Effect of chestnut wood extract on performance, meat quality, antioxidant status, immune function, and cholesterol metabolism in broilers.

Plant extracts have been proved as natural antioxidants resources as well as alternative feed additives in livestock and poultry species. Chestnut wood extract (CWE) as a source of hydrolysable tannic acid was used to evaluate the growth performance, nutrient retention, meat quality, antioxidant status, and immune function of broilers. A total of 168, day-old Arbor Acre male broilers (weight 46.59 ± 0.44 g) were randomly divided to 3 treatments, 7 replicate pens per treatment, 8 broilers per pen. The treatments contain a control diet, CON (corn-soybean meal basal diet); an antibiotic diet, CTC (basal diet + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline); and chestnut wood extract diet, CWE (basal diet + 1,000 mg/kg chestnut tannins). At the finisher phase, final body weight was higher (P < 0.05) in CWE supplemented diet than in CON. Average daily body weight gain was higher (P < 0.05) and feed gain ratio was lower (P < 0.05) in broilers fed CWE than in those fed CON at the finisher phase. Crude protein digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) in broilers offered CWE than that in broilers fed CON and CTC diets. Breast muscle pH value at 24 h (pH24 h) was higher (P < 0.05) in broilers fed CWE than that in those fed CON and CTC diets. The bursa weight was higher (P < 0.05) in broilers offered CWE than that in those fed CON and CTC. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) values were higher (P < 0.05) in both breast muscle and thigh muscle of broilers offered CWE supplemented diet than those in broilers fed CON and CTC diets. Similarly, broilers offered with CWE diets showed higher (P < 0.05) T-AOC, GSH-PX, and SOD value in serum than those fed CON and CTC diets. Serum concentration of IgG was higher (P < 0.05) in broilers offered with CWE diets than that in those fed CON and CTC diets. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and urea-N concentration were lower (P < 0.05) in broilers offered CWE diet than those in broilers fed CON and CTC diets. It was recommended to supply CWE at the 1,000 mg/kg level for improving antioxidant status, cholesterol metabolism, and growth performance without affecting normal meat quality in broilers.

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

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

[Application of serum N -glycan profiling diagnostic model in evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C].

Objective: To study the changes of serum N-glycan abundance in patients with liver fibrosis at different stages of hepatitis C, and to establish and evaluate the diagnostic model for clinical application value. Methods: Data of 169 hepatitis C virus-infected cases with liver fibrosis were enrolled. Nine kinds of serum N-glycans were detected and analyzed using DNA sequencer-assisted fluorophore-assisted capillary electrophoresis technology. A binary logistics regression method was used to establish a diagnostic model based on the changes in the relative content of N-glycans in each stage of liver fibrosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate and compare the diagnostic efficacy with other liver fibrosis diagnostic models. Results: N-glycan diagnostic model (B and C) had highest AUROC= 0.776, 0.827 for distinguishing fibrosis S1~S2 to S3~S4 and S1~S3 to S4 than GlycoFibroTest (AUROC = 0.760, 0.807), GlycoCirrhoTest (AUROC = 0.722, 0.787), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (AUROC = 0.755, 0.751), FIB-4 index (AUROC = 0.730, 0.774), and S-index (AUROC = 0.707, 0.744). However, the diagnostic efficacy of model A (AUROC = 0.752) for distinguishing fibrosis S1 with S2~S4 had lower diagnostic potency than that of the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (AUROC = 0.807). Diagnostic efficiency was improved when the N-glycan profiling and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index were combined to diagnose liver fibrosis in each stage, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.839, 0.825, and 0.837, respectively. Conclusion: The serum N-glycan profiling diagnostic model has potential clinical application value in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C.

Forsythia suspensa extract attenuates breast muscle oxidative injury induced by transport stress in broilers.

