LB Group Research Articles

Use of butorphanol as a local anaesthetic for pain management in calves undergoing umbilical hernia repair.

The aim of the study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of butorphanol and lidocaine, alone or in combination, in calves undergoing surgical repair of umbilical hernia. The study was conducted in 60 calves of different breeds. Xylazine 0.3 mg/kg was administered intramuscularly to all animals in the study. The animals were then divided into three groups (n = 20) that received different treatments with lidocaine at 4.5 mg/kg and butorphanol at 0.02 mg/kg. The L group received lidocaine both by infiltration of the surgical planes and intraperitoneally, the B group received butorphanol both by infiltration of the surgical planes and intraperitoneally, and finally the LB group received lidocaine by infiltration of the surgical planes and butorphanol intraperitoneally. Heart and respiratory rates, haemoglobin oxygen saturation, non-invasive blood pressure and temperature were recorded during surgery. Response to the surgical stimulus was scored on a cumulative numerical scale that included percentage changes in HR, RR and SAP. Postoperative pain was assessed by three independent observers, blinded to treatment, using the UNESP-Botucatu Unidimensional Composite Pain Scale (UNESP-Botucatu UCPS-IV) for the assessment of postoperative pain in cattle. The course of physiological variables was appropriate for patients under anaesthesia. No subject required rescue intraoperative analgesia. In group L, 4 subjects at 40 m and 5 subjects at 50 m required postoperative rescue analgesia. Both butorphanol alone and the combination of butorphanol and lidocaine showed excellent intraoperative and postoperative scores. Furthermore, this combination did not cause any cardiopulmonary or other adverse effects. Based on the results of this study, both butorphanol alone and the co-administration of butorphanol and lidocaine administered locally proved to be safe and effective in providing adequate and long-lasting analgesia in calves, helping to reduce postoperative discomfort and maintaining adequate animal welfare.

Fat burning capacity in a mixed macronutrient meal protocol does not reflect metabolic flexibility in women who are overweight or obese.

Metabolic flexibility, the ability to switch from glucose to fat as a fuel source, is considered a marker of metabolic health. Higher fat oxidation is often associated with greater flexibility and insulin sensitivity, while lower fat oxidation is linked to metabolic inflexibility and insulin resistance. However, our study challenges the universal validity of this relationship, uncovering a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between fuel source switching and fat oxidation, especially in the presence of insulin resistance. In an 8-week controlled feeding intervention, overweight to obese women with insulin resistance (as defined by McAuley's index) were randomized to consume either a diet based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 (DGA) or a 'Typical' American Diet (TAD), n = 22 each. Participants were given a high-fat mixed macronutrient challenge test (MMCT) (60% fat, 28% carbohydrates, and 12% protein) at weeks 0, 2, and 8. Plasma lipids, metabolome, and lipidome were measured at 0, 0.5, 3, and 6h postprandial (PP); substrate oxidation measures were also recorded at 0,1 3, and 6h PP. Metabolic flexibility was evaluated as the change in fat oxidation from fasting to PP. Mixed model and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the effect of diet on these outcomes, and to identify variables of interest to metabolic flexibility. Intervention diets (DGA and TAD) did not differentially affect substrate oxidation or metabolic flexibility, and equivalence tests indicated that groups could be combined for subsequent analyses. Participants were classified into three groups based on the % of consumed MMCT fat was oxidized in the 6h post meal period at weeks 0, 2 and 8. Low fat burners (LB, n = 6, burned <30% of fat in MMCT) and high fat burners (HB, n = 7, burned > 40% of fat in MMCT) at all weeks. Compared to LB, HB group had higher fat mass, total mass, lean mass, BMI, lower HDLc and lower RER (p < 0.05), but not different % body fat or % lean mass. During week 0, at 1h PP, LB had an increase in % fat oxidation change from 0h compared to HB (p<0.05), suggesting higher metabolic flexibility. This difference disappeared later in the PP phase, and we did not detect this beyond week 0. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA (regular and repeated measures (sPLSDA)) models identified that LB group, in the late PP phase, was associated with higher rates of disappearance of acylcarnitines (AC) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) from plasma (Q2: 0.20, R2X: 0.177, R2Y: 0.716). In women with insulin resistance, a high fat burning capacity does not imply high metabolic flexibility, and not all women with insulin resistance are metabolically inflexible. LPCs and ACs are promising biomarkers of metabolic flexibility.

The Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri on the Fermentation Quality, In Vitro Digestibility, and Aerobic Stability of Silphium perfoliatum L. Silage.

In this experiment, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri were added individually or in combination to Silphium perfoliatum L. (SP) silage to investigate the effects of different fermentation types of lactobacilli on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of SP-silage, with a view to providing a certain scientific basis and technical support for obtaining high-quality SP-silage in production. The experiment comprised a non-additive group (control), an L. plantarum group (LP), an L. buchneri group (LB), and an L. plantarum and L. buchneri mixed treatment group (LPLB). Samples were taken after 60 days of fermentation and analyzed for the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of the SP-silage. The results showed that the addition of LP, LB, and LPLB significantly reduced the pH and proportion of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen and significantly increased the lactic acid, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and in vitro crude protein digestibility in the SP-silage (p < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the dry matter and crude protein contents of the LB and LPLB groups were significantly increased, while the neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The SP-silage supplemented with LPLB had the highest dry matter and crude protein contents. The gross and digestible energies of the SP-silage in the LB and LPLB groups were significantly higher than those in the control and LP groups (p < 0.05). The aerobic stability of the SP-silage was significantly reduced by 24.14% in the LP group and increased by 58.62% and 34.48% in the LB and LPLB groups, respectively, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). It was shown that adding a combination of LP and LB resulted in the best fermentation quality, nutritional value, and in vitro digestibility of the SP-silage. LB was effective in improving the aerobic stability of SP-silage.

Syncytiotrophoblast Markers Are Downregulated in Placentas from Idiopathic Stillbirths.

The trophoblast cells are responsible for the transfer of nutrients between the mother and the foetus and play a major role in placental endocrine function by producing and releasing large amounts of hormones and growth factors. Syncytiotrophoblast cells (STB), formed by the fusion of mononuclear cytotrophoblasts (CTB), constitute the interface between the foetus and the mother and are essential for all of these functions. We performed transcriptome analysis of human placental samples from two control groups-live births (LB), and stillbirths (SB) with a clinically recognised cause-and from our study group, idiopathic stillbirths (iSB). We identified 1172 DEGs in iSB, when comparing with the LB group; however, when we compared iSB with the SB group, only 15 and 12 genes were down- and upregulated in iSB, respectively. An assessment of these DEGs identified 15 commonly downregulated genes in iSB. Among these, several syncytiotrophoblast markers, like genes from the PSG and CSH families, as well as ALPP, KISS1, and CRH, were significantly downregulated in placental samples from iSB. The transcriptome analysis revealed underlying differences at a molecular level involving the syncytiotrophoblast. This suggests that defects in the syncytial layer may underlie unexplained stillbirths, therefore offering insights to improve clinical obstetrics practice.

Dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus brevis SAD ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hyperglycemia and associated metabolic issues in Swiss albino mice

ABSTRACT This study is aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of a strain of Lactobacillus brevis (SAD) isolated from an ethnic fermented food consumed regularly by the native people of Darjeeling Himalayan region. Effects of regular consumption of this lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in ameliorating the pathophysiological conditions associated with hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and obesity is studied in mice having induced obesity by high-fat diet (HFD). Key objectives included evaluating the strain’s impact on glycemic parameters, lipid profiles, colonic oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut integrity while assessing the metagenomic composition. For this study, male Swiss albino mice were grouped into Normal Diet (ND), HFD, and L. brevis SAD supplemented (LB) groups. It was found that, L. brevis SAD supplementation significantly improved glycemic parameters, insulin sensitivity, at the same time reduced glycation. It also mitigated obesity-related effects, such as weight gain, organ enlargement, and adverse lipid profiles. Moreover, the HFD group exhibited pronounced deterioration in gut integrity, evidenced by alterations in colonic histomorphology, concurrent with the development of obesity and hyperglycemia. In LB group gut integrity appeared to be restored in the histological study. Metagenomic analysis demonstrated the strain’s potential to modulate the gut microbial composition towards health promoting groups. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of L. brevis SAD in mitigating the adverse metabolic effects induced by HFD.

