Small intestinal mucosal cells in piglets fed with probiotic and zinc: a qualitative and quantitative microanatomical study

Background: Probiotics and zinc are commonly used and beneficial in pig production. This work aimed to assess the effects of probiotic and zinc on the mucosal cells of the small intestine in respect to digestive capacity and immunity in pre- and post-weaned piglets.Materials and methods: Eighteen Large White Yorkshire piglets were divided equally into control and treatment groups. The piglets were maintained in standard management conditions and were weaned at 28 days of age. The treatment group of piglets fed a mixture of probiotics orally at 1.25 × 109 CFU/day and zinc at 2000 ppm/day from birth to 10 days of age. At three different age-groups viz. day 20 (pre-weaning) and, day 30 and day 60 (post-weaning), the animals were sacrificed. For histomorphology, the tissue samples were processed and stained with Mayer’s haematoxylin and eosin for routine study, combined periodic acid-Schiff-Alcian blue for mucopolysaccharides and Masson-Hamperl argentaffin technique for argentaffin cells. The stained slides were observed under the microscope. The samples were processed as per the standard procedure for scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The statistical analysis of the data using the appropriate statistical tests was also conducted.Results: The mucosal epithelium of villi and crypts were lined by enterocytes, goblet cells, argentaffin cells, microfold (M-cell) cells, tuft cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes. The multipotent stem cells were located at the crypt base. The length of the enterocyte microvilli was significantly longer (p < 0.05) in the treatment group of piglets. The number of different types of goblet cells and argentaffin cells was more in treated piglets irrespective of segments of intestine and age. The intraepithelial lymphocytes were located in apical, nuclear and basal positions in the lining epithelium of both villus tip and base with their significant increase in the treatment group of piglets. The transmission electron microscopy revealed the frequent occurrence of tuft cells in the lining mucosa of the small intestine in treated piglets.Conclusions: Dietary supplementation of probiotic and zinc induced the number of different mucosal cells of villi and crypts in the small intestine that might suggest the greater absorptive capacity of nutrients and effective immunity in critical pre and post-weaned piglets

A hybrid soft solar cell based on the mycobacterial porin MspA linked to a sensitizer-viologen diad

A prototype of a nano solar cell containing the mycobacterial channel protein MspA has been successfully designed. MspA, an octameric transmembrane channel protein from Mycobacterium smegmatis, is one of the most stable proteins known to date. Eight Ruthenium(II) aminophenanthroline-viologen maleimide Diads (Ru-Diads) have been successfully bound to the MspA mutant MspAA96C via cysteine-maleimide bonds. MspA is known to form double layers in which it acts as nanoscopic surfactant. The nanostructured layer that is formed by (Ru-Diad)(8)MspA at the TiO2 electrode is photochemically active. The resulting "protein nano solar cell" features an incident photon conversion efficiency of 1% at 400 nm. This can be regarded as a proof-of-principle that stable proteins can be successfully integrated into the design of solar cells

High-throughput allele-specific expression across 250 environmental conditions

Gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions determine common disease risk factors and biomedically relevant complex traits. However, quantifying how the environment modulates genetic effects on human quantitative phenotypes presents unique challenges. Environmental covariates are complex and difficult to measure and control at the organismal level, as found in GWAS and epidemiological studies. An alternative approach focuses on the cellular environment using in vitro treatments as a proxy for the organismal environment. These cellular environments simplify the organism-level environmental exposures to provide a tractable influence on subcellular phenotypes, such as gene expression. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping studies identified GxE interactions in response to drug treatment and pathogen exposure. However, eQTL mapping approaches are infeasible for large-scale analysis of multiple cellular environments. Recently, allele-specific expression (ASE) analysis emerged as a powerful tool to identify GxE interactions in gene expression patterns by exploiting naturally occurring environmental exposures. Here we characterized genetic effects on the transcriptional response to 50 treatments in five cell types. We discovered 1455 genes with ASE (FDR \u3c 10%) and 215 genes with GxE interactions. We demonstrated a major role for GxE interactions in complex traits. Genes with a transcriptional response to environmental perturbations showed sevenfold higher odds of being found in GWAS. Additionally, 105 genes that indicated GxE interactions (49%) were identified by GWAS as associated with complex traits. Examples include GIPR–caffeine interaction and obesity and include LAMP3–selenium interaction and Parkinson disease. Our results demonstrate that comprehensive catalogs of GxE interactions are indispensable to thoroughly annotate genes and bridge epidemiological and genome-wide association studies