This experiment was conducted with 144 male Arbor Acre broilers (one d old, weighing 45.6 ± 1.3 g) to determine protective effects of Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) against breast muscle oxidative injury induced by transport stress (TS). The birds were randomly allotted to one of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of broilers fed diets supplemented without or with FSE (100 mg/kg) and challenged without or with TS for 3 h before slaughter. Transport stress increased live BW loss of broilers (P < 0.05), and the adverse effect was attenuated by FSE (P < 0.05). Serum levels of corticoserone and lactate were increased for broilers after transportation (P < 0.05), whereas these parameters were not affected by FSE. After slaughter, neither breast muscle pH value at 45 min and 24 h postmortem nor 24 h drip loss value was influenced by TS or FSE, whereas TS increased the value of pH decline within 24 h postmortem (P < 0.05). Transportation decreased redness and increased yellowness value of breast muscle in broilers (P < 0.05), and FSE tended to have (P = 0.06) or had the converse changes (P < 0.05). Comparing with non-transported birds, the birds subjected to transportation had greater malondialdehyde (MDA) content and avUCP mRNA expression (P < 0.05) and lower 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (P < 0.05) in breast muscle, whereas the birds supplemented with FSE had lower MDA content (P < 0.05) and greater DPPH radical scavenging activity (P < 0.05). Transport caused decreases (P < 0.05) in total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity, and the decreases were improved by FSE (P < 0.05). Collectively, live BW loss and breast muscle oxidative injury were increased by TS in broilers and could be attenuated by FSE via directly scavenging free radicals and increased antioxidant capacity. Therefore, FSE could protect broilers against breast muscle oxidative injury induced by TS.

Forsythia suspensa extract protects broilers against breast muscle oxidative injury induced by corticosterone mimicked pre-slaughter acute stress.

Broilers were used to determine the protective effects of Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) against breast muscle oxidative injury induced by corticosterone (CS) mimicking pre-slaughter acute stress. A total of 144 male Arbor Acre broilers was randomly allotted to one of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that included FSE supplementation (0 or 100 mg/kg) and subcutaneous injection of CS (0 or 4 mg/kg) at 3 h before slaughter. Corticosterone increased live BW loss, and the adverse effect was attenuated by FSE in broilers subjected to CS (P < 0.05). Serum levels of CS, uric acid, and glucose were increased, and postmortem breast muscle pH values at 45 min and 24 h were decreased for CS-challenged broilers (P < 0.05). Corticosterone increased lightness and yellowness values and decreased redness of breast muscle (P < 0.05), and FSE decreased yellowness and increased redness of breast muscle (P < 0.05). Drip loss was increased by CS for birds supplemented without FSE (P < 0.05) and decreased by FSE for birds under CS challenge (P < 0.05). Corticosterone increased monounsaturated fatty acid (FA) and decreased polyunsaturated FA in breast muscle (P < 0.05), and saturated FA was decreased and polyunsaturated FA was increased by FSE (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde and carbonyl contents in breast muscle were increased by CS and decreased by FSE (P < 0.05). Inhibition of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl was decreased by CS and increased by FSE (P < 0.05). The activities of total-antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in breast muscle were lower in birds subjected to CS (P < 0.05) and were greater in birds supplemented with FSE (P < 0.05). Collectively, live BW loss and breast muscle oxidative injury were increased by CS in broilers, and these stress-related adverse effects could be attenuated by FSE supplementation via enhanced scavenging ability of free radicals and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, FSE could protect broilers against breast muscle oxidative injury when acute stress happens.

Probiotic supplementation protects weaned pigs against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 challenge and improves performance similar to antibiotics.

