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Currently, the national schistosomiasis control program of China is moving from transmission interruption to elimination, and there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards the progression of schistosomiasis elimination, including a high difficulty in shrinking snail-infested areas, unstable achievements for infectious source control, imperfect surveillance system and a reduction in schistosomiasis control and administration. Based on the core suggestions proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, recommendations on schistosomiasis surveillance system building, development of novel diagnostics, adjustment of the schistosomiasis control strategy and maintaining and improvements of the schistosomiasis control capability are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China in the new era according to the actual status of schistosomiasis control in China. Formulation of the national schistosomiasis control strategy and goal from One Health perspective, verification of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis, precision implementation of schistosomiasis control interventions with adaptations to local circumstances, development and application of highly sensitive and specific diagnostics are recommended for elimination of schistosomiasis in China. In addition, the implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis may guide the elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

To investigate the influences of dietary riboflavin (RF) addition on nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation, eight rumen cannulated Holstein bulls were randomly allocated into four treatments in a repeated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Daily addition level of RF for each bull in control, low RF, medium RF and high RF was 0, 300, 600 and 900 mg, respectively. Increasing the addition level of RF, DM intake was not affected, average daily gain tended to be increased linearly and feed conversion ratio decreased linearly. Total tract digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein (CP) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) increased linearly. Rumen pH decreased quadratically, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) increased quadratically. Acetate molar percentage and acetate:propionate ratio increased linearly, but propionate molar percentage and ammonia-N content decreased linearly. Rumen effective degradability of DM increased linearly, NDF increased quadratically but CP was unaltered. Activity of cellulase and populations of total bacteria, protozoa, fungi, dominant cellulolytic bacteria, Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus increased linearly. Linear increase was observed for urinary total purine derivatives excretion. The data suggested that dietary RF addition was essential for rumen microbial growth, and no further increase in performance and rumen total VFA concentration was observed when increasing RF level from 600 to 900 mg/d in dairy bulls.

Coated copper sulphate (CCS) could be used as a Cu supplement in cows. To investigate the influences of copper sulphate (CS) and CCS on milk performance, nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation, fifty Holstein dairy cows were arranged in a randomised block design to five groups: control, CS addition (7·5 mg Cu/kg DM from CS) or CCS addition (5, 7·5 and 10 mg Cu/kg DM from CCS, respectively). When comparing Cu source at equal inclusion rates (7·5 mg/kg DM), cows receiving CCS addition had higher yields of fat-corrected milk, milk fat and protein; digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF); ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration; activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, pectinase and α-amylase; populations of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes; and liver Cu content than cows receiving CS addition. Increasing CCS addition, DM intake was unchanged, yields of milk, milk fat and protein; feed efficiency; digestibility of DM, OM, NDF and acid-detergent fibre; ruminal total VFA concentration; acetate:propionate ratio; activity of cellulolytic enzyme; populations of total bacteria, protozoa and dominant cellulolytic bacteria; and concentrations of Cu in serum and liver increased linearly, but ruminal propionate percentage, ammonia-N concentration, α-amylase activity and populations of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus decreased linearly. The results indicated that supplement of CS could be substituted with CCS and addition of CCS improved milk performance and nutrient digestion in dairy cows.

This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected folic acid (RPFA) and betaine (BT) on growth performance, nutrient digestion and blood metabolites in bulls. Forty-eight Angus bulls were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design. BT of 0 or 0·6 g/kg DM was supplemented to diet without or with the addition of 6 mg/kg DM of folic acid from RPFA, respectively. Average daily gain increased by 25·2 and 6·29 % for addition of BT without RPFA and with RPFA, respectively. Digestibility and ruminal total volatile fatty acids of neutral-detergent fibre and acid-detergent fibre increased, feed conversion ratio and blood folate decreased with the addition of BT without RPFA, but these parameters were unchanged with BT addition in diet with RPFA. Digestibility of DM, organic matter and crude protein as well as acetate:propionate ratio increased with RPFA or BT addition. Ruminal ammonia-N decreased with RPFA addition. Activity of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase, pectinase and protease as well as population of total bacteria, protozoa, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminobacter amylophilus increased with RPFA or BT addition. Laccase activity and total fungi, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Prevotella ruminicola population increased with RPFA addition, whereas Ruminococcus albus population increased with BT addition. Blood glucose, total protein, albumin, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 increased with RPFA addition. Addition of RPFA or BT decreased blood homocysteine. The results indicated that addition of BT stimulated growth and nutrient digestion in bulls only when RPFA was not supplemented.

Se can enhance lactation performance by improving nutrient utilization and antioxidant status. However, sodium selenite (SS) can be reduced to non-absorbable elemental Se in the rumen, thereby reducing the intestinal availability of Se. The study investigated the impacts of SS and coated SS (CSS) supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation and microbiota in dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were blocked by parity, daily milk yield and days in milk and randomly assigned to five treatments: control, SS addition (0.3 mg Se/kg DM as SS addition) or CSS addition (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg Se/kg DM as CSS addition for low CSS (LCSS), medium CSS (MCSS) and high CSS (HCSS), respectively). Experiment period was 110 days with 20 days of adaptation and 90 days of sample collection. Dry matter intake was higher for MCSS and HCSS compared with control. Yields of milk, milk fat and milk protein and feed efficiency were higher for MCSS and HCSS than for control, SS and LCSS. Digestibility of DM and organic matter was highest for CSS addition, followed by SS addition and then control. Digestibility of CP was higher for MCSS and HCSS than for control, SS and LCSS. Higher digestibility of ether extract, NDF and ADF was observed for SS or CSS addition. Ruminal pH decreased with dietary Se addition. Acetate to propionate ratio and ammonia N were lower, and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration was greater for SS, MCSS and HCSS than control. Ruminal H ion concentration was highest for MCSS and HCSS and lowest for control. Activities of cellobiase, carboxymethyl-cellulase, xylanase and protease and copies of total bacteria, fungi, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus amylophilus increased with SS or CSS addition. Activity of α-amylase, copies of protozoa, Ruminococcus albus and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and serum glucose, total protein, albumin and glutathione peroxidase were higher for SS, MCSS and HCSS than for control and LCSS. Dietary SS or CSS supplementation elevated blood Se concentration and total antioxidant capacity activity. The data implied that milk yield was elevated due to the increase in total tract nutrient digestibility, total VFA concentration and microorganism population with 0.2 or 0.3 mg Se/kg DM from CSS supplementation in dairy cows. Compared with SS, HCSS addition was more efficient in promoting lactation performance of dairy cows.

