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Background and Aim. The relationship between serum trans-fatty acids (TFAs) and systemic inflammation markers is unclear. We investigated the association of serum TFAs with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen in adult Americans. Methods. The 1999 to 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants with measured data on hs-CRP and fibrinogen were included. TFAs were measured via capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization. Analysis of covariance and multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between these parameters, accounting for the survey design. Results. Of the 5446 eligible participants, 46.8% (n=2550) were men. The mean age was 47.1 years overall: 47.8 years in men and 46.5 years in women (p=0.085). After adjustment for age and sex, mean serum TFAs rose with the increasing quarters of hs-CRP and fibrinogen (both p<0.001). In linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, marital status, body mass index, and smoking, serum TFAs were an independent predictor of plasma hs-CRP and fibrinogen levels. Conclusion. A high level of TFAs appears to be a contributor to an unfavourable inflammatory profile. Because serum TFAs concentrations are affected by dietary TFA intake, these data suggest a possible contribution of TFAs intake modulation in the prevention of inflammation-related chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) have been facing a high risk of degradation due to the impacts of climate change and human activities. As one of the important components in river ecosystems, microbial communities can reflect the overall changes in the watershed and are regarded as indicators of the health of river ecosystems. In order to investigate the diversity and composition characteristics of bacterial communities in river ecosystems on the QTP, 65 samples were collected from the Yellow River, Yangtze River, Lancang River, Nujiang River, Yarlung Tsangpo River, and Qaidam Basin on the QTP in July 2021 and were analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the detected bacterial communities covered 65 phyla and 1311 genera in total. Bacterial communities had high α -diversity indexes across the rivers, indicating that the bacterial richness and diversity in rivers on the QTP were at a high level. Among them, Chao and observed OTUs had significantly negative relationships with SRP/TP. The dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Cyanobacteria. The dominant classes were γ -proteobacteria, Bacteroidia, and α -proteobacteria. The dominant genera were Flavobacterium and Limnohabitans . The results of principal coordinate analysis and permutational MANOVA suggested significant differences in bacterial community structure among the rivers on the QTP. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the significant environmental variables associated with the variation in the bacterial communities were physicochemical properties of the river water, including conductivity, pH, dissolved silicon, and dissolved organic carbon, as well as watershed characteristics, including the average normalized differential vegetation index, average slope, cumulative water channel distance, catchment size, proportion of shrub area, and average elevation. Among them, conductivity had the strongest influence on bacteria distribution on the QTP. These results provide a database and information for understanding the composition characteristics of microbial communities on the QTP and identifying environmental factors influencing the diversity of bacteria communities.

Objective: To establish a new gastric bypass animal-model with Goto-Kakizaki rats whose different parts of the small intestine were bypassed while stomach was not bypassed., Methods: Forty male 3-month-old GK rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group I (sham operation), group II (duodenum bypassed), group III (jejunum bypassed), group IV (ileum bypassed). Fasting plasma glucose was measured before operation and the 1st, 4th,and 8th week after operation in all the rats, the body weight of all the rats were measured simultaneously., Results: The survival rate of operation for the rats was 95%. Two rats in group IV (died on the first day after operation. The mean fasting plasma glucose concentration of the rats in group II, III, IV (declined obviously 4 weeks after gastric bypass [group II (12.02+/-1.97) vs (6.36+/-0.50) mmol/L, group III (13.42+/-1.66) vs (5.96+/-0.53) mmol/L, group IV (14.32+/-2.82) vs (5.18+/-0.49) mmol/L, all P <0.01], but there were no significant differences among the gastric bypassed groups. The weight of rats in group I, II, III (increased obviously after gastric bypass [group I (253.6+/-9.37) vs (367.0+/-23.70) g, group II (268.2+/-7.95) vs (384.8+/-16.12) g, group III (253.0+/-6.20) vs (323.0+/-16.40) g, all P <0.05] except the rats in group IV ([(262.0+/-13.47) vs(185.8+/-11.56) g]., Conclusions: The mean fasting plasma glucose concentration of the GK rats decreases obviously after gastric bypass through different parts of small intestine. The fasting plasma glucose concentration is not associated with the length of small intestine and body weight.

