[The analysis of the effect of psycho-intervention combined with diazepam on patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and anxiety]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of psychological intervention combined with diazepam on sudden hearing loss patients with anxiety. Method: 108 cases of sudden hearing loss patients with anxiety were randomly divided into two groups(n=54 in each group): The control group received routine treatment of sudden hearing loss, the study group was given psychological intervention combined with diazepam tablets(2.5 mg once, twice a day) based on the routine treatment. The hearing and HAMA and SAS scores were reviewed after 10 days of treatment. Result: After 10 days of treatment, the average hearing threshold of patients in the control group and the study group were respectively increased by （19.65±7.89）dB and （26.93±9.04）dB (t=4.54, P=0.006), the HAMA score of two groups were respectively decreased by 4.68 and 10.75（t=9.949, P=0.000）and the SAS score of two groups were respectively decreased by 15.93 and 23.39 (t=6.773, P=0.000), and the total efficiency of hearing of two groups were 61.11% and 77.78% (χ²=4.441, P=0.035),respectively. the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: Psychological intervention combined with diazepam can relieve anxiety in patients with sudden hearing loss effectively, and play a positive role in the development and prognosis of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Effect of sodium selenite and selenium yeast on performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and selenium deposition of laying hens

This study compared the effects of sodium selenite and selenium yeast and their combination on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and selenium (Se) contents in tissues and eggs. Two-hundred-eighty-eight Jing Hong layers that were similar in laying rate (87.5 ± 0.38%) and body weight (1.70 ± 0.02 kg) were randomly distributed into 4 treatments for 11 wk (from 203 d old to 279 d old) with 9 replicates of 8 hens per replicate. The diets (corn-soybean meal diet) were supplemented with 0 [blank control (BC)], 0.3 mg/kg Se from sodium selenite (SS), 0.15 mg/kg Se from sodium selenite and 0.15 mg/kg Se from Se yeast (SS+SY), or 0.3 mg/kg Se from Se yeast (SY). Results showed that the laying rate of the SS+SY group increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the BC and SY groups. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in egg quality between the Se-supplemented diets and the BC diet. The serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was increased (P < 0.01) in hens fed Se-supplemented diets compared to the BC diet. The liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of the SY group was increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the BC group. Significant increase (P < 0.01) due to SY supplementation was noted in the serum vitamin E content compared to BC and SS. Layers fed Se-supplemented diets had higher (P < 0.01) contents of Se in the serum, liver, and kidney compared to the BC diet. Compared to BC, Se content in eggs was significantly increased (P < 0.05) by feeding supplementary Se. In conclusion, the effects of SS and Se yeast were approximately equal in promoting antioxidant capacity of laying hens, while Se yeast is easier to deposit into eggs and tissues. The diet with added equal amounts of the 2 sources of Se was more cost effective and affordable than a comparable amount of Se yeast to obtain the promising production performance and nearly similar Se deposition.

Preoperative CT texture analysis of gastric cancer: correlations with postoperative TNM staging

AIM

To explore the role of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis in predicting pathologic stage of gastric cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preoperative enhanced CT images of 153 patients (112 men, 41 women) with gastric cancers were reviewed retrospectively. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn along the margin of the lesion on the section where it appeared largest on the arterial and venous CT images, which yielded texture parameters, including mean, maximum frequency, mode, skewness, kurtosis, and entropy. Correlations between texture parameters and pathological stage were analysed with Spearman's correlation test. The diagnostic performance of CT texture parameters in differentiating different stages was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

Maximum frequency in the arterial phase and mean, maximum frequency, mode in the venous phase correlated positively with T stage, N stage, and overall stage (all p<0.05) of gastric cancer. Entropy in the venous phase also correlated positively with N stage (p=0.009) and overall stage (p=0.032). Skewness in the arterial phase had the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.822 in identifying early from advanced gastric cancers. Multivariate analysis identified four parameters, including maximum frequency, skewness, entropy in the venous phase, and differentiation degree from biopsy, for predicting lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. The multivariate model could distinguish gastric cancers with and without lymph node metastasis with an AUC of 0.892.

CONCLUSION

Multiple CT texture parameters, especially those in the venous phase, correlated well with pathological stage and hold great potential in predicting lymph node metastasis of gastric cancers.

