Application of Zearalenone (ZEN)-Detoxifying Bacillus in Animal Feed Decontamination through Fermentation.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin which can cause loss in animal production. The aim of this study was to screen Bacillus strains for their ZEN detoxification capability and use a fermentation process to validate their potential application in the feed industry. In the high-level ZEN-contaminated maize (5 mg·kg-1) fermentation test, B2 strain exhibited the highest detoxification rate, removing 56% of the ZEN. However, B2 strain was not the strain with the highest ZEN detoxification in the culturing media. When B2 grew in TSB medium with ZEN, it had higher bacterial numbers, lactic acid, acetic acid, total volatile fatty acids, and ammonia nitrogen. The ZEN-contaminated maize fermented by B2 strain had better fermentation characteristics (lactic acid > 110 mmol·L-1; acetic acid < 20 mmol·L-1; pH < 4.5) than ZEN-free maize. Furthermore, B2 also had detoxification capabilities toward aflatoxins B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, and T2 toxin. Our study demonstrated differences in screening outcome between bacterial culturing conditions and the maize fermentation process. This is important for the feed industry to consider when choosing a proper method to screen candidate isolates for the pretreatment of ZEN-contaminated maize. It appears that using the fermentation process to address the ZEN-contaminated maize problem in animal feed is a reliable choice.

Immune response to hepatitis B vaccination among people with inflammatory bowel diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The response rate to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is low and varies markedly. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the response rate to HBV vaccination and identified the factors predictive of an immune response. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases, and reviewed the titles and abstracts of studies on the efficacy of HBV vaccination in IBD patients performed through July 2016. Anti-HBs levels>10IU/L was considered to be an effective immune response. The primary outcome measure was the response rate to HBV vaccination after series completion, and the secondary outcome was identification of factors at baseline predictive of an immune response. RESULTS: Thirteen studies including 1688 patients were eligible for inclusion. Based on a random-effects model, the pooled rate of a response to HBV vaccination among patients with IBD was 61% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53-69). Young age (mean difference [MD]: -5.7; 95% CI: -8.46, -2.95) and vaccination during disease remission (relative risk [RR]: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.15-2.29) were associated with a positive response to HBV vaccination. In addition, no immunosuppressive therapy was predictive of an immune response compared to immunomodulatory (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.08-1.63) or anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) (RR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.19-2.08) therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this meta-analysis, only three of five IBD patients will show a serological response to HBV vaccination. Vaccination should be performed at the time of IBD diagnosis, during disease remission, or before starting immunosuppressive therapy.

Novel therapeutic effects of sesamin on diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Diabetes is a risk factor that increases the occurrence and severity of cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of mortality of 75% of patients with diabetes >40 years old. Sesamin, the bioactive compound extracted from Sesamum indicum, is a natural compound that has diverse beneficial effects on hypoglycemia and reducing cholesterol. The aim of this study is to investigate sesamin effects to diabetes-inducing cardiac hypertrophy. In the present study bioinformatics analysis demonstrated cardiac hypertrophy signaling may be the most important pathway for upregulating genes in sesamin-treated groups. To verify the bioinformatics prediction, sesamin was used as the main bioactive compound to attenuate the impact of diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) on cardiac function in a rat model. The results revealed that oral administration of sesamin for 4 weeks (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) marginally improved blood glucose levels, body weight and significantly ameliorated the effects on heart rate and blood pressure in rats with type 1 diabetes relative to control rats. The QT interval of sesamin was also reduced relative to the control group. The findings indicated that sesamin has potential cardioprotective effects in the STZ-induced diabetes model. This suggested that this can be used as a novel treatment for patients with diabetes with cardiac dysfunction complication.

Development and assays estradiol equivalent concentration from prawn (p-EEQ) in river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, in Taiwan.

