Cotreatment with RepSox and LBH589 improves the in vitro developmental competence of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos

Accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant epigenetic reprogramming and low pluripotency of donor nuclei lead to abnormal development of cloned embryos and underlie the inefficiency of mammalian somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The present study demonstrates that treatment with the small molecule RepSox alone upregulates the expression of pluripotency-related genes in porcine SCNT embryos. Treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate, whereas treatment with RepSox did not. Cotreatment with 12.5 μM RepSox and 50 nM LBH589 (RepSox + LBH589) for 24 h significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate compared with that of untreated embryos (26.9% vs 8.5% respectively; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of pluripotency-related genes octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (NANOG) and SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (SOX2) were found to significantly increased in the RepSox + LBH589 compared with control group at both the 4-cell and blastocyst stages. In particular, the expression of NANOG was 135-fold higher at the blastocyst stage in the RepSox + LBH589 group. Moreover, RepSox + LBH589 improved epigenetic reprogramming. In summary, RepSox + LBH589 increases the expression of developmentally important genes, optimises epigenetic reprogramming and improves the in vitro development of porcine SCNT embryos.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, JNJ-7706621, improves in vitro developmental competence of porcine parthenogenetic activation and somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos

In this study we examined the effects of JNJ-7706621, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, on the in vitro growth of pig embryos that had been produced either by parthenogenetic activation (PA) or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). A significantly higher percentage of PA embryos reached the blastocyst stage by Day 7 after exposure to 10 µM JNJ-7706621 for 4 h compared with embryos exposed to 5 µg mL−1 cytochalasin B for 4 h (P < 0.05). Similarly, the rate of Tyr15 phosphorylation of the complex of cyclin and p34cdc2 (CDK1) was significantly elevated in the JNJ-7706621-treated embryos compared with embryos exposed to cytochalasin B or non-treated controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, Thr161 phosphorylation of CDK1 was significantly lower in the JNJ-7706621-treated group compared with the cytochalasin B-treated as well as the non-treated group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the level of M-phase-promoting factor (MPF) in embryos was significantly lower in the JNJ-7706621-treated group compared with the cytochalasin B-treated and non-treated groups (P < 0.05). In addition, more SCNT embryos reached the blastocyst stage after treatment with JNJ-7706621 than following exposure to cytochalasin B (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results reveal that exposure to 10 µM JNJ-7706621 for 4 h improves early development of PA and SCNT porcine embryos by suppressing the activity of CDK1 and a concomitant reduction in the level of MPF.

[Diagnostic value of combination of US and MRI in preoperative prediction for the extrathyroidal extension of papillary thyroid carcinoma]

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of preoperative ultrasonography(US), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and US combined with MRI in the prediction of extrathyroidal extension(ETE) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2016, a total of 83 consecutive patients underwent surgery for pathologically confirmed PTCs with ETE. We analyzed all patients with PTC with ETE who received preoperative combination of US and MRI scan to evaluate ETE. Results: For minimal ETE, the accuracy was 92.2%(47/51) of US, 74.5%(38/51) of MRI, and their combination was 98.0%(50/51). The differences of the three methods for minimal ETE were statistically significantly different(P=0.000). For extensive ETE, the accuracy was 62.5%(20/32) of US, 87.5%(28/32) of MRI, and their combination was 93.8%(30/32). The different of the three methods for extensive ETE was statistically significantly different(P=0.000). For the total accuracy of ETE, US was 80.7%(67/83), MRI was 79.5% (66/83), and their combination was 96.4%(80/83). The difference of the three methods for ETE was statistically significantly different(P=0.001). Conclusion: The combination of US and MRI can improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy of ETE for PTC.

[Refractory kaposiform hemangioendothelioma with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: clinical analysis of 10 cases]

