Effects of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber percentages in the diet of Japanese Black steers on rumen fluid properties, blood biochemical properties, and carcass characteristics

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Abstract

The effects of crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) percentages in the diet of Japanese Black steers on rumen fluid properties, blood biochemical properties, and carcass characteristics were examined. Twelve 13-month-old Japanese Black steers were used for this study and slaughtered at 30 months of age. Steers were assigned to a control group (n = 6) and test group (n = 6) and were fed a concentrate containing 12.9%–13.9% CP and 26.5%–29.8% NDF or 9.1%–9.6% CP and 29.9%–31.2% NDF, respectively. Lipopolysaccharide activity levels in rumen fluid were lower in the test group than in the control group. Plasma urea nitrogen concentration and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase remained lower in the test group than in the control group. In contrast, plasma vitamin A concentrations remained higher in the test group than in the control group. Carcass characteristics did not significantly differ between the two groups. These results suggest that dietary CP and NDF percentages in feed for Japanese Black steers older than 13 months of age affected rumen fluid properties and blood biochemical properties, indicating a reduced load on the liver with a small effect on carcass characteristics.

Prevalence and associated metabolic factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the general population from 2014 to 2018 in Japan: A large‐scale multicenter retrospective study

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Prevalence and associated metabolic factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the general population from 2014 to 2018 in Japan: A large-scale multicenter retrospective study

A total of 71 254 participants from 13 health centers in Japan were analyzed, with an overall prevalence of NAFLD of 25.8%. A total of 14% of NAFLD patients had diabetes, 31% had hypertension, and 48% had dyslipidemia. The estimated prevalence of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis was 1%–2%.


Abstract

Aim

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the recent prevalence and clinical characteristics of NAFLD in Japan.

Methods

This study initially included 410 061 retrospectively enrolled adults from the medical health checkup registry for metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and fatty liver in Japan (MIRACLE-J; UMIN-CTR no. UMIN000049419), who were evaluated between 2014 and 2018 at 13 health centers in Japan. Individuals consuming >20 g of alcohol/day or with chronic liver disease were excluded. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography. The probability of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis was estimated based on the fibrosis-4 index and NAFLD fibrosis score.

Results

A total of 71 254 participants were included in the final analysis. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 25.8%. There was a significant, twofold difference in NAFLD prevalence between men (37.4%) and women (18.1%). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence increased linearly with body mass index, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol regardless of threshold values, even in the absence of obesity. Among patients with NAFLD, 14% had diabetes mellitus, 31% had hypertension, and 48% had dyslipidemia. The estimated prevalence of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis was 1.7% and 1.0% according to the fibrosis-4 index and NAFLD fibrosis score, respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of NAFLD was approximately one-quarter of the general population in Japan. There was a linear relationship between NAFLD prevalence and various metabolic parameters, even in nonobese participants. The prevalence of NAFLD with advanced fibrosis was estimated to be 1%–2%.

Exogenous growth regulators amplify the morpho‐physiology, root architecture and dry‐matter accumulation in seed potato

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Exogenous growth regulators amplify the morpho-physiology, root architecture and dry-matter accumulation in seed potato

Gibberellic acid (200 ppm) applied via foliar at 45 and 60 days after sowing on seed potato plants resulted in significantly higher yields of seed-sized tubers measuring <4.5 cm and also exhibited superior root architecture parameters and accumulation of dry matter, outperforming all other growth regulation treatments and control.


Abstract

Enhancing the productivity of seed potato production systems by improving the size of the tubers is a primary concern. Punjab, a state located in the northwest region of India, meets 60% of the country's seed requirements. In order to optimize the morpho-physiological aspects, root structure, and overall yield of seed-sized tubers, research trials were carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana over two consecutive years. The trial consisted of 11 different treatments and was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The application of Gibberellic acid at a concentration of 200 ppm, at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), resulted in significantly higher yields of seed-sized tubers measuring <4.5 cm. This treatment also exhibited superior root architecture parameters and accumulation of dry matter, outperforming all other growth regulation treatments. Compared to the untreated control group, the Gibberellic acid application led to a remarkable increase of 45.9% and 39.8% in seed-sized tuber yields. Furthermore, it significantly boosted the protein, starch, antioxidant (total phenols), sugar (total and reducing), and mineral content (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in the tubers, surpassing the effects of all other growth regulation treatments. These results suggested that the exogenous use of gibberellic acid (200 ppm) at 45 and 60 DAS substantially improved the physiology, root architecture, and yield of seed-sized tubers.