The present study established a fast and convenient bioassay method for aqueous ecosystems using the prawn estradiol equivalent concentration (p-EEQ) of male Macrobrachium nipponense, which produce vitellogenin (VTG) after exposure to xeno-estrogens. This method was then used to determine the concentrations of xeno-estrogen pollutants in the rivers of Taiwan. To establish the calibration curve for the concentrations based on the p-EEQ, the induced VTG content was determined using the alkali-labile phosphate method after male M. nipponense were exposed to 0, 10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000ng/L of 17ß-estradiol for 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days, respectively. The results of the experiments showed that the induced VTG content in all of the experimental groups stabilized after 10 days, except for the 10,000ng/L experimental group, in which the induced VTG content decreased after 10 days. A 17ß-estradiol-VTG10day response curve was then established based on the induced VTG content in the 0, 10, 100 and 1000ng/L experimental groups at day 10. After establishing the curve, male M. nipponense were captured from the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Chuo-shui River, the Beigang River, the Jishui River, the Agongdian River and the Sichong River in Taiwan, and the VTG content in these prawns was determined. In addition, the p-EEQ in the waters was determined based on the VTG content, and the estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ) in the waters was also measured immediately after sampling using the solid-phase extraction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SPE-ELISA) method. The results showed that the p-EEQ in the middle and lower reaches of the rivers in certain parts of Taiwan ranged from 38 to 400ng/L, and the detection rate was 100%. Moreover, the EEQ ranged from 7.9 to 92.9ng/L, and the detection rate was 42.9%, indicating that most of the middle and lower reaches of the rivers in Taiwan were polluted by xeno-estrogens. The 17ß-estradiol concentrations determined based on the p-EEQ were all higher than those based on the EEQ (SPE-ELISA method). The results of the present study showed that the use of M. nipponense to determine the p-EEQ in environmental waters provided advantages that included a high detection rate, high sensitivity and convenience. However, the p-EEQ cannot be used in waters that do not contain M. nipponense.

Acute toxicity of mixture of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to Green Neon Shrimp, Neocaridina denticulate.

In recent years, numerous studies have indicated that various long-term use drugs, such as antibiotics or analgesics, not only cannot be completely decomposed via sewage treatment but also exhibit biological toxicity if they enter the environment; thus, the release of these drugs into the environment can damage ecological systems. This study sought to investigate the acute toxicity of two commonly utilized analgesics, ibuprofen (IBU) and acetaminophen (APAP), to aquatic organisms after these drugs have entered the water. To address this objective, the acute toxicity (median lethal concentration, LC50, for a 96-h exposure) of IBU alone, APAP alone, and mixtures containing different ratios of IBU and APAP in green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata) were measured. The results of four tests revealed that the 96-h LC50 values for IBU and APAP alone were 6.07 mg/L and 6.60 mg/L, respectively. The 96-h LC50 for a 1:1 mixture of IBU and APAP was 6.23 mg/L, and the toxicity of this mixture did not significantly differ from the toxicity of either drug alone (p<0.05). The experimental results for mixtures containing unequal ratios of IBU and APAP indicated that mixtures with high APAP concentrations and low IBU concentrations exhibited markedly greater toxicity in N. denticulata (LC50=4.78 mg/L) than APAP or IBU alone. However, mixtures with high IBU concentrations and low APAP concentrations exhibited lower toxicity in N. denticulata (LC50=6.78 mg/L) than IBU or APAP alone. This study demonstrated that different mixtures of IBU and APAP were associated with different toxic effects in green neon shrimp.

Type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular complications and sesame ( zhi má).

Diabetes is a major concern among medical practitioners, with the annual mortality rate increasing up to 26.9% in a person aged 65 years or older and 11.3% in the adult. There are many serious complications associated with diabetes, particularly cardiovascular complications due to microvascular diseases. A prerequisite to reduce the risk of microvascular and neurologic complications of type 1 diabetes is normoglycemia. Insulin therapy is the most common treatment used nowadays in type 1 diabetes. However, this method still has many disadvantages such as increased episode of severe hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia unawareness, increased weight gain, transient exacerbation of pre-existing retinopathy, etc. Using insulin pump (the insulin pump is a medical device used for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion to manage the insulin level in the treatment of diabetes mellitus), is associated with known disadvantages including increased ketoacidosis, infection at the infusion site, and the treatment being less suitable in young children (less than 7 years of age). Therefore, alternative treatment for diabetes is still in great demand. We took the approach of traditional Chinese medicine to discuss this matter. Sesame ( Zhi Má), a herb, has been used medicinally for thousands of years in almost all the countries in the world. The beneficial effects of sesame in remediating diabetes, such as hypoglycemic effects, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects, improving fat metabolism, and reducing cholesterol, have been demonstrated in many studies,. However, reports on the effects of sesame in remediating cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients are limited, which necessitates further studies on the effects of sesame on cardiovascular complications.

