[Clinical effect of anterolateral thigh flow-through chimeric perforator free flap transplantation in the treatment of upper limb complex tissue defects with main artery injury]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of anterolateral thigh flow-through chimeric perforator free flap transplantation in the treatment of upper limb complex tissue defects with main artery injury. Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study. From May 2019 to January 2022, 11 patients with upper limb complex tissue defects combined with main artery injury who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Hand, Foot and Ankle Surgery of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, including 7 males and 4 females, aged from 18 to 56 years. After debridement, the area of skin and soft tissue defects was from 20 cm×6 cm to 32 cm×10 cm, and the exposed area of dead cavity or deep tissue was from 7 cm×4 cm to 10 cm×7 cm. Three patients had radial artery defects with a length of 4 to 7 cm; two patients had ulnar artery defects with a length of 5 to 8 cm; 4 patients had defects in both ulnar and radial arteries with a length of 3 to 7 cm; and in two patients, the ulnar, radial and brachial arteries were all defective with a length of 4 to 8 cm. The anterolateral thigh flow-through chimeric perforator flap was designed and cut. The skin flap area was from 22 cm×7 cm to 32 cm×11 cm, the chimeric muscle flap area was from 7 cm×4 cm to 10 cm×7 cm, and the length of the flow-through vessel in the "T" shaped vessel pedicle was from 4 to 8 cm. When transplanting the skin flap, the proximal end of the vascular pedicle was anastomosed with the proximal end of the recipient site, and the distal end of the vascular pedicle was anastomosed with the more normal blood vessel at the distal end of the forearm; the invalid cavity was filled with the muscle flap. The donor site wounds of tissue flap were closed directly or treated with skin grafting. After operation, the blood supply and survival of the flap, the survival of the distal limb, and the survival of the skin graft at the flap donor site were observed. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed to observe the patency of the proximal and distal anastomotic arteries from 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. During follow-up, the texture of the flap, the survival of the grafted skin and the healing of the donor area were observed. Results: One patient (complete forearm disconnection) developed distal limb blood disorder on 5 days after surgery. CTA examination suggested embolization of the distal anastomosis of the flow-through artery. more muscle and skin and soft tissue necrosis of the distal limb showed in emergency exploration. So, amputation was performed ultimately. No vascular crisis occurred in the skin flaps of the remaining 10 patients, and all skin flaps, distal limbs and the skin grafts in flap donor sites survived well. Two to 4 weeks after surgery, the proximal and distal ends of the anastomosed arteries were good in the patency. Follow-up for 11-37 months, the flap texture was good, and all donor site wounds healed well. Conclusions: The use of anterolateral thigh flow-through chimeric perforator flap to repair upper limb complex tissue defects accompanied by main artery injury can improve the success rate of limb salvage, which can be promoted in clinical practice.

Exceptional Entanglement Phenomena: Non-Hermiticity Meeting Nonclassicality

Non-Hermitian (NH) extension of quantum-mechanical Hamiltonians represents one of the most significant advancements in physics. During the past two decades, numerous captivating NH phenomena have been revealed and demonstrated, but all of which can appear in both quantum and classical systems. This leads to the fundamental question: what NH signature presents a radical departure from classical physics? The solution of this problem is indispensable for exploring genuine NH quantum mechanics, but remains experimentally untouched so far. Here, we resolve this basic issue by unveiling distinct exceptional entanglement phenomena, exemplified by an entanglement transition, occurring at the exceptional point of NH interacting quantum systems. We illustrate and demonstrate such purely quantum-mechanical NH effects with a naturally dissipative light-matter system, engineered in a circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture. Our results lay the foundation for studies of genuinely quantum-mechanical NH physics, signified by exceptional-point-enabled entanglement behaviors.

Effective protocol for generating NOON states of resonator modes

We propose a protocol for the generation of NOON states of resonator modes. The physical model is composed of two Kerr-nonlinear resonators and a four-level qudit. Using the off-resonant couplings between the resonators and the qudit, qudit-level-dependent frequency shifts on the two resonators are induced. The frequency shifts allow us to drive different resonators to the N-photon state when the qudit is in different intermediate levels. Consequently, the generation of NOON states with arbitrary photon number N can be completed in only three steps, i.e., driving the qudit to a superposition state of the two intermediate levels, driving one of the resonators to its N-photon state, and driving the qudit back to its ground level. Numerical simulations show that, in the regime of strong Kerr nonlinearity and coupling strengths, the protocol can produce the NOON state with high fidelity in the cases of different photon numbers. In addition, it is possible for the protocol to produce acceptable fidelity in the presence of systematic errors and decoherence factors. Therefore, the protocol may provide some useful perspectives for effective generation of photonic NOON states.

Observation of a Superradiant Phase Transition with Emergent Cat States

Superradiant phase transitions (SPTs) are important for understanding light-matter interactions at the quantum level, and play a central role in criticality-enhanced quantum sensing. So far, SPTs have been observed in driven-dissipative systems, but the emergent light fields did not show any nonclassical characteristic due to the presence of strong dissipation. Here we report an experimental demonstration of the SPT featuring the emergence of a highly nonclassical photonic field, realized with a resonator coupled to a superconducting qubit, implementing the quantum Rabi model. We fully characterize the light-matter state by Wigner matrix tomography. The measured matrix elements exhibit quantum interference intrinsic of a photonic mesoscopic superposition, and reveal light-matter entanglement.

Beating the break-even point with a discrete-variable-encoded logical qubit

Quantum error correction (QEC) aims to protect logical qubits from noises by using the redundancy of a large Hilbert space, which allows errors to be detected and corrected in real time1. In most QEC codes2-8, a logical qubit is encoded in some discrete variables, for example photon numbers, so that the encoded quantum information can be unambiguously extracted after processing. Over the past decade, repetitive QEC has been demonstrated with various discrete-variable-encoded scenarios9-17. However, extending the lifetimes of thus-encoded logical qubits beyond the best available physical qubit still remains elusive, which represents a break-even point for judging the practical usefulness of QEC. Here we demonstrate a QEC procedure in a circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture18, where the logical qubit is binomially encoded in photon-number states of a microwave cavity8, dispersively coupled to an auxiliary superconducting qubit. By applying a pulse featuring a tailored frequency comb to the auxiliary qubit, we can repetitively extract the error syndrome with high fidelity and perform error correction with feedback control accordingly, thereby exceeding the break-even point by about 16% lifetime enhancement. Our work illustrates the potential of hardware-efficient discrete-variable encodings for fault-tolerant quantum computation19.

Manipulating Complex Hybrid Entanglement and Testing Multipartite Bell Inequalities in a Superconducting Circuit

Quantum correlations in observables of multiple systems not only are of fundamental interest, but also play a key role in quantum information processing. As a signature of these correlations, the violation of Bell inequalities has not been demonstrated with multipartite hybrid entanglement involving both continuous and discrete variables. Here we create a five-partite entangled state with three superconducting transmon qubits and two photonic qubits, each encoded in the mesoscopic field of a microwave cavity. We reveal the quantum correlations among these distinct elements by joint Wigner tomography of the two cavity fields conditional on the detection of the qubits and by test of a five-partite Bell inequality. The measured Bell signal is 8.381±0.038, surpassing the bound of 8 for a four-partite entanglement imposed by quantum correlations by 10 standard deviations, demonstrating the genuine five-partite entanglement in a hybrid quantum system.

