Response of Juvenile Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii （de Man） to Different Levels of Bacillus subtilis Isolated from Chicken Intestine as Probiotics

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Bacillus subtilis bacterium and its suitable level on survival and growth rate of juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii （de Man） during March 28 to May 28, 2010. A B. subtilis bacterium isolated from chicken intestine was added to commercial prawn feed as a probiotic. Six diets were prepared by soaking prawn feed into the B. subtilis to achieve 10^10, 10^9, 10^8, 10^7 and 106 levels with a non-treated control. After 60 days, the prawns fed diet at level 10^8 showed a higher mean weight gain （593.45 g） or 170.29% increase in growth over control. The mean weight gain showed a decreasing trend as the B. subtilis level decreased from 10^8 to 10^6 and the B. subtilis level increased from 10^8 to 10^10 in the diets. There were significant differences （P 〈 0.05） in weight gain, feed intake, daily growth and feed conversion ratio （FCR） among treated and controlled groups. There were significant differences （P 〈 0.05） among treatments and control in survival rate but no significant differences （P 〉 0.05） in water quality and biochemical composition among treated and controlled groups. Clearly, treated with B. subtilis appeared to enhance growth and survival of M. rosenbergii. It was concluded that the tested strain may be a promising probiotics for M. rosenbergii at a level of 10^8 B. subtilis into the prawn feed.

In silico screening of Chinese herbal medicines with the potential to directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus

Objective: In this study we execute a rational screen to identify Chinese medical herbs that are commonly used in treating viral respiratory infections and also contain compounds that might directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV), an ongoing novel coronavirus that causes pneumonia.Methods: There were two main steps in the screening process. In the first step we conducted a literature search for natural compounds that had been biologically confirmed as against sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Resulting compounds were cross-checked for listing in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database.Compounds meeting both requirements were subjected to absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion(ADME) evaluation to verify that oral administration would be effective. Next, a docking analysis was used to test whether the compound had the potential for direct 2019-nCoV protein interaction.In the second step we searched Chinese herbal databases to identify plants containing the selected compounds. Plants containing 2 or more of the compounds identified in our screen were then checked against the catalogue for classic herbal usage. Finally, network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the general in vivo effects of each selected herb.Results: Of the natural compounds screened, 13 that exist in traditional Chinese medicines were also found to have potential anti-2019-nCoV activity. Further, 125 Chinese herbs were found to contain 2 or more of these 13 compounds. Of these 125 herbs, 26 are classically catalogued as treating viral respiratory infections. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that the general in vivo roles of these26 herbal plants were related to regulating viral infection, immune/inflammation reactions and hypoxia response.Conclusion: Chinese herbal treatments classically used for treating viral respiratory infection might contain direct anti-2019-nCoV compounds.

Clinical characteristics and mortality risk prediction model in children with acute myocarditis

Background Acute myocarditis(AMC)can cause poor outcomes or even death in children.We aimed to identify AMC risk factors and create a mortality prediction model for AMC in children at hospital admission.Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of AMC children hospitalized between January 2016 and January 2020.The demographics,clinical examinations,types of AMC,and laboratory results were collected at hospital admission.In-hospital survival or death was documented.Clinical characteristics associated with death were evaluated.Results Among 67 children,51 survived,and 16 died.The most common symptom was digestive disorder(67.2%).Based on the Bayesian model averaging and Hosmer–Lemeshow test,we created a final best mortality prediction model(acute myocarditis death risk score,AMCDRS)that included ten variables(male sex,fever,congestive heart failure,left-ventricular ejection fraction<50%,pulmonary edema,ventricular tachycardia,lactic acid value>4,fulminant myocarditis,abnormal creatine kinase-MB,and hypotension).Despite differences in the characteristics of the validation cohort,the model discrimination was only marginally lower,with an AUC of 0.781(95%confidence interval=0.675–0.852)compared with the derivation cohort.Model calibration likewise indicated acceptable fit(Hosmer‒Lemeshow goodness-of-fit,P¼=0.10).Conclusions Multiple factors were associated with increased mortality in children with AMC.The prediction model AMCDRS might be used at hospital admission to accurately identify AMC in children who are at an increased risk of death.