Effects of natural capsicum extract on growth performance, nutrient utilization, antioxidant status, immune function, and meat quality in broilers.

This research was conducted to determine the effects of natural capsaicin extract (NCE) as an alternative to the antibiotic (chlortetracycline, CTC) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 168 one-day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chickens with an average weight of 46.4 ± 0.6 g were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments, with 7 replicates per treatment and 8 broilers per pen. These 3 dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON), a basal diet + 75 mg/kg CTC (CTC), and a basal diet + 80 mg/kg NCE (NCE). Broilers from the NCE group showed higher average daily gain compared to broilers from the CON group at all stages (P < 0.05). On d 42, NCE supplementation improved dietary nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy compared to nonsupplemented or CTC-supplemented diets (P < 0.05). The digestibility of organic matter and crude protein were higher in the NCE diet than in the CON or CTC diets (P < 0.05). Higher relative weight of bursa of Fabricius was observed in broilers fed NCE diets compared with CON (P < 0.05). Pancreatic trypsin and lipase activities were significantly increased in the NCE group compared with those in the CON group (P < 0.05). The value of lightness (L*) of breast muscles from broilers fed NCE diets was significantly lower compared to those fed CON diets (P < 0.05). Broilers fed NCE diets also had higher levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and lower levels of interleukin-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor-α compared with broilers fed CON diets (P < 0.05). The liver catalase activity of broilers was also significantly increased in the NCE group than the CON group (P < 0.05). In addition, broilers from NCE group had lower concentrations of serum urea-N, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol, and higher concentration of growth hormone compared with those from the CON group (P < 0.05). Therefore, we concluded that supplementation of 80 mg/kg of NCE in diets could improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, immune function, and meat quality in broilers.

Effects of normal and low calcium and phosphorus levels and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on performance, serum antioxidant status, meat quality, and bone properties of broilers.

To determine the effects of normal and low dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) supplementation on performance, serum antioxidant status, meat quality, and bone properties of broilers, 224 1-day-old Arbor Acre male broilers were used in this study. Broilers were allotted randomly to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that included normal or low Ca and P diet with or without 69 µg/kg 25-OH-D3. The trial consists of a starter phase from day 1 to 21 and a grower phase from day 22 to 42. Dietary 25-OH-D3 supplementation increased (P < 0.05) average daily weight gain from day 22 to 42 and decreased feed conversation ratio from day 22 to 42 and day 0 to 42. On day 21, 25-OH-D3 increased serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase in broilers fed low Ca and P diet (Interaction, P < 0.05). 25-hydroxycholecalciferol significantly decreased serum malondialdehyde concentration. Dietary Ca and P deficiencies significantly decreased serum Ca and P concentrations and increased serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration, and serum Ca and 25-OH-D3 concentrations were significantly increased by 25-OH-D3 supplementation. On day 42, serum T-AOC and CAT concentrations were decreased by dietary Ca and P deficiencies without 25-OH-D3 (Interaction, P < 0.05) and unaffected by dietary Ca and P deficiencies with 25-OH-D3. Dietary Ca and P deficiencies significantly decreased Ca, P, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations and increased PTH concentration in serum. Dietary 25-OH-D3 increased (P < 0.05) serum Ca and 25-OH-D3 concentrations and decreased (P < 0.05) serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase concentration. The interaction between CaP level and 25-OH-D3 was observed (P < 0.05) for tibial Ca content and femoral bone density. 25-hydroxycholecalciferol significantly increased tibial breaking strength. These data indicated that 25-OH-D3 supplementation at 69 µg/kg increased growth performance in some periods, enhanced serum antioxidant capacity, and improved bone mineralization and breaking strength of broilers.

