Comparative effect of ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin on the modulation of bile acid profiles and gut microbiota in rats

Abstract Fluoroquinolones are an important class of antimicrobial agents to manage infectious diseases. However, knowledge about how host bile acids are modified by fluoroquinolones is limited. We investigated and compared the impact of fluoroquinolones on circulating bile acid profiles and gut microbiota from in vivo studies. We administered ciprofloxacin (100 mg/kg/day) or moxifloxacin (40 mg/kg/day) orally to male Wistar rats for seven days. Fifteen bile acids (BAs) from the serum and large intestine were quantified by HPLC-MS/MS. The diversity of gut microbiota after ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin treatment was analyzed using high-throughput, next-generation sequencing technology. The two fluoroquinolone-treated groups had different BA profiles. Ciprofloxacin significantly reduced the hydrophobicity index of the BA pool, reduced secondary BAs, and increased taurine-conjugated primary BAs in both the serum and large intestine as compared with moxifloxacin. Besides, ciprofloxacin treatment altered intestinal microbiota with a remarkable increase in Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, while moxifloxacin exerted no effect. What we found suggests that different fluoroquinolones have a distinct effect on the host BAs metabolism and intestinal bacteria, and therefore provide guidance on the selection of fluoroquinolones to treat infectious diseases.

Advance in Spatial Transcriptomics and Its Application in Neuroscience / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Spatial transcriptomics is an omics technology that realizes the determination of cell spatial location information on the basis of single cell RNA sequencing. This technology overcomes the problem of losing the spatial information of cells in the tissue during the single-cell isolation of single cell RNA sequencing. Spatial transcriptomics can provide both transcriptome information and spatial location information of research objects in tissues. Spatial transcriptomics plays an important role in the study of cell lineage generation, regulation mechanism and interaction between cells, and is an important development direction and hot spot of omics technology research. In recent years, spatial transcriptomics technology has developed rapidly, new detection methods have been continuously produced, and technical indicators such as detection sensitivity, resolution and detection throughput have been continuously improved. According to the different principles of obtaining spatial information, this paper classifies the commonly used spatial transcriptomics techniques, and summarizes the detection principles, representative technical methods and technical indicators. Then, the application of spatial transcriptomics technology in neuroscience is expounded from two aspects: differentiation of brain cell types and construction of cell layer maps, and analysis of characteristics of diseases and biomarker related to nervous systems. Finally, we summarize the current problems of spatial transcriptomics technology and give an outlook on its future development direction.

Evaluation of blood pressure lowering effect by generic and brand-name antihypertensive drugs treatment: a multicenter prospective study in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Generic drugs are bioequivalent to their brand-name counterparts; however, concerns still exist regarding the effectiveness and safety of generic drugs because of small sample sizes and short follow-up time in most studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term antihypertensive efficacy, cost-effectiveness and cardiovascular outcomes of generic drugs compared with brand-name drugs.@*METHODS@#In a multicenter, community-based study including 7955 hypertensive patients who were prospectively followed up for an average of 2.5 years, we used the propensity-score-matching method to match the patients using brand-name drugs to those using generic drugs in a ratio of 1:2, 2176 patients using brand-name drugs and 4352 patients using generic drugs.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences between generic drugs and brand-name drugs in blood pressure (BP)-lowering efficacy, BP control rate, and cardiovascular outcomes including coronary heart disease and stroke. The adjusted mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) of systolic BP (SBP)-lowering was -7.9 mmHg (95% CI, -9.9 to -5.9) in the brand-name drug group and -7.1 mmHg (95% CI, -9.1 to -5.1) in the generic drug group after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, number of antihypertensive drugs and traditionally cardiovascular risk factors. Among patients aged <60 years, brand-name drugs had a higher BP control rate (47% vs. 41%; P = 0.02) and a greater effect in lowering SBP compared with generic drugs, with the between-group difference of 1.5 mmHg (95% CI, 0.2-2.8; P = 0.03). BP control rate was higher in male patients using brand-name drugs compared with those using generic drugs (46% vs. 40%; P = 0.01). Generic drugs treatment yielded an average annual incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $315.4 per patient per mmHg decrease in SBP compared with brand-name drugs treatment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our data suggested that generic drugs are suitable and cost-effective in improving hypertension management and facilitating public health benefits, especially in low- and middle-income areas.