No copper supplementation in a corn-soybean basal diet has no adverse effects on late-phase laying hens under normal and cyclic high temperatures

Over supplementation of copper (Cu) in animal diets may cause serious pollution in soil, water and harvested crops. To minimize the potential pollution, the effects of corn-soybean basal diet with or without supplementation of 8 mg Cu/kg on laying performance, plasma biochemical metabolic indices, and antioxidant status in laying hens were evaluated under normal and cyclic high temperatures. A total of 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 10 hens per replicate according to factorial design involved in 2 temperatures [normal temperature (NT) vs. cyclic high temperature (CHT)] and 2 dietary Cu addition amount [Cu0 (0 mg/kg) vs. Cu8 (8 mg/kg in the form of CuSO4·5H2O)]. The experimental period included 1-week adaptation, 2-week heat stress and 2-week convalescence. The temperatures of NT groups in the same period or any groups during other periods were kept at 26 ± 2°C except that of CHT groups were 26 ± 2°C∼33 ± 2°C cyclically during heat stress period. CHT groups increased (P < 0.05) the rectal temperature and plasma glucose content under heat stress, but decreased (P < 0.01) the egg yield at the second week of heat stress and the first week of convalescence, and the plasma triglyceride, uric acid, and triiodothyronine levels under heat stress. Cu8 groups increased (P < 0.05) egg weight at the first week of convalescence, and plasma thyroxin level during the whole convalescence. Interactions between temperature and Cu content existed (P < 0.05) in the laying rate at the first week of convalescence, and the plasma lactic dehydrogenase level under heat stress. Conclusively, the CHT impaired laying performance. The Cu content (10.3 mg/kg) in corn-soybean basal diet might be sufficient for meeting the maintenance and production requirements of late-phase laying hens, and no Cu supplementation had no adverse effects on egg production and antioxidant indices under cyclic high (26 ± 2°C∼33 ± 2°C) or normal (26 ± 2°C) temperatures.

How many ELNs are optimal for breast cancer patients with more than three PLNs who underwent MRM? A large population-based study

Background

Few studies have focused on the optimal threshold of examed lymph nodes (ELNs) for breast cancer patients with more than three positive lymph nodes after modified radical mastectomy.

Materials and methods

The X-tile and the minimum P-value models were applied to determine the optimal threshold. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to analyze the cancer-specific survival and perform subgroup analysis.

Results

The results showed that 12 ELNs was the optimal threshold for these patients, and the patients with >12 ELNs had a better cancer-specific survival benefit compared with the patients with <12 ELNs (P<0.001).

Conclusion

The number 12 can be selected as the optimal threshold of ELNs for breast cancer patients with >3 positive lymph nodes after modified radical mastectomy.

Genetic diversity and paternal origin of domestic donkeys

Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate genetic diversity, origins and domestication of donkey using autosomal microsatellites and the mitochondrial genome, whereas the male-specific region of the Y chromosome of modern donkeys is largely uncharacterized. In the current study, 14 published equine Y chromosome-specific microsatellites (Y-STR) were investigated in 395 male donkey samples from China, Egypt, Spain and Peru using fluorescent labeled microsatellite markers. The results showed that seven Y-STRs-EcaYP9, EcaYM2, EcaYE2, EcaYE3, EcaYNO1, EcaYNO2 and EcaYNO4-were male specific and polymorphic, showing two to eight alleles in the donkeys studied. A total of 21 haplotypes corresponding to three haplogroups were identified, indicating three independent patrilines in domestic donkey. These markers are useful for the study the Y-chromosome diversity and population genetics of donkeys in Africa, Europe, South America and China.

Post-admission outcomes of participants in the PARAMEDIC trial: A cluster randomised trial of mechanical or manual chest compressions

BACKGROUND

The PARAMEDIC cluster randomised trial evaluated the LUCAS mechanical chest compression device, and did not find evidence that use of mechanical chest compression led to an improvement in survival at 30 days. This paper reports patient outcomes from admission to hospital to 12 months after randomisation.

