Effects of fecal microbial transplantation on police performance and transportation stress in Kunming police dogs

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. KEY POINTS: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs.

Vitrified before and after genome editing via electroporation

BACKGROUND

Cryopreservation of bovine zygotes allows for a flexible schedule of genome editing via electroporation. However, vitrification-induced cell membrane damage may not only affect embryonic development but also genome mutation.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of vitrification of zygotes before and after electroporation treatments on the development and genome mutation of bovine presumptive zygotes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro-derived bovine zygotes were electroporated with the CRISPR/Cas9 system immediately (Vitrified-EP) or 2 h after incubation (Vitrified-2h-EP) following vitrification and warming, or electroporated before vitrification (EP-vitrified).

RESULTS

The development rates of vitrified-warmed zygotes were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of control zygotes that were not vitrified. Moreover, no differences were observed in the mutation rates and mutation efficiency of the blastocysts resulting from electroporated zygotes, irrespective of the timing of electroporation treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that vitrification before and after electroporation treatments does not affect the genome editing of zygotes.

[Analysis of occupational health status of radiation workers in Guangdong Province]

Objective: To discuss the effect of low-dose ionizing radiation on the health of radiation workers, and provide a basis for occupational health risk assessment of radiation workers. Methods: In January 2020, 3165 radiation workers who performed radiation occupational health examinations in Guangzhou Prevention and Treatment Hospital for Occupational Disease from January 2017 to December 2019 were selected as the research objects, and compared and analyzed the health status of radiation workers with different examination types (pre-job, in-job and off-job) , types of work, gender, and length of service. Results: The off-job occupational radiological health examination was rare at 2.3% (74/3165) . The abnormal detection rate of chest radiographs, renal function, thyroid function, and blood routine of the radiation workers in-job group was higher than that of the pre-job group (P<0.05) . No statistical difference was found in the abnormal detection rate of the examination items during the in-job group and the off-job group (P>0.05) . The blood routine abnormality detection rate of medical application group and industrial application group were higher than those of nuclear fuel group (P<0.05) . The abnormal detection rate of blood pressure and renal function of male radiation workers was higher than that of females, while the abnormal detection rate of blood routine of females was higher than that of males (P<0.05) . The abnormal detection rate of electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, blood pressure, renal function, thyroid function, and blood routine of radiation workers increased with increasing working age (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Occupational health status of radiation workers is not optimistic. Radiation occupational health monitoring should be strengthened, special attention should be paid to off-job radiation occupational health examination, focusing on the sensitive indicators of sensitive personnel, improving radiation protection conditions, and effectively protecting the occupational health of radiation workers.

[Related factors for microalbuminuria in adult type 1 diabetes patients of short disease duration]

Objective: To investigate related factors for microalbuminuria in adult type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients of short disease duration (less than 5 years), and provide evidence for prevention of early diabetic kidney disease in this population. Methods: All adult patients enrolled in the Guangdong T1D translational medicine study between 2011 and 2017 with a disease duration of less than 5 years were included in this analysis. At enrollment, patients' demographic and clinical data were documented, and blood and urine samples were collected for the measurements of blood lipids, glycated hemoglobin A1c and urine albuminuria. Insulin resistance was evaluated by estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR). Patients were categorized into groups based on urine albumin creatitine ratio (UACR): normoalbuminuric group (UACR<30 mg/g) and microalbuminuric group (UACR≥30 mg/g). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors for microalbuminuria in adult T1D patients of short disease duration. Results: A total of 384 patients were included in this analysis, and 51.3% (197/384) of which was female. The onset age of patients was (24.6±12.5) years, with a disease duration of 2.1(0.6, 3.5) years, body mass index of (19.8±3.2) kg/m(2), waist hip ratio of 0.85±0.21, and glycated hemoglobin A1c of (9.8±3.3)% at enrollment. Microalbuminuria occurred in 62 patients (16.1%). Multivariate linear analysis showed that higher glycated hemoglobin A1c, higher systolic blood pressure and more severe insulin resistance were related factors for microalbuminuria (t=2.322, 2.868 and -2.373, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions: Microalbuminuria was not rare in adult T1D patients of short disease duration. Inadequate glycemic control and insulin resistance were independent related factors for microalbuminuria in this population.

