Assessing vaccine-mediated protection in an ultra-low dose Mycobacterium tuberculosis murine model.

Despite widespread immunization with Bacille-Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the only currently licensed tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, TB remains a leading cause of mortality globally. There are many TB vaccine candidates in the developmental pipeline, but the lack of a robust animal model to assess vaccine efficacy has hindered our ability to prioritize candidates for human clinical trials. Here we use a murine ultra-low dose (ULD) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) challenge model to assess protection conferred by BCG vaccination. We show that BCGconfers a reduction in lung bacterial burdens that is more durable than that observed afterconventional dose challenge, curbs Mtb dissemination to the contralateral lung, and, in a smallpercentage of mice, prevents detectable infection. These findings are consistent with the ability of human BCG vaccination to mediate protection, particularly against disseminated disease, in specific human populations and clinical settings. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the ultra-low dose Mtb infection model can measure distinct parameters of immune protection that cannot be assessed in conventional dose murine infection models and could provide an improved platform for TB vaccine testing.

[Correlation analysis of age and microbial characteristics in saliva and feces of high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer].

Objective: To explore the correlation between age and diversity and microbial composition in saliva and feces microbiota in high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: Based on the national project on early diagnosis and early treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancer, 38 participants were enrolled in Linzhou in Henan province in August 2019. The participant information was collected by questionnaire. Saliva and feces specimens were collected from each participant for 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between age and α diversity (Observed ASVs and Shannon index) and relative abundance of microbiota (phyla, genera, and species) in saliva and feces. Results: The median age (age range) of 38 participants was 54 (43-60) years old, and there were 16 males (42.1%). The Observed ASVs of saliva was negatively correlated with age (rs=-0.35, P<0.05), but the observed ASVs of feces was not correlated with age. In saliva, the relative abundance of Treponema (rs=‒0.44, P<0.05), Alloprevotella (rs=‒0.42, P<0.05), and Porphyromonas (rs=‒0.41,P<0.05) were significantly negatively correlated with age. At the species level, the relative abundance of Porphyromonas endodontalis, Alloprevotella tannerae, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella bovoculi, Prevotella sp.oral clone ID019, and Prevotella sp.oral clone ASCG10 in saliva were significantly negatively correlated with age, and the rs values were -0.50, -0.40, -0.38, -0.35, -0.33 and -0.33 (P<0.05), respectively. In feces, the relative abundance of Enterobacteria (rs=-0.35, P<0.05), Escherichia (rs=-0.33, P<0.05), and Bifidobacteria (rs=0.33, P<0.05) were correlated with age. At the species level, the relative abundance of Romboutsia sedimentorum, Citrobacter murliniae, and bacteroides uniformis in feces were correlated with age, and the rs values were -0.42, -0.37 and 0.36 (P<0.05), respectively. Conclusion: Age of the high-risk population of upper gastrointestinal cancer is correlated with the relative abundance of microbiota in saliva and feces.

[Consensus of experts on the medical risk prevention for the patients with cardiovascular diseases during dental treatment (2022 edition)].

With the aging process of population in the society, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in China is increasing continuously and the number of dental patients with CVD is increasing gradually too. Due to the lack of guidelines for dental patients with CVD in our country, how to implement standardized preoperative evaluation and perioperative risk prevention remains a problem to be solved for dentists at present. The present expert consensus was reached by combining the clinical experiences of the expert group of the Fifth General Dentistry Special Committee, Chinese Stomatological Association and respiratory and cardiology experts in diagnosis and treatment for CVD patients, and by systematically summarizing the relevant international guidelines and literature regarding the relationship between CVD and oral diseases and the diagnosis and treatment of dental patients with heart failure, hypertension and antithrombotic therapy. The consensus aims to provide, for the dental clinicians, the criteria on diagnosis and treatment of CVD in dental patients in China so as to reduce the risk and complications, and finally to improve the treatment levels of dental patients with CVD in China.

Probiotic and prebiotic interventions for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Many studies have associated altered intestinal bacterial communities and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but the putative effects are inconclusive. The purpose of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to evaluate the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through randomised intervention trials. Literature searches were performed until March 2020. For each outcome, a random NMA was performed, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was determined. A total of 22 randomised trials comparing prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic treatments included 1301 participants. Considering all seven results (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, body mass index, weight, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) together, the highest SUCRA values are probiotics (94%), synbiotics (61%) and prebiotics (56%), respectively. NMA results provide evidence that probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, due to the lack of high-quality randomised trials, this research also has some limitations.

