Application of chitosan–alginate microspheres for the sustained release of bacteriophage in simulated gastrointestinal conditions

This study was designed to evaluate the acid stability, release property and antimicrobial efficacy of Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteriophages encapsulated in chitosan–alginate microspheres under the simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The bacteriophages belonging to Myoviridae family were stable at the pH above 4 in trypticase soy broth. The chitosan–alginate microspheres exhibited protective effect on the viability of bacteriophages in the simulated gastric conditions at pH 2.0 and pH 2.5, showing 4.8 and 5.6 log PFU mL^‐1, respectively, after 1 h of incubation at 37 °C. The release per cent of bacteriophages from microspheres gradually increased up to 65% in the simulated intestinal condition (pH 7.5) at 37 °C for 6 h. The lytic efficacy of chitosan‐ and alginate‐encapsulated bacteriophages against E. coli O157:H7 was significantly maintained in the simulated intestinal conditions to 10 h of incubation (1.3 log reduction). The results suggest that the chitosan–alginate microspheres can be used as a reliable delivery system for bacteriophages.     

Nutrient digestibility and endogenous protein losses in the foregut and small intestine of weaned dairy calves fed calf starters with conventional or enzyme-treated soybean meal

The aims of this experiment were (1) to compare the effects of a soybean meal with an enzymatic treatment (ESBM) to reduce the concentration of antinutritional factors versus a standard soybean meal (SBM) on foregut and small intestine digestion in weaned dairy calves and (2) to estimate the endogenous losses of crude protein (CP) in the small intestine. Our hypothesis was that a diet containing ESBM instead of SBM would improve ruminal and small intestine digestion and absorption of nutrients. A T-cannula was placed in the duodenum, and a second T-cannula was installed in the distal ileum of 12 Holstein calves at approximately 3 wk of age. Calves were weaned on d 42, and on d 50 they were assigned randomly to a quadruplicated 3 × 3 Latin square with 10-d periods. Digesta samples were collected on d 7 and 8 from the ileum and d 9 and 10 from the duodenum. The diets were fed for ad libitum intake and consisted of a calf starter (CS) of 20% CP with SBM as the main source of protein (CTRL), and an isonitrogenous CS with an ESBM instead of SBM (ENZT). A third diet with a low content of CP (10%) and no soy protein was fed to estimate endogenous N losses and digestibilities of test ingredients. Flows and digestibilities of nutrients were compared between CTRL and ENZT and their test ingredients (SBM vs. ESBM, respectively). Duodenal net flows of CP and total AA as well as ruminal microbial protein synthesis per kilogram of digested CP were greater, and flow of nonprotein N and CP true (corrected by endogenous and microbial flows) foregut digestibility were lower with ENZT than CTRL. The apparent small intestine digestibilities of CP and total AA were greater for ESBM than SBM, but there were no differences between the CTRL and ENZT diets. We observed no differences in digestibilities at the duodenum or ileum of starch or NDF, but true small intestine digestibilities of CP and all AA were greater with ENZT than CTRL. Total endogenous protein losses in the small intestine estimated from calves fed the low-CP with no soy protein diet were 37 ± 1.5 g of CP and 29 ± 1.4 g of AA/kg of DMI. These values may be considered the basal endogenous losses as they are similar to values obtained with the regression method, which estimates N losses when dietary N is null. Our results indicated that the inclusion of an ESBM improved the efficiency of ruminal microbial protein synthesis per digested kilogram of organic matter and CP, and increased CP and AA absorption in the small intestine despite a greater proportion of undigested dietary protein entering the duodenum.     

层序单元体系域划分及勘探意义

体系域是层序地层学理论体系中的重要概念，在隐蔽油气藏的勘探中，勘探家们极为重视低位体系域。但体系域的成因意义、是否有不同级别层序的体系域以及如何划分，在实际工作中认识不一致。结合勃海湾盆地的勘探实例，分析体系域的成因机制、组合特征和勘探规律，认为：体系域是基准面变化等因素作用的产物，不同级别的层序都发育着与其对应的体系域：一般情况下，三级层序对应的体系域单元与含油气层的规模相匹配，但四级层序对应的体系域才是隐蔽油气藏赋存的有利部位。图5参6。     

针对语音变换的语音篡改检测

针对使用语音变换技术的语音篡改,提出一种自动检测方法。在分析语音变换基本模型和变换语音失真的基础上,提取语音信号的声道参数以及相关的信号统计量,并通过支持向量机递归特征消除法,选择出对语音变换比较敏感的特征作为分类特征,使用支持向量机进行语音变换检测和变换语音的说话人性别判别。对于一种语音变换软件的实验结果表明,该方法具有较高的检测准确率,其中语音变换检测的平均准确率为94.90%,变换语音的说话人性别判别平均准确率为92.09%。     

