[Comparison of clinicopathological features for indications of different types of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To compare and analyze the clinicopathological features and significance for indications of different types of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: Clinical data of 861 CHB cases who received liver biopsy, had hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-positive (> 30 IU/ml) and met the indications for antiviral therapy from January 2014 to December 2019 were included. Liver pathological changes and their correlation with clinical characteristics were compared and analyzed. According to different data, t-test, analysis of variance, nonparametric test, χ2 test, Ridit and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: Most of the cases (72.24%) had remarkable pathological damage. The degree of liver fibrosis was higher in the normal than the abnormal group (P<0.001). 17.54% cases had hepatic steatosis. The vast majority of cases (97.33%) had positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), while only 50.87% had positive hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The positive correlation factors affecting the severity of liver histopathology were alkaline phosphatase level, while the negative correlation factors were positive HBcAg staining, albumin and platelet level. The degree of liver inflammation and fibrosis had statistically significant differences with different HBcAg staining levels (χ2=44.142 and 102.386, respectively; P<0.001), and the severity was more apparent in the negative group. Conclusion: There exist differences in clinicopathological features for indications of different types of antiviral therapy in patients with CHB. Liver function test range is inconsistent with degrees of hepatic histological severity. The positive and intensity of liver tissue HBcAg staining, and albumin and alanine aminotransferase levels have negative correlation with disease severity.

[Clinicopathological analysis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in immune tolerant phase].

Objective: To analyze the liver pathology, clinical characteristics and influence factors in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in immune tolerant phase (IT). Methods: The clinical data of 273 patients in IT phase who underwent liver biopsy from January 2015 to December 2019 were included in this study. The correlation between liver pathological changes and clinical features was analyzed. Results: There were 43 cases (15.75%) with liver histologic activity ≥ G2, 30 cases (10.99%) with liver fibrosis ≥ S2, and 55 cases (20.15%) with liver pathology ≥ G2 and/or ≥ S2. A total of 17.95% patients had liver steatosis. The majority (98.17%) of tissue samples were positive for HBsAg staining, while only 79.49% were positive for HBcAg. The characteristics of liver pathology were comparable in men from women patients. The differences of G and S were not statistically significant according to different HBsAg positivity, while those were statistically significant according to different HBcAg positivity. By univariate and multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors of pathological severity were HBcAg intensity, HBeAg level, and age. However, the differences of liver histologic activity and fibrosis were not statistically significant between those younger than 30 years old group from those older than 30 years old, neither between those younger or older than 40. Although the diagnostic value of liver inflammation and fibrosis 5 (LIF-5) was better than that of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis 4 score (FIB-4), three diagnostic models for predicting the pathological severity were not strong enough (all area under the curves<0.8). Only the specificity of LIF-5 for predicting≥ G2, ≥ G2 and/or ≥ S2 was over 80%. Conclusions: Approximately 20% patients with chronic HBV infection in IT phase have progressive liver inflammation or fibrosis. The intensity of liver HBcAg and HBeAg level are negatively correlated with the severity of disease. The diagnostic models or most clinical indicators have low predictive effect for chronic HBV infections in IT phase.

[Generation and characterization of Cyp4v3 gene knockout mice].

OBJECTIVE: Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare degenerative eye disease caused by mutations in the CYP4V2 gene, and Cyp4v3 is the murine ortholog to CYP4V2. To better understand the molecular pathogenesis of this disease and to explore the potential treatment we have established a Cyp4v3 knock-out mouse model. METHODS: Cyp4v3-/- mice were generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 in embryonic stem cells of C57BL/6J mice. Ocular morphologic characteristics were evaluated via fundus imaging, histologic analysis of rods and cones via immunofluorescence, and phalloidin stain to observe retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in whole-mounts, electroretinogram (ERG) was also conducted to examine the retinal function. RESULTS: The characteristic features of BCD recurred in the Cyp4v3-/- mice, including retinal crystalline deposits, atrophy and degeneration of RPE cells, and ERG amplitude decline of dark and light adapted a- and b- wave; however, the immunofluorescence stain of rod and cone cells did not show obvious differences when compared with the wild type (WT) mice. In the early stage of the disease, no crystal-like deposits were found in the fundus, ERG detection of the retinal function did not find a significant decline, and the morphological structure and quantity of the neural retina and RPE did not change significantly. Crystalline deposits occurred and converged when the Cyp4v3-/- mice at the end of 6 months, and the deposits disappeared when the Cyp4v3-/- mice at the end of 12 months. The ERG amplitude started to decline when the Cyp4v3-/- mice at the end of 6 months and deteriorated at the end of 12 months. The RPE cells of the 12-month old Cyp4v3-/- mice showed irregular shape by phalloidin staining of F-actin. The Cyp4v3-/- mice behaved normally and were viable and fertile when maintained under specific pathogen-free (SPF) housing conditions. CONCLUSION: Just like BCD patients, the disease progress of Cyp4v3-/- mouse is correlated with the age, which provides a good model for pathogenesis and gene therapy study in the future. The atrophy and degeneration of RPE take the lead in progressing of the disease, but the mechanism is not clear yet.