Comparison of the effects of chlorogenic acid isomers and their compounds on alleviating oxidative stress injury in broilers

The development of large-scale and intensive breeding models has led to increasingly prominent oxidative stress issues in animal husbandry production. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an important extract with a variety of biological activities. It is an effective antioxidant drug and shows different antioxidant capacities due to its different chemical structures. Therefore, it is a new research target to determine the proportion of chlorogenic acid isomers with high antioxidant activity to resist the damage caused by oxidative stress. In this experiment, the antioxidant activities of the chlorogenic acid monomer and its compounds were compared by a series of in vitro antioxidant indexes. Based on the above experiments, it was found that LB and LC have superior antioxidant abilities (P < 0.05). Subsequently, 300 healthy 1-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broilers with no significant difference in body weight (about 44g) were randomly selected and randomly divided into five groups with 6 replicates in each group and 10 chickens in each replicate. One group was the control group, one group was the model group, and the remaining three groups were the experimental groups. At 37 days of age, animals in the control group were injected with normal saline, and animals in the other four groups were injected with 1 ml/kg 5% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the chest muscle before the supplementation. The control group (control) and the model group (PC) were fed a standard diet. The remaining three groups included the chlorogenic acid (CGA) group, LB group (CIB) and LC group (CIC). In these groups, 50 g/t chlorogenic acid, LB compound or LC compound were added to the basal diet, respectively, and the other feeding conditions remained consistent. The addition of the LB complex to the diet could significantly improve the growth performance and antioxidant performance of broilers (P < 0.05), upregulate the expression of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway related genes in liver and jejunum (P < 0.05), regulate the disordered intestinal flora, and alleviate the damage caused by oxidative stress. These results suggested for the first time that the LB complex exhibited superior effects in vitro and vivo.

Integrative analysis of metabolome and transcriptome provides new insights into functional components of Lilii Bulbus

ObjectiveLilium brownii var. viridulum (LB) and L. lancifolium (LL) are the main sources of medicinal lily (Lilii Bulbus, Baihe in Chinese) in China. However, the functional components of these two species responsible for the treatment efficacy are yet not clear. In order to explore the therapeutic material basis of Lilii Bulbus, we selected L. davidii var. willmottiae (LD) only used for food as the control group to analyze the differences between LD and the other two (LB and LL). MethodsMetabolome and transcriptome were carried out to investigate the differences of active components in LD vs LB and LD vs LL. Data of metabolome and transcriptome was analysed using various analysis methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and so on. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched through KEGG and GO enrichment analysis. ResultsThe PCA and HCA of the metabolome indicated the metabolites were clearly separated and varied greatly in LL and LB contrasted with LD. There were 318 significantly differential metabolites (SDMs) in LD vs LB group and 298 SDMs in LD vs LL group. Compared with LD group, the significant up-regulation of steroidal saponins and steroidal alkaloids were detected both in LB and LL groups, especially in LB group. The HCA of transcriptome indicated that there was significant difference in LB vs LD group, while the difference between LL and LD varied slightly. Additionally, 47 540 DEGs in LD vs LB group and 18 958 DEGs in LD vs LL group were identified. Notably, CYP450s involving in the biosynthesis of steroidal saponins and steroidal alkaloids were detected, and comparing with LD, CYP724, CYP710A, and CYP734A1 in LB and CYP90B in LL were all up-regulated. ConclusionThis study suggested that steroidal saponins and steroidal alkaloids maybe the representative functional components of Lilii Bulbus, which can provide new insights for Lilii Bulbus used in the research and development of classic famous formula.

Effects of Tail Vegetable Fermented Feed on the Growth and Rumen Microbiota of Lambs.

This study explored the impact of integrating fermented feed into the starter diet of lambs, focusing on growth, health, serum antioxidants, immune markers, rumen fermentation, and microbial communities. Thirty-six ten-day-old female Tail Han lambs were randomly divided into three experimental groups, which were separately fed with alfalfa hay (LA group), tail vegetable fermented feed (LB group), and tail vegetable fermented feed supplemented with 0.1% microbial inoculants (LC group) during the experimental period. This study assessed the influence of fermented feed on various parameters, including growth performance, fiber degradation, rumen fermentation, enzymatic activities, and ruminal histomorphology. The results indicate that compared to the control group, the addition of fermented feed can increase the daily weight gain of lambs. Simultaneously, the addition of fermented feed can enhance the total antioxidant capacity of serum (p < 0.05). The addition of fermented feed promoted the increased height of villi in the duodenum or jejunum of lambs (p < 0.05), and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the LB and LC groups was also improved (p < 0.05). The addition of fermented feed increased the richness and diversity of the rumen microbial community in lambs (p < 0.05), primarily increasing the relative abundance of Ruminococcus_1, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Lachnospiraceae, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group.