Antidepressant-Like Action of Single Facial Injection of Botulinum Neurotoxin A is Associated with Augmented 5-HT Levels and BDNF/ERK/CREB Pathways in Mouse Brain / 神经科学通报·英文版

The present study was designed to examine the therapeutic effects of Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) on depression-like behaviors in mice and to explore the potential mechanisms. These results revealed that a single facial injection of BoNT/A induced a rapid and prolonged improvement of depression-like behaviors in naïve and space-restriction-stressed (SRS) mice, reflected by a decreased duration of immobility in behavioral despair tests. BoNT/A significantly increased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in several brain regions, including the hippocampus and hypothalamus, in SRS mice. BoNT/A increased the expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus, which were significantly decreased in SRS mice. Furthermore, BoNT/A significantly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala, which were decreased in SRS mice. Finally, BoNT/A transiently increased the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB), which were suppressed in the hippocampus of SRS mice. Collectively, these results demonstrated that BoNT/A treatment has anti-depressant-like activity in mice, and this is associated with increased 5-HT levels and the activation of BDNF/ERK/CREB pathways in the hippocampus, supporting further investigation of BoNT/A therapy in depression.

Correction to: Antidepressant-Like Action of Single Facial Injection of Botulinum Neurotoxin A is Associated with Augmented 5-HT Levels and BDNF/ERK/CREB Pathways in Mouse Brain / 神经科学通报·英文版

In the original publication, Figure 4G was incorrectly published. The correct version of Figure 4G is presented in this correction. This correction does not affect the conclusions of the paper.

Orchidopexy increases the levels of serum anti-Müllerian hormone and inhibin B in cryptorchidism patients / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the levels of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INHB) in patients with unilateral cryptorchidism before and after orchidopexy.@*METHODS@#This study included 58 cases of unilateral cryptorchidism treated by orchidopexy and 32 healthy controls. Before and at 6 months after surgery, we measured the length and circumference of the penis, the volume of the undescended testis, and levels of serum AMH and INHB.@*RESULTS@#There were statistically significant differences between the unilateral cryptorchidism and healthy control groups in the levels of serum AMH (［102.80 ± 17.35 vs 108.76 ± 13.64］ ng/ml, P0.05; INHB: ［75.76 ± 5.94］ vs ［77.63 ± 5.99］ pg/ml, P>0.05). No remarkable differences were observed between the unilateral cryptorchidism and healthy control groups in the preoperative penile length (［2.05 ± 0.23］ vs ［2.11 ± 0.22］ cm, P>0.05), penile circumference (［3.91 ± 0.23］ vs ［3.99 ± 0.20］ cm, P>0.05) and volume of the undescended testis (［0.45 ± 0.02］ vs ［0.46 ± 0.02］ ml, P>0.05), or in the postoperative penile length (［2.09 ± 0.23］ vs ［2.16 ± 0.22］ cm, P>0.05), penile circumference (［4.00 ± 0.25］ vs ［3.98 ± 0.19］ cm, P>0.05) and volume of the undescended testis (［0.45 ± 0.02］ vs ［0.45 ± 0.02］ ml, P>0.05). Compared with the baseline, the cryptorchidism patients showed markedly increased levels of serum AMH (［102.80 ± 17.35］ vs ［109.76 ± 17.25］ ng/ml, P<0.05) and INHB (［70.24 ± 5.73］ vs ［75.76 ± 5.94］ pg/ml, P<0.05) after orchidopexy.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Orchidopexy can elevate the levels of serum AMH and INHB and protect the testicular function of cryptorchidism patients.

