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The retrograde geostationary earth orbit (retro-GEO) is an Earth’s orbit. It has almost the same orbital altitude with that of a GEO, but an inclination of 180°. A retro-GEO monitor-satellite gives the GEO-assets vicinity space-debris warnings per 12 h. For various reasons, the westward launch direction is not compatible or economical. Thereby the transfer from a low earth orbit (LEO) to the retro-GEO via once lunar swing-by is a priority. The monitor-satellite departures from LEO and inserts into the retro-GEO both using only one tangential maneuver, in this paper, its transfer’s property is investigated. The existence of this transfer is verified firstly in the planar circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP) model based on the Poincaré-section methodology. Then, the two-impulse values and the perilune altitudes are computed with different transfer durations in the planar CR3BP. Their dispersions are compared with different Sun azimuths in the planar bi-circular restricted four-body problem (BR4BP) model. Besides, the transfer’s inclination changeable capacity via lunar swing-by and the Sun-perturbed inclination changeable capacity are investigated. The results show that the two-impulse fuel-optimal transfer has the duration of 1.76 TU (i.e., 7.65 days) with the minimum values of 4.251 km s−1 in planar CR3BP, this value has a range of 4.249–4.252 km s−1 due to different Sun azimuths in planar BR4BP. Its perilune altitude changes from 552.6 to 621.9 km. In the spatial CR3BP, if the transfer duration is more than or equal to 4.00 TU (i.e., 17.59 days), the lunar gravity assisted transfer could insert the retro-GEO with any inclination. In the spatial BR4BP, the Sun’s perturbation does not affect this conclusion in most cases.

PURPOSE Keratin 18 (KRT18) is a cytoskeleton protein that plays a key role in multiple cancers. The present study aims to further investigate the roles of KRT18 in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and cells. METHODS The KRT18 protein expression levels of GC tissues and cells were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The relationship between KRT18 expression levels and the prognosis of GC patients was further analyzed. To explore this relationship, small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to inhibit the endogenous expression of KRT18 in GC cells. Furthermore, the effects of KRT18 on the proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of GC cells were analyzed in vitro. In addition, the role of KRT18 in GC-specific processes was investigated. RESULTS Keratin 18 expression was shown to be up-regulated in GC tissues and associated with poor prognosis. Following KRT18 silencing with siRNA, the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of GC cells were significantly inhibited, while the apoptotic process was promoted. Furthermore, the activation of the MAPK signalling pathway was identified as the potential mechanism through which KRT18 influenced GC processes. CONCLUSIONS Keratin 18 plays a cancer-promoting role and might be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of GC.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract resulting from the homeostasis imbalance of intestinal microenvironment, immune dysfunction, environmental and genetic factors, and so on. This disease is associated with multiple immune cells including regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are a subset of T cells regulating the function of various immune cells to induce immune tolerance and maintain intestinal immune homeostasis. Tregs are correlated with the initiation and progression of IBD; therefore, strategies that affect the differentiation and function of Tregs may be promising for the prevention of IBD-associated pathology. It is worth noting that tryptophan (Trp) metabolism is effective in inducing the differentiation of Tregs through microbiota-mediated degradation and kynurenine pathway (KP), which is important for maintaining the function of Tregs. Interestingly, patients with IBD show Trp metabolism disorder in the pathological process, including changes in the concentrations of Trp and its metabolites and alteration in the activities of related catalytic enzymes. Thus, manipulation of Treg differentiation through Trp metabolism may provide a potential target for prevention of IBD. The purpose of this review is to highlight the relationship between Trp metabolism and Treg differentiation and the role of this interaction in the pathogenesis of IBD.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov, COVID) in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 quickly escalated into a global health emergency. This study seeks to investigate the attitudinal and beha...

The structure stabilities, elastic properties, and electronic structures of L12-and D022-TiAl3 under different pressures have been investigated by the first-principles. The formation energy shows that both L12-TiAl3 and D022-TiAl3 were stable at pressure up to 40 GPa. There would be a phase transition from D022 phase to L12 phase when pressure is about 25 GPa D022-TiAl3 and L12-TiAl3 satisfy the mechanical property stability, and both the stiffness and plasticity increase with the increase of pressure. The elastic anisotropy of D022 structure is larger than the L12 structure. The bonding situation and electronic properties of TiAl3 (L12 and D022) were analyzed by differential charge density and density of states (DOS) curve.

This study investigated the effect of dynamic feeding models of dietary tryptophan on sows' performance during late pregnancy. RESULTS The average piglet birth weight and live farrowing rate from sows consuming a high?low tryptophan diet (0.39% Trp in the morning and 0.13% Trp in the afternoon) were decreased compared with those fed a 2?tryptophan diet (0.26% Trp in the morning and afternoon). Compared with the 2?tryptophan group, sow serum kynurenic acid and the newborn liver n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio were significantly higher, and sow serum taurine and newborn serum taurine, phosphoserine, cysteine and proline were lower in the high?low tryptophan diet group. Eighty-eight genes were differentially expressed in newborn piglets' livers between the 2?tryptophan and high?low groups. Genes related to cytotoxic effector regulation (major histocompatibility complex class I proteins), NADH oxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and tissue development were differentially expressed between these two groups. CONCLUSION Together, the results provide information on new biomarkers in serum or liver and provide novel insights into variations in the fetal liver during exogenous stimulus response and biological processes of ROS metabolism in fetuses during late pregnancy caused by a single excessive tryptophan ingestion daily in the morning. ? 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

