Limonitum Ameliorates Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhoea in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota.

Diarrhoea is a common clinical condition; its pathogenesis is strongly associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Limonitum is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that exerts appreciable benefits regarding the amelioration of diarrhoea. However, the mechanism through which Limonitum ameliorates diarrhoea remains unclear. Here, the efficacy and underlying mechanism of Limonitum decoction (LD) regarding diarrhoea were explored from the aspect of gut microbiota. Castor oil (CO) was used to induce diarrhoea in mice, which were then used to evaluate the effects of LD regarding the timing of the first defecation, diarrhoea stool rate, degree of diarrhoea, diarrhoea score, intestinal propulsive rate, and weight of intestinal contents. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric and valeric acids, were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to evaluate changes in the gut microbiota under exposure to LD. LD was found to effectively ameliorate the symptoms of diarrhoea, and the diversity and relative abundance of gut microbiota were restored to normal levels following LD treatment. Additionally, LD significantly restored the observed reductions in SCFAs. These results provide strong evidence that LD can sufficiently ameliorate diarrhoea in mice by regulating their gut microbiota. The findings presented here highlight that Limonitum may constitute a prospective remedy for diarrhoea.

Ionization-induced adiabatic soliton compression in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibers.

We investigate in the experiments the ionization-induced adiabatic soliton compression process in a short length of He-filled single-ring photonic crystal fiber. We observe that the plasma-driven blueshifting solitons show little residual light near the pump wavelength in a certain pulse energy region, leading to a high-efficiency frequency upconversion process. In contrast, at high pulse energy levels, we observe that the quality of the frequency upshifting process is impaired due to the existence of a dynamical loss channel induced by the coupling of the soliton to linear modes near the pump wavelength. In addition, through adjusting the input pulse energy, the central wavelength of blueshifting solitons can be continuously tuned over 300 nm. These experimental results, confirmed by numerical simulations, not only offer a deep insight into ionization-induced soliton-plasma dynamics in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibers, but also develop highly tunable ultrafast light sources at visible wavelengths, which may have many applications in ultrafast spectroscopy.

Effect of gene polymorphims on the warfarin treatment at initial stage.

The adverse reactions of warfarin that were found mainly occurred in the first month. This study was carried out to observe the effect of gene polymorphisms on the warfarin therapy at the initial stage. Four-hundred and sixty Chinese patients began warfarin treatment with daily 2.5 mg after heart valve replacement operations were enrolled. The daily international normalized ratio (INR) for anticoagulation were recorded till the seventh day. Blood samples were collected and used to detect genotypes for VKORC1 rs7294, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP4F2 rs2108622 and ORM1 rs17650. INR and their changes were compared among genotypes. INR was partially correlated with the VKORC1 rs7294, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP4F2 rs2108622 and ORM1 rs17650 polymorphisms from the third, fourth and sixth day on, respectively. VKORC1 rs7294 and CYP4F2 rs2108622 carriers responded lower than the wild genotype, whereas CYP2C9 rs1057910 and ORM1 rs17650 carriers responded higher, respectively. Fifty percent of AA/*1*3/CC/*S*S patients and 16% of AA/*1*1/CC/*S*S patients were over anticoagulation treated with INR >4.0 at the third day. Ninety percent of VKORC1 rs7294 carrier patients have INR <1.63, a mark of the 25% of lower responders of the wild genotype. Our study provided another kind of evidence that VKORC1 rs7294, CYP2C9 rs1057910, CYP4F2 rs2108622 and ORM1 rs17650 affected the action of warfarin in different styles. Patients with AA/*1*1/CC/*S*S, AA/*1*3/CC/*S*S should use a less initial dosage to avoid over anticoagulation, and patients with VKORC1 rs7294 should use larger initial dose to proof an effective therapy.

Improvements in neuroelectrophysiological and rear limb functions in rats with spinal cord injury after Schwann cell transplantation in combination with a C5a receptor antagonist.

