Pleurotus eryngii root waste and soybean meal co-fermented protein improved the growth, immunity, liver and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) root waste and soybean meal co-fermented protein (CFP) on growth performance, feed utilization, immune status, hepatic and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Largemouth bass (12.33 ± 0.18 g) were divided into five groups, fed with diets containing 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % CFP respectively for 7 weeks. The growth performance and dietary utilization were slightly improved by the supplementation of CFP. In addition, improved immunoglobulin M (IgM) content and lysozyme activity in treatments confirm the enhancement of immunity in fish by the addition of CFP, especially in fish fed 20 % CFP (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CFP significantly improved liver GSH (glutathione) content in groups D10 and D15 (P < 0.05), and slightly improved total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while slightly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Simultaneously, the upregulation of lipolysis-related genes (PPARα, CPT1 and ACO) expression and downregulation of lipid synthesis-related genes (ACC and DGAT1) expression was recorded in the group D20 compared with the control (P < 0.05), which were consistent with the decreased liver lipid contents, suggests that lipid metabolism was improved by CFP. In terms of intestinal structural integrity, ameliorated intestinal morphology in treatments were consistent with the upregulated Occludin, Claudin-1 and ZO-1 genes expression. The intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-8) expression were suppressed while the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-ß) were activated in treatments. The expression of antimicrobial peptides (Hepcidin-1, Piscidin-2 and Piscidin-3) and intestinal immune effectors (IgM and LYZ) were slightly up-regulated in treatments. Additionally, the relative abundance of intestinal beneficial bacteria (Firmicutes) increased while the relative abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria (Fusobacterium and Proteobacteria) decreased, which indicated that the intestinal microbial community was well-reorganized by CFP. In conclusion, dietary CFP improves growth, immunity, hepatic and intestinal health of largemouth bass, these data provided a theoretical basis for the application of this novel functional protein ingredient in fish.

High dietary wheat starch negatively regulated growth performance, glucose and lipid metabolisms, liver and intestinal health of juvenile largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides.

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were fed with three diets containing 6%, 12%, and 18% wheat starch for 70 days to examine their impacts on growth performance, glucose and lipid metabolisms, and liver and intestinal health. The results suggested that the 18% starch group inhibited the growth, and improved the hepatic glycogen content compared with the 6% and 12% starch groups (P < 0.05). High starch significantly improved the activities of glycolysis-related enzymes, hexokinase (HK), glucokinase (GK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK) (P < 0.05); promoted the mRNA expression of glycolysis-related phosphofructokinase (pfk); decreased the activities of gluconeogenesis-related enzymes, pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK); and reduced the mRNA expression of gluconeogenesis-related fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase-1(fbp1) (P < 0.05). High starch reduced the hepatic mRNA expressions of bile acid metabolism-related cholesterol hydroxylase (cyp7a1) and small heterodimer partner (shp) (P < 0.05), increased the activity of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) (P < 0.05), and reduced the hepatic mRNA expressions of lipid metabolism-related peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (ppar-α) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α (cpt-1α) (P < 0.05). High starch promoted inflammation; significantly reduced the mRNA expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor-ß1 (tgf-ß1), interleukin-10 (il-10), and interleukin-11ß (il-11ß); and increased the mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α), interleukin-1ß (il-1ß), and interleukin-8 (il-8) in the liver and intestinal tract (P < 0.05). Additionally, high starch negatively influenced the intestinal microbiota, with the reduced relative abundance of Trichotes and Actinobacteria and the increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. In conclusion, low dietary wheat starch level (6%) was more profitable to the growth and health of M. salmoides, while high dietary starch level (12% and 18%) could regulate the glucose and lipid metabolisms, impair the liver and intestinal health, and thus decrease the growth performance of M. salmoides.

Paraprobiotic and postbiotic forms of Bacillus siamensis improved growth, immunity, liver and intestinal health in Lateolabrax maculatus fed soybean meal diet.