Mechanisms of Nausea and Vomiting: Current Knowledge and Recent Advances in Intracellular Emetic Signaling Systems

Nausea and vomiting are common gastrointestinal complaints that can be triggered by diverse emetic stimuli through central and/or peripheral nervous systems. Both nausea and vomiting are considered as defense mechanisms when threatening toxins/drugs/bacteria/viruses/fungi enter the body either via the enteral (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract) or parenteral routes, including the blood, skin, and respiratory systems. While vomiting is the act of forceful removal of gastrointestinal contents, nausea is believed to be a subjective sensation that is more difficult to study in nonhuman species. In this review, the authors discuss the anatomical structures, neurotransmitters/mediators, and corresponding receptors, as well as intracellular emetic signaling pathways involved in the processes of nausea and vomiting in diverse animal models as well as humans. While blockade of emetic receptors in the prevention of vomiting is fairly well understood, the potential of new classes of antiemetics altering postreceptor signal transduction mechanisms is currently evolving, which is also reviewed. Finally, future directions within the field will be discussed in terms of important questions that remain to be resolved and advances in technology that may help provide potential answers.     

人体血压呼吸信号软件发生器的设计与实现

当今社会中计算机技术、数字信号处理技术、电子技术等行业不断地发展促进了医学技术的发展。人体生理信号发生器也在不断地发展。它是一种人体生理信号发生设备,其功能是对多参数监护仪是否可以正常工作进行检测。通过设置参数能够模拟出心电、呼吸、血压等信号的波形与数据情况。利用MATLAB软件主要完成了人体心电信号、呼吸信号、血压信号波形的软件仿真设计,且仿真效果较好。     

针对构音异常辅助治疗的声道仿真研究

针对构音异常,本文提出了使用声道仿真来实现辅助治疗的方法。基于声道是一个弯曲的、三维的具有慢时变特性的声学管道,并且在声道中的声波传播是平面波的特性,可以把声道等效于一个具有不同截面的圆柱体或者椭圆体管道。使用极点形式,在牛顿插值的基础上得到共振峰。对声道进行了60段分段,通过经验公式得到声道在不同部位的面积。定义了描述声道特性的9个参数,进而对这9个参数使用Corana算法进行优化。使用辐射模型描述声音从嘴唇辐射出去以后的特性。最后进行声音的合成,这个声音可用于反馈治疗。经过实验证明,这种声道仿真模型可以为制定合适治疗方法提供参考。     

Drug self-assembly: A phenomenon at the nanometer scale with major impact in the structure–biological properties relationship and the treatment of disease

Under water-rich conditions, small amphiphilic and hydrophobic drug molecules self-assemble into supramolecular nanostructures. Thus, substantial modifications in their interaction with cellular structures and the ability to reach intracellular targets could happen. Additionally, drug aggregates could be more toxic than the non-aggregated counterparts, or vice versa. Moreover, since self-aggregation reduces the number of effective “monomeric” molecules that interact with the target, the drug potency could be underestimated. In other cases, the activity could be ascribed to the non-aggregated molecule while it stems from its aggregates. Thus, drug self-assembly could mislead from drug throughput screening assays to advanced preclinical and clinical trials. Finally, aggregates could serve as crystallization nuclei. The impact that this phenomenon has on the biological performance of active compounds, the inconsistent and often controversial nature of the published data and the need for recommendations/guidelines as preamble of more harmonized research protocols to characterize drug self-aggregation were main motivations for this review. First, the key molecular and environmental parameters governing drug self-aggregation, the main drug families for which this phenomenon and the methods used for its characterization are described. Then, promising nanotechnology platforms investigated to prevent/control it towards a more efficient drug development process are briefly discussed.     

消化道吻合材料的研究新进展

消化道重建是胃肠外科的重要课题之一,消化道吻合用材料的进步极大地促进了胃肠外科手术的进步,使其微创化成为可能。消化道重建涉及到的材质主要有:手工缝合的缝线、器械吻合的吻合钉、记忆合金或磁性吻合环等其他新兴材质,目前临床使用最多的是钛或钛合金。在过去数十年里,在医学、材料学、工程学跨越式发展的大背景下,各种用于吻合消化道的新材料层出不穷。总的来说,呈现出由不可降解向可降解变化,由惰性向生物活性进化的趋势。吻合材料的每一次改进,都或多或少地促进了现代外科技术的发展。     

消化道生理参数检测胶囊系统的研究进展

胃肠道内的生理参数是评价胃肠道动力性疾病的重要参数.传统的插管方法会给病人带来严重的不适感,且会影响到病人的正常生活.为了克服传统插管方法的缺点,出现了一种新型的监测生理参数的胶囊系统,它可以根据生理参数的差异来诊断胃肠道疾病.针对生理参数检测胶囊系统对国际研究成果和国内研究现状进行了综述.