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

Gender Differences Relative to Smoking Behavior and Emissions of Toxins from Mainstream Cigarette Smoke

This study examined whether gender differences exist in the exposure to select mainstream cigarette smoke toxins as a result of differences in smoking behavior or type of cigarettes smoked among 129 female and 128 male smokers. Smoking topography data indicated that, compared with men, women took smaller puffs (37.6 ml/puff vs. 45.8 ml/puff; p = .0001) of shorter duration (1.33 s/puff vs. 1.48 s/puff; p = .002) but drew more puffs per cigarette (13.5 vs. 12.0; p = .001) and left longer butts (36.3 mm or 40.2% of cigarette length vs. 34.3 mm or 39.2% of cigarette length; p = .01). These trends were similar in both African Americans and European Americans. The emissions of select toxins per cigarette, as determined by mimicking human smoking behaviors were greater among the male smokers than the female smokers and correlated significantly with delivered smoke volume per cigarette. The geometric means of emissions of nicotine from cigarettes were 1.92 mg/cigarette (95% CI = 1.80-2.05) for women versus 2.20 (95% CI = 2.04-2.37) for men (p = .005). Cigarettes smoked by women yielded 139.5 ng/cigarette of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK; 95% CI = 128.8-151.0), compared with 170.3 ng/cigarette (95% CI = 156.3-185.6) for men (p = .0007); benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) emissions were 18.0 ng/cigarette (95% CI = 17.0-19.0) for women and 20.5 ng/cigarette (95% CI = 18.8-22.3) for men (p = .01). The gender differences with regard to cigarette smoke yields of toxins were more profound in European Americans than in African Americans. On average, African American men's smoking habits produced the highest emissions of select toxins from cigarettes, and European American female smokers had the lowest exposure to carcinogens and toxins. Several studies have suggested that women may be more susceptible than men to the ill effects of carcinogens in tobacco and tobacco smoke, whereas other studies have not found differences in lung cancer risk between men and women. The present study suggests that gender differences in exposure to tobacco smoke cannot account for a higher rate of lung cancer in female smokers compared with male smokers

症例の予後改善のための,電子ビームCT,4列～320列CTを用いた循環器領域の新しい臨床診断学の開発への貢献

I went to the Stanford University Department of Radiology\u27s three-dimensional (3D) imaging laboratory from 1996 to 1999 to study a novel 3D image processing technique using electron beam computed tomography (CT). When I returned to Japan, I found that multi-slice CT had been available in daily practice since 1998. We have published a total of 152 peer-reviewed papers on diagnostic images in the field of cardiovascular disease. In 2003, when 16-slice CT was available for use in general hospitals, we successfully developed a prototype 256-slice cone-beam CT at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. We produced several papers discussing the utilities of this prototype CT in both animal and phantom experiments, the concepts and ideas that were currently used for cardiac perfusion and myocardium characteristic study. In 2010, our paper was used as a reference in the American College of Cardiology Foundation Expert Consensus Guideline. The our current topics presented include coronary artery stenosis, coronary arterial plaques, the characteristics of the myocardium, the anatomy of structural and congenital heart disease, and the cardiac function, all using 16-320 slice CT with reduced radiation exposure in CT acquisition. Furthermore, we are now performing novel clinical CT studies combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography, and echocardiography. Using previous image data, we analyzed an epidemiology study using CT findings to predict the occurrence of major cardiovascular adverse events over long-term follow-up periods of more than 100 months (median), one of the longest follow-up periods documented in the literature. We also need to obtain accurate diagnoses for subjects with cardiac failure or fatal arrhythmia of unknown origin, allowing them to receive specific effective therapy for their possible cardiac amyloidosis, cardiac sarcoidosis, or Fabry\u27s disease. Of course, in all CT imaging techniques used for evaluation and monitoring of cardiovascular risk

Effect of Bi-B-Si-Zn-Al glass additive on the properties of low-temperature sintered silicon carbide ceramics

In this study, the performance of low-temperature sintered Bi-B-Si-Zn-Al glass/SiC composites by vacuum hot-press sintering between 700°C and 1000°C was investigated. The specimen had a relatively preferable density of 95.5% and thermal conductivity of 8.660 Wm−1K−1 after sintering at 900°C for 2 h. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangle of the composite were 32.9 and 0.57 at 20 GHz, respectively. The XRD analysis indicated the formation of Bi, Zn and ZnAl2O4 crystals, and the microstructure showed the low contact angle of the glass and SiC grain. Such low-temperature sintered SiC ceramic may have a promising application in the electronic field

