Background: Blackened intestines in slaughtered pigs have been commonly observed in China in recent years. However, no cause has been reported. Objectives: We attempted to determine whether the blackening of the pig intestine was related to an excess of copper (Cu) in their feed. Methods: In this study, we observed and collected porcine intestines in small- and large-scale pig slaughterhouses in Shandong province from May to October 2018. Twelve types of metal ions were detected in the black intestinal samples. Results: The Cu level in the intestine samples was mostly higher than the Chinese national limit for food. Further study showed that Cu supplementation in most commercial porcine feed also exceeded the national standard. An animal model (mouse) that could mimic the intestinal blackening in pigs was established. Compared to control mice, Cu accumulated in the liver and intestines of mice fed an excessive Cu level, confirming the excessive Cu in the feed may be considered the major cause of blackened porcine intestines. Microscopic examination revealed that black intestines had many particles containing Cu in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa, and the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells showed degeneration and necrosis. Conclusions In conclusion, overuse of Cu in animal feed can lead to animal poisoning and Cu accumulation in animal products. Such overuse not only harms the health of livestock but can also affect public health.

Background: Blackened intestines in slaughtered pigs have been commonly observed in China in recent years. However, no cause has been reported. Objectives: We attempted to determine whether the blackening of the pig intestine was related to an excess of copper (Cu) in their feed. Methods: In this study, we observed and collected porcine intestines in small- and large-scale pig slaughterhouses in Shandong province from May to October 2018. Twelve types of metal ions were detected in the black intestinal samples. Results: The Cu level in the intestine samples was mostly higher than the Chinese national limit for food. Further study showed that Cu supplementation in most commercial porcine feed also exceeded the national standard. An animal model (mouse) that could mimic the intestinal blackening in pigs was established. Compared to control mice, Cu accumulated in the liver and intestines of mice fed an excessive Cu level, confirming the excessive Cu in the feed may be considered the major cause of blackened porcine intestines. Microscopic examination revealed that black intestines had many particles containing Cu in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa, and the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells showed degeneration and necrosis. Conclusions In conclusion, overuse of Cu in animal feed can lead to animal poisoning and Cu accumulation in animal products. Such overuse not only harms the health of livestock but can also affect public health.

Background: Pseudorabies, also known as Aujeszky's disease, is caused by the pseudorabies virus (PRV) and has been recognized as a critical disease affecting the pig industry and a wide range of animals around the world, resulting in great economic losses each year. Shandong province, one of the most vital food animal-breeding regions in China, has a very dense pig population, within which pseudorabies infections were detected in recent years. The data, however, on PRV epidemiology and coinfection rates of PRV with other major swine diseases is sparse. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the PRV epidemiology in Shandong and analyze the current control measures. Methods: In this study, a total number of 16,457 serum samples and 1,638 tissue samples, which were collected from 362 intensive pig farms (≥ 300 sows/farm) covered all cities in Shandong, were tested by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Overall, 52.7% and 91.5% of the serum samples were positive for PRV-gE and -gB, respectively, based on ELISA results. In addition, 15.7% of the tissue samples were PCR positive for PRV. The coinfection rates of PRV with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, and classical swine fever virus were measured; coinfection with PCV2 was 35.0%, higher than those of the other two viruses. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions were observed in various tissues during histopathological examination. Conclusions The results demonstrate the PRV prevalence and its coinfection rates in Shandong province and indicate that pseudorabies is endemic in pig farms in this region. This study provides epidemiological data that can be useful in the prevention and control of pseudorabies in Shandong, China.

