Different microbiomes are found in healthy breeder ducks and those with foot pad dermatitis

Foot pad dermatitis (FPD) is a serious problem of the modern poultry industry, negatively affecting birds' welfare and health status, walking and feeding activity, growth performance, carcass quality, and economic performance of meat production. The gut microbiome in poultry with FPD has not been previously investigated. Therefore, we compared the cecal microbiomes of 8 breeding ducks with FPD to 8 control ducks (breeders with apparently healthy feet) by pyrosequencing the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The results showed a significant β-diversity (P < 0.05) of cecal microbiota presented between healthy and FPD-affected breeder ducks. The plasma endotoxins, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α concentration, and the abundance of class Clostridia in FPD-affected ducks was markedly higher (P < 0.05), however, the abundance of genus Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae UCG-008, and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio in FPD-affected ducks was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when compared to healthy ducks. These findings suggest when duck breeders are affected with FPD, ducks show an increased inflammatory response and a difference of structure and composition of the cecal microbiome.

Effect of dietary graded resistant potato starch levels on growth performance, plasma cytokines concentration, and intestinal health in meat ducks

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary graded raw potato starch (RPS) levels on growth performance, plasma cytokines concentration, ileal barrier function, and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration in meat ducks from 1 to 35 D of age. This study included 2 experiments. In experiment (Exp.) 1, sixteen 35-day-old meat ducks were used to evaluate the AME of RPS by orogastric administration. Results showed the AME value of RPS on ducks is 2.76 kcal/g. In Exp. 2, a total of 600 one-day-old ducklings were randomly assigned to 5 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic dietary treatments that included 0 (control), 6, 12, 18, and 24% RPS, respectively. Samples were collected at both of 14 and 35 D. Neither growth performance nor ileal parameters (length, weight, and pH) at both of 14 and 35 D was affected by dietary RPS. However, the mucosal thickness (14 D), villus height (except for 18% RPS at 14 D), and the villus height: crypt depth ratio (14 and 35 D) of the ileum were increased in the 12 and 18% RPS diets when compared to 0% RPS diet. Meanwhile, proinflammatory factors such as plasma interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 (14 D) reduced in 12% RPS diet and tumor necrosis factor α decreased in 12% (except for 14 D) and 18% RPS groups. When compared with the control group, diets with 18% RPS significantly increased mucin 2 gene expression at 14 D, and 12% RPS elevated the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins including Zonula occludens-1 and Claudin 1 (except for 14 D) in the ileal mucosa of birds. Furthermore, ducks fed 12% RPS diet had higher concentrations of acetate, propionate, and butyrate in cecal digesta than other groups. These findings indicated that diets with 12 and/or 18% RPS increased the cecal SCFA concentration, which subsequently enhanced the barrier function and improved intestinal health in the ileum for 14 and 35-day-old meat ducks.

[Efficacy of biventricular pacing on preventing heart failure in patients with high degree atrioventricular block (BIVPACE-AVB Trial)]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term effect of biventricular (BIV) and right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing on cardiac function in patients with high-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)over 35%.

METHODS

A total of 118 consecutive patients with high-degree AVB in six hospitals from East China between May 2009 and December 2012 were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind and parallel controlled study. Patients were randomly assigned to BIV and RVA pacing with or without LV lead on after one-week cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Cardiac function including New York Heart Association(NYHA), 6 minute walking distance (6MWD), Minnesota living with heart failure (MLHF) score, LVEF, left ventricular end-diastolic volumes/diameters (LVEDV/LVEDD) and other echocardiography parameters, as well as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)were assessed at 6 months and 12 months.