Hepatic veins reconstruction in right lobe liver transplantation from living related donor

Institutul Național de Chirurgie și Transplantologie “А.Shalimov”, Kiev, Ucraina, Al XII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” din Republica Moldova cu participare internațională 23-25 septembrie 2015Introducere: Lobul hepatic drept (LHD) reprezintă cea mai frecvent utilizată grefă de transplant alogen la adulți. Prelevarea acestuia fără vena hepatică medie (VHM) poate fi însoțită de congestia segmentelor V și VIII și de sindromul masei mici de transplant la recipient, în timp ce prelevarea cu VHM se poate complica cu sindromul de ficat restant mic și insuficiență hep atică postoperatorie (IHP) la donator. O opțiune ar fi reconstrucția venelor hepatice ale segmentelor V și VIII și prelevarea grefei fără VHM. Scopul lucrării: Studierea rezultatelor diferitor tehnici de reconstrucție a fluxului venos hepatic în cazul transplantului alogen de LHD de la donator viu. Material și metode: Au fost studiate 73 transplanturi alogene de LHD de la donator viu. În 33 cazuri ca grefă de transplant a servit LHD prelevat cu VHM, plastia căreia a fost efectuată cu petic din vena portă a recipientului (tehnica „bumerang”). În 40 cazuri s-a prelevat LHD fără VHM, din care în 4 cazuri reconstrucția fluxului venos de la segmentele hepatice V și VIII s-a efectuat cu ajutorul unui petic sintetic sau autovenă. Prelevarea LHD cu VHM s-a efectuat doar în cazurile prenzenței venei hepatice segmentare IVb bine definite anatomo-radiologic. Vena hepatică dreaptă infero-posterioară a fost reconstruită doar avînd diametrul mai mare de 5 mm. Rezultate: IHP s-a dezvoltat la 5 (15,5%) recipienți în grupa cu VHM și la 16 (40%) recipienți fără VHM (p=0,03). Volumul hemoragiei (1230±20 ml și 1110±35 ml), durata intervenției (612±22 min și 560±39 min), timpul total al ischemiei (86±13 min și 72±14 min) între ambele grupuri nu au fost semnificativ diferite (p>0,05). Deasemenea nu s-au deosebit și complicațiile vasculare: 3 (9%) și 5 (12,5%), respectiv. În grupul cu VHM mortalitatea la 60 zile în cazul recipienților a fost 12,1% (4 cazuri) vs 15% (6 cazuri) în grupul fără VHM. IHP s-a dezvoltat la donatori în 4 (12,1%) cazuri în grupul cu VHM și în 4 (10%) cazuri în grupul fără VHM. Toți donatorii au fost externați la a 7-14-a zi. Rata complicațiilor infecțioase și biliare în ambele grupuri nu s-a deosebit. Concluzii: Prelevarea LHD cu VHM poate fi efectuată în siguranță în cazul prezenței la donator a venei segmentare IVb bine definite. Utilizarea transplantului LHD cu VHM permite scăderea semnificativă a ratei IHP la recipienți. În prezența unor vene afluente segmentare V și VIII de calibru mare în cazul prelevării LHD fără VHM este necesară reconstrucția acestora cu petic autovenos sau sintetic.Introduction: Right hepatic lobe (RHL) is the most commonly used graft for allogenic transplant in adults. Its collecting without middle hepatic vein (MHV) may be accompanied by congestion of V and VIII segments and by syndrome of small-mass transplant at recipients, while the collecting with VHM may be complicated by small remaining-liver syndrome and postoperative liver failure (PLF) at donors. One option would be the reconstruction of hepatic vein of segments V and VIII and taking graft without VHM. The aim: To study the results of different hepatic veins reconstruction techniques in right lobe liver transplantation from living related donor. Material and methods: We studied the results of 73 RHL transplants from a living related donor. In 33 cases, the RHL graft was used with MHV, its reconstruction being performed using auto-venous portal patch from recipient (the "boomerang" technique). In another 40 cases, the RHL graft was used without the MHV. Of these, in 4 cases was performed a reconstruction of V and VIII segmental veins using prosthesis or auto-venous patch. The collecting of RHL graft with MHV was performed only in the presence of well-defined radiographically and anatomically 4b sub-segmental vein. The right infero-posterior hepatic vein reconstruction was performed at a diameter greater than 5 mm. Results: PLF was revealed at 5 (15.5%) recipients with MHV and 16 (40%) recipients without MHV (p=0.03). The volume of bleeding (1230±20 ml and 1110±35 ml), the operating time (612±22 min and 560±39 min), total time of ischemia (86±13 min and 72±14 min) in both groups was not significant different (p>0.05). Also, the vascular complications were no special different 3 (9%) and 5 (12.5%), respectively. In the group with MHV the mortality at 60 days for recipients was 12.1% (4 cases) vs 15% (6 cases) in the group without MHV. PLF has been developed at 4 (12.1%) donors in group with MHV and 4 (10%) donors without VHM. All donors were discharged in 7-14 days. The rate of infectious and biliar complications in both groups was not different. Conclusions: The RHL graft collecting with MHV can be performed safely only in the presence of well-defined 4b subsegmental vein. The using of RHL transplant with MHV allows a significant decrease of PLF rate at recipients. If you have a large segmental venous tributaries from V and VIII segments in RHL graft collecting without MHV, it needs their reconstruction using prosthesis or auto-venous patch