MicroRNA-140-5p suppresses invasion and proliferation of glioma cells by targeting glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL)

Glutamine addiction is a major feature of glioma cells and plays an important role in its growth and proliferation. GLUL (glutamate-ammonia ligase), which catalyzes glutamate and ammonia to synthesize glutamine, plays a crucial role in tumor growth and proliferation. We attempt to determine a pathway that limits the growth of glioma by targeting GLUL and explore effective strategies blocking glutamine metabolism. We note that miRNAs mediate regulation of genes participating directly or indirectly in cancer cell metabolism. The regulatory roles of miRNAs on metabolic enzymes are widely discussed, however miRNAs regulation of glutamine metabolism by targeting GLUL in glioma has not yet been reported. Here, we examined both the expression and functions of GLUL in glioma cells. Findings indicated that the expression of GLUL was upregulated in high-grade compared to low-grade glioma cells. Knockdown of GLUL effectively inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells in vitro. Bioinformatics analyses, as well as dual-luciferase reporter assays, revealed that miR-140-5p bound to GLUL mRNA at the 3'-UTR location. Furthermore, the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells were also repressed by miR-140-5p. Overall, these results showed that miR-140-5p exerted its inhibitory effects on proliferation, migration and invasion in glioma cells through downregulating GLUL. Thus, the miR-140-5p/GLUL axis may function as a potential target for glioma treatment.

[Analysis of common gynecological diseases in 1142 married female workers]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of gynecologic diseases among married female workers. Methods: The data of married female workers who underwent occupational health examination in a physical examination center from January to December 2017 were collected. The relationship between the detection of common gynecological diseases, age and occupational types examined by gynecological routine, TCT, breast B-mode ultrasound, uterus and appendix B-mode ultrasound were analyzed. Results: Among the 1142 female workers, the total detection rate of reproductive tract infections was 67.25% (768/1142), the total detection rate of breast-related diseases was 75.22% (859/1142) ; the total detection rate of gynecological tumors and benign lesions was 14.71% (168/1142). The detection rate of breast hyperplasia was the highest 67.08% (766/1142), followed by vaginitis 51.66% (590/1142). Among the abnormalities detected in breast-related diseases, gynecological tumors and benign lesions, the highest detection rate was found in public institutions (85.66% and 27.13%), and the lowest was found in factory workers (70.24% and 7.89%). With the increase of age, the detection rate of breastrelated diseases (breast hyperplasia, breast cyst), gynecological tumors, benign lesions (uterine myoma), and Nessler's cyst abnormalities in married female workers increased (χ(2)(trend)=7.647、21.653、107.411、53.802, P<0.05), while the detection rate of columnar epithelium of cervix decreased (χ(2)(trend)=7.404, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total detection rate of reproductive tract infectious diseases (vaginitis, cervical polyps, cervical hypertrophy) among married famale workers of different ages (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The common gynecological diseases of married female workers are affected by many factors such as age and occupation. Health examination and health education should be carried out regularly to reduce the incidence of gynecological diseases among female workers according to different ages and occupations.

[Awareness of preconceptional care and its related factors in women of child-bearing age with type 1 diabetes]

Objective: To investigate the awareness of preconception care among women of child-bearing age with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and their self-management status, in order to provide evidence for establishment of management pathway for women with T1DM in pregnancy in China. Methods: This cross-sectional survey recruited female participants of child-bearing age from the cohort of Guangdong Type 1 Diabetes Translational Medicine Study conducted between June 2011 and December 2017. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire on the awareness of preconception care, their frequency of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and other related variables. Chi-squared test or chi-squared test for trend was used in comparisons of categorical variables, and logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associated factors. Results: Totally, 441 women of child-bearing age with T1DM were investigated. The results show that their awareness of preconception care was poor (15.42%, 68/441). Higher educational level (χ(2trend)=3.990, P=0.046), experience of post-diabetes education evaluation (P<0.001), and better coverage of different modules in diabetes education (survival skills: χ(2)=7.525, P=0.004; basic knowledge: χ(2)=8.598, P=0.002; advanced knowledge: P<0.001) were associated with better awareness of preconception care. The average frequency of SMBG in these participants was 0.29 (0.14, 2.00) times per day, and only 8.5% (37/435) of them reached the frequency (≥4 times per day) recommended by guidelines. Moreover, 21.1% (92/435) of them hardly ever performed SMBG. Conclusion: Child-bearing age women with T1DM in Gunangdong had poor awareness of preconception care, with a much lower SMBG frequency than recommendation.