Live commensal Bacillus siamensis LF4 showed reparative potentials against high SM-induced negative effects, but whether its paraprobiotic (heat-killed B. siamensis, HKBS) and postbiotic (cell-free supernatant, CFS) forms had reparative functions and potential mechanisms are not yet known. In this study, the reparative functions of HKBS and CFS were investigated by establishing an injured model of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) treated with dietary high soybean meal (SM). The results showed that HKBS and CFS effectively mitigated growth suppression, immune deficiency, and liver injury induced by dietary high SM. Simultaneously, HKBS and CFS application positively shaped intestinal microbiota by increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Fusobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Cetobacterium) and decreased harmful bacteria (Proteobacteria and Plesiomonasare). Additionally, HKBS and CFS improved SM-induced intestinal injury by restoring intestinal morphology, upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins, anti-inflammatory cytokines, antimicrobial peptides, downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic proteins. Furthermore, HKBS and CFS intervention significantly activated TLR2, TLR5 and MyD88 signaling, and eventually inhibited p38 and NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, paraprobiotic (HKBS) and postbiotic (CFS) from B. siamensis LF4 can improve growth, immunity, repair liver and intestinal injury, and shape intestinal microbiota in L. maculatus fed high soybean meal diet, and TLRs/p38 MAPK/NF-κB signal pathways might be involved in those processes. These results will serve as a base for future application of paraprobiotics and postbiotics to prevent and repair SM-induced adverse effects in fish aquaculture.

Probiotic components of Bacillus siamensis LF4 mitigated ß-conglycinin caused cell injury via modulating TLR2/MAPKs/NF-κB signaling in Lateolabrax maculatus.

ß-conglycinin is a recognized factor in leading to intestinal inflammation and limiting application of soybean meal in aquaculture. Our previous study reported that heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 could effectively mitigate inflammatory response and apoptosis caused by ß-conglycinin in spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) enterocytes, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. In the present study, therefore, whole cell wall (CW), peptidoglycan (PG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and cell-free supernatant (CFS) have been collected from B. siamensis LF4 and their mitigative function on ß-conglycinin-induced adverse impacts and mechanisms underlying were evaluated. The results showed that ß-conglycinin-induced cell injury, characterized with significantly decreased cell viability and increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic propylic transaminase (P < 0.05), were reversed by subsequent heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 and its CW, LTA, PG and CFS treatment. Enterocytes co-cultured with heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 and its CW, LTA, PG and CFS (especially PG) significantly increased expressions of anti-inflammatory genes (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-ß1), tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin and claudin-b) and antimicrobial peptides (ß-defensin, hepcidin-1, NK-lysin and piscidin-5), and decreased expressions of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α) and apoptosis-related genes (caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9) (P < 0.05), indicating their excellent mitigation effects on ß-conglycinin-induced cell damages. In addition, heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 and its CW, LTA, PG and CFS significantly increased TLR2 mRNA level (especially in PG treatment), and decreased MAPKs (JNK, ERK, p38 and AP-1) and NF-κB related genes expressions. In conclusion, heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 and its CW, LTA, PG and CFS could modulating TLR2/MAPKs/NF-κB signaling and alleviating ß-conglycinin-induced enterocytes injury in spotted seabass (L. maculatus), and PG presented the best potential.

Commensal Bacillus siamensis LF4 ameliorates ß-conglycinin induced inflammation in intestinal epithelial cells of Lateolabrax maculatus.