15-years experience of living donor liver transplantation in Ukraine

Institutul Național de Chirurgie și Transplantologie “А.Shalimov”, Kiev, Ucraina, Al XII-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” din Republica Moldova cu participare internațională 23-25 septembrie 2015Introducere: Transplantul hepatic (TH) reprezintă unica opțiune de tratament radical în cazul patologiilor hepatice terminale. Din 2001 Institutul de Chirurgie și Transplantologie din Ucraina a realizat programul de TH de la donator viu. Scopul lucrării: Evaluarea rezultatelor TH pe perioada anilor 2001-2015. Material și metode: Au fost studiate rezultatele a 142 TH alogene de la donator viu, efectuate pe perioada anilor 2001-2015. Toți recipienții s-au aflat pe lista de așteptare în baza criteriilor UNOS. Indicațiile au fost: ciroza secundară diferitelor maladii (hepatita virală – 23,2%, hepatita autoimună – 9,15%, alte etiologii – 11,3%), ciroza criptogenă – 13,4%, atrezia biliară – 31,7% și tumorile hepatice – 11,3%. Investigarea donatorului a fost efectuată în conformitate cu protocolul prestabilit. Volumul grefei de transplant a fost calculat în baza datelor CT și RMN. Rezultate: Din 142 TH de la un donator viu în 73 cazuri s-a transplantat lobul hepatic drept, 14 – lobul stîng și 54 – secțiunea laterală stângă. Într-un caz, a fost realizat transplantul unimomentan de la 2 donatori vii. Vârsta medie a recipienților a fost – 22,3±8,2 ani (7 luni – 58 ani), 75 dintre aceștia au fost de sex masculin. Toți recipienții au prezentat ciroză decompensată clasa C după Child-Pugh. Valoarea medie a stării funcționale integrale hepatice a fost de 12,5±1,2 puncte. Ascita refractară preoperator a fost observată la 47 pacienți, 8 pacienți au prezentat episoade recurente de peritonită bacteriană spontană, 6 pacienți – sindrom hepatorenal de tip II. Pierderea de sînge intraoperator a fost 2400±900 ml, durata operației – 16±3 ore. Durata ischemiei la rece: 45±17 min, la cald – 48±12 min. Durata medie a spitalizării recipienților a constituit – 32±8 zile. Mortalitatea postoperatorie precoce a fost în 23 cazuri – 16,1%. Rata de supraviețuire la 1 an – 73,9% și la 5 ani – 66,9%. Concluzii: TH alogen de la donator viu reduce semnificativ timpul de aflare a recipientului în lista de așteptare și îmbunătățește supraviețuirea. Rezultatele TH sunt comparabile cu rezultatele studiilor străine, ceea ce face posibilă recomandarea efectuării pe larg a TH, ca metodă de tratament radical a pacienților cu patologii hepatice terminale.Introduction: Liver transplantation is the only radical treatment method of terminal liver diseases. From 2001, Institute of Surgery and Transplantology of Ukraine has been performing allogenic transplantation program from the living donor. Aim: the current study is oriented on the survey of transplantation results for 2001-2015. Material and methods: The study surveyed 142 patients’ transplantations from living donors, performed from 2001 to 2015. All recipients were on the waiting list for transplantation from a relative, according to UNOS Criteria. The indications for inclusion in the waiting-list were: liver cirrhosis as a consequence of different diseases (viral