Clinical application of the disposable circumcision suture device in male circumcision / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety and efficiency of the disposable circumcision suture device (DCSD) in the surgical treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly assigned 249 outpatients with phimosis or redundant prepuce to be treated with DCSD (n = 129) and by conventional circumcision (CC, n = 120), respectively. Then we compared the safety and efficiency of the two strategies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparisons between DCSD and CC showed that the operation time was (4.02 +/- 0.69) vs (30.8 +/- 4.05) min, blood loss was (1.07 +/- 1.29) vs (8.72 +/- 2.15) ml, intraoperative pain score was 0.81 +/- 0.81 vs 2.42 +/- 1.15, 24-hour postoperative pain score was 1.84 +/- 1.02 vs 4.99 +/- 1.36, postoperative complication rate was 13. 95% (18/129) vs 9.17% (11/120), wound healing time was (13.99 +/- 9.06) vs (17.48 +/- 3.49) d, satisfaction with the penile appearance was 98.4% (127/129) vs 95% (109/120), and treatment cost was (2215.62 +/- 17.67) vs (576.47 + 15.58) Y RMB. DCSD exhibited obvious superiority over CC for shorter operation time, less blood loss, milder intraoperative pain, sooner wound healing, and better penile appearance, but it also had a higher rate of postoperative complications (P > 0.05) and involved more treatment cost than the latter (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The disposable circumcision suture device affords ideal clinical effects and therefore deserves clinical popularization.</p>

Case-control study on locking titanium plate in treating comminuted proximal humeral fracture in elderly / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effects of locking titanium plate for the treatment of comminuted proximal humeral fracture in elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2011 to May 2013, 72 elderly patients with comminuted proximal humeral- fractures were divided into locking titanium plate group and anatomical plate group, 36 cases in each group. In locking titanium plate group, there were 16 males and 20 females aged from 60 to 79 years old with an average of (69.55±5.62) years old; 10 cases were type Neer II, 18 were type Neer III and 8 cases were type Neer IV in accordance with Neer classification; treated with locking titanium plate. In anatomical plate group, there were 15 males and 21 females aged from 60 to 81 years old with an average of (69.76±5.70) years old; 9 cases were type Neer II, 20 were type Neer III and 7 cases were type Neer IV; and treated with anatomical plate. Clinical effects, preoperative and postoperative Neer scoring, operative time, bone healing time and incidence of complications between two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up from 1 to 3 years with an average of 15 months. The excellent and good rate of locking titanium plate group (91.7%) was significantly higher than anatomical plate group (75.0%). Postoperative Neer score of two groups were improved obviously, but locking titanium plate group (92.51±7.85) was higher than anatomical plate group (83.64±8.56); there was no significant differences between two groups in operative time (P>0.05); bone healing time in locking titanium plate was (18.6±3.4) weeks, and shorter than anatomical plate group (24.3±3.9) weeks; incidence of complications in locking titanium plate was (5.6%) shorter than anatomical plate group (22.2%), and had obviously differences between two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Locking titanium plate for the treatment of comminuted proximal humeral fracture in elderly plays an important role in good rate, bone healing time and Neer score. It has advantages of early rehabilitation exercise, less shoulder pain, rapid recovery of shoulder joint, less complications, safe and effective, and be worthy of clinical application, especially for senile osteoporosis patients.</p>