Phrenic nerve injury after atrial fibrillation ablation: different recovery courses among cryoballoon, laser balloon, and radiofrequency ablation.

Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is one of the common complications in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, which often recovers spontaneously. However, the course of its recovery has not been examined fully, especially in regard to the different ablation methods. We sought to compare the recovery course of PNI in cryoballoon, laser balloon, and radiofrequency ablation. This multicenter retrospective study analyzed 355 patients who suffered from PNI during AF ablation. PNI occurred during cryoballoon ablation (CB group) and laser balloon ablation (LB group) for a pulmonary vein isolation in 288 and 20 patients, and radiofrequency ablation for a superior vena cava (SVC) isolation (RF-SVC group) in 47 patients, respectively RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the estimated probability of PNI recovery after the procedure between the methods (p = 0.01). PNI recovered significantly earlier in the CB group, especially within 24h and 3months post-procedure (the percentage of the recovery within 24h and 3months: 49.7% and 71.5% in the CB group, 15.0% and 22.2% in the LB group, and 23.4% and 41.9% in the RF-SVC group, respectively). Persistent PNI after 12months was observed in only seven patients in the CB group, one in the LB group, and four in the RF-SVC group, respectively. PNI rarely persists over 12months after AF ablation; however, there is a difference in the timing of its recovery. PNI recovers quicker with cryoballoon ablation than with laser balloon ablation or radiofrequency ablation of the SVC.

Effect of Lycium ruthenicum and Lycium barbarum intake on Parkinson based on microbiology and metabonomics: A randomized pilot trial

This study aimed to explore the clinical effects of intervention with Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LR) and Lycium barbarum L. (LB) on PD patients, reveal the mechanism by which gut microbiota is involved in the overall metabolism of PD patients. The study examined the effects of LR and LB intake on intestinal microflora, serum/urine metabolites, and the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) in 30 PD patients enrolled and randomized into 3 groups. Each received 16 g LR daily or 16 g LB daily or blank control for 6 months. The study found that LR and LB intervention reduced the MDS-UPDRS Ⅰ score and MDS-UPDRS Ⅳ score, although not statistically significant. The abundance of Bacteroides increased and the abundance of Flavobacteriaceae in the LR group decreased compared to the control group. LR may regulate the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway, and α-linolenic acid metabolism pathway to slow down the progress of PD. After LB intervention, the abundance of Lachnoclostridium increased, the abundance of Blautia, norank_f__Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus and norank_f__Lachnospiraceae decreased in the LB group, and compared to the control group, the abundance of Agathobacter increased, the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Flavobacteriaceae decreased. The results showed that LB may improve PD symptoms by regulating glycine, serine and threonine metabolism pathways, sphingolipid metabolism pathways, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. This study provides evidence support for LR and LB as medicinal and food homologous functional foods to improve PD disorders.

Debris generated by laser and/or balloon cause cerebral infarction with different severity.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects that debris generated by laser and/or balloon on the brain. Debris generated by laser, balloon, and laser combined with balloon were collected and then injected into rats' left common carotid artery. Rats were divided into five groups: sham, saline, laser (L), balloon (B), and laser combined with balloon (LB). The cognition ability of rats was evaluated by Morris water maze. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was examined by laser speckle. TTC staining and MRI scan were conducted to detect cerebral ischemic infarction. Intracranial arteries in rats were visualized by MRI angiography via contrast medium injected via tail vein. Immunohistologic staining for NeuN and Iba1 and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed to assess brain infarction. White matter demyelination was assessed by Luxol fast blue staining. Long-term memory and CBF of rats in different groups exhibited no significant difference. No obstruction sign in intracranial artery tree was noticed in each group. Debris generated by different treatments all caused brain infarction. Infarction lesion caused by debris produced by balloon was much more severe than the one caused by debris generated by laser. While the LB group lay in between. The thickness of white matter decreased in the B group, but not in the L and LB groups. Rat brain has a tolerance for debris as cognition ability and cerebral blood flow are not significantly declined. The severity of cerebral infarction varies by debris generated by different treatments.