RESULTS

A total of 114 patients were successfully implanted with CRT. Cardiac function was significantly improved after one-week BIV pacing (n=57) compared with pre-CRT: rate of patients with NYHA Ⅲ (25.44%(29/114) vs. 9.65%(11/114)), MLHF score (17.1±13.6 vs. 26.9±21.6), 6MWD ((315.4±121.8)m vs. (291.8±102.9)m) and NT-proBNP (157.0(70.0, 639.0) ng/L vs. 444.7(144.0, 1 546.0)ng/L, all P<0.05). In BIV group, 6MWD extended from (314.8±142.7)m to (332.7±117.5)m at 6 months (P<0.05), LVEF increased from (60.7±7.9)% at 1 week to (56.6±10.7)% at 6 months(P<0.05), both LVEDV and LVEDD decreased at 12 months compared with at 1 week ((116.2±39.5)ml vs. (131.4±49.6)ml and (50.2±5.6)mm vs. (52.5±6.8)mm, P<0.05). In RVA group (n=57), 6MWD increased at 6 months compared that at 1week ((342.4±109.9)m vs. (310.2±105.1)m, P<0.05), NT-proBNP was higher at 12 months than that at 1 week (349.5(191.8, 884.3)ng/L vs. 127.0(70.3, 336.7)ng/L, P<0.05). Compared with RVA group, BIV group had a bigger shrink in LVEDV decrease at 12 months was more significant in BIV group ((-16.68±24.30)ml vs. (9.09±29.30)ml, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac pacing could acutely improve the cardiac function in patients with high-degree AVB and LVEF over 35%. Improvements on cardiac function and remodeling are more significant after 12-month BIV pacing than that of RVA pacing. Clinical Trail Registry: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-10000832.

THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY IDENTIFICATION FOR RHUBARB AND PHELLODENDRI AMURENSIS CORTEX IN SHUANG-BAI CATAPLASM AND STUDY OF SKIN IRRITATION ASSAY

This paper aimed to raise a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) identification method for rhubarb and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex and inspected skin irritation induced by them. It applied the TLC identification for Rhubarb and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex in Shuang-bai cataplasm prescription. In this study six rabbits were divided into two groups to observe the skin irritation from Shuang-bai cataplasm on intact and defected skin. Another 36 were randomly divided into 6 groups to observe the acute toxicity from Shuang-bai cataplasm on intact and defected skin. Also 30 guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups to observe skin allergy to Shuang-bai cataplasm. The results showed that the average weight of the group of intact-skin rabbits was 2.026±0.10 kg and 2.427±0.023 kg after medication; the average weight of the group of defected-skin rabbits was 2.170±0.05 kg and 2.540±0.15 kg after medication; Shuang-bai cataplasm produced no irritation on intact or defected rabbit skin, no acute toxicity in rabbits and no allergy on the skin of guinea pigs. The skin allergy rate on guinea pigs of the medication group was 0 at each time quantum. Therefore, it can be concluded that this preparation produces no extreme skin irritation for rabbits, guinea pigs or human beings, and it can be safely put into practice.

Effect of inhaled interleukin-5 on number and activity of eosinophils in circulation from asthmatics

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of interleukin-5 (IL-5) inhalation on changes in the activity and number of circulating eosinophils, as well as concentrations of serum total IgE, in allergic asthmatics. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study design was employed in which each subject acted as his or her own control. Eight nonsmoking patients with allergic asthma were administered recombinant human IL-5 by nebulization. Total white blood cell counts and differentials, as well as concentrations of ECP and total IgE in serum, were determined before and at 2, 24, and 48 h after inhalation. Our results demonstrated that eosinophil numbers increased from baseline (3.6 +/- 1.1 x 10(5)/ml) to 6.3 +/- 1.2 x 10(5)/ml (P < 0.01) at 24 h and to 5.7 +/- 0.9 x 10(5)/ml (P < 0.01) at 48 h after IL-5 inhalation in asthmatics. Accompanying this significantly increased blood eosinophilia were significantly elevated serum ECP levels. Compared with baseline (6.3 +/- 1.1 ng/ml), ECP levels increased with time following IL-5 inhalation, reaching 17.6 +/- 2.8 ng/ml (P < 0.01) at 24 h and remaining elevated at 48 h (18.1 +/- 2.9 ng/ml, P < 0.01). IL-5 inhalation had no significant effect on levels of serum total IgE, however. These findings provide direct evidence that nebulized IL-5 not only induces a significant blood eosinophilia but also results in the activation of circulating eosinophils. Our data further support the importance of IL-5 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in humans.

Inhaled IL-5 increases concentrations of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in sputum from atopic asthmatic subjects

BACKGROUND

Both IL-5 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) have been shown to play important roles in the production of allergic inflammation, including atopic asthma.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of recombinant human IL-5 on changes of soluble (s) ICAM-1 concentrations in induced sputum from allergic asthmatic subjects.

