Newly recruited intraepithelial Ly6A+CCR9+CD4+ T cells protect against enteric viral infection

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Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation Improves Constipation by Enhancing Colon Motility via the Central-Vagal Efferent Pathway in Opioid-Induced Constipated Rats

ObjectivesConstipation and opioid-induced constipation (OIC) are common with limited treatment options. We investigated whether a noninvasive method of auricular vagal nerve stimulation (aVNS) could be used for treating OIC and explored its potential mechanisms and neural pathways in a rodent model of OIC.Materials and MethodsSprague–Dawley were chronically implanted with one pair of auricular electrodes for aVNS. Sixteen rats were treated with loperamide for a week while another 16 rats received bilateral vagotomy, then randomly treated with aVNS or sham-aVNS for a week. In addition, eight normal rats were implanted with a polyethylene catheter in the proximal colon for assessing whole colon transit.Results1) The number of fecal pellets and water content in feces increased after aVNS, compared with sham-aVNS. 2) aVNS accelerated colon transit and whole gut transit, compared with sham-aVNS. 3) In colon tissues, aVNS increased the protein expression of choline acetyltransferase, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and the c-kit expression in myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal but decreased the protein expression of neural nitric oxide synthase (p < 0.05 for all, vs. sham-VNS). 4) The prokinetic effects of aVNS were abolished by both subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and atropine. 5) aVNS increased the c-fos expression in both nucleus tractus solitarius and dorsal motor nucleus of vagus, and increased vagal efferent activity (p < 0.05, vs. sham-VNS).ConclusionsaVNS improves OIC by enhancing colon motility and restoring enteric neural functions mediated via the central and vagal efferent pathway.     

Berberine ameliorates non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-induced intestinal injury by the repair of enteric nervous system

The study was to detect the role of GDNF, PGP9.5 (a neuronal marker), and GFAP (EGCs’ marker) in the mechanism of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) related to intestinal injury and to clarify the protective effect of berberine in the treatment of NSAID-induced small intestinal disease. Forty male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups (A–E): Group A: control group; Group B: model group received diclofenac sodium 7.5 mg/(kg*day) for 5 days; Group C–E: berberine low, medium and high dose groups were treated by 7.5 mg/(kg*day) diclofenac sodium for 5 days then received berberine 25 mg/(kg*day), 50 mg/(kg*day), and 75 mg/(kg*day), respectively, between the sixth and eighth day. Intestinal mucosa was taken on the ninth day to observe the general, histological injuries, and to measure the intestinal epithelial thickness. Then, immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of PGP9.5 and GFAP, and Western blot was performed to detect GDNF expression. The histological score and the general score in the model group were, respectively, 5.75 ± 1.04 and 4.83 ± 0.92. Scores in berberine medium and high berberine group were lower compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The intestinal epithelial thickness in the model group was lower than in the control group and the berberine groups (P < 0.05). PGP9.5, GFAP, and GDNF content in the model group and the three berberine groups were significantly lower than in the control groups (P < 0.05). PGP9.5, GFAP, and GDNF content in the control group and the three berberine groups were higher compared with the model groups (P < 0.05). Berberine can protect the intestinal mucosa of NSAID users, and the mechanism is associated with the reparation of the enteric nervous system via upregulating the expression of PGP9.5, GFAP, and GDNF.     

Manganese threonine chelate—a new enteric contrast agent for MRI: a pilot study on rats