[A nomogram to predict non-sentinel lymph node metastasis for breast cancer patients with positive axillary sentinel lymph node]

Objective: To identify the risk factors of non-sentinel lymph node (nSLN) metastasis in breast cancer patients with 1~2 positive axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) and construct an accurate prediction model. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed in 917 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery treatment between 2002 and 2017 and pathologically confirmed 1-2 positive SLNs. According to the date of surgery, patients were divided into training group (497 cases) and validation group (420 cases). A nomogram was built to predict nSLN metastasis and the accuracy of the model was validated. Results: Among the 917 patients, 251 (27.4%) had nSLN metastasis. Univariate analysis showed tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), extra-capsular extension (ECE), the number of positive and negative SLN and macro-metastasis of SLN were associated with nSLN metastasis (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed the numbers of positive SLN, negative SLN and macro-metastasis of SLN were independent predictors of nSLN metastasis (all P<0.05). A nomogram was constructed based on the 6 factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.718 for the training group and 0.742 for the validation group. Conclusion: We have developed a nomogram that uses 6 risk factors commonly available to accurately estimate the likelihood of nSLN metastasis for individual patient, which might be helpful for radiation oncologists to make a decision on regional nodal irradiation.

Demonstration of Controlled-Phase Gates between Two Error-Correctable Photonic Qubits

To realize fault-tolerant quantum computing, it is necessary to store quantum information in logical qubits with error correction functions, realized by distributing a logical state among multiple physical qubits or by encoding it in the Hilbert space of a high-dimensional system. Quantum gate operations between these error-correctable logical qubits, which are essential for implementation of any practical quantum computational task, have not been experimentally demonstrated yet. Here we demonstrate a geometric method for realizing controlled-phase gates between two logical qubits encoded in photonic fields stored in cavities. The gates are realized by dispersively coupling an ancillary superconducting qubit to these cavities and driving it to make a cyclic evolution depending on the joint photonic state of the cavities, which produces a conditional geometric phase. We first realize phase gates for photonic qubits with the logical basis states encoded in two quasiorthogonal coherent states, which have important implications for continuous-variable-based quantum computation. Then we use this geometric method to implement a controlled-phase gate between two binomially encoded logical qubits, which have an error-correctable function.

Deterministic Entanglement Swapping in a Superconducting Circuit

Entanglement swapping, the process to entangle two particles without coupling them in any way, is one of the most striking manifestations of the quantum-mechanical nonlocal characteristic. Besides fundamental interest, this process has applications in complex entanglement manipulation and quantum communication. Here we report a high-fidelity, unconditional entanglement swapping experiment in a superconducting circuit. The measured concurrence characterizing the qubit-qubit entanglement produced by swapping is above 0.75, confirming most of the entanglement of one qubit with its partner is deterministically transferred to another qubit that has never interacted with it. We further realize delayed-choice entanglement swapping, showing whether two qubits previously behaved as in an entangled state or as in a separable state is determined by a later choice of the type of measurement on their partners. This is the first demonstration of entanglement-separability duality in a deterministic way.

[Clinical application of computed tomography angiography and three-dimensional reconstruction in repairing high-voltage electrical burn wounds in necks, shoulders, axillas, and upper arms with tissue flaps]

Objective: To explore the application value of computed tomography angiography (CTA) and three-dimensional reconstruction in repairing high-voltage electrical burn wounds in necks, shoulders, axillas, and upper arms with tissue flaps. Methods: From December 2014 to December 2018, 12 patients with high-voltage electrical burns in necks, shoulders, axillas, and upper arms were hospitalized. The size of wounds ranged from 13 cm×10 cm to 32 cm×15 cm after complete debridement. Before tissue flap repair, the subclavian artery-axillary artery-brachial artery and their branches were examined by CTA. The main target vessels and their branches were conducted by three-dimensional reconstruction, and the development of the axis vessels for the tissue flaps planning to dissect and their branches were observed. For wounds in upper arms, amputation stump bone exposed wounds, and wounds in axillas and the anterior, the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is the first choice for repair, if the thoracodorsal artery and internal and external branches are well developed according to CTA examination. Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps were used in 6 patients with the area of myocutaneous flap ranging from 16 cm×12 cm to 32 cm×17 cm. All the donor sites were covered by split-thickness skin graft of thighs. For large wounds in occiputs, necks, and scapulas, the contralateral lower trapezius myocutaneous flap is the first choice for repair, if the superficial descending branch and deep branch of the contralateral transverse cervical artery are well developed according to CTA examination. For small wounds in necks and scapulas, the ipsilateral lower trapezius myocutaneous flap can be used for repair, if the superficial descending branch of the ipsilateral transverse cervical artery is well developed according to CTA examination. Lower trapezius myocutaneous flaps were used in 4 patients with the area of myocutaneous flap ranging from 18 cm×12 cm to 25 cm×17 cm. The donor site of one patient was sutured directly and the donor site of the other 3 patients was covered by split-thickness skin graft of thighs. For wounds in the posteromedial side of upper arms and the anterior side of axillas, the lateral thoracic skin flaps can be used for repair, if the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap can not be utilized for reasons of back burn or no muscle is needed for dead space, when the blood supply of side chest skin is reliable according to CTA examination. Lateral thoracic skin flaps were used in 2 patients with the area of skin flap ranging from 16 cm×12 cm to 17 cm×14 cm. The donor site of one patient was sutured directly and the donor site of the other one patient was covered by split-thickness skin graft of thigh. Results: During the operation of tissue flap repair in 12 patients, the orientation and starting position of the axis vessels were consistent with those observed by CTA examination before operation. All the tissue flaps survived after operation. During follow-up of 1 to 24 months, the patients were satisfied with no serious scar contracture affecting the function nor secondary infection or chronic ulcer. Conclusions: CTA and its three-dimensional reconstruction technique can clearly reconstruct the subclavian artery-axillary artery-brachial artery and their branches before repair of high-voltage burn wounds in necks, shoulders, axillas, and upper arms. It can be used to observe whether the vessels are embolized or not and the starting position and orientation of blood vessels, which can provide an important reference for the selection of tissue flap transplantion.

[Study on the application of dexmedetomidine combined with remifentanil in dressing change of conscious patients with non-intubation in burn intensive care unit]