Elevated serum fibrinogen levels in Chinese patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: An observational study

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Abstract

Fibrinogen is a protein that reflects systemic inflammation and regulates the immune response to disease. However, there is a scarcity of data on fibrinogen in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). We aimed to test the hypothesis that fibrinogen is involved in the aetiology of RAS. Between November 2016 and November 2018, we included 109 minor RAS patients and 29 age- and sex-matched controls in a single-center, observational study. Their clinical history and ulcer manifestations led to the diagnosis of minor RAS. The ulcer severity score (USS) was used to assess disease severity, and fibrinogen was also collected. We conducted three analyses: Analysis 1 (comparison of fibrinogen levels between patients and controls), Analysis 2 (comparison of fibrinogen levels between high and low USS patients) and Analysis 3 (comparison of fibrinogen levels between before and after anti-inflammatory treatment in patients). The fibrinogen levels in the 109 minor RAS patients were statistically higher than in the 29 controls (mean [SD], 2.6 [0.5] vs. 2.3 [0.3]; Student's t-test, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in fibrinogen levels among the 43 patients with high USS and the 39 patients with low USS (mean [SD], 2.7 [0.5] vs. 2.6 [0.4]; Student's t-test, p = 0.278). Furthermore, fibrinogen levels were significantly higher before anti-inflammatory treatment in comparison to those after anti-inflammatory treatment in the 35 paired patients (mean [SD], 2.6 [0.4] vs. 2.5 [0.4]; Student's t-test, p = 0.026). Interestingly, fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in the 35 paired patients after anti-inflammatory treatment compared to the 29 control subjects (mean [SD], 2.5 [0.4] vs. 2.3 [0.3]; Student's t-test, p = 0.026]. Fibrinogen may play a role in the aetiology of RAS and may be a drug target for RAS treatment. Clinicians should be alert that high serum fibrinogen levels might be associated with the risk of RAS.

Assessing the predictability of racing performance of Thoroughbreds using mixed‐effects model

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Abstract

The inheritance of racing performance in Thoroughbreds is of interest to breeders and geneticists. Therefore, the genetic parameters of racing performance have been investigated in various populations of Thoroughbreds. However, the predictability of the racing performance of a racehorse has not been assessed well. In this study, we built mixed-effects models for Japanese Thoroughbreds and assessed their predictability of racing performance. We used the average velocity as an index of racing performance and treated each category of racecourse and distance as different traits. Model selection using the deviance information criterion showed that explanatory variables, such as race, age and jockey effects are important for racing performance. Using the selected models, the phenotypic values of horses born after 2009, adjusted using the entire dataset, were predicted with the breeding values estimated from a partial dataset until 2010. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.000 to 0.235 (average of 0.084 ± 0.066) and were higher for longer distances. When predicting the graded race winners born after 2009 from the partial dataset until 2010, the area under the curve values ranged from 0.516 to 0.776 (average of 0.613 ± 0.073) and were also higher for longer distances. Although these results indicate the predictability of racing performance, further efforts, including exploring more suitable racing performance indices and refining statistical modelling, are required for improvement.

Prevention of aflatoxin B1 toxicity by pomegranate peel extract and its effects on growth, blood biochemical changes, oxidative stress and histopathological alterations

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Abstract

Contamination of animal feeds with mycotoxins is one of the most serious issues in the world of animal nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) versus oxytetracycline (OXY) in reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in rabbits fed contaminated diets. This experiment was done on 48 weaned NZW, four groups (n = 12). The first (AF) served as the control group feed on an infected diet by AFB1 between 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg BW; second (AF + OXY) received an infected diet by AFB1 and was treated with OXY 200 mg/kg BW/day; third (AF + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with PPE 130 mg/kg BW/day; fourth (AF + OXY + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with a daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg BW/day of OXY + PPE (65 mg/kg BW/day), the experiment lasted for 8 weeks experiment. The treated group with PPE and its combination with OXY concurrent with AF showed amelioration markedly for liver and kidney function. To summarise, adding PPE and combining it with OXY at a half dose to an AFB1-contaminated diet can help minimise the harmful effects of AFB1 on rabbit performance.

