERK1/2 activity was blocked by PD98059 (a specific MEK inhibitor). Collectively, our findings indicate that activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway contributes to the neuroprotective effects of EA. Our study provides a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of EA.

[The use and establishment of modified acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score in emergency patients].

OBJECTIVE: To simplify the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score to make it more suitable for emergency patients. METHODS: Medical records of all the dead patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2003 to October 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Those dead patients whose clinical data were completed for study were chosen as the experimental group (153 cases). Patients who survived in the same ICU at the same period were chosen as cohort for comparison. The worst scores within 24 hours of admission were selected for comparison between survivors and non-survivors to establish the modified APACHE II by linear regression. Then the new score was tested in the emergency patients who needed medical care from January to October 2006, and the accuracy of the prognostic value was evaluated. RESULTS: Tested by the Lemeshow-Hosmer C-statistic and calibration curve analysis, the modified APACHE II score showed a good clustering data and the high calibration of the potential death of the nonsurvivors (chi2=8.853, P=0.335). If 16 being the forecasting point, the modified APACHE II score showed that sensitivity of the model in forecasting the dead patients from the emergency patients was 86.8% with an exclusivity of 81.6% and accuracy of 81.8%. The scores of the modified APACHE II paralleled with severity of the patients conditions, suggesting that the patients with lower scores were inclined to be discharged early or with a shorter period of hospitalization, while those with higher scores, the possibility of prolonged hospitalization or even death might ensue. In another words, the higher scores the higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: The modified APACHE II score could be conveniently used in emergency patients with high reliability.

Design, synthesis, and fungicidal activity of macrolactones and macrolactams with a sulfonamide side chain.

Four series of novel macrolactones and macrolactams12-alkylsulfonamido-1,15-pentadecanlactones ( 5), 12-alkylsulfonamido-15-methyl-1,15-pentadecanlactones ( 6), 12-alkylsulfonamido-1,15-pentadecanlactams ( 7), and N-(alkylsulfonamidoethyl)-1,12-dodecanlactams ( 8)were designed and synthesized from readily available 2-nitrocyclododecanone or cyclododecanone. Their structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. The bioassay showed that these compounds displayed fair to excellent fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and have a gradual increase of fungicidal activity in the order of 6, 7, 8, and 5. Among them, compounds 5a, 5b, and 5c displayed excellent fungicidal activity against R. solani comparable with the commercial fungicide carbendazim. Above results illustrated that the rule on the relationship between the activity and hydrogen-bonding, namely the macrocyclic compounds with a hydrogen-bonding acceptor and a hydrogen-bonding donor on the ring and having a three methylenes distance between two polarizable groups have the best fungicidal activity against R. solani, has a general suitability to the macrocyclic compounds, and pesticide molecules may combine with a target enzyme by hydrogen-bonding. The facts, which compound 6 has a much lower fungicidal activity against R. solani than compound 5 but their difference in chemical structure is only that there is a methyl group on the C15 for compound 6 and none but hydrogen atom on the C15 for compound 5, indicated that a methyl group plays an inhibitory role to the fungicidal activity. It suggests that the existence of a methyl group with a great volume between two polarizable groups would interfere in the interaction of pesticide molecules and the target enzyme.

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of macrolactams and macrolactones with an oxime ether side chain.

Three series of novel macrolactams and macrolactones--12-alkoxyimino-tetradecanlactam, 12-alkoxyiminopentadecanlactam, and 12-alkoxyiminodecanlactone derivatives (7A, 7B, and 7C)--were synthesized from corresponding 12-oxomacrolactams and 12-oxomacrolactone. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The Z and E isomers of 7A and 7B were separated, and their configurations were determined by 1H NMR. These compounds showed fair to excellent fungicidal activities against Rhizoctonia solani Kühn. It is interesting that the Z and E isomers of most of the compounds have quite different fungicidal activities. The fact that the compounds have a gradual increase of fungicidal activity in the order of 7A, 7C, and 7B indicated that the macrocyclic derivatives with a hydrogen-bonding acceptor (=N-O-) and a hydrogen-bonding donor (-CONH-) on the ring, and a three methylenes distance (CH2CH2CH2) between these two functional groups, exhibited the best fungicidal activity. The bioassay also showed that 7B not only has good fungicidal activity but also may have a broad spectrum of fungicidal activities.

[Etiological study on an outbreak of acute respiratory infection in children in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: An outbreak of acute respiratory infections in children occurred in Beijing from November to December, 2002. To investigate the etiological agents of affected children who were in day care centers and primary schools. METHODS: Throat swab specimens were collected from one primary school children with acute respiratory infections visiting one outpatient department. After centrifuging, supernatant from the specimens were inoculated into MDCK and Hep-2 cells for virus isolation and pallets for viral antigen detection and using indirect immunofluorescent assay on common respiratory viruses. Nested polymerase chain reaction was used at the same time for detection of respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp). RESULTS: A total number of 80 specimens were collected during the outbreak. Among them influenza B virus were detected from 18 specimens, with a positive rate of 22.5% (18/80) while Mp were detected from 13 specimens, with a positive rate of 16.3% (13/80). Influenza A3 were also detected from 2 patients (2.5%, 2/80). However, influenza A1, RSV, adenovirus and parainfluenza viruses were not found from these specimens. Influenza B virus and Mp were detected simultaneity in two specimens and influenza A3 virus and Mp were detected in one specimen. CONCLUSION: The outbreak of acute respiratory infection in children during the period of investigation was caused by both influenza B virus and Mp.