[Clinical feature changes of a COVID-19 patient from mild to critical condition and cardiopulmonary pathological results].

Objective: To analyse the clinical history, laboratory tests and pathological data of a patient who suffered from novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19) and provide reference for the clinical treatment of similar cases. Methods: Data of clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, bronchoscopy, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary pathological results were retrospectively reviewed in a case of COVID-19 with rapid exacerbation from mild to critical condition. Results: This patient hospitalized at day 9 post 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV) infection, experienced progressive deterioration from mild to severe at day 12, severe to critical at day 18 and underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) as well as heart lung transplantation during day 28-45 post infection, and died at the second day post heart and lung transplantation. The patient had suffered from hypertension for 8 years. At the early stage of the disease, his symptoms were mild and the inflammatory indices increased and the lymphocyte count decreased continuously. The patient's condition exacerbated rapidly with multi-organ infections, and eventually developed pulmonary hemorrhage and consolidation, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, liver dysfunction, etc. His clinical manifestations could not be improved despite viral RNAs test results became negative. The patient underwent lung and heart transplantation and finally died of multi organ failure at the second day post lung and heart transplantation. Pathological examination indicated massive mucus, dark red secretions and blood clots in bronchus. The pathological changes were mainly diffused pulmonary hemorrhagic injuries and necrosis, fibrosis, small vessel disease with cardiac edema and lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusions: The clinical course of severe COVID-19 can exacerbate rapidly from mild to critical with lung, liver and heart injuries.

Unidirectional Spin-Wave-Propagation-Induced Seebeck Voltage in a PEDOT:PSS/YIG Bilayer.

We clarify the physical origin of the dc voltage generation in a bilayer of a conducting polymer film and a micrometer-thick magnetic insulator Y_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12} (YIG) film under ferromagnetic resonance and/or spin wave excitation conditions. The previous attributed mechanism, the inverse spin Hall effect in the polymer [Nat. Mater. 12, 622 (2013)NMAACR1476-112210.1038/nmat3634], is excluded by two control experiments. We find an in-plane temperature gradient in YIG which has the same angular dependence with the generated voltage. Both vanish when the YIG thickness is reduced to a few nanometers. Thus, we argue that the dc voltage is governed by the Seebeck effect in the polymer, where the temperature gradient is created by the nonreciprocal magnetostatic surface spin wave propagation in YIG.

Antiferromagnetic Order in Epitaxial FeSe Films on SrTiO_{3}.

Single monolayer FeSe film grown on a Nb-doped SrTiO_{3}(001) substrate shows the highest superconducting transition temperature (T_{C}∼100 K) among the iron-based superconductors (iron pnictides), while the T_{C} value of bulk FeSe is only ∼8 K. Although bulk FeSe does not show antiferromagnetic order, calculations suggest that the parent FeSe/SrTiO_{3} films are antiferromagnetic. Experimentally, because of a lack of a direct probe, the magnetic state of FeSe/SrTiO_{3} films remains mysterious. Here, we report direct evidence of antiferromagnetic order in the parent FeSe/SrTiO_{3} films by the magnetic exchange bias effect measurements. The magnetic blocking temperature is ∼140 K for a single monolayer film. The antiferromagnetic order disappears after electron doping.

Exchange-Dominated Pure Spin Current Transport in Alq3 Molecules.

We address the controversy over the spin transport mechanism in Alq3 utilizing spin pumping in the Y3Fe5O12/Alq3/Pd system. An unusual angular dependence of the inverse spin Hall effect is found. It, however, disappears when the microwave magnetic field is fully in the sample plane, excluding the presence of the Hanle effect. Together with the quantitative temperature-dependent measurements, these results provide compelling evidence that the pure spin current transport in Alq3 is dominated by the exchange-mediated mechanism.