This study aims to investigate the effects of dietary gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal immunity, intestinal GABAergic system, amino acid profiles and gut microflora of the weaned piglets. Totally sixteen healthy piglets were randomly assigned into two groups to be fed with the basal diet (Con group) or the basal diet with GABA (20 mg kg-1) supplementation. Body weights and feed intakes were monitored weekly. Piglets were sacrificed after 3 weeks of GABA supplementation to collect the blood, ileum, ileal mucosa and luminal content. Immune-associated factors, GABAergic system, amino acid profiles, and microbiota in the ileum and serum amino acid profiles were explored. The results showed that GABA supplementation improved the growth performance and modulated the intestinal immunity with inhibiting the gene expressions of IL-22, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-18), and Muc1, but promoted the expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10), TLR6 and MyD88. GABA regulated a few components of the intestinal GABAergic system, increased the levels of most amino acids in the ileal mucosa but reduced the serum amino acid profiles. GABA regulated the population and diversity of intestinal microbiota, such as the abundances of the dominant microbial populations, the community richness, and diversity of the ileal microbiota. In conclusion, GABA supplementation modulated the intestinal functions, including intestinal immunity, intestinal amino acid profiles and gut microbiota, and the results can be helpful for understanding the functions of GABA in the intestine.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) are a group of rare chromosomal anomalies, which pose challenges in the clinical practice of prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. This study enrolled an extended family with an underage male patient displaying infantile seizures, intellectual disability, and retarded speech and psychomotor function. A series of multiplatform genetic detections was conducted to explore the diagnostic variation. Whole exome sequencing (WES) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) indicated a mosaic sSMC derived from the pericentromeric region of chromosome 8 in the patient, which was confirmed using cytogenetic methods. The proband and his mother, who carried this mosaic variant, exhibited strong phenotypic variability. We also ruled out the pathogenicity of a KDM5C variant by extended validation. Our results emphasized the capacity of WES to detect mosaic SMCs and the importance of mosaic ratios in the appearance and severity of symptomatic phenotypes.

The gut microbiota is strongly shaped by a high-fat diet, and obese humans and animals are characterized by low gut microbial diversity and impaired gut microbiota compositions. Comprehensive data on mammalian gut metagenomes shows gut microbiota exhibit circadian rhythms, which is disturbed by a high-fat diet. On the other hand, melatonin is a natural and ubiquitous molecule showing multiple mechanisms of regulating the circadian clock and lipid metabolism, while the role of melatonin in the regulation of the diurnal patterns of gut microbial structure and function in obese animals is not yet known. This study delineates an intricate picture of melatonin-gut microbiota circadian rhythms and may provide insight for obesity intervention., Melatonin, a circadian hormone, has been reported to improve host lipid metabolism by reprogramming the gut microbiota, which also exhibits rhythmicity in a light/dark cycle. However, the effect of the administration of exogenous melatonin on the diurnal variation in the gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) is unclear. Here, we further confirmed the antiobesogenic effect of melatonin on mice fed an HFD for 2 weeks. Samples were collected every 4 h within a 24-h period, and diurnal rhythms of clock gene expression (Clock, Cry1, Cry2, Per1, and Per2) and serum lipid indexes varied with diurnal time. Notably, Clock and triglycerides (TG) showed a marked rhythm in the control in melatonin-treated mice but not in the HFD-fed mice. The rhythmicity of these parameters was similar between the control and melatonin-treated HFD-fed mice compared with that in the HFD group, indicating an improvement caused by melatonin in the diurnal clock of host metabolism in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that most microbes exhibited daily rhythmicity, and the trends were different for different groups and at different time points. We also identified several specific microbes that correlated with the circadian clock genes and serum lipid indexes, which might indicate the potential mechanism of action of melatonin in HFD-fed mice. In addition, effects of melatonin exposure during daytime or nighttime were compared, but a nonsignificant difference was noticed in response to HFD-induced lipid dysmetabolism. Interestingly, the responses of microbiota-transplanted mice to HFD feeding also varied at different transplantation times (8:00 and 16:00) and with different microbiota donors. In summary, the daily oscillations in the expression of circadian clock genes, serum lipid indexes, and the gut microbiota appeared to be driven by short-term feeding of an HFD, while administration of exogenous melatonin improved the composition and diurnal rhythmicity of some specific gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiota is strongly shaped by a high-fat diet, and obese humans and animals are characterized by low gut microbial diversity and impaired gut microbiota compositions. Comprehensive data on mammalian gut metagenomes shows gut microbiota exhibit circadian rhythms, which is disturbed by a high-fat diet. On the other hand, melatonin is a natural and ubiquitous molecule showing multiple mechanisms of regulating the circadian clock and lipid metabolism, while the role of melatonin in the regulation of the diurnal patterns of gut microbial structure and function in obese animals is not yet known. This study delineates an intricate picture of melatonin-gut microbiota circadian rhythms and may provide insight for obesity intervention.

