The combined impact of xylo-oligosaccharides and gamma-irradiated astragalus polysaccharides on the immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota composition of broilers.

The present study investigated the individual and combined effects of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and gamma-irradiated astragalus polysaccharides (IAPS) on the immune response, antioxidant capacity and intestinal microbiota composition of broiler chickens. A total of 240 newly hatched Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated into 5 dietary treatments including the basal diet (control), or the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC), 100 mg/kg XOS (XOS), 600 mg/kg IAPS (IAPS), and 100 mg/kg XOS + 600 mg/kg IAPS (XOS + IAPS) respectively. The results showed that birds in the control group had lower the thymus index and serum lysozyme activity than those in the other 4 groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was an interaction between XOS and IAPS treatments on increasing the serum lysozyme activity (P < 0.05). Birds in the CTC and XOS + IAPS groups had lower serum malondialdehyde concentration and higher serum total antioxidant capacity activity and mucosal interleukin 2 mRNA expression of jejunum than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, birds in the control groups had lower duodenal and jejunal IgA-producing cells number than these in other 4 groups (P < 0.05). As compared with the CTC group, dietary individual XOS or IAPS administration increased duodenal IgA-producing cells number (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there was an interaction between XOS and IAPS treatments on increasing duodenal and jejunal IgA-Producing cells numbers (P < 0.05). Dietary CTC administration increased the proportion of Bacteroides, and decreased the proportion of Negativibacillus (P < 0.05). However, dietary XOS + IAPS administration increased Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, the proportion of Ruminococcaceae, as well as decreased the proportion of Barnesiella and Negativibacillus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the XOS and IAPS combination could improve intestinal mucosal immunity and barrier function of broilers by enhancing cytokine gene expression, IgA-producing cell production and modulates cecal microbiota, and the combination effect of XOS and IAPS is better than that of individual effect of CTC, XOS, or IAPS in the current study.

Creatine nitrate supplementation strengthens energy status and delays glycolysis of broiler muscle via inhibition of LKB1/AMPK pathway.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary creatine nitrate (CrN) on growth performance, meat quality, energy status, glycolysis, and related gene expression of liver kinase B1/AMP-activated protein kinase (LKB1/AMPK) pathway in Pectoralis major (PM) muscle of broilers. A total of 240 male Arbor Acres broilers (28-day-old) were randomly allocated to one of 5 dietary treatments: the basal diet (control group), and the basal diets supplemented with 600 mg/kg guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), 300, 600, or 900 mg/kg CrN (identified as GAA600, CrN300, CrN600, or CrN900, respectively). We found that dietary GAA and CrN supplementation for 14 d from d 28 to 42 did not affect broiler growth performance, carcass traits, and textural characteristics of breast muscle. GAA600, CrN600, and CrN900 treatments increased pH24h and decreased drip loss of PM muscle compared with the control (P < 0.05). The PM muscles of CrN600 and CrN900 groups showed higher glycogen concentration and lower lactic acid concentration accompanied by lower activities of phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, GAA600 and all CrN treatments increased concentration of muscle creatine, phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP, and decreased AMP concentration and AMP/ATP ratio (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the concentrations of muscle creatine, PCr, and ATP were increased linearly, while muscle AMP concentration and AMP/ATP ratio were decreased linearly and quadratic as the dose of CrN increased (P < 0.05). GAA600, CrN600, and CrN900 treatments upregulated mRNA expression of CreaT in PM muscle, and CrN600 and CrN900 treatments downregulated GAMT expression in liver and PM muscle compared with the control or GAA600 groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of muscle LKB1, AMPKα1, and AMPKα2 was downregulated linearly in response to the increasing CrN level (P < 0.05). Overall, CrN showed better efficacy on strengthening muscle energy status and improve meat quality than GAA at the some dose. These results indicate that CrN may be a potential replacement for GAA as a new creatine supplement.

Effect of alfalfa hay and starter feed supplementation on caecal microbiota and fermentation, growth, and health of yak calves.