We measured the effect of Schwann cell transplantation and complement factor 5a (C5a) receptor antagonist on nerve function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury. Experimental spinal cord injury was induced in eighty Wistar rats and these were randomly divided into four treatment groups: culture medium and saline injection (control group), Schwann cell injection (cell transplantation group), C5a receptor antagonist injection (C5a receptor antagonist group), and both Schwann cell and C5a receptor antagonist injections (combination group). Rear limb functional recovery was assessed 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the spinal cord injury with the tilt table test and the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scale. Sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene expression was measured at week 4 and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeling was used at week 8 to further assess the recovery of neuroelectrophysiological functions. The rear limb functional assessment showed that the combination group had better outcomes than the cell transplantation and C5a receptor antagonist groups. All treatment groups had better outcomes than control. Only the cell transplantation and combination groups showed SRY expression. The number of HRP-positive nerve fibers in the different groups ranked as follows: combination group > cell transplantation and C5a receptor antagonist > control. The refractory period and amplitude of the induced potential in the combination group were significantly greater than in the other three groups. These results suggest that the combination of Schwann cell transplantation and the C5a receptor antagonist enhances the regeneration of injured synapses and improves limb function and electrophysiology.

Mutations in the gene encoding B1 subunit of H+-ATPase cause renal tubular acidosis with sensorineural deafness.

H+-ATPases are ubiquitous in nature; V-ATPases pump protons against an electrochemical gradient, whereas F-ATPases reverse the process, synthesizing ATP. We demonstrate here that mutations in ATP6B1, encoding the B-subunit of the apical proton pump mediating distal nephron acid secretion, cause distal renal tubular acidosis, a condition characterized by impaired renal acid secretion resulting in metabolic acidosis. Patients with ATP6B1 mutations also have sensorineural hearing loss; consistent with this finding, we demonstrate expression of ATP6B1 in cochlea and endolymphatic sac. Our data, together with the known requirement for active proton secretion to maintain proper endolymph pH, implicate ATP6B1 in endolymph pH homeostasis and in normal auditory function. ATP6B1 is the first member of the H+-ATPase gene family in which mutations are shown to cause human disease.

[COVID-19 epidemic and its characteristics in Heilongjiang province].

Objective: To describe the COVID-19 epidemic and its characteristics in Heilongjiang province, and provide evidence for the further prevention and control of COVID-19 in the province. Methods: The information of COVID-19 cases and clusters were collected from national notifiable disease report system and management information system for reporting public health emergencies of China CDC. The Software's of Excel 2010 and SPSS 23.0 were applied for data cleaning and statistical analysis on the population, time and area distributions of COVID-19 cases. Results: On January 22, 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Heilongjiang. By March 11, 2020, a total of 482 cases domestic case of COVID-19, The incidence rate was 1.28/100 000, the mortality rate was 2.70% (13/482) in 13 municipalities in Heilongjiang. There were 81 clusters of COVID-19, The number of confirmed cases accounted for 79.25% (382/482) of the total confirmed cases and 12 cases of deaths. The family clusters accounted for 86.42% (70/81). Compared with the sporadic cases, the mortality rate, proportion of elderly cases aged 60 or above and severe or critical cases of clinical classification were all higher in the clusters especially the family clusters, but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). There were 34 clusters involving more than 5 confirmed cases accounted for 41.98% (34/81) of the total clusters, the involved cases accounted for 68.31% (261/382) of the total cases of clusters. There were significant differences in age distribution of the cases among the case clusters with different case numbers. In the clusters involving 6-9 cases, the proportion of cases aged 65 years or above was more (26.53%, 39/147). Conclusions: The incidence rate of COVID-19 was relatively high and the early epidemic was serious in Heilongjiang, The number of cases was large in clusters especially family clusters.

Prediction of conversion from clinically isolated syndrome to clinically definite multiple sclerosis according to baseline MRI findings: comparison of revised McDonald criteria and Swanton modified criteria.

BACKGROUND: The International Panel on the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis first incorporated abnormalities demonstrated by brain and spinal cord MRI into the diagnostic criteria (McDonald criteria) for multiple sclerosis (MS), which were later revised in 2005. In 2006, Swanton and colleagues modified the MRI criteria to simplify and speed the diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of two sets of criteria (the revised McDonald MRI criteria and Swanton's modified criteria) to predict conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) from baseline MRI findings. METHODS: Sixty-four patients presenting with CIS suggestive of multiple sclerosis were recruited from 2001 to 2006 and followed up for at least 2 years. Their baseline brain and spinal cord MRI studies were retrospectively evaluated. The patients who developed CDMS during follow-up were treated as positive cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of the two MRI dissemination-in-space criteria were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty patients (46.9%) converted to CDMS. The sensitivity specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy (%) of the revised McDonald criteria were 53, 100, 100, 71 and 78, respectively, while those for Swanton's modified criteria were 60, 100, 100, 74 and 81. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Swanton's modified criteria are more sensitive and accurate (but not significantly so). However, Swanton's criteria are simpler to use and have equally high specificity and PPV.