ß-conglycinin and glycinin, two major heat-stable anti-nutritional factors in soybean meal (SM), have been suggested as the key inducers of intestinal inflammation in aquatic animals. In the present study, a spotted seabass intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were used to compare the inflammation-inducing effects of ß-conglycinin and glycinin. The results showed that IECs co-cultured with 1.0 mg/mL ß-conglycinin for 12 h or 1.5 mg/mL glycinin for 24 h significantly decreased the cell viability (P < 0.05), and overstimulated inflammation and apoptosis response by significantly down-regulating anti-inflammatory genes (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-ß1) expressions and significantly up-regulated pro-inflammatory genes (IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α) and apoptosis genes (caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9) expressions (P < 0.05). Subsequently, a ß-conglycinin based inflammation IECs model was established and used for demonstrating whether commensal probiotic B. siamensis LF4 can ameliorate the adverse effects of ß-conglycinin. The results showed ß-conglycinin-induced cell viability damage was completely repaired by treated with 109 cells/mL heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 for ≥12 h. At the same time, IECs co-cultured with 109 cells/mL heat-killed B. siamensis LF4 for 24 h significantly ameliorated ß-conglycinin-induced inflammation and apoptosis by up-regulating anti-inflammatory genes (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-ß1) expressions and down-regulated pro-inflammatory genes (IL-1ß, IL-8 and TNF-α) and apoptosis genes (caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9) expressions (P < 0.05). In summary, both ß-conglycinin and glycinin can lead to inflammation and apoptosis in spotted seabass IECs, and ß-conglycinin is more effective; commensal B. siamensis LF4 can efficiently ameliorate ß-conglycinin induced inflammation and apoptosis in IECs.

[Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Ion Deposition During Winter and Spring in the Core Area of Beijing].

In recent years, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Beijing Municipal Government have continuously strengthened the control indicators of dustfall. In order to grasp the characteristics and sources of ion deposition in dustfall, the filtration method and ion chromatography were used to determine the dustfall and ion deposition during winter and spring in the core area of Beijing, and the PMF model was carried out to analyze the sources of ion deposition. The results indicated:① the average values of ion deposition and its proportion in dustfall were 0.87 t·(km2·30 d)-1 and 14.2%, respectively. The dustfall and ion deposition on working days were 1.3 times and 0.7 times that on rest days, respectively. ② The coefficient of determination in the linear equations between ion deposition and precipitation, relative humidity, temperature, and average wind speed were 0.54, 0.16, 0.15, and 0.02, respectively. In addition, the coefficient of determination in the linear equations between ion deposition and PM2.5 concentration and dustfall were 0.26 and 0.17, respectively. Therefore, controlling the concentration of PM2.5 was crucial to treating ion deposition. ③ Anions and cations accounted for 61.6% and 38.4%, respectively, in the ion deposition, and SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ accounted for 60.6% in total. The ratio of anion and cation charge deposition was 0.70, and the dustfall was alkaline. The ρ(NO3-)/ρ(SO42-) in the ion deposition was 0.66, which was higher than that of 15 years ago. ④ The contribution rates of secondary sources, fugitive dust sources, combustion sources, snow-melting agent sources, and other sources were 51.7%, 17.7%, 13.5%, 13.5%, and 3.6%, respectively.

Autochthonous Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis improved liver health, immune response, mucosal microbiota and red-head disease resistance of yellow drum (Nibea albiflora).

