Preparation Technology of Wuwei Xiaoke Granules

[Objectives]To optimize the extraction and preparation technology of Wuwei Xiaoke granules.[Methods]Taking the extraction rate of extract as the scoring standard,the water extraction technology was optimized by orthogonal test.The influence of the proportion of pharmaceutical excipients on the molding conditions of Wuwei Xiaoke granules was investigated using granule molding rate,solubility,moisture,granularity,water-soluble extract and microorganism examination as evaluation indicators,and the optimal molding technology was optimized.[Results]The extraction technology was soaking in water for 0.5 h and heat extraction twice for 1 h each time:adding 10 times the amount of water in the first time,and adding 8 times the amount of water in the second time.The best molding technology was:extract density 1.13-1.16(55-60℃),extract:soluble starch=1:2,and 0.15%stevioside.[Conclusions]The water extraction technology and granule molding technology optimized by orthogonal test are reliable and stable,with good granular characteristics,easy oral administration and good solubility,which can maximize the comprehensive quality of Wuwei Xiaoke granules,and provide an effective reference for the preparation and production of Wuwei Xiaoke granules.

Dietary supplementation of benzoic acid and essential oils combination enhances intestinal resilience against LPS stimulation in weaned piglets

Background The benefits of combining benzoic acid and essential oils(BAO)to mitigate intestinal impairment during the weaning process have been well established,while the detailed underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.Previous research has primarily focused on the reparative effects of BAO on intestinal injury,while neglecting its potential in enhancing intestinal stress resistance.Methods In this study,we investigated the pre-protective effect of BAO against LPS-induced stress using a modified experimental procedure.Piglets were pre-supplemented with BAO for 14 d,followed by a challenge with LPS or saline to collect blood and intestinal samples.Results Our findings demonstrated that BAO supplementation led to significant improvements in piglets’final weight,average daily gain,and feed intake/body gain ratio.Additionally,BAO supplementation positively influenced the composition of intestinal microbiota,increasing beneficial Actinobacteriota and Alloprevotella while reducing harmful Desulfobacterota,Prevotella and Oscillospira.Furthermore,BAO supplementation effectively mitigated oxidative disturbances and inflammatory responses induced by acute LPS challenge.This was evidenced by elevated levels of T-AOC,SOD,and GSH,as well as decreased levels of MDA,TNF-α,and IL-6 in the plasma.Moreover,piglets subjected to LPS challenge and pre-supplemented with BAO exhibited significant improvements in intestinal morphological structure and enhanced integrity,as indicated by restored expression levels of Occludin and Claudin-1 compared to the non-supplemented counterparts.Further analysis revealed that BAO supplementation enhanced the jejunal antioxidative capacity by increasing GSH-Px levels and decreasing MDA levels under the LPS challenge and stimulated the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.Additionally,the reduction of TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways activation and proinflammatory factor were also observed in the jejunal of those piglets fed with BAO.Conclusions In summary,our study demonstrates that pre-supplementation of BAO enhances the anti-stress capacity of weaned piglets by improving intestinal microbiota composition,reinforcing the intestinal barrier,and enhancing antioxidative and anti-inflammatory capabilities.These effects are closely associated with the activation of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.

Emotional processing changes of qigong on college students:A pilot ERP study of a randomized controlled trial

Objective:To investigate the influence of qigong on late positive potential,which was elicited by affective pictures.Methods:College students who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled and randomly allocated to the qigong group,which received a four-week training(n=41)or the control group(n=41).All participants were assessed before and after the training for event-related potential,which was elicited by negative,neutral,and positive pictures.Electrodes at the centerline position of the frontal area(FCz),parietal area(Pz),and occipital area(Oz)were analyzed.Results:Negative,neutral,and positive pictures demonstrated statistically significant differences on FCz(P<.001),Pz(P<.001),and Oz(P<.001).The interaction between the group factor and time factor was statistically significant on Pz(P<.028).The pairwise comparison of Pz on the time factor and group factor showed that the amplitudes of the qigong group after training were smaller than before(P<.001),and the amplitudes of the control group were not statistically significant(P?.355).Conclusion:Our results supported the conclusion that qigong practices could affect the emotional regulation of college students.Qigong exercise weakens the emotional regulation of late positive potential,which is sensitive to top-down affective modulation.The findings imply that the regulating effect of qigong on emotions may be part of the reason why it is effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.

