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ABSTRACT: Nutritional therapy, which may have advantages over medication, is being investigated as a novel treatment for pregnancy-induced hypertension. Several studies have shown that probiotic yogurt supplementation during pregnancy has beneficial effects on maternal and fetal health. In this study, fermented buffalo milk was produced with yogurt culture and Lactobacillus plantarum B, a probiotic isolated from healthy breast milk with high angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. The fermentation conditions under which the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity reached 84.51% were optimized by the response surface method as follows: 2 × 106 cfu/mL of L. plantarum B, yogurt culture 2.5 × 105 cfu/mL, and 8 h at 37°C. The distribution of ACE inhibitory peptides from fermented buffalo milk and fermented cow milk were further analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. By searching according to the structural features of ACE inhibitory peptides, 29 and 11 peptides containing ACE inhibitory peptide features were found in fermented buffalo milk and fermented cow milk, respectively. To investigate the in vivo antihypertensive activity of fermented buffalo milk, 18 pregnant rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 6 in each group) and administered 10 mL of normal saline, yogurt (20 mg/kg), or labetalol hydrochloride (4 mg/kg) daily from the beginning of pregnancy to parturition. To induce hypertension, methyl nitrosoarginine (125 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously every day from d 15 of pregnancy to the day of delivery. Blood pressure was not significantly changed in the yogurt and labetalol groups after induction of hypertension and was lower compared with the normal saline group, but there was no difference between the yogurt and labetalol groups. This implied that the buffalo yogurt had a preventive and antihypertensive effect in the pregnancy-induced hypertensive rat model. Further studies to determine the mechanism of action, as well as a randomized control trial, are warranted.

Coronaviruses (CoVs), the largest positive-sense RNA viruses, have caused infections in both humans and animals. The cross-species transmission of CoVs poses a serious threat to public health. Rodents and bats, the two largest orders of mammals, serve as significant natural reservoirs for CoVs. It is important to monitor the CoVs carried by bats and rodents. In this study, we collected 410 fecal samples from bats and 74 intestinal samples from rats in Yunnan Province, China. Using RT-PCR, we identified one positive sample for alphacoronavirus (TC-14) from Rhinolophus sinicus (Chinese rufous horseshoe bat) and two positive samples for betacoronavirus (GS-53, GS-56) from Apodemus ilex (Rodentia: Muridae). We successfully characterized the complete genomes of TC-14 and GS-56. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that TC-14 clustered with bat CoV HKU2 and SADS-CoV, while GS-56 was closely related to rat CoV HKU24. The identification of positive selection sites and estimation of divergence dates further helped characterize the genetic evolution of TC-14 and GS-56. In summary, this research reveals the genetic evolution characteristics of TC-14 and GS-56, providing valuable references for the study of CoVs carried by bats and rodents in Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction notice was issued for a study on the detection of Alpha- and Betacoronaviruses in small mammals in Western Yunnan Province, China. The correction involved updating the species name "Short-tailed shrew" to "Chinese mole shrew" in Table 2 of the publication. The scientific conclusions of the study were deemed unaffected by this correction, which was approved by the Academic Editor. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Background Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination is the most effective measure for preventing JE disease. The live attenuated JE vaccine, which has shown good efficacy and safety, has been widely used in China. Case presentations We report four laboratory-confirmed JE cases detected in JE-endemic areas during the JE virus (JEV) transmission season, who all received a first dose of live attenuated JE vaccine within 2 weeks prior to the onset of illness. All cases presented with acute encephalitis and rapidly reduced consciousness. All cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from the patients were positive for JEV-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, but viral isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of JEV were both negative. Conclusions It is difficult to identify a causal link between the disease and the vaccination, as the source of positive CSF JEV IgM antibodies might be natural JEV infection or possibly due to a traumatic lumbar puncture. Our observations highlight the need for public health officers and doctors to consider reasonable vaccination policies during the JE season. In addition, continued surveillance as well as thorough investigation of any events that occur after JE vaccination is necessary.

Objective: To investigate arboviruses in some regions of Shanxi province, isolation and identification for arbovirus activity from mosquitoes was conducted., Methods: Mosquitoes were collected from these area in 2007 and then used for virus isolation by cell culture. The virus isolates were identified by molecular biology and the sequences were analyzed by bioinformatics., Results: Ten Banna virus (strains SX0765, SX0766, SX0767, SX0771, SX0789, SX0790, SX0793, SX0794, SX0795, SX0796) were isolated, and two Liaoning virus were also isolated from isolates SX0771, SX0794. Phylogenetic tree of the Banna virus isolates showed that ten strains are located in a distinct branch from all of the other Chinese Banna virus isolates. The homology is between 89.7% and 94.1%., Conclusion: Ten Banna virus and two Liaoning virus were isolated during this arbovirus investigation in Shanxi province. New Banna virus isolates showed a distinct phylogenetic relationship with the other Chinese Banna virus strains.

