Activation of skeletal carbohydrate-response element binding protein (ChREBP)-mediated de novo lipogenesis increases intramuscular fat content in chickens.

The intracellular lipids in muscle cells of farm animals play a crucial role in determining the overall intramuscular fat (IMF) content, which has a positive impact on meat quality. However, the mechanisms underlying the deposition of lipids in muscle cells of farm animals are not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of carbohydrate-response element binding protein (ChREBP) and fructose in IMF deposition of chickens. For virus-mediated ChREBP overexpression in tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of chickens, seven 5-d-old male yellow-feather chickens were used. At 10 d after virus injection, the chickens were slaughtered to obtain TA muscles for analysis. For fructose administration trial, sixty 9-wk-old male yellow-feather chickens were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 6 replicates per group and 5 chickens per replicate. The chickens were fed either a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 10% fructose (purity ≥ 99%). At 4 wk later, the chickens were slaughtered, and breast and thigh muscles were collected for analysis. The results showed that the skeletal ChREBP mRNA levels were positively associated with IMF content in multiple species, including the chickens, pigs, and mice (P < 0.05). ChREBP overexpression increased lipid accumulation in both muscle cells in vitro and the TA muscles of mice and chickens in vivo (P < 0.05), by activation of the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) pathway. Moreover, activation of ChREBP by dietary fructose administration also resulted in increased IMF content in mice and notably chickens (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the lipidomics analysis revealed that ChREBP activation altered the lipid composition of chicken IMF and tented to improve the flavor profile of the meat. In conclusion, this study found that ChREBP plays a pivotal role in mediating the deposition of fat in chicken muscles in response to fructose-rich diets, which provides a novel strategy for improving meat quality in the livestock industry.

Bibliometric analysis of vitamin D and obesity research over the period 2000 to 2023.

Background: Globally, the incidence rates of obesity and its related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, are continuously rising, posing a significant public health challenge. Studies have indicated a potential correlation between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. However, a quantitative analysis of the studies related vitamin D and obesity is lacking. This investigation aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to uncover the collaborative networks, research hotspots, and evolutionary trends within the field of vitamin D and obesity research. Methods: This study retrieved literature related to vitamin D and obesity from the Web of Science database spanning from 2000 to 2023. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using tools such as HistCite, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to excavate multi-dimensional information including countries, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and keywords. Results: A total of 6,144 records were retrieved, involving 123 countries, 6,726 institutions, and 28,156 authors, published in 1,551 journals. The number of published papers and citations showed a generally increasing trend. The United States led in terms of publication volume and influence, with journals such as Nutrients and Obesity Surgery having the highest publication counts. Nasser M. Al-Daghri was the most prolific and influential author. Keyword clustering revealed that research topics covered metabolic health, nutrition, immunity, and bariatric surgery. Citation burst analysis indicated a shift in research focus from the relationship between dietary calcium and obesity to the preventive effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic diseases. Conclusion: The application of bibliometric methods to analyze the research literature in the fields of obesity and vitamin D has provided a comprehensive understanding of the collaborative networks, key research focus, and evolutionary trends in this field, offering insights for guiding future research directions.

Differences in Milk Fatty Acids Profile of Two Breeds of Water Buffaloes Explained by Their Gastrointestinal Microbiota.

This experiment investigated gastrointestinal microbes' role in milk fatty acid differences between Murrah and Nili-Ravi buffaloes. After 30 days of a basal diet, rumen microbial diversity was similar, but Murrah buffaloes had greater partially unsaturated fatty acids like C18:2c9t11. Rumen bacteria like Acetobacter, Ruminococcus, and Prevotellaceae_YAB2003_group correlated positively with milk fatty acids C22:5n-6 and C18:3 in Murrah. Fecal microbial beta diversity differed, with UCG-005 and Prevolla positively correlated with C18:2c9t11 and C22:5n-6. The greater quantity of milk fatty acids C18:3, C18:2c9t11, and C22:5n-6 in Murrah milk was linked to rumen and fecal microbes. This suggests that gastrointestinal microbes like Acetobacter, Ruminococcus, and UCG_005 regulate milk fatty acid concentrations in buffaloes.