Effects of wheat bran in comparison to antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of wheat bran (WB) and antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broiler chickens. A total of 168 one-day-old male Arbor Acre chicks were allocated to 3 treatments consisting of 7 replicates with 8 birds per replicate. The 3 treatments were: an antibiotic-free control diet (control, CON), CON + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline as an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), and CON + 3% WB. Birds fed AGP and WB had greater (P < 0.05) ADG during days 1 to 21 and lower (P < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio during each phase than those fed CON. The WB supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and diamine oxidase activity compared with CON on both day 21 and 42. The AGP and WB supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) interleukin-1ß concentration in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and increased (P < 0.05) secretory immunoglobulin A concentration in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and 42. The relative expression of occludin in jejunal mucosa was upregulated (P < 0.05) in WB than in CON on day 21. Moreover, both AGP and WB supplementation upregulated (P < 0.05) the relative expression of zonula occludens-1 in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and 42. The WB supplementation enhanced the α-diversity of cecal microbiota, as evidenced by the increased Shannon index (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, the phylum Firmicutes was enriched (P < 0.05) in WB. At the genus level, the WB supplementation enriched (P < 0.05) Lachnoclostridium and Butyricicoccus. The WB supplementation increased (P < 0.05) cecal total short chain fatty acids concentrations on day 21 and 42, and butyric acid concentrations on day 42 compared with CON. Collectively, supplementation of 3% WB could promote growth by improving intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broilers. Thus, WB may have a role in replacing antibiotics for improved growth performance and intestinal health in broilers.

Forsythia suspensa extract enhances performance via the improvement of nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory function, and gut morphology in broilers.

This experiment aims to determine the effects of Forsythia suspense extract (FSE) as an antibiotic substitute on performance, antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory function, intestinal morphology, and meat fatty acid deposition in broilers. 192 male Arbor Acre broilers (1-day-old, weighing 45.6 ± 1.3 g) were randomly allocated to 3 treatments, 8 replicate pens per treatment, 8 broilers per pen. The treatments contain a control diet (corn-soybean meal basal diet, CTL), an antibiotic diet (basal diet + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline, CTC), and an FSE diet (basal diet + 100 mg/kg FSE; FSE). The experiment includes phase 1 (day 1 to 21) and 2 (day 22 to 42). Compared with CTL and CTC, broilers supplemented with FSE showed higher (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI in phase 2 and overall (day 1 to 42). On day 21, serum catalase and total antioxidant capacity contents were enhanced (P < 0.05) in broilers fed FSE compared with CTL. On day 42, broilers fed FSE showed increased (P < 0.05) serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase contents, and enhanced (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, total carbohydrates, and phosphorus, as well as reduced (P < 0.05) nitrogen and phosphorus excretion in feces compared with CTL. These broilers also showed decreased (P < 0.05) n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in thigh meat, and tumor necrotic factor-alpha, interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6 contents in the liver on day 42 compared with CTL. The villus height was increased (P < 0.05) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of broilers fed FSE compared with CTL. In conclusion, dietary F.suspense extract supplementation as a chlortetracycline substitute under non-challenge conditions enhanced performance via the improvement of nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory function, and intestinal morphology in broilers. Moreover, F.suspense extract may also benefit environment by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus excretion and benefit human health via modulating meat fatty acid profiles in broilers.

[Acute effect of air pollutants (carbon monoxide and ozone) on myocardial infarction mortality in Ningbo].

Objective: To explore the effect of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O(3)) in the air on the myocardial infarction mortality in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, from 2011 to 2015. Methods: The data of daily air quality surveillance and the causes of deaths in Ningbo from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 were collected and the time series study using a generalized additive model was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the mortality of myocardial infarction and the air pollutants after adjustment for the long-term trend of death, weather conditions," days of the week" and other confounding factors. Results: The daily average concentrations of CO and O(3) in Ningbo during 2011-2015 were 0.90 (0.02-3.31) mg/m(3) and 82.78 (4-236) µg/m(3), respectively. A total of 5 388 myocardial infarction deaths occurred, with a daily average of 3 deaths. In single-pollutant model, an increase of 0.1 mg/m(3) in average concentration of CO could increase the risk of myocardial infarction mortality by 1.06% (95% CI: 0.29%-1.93%) in general population, and by 1.26% (95% CI:0.28%-2.24%) in aged people aged ≥65 years in lagged 6 days, but the influence was not significant in people aged <65 years. The influence had no significant difference in males, but it increased the risk of myocardial infarction mortality by 1.77% in females (95% CI: 0.44%-3.13%). In multi-pollutant model, CO did remain robust after adjusting for other co-pollutants. Whereas the effect of O(3) had no significant influence. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the increased risk of daily myocardial infarction mortality was associated with the increase of CO concentration, but no such association was found for O(3) in Ningbo.

Selective-releasing-affected lubricant mechanism of a self-assembled MoS2/Mo-S-C nanoperiod multilayer film sliding in diverse atmospheres.