METHODS

Information about hospital length of stay and intensive care management was obtained through linkage with Hospital Episode Statistics and the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre. Patients surviving to hospital discharge were approached to complete questionnaires (SF-12v2, EQ-5D, MMSE, HADS and PTSD-CL) at 90days and 12 months. The study is registered with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN08233942.

RESULTS

377 patients in the LUCAS arm and 658 patients in the manual chest compression were admitted to hospital. Hospital and intensive care length of stay were similar. Long term follow-up assessments were limited by poor response rates (53.7% at 3 months and 55.6% at 12 months). Follow-up rates were lower in those with worse neurological function. Among respondents, long term health related quality of life outcomes and emotional well-being was similar between groups. Cognitive function, measured by MMSE, was marginally lower in the LUCAS arm mean 26.9 (SD 3.7) compared to control mean 28.0 (SD 2.3), adjusted mean difference -1.5 (95% CI -2.6 to -0.4).

CONCLUSION

There were no clinically important differences identified in outcomes at long term follow-up between those allocated to the mechanical chest compression compared to those receiving manual chest compression.

Nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 promotes glycolysis and survival of hypoxic tumor cells via the HDAC4-HIF-1α axis

Nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1), a nuclear factor of the BTB/POZ gene family, has emerging roles in cancer. In this study, we identified the NAC1-HDAC4-HIF-1α axis as an important pathway in regulating glycolysis and hypoxic adaptation in tumor cells. We show that nuclear NAC1 binds to histone deacetylase type 4 (HDAC4), hindering phosphorylation of HDAC4 at Ser²⁴⁶ and preventing its nuclear export that leads to cytoplasmic degradation of the deacetylase. Accumulation of HDAC4 in the nuclei results in an attenuation of HIF-1α acetylation, enhancing the stabilization and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α and strengthening adaptive response of cells to hypoxia. We also show the role of NAC1 in promoting glycolysis in a mouse xenograft model, and demonstrate that knockdown of NAC1 expression can reinforce the antitumor efficacy of bevacizumab, an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Clinical implication of the NAC1-HDAC4-HIF-1α pathway is suggested by the results showing that expression levels of these proteins are significantly correlative in human tumor specimens and associated with the disease progression. This study not only reveals an important function of NAC1 in regulating glycolysis, but also identifies the NAC1-HDAC4-HIF-1α axis as a novel molecular pathway that promotes survival of hypoxic tumor cells.

[Characteristics of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential in different test positions]

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) of normal youth with different test positions, to study the relationship between test positions and test parameters, and to explore the suitable test position for clinical practice. Methods: Fifty healthy young volunteers (25 males, 25 females, 100 ears) were enrolled in this study. Two test positions were used, including sitting with the head turned away from the test (SIT) and supine with the head held straight up (SUP). The derivation rate, latency and amplitude were analyzed. Results: The derivation rates of both SIT and SUP were 100%. The VEMP threshold in SIT was (93.5±4.3)dBnHL. The latency of P1 and N2 in SIT was longer than that in SUP, with significant different (P< 0.05), the amplitude of P1-N2 in SIT was less than that in SUP, with significant different (P< 0.05). Regarding to the latency of P1 and N2 in SIT, the left was longer that right, with (P=0.013) and (P=0.015) respectively. The latency in SUP between sides was not significant (P>0.05). The amplitude ratio and asymmetry in SIT were more obvious than in supine position (P=0.009 and 0.016). In SIT position the P1-N2 amplitude in males was larger than in females, with significant difference (P=0.031); In SUP position the P1-N2 amplitude in males was less than in females, with significant difference (P=0.043). Conclusion: The cVEMP can be affected by the different test positions, it is recommended to select a more suitable test position according to the condition of the subject and the purpose of the test.

Synchronized 4 × 12 GHz hybrid harmonically mode-locked semiconductor laser based on AWG

We report a monolithically integrated synchronized four wavelength channel mode-locked semiconductor laser chip based on arrayed waveguide grating and fabricated in the InP material system. Device fabrication was completed in a multiproject wafer foundry run on the Joint European Platform for Photonic Integration of Components and Circuits. The integrated photonic chip demonstrated 5th harmonic electrical hybrid mode-locking operation with four 400 GHz spacing wavelength channels and synchronized to a 12.7 GHz RF clock, for nearly transform-limited optical pulse trains from a single output waveguide. A low timing jitter of 0.349 ps, and RF frequency locking range of ~50 MHz were also achieved.