[Arthroscopic evaluation of tibial plateau fractures combined with meniscal tears and cruciate ligamentous injuries].

Objectives: To investigate the types of meniscal tears and cruciate ligamentous injuries in patients with tibial plateau fracture(TPF) following arthroscopic examination. Methods: The clinical data of 216 patients with TPF who underwent closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF) from January 2016 to January 2019 at Trauma Emergency center, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. There were 147 males (147 knees) and 69 females (69 knees),aged 46.3 years (range: 18 to 80 years). All patients underwent closed reduction for the displaced fracture fragment with the use of bidirectional rapid redactor,and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis. Intra-operative arthroscopic examination was performed to exam the stability of meniscus and the continuity of cruciate ligamentous after CRIF. The percentages and types of meniscal tears and cruciate ligamentous injuries were recorded. Results: The overall percentages of meniscal tears associated with TPFs was 48.6%(105/216). The most common pattern of meniscal tears was longitudinal tears, accounting for 43.8% (46/105), and it occurred most frequently in Schatzker type Ⅱ (58.7%, 27/46). Furthermore, the percentage of meniscal complex tears was 17.1% (18/105), occurring most frequently in Schatzker type Ⅴ (9/18). The overall percentage of cruciate ligamentous injuries associated with TPFs was 17.1% (37/216), and the percentages of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries was 64.9%(24/37), the percentage of posterior cruciate ligament injuries was 35.1%(13/37). Avulsion fracture was the most common pattern in ACL injuries, accounting for 41.7% (13/24), and all occurred in the tibial insertion site. Conclusions: In the present study, the percentages of meniscal tears and ligamentous injuries in TPFs are 48.6% and 17.1%, respectively. The most common types are meniscal longitudinal tears and ACL injury, occurring most frequently in Schatzker type Ⅱ and Ⅳ, respectively. Recognition of concomitant meniscal tears and cruciate ligamentous injuries in TPFs is helpful for trauma physicians to choose the best surgical treatment.

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Six relevant electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared rTMS with control condition for PSD were included. The mean change in depression symptom scores was defined as the primary efficacy outcome. Secondary outcomes included the remission rate of depression, stroke recovery, and cognitive function recovery. In total, 7 RCTs with 351 participants were included. At post-treatment, rTMS was significantly more effective than the control condition, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -1.15 (95%CI: -1.62 to -0.69; P<0.001, I2=71%) and remission with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.46 (95%CI: 1.68 to 7.12; P<0.001; I2=11%). As for stroke recovery, rTMS was also better than the control condition (SMD=-0.67, 95%CI: -1.02 to -0.32; P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found for cognitive function recovery between the two groups (SMD=4.07, 95%CI: -1.41 to 9.55; P=0.15). To explore the potential moderators for the primary outcome, a series of subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. The results implied that rTMS may be more effective in Asian samples than in North American samples (P=0.03). In conclusion, from the current evidence in this study, rTMS could be an effective treatment for patients with PSD. Further clinical studies with larger sample sizes and clearer subgroup definitions are needed to confirm these outcomes.

Applications of microbial co-cultures in polyketides production.

Polyketides are a large group of natural biomolecules that are normally produced by bacteria, fungi and plants. These molecules have clinical importance due to their anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyketides are biosynthesized from units of acyl-CoA by different polyketide synthases (PKSs), which display wide diversity of functional domains and mechanisms of action between fungi and bacteria. Co-culture of different micro-organisms can produce novel products distinctive from those produced during single cultures. This study compared the new polyketides produced in such co-culture systems and discusses aspects of the cultivation systems, product structures and identification techniques. Current results indicate that the formation of new polyketides may be the result of activation of previously silent PKSs genes induced during co-culture. This review indicated a potential way to produce pure therapeutic polyketides by microbial fermentation and a potential way to develop functional foods and agricultural products using co-co-culture of different micro-organisms. It also pointed out a new perspective for studies on the process of functional foods, especially those involving multiple micro-organisms.