The caecum is the primary site where microbial fermentation and acidosis occurred. The supplementation of starter feed and alfalfa hay has the potential to influence caecal microbiota and then affect caecal fermentation. This study aims to investigate the effect of starter feed and alfalfa hay supplementation on caecal microbiota, immune homeostasis, and growth of preweaning yaks. Twenty 30-day-old male yak calves were randomly assigned to four groups, which separately fed with milk replacer (CON group), milk replacer with alfalfa hay (A group), milk replacer with starter feed (S group), and milk replacer with starter feed plus alfalfa hay (SA group) throughout the trial. Growth performance and plasma physiological and biochemical indicators were measured every 30 days. Calves were sacrificed at 120 days of age. The caecal contents were collected for measuring pH and contents of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and for characterizing caecal microbiota. The results indicated that individual or simultaneous supplementation with alfalfa hay and starter feed all significantly increased the BW, body height, body length, and chest girth of yak calves. However, supplementation with starter feed significantly increased plasma cortisol, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ concentrations and the ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase of yak calves when compared with the control and alfalfa hay feeding groups, while the co-supplementation of starter feed and alfalfa hay could significantly decrease these inflammation-related indices when compared with the starter feeding group. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that starter feed and alfalfa hay separately stimulated the proliferation of starch-decomposing and cellulose- or hemicellulose-decomposing bacteria. This also significantly increased the levels of acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate in the caecal contents. Furthermore, compared with the S and CON groups, the significantly increased genera of Desulfobulbus, Olsenella, Pseudoflavonifractor, and Stomatobaculum in the SA and A groups were beneficial to the immune homeostasis, and the significantly decreased Blautia, Clostridium IV, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, Clostridium XVIII, and Mogibacterium in the SA and A groups were related to the reduced caecal lactate and LPS contents, the decreased inflammatory reaction, and the improved healthy hepatic condition of yak calves. In conclusion, milk replacer supplemented with alfalfa hay and starter feed is recommended during preweaning to improve yak calf health and growth because this regimen promotes the growth and maintains the immune homeostasis of yak calves.

Microbiota populations and short-chain fatty acids production in cecum of immunosuppressed broilers consuming diets containing γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides (IAPS) on growth performance, cecal microbiota populations, and concentrations of cecal short-chain fatty acids of immunosuppressed broilers. A total of 144 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 3 groups: nontreated group (control), cyclophosphamide (CPM)-treated groups fed either a basal diet or the diets containing 900 mg/kg IAPS, respectively. On day 16, 18, and 20, broilers in the control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL sterilized saline (0.75%, wt/vol), and those in the CPM and IAPS groups were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL CPM (40 mg/kg of BW). The trial lasted 21 d. Compared with the control group, CPM treatment decreased the broiler average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake (P < 0.05) but did not affect the overall microbial diversity and compositions, as well as the concentrations of cecal acetate, propionate, and butyrate in cecum of broilers (P > 0.05). Dietary IAPS supplementation increased broiler ADG, Shannon index, and decreased Simpson index (P < 0.05). Specifically, broilers fed diets containing IAPS showed lower abundances of Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, and Butyricicoccus and higher proportions of Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Negativibacillus, Shuttleworthia, Sellimonas, and Mollicutes RF39_norank, respectively (P < 0.05). The IAPS treatment also increased butyrate concentration (P < 0.05) and tended to elevate acetate concentration (P = 0.052) in cecal digesta. The results indicated that IAPS are effective in increasing the cecal beneficial bacteria and short-chain fatty acids production, contributing to improvement in the growth performance of immunosuppressive broilers. These findings may expand our knowledge about the function of modified Astragalus polysaccharides in broiler chickens.

Glucose and lipid metabolism of broiler chickens fed diets with graded levels of corn resistant starch.