Objective: To determine the relationship between Toll like receptor (TLR) 4 (896A>G) mutations and pancreatic necrotic infection in acute pancreatitis (AP)., Methods: TLR4 (896A>G) mutations were detected by mispairing PCR-RFLP analysis technique in the patients with pancreatic necrosis and healthy volunteers., Results: (1) All of the TLR4 mutations were heterozygotes; (2) The G allele frequencies of TLR4 genes were significantly higher in the patients with pancreatic infection than in the healthy volunteers; (3) The incidence of gram-negative infection was significantly higher in the patients with the TLR4 mutations [15 (44.1%) of 34] than that in the wild type population [15(18.5%) of 81]., Conclusion: TLR4 (896A>G) mutations are associated with the infection of pancreatic necrosis in the patients with AP.

Objective: To investigate the regional spread of micrometastatic nodules in the mesorectum from low rectal cancer, and provide further pathological evidence to optimize radical resection procedure for rectal cancer., Methods: A total of 62 patients with low rectal cancer underwent low anterior resection and total mesorectal excision (TME) was included in this study. Surgical specimens were sliced transversely and serial embedded blocks were made at 2.5 mm interval, and paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The mesorectum on whole-mount sections was divided into three regions: outer region of mesorectum (ORM), middle region of mesorectum (MRM) and inner region of mesorectum (IRM). Microscopic spread were examined microscopically on the sections for the distribution in different mesorectal regions, frequency, types, involvement of lymphatic system and correlation with the primary tumor., Results: Microscopic spread of the tumor in mesorectum and ORM was observed in 38.7% (24/62) and 25.8% (16/62) of the patients, respectively. Circumferential resection margin (CRM) involved by microscopic tumor foci occurred in 6.5% (4/62) of the patients, and distal mesorectum (DMR) involvement was recorded in 6.5% (4/62) with a spread extent within 3 cm of distal border of the main lesions. Most (20/24) of the patients with microscopic spread in mesorectum were in TNM stage III., Conclusion: Results of the present study support that complete excision of mesorectum without destruction of the ORM is essential for surgical management of low rectal cancer, and an optimal DMR clearance resection margin should not be less than 4 cm.

This paper was aimed to detect Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) microcirculatory expression and localization in rat pancreas and intestine. Acute pancreatitis (AP) was induced by twice injections of cerulein (20 mug in total) and acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) was induced by intraductal injection of 5% taurocholate (1 ml/kg.bw). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect and localize TLR4 in the pancreas and intestine. Results showed that RT-PCR of RNA isolated from pancreatic and intestinal tissue yielded the predicted amplicon for TLR4; IHC analysis localized TLR4 expression to the endothelium of pancreatic arteriole, venule, acinar capillary network and sinusoidal capillary of endocrine islet; TLR4 expression in intestine was principally in the microvascular endothelium and leucocytes within the mucosa lamina propria. TLR4 staining in intestine was more intense in taurocholate-induced pancreatitis (TIP) than that in cerulein-induced pancreatitis (CIP). In conclusion, TLR4 could be detected in the pancreatic and intestinal microcirculation, suggesting TLR4 involved in the microcirculatory impairment in AP; the more intense intestinal TLR4 expression in TIP suggests a potential risk for secondary infection.

Objective: To investigate the expression of phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL- 3) mRNA and evaluate its relationship with tumor invasion and metastasis in human colorectal carcinoma., Methods: The expression level of PRL-3 mRNA was examined semi-quantitatively in surgically resected tumor specimens, paired paratumor normal tissues from 46 CRC patients, metastatic lymph nodes and liver metastases from 18 cases with metastasis,adenoma tissues from 6 patients with colorectal adenoma (CRA). In addition,the mutation of PRL-3 gene was examined by PCR-SSCP., Results: The PRL-3 mRNA level was increased in primary CRC tissues as compared with paired paratumor normal tissues (1.6+/- 0.7 vs. 0.4+/- 0.1, P< 0.01), while no significant difference of its expression was found between CRA tissues and their adjacent normal mucosae (P> 0.05). However,the PRL-3 mRNA levels of liver metastases (2.1+/- 0.8) in 12 cases and metastatic lymph nodes (3.3+/- 1.0) in 6 cases were significantly higher compared with the matched primary lesions, normal tissues and negative-lymph nodes (P< 0.01). There was significant relation of the expression of PRL-3 mRNA with the clinicopathological features including Dukes stage, invasion depth and metastasis (P< 0.05), but no relation with sex,tumor size,degree of differentiation was found (P> 0.05). Abnormal electrolysis band was found in 1 of 6 cases with liver metastasis by PCR-SSCP analysis., Conclusion: PRL-3 gene plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis and may associated with carcinogenesis and development of CRC. There might exist some unknown mechanisms of overexpression and mutation of PRL-3 gene in CRC.

Aim: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating-peptide (PACAP) is a late member of the secretin/glucagon/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) family of brain-gut peptides. It is unknown whether PACAP takes part in the development of acute pancreatitis and whether PACAP or its antagonists can be used to suppress the progression of acute pancreatitis. We investigated the actions of PACAP and its receptor antagonists in acute pancreatitis on rats., Methods: Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats with caerulein or 3.5% sodium taurocholate. The rats were continuously infused with 5-30 microg/kg PACAP via jugular vein within the first 90 min, while 10-100 microg/kg PACAP6-27 and (4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17) VIP (PACAP receptor antagonists) were intravenously infused for 1 h. Biochemical and histopathological assessments were made at 4 h after infusion. Pancreatic and duodenal PACAP concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chinese ink-perfused pancreas was fixed, sectioned and cleared for counting the functional capillary density., Results: PACAP augmented caerulein-induced pancreatitis and failed to ameliorate sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis. ELISA revealed that relative concentrations of PACAP in pancreas and duodenum were significantly increased in both sodium taurocholate- and caerulein-induced pancreatitis compared with those in normal controls. Unexpectedly, PACAP6-27 and (4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17) VIP could induce mild acute pancreatitis and aggravate caerulein-induced pancreatitis with characteristic manifestations of acute hemorrhagic/necrotizing pancreatitis. Functional capillary density of pancreas was interpreted in the context of pancreatic edema, and calibrated functional capillary density (calibrated FCD), which combined measurement of functional capillary density with dry weight/wet weight ratio, was introduced. Hyperemia or congestion, rather than ischemia, characterized pancreatic microcirculatory changes in acute pancreatitis., Conclusion: PACAP may take part in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis in rats. The two PACAP receptor antagonsits might act as partial agonists. Calibrated functional capillary density can reflect pancreatic microcirculatory changes in acute pancreatitis.

Objective: To examine the effects of analogs of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP)--PACAP6-27 (10, 100 microg/kg) and (4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17)VIP (10, 100 microg/kg) on the pancreata of normal rats and on the development of experimental acute pancreatitis., Methods: Male Wistar rats were allocated into normal control groups, experimental acute pancreatitis groups and PACAP analog intervention groups. Acute pancreatitis was induced with s.c. cerulein and intraductal sodium taurocholate; PACAP analogs were infused intravenously immediately after pancreatitis induction. Pancreatic morphology was observed at 4 h, and serum amylase, pancreatic water content and PACAP contents were measured., Results: It was found that PACAP6-27 induced pancreatic edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and elevation of serum amylase [(1464.33 +/- 265.6)-(1692.17 +/- 312.18)] IU/L vs (520.8 +/- 163.27) IU/L of control, P < 0.05); that PACAP6-27 aggravated vacuolization of pancreatic acinar cells in cerulein-induced pancreatitis with hemorrhage and fatty and parenchymal necrosis; and that the pathological changes of cerulein plus 100 microg/kg PACAP group were similar to those of sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis. Pancreatic hemorrhage, vacuolization of acinar cells and parenchymal necrosis in sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis were worsened by PACAP6-27. (4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17)VIP had similar effects. ELISA showed that pancreatic and duodenal levels of PACAP were increased in cerulein- and sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis., Conclusion: PACAP6-27 and (4-Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17)VIP could induce mild pancreatitis and aggravate experimental acute pancreatitis. PACAP probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To assess the microscopic spread of low rectal cancer in mesorectum regions to provide pathological evidence for the necessity of total mesorectal excision (TME)., Methods: A total of 62 patients with low rectal cancer underwent low anterior resection and TME, surgical specimens were sliced transversely on the serial embedded blocks at 2.5 mm interval, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The mesorectum on whole-mount sections was divided into three regions: outer region of mesorectum (ORM), middle region of mesorectum (MRM) and inner region of mesorectum (IRM). Microscopic metastatic foci were investigated microscopically on the sections for the metastatic mesorectal regions, frequency, types, involvement of lymphatic vessels and correlation with the original rectal cancer., Results: Microscopic spread of the tumor in mesorectum and ORM was observed in 38.7% (24/62) and 25.8% (16/62) of the patients, respectively. Circumferential resection margin (CRM) with involvement of microscopic metastatic foci occurred in 6.5% (4/62) of the patients, and distal mesorectum (DMR) involved was 6.5% (4/62) with the spread extent within 3 cm of low board of the main lesions. Most (20/24) of the patients with microscopic metastasis in mesorectum were in Dukes C stage., Conclusion: Results of the present study support that complete excision of the mesorectum without destruction of the ORM is essential for surgical management of low rectal cancer, an optimal DMR clearance resection margin should be no less than 4 cm, further pathologic assessment of the regions in extramesorectum in the pelvis is needed.

