[Effects of bariatric surgery on sex hormones in male patients with obesity]

Objective: To analyze and evaluate the differences in sex hormones after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in male patients with obesity. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria were (1) male patients with obesity who met the surgical indications of the "Chinese Guidelines for Surgical Treatment of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes" (2019 Edition); (2) patients with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥27.5 kg/m2 and obesity-related metabolic diseases, or patients with severe obesity and a BMI of ≥35 kg/m2; and (3) sex hormone levels checked 1 year after surgery. The exclusion criteria included (1) patients with endocrine diseases (thyrotoxicosis, hyperprolactinemia) and hypothalamic-pituitary lesions and (2) those with severe major organ dysfunction who could not tolerate anesthesia or surgery. According to the above criteria, the clinical data of male patients with obesity admitted to the Gastrointestinal Surgery/Bariatric Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from October 2017 to January 2020 were included. A total of 52 male patients with obesity were included in this study. The mean age, body weight, BMI, and total testosterone level were (29.3±10.2) years, (123.6±35.4) kg, (40.1±11.1) kg/m², and 7.6 (5.5, 9.1) nmol/L, respectively. Forty-five patients (86.5%) exhibited testosterone deficiency. Among all the patients, 29 underwent LSG (LSG group) and 23 underwent LRYGB surgery (LRYGB group). The main outcome measure was the change in sex hormone levels before and after bariatric surgery in all the patients. The secondary outcome measures were the comparison of changes in sex hormone levels before and after LSG and LRYGB. Results: Pearson correlation analysis showed that preoperative estradiol was positively correlated with waist circumference (R=0.299, P<0.05), hip circumference (R=0.326, P<0.05), and chest circumference (R=0.388, P<0.05). Testosterone was negatively correlated with BMI (R=-0.563, P<0.01), waist circumference (R=-0.521, P<0.01), hip circumference (R=-0.456, P<0.01), chest circumference (R=-0.600, P<0.01), and neck circumference (R=-0.547, P<0.01). One year following bariatric surgery, the serum testosterone (7.6 [5.5, 9.1] nmol/L vs. 13.6 [10.5, 15.4] nmol/L, Z=-5.910, P<0.001), follicle-stimulating hormone (4.7 [2.7, 5.3] IU/L vs. 6.5 [3.6, 7.8] IU/L, Z=-4.658, P<0.001), and progesterone (1.2 [0.4, 1.5] nmol/L vs. 1.9 [0.8, 1.3] nmol/L, Z=-2.542, P=0.011) levels were significantly higher in all the patients. Both estradiol (172.8 [115.6, 217.5] pmol/L vs. 138.3 [88.4, 168.1] pmol/L, Z=-2.828, P=0.005) and prolactin (11.4 [6.4, 14.6] mIU/L vs. 8.6 [4.8, 7.3] mIU/L, Z=-2.887, P=0.004) levels were decreased. In addition to prolactin levels in the LRYGB group, there were statistically significant differences in the levels of estradiol (P=0.030), follicle-stimulating hormone (P < 0.001), luteinizing hormone (P=0.033), progesterone (P=0.034), and testosterone (P<0.001) compared with their preoperative levels. In the LSG group, there were statistically significant differences in the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (P=0.011), prolactin (P=0.023), and testosterone (P<0.001) compared with their preoperative levels. Conclusion: The degree of obesity in men was negatively correlated with testosterone levels. Both LRYGB and LSG can significantly improve sex hormone levels in male patients with obesity, and testosterone levels show a significant increase after surgery.