Objective: To observe the analgesic and sedative effect and safety of application of dexmedetomidine combined with remifentanil in dressing change of conscious patients with non-intubation in burn intensive care unit. Methods: Forty patients conforming to the study criteria hospitalized in our burn intensive care unit from April 2015 to April 2017 were selected. Prospective, randomized, and double-blind method was used for the design. Patients were divided into dexmedetomidine group and dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group according to the random number table, with 20 cases in each group. Patients in the two groups were respectively given corresponding drugs during dressing change. The frequency and time of dressing change, Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) score of patients during dressing change (at drug administration for 25 minutes) and after dressing change (25 min after dressing change), Ramsay Sedation Score (RSS) during dressing change, satisfaction level for anesthesia of the patients and physicians after dressing change, dosage of remifentanil, and various adverse effects during and after dressing change were recorded. The heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), respiratory rate, and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂) before drug administration and at 10, 15, and 25 minutes after drug administration were also recorded. Data were processed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, t test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact probability test. Results: (1) Totally 38 patients completed the trial. There were no statistically significant differences between patients in two groups in gender, American Association of Anesthesiologist Grading, age, weight, and total burn area (χ²=0.230, 0.146, t=0.224, 0.351, 0.367, P>0.05). (2) The frequency of dressing change of patients in two groups were both 48 times. The time of dressing change and VRS scores during dressing change of patients in two groups were similar (t=0.821, 1.522, P>0.05). The VRS score of patients in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group after dressing change was (3.1±0.4) points, obviously lower than (3.8±0.8) points in remifentanil group (t=2.213, P<0.05). The RSS, satisfaction level scores for anesthesia of the patients and physicians after dressing change in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group were (3.13±0.32), (3.44±0.41), and (3.13±0.25) points, respectively, obviously better than (1.82±0.24), (2.71±0.23), (2.53±0.41) points in remifentanil group (t=2.226, 2.684, 7.702, P<0.01). The dosage of remifentanil of patients in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group was (282±19) μg, obviously less than (340±31) μg in remifentanil group (t=9.896, P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between patients in two groups in rates of respiratory inhibition and hypotension (χ²=0.211, 0.154, P>0.05). Compared with those in remifentanil group, the rates of nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms of patients in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group were obviously reduced (P<0.05), but the rate of bradycardia was obviously increased (χ²=6.008, P<0.05). (3) There were no statistically significant differences between patients in two groups in heart rate, MAP, respiratory frequency, and SpO₂ before drug administration (t=0.444, 0.892, 1.059, 1.039, P>0.05). The heart rates of patients in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group at 10, 15, and 25 minutes after drug administration were (83±11), (78±10), and (82±14) times per minute, respectively, significantly lower than (95±10), (87±12), and (89±12) times per minute in remifentanil group (t=5.592, 3.992, 2.630, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The MAP of patients in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group at 15 and 25 minutes after drug administration were (69.4±3.1) and (73.8±2.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively, significantly lower than (75.4±3.0) and (78.1±3.5) mmHg in remifentanil group (t=9.181, 7.206, P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between patients in two groups in respiratory frequency at each time point after drug administration (t=1.489, 1.862, 1.963, P>0.05). The SpO₂ of patients in dexmedetomidine+ remifentanil group at 15 minutes after drug administration was 0.972±0.018, obviously lower than 0.979±0.015 in remifentanil group (t=2.070, P<0.05). Conclusions: Application of remifentanil with small dosage has effective analgesia for conscious burn patients with non-intubation during dressing changes, however, adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting are likely to occur. Remifentanil combined with dexmedetomidine not only guarantee the analgesic effect, but also reduce the dosage of analgesics, improve the sedative effect and satisfaction of the patients for anesthesia, and reduce various adverse effects. However, it will increase the incidence of bradycardia and has some inhibition effect on circulation at the same time.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba leaves (Ginkgo biloba) and Ginkgo biloba extract on nutrient and energy utilization of broilers

An experiment using 112 21-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers that were randomly allocated to 7 treatments with 8 replicates in a completely randomized design was conducted to assess the effects of Ginkgo biloba leaves (Ginkgo biloba, GL) and Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB) on utilization of nutrients of broiler chickens. The dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal based diets: 1) T1, control diet; 2) T2, T1 + 20 g/kg GL; 3) T3, T1 + 40 g/kg GL; 4) T4, T1 + 60 g/kg GL; 5) T5, T1 + 0.4 g/kg EGB; 6) T6, T1 + 0.8 g/kg EGB; and 7) T7, T1 + 1.2 g/kg EGB. Endogenous losses were obtained from another 16 broilers. Excreta samples were collected to analyze the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE), and amino acids (AA), and GE was analyzed for computation of AME and TME. As compared with those of the control treatment, the apparent digestibility (AD) and true digestibility (TD) of EE, CP, Thr, Val, Ile, Leu, Phe, Lys, His, and Arg were quadratically (P < 0.05) increased; moreover, the AD and TD of Met was linearly (P < 0.05) increased as the concentration of the EGB in the diet increased. Increasing GL from 0 to 60 g/kg of diet linearly (P < 0.05) increased the AD and TD of EE, Thr, Val, Leu, His, and Met and tended (0.05 < P < 0.1) to increase the TME, TMEn, and Arg. Supplementation of EGB increased (P < 0.05) AD and TD of EE, Thr, Val, Ile, Leu, Phe, His, and Arg and tended (0.05 < P < 0.1) to increase Lys as compared with those in the GL-supplemented groups. Dietary supplementation of GL and EGB improved the utilization of nutrients of broiler chickens in a dose-dependent manner, and the optimum supplementation levels of GL or EGB in the diet of broilers was 60 or 0.8 g/kg of diet, respectively.

[A promoter polymorphism of CD55 effect on the risk of esophageal cancer]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the genetic variation of CD55 promoter and the risk of esophageal cancer. Methods: A total of 700 esophageal cancer patients recruited between April 2008 and December 2012 at Tangshan Grongren Hospital and Tangshan Renmin Hospital, and 700 frequency matched controls were randomly selected from a pool of cancer free subjects recruited from a nutritional survey. Genotypes of CD55 rs2564978 polymorphism among all subjects were conducted by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The OR and 95%CI were calculated by non-conditional Logistic regression to evaluate the association of CD55 rs2564978T/C polymorphism with the risk of esophageal cancer. Results: The average age of cases and control was (60.04±9.19) and (59.21±9.98) years old. Compared with CD55 rs2564978 TT carriers, the individuals with CC genotype had a significantly higher risk of esophageal cancer (OR=1.94, 95%CI:1.42-2.66) . When stratified by sex, this genetic variation affected the risk of esophageal cancer among both males (OR=1.92, 95%CI:1.37-2.70) and females (OR=2.34, 95%CI:1.04-5.27). When stratified by age, the CD55 rs2564978 CC was associated with the susceptibility of developing esophageal cancer among younger individuals (OR=1.79, 95%CI:1.19-2.68) and older people (OR=2.32, 95%CI:1.41-3.83).When stratified by drinking status, CC genotype carriers increase the risk of esophageal cancer when drinking (OR=1.93, 95%CI:1.03-3.63) or not drinking (OR=1.95, 95%CI:1.36-2.80). When stratified by smoking status, CC genotype was associated with the risk of esophageal cancer among non-smokers (OR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.13-2.83), light smokers (less than 30 packs/year, OR=1.86, 95%CI:1.31-2.64) and heavy smokers (more than 30 packs/year, OR=2.67, 95%CI:1.28-5.57). Gene-environmental interaction analysis showed that CD55 rs2564978T/C polymorphism interacted with smoking status to increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Conclusion: CD55 rs2564978 polymorphism effects on the risk of esophageal cancer.

[Effects of arnebia root oil on wound healing of rats with full-thickness skin defect and the related mechanism]

Objective: To observe the effects of arnebia root oil on wound healing of rats with full-thickness skin defect, and to explore the related mechanism. Methods: Eighty SD rats were divided into arnebia root oil group and control group according to the random number table, with 40 rats in each group, then full-thickness skin wounds with area of 3 cm×3 cm were inflicted on the back of each rat. Wounds of rats in arnebia root oil group and control group were treated with sterile medical gauze and bandage package infiltrated with arnebia root oil gauze or Vaseline gauze, respectively, with dressing change of once every two days. On post injury day (PID) 3, 7, 14, and 21, 10 rats in each group were sacrificed respectively for general observation and calculation of wound healing rate. The tissue samples of unhealed wound were collected for observation of histomorphological change with HE staining, observation of expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) with immunohistochemical staining, and determination of mRNA expressions of VEGF and bFGF with real time fluorescent quantitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design, t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) On PID 3, there were a few secretions in wounds of rats in the two groups. On PID 7, there were fewer secretions and more granulation tissue in wounds of rats in arnebia root oil group, while there were more secretions and less granulation tissue in wounds of rats in control group. On PID 14, most of the wounds of rats in arnebia root oil group were healed and there was much red granulation tissue in unhealed wounds, while part of wounds of rats in control group was healed and there were a few secretions and less granulation tissue in unhealed wounds. On PID 21, wounds of rats in arnebia root oil group were basically healed, while there were still some unhealed wounds of rats in control group. (2) On PID 3 and 7, the wound healing rates of rats in arnebia root oil group were (39±5)% and (46±4)% respectively, which were close to (34±3)% and (44±4)% of rats in control group (with t values respectively 0.807 and 0.481, P values above 0.05). On PID 14 and 21, the wound healing rates of rats in arnebia root oil group were (76±4)% and (90±3)% respectively, which were significantly higher than (60±6)% and (73±5)% of rats in control group (with t values respectively 2.308 and 3.072, P<0.05 or P<0.01). (3) On PID 3, 7, and 14, granulation tissue, fibroblasts, and nascent capillaries in unhealed wound tissue of rats in the two groups both gradually increased, and more ranulation tissue, fibroblasts, and nascent capillaries were seen in unhealed wound tissue of rats in arnebia root oil group. On PID 21, granulation tissue, fibroblasts, and nascent capillaries in unhealed wound tissue of rats in the two groups both gradually decreased. (4) On PID 3, 7, and 14, the numbers of VEGF positive cells and bFGF positive cells in unhealed wound tissue of rats in the two groups both gradually increased; there were more VEGF positive cells and bFGF positive cells in unhealed wound tissue of rats in arnebia root oil group than those in control group. On PID 21, positive expressions of VEGF and bFGF both decreased in unhealed wound tissue of rats in the two groups. (5) On PID 3, 7, and 14, mRNA expressions of VEGF in unhealed wound tissue of rats in arnebia root oil group were higher than those of control group (with t values from 2.967 to 4.173, P values below 0.01). On PID 21, mRNA expression of VEGF in unhealed wound tissue of rats in arnebia root oil group was lower than that of control group (t=-4.786, P<0.001). From PID 3 to 21, mRNA expressions of bFGF in unhealed wound tissue of rats in arnebia root oil group were higher than those of control group (with t values from 2.326 to 4.702, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: Arnebia root oil can promote wound healing of rats with full-thickness skin defect, which may relate to increasing expressions of VEGF and bFGF.

The RopGEF2-ROP7/ROP2 Pathway Activated by phyB Suppresses Red Light-Induced Stomatal Opening

Circadian rhythm of stomatal aperture is mainly regulated by light/darkness. Blue and red light induce stomatal opening through different mechanisms that are mediated by special receptors. ROP2, a member of Rho GTPase family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsisthaliana), has been found to negatively regulate light-induced stomatal opening. However, the upstream guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) RopGEFs have not been revealed, and it is unclear which photoreceptor is required for the action of RopGEFs-ROPs. Here, we showed that RopGEF2 acted as a negative regulator in phytochrome B (phyB)-mediated red light-induced stomatal opening. Meanwhile, ROP7, another member of ROP family, acting redundantly with ROP2, was regulated by RopGEF2 in this process. RopGEF2 interacted with ROP7 and ROP2 and enhanced their intrinsic nucleotide exchange rates. Furthermore, the direct interactions between phyB and RopGEF2 were detected in vitro and in plants, and phyB enhanced the GEF activity of RopGEF2 toward both ROP7 and ROP2 under light. In addition, RopGEF4 functioned redundantly with RopGEF2 in red light-induced stomatal opening by activating both ROP7 and ROP2, and RopGEF2/RopGEF4 acted genetically downstream of phyB; however, the GEF activity of RopGEF4 was not directly enhanced by phyB. These results revealed that red light-activated phyB enhances the GEF activities of RopGEF2 and RopGEF4 directly or indirectly, and then activate both ROP7 and ROP2 in guard cells. The negative mechanism triggered by phyB prevents the excessive stomatal opening under red light.

Entanglement transfer from two-mode continuous variable SU(2) cat states to discrete qubits systems in Jaynes-Cummings Dimers

We study the entanglement transfer from a two-mode continuous variable system (initially in the two-mode SU(2) cat states) to a couple of discrete two-state systems (initially in an arbitrary mixed state), by use of the resonant Jaynes-Cummings (JC) interaction. We first quantitatively connect the entanglement transfer to non-Gaussianity of the two-mode SU(2) cat states and find a positive correlation between them. We then investigate the behaviors of the entanglement transfer and find that it is dependent on the initial state of the discrete systems. We also find that the largest possible value of the transferred entanglement exhibits a variety of behaviors for different photon number as well as for the phase angle of the two-mode SU(2) cat states. We finally consider the influences of the noise on the transferred entanglement.

Holonomic Quantum Control with Continuous Variable Systems

Universal computation of a quantum system consisting of superpositions of well-separated coherent states of multiple harmonic oscillators can be achieved by three families of adiabatic holonomic gates. The first gate consists of moving a coherent state around a closed path in phase space, resulting in a relative Berry phase between that state and the other states. The second gate consists of "colliding" two coherent states of the same oscillator, resulting in coherent population transfer between them. The third gate is an effective controlled-phase gate on coherent states of two different oscillators. Such gates should be realizable via reservoir engineering of systems that support tunable nonlinearities, such as trapped ions and circuit QED.

Diets of differentially processed wheat alter ruminal fermentation parameters and microbial populations in beef cattle

The influences of differently processed wheat products on rumen fermentation, microbial populations, and serum biochemistry profiles in beef cattle were studied. Four ruminally cannulated Limousin × Luxi beef cattle (400 ± 10 kg) were used in the experiment with a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The experimental diets contained (on a DM basis) 60% corn silage as a forage source and 40% concentrate with 4 differently processed wheat products (extruded, pulverized, crushed, and rolled wheat). Concentrations of ruminal NH-N and microbial protein (MCP) in cattle fed crushed and rolled wheat were greater ( < 0.05) than the corresponding values in cattle fed pulverized and extruded wheat. Ruminal concentrations of total VFA and acetate and the ratio of acetate to propionate decreased ( < 0.05) with increased geometric mean particle size (geometric mean diameter) of processed wheat, except for extruded wheat; cattle fed extruded wheat had the lowest concentrations of total VFA and acetate among all treatments. The relative abundance of , , ciliated protozoa, and was lower in cattle fed the pulverized wheat diet than in the other 3 diets ( < 0.05), whereas the relative abundance of was decreased in cattle fed extruded wheat compared with cattle fed crushed and rolled wheat ( < 0.05). No treatment effect was obtained for serum enzyme activity and protein concentration ( > 0.05). Our findings suggest that the method of wheat processing could have a significant effect on ruminal fermentation parameters and microbial populations in beef cattle and that crushed and rolled processing is better in terms of ruminal NH-N and MCP content, acetate-to-propionate ratio, and relative abundance of rumen microorganisms.

