Study on the Mechanism of Innovative Montmorillonite for Diarrhea Treatment

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of innovative montmorillonite for diarrhea treatment. [Method] Thirty healthy weanling piglets （Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire） were randomly divided into five groups and fed with basal diet, basal diet ＋ 1 g/kg innovative montmorillonite, basal diet ＋ 3 g/kg innovative montmorillonite, basal diet ＋ 5 g/kg innovative montmorillonite and basal diet ＋ 3 g/kg Bacillus subtilis microecologic agent, respectively. After four weeks, blood samples were collected via precaval vein, to detect the content of TFF3, NO and SOD in serum by ELISA kits. [Result] Compared with blank control group, the content of TFF3, NO and SOD in high-dose innovative montmorillonite group was extremely significantly increased, extremely significantly reduced and significantly in- creased, respectively; the content of TFF3 and NO in middle-dose innovative mont- morillonite group was significantly increased and significantly reduced, respectively. [Conclusion] Innovative montmorillonite may exert beneficial therapeutic actions on diarrhea by increasing TFF3 and SOD levels and decreasing NO level.

Effect of HSV-2 Infected Monocytes on the Production of TNF-a and IL-6

Objective: In order to detect the role of monocytes inHSV-2 infection, we studied the effect of herpes sim-plex Virus-2 infection on the production of tumor ne-crosis factor (TNF-σ), interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretedby monocytes. Methods: Monocytes were infected by HSV-2 (333Strain). Culture supernatants were collected at 1, 3,5, 7 days post-infection. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say (ELISA). Results: The levels of TNF-α secretion by mono-cytes significantly decreased on first day post-infection. The levels of IL-6 significantly decreasedon first and third days post-infection, and then gradu-ally increased to the control on seventh day post-infection. Conclusions: TNF-α and IL-6 production by mono-cytes was inhibited during HSV-2 infection. The pro-duction of cytokines may play an important role inherpes simplex viurs-2 pathogenicity and immunity.

Identification of normalization factors for quantitative realtime RT-PCR analysis of gene expression in Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai

Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） is widely used in studies of gene expression. In most of these studies, housekeeping genes are used as internal references without validation. To identify appropriate reference genes for qRT-PCR in Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai, we examined the transcription stability of six housekeeping genes in abalone tissues in the presence and absence of bacterial infection. For this purpose, abalone were infected with the bacterial pathogen Fibrio anguillarum for 12 h and 48 h. The mRNA levels of the housekeeping genes in five tissues （digestive glands, foot muscle, gill, hemocyte, and mantle） were determined by qRT-PCR. The PCR data was subsequently analyzed with the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. The results show that in the absence of bacterial infection, elongation factor-l-alpha and beta-actin were the most stably expressed genes in all tissues, and thus are suitable as cross-tissue type normalization factors. However, we did not identify any universal reference genes post infection because the most stable genes varied between tissue types. Furthermore, for most tissues, the optimal reference genes identified by both algorithms at 12 h and 48 h post-infection differed. These results indicate that bacterial infection induced significant changes in the expression of abalone housekeeping genes in a manner that is dependent on tissue type and duration of infection. As a result, different normalization factors must be used for different tissues at different infection points.

Attenuation of portal hypertension by natural taurine in rats with liver cirrhosis

AIM： To investigate the inhibitory effect of natural taurine （NTau） on portal hypertension （PHT） in rats with experimentally-induced liver cirrhosis （LC）. METHODS： Experimentally-induced LC Wistar rats （20 rats/group） were treated with either oral saline or oral NTau for 6 consecutive weeks. Evaluation parameters included portal venous pressure （PVP）, portal venous resistance （PVR）, portal venous flow （PVF）, splanchnic vascular resistance （SVR） and mean arterial pressure （NAP）. Vasoactive substance levels including nitric oxide （NO）, nitric oxide synthase （NOS） and cyclic guanosine monophosphate （cGMP） were also measured. Histological investigation of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen （COL Ⅰ and Ⅲ） and transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） was also performed. RESULTS： Treatment with NTau （1） significantly decreased PVP, PVR and PVF, and increased MAP and SVP; （2） markedly increased the vascular compliance and reduced the zero-stress of the portal vein; （3） markedly decreased the amount of NO and cGMP and activity of NOS; and （4） improved the pathological status of the liver tissue and reduced the expression of COL Ⅰ, COL Ⅲ and TGF-β1. CONCLUSION： NTau inhibited the LC-induced PHT by improving hyperdynamic circulation, morphology of liver and biomechanical properties of the portal vein in experimentally-induced LC rats.

