Resumen Objetivo: realizar una revisión sistemática de los estudios observacionales que analizan la asociación entre la ingesta de alimentos ultraprocesados (UPF) y el riesgo de depresión. Material y métodos: la búsqueda se adhirió a las directrices Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); se realizó una búsqueda de estudios observacionales publicados hasta junio de 2020 en las bases de datos PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library y Web of Science, seguida de búsquedas manuales adicionales. Ocho revisores, que trabajaron de forma independiente en equipos de dos, seleccionaron los estudios para su elegibilidad, extrajeron los datos y evaluaron el riesgo de sesgo. Los desacuerdos se resolvieron a través de la discusión o, si era necesario, a través de la adjudicación de un tercero. Se evaluaron los estudios transversales mediante la lista de comprobación metodológica de la Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) y los estudios de cohortes y de casos y controles mediante la escala Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) para la calidad. Se utilizó un formato tabular para resumir los artículos. Resultados: finalmente se seleccionaron 28 estudios que evaluaban la ingesta de UPF y el riesgo de depresión, 21 de los cuales tenían un diseño transversal, 6 un diseño de cohortes y 1 un diseño de casos y controles. De ellos, 4 estudios de cohortes y 17 estudios transversales encontraron que el consumo de UPF se asociaba positivamente con la depresión o los síntomas depresivos. Conclusiones: nuestra revisión demostró que la mayoría de los estudios incluidos en la revisión sistemática mostraron que el consumo de UPF está asociado con el riesgo de depresión. Los estudios futuros deberían considerar el uso de evaluaciones validadas del consumo de alimentos y métodos estandarizados de evaluación de la depresión para promover la comparabilidad entre los estudios.

Abstract Objective: to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analyzing the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and the risk of depression. Material and methods: the search adhered to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA); a search for observational studies published until June 2020 was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, followed by additional manual searches. Eight reviewers, working independently in teams of two, screened studies for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We resolved disagreements through discussion or, if necessary, through adjudication by a third (LH). And the study assessed cross-sectional studies using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) methodological checklist and cohort and case-control studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for quality. We used a tabular format to summarize the articles. Results: twenty-eight studies evaluating UPF intake and risk of depression were finally selected, 21 of which had a cross-sectional design, 6 studies had a cohort design, and 1 had a case-control design. Of these, 4 cohort studies and 17 cross-sectional studies found that consumption of UPF were positively associated with depression or depressive symptoms. Conclusions: our review demonstrated that most studies included in the systematic review showed that UPF consumption is associated with the risk of depression. Future studies should consider the use of validated food intake assessments and standardized depression assessment methods to promote comparability between studies.

Abstract Objectives The deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within synovial joints and tissues is the initiating factor for gout arthritis. Thus, MSU crystals are a vital tool for studying gout's molecular mechanism in animal and cellular models. This study mainly compared the excellence and worseness of MSU crystals prepared by different processes and the degree of inflammation induced by MSU crystals. Methods MSU crystals were prepared using neutralization, alkali titration, and acid titration methods. The crystals' shape, length, quality, and uniformity were observed by polarized light microscopy and calculated by the software Image J. The foot pad and air pouch models were used to assess the different degrees of inflammation induced by the MSU crystals prepared by the three different methods at different time points. Paw swelling was evaluated by caliper. In air pouch lavage fluid, inflammatory cell recruitment was measured by hemocytometer, and the level of IL-1β TNF- α, and IL-18 by ELISA. Inflammatory cell infiltration was assayed by immunohistochemistry of air pouch synovial slices. Results For the preparation of MSU crystals with the same uric acid, the quantity acquired by the alkalization method was highest, followed by neutralization, with the acid titration method being the lowest. The crystals prepared by neutralization were the longest. The swelling index of the foot pad induced by MSU crystals prepared by acid titration was significantly lower than that of the other methods at 24 h. The inflammatory cell recruitment and level of 1-1β, TNF-α, and IL-18 in air pouch lavage fluid were lowest in animals with crystals prepared by acid titration. IL-1β secretion induced by MSU crystals prepared by acid titration was significantly lower than that of the other two groups, but there was no significant difference in IL-18 secretion between the three groups in THP-1 macrophages and BMDMs. Conclusions All three methods can successfully prepare MSU crystals, but the levels of inflammation induced by the crystals prepared by the three methods were not identical. The degree of inflammation induced by MSU crystals prepared by neutralization and alkalization is greater than by acid titration, but the quantity of MSU crystals obtained by the alkalization method is higher and less time-consuming. Apparently, the window of inflammation triggered by acid titration preparation is shorter compared to other forms of crystal preparation. Overall, MSU crystals prepared by the alkaline method should be recommended for studying the molecular mechanisms of gout in animal and cellular models.

