Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide mitigates AFB1-induced liver injury in rabbits.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the common dietary contaminants worldwide, which can harm the liver of humans and animals. Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide (SMP) is a natural plant-derived polysaccharide with numerous pharmacological activities, including hepatoprotective properties. The purpose of this study is to explore the intervention effect of SMP on AFB1-induced liver injury and its underlying mechanisms in rabbits. The rabbits were administered AFB1 (25 µg/kg/feed) and or treatment with SMP (300, 600, 900 mg/kg/feed) for 42 days. The results showed that SMP effectively alleviated the negative impact of AFB1 on rabbits' productivity by increasing average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR). SMP reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in serum, ameliorating AFB1-induced hepatic pathological changes. Additionally, SMP enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) activity, and inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression, thus mitigating AFB1-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Moreover, SMP upregulated the expression of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) while downregulating kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1), cytochrome c (cyt.c), caspase9, caspase3, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) expression, thereby inhibiting AFB1-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Consequently, our findings conclude that SMP can mitigate AFB1-induced liver damage by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway in rabbits.

Health Economics of Selective Early Rescue Surfactant Administration and Standard Surfactant Administration for Newborns With Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the effect of early rescue surfactant administration techniques for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) from a health care delivery system perspective. METHODS: A cost-consequence model was developed based on previously published literature to compare the health economic impact of implementing early surfactant administration strategies vs standard surfactant administration via endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV). RESULTS: Early rescue surfactant treatment strategies are associated with a decrease in the number of patients requiring MV, cumulative MV days, and rate of neonatal complications. Total annual surfactant costs are higher than standard surfactant administration, but this is offset by savings in total hospital and complication costs. CONCLUSIONS: This cost-consequence analysis suggests selective early rescue surfactant administration strategies are associated with a lower health care burden in premature infants with RDS.

Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharides alleviates florfenicol-induced liver metabolic disorder in chicks by regulating drug and amino acid metabolic signaling pathways.

Excessive and nonstandard use of florfenicol (FFC) can damage animal body, pollute ecological environment, and even harm human health. The toxic and side effects of FFC directly affect the production performance of poultry and the safe supply of chicken-related food. Salvia miltiorrhaza polysaccharides (SMPs) are natural macromolecular compounds, and were proved to have the effect of protecting animal liver. We used transcriptome and proteome sequencing technologies to study the effect of FFC on specific signal transduction pathways in chick livers and further explored the regulatory effect of SMPs on the above same signal pathways, and finally revealed the intervention effect and mechanism of SMPs on FFC-induced changes of liver function. The screened sequencing results were verified by qPCR and PRM methods. The results showed that FFC changed significantly 9 genes and 5 proteins in drug metabolism-cytochrome P450 signaling pathway, and the intervention of SMPs adjusted the expression levels of 5 genes and 4 proteins of the above factors. In glycine, serine and threonine metabolism signaling pathway, 8 genes and 8 proteins were significantly changed due to FFC exposure, and SMPs corrected the expression levels of 5 genes and 6 proteins to a certain extent. In conclusion, SMPs alleviated FFC-induced liver metabolic disorder in chicks by regulating the drug and amino acid metabolism pathway. This study is of great significance for promoting the healthy breeding of broilers and ensuring the safe supply of chicken-related products.

The impact of increasing multitarget stool DNA use among colorectal cancer screeners in a self-insured US employer population.