Squamate metabolic rates decrease in winter beyond the effect of temperature

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Squamate metabolic rates decrease in winter beyond the effect of temperature

Dubiner et al. compared the winter and summer metabolic rates of an unprecedented variety of reptile species, discovering not only a near-universal reduction in metabolic rates during winter, but also changes in many associated factors such as allometric scaling and temperature sensitivity.


Abstract

The reptilian form of hibernation (brumation) is much less studied than its mammalian and insect equivalents. Hibernation and brumation share some basic features but may differ in others. Evidence for hypometabolism in brumating reptiles beyond the effect of temperature is sporadic and often ignored. We calculated the standard metabolic rates (SMR, oxygen uptake during inactivity), in winter and/or summer, of 156 individuals representing 59 species of Israeli squamates across all 17 local families. For 32 species, we measured the same individuals during both seasons. We measured gas exchange continuously in a dark metabolic chamber, under the average January high and low temperatures (20°C and 12°C), during daytime and nighttime. We examined how SMR changes with season, biome, body size, temperature and time of day, using phylogenetic mixed models. Metabolic rates increased at sunrise in the diurnal species, despite no light or other external cues, while in nocturnal species the metabolic rates did not increase. Cathemeral species shifted from a diurnal-like diel pattern in winter to a nocturnal-like pattern in summer. Regardless of season, Mediterranean species SMRs were 30% higher than similar-sized desert species. Summer SMR of all species together scaled with body size with an exponent of 0.84 but dropped to 0.71 during brumation. Individuals measured during both seasons decreased their SMR between summer and winter by a 47%, on average, at 20°C and by 70% at 12°C. Q10 was 1.75 times higher in winter than in summer, possibly indicating an active suppression of metabolic processes under cold temperatures. Our results challenge the commonly held perception that squamate physiology is mainly shaped by temperature, with little role for intrinsic metabolic regulation. The patterns we describe indicate that seasonal, diel and geographic factors can trigger remarkable shifts in metabolism across squamate species.

Possible roles of bone morphogenetic protein 4 in regulating endometrial function in cows

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Abstract

This study investigated the expression dynamics of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and its receptors (BMPR1A, BMPR1B, and BMPR2) in bovine endometrium and examined the physiological function and regulatory mechanism of BMP4 expression. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of BMP4 and its receptors was detected in bovine endometrium of both ipsilateral (corpus luteum [CL]-side) and contralateral (non-CL-side) uterine horns during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. BMP4 protein levels were higher in the endometrial tissues obtained from those cows in early pregnancy than in the estrous cycle. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that BMP4 and its receptors were localized in endometrial epithelial cells. The addition of BMP4 to cultured endometrial epithelial cells did not affect caspase-3/-8 mRNA expression, whereas it significantly inhibited cell proliferation. Both prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGF2α concentrations in the culture supernatant were decreased when stimulated by BMP4. Furthermore, BMP4 mRNA expression was increased by stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and interferon-γ (IFNG). In conclusion, BMP4 is produced in bovine endometrial epithelial cells and may contribute to the regulation of cell proliferation and suppression of PG secretion through autocrine or paracrine mechanisms. BMP4 expression in the bovine endometrium may be regulated by TNF and IFNG.

Postmortem calpain changes in longissimus muscle from Lanyu native and Kaohsiung crossbred black pigs

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare postmortem calpain changes in porcine muscle between Lanyu native (n = 10) and Kaohsiung crossbred (50% Meishan and 50% Duroc, n = 10) black pigs. Longissimus dorsi (LM) muscles (4th to 10th ribs) from both sides of carcasses were hot-sectioned in 30 min postmortem, vacuum-packaged, and stored at 5°C. LM samples from the left side of carcasses were sampled at 0 (30 min postmortem), 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of storage. The 24 and 72 h samples of shear force measurement were taken from the LM at the 8th and 10th ribs of the right side of carcasses, respectively. Our results showed that the decreases in calpain-1 activity, desmin content, and shear force were slower (P < 0.05) in Lanyu native black pig than in Kaohsiung crossbred black pig samples. Therefore, postmortem proteolysis and tenderization were more limited in LM from Lanyu native pigs than from Kaohsiung crossbred pigs.