Yellow drum (Nibea albiflora), a commercially important fish species in the coastal regions of southeast China, is highly susceptible to red-head disease caused by Vibrio harveyi B0003. Probiotics have been shown to enhance disease resistance in fish, but whether commensal probiotics could improve of the resistance to red-head disease in yellow drum and possible mechanisms has yet not been reported. A six-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the red-head disease resistance potentials of five probiotic candidates (Bacillus megaterium B1M2, B. subtilis B0E9, Enterococcus faecalis AT5, B. velezensis DM5 and B. siamensis B0E14), and the liver health, serum and skin immunities, gut and skin mucosal microbiota of yellow drum were determined to illustrate the possible mechanisms. The results showed that autochthonous B. subtilis B0E9 and E. faecalis AT5 (particularly E. faecalis AT5, P < 0.05) effectively improved red-head disease resistance in yellow drum. Furthermore, B. subtilis B0E9 and E. faecalis AT5 (particularly E. faecalis AT5) efficiently improve liver health by improving liver morphology and decreasing serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic propylic transaminase activities pre and post challenged with V. harveyi B0003 (P < 0.05). B. subtilis B0E9 and E. faecalis AT5 led to significant improvement (P < 0.05) in the serum complement 3 content (un-detected after challenged with V. harveyi B0003), lysozyme activity and skin mucosal immunity (such as IL-6, IL-10 and lysozyme expression) pre and post challenged with V. harveyi B0003, which was generally consistent with the cumulative mortality after challenged with V. harveyi B0003. This induced activations of serum and skin mucosal immunities were consistent with the microbiota data showing that B. subtilis B0E9 and E. faecalis AT5 modulated the overall structure of intestinal and skin mucosal microbiota, and in particular, the relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Achromobacter decreased while beneficial Streptococcus, Rothia, and Lactobacillus increased in fish fed with B. subtilis B0E9 and E. faecalis AT5. Overall, autochthonous B. subtilis B0E9 and E. faecalis AT5 (particularly E. faecalis AT5) can improve liver health, serum and skin immunities (especially up-regulated lysozyme activity and inflammation-related genes expression), positively shape gut and skin mucosal microbiota, and enhance red-head disease resistance of yellow drum.

LncRNA NIPA1-SO confers atherosclerotic protection by suppressing the transmembrane protein NIPA1.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important players in gene regulation and cardiovascular diseases. However, the roles of lncRNAs in atherosclerosis are poorly understood. In the present study, we found that the levels of NIPA1-SO were decreased while those of NIPA1 were increased in human atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, NIPA1-SO negatively regulated NIPA1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Mechanistically, NIPA1-SO interacted with the transcription factor FUBP1 and the NIPA1 gene. The effect of NIPA1-SO on NIPA1 protein levels was reversed by the knockdown of FUBP1. NIPA1-SO overexpression increased, whilst NIPA1-SO knockdown decreased BMPR2 levels; these effects were enhanced by the knockdown of NIPA1. The overexpression of NIPA1-SO reduced while NIPA1-SO knockdown increased monocyte adhesion to HUVECs; these effects were diminished by the knockdown of BMPR2. The lentivirus-mediated-overexpression of NIPA1-SO or gene-targeted knockout of NIPA1 in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice reduced monocyte-endothelium adhesion and atherosclerotic lesion formation. Collectively, these findings revealed a novel anti-atherosclerotic role for the lncRNA NIPA1-SO and highlighted its inhibitory effects on vascular inflammation and intracellular cholesterol accumulation by binding to FUBP1 and consequently repressing NIPA1 expression.

Commensal Bacillus siamensis LF4 induces antimicrobial peptides expression via TLRs and NLRs signaling pathways in intestinal epithelial cells of Lateolabrax maculatus.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an important role in modulating intestinal microbiota, and our previous study showed that autochthonous Baccilus siamensis LF4 could shape the intestinal microbiota of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus). In the present study, a spotted seabass intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) model was used to investigate whether autochthonous B. siamensis LF4 could modulate the expression of AMPs in IECs. And then, the IECs were treated with active, heat-inactivated LF4 and its supernatant to illustrate their AMPs inducing effects and the possible signal transduction mechanisms. The results showed that after 3 h of incubation with 108 CFU/mL B. siamensis LF4, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic propylic transaminase (GPT) activities in supernatant decreased significantly and obtained minimum values, while supernatant alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, ß-defensin protein level and IECs Na+/K+-ATPase activity, AMPs (ß-defensin, hepcidin-1, NK-lysin, piscidin-5) genes expression increased significantly and obtained maximum values (P < 0.05). Further study demonstrated that the active, heat-inactivated LF4 and its supernatant treatments could effectively decrease the LDH, GOT, and GPT activities in IECs supernatant, increase AKP activity and ß-defensin (except LF4 supernatant treatment) protein level in IECs supernatant and Na+/K+-ATPase and AMPs genes expression in IECs. Treatment with active and heat-inactivated B. siamensis LF4 resulted in significantly up-regulated the expressions of TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR5, NOD1, NOD2, TIRAP, MyD88, IRAK1, IRAK4, TRAF6, TAB1, TAB2, ERK, JNK, p38, AP-1, IKKα, IKKß and NF-κB genes. Treatment with B. siamensis LF4 supernatant also resulted in up-regulated these genes, but not the genes (ERK, JNK, p38, and AP-1) in MAPKs pathway. In summary, active, heat-inactivated and supernatant of B. siamensis LF4 can efficiently induce AMPs expression through activating the TLRs/NLRs-MyD88-dependent signaling, active and heat-inactivated LF4 activated both the downstream MAPKs and NF-κB pathways, while LF4 supernatant only activated NF-κB pathway.