The combined addition of branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFAs) and folic acid (FA) could improve growth performance and nutrient utilization by stimulating ruminal microbial growth and enzyme activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of BCVFA and FA addition on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, microbial enzyme activity, microflora and excretion of urinary purine derivatives (PDs) in calves. Thirty-six Chinese Holstein weaned calves (60 ± 5.4 days of age and 107 ± 4.7 kg of BW) were assigned to one of four groups in a randomized block design. Treatments were control (without additives), FA (with 10 mg FA/kg dietary DM), BCVFA (with 5 g BCVFA/kg dietary DM) and the combined addition of FA and BCVFA (10 mg/kg DM of FA and 5 g/kg DM of BCVFA). Supplements were hand-mixed into the top one-third of total mixed ration. Dietary concentrate to maize silage ratio was 50 : 50 on a DM basis. Dietary BCVFA or FA addition did not affect dry matter intake but increased average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency. Ruminal pH and ammonia N were lower, and total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration was higher for BCVFA or FA addition than for control. Dietary BCVFA or FA addition did not affect acetate proportion but decreased propionate proportion and increased acetate to propionate ratio. Total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter, CP and NDF was higher for BCVFA or FA addition than for control. Dietary BCVFA or FA addition increased activity of carboxymethyl cellulase and cellobiase, population of total bacteria, fungi, Ruminococcus albus, R. flavefaciens, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Prevotella ruminicola as well as total PD excretion. Ruminal xylanase, pectinase and protease activity and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens population were increased by BCVFA addition, whereas population of protozoa and methanogens was increased by FA addition. The BCVFA × FA interaction was significant for acetate to propionate ratio, cellobiase activity and total PD excretion, and these variables increased more with FA addition in diet without BCVFA than in diet with BCVFA. The data indicated that supplementation with BCVFA or FA increased ADG, nutrient digestibility, ruminal total VFA concentration and microbial protein synthesis by stimulating ruminal microbial growth and enzyme activity in calves.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Piperine, an alkaloid, has been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antiulcer potential. Aim: To elucidate the plausible mechanisms of action of piperine on experimental trinitrobenzenesufonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis by assessing various biochemical, molecular, histological, and ultrastructural modifications. Methods: Colitis was induced in male Sprague–Dawley rats via intrarectal instillation of TNBS. Then, the rats were treated with piperine (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, p.o.) for 14 days. Results: TNBS induced significant ( p < 0.05) colonic damage, which was assessed by disease activity index, macroscopic score, and stool consistency. The administration of piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly inhibited ( p < 0.05) these damages. Treatments with piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) notably inhibited ( p < 0.05) the TNBS-induced elevation of oxido-nitrosative stress (superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide), 5-hydroxytryptamine, and hydroxyproline content in the colon. Furthermore, colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-gamma, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions were upregulated after TNBS instillation and piperine (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly attenuated ( p < 0.05) these elevated mRNA expressions. TNBS decreased the expressions of tight junction (TJ) protein (claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)) and increased the expressions of proapoptotic (caspase-1) protein. These expressions were markedly inhibited ( p < 0.05) by piperine treatment. Histological and ultrastructural studies of transmission electron microscopy suggested that piperine significantly ameliorated ( p < 0.05) TNBS-induced colonic aberrations. Conclusion: Piperine ameliorated the progression of TNBS-induced colitis by modulating the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-alpha/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, thus inhibiting the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL’s), COX-2, iNOs, oxido-nitrosative stress, and proapoptotic proteins (caspase-1) that may improve the expression of TJ protein (claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1).

Aims To develop a pcsB-based Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the detection of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) in milk, tilapia and vaginal swabs. Methods and results The sensitivity of the LAMP method using real-time turbidity monitoring was 1 pg of template within 1 h at 64°C, 100-fold higher than conventional PCR. The sensitivity of visual detection dropped an order of magnitude using SYBR Green I or hydroxynaphthol blue. The validity of the visual LAMP assay was assessed by the detection of GBS in 180 vaginal swabs from one hospital, 14 brain tissues samples of diseased tilapias from two fishponds and fresh milk of 67 dairy cattle from one farm. In total, 17 samples (4 vaginal swabs, 13 tilapia brain tissues but no milk sample) tested positive for GBS. Subsequent bacterial identification confirmed the specificity and reliability of the LAMP method. Molecular serotyping and multilocus sequence typing demonstrated that all 13 tilapia GBS isolates were identical (serotype Ia, ST7), whereas the four human GBS isolates were more diverse and could be classified into two serotypes (Ia, III) and four sequence types (ST19, ST23, ST24, ST862). Virulence gene testing showed that only the bac, rib and lmb genes were not present in all isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates were basically consistent with their genotypes, except for sulphonamide and fluoroquinolone. Conclusions We developed a reliable pcsB-based LAMP assay for GBS detection. Our results demonstrated that the prevalence of GBS was 92·9% among diseased tilapia, 2·2% among female patients and 0% on a dairy farm in Hainan. Significance and impact of the study The pcsB-based LAMP method is suitable for GBS detection and contains great potential of application in dairy industry, aquiculture and clinical.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a disorder of synaptic development and function, is the most prevalent genetic form of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. FXS mouse models display clinically-relevant phenotypes, such as increased anxiety and hyperactivity. Despite their availability, so far advances in drug development have not yielded new treatments. Therefore, testing novel drugs that can ameliorate FXS’ cognitive and behavioral impairments is imperative. ANAVEX2-73 (blarcamesine) is a sigma-1 receptor (S1R) agonist with a strong safety record and preliminary efficacy evidence in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and Rett syndrome, other synaptic neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. S1R’s role in calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function, cellular functions related to synaptic function, makes blarcamesine a potential drug candidate for FXS. Administration of blarcamesine in 2-month-old FXS and wild type mice for 2 weeks led to normalization in two key neurobehavioral phenotypes: open field test (hyperactivity) and contextual fear conditioning (associative learning). Furthermore, there was improvement in marble-burying (anxiety, perseverative behavior). It also restored levels of BDNF, a converging point of many synaptic regulators, in the hippocampus. Positron emission tomography (PET) and ex vivo autoradiographic studies, using the highly selective S1R PET ligand [18F]FTC-146, demonstrated the drug’s dose-dependent receptor occupancy. Subsequent analyses also showed a wide but variable brain regional distribution of S1Rs, which was preserved in FXS mice. Altogether, these neurobehavioral, biochemical, and imaging data demonstrates doses that yield measurable receptor occupancy are effective for improving the synaptic and behavioral phenotype in FXS mice. The present findings support the viability of S1R as a therapeutic target in FXS, and the clinical potential of blarcamesine in FXS and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in adults and has high mortality and relapse rates. Over the past few years, great advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of GBM, but unfortunately, the five-year overall survival rate of GBM patients is approximately 5.1%. Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon (IKBKE) is a major oncogenic protein in tumors and can promote evil development of GBM. Snail1, a key inducer of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor, is subjected to ubiquitination and degradation, but the mechanism by which Snail1 is stabilized in tumors remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IKBKE regulating Snail1 in GBM.First, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of IKBKE and the tumor grade and prognosis through public databases and laboratory specimen libraries. Second, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot were used to detect the correlation between IKBKE and Snail expression in glioma samples and cell lines. Western blot and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments were used to detect the quality and distribution of IKBKE and Snail1 proteins. Third, In situ animal model of intracranial glioma to detect the regulatory effect of IKBKE on intracranial tumors.In this study, Our study reveals a new connection between IKBKE and Snail1, where IKBKE can directly bind to Snail1, translocate Snail1 into the nucleus from the cytoplasm. Downregulation of IKBKE results in Snail1 destabilization and impairs the tumor cell migration and invasion capabilities.Our studies suggest that the IKBKE-Snail1 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

To review current knowledge of elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels in relation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and discuss their potential use as biomarkers and therapeutic approaches in clinical practice. We summarized the current understanding and recent advances in the structure, metabolism, atherogenic mechanisms, standardized laboratory measurement, recommended screening populations, and prognostic value of Lp(a), with a special focus on the current potential treatment approaches for hyperlipoprotein(a)emia in patients with ASCVD. Lp(a) is composed of LDL-like particle and characteristic apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] connected by a disulfide bond. Substantial evidence shows that elevated plasma Lp(a) level is a heritable, independent, and possibly causal risk factor for ASCVD through its proatherogenic, proinflammatory, and potentially prothrombotic properties. Current guidelines recommend Lp(a) measurement for patients with an intermediate-high risk of ASCVD, familial hypercholesterolemia, a family history of early ASCVD or elevated Lp(a), and progressive ASCVD despite receiving optimal therapy. Traditional Lp(a)-lowering approaches such as niacin, PCSK9 inhibitors, mipomersen, lomitapide, and lipoprotein apheresis were associated with a non-specific and limited reduction of Lp(a), intolerable side effects, invasive procedure, and high expense. The phase 2 randomized controlled trial of antisense oligonucleotide against the apo(a) encoding gene LPA mRNA showed that IONIS-APO(a)-LRX could specifically reduce the level of Lp(a) by 90% with good tolerance, which may become a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of ASCVD in the future. It is reasonable to measure Lp(a) levels to reclassify ASCVD risk and manage individuals with elevated Lp(a) to further reduce the residual risk of ASCVD, especially with IONIS-APO(a)-LRX.