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of graded levels of dietary corn resistant starch (RS) on glucose and lipid metabolism of broilers. 2. A total of 320 male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres, one-day-old) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, including a corn-soybean control diet, a corn-soybean based diet containing 20% corn starch, and three diets containing 4%, 8% and 12% RS by replacing corn starch with 6.67%, 13.33% and 20% Hi-Maize® 260 (identified as control, RS1, RS2, RS3 and RS4, respectively). Each treatment contained eight replicates with eight birds, and the experiment lasted 42 days. 3. Birds fed RS diets showed lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) at d 21 and 42 of age, compared to the control. Lower (P < 0.05) hepatic apolipoprotein B concentration and citrate synthase (CS) activity, as well as a higher (P < 0.05) glycogen synthase (GS) concentration were observed in birds fed RS diets than those in the control group at d 21 of age. Consuming RS diets linearly increased (P < 0.01) serum glucose concentration, and linearly decreased (P < 0.01) NEFA concentrations in broilers at d 21 and 42 of age. Liver GS concentration and activities of hexokinase, pyruvate and CS were linearly increased (P < 0.01) in broilers at d 21 of age, but were linearly decreased (P < 0.05) in birds at d 42 of age in response to the increase of dietary RS levels. Feeding RS diets linearly decreased (P < 0.05) mRNA expressions of PC, PPARα and CPT-1 at d 21 of age and the mRNA expressions of SREBP-1 c, ChREBP, ACC and FAS at d 42 of age, and linearly increased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expressions of PEPCK, PC, LKB1, AMPKα1, PPARα, CPT-1 and L-FABP at d 42 of age. 4. Feeding broilers with diets containing higher concentration of RS promoted hepatic lipolysis and gluconeogenesis through activated AMPK signalling pathway and accelerated whole-body energy expenditures in the grower phase.

Dietary taurine supplementation enhances antioxidative capacity and improves breast meat quality of broiler chickens.

1. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary taurine supplementation on growth performance, meat quality and antioxidant responses in breast muscle of broiler chickens.2. A total of 72 Arbor Acres broiler chickens (28-day-old) with similar body weight were randomly allocated into two groups, and fed either 0 g/kg (control; C) or 5 g/kg taurine-supplemented diets (TS) for 14 days.3. The results showed that TS had no effect on growth performance or chemical composition of breast muscle in broilers. The drip and cooking losses were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the pH24h of breast muscle were increased (P < 0.05) in the TS group. Meanwhile, broilers in the TS group exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) scavenging activities of superoxide and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals, and lower (P < 0.05) contents of carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal. TS increased (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activities. Moreover, TS significantly upregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.4. These findings suggested that TS enhanced antioxidative capacity and improved breast meat quality of broilers via activating the Nrf2 pathway.

Growth performance, carcass traits and digestive function of broiler chickens fed diets with graded levels of corn resistant starch.

1. This study was conducted to assess the effects of graded levels of dietary corn resistant starch (RS) on growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient retention, digestive organ index, intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities, and mRNA expression of certain nutrient transporters in broiler chickens.2. A total of 320, 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, with eight replicates of eight birds in each. These treatments included one corn-soybean control diet, a corn-soybean based diet containing 20% corn starch, and three diets supplemented with 4%, 8% and 12% RS by replacing corn starch with 6.67%, 13.33% and 20% of Hi-Maize 260® (identified as control, RS1, RS2, RS3 and RS4, respectively). The feeding period lasted 42 days.3. Performance parameters including feed consumption, feed conversion, body weight gain and percentage of abdominal fat at d 42 of age, nutrient retention (including dry matter, fat, total starch and nitrogen free extract), and apparent metabolisable energy was measured from d 18 to 20 and d 39 to 41 and showed negative linear responses to increasing dietary RS level (P < 0.05). Birds fed the RS3 and RS4 diets showed higher relative weight of duodenum, jejunum and ileum, as well as lower villus height and villus height/crypt depth compared to the control (P < 0.05). The activity of pancreatic trypsin of birds at d 21 and 42 of age decreased linearly in response to the increase of dietary RS level (P < 0.01). There were linear changes in up-regulated mRNA expression of SGLT-1 and down-regulated mRNA expression of GLUT-2 with increasing proportion of RS at d 21 and 42 of age (P < 0.05), respectively.4. It was concluded that feeding broilers with diets containing higher concentrations of RS impaired the development of small intestine, which resulted in lower apparent total tract retention of nutrients and poorer body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass traits of broiler chickens.