These studies evaluated the effects of probiotics (PB) as a potential substitute for antibiotics (AB) on diarrhea in relation to immune responses and intestinal health in weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic (ETEC) K88 (Exp. 1) and the effects of PB on performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, 24 weaned barrows (4.9 ± 0.4 kg initial BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. The treatments consisted of pigs fed an unsupplemented corn-soybean meal basal diet and not challenged (NON-C) or challenged with ETEC K88 (CHA-C) on d 9 and pigs fed the same basal diet supplemented with AB (100 mg/kg zinc bacitracin, 50 mg/kg colistin sulfate, and 100 mg/kg olaquindox; CHA-AB) or 500 mg/kg PB ( and ; CHA-PB) and challenged with ETEC K88 on d 9. In Exp. 2, 108 weaned pigs (7.5 ± 0.9 kg initial BW) not challenged with ETEC K88 were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments, including an AB-free basal diet (CON) and the basal diet with AB (ABD) or 500 mg/kg PB supplementation (PBD). In Exp. 1, after challenge, CHA-C decreased ( < 0.05) ADG and ADFI, whereas CHA-AB and CHA-PB revealed no significant change compared with NON-C. Compared with CHA-C, CHA-AB and CHA-PB improved ( < 0.05) ADG and ADFI and decreased ( < 0.05) the diarrhea incidence in pigs. Mucosal secretory Ig A contents in the jejunum and ileum were greater in CHA-C than in NON-C ( < 0.05) and lower than in CHA-PB ( < 0.05). The diet containing PB alleviated the increase in the endotoxin and diamine oxidase concentration and cecal count ( < 0.05) and the decrease in intestinal villus height, cecal count, and jejunal mucosal occludin protein abundance ( < 0.05). In Exp. 2, dietary supplementation with AB and PB had positive effects on ADG and feed efficiency ( < 0.05). Compared with CON, apparent digestibility of nutrients in PBD was improved ( < 0.05). Collectively, PB supplementation protected the pigs against ETEC K88 infection by enhancing immune responses and attenuating intestinal damage and improved the performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. Therefore, PB could be a potential effective alternative to AB for ameliorating diarrhea and improving performance in weaned pigs.

[Predictive value of liver pathologic changes in determining the effectiveness of entecavir treatment for chronic hepatitis B-An analysis of 1 366 cases].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between baseline liver pathologic changes and the effectiveness of entecavir(ETV) and investigate the predictive value of baseline liver pathologic changes in determining the effectiveness of ETV, to provide reliable basis for precision medicine in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB). Methods: A total of 1 366 cases with CHB were retrospectively recruited who underwent liver biopsy between January 2006 to June 2016 and were treated with ETV over 96 weeks.The relationship between baseline liver pathologic changes and the antiviral responses to ETV at 48, 96 weeks were compared. Results: Liver pathology was employed to make the definite inflammation grade and the fibrosis stage.According to the liver inflammation and fibrosis, patients were divided into 4 groups(G1, G2, G3, G4 and S1, S2, S3, S4 respectively). The complete response rate of G1, G2, G3 and G4 after 48 weeks ETV treatment was 26.3%(10/38), 30.9%(121/391), 35.3%(101/286), 44.4%(52/117) respectively in HBeAg positive patients and was 61.5%(24/39), 80.4%(148/184), 82.4%(201/244), 88.1%(59/67) respectively in HBeAg negative patients.There was statistical difference in the complete response rates among liver inflammation grades both in HBeAg positive patients(χ(2)=8.510, P<0.05) and in HBeAg negative patients(χ(2)=12.054, P<0.05)respectively.The differences were still statistical significant after 96 weeks ETV treatment (P<0.05). The complete response rates of S1, S2, S3 and S4 after 48 weeks ETV treatment were 39.0%(41/105), 37.8%(127/336), 30.9%(97/314), 24.7%(19/77), respectively in HBeAg positive patients and was 85.7%(30/35), 84.4%(92/109), 83.9%(162/193), 75.1%(148/197) respectively in HBeAg negative patients. Whether HBeAg was positive or not, the rates were in decline but there was no statistical difference in the complete response rates among liver fibrosis stages(χ(2)=7.765, P>0.05; χ(2)=6.729, P>0.05). The differences were still not statistical significant after 96 weeks ETV treatment (P>0.05). But after further grouping, whether HBeAg was positive or not, as the degree of fibrosis stage was aggravating, the complete response rate of G2, G3 and G4 after 48 weeks ETV treatment decreased at the same degree of inflammation grade and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The differences were still statistical significant after 96 weeks ETV treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: The responses to ETV treatment are closely related with baseline liver pathology.The CHB patients with higher score of inflammation and lower score of fibrosis will have a good response to ETV treatment.The degree of inflammation grades and fibrosis stages can be used as early predictors of ETV treatment for CHB.