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Six relevant electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared rTMS with control condition for PSD were included. The mean change in depression symptom scores was defined as the primary efficacy outcome. Secondary outcomes included the remission rate of depression, stroke recovery, and cognitive function recovery. In total, 7 RCTs with 351 participants were included. At post-treatment, rTMS was significantly more effective than the control condition, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -1.15 (95%CI: -1.62 to -0.69; P<0.001, I2=71%) and remission with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.46 (95%CI: 1.68 to 7.12; P<0.001; I2=11%). As for stroke recovery, rTMS was also better than the control condition (SMD=-0.67, 95%CI: -1.02 to -0.32; P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found for cognitive function recovery between the two groups (SMD=4.07, 95%CI: -1.41 to 9.55; P=0.15). To explore the potential moderators for the primary outcome, a series of subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. The results implied that rTMS may be more effective in Asian samples than in North American samples (P=0.03). In conclusion, from the current evidence in this study, rTMS could be an effective treatment for patients with PSD. Further clinical studies with larger sample sizes and clearer subgroup definitions are needed to confirm these outcomes.

[Progress in research of Fusobacterium nucleatum and upper gastrointestinal cancer].

With the development of multi-omics and high throughput sequencing technology, studies have shown that the disorder of microbiota is related to various cancers. Nevertheless, the research on the relationship between upper digestive tract cancer or precancerous lesions and gastrointestinal microecology is still less. Fusobacterium nucleatum, one of the oral symbiotic bacteria, is also an opportunistic pathogen, which can promote the formation of tumor microenvironment and can be used as a new biomarker for the early detection and early diagnosis of cancer. In this study, by searching CNKI, Wanfang data, PubMed and Embase databases, it was found that the abundance of F. nucleatum in cancer tissues is higher than that in paracancerous tissues and associated with poor prognosis. The research of relationship between F. nucleatum and precancerous lesions needs to be carried out urgently. In addition, the types of specimens, sequencing technology, strain subtypes, carcinogenic mechanism and other directions still need to be explored.

The phosphorylation of hCDC14A modulated by ZIPK regulates autophagy of murine pancreatic islet ß-TC3 cells upon glucose stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Depletion of islet ß cells plays a crucial role in the onset of diabetes mellitus. Cell autophagy, as a self-healing process, contributes to maintaining metabolic homeostasis and can protect islet ß cells from apoptosis upon starvation or high glucose stress. However, the underlying regulatory network of the autophagic process in islet ß cells has not been fully explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine ß-TC3 cells treated with different concentrations of glucose, and wild-type or the Ser484 mutant human cell division cycle gene 14A (hCDC14A) was transfected. Cell viability, proliferation and autophagy as well as islet secretion were studied. The mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways were investigated by western blots. Zipper-interacting protein kinase was studied using mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Overexpression of wild-type hCDC14A, but not the Ser484 mutant hCDC14A, promoted cell viability, proliferation and autophagy accompanied by enhanced islet secretion and reduced cell apoptosis via mTOR pathway inhibition as well AMPK pathway activation in ß-TC3 cells and vice versa. Furthermore, Zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK), also known as DAPK3, was found to interact with hCDC14A primarily for Ser484 phosphorylation, and ZIPK knockdown could affect the phosphorylation of hCDC14A and weaken cell death or cell cycle modulation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results may provide new insight into the role of hCDC14A in the autophagy of islet ß cells and suggest the potential therapeutic value of hCDC14A phosphorylation in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

[Detection and comparison of fiber count concentration in processing environment of asbestos and man-made mineral fiber].

