Sodium butyrate mitigates in vitro ammonia generation in cecal content of laying hens.

One of the environmental challenges that modern poultry industry faced is odor pollution caused by ammonia emission. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of sodium butyrate on the production of ammonia in the cecal contents of laying hens using in vitro gas production study and to elucidate the mechanism behind it. The study consisted of a control (without sodium butyrate), and three experimental groups added with 10, 15, and 20 mg of sodium butyrate, respectively.

Facile synthesis of monodisperse of hollow mesoporous SiO2 nanoparticles and in-situ growth of Ag nanoparticles for antibacterial.

Monodispersed hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) are successfully synthesized via a facile dual template method, in which poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PS-PMMA-PMAA) particles are used as hard template for producing the hollow structure and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) used for introducing the mesopores in the silica shells. The obtained HMSNs possess uniform diameter and morphology, and the shell of which could be adjusted by changing the addition of silicon precursor. The synthesized HMSNs have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen physisorption.

Activation of persulfate/copper by hydroxylamine via accelerating the cupric/cuprous redox couple.

Cuprous copper [Cu(I)] reacts with sodium persulfate (PDS) to generate sulfate radical SO4(-)•, but it has been seldom investigated owing to its instability and difficulty in dissolving it. This study proposes a new method to regenerate Cu(I) from cupric copper [Cu(II)] by addition of hydroxylamine (HA) to induce the continuous production of radicals through active PDS, and investigates the resulting enhanced methyl orange (MO) degradation efficiency and mechanism in the new system. HA accelerated the degradation of MO markedly in the pH range from 6.

Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics of stillbirths in China: a census of nearly 4 million health facility births between 2012 and 2014.

Background: Very little is known about the burden and determinants of stillbirths in China. We used data from a national surveillance system for health facility births to compute a stillbirth rate representative of all facility births in China and to explore sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with variation in the stillbirth rate.

Methods: We used data from China's National Maternal Near Miss Surveillance System between Jan 1, 2012, and Dec 31, 2014, which covers 441 hospitals in 326 urban districts and rural counties.

Association between maternal aluminum exposure and the risk of congenital heart defects in offspring.

Background: Aluminum (Al) is the third most common element in the earth' s crust and has been reported to be teratogenic. However, there is lack of understanding about the association between maternal aluminum exposure and the risks of birth defects such as congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Methods: A multi-center, hospital-based case-control study was performed at four maternal and child tertiary hospitals in China.

Dietary supplementation of a mixture of Lactobacillus strains enhances performance of broiler chickens raised under heat stress conditions.

High ambient temperature is a major problem in commercial broiler production in the humid tropics because high producing broiler birds consume more feed, have higher metabolic activity, and thus higher body heat production. To evaluate the effects of two previously isolated potential probiotic strains (Lactobacillus pentosus ITA23 and Lactobacillus acidophilus ITA44) on broilers growing under heat stress condition, a total of 192 chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups of 48 chickens each as follows: CL, birds fed with basal diet raised in 24 °C; PL, birds fed with basal diet plus 0.1 % probiotic mixture raised in 24 °C; CH, birds fed with basal diet raised in 35 °C; and PH, birds fed with basal diet plus 0.

Under-5 mortality in 2851 Chinese counties, 1996-2012: a subnational assessment of achieving MDG 4 goals in China.

Background: In the past two decades, the under-5 mortality rate in China has fallen substantially, but progress with regards to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 at the subnational level has not been quantified. We aimed to estimate under-5 mortality rates in mainland China for the years 1970 to 2012.

Methods: We estimated the under-5 mortality rate for 31 provinces in mainland China between 1970 and 2013 with data from censuses, surveys, surveillance sites, and disease surveillance points.

NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species Stimulate β-Cell Regeneration Through Differentiation of Endocrine Progenitors in Murine Pancreas.

Aims: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as second messengers for redox modification of transcription factors essential for differentiation. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, a major source of ROS, has been shown to regulate differentiation of various progenitor cells, while its role in pancreatic endocrine cell differentiation is unclear. This study was aimed at this knowledge gap.

