生物反馈训练辅助治疗梗阻性便秘对粪便性状、排便时间及排便频度的影响

目的:探讨生物反馈训练辅助治疗梗阻性便秘患者对粪便性状、排便时间与排便频度的影响。方法:选取我院收治的90例梗阻性便秘患者,根据随机数字表法分为3组,A组接受常规治疗,B组于常规治疗基础上进行固定式生物反馈训练(FBF),C组于常规治疗基础上进行自适应式生物反馈训练(ABF),比较3组治疗前后肛直肠功能、粪便性状、排便时间、排便频度和临床疗效。结果:治疗后,直肠肛门压力梯度:A组B组C组(P0.05),矛盾性收缩率:A组B组C组(P0.05),B组与C组肛管静息压、直肠肛门抑制反射阈值显著小于A组(P0.05),且肛管松弛率显著大于A组(P0.05);C组粪便性状4～7型占比明显高于其余两组(P0.05),且B组4～7型占比明显高于A组(P0.05);排便时间:A组B组C组(P0.05),排便频度:A组B组C组(P0.05);C组总有效率显著高于A组与B组(P0.05)。结论:生物反馈训练尤其是ABF可有效改善梗阻性便秘患者肛直肠功能,在改善粪便性状、缩短排便时间、增加排便频度上具有明显优势,可获得更好的临床疗效。     

Sexual swellings in wild white-handed gibbon females (Hylobates lar) indicate the probability of ovulation

Conspicuous sexual swellings in the females of some primate species have been a focus of scientific interest since Darwin first wrote about them in 1871. To understand these visual signals, research focused on exaggerated sexual swellings of Old World primates. However, some primate species develop much smaller sexual swellings and it is as yet unclear if these smaller swellings can serve similar functions as those proposed for exaggerated swellings, i.e. advertising fertility to attract mates. We studied the temporal patterns of sexual swellings, timing of ovulation and female reproductive status in wild white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, where this species has a variable social organization. We established fecal progestogen profiles in fifteen cycles of eight cycling females and, to detect swellings outside the menstrual cycle, five pregnant and six lactating females. In 80% of menstrual cycles, ovulation and maximum swelling phase (duration: ? 9.3 days; 42.8% of cycle length), overlapped tightly. The probability of ovulation peaked on day 3 of the maximum swelling period. Nevertheless, the temporal relationship between maximum swelling and probability of ovulation varied from day -1 to day 13 of the swelling period and three times ovulations fell outside the maximum swelling phase. The different swellings phases occurred in similar proportions in cycling and pregnant, but not lactating females, which were rarely swollen. Despite their smaller size, gibbons' sexual swellings probably serve functions similar to those suggested for exaggerated swellings by the graded-signal hypothesis, which predicts that sexual swellings indicate the probability of ovulation, without allowing males to pinpoint its exact time.     

Evaluation of an indigenous ELISA for diagnosis of Johne’s disease and its comparison with commercial kits

Country lacks sensitive and indigenous diagnostic kits for the screening of goats and sheep against Johne’s disease. Therefore an indigenous ELISA kit was developed using protoplasmic antigen from native Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis ‘Bison Type’ strain of goat origin (Kit 1). In the present study, kit 1 and two commercial kits (kit 2 and 3) were evaluated with respect to ‘Gold Standard’ fecal culture in 71 animals (55 goats and 16 sheep). Kit 1 using indigenous antigen (protoplasmic antigen) was sensitive at very low concentration (0.1 μgm / well) as compared to purified commercial protoplasmic antigen (4 μgm / well) used in kit 2, in the Type 1 reactors (strong positive as positive). Screening of 71 animals by fecal culture detected 38.0% animals (goats-40.0%, sheep-31.2%) as positive (clinical shedders of bacilli) from these farm animals. Of the farm animals located at Central Institute for Research on Goats, herds of goat were endemic whereas, sheep flocks were comparatively resistant to Johne’s disease. The 29.5 and 61.9, 15.4 and 57.7 and 4.2 and 14.0% animals (goats and sheep) were in the category of sero-reactors type 1 and 2 of the ELISA kits 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In the type 1 sero-reactors, sensitivity and specificity of kit 1, 2 and 3 was 53.7 and 86.0, 17.8 and 86.0 and 3.5 and 94.7%, respectively. Indigenous ELISA test (kit 1) was significantly superior for the screening of goatherds and sheep flocks against JD as compared to commercial ELISA kits (Kit 2 and 3). In comparison to kit 2 and 3, kit 1 had highest sensitivity, comparable specificity and substantial to nearly perfect proportional agreement (Kappa Scores) with respect to ‘Gold standard’ fecal culture in goats and sheep. Disease being endemic in herds and flocks screened using ELISA kits, Type I sero-rectors had better correlation with fecal culture in comparison to Type II sero-reactors therefore, used for estimation of sero-prevalence. Newly developed Indigenous ELISA kit was simple, inexpensive, sensitive and reliable for screening of goats and sheep population against Johne’s disease. The study reports high prevalence of Johne’s disease in farm goatherds and sheep flocks, using sensitive tests (fecal culture and ELISA kit). Results of Type 1 reaction in kit 1 were optimally correlated with culture and were good for estimating the sero-prevalence. For controlling Johne’s disease in endemic herds initial removal of the animals in strong positive category (Tyep 1 reactors), may help to remove heavy shedders.     

腹泻柴达木马亚成体粪便微生物多样性分析及其生物标记物的筛选

为比较青藏高原柴达木马亚成体腹泻与健康个体粪便微生物群落多样性和结构组成的差异, 我们利用16S rRNA测序技术对采集的腹泻 (n = 3) 和健康 (n = 13) 个体粪便样本细菌的组成与分布进行分析比较,并利用实时荧光定量PCR测定相关菌属的含量。结果显示,无论健康还是腹泻,厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门、疣微菌门、变形杆菌门和螺旋体门是柴达木马亚成体粪便中的优势菌门。相比健康组,腹泻组粪便微生物的Alpha多样性显著下降 (P < 0.05),厚壁菌门相对丰度下降而变形杆菌门的相对丰度显著增加 (P < 0.05),推断这两个门中的梭菌属、普雷沃菌属、纤杆菌属等丰度的失衡可能是导致柴达木马腹泻的原因之一。此外,通过机器学习的随机森林算法筛选出12个对健康和腹泻柴达木马亚成体粪便微生物差异具有较大影响的特征菌属,包括甲烷短杆菌属、纤杆菌属、Paludibacter、肉食杆菌属和迷踪菌属等。研究揭示了健康和腹泻柴达木马亚成体粪便微生物组的变化,为进一步研究青藏高原地区家畜腹泻提供一定的数据支持。     

Disentangling the effect of host genetics and gut microbiota on resistance to an intestinal parasite

Resistance to infection is a multifactorial trait, and recent work has suggested that the gut microbiota can also contribute to resistance. Here, we performed a fecal microbiota transplant to disentangle the contribution of the gut microbiota and host genetics as drivers of resistance to the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. We transplanted the microbiota of a strain of mice (SJL), resistant to H. polygyrus, into a susceptible strain (CBA) and vice-versa. We predicted that if the microbiota shapes resistance to H. polygyrus, the FMT should reverse the pattern of resistance between the two host strains. The two host strains had different microbiota diversities and compositions before the start of the experiment, and the FMT altered the microbiota of recipient mice. One mouse strain (SJL) was more resistant to colonization by the heterologous microbiota, and it maintained its resistance profile to H. polygyrus (lower parasite burden) independently of the FMT. On the contrary, CBA mice harbored parasites with lower fecundity during the early stage of the infection, and had an up-regulated expression of the cytokine IL-4 (a marker of H. polygyrus resistance) after receiving the heterologous microbiota. Therefore, while host genetics remains the main factor shaping the pattern of resistance to H. polygyrus, the composition of the gut microbiota also seems to play a strain-specific role.     

粪菌移植联合乳果糖对顽固性功能性便秘患者胃肠功能、生活质量及心理状态的影响*

目的:研究粪菌移植联合乳果糖对顽固性功能性便秘患者胃肠功能、生活质量及心理状态的影响。方法:选取2016年6月至2018年5月我院消化内科收治的顽固性功能性便秘患者100例为研究对象,按照随机数字表法将患者分为对照组(n=45)和研究组(n=55)。对照组给予乳果糖口服治疗,研究组则采用粪菌移植联合乳果糖治疗,两组均治疗6周。对比两组临床疗效、胃肠功能以及治疗前后生活质量和心理状态的变化,并观察两组治疗期间不良反应发生情况。结果:与对照组比较,研究组总有效率明显升高(P0.05)。研究组首次自主排便时间、肛门首次排气时间、肠鸣音恢复时间均短于对照组,胃肠减压引流量高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗6周后,两组患者生活质量自评量表(PAC-QOL)评分、Zung焦虑自评量表(SAS)评分和抑郁自评量(SDS)评分均较治疗前降低,且与对照组比较,研究组PAC-QOL评分、SAS评分、SDS评分均降低(P0.05)。两组不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:粪菌移植联合乳果糖对顽固性功能性便秘具有较好的疗效,可改善患者胃肠功能和心理状态,同时可提高患者生活质量,无严重不良反应发生。     

Fecal endocrine monitoring of reproduction in female snow leopards (Uncia uncia)

Although the snow leopard (Uncia uncia) is a common endangered felid species in zoos, little is known about the complex endocrine interactions controlling ovarian function and conception in this species. The goal of this work was to characterize ovarian activity throughout the estrous cycle, nonpregnant luteal phase (pseudopregnancy), and gestation in female snow leopards. This goal was accomplished using an enzyme immunoassay to measure fecal concentrations of estrogen metabolites (E) and progesterone metabolites (P). Fecal samples were collected from 12 female snow leopards (ages 18 months to 18 years) during one to three breeding seasons. In each breeding season, the majority of females (78%, 88%, and 100%, respectively) began to exhibit ovarian activity in December or January. The estrous cycle, defined by the first day of estrus (E ≥ 2 × basal concentration) to the first day of the subsequent estrus, was 12.7 ± 0.6 days (n = 145 cycles). Estrus lasted 4.3 ± 0.4 days with mean concentrations of fecal E during the follicular phase (1661 ± 139 ng/g feces) increasing 3.2-fold above basal concentrations (515 ± 32 ng/g feces). No spontaneous ovulations were observed in any of the cycling females. Nonpregnant luteal phases were observed in eight females that bred but did not become pregnant. The length of the nonpregnant luteal phase ranged from 11 to 72 days (45.7 ± 5.7 days; n = 10) with mean concentrations of fecal P during the luteal phase (12.46 ± 1.7 μg/g feces) increasing 6.2-fold above basal concentrations of P (2.01 ± 0.2 μg/g feces). Three of the females in the study became pregnant and gave birth after a gestation of 93 (n = 2) and 95 (n = 1) days. Fecal P concentrations during pregnancy increased to 11.64 ± 1.3 μg/g feces, or 5.8-fold above basal concentrations. The results of this study provide a comprehensive characterization of reproductive endocrinology in snow leopards, and confirm that fecal hormone monitoring is an effective way to monitor female snow leopards throughout the breeding season.     

Effects of crowding and sex on fecal cortisol levels of captive forest musk deer

Background

Restricted space and close contact with conspecifics in captivity may be stressful for musk deer, as they are highly territorial and solitary in the wild. So we tested the effects of crowding on stress of forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in heterosexual groups, using fecal cortisol analysis as a non-invasive method. 32 healthy adults during non-breeding seasons were chose as our experimental objects. Group 1 was defined as higher crowding condition, with 10-15 m²/deer (6 enclosures, 10♀ and 6♂); group 2 was defined as lower crowding condition, with 23-33 m²/deer (6 enclosures, 10♀ and 6♂). Every enclosure contained 1 male and 3 female. These patterns had been existed for years.

Results

The results showed that females in lower crowding condition (217.1 ± 9.5 ug/g) had significantly higher fecal cortisol levels than those in higher crowding condition (177.2 ± 12.1 ug/g). Interestingly, crowding seemed have no effect on male fecal cortisol levels (148.1 ± 9.1 ug/g and 140.5 ± 13.3 ug/g, respectively). At both groups, cortisol was significantly lower in males than in females.

Conclusions

These results showed that chronic crowding may affect stress status of captive forest musk deer. The captive environment should consider the space need for musk deer.     

Non-invasive detection of candidate pregnancy protein biomarkers in the feces of captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Currently, there is no method of accurately and non-invasively diagnosing pregnancy in polar bears. Specific proteins may exhibit altered profiles in the feces of pregnant bears, but predicting appropriate candidate proteins to investigate is speculative at best. The objective of this study was to identify potential pregnancy biomarker proteins based on their increased abundance in the feces of pregnant polar bears compared to pseudopregnant females (controls) using two-dimensional in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass spectrometry (MS). Three 2D-DIGE gels were performed to evaluate fecal protein profiles from controls (n = 3) and pregnant polar bears (n = 3). There were 2224.67 ± 52.39 (mean ± SEM) spots resolved per gel. Of these, only five proteins were elevated in the pregnant group (P < 0.05), and seven additional spots tended to be higher (0.05 < P < 0.10). All 12 were submitted for MS analysis and the identities of 11 were ascertained with a >99.9% confidence interval. The 11 spots represented seven distinct proteins, five of which were significantly more abundant in the pregnant group: IgGFc-binding protein, filamin-C, carboxypeptidase B, transthyretin, and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region. To our knowledge, this was the first study that employed 2D-DIGE to identify differentially expressed proteins in fecal samples to characterize a physiological condition other than those related to gastrointestinal disorders. These promising results provided a strong foundation for ensuing efforts to develop a non-invasive pregnancy assay for use in both captive and wild polar bears.