EFFECTS OF LIMA BEAN (Phaseolus lunatus) FLOUR ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND GROWTH RECOVERY MALNUTRITION RATS

Incorporating lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) flour can replace and complement the content of proteins, macronutrients, and micronutrients, which may be related to curative effects for malnutrition. Therefore, an in vivo approach was undertaken to demonstrate the effect of lima bean flour on cognitive function and growth recovery in malnourished rats. Four groups of male Wistar rats were included in this study: The control group (N), MAL, MAL+25% LB group, and MAL+50% LB group. Morphometric analysis was used to assess growth recovery. Cognitive tests included Y-Maze, Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT), and Water Maze by Morris (MWM) test, and histopathological examination of the brain sections was conducted on the cerebral cortex and hippocampus by hematoxylin and eosin stains. The biological activity prediction of lima bean active compounds was analyzed by the PASS server using an in-silico study. This study found that lima bean flour increased body weight, length, tail increment, ear length, and leg length in malnourished rats at 50% lima bean concentration, similar to the control group. Lima bean flour showed neuroprotective capabilities by reversing the effects of malnutrition on the cerebral cortex and hippocampus by lowering the percentage of degenerated cells and increasing cognitive and behavioral. Eight bioactive compounds in lima bean extract have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Lima bean flour, a source of complex nutrients, protects against malnutrition systemically in various organ systems, including the brain.

The long-term clinical outcomes of latanoprostene bunod 0.024% in glaucoma treatment at a tertiary glaucoma center

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the clinical outcomes of latanoprostene bunod 0.024% (LB) in intraocular pressure (IOP) control in patients with glaucoma. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed eyes treated with LB between 01/2018 and 01/2020. Demographic and clinical data were collected at baseline and up to 24-months (mo). Primary outcomes were mean change in IOP (∆IOP) from baseline in eyes switched from a prostaglandin analogue (PGA) to LB (Group 1) vs. eyes in which LB was added as a first PGA to a glaucoma regimen (Group 2). Results 262 eyes of 162 patients were included. Overall, baseline IOP was 18.67 ± 5.65 mmHg. Group 1 (n = 168 [64%]) and Group 2 (n = 66 [25%]) each individually had significant ∆IOP at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 mo compared to baseline (p = 0.005). ∆IOP and duration of IOP control (9.5 ± 11.4 vs. 9.7 ± 9.9 months) on LB was similar between Group 1 and 2 at all time points. Additional pharmacologic or surgical intervention was required in 71 (27%) and 66 (25%) eyes, respectively, and LB was stopped in 24 (9.1%) eyes due to side effects. Discussion LB successfully reduced IOP and was well-tolerated in our cohort. PGA naivete does not seem to influence the LB efficacy or its duration of effect.

Linking the distal humerus columns in articular fracture fixation

IntroductionConcerning rates of nonunion in articular distal humerus fractures indicate an unsolved problem. The fixation principles of O'Driscoll describe linking the fractured articular segment to the distal humerus columns with compression screws which creates a stable fixed angle construct. A novel device has been introduced which utilizes an interlocking beam through the articular segment to connect the distal aspect of the medial and lateral plates, creating a linked construct. We sought to evaluate the stability of this linked construct using an articular model of distal humerus fracture. Materials and methodsTen matched pair specimens of 65 years of age or older were randomized to the use (LB group) or non-use (NLB group) of an interlocking beam to link the medial and lateral locking plates in fixation of an AO Type C3 fracture model. Outside of the linking beam, fixation between the matched pairs was consistent using 2.7 mm locking screws distally with fixed trajectories and +/- 2 mm lengths. ResultsMean stiffness was 273 Newtons/mm in the LB group and 225 Newtons/mm in the NLB group (p = 0.001). Mean maximum displacement was 0.28 in the LB group and 0.93 mm in the NLB group (p = 0.006). Mean load to failure was 277 pounds in the LB group and 280 pounds in the NLB group (p = 0.94). DiscussionOur results indicate that an interlocking beam which links the medial and lateral plates provides greater stability compared to a similar construct without an interlocking beam. We attribute this finding to the beam's double supported design which resists cantilever bending and provides robust compression of the fractured fragments.