Ketosis is one of the most prevalent and complex metabolic disorders in high-producing dairy cows and usually detected through analyses of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood. Our main objectives were to evaluate genetic parameters for blood BHB predicted based on Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectra from 5 to 305 d in milk, and estimate the genetic relationships of blood BHB with 7 reproduction traits and 6 longevity traits in Holstein cattle. Predicted blood BHB records of 11,609 Holstein cows (after quality control) were collected from 2016 to 2019 and used to derive 4 traits based on parity number, including predicted blood BHB in all parities (BHBp), parity 1 (BHB1), parity 2 (BHB2), and parity 3+ (BHB3). Single- and multitrait repeatability models were used for estimating genetic parameters for the 4 BHB traits. Random regression test-day models implemented via Bayesian inference were used to evaluate the daily genetic feature of BHB variability. In addition, genetic correlations were calculated for the 4 BHB traits with reproduction and longevity traits. The heritability estimates of BHBp, BHB1, BHB2, and BHB3 ranged from 0.100 ± 0.026 (± standard error) to 0.131 ± 0.023. The BHB in parities 1 to 3+ were highly genetically correlated and ranged from 0.788 (BHB1 and BHB2) to 0.911 (BHB1 and BHB3). The daily heritability of BHBp ranged from 0.069 to 0.195, higher for the early and lower for the later lactation periods. A similar trend was observed for BHB1, BHB2, and BHB3. There are low direct genetic correlations between BHBp and selected reproductive performance and longevity traits, which ranged from −0.168 ± 0.019 (BHBp and production life) to 0.157 ± 0.019 (BHBp and age at first calving) for the early lactation stage (5 to 65 d). These direct genetic correlations indicate that cows with higher BHBp (greater likelihood of having ketosis) in blood usually have shorter production life (−0.168 ± 0.019). Cows with higher fertility and postpartum recovery, such as younger age at first calving (0.157 ± 0.019) and shorter interval from calving to first insemination in heifer (0.111 ± 0.006), usually have lower BHB concentration in the blood. Furthermore, the direct genetic correlations change across parity and lactation stage. In general, our results suggest that selection for lower predicted BHB in early lactation could be an efficient strategy for reducing the incidence of ketosis as well as indirectly improving reproductive and longevity performance in Holstein cattle.

Chronic stress is a risk factor for a variety of physiological disorders because of its increased activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; however, it is difficult to reveal environmental and genetic effects contributing to long-term HPA activity because of the complexity of chronic stress. The hair cortisol concentration (HCC) can be used to reflect the accumulation of HPA axis activity over time. Some studies suggest that the HCC might be associated with the protein concentration (PC) in the hair shaft; however, no studies have revealed a dynamic relationship between them. In the present study, 1,086 hair samples from 418 Holstein cows were collected, and the effects of environmental factors on HCC, PC, and ratio of HCC to PC (HCCP) were studied. Subsequently, regression analysis and curve fitting were used to identify for better-performing indicators of chronic stress. Additionally, univariate and bivariate genetic evaluation were used to estimate the genetic components of cortisol traits and genotype by environment interactions (G × E) under different environmental and physiological states. The results showed that HCC and PC are significantly affected by hair color, sampling year, and season, whereas HCCP is not influenced by hair color. Adjusted PC and HCCP, where confounding effects are excluded, were moderately related with chronic stress indicators. Moderate to high heritabilities were obtained for HCC (0.347 and 0.390 for winter and summer, respectively), PC (0.402 and 0.495 for winter and summer, respectively) and HCCP (0.289 and 0.460 for winter and summer, respectively) when animals in the same season were evaluated. A moderate G × E interaction was detected in this study, as indicated by the low or negative genetic correlation for the same cortisol trait in different environments (e.g. heat stress condition and thermoneutral condition). In conclusion, HCCP is not affected by hair color compared with the other 2 traits; thus, it has potential as an indicator of chronic stress. Hair cortisol traits could monitor stress response process in cattle, as well as provide a better understanding of genetic mechanism for long-term HPA activity.

To unravel the potential function of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) as the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Twelve specific pathogen-free Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the control cohort (n = 6) or the COPD cohort (n = 6). COPD model was developed by tobacco smoke exposure. Functional residual capacity (FRC), static lung compliance (Cchord), ratio of forced expiratory volume in 0.1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV0.1/FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were detected by respiratory function tests. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the pathological changes as well as the expression and localization of RECK in pulmonary tissue. RECK expression was further quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot assays.COPD rats had significantly reduced FEV0.1/FVC% and PEF values but increased FRC and Cchord levels, as compared to the control cohort (p0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining indicated typical COPD pathological changes, including leukocyte infiltration, airway thickening, alveoli fusion, etc., in the COPD rats. IHC indicated reduced expression of RECK in the COPD cohort, which was mainly expressed on the epithelium and partly expressed on subepithelial cells and inflammatory cells. Real-time PCR and Western blot assays further revealed the significantly lower expression of RECK in lung tissue from the COPD cohort.RECK is mainly expressed on airway epithelial cells. COPD rats expressed significantly lower RECK levels, indicating that RECK exhibits a protective function in the development of COPD.

To evaluate the impacts of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and coated folic acid (CFA) on growth performance, nutrient digestion and hepatic gene expression, fifty-two Angus bulls were assigned to four groups in a 2 × 2 factor experimental design. The CFA of 0 or 6 mg/kg dietary DM folic acid was supplemented in diets with GAA of 0 (GAA−) or 0·6 g/kg DM (GAA+), respectively. Average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency and hepatic creatine concentration increased with GAA or CFA addition, and the increased magnitude of these parameters was greater for addition of CFA in GAA− diets than in GAA+ diets. Blood creatine concentration increased with GAA or CFA addition, and greater increase was observed when CFA was supplemented in GAA+ diets than in GAA− diets. DM intake was unchanged, but rumen total SCFA concentration and digestibilities of DM, crude protein, neutral-detergent fibre and acid-detergent fibre increased with the addition of GAA or CFA. Acetate:propionate ratio was unaffected by GAA, but increased for CFA addition. Increase in blood concentrations of albumin, total protein and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was observed for GAA or CFA addition. Blood folate concentration was decreased by GAA, but increased with CFA addition. Hepatic expressions of IGF-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, protein kinase B, mammalian target of rapamycin and ribosomal protein S6 kinase increased with GAA or CFA addition. Results indicated that the combined supplementation of GAA and CFA could not cause ADG increase more when compared with GAA or CFA addition alone.

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) can improve the growth performance of bulls. This study investigated the influences of GAA addition on growth, nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation and serum metabolites in bulls. Forty-eight Angus bulls were randomly allocated to experimental treatments, that is, control, low-GAA (LGAA), medium-GAA (MGAA) and high-GAA (HGAA), with GAA supplementation at 0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 g/kg DM, respectively. Bulls were fed a basal diet containing 500 g/kg DM concentrate and 500 g/kg DM roughage. The experimental period was 104 days, with 14 days for adaptation and 90 days for data collection. Bulls in the MGAA and HGAA groups had higher DM intake and average daily gain than bulls in the LGAA and control groups. The feed conversion ratio was lowest in MGAA and highest in the control. Bulls receiving 0.9 g/kg DM GAA addition had higher digestibility of DM, organic matter, NDF and ADF than bulls in other groups. The digestibility of CP was higher for HGAA than for LGAA and control. The ruminal pH was lower for MGAA, and the total volatile fatty acid concentration was greater for MGAA and HGAA than for the control. The acetate proportion and acetate-to-propionate ratio were lower for MGAA than for LGAA and control. The propionate proportion was higher for MGAA than for control. Bulls receiving GAA addition showed decreased ruminal ammonia N. Bulls in MGAA and HGAA had higher cellobiase, pectinase and protease activities and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus populations than bulls in LGAA and control. However, the total protozoan population was lower for MGAA and HGAA than for LGAA and control. The total bacterial and Ruminococcus flavefaciens populations increased with GAA addition. The blood level of creatine was higher for HGAA, and the activity of l-arginine glycine amidine transferase was lower for MGAA and HGAA, than for control. The blood activity of guanidine acetate N-methyltransferase and the level of folate decreased in the GAA addition groups. The results indicated that dietary addition of 0.6 or 0.9 g/kg DM GAA improved growth performance, nutrient digestion and ruminal fermentation in bulls.

