Clinical effects of a combination of phenylbutazone and omeprazole on chronic lameness in Mongolian horses

BACKGROUND

Phenylbutazone (PBZ) is the most commonly used drug to treat symptoms of lameness in horses; however, it is associated with adverse effects such as gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Interestingly, many practitioners prescribe omeprazole (OME) concurrently with PBZ to prevent the development of EGUS. However, the efficacy and safety of this practice in Mongolian horses with chronic lameness remain unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical effects of a combination of PBZ and OME on chronic lameness in Mongolian horses.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomised block experimental design.

METHODS

Eighteen Mongolian horses with lameness score was ≥3 points, were divided into three treatment groups, with six horses in each group: placebo (CON), PBZ (4.4 mg/kg PO q. 24 h), or PBZ plus OME (4 mg/kg PO q. 24 h; PBZ + OME) in a randomised block design based on the initial lameness score. The horses were treated for 15 days. During this period, weekly gastroscopy, and physiological and biochemical tests were performed.

RESULTS

Both PBZ (median 1.0, interquartile range [IQR]: 0.8-1.3; p = 0.01) and PBZ + OME (median 1.0, IQR: 1.0-1.0; p = 0.01) significantly decreased the lameness score compared with before administration. In addition, PBZ significantly increased the equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) score (3.0 ± 0.6, p < 0.001), GT-17 content (293.4 ± 21.8 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and pepsinogen-1 (PG1) content (295.3 ± 38.3 ng/mL, p < 0.001) compared with CON or PBZ + OME. However, it significantly reduced the total protein (53.6 ± 1.5 g/L, p < 0.05) and albumin (25.5 ± 1.8 g/L, p < 0.05) contents. Nevertheless, compared with PBZ, PBZ + OME significantly decreased the EGGD score (0.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.001) and significantly increased the gastric fluid pH (7.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), total protein content (62.5 ± 4.6 g/L, p = 0.009), and albumin content (29.4 ± 1.1 g/L, p = 0.004). Meanwhile, they significantly diminished the gastrin 17 (GT-17) (162.0 ± 21.0 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and PG1 (182.4 ± 22.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001) contents.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

Individual differences in horses were larger, but the sample size was small. There was larger interval between observations for each index.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with PBZ alone, PBZ + OME had no therapeutic effect on chronic lameness; however, it reduced the occurrence of EGGD in Mongolian horses. Horses may be protected against chronic lameness and PBZ-induced EGGD by increasing the pH value, decreasing serum PG1 and GT-17 content, and preventing the reduction of myeloperoxidase content.

Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Resource Management in Maritime Communication Systems

With the growing maritime economy, ensuring the quality of communication for maritime users has become imperative. The maritime communication system based on nearshore base stations enhances the communication rate of maritime users through dynamic resource allocation. A virtual queue-based deep reinforcement learning beam allocation scheme is proposed in this paper, aiming to maximize the communication rate. More particularly, to reduce the complexity of resource management, we employ a grid-based method to discretize the maritime environment. For the combinatorial optimization problem of grid and beam allocation under unknown channel state information, we model it as a sequential decision process of resource allocation. The nearshore base station is modeled as a learning agent, continuously interacting with the environment to optimize beam allocation schemes using deep reinforcement learning techniques. Furthermore, we guarantee that grids with poor channel state information can be serviced through the virtual queue method. Finally, the simulation results provided show that our proposed beam allocation scheme is beneficial in terms of increasing the communication rate.

Glutamatergic melanocortin-4 receptor neurons regulate body weight

The locus coeruleus (LC), enriched in vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGlut2) neurons, is a potential homeostasis-regulating hub. However, the identity of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, PVNVGlut2::MC4R and LCVGlut2::MC4R regulation of body weight, and axonal projections of LCVGlut2 neurons remain unclear. Conditional knockout of MC4R in chimeric mice was used to confirm the effects of VGlut2. Interscapular brown adipose tissue was injected with pseudorabies virus to study the central nervous system projections. We mapped the LCVGlut2 circuitry. Based on the Cre-LoxP recombination system, specific knockdown of MC4R in VGlut2 neurons resulted in weight gain in chimeric mice. Adeno-associated virus-mediated knockdown of MC4R expression in the PVN and LC had potential superimposed effects on weight gain, demonstrating the importance of VGlut2 neurons. Unlike these wide-ranging efferent projections, the PVN, hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, supraoptic nucleus of the lateral olfactory tegmental nuclei, and nucleus tractus solitarius send excitatory projections to LCVGlut2 neurons. The PVN → LC glutamatergic MC4R long-term neural circuit positively affected weight management and could help treat obesity.

