Supplementation with alpha-glycerol monolaurate during late gestation and lactation enhances sow performance,ameliorates milk composition,and improves growth of suckling piglets

Background Physiological changes during lactation cause oxidative stress in sows,reduce immunity,and hamper the growth capacity of piglets.Alpha-glycerol monolaurate(α-GML)has potential for enhancing the antimicrobial activity of sows and the growth of suckling piglets.Methods Eighty sows were allocated randomly to four groups:basal diet and basal diets supplemented with 500,1000,or 2000 mg/kgα-GML.The experiment started on d 85 of gestation and lasted until piglets were weaned on d 21 of lactation.The number of live-born piglets was standardized to 12 tion,body weight of piglets was measured and milk samples±1 per sow on day of parturition.On d 0 and21 of lactawere obtained from sows,and serum samples and feces from piglets were obtained on d 21.Results Feed intake,backfat loss,and weaning estrus interval did not differ among the four groups of sows.Maternalα-GML supplementation increased(P<0.05)the body weight of piglets at weaning and the apparent total tract digestibility of crude fat of sows.The immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels were greater(P<0.05)in a quadratic manner in the milk of sows as dietaryα-GML increased.Concerning fatty acid profile,C12:0,C15:0,C17:0,C18:2n6c,C18:3n3,C24:0,and C22:6n3 were higher(P<0.05)in linear and quadratic manners in colostrum of sowsfedα-GML diets compared with the control sows.There was lower(P<0.05)n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in milk than in the control sows.Maternalα-GML increased the abundance of Firmicutes(P<0.05)and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria(P<0.05)of piglet fecal microbiota.Conclusions Dietary supplementation withα-GML improved milk immunoglobulins and altered fatty acids of sows,thereby improving the health of piglets.

Differentially expressed genes identified by microarray analysis following oxymatrine treatment of hepatic stellate cell

AIM: To investigate the effects of oxymatrine on the gene expression profile of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and provide novel insights into the mechanism of oxymatrine against hepatic fibrosis. Methods: HSC was isolated from normal SD by in situ perfusion of collagenase and pronase and density Nycodenz gradient centrifugation. MTT colorimetry was used to study the effect of oxymatrine on the proliferation of HSC. Total RNA and mRNA of quiescent HSC, culture-activated HSC and oxymatrine treated HSC were extracted. Effect of oxymatrine on HSC gene expression profile was detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis with Affymetrix gene chip rat U230A. Differentially expressed genes were annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) and analyzed with Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Results: Oxymatrine could inhibit the proliferation of HSC in a dose-dependent manner. A total of 4641 differentially expressed genes were identified by cDNA chip between activated and quiescent HSC, among which 2702 genes were upregulated, and 1939 genes were down-regulated in activated HSC. cDNA microarray uncovered downregulation of 56 genes in response to oxymatrine, the representative genes including alpha 2 type I procollagen, alpha-1 type I collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, interleukin 1 beta, early growth response 1, chemokine ligand 2, chemokine ligand 1, CTGF, TGFβ1. The most enriched GO terms included response to wounding, inflammatory response, cell migration, cell motility, wound healing, TGFβ receptor signaling pathway. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that oxymatrine affected the ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine recaptor interaction, TGFβ signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway. There were 37 genes upregulated significantly following oxymatrine treatment. The most enriched GO terms included oxidation reduction, negative regulation of lipoprotein oxidation, regulation of lipoprotein oxidation, steroid metabolic process, regulation of lipase activity. Six genes were confirmed with QPCR, consistent with microarray. Conclusion: The mechanism of oxymatrine in inhibiting liver fibrogenesis is associated with multi-genes and multi-pathways regulation.

