Washed microbiota transplantation improves renal function in patients with renal dysfunction: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Changes in the gut microbiota composition is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and interventions targeting the gut microbiota present a potent approach for CKD treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of washed microbiota transplantation (WMT), a modified faecal microbiota transplantation method, on the renal activity of patients with renal dysfunction. METHODS: A comparative analysis of gut microbiota profiles was conducted in patients with renal dysfunction and healthy controls. Furthermore, the efficacy of WMT on renal parameters in patients with renal dysfunction was evaluated, and the changes in gut microbiota and urinary metabolites after WMT treatment were analysed. RESULTS: Principal coordinate analysis revealed a significant difference in microbial community structure between patients with renal dysfunction and healthy controls (P = 0.01). Patients with renal dysfunction who underwent WMT exhibited significant improvement in serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and blood urea nitrogen (all P < 0.05) compared with those who did not undergo WMT. The incidence of adverse events associated with WMT treatment was low (2.91%). After WMT, the Shannon index of gut microbiota and the abundance of several probiotic bacteria significantly increased in patients with renal dysfunction, aligning their gut microbiome profiles more closely with those of healthy donors (all P < 0.05). Additionally, the urine of patients after WMT demonstrated relatively higher levels of three toxic metabolites, namely hippuric acid, cinnamoylglycine, and indole (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: WMT is a safe and effective method for improving renal function in patients with renal dysfunction by modulating the gut microbiota and promoting toxic metabolite excretion.

Stability and fundamental properties of Cu x O1-x as optoelectronic functional materials.

Binary Cu x O1-x compounds have some advantages as optoelectronic functional materials, but their further development has encountered some bottlenecks, such as inaccurate bandgap values and slow improvement of photoelectric conversion efficiency. In this work, all possible stoichiometric ratios and crystal structures of binary Cu x O1-x compounds were comprehensively analyzed based on a high-throughput computing database. Stable and metastable phases with different stoichiometric ratios were obtained. Their stability in different chemical environments was further analyzed according to the component phase diagram and chemical potential phase diagram. The calculation results show that Cu, Cu2O and CuO have obvious advantages in thermodynamics. The comparison and analysis of crystal microstructure show that the stable phase of Cu x O1-x compounds contains the following two motifs: planar square with Cu atoms as the center and four O atoms as the vertices; regular tetrahedron with O atoms as the center and four Cu atoms as the vertices. In different stoichiometric ratio regions, the electron transfer and interaction modes between Cu and O atoms are different. This effect causes energy differences between bonding and antibonding states, resulting in the different conductivity of binary Cu x O1-x compounds: semi-metallic ferromagnetic, semiconducting, and metallicity. This is the root of the inconsistent and inaccurate bandgap values of Cu x O1-x compounds. These compositional, structural, and property variations provide greater freedom and scope for the development of binary Cu x O1-x compounds as optoelectronic functional materials.

Washed Microbiota Transplantation Lowers Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension.

Background: Although transplantation of the fecal microbiota from normotensive donors has been shown to have an antihypertensive effect in hypertensive animal models, its effect on blood pressure in patients with hypertension is unclear. This study aimed to assess the effect of washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) from normotensive donors on blood pressure regulation in hypertensive patients. Methods: The clinical data of consecutive patients treated with washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) were collected retrospectively. The blood pressures of hypertensive patients before and after WMT were compared. The factors influencing the antihypertensive effect of WMT in hypertensive patients and fecal microbial composition of donors and hypertensive patients were also analyzed. Results: WMT exhibited an antihypertensive effect on blood pressure: the blood pressure at hospital discharge was significantly lower than that at hospital admission (change in systolic blood pressure: -5.09 ± 15.51, P = 0.009; change in diastolic blood pressure: -7.74 ± 10.42, P < 0.001). Hypertensive patients who underwent WMT via the lower gastrointestinal tract (ß = -8.308, standard error = 3.856, P = 0.036) and those not taking antihypertensive drugs (ß = -8.969, standard error = 4.256, P = 0.040) had a greater decrease in systolic blood pressure, and hypertensive patients not taking antihypertensive drugs also had a greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure (ß = -8.637, standard error = 2.861, P = 0.004). After WMT, the Shannon Diversity Index was higher in six of eight hypertensive patients and the microbial composition of post-WMT samples tended to be closer to that of donor samples. Conclusion: WMT had a blood pressure-lowering effect in hypertensive patients, especially in those who underwent WMT via the lower gastrointestinal tract and in those not taking antihypertensive drugs. Therefore, modulation of the gut microbiota by WMT may offer a novel approach for hypertension treatment.

