Dietary Enterococcus faecalis LAB31 Improves Growth Performance,Reduces Diarrhea,and Increases Fecal Lactobacillus Number of Weaned Piglets

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been shown to enhance performance of weaned piglets. However, few studies have reported the addition of LAB Enterococcus faecalis as alternatives to growth promoting antibiotics for weaned piglets. This study evaluated the effects of dietary E. faecalis LAB31 on the growth performance, diarrhea incidence, blood parameters, fecal bacterial and Lactobacillus communities in weaned piglets. A total of 360 piglets weaned at 26 ± 2 days of age were randomly allotted to 5 groups (20 pens, with 4 pens for each group) for a trial of 28 days: group N (negative control, without antibiotics or probiotics); group P (Neomycin sulfate, 100 mg/kg feed); groups L, M and H (supplemented with E. faecalis LAB31 0.5×10⁹, 1.0×10⁹, and 2.5×10⁹ CFU/kg feed, respectively). Average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were found to be higher in group H than in group N, and showed significant differences between group H and group P (P₀ < 0.05). Furthermore, groups H and P had a lower diarrhea index than the other three groups (P₀ < 0.05). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) showed that the application of probiotics to the diet changed the bacterial community, with a higher bacterial diversity in group M than in the other four groups. Real-time PCR revealed that the relative number of Lactobacillus increased by addition of probiotics, and was higher in group H than in group N (P₀ < 0.05). However, group-specific PCR-DGGE showed no obvious difference among the five groups in Lactobacillus composition and diversity. Therefore, the dietary addition of E. faecalis LAB31 can improve growth performance, reduce diarrhea, and increase the relative number of Lactobacillus in feces of weaned piglets.     

Learning Environment,Preparedness and Satisfaction in Osteopathy in Europe: The PreSS Study

Objective

1) to assess the preparedness to practice and satisfaction in learning environment amongst new graduates from European osteopathic institutions; 2) to compare the results of preparedness to practice and satisfaction in learning environment between and within countries where osteopathy is regulated and where regulation is still to be achieved; 3) to identify possible correlations between learning environment and preparedness to practice.

Method

Osteopathic education providers of full-time education located in Europe were enrolled, and their final year students were contacted to complete a survey. Measures used were: Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and a demographic questionnaire. Scores were compared across institutions using one-way ANOVA and generalised linear model.

Results

Nine European osteopathic education institutions participated in the study (4 located in Italy, 2 in the UK, 1 in France, 1 in Belgium and 1 in the Netherlands) and 243 (77%) of their final-year students completed the survey. The DREEM total score mean was 121.4 (SEM: 1.66) whilst the AAMC was 17.58 (SEM:0.35). A generalised linear model found a significant association between not-regulated countries and total score as well as subscales DREEM scores (p<0.001). Learning environment and preparedness to practice were significantly positively correlated (r=0.76; p<0.01).

Discussion

A perceived higher level of preparedness and satisfaction was found amongst students from osteopathic institutions located in countries without regulation compared to those located in countries where osteopathy is regulated; however, all institutions obtained a ‘more positive than negative’ result. Moreover, in general, cohorts with fewer than 20 students scored significantly higher compared to larger student cohorts. Finally, an overall positive correlation between students’ preparedness and satisfaction were found across all institutions recruited.     

miR-329 suppresses the growth and motility of neuroblastoma by targeting KDM1A

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as key regulators of multiple cancers. miR-329 functions as a tumor suppressor in some malignancies. However, its role in neuroblastoma remains poorly understood. We found that miR-329 was decreased in metastatic tumor tissues compared with matched primary tumor tissues. Forced overexpression of miR-329 substantially suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of neuroblastoma cells. Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (KDM1A) was found to be a target of miR-329. Furthermore, down-regulation of KDM1A by shRNA performed similar effects with overexpression of miR-329. Overexpression of KDM1A partially reversed the tumor suppressive effects of miR-329 in neuroblastoma cells. Collectively, miR-329 may suppress neuroblastoma cell growth and motility partially by targeting KDM1A.     

迟眼蕈蚊抗菌肽BhSGAMP-1-S在大肠杆菌中的优化表达及其活性分析(英文)

【目的】BhSGAMP-1 是迟眼蕈蚊唾液腺抗菌肽,为了能够更好的了解其分子特性,我们将其表达、纯化并进行了活性测定。【方法】依据大肠杆菌稀有密码子设计并合成了抗菌肽基因 BhSGAMP-1-S,以 pMAL-c2X 作为表达载体在大肠杆菌 TB1 中进行融合表达,融合蛋白通过麦芽糖亲和层析柱进行纯化,获得的融合蛋白经肠激酶切割后,混合物通过分子筛凝胶层析和反相高效液相色谱来获得单体重组抗菌肽 BhSGAMP-1-S,对获得的抗菌肽进行活性测定。【结果】在最优的表达条件下融合蛋白以可溶的形式表达,100 mL 诱导菌液经多步纯化后可得 0. 38 mg 的重组抗菌肽 BhSGAMP-1-S,抑菌活性测定表明所获得的抗菌肽对部分测试革兰氏阳性细菌、革兰氏阴性细菌和真菌有较强的抑菌活性。【结论】本研究第一次成功的在大肠杆菌中诱导表达了修饰合成的抗菌肽 BhSGAMP-1-S,纯化后的抗菌肽具有很好的抑菌活性,这为进一步研究和应用奠定了基础。     