Aim: To elucidate the role of COX-2 in the development of capillary leakage in rats with acute interstitial pancreatitis., Methods: Rats with acute interstitial pancreatitis were induced by caerulein subcutaneous injection. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the gene expression of COX-2 in pancreatic tissues, spectrophotometry was used to assay the parameters of acute pancreatitis such as the serum amylase and plasma myeloperoxidase, and determination of capillary permeability in the pancreas by quantifying the permeability index (PI) assisted response of pancreatic microvascular via intravital fluorescence microscope video image analysis system., Results: A significant increase of COX-2 expression, elevation of serum amylase, and plasma myeloperoxidase were detected in rats with acute edematous pancreatitis compared with control rats. The changes of pancreatic microvascular after caerulein injection were as following: (a) the decrease of pancreatic capillary blood flow (4th h, 0.56+/-0.09 nL/min, P<0.05; 8 th h, 0.34+/-0.10 nL/min, P<0.001); (b) reduction of functional capillary density (4 th h, 381+/-9 cm(-1), P>0.05; 8th h, 277+/-13 cm(-1), P<0.001); (c) irregular and intermittent capillary perfusion was observed at the 8th h and these vessels were also prone to permeation., Conclusion: COX-2 plays an important role in mediating capillary permeability in pancreatitis, thereby contributing to capillary leakage.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine is a potent agent in the management of clinical and experimental acute pancreatitis (AP), but the molecular mechanism of its therapeutic action is unclear. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have shown that platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) is pivotal to leukocyte recruitment, which results in microcirculatory injury during inflammation, but its role in acute pancreatitis is poorly understood. We investigated the effects of a compound of traditional Chinese medicine pancreatitis-1 (TCMP-1) on the changes of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) expression on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP)., Methods: The model of acute pancreatitis was established by subcutaneous injection of caerulein, and TCMP-1 treated groups were given TCMP-1 by catheterization from mouth to stomach (20 ml/kg) immediately after first time subcutaneous injection of caerulein. The changes of expression of PECAM-1 on leukocytes from the blood of the splenic vein and inferior vena cava were determined by flow cytometry., Results: In the AEP group, expression of PECAM-1 on PMNs was not significantly different between pancreatic microcirculation and systemic circulation at AEP2h and AEP4h time point. Then from AEP4h time point to AEP8h time point, expression of PECAM-1 was up-regulated in systemic circulation while it was down-regulated in pancreatic microcirculation and was significantly different between pancreatic microcirculation and systemic circulation at AEP8h time point (P<0.05). In the TCMP-1 treated group, compared with the AEP group, expression of PECAM-1 on PMNs decreased in different levels between pancreatic microcirculation and systemic circulation and was of significant difference at AEP8h time point (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Inhibition of PECAM-1 expression on PMNs may prevent PMNs from transmigration through the endothelium and may be one of the treatment mechanisms of TCMP-1 decoction on AEP.

Objective: To study the changes of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) expression on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in peripheral circulation and pancreatic microcirculation in rats with acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP)., Methods: The model of AEP was established with 50 Wistar rats, and the changes of PECAM-1 expression on PMNs from the splenic vein and inferior vena cava were determined by flow cytometry., Results: PECAM-1 expression on PMNs showed no significant difference between pancreatic microcirculation and peripheral circulation at AEP2h and AEP4h time points. From the AEP4h to the AEP8h time point, PECAM-1 expression in peripheral circulation was up-regulated, but PECAM-1 expression in pancreatic microcirculation was down-regulated. PECAM-1 expression had a significant difference between pancreatic microcirculation and peripheral circulation at the AEP8h time point (P<0.05)., Conclusion: PECAM-1 expression on PMNs is in a converse way between pancreatic microcirculation and peripheral circulation in AEP.