Curative resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is typically carried out using open surgery. In the present study, we examined the safety (postoperative complication) and effectiveness (resection margin status and patient survival) of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for HC. This retrospective analysis included 158 patients receiving MIS for HC at 10 participating centers between December 2013 and November 2019. Patient demographics, surgical outcomes, and oncological outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical information obtained from 10 different clinical centers did not show any evident cohort-bias clustering. One hundred and twenty-six (79.7%) patients underwent LRHC, 12 (7.6%) patients underwent RARHC, conversion to an open procedure occurred in 20 (12.7%) patients. The operation time and estimated blood loss were 410.8 ± 128.9 min and 477.8 ± 706.3 mL, respectively. The surgical radicality of the 158 patients was R0, 129 (81.6%); R1, 20 (18.4%) and R2, 9 (5.7%). Grades I–II complications was occurred in 68 (43.0%) patients. Severe morbidity (grade III–V) occurred in 14 (8.7%) patients. The median overall survival in whole cohort was 25.4 months. The overall survival rate was 67.6% at year 1, 28.8% at year 3, and 19.2% at year 5. Comparing the first half of MISHC performed by each center with the following cases, the operation time and postoperative hospital stay does not decrease with the increasing cases. On literature review, MISHC is non-inferior to open surgery at least in perioperative period. In this Chinese MIS for HC multicenter study, the largest to date, long-term overall survival rates after MIS appear comparable to those reported in current open series. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to assess the global impact of MISHC.

Cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer affects postoperative recurrence and survival. Hypoparathyroidism is caused by parathyroid gland injury during thyroidectomy. Carbon nanoparticles can trace stained lymph nodes, aiding in thorough dissection of lymph nodes in the operation area. To reduce postoperative occurrence of hypoparathyroidism, the parathyroid glands and their functions (identified by negative imaging induced by carbon nanoparticles) are retained in situ. However, the safety and adverse effects of nanocarbon suspension in thyroid surgery have rarely been evaluated. In this report, we describe a patient with thyroid cancer who had carbon secretions in the trachea caused by nanocarbon suspension when tracheal intubation was performed under general anesthesia, and the inflatable balloon surface of the tracheal tube was covered with these secretions. The patient recovered without fever, cough, phlegm production, chest pain, hoarseness, or hypocalcemia-induced convulsions. No consensus has yet been reached on the most appropriate injection site, depth, dose, or waiting time for nanocarbons in thyroid cancer surgery. We believe that nanocarbon suspension is safe for use in thyroid cancer surgery, but the most appropriate injection depth should be based on the thickness of the thyroid gland tissue to avoid deep injection into the trachea.

Pathogenic enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) has been considered a major cause of diarrhea which is a serious public health problem in humans and animals. This study was aimed at examining the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation on intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) secretion and gut microbiota profile in healthy and ETEC-infected weaning piglets. A total of thirty-seven weaning piglets were randomly distributed into two groups fed with the basal diet or supplemented with 40 mg·kg−1 of GABA for three weeks, and some piglets were infected with ETEC at the last week. According to whether ETEC was inoculated or not, the experiment was divided into two stages (referred as CON1 and CON2 and GABA1 and GABA2). The growth performance, organ indices, amino acid levels, and biochemical parameters of serum, intestinal SIgA concentration, gut microbiota composition, and intestinal metabolites were analyzed at the end of each stage. We found that, in both the normal and ETEC-infected piglets, jejunal SIgA secretion and expression of some cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-13, and IL-17, were increased by GABA supplementation. Meanwhile, we observed that some low-abundance microbes, like Enterococcus and Bacteroidetes, were markedly increased in GABA-supplemented groups. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the nitrogen metabolism, sphingolipid signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments were enriched in the GABA1 group. Further analysis revealed that alterations in microbial metabolism were closely correlated to changes in the abundances of Enterococcus and Bacteroidetes. In conclusion, GABA supplementation can enhance intestinal mucosal immunity by promoting jejunal SIgA secretion, which might be related with the T-cell-dependent pathway and altered gut microbiota structure and metabolism.

The intestine interacts with a diverse community of antigens and bacteria. To keep its homeostasis, the gut has evolved with a complex defense system, including intestinal microbiota, epithelial layer and lamina propria. Various factors (e.g., nutrients) affect the intestinal defensive system and progression of intestinal diseases. This review highlights the current understanding about the role of amino acids (AAs) in protecting the intestine from harm. Amino acids (e.g., arginine, glutamine and tryptophan) are essential for the function of intestinal microbiota, epithelial cells, tight junction, goblet cells, Paneth cells and immune cells (e.g., macrophages, B cells and T cells). Through the modulation of the intestinal defensive system, AAs maintain the integrity and function of the intestinal mucosa and inhibit the progression of various intestinal diseases (e.g., intestinal infection and intestinal colitis). Thus, adequate intake of functional AAs is crucial for intestinal and whole-body health in humans and other animals.