Protective effects of γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides on intestinal development and mucosal immune function of immunosuppressed broilers.

This study was aimed to assess the protective effects of γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides (IAPS) on the development of small intestine and intestinal mucosal immunity of immunosuppressed broilers induced by cyclophosphamide (CPM). A total of 384 one-day-old broiler chicks with similar initial weight were randomly assigned into 6 groups: non-treated group (control), and CPM-treated groups fed either a basal diet or the diets containing 900 mg/kg APS, or 900, 600, 300 mg/kg IAPS, respectively. On days 16, 18, and 20, all broilers except for control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL CPM (40 mg/kg of BW). Broilers in the control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL sterilized saline (0.75%, wt/vol). This trial was lasted for 21 d. The results revealed that both APS and IAPS treatment elevated the duodenal IgA-producing cells number and the jejunal mRNA expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon γ of CPM-injected broilers (P < 0.05). The decreased jejunal villus height (VH), the ratio of VH to crypt depth (V/C), as well as the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and goblet cells number in CPM-injected broilers were elevated by dietary supplementation with 900 mg/kg APS or 900, 600 mg/kg IAPS (P < 0.05). The CPM-induced decrease in jejunum index, the duodenal VH and the jejunal IgA-producing cells number were only improved in the 900 mg/kg IAPS group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the number of IELs and IgA-producing cells in duodenum, VH, V/C, the number of goblet cells, and mRNA expression of IL-2 and IL-10 in jejunum were higher in the 900 mg/kg IAPS group than those in the 900 mg/kg APS group (P < 0.05). In summary, IAPS possessed stronger immunomodulatory effect than APS at the same supplementation level. Therefore, gamma irradiation can be used as an alternative treatment to enhance the immunomodulatory activity of APS.

Attenuating effects of guanidinoacetic acid on preslaughter transport-induced muscle energy expenditure and rapid glycolysis of broilers.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation on growth performance, plasma variables, muscle energy status, glycolytic potential, and meat quality of broilers experiencing transport stress during the summer. A total of 320 28-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments, including a GAA-free basal control diet (160 birds) and basal diet supplementation with 600 (80 birds) or 1,200 mg/kg (80 birds) GAA for 14 D. On the morning of day 42, after an 8-h fast, the birds fed basal diets were divided into 2 equal groups, and all birds in the 4 groups of 80 birds were transported according to the following protocols: 1) a 0.5-h transport of birds on basal diets (as a lower-stress control group), 2) a 3-h transport of birds on basal diets, and a 3-h transport of birds on basal diets supplemented with either 3) 600 or 4) 1,200 mg/kg GAA. The results revealed that dietary supplementation with GAA at 600 and 1,200 mg/kg for 14 D prior to slaughter did not affect growth performance, carcass traits, and most textural characteristics and chemical composition of the pectoralis major (PM) muscle (P > 0.05). In the GAA-free group, a 3-h transport increased the broiler live weight loss, elevated the plasma corticosterone concentration, decreased the plasma glucose concentration, muscle concentrations of ATP, creatine and energy charge value, increased the muscle AMP concentration and AMP/ATP ratio, and accelerated glycolysis metabolism, which resulted in inferior meat quality (lower pH and higher drip loss, P < 0.05). However, dietary addition of GAA at 1,200 mg/kg increased the mRNA expression of S-adenosyl-l-methionine: N-guanidino-acetate methyltransferase in the liver and creatine transporter in both the liver and PM muscle. It also elevated muscle concentrations of creatine and phosphocreatine (P < 0.05), which helps improve meat quality by ameliorating the 3-h transport-induced muscle energy expenditure and delaying anaerobic glycolysis of broilers.

The alleviative effects and related mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress.