Structural, Infrared and Magnetic Properties of Nanosized Ni(x)Zn1-xFe2O4 Powders Synthesized by Sol-Gel Technique.

Ni-Zn ferrites Ni(x)Zn1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8) powders were synthesized by sol-gel technique. Structural, infrared and magnetic properties of samples were investigated. Spinel structural characteristics are shown by XRD spectra and the morphologies observed by atomic force microscopy demonstrate the samples are in nano-range. For all the samples, FTIR spectra exhibit obvious v1 infrared absorbing bands, in the range 500-600 cm-1, corresponding to intrinsic stretching vibrations of the metal ions at the tetrahedral site (Td), Mtetra <--> O. Furthermore, the central position of v1 band is tending to shift to larger wave numbers with the increasing Ni contents in the samples. For the samples Ni(x)Zn1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.2, 0.4), the v2 infrared absorbing bands, in the range 450-385 cm(-1), corresponding to stretching vibrations of the metal ions at the octahedral-metal stretching (Oh), Mocta <--> O, were also observed. However, for samples Ni(x)Zn1-xFe2O4 with higher Ni content (x = 0.5, 0.6, 0.8), the v2 infrared absorbing bands were obscure. The magnetic hysteretic loops at room temperature obtained from vibration samples magnetometer reveal the soft magnetism of the samples. The sample with lowest Ni content, Ni0.2Zn0.8Fe2O4, presents much higher saturation field than the other samples. The coercive field rises with increased Ni content, which is ascribed to the increased magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant with Ni content.

[Cloning and prokaryotic expression of casein kinase II subunit beta gene fragment of Dirofilaria immitis].

OBJECTIVE: To clone and express the partial fragment of Csnk2b gene of Dirofilaria immitis in prokaryotic cells, and analyze the immunoreactivity. METHODS: The partial fragment of Csnk2b gene was amplified by PCR with a pair of specific primers. The PCR product was cloned into pMD18-T, and then sub-cloned to pGEX-4T-1 expression vector. The constructed plasmid pGEX-4T-1-Csnk2b was transformed into E. coli Rosetta (DE3) and followed by expression of the protein induced by IPTG. The recombinant protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and identified by Western blotting. RESULTS: The PCR product was about 700 bp. Enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed that the recombinant plasmid pGEX-4T-1-Csnk2b was constructed. SDS-PAGE results showed that the relative molecular weight (M(r)) of the fusion protein (GST-Csnk2b) was about 45 000. GST-Csnk2b reacted positively with mouse anti-D. immitis serum. CONCLUSION: The partial Csnk2b gene has been expressed in prokaryotic expression system and shows immunoreactivity.

Molecular hydrogen reduces LPS-induced neuroinflammation and promotes recovery from sickness behaviour in mice.

Molecular hydrogen has been shown to have neuroprotective effects in mouse models of acute neurodegeneration. The effect was suggested to be mediated by its free-radical scavenger properties. However, it has been shown recently that molecular hydrogen alters gene expression and protein phosphorylation. The aim of this study was to test whether chronic ad libitum consumption of molecular hydrogen-enriched electrochemically reduced water (H-ERW) improves the outcome of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. Seven days after the initiation of H-ERW treatment, C57Bl/6 mice received a single injection of LPS (0.33 mg/kg i.p.) or an equivalent volume of vehicle. The LPS-induced sickness behaviour was assessed 2 h after the injection, and recovery was assessed by monitoring the spontaneous locomotor activity in the homecage for 72 h after the administration of LPS. The mice were killed in the acute or recovery phase, and the expression of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus was assessed by real-time PCR. We found that molecular hydrogen reduces the LPS-induced sickness behaviour and promotes recovery. These effects are associated with a shift towards anti-inflammatory gene expression profile at baseline (downregulation of TNF- α and upregulation of IL-10). In addition, molecular hydrogen increases the amplitude, but shortens the duration and promotes the extinction of neuroinflammation. Consistently, molecular hydrogen modulates the activation and gene expression in a similar fashion in immortalized murine microglia (BV-2 cell line), suggesting that the effects observed in vivo may involve the modulation of microglial activation. Taken together, our data point to the regulation of cytokine expression being an additional critical mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of molecular hydrogen.