Preventive and reparative functions of host-associated probiotics against soybean meal induced growth, immune suppression and gut injury in Japanese seabass (Lateolabraxjaponicus).

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to examine the preventive and reparative functions of host-associated probiotics against high soybean meal (SM)-induced negative effects in Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus). Fish continuously fed low SM (containing 16% SM) and high SM (containing 40% SM) diets were named as positive (PC) and negative (C) control, respectively. Preventive functions of probiotics were evaluated by continuously feeding diets LF3 (Lactococcus petauri LF3 supplemented in high SM diet, group PLF3) and LF4 (Bacillus siamensis LF4 supplemented in high SM diet, group PLF4), while reparative functions were estimated by feeding the high SM diet during 0-28 days, then feeding diets LF3 (group RLF3) and LF4 (group RLF4) until day 56. Compared with the group PC, suppressed growth and immunity, and damaged intestinal health were observed in the group C on days 28 and 56. Fish in groups PLF3 and PLF4, rather than in groups RLF3 and RLF4, showed higher growth compared with the group C and displayed similar immune status to the group PC, indicating that the initial and continued application of probiotic LF3 and LF4 can efficiently improve high SM induced growth and immune deficiency in Japanese seabass, but probiotics had limited reparative benefits when they were administrated at the middle of the feeding trial (28 d). Furthermore, probiotics showed good preventive functions and limited reparative functions on gut health via improving intestinal morphology and inflammation markers, for example, decreasing diamine oxidase activity and d-lactate content, while up-regulating anti-inflammatory TGF-ß1 expression and down-regulating pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-8 expressions. Moreover, dietary supplementation of probiotics (especially on day 56) could effectively shape the gut microbiota, such as significantly decreasing abundances of opportunistic pathogens (phylum Actinobacteria, genera Pseudomonas and Moheibacter on day 28, phylum Proteobacteria, genus Plesiomonas on day 56), significantly increasing gut microbial diversity and abundances of possible beneficial bacteria (phylum Bacteroidetes and genus Lactobacillus on day 28, phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria, genera Bacillus, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides on day 56). In conclusion, we evidenced for the first time that host-associated L. petauri LF3 and B. siamensis LF4 can provide effectively preventive and certain reparative functions against high SM-induced adverse effects in L. japonicus.

Autochthonous Probiotics Alleviate the Adverse Effects of Dietary Histamine in Juvenile Grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