Supplemental material, WSO913557 Supplemental Material for Stroke prevention and control system in China: CSPPC-Stroke Program by Bao-Hua Chao, Feng Yan, Yang Hua, Jian-Min Liu, Ge Yang, Xun-Ming Ji, Bin Peng, Guo-Guang Zhao, Yong-Jun Wang, De-Zhi Kang, Yi-Long Wang, Jin-Sheng Zeng, Lan Chu, Tian-Xiao Li, Yu-Ming Xu, Ming Liu, Li He, Yun Xu, Jiang Wu, Min Lou, Wei Yue, Lei Cao, Wen-Jun Tu and Long-De Wang in International Journal of Stroke

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is strongly associated with intestinal immunity and the microbiome. Tryptophan (Trp) is an inflammatory inhibitor and modulator of the intestinal microflora. We explored the serum profile of amino acids and the effects of diet supplementation with Trp (1.0 g kg-1) on intestinal immunity and microbiota in the acetic acid-induced colitis mouse model. We analyzed the survival rate, colonic morphological parameters, profiles of serum amino acids, microbiota in colonic contents and the relative gene abundance of intestinal proinflammatory cytokines. Although the dietary Trp supplementation failed to improve the survival rate and ameliorate the morphological parameters of colon in mice with colitis, Trp modulated the general serum amino acid profile by reducing the amino acid profiles of threonine, methionine and proline, affected intestinal immunity by inhibiting the colonic expression of interleukin-22 and changed the microbiota by reducing the abundance of Candidatus, Clostridium and Coprococcus at the genus level. In conclusion, dietary Trp supplementation in a mouse model of colitis did not ameliorate the survival rate and morphological parameters of colon but did modulate the serum amino acid profiles, intestinal immunity and microbiota. These findings enhance our understanding of the roles of Trp in the metabolism of serum amino acids, intestinal immunity and microbiota.

Maternal dietary supplementation during gestation and lactation improves the health of piglets. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different levels of methionine (Met) supplementation in the sows’ diet during late gestation and lactation on piglets. Thirty sows were randomly divided into three groups and fed the following diets from day 90 of gestation to day 21 of lactation: (a) control group (a basal diet containing 0.36% Met), (b) 0.48% Met group (a basal diet with additional 0.12% Met), and (c) 0.60% Met group (a basal diet with additional 0.24% Met). On day 21 after farrowing, piglets of average body weight (n = 10 per group) were selected for sample collection. The results showed that the 0.48% Met and 0.60% Met diets significantly lowered the malondialdehyde content in the piglets’ serum (P < 0.05). In addition, the glutathione peroxidase content was significantly increased in the 0.48% Met group (P < 0.05) and the total glutathione content was significantly reduced in the 0.60% Met group (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Furthermore, Met supplementation of the sows’ diet was associated with alterations in 37 plasma metabolites in the piglets. In the piglets’ intestinal microbiota, the relative abundances of Phascolarctobacterium and Bacteroidetes in the 0.48% Met group were higher than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that a diet including 0.48% Met during late gestation and lactation can maintain the health of piglets by increasing the antioxidant capacity and changing the intestinal microbiota composition, but a higher level of Met supplementation may increase the potential risk to piglets.

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is key to establishing and maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS), meningitis bacterial infection can disrupt the integrity of BBB by inducing an inflammatory response. The changes in the cerebral uptake of amino acids may contribute to inflammatory response during infection and were accompanied by high expression of amino acid transporters leading to increased amino acid uptake. However, it is unclear whether amino acid uptake is changed and how to affect inflammatory responses in mouse brain microvascular endothelial (bEnd.3) cells in response to Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli TW-XM (APEC XM) infection. Here, we firstly found that APEC XM infection could induce serine (Ser) and glutamate (Glu) transport from extracellular into intracellular in bEnd.3 cells. Meanwhile, we also shown that the expression sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2) for Ser and excitatory amino acid transporter 4 (EAAT4) for Glu was also significantly elevated during infection. Then, in amino acid deficiency or supplementation medium, we found that Ser or Glu transport were involving in increasing SNAT2 or EAAT4 expression, mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) activation and inflammation, respectively. Of note, Ser or Glu transport were inhibited after SNAT2 silencing or EAAT4 silencing, resulting in inhibition of mTORC1 pathway activation, and inflammation compared with the APEC XM infection group. Moreover, pEGFP-SNAT2 overexpression and pEGFP-EAAT4 overexpression in bEnd.3 cells all could promote amino acid uptake, activation of the mTORC1 pathway and inflammation during infection. We further found mTORC1 silencing could inhibit inflammation, the expression of SNAT2 and EAAT4, and amino acid uptake. Taken together, our results demonstrated that APEC TW-XM infection can induce Ser or Glu uptake depending on amino acid transporters transportation, and then activate amino acid-mTORC1 pathway to induce inflammation in bEnd.3 cells.