Objective: To connect with the measurement data of asbestos dust fiber concentration in foreign countries, improve the accuracy of asbestos fiber detection in China, and understand the dust exposure in the working environment of asbestos and man-made mineral fiber production and processing sites in Zhejiang Province. The fiber count concentrations of working environment in glass fiber, ceramic fiber and asbestos processing plants were measured and compared. Methods: The dust concentration in the working environment of two glass fiber factories, one ceramic fiber factory and eight asbestos products processing factories was measured. The total dust mass concentration was measured according to GBZ/T 192.1-2007, and the fiber count concentration was measured by phase contrast microscope. Kruskal Wallis was used to test and compare the dust concentration in the working environment of each post. The correlation between asbestos mass concentration and fiber count concentration was analyzed by Spearman correlation. Results: Under the phase contrast microscope, there were many short and fine asbestos fibers in the field of vision, and there were many impurities around. The average dust concentration of asbestos processing plant was 3.2 f/ml, and the dust concentration of cotton ginning was the highest (6.68 f/ml) . There was a significantly positive correlation between asbestos fiber count concentration and mass concentration (r=0.535, P=0.033) . The average fiber count concentration of glass fiber factory was 0.001 f/ml, and the highest was 0.005 f/ml. The average fiber count concentration of ceramic fiber factory was 0.001 f/ml, and the highest was 0.006 f/ml. Conclusion: The fiber count concentration in the working environment of asbestos factory in Zhejiang Province is obviously over the standard, which is one of the important reasons for the high incidence of mesothelioma in this area. Short and small asbestos fibers are easy to be ignored when counting. It is necessary to improve the actual operation process of fiber counting to form a laboratory standard in China.

Controlling spin current polarization through non-collinear antiferromagnetism.

The interconversion of charge and spin currents via spin-Hall effect is essential for spintronics. Energy-efficient and deterministic switching of magnetization can be achieved when spin polarizations of these spin currents are collinear with the magnetization. However, symmetry conditions generally restrict spin polarizations to be orthogonal to both the charge and spin flows. Spin polarizations can deviate from such direction in nonmagnetic materials only when the crystalline symmetry is reduced. Here, we show control of the spin polarization direction by using a non-collinear antiferromagnet Mn3GaN, in which the triangular spin structure creates a low magnetic symmetry while maintaining a high crystalline symmetry. We demonstrate that epitaxial Mn3GaN/permalloy heterostructures can generate unconventional spin-orbit torques at room temperature corresponding to out-of-plane and Dresselhaus-like spin polarizations which are forbidden in any sample with two-fold rotational symmetry. Our results demonstrate an approach based on spin-structure design for controlling spin-orbit torque, enabling high-efficient antiferromagnetic spintronics.

[Progress in research of influencing factors of oral microbiome and association between oral microbiome and upper gastrointestinal cancer].

The composition of human oral microorganism is numerous and complex and is easily affected by many factors. With the development of metagenomic technology, the important role of oral microbiome in the development of tumor has attracted extensive attention. A literature retrieval was conducted through PubMed, Embase, CNKI and WanFang database for an analysis on the characteristics of oral bacteria and its association with oral cancer, esophageal cancer and gastric cancer. The results indicated that oral microbiome can be influenced by age, gender, race, and lifestyle. Specific oral bacteria were associated with high risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer, indicating a potential role of oral microbiota to be the biomarker for upper gastrointestinal cancer. This paper summarizes the progress in the research of the association between oral microbiome and upper gastrointestinal cancer, showing a new direction for the exploration of microbiological etiology of upper gastrointestinal cancer and providing scientific evidence for the optimization of early detection and treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancer.

[Status of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use in areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China: a multi-center cross-sectional survey].

Objective: To describe the status of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use in areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. Methods: This study was based on the National Key Research and Development Program of "National Precision Medicine Cohort of Esophageal Cancer" and "Study on Identification and Prevention of High-risk Populations of Gastrointestinal Malignancies (Esophageal cancer, Gastric cancer and Colorectal cancer)" . From January 2017 to August 2018, 212 villages or communities with a high incidence of esophageal cancer or gastric cancer were selected from 12 regions in 6 provinces. A total of 35 910 residents aged between 40 and 69 years old who met the inclusion criteria and signed the informed consent were investigated and enrolled in this study. The use of NSAIDs, demographic characteristics, health-related habits, height, weight, and blood pressure were collected by the questionnaire and physical examination. The status of main NSAIDs (aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen) use with the difference varying in genders, age groups and regions were analyzed by using χ(2) test and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis method. Results: Of 35 910 subjects, the mean age was (54.6±7.1) years old and males accounted for 43.42% (15 591). The overall prevalence of NSAIDs intake was 4.56% (1 638), but it significantly varied in different provinces (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of NSAIDs intake was 4.87% (1 750) in females, which was significantly higher than that in males 4.24% (1 524) (P<0.001). The prevalence of NSAIDs intake increased with age (P for trend <0.001). As the frequency of NSAIDs intake increased, the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, gastrointestinal ulcers and black stools increased (P for trend <0.05 for all). Conclusion: The use of NSAIDs is prevalent in some areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. The increased use of NSAIDs may lead to more adverse effects related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Anisotropic spin-orbit torque generation in epitaxial SrIrO3 by symmetry design.

