Antimicrobial Effects of Probiotics and Novel Probiotic-Based Approaches for Infectious Diseases

Probiotics are live microorganisms, which confer health benefits on host when administered in adequate amounts. Probiotics exert their beneficial effects by maintenance flora healthy, enhancement of mucosal barrier integrity and modulation of immune responses. Antimicrobial substances including bacteriocins, hydrogen peroxide, organic acids, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by probiotics allow them to inhibit mucosal and epithelial adherence of pathogens and compete for limiting resources, thus suppress the growth of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Probiotics effect the colonization of fungal pathogen Candida to host surfaces, suppress Candida growth and biofilm development in vitro. Clinical results have shown that some probiotics can reduce oral, vaginal, and enteric colonization of Candida, alleviate clinical signs and symptoms, and potentially reduce the incidence of invasive fungal infection. Therefore, probiotics may be potential antifungals for prevention and treatment of candidiasis

Biosynthesis of Vitamins by Probiotic Bacteria

Vitamins are important micronutrients that are often precursors to enzymes, which all living cells require to perform biochemical reactions. However, humans cannot produce many vitamins, so they have to be externally obtained. Using vitamin‐producing microorganisms could be an organic and marketable solution to using pseudo‐vitamins that are chemically produced, and could allow for the production of foods with higher levels of vitamins that could reduce unwanted side effects. Probiotic bacteria, as well as commensal bacteria found in the human gut, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, can de novo synthesize and supply vitamins to human body. In humans, members of the gut microbiota are able to synthesize vitamin K, as well as most of the water‐soluble B vitamins, such as cobalamin, folates, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamine

The role of globular heads of the C1q receptor in HPV 16 E2-induced human cervical squamous carcinoma cell apoptosis is associated with p38 MAPK/JNK activation

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) E2 protein is a multifunctional DNA-binding protein. HPV 16 E2 regulates many biological responses, including DNA replication, gene expression, and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among the receptor for globular heads of the human C1q (gC1qR) gene expression, HPV 16 E2 transfection and apoptosis regulation in human cervical squamous carcinoma cells (C33a and SiHa). METHODS gC1qR expression was examined in C33a and SiHa cells using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Apoptosis of C33a and SiHa cells was assessed by flow cytometry. C33a and SiHa cell viability, migration and proliferation were detected using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assay, a transwell assay and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA (3H-TdR), respectively. RESULTS C33a and SiHa cells that were transfected with a vector encoding HPV 16 E2 displayed significantly increased gC1qR gene expression and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)/c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation as well as up-regulation of cellular apoptosis, which was abrogated by the addition of gC1qR small interfering RNA (siRNA). Furthermore, the changes in C33a and SiHa cell viability, migration and proliferation that were observed upon HPV 16 E2 transfection were abrogated by SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) or SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) treatment. CONCLUSION These data support a mechanism whereby HPV 16 E2 induces apoptosis by silencing the gC1qR gene or inhibiting p38 MAPK/JNK signalling in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81000251) and the Nanjing Medical Science and Technique Development Foundation

Present Position of China’s Local Industrial Clusters(LICs) in the Global Value Chain(GVC): Apparel and Textile industry Case Study

In the globalization era, cost competitiveness alone will not be sufficient to guarantee further success. The China’s LICs faced a serious challenge between the top-down (global) and bottom-up (local) governance pressures. In order to remain competitive, there is a need for LICs to upgrade their activities and move up along GVC, and shall constantly pursue enhancement and optimization of value chain and developing their capabilities. To help overcome the constraints on LICs, the need to develop new and more effective governance strategies and policies are high priority. This paper also shows how LICs can break out of the “lock-in” which results form working for a small powerful GVC’s governors. It recognizes the GVC governance variance and opening up new opportunities for LIC. Key words: Local Industrial Clusters (LICs), Global Value Chain (GVC), Governance Résumé: A l’époque de globalisation, la compétitivité du prix seul ne suffit pas pour garantir le succès futur. Les GIL de Chine font face à un double défi sérieux des pressions de gouvernance globale et locale. Afin de maintenir la compétitivité, il est nécessaire pour les GIL d’améliorer leurs activités et de s’avancer dans la CVG. Ils devraient poursuivre constamment le renforcement et l’optimisation de la chaîne de valeur et développer leurs capacités. Pour vaincre les contraintes, le développement de plus de nouvelles stratégies de gouvernance est devenu la première priorité. L’article montre aussi comment les GIL peuvent se débarrasser de l’isolation qui résultant du fait qu’ils travaillent pour les gouverneurs d’une petite CVG puissante. Il reconnaît la différence de gouvernance de la CVG et la création de nouvelles opportunités pour les GIL. Mots-Clés: Groupes industriels locaux GIL), Chaîne de valeur globale(CVG), gouvernanc

THE GLOBAL VALUE CHAIN AND CHINA AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY UPGRADING STRATEGY

The automotive industry is often thought of as one of the most global of all industries. In the globalization era, cost competitiveness alone will not be sufficient to guarantee further success. The China’s Local Industrial Clusters（LICs）faced a serious challenge between the top-down (global) and bottom-up (local) governance pressures. This paper uses the Global Value Chain(GVC) framework analysis to explain China Automotive Industry industry’s development stage, position of the GVC, demonstrate that the relationships with these global actors and upgrading opportunities of China Automotive Industry. Key words: Global Value Chain, Automotive Industry, Upgrading Strateg