Cysteine (Cys), a nutritionally semi-essential amino acid, can regulate oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. Since maternal nutrient intake has an impact on offspring, this study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal Cys intake on male suckling piglets. Twenty-four sows in late pregnancy (85–90 days of gestation) were randomly allotted to three groups and fed diets containing 0.3 %, 0.4 % and 0.5 % Cys. The pregnant sows were fed twice daily (06:00 and 14:00) but the feed supply was withheld near delivery. After delivery, the sows were fed the same diet as before, and the amount of feed supply was gradually increased. During lactation, the piglets were not provided with supplemental feed. On day 21 after partitioning, eight piglets per group (one male piglet per little) and a total of 24 piglets were sampled. The birth weight and weaning weight of the piglets in each litter were recorded. Blood samples and intestinal digesta samples of the piglets were collected. The results showed that the birth weight and weaning weight of the piglets were not affected by the treatment. For the plasma metabolomics analysis, 16 differential metabolites were identified among the groups and were involved in the metabolism of proteins (methionyl-histidine, lysyl-leucine), amino acids (L-homocysteine sulfonic acid, selenomethionine) and nucleic acids (5′-deoxyadenosine, 5-methyldeoxycytidine). In addition, compared with 0.3 % Cys, increased maternal Cys intake (0.4 % and 0.5 % Cys) led to lower serum malondialdehyde levels and plasma levels of estradiol and mevalonate and increased plasma methionyl-histidine levels in the male piglets. Intestinal microbial analysis showed an increase in the phylum Bacteroidetes, and a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the colon of the male piglets in the 0.4 % and 0.5 % Cys groups compared with the 0.3 % Cys group. A positive correlation between the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and plasma metabolites (mevalonate and estradiol) was observed; these changes were associated with the inhibition of fat synthesis. Taken together, increased maternal Cys intake during late gestation and lactation reduces oxidative stress and influences the lipid-related plasma metabolomics and intestinal microbiota in male piglets.

Methionine is an aliphatic, sulfur-containing, essential amino acid, and a precursor of succinyl-CoA, homocysteine, cysteine, creatine, and carnitine. Recent research has demonstrated that methionine can regulate metabolic processes, the innate immune system, and digestive functioning in mammals. It also intervenes in lipid metabolism, activation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as methionine sulfoxide reductase A, and the biosynthesis of glutathione to counteract oxidative stress. In addition, methionine restriction prevents altered methionine/transmethylation metabolism, thereby decreasing DNA damage and carcinogenic processes and possibly preventing arterial, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the role of methionine in metabolism, oxidative stress, and related diseases.

Melatonin, a circadian hormone, has been reported to improve host lipid metabolism by reprogramming gut microbiota, which also exhibits rhythmicity in a light/dark cycle. However, the effect of admistartion of exogenous melatonin on the diurnal variation in gut microbiota in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice is obscure. Here, we further confirmed the anti-obesogenic effect of melatonin on in mice feed with HFD for two weeks. Samples were collected every 4 h within a 24-h period and diurnal rhythms of clock genes expression (Clock, Cry1, Cry2, Per1, and Per2) and serum lipid indexes varied with diurnal time. Notably, Clock and triglycerides (TG) showed a marked rhythm only in the control and melatonin treated mice, but not in the HFD-fed mice. Rhythmicity of these parameters were similar between control and melatonin treated HFD mice compared with the HFD group, indicating an improvement of melatonin in the diurnal clock of host metabolism in HFD-fed mice. 16S rDNA sequencing showed that most microbiota exhibited a daily rhythmicity and the trends differentiated at different groups and different time points. We also identified several specific microbiota correlating with the circadian clock genes and serum lipid indexes, which might contribute the potential mechanism of melatonin in HFD-fed mice. Interestingly, administration of exogenous melatonin only at daytime exhibited higher resistance to HFD-induced lipid dysmetabolism than nighttime treatment companying with altered gut microbiota (Lactobacillus, Intestinimonas, and Oscillibacter). Importantly, the responses of microbiota transplanted mice to HFD feeding also varied at different transplanting times (8:00 and 16:00) and different microbiota donors. In summary, daily oscillations in the expression of circadian clock genes, serum lipid indexes, and gut microbiota, appears to be driven by a short-time feeding of an HFD. Administration of exogenous melatonin improved the compositions and diurnal rhythmicity of gut microbiota, which might be linked to host diurnal rhythm and metabolism.ImportancePrevious studies show that a circadian hormone, melatonin, involves in host lipid metabolism by reprogramming gut microbiota, which also exhibits rhythmicity in a light/dark cycle. However, the effect of melatonin drinking on the diurnal variation in gut microbiota in high fat diet-fed mice is obscure. Here, we found that 24-h oscillations were widely occurred in circadian clock genes, serum lipid indexes, and gut microbiota. Melatonin drinking improved the compositions and circadian rhythmicity of gut microbiota, which might be linked to host circadian rhythm and metabolism.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become one of the first-line standard treatments for intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as an effective treatment for metastatic hepatic carcinoma. The majority of TACE-related complications are mild and acceptable to patients. Compared with conventional (C)-TACE, drug-eluting bead (DEB)-TACE allows permanent embolization of blood vessels, a slow continuous release of anti-tumour drugs in a locally targeted manner, and reduction of the systemic release of anti-tumour drugs, so that their adverse effects are significantly reduced. The general consensus is that DEB-TACE is safer and better tolerated by patients than C-TACE because serious complications after DEB-TACE are rarely reported. This current case report describes a rare case of diffuse biliary peritonitis secondary to rupture of a hepatic tumour after DEB-TACE. After the procedure, the patient presented with progressively worsening upper abdominal pain. As conventional management methods for the suspected tumour rupture failed, an emergency laparotomy was performed to remove the metastatic mass of differentiated hepatic adenocarcinoma. The patient remains under surveillance with no further complications. In our opinion, although DEB-TACE is safe and rarely has serious complications, caution should be exercised when this method is used to treat tumours that are located close to the liver surface.