B→a_0(1450)ρ(ω) Decays in Perturbative QCD Approach

In the two-quark model supposition for the meson ao（1450）, which can be viewed as either the first excited state （scenario I） or the lowest lying state （scenario II）, the branching ratios and the direct CP-violating asymmetries for decays B→a0（1450）ρ（ω） are studied by employing the perturbative QCD factorization approach. We find the following results： （a） For the decays B- B→a0（1450）ρ- andB→a0^＋（1450）ρ^-, their branching ratios have large difference between two scenarios. Although their branching ratios are larger than other considered decay modes, their direct CP-violating asymmetries in both scenarios are small. （b） For the decays B-→a0^-（1450）ρ0 and B0→ a0（1450）ρ＋, a0^0（1450）ρ0, a00 （1450）w, their branching ratios are dose to each other between two scenarios, respectively. （c） Comparing with the decays a0^0（1450）ρ0,π0ρ0 π0π0, the decay B-→a0^-（1450）ρ0 receives a larger branching ratio in each scenario, which is sensitive to the variation of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle α.

Reinstate the Damaged VEGF Signaling Pathway with VEGF-activating Transcription Factor

Objective To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor-activating transcriptional factor (VEGF-ATF) on the VEGF signaling pathway in diabetes mellitus. Methods Totally, 20 C57BL/6 mice fed with high fat diet was induced into diabetes mellitus. Ten diabetes mellitus mice received a lower limb muscle injection with VEGF-ATF plasmid, and another ten were as control. VEGF-ATF is an engineered transcription factor designed to increase VEGF expression. Three days later, mice were sacrificed and the injected gastrocnemius was used for analysis. VEGF mRNA and protein expressions were examined by real-time PCR and ELISA respectively. VEGF receptor 2 mRNA expression was tested with RT-PCR. Phosphorylated Akt, Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and phosphorylated eNOS were assessed by western blot. Results At 3 days post-injection, in mice with diabetes mellitus, VEGF gene transfer increased VEGF mRNA copies and VEGF protein expression in injected muscles compared with control; and reinstated the impaired VEGF signaling pathway with increasing the ratios of phosphorylated Akt/Akt and phosphorylated eNOS/eNOS. However, it did not affect the expression of VEGF receptor 2 mRNA. Conclusion Gene transfer with VEGF-ATF is able to reinstate the impaired VEGF downstream pathway, and potentially promote therapeutic angiogenesis in mice with diabetes mellitus.

Topological Effect of Reduced Quantum Trajectory in Coherence and Decoherence

The topological expression of the reduced quantum trajectory is given by using C-mapping topological current theory. The topological expression is used in study of the coherence and the decoherence. We find the expression of vorticity for decoherence has a similar form as that for coherence. A topological reason leading to the decoherence is given and a new parameter is defined to indicate the coherence degree. The parameter is different from the damping factor because it relates to the topological structure of the reduced quantum trajectory.

Measuring speed consistency for freeway diverge areas using factor analysis

Although either absolute speed or speed difference can be considered as a measure for speed consistency, few researches consider both in practice. The factor analysis method was introduced to extract an optimal number of factors from numerous original measures. The freeway diverging zone was divided into four elements, namely the upstream, the diverge area, the downstream and the exit ramp. Operating speeds together with individual vehicle speeds were collected at each element with radar guns. Following the factor analysis procedure, two factors, which explain 96.722% of the variance in the original data, were retained from the initial seven speed measures. According to the loadings after Varimax rotation, the two factors are clearly classified into two categories. The first category is named "speed scale" reflecting the absolute speed, and the other one is named "speed dispersion" interpreting speed discreteness. Then, the weighted score of speed consistency for each diverge area is given in terms of linear combination of the two retained factors. To facilitate the level classification of speed consistency, the weighted scores are normalized in the range of (0, 1.0). The criterion for speed consistency classification is given as 0≤F N <0.30, good consistency; 0.30≤F N <0.60, fair consistency; 0.60≤ F N ≤1.00, poor consistency. The validation by comparing with previously developed measures shows that the proposed measure is acceptable in evaluating speed consistency.