MGF360-12L of ASFV-SY18 is an immune-evasion protein that inhibits host type I IFN, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT pathways.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes feverous and hemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs and European wild boars with high mortality, yet no commercial vaccine is currently available. Several ASFV strains with natural deletion or gene-targeted knockout of multiple MGF360 and MGF505 genes are attenuated in vitro and in vivo, and can offer full protection against homologous challenge. However, the mechanisms underlying the protection are not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the effects of MGF360-12L of ASFV-SY18 on the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and explore the potential mechanisms. We identified that ASFV-SY18 MGF360-12L could inhibit cGAS-STING, TBK1, or IRF3-5D-stimulated IFN-ß expression and ISRE activation. Specifically, MGF360-12L inhibits both the activation of PRD(III-I) in a dose-dependent manner, and suppresses the exogenous expression of TBK1 and IRF3-5D. MGF360-12L could block NF-κB activation induced by overexpression of cGAS-STING, TBK1, IKKß. Downstream of the IFN-ß signaling, MGF360-12L blocks the ISRE promoter activation by reducing total protein level of IRF9. Moreover, MGF360-12L protein can inhibit IFN-ß-mediated antiviral effects. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MGF360-12L is a multifunctional immune-evasion protein that inhibits both the expression and effect of IFN-ß, which could partially explain the attenuation of relevant gene-deleted ASFV strains, and shed light on the development of efficient ASFV live attenuated vaccines in the future.

Acute hepatitis C infection with unclear route of transmission.

A 43-year old man acquired acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with unclear route of transmission. There were no known sexual or other risk factors for HCV acquisition. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the case was infected with identical genotype 1b strain. After symptomatic treatment for three weeks, the HCV was spontaneously cleared and liver function recovered.

MyoD control of SKIP expression during pig skeletal muscle development.

Skeletal muscle and kidney enriched inositol phosphatase (SKIP) was identified as a 5'-inositol phosphatase that hydrolyzes PI(3,4,5)P3 to PI(3,4)P2 that negatively regulates insulin-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling in skeletal muscle. In this study, we obtained a 1575-bp mRNA sequence of porcine SKIP that included the full coding region encoding a protein of 450 amino acids. With the use of comparative mapping, we mapped this gene to SSC12 q1.3, where many QTLs affect Backfat thickness at 10th rib, carcass yield, the number of muscle fibers, and ham weight traits. As a candidate gene for growth and carcass traits, a novel single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 12 (G>A) was detected by PCR-RFLP. The results showed that the GG genotype had higher skin percentage (SP), carcass length to first spondyle (CL1), carcass length to first rib (CL2), but lower intramuscular fat (IMF) as compared with genotype AG (P<0.05), and allele G seemed to be associated with an increase in the growth trait. Porcine SKIP was expressed abundantly in skeletal muscle tissue and was transcriptionally upregulated during skeletal muscle differentiation. Analysis of the porcine SKIP promoter sequence demonstrated that MyoD was involved in regulating SKIP mRNA expression in myotubes, partly via the cis-acting elements in SKIP promoter. In summary, we suggested that SKIP might play a role in the regulation of skeletal muscle development in pigs.

A SNP in the miR-27a gene is associated with litter size in pigs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 20-25 nt, endogenous non-coding RNA molecules that act by binding to the complementary sequence of target messenger RNAs. Many evidences showed that miRNAs were involved in the process of germ proliferation and differentiation. In the present study, miR-27a gene was selected as a candidate gene for litter size due to its biological function, its location near a mummified pigs QTL, and its differentially expressed profile in Large White and Chinese Erhualian PMSG-hCG stimulated preovulatory ovaries. By comparative sequencing of miR-27a gene in Large White and Chinese Meishan pigs, one SNP (T/C) which created an additional HpaII site was detected. Then associations of this SNP with litter size traits were assessed in Large White (n=142) and DIV (n=140) pig populations. The statistical analysis demonstrated that AA differed from AB (P<0.01) and BB (P<0.05) for total number of piglets born in the first parities, and also differed from AB (P<0.01) for the number of piglets born alive in all parities (P<0.05) in DIV pigs. No significant difference was observed between different genotypes in Large White pigs.

Evidence for a new allele at the SERCA1 locus affecting pork meat quality in part through the imbalance of Ca2+ homeostasis.

Sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 1 (SERCA1) as a Ca2+ release channel plays a key role in the relaxation of skeletal muscle through pumping cytosolic Ca2+ into the SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum). In this study, a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 8 (C > T) was detected by tetra-primer ARMS-PCR and the tissue expression pattern of SERCA1 was analyzed in eleven tissues. A model of primary skeletal muscle cells in vitro exposed to dexamethasone (DEX, a synthetic corticosteroid) was also employed to determine whether stress hormones cause an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration that is associated with alteration in SERCA1 and in turn subsequently affect meat quality. The results showed that the CC genotype has lower content intramuscular fat and higher water than pig carrying the genotype CT and CC. In addition, the additive effects were both significantly (P < 0.05) and allele T seemed to be associate with increase in intramuscular fat, while decrease in water content. Accompanied with previous studies, the high abundance of porcine SERCA1 was found in skeletal muscle tissue. DEX markedly down-regulated the expression of SERCA1, leading to Ca2+ overload. Furthermore, the imbalance of Ca2+ homeostasis up-regulated the transcription level of Calpain1. Taken together, we demonstrated a novel mechanism that the changes in expression of SERCA1 potential disturb the normal Ca2+ channel as well as the balance of Ca2+ homeostasis and which in turn finally activated Ca2+-dependent proteases such as Calpain1 which could affect meat quality.

[Effects of sleeve gastrectomy base on "membrane anatomy" concept on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with obesity or metabolic diseases].

Objective: To explore the effects of the application of membrane anatomy concept in sleeve gastrectomy on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients with obesity or metabolic diseases. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data of 88 patients with obesity or metabolic diseases who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from September 2018 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Forty patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy with membrane anatomy concept as membrane anatomy group, and the other 48 patients underwent traditional sleeve gastrectomy as traditional operation group. There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). The PONV score of and the times of antiemetic drugs used during 0-6 h and 6-24 h after operation were compared between the two groups. Higher PONV represents more serious nause and vomiting, the score ≥5 is defined as clinical significant PONV. Results: All patients of the two groups successfully completed the operation, and there was no conversion to open, reoperation, and operation-related death. The intraoperative blood loss in the membrane anatomy group was significantly less than that in the traditional surgery group [median: 5.0 (5.0, 5.8) ml vs. 10.0 (5.0, 10.0) ml, Z=-3.265, P=0.001]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operative time, postoperative hospital stay, gastroesophageal reflux, pain score and postoperative complications (all P>0.05). There was no postoperative bleeding or gastric leakage in either groups. There were no significant differences in PONV score, incidence of clinically significant PONV and use of antiemetics 0-6 h after operation between two groups (all P>0.05). From 6 to 24 hours after operation, compared with traditional surgery group, the membrane anatomy group had lower PONV score (4.6±0.9 vs. 5.1±0.7, t=-2.192, P=0.007), lower incidence of clinically significant PONV [55.0% (22/40) vs. 83.3% (40/48), χ(2)=8.414, P=0.004] and less use of antiemetics [3 times: 10.0% (4/40) vs. 27.1% (13/48), Z=-2.880, P=0.004]. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 to 6 months (median 3), 32 cases in membranous anatomy group and 38 cases in the traditional operation group were followed up. One case in the traditional operation group received symptomatic treatment in the local hospital due to functional intestinal obstruction 1 month after surgery and was discharged after recovery. The remaining patients had no postoperative complications and were not readmitted to hospital. Conclusion: Sleeve gastrectomy based on membrane anatomy in the treatment of patients with obesity or metabolic syndrome can make surgical procedure more precise and meticulous, reduce the intraoperative bleeding and the incidence of PONV.

Effect of increasing feed intake during late gestation on piglet performance at parturition in commercial production enterprises.