[Molecular epidemiology of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from ready-to-eat food in 2017 in China]

Objective: To analyze the molecular characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes strains from ready-to eat food in China. Methods: A total of 239 Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from ready-to-eat food in 2017, all strains underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) , and comparisons uncovered population structure derived from lineages, clonal complex, serogroups, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence, which were inferred in silico from the WGS data. Core genome multilocus sequence typing was used to subtype isolates. Results: All strains were categorized into three different lineages, lineage Ⅱ was the predominant types in food, and IIa was the main serogroups. CC8, CC101 and CC87 were the first three prevalent CCs among 23 detected CCs, accounting for 49.4%. Only 4.6% (11 isolates) of tested strains harbored antibiotic resistance genes, which were mostly trimethoprim genes (7 isolates, 2.9%). All strains were positive for LIPI-1, and only a part of strains harbored LIPI-3 and LIPI-4, accounting for 13.8% (33 isolates) and 14.2% (34 isolates), respectively. ST619 carried both LIPI-3 and LIPI-4. 51.5% (123 isolates) of strains carried SSI-1, and all CC121 strains harbored SSI-2. Different lineages, serogroups and CCs can be separated obviously through cgMLST analysis, and 24 sublineages were highly concordant with CCs. Conclusion: Ⅱa was the main serogroups in ready-to-eat food isolates in China; CC8, CC101 and CC87 were the prevalent CCs, and CC87 isolates was hypervirulent isolates, cgMLST method can be adopted for prospective foodborne disease surveillance and outbreaks detection.

[The impact of different doses of atorvastatin on plasma endothelin and platelet function in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To investigate the effects of different doses of atorvastatin on plasma endothelin and platelet function in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). Methods: A total of 120 patients with acute STEMI treated with emergency PCI were enrolled and randomly divided into 20 mg of atorvastatin treatment group (standard group, n=60), and 40 mg of atorvastatin treatment group (intensive group, n=60). The blood C reactive protein (CRP), blood lipid profiles, plasma endothelin (ET) were measured before atorvastatin treatment and after 7 days of treatment, respectively. The platelet fibrin clot strength induced by ADP (MAADP) was determined by thrombelastography(TEG). Results: Seven days after of atorvastatin treatment, the level of plasma ET in intensive group was significantly lower than that in standard group [(0.49±0.21)pmol/L vs (0.63±0.58)pmol/L, P<0.05]. Moreover, the MAADP in intensive group was significantly decreased compared with the standard group [(38.4±17.4) mm vs (45.7±14.5) mm, P<0.05]. There was a positive correlation between the ET level and MAADP in intensive group after treatment (r=0.378, P<0.05). However, no significantly differences could be viewed in the CRP and LDL-C levels between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: In patients with acute STEMI, early administration of 40 mg atorvastatin after emergency PCI could significantly reduce the vascular endothelial injury, improve endothelial function, and reduce the residual platelet activity.

Evaluation of coarsely ground wheat as a replacement for ground corn in the diets of lactating dairy cows

Eight multiparous Holstein cows (569±47 kg of BW; 84±17 DIM) were used to evaluate the effects of different levels of coarsely ground wheat (CGW) as replacements for ground corn (GC) in diets on feed intake and digestion, ruminal fermentation, lactation performance, and plasma metabolites profiles in dairy cows. The cows were settled in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design with 3-wk treatment periods; four cows in one of the replicates were fitted with rumen cannulas. The four diets contained 0, 9.6, 19.2, and 28.8% CGW and 27.9, 19.2, 9.6, and 0% GC on dry matter (DM) basis, respectively. Increasing dietary levels of CGW, daily DM intake tended to increase quadratically (p = 0.07); however, apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were significantly decreased (p<0.01) in cows fed the 28.8% CGW diets. Ruminal pH remained in the normal physiological range for all dietary treatments at all times, except for the 28.8% CGW diets at 6 h after feeding; moreover, increasing dietary levels of CGW, the daily mean ruminal pH decreased linearly (p = 0.01). Increasing the dietary levels of CGW resulted in a linear increase in ruminal propionate (p<0.01) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (p = 0.06) concentration, while ruminal acetate: propionate decreased linearly (p = 0.03) in cows fed the 28.8% CGW diets. Milk production was not affected by diets; however, percentage and yield of milk fat decreased linearly (p = 0.02) when the level of CGW was increased. With increasing levels of dietary CGW, concentrations of plasma beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) (p = 0.07) and cholesterol (p<0.01) decreased linearly, whereas plasma glucose (p = 0.08), insulin (p = 0.02) and urea nitrogen (p = 0.02) increased linearly at 6 h after the morning feeding. Our results indicate that CGW is a suitable substitute for GC in the diets of dairy cows and that it may be included up to a level of 19.2% of DM without adverse effects on feed intake and digestion, ruminal fermentation, lactation performance, and plasma metabolites if the cows are fed fiber-sufficient diets.