To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on repairing brachial plexus injury in rabbits and their influence on expression of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway.With big-ear rabbits as the objects, the BMSCs were first isolated, and the cluster of differentiation (CD)45- and CD90+ BMSCs were sorted out via flow cytometry. BMSCs were transfected with red fluorescent protein (RFP), and the transfection effect was detected. Then, the big-ear rabbits were subjected to brachial plexus root avulsion injury (BPAI) to establish injury Model group and sham-operation group (Sham group). Later, the BMSCs were transfected with RFP to construct RFP-BMSCs. The RFP-BMSCs (5×106, Treat group) and normal saline (Model group) were intraperitoneally injected, and the recovery rate of wet weight of the upper limb muscle was measured by weighing. The injured nerve tissues were embedded for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and observation of pathological changes. The electrophysiological measurement of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) on the injured side was conducted for the rabbits to be sacrificed immediately using an electromyogram instrument, and the CMAP amplitude and latency were applied to evaluate the recovery of upper limb muscle. Finally, the location of RFP-BMSCs in the nerve tissues was traced by a fluorescence microscope, and the protein expression levels of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-MAPK) in the injured nerve tissues were determined by means of Western blotting.Persistently expressed red fluorescence was observed in CD45- and CD90+ BMSCs sorted via flow cytometry under the fluorescence microscope, indicating that the RFP-BMSCs were constructed successfully. Compared with Sham group, Model group had a remarkably decreased recovery rate of wet muscle weight (p0.05), while Treat group exhibited a notably increased recovery rate of wet muscle weight in comparison with Model group. The CMAP amplitude was reduced markedly (p0.05), while the CMAP latency was prolonged significantly (p0.05) in Model group compared with those in Sham group. Moreover, Treat group had distinctly higher CMAP amplitude and evidently shorter CMAP latency than Model group (p0.05). It was discovered under the fluorescence microscope that RFP-BMSCs were visibly arranged on both sides of nerve fibers in Treat group. The expressions of p-MAPK and p-ERK were raised prominently in Model group in comparison with those in Sham group (p0.05), and they were lowered apparently in Treat group compared with those in Model group (p0.05).BMSCs can repair the impaired brachial plexus neurons and restore their physiological functions, and the protective effect of the BMSCs on the neurons is associated with the mediated MAPK/ERK pathway.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that can lead to the dysfunction of many organs, including the cardiac one. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be involved in multiple organ injuries induced by sepsis. However, the regulatory effect of nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) on sepsis-induced myocardial injury remains to be explored.The sepsis models of myocardial cell injury were constructed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect cell viability. Flow cytometry was performed to assess cell apoptosis. Moreover, the levels of apoptosis-related and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins were evaluated by Western blot (WB) analysis. Besides, the contents of inflammatory cytokines were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of NEAT1 and microRNA-144-3p (miR-144-3p) were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, Dual-Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to verify the interaction between NEAT1 and miR-144-3p.LPS could induce myocardial cell injury to construct sepsis models. NEAT1 was upregulated in LPS-treated myocardial cells, and its knockdown promoted viability, suppressed apoptosis, and relieved inflammatory response in LPS-induced myocardial cell injury. MiR-144-3p was downregulated in LPS-treated myocardial cells, and the effect of its overexpression on LPS-induced myocardial cell injury was similar to the effect of NEAT1 knockdown. Besides, miR-144-3p could be sponged by NEAT1, and its inhibitor could reverse the effect of NEAT1 knockdown on LPS-induced myocardial cell injury. Moreover, NEAT1 and miR-144-3p could regulate the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway.LncRNA NEAT1 could interact with miR-144-3p to regulate sepsis-induced myocardial cell injury through the NF-κB signaling pathway, which might provide a new theoretical basis for the study on the effect of sepsis treatment.

Isovalerate supplements could stimulate rumen development by improving morphology and function of rumen mucosa, and then promote the growth of calves. This study was done to evaluate the effects of isovalerate supplements on morphology and functional gene expression of rumen mucosa in dairy calves. In total, 48 Chinese Holstein male calves with 15 days of age and 45.1±0.36 kg of BW were randomly assigned to four groups. The treatments were: control, low-isovalerate, moderate-isovalerate and high-isovalerate with 0, 3, 6 and 9 g isovalerate per calf per day, respectively. Supplementary isovalerate was hand-mixed into milk in pre-weaning calves and into concentrate portion in post-weaning calves. The study consisted of a 15-day-adaptation period and a 60-day-sampling period. Calves were weaned at 60 days of age. Three calves were slaughtered from each of the four treatments at 30, 60 and 90 days of age. The weight of body and stomach were measured, samples of ruminal tissues and blood were analyzed. Total stomach weight, total stomach to BW ratio, rumen wall and keratinized layer thickness, serum growth hormone and IGF-1 for both pre- and post-weaning calves increased linearly with increasing isovalerate supplements. Rumen to total stomach weight ratio, the length and width of rumen papillae, and serum β-hydroxybutyrate increased linearly for post-weaning calves. However, abomasum weight to total stomach weight ratio decreased linearly for both pre- and post-weaning calves. The relative messenger RNA expression for growth hormone receptor, IGF-1 receptor and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 in rumen mucosa increased linearly for post-weaning calves. Our results suggested that isovalerate supplements promoted rumen development in a dose-dependent manner. The optimum dose was 6.0 g isovalerate per calf per day.

Branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) supplements could promote lactation performance and milk quality by improving ruminal fermentation and milk fatty acid synthesis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of BCVFA supplementation on milk performance, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility and mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid synthesis in mammary gland of dairy cows. A total of 36 multiparous Chinese Holstein cows averaging 606±4.7 kg of BW, 65±5.2 day in milk (DIM) with daily milk production of 30.6±0.72 kg were assigned to one of four groups blocked by lactation number, milk yield and DIM. The treatments were control, low-BCVFA (LBCVFA), medium-BCVFA (MBCVFA) and high-BCVFA (HBCVFA) with 0, 30, 60 and 90 g BCVFA per cow per day, respectively. Experimental periods were 105 days with 15 days of adaptation and 90 days of data collection. Dry matter (DM) intake tended to increase, but BW changes were similar among treatments. Yields of actual milk, 4% fat corrected milk, milk fat and true protein linearly increased, but feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly decreased with increasing BCVFA supplementation. Milk fat content linearly increased, but true protein content tended to increase. Contents of C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C14:0 and C15:0 fatty acids in milk fat linearly increased, whereas other fatty acids were not affected with increasing BCVFA supplementation. Ruminal pH, ammonia N concentration and propionate molar proportion linearly decreased, but total VFA production and molar proportions of acetate and butyrate linearly increased with increasing BCVFA supplementation. Consequently, acetate to propionate ratios linearly increased. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter, CP, NDF and ADF also linearly increased. In addition, mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, sterol regulatory element-binding factor 1 and fatty acid-binding protein 3 linearly increased, mRNA expressions of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase-α, fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase quadratically increased. However, lipoprotein lipase mRNA expression was not affected by treatments. The results indicated that lactation performance and milk fat synthesis increased with BCVFA supplementation by improving ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility and mRNA expressions of genes related to milk fat synthesis.

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) levels and 2-methylbutyrate (MB) supplementation on ruminal fermentation, bacterial populations, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) in Simmental steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers, averaging 18 months of age and 465 ± 8.6 kg of body weight (BW), were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design by a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Low protein (98.5 g CP/kg dry matter [LP] or high protein (128.7 g CP/kg dry matter [HP]) diets were fed with MB supplementation (0 g [MB−] or 16.8 g steer−1 day−1 [MB+]). Steers were fed a total mixed ration with dietary corn straw to concentrate ratio of 50:50 (dry matter [DM] basis). The CP × MB interaction was observed for ruminal total VFA, molar proportions of acetate and propionate, acetate to propionate ratio, ammonia-N, effective degradability of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and CP, microbial enzyme activity, bacterial populations and total PD excretion (p

Isobutyrate supplements could improve rumen development by increasing ruminal fermentation products, especially butyrate, and then promote the growth performance of calves. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of isobutyrate supplementation on growth performance, rumen development, blood metabolites and hormone secretion in pre- and post-weaned dairy calves. In total, 56 Chinese Holstein male calves with 30 days of age and 72.9±1.43 kg of BW, blocked by days of age and BW, were assigned to four groups in a randomized block design. The treatments were as follows: control, low-isobutyrate, moderate-isobutyrate and high-isobutyrate with 0, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.09 g isobutyrate/kg BW per calf per day, respectively. Supplemental isobutyrate was hand-mixed into milk of pre-weaned calves and the concentrate portion of post-weaned calves. The study consisted of 10 days of an adaptation period and a 50-day sampling period. Calves were weaned at 60 days of age. Seven calves were chosen from each treatment at random and slaughtered at 45 and 90 days of age. BW, dry matter (DM) intake and stomach weight were measured, samples of ruminal tissues and blood were determined. For pre- and post-weaned calves, DM intake and average daily gain increased linearly (P

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant type of brain tumor. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, the prognosis of patients with GBM has remained dismal. Multidrug resistance and high recurrence are two of the major challenges in successfully treating brain tumors. IKBKE (inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon) is a major oncogenic protein in tumors and can inhibit glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IKBKE enhancing the resistance of glioma cells to temozolomide. For the in vitro experiments, LN18 and U118 glioblastoma cells were treated with a combination of sh/oe-IKBKE lentivirus and TMZ. Cell proliferation was determined by the EdU assay and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was analyzed by the TUNEL assay. In vivo, LN18 NC and LN18 sh-IKBKE cells were implanted into the cerebrums of nude mice to detect the effect of combination therapy. The protein and mRNA levels were assayed by western blot, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR. In this study, we demonstrated that IKBKE enhances the resistance of glioblastoma cells to temozolomide (TMZ) by activating the AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway to upregulate the expression of the DNA repair enzyme o6-methylguanine-dna methyltransferase (MGMT). In glioblastoma cells, IKBKE knockdown enhances apoptosis and suppresses cell proliferation, clone formation, and tumor development in vivo induced by TMZ. However, overexpression of IKBKE reduces the effects of TMZ. Our studies suggest that inhibition of IKBKE can enhance the therapeutic effect of TMZ on GBM in vitro and in vivo, providing new research directions and therapeutic targets for the treatment of GBM.

The present experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary addition of rumen-protected folic acid (RPFA) on ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradability, enzyme activity and the relative quantity of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria in growing beef steers. Eight rumen-cannulated Jinnan beef steers averaging 2.5 years of age and 419 ± 1.9 kg body weight were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. The four treatments comprised supplementation levels of 0 (Control), 70, 140 and 210 mg RPFA/kg dietary dry matter (DM). On DM basis, the ration consisted of 50% corn silage, 47% concentrate and 3% soybean oil. The DM intake (averaged 8.5 kg/d) was restricted to 95% of ad libitum intake. The intake of DM, crude protein (CP) and net energy for growth was not affected by treatments. In contrast, increasing RPFA supplementation increased average daily gain and the concentration of total volatile fatty acid and reduced ruminal pH linearly. Furthermore, increasing RPFA supplementation enhanced the acetate to propionate ratio and reduced the ruminal ammonia N content linearly. The ruminal effective degradability of neutral detergent fibre from corn silage and CP from concentrate improved linearly and was highest for the highest supplementation levels. The activities of cellobiase, xylanase, pectinase and α-amylase linearly increased, but carboxymethyl-cellulase and protease were not affected by the addition of RPFA. The relative quantities of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes increased linearly. With increasing RPFA supplementation levels, the excretion of urinary purine derivatives was also increased linearly. The present results indicated that the supplementation of RPFA improved ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradability, activities of microbial enzymes and the relative quantity of the ruminal cellulolytic bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. According to the conditions of this experiment, the optimum supplementation level of RPFA was 140 mg/kg DM.

Deregulation of the MYC oncogene produces Myc protein that regulates multiple aspects of cancer cell metabolism, contributing to the acquisition of building blocks essential for cancer cell growth and proliferation. Therefore, disabling Myc function represents an attractive therapeutic option for cancer treatment. However, pharmacological strategies capable of directly targeting Myc remain elusive. Here, we identified that 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA), a drug candidate that primarily inhibits glycolysis, preferentially induced massive cell death in human cancer cells overexpressing the MYC oncogene, in vitro and in vivo, without appreciable effects on those exhibiting low MYC levels. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of glutamine metabolism synergistically potentiated the synthetic lethal targeting of MYC by 3-BrPA due in part to the metabolic disturbance caused by this combination. Mechanistically, we identified that the proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) and MCT2, which enable efficient 3-BrPA uptake by cancer cells, were selectively activated by Myc. Two regulatory mechanisms were involved: first, Myc directly activated MCT1 and MCT2 transcription by binding to specific recognition sites of both genes; second, Myc transcriptionally repressed miR29a and miR29c, resulting in enhanced expression of their target protein MCT1. Of note, expressions of MCT1 and MCT2 were each significantly elevated in MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas and C-MYC-overexpressing lymphomas than in tumors without MYC overexpression, correlating with poor prognosis and unfavorable patient survival. These results identify a novel mechanism by which Myc sensitizes cells to metabolic inhibitors and validate 3-BrPA as potential Myc-selective cancer therapeutics.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the retina and affects myopic development. Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely utilized to treat myopia in clinical settings. However, there are few reports on whether EA affects the level of retinal GABA during myopic development. To study this issue, in the present study, we explored the changes of retinal GABA content and the expression of its receptor subtypes, and the effects of EA stimulation on them in a guinea pig model with lens-induced myopia (LIM). Our results showed that the content of GABA and the expression of GABAA and GABAC receptors of retina were up-regulated during the development of myopia, and this up-regulation was inhibited by applying EA to Hegu (LI4) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) acupoints. Moreover, these effects of EA show a positional specificity. While applying EA at a sham acupoint, no apparent change of myopic retinal GABA and its receptor subtypes was observed. Taken together, our findings suggest that LIM is effective to up-regulate the level of retinal GABA, GABAA and GABAC receptors in guinea pigs and the effect may be inhibited by EA stimulation at LI4 and EX-HN5 acupoints.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2-methylbutyrate (2MB) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate-concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC]) or high-concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB-] or 15.0 g/day [2MB+]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate-to-propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH3 -N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α-amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.

There are several main vectors of scrub typhus in China, and Leptotrombidium rubellum Wang et Liao, 1984 is one of them, which was previously considered to be restricted to the coastal regions of Changle to Xiamen, Fujian province of east China. Ecological investigation of chigger mites in recent years demonstrated the presence of L. rubellum also in Yunnan province. Chigger mites were collected from 34 counties, in which 127,460 larval mites were collected from 14,381 small mammal hosts. A total of 277 species belonging to 26 genera and three subfamilies were identified. A total of 705/127,460 (0.55%) L. rubellum were collected from eight counties. Leptotrombidium rubellum was collected mainly at low elevations in southern Yunnan. A total of 663/705 (94.04%) of L. rubellum were collected from Rattus flavipectus (Milne-Edwards, 1871) found in outdoor habitats with relatively high infestation prevalence and mean intensity. Although it was collected from several hosts, the primary host was Rattus tanezumi. This represents a new distribution record of L. rubellum for Yunnan province.

UNLABELLED Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus) from Holstein milk samples with mastitis and nonmastitis was conducted to estimate its prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and toxin genes. A total of 353 milk samples were collected from three Chinese Holstein herds. Fifty-three Staph. aureus isolates collected from 29 Staph. aureus-positive samples were characterized via antimicrobial susceptibility, toxin genes and Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles. The prevalence of Staph. aureus was 4·0-9·5% in mastitic and 7·3-11·5% in nonmastitic samples in the analysed herds. Approximately 61·0% of Staph. aureus strains isolated from mastitis cows were resistant to ≥10 antimicrobials compared with 0% of isolates with nonmastitis. The most frequently observed super antigenic toxin gene was pvl (41·5%) followed by seh + pvl (13·2%). We did not find mecA-positive methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) strains, while mecA-negative MRSA strains were identified in the three herds. PFGE results suggested potential transmission of Staph. aureus strains in different farms. These results open new insights into Staph. aureus transmission and antimicrobial resistance of Holstein dairy cows and into developing strategies for udder health improvement of dairy cattle. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Significantly higher levels of antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strains were detected in the lactating Holstein milk with clinical mastitis compared with that without clinical mastitis. PFGE results suggest potential transmission of Staph. aureus strains in different dairy farms. The results imply that the dairy farms need to select effective antibiotics in the treatment of Staph. aureus-infected cows and prevent the transmission of Staph. aureus strains from one herd to another.