Toxicity of Mycotoxins from Contaminated Corn with or withoutYeast Cell Wall Adsorbent on Broiler Chickens

This study investigated the effects of feeds naturally contaminated with mycotoxins on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, carcass traits, and splenic heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) mRNA expression levels in broiler chickens. The efficacy of yeast cell wall (YCW) adsorbent in preventing mycotoxicosis was also evaluated. Three hundred 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 3 treatments in completely randomized design for 42 d. Each treatment group had 5 replicate pens with 20 birds. The treatments were as follows: i) basal diet (control), ii) naturally contaminated diet (NCD), and iii) NCD+0.2% YCW adsorbent (NCDD). The NCD decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.01) of 0 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d, and 0 to 42 d, and increased feed conversion ratio (p<0.01) of 22 to 42 d and 0 to 42 d. Both the breast meat percentage and thigh meat percentage of the NCD group were significantly higher (p<0.01) than that of the control group on d 21. The NCD group showed significantly increased levels of triglycerides (p<0.05) and cholesterol (p<0.05) on both d 21 and d 42 compared to the control group. However, the NCD significantly reduced (p<0.01) the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on d 42 compared to controls. Compared with the NCD, supplementation with YCW significantly improved (p<0.01) the ADG of 0 to 21 d and 0 to 42 d, and increased (p<0.01) concentrations of HDL on d 42, and on d 21, and triglycerides (p<0.05) on d 21 and d 42. Supplementation with YCW reduced (p<0.01) the breast meat percentage, the thigh meat percentage, the concentrations of cholesterol (p<0.01) and the low-density lipoprotein (p<0.05) on d 21, and improved (p<0.01) the splenic Hsp70 mRNA expression levels compared with the NCD group. The results of this study indicated that feeding NCD for 42 d had adverse effects on broiler chickens, and that YCW might be beneficial in counteracting the effects of mycotoxins.

CCL3 serves as a potential plasma biomarker in knee degeneration (osteoarthritis)

OBJECTIVE

To explore the ability of chemokines in plasma to detect the presence of pre-X-rays defined knee degeneration and the extent (burden).

METHODS

A total of 181 subjects (75 control subjects, 47 pre-X-KD patients and 50 X-KOA patients) were included and subdivided into three subgroups. Articular cartilage loss in pre-X-KD patients were scored on the basis of the ICRS classification during the arthroscopy or documented on MRI with chondral WORMS. The severity of X-KOA was graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence classification through the posterior-anterior knee X-rays. The concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in plasma were quantified using Luminex microbead-based suspension array (SA) and were cross-validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

CCL3 in plasma showed the highest ability to discriminate pre-X-KD patients from the controls with an AUC of 0.799. At a cutoff value of 0.168 pg/ml, the sensitivity was 70.21%, the specificity was 96.00%, the positive predictive value was 91.67% and the negative predictive value was 83.72%. As to define disease burden, the plasma levels of resistin, IL6, IL8, CCL3 and CCL4 showed significant association with the severity of X-rays defined knee OA, with regard to the KL classification. Moreover, significant elevation of IL6, IL8, CCL3 and CCL4 levels in plasma were observed in severe knee OA patients (KL grade IV) compared with those with pre-X-KD (KL grade 0-I).

CONCLUSION

We firstly showed that the plasma CCL3 could be potential serum biomarker for knee OA with the capacity to detect pre-X-rays defined changes and stage the severity of damage in knee.

Preparation of two-qubit steady entanglement through driving a single qubit

Inspired by a recent paper [J. Phys. B 47, 055502 (2014)], we propose a simplified scheme to generate and stabilize a Bell state of two qubits coupled to a resonator. In the scheme only one qubit is needed to be driven by external classical fields, and the entanglement dynamics is independent of the phases of these fields and insensitive to their amplitude fluctuations. This is a distinct advantage as compared with the previous ones that require each qubit to be addressed by well-controlled classical fields. Numerical simulation shows that the steady singlet state with high fidelity can be obtained with currently available techniques in circuit quantum electrodynamics.

Effects of naturally mycotoxin-contaminated corn on nutrient and energy utilization of ducks fed diets with or without Calibrin-A

One hundred sixty-two 21-d-old ducks were randomly allotted to 6 treatments with 3 levels of mycotoxin-contaminated corn (0, 50, and 100% M) and 2 levels of Calibrin-A (CA, a clay mycotoxin adsorbent, 0 and 0.1%) to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of mycotoxin-contaminated corn on nutrient utilization in ducks fed diets with or without CA. Endogenous losses were obtained from another 27 ducks. Excreta samples were collected to determine DM, OM, CP, amino acids, and gross energy. Gross energy was analyzed for computation of AME and TME. The apparent digestibility (AD) and true digestibility (TD) of the nutrients in all treatments with and without CA had common (P > 0.05) intercepts and slopes except Pro (P < 0.05). The AME, TME, AD, and TD of DM, OM, Phe, and Gly were linearly (P < 0.05) decreased as the concentration of contaminated corn in the diet increased. Ducks fed the 100% M diet supplemented with 0.1% CA increased AD and TD of Gly compared with the 100% M diet, and ducks fed 50 and 100% M diet supplemented with 0.1% CA increased AD and TD of Pro compared with 50% M and 100% M diet, respectively. In the present study, ducks fed mycotoxin-contaminated corn decreased nutrient digestibility in dose-dependent manner, and 0.1% CA supplementation improved AD and TD of Gly and Pro.

Effects of dietary supplementation of multi-enzyme on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, small intestinal digestive enzyme activities, and large intestinal selected microbiota in weanling pigs

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of an exogenous multi-enzyme (EME) preparation to 35- to 65-d-old piglets on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and selected microbial populations in feces. In Exp.1, twenty eight 35-d-old piglets were randomly assigned to 7 dietary treatments (corn-soybean based diet supplemented with 0, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, or 350 mg EME/kg) in a 14-d digestibility study. Piglets fed the diets supplemented with EME had greater ATTD of DM, CP, and GE (P = 0.001, 0.005, and 0.009, respectively) than those fed the diet without EME supplementation, and those ATTD values increased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.001) as the levels of supplemented EME increased. In Exp. 2, two hundred 35-d-old weanling piglets were randomly allocated to 20 pens. The pens were then randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments (corn-soybean based diet supplemented with 0, 100, 150, 250, or 350 mg EME/kg) with 4 pens per treatment in a 30-d feeding experiment. Piglets has ad libitum access to diets and water, and they were weighed at the beginning (35-d-old), middle (50-d-old), and end (65-d-old) of the experiment. Fecal samples were grabbed directly from the rectum and digesta samples from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were taken at the end of the experiment for the analysis of selected bacteria populations and digestive-enzyme activities. The ADG and ADFI tended to be greater with the increasing levels of supplemented EME in both periods, whereas G:F was improved (P = 0.012 and 0.017) by EME in the period of 35 to 50 d of age and during the overall experimental period. Furthermore, inclusion of EME in diet increased the counts of Lactobacilli spp. and Bacillus subtilis spp., but reduced the populations of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli spp. in the feces. The EME supplementation also enhanced (P < 0.05) the activities of amylase, lipase, and protease in the small intestine. The growth performance-enhancing effects of EME appeared to be mediated by the age of the piglet and the dose of EME used. Supplementation of corn-soybean meal diets for 35- to 65-d-old piglets with EME has a potential to enhance gut health condition, increase nutrient digestion, and increase growth performance.

