Immune-related Index Research Articles

Two novel prognostic models for ovarian cancer respectively based on ferroptosis and necroptosis

BackgroundPlatinum-resistant cases account for 25% of ovarian cancer patients. Our aim was to construct two novel prognostic models based on gene expression data respectively from ferroptosis and necroptosis, for predicting the prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer patients with platinum treatment.MethodsAccording to the different overall survivals, we screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from 85 ferroptosis-related and 159 necroptosis-related gene expression data in the GSE32062 cohort, to establish two ovarian cancer prognostic models based on calculating risk factors of DEGs, and log-rank test was used for statistical significance test of survival data. Subsequently, we validated the two models in the GSE26712 cohort and the GSE17260 cohort. In addition, we took gene enrichment and microenvironment analyses respectively using limma package and GSVA software to compare the differences between high- and low-risk ovarian cancer patients.ResultsWe constructed two ovarian cancer prognostic models: a ferroptosis-related model based on eight-gene expression signature and a necroptosis-related model based on ten-gene expression signature. The two models performed well in the GSE26712 cohort, but the performance of necroptosis-related model was not well in the GSE17260 cohort. Gene enrichment and microenvironment analyses indicated that the main differences between high- and low- risk ovarian cancer patients occurred in the immune-related indexes, including the specific immune cells abundance and overall immune indexes.ConclusionIn this study, ovarian cancer prognostic models based on ferroptosis and necroptosis have been preliminarily validated in predicting prognosis of advanced patients treated with platinum drugs. And the risk score calculated by these two models reflected immune microenvironment. Future work is needed to find out other gene signatures and clinical characteristics to affect the accuracy and applicability of the two ovarian cancer prognostic models.

Ferroptosis-related gene signature correlates with the tumor immune features and predicts the prognosis of glioma patients.

Background: Glioma is a malignant intracranial tumor and the most fatal cancer. The role of ferroptosis in the clinical progression of gliomas is unclear.Method: Univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) Cox regression methods were used to develop a ferroptosis-related signature (FRSig) using a cohort of glioma patients from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and was validated using an independent cohort of glioma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to calculate levels of the immune infiltration. Multivariate Cox regression was used to determine the independent prognostic role of clinicopathological factors and to establish a nomogram model for clinical application.Results: We analyzed the correlations between the clinicopathological features and ferroptosis-related gene (FRG) expression and established an FRSig to calculate the risk score for individual glioma patients. Patients were stratified into two subgroups with distinct clinical outcomes. Immune cell infiltration in the glioma microenvironment and immune-related indexes were identified that significantly correlated with the FRSig, the tumor mutation burden (TMB), copy number alteration (CNA), and immune checkpoint expression was also significantly positively correlated with the FRSig score. Ultimately, an FRSig-based nomogram model was constructed using the independent prognostic factors age, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, and FRSig score.Conclusion: We established the FRSig to assess the prognosis of glioma patients. The FRSig also represented the glioma microenvironment status. Our FRSig will contribute to improve patient management and individualized therapy by offering a molecular biomarker signature for precise treatment.

Evaluation of the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides as immunostimulants on the immune response of crucian carp and against SVCV in vitro and in vivo

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect and antiviral activity of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) in crucian carp and epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC) cells. Two diets containing 0 and 2 g/kg, APS were fed crucian carp for 56 days. The results showed that supplementation with APS significantly upregulated the immune-related indices including the levels of IgM, the activities of LZM, AKP and ACP, and the contents of C3 and C4. At the same time, compared with the CK group, adding APS to the feed significantly upregulated the expression of IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, IFN-α, IFN-γ, MyD88, TGF-β and TNF-α in the spleen, kidney, liver and intestine of crucian carp. In addition, when the crucian carp were injected with SVCV, the survival rates of fish in the APS group and the control group were 48.87% and 13.76%, respectively. These results indicated that dietary APS could improve the resistance of crucian carp against SVCV infection. APS also significantly decreased viral titer and inhibited apoptosis induced by SVCV in EPC cells. These results indicated that APS could stimulate the immune response of crucian carp and improve the abilities of crucian carp and EPC cells to resist SVCV infection.

Allostatic load and mental health during COVID-19: The moderating role of neuroticism

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic increased risk of poor mental health has been evident across different cultures and contexts. This study aims to examine whether allostatic load (AL) prior to the pandemic was predictive of poor mental health during the pandemic, and if any associations were moderated by neuroticism. MethodsData were extracted from Waves 2 (2011, allostatic load), 3 (2012, neuroticism), and the COVID-19 study (April 2020) of the Understanding Society database in the UK; data were available for 956 participants. ResultsMental health increased from 2012- to during the pandemic. Neuroticism and AL were positively associated with poorer mental health during COVID-19, such that those who had scored higher on neuroticism and had higher AL prior to the pandemic reported poorer mental health during the pandemic. Neuroticism was also a significant moderator; the effect of AL on mental health during the pandemic was exacerbated in those with high and moderate levels of neuroticism but not lower. Moreover, this was driven by the immune-related indices of AL. This withstood adjustment for age, gender, employment status and prior mental health. These findings are discussed in relation to the pathophysiological mechanisms of mental health.

The construction of recombinant Lactobacillus casei expressing hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein and its immune response in chickens

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is one of the most important diseases in poultry. The present study generated recombinant surface-displayed Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) expressing the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of NDV (Lc-pPG-HN) and a live pPG vector (Lc-pPG) and evaluated their immunogenicity. A 1670 bp HN gene fragment was successfully amplified and cloned into a prokaryotic protein expression system. Protein expression in the resulting recombinant Lc-pPG-HN (surface displayed) strain was verified using Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. A single band was observed on the Western blots, and the molecular weight of the corresponding protein was 63 kDa. A fluorescent signal for Lc-pPG-HN was observed using fluorescence microscopy. A total of 270 healthy chicks were divided into three treatment groups. Five replicates were used for each treatment, while six chicks were used per replicate. The following three treatment groups were used: physiological saline group (Control), Lc-pPG group and recombinant vaccine group (Lc-pPG-HN). The primary immunization and booster immunization of the chicks were performed via oral administration on 1 and 10 days old. Tissue and blood samples were collected from chickens that received oral recombinant L. casei strains on 1, 7, 14 and 21 days post-immunization for immune-related index analyses. Chickens orally immunized with Lc-pPG-HN showed significantly increased body weights and immune organ indices. Oral immunization with Lc-pPG-HN also enhanced the concentrations of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), intestinal lavage fluid secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and histomorphological development of the small intestine. Our results also indicated that recombinant L. casei significantly increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium colonization and decreased the relative abundance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the chicken caecum. Similar enhancement effects from hemagglutination inhibition were also observed in the antibody titers. Oral administration of Lc-pPG-HN effectively protected against NDV and alleviated the symptoms of the NDV challenge. In summary, recombinant L. casei had positive impacts on the performance, immunological function, gut development, and microbiota of growing chicks and may be a potential therapeutic candidate against NDV.

Bacillus subtilis spores as an adjuvant to enhance the protection efficacy of the SVCV subunit vaccine (SVCV‐M protein) in German mirror carp ( Cyprirnus Carpio Songpa Linnaeus Mirror )

The present study evaluated the adjuvant effects of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) spores on the immune response induced by an SVCV-M protein, which was equivalent to a subunit vaccine in German mirror carp (Cyprirnus Carpio Songpa Linnaeus Mirror). The following results were observed: in vitro, there were no toxic effects of B. subtilis spores and SVCV-M protein on the viability of epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells. In addition, B. subtilis spores can significantly reduce the oxidative damage of the spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) on EPC cells, but protein-M had no significant effects on the oxidative damage of EPC cells. In vivo, higher levels of specific IgM could be detected in the protein-M+B. subtilis spores group, compared with that in PBS, B. subtilis spores and Protein-M groups. Immune-related indexes including the activities of LZM and AKP and the content of C3 and C4 in the protein-M+B. subtilis spores group were strongly upregulated. Immune-related genes had the same trend as the immune-related indexes. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity of the protein-M+B. subtilis spores group was also better than that of PBS, B. subtilis spores and Protein-M groups. Finally, the highest survival rate (59.69%) was observed in the protein-M+B. subtilis spores group, while the survival rate was 8.89% in protein-M group, and 0% in the PBS and B. subtilis spores groups. This study suggests B. subtilis spores as an adjuvant that can enhance the protection efficacy of the SVCV subunit vaccine (SVCV-M protein) in common carp.

Detection and analysis of clinical features of patients with different types of coronavirus disease 2019

This study was designed to investigate the change of various indexes in patients with different types of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Seventy‐five patients with COVID‐19 were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and they were classified into moderate, severe and critically severe types according to the disease severity. The basic information, blood routine, pneumonia‐related blood indexes, immune‐related indexes along with liver, kidney and myocardial indexes in patients with different types were analyzed. The analysis of immune‐related indexes showed that the proportions of critically severe patients with abnormal interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and IL‐4 were higher than those of severe and moderate patients. In addition, the proportion of patients with abnormal total cholesterol increased as the severity of disease increased, and the proportion in critically severe patients was significantly higher than that in moderate patients. The patients with a more severe COVID‐19 are older and more likely to have a history of hypertension. With the progression of COVID‐19, the abnormal proportion of total white blood cell, neutrophils, lymphocytes, IL‐2, IL‐4, and total cholesterol increased. The change of these indexes in patients with different COVID‐19 types could provide reference for the disease severity identification and diagnosis of COVID‐19. In addition, the change in the total cholesterol level suggested that COVID‐19 would induce some liver function damage in patients.

Effects of diet chitosan oligosaccharide on performance and immune response of sows and their offspring

Effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) supplementation to the diets of sow and/or their offspring on performance and immune response were investigated. Multiparous sows (3 to 5 parity; Landrace × Yorkshire) were fed either a control diet (sCON, n = 20) or a diet containing 30 mg kg−1 COS (sCOS, n = 20) from day 86 of gestation until weaning at day 20 of lactation. Piglets from Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire sires were assigned at 7 days of age within sow treatments and fed either a control diet (pCON) or a diet containing 30 mg kg−1 COS (pCOS) for 28 days. The four piglet treatments (n = 10 per treatment) were: sCON-pCON, sCON-pCOS, sCOS-pCON, and sCOS-pCOS. Sow dietary COS did not significantly change (P > 0.05) number of piglets born, piglet birth and weaning weight, piglet average daily gain (ADG) before and after weaning, piglet average daily feed intake or feed-to-gain ratio after weaning. However, piglet diet COS increased weight at weaning (P = 0.03) and on day 35 of age (P = 0.01), and ADG during lactation (P = 0.03). Sow diet COS increased immunoglobulin (Ig) M content in the colostrum (P = 0.03) and in umbilical cord blood (P = 0.02). Sow diet COS also increased the contents of IgG and interleukin (IL) 10 (P < 0.01), complement 3 (P = 0.03), and tended to increase IgA, IgM and lysozyme (LYZ) concentrations (P = 0.08) in serum of piglets at weaning. Piglet dietary COS did not significantly affect immune-related indexes. In conclusion, sow diets supplying COS improved piglet immune response, and piglet diets supplying COS improved piglet growth rate.

Effects of Ammonia and Nitrite Stress on Immune and Metabolic Responses of Japanese Sea Bass, Lateolabrax Japonicus

We investigated the effects of ammonia and nitrite stress on genes involved in metabolism and disease resistance in Japanese sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus). Fish were exposed to pure seawater (control), 65.4 mg/L NH4+ -N, or 60.9 mg/L NO2–N for 7 days. Muscle, head-kidney, gill, spleen, and liver tissues were sampled regularly and the expression of immune and metabolism-related genes was monitored. The results indicated that the expression of immune-related genes such as heat shock proteins 70 and 90 were upregulated in the head-kidney, spleen, gill, liver, and muscle tissues under ammonia and nitrite stress. Glutamine synthetase (GS) expression increased to different degrees under ammonia and nitrite stress, while glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in the stress group upregulated in the gills. The expression of carbonic anhydrase (CA) was upregulated in the spleen and gill tissue under ammonia or nitrite stress. Expression of leptin (LEP) was upregulated in the muscle, gills and liver under nitrite stress; under ammonia stress, LEP expression did not fluctuate significantly in the spleen or gill. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was downregulated in the spleen, while did not fluctuate obviously in the muscle and head-kidney under ammonia stress. These results indicate that ammonia and nitrite stress led to an upregulated immune related indexes response and increased metabolic activities in L. japonicus, and provides reference suggestions for response status of these health markers answering the outside environment intimidation.

Construction and immune efficacy of recombinant Lactobacillus casei strains expressing Malt from Aeromonas veronii

Aeromonas veronii is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. The use of probiotics in aquaculture is a practical alternative to antibiotics to promote animal health and aid in disease prevention. In the present study, we aimed to construct a recombinant Lactobacillus casei(surface-displayed or secretory) strain containing Malt from A. veronii TH0426 and assess its potential as an oral vaccine. A 1314-bp Malt gene fragment was successfully amplified and cloned into a prokaryotic protein expression system. Protein expression in resulting recombinant strains Lc-MCS-Malt (surface-displayed) and Lc-pPG-Malt (secretory) was then verified by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. A single band was observed on the Western blots, with the molecular weight of the corresponding protein shown to be 48 kDa. Furthermore, a fluorescent signal for Lc-MCS-Malt was observed by fluorescence microscopy. At 0, 7, 16, 25, and 34 days post-immunization, tissue and blood samples were collected from common carp orally administered with the recombinant L. casei strains for immune-related index analyses. Treatment of common carp with the recombinant vaccine candidate stimulated high serum or skin mucus specific antibody titers and induced a higher lysozyme, ACP, SOD activity, while fish fed with Lc-pPG or PBS had no detectable immobilizing immune responses. Expression of IL-10, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ genes in the group immunized with recombinant L. casei were significantly (P < 0.05) up regulated as compared with control groups, indicating that inflammatory response and cell immune response were triggered. Results also showed that recombinant L. casei could stimulate the mucosa through colonization of the intestine, resulting in increased transcription of IL-10, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Immunity and colonization assays also showed that after 34 days of fasting, recombinant L. casei were still present in the intestines of the immunized fish. Common carp that received Lc-MCS-Malt(53.3%) and Lc-pPG-Malt (46.7%) exhibited higher survival rates than the controls after challenge with the pathogen A. veronii. Our findings suggested that recombinant L. casei can adequately protect fish and improve immunity, providing a theoretical basis for the future development of an oral Lactobacillus vaccine for use in aquaculture.

Colonization and immunoregulation of Lactobacillus plantarum BF_15, a novel probiotic strain from the feces of breast-fed infants.

Immunosuppression is a manifestation imbalance in the immune system, often during unhealthy states. In recent years, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been found to be important components of the body's innate immune system, and indispensable to maintaining normal immune function. Lactobacillus plantarum BF_15, a novel strain isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants, which has shown potential as an immunomodulator in vitro. In the present study, with the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) based on RNA-polymerase beta subunit encoding gene (rpoB) to analyze the colonization of L. plantarum BF_15 in the intestine of mice. In addition, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as a positive control strain, by measuring immune-related indexes and the diversity of intestinal microbiota, the effects of BF_15 on immunoregulation and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis were investigated to elucidate whether the attenuation of immunosuppression is related to the modulation of intestinal microbiota. Results did indeed support this notion that BF_15 did colonize murine intestines well, in which it could still be detected in mice feces 14 days after stopping the probiotic administration. Moreover, BF_15 found to protect mice against reduction in the levels of several immune-related indicators, including the thymus and spleen indexes, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, toe swelling degree, serum hemolysin-antibody level, and macrophage phagocytosis index, triggered by high-dose (200 mg kg-1) intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (CTX). In addition, the strain was also found to effectively balance intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in the mice. Collectively, these results indicated that L. plantarum BF_15 can not only successfully colonize murine intestines, but also can effectively alleviate CTX-induced immunosuppression, once established, by rebalancing the intestinal microbiota. This, therefore, provides strong evidence for the view that BF_15 has the potential to become a highly effective immunomodulating probiotic in human microbiota as well.

Effects of Chlorella vulgaris polysaccharides accumulation on growth characteristics of Trachemys scripta elegans