This paper reports on ectoparasitic chigger mites found on small mammals in Yunnan Province, southwest China. Data were accumulated from 19 investigation sites (counties) between 2001 and 2009. A total of 10 222 small mammal hosts were captured and identified; these represented 62 species, 34 genera and 11 families in five orders. From the body surfaces of these 10 222 hosts, a total of 92 990 chigger mites were collected and identified microscopically. These represented 224 species, 22 genera and three subfamilies in the family Trombiculidae (Trombidiformes). Small mammals were commonly found to be infested by chigger mites and most host species harboured several species of mite. The species diversity of chigger mites in Yunnan was much higher than diversities reported previously in other provinces of China and in other countries. A single species of rodent, Eothenomys miletus (Rodentia: Cricetidae), carried 111 species of chigger mite, thus demonstrating the highest species diversity and heaviest mite infestation of all recorded hosts. This diversity is exceptional compared with that of other ectoparasites. Of the total 224 mite species, 21 species accounted for 82.2% of all mites counted. Two species acting as major vectors for scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease), Leptotrombidium scutellare and Leptotrombidium deliense, were identified as the dominant mite species in this sample. In addition to these two major vectors, 12 potential or suspected vector species were found. Most species of chigger mite had a wide range of hosts and low host specificity. For example, L. scutellare parasitized 30 species of host. The low host specificity of chigger mites may increase their probability of encountering humans, as well as their transmission of scrub typhus among different hosts. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that similarities between different chigger mite communities on the 18 main species of small mammal host did not accord with the taxonomic affinity of the hosts. This suggests that the distribution of chigger mites may be strongly influenced by the environment in which hosts live.

Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by a trematode, parasitic worm, is a worldwide public health problem. In spite of great progress with regard to morbidity control, even elimination of this infection in recent decades, there are still challenges to overcome in sub-Saharan Africa and endemic areas in Southeast Asia. Regarded as one of the most successful countries with respect to schistosomiasis control, The People's Republic of China has accumulated considerable experience and learnt important lessons in various local settings that could benefit schistosomiasis control in other endemic countries. Based on an analysis of conceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of potential collaborative activities with regard to schistosomiasis in Africa and Asia, this article addresses the importance of collaborative efforts and explores the priorities that would be expected to facilitate the transfer of Chinese experience to low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. Hepatic arterial chemoembolization transcatheter (TACE) is one of the main treatment methods for liver cancer. However, the long-term therapeutic effect of HCC after TACE is still unsatisfactory, postoperative recurrence and metastasis rate is still very high. Furthermore, TACE operation due to liver cancer tissue ischemia and hypoxia will lead to up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. In the current study, we investigated the effects of suppressed VEGF on HCC and its molecular mechanism provided a basis for targeting angiogenesis.We established rabbits primary HCC model by in situ embedding the VX2 subcutaneous transplantation tumor. Conventional Seldinger femoral artery and hepatic artery catheterization method were used to select the catheter over the tumor-bearing hepatic artery. The different groups were divided into TACE operation, and the experimental group was performed with the VEGF-siRNA molecular preparation in the catheter. 64-slice spiral CT were used to perfusion imaging of liver cancer model before and after TACE operation. We further assessed the efficiency of VEGF silencing and its influence on VX2 cells. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Intratumoral microvessel density (MVD), VEGF and CD34 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We detected the cell apoptotic by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.Our findings indicated that VEGF-siRNA-2# could effectively suppress the expression of VEGF expression, inhibited the proliferation capability and promoted apoptosis of VX2 cells in vitro. Silencing of VEGF expression also suppress HCC tumor growth and reduce HCC angiogenesis in rabbits primary HCC model in vivo. Furthermore, We found that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) activation were considerably reduced while inhibition VEGF expression in VX2 cells.Our data demonstrated that VEGF silencing could suppress cells proliferation, promote cells apoptosis and reduce HCC angiogenesis through inactivation of VEGF/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) may adversely affect the prevention and cure of diseases. The effects of three polyether ionophore antibiotics, salinomycin (SAL), monensin (MON), and maduramycin (MAD) on the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FFC) were investigated in broilers. The chickens were fed rations with or without SAL (60 mg/kg feeds), MON (120 mg/kg feeds), or MAD (5 mg/kg feeds) for 14 consecutive days. FFC was given to the chickens either intravenously (i.v.) or orally (p.o.) at a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were taken from each chicken at 0-24 h postadministration of FFC. The plasma concentration of FFC was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. The plasma concentration of FFC decreased with i.v. or p.o. co-administration of SAL, MON, or MAD in broilers, implying occurrence of DDIs during the co-administration of FFC with these ionophores. Our findings suggest that more attention should be given to the use of FFC to treat bacterial infections in chickens supplemented with polyether ionophore antibiotics.

This study aims to observe the effect of the transplantation of hyperthermic preconditioning (HPC) olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) at 40°C combined with neural stem cells (NSCs) in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI), based on the OECs and NSCs taken from the olfactory bulbs and cerebral cortex of newborn rats. Forty-two female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into: control group, NSCs+OECs without HPC group and NSCs+HPC OECs group. Firstly, hemisected spinal cord injury model was established; the motor function recovery of the right lower limb of the rats was compared by Basso-Beatie-Bresnahan rating (BBB rating), climbing score and running time on a rotating platform during the whole experiment. At one day, two weeks and four weeks after transplantation, two rats were randomly selected from each group for section preparation. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on the sections to observe and analyze the pathological changes of the spinal cord tissue, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling was used to observe the distribution of transplanted cells. The results demonstrated that, BBB score of the rats that were treated by transplantation of NSCs combined with HPC OCEs was distinctly improved; a rapid increase of BBB score was found two weeks after transplantation, while BBB score had slightly increased six weeks later. BBB score of the control group and the NSCs+OECs without HPC group was found with a slight increase, especially in the control group. BBB score of NSCs+HPC OECs was significantly higher than in the control group and the NSCs+OECs without HPC group at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 12th week after treatment (P0.05). Climbing tests and detection of running time after 4 weeks and 6 weeks demonstrated that, the recovery of limb function of the NSCs+HPC OECs group was better than the other groups (P0.05). HE staining results of NSCs+HPC OECs indicated that, cells of the spinal cord were neatly arranged, close to normal. BrdU labeling results revealed that, transplanted cells were found in injury tissue, indicating that they were involved in the spinal cord repair. This study proves that, the effect of NSCs combined with HPC OECs in the treatment of SCI is better than NSCs combined with OECs without HPC, and the ratio of NSCs differentiating to neuron after inducing HPC OECs supernate is higher than that after inducing OECs supernate without HPC.

The Yunnan red-backed vole Eothenomys miletus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) is an endemic rodent species and reservoir host of zoonoses in southwest China. Based on a large host sample (2463 voles collected from 39 localities between 2001 and 2013), a general analysis of four categories of ectoparasite (fleas, sucking lice, chigger mites and gamasid mites) on E. miletus across its entire range of distribution was made. This analysis identified a total of 71 895 ectoparasites belonging to 320 species (30 species of flea, 9 of sucking louse, 106 of gamasid mite and 175 of chigger mite) with a high prevalence (87%), mean abundance (29.19) and mean intensity (33.69). Of the 18 vector species of zoonoses found on E. miletus, the flea Ctenophthalmus quadratus (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) and chigger mite Leptotrombidium scutellare (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) were the dominant species; these are the main vectors of zoonoses in China. All of the dominant parasite species showed an aggregated distribution pattern. Male voles harboured more species of parasite than females. Chigger mites represented the most abundant species group on voles and their prevalence was positively correlated with mean abundance (r = 0.73; P0.05). As a single rodent species, E. miletus has a high potential to harbour abundant ectoparasites with high species diversity and high rates of infestation. The sex of the vole affects ectoparasite infestation.