Elevated serum uric acid after injury correlates with the early acute kidney in severe burns.

Objective: Early acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most serious and common complications in the early stage of severe burns, but the pathological mechanisms still need to be elucidated. High uric acid (UA) has been found to be correlated with renal dysfunction in some experimental and clinical studies; however, the study of the dynamic correlation between AKI and UA in severe burns is still lacking.

Methods: The diagnosis and classification of AKI were performed according to RIFLE criteria, UA, serum creatinine (Scr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactic acid (LA) were dynamically monitored within 2 days after injury in 59 severely burned patients.

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.

Background: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) is the first of a series of annual updates of the GBD. Risk factor quantification, particularly of modifiable risk factors, can help to identify emerging threats to population health and opportunities for prevention. The GBD 2013 provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.

Effect of oligosaccharides extract from palm kernel expeller on growth performance, gut microbiota and immune response in broiler chickens.

This study examined the prebiotic effects of oligosaccharides extract from palm kernel expeller (OligoPKE) on growth performance, cecal microbiota and immune response of broiler chickens. A total of ninety 1-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb-500) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups of six pens (replicates) with five birds per pen. Dietary treatments were: (i) basal diet as control, (ii) basal diet plus 0.

Pneumonia Mortality among Children under 5 in China from 1996 to 2013: An Analysis from National Surveillance System.

Objectives: We investigated the mortality rate of pneumonia (PMR) among children under 5 and its time trend from 1996 to 2013 to determine the priorities for ending preventable deaths from pneumonia in children under 5, and share China's successful experience in reducing PMR with other developing countries.

Methods: We used data from China's Under 5 Child Mortality Surveillance System (U5CMSS) to calculate the PMR and the proportion of pneumonia deaths to total deaths of children under 5. The data were grouped by urban and rural areas with Cochran-Mantel-Haensel (CMH) test and Chi-square test to examine the differences of PMR and proportion.

[Melanin Synthesis was Affected by Extracts of 22 Kinds Chinese Herbs of Acid Taste: an Experi- mental Study].

Objective: To confirm the inhibitory effect of Chinese herbs of acid taste on melanin synthesis.

Methods: Active ingredients of 22 kinds Chinese herbs of acid tastes were extracted by alkali extraction and acid precipitation, alcohol extraction, and water extraction, respectively, which was then dispensed into 25.00, 12.

The ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas Axis Regulates the Development of Pancreatic Endocrine Cells in Mouse Embryos.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), its product Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], and Ang-(1-7) receptor Mas, have been shown to regulate organogenesis during embryonic development in various species. However, it is not known whether a local ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis is present in the fetal pancreas. It is hypothesized that there is a local ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis in the embryonic pancreas in mice that is involved in regulating islet cell development.

Effect of dietary lead on intestinal nutrient transporters mRNA expression in broiler chickens.

Lead- (Pb-) induced oxidative stress is known to suppress growth performance and feed efficiency in broiler chickens. In an attempt to describe the specific underlying mechanisms of such phenomenon we carried out the current study. Ninety-six one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatment groups of 6 pen replicates, namely, (i) basal diet containing no lead supplement (control) and (ii) basal diet containing 200 mg lead acetate/kg of diet.

Enrichment of the β-catenin-TCF complex at the S and G2 phases ensures cell survival and cell cycle progression.

Wnt-β-catenin (β-catenin is also known as CTNNB1 in human) signaling through the β-catenin-TCF complex plays crucial roles in tissue homeostasis. Wnt-stimulated β-catenin-TCF complex accumulation in the nucleus regulates cell survival, proliferation and differentiation through the transcription of target genes. Compared with their levels in G1, activation of the receptor LRP6 and cytosolic β-catenin are both upregulated in G2 cells.

Probiotic potential of Lactobacillus strains with antimicrobial activity against some human pathogenic strains.