STUDY ON THE UPGRADING OF CHINA INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) INDUSTRY UP TO THE GLOBAL VALUE CHAIN: A CASE STUDY

In the globalization era, cost competitiveness alone will not be sufficient to guarantee further success. The China’s Local Industrial Clusters（LICs）faced a serious challenge between the top-down (global) and bottom-up (local) governance pressures. This paper uses the Global Value Chain(GVC) framework analysis to explain China Integrated Circuit (IC) industry’s development stage, position of the GVC, and demonstrate that the relationships with these global actors and upgrading opportunities of IC. Key words: Local Industrial Clusters (LICs), Global Value Chain (GVC), Governance, Upgrading Ris

Dietary Intake of Fatty Acids, Total Cholesterol, and Stomach Cancer in a Chinese Population.

To investigate the associations between dietary fatty acids and cholesterol consumption and stomach cancer (SC), we analyzed data from a population-based case-control study with a total of 1900 SC cases and 6532 controls. Dietary data and other risk or protective factors were collected by face-to-face interviews in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2003 to 2010. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multiple unconditional logistic regression models and an energy-adjusted method. The joint associations between dietary factors and known risk factors on SC were examined. We observed positive associations between dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and total cholesterol and the development of SC, comparing the highest versus lowest quarters. Increased intakes of dietary SFAs (p-trend = 0.005; aOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22 with a 7 g/day increase as a continuous variable) and total cholesterol (p-trend < 0.001; aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.22 with a 250 mg/day increase as a continuous variable) were monotonically associated with elevated odds of developing SC. Our results indicate that dietary SFAs, MUFAs, and total cholesterol are associated with stomach cancer, which might provide a potential dietary intervention for stomach cancer prevention

High remission and low relapse with prolonged intensive DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (PRINT): A multicenter randomized clinical trial

Objectives: To determine whether prolonged intensive disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment (PRINT) leads to high remission and low relapse rates in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In this multicenter, randomized and parallel treatment trial, 346 patients with active RA (disease activity score (28 joints) [DAS28] (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) > 5.1) were enrolled from 9 centers. In phase 1, patients received intensive treatment with methotrexate, leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine, up to 36 weeks, until remission (DAS28 ≤ 2.6) or a low disease activity (2.6 < DAS28 ≤ 3.2) was achieved. In phase 2, patients achieving remission or low disease activity were followed up with randomization to 1 of 2 step-down protocols: leflunomide plus hydroxychloroquine combination or leflunomide monotherapy. The primary endpoints were good European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response (DAS28 (ESR) < 3.2 and a decrease of DAS28 by at least 1.2) during the intensive treatment and the disease state retention rate during step-down maintenance treatment. Predictors of a good EULAR response in the intensive treatment period and disease flare in the maintenance period were sought. Results: A good EULAR response was achieved in 18.7%, 36.9%, and 54.1% of patients at 12, 24, and 36 weeks, respectively. By 36 weeks, 75.4% of patients achieved good and moderate EULAR responses. Compared with those achieving low disease activity and a high health assessment questionnaire (HAQ > 0.5), patients achieving remission (DAS28 ≤ 2.6) and low HAQ (≤ 0.5) had a significantly higher retention rate when tapering the DMARDs treatment (P = 0.046 and P = 0.01, respectively). There was no advantage on tapering to combination rather than monotherapy. Conclusions: Remission was achieved in a proportion of patients with RA receiving prolonged intensive DMARD therapy. Low disease activity at the start of disease taper leads to less subsequent flares. Leflunomide is a good maintenance treatment as single treatment

Total Maximum Allocated Load of Chemical Oxygen Demand Near Qinhuangdao in Bohai Sea: Model and Field Observations

Total maximum allocated load (TMAL) is the maximum sum total of all the pollutant loading a water body can carry without surpassing the water quality criterion, which is dependent on hydrodynamics and water quality conditions. A coupled hydrodynamic and water quality model combined with field observation was used to study pollutant transport and TMAL for water environment management in Qinhuangdao (QHD) sea in the Bohai Sea in northeastern China for the first time. Temporal and spatial variations of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration were investigated based on MIKE suite (Danish Hydraulic Institute, Hørsholm, Denmark). A systematic optimization approach of adjusting the upstream pollutant emission load was used to calculate TMAL derived from the predicted COD concentration. The pollutant emission load, TMAL, and pollutant reduction of Luanhe River were the largest due to the massive runoff, which was identified as the most influential driving factor for water environmental capacity and total carrying capacity of COD. The correlation analysis and Spearman coefficient indicate strong links between TMAL and forcing factors such as runoff, kinetic energy, and pollutant emission load. A comparison of total carrying capacity in 2011 and 2013 confirms that the upstream pollutant control scheme is an effective strategy to improve water quality along the river and coast. Although, the present model results suggest that a monitoring system could provide more efficient total capacity control. The outcome of this study establishes the theoretical foundation for coastal water environment management strategy in this region and worldwide