A 3 × 3 + 1 factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different sources of copper on plasma metabolites, nutrient digestibility, relative copper bioavailability, and retention of some minerals in male mink. Animals in the control group were fed a basal diet, which mainly consisted of corn, fish meal, meat and bone meal, and soybean oil, with no copper supplementation. Mink in the other 9 treatments were fed the basal diet supplemented with Cu from reagent-grade copper sulfate (CuSO4), tribasic copper chloride (TBCC), or copper methionine (CuMet). Copper concentrations of the experimental diets were 50, 100, and 150 mg Cu/kg DM. Blood samples were collected via the toe clip at the end of study (d 42) to determine blood hematology and blood metabolites. A metabolism trial of 4 d was conducted during the last week of experimental feeding. There was a linear (P0.01) effect of dose of Cu on plasma Cu concentrations, ceruloplasmin concentration, and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity. A linear response to Cu dose was noted for fat (P0.05) digestibility. Supplemental dose of Cu linearly increased (P0.05) liver Cu and decreased (P0.05) liver Zn level but did not alter liver Fe. The concentration of liver Cu of the mink fed with TBCC and CuMet diets was greater (P0.05) than that fed CuSO4. Compared with CuSO4 (100%), relative bioavailability values of TBCC were 104 and 104%, based on serum ceruloplasmin and liver copper, respectively, and relative bioavailability values of CuMet were 130 and 111%. CuMet and TBCC are more bioavailable than CuSO4. In conclusion, the relative bioavailability of CuMet obtained in this study was greater than that of CuSO4 and TBCC. Dose of Cu had an important effect on the regulating ceruloplasmin concentration, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity, and the digestion of dietary fat in mink.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating traumatic conditions that primarily affects young males with an annual incidence of 15-40 cases per million.To explore the superior neuroprotective effect of edaravone (ED) on spinal cord injury during maintenance therapy compared with methylprednisolone (MP).Sprague-Dawley rat model of spinal cord injury was established by modified Allen's method. Total 114 rats were divided into two groups and then six subgroups individually: A1 (control group, normal saline injection within 8 h), B1 (MP group, MP injection within 8 h), C1(ED group, ED injection within 8 h), A2 (control group, normal saline injection after 8 h), B1 (MP group, MP injection after 8 h), C1 (ED group, ED injection after 8 h). Further, we investigated the changes of histopathology, caspase-3 and Bcl-xL positive cell.Haemorrhage, swelling, hyperaemia, gliocytes hyperplasia, inflammatory cells infiltration, vacuolar denaturation, and nucleus concentration could be observed, especially in control group. Caspase-3 positive cell was significantly decreased in MP and ED group within 8 h administration, but caspase-3 positive cell was only significantly decreased in ED group after 8 h administration. And B-cell lymphoma extra large (Bcl-xL) was significantly increased in ED group than MP group no matter within 8 h or after 8 h administration.More attention should be paid on the time point of MP administration, and ED administration seem to be more effective for maintenance therapy.

We have used a superparamagnetic microbead selection system to positively select a murine bone marrow CD8+ cell population. The functional ability of these cells to enhance allogeneic bone marrow engraftment was compared with that of fluorescence activated cell sorter purified CD8+ cells. The CD8+ cell population prepared by the microbead selection procedure was as effective as cell sorter purified CD8+ cells in enhancing T cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow engraftment in lethally irradiated mice. Phenotypic characterization of these cells shows that most of these CD8+ cells express CD3 and the T cell antigen receptor complex.

Genomic DNAs from 35 Toxoplasma gondii strains were amplified by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 18 arbitrary 10-mer primers. At least four primers were found to generate DNA fragments that discriminate the 35 T. gondii strains into a genotype of virulent strains and a genotype of avirulent strains. Primer B12 was found to generate a virulence-specific fragment and primers B5, C8, and C20 were found to generate avirulence-specific fragments, which in all cases clearly identified either the virulence phenotype or the avirulence phenotype, respectively. In addition, the DNA polymorphic bands detected were analyzed by parsimony and distance analysis. A similar genetic relationship among the T. gondii strains was determined by the two phylogenetic methods, which use completely different assumptions. Consistent with the division of the 35 strains into a genotype of virulent strains and a genotype of avirulent strains, both analyses revealed 2 clonal lineages directly correlated with murine virulence. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the genus Toxoplasma may actually contain two clonal lineages correlated with virulence, which have evolved independently following their initial separation.

SUMMARYThe technique of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR has been used to detect DNA polymorphisms amongToxoplasma gondiistrains. Seven arbitrary oligonucleotides (10-mer) were used as primers to amplify total genomic DNAs and significant genetic heterogeneity was detected among 11T gondiistrains with different virulence for mice. The polymorphisms observed allowed relationship dendrograms ofT. gondiistrains to be constructed by PHYLIP and PAUP analyses. The genetic relationships of theT. gondiistrains generated by 2 analyses using completely different assumptions were similar. Both analyses revealed 2 groups ofT. gondiistrains, one formed by the 6 virulent strains and the other formed by the 5 avirulent strains. This suggests that the genus Toxoplasma may actually contain 2 groups, correlated with their virulence, which have probably evolved independently following their initial separation. Significant polymorphisms were also detected between 2 different laboratory stocks of theT. gondiiRH strain.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a multifunctional complex enzyme important in the cellular biosynthesis of fatty acids. The present study was to investigate the association of the SCD gene with milk production traits in dairy cattle. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (g.6926AG and g.8646AG) in introns 3 and 4, and three SNPs (g.10153AG, g.10213TC and g.10329CT) in exon 5 were identified with pooled DNA sequencing and genotyped using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry assay in 752 Chinese Holstein cows. Polymorphism g.10329CT was predicted to result in an amino acid replacement from alanine to valine in the SCD protein. With a mixed animal model, the significant associations of the five SNPs with 305-day milk, fat and protein yields and protein percentage were determined. We further demonstrated cows with heterozygous genotypes (A/G or C/T) had highest 305 day milk yield, fat yield, protein yield and lowest protein percentage. Heterozygous cows with genotype AG at the g.6926AG locus showed the greatest milk yield (P0.0001), fat yield (P0.0001) and protein yield (P0.0001) among other heterozygous genotypes at any of the loci. Dominance effects of all identified SNPs on milk, fat and protein yields and protein percentage were significant. Moreover, significant allele substitution effects at g.6926AG locus on milk yield and at g.10213TC on protein yield were observed. Five-locus haplotypes and strong linkage disequilibrium (D'0.9) between the five SNPs were also observed. The results suggest that identified polymorphisms could be potential genetic markers to improve the production performance of Chinese Holstein.

Determining the distribution patterns of ectoparasites is important for predicting the spread of vector-borne diseases. A simple epidemiological model was used to compare the distributions of two different taxa of ectoparasitic insects, sucking lice (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and fleas (Insecta: Anoplura), on the same rodent host, Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout (Rodentia: Muridae), in Yunnan Province, China. Correlations between mean abundance and prevalence were determined. Both fleas and sucking lice were aggregated on their hosts, and sucking lice showed a higher degree of aggregation than fleas. The prevalence of both fleas and sucking lice increased with log-transformed mean abundance and a highly linear correlation and modelling efficiency of predicted prevalence against observed prevalence were obtained. The results demonstrate that prevalence can be explained simply by mean abundance.

This study compared genomic predictions using conventional estimated breeding values (EBV) and daughter yield deviations (DYD) as response variables based on simulated data. Eight scenarios were simulated in regard to heritability (0.05 and 0.30), number of daughters per sire (30, 100, and unequal numbers with an average of 100 per sire) and numbers of genotyped sires (all or half of sires were genotyped). The simulated genome had a length of 1200 cM with 15,000 equally spaced Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and 500 randomly distributed Quantitative trait locus (QTL). In the simulated scenarios, the EBV approach was as effective as or slightly better than the DYD approach at predicting breeding value, dependent on simulated scenarios and statistical models. Applying a Bayesian common prior model (the same prior distribution of marker effect variance) and a linear mixed model (GBLUP), the EBV and DYD approaches provided similar genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) reliabilities, except for scenarios with unequal numbers of daughters and half of sires without genotype, for which the EBV approach was superior to the DYD approach (by 1.2 and 2.4%). Using a Bayesian mixture prior model (mixture prior distribution of marker effect variance), the EBV approach resulted in slightly higher reliabilities of GEBV than the DYD approach (by 0.3-3.6% with an average of 1.9%), and more obvious in scenarios with low heritability, small or unequal numbers of daughters, and half of sires without genotype. Moreover, the results showed that the correlation between GEBV and conventional parent average (PA) was lower (corresponding to a relatively larger gain by including PA) when using the DYD approach than when using the EBV approach. Consequently, the two approaches led to similar reliability of an index combining GEBV and PA in most scenarios. These results indicate that EBV can be used as an alternative response variable for genomic prediction.