High dose (0.3%) of dietary histamine can cause adverse effects on growth performance, innate immunity, and gut health in juvenile grouper (Epinephelus coioides). In the present study, three autochthonous probiotics (Bacillus pumilus SE5, Psychrobacter sp. SE6, and Bacillus clausii DE5) were supplemented separately to diets containing 0.3% of histamine and their effects on growth performance, innate immunity, and gut health of grouper (E. coioides) were evaluated in a 56-day feeding trial. The results showed considerable increase in weight gain, specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index, and decreased feed conversion rate in groupers fed with probiotic-supplemented diets. Supplementation of autochthonous probiotics has improved antioxidant capacity and innate immunity of E. coioides by measuring correlative parameters, such as total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde content, and so on. Additionally, dietary probiotics have significantly reduced the levels of serum interleukin-1ß (at days 28 and 56), fatty acid-binding protein 2, and intestinal trefoil factor (at day 28), and promoted intestinal integrity following remarkably increased muscle thickness and mucosal fold height at day 56, especially in grouper fed with B. pumilus SE5 containing diet (P < 0.05). On day 56, the gut microbial composition of E. coioides was positively shaped by autochthonous probiotics, the relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Photobacterium decreased while beneficial Lactobacillus increased in fish fed with probiotic strains, especially with B. pumilus SE5 and B. clausii DE5. These results suggest that among the three autochthonous probiotic strains tested, B. pumilus SE5 is showing better efficiency in alleviating the adverse effects of (high levels) dietary histamine by decreasing the expression of inflammatory markers and by improving the growth, innate immunity, and gut health of juvenile grouper E. coioides.

Bacillus pumilus SE5 originated PG and LTA tuned the intestinal TLRs/MyD88 signaling and microbiota in grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

The normal microbiota plays a key role in the health of host, but little is known of how the fish immune system recognizes and responds to indigenous bacteria/probiotics. Our previous studies have showed that heat-inactivated indigenous Bacillus pumilus SE5 activate the TLR2 signaling pathways and modulate the intestinal microbiota in grouper (Epinephelus coioides), suggesting microbial-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) involved. In this study, whole cell wall (CW) and two possible MAMPs, peptidoglycan (PG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) have been extracted from B. pumilus SE5 and their effects on intestinal immune related genes expression and microbiota were evaluated in a 60 days feeding trial. Significantly elevated expression of TLR1, TLR2, TLR5 and MyD88 was observed in fish fed the CW, PG and LTA containing diets, and the highest expression was observed in groups PG and LTA. At the same time, significantly upregulated expression of antimicrobial effectors, such as antimicrobial peptides (epinecidin-1, hepcidin-1 and ß-defensin), C-type Lectin and IgM was observed in fish fed PG and LTA containing diets. This induced activation of intestinal immunity was consistent with the microbiota data showing that CW, PG and LTA originated from SE5 modulated the overall structure of intestinal microbiota, and the relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Vibrio decreased significantly while beneficial Lactobacillus increased significantly in fish fed PG and LTA. In conclusion, both the PG and LTA originated from B. pumilus SE5 could activate TLRs/MyD88 signaling and expression of wide-ranging antibacterial effectors, and therefore shape the intestinal microbiota in grouper.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor/vascular endothelial growth factor ratio for early prediction of preeclampsia: A prospective multicenter study in China.

BACKGROUND: Imbalance of circulating factors related to angiogenesis plays a central role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to discover and validate a cutoff value of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ratio for early prediction of PE before 20 weeks of gestation. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective multicenter study was performed in mainland China, and was divided into 3 phases to discover, develop, and validate a cutoff value of PEDF/VEGF ratio that could predict PE prior to diagnosis in pregnant women at high risk of PE (12 weeks 0 days to 19 weeks 6 days of gestation). We estimated PEDF/VEGF ratio at 5 visits: from visit 0 (baseline) to the postpartum visit. RESULTS: In the discovery phase (200 women), we found that antiangiogenic PEDF was higher and angiogenic VEGF was lower in the PE group than in the control group before 20 weeks of gestation. In the development phase (650 women), we found that a cutoff value of 800 for PEDF/VEGF ratio demonstrated a preferably predictive value. Subsequently, in the validation phase (additional 900 women), we found that the negative predictive value of PEDF/VEGF ratio ≤800 at the visit 1 was 98.6% (95% CI, 97.3-99.4), at the visit 2 was 96.9% (95% CI, 95.1-98.1) and at the visit 3 was 95.1% (95% CI, 93.0-96.7). ORs were 4.40, 6.27, and 5.73, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PEDF/VEGF ratio ≤800 may have some predictive value for early diagnosis of PE. Further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm our findings.

Two novel antimicrobial peptides from skin venoms of spadefoot toad Megophrys minor.

Amphibian skin contains rich bioactive peptides. Especially, a large amount of antimicrobial peptides have been identified from amphibian skin secretions. Antimicrobial peptides display potent cytolytic activities against a range of pathogenic bacteria and fungi and play important defense roles. No antimicrobial peptides have been reported from toads belonging to the family of Pelobatidae. In this work, two novel antimicrobial peptides (Megin 1 and Megin 2) were purified and characterized from the skin venoms of spadefoot toad Megophrys minor (Pelobatidae, Anura, Amphibia). Megin 1 had an amino acid sequence of FLKGCWTKWYSLKPKCPF-NH2, which was composed of 18 amino acid residues and contained an intra-molecular disulfide bridge and an amidated C-terminus. Megin 2 had an amino acid sequence of FFVLKFLLKWAGKVGLEHLACKFKNWC, which was composed of 27 amino acid residues and contained an intra-molecular disulfide bridge. Both Megin 1 and Megin 2 showed potential antimicrobial abilities against bacteria and fungi. The MICs of Megin 1 against Escherichia coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans were 25, 3, 6.25, 3, and 50 µg·mL(-1), respectively. The corresponding MICs for Megin 2 were 6.25, 1.5, 12.5, 1.5, and 12.5 µg·mL(-1), respectively. They also exerted strong hemolytic activity against human and rabbit red cells. The results suggested that megin peptides in the toad skin of M. minor displayed toxic effects on both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. This was the first report of antimicrobial peptides from amphibians belonging to the family of Pelobatidae.

Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein change in gestational diabetes mellitus.

We compared urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) among non-pregnant and pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Higher urinary L-FABP was found in pregnant with and without GDM, and considerably higher urinary L-FABP was found in the GDM group compared with the non-GDM group. Hyperglycemia and anemia were related with high urinary L-FABP expression.

Immunonutrition Support for Patients Undergoing Surgery for Gastrointestinal Malignancy: Preoperative, Postoperative, or Perioperative? A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Enteral immunonutrition (EIN) has been established to be as a significantly important modality to prevent the postoperative infectious and noninfectious complications, enhance the immunity of host, and eventually improve the prognosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients undergoing surgery. However, different support routes, which are the optimum option, remain unclear. To evaluate the effects of different EIN support regimes for patients who underwent selective surgery for resectable GI malignancy, a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted. A search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was electronically searched until the end of December 2014. Moreover, we manually checked reference lists of eligible trials and review and retrieval unpublished literature. RCTs which investigated the comparative effects of EIN versus standard enteral nutrition (EN) or different EIN regimes were included if the clinical outcomes information can be extracted from it. A total of 27 RCTs were incorporated into this study. Pair-wise meta-analyses suggested that preoperative (relative risk [RR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.78), postoperative (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.52-0.76), and perioperative EIN methods (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.34-0.62) reduced incidence of postoperative infectious complications compared with standard EN. Moreover, perioperative EIN (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.44-0.95) reduced the incidence of postoperative noninfectious complications, and the postoperative (mean difference [MD], -2.38; 95% CI, -3.4 to -1.31) and perioperative EIN (MD, -2.64; 95% CI, -3.28 to -1.99) also shortened the length of postoperative hospitalization compared with standard EN. NMA found that EIN support effectively improved the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent selective surgery for GI cancer compared with standard EN. Our results suggest EIN support is promising alternative for operation management in comparison with standard EN, and perioperative EIN regime is the optimum option for managing clinical status of patients who underwent selective surgery for GI cancer.