Control of dopamine release in the retina: a transgenic approach to neural networks.

Dopaminergic, interplexiform amacrines (DA cells) were labeled in transgenic mice with human placental alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme that resides on the outer surface of the cell membrane. It was therefore possible to investigate their activity in vitro after dissociation of the retina with whole-cell current and voltage clamp, as well as their connections in the intact retina with the electron microscope. DA cells generate action potentials even in the absence of synaptic inputs. This activity is abolished by the amacrine cell transmitters GABA and glycine, which induce an inward current carried by chloride ions, and is stimulated by kainate, an agonist at the receptor for the bipolar cell transmitter glutamate, which opens nonselective cation channels. Since DA cells are postsynaptic to amacrine and bipolar cells, we suggest that the spontaneous discharge of DA cells is inhibited in the dark by GABAergic amacrines that receive their input from off-bipolars. Upon illumination, the GABA-inhibition is removed, DA cells generate action potentials, and their firing is modulated by the excitation received from on-bipolars.

Characterization and expression of sema4g, a novel member of the semaphorin gene family.

Semaphorins constitute a large and growing gene family, several members of which are axon guidance molecules. We report the characterization of sema4g, a novel class IV member of the semaphorin gene family, located on mouse chromosome 19. sema4g is expressed early in development in the brain, spinal cord, and several sensory organs as well as specific populations of projection neurons, compatible with the well-established function of semaphorins as axon guidance molecules.

Effect of exercise on repolarisation abnormalities in patients with asymptomatic QT prolongation.

Patients with congenital QT prolongation have an increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Altered sympathetic tone has been suggested as an important contributing factor in this syndrome. Although some patients with an increased QT interval and arrhythmias have an abnormal QT response during exercise, the effect of exercise has not been reported in patients with acquired QT prolongation without clinical manifestations. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of QT change with exercise in patients with QT prolongation without exercise-induced arrhythmias in order to: 1) determine the most frequent response in this group; 2) observe the effect of posture on QT changes; and 3) compare the rate of QT change with a control group. Treadmill exercise testing was performed in 10 patients (mean age 52.1 +/- 8.0 years) with a QTc greater than 0.44 s; the results were compared with 14 patients with a normal QTc (mean age 45.8 +/- 12.1 years). Patients with an increased QT interval at rest experienced a significant reduction in QT interval during exercise (0.315 +/- 0.030 s vs 0.394 +/- 0.046 s standing at rest; P less than 0.01), as cycle length was decreased from 0.732 +/- 0.175 s to 0.489 +/- 0.062 s. Patients in the control group had a similar change in QT interval (0.297 +/- 0.015 s vs 0.359 +/- 0.029 s standing at rest (P less than 0.01), with a comparable change in cycle length 0.733 +/- 0.097 s vs 0.511 +/- 0.059 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sensory organ generation in the chicken inner ear: contributions of bone morphogenetic protein 4, serrate1, and lunatic fringe.

The chicken inner ear is a remarkably complex structure consisting of eight morphologically distinct sensory organs. Unraveling how these sensory organs are specified during development is key to understanding how such a complex structure is generated. Previously, we have shown that each sensory organ in the chicken inner ear arises independently in the rudimentary otocyst based on Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) expression. Here, we compare the expression of Bmp4 with two other putative sensory organ markers, Lunatic Fringe (L-fng) and chicken Serrate1 (Ser1), both of which are components of the Notch signaling pathway. L-fng and Ser1 expression domains were asymmetrically distributed in the otic cup. At this early stage, expression of L-fng is similar to Delta1 (Dl1), in an anteroventral domain apparently corresponding to the neurogenic region, while Ser1 is expressed at both the anterior and posterior poles. By the otocyst stage, the expression of both L-fng and Ser1 largely coincided in the medial region. All presumptive sensory organs, as identified by Bmp4 expression, arose within the broad L-fng- and Ser1-positive domain, indicating the existence of a sensory-competent region in the rudimentary otocyst. In addition, there is a qualitative difference in the levels of expression between L-fng and Ser1 such that L-fng expression was stronger in the ventral anterior, whereas Ser1 was stronger in the dorsal posterior region of this broad domain. This early difference in expression may presage the differences among sensory organs as they arise from this sensory competent zone.