Bioactivity of soy-based fermented foods: A review

For centuries, fermented soy foods have been dietary staples in Asia and, now, in response to consumer demand, they are available throughout the world. Fermentation bestows unique flavors, boosts nutritional values and increases or adds new functional properties. In this review, we describe the functional properties and underlying action mechanisms of soy-based fermented foods such as Natto, fermented soy milk, Tempeh and soy sauce. When possible, the contribution of specific bioactive components is highlighted. While numerous studies with in vitro and animal models have hinted at the functionality of fermented soy foods, ascribing health benefits requires well-designed, often complex human studies with analysis of diet, lifestyle, family and medical history combined with long-term follow-ups for each subject. In addition, the contribution of the microbiome to the bioactivities of fermented soy foods, possibly mediated through direct action or bioactive metabolites, needs to be studied. Potential synergy or other interactions among the microorganisms carrying out the fermentation and the host's microbial community may also contribute to food functionality, but the details still require elucidation. Finally, safety evaluation of fermented soy foods has been limited, but is essential in order to provide guidelines for consumption and confirm lack of toxicity.

Neuroprotection effect of interleukin (IL)-17 secreted by reactive astrocytes is emerged from a high-level IL-17-containing environment during acute neuroinflammation

An increase in interleukin (IL)-17A-producing cells, particularly at sites of tissue inflammation, is observed frequently, yet the mechanism is not fully understood. This study aims to dissect the role of IL-17 in autoimmunity-mediated neuroinflammation. The cytokine milieu containing elevated IL-17, which often appears in active states of autoimmunity, was mimicked in vitro by a supernatant obtained from rat peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with phorbol mystistate acetate (PMA)/ionomycin. The application of such inflammatory media on only primary cultured cerebellar granule neurones resulted in significant apoptosis, but the presence of astrocytes largely prevented the effect. The supernatants of the stimulated astrocytes, especially those that contained the highest level of IL-17, achieved the best protection, and this effect could be blocked by anti-IL-17 antibodies. Protein IL-17 inhibited intracellular calcium increase and protected the neurones under inflammatory attack from apoptosis. IL-17, but not interferon (IFN)-γ, in the inflammatory media contributed to astrocyte secretion of IL-17, which depended on the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway activation. The astrocytes that were treated with IL-17 alone or with prolonged treatment of the inflammatory media failed to produce sufficient levels of IL-17. Moreover, confirmatory data were obtained in vivo in a monophasic experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in Lewis rats; in this preparation, the high-level IL-17-containing the cytokine milieu was demonstrated, along with IL-17 secretion by the resident neural cells. The antagonism of IL-17 at a late stage disturbed the disease resolution and resulted in significant neural apoptosis. Our data show a dynamic role of IL-17 in the maintenance of homeostasis and neuroprotection in active neuroinflammation.

Effects of aqueous extracts of raw pu-erh tea and ripened pu-erh tea on proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Pu-erh tea has shown anti-obesity effects but little is known about its effect on proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes. This study investigated the effects of the aqueous extracts of raw pu-erh tea and ripened pu-erh tea on proliferation and differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 preadiopocytes. We examined dose and time effects of both aqueous extracts on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The contents of triglycerides in cytoplasm and the mRNA expression of critical transcriptional factors involved in differentiation were determined. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis rate of preadipocytes by pu-erh tea extracts treatment were test for toxic and pro-apoptotic effects. Both aqueous extracts of pu-erh tea inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes at the selected time points. At lower concentration of raw pu-erh tea extracts (less than 300 µg/ml) and ripened pu-erh tea extracts (less than 350 µg/ml), no significant cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic were observed. Ripened pu-erh tea was more effective with lower IC50 than raw pu-erh tea. Both extracts suppressed the differentiation and down-regulated the gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins-α. Therefore, these results indicate that both aqueous extracts of pu-erh tea can inhibit proliferation and differentiation with ripened pu-erh tea more potent. Polyphenol rich in both extracts may play a role in the inhibition of proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Protective effects of aucubin on H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells

The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of aucubin on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Exposure of PC12 cells to 0.25 mm H₂O₂ induced a leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and decreased cell viability, as shown by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. In a dose over 0.1 mm, aucubin increased PC12 cellular viability and markedly attenuated H₂O₂-induced apoptotic cell death. Quantitation of apoptosis by flow cytometry indicated that aucubin inhibited H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Nuclear damage was alleviated by aucubin, as shown by Hoechst staining. In addition, the levels of malondialdehyde were reduced and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was augmented in these cells. These results indicated that aucubin inhibited H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells through regulation of the endogenous oxidant-antioxidant balance. Our results suggest that aucubin is a potential protective agent for the treatment of oxidative-stress-induced neurodegenerative disease.

