Persimmon leaf polyphenols as potential ingredients for modulating starch digestibility: Effect of starch-polyphenol interaction.

The interaction mode between persimmon leaf polyphenols (PLP) and corn starch with different amylose content and its effect on starch digestibility was studied. Results of iodine binding test, TGA, and DSC revealed that PLP interacted with starch and reduced the iodine binding capacity and thermal stability of starch. High amylopectin corn starch (HAPS) interacted with PLP mainly via hydrogen bonds, since the FT-IR of HAPS-PLP complex showed higher intensity at 3400 cm-1 and an obvious shift of 21 cm-1 to shorter wavelength, and the chemical shifts of protons in 1H NMR and the shift of C-6 peak in 13C NMR of HAPS moved to low field with the addition of PLP. Results of 1H NMR also showed the preferential formation of hydrogen bonds between PLP and OH-3 of HAPS. Different from HAPS, PLP formed V-type inclusion complex with high amylose corn starch (HAS) because XRD of HAS-PLP complex showed characteristic feature peaks of V-type inclusion complex and C-1 signal in 13C NMR of PLP-complexed HAS shifted to low field. Interaction with PLP reduced starch digestibility and HAS-PLP complex resulted in more resistant starch production than HAPS-PLP complex. To complex PLP with starch might be a potential way to prepare functional starch with slower digestion.

Clinical effects of a combination of phenylbutazone and omeprazole on chronic lameness in Mongolian horses.

BACKGROUND: Phenylbutazone (PBZ) is the most commonly used drug to treat symptoms of lameness in horses; however, it is associated with adverse effects such as gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Interestingly, many practitioners prescribe omeprazole (OME) concurrently with PBZ to prevent the development of EGUS. However, the efficacy and safety of this practice in Mongolian horses with chronic lameness remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effects of a combination of PBZ and OME on chronic lameness in Mongolian horses. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised block experimental design. METHODS: Eighteen Mongolian horses with lameness score was ≥3 points, were divided into three treatment groups, with six horses in each group: placebo (CON), PBZ (4.4 mg/kg PO q. 24 h), or PBZ plus OME (4 mg/kg PO q. 24 h; PBZ + OME) in a randomised block design based on the initial lameness score. The horses were treated for 15 days. During this period, weekly gastroscopy, and physiological and biochemical tests were performed. RESULTS: Both PBZ (median 1.0, interquartile range [IQR]: 0.8-1.3; p = 0.01) and PBZ + OME (median 1.0, IQR: 1.0-1.0; p = 0.01) significantly decreased the lameness score compared with before administration. In addition, PBZ significantly increased the equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) score (3.0 ± 0.6, p < 0.001), GT-17 content (293.4 ± 21.8 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and pepsinogen-1 (PG1) content (295.3 ± 38.3 ng/mL, p < 0.001) compared with CON or PBZ + OME. However, it significantly reduced the total protein (53.6 ± 1.5 g/L, p < 0.05) and albumin (25.5 ± 1.8 g/L, p < 0.05) contents. Nevertheless, compared with PBZ, PBZ + OME significantly decreased the EGGD score (0.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.001) and significantly increased the gastric fluid pH (7.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), total protein content (62.5 ± 4.6 g/L, p = 0.009), and albumin content (29.4 ± 1.1 g/L, p = 0.004). Meanwhile, they significantly diminished the gastrin 17 (GT-17) (162.0 ± 21.0 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and PG1 (182.4 ± 22.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001) contents. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Individual differences in horses were larger, but the sample size was small. There was larger interval between observations for each index. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PBZ alone, PBZ + OME had no therapeutic effect on chronic lameness; however, it reduced the occurrence of EGGD in Mongolian horses. Horses may be protected against chronic lameness and PBZ-induced EGGD by increasing the pH value, decreasing serum PG1 and GT-17 content, and preventing the reduction of myeloperoxidase content.