Abstract Introduction: type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a complex disease affected by lifestyle and genetic factors. Although the drugs currently used to treat T2DM have certain curative effects, they still have some adverse side effects. Therefore, it is urgent to find new effective drugs with few side effects to cure T2DM. Objective: to study the role of Inonotus obliquus (IO) in diabetic model mice. Methods: we used high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozocin (STZ) to establish a diabetic mouse model. Mice were divided into non-high-fat diet group (ND), diabetes model group (HFD + STZ) and IO-treated diabetes model group (IO). The mice in the IO group were orally treated with IO (150 mg/kg) at 10 ml/kg for five weeks. Body weight, glucose level, food intake and water consumption, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were evaluated in all mice. The pathological sections of liver, kidney and pancreas were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: after IO administration, the blood glucose level, water consumption, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triacylglycerol (TG) levels of mice decreased. Compared with the HFD + STZ group, the number of normal islet iiiiiiii cells increased and focal necrosis of the liver was significantly reduced in the IO administration group. Conclusions: IO reduced the levels of blood glucose, restored body weight, and enhanced insulin sensitivity along with insulin tolerance and glucose tolerance in diabetic mice. Additionally, IO also reversed HFD and STZ-induced organ injury.

Resumen Introducción: la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (T2DM) es una enfermedad compleja influenciada por el estilo de vida y los factores genéticos. En la actualidad, aunque los medicamentos para la diabetes tipo 2 tienen cierto efecto curativo, todavía tienen algunos efectos secundarios. Por lo tanto, es urgente encontrar nuevos medicamentos para la diabetes tipo 2 que tengan un buen efecto curativo y menos efectos secundarios. Objetivo: estudiar el papel del Inonotus obliquus (IO) en ratones diabéticos. Métodos: se estableció un modelo de ratón diabético con dieta de alto contenido en grasas (HFD) y estreptozocina (STZ). Los ratones se dividieron en el grupo de dieta no alta en grasas (ND), el grupo modelo de diabetes mellitus (HFD + STZ) y el grupo modelo de diabetes mellitus tratado con IO. Los ratones del grupo IO recibieron 10 ml/kg de IO (150 mg/kg) durante cinco semanas. Se observaron el peso corporal, el nivel de azúcar en sangre, la ingesta de alimentos, la ingesta de agua potable, la tolerancia a la glucosa y la tolerancia a la insulina de los ratones de cada grupo, y se estudiaron muestras de biopsias hepáticas, renales y pancreáticas mediante tinción de hematoxilina eosina. Resultados: los niveles de glucosa en sangre, el consumo de agua, la lipoproteína de baja densidad (LDL) y los triglicéridos (TG) disminuyeron después de la administración de IO. En comparación con el grupo HFD+STZ, el número de células β pancreáticas normales y la necrosis focal hepática disminuyeron significativamente en el grupo IO. Conclusiones: el IO redujo el nivel de glucosa en sangre, ayudó a recuperar el peso corporal y mejorar la sensibilidad a la insulina, la tolerancia a la insulina y la tolerancia a la glucosa en ratones diabéticos. Además, el IO revirtió el daño orgánico inducido por HFD y STZ.