Termite Fungus Comb Polysaccharides Alleviate Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia in Type 2 Diabetic Mice by Regulating Hepatic Glucose/Lipid Metabolism and the Gut Microbiota.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. The termite fungus comb is an integral component of nests of termites, which are a global pest. Termite fungus comb polysaccharides (TFCPs) have been identified to possess antioxidant, anti-aging, and immune-enhancing properties. However, their physicochemical characteristics and their role in fighting diabetes have not been previously reported. In the current study, TFCPs were isolated and structurally characterized. The yield of TFCPs was determined to be 2.76%, and it was found to be composed of a diverse array of polysaccharides with varying molecular weights. The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of TFCPs, as well as their potential mechanisms of action, were investigated in a T2D mouse model. The results demonstrated that oral administration of TFCPs could alleviate fasting blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and the dysfunction of pancreatic islets in T2D mice. In terms of mechanisms, the TFCPs enhanced hepatic glycogenesis and glycolysis while inhibiting gluconeogenesis. Additionally, the TFCPs suppressed hepatic de novo lipogenesis and promoted fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, the TFCPs altered the composition of the gut microbiota in the T2D mice, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Allobaculum and Faecalibaculum, while reducing the levels of pathogens like Mailhella and Acetatifactor. Overall, these findings suggest that TFCPs may exert anti-diabetic effects by regulating hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism and the composition of the gut microbiota. These findings suggest that TFCPs can be used as a promising functional ingredient for the prevention and treatment of T2D.

Mechanism of mangiferin in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis based on Gene Expression Omnibus database chip mining combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the primary target and potential mechanism of mangiferin (MF) in treating oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) through Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database chip mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking techniques. METHODS: Potential therapeutic targets for OSF were identified using GEO chip data. The potential targets of MF were predicted, and disease-related targets for OSF were collected from databases. A Venn diagram was created using the EVenn platform to identify overlapping targets. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID platform. Cytoscape 3.10.1 software was used to visualize a drug-target-pathway-disease network, while AutoDocktools 1.5.6 software was employed for molecular docking analysis. RESULTS: A total of 356 potential targets for MF and 360 disease-related targets for OSF were obtained from multiple databases. The top 15 key target proteins in the PPI network were selected as significant candidates. GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that MF treatment primarily involved advanced glycation end products-receptor (AGE-RAGE), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and other signaling pathways associated with OSF pathogenesis. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that MF exhibited a strong binding activity toward AKT serine kinase 1 (AKT1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and other core targets. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MF may exert its therapeutic effects on OSF through a multitarget approach involving various signaling pathways.

WRKY22 Transcription Factor from Iris laevigata Regulates Flowering Time and Resistance to Salt and Drought.

Iris laevigata Fisch. is an excellent ornamental plant in cold regions due to its unique ornamental ability and strong cold resistance. However, the flowering period of the population is only about 20 days, greatly limiting its potential uses in landscaping and the cutting flower industry. In addition, I. laevigata is often challenged with various abiotic stresses including high salinity and drought in its native habitats. Thus, breeding novel cultivars with delayed flowering time and higher resistance to abiotic stress is of high importance. In this study, we utilized sequencing data from the I. laevigata transcriptome to identify WRKYs and characterized IlWRKY22, a key transcription factor that modulates flowering time and abiotic stress responses. IlWRKY22 is induced by salt and drought stress. We cloned IlWRKY22 and found that it is a Group IIe WRKY localized in the nucleus. Overexpressing IlWRKY22 in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and Nicotiana tabacum L. resulted in a delayed flowering time in the transgenic plants. We created transgenic N. tabacum overexpressing IlWRKY22, which showed significantly improved resistance to both salt and drought compared to the control plants. Thus, our study revealed a unique dual function of IlWRKY22, an excellent candidate gene for breeding novel Iris cultivars of desirable traits.

Involution of brown adipose tissue through a Syntaxin 4 dependent pyroptosis pathway.

Aging, chronic high-fat diet feeding, or housing at thermoneutrality induces brown adipose tissue (BAT) involution, a process characterized by reduction of BAT mass and function with increased lipid droplet size. Single nuclei RNA sequencing of aged mice identifies a specific brown adipocyte population of Ucp1-low cells that are pyroptotic and display a reduction in the longevity gene syntaxin 4 (Stx4a). Similar to aged brown adipocytes, Ucp1-STX4KO mice display loss of brown adipose tissue mass and thermogenic dysfunction concomitant with increased pyroptosis. Restoration of STX4 expression or suppression of pyroptosis activation protects against the decline in both mass and thermogenic activity in the aged and Ucp1-STX4KO mice. Mechanistically, STX4 deficiency reduces oxidative phosphorylation, glucose uptake, and glycolysis leading to reduced ATP levels, a known triggering signal for pyroptosis. Together, these data demonstrate an understanding of rapid brown adipocyte involution and that physiologic aging and thermogenic dysfunction result from pyroptotic signaling activation.