Radiation exposure of pediatric patients and physicians during cardiac catheterization and balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Thermoluminescent dosimeters were applied to various areas of 61 pediatric patients and physicians to measure radiation doses during routine cardiac catheterization and during 4 cases of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. Radiation doses were measured during chest roentgenography, fluoroscopy and cineangiography. Average skin dose to the chest was 121 microGy during chest x-ray, 5,182 microGy during catheterization and 641 mGy during valvuloplasty. For the eyes, thyroid and gonads of the patients, the exposure during routine catheterization was equal to 0.4, 6 and 0.2 chest x-rays, respectively. Radiation dose of the operator was 3 microGy for the eyes and 6 miCroGy in the thyroid. About 56% of the operator's dose could be reduced by thyroid shields, and 80% by lead aprons. The assistant received only 1 microGy outside the thyroid shield. Therefore, we have concluded that the patients' dose during routine catheterization is largely based on our experimental results, but the dose is acceptable based on the risk factor analysis. The skin dose to the right lateral chest of the patient during valvuloplasty is extremely high, perhaps as high as the equivalent of 1,000 chest x-rays. Besides the clinical benefits of valvuloplasty, the long-term radiation-related hazards to the patient should be carefully monitored.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and analysis of prognostic factors.

A total of 100 patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and were followed for more than 1 year and 10 months. Portal vein branch thrombosis was diagnosed in 14 patients, and extrahepatic metastasis was noted in 11 subjects. The embolization material used was iodized oil (0.1-0.2 ml/cm tumor area at its maximal diameter), which was prepared by pumping with contrast agent and then mixed with anticancer drugs; Gelfoam particles measuring 1-2 mm in size were subsequently injected. The overall cumulative 0.5- 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 81%, 57%, 31%, and 21%, respectively. Patients with an intact capsule and those with solitary lesions, especially when the tumor diameter was < 5 cm, achieved a higher survival rate. In contrast, incomplete TACE, extrahepatic metastasis, and portal vein thrombosis were associated with the worst outcome. Patients with positive HBsAG and diffuse or multiple tumors also showed a poor outcome. Early diagnosis and early treatment of HCC are the keys for the achievement of better clinical results.

The expression of the intermediate filament-associated protein (NAPA-73) is associated with the stage of terminal differentiation of chick brain neurons.

The monoclonal antibody E/C8 was originally generated against chicken dorsal root ganglia. The antigen detected by E/C8, NAPA-73, is an intermediate filament-associated protein. NAPA-73 was shown to be one of the earliest neuronal markers to appear during development since it appears in some neuronal precursor cells of the peripheral nervous system during development. Using [3H]thymidine pulse-chase experiments combined with immunocytochemistry, it is shown that the dividing neuroblasts from 6-day-old embryonic chick brains do not express NAPA-73. Only neurons that have undergone their terminal cell division either in the embryo or in cell culture express the E/C8 immunoreactivity. We conclude that E/C8 is a marker for postmitotic neurons in chick brain. The contrast between our findings and previous reports identifying NAPA-73 as one of the earliest neuronal markers may reflect a difference between the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Development of dopaminergic neurons is insensitive to optic nerve section in the neonatal rat retina.

The development of tyrosine-hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) cells was studied in pre- and postnatal rat retinas. Using a modified staining method, TH-IR cells were first detectable in retinal wholemounts at embryonic day 19 (E19), much earlier than previously reported. By E20, TH-IR cells were present in every retina examined. These 'early' TH-IR cells were always concentrated at the peripheral dorsal part of the retina, in contrast to the expected distribution predicted by the center to peripheral gradient of retinal development. The development of TH-IR cells and their pattern of distribution were insensitive to optic nerve section, indicating that the postnatal development of dopaminergic neurons is independent of the presence of ganglion cells.

Inflammatory/infectious diseases and neoplasms of colon. Evaluation with CT.

The purpose of this study is to review the computed tomography (CT) appearance of infectious and inflammatory diseases, and neoplasms of colon. Forty-five patients with 25 cases of colonic neoplasms and 20 cases of inflammatory and infectious diseases of colon were evaluated based on CT findings of colonic wall thickening (> 5 mm, soft tissue density versus pure wall edema or both), length of the involved segment (short (< or = 5 cm) versus long segment), pericolic infiltration, mesenteric infiltration, lateroconal fascial thickening, mechanical ileus, ascites, contiguous terminal ileum involvement, distribution of the diseased colon, and abscess formation. The results were compared using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Our results showed that colonic wall thickening of soft tissue density with or without edema and pure bowel wall edema were the two statistically significant findings in differential diagnosis of colon (p < 0.05). We concluded that CT is a good imaging tool to make differential diagnosis between infectious/ inflammatory diseases and neoplasms.