The present study investigated the effects of the accumulated polysaccharides in Chlorella vulgaris microalgae on the growth characteristics of Trachemys scripta elegans. Sodium alginate was used to prepare immobilized C. vulgaris, and the antioxidant effects of the accumulated polysaccharides in it were determined using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. We determined the specific growth rates of T. s. elegans (10 in each group) and their levels of non-specific immune-related indexes (including alkaline phosphatase; total superoxide dismutase; catalase; malondialdehyde). Under optimal culturing conditions, the accumulated polysaccharide content in C. vulgaris reached 32.7% (dry weight). Polysaccharides from C. vulgaris significantly improved the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress resistance and resulted in the enhancement of stress resistance-related antioxidant enzymes, including total superoxide dismutase and catalase (p < 0.05). The accumulated polysaccharides in C. vulgaris were heteropolysaccharides comprising rhamnose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, 2−deoxy−D−glucose, mannose, glucose, galactose, and glucosamine with a molar ratio of 0.26: 0.62: 0.21: 0.10: 0.08: 0.18: 1.00: 0.42: 0.17. Compared with the control group with common feeds, suspended and immobilized C. vulgaris with higher accumulated polysaccharide levels had a positive effect on the specific growth rate of the T. s. elegans (p < 0.05). Further, the suspended and immobilized C. vulgaris with higher accumulated polysaccharide levels significantly increased serum alkaline phosphatase, total superoxide dismutase and catalase activity (p < 0.05) and decreased serum malondialdehyde levels of T. s. elegans (p < 0.05).

A comparative study of the respiratory indirect calorimetry and HB coefficient method for the guidance of the target energy in patients with sepsis

Objective To explore the effects of nutritional supports following target energy measured by respiratory indirect calorimetry and HB coefficient method respectively on the nutrition and immune indexes of patients with sepsis. Methods A prospective comparative study of 60 patients with sepsis who was suitable for nutritional support and respiratory indirect calorimetry in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital from January 2015 to October 2015 was conducted. Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) was measured simultaneously by respiratory indirect calorimetry (n=30) and HB coefficient (Harris-Benedict formula×stress coefficient, n=30) in patients with sepsis and the nutritional support was given according to the MREE measured by the two methods. The nutritional and immune indexes were obtained at 0 day, 3 day, 7 day, and 14 day after nutritional support. The nutritional and immune indexes at 0 day were considered as the baseline and the differences in the nutritional and immune indexes between the baseline and 3 day, 7 day and 14 day were expressed as a Δ. Values of Δ were compared between the two goups. Results With nutritional support for 3 days, Δalbumin, Δ prealbumin, Δthe total T lymphocytes, Δassist/induction of T cells and ΔIgG were higher in the respiratory indirect calorimetry group than in the HB coefficient group (P<0.05). With nutritional support for 7 days, Δalbumin, ΔT lymphocytes, ΔIgM were higher in the respiratory indirect calorimetry group than in the HB coefficient group (P<0.05). With nutritional support for 14 days, Δtransferrin, Δsuppression/cytotoxic T cells, ΔIgG, ΔIgA, ΔC3 andΔC4 were higher in the respiratory indirect calorimetry group than in the HB coefficient group(P<0.05). Conclusion Nutritional support with REE measured by respiratory indirect calorimetry in patients with sepsis is more effective on nutritional and immune related indexes improvement have different degrees of improvement, thus respiratory indirect calorimetry is more suitable to guide the target energy of sepsis patients. Key words: Sepsis; Target energy; Respiratory indirect calorimetry; HB coefficient; Nutrition

L-carnitine regulated Nrf2/Keap1 activation in vitro and in vivo and protected oxidized fish oil-induced inflammation response by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway in Rhynchocypris lagowski Dybowski

Nrf2/Keap1 pathway is associated with oxidative stress. l-carnitine is currently under preclinical evaluation as a antioxidant, but the use of l-carnitine in aquaculture has been poorly evaluated and so far no mechanism has been demonstrated. Here, we explored the effects of l-carnitine in vitro and in vivo and discussed the possible molecular mechanisms involved. Firstly, Nrf2-siRNA significantly knocked down the mRNA level of Nrf2 in FHM cells. Thus, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (T-SOD, CAT, GSH-PX) and the level of antioxidant substance (GSH) and the level of MDA showed that Nrf2-siRNA pretreatment weakened the protective effect of l-carnitine. Moreover, the mRNA levels of Keap1, Nrf2, Maf and HO-1 indicated that l-carnitine regulated Nrf2/Keap1 activation. Furthermore, oxidized fish oil remarkably suppressed growth in Rhynchocypris lagowski Dybowski, and the lower antioxidant capacity was also observed in liver. According to the results of immune related indexes (the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, LZM, AKP) in serum and the mRNA levels of immune related genes (NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-10 and TGF-β) in liver, oxidized fish oil also induced inflammatory response in fish. Also, l-carnitine supplementation can relieve this bad condition. In conclusion, l-carnitine regulated Nrf2/Keap1 activation in vitro and in vivo and protected oxidized fish oil-induced inflammation response by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway in Rhynchocypris lagowski Dybowski.

