Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans protected the ceruleininduced acute pancreatitis by inhibiting high-mobility group box protein-1

AIM:To evaluate the inhibitory effects of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans(SSM) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis(AP) in a mouse model.METHODS:SSM water extract(0.1,0.5,or 1 g/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally 1 h prior to the first injection of cerulein.Once AP developed,the stable cholecystokinin analogue,cerulein was injected hourly,over a 6 h period.Blood samples were taken 6 h later to determine serum amylase,lipase,and cytokine levels.The pancreas and lungs were rapidly removed for morphological examination,myeloperoxidase assay,and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.To specify the role of SSM in pancreatitis,the pancreatic acinar cells were isolated using collagenase method.Then the cells were pre-treated with SSM,then stimulated with cerulein.The cell viability,cytokine productions and high-mobility group box protein-1(HMGB-1) were measured.Furthermore,the regulating mechanisms of SSM action were evaluated.RESULTS:The administration of SSM significantly attenuated the severity of pancreatitis and pancreatitis associated lung injury,as was shown by the reduction in pancreatic edema,neutrophil infiltration,vacuolization and necrosis.SSM treatment also reduced pancreatic weight/body weight ratio,serum amylase,lipase and cytokine levels,and mRNA expression of multiple inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β.In addition,treatment with SSM inhibited HMGB-1 expression in the pancreas during AP.In accordance with in vivo data,SSM inhibited the cerulein-induced acinar cell death,cytokine,and HMGB-1 release.SSM also inhibited the activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase,p38 and nuclear factor(NF)-κB.CONCLUSION:These results suggest that SSM plays a protective role during the development of AP and pancreatitis associated lung injury via deactivating c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase,p38 and NF-κB.

Evaluation of Methane Yield on Mesophilic-Dry Anaerobic Digestion of Piggery Manure Mixed with Chaff for Agricultural Area

A mesophilic-dry anaerobic digestion process is valid in treating high-concentration substrates containing low moisture content. It has merits of lower wastewater discharge and lower heat capacity required in maintaining reactor temperature as compared with a thermophilic-wet anaerobic digestion process. In fact, chaff can be easily obtained in farming areas and used as a mixture substrate as one of bulking agents for controlling moisture and supplying carbon. For this reason, this study applies the chaff to improve livestock manure, which contains high moisture content and is discharged from domestic pig farms. This study aims at verifying its feasibility for improving methane production efficiency on a basis of BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) assay obtained through a series of experiments. Finding results were methane gas production and gas production per volatile solid (VS) added, and methane gas production among biogas production were increased as the chaff added in the piggery manure was increased. According to experimental results for improving the methane production efficiency, mixture of the chaff and the piggery manure played an important role in controlling the moisture content and improving the methane gas production rate, and also verified its feasibility in the mesophilic-dry anaerobic digestion process indicating relatively less difficulty for operation and management.