Abstract Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that predicts the onset of disability, morbidity and mortality in elderly people; it is a state of pre-disability and is reversible. This review aimed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation interventions in frail older adults. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed to collect randomized controlled trials of dietary supplements for the treatment of frailty in the elderly published before March 2022. The frailty score, muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance of the frail elderly were extracted for analysis. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.4 and Stata version 15.0. Totally, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 1204 participants (603 experiment group vs. 601 control group). Compared to control group, multi-nutrient nutrition intervention can significantly improve the frailty score of the elderly (MD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.01, P = 0.04, I2 = 0). Protein supplementation intervention significantly improved body weight (MD = 4.86, 95% CI: 1.21 to 8.52, P = 0.009), muscle mass [lean mass (MD = 2.73, 95% CI:1.26 to 4.20, P = 0.0003)], muscle strength (MD = 1.90, 95% CI: 0.68 to 3.12, P = 0.002), and physical performance [chair stand test (MD = -2.15, 95% CI: -3.21 to -1.10, P < 0.0001)] in frail older adults compared to control. This meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that dietary supplements interventions positively influence in older people with frailty.

RESUMO: As respostas de duas cultivares de milho (Zea mays L.), ‘LY336’ (tolerante à sombra) e ‘LC803’ (sensível à sombra), ao estresse de sombra em um experimento em vaso conduzido nas safras de 2015 e 2016 foram investigadas. O impacto do tratamento de estresse de sombra de 50% na biomassa da parte aérea, parâmetros fotossintéticos, fluorescência da clorofila e teor de malondialdeído (MDA) foi avaliado. A biomassa da parte aérea dos dois híbridos de milho foi reduzida significativamente pelo tratamento de estresse de sombra, para estresse de sombra 7 d, o LC803 e LY336 foram reduzidos em 56,7% e 44,4% em comparação com a luz natural. Os parâmetros de fluorescência da clorofila de LY336 não foram significativamente afetados pelo estresse de sombra, enquanto aqueles de LC803 foram significativamente afetados, o Fo aumentou sob estresse de sombra, porém Fm, FV / FM e ΦPSII diminuíram sob estresse de sombra. Entre os parâmetros fotossintéticos medidos, a taxa fotossintética líquida (Pn), a condutância estomática (Gs) e a taxa de transpiração diminuíram significativamente em comparação com a luz natural, redução de LY336 e LC803 em 28,0%, 22,2%, 57,7% e 35,5%, 18,9%, 62,4 %, porém a concentração intercelular de CO2 (Ci) aumentou significativamente para as duas cultivares. Sob estresse de sombra para diferentes durações (1, 3, 5, 7 d), os teores de Pn, Gs, Ci e MDA diferiram significativamente entre as duas cultivares. Os resultados indicam que diferentes genótipos de milho apresentam diferentes respostas ao sombreamento. Os genótipos tolerantes à sombra são apenas fracamente afetados pelo estresse de sombra.

