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 .

Metagenomics ( metagenome) obtained all the microorganisms genome in specific biological environment from DNA samples directly from soil, water and skin, body cavity of human and animals.The metagenomic library was constructed by cloning them into alternative host cells using the vector, which is a discipline of screening new active substances and new genes by high-throughput sequencing.Therefore,using metagenomics not only can effectively detect the composition of microbial community of specific environment,but also greatly expanded the utilize the space of the microbial resources, developed of the next sequencing, enriched the content of bioinformatics. Based on the advantages of metagenomics,we summarized the major advances of metagenomics in human and animal pathogenic microorganisms in recent years,which might be used for the investigation and analysis of microbial pathogens of laboratory animal, animal epidemic monitoring and diagnosis of biological safety.

Objective To study the effect of drinking water at different pH on intestinal microbial diversity in SPF mice.Methods Ninety 21-day-old SPF mice were randomly divided into three groups: drinking acidified water (pH 3.0), neutral water (pH 7.0) and alkaline water (pH 9.0), respectively, for 3 months, 30 mice in each group.10 mice were sacrificed at the end of 4, 8 and 12 weeks in each group.Bacteria, virus and parasites in serum were detected according to the national standard for SPF.Then, primer sequences were designed according to the conservativeness of bacteria 16S rRNA, and libraries were constructed.Subsequently, the ileocecal contents were subjected to high-throughput sequencing (Illumina).10 G data were obtained and analyzed.Results The sequencing results revealed that the intestinal microbial abundance of the mice receiving pH 3.0 drinking water was moderate with a high stability.Conclusions Under the conditions of large-scale breeding, the mice receiving pH 3.0 drinking water can maintain the intestinal microbial diversity for a long time, and reach a stable platform.This study provides theoretical and technical support for the stable long-term maintenance of animal quality production.It is also a specific application of gastrointestinal macrogenomics in animal quality control.

Objective To analyze the differences of the clinical and neuropathological features among the common Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) subtypes.Methods There were 81 CMT patients confirmed by genetic testing from 2005 to 2015 in Department of Neurology,Peking University First Hospital,including 31 cases of CMT1A (38.3％),19 cases of CMTX1 (23.5％),16 cases of CMT2A2 (19.8％) and 15 cases of 9 rare types of CMT (1.2％-4.9％).We compared the onset age,duration,muscles weakness of legs,frequency of pes cavus,and main pathological changes of the sural nerve biopsy in 48 cases of the common CMT subtypes.Results The mean age of the onset was (12.00 ± 6.77) years in CMT1A patients,(11.81 ±4.65) years in CMTX1 patients and (5.00 ±2.68) years in CMT2A2 patients (Brown-Forsythe test,P =0.001).The duration was (12.00 ± 6.75) years in CMT1A patients,(8.50 ± 4.75) years in CMTX1 patients and (5.00 ± 2.73) years in CMT2A2 patients (Brown-Forsythe test,P =0.001).The muscle force of the dorsi flexors was Ⅳ (0,Ⅴ) in CMT1A patients,Ⅲ + (0,Ⅳ) in CMTX1 patients and 0 (0,Ⅳ) in CMT2A2 patients (H =11.359,P =0.020).The pes cavus appeared in 15/23 cases of CMT1A,10/16 cases of CMTX1 and 1/9 cases of CMT2A2 (Fisher test,P=0.017).The leukoencephalopathy appeared only in 3 cases of CMTX1 and the visual loss appeared only in 3 cases of CMT2A2.The onion-bulb formations of myelinated fibers appeared in 23/23 cases of CMT1 A,5/16 cases of CMTX1 and 2/9 cases of CMT2A2(Fisher test,P =0.000).The axonal regeneration appeared in 16/23 cases of CMT1A,16/16 cases of CMTX1 and 9/9 cases of CMT2A2 (x2 =7.666,P =0.016).There were significant differences among the three common CMT subtypes in the above parameters.Conclusions CMT1A,CMT2A2 and CMTX1 are the most common subtypes of CMT in the present study.For the clinical diagnosis,more attention should be paid to the onset of the disease,duration,muscles weakness,pes cavus,cerebral symptoms and visual loss.The present frequency of onion-bulb and the axonal regeneration of myelinated fibers help the different pathological diagnosis among them.