METHODS

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, 8 nonsmoking patients with allergic asthma and 6 nonallergic normal subjects were administered recombinant human IL-5 by nebulization, and the concentrations of sICAM-1 in induced sputum from each subject were determined before and at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours after inhalation.

RESULTS

sICAM-1 levels in sputum within the control group did not appear to change from baseline at any time throughout the study. In allergic asthmatic subjects vehicle challenge was not able to cause any changes in sputum sICAM-1 concentrations. However, there were increases in sputum sICAM-1 concentrations after IL-5 inhalation, which increased with time to significantly greater levels than those at baseline, reaching a maximum at 48 hours and lasting no less than 72 hours. The concentrations of sICAM-1 in sputum after IL-5 challenge exceeded levels that could be accounted for by passive transudation from the circulation on the basis of the magnitude of increases in sputum albumin concentration.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that IL-5 inhalation was capable of inducing an elevation of sputum sICAM-1 concentration by stimulating its local release in allergic asthmatic, but not in nonallergic normal, subjects.

Effect of inhaled interleukin-4 on airway hyperreactivity in asthmatics

lnterleukin-4 (IL-4) has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of allergic disease including bronchial asthma. In order to investigate the role of IL-4 in airway hyperreactivity, we investigated the effect of inhaled recombinant human IL-4 on airway responsiveness to methacholine and eosinophil numbers in induced sputum in eight patients with allergic asthma using a placebo-controlled study design. Our results demonstrated that in the control experiments receiving vehicle inhalation, methacholine PC20 values did not change nor did the numbers of eosinophils in sputum change from baseline values. In contrast, after IL-4 inhalation, methacholine PC20 fell from baseline (0.43 +/- 1.81 mg/mI) to 0.22 +/- 1.73 mg/mI (p < 0.01) at 24 h, and to 0.21 +/- 1. 74 mg/ml (p < 0.01) at 48 h. Accompanying this increased airway sensitivity was a significant eosinophilia in sputum. Our data indicated that IL-4 increases airway responsiveness by recruiting eosinophils into the airway in patients with allergic bronchial asthma.

Effect of inhaled interleukin-5 on airway hyperreactivity and eosinophilia in asthmatics

In order to investigate the role of interleukin-5 (IL-5) in airway hyperreactivity and eosinophilia, we observed the effect of inhaled recombinant human IL-5 on airway responsiveness to methacholine and cell populations in induced sputum in eight patients with allergic bronchial asthma using a placebo-controlled study design. Our results demonstrated that the inhalation of IL-5 did not alter lung function in allergic asthmatics. In the control experiments receiving either vehicle or 0.4 ng of endotoxin, methacholine PC20 values did not change nor did the numbers of eosinophils or eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) sputum values change from baseline. In contrast, after IL-5 inhalation, methacholine PC20 fell from baseline (0.90 +/- 166 mg/ml) to 0.32 +/- 1.63 mg/ml (p < 0.01) at 24 h, and to 0.55 +/- 1.49 mg/ml (p < 0.05) at 48 h. Accompanying this increased airway sensitivity was a significant eosinophilia and elevated concentrations of ECP in induced sputum. Our data provided direct evidence that IL-5 increases airway responsiveness and infiltration of activated eosinophils into the airway in patients with allergic bronchial asthma. It also could be concluded that the observed airway hyperreactivity and eosinophilia were not endotoxin related.

[Therapeutic effects of polyI:C and prednisone withdrawal followed by polyI:C on chronic type B hepatitis--results of two double-blind randomized trials]

Twenty patients received PolyI:C and twenty patients received inosine in first clinical trial. Final evaluation at 6 months after completion of treatment revealed that SGPT activities fell into normal range or nearly into normal range in 16 (80%) patients of the PolyI:C group and in 8 (40%) patients of the inosine group. These data show that patients treated with PolyI:C have a tendency toward normalization of SGPT activities, but changes of serum HBeAg and DNAP were not significantly different between the two groups. Thirty-five patients were treated with prednisone withdrawal followed by PolyI:C and thirty-five patients received placebo alone in a second clinical trial. Final evaluation at 6 months after completion of treatment revealed that effective rates of reducing serum HBeAg (51.4%) and HBV-DNA (65%) were significantly higher in the treated group than in the control group. It is shown that prednisone withdrawal followed by PolyI:C therapy may be more promising for successful treatment of chronic type B hepatitis than PolyI:C therapy alone.