The present study was conducted to investigate effects of feed intake during late gestation on piglet birth weight and reproductive performance of sows. At d 90 of gestation (Gd90), a total of 397 Landrance × Large White gilts (parity 1) and sows (parities 2, 3, and 4) were randomly assigned to three groups according to feed intake, 2.8 kg/d (energy maintenance requirement for gilts and sows, 8.40 Mcal/d ME), 3.6 kg/d (10.26 Mcal/d ME), and 4.0 kg/d (11.40 Mcal/d ME), respectively. All gilts and sows were individually fed. Results indicate the increase in feed intake had no effect on birth weight and uniformity of piglet weight at parturition for sows with different backfat thickness (BF) at Gd90 or with different parities. Additionally, lactation body weight (BW) loss was greater (P < 0.05) in response to the greater feed intake during late gestation. Furthermore, there were no correlations between feed intake during late gestation and litter weight, average piglet birth weight, coefficient variation of within-litter birth weight (CVB), number of piglets with birth weight < 1.00 kg, and piglet weaning weight. In addition, the greater feed intake during late gestation led to a marked increase in reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde (P < 0.05) and glutamine peroxidase tended to be less (P = 0.08) in plasma at parturition. In conclusion, the greater feed intake (exceeding energy requirement for maintenance) during late gestation had no effect on piglet birth weight or weaning weight, and led to greater oxidative stress at parturition and greater BW loss during lactation.

Total cholesterol affects the outcome of patients with anterior cerebral artery-occluded acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated whether certain types of lipid profiles are major contributors of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We screened 13,285 hospitalized patients in two stroke medical centers treated with thrombolysis, thrombectomy, or conventional care for anterior cerebral artery-occluded AIS, and found 266 patients. We examined their plasma lipid profiles using the cutoff values from a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We applied a multivariate logistic regression or Fisher's exact test to compare their outcomes and risk factors. We used the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score to assess the major clinical outcome of the patients 3 months after disease onset. Mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) were both evaluated as risk factors. We analyzed symptoms' improvements at discharge as a disease outcome measure. RESULTS: In the patients with anterior cerebral artery-occluded AIS (NIHSS ≥ 10) treated by intravenous (IV) thrombolysis, a total cholesterol (TC) level greater than 5.07 mmol/L predicted a poor outcome (OR 3.55, 95% CI 1.21,10.46, p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with anterior cerebral artery-occluded AIS, the TC level is a promising prognosis marker for the IV thrombolysis outcome.

Effects of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyrate on portal plasma flow and net portal appearance of amino acids in piglets.

To determine whether portal plasma flow (PPF) and net portal appearance of amino acids (AA) could be affected by 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyrate (HMB), six barrows (35-day-old, 8.6+/-1.4 kg), implanted with arterial, portal and mesenteric catheters, were fed a DL-methionine (as the control) or HMB-supplemented diet once hourly and infused intramesenterically with 1% p-amino hippurate. PPF was numerically 9% higher (P=0.09) in HMB-fed pigs than in controls over a 4-6 h period. Compared with controls, pigs fed the HMB diet had increased (P<0.05) net portal balance and/or appearance of leucine, isoleucine, histidine, arginine and alanine, but had decreased (P<0.05) portal appearance of glutamate over a 6-h period. The concentration of acetate in the lumen of the distal small intestine was higher (P=0.01) in HMB-fed pigs than in controls (25.14 vs. 7.64 mmol/kg). mRNA levels for proglucagon and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) in stomach and proximal small intestine, and mRNA levels for GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) in stomach were higher (P<0.05) in HMB-fed pigs compared with those in controls. Collectively, HMB supplementation increased concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in intestinal lumen, expression of proglucagon, GLP-2R, and eNOS genes, and net portal absorption of AA. These novel findings from the study with pigs may also have important implications for intestinal nutrition and health in humans.

Early intervention with faecal microbiota transplantation: an effective means to improve growth performance and the intestinal development of suckling piglets.

