[Effects of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus on MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in murine asthma model]

To investigate the effects of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus on airway remodeling and matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase(TIMP-1) of a murine asthma model, and explore its mechanism in treatment of asthma. BALB/C murines were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, high dose group, low dose group, and positive control group. Except for the normal group, all the other groups received ovalbumin(OVA) to establish murine asthma model. After successful modeling, the murines in high dose group and low dose group were orally administered with Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus powder at the dose of 18.0 mg•kg⁻¹ and 9.0 mg•kg⁻¹, respectively; the murines in positive control group were injected intraperitoneally with dexamethasone at the dose of 0.5 mg•kg⁻¹; while the murines in normal group and the model group were orally administered with the same volume of normal saline. All the drugs were given to murines per day for 28 d. The variations of airway responsiveness, variations of the total cell count and leukocyte differential count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), and the variations of thicknesses of bronchial wall and airway smooth muscle of each group were observed. The levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured by ELISA; and the expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that as compared with the normal group, the airway responsiveness, the count of total cells, neutrophils, macrophage, lymphocytes, eosinophils in BALF, and the thicknesses of bronchial wall and airway smooth muscle were increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01); as compared with the model group, the above indicators were decreased significantly in the high dose group, low dose group and positive control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). As compared with the normal group, the levels and expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA were increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01); while as compared with the model group, these levels were decreased significantly in the high dose group, low dose group and positive control group(P<0.01). In conclusion, Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus can improve airway remodeling in a murine asthma model, and its mechanisms may be related to down-regulating MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels.

Bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

There has been concern regarding the use of controversial paradigms for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to manage treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of bilateral rTMS compared with unilateral and sham rTMS in patients with TRD. PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, EAGLE and NTIS databases were searched to identify relevant studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on bilateral rTMS for TRD patients were included. The response was defined as the primary outcome, and remission was the secondary outcome. Ten RCTs that included 634 patients met the eligibility criteria. The risk ratio (RRs) of both the primary and secondary outcomes of bilateral rTMS showed non-significant increases compared to unilateral rTMS (RR=1.01, P=0.93; odds ratio [OR]=0.77, P=0.22). Notably, the RR of the primary bilateral rTMS outcome was significantly increased compared to that for sham rTMS (RR=3.43, P=0.0004). The results of our analysis demonstrated that bilateral rTMS was significantly more effective than sham rTMS but not unilateral rTMS in patients with TRD. Thus, bilateral rTMS may not be a useful paradigm for patients with TRD.

Milk powder induced lipid peroxidation reduction using Ku Ding tea (Lactuca taiwaniana Maxim) in rats

The effects of Ku Ding tea (Lactuca taiwaniana Maxim) and milk powder on biochemical and immunological parameters of Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated and the possibility of use of Ku Ding tea to reduce physiological discomfort of drinking milk powder was assessed. Eighty rats were randomly assigned to four treatments: basal diet (control), basal diet plus whole milk powder (WM), basal diet plus Ku Ding tea (KD) and basal diet plus whole milk powder and Ku Ding tea (MK). Data was collected on animals' final body weight, hematological values, blood biochemical parameters, antioxidation parameters and immune organ weight index. Results showed that final body weight of male KD was significantly lower than that of WM. White blood cell count, monocyte count and granulocyte count of KD rats were significantly lower than those of WM. Compared to the control, single milk powder supplementation numerically increased plasma malondialdehyde. The malondialdehyde in the male KD and MK rats were lower than those in WM and control, although the differences were not significant. No significant differences were found in Na(+)K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase activity, spleen and thymus index in each group. Consumption of Ku Ding tea appeared to lower lipid peroxidation that was induced by milk powder in the rats.

Effects of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme supplementation on in vitro fermentation characteristics of low-quality cereal straws

The effects of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme preparation (containing cellulase and xylanase) on in vitro fermentation characteristics of rice straw, wheat straw, maize stover, and maize stover silage were examined using an in vitro gas production technique. Four levels of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme supplements (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g/kg of straw DM, respectively) were tested in a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement. Supplementation of yeast culture increased the cumulative gas production, theoretical maximum of gas production, rate of gas production, IVDMD, and in vitro OM disappearance (IVOMD), and decreased the lag time for each type of straw. Fibrolytic enzyme supplementation tended to increase cumulative gas production, theoretical maximum of gas production, and rate of gas production; prolonged lag time of gas production; and enhanced IVDMD and IVOMD for 4 types of cereal straws, with the significance of this effect being dependent on the level of supplemented enzymes. There were significant interactions between fibrolytic enzymes and yeast on all in vitro gas production parameters, IVDMD, and IVOMD of each type of straw. The outcome of this research indicated that the application of fibrolytic enzyme preparation and yeast culture could improve in vitro gas production fermentation of cereal straws.

Effect of leachate recycle and inoculation on microbial characteristics of municipal refuse in landfill bioreactors

Population development of key groups of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria involved in municipal refuse decomposition under laboratory landfill bioreactors with and without leachate recycle and inoculation was measured since modeling municipal refuse was landfilled in bioreactors for about 210 days. Hydrolytic fermentative bacteria (HFB), hydrogen-producing acetogenic bacteria (HPAB), methane-producing bacteria (MPB), sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), anaerobic and aerobic cellulolytic bacteria and denitrabacteria were enumerated by the most probable number technique. The results showed that the dominant microorganism groups were the methanogenic bacteria including hydrolytic fermentative, hydrogen-producing acetogenic and methane-producing bacteria. They were present in fresh refuse but at low values and positively affected by leachate recycle and refuse inoculation. The amounts of HFB or HPAB in digesters D4 and D5 operated with inoculation and leachate recycle reached their maximum values of 10(10)-10(12) cells/g dry refuse for HFB or 10(5)-10(6) cells/g dry refuse for HPAB on day 60, in digester D3 operated with leachate recycle on day 120 for HFB (10(9) cells/g dry refuse) or on day 90 for HPAB (10(5) cells/g dry refuse), and in digesters D1 and D2 on day 210 for HFB (10(9) cells/g dry refuse) or on day 90 for HPAB (10(4)-10(6) cells/g dry refuse). The population of methane-producing bacteria in digesters D4 and D5 sharply increased on days 60 and 90 respectively, however in digesters D1, D2 and D3 on day 120. Leachate recycle and inoculation changed the cellulolytic microorganisms composition of refuse ecosystem, the higher amounts of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria were measured in digesters D4 and D5 (10(7) cells/g dry refuse), followed by digesters D3 (10(6) cells/g dry refuse), D2 or D1(10(4) cells/g dry refuse). However, the amounts of aerobic cellulolytic bacteria were much lower than that of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria. And it was higher in digester D3 than those in digesters D1, D2, D4 and D5. The amounts of SRB and denitrabacteria were also higher in digester D5 than those in digesters D1, D2, D3 and D4. Refuse decomposition could be accelerated by leachate recycle and inoculation in the view of microorganism development.