To evaluate the anti‐obesity effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA), the mice were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) upon chlorogenic acid treatment for 6 weeks. The results showed administration of chlorogenic acid (150 mg per kg per day) remarkably promoted body loss, reduced lipid levels in plasma and altered mRNA expression of lipogenesis and lipolysis related genes in adipose tissue. Moreover, chlorogenic acid also reversed the HFD‐induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, including significantly inhibiting the growth of Desulfovibrionaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and raising the growth of Bacteroidaceae, Lactobacillaceae. Overall, the amelioration of HFD‐induced gut microbiota dysbiosis by chlorogenic acid may contribute, at least partially, to its beneficial effects on ameliorating HFD‐induced obesity.

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Aim-To investigate the therapeutic eYcacy of inhaled fluticasone propionate, started on day 1 of age, on ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Methods-Starting within 24 hours of age, ventilated preterm infants (gestation < 32 weeks, birthweight < 1.5 kg) with respiratory distress syndrome were given a 14 day course (two puVs, 12 hourly) of either fluticasone propionate (250 µg/puV) (group 1, n=27) or placebo (group 2, n=26) with a metered dose inhaler-spacer device. Response to treatment was assessed by the rate of successful extubation by days 7 and 14 of age, changes in respiratory system mechanics, death, occurrence of chronic lung disease, and other neonatal complications. Results-More infants in the treatment group were successfully extubated by 14 days of age than those in the placebo group (17/27 vs 8/26; p = 0.038). The treated infants also showed a more significant improvement in respiratory system compliance during the first 14 days of life. The two groups, however, did not diVer significantly in their need for systemic steroids after day 14 of age, death, or the occurrence of chronic lung disease. The treatment was not associated with any increase in neonatal complications, including those attributable to steroid induced side effects. Conclusion-These results provide preliminary evidence that early treatment with inhaled corticosteroids may be beneficial to ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress. Further study of its use in a large scale randomised trial is warranted. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1999;80:F203-F208)

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Background Polyphenols are a class of plant secondary metabolites with a variety of physiological functions. Polyphenols and their intestinal metabolites could greatly affect host energy metabolism via multiple mechanisms. Objective The objective of this review was to elaborate the role of intestinal microecology in the regulatory effects of dietary polyphenols and their metabolites on energy metabolism. Methods In this review, we illustrated the potential mechanisms of energy metabolism regulated by the crosstalk between polyphenols and intestinal microecology including intestinal microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells, and mucosal immune system. Results Polyphenols can selectively regulate the growth of susceptible microorganisms (eg. reducing the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroides, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria) as well as alter bacterial enzyme activity. Moreover, polyphenols can influence the absorption and secretion of intestinal epithelial cells, and alter the intestinal mucosal immune system. Conclusion The intestinal microecology play a crucial role for the regulation of energy metabolism by dietary polyphenols.

A number of techniques were tested for their efficiency in extracting adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) from strained rumen fluid (SRF). Extraction with 0.6 N H2SO4, using a modification of the procedure described by Lee et al. (1971), was the most efflcient and was better suited for extracting particulate samples. Neutralized extracts could not be stored frozen before assaying for ATP because large losses were incurred. The inclusion of internal standards was necessary to correct for incomplete recovery of ATP. The ATP concentration in rumen contents from a cow receiving a ration of dried roughage (mainly alfalfa hay) ranged from 31 to 56 ,ug of ATP per g of contents. Approximately 75% of the ATP was associated with the particulate material. The ATP was primarily of microbial origin, since only traces of ATP were present in the feed and none was found in "cell-free" rumen fluid. Fractionation of the bacterial and protozoal populations in SRF resulted in the isolation of an enriched protozoal fraction with a 10-fold higher ATP concentration than that of the separated rumen bacteria. The ATP pool sizes of nine functionally important rumen bacteria during the exponential phase of growth ranged from 1.1 to 17.6 ,ug of ATP per mg of dry weight. This information indicates that using ATP as a measure of microbial biomass in rumen contents must be done with caution because of possible variations in the efficiency of extraction of ATP from rumen contents and differences in the concentration of ATP in rumen microbes.

Paecilomyces lilacinus is a fungal pathogen which is generally resistant to amphotericin B and certain other antifungals and is an uncommon cause of devastating fungal keratitis. In the present studies, we evaluated topical voriconazole as therapy for P. lilacinus keratitis in rabbits. Thirty eyes of 15 rabbits were studied. In five animals, the uninfected left eye was treated twice daily with voriconazole (drug control, uninfected eye). In these same animals, the right eye was infected with P. lilacinus but not treated with voriconazole (infection control eye). By day 5, the infection controls had lesions of >2.4 mm in diameter, with conjunctivitis and severe hypopyon, and were sacrificed. In the other 10 rabbits (voriconazole treatment), the right eyes were infected with P. lilacinus and treated with voriconazole beginning on day 3 after infection. Voriconazole therapy caused lesions to decrease during 8 days of therapy, after which rabbits were sacrificed (11 days postinfection). Hyphal masses were present in the control infected eyes and absent in treated infected eyes. Voriconazole was detected in all tissues of treated eyes. Topical voriconazole is effective treatment for P. lilacinus experimental keratitis, and it penetrates more deeply than the corneal tissue.

Aims-To compare the eYcacy of salbutamol delivered by metered dose inhaler (MDI), jet nebuliser, and ultrasonic nebuliser in ventilated infants with chronic lung disease. Methods-Twenty preterm ventilated infants with chronic lung disease were enrolled in two studies. In study 1 (n=10), each infant was given 200 µg of salbutamol at 4 hour intervals and in random sequence from a metered dose inhalerspacer device, a jet nebuliser, and an ultrasonic nebuliser with a small medication cup. The infants were monitored for heart rate, transcutaneous pO 2 , pCO 2 , and oxygen saturation, respiratory system resistance and compliance before and after each treatment. Infants in study 2 (n=10) were similarly studied except for the use of a diVerent jet nebuliser. Results-The mean (SEM) maximum percentage decreases in respiratory system resistance, observed at 30 minutes after aerosol delivery were study 1: MDI: 44.3 (4.3)% ; jet: 32.3 (3.4)% ; ultrasonic: 56.1 (3.2)% ; study 2: MDI: 28.6 (1.0)% ; jet: 16.9 (1.4)% ; ultrasonic: 42.1 (1.6)%. During the first hour after treatment, a significantly faster heart rate and higher transcutaneous pO 2 were associated with the use of the ultrasonic nebuliser or MDI than with the jet nebulisers in both studies. The use of the ultrasonic nebuliser but not the other devices also resulted in a lower transcutaneous pCO 2 and improved respiratory system compliance in study 2. Conclusions-These findings suggest that among the devices tested, the delivery of salbutamol aerosol to the lower respiratory tract was greatest using the ultrasonic nebuliser, and least with the jet nebulisers.