Postbiotics of Bacillus subtilis LCBS1 have beneficial effects on bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Our previous studies found live Bacillus subtilis LCBS1 could improve the utilization efficiency and intestinal health in bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) fed the SM-based diet. However, non-viable probiotics may play the health benefits of probiotics. Therefore, 0.8% NaCl (negative control group, CG), LCBS1 live bacteria (positive control group, LB) and postbiotics from LCBS1 (heat-inactivated bacteria, HIB; cell-free extract, CE; cell-free supernatant, CS) were added to the SM-based diets and their effects on growth performance, immunity and intestinal health were evaluated in a 56 days feeding trial in bullfrog. Dietary supplement LB, HIB and CE significantly improved weight gain and feed efficiency. Meanwhile, apparent digestibility coefficients of protein were significantly increased, and the pH values of jejunum were significantly decreased in the HIB and CE groups compared with the CG, and indifferent with the LB group. Lower jejunum malondialdehyde concentration, and higher jejunum total antioxidant capacity and whole-body protein deposition in the HIB group were observed compared with the CG, and indifferent with the LB group. Dietary supplement LB and HIB significantly increased activities of lipase and protease in the jejunum, and serum complement 4 level and alkaline phosphatase activity. Higher jejunum il-4 expression in the LB and HIB groups, and lower jejunum tnf-α expression in the HIB, CE and CS groups were observed. Furthermore, the jejunal physical barrier was improved in the LB, HIB, and CE groups. Higher villus height, muscular thickness and zo-1 expression, lower serum diamine oxidase activity and D-lactate concentration in the LB, HIB and CE groups were observed than those of the CG. Relative abundance of potential probiotics including Prevotella_9, Lactococcus, and Cetobacterium was increased in the LB and HIB groups, accompanied by decreased the relative abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria Mycoplasma. Overall, postbiotics of LCBS1 (heat-inactivated bacteria and cell-free extract) could be applied as a potential additive in bullfrog diet.

Hypoglycemic Effects of Inactivated Lactobacillus brevis YM 1301 on T2DM Mice

Lactobacillus brevis (L. brevis) is a widely used probiotic with health-promoting properties. Previous studies reported that L. brevis has beneficial impacts on T2DM mice. On the other hand, the differences in effects between live and inactivated L. brevis are still inconclusive. This study aims to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of inactivated L. brevis YM1301 (YM1301) on T2DM mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozocin (STZ). T2DM mice were randomly stratified into four groups and administered either saline (model group), metformin (positive control group), live YM1301 (LB group), or inactivated YM1301 (ILB group). Results demonstrated that inactivated YM1301 reduced serum content of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin, enhanced the level of glucose tolerance, and decreased insulin resistance in T2DM mice. Inactivated YM1301 also decreased fat accumulation in T2DM mice. In addition, inactivated YM1301 effectively promoted serum GLP-1 levels. These results showed that inactivated YM1301 can significantly improve symptoms of T2DM. This study provides theoretical feasibility for the development of low-cost, easy to store, safer, and more effective probiotic products related to L. brevis.

The application study of dual-energy CT nonlinear blending technique in pulmonary angiography*

Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the feasibility of enhancing image quality in computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and reducing radiation dose using the nonlinear blending (NLB) technique of dual-energy CT. Methods A total of 61 patients scheduled for CTPA were enrolled, and 30 patients underwent dual-energy scanning. Nonlinear blending images (NLB group) and three groups of linear blending images (LB group, 80 kV group, and 140 kV group) were reconstructed after scanning; 31 patients underwent single-energy scanning (120 kV group). The CT values and standard deviations of the pulmonary trunk, left and right pulmonary arteries, and ipsilateral back muscle at the bifurcation level of the left and right pulmonary arteries were measured. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the five groups were calculated. The subjective image quality of the five groups was assessed. The radiation doses of the dual- and single-energy groups were recorded and calculated. Results The CNR and SNR values of blood vessels in the NLB group were significantly higher than those in the LB, 140 kV, and 80 kV groups (CNR of pulmonary artery trunk: t = 3.50, 4.06, 7.17, all P &lt; 0.05; SNR of pulmonary trunk: t = 3.76, 4.71, 6.92, all P &lt; 0.05). There were no statistical differences in the CNR and SNR values between the NLB group and 120 kV group (P &gt; 0.05). The effective radiation dose of the dualenergy group was lower than that of the single-energy group (t = -4.52, P &lt; 0.05). The subjective scores of images in the NLB group were the highest (4.28 ± 0.74). Conclusion The NLB technique of dual-energy CT can improve the image quality of CTPA and reduce the radiation dose, providing more reliable imaging data for the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Reproducibility of the new Leishmania vaccine: Changes in T1, T2 and spleen white pulp responses after re- exposure to live promastigote of Leishmania major