Developing a 3D animation tool to improve veterinary undergraduate understanding of obstetrical problems in horses

BACKGROUND

Many challenges are encountered in both teaching and learning veterinary obstetrics. This may be due to outdated teaching materials, as the main model of content transmission remains centred around text and images.

METHODS

Visualisation methods such as three-dimensional (3D) and Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) tools were applied in an attempt to improve obstetrics education outcomes in the third-year class. Traditional teaching methods were utilised in the fourth-year and fifth-year students.

RESULTS

These supplementary tools significantly increased the third-year students' final examination results compared with the results of fourth-year and fifth-year students (P<0.05). These examinations were designed to evaluate comprehension of the subject matter. Self-assessment questionnaire results further indicated that 3D animation and GIF promoted learning efficiency.

CONCLUSION

Incorporation of 3D animation learning tools into the veterinary curriculum is predicted to better prepare students for the management of obstetrical cases after graduation.

Prostaglandin E2 promotes nitric oxide synthase 2, platelet-activating factor receptor, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in Escherichia coli-challenged ex vivo endometrial explants via the prostaglandin E2 receptor 4/protein kinase a signaling pathway

Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) is an inflammatory mediator involved in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory conditions, including endometritis. Previous studies have shown that PGE₂ accumulates in Escherichia coli-challenged ex vivo endometrial explants, increasing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and aggravating tissue damage; these alterations are linked to key enzymes involved in the synthesis of PGE₂, including cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) and microsomal PGES-1 (mPGES-1). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether administration of PGE₂ modulated the activities of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in E. coli-challenged ex vivo bovine endometrial explants. Our findings showed that COX-2 and mPGES-1 inhibitors significantly reduced NOS2, PAFR, and MMP-2 expression in the E. coli-challenged ex vivo endometrial explants. In addition, NOS2, PAFR, and MMP-2 expression levels were strongly increased in response to treatment with 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase inhibitors in the E. coli-challenged ex vivo endometrial explants. However, these stimulatory effects could be blocked by PGE₂ receptor 4 (EP4) and protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors. Overall, these findings show that pathogenic PGE₂ upregulated NOS2, PAFR, and MMP-2 expression, which may enhance inflammatory damage via the EP4/PKA signaling pathway in E. coli-challenged ex vivo endometrial explants.

LP induced/mediated PGE2 synthesis through activation of the ERK/NF-κB pathway contributes to inflammatory damage triggered by Escherichia coli-infection in bovine endometrial tissue

The bovine endometrium is constantly challenged with pathogenic bacteria, especially with Escherichia coli. In previous studies, we showed that prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) synthesis was increased in E. coli-infected bovine endometrial tissue, which promoted the development of inflammatory damage. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this accumulation of PGE₂ remained undefined. Lipoprotein (LP) is one of critical outer membrane protein in E. coli, which regulates inflammatory response. In this study, we determined the role of LP in PGE₂ accumulation in bovine endometrial tissue by infecting the tissue with wild endometrial pathogenic E. coli and E. coli LP deletion mutant (JE5505) strains. We demonstrate that JE5505 was less effective than pathogenic E. coli in inducing the production of PGE_2,IL-6, TNF-α, HMGB-1, and HABP1 and that the induction of cytokines was dependent on the activation of MAPKs, as revealed by rapid phosphorylation of ERK1/2/NF-κB in the endometrial tissues, furthermore, LP also induced PGE₂ synthessis and cytokine secretion. Additionally, ERK and NF-κB inhibitors significantly inhibited PGE₂ production and cytokine secretion and reduced or attenuated tissue damage in JE5505-infected and LP induced endometrial tissues. What is more important, we reported PGE₂ introduction increased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and DAMPs in E. coli-infected bovine endometrial tissue. Taken together, these results indicate that LP is involved in the accumulation of PGE₂ through the activation of the ERK/NF-κB pathway that induces the production of pro-inflammatory factors and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in E. coli-infected bovine endometrial tissue. These results should help in better understanding and management of postpartum inflammatory diseases in dairy cows.