Evaluation of galactography for nipple discharge.

Galactography is useful in the evaluation of spontaneous discharge from the nipple of a nonlactating breast. Without galactography, surgeons have relied on either masectomy or excision of the major duct system responsible for the discharge. From January 1989 to May 1996, 106 galactograms were performed with monofilament polypropylene suture guiding for duct cannulation in 105 cases. The discharge duct was identified by pre-operative galactography, followed by a selective excision of ductal-lobular unit. In all tissue specimens, the cause of the pathologic secretion was found histologically; most often, it was intraductal papilloma (42.6%). In 35.6% of the specimens, findings with a prospective significance (papillomatosis, hyperplasia, carcinoma) were discovered and further operative treatment was initiated. The color of the discharge allowed no prediction of the histological findings. The accuracy of galactography was 88.4%, 84.6%, and 77.4% in papilloma, cancer, and other benign lesions, respectively. It is better than physical examination and other tests. Galactography represents a useful test in the diagnostic workup of secretory breasts.

[Effects of PGE1 on penile blood flow].

From February to July in 1989, 47 patients came to our O.P.D. with the chief complaint of impotence. The average age was 48.3 +/- 10.7 y/o. We applied intracoporeal injection of prostaglandin PGE1 (20 mg); and evaluated its penile blood flow effect by color duplex scanning (Acuson 128). The erectile responses of the test showed that: 6 patients (12.8%) had normal response: and 16 patients (34%) had imperfect response. Altogether, the total positive response rate was 46.8%, and 25 patients (53.2%) showed impaired response. The onset of response was 9.1 +/- 3.6 minutes and the duration of erection was 59.2 +/- 24.7 minutes. The percentage of diameter change of both deep arteries after injection was Rt: 58.1 +/- 41.5%; left: 52.3 +/- 35.6%. The peak velocity of right cavernosal arterial flow after intracoporeal injection was 35.5 +/- 15.9 cm/sec; and that of the left side was 33.2 +/- 16.9 cm/sec. There was no correlation between the increment of peak velocity of the deep arterial flow and the erection grade. The same phenomenon was also found between the increased change in the diameter of the deep artery and the erection grade. 16 patients (34.1%) experienced tolerable pain during the procedure. Two patients (4.3%) experienced dizzines and discomfort due to venous leakage. No priapism was found. This study suggests PGE1 may be an excellent potential alternative to other vasoactive drug with less complication in the diagnosis and treatment of impotence. But the cost and stability were its shortcoming.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Penile revascularization: report of 4 cases].

From February to June in 1989, 4 patients consulted our ward with the complaint of impotence. After each patient's history and physical examination were taken, a series of tests were administered which included hepatic and renal function, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, testosterone, prolactin level, nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), duplex sonography, cavernosography, and internal pudendal arteriography. The results of these tests suggested vasculogenic impotence and penile revascularization was attempted. In 2 patients the Michal-II method was used. The second patient was treated with the Virag-V method. In the fourth patient, the Michal-II method was combined with the administration of the Virag-V method. After 6 months of follow-up, objective tests such as NPT and a Duplex scanning examination showed moderate improvement in the patients who received the Virag-V method, alone or in combination with the Michal-II method. Subjectively, all the patients except the one who received just the Virag-V method, felt improvement in erection angle, penetration, and satisfaction. We conclude that penile revascularization may be a more noninvasive, physiological alternative to penile prosthesis for some cases of vasculogenic impotence.

A high sensitivity LiF thermoluminescent dosimeter--LiF(Mg, Cu, P).

This paper describes the dosimetric properties of a new, high-sensitivity thermoluminescence dosimeter material prepared in our laboratory. The sensitivity of the LiF(Mg, Cu, P) phosphor is about 23 times higher than that of LiF (TLD-100). Its TL response is linear from 0.3 mR to 1000 R. Its energy dependence is similar to that of LiF (TLD-100). It is stable and reusable without significant loss of sensitivity. Its application to environmental radiation monitoring is described.