[Treatment of conmminuted patellar fractures with internal Ni-Ti patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy of the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures with internal NiTi-Patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation. METHODS: From March 2004 to June 2007, 38 cases of fresh comminuted patellar fractures were treated with internal NiTi-Patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation. There were 25 males and 13 females,ranging from 21 to 64 years (mean 42.5 years). All were comminuted fractures with displacement, 16 cases were 3 fragments, 14 cases were 4 fragments, 8 cases were 5 fragments. There were other fractures in 8 cases. During followed-up, knee function and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 8 to 24 months (mean 15 months) and obtained complete bone union. No case of implant was loosening and fragment displacement, traumatic arthritis occured in 2 cases. Under Lysholm & Gillquist score, the results were excellent in 17 cases, good in 19, fair in 2. CONCLUSION: Internal Ni-Ti-Patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation is one of the ideal methods for the treatment of comminuted patellar fracture, which could provide satisfied reduction, reliable fixation and good functional recovery.

Treatment of conmminuted patellar fractures with internal Ni-Ti patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical efficacy of the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures with internal NiTi-Patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2004 to June 2007, 38 cases of fresh comminuted patellar fractures were treated with internal NiTi-Patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation. There were 25 males and 13 females,ranging from 21 to 64 years (mean 42.5 years). All were comminuted fractures with displacement, 16 cases were 3 fragments, 14 cases were 4 fragments, 8 cases were 5 fragments. There were other fractures in 8 cases. During followed-up, knee function and complications were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for 8 to 24 months (mean 15 months) and obtained complete bone union. No case of implant was loosening and fragment displacement, traumatic arthritis occured in 2 cases. Under Lysholm & Gillquist score, the results were excellent in 17 cases, good in 19, fair in 2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Internal Ni-Ti-Patellar concentrator and tension bind wire fixation is one of the ideal methods for the treatment of comminuted patellar fracture, which could provide satisfied reduction, reliable fixation and good functional recovery.</p>

Overlapping deletion regions at 11q23 in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, characterized by a novel BAC probe set.

Translocations or deletions involving the 11q23 region have been observed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). BAC probes encompassing the D11S29 and D11S924 markers and flanking the MLL gene were used in dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization. Fifteen patients with hematologic malignancies and cytogenetic abnormalities of 11q23 were analyzed. The BAC and MLL probes demonstrated split signals in five of 7 ALL or AML cases with translocations of 11q23. Of the remaining 2 cases, one had normal signals for both probe sets and the other had a submicroscopic deletion of the MLL 3' region. In one case of AML with del(11)(q23), deletion of the MLL 3' region and the region telomeric to the MLL gene was seen. Three CLL cases with deletion of part or the entire 11q23 region showed deletion of one copy of MLL, but retention of the region telomeric to MLL. However, in four MDS cases with deletions involving the 11q23 region, deletions of both the MLL gene and the flanking regions of the MLL gene were observed. Hence, the deletions on 11q23 are different but overlapping for CLL and MDS, implicating different genes involved for these diseases.