Evaluation of the estrogenic effects of bisphenol-A on male freshwater prawn Macrobrachium asperulum.

Bisphenol-A(BPA), a known endocrine-disrupting chemical that is distributed world wide, is extensively employed in industry, dentistry and consumer household products. This study was conducted to explore the estrogenic effects of BA on the male freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium asperulum, by examining the daily survival rate, molting frequency, hepatosomatic index (HSI), and levels of vitellogenin-like protein. Results revealed that BPAcan elicitthe expression of vitellogenin-like protein (0.09 and 0.09 microg P x (mg protein))-1), respectively) in male organisms exposed to 0.1 and 1 ng l(-1) BPA at day 7. Moreover, prawns were perceived to be sensitive to estrogenic compounds. Hence, it can be concluded that M. asperulum can be used as a species for biomonitoring, and levels of vitellogenin-like protein in males are a useful biomarker for detecting estrogenic contaminations.

Alterations of biochemical parameters in malformed Indian rice frogs, Rana limnocharis from Southern Taiwan.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that cause malformed frogs in upstream Kaoping river (KP site) and Tungkang river (T site) of Southern Taiwan. In this experiment, the activities of monooxygenase (MO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AchE) as well as the concentration of vitellogenin (Vg) in the liver were measured. Results show that activities of MO, GST and AchE, and Vg levels in normal frogs (male/female) were 0.09 +/- 0.02/0.09+/-0.01 deltaA min(-1) mg(-1) protein, 0.12 +/- 0.04/0.13 +/- 0.04 deltaA min(-1) mg(-1) protein, 6.13 +/- 2.69/6.01 +/- 2.09 U mg(-1) protein and 0.87 +/- 0.42/2.18 +/- 0.50 microg mg(-1) protein, respectively. Activities of MO, GST and AchE, and Vg levels in malformed frogs (male/female) were 0.15 +/- 0.04/0.21 +/- 0.07 deltaA min(-1) mg(-1) protein, 0.27 +/- 0.08/0.30 +/- 0.12 deltaA min(-1) mg(-1) protein, 4.59 +/- 2.71/5.19 +/- 3.74 U mg(-1) protein and 1.46 +/- 0.61/3.15 +/- 0.88 microg mg(-1) protein, respectively in KP site, and were 0.16 +/- 0.69/0.1 +/- 80.07 deltaA min(-1) mg(-1) protein, 0.21 +/- 0.07/0.24 +/- 0.08 deltaA min(-1) mg(-1) protein, 5.13 +/- 4.58/3.94 +/- 1.33 U mg(-1) protein and 2.23 +/- 1.47/4.11 +/- 1.63 microg mg(-1) protein, respectively in T site. These results indicate that male and female malformed frogs in both rivers upstream are found with higher activities. No significant difference in AchE activity was found between normal and malformed frogs in this investigation. It is therefore reasonable to speculate that the organic chemicals released from agricultural activities are presumable the main factors that lead to the malformation of frogs.

Prevalence of malformed frogs in Kaoping and Tungkang river basins of southern Taiwan.