Effects of environmental temperature and dietary manganese on egg production performance, egg quality, and some plasma biochemical traits of broiler breeders

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of environmental temperature and dietary Mn on egg production performance, egg quality, and some plasma biochemical traits of broiler breeders. A completely randomized factorial design involved 2 environmental temperatures (a normal temperature, 21 ± 1°C, and a high temperature, 32 ± 1°C) × 3 dietary Mn treatments (a Mn-unsupplemented corn–soybean meal basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 120 mg of Mn/kg of diet as either MnSO4·H2O or manganese proteinate). There were 6 treatments with 6 replicates (4 birds per replicate). High temperature decreased egg weight (P < 0.0001), laying rate (P < 0.0001), egg yield (P < 0.0001), feed intake (P < 0.0001), egg:feed ratio (P < 0.0001), eggshell strength (P < 0.05) and thickness (P < 0.0001), plasma triiodothyronine level (P < 0.05), and alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.04) whereas it increased rectal temperature (P < 0.0001); plasma malondialdehyde level (P < 0.02); and activities (P < 0.002) of lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase. Broiler breeders fed the diets supplemented with Mn regardless of source had greater (P < 0.05) eggshell strength and lower (P ≤ 0.05) plasma triiodothyronine level and protein carbonyl content than those fed the control diet. The broiler breeders fed the diet supplemented with the organic Mn had greater (P < 0.01) eggshell thickness than those fed the control diet. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between environmental temperature and dietary Mn in laying rate, egg yield, feed intake, and egg:feed ratio. Under normal temperature, dietary Mn did not affect the above 4 parameters; however, under high temperature, broiler breeders fed the diet supplemented with the organic Mn showed greater (P < 0.03) improvements in these 4 parameters than those fed the control diet. The results from this study indicated that high temperature significantly impaired egg production performance and eggshell quality and induced lipid peroxidation and tissue damage whereas dietary supplementation of either organic or inorganic Mn improved eggshell strength and thermotolerance and reduced protein oxidation and that the organic Mn could alleviate the negative effect of high temperature on egg production performance of broiler breeders at the period of 32 to 45 wk of age.

MiR-26b modulates insulin sensitivity in adipocytes by interrupting the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as epigenetic regulators of metabolism and energy homeostasis. There is a growing body of evidence pointing to miRNAs that have important regulatory roles in insulin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to explore the expression and mechanism of action of miR-26b in obesity-related insulin resistance (IR) in adipocytes.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to determine miR-26b expression in obese rodent models, human obesity subjects and insulin-resistant adipocytes. We analysed the roles of miR-26b overexpression and inhibition on glucose uptake in adipocytes. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of protein molecules involved in the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Bioinformatics and the Dual Luciferase Assay were used to identify the target gene of miR-26b. We assessed the regulatory roles of miR-26b on the phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN)/PI3K/AKT pathway and the relationship between miR-26b and the metabolism of human obese subjects.

RESULTS

Levels of miR-26b are reduced in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in obese rodent models, human obesity and insulin-resistant adipocytes. MiR-26b promotes insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and increases insulin-stimulated glucose transporter type 4 translocation to the plasma membrane in human mature adipocytes. MiR-26b modulates insulin-stimulated AKT activation via inhibition of its target gene, PTEN, and significantly increases insulin sensitivity via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. The expression level of miR-26b negatively correlates with increasing body mass index and homeostasis model assessment for IR in human obese subjects.

CONCLUSION

Decreased miR-26b expression in VAT may be involved in obesity-related IR by interrupting the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Zinc fingers and homeoboxes family in human diseases

The zinc-fingers and homeoboxes (ZHX) family is a group of nuclear homodimeric transcriptional repressors that interact with a subunit of nuclear factor-Y (NF-YA) and contain two C2H2-type zinc fingers and five homeobox DNA-binding domains. The members of ZHX family form homodimers or heterodimers with other members or a subunit of NF-YA to repress transcription. ZHX family members function in hematopoietic cell development and differentiation, and neural progenitor maintenance. Dysfunction of ZHX family members correlates with the development and progression of various diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hematological diseases, neurological diseases and glomerular diseases. Furthermore, low expression of ZHX is associated with poor prognosis in malignancies. This review provides an update on the role of ZHX family in development and its function in cancer, with special emphasis on HCC and hematological malignant diseases.