Background Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causes diarrhea in humans, cows, and pigs. The gut microbiota underlies pathology of several infectious diseases yet the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of ETEC-induced diarrhea is unknown. Results By using an ETEC induced diarrheal model in piglet, we profiled the jejunal and fecal microbiota using metagenomics and 16S rRNA sequencing. A jejunal microbiota transplantation experiment was conducted to determine the role of the gut microbiota in ETEC-induced diarrhea. ETEC-induced diarrhea influenced the structure and function of gut microbiota. Diarrheal piglets had lower Bacteroidetes: Firmicutes ratio and microbiota diversity in the jejunum and feces, and lower percentage of Prevotella in the feces, but higher Lactococcus in the jejunum and higher Escherichia-Shigella in the feces. The transplantation of the jejunal microbiota from diarrheal piglets to uninfected piglets leaded to diarrhea after transplantation. Microbiota transplantation experiments also supported the notion that dysbiosis of gut microbiota is involved in the immune responses in ETEC-induced diarrhea. Conclusion We conclude that ETEC infection influences the gut microbiota and the dysbiosis of gut microbiota after ETEC infection mediates the immune responses in ETEC infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1704-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This study was conducted to explore the effect of chitosan supplementation on mouse intestinal microbiota and interleukin-17 (IL-17) expression. Chitosan supplementation reduced mouse body weight, associating with change of intestinal microbiota (i.e. lowering the ratio of Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes). In antibiotics treated mice, chitosan supplementation had little effect on mouse body weight. Chitosan supplementation decreased expression of IL-17 in mouse jejunum and inhibited the mTOR pathway. In antibiotics treated mice, chitosan also reduced expression of IL-17 in the jejunum. Activation of mTOR signalling in mouse increased expression of IL-17 in the jejunum in the context of chitosan supplementation. We conclude that chitosan supplementation reduces mouse body weight through the intestinal microbiota, and inhibits intestinal IL-17 expression through the mTOR signalling. The discovery of this study suggests the potentials of chitosan as a functional supplement in intestinal health.

This study aimed to investigate the jejunal metabolic variations in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-infected piglets. Piglets were infected with 1 × 1010 CFUs (colony-forming units) of ETEC W25K and assigned into diarrheal, recovered, control, and resistant groups. Jejunal samples were harvested at day 6 and metabolic profiles were analyzed via gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS). The results showed that 33 metabolites in the jejunum were identified in ETEC-induced diarrhea, including amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, and organic acids. Compared with the control, resistant, and recovered piglets, diarrheal piglets showed higher concentrations of 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine in the jejunum. Compared with the control and resistant piglets, six metabolites were markedly decreased in diarrheal piglets, including ornithine, asparagine, glutamine, citric acid, citrulline, and lysine. Collectively, this study provides insights into jejunal metabolic response to ETEC infection and ETEC induced diarrhea in piglets.

Fetal growth, survival, and development are benchmarks for the production performance of sows, and methionine has been shown to impact fetal protein mass and the transport of nutrients through the uteroplacental vasculature. This study evaluated the effects of dietary methionine, administered during the late gestation period, on the production performance of sows. Specifically, it measured the effect of methionine on biochemical indicators in the plasma, plasma metabolites, and fecal bacterial communities. Thirty Landrace × Large White sows at day 90 of gestation were randomly assigned to three groups and fed the following diets: (1) a basal diet containing 0.36% methionine; (2) a basal diet + 0.12% methionine (0.48% methionine); and (3) a basal diet + 0.24% methionine (0.60% methionine). The results showed that the 0.48% methionine diet significantly (P < 0.05) increased piglets' birth weight, and the 0.60% methionine diet significantly (P < 0.05) improved the survival ratio. Dietary methionine lowered the triglyceride (TG) levels (P < 0.05), total bilirubin (BILT3) (P < 0.001) concentration, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (P < 0.05) enzyme activity in the plasma at farrowing. In the plasma metabolomics, dietary methionine increased plasma pyroglutamic acid and decreased 2-pyrrolidinone, hypotaurine, and anyl-histidine in both the 0.48% methionine and 0.60% methionine groups. In addition, the bacteria richness (Chao1 and ACE) and diversity (Shannon) were reduced in the 0.48% methionine group. For the microbiota composition, at the family level, the 0.48% methionine group had a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the relative abundance of Methanobacteriaceae compared to the other two groups, but a decrease in the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae compared to the 0.60% methionine group. In conclusion, a diet consisting of 0.48% methionine administered during the late gestation period can improve the production performance of sows and maintain their health.

The incidence of tuberculosis is increasing worldwide, especially in developing countries. The prevalence of abdominal tuberculosis has been found to be as high as 12% in people with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Peritoneal thickening and intestinal adhesions can occur in patients with abdominal tuberculosis. Inguinal hernias are extremely rare in people with abdominal tuberculosis; only 11 cases have been reported in the English-language literature, half of which involved pediatric patients. No definitive guideline on the management of such cases is available. In this report, we describe the unusual finding of an incarcerated inguinal hernia in an adult with abdominal tuberculosis and propose a therapy to treat this complicated disease based on our successful experience.