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC), the interaction between the electron spin and the orbital angular momentum, can unlock rich phenomena at interfaces, in particular interconverting spin and charge currents. Conventional heavy metals have been extensively explored due to their strong SOC of conduction electrons. However, spin-orbit effects in classes of materials such as epitaxial 5d-electron transition-metal complex oxides, which also host strong SOC, remain largely unreported. In addition to strong SOC, these complex oxides can also provide the additional tuning knob of epitaxy to control the electronic structure and the engineering of spin-to-charge conversion by crystalline symmetry. Here, we demonstrate room-temperature generation of spin-orbit torque on a ferromagnet with extremely high efficiency via the spin-Hall effect in epitaxial metastable perovskite SrIrO3 We first predict a large intrinsic spin-Hall conductivity in orthorhombic bulk SrIrO3 arising from the Berry curvature in the electronic band structure. By manipulating the intricate interplay between SOC and crystalline symmetry, we control the spin-Hall torque ratio by engineering the tilt of the corner-sharing oxygen octahedra in perovskite SrIrO3 through epitaxial strain. This allows the presence of an anisotropic spin-Hall effect due to a characteristic structural anisotropy in SrIrO3 with orthorhombic symmetry. Our experimental findings demonstrate the heteroepitaxial symmetry design approach to engineer spin-orbit effects. We therefore anticipate that these epitaxial 5d transition-metal oxide thin films can be an ideal building block for low-power spintronics.

Vacuolar protein sorting 4 is required for silkworm metamorphosis.

Vacuolar protein sorting 4 (Vps4) not only functions with its positive regulator vacuolar protein sorting 20-associated 1 (Vta1) in the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway but also participates alone in MVB-unrelated cellular processes. However, its physiological roles at the organism level remain rarely explored. We previously identified their respective homologues Bombyx mori Vps4 (BmVps4) and BmVta1 from the silkworm, a model organism for insect research. In this study, we performed fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot to globally characterize the transcription and protein expression profiles of BmVps4 and BmVta1 during silkworm development and in different silkworm tissues and organs. The results showed that they were significantly up-regulated in metamorphosis, adulthood and embryogenesis relative to larval stages, and displayed a roughly similar tissue-and-organ specificity for transcriptions in silkworm larvae. Importantly, BmVps4 was down-regulated during the early period of the fifth instar, reaching the lowest level of transcription on Day 6, then up-regulated from Day 7 to the wandering, spinning and pupal stages, and down-regulated again in adulthood. Moreover, knocking down BmVps4 by RNA interference significantly inhibited silk gland growth, shortened spinning time, prolonged pupation, reduced pupal size and weight, and increased moth wing defects. Together, our data demonstrate the critical and broad requirements for BmVps4 in silkworm metamorphosis.

Efficacy of continuous renal replacement on acute renal injury developed in severe sepsis.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that can further develop into severe sepsis (septic shock), which eventually leads to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). This study aimed to assess the effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on acute renal injury caused by severe sepsis by monitoring biochemical parameters. A total of 60 patients with septic shock and acute kidney injury were included. The control group (30 cases) was treated with routine treatment and intermittent renal replacement therapy (IRRT). The experimental group (30 cases) was treated with routine treatment and continuous renal replacement therapy CRRT. The changes in inflammation and biochemical indexes and APACHE- II score were evaluated before the treatment and 1, 3, and 7days after the treatment. The inflammatory markers (neutrophil percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels) in the experimental group decreased significantly after treatment. In the control group, the index of inflammation still increased one day after treatment and decreased on day 3 of treatment. After treatment, blood lactate, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels decreased, but the urine volume increased. After treatment, the vasoactive dose in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P less than 0.05). CRRT is a good treatment for septic shock-related acute kidney injury, which improves biochemical indicators and protects kidney function.