Two Rubisco activase isoforms may play different roles in photosynthetic heat acclimation in the rice plant

Studies on some plant species have shown that increasing the growth temperature gradually or pretreating with high temperature can lead to obvious photosynthetic acclimation to high temperature. To test whether this acclimation arises from heat adaptation of ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39) activation mediated by Rubisco activase (RCA), gene expression of RCA large isoform (RCA_L) and RCA small isoform (RCA_S) in rice was determined using a 4‐day heat stress treatment [40/30°C (day/night)] followed by a 3‐day recovery under control conditions [30/22°C (day/night)]. The heat stress significantly induced the expression of RCA_L as determined by both mRNA and protein levels. Correlative analysis indicated that RCA_S protein content was extremely significantly related to Rubisco initial activity and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) under both heat stress and normal conditions. Immunoblot analysis of the Rubisco–RCA complex revealed that the ratio of RCA_L to Rubisco increased markedly in heat‐acclimated rice leaves. Furthermore, transgenic rice plants expressing enhanced amounts of RCA_L exhibited higher thermotolerance in Pn and Rubisco initial activity and grew better at high temperature than wild‐type (WT) plants and transgenic rice plants expressing enhanced amounts of RCA_S. Under normal conditions, the transgenic rice plants expressing enhanced amounts of RCA_S showed higher Pn and produced more biomass than transgenic rice plants expressing enhanced amounts of RCA_L and wild‐type plants. Together, these suggest that the heat‐induced RCA_L may play an important role in photosynthetic acclimation to moderate heat stress in vivo, while RCA_S plays a major role in maintaining Rubisco initial activity under normal conditions.     

Monocytes/macrophages express chemokine receptor CCR9 in rheumatoid arthritis and CCL25 stimulates their differentiation

Introduction  

Monocytes/macrophages accumulate in the rheumatoid (RA) synovium where they play a central role in inflammation and joint destruction. Identification of molecules involved in their accumulation and differentiation is important to inform therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the expression and function of chemokine receptor CCR9 in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovium of RA, non-RA patients and healthy volunteers.     

BnaC.Tic40, a plastid inner membrane translocon originating from Brassica oleracea, is essential for tapetal function and microspore development in Brassica napus

Here, we describe the characteristics of a Brassica napus male sterile mutant 7365A with loss of the BnMs3 gene, which exhibits abnormal enlargement of the tapetal cells during meiosis. Later in development, the absence of the BnMs3 gene in the mutant results in a loss of the secretory function of the tapetum, as suggested by abortive callose dissolution and retarded tapetal degradation. The BnaC.Tic40 gene (equivalent to BnMs3) was isolated by a map-based cloning approach and was confirmed by genetic complementation. Sequence analyses suggested that BnaC.Tic40 originated from BolC.Tic40 on the Brassica oleracea linkage group C9, whereas its allele Bnms3 was derived from BraA.Tic40 on the Brassica rapa linkage group A10. The BnaC.Tic40 gene is highly expressed in the tapetum and encodes a putative plastid inner envelope membrane translocon, Tic40, which is localized into the chloroplast. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and lipid staining analyses suggested that BnaC.Tic40 is a key factor in controlling lipid accumulation in the tapetal plastids. These data indicate that BnaC.Tic40 participates in specific protein translocation across the inner envelope membrane in the tapetal plastid, which is required for tapetal development and function.     

养殖齐口裂腹鱼外周血细胞显微观察

养殖齐口裂腹鱼Schizothorax prenanti外周血经瑞氏染色液染色,可鉴定出红细胞、嗜中性粒细胞、血栓细胞、淋巴细胞、单核细胞,一些未成熟的红细胞和少量进行无丝分裂的红细胞,未观察到嗜碱性粒细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞.在外周血中还可观察到3个阶段的嗜中性粒细胞:中性晚幼粒细胞胞体为圆形或近圆形,胞浆呈淡粉红色,量丰富,其中含有较多红色的细小颗粒,胞核呈肾形;中性杆状核粒细胞胞核较中性晚幼粒细胞的凹陷更强,呈"S"、"C"等形状;中性分叶核粒细胞占多数,胞体近圆形,核至少分成两叶,多达五或六叶.血栓细胞呈圆形、近圆形、梨形、纺锤形、杆状等多种形态,一个或多个聚集在一起.外周血细胞中,血栓细胞体积最小、数量最多,单核细胞体积最大、数量最少.     

基于物元模型的鄱阳湖生态经济区土地生态安全评价

基于2001-2007年的相关数据,借助物元模型对鄱阳湖生态经济区的土地生态安全状况进行研究.结果表明:2001年鄱阳湖生态经济区土地生态安全状况为较安全状态,2002—2004年处于临界安全状态,2005年下降为不安全状态,2006年后土地生态安全状况有所好转,处于临界安全状态.表明利用物元模型进行区域土地生态安全评价是可行的,具有计算简便、意义明确、评价精度高等优点,为土地生态安全评价提供了另一种途径.