Distortionless light pulse delay in quantum-well Bragg structures

We describe a reflection scheme that allows Bragg-spaced semiconductor quantum wells to be used to trap, store, and release light. We study the temporal and spectral distortion of delayed light pulses and show that this geometry allows multibit delays and offers a high degree of distortion compensation.

Evidence for intervalence band coherences in semiconductor quantum wells via coherently coupled optical Stark shifts

We report the experimental observation of coherently coupled heavy-hole-light-hole Stark shifts, i.e., light-hole exciton shifts under heavy-hole exciton pumping conditions, in InGaAs quantum wells. The theoretical analysis of the data is based on a full many-body approach (dynamics-controlled truncation formalism) in the third-order nonlinear optical regime. It is shown that the Stark shift data can be interpreted as strong evidence of suitably defined nonradiative intervalence band coherences in a semiconductor quantum well. Hence, the observations establish a semiconductor analog of Raman coherences in three-level atoms.

[A study on phage analysis of two episodes of food poisoning caused by the same serotype of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli]

The strains of EIEC serotype O28ac:K73 (B):H-were isolated from two episodes of food poisoning in Beijing during July to September in 1984. All strains were examined by E. coli K12 and found that they possessed the ability to produce the same colicin and same phage sensitivity pattern to eight phages isolated from contaminated water in Beijing area. These characteristics were different from reserved strains O28ac and other strains of E. coli. It indicated that two episodes were caused by the same phage type of O28ac:K73 (B):H-and proved the local outbreak was caused by same strain in western area of Beijing. The authors discussed in detail. The differentiation methods for plaque formation produced by colicin and phage.

[The discovery and study on invasive strain of Escherichia coli O121]

A strain of Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli was isolated from the stool with blood and mucus of a child suffering from acute diarrhea. The strain shows the following characteristics: rapid fermentation of glucose (with gas), no fermentation of lactose, beta-galactosidase reaction positive, growth in acetate media, lysine decarboxylase negative, non-motility causing keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pigs and invading into epithelial cells, with a plasmid of 140 Md, Serotype is O121:H- which is a new serotype of Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli.

[Serotypes of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli in China]

results of identification and serotyping of enteroinvasive escherichia in china from 13 provinces in China in 1984-85 were reproted.

Monoclonal antibodies to outer membrane antigens of Vibrio cholerae

Hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibodies were prepared against outer membrane antigens of four strains of Vibrio cholerae that were cultivated under iron-limited conditions, and these antibodies were partially characterized. We established a library of 66 hybridomas which produced monoclonal antibodies defining 16 different V. cholerae antigens. Two antigens (molecular weights, 18,000 and 112,000) were heat modifiable, whereas the reacting epitope of a third antigen (40,000-dalton-18,000-dalton doublet) was completely destroyed when it was heated at 100 degrees C. The 112,000-dalton heat-modifiable protein was an iron-regulated outer membrane protein. This protein bound 59Fe in vitro when it was combined with the V. cholerae siderophore-iron complex 59Fe-vibriobactin; it was also found in in vivo grown V. cholerae, as were three other antigens. A total of 26 hybridomas produced antibody to V. cholerae lipopolysaccharide. Of these, 12 were cross-reactive with lipopolysaccharides of other gram-negative bacteria, including 2 which recognized lipid A. Several of these anti-lipopolysaccharide monoclonal antibodies appeared to be lipopolysaccharide region specific. Some membrane antigens were strain specific, whereas others were common to both O group 1 and non-O group 1 vibrios.

Rapid latex particle agglutination test for Escherichia coli strains of porcine origin producing heat-labile enterotoxin

A latex particle agglutination test previously shown to be suitable for the rapid identification of Escherichia coli strains of human origin producing heat-labile enterotoxin (R. A. Finkelstein and Z. Yang, J. Clin. Microbiol. 18:23-28) is equally applicable to strains of porcine origin.