Objective: To analyze the clinical value of sirolimus plus prednisone for the treatment of the refractory kaposiform hemangioendothelioma(RKHE) and Kasabach-Merritt syndrome(KMS). Method: Clinical retrospective analysis was carried out for 10 patients recruited in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Paediatrics from January 2014 to January 2017 who were non responders to or relapsers after the treatment of propranolol, prednisone, pingyangmycin and lauromacrogol(5 cases RKHE, 5 cases RKHE plus KMS, age ranged from 6 days to 9 years); patients were treated with sirolimus at the dosage of 0.035 ml/(kg·d), once a day, for 6-410 days; the diagnosis of 10 patients were confirmed by pathological biopsy and immunohistochemical examination(IHC); the difference of the coagulation parameters and the platelet counts, the size of tumor and ecchymosis at different stages of treatment were recorded and measured by scale and ultrasonography; the side effects of sirolimus were recorded as well. Result: Clinical characteristics of 10 cases (6 male and 4 female) RKHE with KMS were refractory dark red hard hemangioma or ecchymosis, the platelet counts were lower than 30.0×10(9)/L, (15±7)×10(9)/L, coagulation tests were obviously abnormal, fibrinogens were significantly decreased(0.8±0.5)g/L, the fibrin lysates and D-dimer were significantly increased(100±23)mg/L, (10 000±2 200)ng/L, the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged(25.0±2.1)s, (58.0±3.4)s. The pathologic characteristics of the tumors were similar: spindle tumor cells, mass distribution and deeply stained nuclei tumor cells. IHC revealed positive staining for D2-40, CD31 and CD34. Stainings for factor Ⅷ and GLUT-1 were negative. In five cases RKHE plus KMS were treated with sirolimus and prednisone, after (6.5±0.7) days treatment, the platelet counts were obviously increased(72.0±0.6)×10(9)/L, coagulation parameters were obviously improved, fibrinogen significantly increased(1.5±0.2)g/L, the fibrinlysates and D-dimer significantly decreased(7±3)mg/L, (2 300±200)ng/L, the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged(15±2.3)s, (42±3.4) s, and the sizes of tumor and ecchymosis were slightly shrunken 18%±3%, 38%±5%; after (30±5.7) days treatment, the platelet counts and coagulation parameters returned to normal(146±36)×10(9)/L, and the size of tumor and ecchymosis were obviously shrunken 73%±3%, 97%±3%; after (3±0.4) months treatment, the tumor was obviously shrunken by 93%±2% and no longer palpable. In five cases with RKHE without KMS manifested stubborn dark red hard hemangiomatous plaques, coagulation tests and platelet were obviously normal, these patients were treated with sirolimus, after (2.0±0.6) months treatment, the tumor became shrunken 8%±3%, with continuous treatment the tumor shrunk gradually, after (4.0±3.2)months(2-18 mouths) the tumor was not eliminated 51%±7%. Conclusion: RKHE and KMS have typical clinical, laboratory and pathological characteristics, sirolimus plus prednisone have remarkable efficacy and minor side effects, it should be recommended for the treatment of KHE with KMS.

Thoracolumbar kyphosis is associated with compressive vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women

The main aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between vertebral compression fracture and thoracolumbar Cobb angles. Fracture prevalence was found to be significantly higher for patients with moderate [odds ratio (OR) = 4.78 (2.88-7.95)] or severe kyphosis [OR = 10.7 (5.11-22.40)] than for patients with mild kyphosis. The relationship between degree of thoracolumbar kyphosis and vertebral compression fracture was analyzed.

INTRODUCTION

The hypothesis that vertebral compression fracture in women is related to thoracolumbar kyphosis severity was tested, and a clinically important cutoff degree of sagittal thoracolumbar Cobb angle (TLCobb) was determined.

METHODS

Demographic data, clinical data, and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) findings were compiled for 212 postmenopausal women with thoracolumbar fracture (study group) and 150 postmenopausal women with degenerative lumbar disease (control group). Group proportions and characteristics were compared with chi-squared tests and unpaired t tests, respectively.

RESULTS

In this retrospective cross-sectional study cohort, 17 patients had T11 fractures, 79 had T12 fractures, 89 had L1 fractures, and 27 had L2 fractures. QCT findings and TLCobb differed between the study and control groups (both p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in body mass index (BMI), disk height, or coronal TLCobb. After adjustment for age, BMI, and QCT findings, fracture prevalence was found to be higher in the thoracolumbar kyphosis study group than in the control group [OR = 6.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.88-9.78]. Sagittal TLCobbs of 7.5-15° and >15° were associated with an increased fracture prevalence, with ORs of 4.78 (2.88-7.95) and 10.7 (5.11-22.40), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Vertebral fracture prevalence in postmenopausal women was found to be associated with thoracolumbar kyphosis. A TLCobb sagittal angle >15° should be considered an indicator for vertebral fracture assessment.