Enteric contrast agents are important in gastrointestinal MRI. However, no currently available agent is well established as the standard of care. In this study, in vitro relaxivities of manganese threonine chelate (Mn‐Thr), a common nutritional food supplement, were measured at 1.5 T and 3 T with further investigation of its efficacy and safety in vivo as an enteric contrast agent. According to the calculated relaxivities, T₁W and T₂W TSE sequences of Mn‐Thr solutions at different concentrations were acquired, and the optimal concentration for dark lumen imaging on both T₁W and T₂W images was determined in vitro. To validate the optimal concentration in vivo, eight Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. Each group received rectal injection of either 2.00 g/L (about 3.80 mM) Mn‐Thr or saline as an enteric contrast agent and underwent MRI. After a time interval of one week, the same procedures were repeated with the alternative contrast agent. Animals were sacrificed after the second MRI. Tissue manganese quantification and histopathological examination were obtained. Qualitative MR image quality assessments were performed and compared between Mn‐Thr and saline. Measured T₁ and T₂ relaxivities of Mn‐Thr were significantly higher than those of MnCl₂ in vitro (p < 0.05). At the concentration of 2.00 g/L (about 3.80 mM), Mn‐Thr produced a dark lumen on T₁W and T₂W images both in vitro and in vivo. Compared with saline, Mn‐Thr showed significantly more homogenous luminal signal and increased bowel wall conspicuity in image quality assessments. Tissue manganese concentrations were not significantly different between two groups. Histopathological examinations were normal in both groups. Our data suggest that Mn‐Thr possesses favorable paramagnetic properties and can create a homogenous dark lumen on T₁W and T₂W images without obvious side effects in healthy rats. As a commercially available nutritional food supplement, Mn‐Thr appears to be a promising enteric contrast agent for MRI.     

蚓激酶口服固体制剂质量分析

摘 要 目的：评价蚓激酶口服肠溶制剂的质量现状及存在问题,为质量标准的提高和临床用药提供参考,同时促进厂家完善产品质量。方法: 按照国家评价性抽验的总体要求,在法定检验方法检验的基础上,开展以下探索性研究,测定样品的重金属残留、蚓激酶的酶学性质分析、蛋白质来源确证与成分分析、近红外光谱模型。统计分析蚓激酶口服肠溶制剂的质量现状并进行评价。结果: 按照法定标准检验,结果显示78批次蚓激酶口服肠溶制剂均符合规定,合格率为100%。探索性研究结果显示来源不同企业的蚓激酶原料中的5种重金属考察,铅、铜、砷、镉均有检出,平均检出量分别为0.4 mg·kg-1,8.4 mg·kg-1,4.4 mg·kg-1与3.4 mg·kg-1;证实蚓激酶具有纤维蛋白溶酶及纤维蛋白溶酶原激酶两种酶活性并建立测定方法;建立了纤维蛋白 聚丙烯酰胺电泳方法检测纤溶活性蛋白质;确证了蚓激酶的来源,并在各企业的样品中鉴定出8～9种溶纤活性相关的蛋白质组分。结论: 根据现行标准检验及探索性研究结果,蚓激酶口服肠溶制剂总体合格率较好,现行标准需提高,生产企业需规范蚯蚓养殖管理过程并建立统一的原材料蚯蚓的质量标准。     

佛山市南海区学校托幼机构直饮水卫生状况和饮用安全情况分析

目的了解佛山市南海区学校、托幼机构直饮水的卫生状况,为南海区学校、托幼机构直饮水卫生安全管理提供科学依据。方法 2007—2017年每年对辖区内使用直饮水机的托幼机构和中小学校的直饮水水样进行抽样监测。水质检验按照原国家卫生部GB/T5750-2006《生活饮用水卫生标准检验方法》进行检验,参照CJ94-2005《饮用净水水质标准》进行评价。结果2007—2017年共抽检学校、托幼机构1 074间次,直饮水1 592份,检测项目17 382项次,项目合格率平均为98.19%,其中每年超标率最高均为细菌总数指标。微生物指标平均合格率为86.93%,合格率呈上升趋势。中小学校直饮水的合格率比托幼机构高,差异有统计学意义。结论南海区学校、托幼机构直饮水卫生总体情况良好,直饮水卫生情况逐步改善,但微生物污染仍不容忽视,相关部门要加强对直饮水的卫生监管,尤其要加强托幼机构的直饮水卫生管理。