ABSTRACT: The responses of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, ‘LY336’ (shade tolerant) and ‘LC803’ (shade sensitive), to shade stress in a pot experiment conducted in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons were investigated. The impact of 50% shade stress treatment on shoot biomass, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was evaluated. The shoot biomass of the two maize hybrids was decreased significantly by shade stress treatment, for shade stress 7 d, the LC803 and LY336 were reduced by 56.7% and 44.4% compared with natural light. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of LY336 were not significantly affected by shade stress, whereas those of LC803 were significantly affected, the Fo increased under shade stress; however Fm, FV/FM and ΦPSII were decreased under shade stress. Among photosynthetic parameters measured, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate were significantly decreased compared with natural light, LY336 and LC803 reduction by 28.0%, 22.2%, 57.7% and 35.5%, 18.9%, 62.4%; however, intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) was significantly increased, for the two cultivars. Under shade stress for different durations (1, 3, 5, 7 d), Pn, Gs, Ci, and MDA content differed significantly between the two cultivars. Results indicated that different maize genotypes showed different responses to shading. Shade-tolerant genotypes are only weakly affected by shade stress.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to identify the predictors and threshold of failure in neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome. Methods Newborns with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome aged 0-28 days and gestational age ≥36 weeks were included in the study if their cases were managed with non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation treatments. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they died before discharge. Predictors of non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation treatment failure were sought, and the threshold of predictors was calculated. Results A total of 103 patients were included in the study. A total of 77 (74.8%) survived hospitalization and were discharged, whereas 26 (25.2%) died. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of oxygen index, pH, base excess, and combinations of these indicators demonstrated the advantage of the combination of oxygen index and base excess over the others variables regarding their predictive ability. The area under the curve for the combination of oxygen index and base excess was 0.865. When the cut-off values of oxygen index and base excess were 30.0 and −7.4, respectively, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting death were 77.0% and 84.0%, respectively. The model with base excess added a net reclassification improvement of 0.090 to the model without base excess. Conclusion The combination of oxygen index and base excess can be used as a predictor of outcomes in neonates receiving non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome. In neonates with acute respiratory distress syndrome, if oxygen index >30 and base excess <−7.4, non-extra corporal membrane oxygenation therapy is likely to lead to death.

ABSTRACT Hybrid rice seeds from sterile lines have displayed a new type of heavy chalkiness in the subtropical zone of China in recent years, which was named top-gray chalkiness, resulting in a lower quality of hybrid rice seeds in large-scale production. In this study, the morphological characteristics of the chalky hybrid rice seeds were investigated, the microscopic structures of their chalky parts observed, the α-amylase activit and relative nutrient content analyzed, and the germination indexe and microorganism populations of the chalky hybrid seeds determined. The results revealed that top-gray chalkiness in hybrid rice seeds originated from the top site of the grain, and that the chalky part was probably infected by bacteri and fungi to form a gray colo and which further resulted in a lower germination rat and germination potential. This observed chalkiness in rice seeds differed from the previously reported rice chalkiness categories both in the occurrence positio and color. Besides, the amylopectin content declined in the chalky par and the protein content in the chalky part increased as compared to the normal seeds. This research could provide technical support for the hybrid rice breeding enterprises during the breeding of hybrid rice seeds in large-scale production.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Vários medicamentos chineses e ocidentais integrados podem ser benéficos para o tratamento da COVID-19. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a eficácia da tomografia computadorizada (TC) de pulmão de quatro medicamentos chineses e ocidentais integrados para o tratamento da COVID-19 usando uma meta-análise em rede (NMA). MÉTODOS Vários bancos de dados foram consultados para encontrar ensaios clínicos randomizados de quatro tipos diferentes de medicamentos chineses e ocidentais integrados para o tratamento da COVID-19. A NMA foi realizada nos dados usando o software Stata (13.0). O odds ratio (OR) foi calculado. Os estudos incluídos neste artigo foram divididos em um grupo de controle (medicina ocidental) e um grupo de observação (um dos quatro medicamentos chineses e ocidentais integrados). RESULTADOS 5 publicações elegíveis foram identificadas. Um total de 598 casos foram incluídos no estudo, e os resultados mostraram que os quatro tipos de medicamentos chineses e ocidentais integrados (tratamento sintomático e de suporte com Qingfei Touxie Fuzheng, Lianhua Qingke e Xuebijing) foram significativamente superiores (P <0,05) a somente cuidados sintomáticos e de suporte, exceto cuidados sintomáticos e de suporte com Lianhua Qingwen. A combinação de cuidados sintomáticos e de suporte com Lianhua Qingke teve a maior probabilidade de ser a intervenção clinicamente mais eficaz, com uma superfície abaixo da curva de classificação cumulativa (SUCRA) de 85,7. CONCLUSÕES Uma combinação de tratamento sintomático e de suporte com Lianhua Qingke é a melhor opção entre os quatro medicamentos integrados chineses e ocidentais considerados para o tratamento de COVID-19.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Various integrated Chinese and Western medicines might be beneficial for the treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of lung computed tomography (CT) of four integrated Chinese and Western medicines in the treatment of COVID-19 using network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS Multiple databases were consulted to find randomized controlled trials of four different types of integrated Chinese and Western medicines for the treatment of COVID-19. NMA was conducted on the data using Stata (13.0) software. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated. The studies included in this paper were divided into a control group (Western medicine) and an observation group (one of four integrated Chinese and Western medicines). RESULTS 5 eligible publications were identified. A total of 598 cases were included in the study, and the results showed that the four types of integrated Chinese and Western medicines (symptomatic and supportive care with Qingfei Touxie Fuzheng, Lianhua Qingke, and Xuebijing) were significantly superior (P < 0.05) to symptomatic and supportive care alone, except for symptomatic and supportive care with Lianhua Qingwen. The combination of symptomatic and supportive care with Lianhua Qingke had the highest probability of being the most clinically efficacious intervention, with a surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve of 85.7. CONCLUSIONS A combination of symptomatic and supportive care with Lianhua Qingke is the best option among the four integrated Chinese and Western medicines considered for the treatment of COVID-19.

