Cytotoxic synergism of Clostridioides difficile toxin B with proinflammatory cytokines in subjects with inflammatory bowel diseases

Clostridioides difficile(C.difficile)is progressively colonizing humans and animals living with humans.During this process,hypervirulent strains and mutated toxin A and B of C.difficile(TcdA and TcdB)are originating and developing.While in healthy subjects colonization by C.difficile becomes a risk after the use of antibiotics that alter the microbiome,other categories of people are more susceptible to infection and at risk of relapse,such as those with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Recent in vitro studies suggest that this increased susceptibility could be due to the strong cytotoxic synergism between TcdB and proinflammatory cytokines the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma(CKs).Therefore,in subjects with IBD the presence of an inflammatory state in the colon could be the driver that increases the susceptibility to C.difficile infection and its progression and relapses.TcdB is internalized in the cell via three receptors:chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan 4;poliovirus receptor-like 3;and Wnt receptor frizzled family.Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan 4 and Wnt receptor frizzled family are involved in cell death by apoptosis or necrosis depending on the concentration of TcdB and cell types,while poliovirus receptor-like 3 induces only necrosis.It is possible that cytokines could also induce a greater expression of receptors for TcdB that are more involved in necrosis than in apoptosis.Therefore,in subjects with IBD there are the conditions:(1)For greater susceptibility to C.difficile infection,such as the inflammatory state,and abnormalities of the microbiome and of the immune system;(2)for the enhancement of the cytotoxic activity of TcdB+Cks;and(3)for a greater expression of TcdB receptors stimulated by cytokines that induce cell death by necrosis rather than apoptosis.The only therapeutic approach currently possible in IBD patients is monitoring of C.difficile colonization for interventions aimed at reducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma levels when the infection begins.The future perspective is to generate bacteriophages against C.difficile for targeted therapy.

Hepatitis B virus infection, diabetes mellitus, and their synergism for cholangiocarcinoma development: A casecontrol study in Korea

AIM: To identify possible risk factors and their synergism for cholangiocarcinoma development.METHODS: A hospital-based, case-control study in which we included 276 cholangiocarcinoma patients [193 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ECC) and 83 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)], diagnosed at a training hospital in Korea between 2007 and 2013, and 552 healthy controls matched 2:1 for age, sex, and date of diagnosis. Risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma and possible synergism between those factors were evaluated using conditional logistic regression and synergism index, respectively.RESULTS:There was an association between cholangiocarcinoma and hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection, diabetes mellitus(DM), cholecystolithiasis, choledocholithiasis, and hepatolithiasis, with the adjusted odds ratios(AORs) of 4.1, 2.6, 1.7, 12.4, and 39.9, respectively. Synergistic interaction on the additive model was investigated between HBV infection and DM(AOR = 12.2; 95%CI: 1.9-80.1). In the subgroup analyses, cholecystolithiasis, choledocholithiasis, hepatolithiasis, and DM were significant risk factors for ECC(AOR = 2.0, 18.1, 14.9, and 2.0, respectively), whereas choledocholithiasis, hepatolithiasis, HBV infection, and DM were risk factors for ICC(AOR = 8.6, 157.4, 5.3 and 4.9, respectively). Synergistic interaction was also observed between HBV infection and DM(OR = 22.7; 95%CI: 2.4-214.1). However, there was no synergistic interaction between other significant risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma.CONCLUSION: In this Korean study, HBV infection and DM were found to exert independent and synergistic effects on the risk for cholangiocarcinoma, including ICC. Exploring the underlying mechanismsfor such synergy may lead to the development of cholangiocarcinoma prevention strategies in high-risk individuals.

Corrosion Inhibition Synergism between Lanthanum(Ⅲ) Ion and 8-Hydroxyquinoline for Zinc in Hydrochloric Acid

The effects of La 3+ ion and chelate reagent 8 hydroxyquinoline on the corrosion rate of zinc in hydrochloric acid were investigated by using weight loss method and electrochemical method. It is found that in a specific concentration range of La 3+ ion and 8 hydroxyquinoline, the obvious corrosion inhibition synergism is obtained. The mechanism of corrosion inhibition synergism was discussed on basis of adsorption theory.