Effects of two different reconstruction methods of digestive tract after radical total gastrectomy on quality of life and immune nutrition status in patients with gastric cancer

Objective To compare the quality of life, nutritional status and immune function of gastric cancer patients with digestive tract reconstruction using Roux-en-Y anastomosis and uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis after radical gastrectomy. Methods 86 patients with gastric cancer were selected from May 2015 to June 2017 with radical total gastrectomy. According to the different ways of the reconstruction of the digestive tract, the patients were divided into URY group (non-severed group, 41 patients) and RY group (traditional group, 45 patients). The quality of life of the two groups was compared at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation. The nutritional status of albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, hemoglobin, retinol binding protein and weight, as well as CD4+ lymphocyte, CD8+ lymphocyte, CD4+ / CD8+ ratio, IgG, IgM, IgA and other immune related indexes were observed at pre-operation and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation. Results As for quality of life, the score of diet limitation in group URY was significantly lower than that in group RY at 1 month after operation (P 0.05); As for anxiety, the score of group URY was higher than that in group RY (P 0.05). As for the nutritional indexes, prealbumin in the URY group was higher than that in the RY group at 6 months after operation (P 0.05). There was no statistical significance in immune indexes between the two groups (P>0.05). The postoperative hospitalization time of URY group was less than that of RY group (P 0.05). Conclusion Except for the length of hospitalization and postoperative complications in which uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis was superior to Roux-en-Y anastomosis, there is no significant difference in quality of life and nutritional and immune indicators between the two alimentary tract reconstruction methods. Key words: Gastric cancer; Digestive tract reconstruction; Quality of life; Nutrition; Immune

Changes in the intestine microbial, digestion and immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei in response to dietary resistant starch

Resistant starch (RS) is a constituent of dietary fibre that has beneficial effects on the intestine physiological function of animals. However, the roles of RS on shrimp intestine health is unknown. In this study, we investigated the the effects of dietary RS on the microbial composition, and digestive and immune-related indices in the intestine of Litopenaeus vannamei. The shrimp were fed with diets containing different levels of RS: 0 g/kg (Control), 10 g/kg (RS1), 30 g/kg (RS2) and 50 g/kg (RS3) for 56 days. The results showed that dietary RS improved the morphology of the intestine mucosa. RS also increased the activity of digestive enzymes (AMS, LPS, Tryp, and Pep) and immune enzymes (PO, T-AOC, T-NOS, and NO), and the expression levels of immune-related genes (proPO, ALF, Lys, HSP70, Trx, Muc-1, Muc-2, Muc-5AC, Muc-5B, and Muc-19). A microbiome analysis indicated that dietary RS increased the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contents and altered the composition of the intestine microbial. Specifically, RS increased the abundances of Proteobacteria and decreased the abundance of Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, the beneficial bacteria (Lutimonas, Ruegeria, Shimia, Mesoflavibacter, and Mameliella) were enriched, which might be involved in degrading toxins and producing beneficial metabolites; while potential pathogens (Formosa and Pseudoalteromonas) were decreased in response to dietary RS. Our results revealed that dietary RS could improve the intestine health of L. vannamei, probably via modulating the intestine microbial composition and SCFAs contents, and enhancing the digestion and immunity of the shrimp.

Camel Milk Mitigates Hemato-Immunotoxic Impacts of Fenpropathrin Oral Intoxication in Male Rat

Our study was done to investigate the hematological and immune related impacts of fenpropathrin (FNP) pyrethroid in male rats and to assess the mitigating effect of camel milk (CM). Sixty male rats were randomly separated into six equal groups (n=10). 1st control (C), 2nd corn oil (CO), 3rd camel milk (CM) groups were orally gavaged physiological saline, CO, and CM respectively at doses of 2ml/rat for 60 days. 4th (FNP treated); orally received FNP 7.06 mg/kg B.wt., 5th (CM+FNP pro/ co treated; received CM two weeks prior to and along with FNP), and 6th (FNP + CM co treated; received FNP followed by CM) day after day by the same previous doses, route, and duration. FNP intoxication significantly decreased RBC counts, HCT, MCHC, Hb content, phagocytosis %, phagocytic index, serum lysozyme activity, and IgM levels. FNP significantly increased leukogram, platelet count, TNFα and IL6. CM significantly attenuates the altered indices more significantly in the (CM+FNP pro/co treated) group than the (FNP+CM co treated) group. Spleen tissues of FNP treated rats revealed marked atrophy and hypocellularity of the lymphocytic follicles with apoptosis and necrosis of the lymphoied eliments. Furthermore; marked atrophy of thymic cortex with delination of cortex and medulla with multifocal lymphocytic deplation. It is concluded that CM significantly mitigates FNP induced alterations in hematological and immune related indices in male rats.