Recent studies indicate that early postnatal period is a critical window for gut microbiota manipulation to optimise the immunity and body growth. This study investigated the effects of maternal faecal microbiota orally administered to neonatal piglets after birth on growth performance, selected microbial populations, intestinal permeability and the development of intestinal mucosal immune system. In total, 12 litters of crossbred newborn piglets were selected in this study. Litter size was standardised to 10 piglets. On day 1, 10 piglets in each litter were randomly allotted to the faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and control groups. Piglets in the FMT group were orally administrated with 2ml faecal suspension of their nursing sow per day from the age of 1 to 3 days; piglets in the control group were treated with the same dose of a placebo (0.1M potassium phosphate buffer containing 10% glycerol (vol/vol)) inoculant. The experiment lasted 21 days. On days 7, 14 and 21, plasma and faecal samples were collected for the analysis of growth-related hormones and cytokines in plasma and lipocalin-2, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), selected microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in faeces. Faecal microbiota transplantation increased the average daily gain of piglets during week 3 and the whole experiment period. Compared with the control group, the FMT group had increased concentrations of plasma growth hormone and IGF-1 on days 14 and 21. Faecal microbiota transplantation also reduced the incidence of diarrhoea during weeks 1 and 3 and plasma concentrations of zonulin, endotoxin and diamine oxidase activities in piglets on days 7 and 14. The populations of Lactobacillus spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and the concentrations of faecal and plasma acetate, butyrate and total SCFAs in FMT group were higher than those in the control group on day 21. Moreover, the FMT piglets have higher concentrations of plasma transforming growth factor-ß and immunoglobulin G, and faecal sIgA than the control piglets on day 21. These findings indicate that early intervention with maternal faecal microbiota improves growth performance, decreases intestinal permeability, stimulates sIgA secretion, and modulates gut microbiota composition and metabolism in suckling piglets.

Effects of soluble fiber inclusion in gestation diets with varying fermentation characteristics on lactational feed intake of sows over two successive parities.

The effects of soluble fiber inclusion in gestation diets with varying fermentation characteristics (fermentation kinetics and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-profile) on lactational feed intake of sows and their piglet growth over two parities were investigated using an in vitro-in vivo methodology. After breeding, 90 multiparous Landrace sows were randomized to one of three experimental diets: the control (CON) diet, konjac flour (KF) diet or sugar beet pulp (SBP) diet. All diets had similar levels of net energy, CP, insoluble fiber and NDF, but KF and SBP diets had higher soluble fiber levels than the CON diet. During gestation, the sows were restrictively fed with three different diets, but during lactation, all the sows were similarly fed ad libitum. The three gestation diets were enzymatically hydrolyzed using pepsin and pancreatin, and enzymolyzed residues were used in in vitro fermentation. Gas and SCFA production were monitored during fermentation. After fermentation, enzymolyzed residues of KF or SBP diets resulted in higher final asymptotic gas volume than those of the CON diet. The enzymolyzed residues of KF diet were mainly part of rapidly fermented fractions, whereas those of SBP diet were mainly part of slowly fermented fractions. In addition, the acetic acid, butyric acid and total SCFA concentrations of enzymolyzed residues of KF diet were higher (P<0.01) than the control and SBP diets. In the in vivo studies, on day 90 of gestation, the KF diet sows had higher plasma SCFA concentration (P<0.05) at 4 h after feeding than the CON diet sows. Furthermore, the KF diet sows had lower plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration (P<0.01) at 4 h after feeding, and a lower value of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-insulin resistance (P<0.05), but a higher value of HOMA-insulin sensitivity (P<0.01). The KF diet sows also consumed more feed during lactation (P<0.01) and weaned significantly heavier pigs (P<0.01) than the CON diet sows. The overall results showed that the high fermentation capacity KF diet contributed to an increased lactational feed intake and improved performance of piglets in the second reproductive cycle.

Linear growth model analysis of factors affecting boar semen characteristics in Southern China.

This study investigated the factors affecting the semen traits of boars in Southern China. A total of 172,408 ejaculates of boars from 9 AI centers were collected from January 2013 to May 2016. A linear growth model was used to analyze the effects of leve1 1 (boar breed, age, season, and boar age at herd entry) and level 2 (housing type) factors on semen quality. The intraclass correlation coefficients of semen volume, total sperm number, functional sperm number, sperm concentration, motility, and abnormal sperm were 0.62, 0.62, 0.61, 0.60, 0.54, and 0.70, respectively. Boars reared in ordinary houses had lower total and functional sperm numbers than those reared in air filtration houses ( < 0.05). The functional sperm number of Duroc boars was lower than that of Landrace and Yorkshire boars ( < 0.05). The total and functional sperm numbers were lowest from May to September and peaked at the age of 34.1 and 37.7 mo, respectively. Furthermore, boars aged 8 and 9 mo at herd entry had greater functional sperm numbers than those aged 5, 6, 7, and 12 mo at herd entry ( < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed between boars aged 8 mo and boars aged 9 mo at herd entry ( > 0.05). In conclusion, the linear growth model is suitable for longitudinal data analysis. To improve boar breeding, sunstroke prevention in the early spring should be given greater attention. Importantly, 8 mo appears to be the most suitable age for boar introduction, especially for Duroc boars.