Risk Assessment of Synergism and Recombination on the Transgenic Plants Containing Viral Movement Protein and Replicase Genes

The transgenic tobacco plants transformed with movement protein gene of Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) or Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and partial replicase gene of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) P1 isolate (CMV-P1), were inoculated with Potato virus X, Potato virus Y, TMV and CMV isolate RB (CMV-RB), respectively. Symptom observation showed there were no symptom differences in transgenic tobacco plants as compared with those in non-transgenie tobacco plants. ELISA also illustrated that the virus concentrations in the transgenic plants were similar to those in non-transgenic plants, indicating that no synergism is found in these plants. The transgenic tobacco plants expressing movement protein gene of ToMV or partial replicase gene of CMV-P1 were inoculated with TMV and CMV-RB, respectively. The local or systemic infected leaves were then used for elucidation of the possible virus recombination in transgenic plants with biological infectivity test, ELISA and immuno-capture RT-PCR. Within 16 months, no recombination was found between transformed genes and inoculated virus genomes. The research provides fundamental data for understanding of the possible risk of the transgenic plants expressing viral sequences.

Anti-listerial synergism of leaf essential oil of Metasequoia glyptostroboides with nisin in whole,low and skim milks

Objective:To examine the individual and synergistic anti-listcrial effect of nisin and leaf essential oil of Metasequoia glyptostroboides(M.glyptostroboides) against one of the leading foodhorne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes(L.monocytogenes) ATCC 19116 in milk samples.Methods:The whole(8%),low(1%) and skim(no fat content) milk samples were inoculated with L.monocytogenes ATCC 19116 along with leaf essential oil of M.glyptostroboides or nisin alone as well in eomhinations.Results:In this study,the leaf essential oil at the concentrations of 2% and 5% revealed strong anti-listerial effect against L.monocytogenes ATCC 19116 in all categories of milk samples.Nisin at the concentrations of 250 and 500 IU/mL displayed a strong inhibitory effect against ATCC 19116 as compared to the control group.Additionally,synergistic combinations of leaf essential oil(1%) and nisin(62.5,125.250 and 500 IU/mL) also had a remarkable anti-listerial synergism in all the tested milk samples including whole,low and skim milk after 14 days.Conclusions:As a major finding,the leaf essential oil of M.glyptostroboides might he a useful candidate for using in food industry to control the growth of foodhorne pathogenic bacteria as confirmed by its potent anti-listerial Synergistic effect with nisin against L.monocytogenes ATCC 19116 in different milk samples.

Effects of Synergism Between PVY and PVX on Virus Titer and Cell Ultrastructure in Tobacco Plants

The viruses titer and the ultrastructure of infected cells in tobacco host (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun), which doubly infected with potato virus Y necrosis strain (PVYN) and potato virus X (PVX), were studied under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that PVYN and PVX interacted synergistically. and tobacco plants which doubly infected with PVX and PVYN could greatly increase symptom severity as compared with that induced by the single virus. As determined by triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay (TAS-ELISA), the titer of PVX in the tobacco leaves infected with both PVYN and PVX was up to 9.10 times higher than the plants infected with PVX only. No significant differences in PVYN titer were detected between singly and doubly infected plants. The enhancement of PVX titer in doubly infected plants was evident in greenhouse and was independent of the virus strains, tested seasons, intervals between PVYN and PVX inoculation. When sections of doubly infected leaves were examined with an electron microscope, it could be frequently found that cells contained pinwheels and large masses of PVX-like particles, pinwheels and laminate inclusions, or all three structures, most of them were swollen, and their chloroplast and other organella were destructed heavily. This suggested that doubly infected cells were involved in the enhancement phenomenon, which seemed to be the result of an increase in the amount of PVX synthesized in them.