Abstract The potential astringency of eight grape cultivars was evaluated based on polyphenol/protein binding. The parameters such as weights, sizes, total phenols, flavanols and tannins of different grape tissues were determined, and the polyphenol/protein binding was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and spectroscopy. The Cabernet Sauvignon had the highest skin proportion, while the Blue French had the highest seed proportion. The Blue French seeds had the highest total phenolic content, while the Cabernet Sauvignon skins had the highest total phenolic content. SDS-PAGE showed that the seed extracts had a better affinity than skin extracts for saliva proteins, but fluorescence spectra demonstrated that the interactions of skin polyphenols with protein were more complex. These results may provide some useful information on grape potential astringency’s evaluation and wine-making in China.

Abstract: The compressive stress relaxation behaviors in three directions of beech (Fagus orientalis) were studied by experiments, and predicted by mechanical model and finite element method. Firstly, short-term (3 hours) compressive stress relaxation experiments were carried out in longitudinal (L), radical (R) and tangential (T) directions of beech, and then the experimental data was fitted by mechanical model with two single Maxwell bodies in parallel connection. Secondly, the method of predicting the long-term (12 hours) stress relaxation behaviors of beech based on the finite element method was studied using the experimental data of short-term stress relaxation. Finally, the long-term stress relaxation behaviors in three directions of beech were investigated by experiments, mechanical model and finite element method respectively, and the results of them were compared. The results showed that stress relaxation behaviors of beech were different in three directions, and the short-term stress relaxation in L was much smaller than those in R and T directions under the same load. Besides, the mechanical model with two single Maxwell bodies in parallel connection was capable of predicting the short-term relaxation behaviors of beech in three directions with correlation coefficients beyond 0,99 but it did not work in long-term relaxation. In addition, the errors of FEM were smaller than those of the mechanical model compared with the results of experiments in the long-term stress relaxation, and the errors of the FEM were approximately 8% in L and 20% in R and T directions, which were all accepted in the field of wood engineer. This study will contribute to predict the long-term relaxation behaviors of wood products and wooden structures based on the FEM.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in China. METHODS: In total, 909 patients with CAP were recruited for this study from January 2010 to June 2015. All patients were selected and divided into 4 groups according to their body mass index (BMI) values. All patients’ clinical information was recorded. The associations among mortality; BMI; the 30-day, 6-month and 1-year survival rates for different BMI classes; the etiology of pneumonia in each BMI group; and the risk factors for 1-year mortality in CAP patients were analyzed. RESULT: With the exception of the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), no other clinical indexes showed significant differences among the different BMI groups. No significant differences were observed among all groups in terms of the 30-d and 6-month mortality rates (p>0.05). There was a significantly lower risk of 1-year mortality in the obese group than in the nonobese group, (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that there were seven independent risk factors for 1-year mortality in CAP patients, namely, age, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, obesity, APACHE II score, level of CRP and CAP severity. CONCLUSION: Compared with nonobese patients with CAP, obese CAP patients may have a lower mortality rate, especially with regard to 1-year mortality, and CRP may be associated with the lower mortality rate in obese individuals than in nonobese individuals.