Objective To investigate the correlations of serum cystatin C level with severity of stroke and short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke aged ≥50 years who did not receive thrombolysis and took a visit within 3 d after onset were selected prospectively.The serum cystatin C level was detected within 24 h after admission and various clinical data were collected.The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the neurological deficits on the day of admission.The NIHSS score ＜8 was defined as mild stroke and ≥8 was defined as moderate to severe stroke.The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the short-term outcome at discharge or 14 d after onset,0-2 was defined as good outcome and ＞2 was defined as poor outcome.Results A total of 188 patients were enrolled,including 93 (49.5％) females and 95 (50.5％) males,their mean age was 65.4 ±9.2 years old (range 50-87).There were 120 patients with mild stroke (63.8％),68 with moderate to severe stroke (36.2％);106 patients (56.4％) had good outcome and 82 (43.6％) had poor outcome.Univariate analysis showed that serum cystatin C level in the moderate to severe stroke group was significantly higher than that in the mild stroke group (1.36 ± 0.29 mg/L vs.1.21 ±0.23 mg/L;t =3.902,P ＜ 0.001),the serum cystatin C level in the poor outcome group was significantly higher than that in the good outcome group (1.38 ± 0.25 mg/L vs.1.22 ± 0.25 mg/L;t =4.101,P =0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the serum cystatin C level was an independent risk factor for stroke severity (odds ratio 12.182,95％ confidence interval 11.163-13.202;P ＜ 0.001) and short-term poor outcome (odds ratio 9.025,95 ％ confidence interval 8.202-9.848;P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The serum cystatin C level is significantly correlated with the severity of stroke and the short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the relationship betw een the serum bilirubin level and the severity of disease and short-term outcome in patient w ith acute ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 120 consecutive inpatients w ith acute ischemic stroke w ere enroled and 105 healthy subjects at the same time w ere used as a control group. The biochemical indicators, such as serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, blood lipid, and blood glucose w ere measured w ithin 24 h after admission. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ( NIHSS ) w as used to assess the neurological deficits on the day of admission. The NIHSS score <8 w as defined as mild stroke and ≥8 w as defined as moderate to severe stroke. At discharge or 14 d after onset, the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) w as used to evaluate the clinical outcomes, 0-2 w as defined as good outcome and > 2 w as defined as poor outcome. The levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin w ere measured again. Results The levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin in the moderate to severe stroke group w ere significantly higher than those in the mild stroke group ( P <0.01) and the control group ( P <0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis show ed that the increased levels of serum total bilirubin (odds ratio [OR] 1.855,95%confidence interval [CI] 1.390-2.475; P <0.01), indirect bilirubin ( OR 3.380, 95%CI 1.271-11.901; P <0.05), and direct bilirubin ( OR 3.51, 95%CI 1.062-11.473; P <0.01) had significantly independent correlation w ith baseline disease severity. Univariate analysis show ed that the increased serum total bilirubin level on admission w as associated w ith the short-term poor outcome ( P <0.05), but after adjustment for other confounding factors, there w as no statistical significance ( OR 2.411, 95%CI 0.803-7.243, P >0.05). Conclusions The serum bilirubin level show ed stress increase in patients w ith cerebral infarction in acute phase; and it w as significantly associated w ith the degree of neurological deficit, but it w as not associated w ith short-term outcome. It might be a defense response to the body for stroke events.

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics and risk factors of carotid artery plaques in patients with type 2 dia-betes mellitus(T2DM ) and ischemic stroke .Methods :A total of 185 patients with ischemic stroke from Jul 2013 to Dec 2013 were divided into T2DM group(n=72) and non-T2DM group(n=113) .All the patients underwent ultrasonic examination to confirm the incidence of carotid artery plaques .And 22 patients received computed tomographic arteriography (CTA) for further diagnosis of carotid artery plaques .The relationships of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism with the size of carotid artery plaquewereanalyzed.Results:Theincidencerate,natureandsizeofcarotidarteryplaque,intima-mediathickness(IMT)ofca-rotid artery in T2DM group were significantly different from those in non-T2DM group(P<0 .05) .The main factors affecting the sizes of carotid artery plaques were T 2DM ,2 h postprandial blood glucose(2 h PBG) ,homeostatic model assessment for in-sulin resistance(HOMA-IR) ,fasting blood glucose(FBG) ,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C) , P<0 .05 .There was significant difference in the degree of lumen stenosis detected by ultrasound and CTA in the 22 patients(P<0 .05) .Conclu-sions:The size of carotid artery plaque in patients with ischemic stroke are influenced by T 2DM ,2 h PBG ,HOMA-IR ,FBG and LDL-C .The incidences of plaques as well as vulnerable plaques increases when patients suffer with T 2DM simultaneously .Ul-trasound can be applied as the preferred method for carotid artery plaque screening .CTA manifests as a more promising manner to demonstrate the characteristics of the plaques and the severity of lumen stenosis .