The objective of this study was to isolate, identify, and characterize some lactic acid bacterial strains from human milk, infant feces, and fermented grapes and dates, as potential probiotics with antimicrobial activity against some human pathogenic strains. One hundred and forty bacterial strains were isolated and, after initial identification and a preliminary screening for acid and bile tolerance, nine of the best isolates were selected and further identified using 16 S rRNA gene sequences. The nine selected isolates were then characterized in vitro for their probiotic characteristics and their antimicrobial activities against some human pathogens.

Features of S-nitrosylation based on statistical analysis and molecular dynamics simulation: cysteine acidity, surrounding basicity, steric hindrance and local flexibility.

S-Nitrosylation is involved in protein functional regulation and cellular signal transduction. Although intensive efforts have been made, the molecular mechanisms of S-nitrosylation have not yet been fully understood. In this work, we carried out a survey on 213 protein structures with S-nitrosylated cysteine sites and molecular dynamic simulations of hemoglobin as a case study.

Global, regional, and national levels and causes of maternal mortality during 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.

Background: The fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG 5) established the goal of a 75% reduction in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR; number of maternal deaths per 100,000 livebirths) between 1990 and 2015. We aimed to measure levels and track trends in maternal mortality, the key causes contributing to maternal death, and timing of maternal death with respect to delivery.

Methods: We used robust statistical methods including the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) to analyse a database of data for 7065 site-years and estimate the number of maternal deaths from all causes in 188 countries between 1990 and 2013.

DNA damage induces the accumulation of Tiam1 by blocking β-TrCP-dependent degradation.

The Rac1/JNK cascade plays important roles in DNA damage-induced apoptosis. However, how this cascade is activated upon DNA damage remains to be fully understood. We show here that, in untreated cells, Tiam1, a Rac1-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is phosphorylated by casein kinase 1 (CK1) at its C terminus, leading to Skp, Cullin, F-box-containing(β-TrCP) recognition, ubiquitination, and proteasome-mediated degradation.

Role of interleukin-6 in differentiating interleukin-11 induced fever and early bacterial infection.

Objective: To evaluate the role of Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in differentiating interleukin 11 induced fever with C-reactive protein elevation from early bacterial infection.

Methods: A total of 74 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Serum Th1/Th2 cytokines were determined using cytometric bead array (CBA) techniques.

Impact of elevated Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) concentrations of reverse osmosis membrane desalinated seawater on the stability of water pipe materials.

Hardness and alkalinity are known factors influencing the chemical stability of desalinated water. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) on corrosion and/or scale formation on the surface of different water distribution pipe materials under tropical conditions. The corrosion rates of ductile iron, cast iron and cement-lined ductile iron coupons were examined in reverse osmosis (RO) membrane desalinated seawater which was remineralised using different concentrations of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+).

15-deoxy-Δ¹²,¹⁴-prostaglandin J₂ ameliorates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats.

Background: A proinflammatory milieu emerging in the lung due to neutrophil accumulation and activation is a key in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). 15-deoxy-Δ(12, 14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the terminal products of the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway, is known to be the endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) with multiple physiological properties. Growing evidence indicates that 15d-PGJ2 has anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, cytoprotective and pro-resolving effects.

Human fetal liver stromal cell co-culture enhances the differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells into islet-like cell clusters.

Recent advance in directed differentiation of pancreatic stem cells offers potential to the development of replacement therapy for diabetic patients. However, the existing differentiation protocols are complex, time-consuming, and costly; thus there is a need for alternative protocols. Given the common developmental origins of liver and pancreas, we sought to develop a novel protocol, devoid of growth factors, by using liver stromal cells (LSCs) derived from human fetal liver.

Anaerobic cellulolytic rumen fungal populations in goats fed with and without Leucaena leucocephala hybrid, as determined by real-time PCR.

The effect of Leucaena leucocephala hybrid-Bahru (LLB), which contains a high concentration of condensed tannins, on cellulolytic rumen fungal population in goats was investigated using real-time PCR. The fungal population in goats fed LLB was inhibited during the first 10 days of feeding, but after 15 days of feeding, there was a tremendous increase of fungal population (157.0 μg/ml), which was about fourfold more than that in control goats (39.