Concentration of digestible and metabolizable energy, standardized ileal digestibility, and growth performance of pigs fed diets containing sorghum produced in the United States or corn produced in China.

The DE and ME content (Exp. 1) as well as the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of essential AA (EAA; Exp. 2) were compared between Chinese corn and U.S. sorghum. The effects of U.S. sorghum as a potential substitute for Chinese corn on growth performance of 114 weaned pigs (8.8 ± 1.0 kg BW; Exp. 3) and 60 growing pigs (23.4 ± 1.6 kg BW; Exp. 4) were evaluated, and the effect of protease supplementation on N utilization was determined in sorghum-based diets fed to growing pigs (Exp. 4). In Exp. 1, there was no difference in DE and ME content between corn and sorghum. In Exp. 2, the AID and SID of most EAA and the concentrations of standardized ileal digestible Lys, Met, Thr, and His were less in sorghum than in corn ( < 0.05). In Exp. 3, there was no difference in ADG and ADFI among treatments during the experimental period. The G:F and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of CP was decreased for pigs fed diets with sorghum in the first 2 wk ( < 0.05) and for pigs fed diets containing 60% sorghum in the following 2 wk ( < 0.05). The fecal score for pigs fed diets with sorghum, regardless of the substitute level, was less ( < 0.05) or tended to be less ( = 0.086) than that for pigs fed diets containing 60% corn. In Exp. 4, no differences were observed in ADG and ADFI overall among pigs fed diets based on corn and soybean meal (CSBM) or sorghum and soybean meal (SSBM). Pigs fed CSBM or SSBM with protease supplementation had greater ( < 0.05) or tended to have greater ( = 0.062) G:F than pigs fed SSBM. Compared with CSBM, SSBM increased fecal N excretion by more than 25% and decreased the ATTD of CP by more than 7% during the whole experiment ( < 0.05). Protease supplementation reduced fecal N excretion by more than 12% and increased ATTD of CP by more than 6% ( < 0.05). In conclusion, based on optimal G:F and CP digestibility, diets for weaned pigs should contain less than 20% sorghum during the first 2 wk and no more than 40% during the subsequent 2 wk after weaning. Sorghum used as an alternative energy source for corn in diets fed to growing pigs decreases CP utilization by increasing manure N output, which might be partially offset by protease supplementation.

Toxicity of Mycotoxins from Contaminated Corn with or withoutYeast Cell Wall Adsorbent on Broiler Chickens.

This study investigated the effects of feeds naturally contaminated with mycotoxins on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, carcass traits, and splenic heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) mRNA expression levels in broiler chickens. The efficacy of yeast cell wall (YCW) adsorbent in preventing mycotoxicosis was also evaluated. Three hundred 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 3 treatments in completely randomized design for 42 d. Each treatment group had 5 replicate pens with 20 birds. The treatments were as follows: i) basal diet (control), ii) naturally contaminated diet (NCD), and iii) NCD+0.2% YCW adsorbent (NCDD). The NCD decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.01) of 0 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d, and 0 to 42 d, and increased feed conversion ratio (p<0.01) of 22 to 42 d and 0 to 42 d. Both the breast meat percentage and thigh meat percentage of the NCD group were significantly higher (p<0.01) than that of the control group on d 21. The NCD group showed significantly increased levels of triglycerides (p<0.05) and cholesterol (p<0.05) on both d 21 and d 42 compared to the control group. However, the NCD significantly reduced (p<0.01) the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on d 42 compared to controls. Compared with the NCD, supplementation with YCW significantly improved (p<0.01) the ADG of 0 to 21 d and 0 to 42 d, and increased (p<0.01) concentrations of HDL on d 42, and on d 21, and triglycerides (p<0.05) on d 21 and d 42. Supplementation with YCW reduced (p<0.01) the breast meat percentage, the thigh meat percentage, the concentrations of cholesterol (p<0.01) and the low-density lipoprotein (p<0.05) on d 21, and improved (p<0.01) the splenic Hsp70 mRNA expression levels compared with the NCD group. The results of this study indicated that feeding NCD for 42 d had adverse effects on broiler chickens, and that YCW might be beneficial in counteracting the effects of mycotoxins.