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), C-erbB-2 and its relationship with cell proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHOD: Expression of C-erbB-2, EGFR and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected with immunohistochemical staining in 32 nasopharyngeal carcinoma samples and 12 chronic inflammatory nasopharyngeal tissue samples. RESULT: The positive rate of EGFR,C-erbB-2, and PCNA expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma was 65.6%, 37.5%, and (42.5 +/- 22.6)%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that in chronic inflammatory nasopharyngeal tissue (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between the positive rate of EGFR, C-erbB-2, and PCNA expression and histopathological stage. The co-expression of C-erbB2 and EGFR was found in 62.5% (20/32) nasopharyngeal carcinoma samples. There was a positive correlation between C-erbB-2 and EGFR expression (r = 0.38, P < 0.05). The highest percentage of PCNA expression was found in carcinoma samples with co-expression of C-erbB and EGFR. CONCLUSION C-erbB-2, EGFR might have synergetic effect in the development and progress of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The co-expression of C-erbB-2 and EGFR closely correlates with cell proliferation status.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; ErbB Receptors ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Respiratory Mucosa ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective:To explore the expression of CD23,CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as its association with serum total IgE levels and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis(AR). Method:Symptom scores were evaluated in 46 AR patients,expression of CD23,CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry,and serum total IgE levels were determined by immune chemiluminescence. Thirty two healthy individuals were enrolled as controls.Result:The percentage of CD23~+,CD19~+ and CD23~+/CD19~+,on peripheral blood lymphocytes in AR patients were 11.6±1.9,22.8±3.3,10.2±1.7,respectively.Higher frequencies of CD23~+,CD19~+,and CD23~+/CD19~+ were found in AR patients compared with controls (P＜0.05).There were positive correlations between expression rates of CD23~+,CD19~+,CD23~+/CD19~+ and levels of serum total IgE,nasal allergi symptom scores,respectively.CD23~+ /CD19~+ demonstrated greater correlations with serum total IgE and nasal allergic symptom(r=0.65 and 0.49,P＜0.05)than CD23~+ and CD19~+ did.Correlation between CD23~+/CD19~+ and nasal allergic symptom scores was greater than the corresponding correlations of serum total IgE(r=0.33,P＜0.05).Conclusion:CD23 and CD19 are important factors that associated with serum total IgE in the pathogenesis of AR,Analysis on the expression of CD23~+/CD19~+ on peripheral blood lymphocytes is helpful for evaluating the severity of AR.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as its association with serum total IgE levels and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD: Symptom scores were evaluated in 46 AR patients, expression of CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry, and serum total IgE levels were determined by immune chemiluminescence. Thirty two healthy individuals were enrolled as controls. RESULT: The percentage of CD23+, CD19+ and CD23+/ CD19+,on peripheral blood lymphocytes in AR patients were 11.6 +/- 1. , 22.8 +/- 3.3,10.2 +/- 1.7, respectively. Higher frequencies of CD23+, CD19+, and CD23+/CD19+ were found in AR patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between expression rates of CD23+, CD19+, CD23+/CD19+ and levels of serum total IgE, nasal allergic symptom scores, respectively. CD23+/CD19+ demonstrated greater correlations with serum total IgE and nasal allergic symptom (r = 0.65 and 0.49, P < 0.05) than CD23+ and CD19+ did. Correlation between CD23+/CD19+ and nasal allergic symptom scores was greater than the corresponding correlations of serum total IgE (r = 0.33, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CD23 and CD19 are important factors that associated with serum total IgE in the pathogenesis of AR, Analysis on the expression of CD23+/CD19+ on peripheral blood lymphocytes is helpful for evaluating the severity of AR.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD19 ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, IgE ; blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; Young Adult

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is an important structural basis for water regulation and trans- portation in the central nervous system,which participates in physiopathological processes, such as cerebrospinal fluid reabsorption, osmotic regulation, and cerebral edema formation. Protein kinase C (PKC) exists in various cells, it catalyzes the phosphorylation of serine or threonine residues on various protein substrates.In recent years, studies have found that there is a certain correlation between the expressions of AQP4 and PKC after ischemic stroke.This article re- views the distribution,function,functional regulation of AQP4 and PKC,and their relations in ischemia-reperfusion.