Protective effect of chlorogenic acid on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in dairy mammary epithelial cells

Mastitis is a major disease of dairy cattle. Given the recent emergence of antibiotics resistance to mastitis, new intramammary treatments are urgently required. In the present study, we investigated whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could induce the increase in the proinflammatory cytokines in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MECs), and whether a natural antimicrobial compound Chlorogenic acid (CGA) could attenuate the inflammatory responses induced by LPS and thus could be a potential therapeutic compound for bovine mastitis. Our results indicated that LPS could induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukine (IL)-1β and IL-6, and the activation of NF-κB p65 and p-p65 in primary bovine MECs. Furthermore, CGA significantly inhibited not only the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and p-p65 but also the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 after LPS treatment in primary bovine MECs. These results suggested that CGA had anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting NF-κB activation. In conclusion, CGA could be possibly used as a potential therapeutic compound for bovine mastitis.

PGE2 downregulates LPS-induced inflammatory responses via the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway in bovine endometrial epithelial cells

Postpartum bacterial infections of the uterus cause endometritis in dairy cows. Inflammatory responses to bacterial infections in the bovine uterus were generated through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that bind to pathogen-associated molecules such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli. Among these PRRs, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is primarily responsible for LPS recognition, which triggers inflammatory responses via mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB signaling activation, resulting in the expression of inflammatory mediators in mammals such as IL-8 and IL-6. Previous studies indicate that PGE₂ plays an important role in bacterial endometritis, although details on the mechanism underlying how it regulates LPS-induced inflammatory responses in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEECs) remain elusive. In the present study, bEECs were pre-treated with exogenous PGE₂ and/or PGF_2α prior to LPS stimulation. With PGE₂ pre-treatment, we observed an augmentation in LPS-stimulated PKA, ERK, and IκBα phosphorylation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 expression and downregulation of prostaglandin E₂ receptor 4 (EP4) and TLR4 in bEECs. These results indicate that LPS-induced inflammatory responses through TLR4 signaling in bEECs could be downregulated by exogenous PGE₂ pre-treatment, but not PGF_2α.

[Improving Analytical Methods by Uncertainty Evaluation with the Case of Determination of Aluminum in Starch Products by ICP-MS]

The measurement uncertainty is a non-negative parameter associated with the result of a measurement that characterizes the dispersion of the quantity values that could reasonably be attributed to the measurand. In the present study measurement uncertainty is estimated using the GUM (ISO/IEC Guide 98: 1993 Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement) bottom-up approach. The steps were followed: specifying the measurand; identifying all the associated sources of uncertainty; quantifying the uncertainty components; combining the uncertainty components; determining the extended combined standard uncertainty; reviewing the estimates and reporting the measurement uncertainty. In this process, the major uncertainty components with greater impact were identified; try to eliminate or to reduce the impact of these components can improve measurement methods. Examples were the determination of aluminum in starch and bread crumbs by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The uncertainties of aluminum contents were from measurement repeatability, variability of calibration curve, standard stock solution, dilution, solution volume and sample weighing. The data indicated that the major contributions to the uncertainty budget originating from urel(cAl)1 (the relative standard uncertainty of aluminum content derived from linear least squares calibration), urel(cAl)3 (the relative standard uncertainty of aluminum content derived from the dilution of the standard stock solutions) and urel(rep) (the relative standard uncertainty derived from the repeatability). Based on the analysis of the main individual contributions of each uncertainty source to the total uncertainty value, several modifications were proposed. Firstly helium collision mode was replaced by no gas mode to improve the sensitivity of mass spectrometry. Secondly the number of measurements was increased. Thirdly let the mean of data points in the calibration closer the measurand. Finally the relative error smaller gauges were used. After these modifications, urel(cAl)1, urel(cAl)3 and urel(rep) were from (0.035 8, 0.013 2, 0.008 5) down to (0.006 0, 0.010 5, 0.003 3), respectively; the combined relative standard uncertainty of aluminum was from 0.039 down to 0.013; the expanded uncertainty from 1.8 down to 0.4 mg·kg-1(coverage factor k=2). The improvement effect was significant.

Concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and iron in the serum of dairy cows with subclinical ketosis

Serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and iron were measured in dairy cows with subclinical ketosis. Compared with healthy cows, the subclinically ketotic cows had significantly higher levels of non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutirate in serum and significantly lower levels of blood glucose (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed, suggesting that the mineral elements measured are not involved in the pathogenesis of subclinical ketosis.

