Effects of probiotics administration on lactose intolerance in adulthood: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of probiotic administration on adults with lactose intolerance. Twelve studies were identified from databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Knowledge based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The effect size was estimated using the standardized mean difference (SMD), and Cochrane's Q test was used to evaluate the statistical heterogeneity of the effect size. Moderator analysis, including meta-ANOVA and meta-regression, were performed to determine the cause of heterogeneity in the effect size using a mixed-effect model. Egger's linear regression test was conducted to evaluate publication bias. The results showed that probiotic administration alleviated the symptoms of lactose intolerance, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. Among them, the area under the curve (AUC) showed the greatest decrease following probiotic administration (SMD, -4.96; 95% confidence interval, -6.92 to -3.00). In the meta-ANOVA test, abdominal pain and total symptoms decreased with monostrain probiotic administration. This combination was also effective for flatulence. The dosage of probiotics or lactose was significantly associated with a reduction in the total symptom score, and the linear regression models between the dosage and SMD were found to be Y = 2.3342 × dosage - 25.0400 (R2 = 79.68%) and Y = 0.2345 × dosage - 7.6618 (R2 = 34.03%), respectively. Publication bias was detected for most items. However, even after effect size correction, the probiotic administration effect for all items remained valid. The administration of probiotics was effective at improving adult lactose intolerance, and it is expected that the results of this study could help improve the nutritional status of adults by increasing their consumption of milk and dairy products in the future.

Postoperative Observation of Spaying with the Silicon Ring on the Ovaries in Heifers: A Retrospective Study in 28 Cases.

Although spaying prepubertal heifers has routinely been conducted to control cattle herd and improve meat quality, understandings of the postoperative changes following new spaying methods with the silicon ring on the ovaries via colpotomy remain limited. Therefore, as a retrospective study, 28 cases of spayed heifers were reviewed for postoperative changes after employing this method, with inclusion criteria including complete medical records for clinical observation, ultrasonography, measuring reproductive hormones, and tracking slaughter records. No mortality and heat signs at the pubertal age postoperatively occurred in spayed animals. On ultrasonography during rectal examination, the ovaries were enlarged without any folliculogenesis from one week, while massive ovarian edema appeared from two weeks, and ovaries were no longer palpable at four weeks post-surgery. In hormones, whereas estrogen and progesterone levels did not change from prepubertal to pubertal age in spayed animals, luteinizing hormone levels progressively increased during this period and reached a higher level at pubertal period than unspayed controls. Although carcass weight and yield were similar between groups upon slaughter at pubertal age, the spayed animals presented higher carcass quality (marbling degree) than that of controls. These results may contribute to develop herd management strategies, including control of estrus in cattle.