SYNERGISM OF WOLFRAMITE FLOTATION WITH BENZYL ARSONIC ACID AND SODIUM BUTYL XANTHATE

Wolframite notation with benzyl arsonic acid and sodium butyl xanthate is studied,at first.It shows the efficiency of mineral processig is good when the two agents are added together.Then the synergism of sodium butyl xanthate and benzyl arsonic acid is studied also by HPLC.

Synergism Among VA Mycorrhiza, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and Rhizobium for Symbiosis with Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) Under Field Conditions

A field experiment was conducted at the G.B. Pant University Research Station, Ujhani (U.P.) in rainy (Kharif) season of the year 1994-1995 to study the effect of Rhizobium, VAM (vesicular arbuscular myc- orrhiza) and PSB (phosphate solubilizing bacteria) inoculation, with and without P, on blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) seed yield. Phosphorus application in soil with medium P content (5.4 mg kg～1) increased nodu- lation, grain yield, N and P in plant and grain over no phosphorus control. Forty kilograms of P-2O-5 each hactare recorded an increase of 20.6 % in nodule dry weight, significant increases of 0.35 g kg～(-1) in N con- centration and 1.28 g kg～(-1) in P concentration of plant over 20 kg P-2O-5 ha～(-1). Similar significant increases of 0.59 g kg～(-l) in grain yield and 0.54 and 0.23 g kg～(-1) in N and P concentrations of the grain, respectively, over 20 kg P-2O-5 ha～(-1) were also obtained with higher dose. Inoculation of Rhizobium ＋ VAM ＋ PSB at all the stages of plant growth recorded maximum increases in all the parameters studied. Dual inoculation of Rhizobium with either VAM or PSB was generally significant in the effect and better than that of VAM ＋ PSB, however, P accumulation in plant and grain was more with VAM ＋ PSB. Among single inocula tions, Rhizobium gave highest and 21.0 % more nodule number, 34.7 % more nodule dry mass, 0.73 g kg～(-1) more N in grain and 4.2 % higher grain yield over PSB. PSB, however, registered significant increases in P concentration in plant and grain over VAM and Rhizobium.

Ceruloplasmin or Fibronectin Synergism with Quartz Dust on Stimulating Collagen Gene Transcription in Human 2BS Fibroblast

Human α1(Ⅰ), α2(Ⅰ) and α1(Ⅲ) cDNA probes and RNA dot hybridization were employed to quantitate collagen mRNA changes after adding silica dust into the media of human 2BS fibroblasts. At all dosages used (100, 200, 500 and 1000μg), the α1(Ⅰ), α2(Ⅰ)and α1(Ⅲ) mRNA levels increased one day after dusting. At the same dosage of silica (100μg), α1(Ⅲ) mRNA increased earlier than type Ⅰ collagen mRNA did. The type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen mRNA contents in the experimental groups were higher than those in control on days 3, 5, 7 and 9. The effect of ceruloplasmin (Cp) and fibronectin (Fn) on collagen mRNA synthesis was also studied, after adding silica dust, Cp or Fn into the media of human 2BS fibroblast. The results showed that Cp and Fn have stimulating effect on collagen mRNA production. When both Cp and silica dust were added into cell culture media, the collagen mRNA level was increased more than those of adding either Cp or silica dust alone. Similar situations were found for Fn. Cp (or Fn) synergism with silica dust on stimulating transcription of human collagen gene was suggested

Synergism of Plasma and Catalyst on the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Methane

At atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, pulse corona induced plasma was used as a new method for dehydrogenative coupling of methane. The synergism of plasma and catalyst on dehydrogenative coupling of methane was investigated. Experimental results have revealed that the synergism does exist, when positive corona within a suitable power range and an intermediate pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for a loaded 7-Mn2O3/7-A12O3 catalyst were chosen. In respect to the mechanism approach, a tentative model for general pathway was proposed to explain the role of plasma and catalyst partaking in the process of methane decomposition and C2 products formation.

