Effects of steam-flaked grains on foals' growth and faecal microbiota

Background

There is little objective information concerning the effect of steam-flaked grains on foal’s growth performance and faecal microbiota. To determine the effects of steam-flaked grains on foal’s growth performance and faecal microbiota, faecal samples were collection from 18 foals which had been fed either corn, oat or barley diets over the 60 days of the experiment. Body weight and conformation measurements were collected. Next-generation sequencing of the V3 + V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was used to assess the microbial composition of faeces. Alpha diversity, Venn graph, Relative abundance and beta diversity are presented.

Results

There was a significantly higher larger increase in the body weight of those foals fed barley compared to either corn or oats. There were also significant changes in the Alpha diversity of the gut microbiota. The Shannon and Simpson indices were significantly higher in the barley fed group than those fed corn or oats. The Chao1 index was significantly higher in the oat fed group than the corn or barley fed groups. There were significant changes in the relative abundance of bacteria in the microbiota in terms of phylum, family and genus. The histogram of LDA value distribution showed that the 12 statistically different biomarkers of the bacteria were present. Tax4Fun function annotation clustering heat map showed that functional information was detected from 26 species of bacteria in faecal samples from the foals.

Conclusions

Differences by starch sources were found in overall growth of the foals and in the faecal microbiota if either supplementary corn, oat or barley was fed. Further studies are required to determine the potential impact of the changes in the microbiota on the health and development of foals fed cereal starch of different sources.

[Robotic hilar cholangiocarcinoma radical resection compared with laparotomy in prognosis]

Objective: To compare the long term and short term outcomes between robotic and open surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma radical resection. Methods: This is a single-center and retrospective case-control study. Patients underwent hilar cholangiocarcinoma radical resection between January 2016 and December 2016 at Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army were included. Safety, effectiveness and long-term prognosis of tumors were evaluated. Patients were divided into robotic hilar cholangiocarcinoma radical surgery group (robotic group, n=16) and open hepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma radical surgery group (open group, n=31) . All cases were confirmed by pathology histological. Age, gender, histology, resection margin status, extent of surgical resection, disease-free survival (DFS) , and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively collected and analyzed.In the follow-up cohort, the primary outcome was patient death and the secondary outcome was tumor recurrence. Continuous variables were expressed as means and medians and were compared using the Student t test if normally distributed or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric variables. Discrete variables were expressed as frequency and percentages and χ(2) or Fisher exact test, when appropriate, were used for comparisons. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to calculate the probability of survival and comparisons were performed using log-rank test. Results: In this study, compared with the open group, the robotic group had a longer operation time ( (338±71) minutes vs. (256±56) minutes, t=4.251, P=0.001) , but the intraoperative blood loss was less (100 ml vs. 200 ml, Z=121.50, P=0.040) , the gastric tube removal time was earlier (3 days vs. 4 days, Z=136.0, P=0.011) , and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter (9 days vs. 12 days, Z=144.50, P=0.040) , and the difference was statistically significant.There was no significant difference in the blood transfusion rate, R0 resection rate, and tumor size between the two groups.The recurrence rates in the robotic group and open surgery were 53.3% and 67.0%, respectively (χ(2)=1.04, P=0.307) .The median survival time of the robotic group and the open group was 22.0 months and 25.0 months. There was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between the two groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Compared with laparotomy, robotic HCC radical resection could have an equivalence or non-inferiority approach with acceptable long-term outcome.

[The lesser omentum approach for laparoscopic pancreatic enucleation]

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and strategy of the lesser omentum approach for laparoscopic pancreatic enucleation. Methods: Between June 2011 and October 2013, 6 laparoscopic pancreatic enucleations were performed by lesser omentum approach.The average age was 42 years, including 1 male and 5 female.The preoperation diagnosis of 6 cases were pancreatic islet cell tumors determined by abdominal CT/MRI, ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography.The tumors of 3 cases located in pancreatic neck, 2 tumors located in neck and body of pancreas, and 1 tumor located in pancreatic body.Their biggest tumor diameter were 0.8-2.5 cm. Results: Among the 6 cases, all laparoscopic pancreatic enucleations were successfully performed.None of the patients were converted to open operation.Eestimated blood loss was (26.7±18.6)ml, operating time was (82.5±19.4)minutes, and postoperative length of stay was (5.17±1.17)days.Additionally, postoperative complication included grade A pancreatic fistula in 1 case.After 36-64 months followed-up, there was no tumor recurrence and clinical symptom disappeared. Conclusion: For the islet cell tumors located in pancreatic neck and body, the lesser omentumapproach may contribute to good surgical view and operative space, which can make pancreatectomy safer and easier for clinical application.