Effect of pu-erh tea on body fat and lipid profiles in rats with diet-induced obesity

The antiobesity and antihyperlipidaemic effects of pu-erh tea in rats with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups and fed varying diets for an 8-week period: control diet, HFD, and HFD supplemented with low, moderate or high doses of pu-erh tea extract (0.5 g, 2 g and 4 g/kg BW/day, respectively). Pu-erh tea significantly reduced the total body weight and the weight of various adipose pads. Pu-erh tea administration also significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in rats with HFD-induced obesity, but did not affect high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Moreover, pu-erh tea significantly increased lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase activities in epididymal fat tissue in rats with HFD-induced obesity. Analysis of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results indicated that pu-erh tea significantly enhanced mRNA levels of hormone-sensitive lipase in rats with HFD-induced obesity. These results suggest that pu-erh tea attenuated visceral fat accumulation and improved hyperlipidemia in a rat model of HFD-induced obesity.

Optimization of selected cultivation parameters for Cordyceps guangdongensis

AIMS

To increase the fruit body production of Cordyceps guangdongensis, selected cultivation conditions, especially nutritional parameters were optimized.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cordyceps guangdongensis was inoculated on potato dextrose agar slants with pH values from 4.5 to 9.0 and cultivated in artificial media with different carbon and nitrogen supplements. Primordium formation in C. guangdongensis was favoured by slightly acidic conditions. Fruit body yields and biological efficiency (BE) recorded were all highest in cultures of C. guangdongensis supplemented with sucrose and KNO3 as carbon and nitrogen supplements, respectively. Highest fruit body yields and BE values were recorded with C : N ratio of 12 : 1. The optimal medium consisted of (g l(-1)) 20.0 sucrose, 4.0 soya bean powder, 5.0 beef extract and 10.0 KNO3. Cultivation experiments using this medium confirmed its reliability; 18.35% of BE was obtained, compared with a calculated maximum BE of 18.65% based on orthogonal test data.

CONCLUSIONS

Cordyceps guangdongensis preferred sucrose and potassium nitrate as best carbon and nitrogen supplements. It produced satisfying yield of fruit body with optimized medium.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Optimized artificial cultivation conditions could promote the yield of C. guangdongensis and decreased the cost of production.

Protective effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract against endotoxic shock in mice

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we evaluated protective effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) and a possible signaling pathway involved during endotoxic shock induced by intraperitoneal injection lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in BALB/c mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were intraperitoneal administrated with ASE (100, 200 or 400mg/kg) prior to injection of 50 microg/kg LPS and 1g/kg D-GalN. The levels of tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum and liver. Nitric oxide (NO) production in serum and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein level were investigated. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in liver was determined. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of ASE pretreatment on infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart, liver and lung of mice.

RESULTS

Treatment of mice with ASE prior to LPS/D-GalN injection significantly improved the survival rate. ASE pretreatment inhibited the elevation of TNF-alpha in serum and liver. ASE also decreased iNOS level in liver and the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) in serum. In addition, IL-10 levels in serum and liver were markedly enhanced. ASE pretreatment inhibited NF-kappaB activation in liver of mice. Moreover, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart, liver and lung of mice was also attenuated by ASE pretreatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that ASE protected mice against LPS/D-GalN-induced endotoxic shock involving inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, which caused down-regulation of TNF-alpha and involved up-regulation of IL-10. Acanthopanax senticosus may thus prove beneficial in the prevention of endotoxic shock.

Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase by Acanthopanax senticosus extract in RAW264.7 macrophages

AIM OF THE STUDY

The herb Acanthopanax senticosus (Siberian ginseng) has long been used as a traditional medicine. However, little is known about anti-inflammatory effects and its mechanisms of action. Excess production of nitric oxide (NO) is one of the characteristics of inflammation. In this study we examined the effects of A. senticosus extract (ASE) on NO production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and investigated its mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with 10 microg/ml LPS plus 20U/ml IFN-gamma in the presence or absence of ASE. NO production and iNOS gene expression were investigated. We further evaluated the effect of ASE on oxidative stress-sensitive transcription nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation.

