Effects of dietary niacinamide and CP concentrations on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of pigs.

Reducing the dietary CP concentration in the formulation of low-protein diets without adverse effects on animal growth performance and meat quality remains challenging. In this study, we investigated the effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs fed low-protein diets. To measure the nitrogen balance, we conducted two trials: in nitrogen balance trial 1, four crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four diets and periods. The diets consisted of a basal diet + 30 mg/kg NAM (a control dose), basal diet + 90 mg/kg NAM, basal diet + 210 mg/kg NAM, and basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. In nitrogen balance trial 2, another four barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The diets consisted of a basal diet + including 30 mg/kg NAM (control), basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM, low-protein diet + 30 mg/kg NAM, and low-protein diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. To measure growth performance, two trials were conducted. In growth performance trial 1, 40 barrows (37.0 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 10 per group), whereas in growth performance trial 2, 300 barrows (41.4 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments, with each dietary treatment conducted in five repetitions with 15 pigs each. The four diets in the two growth performance trials were similar to those in nitrogen balance trial 2. Supplementing the diet with 210 or 360 mg/kg NAM reduced urinary nitrogen excretion and total nitrogen excretion and increased nitrogen retention comparted with the control diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the control diet, the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM reduced faecal, urinary, and total nitrogen excretion (P < 0.05) without affecting nitrogen retention and average daily gain (P > 0.05). Pigs fed the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM showed a decreased intramuscular fat content in the longissimus thoracis muscle when compared with pigs fed the control diet (P > 0.05). Our results suggest NAM as a suitable dietary additive to reduce dietary CP concentration, maximise nitrogen retention and growth performance, and decrease fat deposition in pigs.

[Clinical analysis of seven cases of H1N1 influenza-associated encephalopathy in children].

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of H1N1 influenza A-associated encephalopathy (IAE) in children. Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG) examinations and treatments of seven children with H1N1 IAE hospitalized in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from December 2018 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Five of the seven children with H1N1 IAE were female. The age at admission was 4 years and 5 months (range 7 months-9 years). Neurological symptoms occurred simultaneously or early (0-3 days) after the flu-like symptom appeared. The main clinical manifestations of neurological symptoms were seizures (repeated seizures in five cases and status convulsion in two cases, including one case of unexpected fever and repeated seizures in a nine-year old girl) accompanied with altered consciousness (drowsiness in five cases and coma in two cases). Cranial MRI in three cases displayed multifocal lesions, mainly in the bilateral thalamus, brainstem and cerebellar hemisphere. MRI also showed reversible splenial lesion in the corpus callusumin in three cases. EEG tracings were characterized by diffuse slow wave activity in four cases, and status epilepticus was monitored in one case. All the 7 cases were treated with oral oseltamivir. Three cases were treated with pulsed methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin. One case was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin alone and all the patients received oral oseltamivir. All the patients survived, with three patients had minor neurological sequelae at discharge. Conclusions: The main clinical manifestations of H1N1 IAE are seizures and altered consciousness. Cranial MRI combined with EEG is helpful for early diagnosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin and (or) methylprednisolone should be considered for severe cases.

[Clinical analysis of two cases of imported children Zika virus infection in China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, outcome and diagnosis of two cases of imported children Zika virus infection in China. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of two cases of imported children with Zika virus infection in February 2016 in Enping People's Hospital of Guangdong. RESULT: Two cases of children with imported Zika virus infection resided in an affected area of Venezuela, 8-year-old girl and her 6 year-old brother. The main findings on physical examination included the following manifestations: fever, rash, and conjunctivitis. The rash was first limited to the abdomen, but extended to the torso, neck and face, and faded after 3-4 d. The total number of white blood cells was not high and liver function was normal. The diagnosis of two cases of Zika virus infection was confirmed by the expert group of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations and Zika virus nucleic acid detection results.Treatment of Zika virus infection involves supportive care. Two Zika virus infection children had a relatively benign outcome. CONCLUSION: At present, Zika virus infection in children is an imported disease in China. No specific therapy is available for this disease. Information on long-term outcomes among infants and children with Zika virus disease is limited, routine pediatric care is advised for these infants and children.

Actions of angiotensin peptides on the rabbit pulmonary artery.

The presence of the angiotensin AT1A-like receptor subtype in the pulmonary artery and AT1B-like receptor subtype in the pulmonary trunk of the rabbit has been reported in two earlier studies. The present study further investigated these receptor subtypes using five other angiotensins (namely angiotensin II, angiotensin III, angiotensin IV, angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin-(4-8)). The direct action of the angiotensins on the rabbit pulmonary arterial and trunk sections and the ability of each angiotensin to further contract or relax preconstricted sections of the pulmonary artery and trunk were studied using the organ bath set-up. The effects of angiotensin III on the 3H overflow from re-uptaken [3H]noradrenaline in the electrically-contracted rabbit pulmonary arterial and trunk sections were also studied. The contractile response of the arterial and trunk section had the following rank order potency: angiotensin II > angiotensin III > angiotensin IV. The contractile response to these angiotensins was greatly reduced or absent in the pulmonary trunk. Angiotensin II further contracted the preconstricted arterial and trunk sections. In contrast, angiotensin III further contracted the preconstricted arterial section but relaxed the preconstricted trunk section. Angiotensin IV similarly relaxed the preconstricted trunk section but had minimum effect on the preconstricted arterial section. Angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin-(4-8) had no effect on both sections. The actions of the three angiotensins were inhibited by losartan, an AT1-selective antagonist. Indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, inhibited the relaxation caused by angiotensin III and angiotensin IV in the trunk section. The effects of angiotensin III on the electrically preconstricted sections of the pulmonary trunk and artery were not accompanied by any significant changes in 3H overflow. The differential responses produced by angiotensin II and its immediate metabolites via two positionally located and functionally opposing receptor subtypes suggest that the pulmonary trunk and artery is not a passive conduit but an important regulator of blood flow from the heart to the lung.

[Changes of amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cerebral infarction].

Using high performance liquid chromatography, we measured the Asp, Glu, Ser, Gly, Thr, Arg, Ala, Tyr, Met, Val, Phe, Ile, Ley, Lys, GABA concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of 15 patients with ischemic cerebral infarction and 10 control subjects. The severity of the neurological deficit was assessed with Chinese stroke scale; infarct volume was determined by Zhang's method. The concentration of Asp, Glu, Ala, Leu were higher significantly in the infarct group than that in control(P < 0.01; P < 0.05); however, the concentration of GABA in the infarct group was lower than that in control(P < 0.05). The concentrations of Asp and Glu were positively correlated with infarct volume(rAsp = 0.56, P < 0.05; rGlu = 0.52, P < 0.05). The other amino acids were not correlated with infarct volume. All of the amino acids determined were not correlated with severity of neurological deficit. The results support the excitoxic activity of Asp and Glu in patients with ischemic cerebral infarction. Whether GABA protects neuronal tissue from ischemic cerebral damage needs to be studied further.