[Clinical exploratory application of robotic resection of tumor in segment Ⅷ: a report for 7 cases]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and security of robotic resection of tumor in segment Ⅷ primarily. Methods: The clinicopathologic data of 7 patients who underwent robotic resection of tumor in segment Ⅷ using daVinci robotic system in the Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgical Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital from June 2016 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The lesion size, the tumor malignance degree mean operation time, intraoperative blood loss and the rate of conversion to laparotomy, postoperative hospital stay, mobidity and motality of all the 7 patients were collected. Results: All the 7 operations were successfully performed with radical resection.The mean tumor diameter was (4.6±1.2)cm. The mean operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were(120.7±21.7)min, (100±106.7)ml, and(7.3±1.8)days respectively.All the patients were discharged successfully with no severe complications. Conclusions: According to our experiences, as a new operationmodel of minimally invasive surgery, robotic resection of tumor in segment Ⅷ has manyadvantages in laparoscopic like less trauma, less intraoperative bleeding, light postoperative pain, shorter postoperative hospital stay and so on. There are some certain advantages in exposure of Ⅷ segment under robotic surgery system. Robotic surgery system is safe and feasible for tumorresection of segmentⅧ, andhas clinical promoting value and application prospect.

Development and characterisation of a novel chitosan-coated antioxidant liposome containing both coenzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid

This article describes the physicochemical properties of chitosan-coated liposomes containing skin-protecting agents, coenzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid (CCAL). CCAL had a spherical shell-core structure and liposomes inverted the surface charge from negative to positive after coating with chitosan. Compared with the uncoated liposome, CCAL had higher zeta potential, larger droplet size and long-term stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study showed that the driving force for chitosan coating the liposomes was enhanced via hydrogen bonding and ionic bond force between the chitosan and the alpha-lipoic acid. While the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of alpha-lipoic acid also increased by interacting with the chitosan shell. In vitro antioxidant activity study showed an excellent hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of CCAL. In vitro release study displayed a sustained drug release, and in vitro penetration studies promoted the accumulation of drugs in rabbit skin.

Effect of aerosolized docosahexaenoic acid in a mouse model of atopic asthma

BACKGROUND

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil is known to depress inflammation-related mediators. We investigated a novel delivery method of tridocosahexaenoyl-glycerol (DHA-TG).

METHODS

BALB/c mice (6-8 weeks old) were primed intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA) and Al(OH)(3) on days 0 and 7, and with aerosolized OVA on day 7. Primed mice were challenged by repeated exposure to aerosolized OVA on days 15-17. Just before each exposure to aerosolized OVA, the mice were also exposed to an aerosol of emulsified DHA-TG or soybean oil, or saline (days 7 and 15-17). Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine was measured, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained 24 h after the last challenge (day 18). Lungs were histologically examined.

RESULTS

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of saline-treated mice showed an increased cellularity with predominant eosinophils. Exposure to DHA-TG significantly reduced the total cell number and the eosinophil percentage in lavage fluid, whereas soybean oil did not.

CONCLUSION

DHA but not soybean oil exposure reduced BHR and cell infiltration to bronchovascular bundles. This type of DHA administration could be studied in clinical trials.

Effect of suplatast tosilate (IPD-1151T) on a mouse model of asthma: inhibition of eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness

BACKGROUND

Suplatast tosilate (IPD) is a newly developed 'anti-allergic' drug. It seems to be a unique compound because of its ability to suppress IgE but not IgG or IgM production in vivo and cytokine production from type 2 helper T cells (Th2) in vitro. However, information on its in vivo effect on an animal model of asthma is limited.

METHOD

BALB/c mice sensitized to ovalbumin (3 times, 2-week interval) were challenged with ovalbumin by inhalation (50 mg/ml for 20 min, once a day for 6 days). In this study, we explored the influence of IPD on eosinophil infiltration into the airways, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine, specific IgE antibody production, and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using this murine model.

RESULTS

Treatment with IPD significantly reduced the number of total cells and eosinophils in BALF (around -40%) and almost completely inhibited the development of antigen-induced BHR. Histological findings confirmed the reduction of submucosal cell infiltration in the lung, and disclosed the marked inhibition of bronchial epithelial cell damage. Ovalbumin-specific IgE was slightly but significantly reduced. The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF were significantly decreased in mice treated with the compound compared to those in untreated mice.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that IPD is capable of inhibiting the production of Th2 cytokines, which inhibit eosinophil infiltration into the murine airway, IgE synthesis, and development of BHR, in a murine model of asthma.