Objective:To evaluate the endothelial functions and autoregulation capacity of cerebral blood flow in patients with Fabry disease .Methods:Brachial artery vasodilation was assessed in 8 pa-tients with Fabry disease and 14 healthy controls by means of flow-mediated dilation ( FMD) and Nitro-glycerin-mediated dilation ( NMD) .Cerebrovascular reactivity was calculated in terms of breath-holding index ( BHI) and vascular motor reactivity ( VMR) by TCD-CO2 test in 4 patients and 14 healthy con-trols.Results:Compared with the controls , brachial artery vasodilation experiment showed no difference (the patients:FMD 15.94%±5.03% and NMD 23.92%±7.23%, the controls: FMD 14.57%± 5 .84% and NMD 22 .64%±6 .96%) , there was no relationship between FMD or NMD and the age , course of disease , MSSI or enzyme activity .In respect of cerebrovascular autoregulation capacity , there was no difference in anterior circulation , while cerebrovascular reactivity tended to be impaired in posteri-or circulation .Conclusion:Endothelial function showed no decline in patients with Fabry disease , but cerebrovascular autoregulation capacity tended to be impaired in posterior circulation .

Objective To analyze membrane attack complex (MAC) expression in different types of idiopathic inflammtory myopathy (IIM).Methods We enrolled 57 cases of dermatomyositis (DM) , 37 cases of polymyositis (PM) ,9 cases of sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) and 15 cases of autoimmune necrotizing myopathy with anti-signal recognition particle antibodies (SRP-ANM) in Department of Neurology at Peking University First Hospital from 2011 to 2014, and used x2 test or Fisher exact test to analyze MAC expression in muscle fibers and endomysial capillaries respectively.Results The total MAC expression in DM, PM, sIBM and SRP-ANM was 75.4％ (43/57), 86.5％ (32/37), 4/9 and 13/15 respectively.The MAC expression in muscle fibers was 50.9％ (29/57), 81.1％ (30/37) , 3/9 and 13/15 respectively.The MAC expression in endomysial capillaries was 49.1％ (28/57) , 24.3％ (9/37) , 1/9 and 6/15 respectively.The MAC expression in muscle fibers and endomysial capillaries of sIBM was less than other types of IIM.The MAC expression in muscle fibers of PM and SRP-ANM was higher than DM and sIBM, but there was no statistically significant difference between PM and SRP-ANM.The MAC expression in endomysial capillaries of DM and SRP-ANM was higher than PM and sIBM, while there was no statistically significant difference between DM and SRP-ANM (x2 =0.397, P =0.574).The MAC expression in four types of IIM had regional distribution, of which 11.6％ (5/43) of DM showed bundle distribution.Conclusion There are differences in the damage of MAC in various types of IIM, the damage of MAC in SRP-ANM indicated the pattern of both DM and PM.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the major metabolic diseases.In view of the defects of traditional animal models, this study was the first to establish the NAFLD model of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) with simple feed formula which is similar to human (from simple fatty liver to steatohepatitis, fibrosis,Liver cirrhosis).This study discussed the mechanism of rapid fatty liver deposition in Mongolian gerbil, revealed its molecular mechanism,main regulatory target and network function of fatty liver susceptibility.We provide a new animal model of NAFLD with relatively clear background and less time-consuming for clinical treatment and new drug development.The theoretical and practical basis for the breeding of inbred strain NAFLD gerbil was established.

Objective To report the clinical and peripheral neuropathological findings in two patients with autosomal recessive Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2K(AR-CMT2K).Methods Case one was a nine year-old girl.She had distal weakness of lower limbs for six years, with calf atrophy and contracture of Achilles tendon for three years.Case two was an eight year-old boy.He had distal weakness of lower limbs with contracture of Achilles tendon and calf muscle atrophy for three years, and proximal weakness of low limbs for two years.The motor nerve conduction velocities in median nerves were 48.1 m/s in case one and 47.6 m/s in case two.The compound motor action potential amplitude of median nerves decreased by 46% in case one and 69% in case two.Sural nerve biopsies and gene targeted next-generation sequencing were performed in both patients.Results Density of myelinated fibers was 8 407/mm2 in case one and 7 714/mm2 in case two.The ratio of myelinated fibers with diameter over 8 μm was 2.6% in case one and 0 in case two.Both patients had small regenerating cluster of myelinated fibers.Thin myelinated fibers appeared in case one.In case two, atypical onion bulb formations with focal folded myelin appeared, and electromicroscopy revealed mitochondrial aggregate in axons.Compound heterozygous mutations of ganglioside-induced differentiation associated protein 1 gene were detected in both patients, including c.767A>G(p.H256R) and c.466G>A (p.A156T) in case one and c.767A>G and 845G>A(p.R282H) in case two.Conclusions Contracture of Achilles tendon may appear in early childhood of AR-CMT2K patients.The main pathological changes in sural nerve are loss of large myelinated fibers, mitochondrial aggregate in axons and myelin abnormalities.