Introduction: Human leishmaniasis is distributed worldwide and is mainly in the tropics and subtropics, with a prevalence of 12 million cases and an approximately incidence of 0.5 million cases of VL and 1.5 million cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Leishmania parasites are vector-born protozoan pathogens found in tropical and subtropical regions of both the old and new world. The disease in human can be divided into cutaneous, visceral, and mucosal syndromes. The aim of this study was more experiments over our previous new formulation leishmania major vaccine which had satisfactory experiments results. Method: For detail procedure refers to author’s previous publications. Briefly, hundred and twenty Balb/cmice were randomly divided into four groups as LT, LB, LBT and control groups. LT, LB and LBT injected subcutaneously with the antigen and the same booster doses with two weeks intervals. The expansion rates of the spleen white pulp size was evaluated using a light microscope and the levels of the serum Th1 (IFN- γ, IL-12) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines measured with the ELISA method. Results: Comparing to the LT and LB groups, the LBT group had highest levels of serum IL12, lowest levels of IL10 and highest increase in the spleen white pulp size. Significant correlation was observed between IL12 and IL10 but not IFN gamma or IL4. Conclusion: present study indicated that the LBT group which received crude cocktail leishmania antigen plus alcoholic extract of Teucrium polium and BCG as adjuvant showed satisfactory cytokines profile comparing to groups LT and LB,since highest levels of IL12 and lower levels of IL10 which could help the infected subjects to inhibit or eradication the intracellular leishmania amastigotes, and also was seen highest increase in the spleen white-pulp size which pointed to the synergistic effects of alcoholic extract of T. polium and BCG.

Combined supplementation with Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum isolated from Tibetan pigs improves growth performance, immunity, and microbiota composition in weaned piglets.

Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, promote growth in piglets by modulating gut microbiota composition and improving the host immune system. A strain of Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum (B. thermacidophilum) were previously isolated from fresh feces of Tibetan pigs. The effects of these isolated strains on growth performance, intestinal morphology, immunity, microbiota composition, and their metabolites were evaluated in weaned piglets. Thirty crossbred piglets were selected and fed either a basal diet (CON), a basal diet supplemented with aureomycin (ANT), or a basal diet supplemented with Lactobacillus sp. and B. thermacidophilum (LB) for 28 days. The piglets in the ANT and LB groups had significantly higher body weight gain than those in the CON group (P < 0.05). Piglets in the ANT and LB groups had regularly arranged villi and microvilli in the small intestine. Furthermore, they had improved immune function, as indicated by decreased serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05), improved components of immune cells in the blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen. Additionally, metagenomic sequencing indicated a significant shift in cecal bacterial composition and alterations in microbiota functional profiles following Lactobacillus sp. and B. thermacidophilum supplementation. Metabolomic results revealed that the metabolites were also altered, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that several significantly altered metabolites were enriched in glycerophospholipid and cholesterol metabolism (P < 0.05). Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that several bacterial members were closely related to the alterations in metabolites, including Bacteroides sp., which were negatively correlated with TG (16:0/18:0/20:4(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)), the metabolite that owned the highest variable importance of projection scores. Collectively, our findings suggest that combined supplementation with Lactobacillus sp. and B. thermacidophilum significantly improved the growth performance, immunity, and microbiota composition in weaned piglets, making them prospective alternatives to antibiotics in swine production.

Comparing bupivacaine alone to liposomal bupivacaine plus bupivacaine in interscalene blocks for total shoulder arthroplasty: a randomized, non-inferiority trial

IntroductionInterscalene brachial plexus blocks are a commonly performed procedure to reduce pain following total shoulder arthroplasty. Liposomal bupivacaine has been purported to prolong the duration of brachial plexus blocks for...