To investigate the alleviative effects and molecular mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress, 144 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d old) were randomly distributed to positive control (PC, 22°C, basal diet), heat stress (HS, consistent 32°C, basal diet), or heat stress + taurine (HS + T, consistent 32°C, basal diet + 5.00 g/kg taurine) groups, with 6 cages per group and 8 birds per cage. Chronic heat stress significantly decreased body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake, and increased cloacal temperature and feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.05). Though taurine supplementation tended to decrease the FCR in the HS + T group compared with the HS group after 14 d of heat exposure (P = 0.071), there were no significant alleviative effects of taurine supplementation on the increased cloacal temperature and decreased growth performance in chronic heat-stressed broilers (P > 0.05). After 7 and 14 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased the proportion of breast muscle and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in the abdominal fat (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of muscle atrophy F-box protein (MAFbx) and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) in breast muscle compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). After 7 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased serum non-esterified fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1c (ACC) and muscular isoform of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (M-CPT1) compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA expressions of M-CPT1 and ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70 kDa (p70S6K) in the HS + T group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups after 14 d of heat exposure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, taurine supplementation can improve carcass characteristics of chronic heat-stressed broilers by facilitating lipolysis for energy, enhancing protein synthesis, and suppressing protein degradation of the breast muscles.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate local pre-exposure application prevents SHIV rectal infection of macaques.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural and major ingredient of green tea, has been shown to have anti-inflammation and anti-HIV-1 properties. We demonstrated that the intrarectal administration of EGCG could protect rhesus macaques from repetitive, intrarectal challenges with low-dose SHIVSF162P3N. This protection has a per-exposure risk reduction of 91.5% (P = 0.0009; log-rank test) and a complete protection of 87.5% (P < 0.001; Fisher's exact test). All protected animals showed no evidence of systemic and mucosal SHIV infection as demonstrated by the absence of viral RNA, DNA and antibodies. In contrast, all controls became infected after repeated SHIV challenges (a median of 2.5 times, range of 1-8 times). Mechanistically, EGCG could block the binding of HIV-1 gp120 to CD4 receptor and suppress the macrophage infiltration/activation in the rectal mucosa of macaques. These data support further clinical evaluation and development of EGCG as a novel, safe and cost-effective microbicide for preventing sexual transmission of HIV-1.

[Study on the effectiveness of implementation: the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases].

Objective: To assess the implementation and impact of programs carried out by the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. Methods: Both sociological and epidemiological methods were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data in November and December, 2016 in order to conduct on process and outcome evaluation of the above mentioned objective. In the meantime, case study was also conducted. Results: All the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases were found well implemented across the country, with health education and health promotion, surveillance and safeguard measures in particular. A government-led and inter-sector coordination and communication mechanism had been well established, with more than 16 non-health departments actively involved. 28.7% of the residents living in the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases were aware of the key messages related to chronic diseases. Among the residents, 72.1% of them consumed vegetables and 53.6% consumed fruits daily, with another 86.9% walked at least 10 minutes per day. Over 70% of the patients with hypertension or diabetes reported that they were taken care of by the Community Health Centers, and above 50% of them were under standardized management. Residents, living in the National Demonstration Areas under higher ranking of implementation scores, were more likely to be aware of relevant knowledge on chronic disease control and prevention (OR=6.591, 95%CI: 5.188-8.373), salt reduction (OR=1.352, 95%CI: 1.151-1.589), oil reduction (OR=1.477, 95%CI: 1.249-1.746) and recommendation on physical activities (OR=1.975, 95%CI: 1.623- 2.403). Conclusion: The implementation of programs carried out by the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases had served a local platform for the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases, and thus become an important 'carrier' for chronic disease prevention and control programs in China.

[Study on the overall implementation status of the National Demonstration Areas for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases].

