The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats from Liaoning province, northeastern China. From October 2014 to September 2016, sera of 651 cats, including 364 domestic cats and 287 feral cats (332 females and 319 males) were assessed. They were tested for the presence of D. immitis antigen using SNAP Heartworm RT test kit. In this population, the average prevalence was 4.5%. Age and rearing conditions (feral or domestic) were found to be associated with the prevalence of D. immitis. The prevalence was significantly higher in feral cats compared with domestic cats (8.4% vs 1.4%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between males and females (4.7% vs 4.2%, P>0.05), but older cats (≥3 years old) showed a statistically higher prevalence compared with younger cats ( < 3 years old) in feral populations (16.8 vs 2.4%, P < 0.01), while the difference between the age groups was not statistically significant in domestic cats (2.4% vs 0.51%, P>0.05), all these results suggest that outdoor exposure time may be one of the most important factors for D. immitis prevalence in cats. Results reveal that D. immitis are prevalence in domestic and feral cats in northeastern China, which indicates that appropriate preventive measures should be taken to decrease the incidence of feline heartworm disease in Liaoning province, northeastern China.
Animals ; Cats* ; China* ; Dirofilaria immitis* ; Dirofilaria* ; Dirofilariasis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

Objective To investigate the pharmacodynamic effects of Poria triterpenes on tumor suppression in mice with ascites tumors,and to detect and identify the chemical components of Poria triterpenes using HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap method,and to explore the potential mechanism of action of Poria triterpenes on tumor suppression in mice with ascites tumors based on both of them using non-labeled definitive proteomics techniques.Methods Poria triterpene parts were extracted by solvent method,and the main components were detected and identified by HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap liquid mass spectrometer;mice were randomly divided into model group,Poria triterpene group and positive control group(mushroom polysaccharide group),after 21 days of continuous administration,to establish After continuous administration for 21 days,the H22 ascites tumor mouse model was established,and the effect of each drug group on the amount of ascites,spleen index,thymus index,liver index,serum TNF-Alpha and IL-2 in H22 ascites tumor mice was observed after one week of continued administration;then H22 cells were extracted from the ascites of mice,and the H22 cells in the model group and Poria triterpene group were detected by non-lable-free quantitative proteomics technique.The differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)were screened out by using GO,KEGG and other analyses.Results The abdominal water volume in the mouse Poria triterpene group was significantly lower than that in the model group(P<0.05);the thymus index in the mouse Poria triterpene group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P<0.05);the serum levels of TNF-Alpha in the mouse Poria triterpene group were significantly different from those in the model group(P<0.01),and the serum levels of IL-2 in the mouse Poria triterpene group were significantly different from those in the model group(P<0.01).Through the analysis of the chemical composition of Poria triterpene parts,a total of 19 triterpenoids were identified,with four main structural types.A total of 188 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the Poria triterpene group compared with the model group,of which 86 differentially expressed proteins were up-regulated and 102 differentially expressed proteins were down-regulated;GO database analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins in the Poria triterpene group were mainly involved in the regulation of interleukin-1 production The KEGG database analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins in the Poria triterpene group were involved in signaling pathways closely related to tumor,mainly MAPK,Apoptosis,mTOR,Wnt and p53 pathways,etc.The genes coding for the seven representative differential proteins were validated at the mRNA level by RT-qPCR.Conclusion The pharmacodynamic study found that Poria triterpenes had tumor suppressive effect on H22 ascites tumor mice,then by proteomics found Poria triterpenes group ascites H22 cell protein compared to the model group changed significantly,the study thus showed that Poria triterpenes for mice ascites tumor mechanism of tumor suppressive effect mainly involves apoptosis,inflammatory response and immune process.

Poria is an important medicine for inducing diuresis to drain dampness from the middle energizer. However, the specific effective components and the potential mechanism of Poria remain largely unknown. To identify the effective components and the mechanism of Poria water extract (PWE) to treat dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency syndrome (DSSD), a rat model of DSSD was established through weight-loaded forced swimming, intragastric ice-water stimulation, humid living environment, and alternate-day fasting for 21 days. After 14 days of treatment with PWE, the results indicated that PWE increased fecal moisture percentage, urine output, D-xylose level and weight; amylase, albumin, and total protein levels; and the swimming time of rats with DSSD to different extents. Eleven highly related components were screened out using the spectrum-effect relationship and LC-MS. Mechanistic studies revealed that PWE significantly increased the expression of serum motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), ADCY5/6, p-PKAα/β/γ cat, and phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein in the stomach, and AQP3 expression in the colon. Moreover, it decreased the levels of serum ADH, the expression of AQP3 and AQP4 in the stomach, AQP1 and AQP3 in the duodenum, and AQP4 in the colon. PWE induced diuresis to drain dampness in rats with DSSD. Eleven main effective components were identified in PWE. They exerted therapeutic effect by regulating the AC-cAMP-AQP signaling pathway in the stomach, MTL and GAS levels in the serum, AQP1 and AQP3 expression in the duodenum, and AQP3 and AQP4 expression in the colon.
Animals ; Rats ; Poria ; Spleen ; Albumins ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein