Effectiveness of Saccharomyces boulardii in a rat model of colitis

AIM:To investigate the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii(S.boulardii) in an experimental rat model of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced colitis.METHODS:Thirty-two Wistar albino female rats were categorized into five groups.On the first day of the study,50 mg TNBS was administered via a rectal catheter in order to induce colitis in all rats,except those in the control group.For 14 d,the rats were fed a standard diet,without the administration of any additional supplements to either the control or TNBS groups,in addition to 1 mg/kg per day S.boulardii to the S.boulardii group,1 mg/kg per day methyl prednisolone(MP) to the MP group.The animals in the S.boulardii + MP group were coadministered these doses of S.boulardii and MP.During the study,weight loss,stool consistency,and the presence of obvious blood in the stool were evaluated,and the disease activity index(DAI) for colitis was recorded.The intestines were examined and colitis was macro-and microscopically scored.The serum and tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and nitric oxide(NO) were determined,and fungemia was evaluated in the blood samples.RESULTS:The mean DAI scores for the MP and S.boulardii + MP groups was significantly lower than the TNBS group(3.69 ± 0.61 vs 4.46 ± 0.34,P = 0.018 and 3.77 ± 0.73 vs 4.46 ± 0.34,P = 0.025,respectively).While no significant differences between the TNBS and the S.boulardii or MP groups could be determined in terms of serum NO levels,the level of serum NO in the S.boulardii + MP group was significantly higher than in the TNBS and S.boulardii groups(8.12 ± 4.25 μmol/L vs 3.18 ± 1.19 μmol/L,P = 0.013;8.12 ± 4.25 μmol/L vs 3.47 ± 1.66 μmol/L,P = 0.012,respectively).The tissue NO levels in the S.boulardii,MP and S.boulardii + MP groups were significantly lower than the TNBS group(16.62 ± 2.27 μmol/L vs 29.72 ± 6.10 μmol/L,P = 0.002;14.66 ± 5.18 μmol/Lvs 29.72 ± 6.10 μmol/L,P = 0.003;11.95 ± 2.34 μmol/Lvs 29.72 ± 6.10 μmol/L,P = 0.002,respectively).The tissue NO levels in the S.boulardii,MP and S.boulardii + MP groups were similar.The mean serum and tissue TNF-α levels were determined to be 12.97 ± 18.90 pg/mL and 21.75 ± 15.04 pg/mL in the control group,18.25 ± 15.44 pg/mL and 25.27 ± 11.95 pg/mL in the TNBS group,20.59 ± 16.15 pg/mL and 24.39 ± 13.06 pg/mL in the S.boulardii group,9.05 ± 5.13 pg/mL and 24.46 ± 10.85 pg/mL in the MP group,and 13.95 ± 10.17 pg/mL and 24.26 ± 10.37 pg/mL in the S.boulardii + MP group.Significant differences in terms of the levels of serum and tissue TNF-α and the macroscopic and microscopic scores were not found between the groups.S.boulardii fungemia was not observed in any of the rats.However,Candida fungemia was detected in one rat(14%) in the TNBS group,two rats(28%) in the S.boulardii group,three rats(50%) in the MP group,and three rats(42%) in S.boulardii + MP group.CONCLUSION:S.boulardii does not demonstrate considerable effects on the DAI,pathological scores,or cytokine levels but does decrease the tissue NO levels.

Effects of Chrome Oxide Concentrate Powder on Properties of Magnesia Composite Materials

The magnesia composite materials were prepared using fused magnesia, used magnesia chrome bricks, magnesium aluminate spinel, alumina powder and chrome oxide powder as starting materials. In order to improve the performance of magnesia composite material, the influence of chrome oxide concentrate powder on the properties of magnesia composite material was re-searched. The apparent porosity, bulk density, cold crushing streugth, linear expausion and thermal shock resistance of the specimens were determined. The results show that adding chrome oxide concentrate promotes the formation of the composite phases of three kinds of spi-nel, which is beneficial to the thermal shock resistance.The magnesia chrome spbwl can not be .[brined at high temperatures theoreticalby, but can dissolve in the mag-nesia composite material. Comprehensively, the optimal addition of chrome oxide concentrate is 10. 0 mass% for the magnesia composite materials.

Anti-proliferative effect of the extract of Guangzao (Fructus Choerospondiatis) on cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain if total flavonoids of Guangzao(Fructus Choerospondiatis)(TFFC) extracted from Guangzao(Fructus Choerospondiatis) can inhibit angiotensin Ⅱ-induced proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts(CFs).METHODS: CFs were cultured by the differential attachment method. A model of cell proliferation was established by stimulation with Ang Ⅱ. Cardiac fibroblasts growth was determined using a hemocytometer. Cell proliferation was detected by methyl thiazole tetrazolium. Lactate dehydrogenase activitywas measured by chemical colorimetric method.RESULTS: Proliferation of TFFC-treated(25, 50,100 mg/L) fibroblasts was significantly less than that of cells in the angiotensin Ⅱ group(P < 0.01),and TFFC inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects were partly blocked by pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one(ODQ).CONCLUSION: TFFC inhibited angiotensinⅡ-induced proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts via a mechanism that probably involves activation of the NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway.