Inhibitory Effect of Glycerin on Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella

In a study of the effect of glycerin in transport media on Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella, it was found that a concentration of 30% glycerin was highly inhibitory for V. parahaemolyticus and to a lesser degree for Salmonella. The incorporation of peptone or human feces in media did not reduce the inhibitory effect of glycerin. In media with 15% glycerin, viable counts of V. parahaemolyticus and Salmonella increased after 24 hr of incubation both in the presence and absence of feces. Due to the concurrent increase in the total bacterial count in the media containing feces, no enrichment effect was noted.     

Modulatory effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus KLDS 1.0738 on intestinal short‐chain fatty acids metabolism and GPR41/43 expression in β‐lactoglobulin–sensitized mice

We investigated the correlation between the beneficial effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut microbiota composition, metabolic activities, and reducing cow's milk protein allergy. Mice sensitized with β‐lactoglobulin (β‐Lg) were treated with different doses of L. acidophilus KLDS 1.0738 for 4 weeks, starting 1 week before allergen induction. The results showed that intake of L. acidophilus significantly suppressed the hypersensitivity responses, together with increased fecal microbiota diversity and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration (including propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate) when compared with the allergic group. Moreover, treatment with L. acidophilus induced the expression of SCFAs receptors, G‐protein–coupled receptors 41 (GPR41) and 43 (GPR43), in the spleen and colon of the allergic mice. Further analysis revealed that the GPR41 and GPR43 messenger RNA expression both positively correlated with the serum concentrations of transforming growth factor‐β and IFN‐γ (p < .05), but negatively with the serum concentrations of IL‐17, IL‐4, and IL‐6 in the L. acidophilus–treated group compared with the allergic group (p < .05). These results suggested that L. acidophilus protected against the development of allergic inflammation by improving the intestinal flora, as well as upregulating SCFAs and their receptors GPR41/43.     

Effect of adenovirus and influenza virus infection on obesity

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the effects of adenovirus and influenza virus infections on obesity in various experimental models. We reviewed studies that were conducted within the past 10 years and were related to virus infection and obesity prevalence. Here, we discuss a different causal relationship between adenovirus and influenza infections with obesity. Adenovirus infection can cause obesity, whereas obesity can be a risk factor for increasing influenza virus infection and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of obesity due to adenovirus infections may be due to an increase in glucose uptake and reduction in lipolysis caused by an increase in corticosterone secretion. Adenovirus infections may lead to increases in appetite by decreasing norepinephrine and leptin levels and also cause immune dysfunction. The relationship between obesity and influenza virus infection could be summarized by the following features: decreases in memory T-cell functionality and interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ mRNA expression, increases in viral titer and infiltration, and impaired dendritic cell function in obese individuals. Moreover, leptin resistance may play an important role in increasing influenza virus infections in obese individuals. In conclusion, prevention of adenovirus infections could be a good approach for reducing obesity prevalence, and prevention of obesity could reduce influenza virus infections from the point of view of viral infections and obesity.     

Mechanism of How Salt-Gradient-Induced Charges Affect the Translocation of DNA Molecules through a Nanopore

Experiments using nanopores demonstrated that a salt gradient enhances the capture rate of DNA and reduces its translocation speed. These two effects can help to enable electrical DNA sequencing with nanopores. Here, we provide a quantitative theoretical evaluation that shows the positive net charges, which accumulate around the pore entrance due to the salt gradient, are responsible for the two observed effects: they reinforce the electric capture field, resulting in promoted molecule capture rate; and they induce cationic electroosmotic flow through the nanopore, thus significantly retarding the motion of the anionic DNA through the nanopore. Our multiphysical simulation results show that, during the polymer trapping stage, the former effect plays the major role, thus resulting in promoted DNA capture rate, while during the nanopore-penetrating stage the latter effect dominates and consequently reduces the DNA translocation speed significantly. Quantitative agreement with experimental results has been reached by further taking nanopore wall surface charges into account.     

PYCNOGENOL chewing gum minimizes gingival bleeding and plaque formation.

PYCNOGENOL is an antioxidant phytochemical shown to have antiinflammatory activity in both the in vitro and in vivo models. This study compared the effects of chewing gums with and without PYCNOGENOL on gingival bleeding and plaque formation in 40 human subjects. In this double-blind study, subjects were assigned randomly to receive either control gums without PYCNOGENOL or experimental gums containng 5 mg PYCNOGENOL. Subjects used chewing gums for 14 days. Gingival bleeding and plaque scores were taken before and after the experiment. PYCNOGENOL chewing gums significantly reduced gingival bleeding, while no changes were noted in bleeding indexes in control subjects who used regular chewing gums. Subjects using regular control gums had significant increases of dental plaque accumulation during the two-week period. No increases in plaque accumulation were noted in subjects using PYCNOGENOL chewing gums. The data of this study suggest that the use of Pycnogenol chewing gums can minimize gingival bleeding and plaque accumulation.     

青海省单蚤属两新种记述(蚤目:角叶蚤科)

在鉴定我囱青海省单蚤属(Monopsyllus Kolenati,1857)的跳蚤标本时,除检出别人已记述过的不等单蚤[Monopsyllus anisus(Rotnschild,1907)],新月单蚤(Monopsyllusscaloni Vovchinskaya,1950)和冯氏单蚤(Monopsyllus fengi Liu,Xie et Wang)(新种,待发表)外,尚发现两个在形态上都接近花鼠单蚤[Monopsyllus indages(Rothschild,1908)]的新种。由于两新种阳茎钩突特别,故分别命名为钩状单蚤Monopsyllus hamutus,新种和文状单蚤Monopsyllus forficus,新种。鉴别这三个蚤种的重要特征如表1所示。