In this study we found many amphibians with bizarre appearances, known as malformations in Pingtung County southern Taiwan. For this investigation we collected frogs inhabiting the Kaoping and Tungkang river watersheds between February 2006 and June 2007. Among the total number of 10,909 normal frogs (i.e., anurans) collected during the investigation period, the Indian rice frogs (Rana limnocharis) account for the greatest number next is the Chinese bullfrog (Rana rugulosa). Of all the 244 captured malformed frogs, the Indian rice frog account for the greatest proportion. These malformed frogs have their main distribution in upstream areas of these two rivers. Our result indicates that the appearance rate of malformed frogs is 1.8% in the upstream reaches of the Kaoping River and 2.6%, and 0.8%, respectively in the upstream and midstream reaches of the Tungkang river. The most-commonly-found malformation is the lack of palms, followed by the lack of appendages, exostosis, and a malformed appendicular. It is, therefore, reasonable to speculate that the causes for the malformation may be related to the increased organic pollutants and agricultural chemicals used in the upstream reaches of these two rivers.

Effect of Zhenwu Tang Granule on pressure-overloaded left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy in rats.

BACKGROUND: In the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, few studies have focused on the compound preparations though there are many investigations. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Zhenwu Tang Granule on chronic pressure-overloaded left ventricular hypertrophy in rats. METHODS: The study was performed at the laboratory of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease. Male SD rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: sham operation group (n=8), operation group (n=15) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group (n=15). The model of myocardial hypertrophy was made by gradually constricting the abdominal aorta. Sixteen weeks later, cardiac ultrasonography was performed in all groups in order to ascertain post-operational left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. And Zhenwu Tang Granule was added at a dose of 12 g/kg in the mixed feedstuff for 8 weeks in the TCM group. In the 24th week, weight, structure as well as function of the heart in each group were measured by high-frequency ultrasonography, and Masson's staining was performed on the cardiac muscles. Meanwhile, total collagen volume fraction (CVF-T) and non-coronary vessel collagen volume fraction (CVF-NV) were analyzed. RESULTS: There was an increase in the weight of the heart in the operation group, with the left ventricule dominated (P<0.05). The heart was enlarged, with diastolic interventricular septal distance (IVSd) and left ventricular posterior wall distance (LVPWd) dominated (P<0.01). There was a significant decrease in the cardiac function (P<0.05). The weight (P<0.01) and volume of the heart decreased in the TCM group compared with the operation group, with IVSd and systolic left ventricular posterior wall dominated (P<0.01). And the cardiac function was improved (P<0.05). Significant interstitial and collagen hyperplasia was shown in the operation group based on pathological analysis, and various improvements were proved in the TCM group, i.e. there was a significant decrease in CVF-T and CVF-NV (P<0.01) compared with the operation group; but no difference (P>0.05) was found when compared with the pseudo-operation group. CONCLUSION: Zhenwu Tang Granule could reduce the weight and volume of the heart, improve the cardiac function, inhibit hyperplasia of collagen, and reverse myocardial hypertrophy in rats with pressure-overloaded left ventricular hypertrophy.

Reproduction obstacles for the female green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata) after exposure to chlordane and lindane.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chlordane and lindane on reproduction obstacles and endocrine disruption in female green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata). Individuals of N. denticulata, a common inhabitant of freshwater systems in Taiwan, was exposed to different levels of chlordane (1 and 10 ngl(-1)) and lindane (0.1 and 1 microgl(-1)). The reproductive ability and reproductive hormone levels were observed after exposure. According to our findings, an increase in estrogen, induction of a vitellogenin-like protein, and changes in reproductive performance were observed in both chlordane- and lindane-treated shrimp. Thus, it was concluded that chlordane and lindane may cause some reproduction obstacles and disruption of endocrine functions in N. denticulata.

Effects of the endocrine disrupter chemicals chlordane and lindane on the male green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chlordane and lindane on morphological changes and endocrine disruption in male Green neon shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata). In this experiment, individuals of N. denticulata, a common inhabitant of freshwater systems in Taiwan, were exposed to chlordane (1 and 10 ng/l and lindane (0.1 and 1 microg/l morphological changes and reproductive hormone levels were observed following four weeks exposure. According to our findings, an increase in estrogen, a reduction in testosterone, and morphological alternations of the masculine appendage were observed in both chlordane- and lindane-treated shrimp, while induction of a vitellogenin-like protein appeared only in shrimp treated with 10 ng/l chlordane. An endocrine disruption effect on N. denticulata was demonstrated, and may apply to other organochlorine pesticides or endocrine disruption chemicals.