Abstract Cholera continues to be a serious public health issue in developing countries. We analyzed the epidemiological data of cholera from 1976 to 2013 in Shandong Province, an eastern coastal area of China. A total of 250 Vibrio cholerae isolates were selected for PCR analysis of virulence genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The analysis of the virulence genes showed that the positive rates for tcpA and tcpI were the highest among strains from the southwest region, which had the highest incidence rate of cholera. Low positive rates for tcpA, tcpI and ctxAB among isolates from after 2000 may be an influencing factor contributing to the contemporary decline in cholera incidence rates. Spatiotemporal serotype shifts (Ogawa, Inaba, Ogawa, Inaba and O139) generally correlated with the variations in the PFGE patterns (PIV, PIIIc, PIa, PIIIb, PIIIa, PIb, and PII). O1 strains from different years or regions also had similar PFGE patterns, while O139 strains exclusively formed one cluster and differed from all other O1 strains. These data indicate that V. cholerae isolates in Shandong Province have continually undergone spatiotemporal changes. The serotype switching between Ogawa and Inaba originated from indigenous strains, while the emergence of serogroup O139 appeared to be unrelated to endemic V. cholerae O1 strains.

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals can cause great harm to Siberian tigers in the natural environment. Cadmium (Cd2+) is an environmental contaminant that affects multiple cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. It has been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types and tissues. RESULTS: We investigated the apoptotic effects of Cd2+ on Siberian tiger fibroblasts in vitro. Our research revealed the typical signs of apoptosis after Cd²+ exposure. Apoptosis was dose- (0-4.8 μΜ) and duration-dependent (12-48 h), and proliferation was strongly inhibited. Cd²+ increased the activity of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and disrupted calcium homeostasis by causing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. It also increased K+ efflux and altered the mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-8, Fas, and p53. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Cd2+ triggers the apoptosis of Siberian tiger fibroblasts by disturbing intracellular homeostasis. These results will aid in our understanding of the effects of Cd2+ on Siberian tigers and in developing interventions to treat and prevent cadmium poisoning.

This study investigated the effects of visfatin on the structure and the immunity levels in the small intestine of LPS-induced rats. Forty Wistar male and female SPF rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: the saline (control), vistfatin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and visfatin+LPS co-stimulated. The functions of visfatin in the intestinal mucosal immunity were investigated by examining the variation of tissue structure, inflammation and immunity-related proteins in the intestine of immunologically stressed rats using HE staining, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. The results showed that, when compared with the control group, the visfatin-treated group showed a decrease in the intestinal villus height and width, and a significant increase in the levels of IL-6 and TNF-ð as well as Immunoglobulin A (IgA) positive cells. Additionally, when compared with the LPS-treated group, the visfatin+LPS co-stimulated group showed a decrease in the villus height and width as well as the levels of IL-6 and TNF-ð, and an increase in IgA levels, implying a shrinking response to LPS injection. All the results suggest that, under normal physiological conditions, visfatin disturbs the body's homeostasis and causes intestinal villus atrophy by increasing IgA expression. While under immune response conditions, LPS acts as an exogenous antigen to promote visfatin against LPS-induced inflammation by decreasing the expression of IgA. Under immune stress conditions, visfatin as an exogenous stimulus promotes the immune response by regulating the protein levels of IL-6, TNF-ð and IgA.

