Objective To investigate the effects of dried whey on the intestinal bacterial community and probiotics in weaned laboratory rabbits .Methods A single factor design was employed to investigate the effects of dried whey supplemented at levels of 0%, 2%, 5%and 10%, respectively, on 48 weaned (40-day-old) laboratory rabbits.At the day 30, eight rabbits in each group were taken and sacrificed after anesthesia .The total bacterial DNA from the ceacal content of each selected rabbit was drew to analyze the bacterial community and intestinal probiotics ( Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillius) population by PCR-DGGE and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively.Results 1) The DGGE parameters of ceacal bacterial community were increased with the increasing dried whey supplemental levels .The number of DGGE band in 2%, 5%and 10%dried whey supplement groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), the Shannon index in 5%and 10% supplement groups ( P<0.01 ) were significantly higher than that in the 0% supplement group , but the indices of DGGE band and Shannon index had no significant differences among the 2%, 5% and 10% dried whey supplement groups (P>0.05).Supplying dried whey has no significant effects on the homogeneity index (P>0.05).2) The population of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillius in ceacal content had a trend of increase with the rising dried whey supplement levels .Compared with the 0% supplement group , the Lactobacillius population in the 2%, 5% and 10%supplement groups ( P <0.05 ) , the Bifidobacterium population in the 10% supplement group ( P <0.05 ) were significantly increased .Conclusions The results of our study indicate that: 1 ) Supplying dried whey in the feed of laboratory rabbit can effectively increase the diversity of ceacal bacterial community .2) Dried whey may effectively improve the intestinal probiotics population .

Objective To comparatively investigate the characteristics of bone metabolism in forelimb malformation WHBE rabbits based on the OPG/RANK/RANKL system.Methods Healthy male 2-2.5-month old WHBE rabbit ( HWR) , Healthy Japanese rabbit ( HJR) and forelimb malformation WHBE rabbit ( FMWR) were used in this study and divided into 3 groups, HWR, HJR and FMWR groups, with 10 rabbits in each group.The shape of forelimb and mean gray value observed from X-ray film were examined, and the bone tissue micro-morphology was analyzed using HE staining.Re-al-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to determine the expression of osteoprotegerin ( OPG) and receptor activator of NF-KB ligand ( RANKL) mRNA.The expressions of OPG, receptor activator of NF-KB ( RANK) and RANKL protein in serum and bone tissue were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay ( ELISA) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results Compared with the HWR and HJR groups, rabbits in the FMWR group appeared abnormal in toutuous forelimb and thinner bone cortex.The mean gray values of X-ray in the FMWR group were lower than that in the HWR group ( P<0.05).There were significant differences between the FMWR and healthy rabbits (HWR and HJR) in the following pa-rameters:RANKL mRNA expression and RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio in the liver(P<0.05, P<0.01), serum protein expression of RANK and RANKL and RANKL/OPG ratio (P<0.05, P<0.01), and positive index of expression of RANKL protein and RANKL/OPG ratio in the bone tissue(P<0.05, P<0.01).Furthermore, the gene expression lev-els of OPG and RANKL of HWR were significantly higher than that of HJR(P<0.05, P<0.01).Conclusions The FMWR show some abnormal symptoms in bone metabolism as well as decrease of bone quality and histological changes of bone micro-structure, due to the significant increase of RANKL/OPG ratio of FMWR.The breed differences between WHBE and Japanese rabbits in RANKL mRNA expression level may be one of factors inducing limb malformation in the WHBE rabbits.

Objective To analyze the effect of Yaotongning capsule in the treatment of lumbar osteoarthritis patients.Methods From March 2013 to March 2015 in our hospital, 80 cases of lumbar osteoarthritis patients according to the digital table method were divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental group.The patients of the control group were given Bitongning, and the patients of the experimental group were given Yaotongning capsule, and the therapeutic effect, serum indexes and Japanese Orthopaedic Association ( JOA ) of two groups were compared. Results The curative effect of the experimental group was higher than control group(95.00%vs.67.50%) , the JOA score of the experimental group was higher than control group [(27.46 ±1.07)points vs.(21.06 ±1.89)points] (P<0.05).After treatment, the MMP-3(65.28 ±4.37) ng/L and IL-1β(12.43 ±1.01) ng/L of the experimental group were significantly lower than MMP-3(79.56 ±5.36) ng/L, IL-1β(16.44 ±1.03) ng/L of the control group, and the difference was significant (P<0.05).Conclusion The lumbar osteoarthritis patients with Yaotongning capsule has obvious effect, and the function of lumbar intervertebral joint improves obviously, and the serum index is normal, safe and reliable.