Abl-mediated transformation requires the activation of multiple pathways involved in the cellular proliferation and survival, including PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT-dependent Pim kinases. Recently, the E17K mutation in the AKT1 has been associated with multiple human malignancies and leukemia in mice. However, this mutation has not been identified in Abl-transformed cells. We investigated the presence of the AKT1(E17K) mutation in v-Abl-transformed cell clones. AKT1(E17K) was detected in 3 (2.6%) of 116 specimens examined. To show the involvement of AKT1(E17K) directly in v-Abl-mediated tumorigenesis, we infected bone marrow cells from mice with bicistronic retroviruses encoding v-Abl and either wild-type or the mutant AKT1. Interestingly, we found that E17K mutant greatly increased the v-Abl transformation efficiency as compared with wild-type AKT1. Ectopic expression of E17K mutant increased the expression levels of antiapoptotic protein BCL2 and phosphorylation levels of proapoptotic protein BAD. This correlated with an increased protection from imatinib-induced apoptosis in Abl transformants. Furthermore, AKT1(E17K) promotes survival of the Pim-deficient cells, indicating a functional link between AKT and Pim in v-Abl transformation. In addition, AKT1(E17K) delays loss of Pim-1 and Pim-2 protein levels on v-Abl inactivation, which suggests that there exists reciprocal signaling between AKT and Pim in v-Abl transformants.

To evaluate the effects of calcium propionate (CaP) supplementation on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition, energy balance, blood metabolites and urine ketones in early lactation Holstein dairy cows from 1 to 63 days in milk (DIM), 32 multiparous Holstein dairy cows, blocked by lactation number, previous 305-day milk production, and expected calving date, were arranged into four groups in a randomized block design. Treatments were control, LCaP, MCaP and HCaP with 0, 100, 200 and 300 g calcium propionate per cow per day respectively. The supplement of food grade CaP (99.8% of CaP) was hand-mixed into the top one-third of the daily ration. Cows were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration consisting of equal proportion of forage and concentrate. Feed intake, milk yield and components were not affected by CaP supplementation. The energy balance, expressed as the difference between energy input and output, tended to be higher (p = 0.08) for CaP-supplemented cows during the 63-DIM period, especially during the first 21-DIM lactation. Calcium propionate-supplemented cows showed a trend (p = 0.09) towards less loss of body weight (BW) during the 63-DIM period. Concentrations of glucose in plasma and insulin in serum were higher for cows fed CaP relative to control and linearly (p0.01) increased with increasing CaP supplementation. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and urine ketones were lower for CaP-supplemented cows at 7, 14 and 21 DIM of lactation and linearly (p0.01) decreased with increasing CaP supplementation. These results indicated that nutrient digestibilities and energy status may have been improved.

The amplification and cloning of promoters are regularly employed procedures to study the mechanism of gene regulation. In the present study we developed a method to construct T-vectors used for the direct and unidirectional cloning and analysis of promoters. These so-called T-vectors pEGFP-T and pGL3-T were derived from their parent promoterless vectors pEGFP-1 and pGL3-basic, respectively. To construct the T-vectors, an AhdI recognition site within the Ampr gene in pGL3-basic was silent mutated using overlap extension PCR. Then, a specially designed AhdI cassette was cloned into the respective parent vectors. The procedures of the T-vector construction involved a strategy to minimize the background of nonrecombinant transformants and to eliminate reverse orientation of the PCR products into the T-vectors. The cloning efficiencies of the two T-vectors were both above 85% when tested with a PCR product amplified from a sequence that was pre-confirmed to be able to initiate transcription, and moreover, the constructs harbored the inserts in a desired orientation at a90% rate. In transient transfection assays, we demonstrated these T-vectors are functional. Thus, the present study provides an easy method to construct a series of T-vectors used for promoter characterization.

Theileria annulata infection (TAI) is one of the most serious diseases of cattle in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of Uigur Minority Nationality. It has been recorded in 14 prefectures, except the Tulufan Prefecture, but the enzootic areas are mainly distributed around the Zhunger Basin and Talim Basin. According to the records collected in the ten years before vaccination with the schizont cell culture vaccine was carried out, the average incidence rate of TAI in enzootic areas was 7.22% and the mortality rate was 24%. The milk production of cattle suffering from TAI was sharply decreased, and there were usually abortions in pregnant cows. The incidence rate and mortality rate were greater in high grade cattle, so TAI was a constraint to improving cattle breeds. To control this disease effectively in Xinjiang, researchers at the Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science began to study the schizont cell culture vaccine in 1972. In 1977 an immortalised cell line was achieved from a primary cell culture starting with white blood cells from cattle suffering from acute TAI caused by an artificial tick bite. The cell culture medium mainly consisted of calf serum, lactalbumin-hydrolysate, Eagles' medium DMEM and three antibiotics. As a vaccine, the above cells were mixed with preserving medium containing gelatin. This paper describes the experiments on the immunological properties of the vaccine carried out in subsequent years. Up to 1996, vaccine doses for 1,186,150 cattle have been produced and sold. This vaccine has had a critical effect on the control of TAI in Xinjiang. Owing to the sharp decrease in the incidence rate and mortality rate of TAI after cattle were vaccinated, the annual economic benefit of the vaccine is at least 1,620,000 yuan.

To study the relationship between the livestock trade and schistosomiasis transmission and to provide an evidence for making a strategy of schistosomiasis control in mountainous areas.A retrospective survey and analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in both humans and livestock (cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs), and the number and migration of livestock in Weishan County, Yunnan Province in 1980-1991.A positive correlation was found between the infection rate of residents and the numbers of livestock migration (R = 0.9151, P0.01). During 1980 to 1991 the infection rate was increased gradually along with the development of livestock husbandry, especially, from the economic reforms since 1984. In 1984 there was positive correlation in the infection rate both human and livestock (R = 0.8458, P0.05). The results show that the infection rates of livestock on sale including cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs are 9.54%, 29.39%, 16.38%, 14.47%, 25.73% and 11.11%, respectively.The infection rate of human and livestock arises by parallel. The high frequency of livestock trade resulted in serious spreading of the infection source of schistosomiasis. The migration of the infected livestock might be an important factor in transmitting schistosomiasis.

In the present study, the effect of high density lipoproteins (HDLs) on the antiaggregating activity of nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial cells was investigated with the use of cultured bovine aortal endothelial cells (BAECs). The BAECs were placed in an aggregometer in contact with rabbit platelets after blocking cyclo-oxygenase with acetylsalicylic acid. Under this circumstance, the antiaggregating effect of endothelial cells was exclusively dependent on the release of NO, which was further confirmed by prevention of antiaggregating activity of BAECs with 1 mmol/L N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine. When this system was used, thrombin (0.1 U/ml) evoked 67.33+/-7.52% aggregation of rabbit platelets (2 10(8)/ml). This effect was inhibited by NO derived from endothelial cells (1 10(5) 1 10(6)/ml) in a cell number dependent manner. HDLs (1 mg/ml), added into the system immediately before BAECs, enhanced this antiaggregating effect of NO. However, incubating BAECs with HDLs for an hour and removing the HDLs by centrifugation did not have the same effect, unless HDLs were present during aggregation. No direct effect of HDLs on platelet aggregation was observed. The above findings suggest that HDLs can enhance the antiaggregating effects of BAECs mediated by direct interaction with NO.

To study the effects of conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV), high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) and high-frequency bidirectional jet ventilation (HFTJV) on the respiratory mechanics and gas exchange in dogs inflicted severely by steam inhalation injury.Nine mongrel dogs inflicted by steam inhalation to severe inhalation injury were served as the model. Indices of respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics and blood gas analysis were monitored respectively with the above three patterns of mechanical ventilation.(1) Total respiratory resistance (Rrs) and resistance of lungs (R(L)) were evidently higher with the ventilations than those in control (P0.01). And total respiratory compliance (Crs) and compliance of lungs (C(L)) were obviously lower with the ventilations than those in control (P0.05) but with no significant differences among the changes of Rrs, R(L), Crs and C(L). (2) Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) retention could be induced by CMV and HFJV. HFTJV was much more effective than HFJV in enhancing the expiration of CO(2) (P0.01). (3) There was no remarkable difference in functional residual capacity (FRC) and PaO2 between dogs with three patterns of ventilations.All these three patterns of ventilations could overcome the respiratory resistance and help respiration, but they couldn't restore the high airway resistance and low compliance of lungs already established postburn. The efficiency of CMV was similar to that by HFJV, but that of HFTJV was much better than that of HFJV.