Microbial diversity in raw milk and traditional fermented dairy products (Hurood cheese and Jueke) from Inner Mongolia, China

Hurood cheese (HC) and Jueke (Jk) are 2 traditional fermented dairy products produced from raw milk (RM) in the Inner Mongolia region of China. They have a long history of production and consumption. The microbial compositions of RM, HC, and Jk vary greatly, and are influenced by their geographical origins and unique processing methods. In this study, 2 batches of RM, HC, and Jk samples were collected (April and August 2015) from the Zhenglan Banner, a region located in the southern part of Inner Mongolian belonging to the Xilingol league prefecture. The bacterial and fungal diversities of the samples were determined by 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis, respectively. A total of 112 bacterial and 30 fungal sequences were identified, with Firmicutes and Ascomycota being the predominant phyla for bacteria and fungi, respectively. Lactococcus and Lactobacillus were identified as the main bacterial genera, whereas Kluyveromyces was the predominant fungus identified in the 3 dairy products. Different bacterial and fungal compositions were observed in RM, HC, and Jk samples collected at different times. These results suggested that time of production may be an important factor influencing the microbial diversity present in RM, HC, and Jk.

Quisinostat treatment improves histone acetylation and developmental competence of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos

Abnormal epigenetic modifications are considered a main contributing factor to low cloning efficiency. In the present study, we explored the effects of quisinostat, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, on blastocyst formation rate in porcine somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, on acetylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (AcH3K9), and on expression of POU5F1 protein and apoptosis-related genes BAX and BCL2. Our results showed that treatment with 10 nM quisinostat for 24 hr significantly improved the development of reconstructed embryos compared to the untreated group (19.0 ± 1.6% vs. 10.2 ± 0.9%; p < 0.05). Quisinostat-treated SCNT embryos also possessed significantly increased AcH3K9 at the pseudo-pronuclear stage (p < 0.05), as well as improved immunostaining intensity for POU5F1 at the blastocyst stage (p < 0.05). While no statistical difference in BAX expression was observed, BCL2 transcript abundance was significantly different in the quisinostat-treated compared to the untreated control group. Of the 457 quisinostat-treated cloned embryos transferred into three surrogates, six fetuses developed from the one sow that became pregnant. These findings suggested that quisinostat can regulate gene expression and epigenetic modification, facilitating nuclear reprogramming, and subsequently improving the developmental competence of pig SCNT embryos and blastocyst quality.

[Effects of wild-type PTEN overexpression and its mutation on F-actin in activated hepatic stellate cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect of overexpression of wild-type phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) deleted on chromosome 10 and its mutant G129E (exhibiting the activity of protein phosphatase and losing the activity of lipid phosphatase) on F-actin in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) cultured in vitro. Methods: The activated hepatic stellate cell-T6 (HSC-T6) cells were cultured in vitro, and activated HSCs were transfected with adenovirus that carried wild-type PTEN gene and G129E gene using transient transfection. The HSCs were divided into the following groups: control group, which was transfected with DMEM medium instead of virus solution; Ad-GFP group, which was transfected with the empty adenovirus vector with the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP); Ad-PTEN group, which was transfected with the recombinant adenovirus with wild-type PTEN gene and GFP expression; Ad-G129E group, which was transfected with the recombinant adenovirus with G129E gene and GFP expression. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to measure the protein and mRNA expression of PTEN in activated HSCs; under a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), phalloidine labeled with the fluorescein tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC) was used to observe the morphology of HSCs, distribution and fluorescence intensity of F-actin, and changes in pseudopodia and stress fibers, and a calcium fluorescence probe (Rhod-2/AM) was used to measure the changes in Ca(2+) concentration in HSCs. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference test was used for comparison between two groups. Results: Wild-type PTEN and G129E genes were highly expressed in activated HSCs. In the control group and the Ad-GFP group, HSCs had a starlike or polygonal shape, F-actin was reconfigured and formed a large number of stress fibers which stretched across the whole cell, and layered pseudopodia were seen around the cell. In the Ad-PTEN group and the Ad-G129E group, the HSCs had a fusiform shape, F-actin was mainly seen around the cell, a small number of stress fibers were seen inside the cell, and layered pseudopodia around the cell disappeared. The Ad-PTEN group and the Ad-G129E group had significant reductions in the fluorescence intensity of F-actin compared with the control group and the Ad-GFP group (357.67±13.39/377.25±14.55 vs 961.87±27.33/954.68±20.71, F = 1783.486, P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences between the Ad-PTEN group and the Ad-G129E group, as well as between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). The Ad-PTEN group and the Ad-G129E group had significant reductions in the relative concentration of Ca(2+) compared with the control group and the Ad-GFP group (251.60±90.88/352.18±146.01 vs 1953.95±132.99/1937.57±115.17, F = 834.988, P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences between the Ad-PTEN group and the Ad-G129E group, as well as between the control group and the Ad-GFP group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The overexpressed wild-type PTEN and its mutant G129E can significantly inhibit the formation and reconfiguration of cytoskeletal protein F-actin and reduce the concentration of Ca2+ in activated HSCs in vitro. In addition, there are no significant differences in the above effects between wild-type PTEN and G129E.

