α-lipoic acid ameliorates hepatotoxicity induced by chronic ammonia toxicity in crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation and inhibiting ERS pathway.

High environment ammonia (HEA) poses a deadly threat to aquatic animals and indirectly impacts human healthy life, while nutritional regulation can alleviate chronic ammonia toxicity. α-lipoic acid exhibits antioxidative effects in both aqueous and lipid environments, mitigating cellular and tissue damage caused by oxidative stress by aiding in the neutralization of free radicals (reactive oxygen species). Hence, investigating its potential as an effective antioxidant and its protective mechanisms against chronic ammonia stress in crucian carp is highly valuable. Experimental fish (initial weight 20.47 ± 1.68 g) were fed diets supplemented with or without 0.1% α-lipoic acid followed by a chronic ammonia exposure (10 mg/L) for 42 days. The results revealed that chronic ammonia stress affected growth (weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and feed conversion rate), leading to oxidative stress (decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase; decreased total antioxidant capacity), increased lipid peroxidation (accumulation of malondialdehyde), immune suppression (decreased contents of nonspecific immune enzymes AKP and ACP, 50% hemolytic complement, and decrease of immunoglobulin M), impaired ammonia metabolism (reduced contents of Glu, GS, GSH, and Gln), imbalance of expression of induced antioxidant-related genes (downregulation of Cu/Zu SOD, CAT, Nrf2, and HO-1; upregulation of GST and Keap1), induction of pro-apoptotic molecules (transcription of BAX, Caspase3, and Caspase9), downregulation of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 expression, and induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress (upregulation of IRE1, PERK, and ATF6 expression). The results suggested that the supplementation of α-lipoic acid could effectively induce humoral immunity, alleviate oxidative stress injury and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and ultimately alleviate liver injury induced by ammonia poisoning (50-60% reduction). This provides theoretical basis for revealing the toxicity of long-term ammonia stress and provides new insights into the anti-ammonia toxicity mechanism of α-lipoic acid.

Infection of epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells with spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) induces autophagy and apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) is a lethal freshwater pathogen of cyprinid fish that has caused significant economic losses to aquaculture. To reduce the economic losses caused by SVCV, its pathogenic mechanism needs to be studied more thoroughly. Here, we report for the first time that SVCV infection of Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells can induce cellular autophagy and apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress. The presence of autophagic vesicles in infected EPC cells was shown by transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative fluorescence PCR and Western blot results showed that p62 mRNA expression was decreased, and the expression of Beclin1 and LC3 mRNA was increased. The p62 protein was decreased, and the Beclin1 protein and LC3 were increased in the endoplasmic reticulum stress activation state. To further clarify the mode of death of SVCV-infected EPC cells, we examined caspase3, caspase9, BCL-2, and Bax mRNA, which showed that they were all increased. Apoptosis of SVCV-infected cells increased upon activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our results suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress can regulate SVCV infection-induced autophagy and apoptosis. The results of this study provide theoretical data for the pathogenesis of SVCV and lay the foundation for future drug development and vaccine construction.

The effects of music therapy on peripherally inserted central catheter in hospitalized children with leukemia.

To explore the effect of music therapy on children with leukemia who have peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC).In this study, we divided 107 patients undergoing PICC into music group (47 cases) and control group (60 cases). The music group received music therapy during PICC, while the control group was given no complementary treatment. The total length of catheterization, the use of sedatives and the changes of pain level and emotion level before and after PICC placement were compared between two groups.Compared with the control group, the total PICC placement time of the music group was significantly shorter (35(30-40) vs. 60(60-60); Z = -8.307; p < 0.001), and the use of sedative medications was also significantly reduced (4.35% (n = 2) vs. 91.84% (n = 45); p < 0.001). Moreover, the pain of catheterization was significantly alleviated. The median difference of pain scores of the music group was significantly less (2(1-3) vs. 5(5-5); p < 0.001). The mood of patients was also improved. The median difference of emotional scores of the music group was significantly more (5(4.75-6) vs. 3(3-3); p < 0.001) than the control group.Music therapy is effective to use in PICC. It can shorten the treatment time, reduce the use of sedative medications, and improve the children's emotion and pain response significantly, which is worth clinical application.

Effect on intestinal microbiota, bioaccumulation, and oxidative stress of Carassius auratus gibelio under waterborne cadmium exposure.

Cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous pollutant known to exert various toxic effects and other sublethal effects on aquatic organisms, and induce a variety of adverse effects on human health, and can be commonly found in environment. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of waterborne Cd exposure on the intestinal microbiota, and Cd accumulation and oxidative response in Carassius auratus gibelio (C. gibelio). The fish were exposed to waterborne Cd at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/L for 30 days. Waterborne Cd exposure resulted marked alterations in the composition of microbiota. At the genus level, Bacteroides, Aeromonas, Akkermansia, Acinetobacter, Chryseobacterium, Shinella, Cetobacterium and Bacillus were significantly changed in Cd groups. The results obtained indicate that Cd exposure significantly increased the bioaccumulation level of Cd and profoundly affected antioxidant enzyme including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant (T-AOC), malonaldehyde (MDA), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The present findings may provide a new framework for the role of gut microbiota in the response to environmental chemical contamination and in the pathogenesis of body disorders.

Amelioration of Cd-induced bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and intestinal microbiota by Bacillus cereus in Carassius auratus gibelio.

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous pollutant known to exert various toxic effects and other sublethal to lethal effects on aquatic organisms, and can be commonly found in environment. The genus Bacillus was one of dominant probiotics, which was commonly used in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary administration of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) on bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and intestinal microbiota of Carassius auratus gibelio (C. gibelio) after Cd exposure. Fish were exposed for 4 weeks to waterborne Cd at 0, 1 and 2 mg/L and/or dietary B. cereus at 108 cfu/g. At 2 and 4 weeks, the fish were sampled and bioaccumulation, antioxidant activity and intestinal microbiota were assessed. Waterborne Cd exposure caused marked alterations in the composition of the microbiota. Dietary supplementation with B. cereus can reverse the changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota in Cd exposure and increase the abundance of Bacteroides, Akkermansia, Cetobacterium in the 0 and 1 mg/L Cd. The results obtained indicate that B. cereus can provide a significant protective effect on the toxicity of cadmium by inhibiting alterations in the levels of bioaccumulation and antioxidant enzyme including Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant (T-AOC), glutathione (GSH), malonaldehyde (MDA) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The present findings imply that dietary supplement of B. cereus can effectively protect C.gibelio to combat cadmium toxicity.