Leadership perspectives on facilitators and barriers to sustaining evidence-based prevention interventions in the United States Military.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) aims to prevent suicide, harassment, sexual assault, and partner and child maltreatment by implementing evidence-based behavioral health interventions (EBIs). However, sustaining EBI implementation over time and with fidelity to result in meaningful impacts is a tremendous challenge. We interviewed 35 military leaders in positions to observe, and possibly hinder, the erosions of EBI implementations to learn what distinguishes EBIs that sustain in the military from those that fade away. Thematic analysis identified barriers and supports to EBI sustainment consistent with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, reflecting the domains: outer setting, inner setting, individuals, and innovation. Participants described how factors at different levels of the social ecology interact with each other and emphasized how aspects of military culture (e.g., hierarchical structure, frequent moves, mission focus) can both support and challenge implementing and sustaining behavioral-health EBIs. EBI implementation in the military differs from most civilian settings in that service member participation in certain preventative programs is mandated. The results indicate how policy and practice can strengthen sustained EBI implementation to reduce harm and support service members.

Developing a 3D animation tool to improve veterinary undergraduate understanding of obstetrical problems in horses.

BACKGROUND: Many challenges are encountered in both teaching and learning veterinary obstetrics. This may be due to outdated teaching materials, as the main model of content transmission remains centred around text and images. METHODS: Visualisation methods such as three-dimensional (3D) and Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) tools were applied in an attempt to improve obstetrics education outcomes in the third-year class. Traditional teaching methods were utilised in the fourth-year and fifth-year students. RESULTS: These supplementary tools significantly increased the third-year students' final examination results compared with the results of fourth-year and fifth-year students (P<0.05). These examinations were designed to evaluate comprehension of the subject matter. Self-assessment questionnaire results further indicated that 3D animation and GIF promoted learning efficiency. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of 3D animation learning tools into the veterinary curriculum is predicted to better prepare students for the management of obstetrical cases after graduation.

Screening of exosomal miRNAs derived from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues: Determination of targets for the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Exosomal micro (mi)RNAs have been suggested to have important roles in abdominal obesity, and to be associated with metabolic alterations via posttranscriptional regulation of target genes. However, exosomal miRNA profiles in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) have rarely been investigated. In the present study, microarray data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database with the following accession numbers: GSE68885 (exosomal miRNAs in SAT obtained from seven patients with obesity and five lean patients), GSE50574 (exosomal miRNAs in VAT obtained from seven patients with obesity and five lean patients) and GSE29718 [mRNAs in SAT (obtained from seven patients with obesity and eight lean patients) and VAT (obtained from three patients with obesity and two lean patients)]. Differentially expressed (DE)­miRNAs and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the Linear Models for Microarray Data method, and mRNA targets of DE­miRNAs were predicted using the miRWalk2.0 database. Potential functions of DE­miRNA target genes were determined using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. As a result, 10 exosomal DE­miRNAs were identified in SAT between patients with obesity and lean patients, while 58 DE­miRNAs were identified in VAT between patients with obesity and lean patients. miRNA (miR)­4517 was revealed to be a downregulated exosomal miRNA between SAT and VAT, while the other DE­miRNAs were SAT­(e.g. hsa­miR­3156­5p and hsa­miR­4460) or VAT­(e.g. hsa­miR­582­5p, hsa­miR­566 and miR­548) specific. Following overlapping with the target genes of DE­miRNAs, only one DEG [cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86)] was identified in SAT samples, whereas 25 DEGs (e.g. fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), FOS like 2, AP­1 transcription factor subunit (FOSL2); and adenosine monophosphate deaminase 3 (AMPD3)] were identified in VAT samples. CD86 was revealed to be regulated by hsa­miR­3156­5p; whereas FGF2, FOSL2 and AMPD3 were revealed to be regulated by hsa­miR­582­5p, hsa­miR­566 and miR­548, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that these target genes may be associated with inflammation. In conclusion, exosomal miRNAs may represent underlying therapeutic targets for the treatment of abdominal obesity and metabolic disorders via regulation of inflammatory genes.

Protective effect of chlorogenic acid on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in dairy mammary epithelial cells.