Objective: To understand the current overall status of implementation on the National Demonstration Areas of Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. Methods: According to the scheme design of the questionnaires, all the National Demonstration Areas were involved in this study. For each National Demonstration Areas, eight departments were selected to complete a total of 12 questionnaires. Results: Scores related to the implementation of the National Demonstration Areas accounted for 71.8% of the total 170 points. Based on the scores gathered from this study, the 23-items-index-system that represented the status of project implementation was classified into seven categories. Categories with higher percentile scores would include: monitoring (88.0%), safeguard measures (75.0%), health education and health promotion (75.0%). Categories with lower percentile scores would include: the national health lifestyle actions (67.7%), community diagnosis (66.7%), discovery and intervention of high-risk groups (64.7%), and patient management (60.9%). There were significant differences noticed among the eastern, central and western areas on items as safeguard measures, health education/promotion, discovery and intervention of high-risk groups. In all, the implementation programs in the eastern Demonstration Areas seemed better than in the central or western regions. As for the 23 items, five of the highest scores appeared on policy support, mortality surveillance, tumor registration, reporting system on cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events, and on tobacco control, respectively. However, the lowest five scores fell on healthy diet, patient self-management program, oral hygiene, setting up the demonstration units and promotion on basic public health services, respectively. The overall scores in the eastern region was higher than that in the central or the western regions. The scores in the central and western regions showed basically the same. Conclusions: The overall status of implementation on the National Demonstration Areas was satisfactory. Future attention should be focusing on patient management as well as discovery and intervention of high-risk groups, which also presented the lowest scores, in this survey.

Effects of Different Selenium Sources on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity and Meat Quality of Local Chinese Subei Chickens.

Despite increasing evidence indicating the essential involvement of selenium (Se) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality of commercial broilers, the effects of different Se sources on local Chinese Subei chickens is unclear. A total of 360 50-day-old male chickens were individually weighed and randomly allocated to four treatment groups. Chickens in each of the four groups were fed diets supplemented with 0.3 mg Se/kg as sodium Se (SS), Se-enriched yeast (SY), selenomethionine (Met-Se), or nano red element Se (Nano-Se) for 40 days. At the end of the experiment, one bird of approximately average weight from each cage was selected and slaughtered, and blood and breast muscles samples were collected. The results showed that there was no significant difference in feed intake, body weight gain, or feed to gain ratio among treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary SY, Met-Se, and Nano-Se supplementation increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase in serum and breast muscles and decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde in serum and carbonyl in breast muscles compared with the SS group (P < 0.05). Moreover, SY, Met-Se, and Nano-Se supplementation increased pH45min, total protein solubility, and myofibrillar protein solubility, as well as decreased the shear force value compared with the SS group (P < 0.05). In addition, birds in the SY and Met-Se groups exhibited lower cooking loss compared with the SS group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, organic Se and Nano-Se supplementation resulted in an improvement of antioxidant capacity and meat quality in local Chinese Subei chickens relative to inorganic Se.

In ovo feeding of creatine pyruvate alters energy reserves, satellite cell mitotic activity and myogenic gene expression of breast muscle in embryos and neonatal broilers.

We investigated the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) on energy reserves, satellite cell mitotic activity (SCMA) and myogenic gene expression in breast muscle of embryos and neonatal broilers. A total of 960 eggs were randomly allocated into three treatments: 1) non-injected control group, 2) saline group injected with 0.6 mL of physiological saline (0.75%), and 3) CrPyr group injected with 0.6 mL of physiological saline (0.75%) containing 12 mg CrPyr/egg at 17.5 d of incubation. After hatching, a total of 120 male chicks were randomly assigned to each treatment group, with eight replicate sets per group. Selected chicks had body BW close to the average of their pooled group. Our results showed that the total and relative breast muscle weights of broilers subjected to CrPyr treatment were higher than those in the control and saline groups on 19 d of incubation (19 E), the day of hatch, 3 and 7 d post-hatch (P < 0.05). The myofiber diameter and cross-sectional area of individuals in the CrPyr group were higher than those in other treatments on 3 and 7 d post-hatch (P < 0.05). Moreover, IOF of CrPyr increased (P < 0.05) creatine concentrations on 19 E, the day of hatch and 3 d post-hatch, the same treatment increased phosphocreatine concentrations on 19 E. Broilers in the CrPyr group showed higher expression of myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD) (P < 0.05), myogenin and paired box 7 (Pax7), as well as higher index of SCMA on 3 d post-hatch. However, myostatin mRNA expression in CrPyr-treated broilers was down-regulated on 3 d post-hatch (P < 0.05). These results indicated that IOF of CrPyr increased energy reserves of embryos and SCMA of broilers on 3 d post-hatch, which led to enhanced muscle growth in the late embryos and neonatal broilers. Additionally, IOF of CrPyr increased the activity of satellite cells possibly through up-regulating MyoD, myogenin, and Pax7 mRNA expression and down-regulating myostatin mRNA expression.

