[Shengqifuzheng Injection promotes the recovery of B cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues of mice treated with cyclophosphamide].

Objective To investigate the effect of Shengqifuzheng Injection (SQFZ) on the number recovery of B cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) of mice receiving cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. Methods BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, cyclophosphamide (Cy) group and SQFZ group. Mice in Cy group and SQFZ group were injected intraperitoneally with Cy (100 mg/kg), while the control mice were injected with an equal volume of normal saline.

[Intestinal dysbacteriosis promotes intestinal intraepithelial T lymphocyte activation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion in mice].

Objective To study the effect of intestinal dysbacteriosis on mouse intestinal intraepithelial T lymphocytes (iIELs). Methods The intestinal dysbacteriosis was induced in mice by oral administration of ceftriaxone sodium. The iIELs were digested with ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and DL-dithiothreitol (DTT).

Effects of ceftriaxone induced intestinal dysbacteriosis on lymphocytes in different tissues in mice.

The close relationship between intestinal microflora and immune system has been confirmed, stimulus from intestinal flora plays an important role in the development of the immune system and its dynamic balance. Current research is still inadequate to determine how local bacteria in gut influence the whole body. In this study, influence of ceftriaxone sodium induced intestinal dysbacteriosis on local and overall immune function was investigated.

Molecular Characterization of Shigella sonnei: An Increasingly Prevalent Etiologic Agent of Shigellosis in Guizhou Province, Southwest of China.

Background: Shigellosis is a serious problem in Guizhou and Shigella sonnei is an increasingly prevalent etiologic agent of local shigellosis cases. No data, however, are available about the molecular characterization of the local isolates of S. sonnei.

[Application of Wavelet Transform and Successive Projections Algorithm in the Non-Destructive Measurement of Total Acid Content of Pitaya].

The objective of present study was to find out an accurate, rapid and nondestructive method to detect total acid content (TA) of pitaya with visible/near-infrared spectrometry, wavelet transform (WT) and successive projections algorithm (SPA), which will provide scientific basis for non- destructive measurement of pitaya. Maya2000 fiber-optic spectrumeter was used to collect spectral data of pitaya on the wavelength in the range of 380~1 099 nm; and then with the methods of WT denosing pretreatment, SPA and partial least squares regression (PLSR) quantitative forecasting model of TA of pitaya was established. The result showed that the precision of WT-SPA-PLSR model, which combine the WT with SPA, was better than that of PLSR model based on the whole wave variables.

Combined detection of liver stiffness and C-reactive protein in patients with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis, with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of combined detection of liver stiffness (LS) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC). A total of 156 cases of previously untreated patients with HBV-related LC were classified into the LC group [LC without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)] and the HCC group (LC with HCC). Comparative analyses of LS and serum CRP level were conducted between these two groups.

Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. by Multiple Endonuclease Restriction Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Technique.

Shigella and Salmonella are frequently isolated from various food samples and can cause human gastroenteritis. Here, a novel multiple endonuclease restriction real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification technology (MERT-LAMP) were successfully established and validated for simultaneous detection of Shigella strains and Salmonella strains in only a single reaction. Two sets of MERT-LAMP primers for 2 kinds of pathogens were designed from ipaH gene of Shigella spp.

Effect of granulocyte colony stimulating EPC on cardiac function and myocardial energy expenditure in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Objective: To study the changes of cardiac function and myocardial energy expenditure following treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction were randomized into G-CSF treatment group and control group. All the patients received conventional treatment (medication and interventional therapy), and the patients in treatment group were given additional G-CSF (600 μg/day) for 7 consecutive days.

Ethyl pyruvate ameliorates experimental colitis in mice by inhibiting the HMGB1-Th17 and Th1/Tc1 responses.

Ethyl pyruvate (EP), a simple lipophilic pyruvate ester, has demonstrated protective effects against murine colitis through inhibition the release of inflammatory factor high-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1). HMGB1 has been implicated in several autoimmune diseases by inducing Thl and Thl7 cells activation. This study was designed to investigate whether EP amelioration of murine colitis is related to the blocking of the HMGB1-Th17/Thl pathway.

[Culture supernatants of lymphocytes from different lymphoid tissues induce transdifferentiation of Caco2 cells into M-like cells].

Objective: To establish the microfold (M)-like cell model in vitro and identify M-like cells through detecting the capacity of transporting fluorescent beads and the levels of the associated genes, and to observe the effects of lymphocyte culture supernatants stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A) from different lymphoid tissues on the differentiation of Caco2 cells into M-like cells.

Methods: The isolated lymphocytes of Peyer's patch (PP), mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and spleen (Sp) were incubated with 3 μg/mL Con A for 3 days. The culture supernatants were collected and co-cultured with Caco2 cells.

[Clinical significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in development of chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To explore the clinical significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: A total of 182 patients with untreated CHB and 50 healthy individuals (controls) participated in the study. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the association of serum hs-CRP with the age,sex,medical history,serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, liver function parameters,liver stiffness measure (LSM) and hepatic fibrosis; in addition, correlation analysis was carried out for the associations of degree of liver damage with grade of hepatic fibrosis, LSM and the serum levels of hs-CRP.

Impact of Bioreactor Environment and Recovery Method on the Profile of Bacterial Populations from Water Distribution Systems.

Multiple rotating annular reactors were seeded with biofilms flushed from water distribution systems to assess (1) whether biofilms grown in bioreactors are representative of biofilms flushed from the water distribution system in terms of bacterial composition and diversity, and (2) whether the biofilm sampling method affects the population profile of the attached bacterial community. Biofilms were grown in bioreactors until thickness stabilized (9 to 11 weeks) and harvested from reactor coupons by sonication, stomaching, bead-beating, and manual scraping. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons was used to profile bacterial populations from flushed biofilms seeded into bioreactors as well as biofilms recovered from bioreactor coupons by different methods.