Toxicity of increasing aflatoxin B1 concentrations from contaminated corn with or without clay adsorbent supplementation in ducklings

A total of 1,280 1-d-old ducks were used in a study to investigate the effects of increasing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) concentrations from naturally contaminated corn on young ducklings, and the effectiveness of a clay adsorbent (CA) to protect against those effects. Ducks were randomly allotted to 8 treatments (TRT) in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement with 4 levels of AFB1 (0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/kg) and 2 levels of CA (0 and 0.1%) with 8 pens per TRT and 20 ducks per pen. All ducks were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water during the 21-d experiment. The ADG, ADFI, feed conversion rate, mortality, bill color, and CV of BW of each replicate were measured at the end of the study. Blood and tissue samples from 8 ducks per TRT were obtained on d 21 of the experiment to determine the serum immunoglobulin and protein concentrations, relative organ weights, and intestinal morphology. Average daily gain and relative weights of the liver, spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as dietary AFB1 increased. Serum proteins and intestinal villi heights and villus/crypt ratio followed the same pattern. Bill decolorization ratio, CV of BW, and mortality increased linearly (P < 0.05) as dietary AFB1 increased. Adding 0.1% CA to the diet improved (P < 0.05) the relative weights of the small intestine, spleen, and thymus, and the villus height and villus/crypt ratio of the duodenum and jejunum, as well as the serum IgG and IgM concentrations. Adding CA also reduced (P < 0.05) bill decolorization ratio, CV of BW, mortality, and serum IgA concentration. Therefore, duck performance was negatively affected by increasing AFB1 concentrations in diets. But the addition of 0.1% CA can protect against the detrimental effects caused by AFB1-contaminated corn in diets for ducks.

Detection of astrovirus infection in pigeons (Columbia livia) during an outbreak of diarrhoea

Avian astrovirus infections are widespread in many countries, and infections have been linked to enteritis and increased mortality in young poultry. Although pigeons are treated as an important poultry product in some countries, their diseases are often poorly understood and astrovirus infection in pigeons has not been reported. In the present study, faecal samples were collected during an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in a population of Shanghai pigeons. The samples were examined for astroviruses by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Eighty-nine per cent (40/45) and 4% (2/45) were found to be positive for avian nephritis virus (ANV) and chicken astrovirus, respectively. One positive sample indicated a co-infection with both ANV and chicken astrovirus. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial polymerase gene sequence and full-length capsid protein from published avian astrovirus sequences in GenBank revealed that the pigeon viruses detected in this study were evolutionarily closely related to chicken ANV. The present study provided evidence for the presence of astrovirus in pigeons and suggests that cross-infection between pigeons and commercial chickens was likely. Whether the astroviruses in pigeons were responsible for the diarrhoea remains to be determined.

Effects of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) on laying performance and antioxidant status of laying hens and on dietary oxidation stability

To investigate the effects of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) on laying performance and antioxidant status of laying hens and on dietary oxidation stability, 675 Hy-Line brown laying hens at 27 wk of age were randomly allocated to 5 treatments with 5 replicates in a complete randomized design. Laying hens were fed corn-soybean meal based diets and supplemented with 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 g of ginger powder/kg of diet for 10 wk. The ADFI, laying rate, average egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion of each replicate were measured weekly. Blood samples from 10 laying hens and 15 egg samples/treatment were obtained on d 35 and 70 of the experiment to determine the serum or egg yolk antioxidant enzymatic activities. Three separate batches of each treatment diet were also made at the beginning of the experiment and stored at 20°C. Subsamples were taken at 10-d intervals to determine the dietary oxidation stability over a 60-d period. All laying hens had similar ADFI, laying rate, average egg weight, and feed conversion. However, laying hens supplemented with ginger powder had higher (P = 0.024) egg mass than the control group. Supplementation of ginger powder increased (P < 0.05) the serum and egg yolk antioxidant enzymatic activities of laying hens on d 35 and 70. Increasing ginger powder from 0 to 20 g/kg of diet linearly increased (P < 0.05) the peroxide value but linearly reduced (P < 0.05) the acid value of lipid extracted from stored diets for the first 30 d, but not for the second 30 d. Dietary supplementation of ginger powder improved laying performance and serum and egg yolk antioxidant status and enhanced dietary oxidation stability in a dose-dependent manner. The optimum supplementation rate of ginger powder in the diet of laying hens appeared to be between 10 and 15 g/kg of diet.

Is ABP1 an auxin receptor yet?

AUXIN BINDING PROTEIN 1 (ABP1) has long been proposed as an auxin receptor to regulate cell expansion. The embryo lethality of ABP1-null mutants demonstrates its fundamental role in plant development, but also hinders investigation of its involvement in post-embryonic processes and its mode of action. By taking advantage of weak alleles and inducible systems, several recent studies have revealed a role for ABP1 in organ development, cell polarization, and shape formation. In addition to its role in the regulation of auxin-induced gene expression, ABP1 has now been shown to modulate non-transcriptional auxin responses. ABP1 is required for activating two antagonizing ROP GTPase signaling pathways involved in cytoskeletal reorganization and cell shape formation, and participates in the regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis to subsequently affect PIN protein distribution. These exciting discoveries provide indisputable evidence for the auxin-induced signaling pathways that are downstream of ABP1 function, and suggest intriguing mechanisms for ABP1-mediated polar cell expansion and spatial coordination in response to auxin.

Sequence analyses of the representative Chinese-prevalent strain of avian nephritis virus in healthy chicken flocks

Avian nephritis virus (ANV), which belongs to the Astroviridae family, has been associated with acute nephritis in chickens. Cases of ANV infection have been recorded in Japan and in several European countries. However, related studies have never been performed in China. Thus, this study isolated ANV in Chinese chicken flocks. ANV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-PCR in stool samples collected from healthy layer chickens in the Sichuan Province of China in 2009. Of the 192 stool specimens collected, 32.3% (62/192) were positive for ANV infection. The whole genome of ANV-Sichuan54, the first representative Chinese strain, was 6941 nucleotides in length, including the 5' untranslated region, three open reading frames (ORFs), a 3' UTR, and a poly-(A) tail. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses based on partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (ORF1b) demonstrated that the majority of ANV investigations were more closely related to the U.S. ANV strain (DQ324827-324836) than to the G-4260 (AB033998).

Effects of purified zearalenone on growth performance, organ size, serum metabolites, and oxidative stress in postweaning gilts

Zearalenone (ZEA), an estrogenic mycotoxin, is produced mainly by Fusarium fungi. Previous studies indicated that acute ZEA exposure induced oxidative stress and damage in multiple organs. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the adverse effects of dietary ZEA (1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg of diet) on oxidative stress and organ damage in postweaning gilts. A total of 20 gilts (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) weaned at d 21 with an average BW of 10.36 ± 1.21 kg was used in the study. Gilts were housed in a temperature-controlled room, divided into 4 treatments, and fed a basal diet only (control) or basal diet supplemented with purified ZEA at a dietary concentration of 1 (ZEA1), 2 (ZEA2), or 3 (ZEA3) mg/kg of diet for 18 d ad libitum. The actual ZEA contents (analyzed) were 0, 1.1 ± 0.02, 2.0 ± 0.01, and 3.2 ± 0.02 mg/kg for control, ZEA1, ZEA2, and ZEA3, respectively. Gilts fed different amounts of dietary ZEA grew similarly with no difference (P > 0.05) in feed intake. Vulva size increased linearly over the 18 d of feeding in gilts fed diets containing 1.1 mg of ZEA/kg or greater (P < 0.001). Relative weight of genital organs, liver, and kidney increased linearly (P < 0.05) in a ZEA-dose-dependent manner. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamate transferase, urea, and creatinine (P < 0.05), and malondialdehyde concentrations in both serum and liver (P < 0.001) were also increased linearly in a ZEA-dose-dependent manner. However, spleen relative weight (P = 0.002) and activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (in both serum and liver (P < 0.05) were decreased linearly as dietary ZEA increased. Results showed that besides genital organs, the liver, kidney, and spleen may also be target tissues in young gilts fed diets containing 1.1 to 3.2 mg of ZEA/kg for 18 d. Increased key liver enzymes in the serum suggest progressive liver damage caused by feeding ZEA, and an increase in oxidative stress in gilts is another potential impact of ZEA toxicity in pigs.