A mixture of daidzein and Chinese herbs increases egg production and eggshell strength as well as blood plasma Ca, P, antioxidative enzymes, and luteinizing hormone levels in post-peak, brown laying hens.

Dietary supplementation with the isoflavone, daidzein, has been shown to improve egg production in poultry. Additionally, providing Chinese herbs (CH) in the broiler diet has led to increased antioxidative enzyme activity. However, the combined effect of these dietary supplements on hen performance has not been examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if dietary supplementation with a mixture of daidzein and CH would alter laying performance, egg quality, and blood plasma constituents of post-peak laying hens. At 59 wk of age, Hyline brown hens (240) were randomly allocated to 2 dietary groups and fed for 16 wk. The control group received the basal diet, and a treatment group was fed the basal diet that contained 0.02% of a mixture of daidzein and CH. Egg production and weight were recorded daily and egg quality data were collected at 75 wk of age. Blood plasma antioxidant activity, hormone levels, mineral (Ca and P) content, and osteocalcin content were determined at the end of the study. The results showed that laying rate, egg mass, and shell strength were greater in the daidzein-CH mixture group than the controls (P < 0.05). The plasma glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and luteinizing hormone levels were also greater in the daidzein-CH mixture group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The results of this study reveal that supplementing diets with a daidzein-CH mixture can improve laying performance perhaps by increasing plasma antioxidant activity, luteinizing hormone levels, and mineral content.

Genistein increases progesterone secretion by elevating related enzymes in chicken granulosa cells.

Genistein, a biologically active isoflavone, exists in many soy products. It is well known that genistein binds to both oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and oestrogen receptor beta (ERß), but it has a higher affinity to ERß. Genistein can also bind to the G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30, also known as G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 or GPER). Furthermore, weak oestrogenic activity has been found in genistein, but the mechanism of action remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of genistein on the secretion of progesterone (P4) and oestradiol (E2) in chicken granulosa cells harvested from follicles, as well as the mRNA expression of ERs in these cells. In addition, we examined the expression of key enzymes including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) in the process of P4 synthesis. The results showed that genistein did not affect the viability of granulosa cells, nor was the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein changed. Among the 1-, 10-, 100-, and 1,000-nM concentrations tested, treatment with 1 nM genistein for 48 h significantly increased P4 but did not affect E2 secretion. Real-time PCR results showed that the ERß gene expression in granulosa cells was markedly upregulated by 1 nM genistein treatment for 48 h, but there was no significant difference in ERα and GPR30 expression. Genistein also increased the gene expression of StAR, P450scc and 3ß-HSD in the cultured granulosa cells. These results indicate that genistein acts directly on chicken granulosa cells to increase P4 production by upregulating the gene expression of key enzymes through binding in ERß. It may exert positive effects on the reproduction of late-laying hens and act as an effective and safe feed additive for animals.

Definition of treatment-resistant depression - Asia Pacific perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The lack of uniformity in the definition of treatment resistant depression (TRD) within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region may have implications for patient management. We aimed to characterize the most commonly used TRD definition in selected APAC countries. METHODS: A systematic literature review of TRD definitions in APAC countries was conducted in Medline and Embase (2010-2016) and conference proceedings (2014 and 2016). TRD guidelines (APAC, Europe regional, US, or international) were also searched. An expert-panel explored APAC nuances in TRD definitions to achieve consensus for a regional-level definition. RESULTS: Ten guidelines and 89 studies qualified for study inclusion. Among the studies, variations were observed in definitions regarding: number of antidepressants failed (range: ≥1 to ≥3), classes of antidepressants (same or different; 59% did not specify class), duration of previous treatments (range: 4-12 weeks), dosage adequacy, and consideration of adherence (yes/no; 88% of studies did not consider adherence). No TRD-specific guidelines were identified. The emerging consensus from the literature review and panel discussion was that TRD is most commonly defined as failure to ≥2 antidepressant therapies given at adequate doses, for 6-8 weeks during a major depressive episode. LIMITATIONS: Few studies provided definitions of TRD used in daily clinical practice, and a limited number of countries were represented in the included studies and expert panel. CONCLUSION: Attaining consensus on TRD definition may promote accurate, and possibly early detection of patients with TRD to enable appropriate intervention that may impact patient outcomes and quality of life.