The MAP Kinase SsKpp2 Is Required for Mating/Filamentation in Sporisorium scitamineum

In the phytopathogenic fungus Sporisorium scitamineum, sexual mating between two compatible haploid cells and the subsequent formation of dikaryotic hyphae is essential for infection. This process was shown to be commonly regulated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and a cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis but remains largely unknown in S. scitamineum. In this study, we identified a conserved putative MAP kinase Kpp2 in S. scitamineum and named it as SsKpp2. The sskpp2Δ mutant displayed significant reduction in mating/filamentation, which could be partially restored by addition of cAMP or tryptophol, a quorum-sensing molecule identified in budding yeast. Transcriptional profiling showed that genes governing S. scitamineum mating or tryptophol biosynthesis were significantly differentially regulated in the sskpp2Δ mutant compared to the WT, under mating condition. Our results demonstrate that the MAP kinase SsKpp2 is required for S. scitamineum mating/filamentation likely through regulating the conserved pheromone signal transduction pathway and tryptophol production

Integrated 16S rRNA sequencing and nontargeted metabolomics analysis to reveal the mechanisms of Yu-Ye Tang on type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

IntroductionYu–Ye Tang (YYT) is a classical formula widely used in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the specific mechanism of YYT in treating T2DM is not clear.MethodsThe aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of YYT on T2DM by establishing a rat model of T2DM. The mechanism of action of YYT was also explored through investigating gut microbiota and serum metabolites.ResultsThe results indicated YYT had significant therapeutic effects on T2DM. Moreover, YYT could increase the abundance of Lactobacillus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, UCG-005, Bacteroides and Blautia while decrease the abundance of and Allobaculum and Desulfovibrio in gut microbiota of T2DM rats. Nontargeted metabolomics analysis showed YYT treatment could regulate arachidonic acid metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, phenylalanine metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism in T2DM rats.DiscussionIn conclusion, our research showed that YYT has a wide range of therapeutic effects on T2DM rats, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, YYT corrected the altered gut microbiota and serum metabolites in T2DM rats. This study suggests that YYT may have a therapeutic impact on T2DM by regulating gut microbiota and modulating tryptophan and glycerophospholipid metabolism, which are potential key pathways in treating T2DM

Efficacy of Chuanxiong Ding Tong Herbal Formula Granule in the Treatment and Prophylactic of Migraine Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of traditional Chinese herbal ChuanXiong Ding Tong herbal formula granule (CXDT-HFG) for migraine patients with “the Syndrome of Liver Wind and Blood Stasis.” Methods. 150 migraine patients were recruited and assigned randomly in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to receive CXDT-HFG (n=99) plus necessary analgesics, or placebo (n=51) plus necessary analgesics for 16 weeks (12 weeks’ intervention and 4 weeks’ follow up). Outcome measures included migraine days, frequency of migraine attacks, analgesics consumption for acute treatment, and the proportion of responders as well as the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and intensity for pain. Results. Compared with the placebo group, the CXDT-HFG group showed significant reduction in migraine days and attacks frequency at week 12 and follow-up period (P0.05). Conclusion. CXDT-HFG was more effective than placebo in decreasing days of migraine attacks, frequency, VAS scores, and relieving pain intensity for migraine patients

Deep Multilayer Brain Proteomics Identifies Molecular Networks in Alzheimer\u27s Disease Progression

Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) displays a long asymptomatic stage before dementia. We characterize AD stage-associated molecular networks by profiling 14,513 proteins and 34,173 phosphosites in the human brain with mass spectrometry, highlighting 173 protein changes in 17 pathways. The altered proteins are validated in two independent cohorts, showing partial RNA dependency. Comparisons of brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid proteomes reveal biomarker candidates. Combining with 5xFAD mouse analysis, we determine 15 Aβ-correlated proteins (e.g., MDK, NTN1, SMOC1, SLIT2, and HTRA1). 5xFAD shows a proteomic signature similar to symptomatic AD but exhibits activation of autophagy and interferon response and lacks human-specific deleterious events, such as downregulation of neurotrophic factors and synaptic proteins. Multi-omics integration prioritizes AD-related molecules and pathways, including amyloid cascade, inflammation, complement, WNT signaling, TGF-β and BMP signaling, lipid metabolism, iron homeostasis, and membrane transport. Some Aβ-correlated proteins are colocalized with amyloid plaques. Thus, the multilayer omics approach identifies protein networks during AD progression