Recent autumn sea ice loss in the eastern Arctic enhanced by summer Asian-Pacific Oscillation.

Recent rapid Arctic sea ice loss was documented as combined results from anthropogenic forcing and climate system internal variability. However, the role of internal variability is not well understood. Here, we propose that the Asian-Pacific Oscillation (APO), an intrinsic atmospheric mode featuring out-of-phase variations in upper-tropospheric temperatures between Asia and the North Pacific, is one driver for autumn sea ice variability in the eastern Arctic. The positive summer APO favors warming of the mid-latitude North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. This warming persists to autumn and in turn triggers strong anticyclonic anomalies over the Barents-Kara-Laptev Seas and weak lower-tropospheric cyclonic anomalies over the East Siberian Sea, enhancing moisture transport into the eastern Arctic. Such changes consequently increase lower-tropospheric humidity, downwelling longwave radiation, and surface air temperature in the eastern Arctic, thereby melting sea ice. Hence, a recent tendency of the summer APO towards the positive phase accelerates autumn sea ice loss in the eastern Arctic.

Efficacy of physical exercise intervention on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during treatment and rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the impact of physical exercise intervention on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during the treatment and rehabilitation consolidation periods. METHOD: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, and Cochrane databases, with a search time range from database establishment to September 1, 2023. The quality of the included RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane risk assessment tool, and a systematic evaluation was conducted using RevMan 5.4. The study has been registered with INPLASY (registration number: 202390100). RESULT: A total of 12 RCTs including 423 subjects was included. The meta-analysis results showed that long-term exercise intervention can effectively improve the endurance performance (SMD = 1.37, 95% CI 0.45 to 2.29, p = 0.004), functional mobility (MD = - 1.17, 95% CI - 1.85 to - 0.49, p = 0.0008), cancer-related fatigue (CRF) (MD = - 1.25, 95% CI - 1.69 to - 0.80, p < 0.00001), and quality of life (QOL) (MD = 4.93, 95% CI 1.80 to 8.05, p = 0.002) of ALL children during the treatment and rehabilitation consolidation periods. Its promoting effect on the muscle strength (SMD = 0.53, 95% CI - 0.33 to 1.39, p = 0.23) and bone mineral density (BMD) (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.77, p = 0.05) of the subjects was not significant. Further meta-analysis showed that exercise intervention with a duration of less than 1 year (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.28, p < 0.00001) rather than more than 1 year (SMD = - 0.16, 95% CI - 0.61 to 0.29, p = 0.49) can effectively reduce subject BMD, while in terms of strength, exercise intervention can effectively improve strength during the treatment period (SMD = 0.97, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.54, p = 0.0008) rather than the consolidation period (SMD = - 0.27, 95% CI - 1.08 to 0.53, p = 0.51). CONCLUSION: Long-term regular exercise can effectively improve the endurance, functional mobility, CRF, and QOL of children with ALL in the rehabilitation and treatment consolidation stages. Their strength and BMD may be influenced by the timing of treatment and the intervention cycle, respectively. Considering the limited number of included literature and the instability of some outcome indicators, it is necessary to design more comprehensive and rigorous high-quality RCTs in the future to test the exercise efficacy of ALL children.

Characterizing the temporal dynamics of intrinsic brain activities in depressed adolescents with prior suicide attempts.

Converging evidence has revealed disturbances in the corticostriatolimic system are associated with suicidal behaviors in adults with major depressive disorder. However, the neurobiological mechanism that confers suicidal vulnerability in depressed adolescents is largely unknown. A total of 86 depressed adolescents with and without prior suicide attempts (SA) and 47 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional imaging (R-fMRI) scans. The dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dALFF) was measured using sliding window approach. We identified SA-related alterations in dALFF variability primarily in the left middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus (MFG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), right SFG, supplementary motor area (SMA) and insula in depressed adolescents. Notably, dALFF variability in the left MFG and SMA was higher in depressed adolescents with recurrent suicide attempts than in those with a single suicide attempt. Moreover, dALFF variability was capable of generating better diagnostic and prediction models for suicidality than static ALFF. Our findings suggest that alterations in brain dynamics in regions involved in emotional processing, decision-making and response inhibition are associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviors in depressed adolescents. Furthermore, dALFF variability could serve as a sensitive biomarker for revealing the neurobiological mechanisms underlying suicidal vulnerability.