[Diagnostic value of liver stiffness measurement combined with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein detection in HBV-related cirrhosis patients complicated with primary liver cancer].

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of liver stiffness measurement combined with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein detection in HBV-related cirrhosis patients complicated with primary liver cancer.

Methods: A total of 156 previously untreated chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis patients and 50 healthy subjects were included in this study. The 156 patients were divided into two groups: those with primary liver cancer (67 cases) and without liver cancer (89 cases).

Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are associated with HBV replication, liver damage and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to explore the potential role of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the pathogenic process of chronic hepatitis B.

Methodology: A total of 380 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in this study. All patients received the concentrations of serum hs-CRP, Hepatitis B sero-markers, serum HBV-DNA loads, liver function parameters and liver stiffness were measured, and in which 172 patients undertaken liver biopsy and immunohistochemistry analysis.

The Phylogeography and Population Demography of the Yunnan Caecilian (Ichthyophis bannanicus): Massive Rivers as Barriers to Gene Flow.

Ichthyophis bannanicus is the only caecilian species in China. In this study, the phylogeography and population demography of I. bannanicus were explored, based on the mitochondrial DNA genes (cyt b and ND2) and 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci.

Immunosuppressive activity of pogostone on T cells: Blocking proliferation via S phase arrest.

Pogostone (PO) is one of the major chemical constituents of the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. In the present study, the effect of PO on T cell responsiveness was investigated to explore its potential in immunosuppression by a Concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulation model using splenocytes isolated from C57BL/6 mice. Cytotoxicity by PO on normal splenocytes was evaluated by MTS assays.

Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy and Heart Failure: Persepctive from 5P Medicine.

Chronic heart failure is still a major challenge for healthcare. Currently, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has been incorporated into the updated guideline for patients with heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35 % and prolonged QRS duration. With 20 years of development, the concept of 'from bench to bedside' has been illustrated in the field of CRT.

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of a polysaccharide from Flammulina velutipes.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of a unique polysaccharide from the medicinal fungus Flammulina velutipes in vitro.

Methods: Using water extraction and alcohol precipitation, crude polysaccharides were obtained. After purification by DEAE-cellulose 52 ion exchange chromatography and Sephacryl S-300 HR gel filtration chromatography, High performance liquid chromatography equipped with evaporative light-scattering detector, Infrared radiation and Nuclear magnetic resonance were used to evaluate the structure of the polysaccharide.

Genetic characterization of Shigella flexneri isolates in Guizhou Province, China.

Shigella flexneri is one of the major etiologic causes of shigellosis in Guizhou Province, China. However, the genetic characteristics of circulating isolates are unknown. Phenotypic and molecular profiles of 60 S.

AMP-activated protein kinase alleviates extracellular matrix accumulation in high glucose-induced renal fibroblasts through mTOR signaling pathway.

Background/aims: Extracellular matrix accumulation contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Although AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been found to inhibit extracellular matrix synthesis by experiments in vivo and vitro, its role in alleviating the deposition of extracellular matrix in renal interstitial fibroblasts has not been well defined.

Methods: Currently, we conducted this study to investigate the effects of AMPK on high glucose-induced extracellular matrix synthesis and involved intracellular signaling pathway by using western blot in the kidney fibroblast cell line (NRK-49f).

Genetic variant in CLPTM1L confers reduced risk of lung cancer: a replication study in Chinese and a meta-analysis.

Background: Rs31489 in the cleft lip and palate transmembrane1-like gene (CLPTM1L) has been identified to be associated with lung cancer through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, some recent replication studies yielded inconclusive results. Thus, we undertook this study to investigate the precise effect of rs31489 on lung cancer susceptibility.

Genetic and structural identification of an O-acyltransferase gene (oacC) responsible for the 3/4-O-acetylation on rhamnose III in Shigella flexneri serotype 6.

Background: O-antigen (O-polysaccharide) of the lipopolysaccharide is a highly variable cell component of the outer membrane in Shigella flexneri. It defines the serospecificity and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of shigellosis. There are two distinct O-antigen forms for the 19 serotypes of S.

Genome-wide uncovering of STAT3-mediated miRNA expression profiles in colorectal cancer cell lines.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies resulting in high mortality worldwide. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an oncogenic transcription factor which is frequently activated and aberrantly expressed in CRC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs which play important roles in many cancers.

Serotype-converting bacteriophage SfII encodes an acyltransferase protein that mediates 6-O-acetylation of GlcNAc in Shigella flexneri O-antigens, conferring on the host a novel O-antigen epitope.

Shigella flexneri O-antigen is an important and highly variable cell component presented on the outer leaflet of the outer membrane. Most Shigella flexneri bacteria share an O-antigen backbone composed of →2)-α-L-Rhap(III)-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap(II)-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap(I)-(1→3)-β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→ repeats, which can be modified by adding various chemical groups to different sugars, giving rise to diverse O-antigen structures and, correspondingly, to various serotypes. The known modifications include glucosylation on various sugar residues, O-acetylation on Rha(I) or/and Rha(III), and phosphorylation with phosphoethanolamine on Rha(II) or/and Rha(III).

Clinical drug-drug interaction assessment of ivacaftor as a potential inhibitor of cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein.

Ivacaftor is approved in the USA for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients with a G551D-CFTR mutation or one of eight other CFTR mutations. A series of in vitro experiments conducted early in the development of ivacaftor indicated ivacaftor and metabolites may have the potential to inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A, and CYP2D6, as well as P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Based on these results, a series of clinical drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of ivacaftor on sensitive substrates of CYP2C8 (rosiglitazone), CYP3A (midazolam), CYP2D6 (desipramine), and P-gp (digoxin).