Generation of cloned adult muscular pigs with myostatin gene mutation by genetic engineering

Skeletal muscle is the most economically valuable tissue in meat-producing animals and enhancing muscle growth in these species may enhance the efficiency of meat production.

Two novel ATP2C1 mutations in patients with Hailey-Hailey disease and a literature review of sequence variants reported in the Chinese population

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder in which the ATP2C1 gene has been implicated. Many mutations of this gene have been detected in HHD patients. To analyze such mutations in HHD and summarize all those identified in Chinese patients with this disease, we examined four familial and two sporadic cases and searched for case reports and papers by using the Chinese Biological Medicine Database and PubMed. HHD diagnoses were made based on clinical features and histopathological findings. Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of the ATP2C1 gene were performed using blood samples from HHD patients, unaffected family members, and 120 healthy individuals. Three mutations were identified, including the recurrent mutation c.2126C>T (p.Thr709Met), and two novel missense mutations, c.2235_2236insC (p.Pro745fs*756) and c.689G>A (p.Gly230Asp). Considering our data, 81 different mutations have now been reported in Chinese patients with HHD. In cases of misannotation or duplication, previously published mutations were renamed according to a complementary DNA reference sequence. These mutations are scattered throughout the ATP2C1 gene, with no evident hotspots or clustering. It is of note that some reported "novel" mutations were in fact found to be recurrent. Our findings expand the range of known ATP2C1 sequence variants in this disease.

Identification of target genes for adenohypophysis-prefer miR-7 and miR-375 in cattle

In this study, expression levels of miRNAs (miRNAs), miR-375 and miR-7, were detected in different tissues of cattle to determine whether adenohypophysis-prefer or exclusively expressed miRNAs, and target genes could be predicted by TargetScan, RNA22, and other software. Target genes related to pituitary function or reproductive traits were identified using a dual-luciferase assay. miR-375 and miR-7 were expressed differently in various tissues. miR-375 and miR-7 showed higher expression in the adenohypophysis, and there was a significant difference compared with expression in other tissues (P < 0.01). The binding sites for miR-7 were the mRNAs of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2), prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, follicle-stimulating hormoneβ, somatostatin receptor 1, and interleukin-1β by bioinformatic analysis; similarly, the mRNAs of BMPR2 and leptin contained binding sites for miR-375, suggesting that these genes are affected by miR-7 or miR-375. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-7 regulated prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator expression, while miR-375 regulated BMPR2 expression. The mutated plasmid and miRNA mimics were used to co-transfect NIH3T3 cells; luciferase reporter assays showed that the inhibition of luciferase activity in the wild-type cells dramatically decreased from 75 to 26% with a 3-5-nucleotide mismatch mutation into the seed region of miR-7. miR-375 had nearly lost the ability to inhibit luciferase activity, suggesting that GTCTTCC is the site of interaction between miR-7 and the prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator sequence and that GAACAAA is the site of interaction between miR-375 and the BMPR2 sequence.

Development of novel and polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci from Haliotis ovina

Twelve microsatellite loci were developed from Haliotis ovina by the magnetic bead hybridization method. Genetic variability was assessed using 30 individuals from 3 wild populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 5, and the polymorphism information content ranged from 0.1228 to 0.6542. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0000 to 0.7778 and 0.1288 to 0.6310, respectively. These loci should provide useful information for genetic studies such as genetic diversity, pedigree analysis, construction of genetic linkage maps, and marker-assisted selection breeding in H. ovina.