Background: In the United States (US), colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. With the majority of the US population covered by employer-based health plans, employers can play a critical role in increasing CRC screening adherence, which may help avert CRC-related deaths. Therefore, it is important for self-insured employers to consider the impact of appropriate utilization of CRC screening options. Objective: To evaluate the impact of increasing multitarget stool DNA [mt-sDNA (Cologuard®)] use among CRC screeners from the perspective of a US self-insured employer. Methods:A 5-year Markov model was developed to quantify the budget impact of increasing mt-sDNA from 6% to 15% among average-risk screeners using colonoscopy, fecal immunological test, and mt-sDNA. Data on direct medical costs were obtained from published literature, Medicare CPT codes, and the Healthcare cost and Utilization project. Indirect costs included productivity loss due to workplace absenteeism for CRC screening and treatment. Results: With a hypothetical population of 100,000 employees with screeners aged 50-64 years, compared to status quo, increased mt-sDNA utilization resulted in no differences in the numbers of cancers detected and the overall direct and indirect cost savings were ~$214,000 ($0.04 per-employee-per-month) over 5 years. Most of the savings were due to a reduction in the direct medical expenditure related to CRC screening, adverse events, and productivity loss due to colonoscopy screening. Similar results were observed in the model simulation among screeners aged 45-64 years. Conclusion: Increased utilization of mt-sDNA for CRC screening averts direct and indirect medical costs from a self-insured US employer perspective.

The health economic impact of varying levels of adherence to colorectal screening on providers and payers.

AIMS: To examine the impact of increasing multi-target stool DNA test (mt-sDNA [Cologuard]) utilization for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in cohorts aged 50-75 and 45-75 years old with varying levels of adherence from the perspectives of integrated delivery networks (IDNs) and payers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed a budget impact model that simulates CRC screening with colonoscopy over a 10-year time horizon, fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and mt-sDNA according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force and American Cancer Society guidelines for average risk adults. We evaluated varying levels of screening adherence for a status quo scenario and for an increased mt-sDNA utilization scenario, from the IDN and payer perspectives. The IDN perspective included CRC screening program costs, whereas the payer perspective did not. Conversely, stool-based screening test and bowel preparation costs were unique to the payer perspective. RESULTS: The increased mt-sDNA scenarios yielded cost savings relative to the status quo under all adherence scenarios due to a decrease in screening and surveillance colonoscopies. For ages 50-75, in high and low adherence scenarios, savings were $19.8 M ($0.16 per-person-per-month (PPPM)) and $33.3 M ($0.28 PPPM) from the IDN perspective. From the payer perspective, savings were $4.2 M ($0.03 PPPM) and $6.7 M ($0.06 PPPM). For ages 45-75, in high and low adherence scenarios, cost savings were $19.3 M ($0.16 PPPM) and $33.0 M ($0.28 PPPM) from the IDN perspective and $3.9 M ($0.03 PPPM) and $6.2 M ($0.05 PPPM) from the payer perspective. In all imperfect adherence scenarios, the degree of cost-savings with increased mt-sDNA utilization correlated with the aggregate decrease in screening and surveillance colonoscopies. LIMITATIONS: Estimates of real-world adherence levels were based on cross-sectional screening data from the literature, and assumptions were applied to individual screening modalities and screening scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Among all adherence scenarios, perspectives, and age ranges, increased mt-sDNA utilization yielded cost-savings.

Residential radon exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Massachusetts, USA: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ionizing radiation has been associated with hypertension, but the relationship between residential radon exposure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) has not been examined. METHODS: We used the Massachusetts Birth Registry of Vital Records from 2001 to 2015 including women with a singleton pregnancy without prior hypertension. The binary outcome (HDP) included gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia cases and was assessed using birth certificate data. We obtained 141,665 basement radon measurements from Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc. and modeled the monthly zip code basement radon level. We used a logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographic covariates, maternal comorbidities, PM2.5, season, temperature, and relative humidity. We examined effect modification by maternal age, race, and maternal education as an indicator of socio-economic status. RESULTS: Of 975,528 women, 3.7% (36,530) of them developed HDP. Zip code level radon ranged from 22 to 333 mBq/m3. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in zip code radon level throughout pregnancy was associated with a 15% increase in the odds of HDP (95% CI 13% to 18%). In women less than 20 years old, an IQR increase in zip code level radon was associated with 38% increase in the odds of HDP (95% CI 24% to 50%), while the effect was smaller in older women. There was no effect modification by maternal race or education. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, higher levels of residential radon are associated with increased odds of HDP. After stratifying by age, this effect was stronger in participants younger than 20 years old. Since the burden of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is increasing and affects women's future cardiovascular health, identification of modifiable risk factors is of great importance.

Citrate-enhanced release of arsenic during pyrite oxidation at circumneutral conditions.

The release of arsenic (As) from the oxidation of As-rich pyrite is an important source of the high arsenic in groundwater. As a widespread low-molecular-weight organic acid, citrate plays an important role on the cycling of Fe(II)/Fe(III) through complexation in circumneutral subsurface environments, while the influence of citrate on the release of As from the oxidation of As-rich pyrite is poorly understood. In this study, As was loaded onto pyrite particles under anoxic conditions, and its release was investigated in the presence of 0-1 mM citrate at pH 7.4 under oxic conditions. As-loaded pyrite suspension was prepared by the equilibrium of 2.67 µM As(III) in 10 g/L pyrite under anoxic conditions with the decrease in dissolved As(III) concentration to 1 µM. The suspension was subsequently exposed to air for oxygenation. In the absence of citrate, the oxygenation decreased the partitioning of As in the solution because of the re-adsorption of aqueous As by the in situ generated Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. However, with the increase in citrate concentration from 0.1 to 1 mM, the As partitioned in the solution increased from 0.3 to 2.67 µM. In the presence of 1 mM citrate, the As(III) was almost completely oxidized to As(V) during the oxygenation. The mechanisms of citrate-enhanced release of As were mainly attributed to the ligand exchange of citrate with As for pyrite surface sites, the competitive adsorption of citrate with As on Fe(III) oxyhydroxides and pyrite, and the partitioning of As on the newly formed Fe(III) colloids. This finding presents an overlooked mechanism of the release of pyrite-associated As under oxic and circumneutral conditions.

[Low-dose capsaicin decreases lung ischemia-reperfusion injury and underlying mechanism in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of low-dose capsaicin (CAP) on lung ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and elucidate its possible mechanisms in rats. METHODS: A total of 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of S (sham thoracotomy and mechanical ventilation for 5.0 h), IR (an occlusion of left pulmonary hilus for 1.0 h followed by reperfusion for 4.0 h), CAP (an injection of CAP at 5.0 min pre-occlusion) and CGRP8-37 group (an injection of CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 at 10.0 min pre-occlusion followed by the same treatment as CAP group) (n = 8 each). At pre-occlusion, 0.5 h and 4.0 h post-reperfusion, blood samples were collected for blood gas analyses and arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) and alveolar arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO2) measured. At the end of experiment, lung tissues were obtained to measure the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), lung tissue wet to dry weight ratio (W/D) and lung histological changes. RESULTS: At 0.5 h post-reperfusion, PaO2 in S group was significantly higher than that in IR, CAP and CGRP8-37 groups ((147.7±32.4) vs (100.8±18.9), (123.9±16.3), (121.0±15.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), all P<0.05) and it was higher in CAP group than in IR group (P<0.05); A-aDO2 increased in IR and CGRP8-37 groups versus S group ((151.5±21.9), (134.3±15.1) vs (118.4±19.1) mmHg, both P<0.05). At 4 h post-reperfusion, PaO2 was higher in CAP group than those in IR and CGRP8-37 groups ((146.0±21.1) vs (113.5±21.1), (124.0±16.4) mmHg, both P<0.05). And A-aDO2 in CAP group was lower than those in IR and CGRP8-37 groups ((111.4±23.4) vs (140.8±22.0), (132.7±16.4) mmHg, both P<0.05); the level of TNF-α in CAP group was lower than that in IR group ((2.7±0.9) vs (3.7±1.1) pg/mg, P<0.05); W/D ratios were remarkably higher in IR, CAP and CGRP8-37 groups than that in S group (5.74±0.52, 6.03±0.78, 5.26±0.24 vs 4.87±0.34, all P<0.05), and it was lower in CAP group than in CGRP8-37 group (P<0.05). Under light microscope, the pathological lesions were more severe in IR and CGRP8-37 groups than those in CAP group at 4 h post-reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose capsaicin exerted protective effects on lung ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. And it is mediated partially by calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor. The underlying molecular mechanism is involved in suppressed inflammatory response.

[Clinical application of the modified laryngeal mask airway for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical application of the modified laryngeal mask airway for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy. METHOD: By the induction of the general anesthesia, 42 patients undergoing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy between september 2012 and may 2013 were managed with the modified laryngeal mask airway. The group consisted of 42 male patients aged 56 years to 67 years, with a median age of 61. RESULT: No patient experienced any complications related to the operation, such as buckling, body movement, tracheospasm, pneumothorax and heavy bleeding. Controlled ventilation and bronchial endoscopy were non-interference in each other. And all patients had good ventilation. The satisfaction of thoracic surgery physicians, patients and anesthesiologists were also 100%. CONCLUSION: For patients presenting with EBUS-TBNA under general anesthesia with the modified laryngeal mask airway is a safe and reliable inspection method. This method can be used for routine examination.

[Comparative a nimble of monitoring indicator, explore the superiority about Supreme dual-chamber laryngeal mask used for cesarean section anesthesia].

OBJECTIVE: Explore the feasibility and superiority about Supreme double-lumen laryngeal mask airway for cesarean section anesthesia. METHODS: From March 2011 to March 2012, a total of 300 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I or II foot of cesarean section in full-term pregnant women for the first time production of Quanzhou Women's and Children's Hospital were recruited, authenticated by Hospital Ethics Committee, they were randomly divided into three groups (Random number table), dual-chamber in the LMA group (A group of 100 cases), tracheal intubation group (B group of 100 cases) and spinal anesthesia group (C group of 100 cases). ECG, SpO2, MAP, heart rate, Narcotrend and Apgar scores were observed. RESULTS: Before and after the LMA group inserted laryngeal mask HR,MAP no significant change in the performance of Narcotrend value remained at the level of anesthesia, intubation before and after HR, MAP significantly increased performance of Narcotrend values significantly increased, both compared to the obvious statistical difference (P < 0.05). The ventilation indicators of two groups compared to no significant difference (P > 0.05). LMA group cover required intubation time was significantly shorter than the time required for intubation of endotracheal intubation group (P < 0.01). Three groups of patient administration to the fetus at all times is in 5-10 min.Three groups similar to the Apgar score was no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The dual-chamber laryngeal mask airway for caesarean section anesthesia, fetal Apgar scores, feasibility, and its operation is easy, safe and comfortable anesthesia, compared tracheal intubation has obvious superiority.

Interaction between lung cancer cell and myofibroblast influenced by cyclic tensile strain.

Using a cell culture chip with a deformable substrate driven by a hydraulic force, we investigated the motility of cancer cells affected by myofibroblasts undergoing cyclic tensile strain (CTS). CTS reduced both the expression of α-smooth muscle actin in the myofibroblast and the ability of the myofibroblast to accelerate cancer cell migration. However, with the treatment of a pro-inflammatory factor interleukin-1ß on the myofibroblasts, the effects of CTS on the myofibroblast were diminished. This result suggests an antagonism between mechanical and chemical stimulations on mediating cancer metastasis by the stromal myofibroblast.

[Comparison of hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation with laryngeal mask airway CTrach™ and laryngoscope under general anesthesia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation with Laryngeal Mask Airway CTrach™ and Laryngoscope under general anesthesia. METHODS: 60 adult patients, scheduled for the elective gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia requiring the orotracheal intubation, were randomly allocated to either the CTrach (C) group or the Laryngoscope (D) group. After a standard intravenous anesthetic induction, the orotracheal intubation was performed. Noninvasive blood pressures and heart rates were recorded before (the baseline values) and after anesthesia induction(the postinduction values), at intubation and every minute for the first 3 minutes after intubation. RESULTS: The mean intubation time was longer in the C group than in the D group. The tracheal intubations caused significant increases in blood pressures and heart rates in the two groups compared to their postinduction values. In the D group, HR at intubation and after intubation were significantly higher Compared to the baseline values. In the C group, BP and HR at intubation and after intubation were not significantly different from the baseline values. BP and HR at intubation and after intubation were significantly higher in the D group than in the C group. CONCLUSION: The CTrach had advantage of attenuating the hemodynamic responses to the orotracheal intubation compared to the laryngoscope.