Objective: To investigate the effects of intense pulse light (IPL) on the mRNA expression of type I procollagen in human fibroblasts., Methods: Four healthy female subjects aged 19 - 41, underwent IPL on the back skin 3 times with an interval of 2 weeks. Before the IPL and after 1, 2, and 3 times of treatment samples of back skin were obtained to undergo real time quantitative PCR to detect the mRNA expression of type I procollagen., Results: The mRNA expression level of type I procollagen after one time of IPL treatment was [(4.7 +/- 1.0) x 10(-4)], not significantly different from that before treatment [(2.1 +/- 0.7) x 10(-4), P = 0.100]. The mRNA expression levels of type I procollagen after treatment for 2 times and 3 -time were (7.9 +/- 1.7) x 10(-4) and (11.1 +/- 2.4) x 10(-4) respectively, both significantly higher than that before treatment (both P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Promoting the mRNA transcription of type I procollagen in dermal fibroblasts, IPL therapy is effective in dermal remodeling and wrinkle removing.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of rejuvenation by intense pulsed light (IPL) and the mechanism thereof., Methods: Fifty-eight patients with photo aging were treated with IPL of single, double, or triple pulse pattern for 3 - 5 times with the intervals of 3 - 4 weeks. Three weeks after the last treatment, photography was conducted and the pictures underwent grading by the physicians and patients according to blind method. Skin specimens of the posteroinferior ear lobe or the nape were obtained from 4 patients to undergo HE staining, Uana orcein staining of elastin, immunohistochemical staining for collagenous fibers of types I and III, and transmission electron microscopy was conducted in 2 of the 4 patients. Skin digitalized image analysis was conducted on 34 female patients to measure and analyze the depth and width of dermatographs, roughness of skin., Results: After the third treatment, the wrinkles and skin texture of 62.1% of the patients showed improvement, and 84.60% of the pigmented lesions and 81.25% of the vascular lesions showed improvement. Pathology showed that type I and type III collagen increased while elastin decreased, and the fibers were orderly re-arranged. Transmission electron microscopy showed that after treatment the fibroblasts increased in number and became more active in secretion and there were more collagen fibers orderly re-arranged in the stroma. Digitalized image analysis showed significant improvement in skin smoothness, depth, arithmetic average roughness and average roughness of skin texture (all P < 0.01)., Conclusion: IPL is effective to improve the skin texture. The mechanism may be the increasing of the activity of the fibroblasts, and hyperplasia and re-arrangement of collagen and elastin.

Objective: To study the value of a new bioassay model of antibiotic susceptibility by corneofungimetry which is more similar to human internal environment., Methods: Twenty-one healthy adult volunteers, 12 males and 9 females, aged 32 (22 - 41), were randomly divided into two groups to receive itraconazole 200 mg Bid or 200 mg qd or bid for one week. Stratum corneum strippings were taken from the forearm skin once before administration of itraconazole and 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days after administration of itraconazole. Spores of selected fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Candida albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis) were deposited and cultured on the strippings. PAS stain was used after one-week culture to observe the growth of the fungi by computerized-assisted image analysis to measure the area covered by the yeasts and the dermatophyte., Results: All fungi grew on all the stratum corneum strippings with different numbers of hyphae. The areas covered by hyphae and spores decreased gradually after administration of itraconazole, became the smaller on the seventh day (P = 0.01 or P < 0.01), and began to increased since the 10 th day, and became almost the same sizes as those before the administration of itraconazole on the 35 th day., Conclusion: Similar to the human internal environment, corneofungimetry is a useful new model of bioassay for antibiotic susceptibility.

Objective: To establish a new model to evaluate the antifungal activity of antimycotics., Methods: Twenty-one healthy adult volunteers without clinically significant differences in demographic characteristics, hydration status of the skin, and sebum excretion were randomly divided into two groups: group 1 receiving 200 mg itraconazole bid for 1 week, and group 2 receiving itraconazole 200 mg qd for 1 weeks. Stratum corneum stripping was taken from the forearm skin at days 0, 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 35. Spores of selected fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum canis) were deposited and cultured on the center of the stratum corneum stripping. After 1-week culture the stratum corneum stripping was staining by PAS, and the area covered by dermatophyte was measured by corneofungimetry and computerized-assisted image analysis so as to calculate the inhibitory effect of the oral antifungal agents administered., Results: All three dermatophytes grew on the stratum corneum stripping, the area covered by the dermatophyte was dense before administration of antifungal agent, and decreased gradually after the administration of drug, and to the least on the seventh day (P < 0.01), however, the area covered by the dermatophyte began to increase since the tenth day, and reach the biggest on the thirty-fifth day. Itraconazole at two different dosages showed significant activity against these 3 dermatophytes without significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The ex vivo growth environment of dermatophyte on human stratum corneum is very similar to that of human milieu interne. Itraconazole displays a high antidermatophyte activity in human stratum corneum. Corneofungimetric bioassay is a new method between in vitro trial and in vivo effect.