Immune status of children with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

Objective:We aimed to evaluate the immune status of children with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods:Fifty children with OSAHS having the symptoms of “snoring, mouth breathing and suffocating during sleep”, who were admitted in our hospital from May 2014 to May 2016, were randomly selected. Another 52 healthy, age- and gender-matched children were enrolled as control subjects after taking informed consent. After admission, the peripheral venous blood was collected. T cell subsets and cytokines were analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunoglobulin and complement levels were detected by immunoassay analyzer.Results:The percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes in children with OSAHS was (26.47 ± 1.52)% which was significantly higher than that of control group ((21.94 ± 1.92)%) (P<0.05). OSAHS group had a significantly lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio (1.24 ± 0.12) than that of control group (1.45 ± 0.11) (P<0.05). The two groups had similar percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes (P>0.05). OSAHS group had significantly higher serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ than those of control group (P<0.05), but their IL-2 and TNF-α levels were similar (P>0.05). The serum IgA and C3 levels of OSAHS group significantly exceeded those of control group (P<0.05), but their IgG, IgM and C4 levels were similar (P>0.05).Conclusion:Children with OSAHS had increased percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes and decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio, suggesting this group had poor immune function. Increase in humoral immune-related indices IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory status.

How Varroa Parasitism Affects the Immunological and Nutritional Status of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera.

We investigated the effect of the parasitic mite Varroadestructor on the immunological and nutritional condition of honey bees, Apis mellifera, from the perspective of the individual bee and the colony. Pupae, newly-emerged adults and foraging adults were sampled from honey bee colonies at one site in S. Texas, USA. Varroa‑infested bees displayed elevated titer of Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), suggestive of depressed capacity to limit viral replication. Expression of genes coding three anti-microbial peptides (defensin1, abaecin, hymenoptaecin) was either not significantly different between Varroa-infested and uninfested bees or was significantly elevated in Varroa-infested bees, varying with sampling date and bee developmental age. The effect of Varroa on nutritional indices of the bees was complex, with protein, triglyceride, glycogen and sugar levels strongly influenced by life-stage of the bee and individual colony. Protein content was depressed and free amino acid content elevated in Varroa-infested pupae, suggesting that protein synthesis, and consequently growth, may be limited in these insects. No simple relationship between the values of nutritional and immune-related indices was observed, and colony-scale effects were indicated by the reduced weight of pupae in colonies with high Varroa abundance, irrespective of whether the individual pupa bore Varroa.

The correlation analysis between hepatitis B induced cirrhosis glucose metabolism disorders and hepatitis B immune related indexes and the regional epidemic characteristics

Objective To investigate the correlation between hepatitis B induced cirrhosis glucose metaboliam disorders and hepatitis B immune related indexes,to analyze the epidemic characteristics in the local region.Methods 128 cases with hepatitis B induced cirrhosis were divided into the NGT group,IGR group and DM group,according to 75g oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT).Results The difference of waist size,and body mass index data in the three groups had statistically significant difference( F =22.71,24.62,all P ＜ 0.05 ).As the aggravating of glu cose metabolism disorder,the positive rate of HBsAg,HBeAg and former S1 antigen of NGT group,IGR group and DM group were gradually raised,and the differences were statistically significant ( F =17.35,21.47,19.37,all P ＜0.05).Conclusion There was positive correlation between virus infection in patients with hepatitis B induced cirrhosis and glucose metabolism disorder.There were intimate connection between the epidemiological factors such as age,waist size,weight,and body mass index and glucose metabolism disorder in patients with hepatitis B induced cirrhosis. Key words: Liver Cirrhosis; Glucose metabolism disorders; Hepatitis B surface antigen,hepatitis B; Hepatitis core antigen,hepatitis B