First Report of Corn Bacterial Leaf Stripe Caused by Acidovorax avenae in Guangdong Province, China

Each autumn of 2011 to 2013, a disease was observed on corn (cv. Huameitian 8) in the Experimental Farm of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, with an incidence ranging from 20 to 65%. Initial symptoms appeared as small, water-soaked lesions on the leaves. Under warm and humid conditions, lesions expanded along the veins producing necrotic stripes. Stripes later became dry and brown, often with shredding of the infected tissue. Bacterial ooze was observed coming out of sections of leaves showing stripe symptoms. Diseased leaf tissues were surface disinfected in 75% ethanol for 1 min followed by three rinses with sterile distilled water. Bacteria were isolated from symptomatic tissues. Colonies were creamy white, circular, convex, smooth with entire margins on nutrient agar, and non-fluorescent and slow-growing on King's medium B. The strains were gram-negative, rod-shaped with a unidirectional flagellum, aerobic, positive for gelatin liquefaction and catalase, amylase activity, and negative for nitrate reduction. The strains utilized mannose, fructose, and citrate, but not lactose and maltose. 16S rDNA genes of two strains, GDHN01 (Accession No. JQ904301) and GDHN02 (JQ904302), were amplified using universal primers (3). A 1,433-bp amplification product was obtained. Using BLAST analysis of NCBI GenBank, these sequences showed 99 to 100% sequence identity with the type strain Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae ICMP 3183 (NR041757). These two strains were identified as A. avenae by Biolog metabolic phenotype analysis (Biolog, Hayward, CA) with similarity indices ranging from 0.550 to 0.823. The strains induced hypersensitive response on leaves of 2-month-old tobacco plants within 24 h. The pathogenicity of GDHN01 and GDHN02 was tested three times by needle puncture with bacterial suspensions containing of 6 × 10⁸ CFU/ml on five-leaf-stage healthy corn seedlings (cv. Huameitian 8) (n = 5 seedlings/isolate/experiment). Positive controls were inoculated with A. avenae reference strain Yu13 (obtained from Nanjing Agricultural University, China) (1) and negative controls were inoculated with sterile water. Plants were kept in the greenhouse at 28°C and 80% RH. Yellow to brown stripes were observed on all inoculated leaves at 4 to 6 days post-inoculation; similar symptoms were caused by the reference strain, but no symptoms developed on the negative control plants. Re-isolated bacteria from symptomatic tissues were confirmed to be A. anevae based on morphology, physiological assays, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis described above. No target bacteria were isolated from the control plants. A. avenae was previously identified as the causal agent of bacterial leaf stripe on corn in Jiangsu Province (1) and rice in Zhejiang Province (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. avenae naturally infecting corn in Guangdong Province. Guangdong is the largest sweet corn-producing and consuming province in China. This seed-borne pathogen may pose a threat to corn production in Guangdong Province. References: (1) Y. Gao et al. Jiangsu J. Agric. Sci. 23:22, 2007. (2) L. H. Xu et al. Chinese J. Rice Sci. 22:302, 2008. (3) N. W. Schaad et al. Laboratory Guide for the Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 3rd edition. APS Press. St. Paul, MN, 2001.

Protective Efficacy of Alpha-lipoic Acid against AflatoxinB1-induced Oxidative Damage in the Liver

Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) is not only involved in energy metabolism, but is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect against hepatic oxidative stress induced by some drugs, toxins, or under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of α-LA against liver oxidative damage in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Birds were randomly divided into four groups and assigned different diets: basal diet, 300 mg/kg α-LA supplementation in basal diet, diet containing 74 μg/kg AFB₁, and 300 mg/kg α-LA supplementation in diet containing 74 μg/kg AFB₁, for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the addition of 300 mg/kg α-LA protected against the liver function damage of broilers induced by chronic low dose of AFB₁ as estimated by a significant (p<0.05) change in levels of plasma total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the activities of liver glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. The histopathological analysis also showed that liver tissues were injured in the AFB₁ diet, but this effect was alleviated by the addition of 300 mg/kg α-LA. Additionally, AFB₁ induced a profound elevation of oxidative stress in birds, as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde level, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity and a depletion of the glutathione content in the liver. All of these negative effects were inhibited by treatment with α-LA. Our results suggest that the inhibition of AFB₁-induced excess production of lipid peroxides and the maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play important roles in the protective effects of α-LA against AFB₁-induced oxidative damage in the liver.