Self-assembly of maltose-albumin nanoparticles for efficient targeting delivery and therapy in liver cancer.

The effective delivery and targeted release of drugs within tumor cells are critical factors in determining the therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicine. To achieve this objective, a conjugate of maltose (Mal) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was synthesized by the Maillard reaction and self-assembled into nanoparticles with active-targeting capabilities upon pH/heating induction. This nanoparticle could be effectively loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) to form stable nanodrugs (Mal-BSA/DOX) that were sensitive to low pH or high glutathione (GSH), thereby achieving a rapid drug release (96.82 % within 24 h). In vitro cell experiments indicated that maltose-modified BSA particles efficiently enhance cellular internalization via glucose transporters (GLUT)-mediated endocytosis, resulting in increased intracellular DOX levels and heightened expression of γ-H2AX. Consequently, these results ultimately lead to selective tumor cells death, as evidenced by an IC50 value of 3.83 µg/mL in HepG2 cells compared to 5.87 µg/mL in 293t cells. The efficacy of Mal-BSA/DOX in tumor targeting therapy has been further confirmed by in vivo studies, as it effectively delivered a higher concentration of DOX to tumor tissue. This targeted delivery approach not only reduces the systemic toxicity of DOX but also effectively inhibits tumor growth (TGI, 75.95 %). These findings contribute valuable insights into the advancement of targeting-albumin nanomedicine and further support its potential in tumor treatment.

Functionally conserved PPARG exonic circRNAs enhance intramuscular fat deposition by regulating PPARG and HSL.

Circular RNAs (circRNA) are a kind of endogenous biological macromolecules that play significant roles in many biological processes, including adipogenesis, a precisely orchestrated process that is mediated by a large number of factors. Among them, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), is undoubtedly the most important regulator of adipocyte development in all types of adipose tissue. The formation of intramuscular fat (IMF), is a key factor that influences the meat quality in livestock animals. PPARG has been demonstrated to show a positive correlation with IMF deposition although the regulatory mechanism involved is not known. This study demonstrates that PPARG mediates IMF deposition by producing multiple exonic circRNAs (circPPARGs). Three circPPARGs promote adipogenic differentiation and inhibit the proliferation of intramuscular preadipocytes and these effects are conserved across several species including buffaloes, cattle and mice. Notably, circPPARG1 interacts with PPARG protein to inhibit the transcription of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) involved in lipolysis. In addition, the positive effects of circPPARG1 on IMF deposition were identified in mice in vivo. Thus, PPARG drives IMF deposition, not only through the common transcription factor pathway, but also by producing circRNAs. This study provides new insights into our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of PPARG in IMF deposition.

WRKY Transcriptional Factor IlWRKY70 from Iris laevigata Enhances Drought and Salinity Tolerances in Nicotiana tabacum.

Drought and high salinity greatly affect plant growth and development. WRKY transcription factors play a key role in plant tolerance to abiotic stress, but the functions of WRKYs in the ornamental monocotyledon Iris laevigata remain largely unexplored. In this study, we cloned IlWRKY70 and found that it is a Group III WRKY localized in the nucleus. The expression of IlWRKY70 was induced by NaCl and PEG-6000, which reached peaks (4.38 and 5.65 times) after 3 h and 1 h, respectively. The exogenous overexpression of IlWRKY70 in N. tabacum significantly improved the resistance under NaCl and drought treatments, as evidenced by higher germination rates, longer root lengths, and increased fresh weights compared to those of control plants. In addition, transgenic seedlings showed significantly reduced wilting, higher photosynthetic performance, higher Fv/Fm and chlorophyll content, and lower stomatal conductance. Moreover, transgenic lines showed higher antioxidant enzymatic activities, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lower malondialdehyde contents. Accordingly, we also found higher expressions of antioxidant defense genes, including SOD, CAT, and POD, in transgenic lines compared to controls under salt and drought stresses. Thus, IlWRKY70 enhances the abilities of salt and drought tolerances in plants, at least partially, via ROS regulation and can be used for breeding I. laevigata possessing enhanced salt and drought resistances.

Inflammatory and nutritional markers predict the risk of post-operative delirium in elderly patients following total hip arthroplasty.