Objective. Our objective was to explore whether the pregnancy rate (PR) was higher than usual after hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy). Methods. We conducted a prospective observational study of 1,008 infertility patients, all of whom were examined by HyCoSy. The expected time for spontaneous pregnancy was at least 180 days after the HyCoSy exams. There were three types of HyCoSy results: type I, defined as both fallopian tubes patent; type II, defined as one fallopian tube patent with obstruction in the other; and type III, defined as both fallopian tubes obstructed. During the HyCoSy examinations, we recorded the mobility of the ovaries, injective resistance, and contrast agent venous intravasation. Before the examinations, we recorded each patient’s medical history, including maternal age, infertility type, median duration of menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea, and parity number. Results. The PR was 19.44% within 180 days after HyCoSy and it was significantly higher in the first 30 days (6.35%) (P P P P >.05). However, multivariate analysis showed that patency of both fallopian tubes and the absence of injective resistance were independently associated with pregnancy. Conclusion. Some infertility patients conceived successfully and naturally not long after HyCoSy, most often in the first month after the examination. Multivariate analysis showed that patency of both fallopian tubes and the absence of injective resistance were independently factors associated with the ability to conceive after HyCoSy examination.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), as a universal pathogen, often causes diarrhea in animals and humans. However, whether ETEC infection induces apoptosis in host remains controversial. Herein, we use ETEC-infected piglet to investigate apoptosis in the jejunum. Apoptosis and the activation of capase-3 are observed in piglet jejunum after ETEC infection. Additionally, ETEC infection induces the activation of caspase-8 pathway, but inhibits the activation of caspase-9 pathway in piglet jejunum. These findings demonstrate that ETEC infection may inhibit the intrinsic pathway and activate the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis in piglets.

Patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) experience a low quality of life and increase pressure on healthcare systems both nationally and globally. DNA methylation, which refers to the pathway by which DNA methyltransferase facilitates the addition of a methyl group to DNA, is of critical importance in this respect primarily because the epigenetic modification is implicated in a range of serious conditions including atherosclerosis, CVDs, and cancer. Research findings indicate that the number of epigenetic alterations can be elicited (both in utero and in adults) through the administration of certain nutritional supplements, including folic acid and methionine; this is partly attributable to the effect employed by methyl-containing nutrients in DNA methylation. Thus, for the purpose of illuminating viable therapeutic measures and preventive strategies for CVDs, research should continue to explore the intricate associations that exist between epigenetic regulation and CVD pathogenesis. This review centers on an exposition of the mechanism by which DNA methylation takes place, the impact it has on a range of conditions, and the potential clinical value of nutrition, driven mainly by the observation that nutritional supplements such as folic acid can affect DNA methylation.

The study was conducted to investigate the changes of intestinal microbiota composition and innate immunity with different dietary dosages of aspartate (Asp) supplementation. Thirty-six female ICR mice were divided randomly to four groups and thereafter fed the basal diets (controls) or those supplemented with additional 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% aspartate. After 2 week feeding, microbial composition in ileum and feces, gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine, and innate immune factors in ileum were determined. The ratio of Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes in ileum and feces decreased in 0.5 and 1.0% Asp-supplemented groups, whereas this ratio increased in feces in 2.0% Asp-supplemented group. Meanwhile, the gene expression of IL-17 and IFN-γ in ileum decreased in 1.0% Asp-supplemented group; the gene expression in ileum of Muc2 decreased in 0.5 and 1.0% Asp-supplemented groups. Dietary supplementation with 2.0% Asp enhanced the expression of pIgR and Crp1 as compared to the other three groups. The results indicated that dietary 1.0% Asp supplementation lowers the ratio of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes, which affects the innate immunity by decreasing the gene expression of IL-17, IFN-γ, and Muc2 in ileum.

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) arise from a peripheral nerve or display nerve sheath differentiation. Most MPNSTs typically originate on the trunk, extremities, head, neck, and paravertebral regions. Gastrointestinal MPNSTs are rare entities with only 10 cases reported worldwide in the literatures. Case presentation Here, we report the first Chinese case of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the distal ileum presenting as intussusception. A 53-year-old female patient without pathological antecedent for neurofibromatosis was admitted with pain in the right lower abdomen and multiple episodes of vomiting for 1 week. Preoperative diagnosis was intussusception with a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan (CECT) of the abdomen showing characteristic target sign. Due to difficulty reducing the ileum-colon intussusception, right hemicolectomy with ileocolostomy was performed. Histopathology was suggestive of low-grade MPNST. The patient received postoperative care and was followed up for 9 months. There is no sign of tumor recurrence and metastatic disease. Conclusions This case is unique in terms of a rare tumor presenting with unusual complication.

Background/Aims Upregulated CD64 expression on neutrophils is the most useful marker for acute bacterial infections and systemic inflammation. However, it is unknown whether CD64 is involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). This study was designed to determine whether CD64 is implicated in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and thus, is a suitable marker for SAP. Methods SAP was induced in rats with an intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. CD64 expression in the rat pancreas was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the CD64 mRNA expression in peripheral blood leukocytes from 21 patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 10 patients with SAP was investigated at the time of admission and during remission by qRT-PCR. Results CD64 mRNA and protein expression in the pancreas was significantly higher in rats with SAP, compared to the controls. The CD64 expression was higher in the patients with SAP than in the patients with MAP. During remission, CD64 mRNA decreased in both the MAP and SAP patients. The area under the curve of CD64 expression for the detection of SAP was superior to both the Ranson and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. Conclusions The CD64 level was significantly increased in correlation with the disease severity in SAP and may act as a useful marker for predicting the development of SAP.