Objective To summarize the clinical features of Chinese patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes ( MELAS).Methods A total of 190 patients with MELAS who presented to Peking University First Hospital between 1997 and 2015 were recruited.Among 190 patients, 175 were identified carrying mitochondrial DNA mutations, and the remaining 15 patients were diagnosed by muscle biopsy.The clinical features, including predisposing factors of stroke-like episodes, the onset symptoms and frequencies of various manifestations were analyzed and reported.Results In our cohort of MELAS patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1.44∶1.The median age of onset was 14 years ( from 7 months to 45 years).The peak onset ages were 8-12 years.The median onset age of the first stroke-like episode was 16 years ( from 1 to 53 years ).There were 66 ( 46.15%) patients who had predisposing factors before the onset, and fatigue and upper respiratory tract infection were the most common predisposing factors of stroke-like episodes in these patients ( 37.88%, 25/66 and 34.85%, 23/66, respectively).Other predisposing factors included emotional agitation, drinking alcohol, trauma, withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs, being frightened, satiation and hunger.Stroke-like episodes appeared in 70.53%(134/190) patients as an onset symptom and developed in all patients with disease progression.The neurological manifestations included seizure ( 89.42%, 169/189 ) , mental retardation or dementia (82.87%, 150/181), headache (74.30%, 133/179), hemianopia or cortical blindness (67.72%, 107/158), exercise intolerance (50.87%, 88/173), hemiplegia or hemianesthesia (47.44%, 74/156), sensorineural deafness (46.20%, 85/184), aphasia (39.47%, 60/152), behaviour disorder (17.71%, 31/175) and ophthalmoplegia ( 9.60%, 17/177 ).The manifestations of extra-nervous systems included hirsutism (67.57%, 100/148), vomiting (65.58%, 101/154), fever (62.07%, 90/145), short stature (45.32%, 63/139), diarrhea or constipation (43.48%, 70/161), low body mass index (26.62%, 37/139), diabetes mellitus (20.79%, 37/178) and kidney disease (3.16%, 6/190).Conclusions The majority of the patients in this study have the disease onset during childhood.There are more male MELAS patients than females.Most common clinical manifestations are seizure, mental retardation or dementia, headache, cortical blindness, hirsutism, vomiting and fever in this patient group.

OBJECTIVETo study the transdermal absorbability of gentiopicroside, naringin and protosappanin B contained in Xuanbi gel plaster.

METHODThe Franz diffusing cells method was adopted for the in vitro model of rat belly skins. Three indexes, gentiopicroside, naringin and protosappanin B, residued in the accept liquid, skins and plaster were determined by HPLC.

RESULTThe penetration rates of gentiopicroside, naringin and protosappanin B were respectively 3.47, 1.59, 2.13 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1). After 24 h, their penetration rates were 25.42%, 11.73%, 17.78%, respectively. The residual quantities of gentiopieroside, naringin and protosappanin B in skin were 0.231, 0.593, 0.568 microg x cm(-2), ith the retention rates of 0.027%, 0.227%, 0.475%, respectively. The amount of residue of gentiopicroside, naringin and protosappanin B in plaster were 2179, 674, 278 microg, with the retention rates of 81.36%, 81.92%, 73.83%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe in vitro transdermal behavior of Xuanbi gel plaster is close to a zero-order process. The residual quantity the retention rate in skins is much lower than the penetration rate and the residual rate in plaster.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Gels ; chemistry ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Male ; Phenols ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin Absorption