Reduction of Dimerization Tendency Due to the Decrease in Hybridization Index by Inclusion of 4s and 4p Semicore States as Valence States in Mo_(n)(n=2-18)Clusters:A First-Principles Study

Owing to the unique structural,electronic,and physico-chemical properties,molybdenum clusters are expected to play an important role in future nanotechnologies.However,their ground states are still under debate.In this study,the crystal structure analysis by particle swarm optimization(CALYPSO)approach is used for the global minimum search,which is followed by first-principles calculations,to detect an obvious dimerization tendency in Mo_(n)(n=2-18)clusters when the 4s and 4p semicore states are not regarded as the valence states.Further,the clusters with even number of atoms are usually magic clusters with high stability.However,after including the4 s and 4 p electrons as valence electrons,the dimerization tendency exhibits a drastic reduction because the average hybridization indices H_(sp),H_(sd),and H_(pd) are reduced significantly.Overall,this work reports new ground states of Mo_(n)(n=11,14,15)clusters and proves that semicore states are essential for Mo_(n) clusters.

EVIDENCE OF INCREASED ENDOGENOUS CARBON MONOXIDE PRODUCTION IN NEWBORN RAT ENDOTOXICOSIS

Carbon monoxide is thought to serve as a new endogenous mediator in the pathogenesis of sepsis andseptic shock. In newborn rat endotoxicosis, carbon monoxide levels in the circulation as well as liver, kid-ney and lung were found to be significantly increased (P<0. 05). Moreover, the elevations of carbonmonoxide correlated with enhanced nitric oxide production as indicated by nitrite/nitrate levels (P<0. 05).Our present data showed for the first time that endogenously produced carbon monoxide was increasedduring the course of shock-like states, which suggested that the role of carbon monoxide in sepsis and sep-tic shock might worth further study.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by lipid-associated membrane proteins of Ureaplasma urealyticum is regulated by nuclear factor κB-mediated mechanism in murine macrophages

The aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） gene expression stimulated by lipid associated membrane proteins （LAMPs） of Ureaplasma urealytictan （ U. urealyticum ）. Detection of NO, the expression of iNOS and the activation of nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） in direct response to U. urealyticum LAMPs in a murine macrophages, the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate （PDTC）, an inhibitor of NF-κB and of cycloheximide （CHX）, a protein synthase inhibitor were available. The results indicated that U. urealyticum LAMPs stimulated mouse macrophages to express iNOS and thus produce NO in dose- and time-dependent manner by activating NF-κB. The expression of iNOS, NO production and the activation of NF-κB were inhibited by U. urealyticum LAMPs combination with PDTC or CHX. In conclusion, our findings suggest that U. urealyticum may be an etiological factor to certain diseases due to its ability to stimulate the expression of iNOS, which is probably mediated through the activation of NF-κB.

Resistance Partial Factor and Reliability of Cast Ball-and-Socket Support Joint

Considering the uncertainty of material performance, geometric characteristic and analysis method, the analysis of statistical parameters of the resistance of cast ball-and-socket support joints and the reliability analysis are carried out by JC method （improved first-order second-moment method） based on the relevant experimental data. Results show that the resistance partial factor of the joint increases with the increase of the reliability index. The resis- tance partial factors are suggested corresponding to the reliability index under different load combinations. Moreover, the suggested resistance partial factor is adopted in reliability design, and it is found that the reliability index of the joint is larger than the target reliability index. The optimal load combination is the one in which live load plays an im- portant control role. Finally, based on the suggested resistance partial factors, the reliability analysis of cast bail-and- socket support ioints of a proiect is conducted.

Calculation of the Safety Factor of the Ohmic HL-2A Single Null Divertor Discharge

The safety most important factor profile is one of the the plasma discharge. For limiter configuration, people usually use the following cylindrical approximation formula to calculate it q（r）=5r^2BT/RIp where r is the minor radius of the plasma toms, R is the major radius （in m） , BT is the toroidal magnetic field （in T）, Ip is the total toroidal current（in MA）.

NITRIC OXIDE AND VEGF EXPRESSION IN ISCHEMIC-HYPOXIC RETINOPATHY

Objective To evaluate nitric oxide(NO)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in vitreous humor and blood samples in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)and in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).Methods NO concentrations were determined by using the Greiss reaction in plasma and vitreous humor samples.VEGF levels were assayed by ELISA.The patients in the studies were divided into four groups:16 patients with PDR,5 patients with BRVO,11 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD),and 10 patients with idiopathic macular hole(IMH).Results The vitreous fluid levels of NO were significantly higher in patients with PDR(15.2μmol/L,4.6-50.9μmol/L)than those in the other three groups(F=5.13,P=0.005).The concentrations of VEGF were significantly higher in patients with PDR and BRVO(1507.2 μg/mL,50.71-3722.0μg/ml;838.8μg/mL,159.6-3328.0μg/mL)than those in the other two groups(F=6.84,P=0.0008),but highest in PDR(T=3.92,P=0.001).There was no significant difference between NO and VEGF in serum in four groups.There was no correlation between concentrations of NO and VEGF in four groups whatever in vitreous or plasma(all P>0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that higher levels of NO and VEGF may be related to the angiogenesis in DR.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha upregulates the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in pulmonary arteries of hypoxic rat