A self-assembled MoS2/Mo-S-C multilayer film prepared by r.f. co-sputtering of MoS2 and graphite targets was tribotested in diverse sliding atmospheres, and the lubricant mechanism and its correlations to the selective releasing behavior of non-lubricant component were analyzed in detail. Based on the analysis of composition and structural transformation of transferred materials by Raman and HRTEM characterizations, selective releasing behavior according to the sliding atmospheres were found to be particularly apparent in vacuum and dry inert atmospheres. Under these conditions, a-C in graphitic form was selectively released outwards from the topmost surfaces of contacts, leaving MoS2 layers finely reordered in (002) orientation playing a lubricant role. Composition and structural transformation were observed not only on the topmost surface of wear track but also on the underlying layer at a thickness of tens of nanometers. Moreover, it was found that the selective releasing of a-C initiated from the center of contacts with higher pressure, and then developed toward the edges, resulting in a gradual change in the composition and microstructure of the transferred materials from the well-aligned MoS2 layers in the center to the graphitic a-C dominant composites at the edges. The short running-in periods and low-friction performance in all the tribotests suggested that the initial preference of MoS2-riched sublayers in (002) orientation may facilitate the formation of shearless tribofilms and therefore provide a feasible way of structural tailoring in the MoS2-based lubricant films for an improved triboactive response.

[Relationship between weather factors and heat stroke in Ningbo city].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the main effects of weather factors on heat stroke. METHODS: Data from case report on heat stroke was collected in Ningbo city during 2011 to 2014. Temperature threshold, lag effects and interaction of weather factors on heat stroke had been analyzed, using the piecewise regression model, distributed lag non-linear model, response surface model and other methods. RESULTS: RESULTS showed that temperature and humidity were more correlated with heat stroke than other weather-related factors. Through different models, daily average temperature always presented a better role in predicting the heat stroke, rather than maximum or minimum temperature. Positive association between daily average temperature and heat stroke was obvious, especially at lag 0-1 days, with its threshold as 29.1 (95% CI: 28.7-29.5) ℃ . The cumulative RR of heat stroke at 90(th) percentile of daily average temperature versus 10(th) percentile was 14.05 (95% CI: 7.23-27.31) in lag 0-1 days. The effects of daily relative humidity on heat stroke appeared nonlinear, with low humidity showing a negative effect on heat stroke and could lag for 1-4 days. However, the effect of high humidity was not significant, with the cumulative RR of low humidity and high humidity as 2.35 (95%CI: 1.27-4.33) and 0.86 (95%CI: 0.40-1.85) in lag of 0-4 days, respectively. We also noticed that there was an interactive effect of both temperature and humidity on heat stroke. Under high temperature and low humidity, the risk of heat stroke showed the highest. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature and humidity showed obvious relationship with heat stroke in Ningbo city, with the threshold temperature as 29.1 ℃. Under high temperature and low humidity, the risk of heat stroke became the highest.

[Relationship between particulate matters and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality in Ningbo: a time-series study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the short-term effect of particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 10 µg (PM10) and aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 µg (PM2.5) on cardio-cerebrovascular mortality in Ningbo city. METHODS: Daily cardio-cerebrovascular mortality data from 2011 to 2014 in Ningbo city were collected and the time series study using a semi-parametric generalized additive model were used to evaluate the relationship between the mortality of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and particulate matters after adjustment for the long-term trend of death,weather conditions, "days of the week" and other confounding factors. RESULTS: In single-pollutant model, the short-term effects of particulate matter on cardio-cerebrovascular mortality was strongest in lagged 2 days in Ningbo city, and an increase of 10 µg/m(3) in moving average concentrations (lagged 2-3 days and lagged 2-4 days) of PM2.5 and PM10 could increase the cardio-cerebrovascular mortality by 0.55% (0.23%-0.87%) and 0.53% (0.28%-0.78%), respectively. In multi-pollutant models, PM10 did remain robust after being adjusted for PM2.5 with 0.58% (0.09%-1.07%) increase in cardio-cerebrovascular mortality. The effect of PM2.5 had no statistical significantce after being adjusted for other co-pollutants. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the concentrations of ambient particulate matters were associated with an increased risk of daily cardio-cerebrovascular mortality in Ningbo city.