Comparative study on body index, nutrient composition, and digestive enzyme activity of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Paramisgurnus dabryanus, and Paramisgurnus dabryanus ssp

The current research work was undertaken to compare and analyze the body index, nutrient composition, and digestive enzyme activity of Pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), large-scale loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus), and Taiwan loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus ssp). Viscerosomatic ratio (VR), condition factor, (CF), W/L and H/L were highest in Taiwan loach (P < 0.05). Muscle protein content was highest, whereas lipid content was lowest in pond loach (P < 0.05). The content of total amino acids (TAA), total essential amino acids (EAA), and delicious amino acids (DAA) in the muscle of pond loach was highest (P < 0.05). The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and linoleic acid was highest in pond loach, Taiwan loach and large-scale loach, respectively (P < 0.05). The trypsin activities and amylase activities of the pond loach were significantly higher than those of the large-scale loach and Taiwan loach in the intestine and liver (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the three kinds of loaches are of high nutritional value and have breeding prospects, among which pond loach has higher nutritional value

Comparison study of antibacterial properties of curcumin from Curcuma longa and enrofloxacin against Aeromonas hydrophila

Antibacterial properties of curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) and enrofloxacin against Aeromonas hydrophila were assayed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of curcumin and enrofloxacin against A. hydrophila were found to be 100ug/ml and 9.375ug/ml, respectively. To realize the mechanisms of action of curcumin against A. hydrophila, we researched the antibacterial activity and bacterial membrane permeability of A. hydrophila cells treated with curcumin or enrofloxacin. All results elucidated that curcumin increased membrane permeabilization and caused leakage of intracellular contents, while its role was not as good as enrofloxacin. Moreover, a synergistic effect was shown between curcumin and enrofloxacin. The present study suggests that curcumin extracted from turmeric has the potential to be used as an antimicrobial for the control of A. hydrophila

SPIE

NRC publication: Ye

High Human Bocavirus Viral Load Is Associated with Disease Severity in Children under Five Years of Age

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus and detected worldwide in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), but its pathogenic role in respiratory illness is still debatable due to high incidence of co-infection with other respiratory viruses. To determine the prevalence of HBoV infection in patients with LRTI in Shanghai and its correlation with disease severity, we performed a 3-year prospective study of HBoV in healthy controls, outpatients and inpatients under five years of age with X-ray diagnosed LRTIs. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested by PCR for common respiratory viruses and by real time PCR for HBoV subtypes 1–4. Nasopharyngeal swabs from healthy controls and serum samples and stools from inpatients were also tested for HBoV1-4 by real time PCR. Viral loads were determined by quantitative real time PCR in all HBoV positive samples. HBoV1 was detected in 7.0% of inpatients, with annual rates of 5.1%, 8.0% and 4.8% in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subtype A was the most frequent co-infection detected; HBoV1 and RSVA appeared to co-circulate with similar seasonal variations. High HBoV viral loads (>10(6) copies/ml) were significantly more frequent in inpatients and outpatients than in healthy controls. There was a direct correlation of high viral load with increasing disease severity in patients co-infected with HBoV1 and at least one other respiratory virus. In summary, our data suggest that HBoV1 can cause LRTIs, but symptomatic HBoV infection is only observed in the context of high viral load

An Epilepsy-Causing Mutation Leads to Co-Translational Misfolding of the Kv7.2 Channel

BACKGROUND: The amino acid sequence of proteins generally carries all the necessary information for acquisition of native conformations, but the vectorial nature of translation can additionally determine the folding outcome. Such consideration is particularly relevant in human diseases associated to inherited mutations leading to structural instability, aggregation, and degradation. Mutations in the KCNQ2 gene associated with human epilepsy have been suggested to cause misfolding of the encoded Kv7.2 channel. Although the effect on folding of mutations in some domains has been studied, little is known of the way pathogenic variants located in the calcium responsive domain (CRD) affect folding. Here, we explore how a Kv7.2 mutation (W344R) located in helix A of the CRD and associated with hereditary epilepsy interferes with channel function. RESULTS: We report that the epilepsy W344R mutation within the IQ motif of CRD decreases channel function, but contrary to other mutations at this site, it does not impair the interaction with Calmodulin (CaM) in vitro, as monitored by multiple in vitro binding assays. We find negligible impact of the mutation on the structure of the complex by molecular dynamic computations. In silico studies revealed two orientations of the side chain, which are differentially populated by WT and W344R variants. Binding to CaM is impaired when the mutated protein is produced in cellulo but not in vitro, suggesting that this mutation impedes proper folding during translation within the cell by forcing the nascent chain to follow a folding route that leads to a non-native configuration, and thereby generating non-functional ion channels that fail to traffic to proper neuronal compartments. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the key pathogenic mechanism of Kv7.2 W344R mutation involves the failure to adopt a configuration that can be recognized by CaM in vivo but not in vitroThe Government of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (IT1165-19 and KK-2020/00110) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RTI2018-097839-B-100 to A.V. and FIS2016-76617-P to A.B.) and FEDER funds and the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS) and Stroke Research Project Grant (R01NS083402 to H.J.C.) provided financial support for this work. E.N. and A.M-M. are supported by predoctoral contracts from the Basque Government administered by University of the Basque Country. C.M. was supported by the Basque Government through a Basque Excellence Research Centre (BERC) grant administered by Fundación Biofisika Bizkaia (FBB). J.U. was partially supported by BERC funds. O.R.B. was supported by the Basque Government through a BERC grant administered by Donostia International Physics Center. J.Z. and H.J.C. was supported by the NINDS Research Project Grant #R01NS083402 (PI: H.J.C.)

EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF COMPOUND HERBS PUXING YINYANG SAN

Background: Bovine mastitis is one of the most relevant and problematic diseases to treat and control in practice. Puxing Yinyang San (PYS) is a compound of herbs to treat bovine mastitis in China. This study was performed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of PYS in mice and rats. Materials and Methods: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of PYS were determined using acetic acid-induced writhing response, hot plate test, xylene-induced ear swelling test, carrageenan-induced paw edema test, and acetic acid-induced capillary permeability and leukocyte infiltration test with oral doses of 155, 310 and 620 mg/kg·bw in mice or rats. Results: The acetic acid-induced writhing response was dose-dependently inhibited by oral administration of PYS and the latency time to thermal stimuli was increased in the hot plate test, especially 90 minutes after treatment. In the xylene-induced ear swelling, PYS significantly decreased swelling degree in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, PYS significantly suppressed the peritoneal capillary permeability and leukocyte infiltration in mice induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid. PYS also significantly reduced the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema at 2, 3, and 4 h after the carrageenan injection. The results suggested that PYS possessed significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Conclusion: This study was the first to demonstrate that oral administration of PYS might play an important role in the process of analgesia and anti-inflammation, supporting its treatment for mastitis. Future investigations will focus on the broader involvement of the ingredients and mechanisms responsible for pharmacological activities of PYS

Inhalation of Hydrogen Attenuates Progression of Chronic Heart Failure via Suppression of Oxidative Stress and P53 Related to Apoptosis Pathway in Rats

Background: Continuous damage from oxidative stress and apoptosis are the important mechanisms that facilitate chronic heart failure (CHF). Molecular hydrogen (H2) has potentiality in the aspects of anti-oxidation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the possible mechanism of H2 inhalation in delaying the progress of CHF.Methods and Results: A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, Sham treated with H2, CHF and CHF treated with H2. Rats from CHF and CHF treated with H2 groups were injected isoprenaline subcutaneously to establish the rat CHF model. One month later, the rat with CHF was identified by the echocardiography. After inhalation of H2, cardiac function was improved vs. CHF (p &lt; 0.05), whereas oxidative stress damage and apoptosis were significantly attenuated (p &lt; 0.05). In this study, the mild oxidative stress was induced in primary cardiomyocytes of rats, and H2 treatments significantly reduced oxidative stress damage and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes (p &lt; 0.05 or p &lt; 0.01). Finally, as a pivotal transcription factor in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-apoptosis signaling pathway, the expression and phosphorylation of p53 were significantly reduced by H2 treatment in this rat model and H9c2 cells (p &lt; 0.05 or p &lt; 0.01).Conclusion: As a safe antioxidant, molecular hydrogen mitigates the progression of CHF via inhibiting apoptosis modulated by p53. Therefore, from the translational point of view and speculation, H2 is equipped with potential therapeutic application as a novel antioxidant in protecting CHF in the future

Intensive Cytokine induction in Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus Infection Accompanied by Robust Production of IL-10 and IL-6

BACKGROUND: The innate immune system is the first line of defense against viruses by inducing expression of cytokines and chemokines. Many pandemic influenza H1N1 virus [P(H1N1)] infected severe cases occur in young adults under 18 years old who were rarely seriously affected by seasonal influenza. Results regarding host cytokine profiles of P(H1N1) are ambivalent. In the present study we investigated host cytokine profiles in P(H1N1) patients and identified cytokines related to disease severity. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We retrieved 77, 59, 26 and 26 sera samples from P(H1N1) and non-flu influenza like illness (non-ILIs) cases with mild symptoms (mild patients), P(H1N1) vaccinees and healthy individuals, respectively. Nine and 16 sera were from hospitalized P(H1N1) and non-ILIs patients with severe symptoms (severe patients). Cytokines of IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α were assayed by cytokine bead array, IL-17 and IL-23 measured with ELISA. Mild P(H1N1) patients produced significantly elevated IL-2, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-5, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-23 versus to healthy controls. While an overwhelming IL-6 and IL-10 production were observed in severe P(H1N1) patients. Higher IL-10 secretion in P(H1N1) vaccinees confirmed our observation that highly increased level of sera IL-6 and IL-10 in P(H1N1) patients may lead to disease progression. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: A comprehensive innate immune response was activated at the early stage of P(H1N1) infection with a combine Th1/Th2/Th3 cytokines production. As disease progression, a systemic production of IL-6 and IL-10 were observed in severe P(H1N1) patients. Further analysis found a strong correlation between IL-6 and IL-10 production in the severe P(H1N1) patients. IL-6 may be served as a mediator to induce IL-10 production. Highly elevated level of sera IL-6 and IL-10 in P(H1N1) patients may lead to disease progression, but the underlying mechanism awaits further detailed investigations