Calcium participates in feedback regulation of the oscillating ROP1 Rho GTPase in pollen tubes

Biological oscillation occurs at various levels, from cellular signaling to organismal behaviors. Mathematical modeling has allowed a quantitative understanding of slow oscillators requiring changes in gene expression (e.g., circadian rhythms), but few theoretical studies have focused on the rapid oscillation of cellular signaling. The tobacco pollen tube, which exhibits growth bursts every 80 s or so, is an excellent system for investigating signaling oscillation. Pollen tube growth is controlled by a tip-localized ROP1 GTPase, whose activity oscillates in a phase about 90 degrees ahead of growth. We constructed a mathematical model of ROP1 activity oscillation consisting of interlinking positive and negative feedback loops involving F-actin and calcium, ROP1-signaling targets that oscillate in a phase about 20 degrees and 110 degrees behind ROP1 activity, respectively. The model simulates the observed changes in ROP1 activity caused by F-actin disruption and predicts a role for calcium in the negative feedback regulation of the ROP1 activity. Our experimental data strongly support this role of calcium in tip growth. Thus, our findings provide insight into the mechanism of pollen tube growth and the oscillation of cellular signaling.

Effects of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) processed to different particle sizes on growth performance, antioxidant status, and serum metabolites of broiler chickens

A study using 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers was conducted to assess the effects of dried ginger root (Zingiber officinale) that was processed to particle sizes of 300, 149, 74, 37, and 8.4 microm on growth performance, antioxidant status, and serum metabolites of broiler chickens. The birds were housed in 24 wire cages in an environmentally controlled room. Dietary treatments were no supplementation (control) and supplementation with ginger root processed to 5 particle sizes at the level of 5 g/kg of diet. Average daily gain, ADFI, and feed conversion rate of chicks of each cage were measured weekly. Blood samples from 8 broilers per treatment were obtained at d 21 and 42 of the experiment to determine antioxidant enzymatic activities and metabolites in the serum, and the birds were subsequently killed to determine carcass yield and abdominal fat content. All broilers had similar ADFI or feed conversion rate over the entire experimental period. However, broilers supplemented with ginger powder tended to have higher ADG and had greater (P=0.014) carcass yield compared with that of the control. Supplementation of ginger increased (P<0.001) activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase but reduced (P<0.01) concentrations of malondialdehyde and cholesterol in serum of broilers at 21 and 42 d of age. Concentration of total protein in serum of ginger-supplemented broilers tended (P=0.092) to be higher at 21 d and was higher (P=0.002) at 42 d of age compared with that of control broilers. Reducing particle size of ginger powder linearly reduced (P<0.05) cholesterol (d 21) and linearly increased (P<0.05) glutathione peroxidase (d 21), total superoxide dismutase (d 42), and total protein (d 21 and 42). Supplementation of ginger at the level of 5 g/kg improved antioxidant status of broilers and the efficacy was enhanced as the particle size was reduced from 300 to 37 microm.

Sequence analysis of an isolate of minute virus of canines in China reveals the closed association with bocavirus

In the present study, we have cloned and sequenced the nearly-full-length genome of minute virus of canines (MVC), SH26, in China. The genome of MVC, 5,132 nucleotides (nts) in length, contains three open reading frames (ORFs), which are 2,325-bp of NS1, 561-bp of NP1 and 2,112-bp of VP1/VP2 encoding three proteins of 774, 186 and 703 residues, respectively. Predicted amino acids sequence of NS1 of MVC has 44% identity with human bocavirus (HBoV) and human boacvirus 2 (HBoV2), NP1 has 48 and 45% identity with HBoV and HBoV2, VP1/VP2 has 45 and 46% identity with HBoV and HBoV2, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the present Chinese MVC strain was also closely clustered with the previous American and Japanese MVC isolates, and MVCs formed a different branch together with bovine parvovirus and HBoVs from other parvoviruses classified into Parvovirinae.

RIP1 (ROP Interactive Partner 1)/ICR1 marks pollen germination sites and may act in the ROP1 pathway in the control of polarized pollen growth

Rho family small GTPases are universal signaling switches in the control of cell polarity in eukaryotic cells. Their polar distribution to the cell cortex is critical for the execution of their functions, yet the mechanism for this distribution is poorly understood. Using a yeast two-hybrid method, we identified RIP1 (ROP interactive partner 1), which belongs to a family of five members of novel proteins that share a C-terminal region that interacts with ROP. When expressed in Arabidopsis pollen, green fluorescence protein GFP-tagged RIP1 was localized to the nucleus of mature pollen. When pollen grains were hydrated in germination medium, GFP-RIP1 switched from the nucleus to the cell cortex at the future pollen germination site and was maintained in the apical cortex of germinating pollen and growing pollen tubes. RIP1 was found to interact with ROP1 in pollen tubes, and the cortical RIP1 localization was influenced by the activity of ROP1. Overexpression of RIP1 induced growth depolarization in pollen tubes, a phenotype similar to that induced by ROP1 overexpression. Interestingly, RIP1 overexpression enhanced GFP-ROP1 recruitment to the plasma membrane (PM) of pollen tubes. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that RIP1 is involved in the positive feedback regulation of ROP1 localization to the PM, leading to the establishment of a polar site for pollen germination and pollen tube growth.

Effect of waterborne copper on the microstructures and ultrastructure of the X-organ sinus gland complex in Eriocheir sinensis

The effects of different water-borne copper (Cu(2+)) concentrations on the microstructures and ultrastructures of the X-Organ sinus gland (XO/SG) in Eriocheir sinensis were studied. Under a light microscope, no significant differences were found between the treated and control groups. Under Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), the mitochondrial cristae in the neuro-terminal of the XO of the 5.00 mg/L Cu(2+) treated group disappeared, or even only a few vacuoles left. No other differences were found in SG between the 0.01, 0.10, and 1.00 mg/L Cu(2+) treated and the control group under light microscopy, except for the 5.00 mg/L Cu(2+) treated groups, in which the boundary between the SG hemocoels and glial cells became unclear, and some central hemocoels closed and even disintegrated. In addition, in the 5.00 mg/L Cu(2+) treated groups the hemocytes mixed with the glial cells, axon terminal disordered arranged, and furthermore, under the TEM glial cells ruptured, mitochondrial cristae disappeared, or even remained only a vacuoles. Such a change also occurred in the mitochondria in the axon terminal. In some of the glial cells the structure of the membrane disintegrated, the cytoplasm disappeared, and the nucleus entered the haemocoels being piled together with the hemocytes. The axon terminal and neurosecretory granular decreased near the amorphous figurationling of the haemolymph. The results indicate that the damage to the microstructure and ultrastructure of the XO/SG was relevant to the elevated water-borne copper concentration in E. sinensis.