Mastitis is a major disease of dairy cattle. Given the recent emergence of antibiotics resistance to mastitis, new intramammary treatments are urgently required. In the present study, we investigated whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could induce the increase in the proinflammatory cytokines in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MECs), and whether a natural antimicrobial compound Chlorogenic acid (CGA) could attenuate the inflammatory responses induced by LPS and thus could be a potential therapeutic compound for bovine mastitis. Our results indicated that LPS could induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukine (IL)-1ß and IL-6, and the activation of NF-κB p65 and p-p65 in primary bovine MECs. Furthermore, CGA significantly inhibited not only the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and p-p65 but also the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 after LPS treatment in primary bovine MECs. These results suggested that CGA had anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting NF-κB activation. In conclusion, CGA could be possibly used as a potential therapeutic compound for bovine mastitis.

Effect of TEAD4 on multilineage differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells.

TEAD4 is a member of transcriptional enhancer factor (TEF) family of transcription factors and plays a pivotal role in regulating embryonic development and muscle regeneration. Known previously, dysfunction of TEAD4 in mouse myoblasts impairs myotube development. However, the effects of TEAD4 on multipotency of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) have not been clearly understood. Recently, bovine MDSCs (bMDSCs) were successfully isolated from adult bovine muscle. Our derived bMDSCs could differentiate into mesodermal cells, including myotubes, adipocytes, and osteoid cells. Our results also revealed that bMDSCs had the capacity to develop into ectodermal and endodermal lineages including neuron-like cells and insulin-secreting cells. After TEAD4 knock-down (TEAD4-KD), bMDSCs still kept the original capacity to differentiate into neuron-like cells and insulin-secreting cells, as shown by acquisition of both neuronal and pancreatic markers normally expressed in differentiated cells. However, up-regulation of CAV3 and ßMHC failed during myogenesis of bMDSCs with TEAD4-KD, although TEAD4-KD in bMDSCs did not affect osteoid cells and myotube formation. More interestingly, adipogenic differentiation of TEAD4-KD bMDSCs was significantly suppressed. During adipogenic differentiation, TEAD4-KD systematically impaired upregulation of TEAD1, TEAD2, and TEAD3, as well as the activation of C/EBP2, ADD1, and PPARγ as the key transcription factors for adipogenic differentiation. Finally, TEAD4-KD led to the failure of adipogenesis from bMDSCs. Together, our results support that TEAD4 is essential during adipogenic differentiation of bMDSCs. It has little effect on myogenesis of bMDSCs, and does not affect ostegenesis, neurogenesis, or pancreatic differentiation of bMDSCs. Our findings will be helpful for future study on the roles of the TEAD family during differentiation of MDSCs, and for controlling MDSC differentiation for stem cell applications.

miR-9 regulates basal ganglia-dependent developmental vocal learning and adult vocal performance in songbirds.

miR-9 is an evolutionarily conserved miRNA that is abundantly expressed in Area X, a basal ganglia nucleus required for vocal learning in songbirds. Here, we report that overexpression of miR-9 in Area X of juvenile zebra finches impairs developmental vocal learning, resulting in a song with syllable omission, reduced similarity to the tutor song, and altered acoustic features. miR-9 overexpression in juveniles also leads to more variable song performance in adulthood, and abolishes social context-dependent modulation of song variability. We further show that these behavioral deficits are accompanied by downregulation of FoxP1 and FoxP2, genes that are known to be associated with language impairments, as well as by disruption of dopamine signaling and widespread changes in the expression of genes that are important in circuit development and functions. These findings demonstrate a vital role for miR-9 in basal ganglia function and vocal communication, suggesting that dysregulation of miR-9 in humans may contribute to language impairments and related neurodevelopmental disorders.