Objectives: This study intended to explore whether albumin-associated inflammatory and nutritional markers could predict post-operative delirium (POD) in older patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). In addition, we established a nomogram model for POD prediction. Methods: Totally, 254 elderly cases who received THA were included. Clinical and laboratory data of these patients were retrospectively collected. Albumin-associated inflammatory and nutritional markers included neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR), CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and systemic inflammation score (SIS). The LASSO, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to screen risk factors. A nomogram model was developed according to the results of multivariate regression analyses. Results: Among 254 patients, 49 cases had POD with an incidence of 19.3%. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic analyses suggested that preoperative NAR, preoperative PNI, preoperative SIS, and age >75 years were risk factors for POD. A nomogram model was developed according to the results of multivariate logistic analyses. The calibration curve suggested that the predicted probability of this nomogram model was in good line with the actual probability. The DCA showed that this nomogram model had net benefits for the prediction of POD for elderly patients following THA. Conclusion: Albumin-associated inflammatory and nutritional markers including NAR, PNI, and SIS could predict POD in elderly patients following THA.

Analysis of the benefit of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in premenopausal women undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) appears to exhibit ovarian protection during chemotherapy for malignant tumors. The purpose of this study was to analyze the benefits of GnRHa in premenopausal women undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT). Candidates for myeloablative chemotherapy HSCT requiring fertility preservation in the Gynecological Endocrinology Clinic of Peking University People's Hospital from December 2011 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who chose to receive GnRHa treatment were given at least 2 courses of a 3.75-mg dose of a GnRHa before myeloablative chemotherapy, and patients who chose not to receive GnRHa treatment were included in the control group. All patients were monitored for menstruation return and menopause-related symptoms, and ovarian function tests [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, and estradiol] were performed 6-12 months after HSCT. In addition, we assessed the vaginal bleeding of patients in the laminar air-flow room (LAFR). A total of 234 cases were included in this study: 77 cases in the treatment group and 157 cases in the control group. The incidence of vaginal bleeding in the LAFR in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (24.68% vs. 79.62%, P < 0.001). The menopausal symptoms of the patients in the treatment group were reduced after transplantation (46.75% vs. 19.75%, P < 0.001). There was no difference in visible follicles by follow-up ultrasound in the two groups after HSCT (16.88% vs. 13.38%, P = 0.474). The level of FSH at 6-12 months after transplantation was lower (98.00 mIU/ml vs. 117.53 mIU/ml, P = 0.001). The proportion of patients with FSH < 40 mIU/ml did not differ between the two groups. One patient in the treatment group recovered spontaneous menstruation, while none recovered spontaneous menstruation in the control group (1.30% vs. 0%, P = 0.329). The use of GnRHa may relieve menopause-related symptoms and reduce vaginal bleeding in the LAFR and breakthrough bleeding after transplantation. GnRHa treatment can reduce the level of FSH after myeloablative chemotherapy, but it cannot reduce the incidence of premature ovarian failure in women of reproductive age following myeloablative HSCT.

Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Asiaticoside on Growth Performance, Lipid Metabolism, and Gut Microbiota in Yellow-Feathered Chickens.

Excessive abdominal fat deposition in chickens is a major concern in the poultry industry. Nutritional interventions are a potential solution, but current options are limited. Asiaticoside (Asi), a herbal extract, has shown positive effects in animals, but its impact on poultry lipid metabolism is still unknown. In this study, the effects of dietary Asi on yellow-feathered chicken lipid metabolism and its potential mechanisms were investigated. A total of 120 chickens were randomly divided into three groups, with five replicates per group and 8 chickens per replicate. The chickens were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.01, or 0.05% Asi for 6 wk. The results showed that Asi down-regulated lipogenic gene expression and up-regulated lipid-breakdown-related genes in both the liver and fat tissues of the chickens, which resulted in a half reduction in abdominal fat while not affecting meat yield. Mechanistically, the hepatic and adipose PI3K/AKT pathway may be involved in Asi-induced fat loss in chickens as revealed by computer-aided reverse drug target prediction and gene expression analysis. Moreover, Asi ingestion also significantly modified the cecal microbiota of the chickens, resulting in a reduced Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and decreased abundance of bacteria positively correlated with abdominal fat deposition such as Ruminococcus, while increasing the abundance of bacteria inversely correlated with abdominal fat deposition such as Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Blautia. Collectively, these data suggest that Asi could ameliorate the abdominal fat deposition in yellow-feathered chickens, probably through modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and gut microbiota function.

