[The analysis of the relationship between the fungal microbiota from soil and tongue coating of 18 patients with precancerous lesions of upper gastrointestinal].

The fungal microbiota from self-retained soil and tongue coating of 18 patients with precancerous lesions of upper gastrointestinal (PLUG) were sequenced. The diversity of α, ß in and the structure of the microbial community were analyzed, and the association of them was quantified by using the Spearman rank correlation method. The richness index (1.67±2.79) and the diversity index (0.25±0.10) of the fungal microbiota from tongue coating of PLUG patients were significantly lower than those from soil (4.00±4.69; 0.99±0.18) (all P values<0.001). The relative abundance of 11 taxa from tongue coating of these PLUG patients was positively associated with that from soil (all P values<0.05).

Significant association of APOA5 and APOC3 gene polymorphisms with meat quality traits in Kele pigs.

Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) and C3 (APOC3) genes are involved in the PPAR lipid metabolism pathway and thus associated with elevated triglyceride levels. However, whether APOA5 and APOC3 genetic polymorphisms affect intramuscular fat deposition and other meat quality traits remains unknown in pigs. One hundred and seventy-one Kele pigs were sampled to investigate genetic variants in the APOA5 and APOC3 genes and their association with seven pork quality traits. We identified 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the APOA5 gene and 17 SNPs in the APOC3 gene. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed 5 complete linkage disequilibria among these 22 SNPs. We found that 10 SNPs were significantly correlated with meat quality traits, including the mutation A5/-769 in the APOA5 gene, which was significantly associated with cooked weight percentage, and 9 SNPs in the APOC3 gene that were significantly associated with drip loss rate, meat color value of longissimus dorsi muscle and shear force. Therefore, these SNP markers will be useful for marker-assisted selection for improved pork quality.

[Clinical study on analgesic mechanism of bitongxiao in treating neck pain due to cervical spondylitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the analgesic mechanism of Bitongxiao (BTX, a Chinese herbal decoction) in treating neck pain due to cervical spondylitis (CS). METHODS: BTX and Jingfukang (JFK) granule were used to treat the treated and the control group separately in 102 CS cases. Plasma leucine enkephalin (LEK), substance P (SP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) before and after treatment were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS: Twelve patients in the treated group were clinically cured, 36 markedly effectively, 3 effectively and 1 ineffectively, while in the control group they were 5, 33, 14 and 0 cases respectively. The cured and marked effective rate in the treated group was 92.3%, while that in the control group 72.0%. After treatment the pain score (VAS) of both groups were significantly reduced, but the reduction was higher in the treated group than that in the control. Before treatment, plasma LEK in all patients was abnormally low, but after treatment, it raised obviously more in the treated group than that in the control (P < 0.05). Plasma SP of both groups were obviously elevated, and PGE2 revealed unaltered after treatment. CONCLUSION: BTX has strong, fast-acting and long-lasting analgesic effect with no side-effects, it could elevate the lowered plasma LEK level in cervical spondylitis patients and increase plasma SP level. The analgesic mechanism of BTX might be associated with its effect on LEK, SP or other endorphins, directly acting on the pain modulation system.