In vitro assessment of the synergism between extracts of Cocos nucifera husk and some standard antibiotics

Objective: To evaluate the interactions between the crude extracts of Cocos nucifera(C.nucifera) and six front line antibiotics(ampicillin sodium salt, penicillin G sodium,amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline hydrochloride), against some bacterial pathogens linked with human infection.Methods: The pulverized husk of C.nucifera was dissolved in 95% n-hexane and extracted using Soxhlet extraction method and sterile distilled water(aqueous).The antibacterial susceptibility of the crude extracts of C.nucifera was tested against environmental and clinical strains(6) obtained from the South African Bureau of Standards(SABS), Vibrio(6) and Listeria pathogens(6).The agar-well diffusion method was used for screening the extracts for their antibacterial activity.The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts were determined.Time-kill assay was used to evaluate bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic activity.The synergistic effect of the crude extracts and antibiotics was assessed and evaluated by adopting the checkerboard methods.Results: With the time-kill assay, the highest bactericidal activity was observed on Vibrio fluvialis EL041 with a-5.6 ± 0.2 log_(10)CFU/mL decrease in cell density as a result of the combination of the extracts and chloramphenicol at two-fold minimum inhibitory concentrations.Synergisms using the time-kill assay constituted about 72%, while indifference constituted about 28%.The checkerboard method revealed synergistic interaction in 67% of the combinations, and indifference in 33%.There was no specificity in the observed synergy to a particular class of antibiotics.Conclusions: This investigation suggests the crude extracts of C.nucifera to be a potential broad spectrum antimicrobial compound.Therefore, further study is needed to isolate the pure compounds from these crude extracts.

No synergism between bis(propyl)-cognitin and rasagiline on protecting dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease mice

Rasagiline,a monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor,and bis（propyl）-cognitin（B3C）,a novel dimer are reported to be neuroprotective.Herein,the synergistical neuroprotection produced by rasagiline and B3 C was investigated in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine（MPTP）-induced mice of Parkinsonism.By using neurobehavioural tests,high-performance liquid chromatography and western blot assay,we showed that B3 C at 0.3 mg/kg,rasagiline at 0.02 mg/kg,as well as co-treatment with B3 C and rasagiline prevented MPTP-induced behavioural abnormities,increased the concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum,and up-regulated the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra.However,the neuroprotective effects of co-treatment were not significantly improved when compared with those of B3 C or rasagiline alone.Collectively,we have demonstrated that B3 C at 0.3 mg/kg and rasagline at 0.02 mg/kg could not produce synergistic neuroprotective effects.

Effect of Mitigating Strength Retrogradation of Alkali Accelerator by the Synergism of Sodium Sulfate and Waste Glass Powder

This work aims to utilize waste glass powder(WGP)as a plementary material to mitigate the strength shrinkage caused by the alkaline accelerator.Waste glass power was used to replace cement by 0%,10%,and 20%to evaluate waste glass powder on the alkaline accelerator’s strength retrogradation.The results show that the strength improvement effect of unitary glass powder is inconspicuous.Innovative methods have been proposed to use sodium sulfate and waste glass powder synergism,using the activity of amorphous silica in glass powder.Compared with the reference group,the compressive strength of 28d mortar increases by 67%when the sodium sulfate content is 2.5%,and the replacement amount of waste glass powder is 10%.Besides,XRD and SEM analysis of hydration products also confirmed that the synergistic effect of sodium sulfate and waste glass powder could reduce strength inversion.The findings presented in this paper are pivotal for using waste glass to solve the problem of strength inversion caused by the alkaline accelerator.