Objective To explore the effect of “double reinforcing and one unblocking” electroacupuncture on hepatic mitochondrial structure and ATPase activity in a rat model of senile yang deficiency. Methods Forty 5-month-old male SD rats were selected and randomly allocated to groups A, B, C and D, 10 rats each. Group A was a normal control group. A model of senile yang deficiency was made by 40 days’ subdermal injection of D-galactose and then 7 days’ intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone in the other three groups of rats. Group C received treatment with “double reinforcing and one unblocking”electroacupuncture at points Guangyuan(CV4), Zusanli(ST36) and Baihui(GV20); group D, treatment with electroacupuncture at points Zhongji(CV3), Yinlingquan(SP9) and Yintang(GV29). Treatment was given 6 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. After treatment, the anti-fatigue ability was determined by swimming exhaustion time, hepatic mitochondrial structure was observed under a transmission electron microscope and hepatic Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities were measured by colorimetry in every group of rats. Results The mean swimming exhaustion time shortened significantly (all P＜0.01); hepatic mitochondrial inner and outer membranes were blurred, mitochondrial ridges deformed, ruptured or disappeared and mitochondria swelled; both Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities decreased (P＜0.01, P＜0.05) in groups B, C and D of rats compared with group A. Swimming exhaustion time lengthened significantly (P＜0.01), hepatic mitochondrial structure improved significantly and both Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities increased significantly (P＜0.01, P＜0.05) in group C compared with group B. Rat mean swimming exhaustion time shortened (P＜0.05), hepatic rough endoplasmic reticula degranulated and hepatic Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities decreased (P＜0.05) in group D compared with group B. Conclusion “Double reinforcing and one unblocking”electroacupuncture can improve anti-fatigue ability, ameliorate hepatic mitochondrial ultrastructure, increase hepatic Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities and promote hepatic energy metabolism in a rat model of senile yang deficiency.

Objective To study the rhythmic changes of 24 h ambulatory blood pressure in pre-eclampsia(PE)patients and come up with coping strategies. Method The levels and circadian variations of blood pressures in 240 pre-eclampsia patients were monitored and observed with 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results Among the 240 PE cases,121 were diagnosed as mild PE and 119 as severe PE.There were significant differences in the average of 24 h circadian variation,the average of date time variation,decreased blood pressure at night time between the two groups(all P<0.05). Conclusion Through ambulatory blood pressure monitoring,nurses can monitor the rhythmic changes of 24 h ambulatory blood pressure,make reasonable arrangements for the treatment and care operations,reduce the factors that induce eclampsia and ensure the safety of mother and baby .

OBJECTIVETo study the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels with hyperlipidemia.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 1591 adults for detecting MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), plasma Hcy levels with enzymatic cycling method, and blood lipid levels as well. The patients were divided according to the lipid levels into hyperlipidemia group (n=694) and healthy control group (n=897) and the differences in MTHFR gene C677T polymorphisms and plasma Hcy levels were compared.

RESULTSThe hyperlipidemia group and healthy control group showed no significant differences in CC, CT, or TT genotype frequencies or C and T allele frequencies of MTHFR C677T gene, and had comparable plasma Hcy levels (P>0.05). Patients with 3 different MTHFR C677T genotypes had significant differences in plasma Hcy levels (P<0.01) but not in blood lipid levels (P>0.05). Pairwise comparison indicated a significantly higher plasma Hcy level in TT genotype than in CC and CT genotypes (P<0.01), and the latter two genotypes showed no significant difference (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMTHFR C677T polymorphisms and plasma Hcy levels are closely related but neither of them is associated with hyperlipidemia. The TT genotype is associated with a significantly higher plasma Hcy level than CC and CT genotypes.

Adult ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; genetics ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Machine learning approaches are increasingly being applied to neuroimaging data from patients with psychiatric disorders to extract brain-based features for diagnosis and prognosis. The goal of this review is to discuss recent practices for evaluating machine learning applications to obsessive-compulsive and related disorders and to advance a novel strategy of building machine learning models based on a set of core brain regions for better performance, interpretability, and generalizability. Specifically, we argue that a core set of co-altered brain regions (namely 'core regions') comprising areas central to the underlying psychopathology enables the efficient construction of a predictive model to identify distinct symptom dimensions/clusters in individual patients. Hypothesis-driven and data-driven approaches are further introduced showing how core regions are identified from the entire brain. We demonstrate a broadly applicable roadmap for leveraging this core set-based strategy to accelerate the pursuit of neuroimaging-based markers for diagnosis and prognosis in a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Humans ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/epidemiology* ; Brain/pathology* ; Neuroimaging/methods* ; Machine Learning ; Comorbidity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*