[Clinical and experimental studies on composite divitriol infusion in treating tinea manum]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Composite Divitriol Infusion (CDI) in treating tinea manum and studying its antimycotic action.

METHODS

CDI was used to treat 139 patients with tinea manum. The experimental study in vivo was done, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the therapeutical effect of CDI.

RESULTS

One hundred and four cases among the 139 patients were cured, 21 were markedly effective, 10 improved and 4 ineffective, the effective rate being 89.9%. Between CDI group and the control group, there was a very significant difference (chi 2 > 12.84, P < 0.005). The antimycotic action of CDI was studied in vitro. Its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CDI were about 0.25% for Trichophyton rubrum, and 0.5% for Trichophyton gypseum and Microsporum gypseum. Trichophyton rubrum immersed with CDI show that the mycelia became roughened, deformed and macroconidum became smaller under SEM.

CONCLUSION

CDI is valuable in treating tinea manum.

[Effects of pretreatment with lentinan or krestin on antitumor effector cell activities suppressed by cyclophosphamide]

The author examined effects of BRMs such as Lentinan (LTN) and Krestin (PSK) on antitumor effector activities of spleen cells suppressed by cyclophosphamide (CY: 150 mg/kg, i.v.) in normal C57BL/6 mice in order to define the immunological significance of those BRMs when combined with CY treatment. When the mice were treated with CY alone, the total number of cells, and NK and LAK precursor cell activities per spleen were reduced to the nadir on day 3, and they eventually recovered, reaching normal levels on day 7. It was noted that the LAK precursor activity, but not NK cell activity, per 10(6) of spleen cells was significantly suppressed by CY. When LTN or PSK was administered for 7 days prior to the CY treatment, the reduction of total number and NK cell activity, but not of LAK precursor activity, was alleviated at the nadir on day 3. LTN- or PSK-administration also promoted the recovery of the total number, NK and LAK precursor cell activity on day 7. Interleukin-2 (IL-2)-production of concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells was suppressed by CY, and recovered rather gradually without complete restoration even on day 9. LTN or PSK markedly prevented the CY-induced suppression and promoted the recovery of IL-2-production. These findings reveal that LTN or PSK exhibits lightening or restorative effects on CY-induced suppression of antitumor effector activities of murine spleen cells.

Acceleration of natural killer (NK) cell recovery by a glucan, sizofiran, in anti-asialoGM1 antibody-treated mice

The proportion of asialoGM1 positive cells and NK activity of murine splenic cells was reduced to almost zero one day after intravenous injection of rabbit anti-asialoGM1 antibody. The cells and the activity started to increase at the latest 3 days after the injection, although the proportion was far below that of the normal control. The proportion of asialoGM1 positive cells and NK activity increased more remarkably when 1,3-beta glucan, sizofiran, was administered intramuscularly one day after the antibody injection. The increases were dose related (50-1000 micrograms/mouse). The fact that sizofiran hastened the recoveries of splenic NK activity and asialoGM1 positive cells suggests sizofiran may have the activity to accelerate the differentiation of asialoGM1 positive NK cells.

[Host immunological status modification by various chemotherapeutic drugs]

There are many unsolved problems about the effects on a host's cellular immunologic status by various chemotherapeutics used routinely. Thus, we performed an experimental study mainly on these effects using mouse effector cells. We administered the usual therapeutic dosage of various chemotherapeutic agents to 8-week female C57BL/6 mice, and 3 days after these administrations all mice were sacrificed and splenectomised. The number of splenocytes in whole spleen, LAK precursor cell activity, NK cell activity, and IL-2 productivity were determined, and these results were compared with those for normal mice. Although CY, 5-FU, MMC and LIB exhibited immunologic depressive effects, BLM and PEP showed augmentative effects, and ADR and CDDP no effects. It seemed important that the appropriate drug selection be made on the basis of the above data in order to be the best therapeutic regimen for the individual patient's malignancy.

Inhibitory effects of sizofiran on anticancer agent- or X-ray-induced sister chromatid exchanges and mitotic block in murine bone marrow cells

The inhibitory effects of a biological response modifier (BRM), sizofiran, on sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in the bone marrow cells of mice treated with various anticancer agents or irradiation were investigated. Sizofiran (10 mg/kg i.m.) inhibited SCEs induced by mitomycin C (2 mg/kg i.v.), adriamycin (20 mg/kg i.v.) and cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg i.v.) by about 20%, respectively. Analysis of the SCEs in vivo after irradiation plus sizofiran indicated that SCE levels were significantly lower than those observed in mice exposed to irradiation without sizofiran. Moreover, the effects of sizofiran were dependent on the timing of administration. Our results indicated that sizofiran should be administered simultaneously or soon after irradiation in order to minimize damage. Sizofiran also markedly restored the bone marrow cell mitosis which had been suppressed by anticancer agents, and this action was closely correlated with the prevention of increase in SCEs. These results indicate that in addition to immunopotentiating activity, sizofiran may play a role in preventing chromosomal damage induced by cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Immunoregulatory cytokine release in rat spleen cell cultures after treatment with bleomycin and its analogues in vivo

We have studied the immunological effects that accompany a change in the chemical structure of a group of antineoplastic antibiotics by comparing the immunoregulatory cytokine release during mitogen-stimulated spleen cell culture after in vivo drug treatment. Whereas bleomycin and peplomycin increased cytokine levels in culture supernatants when compared with supernatants from untreated control rat spleen cell cultures, liblomycin generally reduced cytokine levels under the same culture conditions. We then compared these results with the antitumor effects of equivalent doses of the three drugs against a highly antigenic rat fibrosarcoma, KMT-17, both in vivo and in vitro. The results suggest that the immunoaugmenting effects of these antitumor antibiotics are essential for an optimal antitumor effect in vivo, and that these effects can be drastically altered by modification of the chemical structure of the drugs employed.

Chemical modification of hitachimycin. III. Synthesis and antitumor activities of amino acyl derivatives

Amino acyl derivatives of hitachimycin have been synthesized and evaluated their activities including antibacterial, cytocidal against HeLa cells and in vivo antitumor against sarcoma 180. 15-O-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl(BOC)-glycyl)hitachimycin (2), 15-O-(BOC-beta-alanyl)hitachimycin (4), 15-O-(BOC-(O-tert-Bu)-glutamyl)hitachimycin (6) and 15-O-L-alanylhitachimycin (11) showed comparable in vivo antitumor activity with hitachimycin and the solubility of these compounds was improved.

Chemical modification of hitachimycin. II. Synthesis and antitumor activities of carbonate derivatives

Several carbonate derivatives of hitachimycin have been synthesized and evaluated their activities including antibacterial, cytocidal against HeLa cells and in vivo antitumor against Sarcoma 180. Some of these derivatives showed higher antitumor activity than hitachimycin. Among the derivatives, 11,15-di-O-methoxycarbonylhitachimycin (2), 11,15-di-O-ethoxycarbonylhitachimycin (3) and 15-O-methoxycarbonylhitachimycin (9) were most effective in in vivo assay.

Structure-activity relationship of a novel antitumor ansamycin antibiotic trienomycin A and related compounds

Various derivatives of trienomycin A (1) were prepared and tested for cytocidal activities. All the derivatives except for 22-O-methyltrienomycin A (5) showed reduced cytotoxicity compared with 1. It is concluded that the existence of a triene moiety, free 13-OH and an acyl group at C-11 owe important role for cytocidal activity.