The highly conserved M gene of the virus PEDV that caused pigling diarrheas in 8 different regions of Sichuan was cloned and sequenced to confirm that these diarrheas were caused by virus of at least 4 different strains. Sequence analysis was then conducted to the measured gene sequence to obtain their genetic relationships with the CV777 strain and their positions in the phylogenetic tree. Bioinformatics software DNAStar Protean was utilized to predict the antigenic domain of M gene which encoded M protein of the CV777 strain. Truncation gene corresponded to major antigenic domain was selected for analysis of its secondary structure, flexible region of protein skeleton (protein backbone) and predict the surface accessibility. Online prediction of hydrophilicity of this protein and transmembrane domains were also conducted. All these were done for the purpose of finding out whether the angigenicity changes when mutation of the four cloned unused M genes occurs.

Macleaya cordataextract is of great scientific and practical interest to researchers, due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory responses within experimental animals. This study was designed to determine the diarrhea score and innate immunity of growing piglets after they had receivedMacleaya cordataextract supplements. A total of 240 growing pigs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments, with 8 replicates per treatment and 10 piglets per replicate. All pigs received a basal diet containing similar amounts of nutrients. The three treatments were a control (no additive), an antibiotic (200 mg/kg colistin), and theMacleaya cordataextract supplement group (40 mg/kgMacleaya cordataextract). The diarrhea score was calculated after D 28. The jejunal samples were obtained from five piglets selected randomly from each treatment on D 28. In comparison with the control group, the dietaryMacleaya cordataextract and colistin group demonstrated a substantially decreased diarrhea score. The introduction ofMacleaya cordataextract supplements to the diet significantly increased volumes of ZO-1 and claudin-1, particularly in comparison with the pigs in the control group (P<0.05). The findings indicate thatMacleaya cordataextract does enhance intestinal barrier function in growing piglets and that it could be used as a viable substitute for antibiotics.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease. Many studies have indicated that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of DN. In addition, quercetin has been suggested to attenuate DN. In this study, we aim to examine whether quercetin ameliorates renal function through an effect on the expressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The diabetic rats were then randomized to diabetic group and quercetin therapy group. At the end of the 12th week, blood glucose, body weight, kidney weight/body weight, urine albumin excretion (UAE), serum creatinine (sCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were measured. The expressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF in the kidneys were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot method. Diabetic rats showed significant increases in blood glucose, kidney weight/body weight, UAE, sCr, BUN, and Ccr than control group. Treatment with quercetin improved these parameters except blood glucose. Compared with the control group, the expressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF were elevated in the diabetic group. The overexpressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF in the renal tissues of diabetic rats were attenuated by administration of quercetin. Our results suggest that quercetin improved renal function in rats with DN by inhibiting the overexpressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF in the kidney.

Objective: This study was performed to detect the association between the Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms of the TLR4 gene and type 2 diabetes in the Chinese Han population. Methods: The study included 856 unrelated individuals with type 2 diabetes and 672 healthy controls. The polymorphisms of the TLR4 gene were examined through denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Neither the Asp299Gly nor the Thr399Ile polymorphism was detected in any of the diabetic and healthy subjects. Conclusions: Our finding indicates the Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms of the TLR4 gene are very rare in the Chinese Han population.

Cerebral hemorrhage, a difficult issue in clinical practice, is often detected and studied with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). However, these expensive devices are not readily available in economically underdeveloped regions, and hence are unable to provide bedside and emergency on-site monitoring. The magnetic inductive phase shift (MIPS) is an emerging technology that may become a new tool to detect cerebral hemorrhage and to serve as an inexpensive partial substitute to medical imaging. In order to study a wider band of cerebral hemorrhage MIPS and to provide more useful information for measuring cerebral hemorrhage, we established a cerebral hemorrhage magnetic induction phase shift spectroscopy (MIPSS) detection system. Thirteen rabbits with five cerebral hemorrhage states were studied using a single coil-coil within a 1 MHz-200 MHz frequency range in linear sweep. A feature band (FB) with the highest detection sensitivity and the greatest stability was selected for further analysis and processing. In addition, a maximum conductivity cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) MRI was performed to verify and interpret the MIPSS result. The average phase shift change induced by a 3 ml injection of autologous blood under FB was -7.7503° ± 1.4204°, which was considerably larger than our previous work. Data analysis with a non-parametric statistical Friedman M test showed that in the FB, MIPSS could distinguish the five states of cerebral hemorrhage in rabbits, with a statistical significance of p

AIM: To evaluate the reliability of the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test, ImmunoCard STAT HpSA, for detecting H pylori infection. METHODS: Stool specimens were collected from 53 patients who received upper endoscopy examination due to gastrointestinal symptoms. ImmunoCard STAT HpSA was used to detect H pylori stool antigens. H pylori infection was detected based on three different tests: the urease test, Warthin-Starry staining and culture. H pylori status was defined as positive when both the urease test and histology or culture alone was positive. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values and the total accuracy of ImmunoCard STAT HpSA for the diagnosis of H pylori infection were 92.6% (25/27), 88.5% (23/26), 89.3% (25/28), 92% (23/25) and 90.6% (48/53), respectively. CONCLUSION: The stool antigen test, ImmunoCard STAT HpSA, is a simple noninvasive and accurate test for the diagnosis of H pylori infection.