Este estudio investigó los efectos de la visfatina sobre la estructura y los niveles de inmunidad en el intestino delgado de ratas inducidas por lipopolisacáridos (LPS). Cuarenta ratas Wistar se dividieron aleatoriamente e igualmente en cuatro grupos: solución salina (control), vistafin, LPS y visfatina + LPS co-estimuladas. Las funciones de la visfatina en la inmunidad de la mucosa intestinal se investigaron mediante el examen de variación de la estructura del tejido, la inflamación y las proteínas relacionadas con la inmunidad en el intestino de ratas estresadas inmunológicamente; usando tinción HE, ELISA, inmunohistoquímica y Western Blot. Los resultados mostraron que, en comparación con el grupo control, el grupo tratado con visfatina presentó una disminución en la altura y ancho de las vellosidades intestinales, y un aumento significativo en los niveles de IL-6 y TNF-ð, así como inmunoglobulina A (IgA células positivas). Además, al comparar este grupo con el grupo tratado con LPS- el grupo visfatina + LPS co-estimulado mostró una disminución en la altura y ancho de las vellosidades, así como en los niveles de IL-6 y TNF-ð, y un aumento en los niveles de IgA, lo que implica reducción de una respuesta a la inyección LPS. Todos los resultados sugieren que, en condiciones fisiológicas normales, la visfatina perturba la homeostasis del cuerpo y provoca la atrofia de las vellosidades intestinales mediante el aumento de la expresión de IgA. Mientras que bajo condiciones de la respuesta inmune, LPS actúa como un antígeno exógeno para promover visfatina contra la inflamación inducida por LPS por la disminución de la expresión de IgA. En condiciones de estrés inmunológico, la visfatina como estímulo exógeno promueve la respuesta inmune mediante la regulación de los niveles de proteína de IL-6, TNF-ð e IgA.

A toxoplasmose é uma zoonose global causada pelo Toxoplasma gondii, o qual pode infectar animais de sangue quente e seres humanos. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de investigar a soroprevalência em cavalos para T. gondii, na região de Xinjiang, no Noroeste da China. Em 2011, foram recolhidas 637 amostras de sangue em sete distritos da Prefeitura Autônoma de Changji Hui do Xinjiang, as quais foram testadas para a presença de anticorpos, utilizando-se o teste de aglutinação modificado (MAT). Foram estimados fatores de risco relacionados com a soroprevalência (idade, sexo e distrito), através de uma análise de regressão logística multivariada. Um total de 200 equinos (31,4%, 95% IC 27,79 – 35,00) foi positivo para T. gondii. Idade, sexo e região estudada não apresentaram associação com a soroprevalência (p>0,05) na análise de regressão logística. Os resultados revelam que a infecção por T. gondii tem uma prevalência generalizada em todo o território de Xinjiang, no Noroeste da China, constituindo uma séria ameaça à saúde de animais e de humanos. Consequentemente, propõe-se que sejam adotadas medidas reforçadas para o controle e prevenção da infecção de cavalos por T. gondii, no Xinjiang, Noroeste da China.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect warm-blooded animals and humans. The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in horses in Xinjiang, northwestern China. A total of 637 blood samples were collected from seven regions in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang in 2011 and assayed for T. gondiiantibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Risk factors (age, gender, and region) related to seroprevalence were determined by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 200 horses (31.4%, 95% CI 27.79–35.00) were seropositive for T. gondii. Age, gender, and region present no association with seroprevalence (p>0.05) in the logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that T. gondii is widely prevalent in horses in Xinjiang, northwestern China, representing a serious threat to animal and human health. Therefore, more careful measures should be performed to control and prevent T. gondii infection in horses from Xinjiang, northwestern China.