First Report of Fusarium tricinctum Causing Stem and Root Rot on Lanzhou Lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) in China.

Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor Cotton) is an important bulb edible crop which mostly distributes in middle area of Gansu Province in China (2). Recently, plants of Lanzhou lily developed symptoms of severe wilting. In early autumn of 2012 to 2013, a survey of Lanzhou lily disease was carried out in Yuanjiawan, Caoyuan, Xiguoyuan, and Hutan villages of Lanzhou City and Xuding and Guanshan villages of Linxia Prefecture. Disease symptoms included stem and root rot, vessels showed a brown to dark brown discoloration, plus a progressive yellowing and wilting of leaves from the base. Small pieces of symptomatic leaves, stems, and roots were surface disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 s, 3% sodium hypochlorite for 5 min, and then washed three times in sterile distilled water. The tissues were placed on Martin Agar at 25°C for 7 days. Three isolates were consistently isolated from diseased tissues and all isolates with morphology similar to Fusarium spp. Isolates were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and carnation leaf agar (CLA) and incubated at 25°C in darkness. These isolates grew rapidly on PDA and formed abundant dense aerial mycelium, initially white, that became deep pink with age and formed red pigments in the medium. On CLA, macroconidia with 3 to 5 septa were abundant, relatively slender, and curved to lunate. Microconidia were abundant, oval and 0 to 1 septa. Chlamydospores were globose with a smooth outer wall in chains. The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region comprising ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S rDNA was amplified using primers ITS-1 and ITS-4 (3) and sequenced. On the basis of a comparison of 563 bp, all the three isolates had the identical sequence (GenBank Accession No. KF728675). BLASTn analysis of the sequence showed 100% match with the ITS sequences of those F. tricinctum sequences in GenBank (Accession Nos. FJ233196, AY188923, and JF776663). Pathogenicity test was performed by transplanting 2-month-old tissue culture seedlings to plastic pots in a sterile mixture of vermiculite and torf substrate at 1:3 (v/v). Seedlings were inoculated with 6 ml of the conidial suspension (104 conidia/ml) on the roots of plant in each pot, three plants per pot, and three replicates for each treatment. Seedlings treated with sterile water served as controls. The seedlings were placed in a plant growth chamber maintained at 22 ± 3°C, relative humidity >70%, 16 h light per day, and irrigated with sterile water. After 4 weeks, inoculated plants exhibited wilting foliage that with symptoms similar to those observed in the field, while the control plants remained healthy. F. tricinctum was re-isolated from all inoculated plants. The disease has been reported previously in ornamental lily in China (1). However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of F. tricinctum causing wilt on edible Lanzhou lily in China and the disease must be taken into consideration of current disease management. This work supported by NSFC No. 31370447 and Hundred Talents Program of CAS "Molecular mechanism of biological control on plant diseases." References: (1) Y. Y. Li et al. Plant Dis. 97:993, 2013. (2) R. Y. Wang et al. Virol. J. 7:34, 2010. (3) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.

Pattern of marine mass extinction near the Permian-Triassic boundary in South China.

The Meishan section across the Permian-Triassic boundary in South China is the most thoroughly investigated in the world. A statistical analysis of the occurrences of 162 genera and 333 species confirms a sudden extinction event at 251.4 million years ago, coincident with a dramatic depletion of delta13C(carbonate) and an increase in microspherules.