Comparisons of spot vs 24-h urine samples for estimating population salt intake: validation study in two independent samples of adults in Britain and Italy

OBJECTIVES

To assess the reliability and reproducibility of estimations of group mean 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion through timed spot urines compared to 24 h urinary Na output in two independent cross-sectional population samples including men and women and different ethnic groups.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Study 1 was carried out in Britain and included 915 untreated 40-59 yrs male and female participants (297 white, 326 of black African origin and 292 South Asian). Study 2 was carried out in Italy and included 148 white men (mean age 58.3 yrs). All participants provided both a 24-h urine collection and a timed urine sample as part of population surveys. Na, creatinine (Cr) and volume (V) were measured in all samples. Age, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) were also measured. We compared the daily Na excretion through 24-h urine (gold standard) with its estimate from timed urine samples with two methods: Tanaka's predictions and Arithmetic extrapolations, and assessed them with correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman plot, prediction of quintile position and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Areas Under the Curve (AUC) for a cut-off of <100 mmol of Na/day. In Study 1 (discovery study) with the Tanaka method there were poor correlations between predicted and measured 24-h Na excretions in different ethnic groups and genders (r Spearman from 0.055 [R(2) = 0.003] in black women to 0.330 [R(2) = 0.11] in white women). The Bland-Altman plots indicated consistent bias with overestimate for low and underestimate for high intakes. ROC AUCs varied from 0.521 to 0.652 with good sensitivity (95-100%) but very poor specificity (0-9%). With the Arithmetic extrapolations correlations varied from 0.116 [R(2) = 0.01] to 0.367 [R(2) = 0.13]. Bias was detected with both Bland-Altman plots and through quintile analyses (underestimate at low levels and overestimate at high levels). Finally, ROC AUCs varied from 0.514 to 0.640 with moderate sensitivity (64-70%) but low specificity (20-53%). In Study 2 (validation study) results were consistent with the discovery phase in white men.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results, 24-h urinary collection for the measurement of Na excretion remains the preferred tool for assessing salt intake when compared with reported methods based on timed spot urine samples.

Degradation of zearalenone in swine feed and feed ingredients by Bacillus subtilis ANSB01G

Zearalenone (ZEA) and its derivatives are mycotoxins that can cause oestrogenic effects and impair the reproductive physiology of animals, especially in female swine. Strategies to reduce or eliminate ZEA contamination in foods and feeds are very much needed. Among 36 bacterial isolates obtained from a variety of animal intestinal chyme, mouldy foods and feeds, soils, etc., five isolates demonstrated the ability to reduce more than 50% of ZEA in a liquid medium; ANSB01G isolate taken from normal broiler intestinal chyme reduced ZEA the most, by 88.65%. Using physiological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis methods, the ANSB01G isolate was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Under simulated intestinal tract conditions, the ANSB01G B. subtilis isolate degraded 84.58, 66.34 and 83.04% of ZEA in naturally contaminated maize, dried distillers’ grains with solubles, and swine complete feed, respectively. The highest degradation of ZEA occurred when the mycotoxin was co-incubated with the whole bacterial culture, resulting in a reduction of 88.65%, followed by 75.60% using culture supernatant, 26.11% using cell extracts, and 15.06% using viable cells. Treatments consisting of both heating and addition of proteinase K significantly reduced the rate of ZEA degradation in the culture supernatant, indicating that the ZEA degradation might be enzymatic. B. subtilis ANSB01G displayed resistance to simulated gastrointestinal tract environments and antimicrobial activities against several common bacterial pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. These properties of B. subtilis ANSB01G suggest the possibility of its potential to effectively degrade ZEA in feed and to develop functional feed products for livestock industries.