[Analysis of related factors for primary hepatic carcinoma caused by chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C].

Objective: To explore the related factors for primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) caused by chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatitis C (CHC). Methods: According to the principle of cross-sectional study, a cluster random sample method was used, a total of 366 chronic hepatitis patients in hospitals were recruited from three provincial tertiary hospitals in Shanxi, Henan and Jilin between July 2016 and October 2016, respectively. Using a self-designed unified questionnaire, face-to-face interviews was conducted on subjects, including sex, age, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, green tea consumption, fish consumption, smoking, HBV/HCV diagnosis and treatment, diabetes mellitus, family history of PHC (whether PHC in first-degree relatives), etc. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression were performed to identify the related factors for PHC with CHB and CHC. According to the clinical diagnosis the patients were divided into a chronic hepatitis group (not developing to PHC) and a PHC group. Results: Among 366 cases patients, 287 (78.4%) cases were male, 79 cases were female (21.6%), average age was (52.7±9.3) years. 202 cases were chronic hepatitis group, 164 cases were PHC group. Multivariate unconditional logistics regression analysis indicated that alcohol consumption (odds ratio (OR)=2.11, 95%CI: 1.18-3.75), family history of PHC (OR=5.12, 95%CI: 2.60-10.08) were positively correlated with the development of PHC in chronic b, green tea consumption (OR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.23-0.88), antiviral treatment (OR=0.19, 95%CI: 0.11-0.32) were negatively correlated. Alcohol consumption (OR=3.98, 95%CI: 1.14-13.85) was positively correlated with the development of PHC in chronic c, antiviral treatment (OR=0.14, 95%CI: 0.04-0.50) was negatively correlated. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption, family history of PHC, green tea consumption and antiviral treatment were the related factors for the development of PHC in chronic hepatitis b. Alcohol consumption and antiviral treatment were the related factors for the development of PHC in chronic hepatitis c.

Supplementing oregano essential oil to boar diet with strengthened fish oil: Effects on semen antioxidant status and semen quality parameters.

Previous research has shown benefits of dietary fish oil supplementation on semen quality of boars. However, little is known about how antioxidant protects lipid peroxidation on spermatozoa from n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) addition. This study evaluated the effect of oregano essential oil (OEO) supplementation on semen antioxidant status and semen quality in boars fed a diet enriched with fish oil. Thirty-four mature boars of proven fertility, received daily 2.5 kg basal diet top-dressed with 45 g soybean oil and 15 g fish oil to meet the n-3 PUFA requirement of spermatozoa, randomly allocated to one of four groups supplemented with 100 mg α-tocopheryl acetate kg-1 (control), or 250 or 500 or 750 mg OEO kg-1 for 16 weeks. Semen was collected at weeks 0, 8, 12 and 16 for measurements of sperm production, motion characteristics, sperm α-tocopherol content, antioxidant enzyme activities, reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG), lipoperoxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and seminal total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Sperm production and motion characteristics were similar (p > .05) among groups throughout the experimental week 16, but increased (p < .01) with experimental week. Although higher α-tocopherol content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were in OEO group spermatozoa, feeding diet with 500 mg/kg OEO resulted in elevation in seminal TAC, decrease in sperm ROS, MDA and 8-OHdG than control group (p < .05). Overall, these results support the view that oregano essential oil has a positive effect on antioxidant capacity in boar when used fish oil.

Computational identification and characterization of conserved miRNAs and their target genes in beet (Beta vulgaris).