Diversity and Biomass of Understory Plants in Larix gmelinii Forest under Different Reconstruction Methods

The effects of different management measures on the undergrowth diversity of Larix gmelinii forests were determined.The undergrowth vegetation of Xing'an Larch forest under seven different transformation methods was investigated in the Chaocha Forest Farm of the Genhe Forestry Bureau in the northern Daxinganling Mountains.Community composition,structural characteristics,species diversity and biomass of seven different retrofitting methods and one control plot.The results showed that the species composition of Larix gmeliniii under 7 different transformation methods included 34 species of 30 genera and 21 families of shrubs,including 7 species,7 genera and 7 species of shrub layer,and 20 species,24 genera and 24 species of common species in the herb layer.The species with the largest proportion in the layer is bilberry,followed by Xing'an rhododendron,and the dominant species of herbaceous layer is quite different.In terms of diversity index,the diversity index of Xing'an larch forest under local tending artificial promotion natural regeneration and transformation measures was low(P<0.05);the study showed that the best tending thinning intensity was between 30%and 40%,different.The impact of the transformation method on the structure and diversity of understory vegetation in Larix gmelinii forest is not only related to the transformation,but also depends on the transformation measures taken.

Plant essential oils combined with organic acids restored lipopolysaccharide-induced leaky intestine via gut microbial modulation in weaned piglets

Intestine derived lipopolysaccharide(LPS)is closely related to systemic inflammation and disorders,yet little is known about its roles in the weanling stress of piglets and its potential as a nutritional intervention target.This study aimed to investigate the potential of essential oils(EO)and organic acids(OA)in mitigating weaning stress in piglets by modulating the circulation of intestine derived LPS.Seventy-two weaned piglets at 21 d old with body weight of 8.12±0.168 kg were randomly divided into a control group(CON)and an experimental group,each consisting of six pens with six piglets per pen,and were fed either a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 3 kg/t OA+500 g/t EO(EO+OA).On the 14th day of the feeding trial,12 weaned piglets were randomly selected from the CON group,and 6 piglets were selected from the experimental group.Based on diet composition and stress treatment,these 18 piglets were divided into the following three groups:1)CON group.Piglets were fed a basal diet and received an intraperitoneal injection of saline as a control.2)LPS group.Piglets were fed a basal diet and received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS(100μg/kg body weight)to induce stress.3)EO+OA+LPS group.Piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with EO and OA and received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS(100μg/kg body weight)to induce stress.The results showed that EO+OA significantly ameliorated the oxidative imbalance and inflammation disorder induced by LPS in piglets'serum and intestine by inhibiting the activation of the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway.Furthermore,compared to the LPS group,supplementation with EO+OA restored LPS-induced reductions in Bcl-2 protein expression in the piglets'intestines(P<0.05)and mitigated morphological damage;it also enhanced both the protein expression and relative gene expression of the tight junction proteins occludin and claudin-1(P<0.05),and reduced the plasma diamine oxidase activity(DAO)and LPS content(P<0.05).Compared to the CON group,supplementation with EO+OA altered the composition of the intestinal microbiota,increasing beneficial bacteria relative abundance(Faecalibacterium)(P<0.05)and decreasing harmful bacteria relative abundance[Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group(P<0.01),Negativibacillus(P<0.05)].Further analysis revealed that plasma LPS content in piglets was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium(r=−0.662,P=0.021),Akkermansia(r=−0.492,P=0.031),and average daily gain(ADG)(r=−0.912,P=0.041).Plasma LPS content was also positively correlated with the plasma inflammatory factors interleukin(IL)-1β(r=0.591,P=0.021),IL-6(r=0.623,P=0.021),IL-12(r=561,P=0.031)contents,and the relative abundance of Negativibacillus(r=0.712,P=0.041).In summary,the addition of EO+OA prevents the leakage of intestine derived LPS into the circulation by improving intestinal integrity and microbiota composition,thereby enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities and growth performance of weaned piglets.

Osteoarthritis animal models for biomaterial-assisted osteochondral regeneration

Clinical therapeutics for the regeneration of osteochondral defects(OCD)in the early stages of osteoarthritis remain an enormous challenge in orthopaedics.For in-depth studies of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in terms of OCD treatment,the utility of an optimal OCD animal model is crucial for assessing the effects of implanted biomaterials on the repair of damaged osteochondral tissues.Currently,the most frequently used in vivo animal models for OCD regeneration include mice,rats,rabbits,dogs,pigs,goats,sheep,horses and nonhuman primates.However,there is no single“gold standard”animal model to accurately recapitulate human disease in all aspects,thus understanding the benefits and limitations of each animal model is critical for selecting the most suitable one.In this review,we aim to elaborate the complex pathological changes in osteoarthritic joints and to summarise the advantages and limitations of OCD animal models utilised for biomaterial testing along with the methodology of outcome assessment.Furthermore,we review the surgical procedures of OCD creation in different species,and the novel biomaterials that promote OCD regeneration.Above all,it provides a significant reference for selection of an appropriate animal model for use in preclinical in vivo studies of biomaterial-assisted osteochondral regeneration in osteoarthritic joints.