ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on mice with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and its effect on intestinal flora. MethodsA total of 40 mice were randomly divided into control group (CON group), model group (MOD group), FMT group (feces of the mice in the CON group were used as fecal microbiota donor), and FMT model group (ANFMT group, with feces of the mice in the MOD group as fecal microbiota donor), with 10 mice in each group. All mice were observed in terms of body weight, death, liver histopathology, and changes in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and intestinal flora. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the SNK-q test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the CON group, the MOD group had a significant reduction in body weight and significant increases in AST and ALT (all P＜0.05), as well as large patchy necrosis of hepatocytes, significant increases in Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, and Erysipelatoclostridium, and significant reductions in Dubosiella and Duncaniella (all P＜0.05). Compared with the CON group, the ANFMT group had a significant increase in AST (P＜0.05), hepatocyte swelling and mild ballooning degeneration, significant increases in Unclassified and Faecalibaculum, and significant reductions in Patescibacteria, Deferribacteres, Muribaculum, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Rikenella, Odoribacter, Mucispirillum, and Lachnospiraceae_unclassified (all P＜0.05). Compared with the MOD group, the FMT group had significant reductions in AST and ALT (both P＜0.05), mild hepatocellular necrosis and marked ballooning degeneration, significant increases in Paramuribaculum and Bilophila, and significant reductions in Firmicutes, Rikenella, and Absiella (all P＜0.05). ConclusionIntestinal flora disturbance is observed in ACLF mice, and dysbacteriosis may lead to liver injury. FMT can alleviate liver inflammation in ACLF mice and thus exert a protective effect.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the related factors on effects of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the treatment of dysmenorrhea in patients with adenomyosis, and to construct and validate the efficacy prediction model. Methods A total of 127 cases of adenomyosis patients with symptoms of dysmenorrhea in Guangzhou No.1 People′s Hospital and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from June 1999 to December 2009 were reviewed. The evaluation standard was to improve the degree of dysmenorrhea, the related factors of efficacy were analysed. Combined with artificial neural network theory, the effect prediction model was constructed, and the effectiveness of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the effectiveness of the cut-off point was calculated. The model was validated by 68 cases of patients with adenomyosis in the Nanfang Hospital from January 2010 to November 2014. Results (1) In 127 cases of dysmenorrhea patients, UAE treatment was effective in 98 cases, effective rate was 77.2% (98/127). (2) Age was an independent predictor of effective UAE treatment (HR=1.129, P=0.026);in the range of this study, the greater the age, the higher the UAE treatment efficiency. (3) The developing situation of ovary branches of uterine artery was an independent predictor of effective UAE treatment (HR=0.460, P=0.020), the efficiency of patients whose intraoperative bilateral uterine artery ovarian branch did not develop was 89.7%(35/39), the efficiency of patients whose unilateral uterine artery ovarian branch was developing was 84.1% (37/44) and the efficiency of patients whose bilateral uterine artery ovarian branch were developing was 59.1% (26/44). (4) Blood supply of adenomyosisis was an independent predictor of effective UAE treatment (HR=0.313, P=0.001). Type Ⅰ (bilateral predominated) patients, efficiency was 93.5%(43/46);typeⅡ(bilateral balanced) patients, efficiency was 78.0%(39/50);type Ⅲ (unilateral predominated) patients, efficiency was 51.6% (16/31). (5) UAE for the treatment of adenomyosis efficacy of artificial neural network prediction model was constructed, the model′s area under the ROC curve was 0.808, the optimal cut-off point was 0.669 13. Actual verification of the model, sensitivity was 96.5%, specificity was 81.8%, positive predictive value was 96.5%and negative predictive value was 81.8%, the total accuracy was 94.1%. Conclusions (1) Age, the developing situation of ovary branches and blood supply of adenomyosis are the independent predictors of effective UAE treatment. (2) The artificial neural network prediction model is satisfied with the accuracy and the accuracy of prediction.
ABSTRACT
In order to survey the prevalence of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection in pigs in Hebei Province from 2006 to 2008,a total of 1306 swine serum from 31 farms in 10 regions in Hebei were tested for antibodies against EMCV nonstructural protein 2C by ELISA.Positive rates of antibodies in different regions and different age groups were analyzed.The results showed that antibodies against EMCV 2C were found in 176 out of 1306 serum samples collected from Hebei Province and the total positive rate was 13.48%.Seroprevalence of EMCV infection appeared in six out of ten surveyed regions and the highest positive rate was 26%.There was significant difference of seroprevalence in EMCV infection between breeder sows and other swine species.This survey indicated that EMCV infection has occurred in pig farms in most regions of Hebei Province and EMCV-carried breeder sows were one of the crucial causes for EMCV infection and prevalence.