[Immediate-early c-fos and tyrosine hydroxylase protein expression in different brain regions in high-fat induced obesity in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To examine brain dopamine expression in chronic high-fat diet(HFD)-induced obese mice. METHODS: Ten male mice were fed by a high-fat diet (HF:45% of calories from fat) for 12 weeks and then classified as HFD group. Ten male mice were fed a low-fat diet (LF:10% of calories from fat) and used as control group (NCD). In the 10th week, the blood of the caudal vein was collected to determine the basal blood glucose level after both groups mice were fast for 12 h. Intraperitoneal (IP) glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance (ITT) were performed in HFD and NCD mice in the 12th week. Animals were sacrificed after fasting for 4 hours at the 12th week. Brain tissues were processed for Fos-ir and TH-ir by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of feeding, body weight was significant higher in HFD mice than that in NCD ones. During GTT and ITT, HFD mice had significantly decreased glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance at 15 min and 30 min respectively than NCD ones (P<0.05). There were higher plasma insulin concentration and leptin concentration in HFD mice than those in NCD ones (P<0.05). High fat-induced increased body weight was associated with increased cellular activation, indicated by Fos immunoreactive (ir) staining, in nucleus accumbens(NAcc), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) than those of NCD ones (P<0.05); and also significantly associated with enhanced in the number of cells labeled for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-ir), and the number of cells co-labeled for TH-ir/Fos-ir in the VTA and SN than those of NCD ones (P<0.01). Moreover, there was significantly relationship TH-ir positive cell numbers with final body weight in VTA and SN in HFD mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that chronic consumption of high-fat food was associated with plasticity-related changes in reward circuitry in mice.

[Effect of dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine on scopolamine induced memory deficits in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To research the mechanism of dopamine (DA) controlled memory in mice. METHODS: Mice received i.p. injection of scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg, SCOP 0.3, and 3.0mg/kg, SCOP 3.0, respectively, n = 10) and saline (NS, n = 10) for 60 days in experiment 1. Memory of mice was detected by dark avoidance behavior in the 53" d and the 60"' d. Animals were sacrificed after the memory test; brain tissues were processed for Fos-ir and TH-ir by immunohistochemistry. Mice were divided into four groups according results of expri-ment 1, they received i.p. injection of apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg, APO 0.1, 0.5 mg/kg, APO 0.5, and 2.0 mg/kg, APO2.0 respectively, n = 10). RESULTS: Memory was inhibited in mice injected scopolamine 3.0 mg/kg. Latency was significantly less than in NS group, only 1/ 4 that of NS group (P > 0.05). The number of mistake of SCOP 3.0 group increased about four times than that of NS group (P > 0.05). But there was no difference of latency and number of mistake between SCOP 0.3 and NS group in expriment 1. Scopolamine-induced memory deficit was associated with decreased cellular activation, indicated by Fos immunoreactive (ir) staining, in NAcc CA1 and CA3 (P < 0.05), and also associated with decreases in the number of cells labeled for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-ir), the rate limiting enzyme for dopamine conversion (P < 0.01) and the number of cells co-labeled for TH-ir/Fos-ir (P <0.01) in the ventral tegmental area(VTA), apomorphine lessened scopolamine-induced memory deficit in experiment 2. The number of cells co-labeled for TH-ir/Fos-ir (P <, 0.05) was increased in VTA after apomorphine treatment. CONCLUSION: Apomorphine lessened scopolamine-induced memory deficit in mice by increasing DA activities in VTA.

Food hoarding, but not food intake, is attenuated by acute diazepam treatment in female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

This article is part of a Special Issue "Energy Balance". Effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on food hoarding are unknown in rodents, and the effects of energy balance and GABA have not been evaluated in females. To evaluate the role of food deprivation and GABA on food hoarding, female Mongolian gerbils were given i.p. injection of diazepam (1mg/kg and 3mg/kg, respectively), a GABAA receptor agonist. Among food-deprived females, there was a bimodal pattern in the frequency of gerbils with different levels of food hoarding. High food hoarding (HFH) and low food hoarding (LFH) gerbils were analyzed. Diazepam blocked food deprivation-induced food hoarding in HFH gerbils, but not in LFH gerbils. This blockade was associated with increased cellular activation in selected brain areas, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), caudate putamen (CP) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), which suggested that direct activation of GABA in the brain reward circuitry decreased food hoarding in HFH females. Moreover, diazepam increased Fos expression in field CA2 and CA3 of the hippocampus, but had no significant effect on Fos expression in field CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, indicating that the hippocampus has area-specific effects on food hoarding in HFH gerbils. Diazepam did not alter food intake in both HFH and LFH gerbils. In addition, serum corticosterone concentrations were higher in the HFH than in the LFH ones. Together, these data indicated that food deprivation increased food hoarding in female gerbils, diazepam reduced food deprivation-induced food hoarding in HFH gerbils, and that GABA might influence food hoarding via classical reward circuitry via the mesolimbic dopamine system and specific hippocampal areas.