RESULTS

ASE significantly suppressed NO production and iNOS gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. ASE also reduced DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB in LPS plus IFN-gamma stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further studies indicated that LPS plus IFN-gamma-induced inhibitory factor-kappa B alpha (I-kappaBalpha) degradation and p65 nuclear translocation were inhibited in RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to ASE. Moreover, ASE inhibited the LPS plus IFN-gamma mediated increase in intracellular peroxides production.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest ASE suppresses iNOS gene expression through the inhibition of intracellular peroxides production, which has been implicated in the activation of NF-kappaB.

First Report of Ageratum yellow vein virus Causing Tobacco Leaf Curl Disease in Fujian Province, China

A leaf curling disease was observed on 7% of tobacco plants during December 2005 in research plots in the Cangshan District of Fuzhou, Fujian, China. Tobacco plants were infested with Bemisia tabaci, suggesting begomovirus etiology. To identify possible begomoviruses, total DNA was extracted from four symptomatic leaf samples (F1, F2, F3, and F4). The degenerate primers PA and PB were used to amplify part of the intergenic region and AV2 gene of DNA-A-like molecules (3). A 500-bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR from all four samples. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession Nos. EF531601-EF531603 and EF527823). Alignment of the 500-bp sequences for the four isolates indicated that they shared 98.5 to 99.6% nt identity, suggesting that the plants were all infected by the same virus. Overlapping primers TV-Full-F (5'-GGATCCTCTTTTGAACGAGTTTCC-3') and TV-Full-R (5'-GGATCCCACATGTTTAAAATAATAC-3') were then designed to amplify the full-length DNA-A from sample F2. The sequence was 2,754 nucleotides long (GenBank Accession No. EF527823). A comparison with other begomoviruses indicated the F2 DNA-A had the highest nucleotide sequence identity (95.7%) with Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV; GenBank Accession No. X74516) from Singapore. To further test whether DNAβ was associated with the four viral isolates, a universal DNAβ primer pair (beta 01 and beta 02) was used (4). An amplicon of approximately 1.3 kb was obtained from all samples. The DNAβ molecule from F2 was then cloned and sequenced. F2 DNAβ was 1,345 nucleotides long (GenBank Accession No. EF527824), sharing the highest nucleotide sequence identity with the DNAβ of Tomato leaf curl virus (97.2%) from Taiwan (GenBank Accession No. AJ542495) and AYVV (88.8%) from Singapore (GenBank Accession No. AJ252072). The disease agent was transmitted to Nicotiana tabacum, N. glutinosa, Ageratum conyzoides, Oxalis corymbosa, and Phyllanthus urinaria plants by whiteflies (B. tabaci) when field infected virus isolate F2 was used as inoculum. In N. tabacum and N. glutinosa plants, yellow vein symptoms were initially observed in young leaves. However, these symptoms disappeared later during infection and vein swelling and downward leaf curling symptoms in N. tabacum and vein swelling and upward leaf curling in N. glutinosa were observed. In A. conyzoides, O. corymbosa, and P. urinaria plants, typical yellow vein symptoms were observed. The presence of the virus and DNAβ in symptomatic plants was verified by PCR with primer pairs TV-Full-F/TV-Full-R and beta 01/beta 02, respectively. The above sequence and whitefly transmission results confirmed that the tobacco samples were infected by AYVV. In China, Tobacco leaf curl Yunnan virus, Tobacco curly shoot virus, and Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus were reported to be associated with tobacco leaf curl disease (1,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of AYVV infecting tobacco in China. A. conyzoides is a widely distributed weed in south China and AYVV was reported in A. conyzoides in Hainan Island, China (2). Therefore, this virus may pose a serious threat to tobacco production in south China. References: (1) Z. Li et al. Phytopathology 95:902, 2005. (2) Q. Xiong et al. Phytopathology 97:405, 2007. (3) X. Zhou et al. Arch. Virol. 146:1599, 2001. (4) X. Zhou et al. J. Gen. Virol. 84:237, 2003.