Effect of Synergism and Antagonism between Metals on Toxicity in Soils

Synergism and antagonism of cadmium(Cd),copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) to biological toxicities in red soil,yellow brown soil and black soil were evaluated by MICROTOX method.The relation between forms of the tested metals in soil and the synergism or antagonism between them was also studied.Results showed that owing to the difference of soil chemical properties,toxicity of these metals in soils was different.In red soil with acid reaction and low in cation exchange capacity,antagonism occurred significantly between metals when they coexisted at high concentrations,while synergism occurred only under low concentrations.It is indicated that in red soil,toxicity of metals affected by synergism or antagonism depends on concentration of the metals present.For yellow brown soil and black soil with larger cation exchange capacity and lower exchangeable aluminium(Al),no toxicity of metals was observed even if metals were added to soil in high concentrations.Synergism and antagonism between Cd,Cu and Se were controlled by the forms of metals present.The amount of water-soluble metals was the most important factor in determining synergism and antagonism. In this paper,comparisons of synergism and antagkonism between metals in soils and in water solutions were made.There occurred the synergism of metal toxicity in water solutions when the concentration of coexisting metals was high.This is just opposite to the case in soils.

Synergisms of cardiovascular effects between iptakalim and amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol in anesthetized rats

The primary object of this fundamental research was to survey the synergistic cardiovascular effects of iptakalim, a novel ATP–sensitive potassium channel(KATP) opener, and clinical first-line antihypertensive drugs, such as calcium antagonists, thiazide diuretics and β receptor blockers by a 2×2 factorial-design experiment. It would provide a theoretical basis for the development of new combined antihypertensive therapy program after iptakalim is applied to the clinic. Amlodipine besylate, hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol were chosen as clinical first-line antihypertensive drugs. Blood pressure, heart rate(HR) and cardiac functions were observed in anesthetized normal rats by an eightchannel physiological recorder. The results showed that iptakalim monotherapy in a low dose could produce significant antihypertensive effect. There was no interaction between iptakalim and amlodipine on the maximal changes of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), mean arterial blood pressure(MABP), the left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP)(P>0.05). However, the effects of combination iptakalim/amlodipine on the maximal changes of SBP, DBP, MABP, LVSP and LVEDP were more obvious than those of iptakalim or amlodipine monotherapy. And there was strong positive interaction between iptakalim and amlodipine on the maximal changes of HR(P>0.05). According to the maximal changes of DBP, MABP, LVSP and LVEDP(P<0.05) of combination iptakalim with hydrochlorothiazide, there was strong positive interaction between them. But there was no interaction between iptakalim and hydrochlorothiazide on the maximal drop of SBP and HR(P>0.05). According to the maximal drops of DBP, MABP of combination iptakalim with propranolol, there was strong positive interaction between them(P<0.05). But there was no interaction between iptakalim and propranolol on the maximal changes of SBP, LVSP,LVEDP and HR(P>0.05). In conclusion, it was the first time to study the effects of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol, which had different mechanisms of action from iptakalim, on cardiovascular effects of iptakalim in anesthetized normal rats. This study proved that the combination of iptakalim with hydrochlorothiazide or propranolol respectively had significant synergism on lowering blood pressure, while the combination of iptakalim/amlodipine had additive action on lowering blood pressure. Meanwhile the antihypertensive effect was explicit, stable and long-lasting. Iptakalim thus appears suitable for the clinical treatment of hypertensive people who need two or more kinds of antihypertensive agents.

Optimal Synergic Deep Learning for COVID-19 Classification Using Chest X-Ray Images

A chest radiology scan can significantly aid the early diagnosis and management of COVID-19 since the virus attacks the lungs.Chest X-ray(CXR)gained much interest after the COVID-19 outbreak thanks to its rapid imaging time,widespread availability,low cost,and portability.In radiological investigations,computer-aided diagnostic tools are implemented to reduce intra-and inter-observer variability.Using lately industrialized Artificial Intelligence(AI)algorithms and radiological techniques to diagnose and classify disease is advantageous.The current study develops an automatic identification and classification model for CXR pictures using Gaussian Fil-tering based Optimized Synergic Deep Learning using Remora Optimization Algorithm(GF-OSDL-ROA).This method is inclusive of preprocessing and classification based on optimization.The data is preprocessed using Gaussian filtering(GF)to remove any extraneous noise from the image’s edges.Then,the OSDL model is applied to classify the CXRs under different severity levels based on CXR data.The learning rate of OSDL is optimized with the help of ROA for COVID-19 diagnosis showing the novelty of the work.OSDL model,applied in this study,was validated using the COVID-19 dataset.The experiments were conducted upon the proposed OSDL model,which achieved a classification accuracy of 99.83%,while the current Convolutional Neural Network achieved less classification accuracy,i.e.,98.14%.