hepatitis – 23.2%; autoimmune hepatitis – 9.15%, other etiology – 11.3%), cryptogenic cirrhosis – 13.4%, biliary atresia – 31.7% and liver cirrhosis – 11.3%. Donor investigations have been done according to the created protocol. Transplant’s volume was calculated with CT and MRI. Results: From 142 patients who supported living donor transplantation, in 73 cases has been performed right hemi-liver transplantation, in 14 – of the left hemi-liver, and in 54 – of the left lateral section. In one case has been performed simultaneous transplantation from 2 living donors. The average recipient’s age was 22.3±8.2 years (7 months – 58 years), 75 recipients were males. All patients with cirrhosis were of C-class according to Child-Pugh. The average index of integral liver functionality has been 12.5±1.2 points. Resistant ascitis in preoperative period was detected in 47 patients, in 8 – recurrent episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, in 6 – II type hepatorenal syndrome. Intraoperative bleeding was 2400±900mL, time of operation – 16±3 hours. The lasting of cold-ischemia was 45±17 min, warm ischemia – 48±12 min. The average duration of postoperative period for recipients was 32±8 days. Early postoperative lethality was noted in 23 cases – 16.1%. Yearly survival – 73.9%, and the actual 5-year survival rate was 66,9%. Conclusions: Living donor transplantation significantly reduces the patient time from waiting-list and increases patient survival rate. The obtained transplantation results are comparable with the results of international studies, and allow us to recommend transplantation for a large group of indications, as a method of selecting treatment for terminal liver pathology patients

First Measurement of the Atomic Electric Dipole Moment of \u3csup\u3e225\u3c/sup\u3eRa

The radioactive radium-225 (225Ra) atom is a favorable case to search for a permanent electric dipole moment. Because of its strong nuclear octupole deformation and large atomic mass, 225Ra is particularly sensitive to interactions in the nuclear medium that violate both time-reversal symmetry and parity. We have developed a cold-atom technique to study the spin precession of 225Ra atoms held in an optical dipole trap, and demonstrated the principle of this method by completing the first measurement of its atomic electric dipole moment, reaching an upper limit of |d(225Ra)|\u3c5.0×10−22  e cm (95% confidence)

Growth, crystal structure, and properties of Cu2Zn1-xCdxSnS4 solid solutions

The phase diagram of the Cu 2 CdSnS 4 –Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 system was constructed using data on differential thermal, X-ray phase and microstructure analysis methods. The diagram can be attributed to the first type according to the Rosebohm classification. The Cu 2 CdSnS 4 –Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 solid solution single crystals were grown by chemical vapor transport using iodine as a transport agent. Their structure and unit cell parameters as well as compositional dependences of lattice parameters, pycnometric, X-ray densities and microhardness were determined. It was found that the Vegard's law is fulfilled in solutions studied