Impact of adding folic acid, vitamin B(12) and probucol to standard antihypertensive medication on plasma homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine levels of essential hypertension patients / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of adding folic acid, vitamin B(12) and probucol to standard antihypertensive medication on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), serum NO and eNOS of essential hypertensive patients.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 120 patients with hypertension were randomly divided to three groups (n = 40 each): group 1 (standard medication), group 2 (adding folic acid 5 mg/day and vitamin B(12) 500 µg twice daily) and group 3 (adding folic acid 5 mg/day and vitamin B(12) 500 µg twice daily and probucol 500 mg twice daily). Plasma Hcy and ADMA, serum NO and eNOS levels were observed at baseline, 2 and 12 weeks after various therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group 1, concentrations of plasma Hcy [(23.06 ± 14.15) µmol/L, (23.67 ± 12.31) µmol/L, (23.25 ± 11.64) µmol/L], ADMA [(0.21 ± 0.12) µmol/L, (0.23 ± 0.13) µmol/L, (0.21 ± 0.09) µmol/L] and serum NO [(64.14 ± 15.07) µmol/L, (65.29 ± 15.04) µmol/L, (65.32 ± 13.58) µmol/L], eNOS [(20.02 ± 4.50) µg/L, (20.79 ± 4.03) µg/L, (19.82 ± 5.70) µg/L] remained unchanged during the 12 weeks therapy (all P > 0.05). In group 2, concentrations of plasma Hcy [(12.54 ± 6.49) µmol/L] and ADMA[(0.18 ± 0.07) µmol/L] were significantly decreased after the treatment of 12 weeks than the treatment baseline value [(21.51 ± 7.82) µmol/L, (0.20 ± 0.12) µmol/L] and 2 weeks value[(19.38 ± 8.14) µmol/L, (0.21 ± 0.12) µmol/L], however the concentrations of serum NO and eNOS showed contrary results of the Hcy and ADMA's. (all P < 0.05). In group 3, similar changes occurred at 2 weeks after therapy (P < 0.05 2 weeks vs. baseline and 12 weeks vs. 2 weeks). Plasma ADMA level was positively correlated with Hcy at baseline (r = 0.546, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Supplementation of folic acid, VitB(12) and/or probucol helps to improve endothelial function and reduce plasma Hcy and ADMA levels in patients with hypertension.</p>

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation for treatment of ammonium-rich wastewaters / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

The concept of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) is presently of great interest. The functional bacteria belonging to the Planctomycete phylum and their metabolism are investigated by microbiologists. Meanwhile, the ANAMMOX is equally valuable in treatment of ammonium-rich wastewaters. Related processes including partial nitritation-ANAMMOX and completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) have been developed, and lab-scale experiments proved that both processes were quite feasible in engineering with appropriate control. Successful full-scale practice in the Netherlands will accelerate application of the process in future. This review introduces the microbiology and more focuses on application of the ANAMMOX process.

Gas-liquid mass transfer in three-phase inverse turbulent bed reactor / 生物工程学报

The characteristics of gas-liquid mass transfer of three-phase system comprising air, tap water/wastewater, and hollow glass beads were studied in a laboratory-scale inverse turbulent bed reactor. The influence of operational factors and liquid property on volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kLa was investigated under the conditions of superficial gas velocity (0.53mm xs(-1) - 10mx s(-1) solid hold-up (0 - 0.3), and superficial liquid velocity (0 - 0.2mm x s(-1)). The results showed that the coefficient value was 0.0456 - 1. 414min -, which increased with superficial gas velocity and liquid velocity. The coefficient attained the maximum value at solid hold-up of 0.05 - 0.08. Compared with the coefficient value in tap water, that in synthetic wastewater and industrial wastewater is decreased by 39.0% and 50.9%, respectively. These data have provided a basis for the process analysis and mathematical simulation of inverse turbulent bed reactor.

Study on energy dissipation in modified airlift bioreactor / 生物工程学报

The effects of operational variables and reactor configurations (e.g. diameter of draft tube and the number of static mixers) on energy loss in modified airlift bioreactor were investigated at the first time. The results showed that improving the structure of draft tube could reduce energy loss in the bioreactor. When the diameter of draft tube and the number of static mixers were 4.0cm and 39, respectively, the total energy loss in the modified bioreactor was the least among all the configurations and 23.6% less than that of the conventional counterpart at the same air flowrate. The energy consumption for aeration was the smallest (43.9% less than that of the conventional counterpart) when the diameter of draft tube and the number of static mixers were 5.5cm and 13, respectively. The highest energy dissipation (70% - 80%) occurred in the riser, the bottom zone (about 20%) took the second place and the separator (less than 10%) took the third place. The energy dissipation in the downcomer was neglectable under the conditions in the research. When the energy loss per unit volume was considered, bottom zone stood the first place. It was implied that the riser was the most important zone to cut down the energy loss of the bioreactor and some attention should also be paid to the bottom zone.