Increased feeding and food hoarding following food deprivation are associated with activation of dopamine and orexin neurons in male Brandt's voles.

Small mammals usually face energetic challenges, such as food shortage, in the field. They have thus evolved species-specific adaptive strategies for survival and reproductive success. In the present study, we examined male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) for their physiological, behavioral, and neuronal responses to food deprivation (FD) and subsequent re-feeding. Although 48 hr FD induced a decrease in body weight and the resting metabolic rate (RMR), such decreases did not reach statistical significance when compared to the control males that did not experience FD. During the first 2 hr of re-feeding following 48 hr FD, voles showed higher levels of feeding than controls. However, when permitted to hoard food, FD voles showed an increase in food hoarding, rather than feeding, compared to the controls. Further, both feeding and food hoarding induced an increase in neuronal activation, measured by Fos-ir, in a large number of brain areas examined. Interestingly, feeding and food hoarding also induced an increase in the percentage of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-ir) cells that co-expressed Fos-ir in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), whereas both FD and feeding induced an increase in the percentage of orexin-ir cells that co-expressed Fos-ir in the lateral hypothalamus (LH). Food hoarding also increased orexin-ir/Fos-ir labeling in the LH. Together, our data indicate that food-deprived male Brandt's voles display enhanced feeding or food hoarding dependent upon an environmental setting. In addition, changes in central dopamine and orexin activities in selected brain areas are associated with feeding and hoarding behaviors following FD and subsequent re-feeding.

Food hoarding and associated neuronal activation in brain reward circuitry in Mongolian gerbils.

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) display food hoarding and thus provide an opportunity to study the neuromechanisms underlying this behavior. In the present study, male gerbils exhibited a bimodal expression of food hoarding behavior-some displayed high levels of food hoarding whereas others virtually lacked this behavior under normal laboratory conditions with free access to food. Food hoarding was found to be associated with an increase in neuronal activation, indicated by Fos immunoreactive (ir) staining, in several brain areas including the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and lateral hypothalamus. Food hoarding was also associated with increases in the number of cells labeled for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-ir), the rate limiting enzyme for dopamine conversion, and the number of cells co-labeled for TH-ir/Fos-ir in the VTA, suggesting that dopamine in the brain reward circuitry may be involved in food hoarding. Further, we found that 22 h of food deprivation induced food hoarding in some, but not all, males that naturally did not display food hoarding. In these males, however, food hoarding did not increase TH-ir or TH-ir/Fos-ir expression in the VTA. Together, these data indicate that male Mongolian gerbils display diverse phenotypes of food hoarding behavior and that dopamine in the brain reward circuitry may be involved in the control of naturally occurring, but not food deprivation-induced, food hoarding.

Memory performance of hypercholesterolemic mice in response to treatment with soy isoflavones.

The aim of this study is to investigate the memory performance of hypercholesterolemic mice in response to soy isoflavones (SI) treatment and the mechanism involved. In this study, 64 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, high lipid diet without SI, high lipid diet with a low SI level (50 mg/kg bw) and high lipid diet with a high SI level (100 mg/kg bw). The experimental period was 30 days. The results indicated that the mice given the different treatments showed the different percentages of good, medium and poor memory performance. chi(2) analysis revealed significant difference in memory performance (P<0.05) between the high lipid diet without SI group and the high lipid diet with a low SI level group or high lipid diet with a high SI level group. Moreover, SI treatment resulted in a decrease in blood cholesterol (TC) level (high lipid diet without SI group versus high lipid diet with a low SI level group or high lipid diet with a high SI level group, P<0.05) and triglyceride (TG) level (high lipid diet without SI group versus high lipid diet with a low SI level group or high lipid diet with a high SI level group, P<0.05). In addition, SI treatment resulted in a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and significant increases in glutamic acid and aspartic acid contents in the frontal cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The results suggest that SI improve the memory performance of hypercholesterolemic mice, and the mechanism underlying the improvement might closely correlate with its roles in decreasing high blood lipid levels and modulating the metabolism of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and amino acids in brain areas of hypercholesterolemic mice.