Objective To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF 1α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes in rats’ pulmonary arteries in different phases of hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension development Methods Models of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension rat were duplicated by intermittent hypoxia Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was measured by right heart catheterization HIF 1α and iNOS messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) were detected by in situ hybridization HIF 1α and iNOS protein were measured by immunohistochemical analysis Results Expression of HIF 1α protein was upregulated in pulmonary arterial tunica intimae of all hypoxic rats In pulmonary arterial tunica media, the level of HIF 1α protein was markedly upregulated at days 3 and 7 of hypoxia ( P 【0 01), then tended to restore at 14 days and 21 days HIF 1α mRNA levels in pulmonary arteries of rats began to increase significantly at day 14 of hypoxia ( P 【0 01) Expression of iNOS mRNA and protein in pulmonary arteries of rats were upregulated by hypoxia for 3 days ( P 【0 01), then reached its peak and maitained the same level while the extension of hypoxia Linear correlation analysis showed that iNOS protein was associated with both mean pulmonary arterial pressure ( r =0 74, P 【0 01) and hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling ( r =0 78, P 【0 01), whereas the inverse was associated with HIF 1α protein ( r =-0 52, P 【0 01) Conclusions HIF 1α and iNOS are both involved in the pathogenesis of hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension in rat HIF 1α protein may upregulate the expression of iNOS gene by transcriptional activation; in addition, iNOS protein may inhibit the expression of HIF 1α protein

Simultaneous determination of five phenylethanoid glycosides in Cistanches Herba using quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker

In the present study, a method for the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS) has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of echinacoside(ECH), tubuloside A, acteoside, isoacteoside, and2’-acetylacteoside in Cistanches Herba. ECH was used as the internal standard(IS) to obtain the relative correction factors(RCFs) of the other four phenylethanoid glycosides(PhGs);meanwhile, various influencing factors on RCFs were investigated under different conditions. The content of each component was calculated with RCF. The results were compared with those obtained by the external standard method(ESM) to verify the feasibility and accuracy of the established QAMS method. No significant difference was found in the quantitative results of 10 batches of Cistanches Herba between QAMS and ESM. The proposed QAMS method for simultaneous determination of PhGs in Cistanches Herba is accurate and feasible, providing an efficient and economical approach for the quality control of Cistanches Herba.

Weighted Polar Decomposition

In this paper,a new matrix decomposition called the weighted polar decomposition is considered.Two uniqueness theorems of weighted polar decomposition are presented,and the best approximation property of weighted unitary polar factor and perturbation bounds for weighted polar decomposition are also studied.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of tyrosine kinase inhibitors(erlotinib,gefitinib,afatinib and osimertinib)as first-line therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Gefitinib,erlotinib,afatinib and osimertinib have been recommended as the first-line treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),whereas no studies have compared the cost-effectiveness of these four tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)simultaneously in China.In the present study,we aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of erlotinib,gefitinib,afatinib and osimertinib for untreated EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC.A Markov model was constructed to compare the 10-year impact of four TKIs for patients with treatment-naive EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC from the perspective of the Chinese medical system.Clinical data and utility values were derived from published literature,and costs were obtained from Chinese official websites.The primary output indicator was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio(ICER).Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the model.We found that afatinib was estimated to spend the lowest cost with minimum life-years(LYs),while osimertinib was the most expensive regimen with maximum LYs.The ICER of gefitinib versus afatinib was$732/quality-adjusted life-year(QALY),which was less than the willingness-to-pay(WTP)of$29382/QALY.Compared with gefitinib,erlotinib yielded a higher cost and a shorter lifetime,hence it was identified as a dominated strategy.Then,osimertinib was compared to gefitinib,which produced an ICER of$71330/QALY,exceeding the WTP.It suggested that gefitinib was the most cost-effective regimen as the first-line treatment for EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC.Decreasing the osimertinib price or increasing the WTP threshold to$68558/QALY might enhance the favorability of the outcome,by which osimertinib might become more cost-effective.One-way sensitivity analysis manifested that the model was robust.