Meta-analysis on postoperative complications of wristband acupoint pressure therapy

Through searching database such as MEDLINE, CNKI, etc., this paper assesses the effect of wristband acupoint pressure, acting on the neiguan acupoint, to relieve postoperative complications of adults (mainly nausea and vomiting) using nine randomized controlled trials (RCT) and RevMan5.0. In the experimental group, acupoint pressure wristband effectively reduced the incidence rate of postoperative vomiting by acting on the neiguan point, compared to the placebo control group (RR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.37~0.66, P < 0.01). As to the incidence rate of postoperative nausea, there was no statistical significance between the experimental group and the placebo control group (RR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.72~1.00, P < 0.05). It was revealed that the application of acupoint pressure wristband on neiguan point in postoperative care could effectively relieve postoperative vomiting; while postoperative vomiting was not relieved distinctly. Therefore, researchers are required to carry out more reliable RCT test for further study and discussion, and nurses can bring in acupoint pressure wristband for researches on its effectiveness and adaptability.

Monoxides of small terbium clusters: a density functional theory investigation

To investigate the effect of oxygen atom on the geometrical structures, electronic, and magnetic properties of small terbium clusters, we carried out the first-principles calculations on TbnO (n = 1-14) clusters. The capping of an oxygen atom on one trigonal-facet of Tbn structures is always favored energetically, which can significantly improve the structural stability. The far-infrared vibrational spectroscopies are found to be different from those of corresponding bare clusters, providing a distinct signal to detect the characteristic structures of TbnO clusters. The primary effect of oxygen atom on magnetic properties is to change the magnetic orderings among Tb atoms and to reduce small of local magnetic moments of the O-coordinated Tb atoms, both of which serve as the key reasons for the experimental magnetic evolution of an oscillating behavior. These calculations are consistent with, and help to account for, the experimentally observed magnetic properties of monoxide TbnO clusters [C. N. Van Dijk et al., J. Appl. Phys. 107, 09B526 (2010)].

Expression, production, and renaturation of a functional single-chain variable antibody fragment (scFv) against human ICAM-1

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is an important factor in the progression of inflammatory responses in vivo. To develop a new anti-inflammatory drug to block the biological activity of ICAM-1, we produced a monoclonal antibody (Ka=4.19×10⁻⁸ M) against human ICAM-1. The anti-ICAM-1 single-chain variable antibody fragment (scFv) was expressed at a high level as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. We refolded the scFv (Ka=2.35×10⁻⁷ M) by ion-exchange chromatography, dialysis, and dilution. The results showed that column chromatography refolding by high-performance Q Sepharose had remarkable advantages over conventional dilution and dialysis methods. Furthermore, the anti-ICAM-1 scFv yield of about 60 mg/L was higher with this method. The purity of the final product was greater than 90%, as shown by denaturing gel electrophoresis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell culture, and animal experiments were used to assess the immunological properties and biological activities of the renatured scFv.

Emergence of antiferromagnetic ordering in Tbn (n = 2-33) clusters

Using the density functional theory (DFT) under both frameworks of the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), we show that the anomalous magnetic moment of Tbn (n = 2-20, 22, 33) clusters found in recent experiment [J. Appl. Phys. 2010, 107, 09B526] is due to the antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic couplings between Tb atoms in clusters. The local spin magnetic moment of Tb atoms is in the range 5.1-5.7 μ(B), which is faintly influenced by the cluster sizes, geometrical structures, and spin arrangements. Emphasis is made on the Tb13 cluster to eliminate the large magnetic discrepancy between the experiment and calculation. Geometrical evolution shows that the square-antiprism motif with one centered atom is competitive with the icosahedral motif for small Tb clusters n = 9-12, whereas the close packed icosahedral growth is clearly favored for large clusters n = 13-20, 22, 33. The clusters containing 4, 7, 10, 13, and 19 atoms are found to be more stable than their neighboring sizes, in agreement with the early mass spectral measurements. The electronic properties including the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, ionization potentials, electron affinities, and electric dipole moments are calculated, and more importantly, the variational trends of the magnetic moment and electric dipole moment qualitatively fit well with the experimental observations.