Conductive Polymer Composites Fabricated by Disposable Face Masks and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Crystalline Structure and Enhancement Effect

Influenced by recent COVID-19,wearing face masks to block the spread of the epidemic has become the simplest and most effective way.However,after the people wear masks,thousands of tons of medical waste by used dis-posable masks will be generated every day in the world,causing great pressure on the environment.Herein,con-ductive polymer composites are fabricated by simple melt blending of mask fragments(mask polypropylene,short for mPP)and multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs).MWNTs were used as modifiers for composites because of their high strength and high conductivity.The crystalline structure,mechanical,electrical and thermal enhancement effect of the composites were investigated.MWNTs with high thermal stability acted the role of promoting the crystallisation of mPP by expediting the crystalline nucleation,leading to the improvement of amount for crystalline nucleus.MWNTs fibers interpenetrate with each other in mPP matrix to form conducting network.With 2.0 wt% MWNTs loading,the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of the composites were increased by 809% and 7 orders of magnitude.MWNTs fibers interpenetrate with each other in mPP matrix to form conducting network.Thus,more conducting paths were constructed to transport carriers.The findings may open a way for high value utilization of the disposable masks.

Clinical Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Different Pressures in the Treatment of Sudden Deafness

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen at different pressures in the treatment of sudden deafness.Methods:Eighty-two patients with sudden deafness treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from September 2019 to September 2021 were selected as the research subjects.The patients were randomly divided into study group 1 and study group 2,and they were treated with hyperbaric oxygen on the basis of routine treatment,in which the pressure used was 1.8 ATA and 2.2 ATA,respectively.Oxygen was delivered via the pressure stabilizing mask for 60 minutes.The patients received two courses of treatment,each lasting 10 days.The changes in hearing(pure tone audiometry)and the clinical efficacy of both the groups were compared before and after treatment.The data obtained were statistically analyzed using SPSS 19.0.Results:The total effective rate of study group 1 was 90.00%,while that of study group 2 was 76.19%.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(p<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with sudden deafness treated with hyperbaric oxygen,the clinical efficacy of 1.8 ATA is more significant than that of 2.2 ATA.

Observation on the Clinical Effect of Different Pressures in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Patients with Diffuse Axonal Injury

Objective:To observe the efficacy and significance of hyperbaric oxygen at different pressures in the treatment of diffuse axonal injury(DAI).Methods:Sixty patients with DAI were randomly divided into 1.8 ATA group(30 cases)and 2.2 ATA group(30 cases).The routine treatment for each group was the same.The 1.8 ATA.group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy under 1.8 ATA on the basis of routine treatment,whereas the 2.2 ATA group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy under 2.2 ATA.on the basis of routine treatment.The therapy was given once a day over 3 consecutive courses,with each course having 10 sessions.The Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)on day 10,day 20,and day 30 after treatment,as well as the Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS)after 6 months were compared between the two groups.Results:The mean GCS on day 10,day 20,and day 30 after treatment,as well as the mean GOS after 6 months of treatment in the 2.2 ATA group were significantly higher than those in the 1.8 ATA group(p<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with dififtise axonal injury,hyperbaric oxygen therapy is more effective with 2.2 ATA.compared with 1.8 ATA.

影像学技术在宫颈癌术前临床分期中的应用进展

宫颈癌是女性生殖系统最常见的恶性肿瘤。宫颈癌分期标准于2018年根据临床实践进行了更新,此前宫颈癌是唯一采用临床分期的妇科恶性肿瘤,新版宫颈癌分期系统首次提出将病理学检查结果及影像学检查结果用于临床分期。近年,随着影像学技术的发展,影像学技术在宫颈癌术前临床分期中的作用越来越大。笔者拟就影像学技术在宫颈癌术前临床分期中的作用进行综述。

Inhibition effects of benzalkonium chloride on Chlorella vulgaris induced corrosion of carbon steel

In this work,a surfactant,benzalkonium chloride(BAC),was used to study its effects on both the growth of Chlorella vulgaris and the corrosion caused by its biofilm.Experimental results indicated that BAC at a low concentration of 3 mg/L suppressed C.vulgaris growth and achieved 81%corrosion inhibition based on weight loss reduction.The inhibition effects increased when the BAC dosage was increased.At 30 mg/L,the corrosion inhibition increased to 95%.Electrochemical results supported surface pitting analysis,weight loss results data and confirmed the corrosion inhibition.