Controlled peritoneal drainage improves survival in children with abdominal compartment syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Children with massive ascites can develop abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), which has been identified as an independent risk factor for mortality. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of volume-controlled percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) for treating children with massive ascites and ACS. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted; Comprising 12patients with ACS with massive ascites treated with volume-controlled PCD in a pediatric intensive care unitof a university hospital in southern China from April 2011 to June 2013. RESULTS: The etiology of ascites in these children included abdominal tumor (8/12), capillary leak after liver or kidney transplantation (2/12) and urine leakage (2/12). Intra-abdominal hypertension was closely associated with multiple organ dysfunction and high mortality. Digestive and pulmonary functions were the most frequently affected by ACS, while the cerebrum was the least involved. Treatment with ultrasound-guided PCD significantly decreased intra-abdominal pressure, abdominal circumference, and indices of organ dysfunction. PCD treatment also significantly improved glomerular filtration rate and PaO2/FiO2. Complications of PCD included abdominal infection (1/12) and electrolyte imbalance (4/12). The mortality rate of patients treated with PCD was 25%, which was lower than previous reports. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled peritoneal drainage is a minimally invasive and safe decompression method that is effective in patients with ACS, and should be considered in children with massive ascites.

Probiotic Bacillus pumilus SE5 shapes the intestinal microbiota and mucosal immunity in grouper Epinephelus coioides.

The health benefits of probiotics are thought to occur, at least in part, through an improved intestinal microbial balance in fish, although the molecular mechanisms whereby probiotics modulate the intestinal microbiota by means of activation of mucosal immunity are rarely explored. In this study, the effects of viable and heat-inactivated probiotic Bacillus pumilus SE5 on the intestinal dominant microbial community and mucosal immune gene expression were evaluated. The fish were fed for 60 d with 3 different diets: control (without probiotic), and diets T1 and T2 supplemented with 1.0 × 108 cells g⁻¹ viable and heat-inactivated B. pumilus SE5, respectively. Upregulated expression of TLR1, TLR2 and IL-8, but not MyD88 was observed in fish fed the viable probiotic, while elevated expression of TLR2, IL-8 and TGF-ß1, but not MyD88 was observed in fish fed the heat-inactivated B. pumilus SE5. The induced activation of intestinal mucosal immunity, especially the enhanced expression of antibacterial epinecidin-1, was consistent with the microbial data showing that several potentially pathogenic bacterial species such as Psychroserpens burtonensis and Pantoea agglomerans were suppressed by both the viable and heat-inactivated probiotic B. pumilus SE5. These results lay the foundation for future studies on the molecular interactions between probiotics, intestinal microbiota and mucosal immunity in fish.

Predicting cardioembolic stroke with the B-type natriuretic peptide test: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in differentiating cardioembolic (CE) stroke from other subtypes of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We searched the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases and reference lists of relevant articles published in April 2013. We selected original studies reporting the performance of BNP or N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in diagnosing CE stroke and summarized test performance characteristics using forest plots, hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves, and bivariate random-effect models. RESULTS: Data from 2958 patients with ischemic stroke were retrieved from 16 studies. Of these, 1024 (34.6%) patients had a final diagnosis of CE stroke. Overall, the mean diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of BNP for CE stroke was 15.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.92-25.20). Even after adjustment for multiple clinical predictors, serum natriuretic peptide levels showed a strong association with CE stroke (pooled adjusted DOR, 12.7; 95% CI: 7.32-22.0). The sensitivity and specificity of BNP for CE stroke were .78 (95% CI: .71-.87) and .83 (95% CI: .77-.87), respectively. A single BNP-negative result may be sufficient to exclude a diagnosis of CE stroke in low-prevalence (<20%) settings. Subgroup analysis showed that NT-proBNP had a slightly higher specificity (.87; 95% CI: .77-.93) and better capability for exclusion diagnosis. There was a lack of homogeneity in the timing of measurement and BNP assay method. CONCLUSIONS: BNP has reasonable accuracy in the diagnosis of CE stroke and may be a useful marker for the early detection in patients who may benefit from preventive anticoagulation therapy.