Effects of dietary supplementation of Anoectochilus roxburghii extract (ARE) on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, meat quality, and gut microbiota in broilers.

The broiler industry frequently encounters 2 common problems: excessive deposition of abdominal fat and poor quality of meat. However, there are limited nutritional manipulation strategies to address these issues. While Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl., a traditional Chinese herb, has been shown to have multiple beneficial effects in humans, its potential roles in broiler chickens remain unexplored. In this study, the effects of dietary supplementation with Anoectochilus roxburghii extract (ARE) on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, meat quality, blood indices, and gut microbiota were investigated in yellow-feather broiler chickens. A total of 90 twenty-one-day-old yellow-feather broilers were randomly divided into 3 treatments, and each treatment included 5 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. Birds were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.15, or 0.30% ARE for 6 wk. The results showed that the inclusion of ARE in the diet did not have any significant effect on meat yield (P > 0.05). However, it did lead to a reduction in abdominal fat deposition and an improvement in meat quality (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, the addition of ARE inhibited lipid biosynthesis and enhanced lipid breakdown in both the liver and adipose tissue of the broilers. Furthermore, ARE supplementation increased the antioxidase activities in the muscle and serum of the broilers (P < 0.05). In addition, the supplementation of ARE optimized the diversity and composition of the cecal microbiota, particularly by lowering the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05). Moreover, the abundance of some bacteria that were positively correlated with abdominal fat deposition was reduced by ARE, and vice versa (P < 0.05). Collectively, the results suggest that ARE is a promising candidate as a feed additive for reducing abdominal fat deposition and improving meat quality in the broiler industry.

Diversity in Cell Morphology, Composition, and Function among Adipose Depots in River Buffaloes.

Fat deposition is a significant economic trait in livestock animals. Adipose tissues (ATs) developed in subcutaneous and visceral depots are considered waste whereas those within muscle are highly valued. In river buffaloes, lipogenesis is highly active in subcutaneous (especially in the sternum subcutaneous) and visceral depots but not in muscle tissue. Revealing the features and functions of ATs in different depots is significant for the regulation of their development. Here, we characterize the cell size, composition, and function of six AT depots in river buffaloes. Our data support that the subcutaneous AT depots have a larger cell size than visceral AT depots, and the subcutaneous AT depots, especially the sternum subcutaneous AT, are mainly associated with the extracellular matrix whereas the visceral AT depots are mainly associated with immunity. We found that sternum subcutaneous AT is significantly different from ATs in other depots, due to the high unsaturated fatty acid content and the significant association with metabolic protection. The perirenal AT is more active in FA oxidation for energy supply. In addition, the expression of HOX paralogs supports the variable origins of ATs in different depots, indicating that the development of ATs in different depots is mediated by their progenitor cells. The present study enhances our understanding of the cellular and molecular features, metabolism, and origin of AT depots in buffaloes, which is significant for the regulation of fat deposition and provides new insights into the features of AT depots in multiple discrete locations.

Impacts of short-term air pollution exposure on appendicitis admissions: Evidence from one of the most polluted cities in mainland China.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that air pollutants contribute to the development and progression of gastrointestinal diseases. However, there is scarce evidence of an association with appendicitis in mainland China. Methods: In this study, Linfen city, one of the most polluted cities in mainland China, was selected as the study site to explore whether air pollutants could affect appendicitis admissions and to identify susceptible populations. Daily data on appendicitis admissions and three principal air pollutants, including inhalable particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were collected in Linfen, China. The impacts of air pollutants on appendicitis were studied by using a generalized additive model (GAM) combined with the quasi-Poisson function. Stratified analyses were also performed by sex, age, and season. Results: We observed a positive association between air pollution and appendicitis admissions. For a 10 µg/m3 increase in pollutants at lag01, the corresponding relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were 1.0179 (1.0129-1.0230) for PM10, 1.0236 (1.0184-1.0288) for SO2, and 1.0979 (1.0704-1.1262) for NO2. Males and people aged 21-39 years were more susceptible to air pollutants. Regarding seasons, the effects seemed to be stronger during the cold season, but there was no statistically significant difference between the seasonal groups. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that short-term air pollution exposure was significantly correlated with appendicitis admissions, and active air pollution interventions should be implemented to reduce appendicitis hospitalizations, especially for males and people aged 21-39 years.