Anatomical information for intercostobrachial nerve preservation in axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer

This study aimed to provide additional anatomical information for axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) through in vivo anatomy studies of intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) preservation in order to provide theoretical and practical experience for clinicians. A total of 156 patients with breast cancer underwent ALND at the Department of Gynecology of Baotou Tumor Hospital between June 2009 and March 2010. The origin, destination, main source, length, branch type, and direction of ICBN in axilla were observed, as well as its relationship with adjacent major blood vessels and nerves within the axilla. There were 120 cases of single trunk, 23 cases of double trunks, 9 cases of multiple trunks, and 4 cases without trunks in 156 patients with ICBN preservation. The transverse diameter at the origin of the ICBN was 1.89 ± 0.44 mm with a length of 94.45 ± 12.08 mm; the distances were 77.19 ± 21.04 mm, 29.34 ± 6.73 mm, 90.04 ± 13.13 mm, and 28.63 ± 13.01 mm from origin to the inferior margin at the midpoint of the clavicle, inferior margin of the axillary vein, the bottom of axilla, and branch point, respectively. The identification, dissection, and preservation of ICBN was simple and easy in a modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer and breast-conserving surgery, which only took 10-20 min, but effectively reduced the incidence of post-mastectomy pain syndrome and significantly improved the quality of life for patients after surgery.

Butyrate promotes the recovering of intestinal wound healing through its positive effect on the tight junctions

Postweaning diarrhea is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in weanling piglets. Feeding sodium butyrate to weanling piglets decreased the incidence of diarrhea, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The present study was to evaluate the effect of sodium butyrate on diarrhea in relation to wound healing of intestinal barrier using IPEC-J2 cell model. Cultured cells were scratched to induce wound and then were treated with 4 mM sodium butyrate. The results showed that supplementation of the cells with sodium butyrate significantly promoted the process of wound healing, indicating the protective effects of butyrate on the intestinal mucosa. Butyrate treatment enhanced mRNA expression of the intestinal mucosal tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occluden protein-1 (P < 0.05), which suggested that the promotion of wound healing by butyrate is related to the maintenance of the function of the intestinal barrier. In addition, in the butyrate-treated group, intestinal total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05), two of the main antioxidant enzymes, as well as glutathione (P < 0.05), one of the nonenzymatic antioxidant components, were enhanced whereas the malondialdehyde level, a marker of free radical mediated lipid peroxidation injury, was decreased (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Collectively, these results indicate that dietary sodium butyrate might, at least partly, play an important role in recovering the intestinal tight junctions having a positive effect on maintaining the gut integrity.

Dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus fermentum I5007 improves the anti-oxidative activity of weanling piglets challenged with diquat

AIMS

To determine the effects of Lactobacillus fermentum I5007 on the redox state of piglets oxidatively stressed with diquat.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-four, 28-day-old barrows were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design experiment with the main effects being Lact. fermentum supplementation and diquat challenge. Half of the pigs (n = 12) were orally administered with 20 ml of a solution containing 10(8 ) CFU ml(-1) of Lact. fermentum each morning of the 21-day trial, while the remainder received saline. On day 8, these two groups were further subdivided so that half of the pigs in each group (n = 6) were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg kg(-1) BW diquat, while the remainder received saline. The diquat-injected pigs had significantly poorer performance and increased levels of plasma cortisol, adrenaline, carbonyl and malondialdehyde. Lactobacillus fermentum supplementation significantly increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione and increased the ability to inhibit superoxide anion production in liver and muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

Lactobacillus fermentum improved the anti-oxidative defence system and alleviated damage caused by diquat.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Lactobacillus fermentum has the potential to alleviate oxidative stress and improve weaning pig performance.

Comparison of a paraspinal approach with a percutaneous approach in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures with posterior ligamentous complex injury: a prospective randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This prospective randomized controlled study compared the efficacy and safety of two paraspinal muscle-sparing surgical approaches for the management of neurologically intact patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and posterior ligamentous complex injuries.

METHODS

Patients were randomized to undergo either percutaneous (n=31) or paraspinal (n=30) fluoroscopically-guided pedicle screw-rod fixation, and were followed for ≥3 years. Preoperative postural reduction was attempted in all patients.

RESULTS

The percutaneous approach was associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss and shorter duration of surgery and hospitalization, as well as less pain and better functional recovery at 3 months after surgery compared with the paraspinal approach. Paraspinal surgery resulted in significantly better correction of kyphosis and restoration of vertebral height compared with percutaneous surgery. There were no differences in long-term clinical outcomes between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The minimally invasive percutaneous approach appears to be better in cases of successful postural reduction. The paraspinal approach results in better surgical correction and is, therefore, recommended for patients without successful postural reduction.