Highly conserved endogenous non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in plants and animals by silencing genes via destruction or blocking of translation of homologous mRNA. Sugar beet, Beta vulgaris, is one of the most important sugar crops in China, with properties that include wide adaptability and strong tolerance to salinity and impoverished soils. Seedlings of B. vulgaris can grow in soils containing up to 0.6% salt; it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance to enrich genetic resources for breeding salt-tolerant sugar beets. Here, we report 13 mature miRNAs from 12 families, predicted using an in silico approach from 29,857 expressed sequence tags and 279,223 genome survey sequences. The psRNATarget server predicted 25 target genes for the 13 miRNAs. Most of the target genes appeared to encode transcription factors or were involved in metabolism, signal transduction, stress response, growth, and development. These results improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of miRNA in beet and may aid in the development of novel and precise techniques for understanding post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanisms in response to stress tolerance.

Effect of dietary creatine monohydrate supplementation on muscle lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of transported broilers in summer.

This experiment was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with creatine monohydrate (CMH) during the finishing period on the muscle lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of broilers that experienced transport stress in summer. A total of 320 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d in age) were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments including a basal control diet without additional CMH (160 birds), or with 600 (80 birds) or 1,200 mg/kg (80 birds) CMH for 14 d. On the morning of d 42, after an 8-h fast, the birds fed the basal diets were divided into 2 equal groups, and all birds in the 4 groups of 80 birds were transported according to the following protocols: 1) a 0.75-h transport of birds on basal diets (as a lower-stress control group), 2) a 3-h transport of birds on basal diets, 3) a 3-h transport of birds on 600 or 4) 1,200 mg/kg CMH supplementation diets. The results showed that the 3-h transport decreased the concentration of creatine (Cr) in both the pectoralis major (PM) and the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles, increased the concentration of phosphocreatine (PCr) and PCr/Cr ratio in PM muscle, and elevated the concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in both the PM and TA muscles of birds (P < 0.05). In addition, transport also upregulated mRNA expression of avian uncoupling protein and heat shock protein 70 in both the PM and TA muscles, as well as avian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α in the TA muscle (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 1,200 mg/kg CMH increased the concentrations of Cr and PCr in PM muscle, and Cr in TA muscle than those in the 3-h transport group (P < 0.05). However, contrary to our hypothesis, dietary CMH did not alter the measured parameters in relation to muscle lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity affected by 3-h transport (P > 0.05). These results indicate that dietary CMH supplementation does not provide any significant protection via directly scavenging free radicals or increased antioxidant capacity of transported broilers.

Identification and expression analysis of the MSP130-related-2 gene from Hyriopsis cumingii.

MSP130-related-2 is thought to play a role in bio-mineralization as revealed in Crassostrea gigas and sea urchins. In this study, an MSP130-related-2 gene was isolated from Hyriopsis cumingii (HcMSP130-related-2) and characterized for the first time. The HcMSP130-related-2 cDNA was 2307 bp in length and consisted of a 572-bp 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR), a 1239-bp open reading frame encoding 430-amino acid residues, and a 439-bp 3'-UTR. The molecular weight of the peptide was predicted to be 48551.3 Da, with a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.78 and instability index of 32.74, indicating that the protein is stable. The HcMSP130-related-2 amino acid residues included a signal peptide and several potential N-glycosylation sites. NCBI BLAST analysis indicated that this full-length amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity with HcMSP130-related-2 from C. gigas (45%) and about 38% identity with that from SpMSP130-rel-2 and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. A phylogenetic tree showed that HcMSP130-rel-2 clustered with MSP130 from C. gigas. HcMSP130-related-2 was expressed in various tissues, including the mantle, blood, gill, foot, liver, kidney, intestine, and muscle, with the highest transcripts found in the mantle. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of the HcMSP130- related-2 gene in grass carp after inducing shell damage. HcMSP130- related-2 expression was upregulated significantly in the mantle within 7 days (P < 0.05) after damage; however, the expression remained unchanged in the adductor muscle tissues (P > 0.05). These data suggest that HcMSP130-related-2 might be involved in shell formation in H. cumingii.