Effects of ning shen ling granule and dehydroepiandrosterone on cognitive function in mice undergoing chronic mild stress

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of spontaneous and cognitive behavior, and cholinergic M receptors in the brain of mice subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS), and to determine the effect of Ning Shen Ling Granule (NSL) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on them.

METHODS

CMS model mice were established by applying stress every day for 3 consecutive weeks with 7 kinds of unforeseeable stress sources, and they were medicated for 1 week beginning at the 3rd week of modeling. The changes in behavior were determined by Morris Water Maze and spontaneous movement test, and M-receptor binding activity in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus were measured by radioactive ligand assay with 3H-QNB.

RESULTS

(1) The spontaneous movement in CMS model mice was significantly reduced, with the latency for searching platform in Morris Water Maze obviously prolonged (P<0.01), and these abnormal changes in behavior were improved in those treated with NSL and DHEA. (2) The binding ability of M-receptor in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of CMS mice was significantly decreased as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05), but could be restored to the normal level after intervention with NSL or DHEA.

CONCLUSION

The decline of spontaneous movement and spatial learning and memory ability could be induced in animals by chronic mild stress, and that may be related to the low activity of central cholinergic M-receptors. Both NSL and DHEA could effectively alleviate the above-mentioned changes.

Clinical and experimental study on therapeutic effect of Weixibaonizhuanwan on gastric precancerous lesions

AIM

To study the therapeutic effect of Weixibaonizhuanwan on gastric precancerous lesions.

METHODS

Thirty-six patients with gastric precancerous lesions were treated with Weixibaonizhuanwan for 3 mo. Thirteen (36.1%) patients presented with mild atrophic gastritis, 14 (38.9%) with moderate atrophic gastritis, and nine (25.0%) with severe atrophic gastritis. Twenty-two (61.1%) and 27 (75.0%) of the cases were accompanied by intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia (DYS), respectively. Twenty of the 36 patients were men and 16 were women, ranging from 30 to 67 years in age, with 61.1% of the patients being 40-59 years old. The duration of the disease in these patients ranged from 3 mo to 21 years, with 20 (55.6%) patients experiencing durations of the disease between 5 and 10 years. The clinical manifestations of the disease in these patients included fullness of the abdomen (31 cases), abdominalgia (27 cases), anorexia (30 cases), eructation (26 cases), pantothenic acid (6 cases), and loose stool (9 cases). Patients were treated with Weixibaonizhuanwan and symptom improvement, level of atrophy of the gastric mucosa, and IM and DYS progression were analyzed.

RESULTS

After a 3-mo treatment with Weixibaonizhuanwan, seven patients experienced recovery. The treatment was effective in 11 cases, improved symptoms in 13 cases, and was ineffective in five cases. The overall efficacy rate was 86.1%. In patients with mild atrophic gastritis (n = 13), 11 improved into superficial gastritis and two experienced no improvement. In 14 cases of moderate gastritis, four cases improved into superficial gastritis and seven turned into mild atrophic gastritis, with three patients experiencing no improvement. Among severe atrophic gastritis patients (n = 9), five improved into moderate atrophic gastritis after treatment and four experienced no improvement. The overall efficacy rate in chronic atrophic gastritis patients was 77.8%. Among 9 patients with IM, IM disappeared in six cases, whereas three cases showed no improvement after treatment. In cases with moderate IM (n = 10), IM disappeared in two, turned into mild IM in five, and showed no change in three. Out of four cases with IM, one case turned into moderate IM and three showed no change. The overall efficacy rate in IM patients was 63.6%. Out of 16 cases of mild DYS, DYS disappeared in 11, whereas five cases showed no change. Out of nine cases of moderate DYS, DYS disappeared in two and turned into mild DYS in five cases, with two patients experiencing no change after treatment. No improvement was observed in the two cases of severe DYS after treatment. The overall efficacy rate in DYS patients was 66.7%. After treatment, expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in gastric mucosa significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Before treatment, cancer staging of these patients by positive CEA expression was I, II, III, and IV in 13, 12, 9, and 2 cases, respectively. After treatment, the number of cases per stage changed to 25, 7, 3, and 1, respectively. Similarly, before treatment, staging by positivity of PCNA expression was I, II, III, and IV in 16, 11, 10, and 4 cases, respectively, and changed to 21, 9, 5, and 1, respectively, after treatment.

CONCLUSION

The use of Weixibaonizhuanwan in the treatment of gastric precancerous lesions showed promising therapeutic effects in patients after 3-mo treatments.