Immune Responses of Th1/Th2 in Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To study the immune responses of Th1 and Th2 subsets of T cells in 26 children with mycoplasma pneumo-niae pneumonia(MPP).Methods ELISA was used to detect the levels of interferon- ?( IFN- ?) and interleukin-4(IL-4) in the serum in 12 healthy children as normal controls and 26 patients of acute stage as acute stage MPP group, 9 of whom in recovery stage were as recovery stage MPP group. Results IFN - ? level in acute stage MPP group was significant higher than that in normal controls (P 0.05); and IFN - 7/IL - 4 ratio was significant higher than that in normal controls( P0.05).Conclusion Thl responses increase and Th2 responses decrease in children with MPP,and this kind of response persists during the recovery stage.

Hyperglycemia contributes to impaired insulin response in GK rat islets.

Insulin secretion and glucose metabolism were compared in pancreatic islets from type 2 diabetic GK rats treated with phlorizin or vehicle. Treatment of control and GK rats with phlorizin for 30 days did not affect body weight, islet glucose utilization, or islet glucose oxidation. In phlorizin-treated GK rats, glucose-induced insulin release was about twofold higher at 11.0 and 16.7 mmol/l glucose compared with vehicle, treated GK rats, whereas phlorizin had no effect on control Wistar rats. However, also in phlorizin-treated GK rats, the amount of insulin released by the islets was significantly less than that from control rats (5.29+/-0.33 vs. 7.50+/-1.31 pmol x min(-1) islet(-1) at 16.7 mmol/l glucose; P<0.001). Islet glucose-6-phosphatase activity was significantly higher in GK rats than in control rats; phlorizin treatment significantly decreased this activity. These findings demonstrate that hyperglycemia per se constitutes an important factor for impaired insulin release in GK rats. Correction of hyperglycemia normalizes islet glucose-6-phosphatase activity, which may be an underlying factor for the partial improvement of glucose-induced insulin release.

Glucose-6-phosphatase activity in islets from ob/ob and lean mice and the effect of dexamethasone.

In previous studies we demonstrated a much greater rate of glucose cycling (glucose-->glucose-6-P-->glucose) in islets from ob/ob mice than from lean litter mates. Cycling was further augmented by dexamethasone treatment. To determine whether these findings could be accounted for by increased islet glucose-6-phosphatase activity, we have now measured that enzyme's activity in permeabilized and sonicated islets and in islet microsomes. Activity in permeabilized islets from ob/ob mice was 19 times more than from lean litter mates (17.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2 pmol/islet/min). Activity was 6 times higher when calculated per microgram of protein or microgram of DNA. Treatment of ob/ob mice with dexamethasone (25 micrograms/daily for 3 days) increased activity 2- to 3-fold. Activities were about twice as much in sonicated as permeabilized islets. There was no difference between glucose-6-phosphatase activity in microsomes prepared from islets of ob/ob and from lean mice, and the activity was relatively low. Thus, permeabilized islets can be used to determine glucose-6-phosphatase activity and study its regulation. The higher glucose cycling in islets of ob/ob mice and its stimulation by dexamethasone can be attributed to increased glucose-6-phosphatase activity.

Significance of Interleukin-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 Detection in Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the changes of interleukin-10(IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-?1)in 26 children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP).Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of IL-10 and TGF-?1 in the serum of 12 healthy children as normal controls and 26 patients of acute stage as acute stage MPP group,9 of acute stage MPP group in recovery stage as recovery stage MPP group.The levels of IL-10 and TGF-?1 were compared between the three groups.Results IL-10 level in acute stage MPP group was significantly lower than that in normal controls(P

Hypoxanthine in fetal umbilical venous blood and amniotic fluid from pregnancies complicated by rhesus isoimmunization.

Concentrations of hypoxanthine (HX) was determined in umbilical venous blood and amniotic fluid obtained at 74 instances in 36 rhesus immunized patients before the onset of labor. HX concentrations were related to gestational age, concentrations of hemoglobin and lactate, pH, and partial oxygen pressure in umbilical venous blood. Multiple regression analysis revealed hemoglobin concentration to be the only variable that had any explanatory power to HX in amniotic fluid. No one of the studied variables gave any significant contribution to a regression model to explain HX in umbilical venous blood. We conclude that HX levels in umbilical venous blood and in amniotic fluid from rhesus immunized patients were not associated with fetal blood gases before the onset of labor.