Acanthopanax senticosus inhibits nitric oxide production in murine macrophages in vitro and in vivo

Excess nitric oxide (NO) production has been implicated in inflammatory diseases. The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of the stem bark extract of Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus) on NO production in murine macrophages in vitro and in vivo. In vitro exposure of RAW264.7 cells to 1, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 microg/mL of A. senticosus extract significantly suppressed NO production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro exposure of mouse resident peritoneal macrophages to 1, 10, 100 and 1000 microg/mL of A. senticosus extract significantly suppressed NO production induced by LPS and IFN-gamma in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo administration of A. senticosus extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) to KM mice dose-dependently inhibited LPS and IFN-gamma induced production of NO in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages ex vivo. Exposure to A. senticosus extract had no effect on cell viability and systemic toxicity. The results demonstrated that the stem bark extract of A. senticosus extract inhibits NO production in murine macrophages in vitro and in vivo.

Four beams evanescent waves interference lithography for patterning of two dimensional features

This work presents a theoretical study of using the interference of multiple counter-propagating evanescent waves as a lithography technique to print periodic two dimensional features. The formulation of the three dimensional Cartesian space expression of an evanescent wave is presented. In this work, the evanescent wave is generated by the total internal reflection of a plane wave at the interface between a incident dielectric material and a weakly absorbing transmission medium. The influences of polarization, incident angle and the phase shifting of the incident plane waves on the evanescent wave interference are studied. Numerical simulation results suggest that this technique enables fabrication of periodic two dimensional features with resolution less than one third the wavelength of the irradiation source.

Rapid quantitation of lamivudine-resistant mutants in lamivudine treated and untreated patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND

Long-term lamivudine treatment induces emergence of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) in a significant number of patients with chronic HBV infection. Rapid and quantitative methods to determine the percentage of lamivudine-resistant mutants in total HBV are important during lamivudine therapy.

METHODS

We established a quantitative real-time PCR method with selective primers and TaqMan probe to detect the percentage of lamivudine-resistant mutants in total HBV without the need of external DNA standards. This percentage was calculated as the PCR efficiency raised to the differences between threshold cycle number (DeltaCt) of mutant and control reactions. Clones of the HBV polymerase gene containing the different YMDD variants were diluted in series and tested. Serum samples from 145 lamivudine-treated and 98 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection were analyzed using this method and compared with DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

As little as 0.1% mutant plasmids in 10(6)-10(9) copies/ml of wild-type plasmids were detected. Among the 145 patients treated with lamivudine, 42 of them had mutants with percentages of 5-100%. In six discordant results between real-time PCR and DNA sequencing, real-time PCR detected mutants with percentages of 5-20%, which were concordant with subclone sequencing. Five of 98 lamividine-untreated patients had mutants of 10-20% in wild-type virus populations. Compared to DNA sequencing, real-time PCR was fast and cost-effective.

CONCLUSION

This real-time PCR is a rapid, sensitive and cost-effective method for relative quantitation of YMDD mutants of HBV.

Rapid donor liver procurement with only aortic perfusion

ATM: To describe a rapid technique for procurement of donor liver with aortic perfusion only (APO).

METHODS: Only the aorta is cannulated and perfused with chilled preservation solution.

RESULTS: The quality of donor liver can ensure the grafted liver functions.

CONCLUSION: The method of APO can simplify the operative procedure, compared with the dual cannulation. It also can minimize the danger of injuring vascular structures and involve less dissection.

Multiple-image shearography: a direct method to determine curvatures

We present a modified method of shearography, known herein as multiple-image shearography, whereby the curvatures of an object can be measured directly from the resulting fringes. It employs an image-shearing camera that produces three sheared images simultaneously to interfere with each other in the image plane. When film is doubly exposed before and after an object is deformed, three sets of fringes are observed of which one set would depict the second-order derivatives of surface displacement.The theory of the multiple-image shearography technique and its application to curvature measurements in plate bending are presented.

Analysis of shearogram reconstruction

The high-pass Fourier filtering technique with an opaque stopper is commonly used for the reconstruction of shearograms. We believe that no analysis of this technique as applied to the shearogram reconstruction has been described. We present here a theoretical analysis of this reconstruction system taking into account the stopper that blocks the low-frequency region in the Fourier transform plane. The results show that the light-intensity distribution after reconstruction is different from that of the original shearogram. High fringe visibility is obtained with high-pass filtering.