The Synergism of Chemical Herbicides and Aureobasidium pullulans for Control Cleavers(Galium aparine L.) in Wheat

Aureobasidium pullulans, a biocontrol agent for the annual weed Galium aparine L. was evaluated in vitro for its compatibility with commercial formulation of five herbicides at 1X(recommended field rate), 0.5X, 0.2X, 0.1X, 0.067 X, and 0.05 X concentrations. Germination of A. pullulans with paraquat, 2, 4-D, quizalofop-p, and clethodim treatment appeared reduced compared with germination of A. pullulans with fluroxypyr treatment at all concentrations. Stunted and shorter germ tubes in comparison with the control were observed with 2, 4-D, quizalofop-p, and clethodim at 0.2X. All concentration of paraquat, 2, 4-D, quizalofop-p, and clethodim except0.05 X, significantly decreased radial growth of A. pullulans compared with its growth on the untreated PDA medium. Field trials to further develop A. pullulans as biocontrol agent for control G. aparine L. was conducted to test the effectiveness of this fungus in wheat plots for 2 years at the same location in Xining. Treatments included spore suspensions of A. pullulans alone, a mixture of both fungus and fluroxypyr in wheat. Biocontrol agent effectiveness was estimated at approximately 7and 14 days after treatment, as disease incidence, percent weed control, and weed biomass reduction. Significant reduction in weed biomass occurred in combination treatments, and potential exists to tank mix A. pullulans with fluroxypyr. Leaf surface moisture and air temperatures following application may account for inconsistencies in field results between years. This fungal organisms show potential as bioherbicides for weeds in G. aparine L.

噻唑膦与硅肥联合使用对甘薯茎线虫病的防治效果

为了有效控制甘薯茎线虫病的危害,通过盆栽试验和田间试验分别研究了不同种类硅肥及噻唑膦对甘薯茎线虫病的防控效果。室内试验结果表明,单独施用硅肥对甘薯茎线虫病防治效果较差,但10%噻唑膦颗粒剂与不同种类硅肥联合使用后可显著降低甘薯种薯及薯苗受线虫侵染率,其效果优于单独使用等量的10%噻唑膦颗粒剂。田间施用噻唑膦后再增施硅肥,可使噻唑膦防治效果显著增高,甘薯受害率降低,甘薯产量提高。其中硅肥途保佳15 L/hm^(2)与10%噻唑膦颗粒剂18 kg/hm^(2)或22.5 kg/hm^(2)联合使用后,对茎线虫病的防治效果均达到87%以上,显著高于10%噻唑膦颗粒剂22.5 kg/hm^(2)处理。联合施用硅肥可以在减少噻唑膦用量情况下保持对茎线虫病较高防效,具有较好的推广应用前景。

生物增效技术促进炼油废水降氮效果分析

介绍了针对外排氨氮标准不断提升,炼油含盐废水处理装置出水氨氮控制难度增加,在一段时期常出现波动情况,投加硝化菌进行生物增效处理达标的生产试验。对试验过程和试验前后含盐污水处理装置进、出水数据进行分析,对照出水pH值与硝化系统的关系,找到了出水氨氮异常升高主要是污水处理系统碱度降低引起的根本原因。证明了投加硝化菌进行生物增效的方法可作为恢复污水生化系统快速建立硝化系统,恢复氨氮去除能力的有效应急手段。