Prognostic role of the systemic immune-inflammation index and pan-immune inflammation value for outcomes of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This review examined the literature for evidence on the prognostic ability of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) for predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched with Google Scholar for gray literature. All types of studies reporting the association between SII or PIV and OS or DFS of breast cancer were eligible. RESULTS: 13 studies on SII and 4 studies on PIV were included. Meta-analysis showed that a high SII was a significant predictor of OS (HR: 1.97 95% CI: 1.54, 2.52 I2=76%) and DFS (HR: 2.07 95% CI: 1.50, 2.86 I2=79%) in breast cancer patients. These results did not change on sensitivity analysis and were more or less stable on multiple subgroup analyses. Pooled analysis showed that high PIV was also a significant predictor of poor OS (HR: 2.63 95% CI: 1.46, 4.74 I2=71%) and DFS (HR: 1.64 95% CI: 1.23, 2.17 I2=0%) in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: High SII and PIV can predict poor OS and DFS in breast cancer patients. High heterogeneity and the observational nature of data are important limitations of the review. Further studies are needed specifically on PIV to increase the strength of the evidence.

Current diagnosis and potential obstacles for post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis.

Despite the guidance of aseptic technology applied, bacterial meningitis seems to be an unavoidable obstacle in the process of neurosurgery, with high rates of disability and mortality. The diagnosis of post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis (PNBM) mainly depends both on clinical symptoms and laboratory outcomes. Due to the excessive neuro-inflammatory reactions which are evoked by the primary brain disease or the craniotomy operation, the symptoms derived from the infection and aseptic may not be easily distinguished. On the other hand, the low positive rate and time-consuming character restrict the clinical practical values of bacterial culture. Therefore, it is always difficult to make a definite diagnosis of post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis. Here, we reviewed the established literature about the diagnostic biomarkers for the PNBM and analyzed the potential obstacles in both clinical and scientific studies. Given the obstacle which has negative impacts on further investigation about the biology of PNBM, we only find relatively small numbers of study on PNBM. In this review, we summarize the established diagnostic methods and biomarkers for PNBM. Meanwhile, we also propose some potential investigation prospects. This review may help to better understand the character of PNBM in both clinical diagnosis and scientific investigations.

Effect of a synbiotic supplement as an antibiotic alternative on broiler skeletal, physiological, and oxidative parameters under heat stress.

The aim of this study was to examine if synbiotics can function as alternatives to antibiotics in broiler production under heat stress (HS). Day-old broiler chicks (528 birds) were randomly placed in floor pens within 2 identical temperature-controlled rooms (11 birds/pen and 24 pens/room). The pens of each room were evenly divided among 3 treatments (n = 8): basal diet (CON), the basal diet mixed with 50 ppm of bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) or a synbiotic (50 ppm of PoultryStar meUS, SYN). From d 15, room 2 was under thermoneutral (TN) conditions (TN-CON, TN-BMD, and TN-SYN), while HS was applied to room 1 at 32oC for 9 hrs/d (0800 to 1700) (HS-CON, HS-BMD, and HS-SYN). Treatment effects on footpad dermatitis and gait score were measured on 5 birds/pen, and latency to lie (LTL) test was measured on 2 birds/pen at d 27 and d 41; and 1 broiler/pen was sampled on d 28 and d 42, respectively. Body, liver, and spleen weight were determined. Plasma levels of interleukins (IL), heat shock protein 70, immunoglobulin (Ig)Y, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activities were examined. Heat stress suppressed BW and IgY concentrations on both d 28 and d 42, while suppressed plasma IL-6 concentrations, SOD activities, and LTL duration on d 28 only (P < 0.05). Among all treatments, SYN birds had the best foot and skeletal health scores on both d 27 and d 41 (P < 0.05). On d 42, SYN increased BW, and TN-SYN birds had higher relative spleen weight than both TN-BMD and TN-CON birds (P < 0.05). Antibiotic BMD increased BW (P < 0.05) but decreased SOD activities (P < 0.05) on d 42. These results indicate that the SYN supplementation decreases HS negative effect on broilers by improving BW, foot, and skeletal health, while BMD improves BW but also increases oxidative stress in broilers. The data suggest that synbiotic supplement may function as an alternative to antibiotics in broiler production during summer seasons, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions.

Warm perches: a novel approach for reducing cold stress effect on production, plasma hormones, and immunity in laying hens.

Cold temperature is a common environmental stressor that induces pathophysiological stress in birds with profound economic losses. Current methods used for preventing cold stress, such as reducing ventilation and using gas heaters, are facing challenges due to poor indoor air quality and deleterious effects on bird and caretaker health. The aim of this study was to examine if the novel designed warmed perch system, as a thermal device, can reduce cold stress-associated adverse effects on laying hens. Seventy-two 32-week-old DeKalb hens were randomly assigned to 36 cages arranged to 3 banks. The banks were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: cages with warmed perches (WP; perches with circulating water at 30°C), air perches (AP, regular perches only), or no perches (NP) for a 21-d trial. The room temperature was set at 10°C during the entire experimental period. Rectal temperature and body weight were measured from the same bird of each cage at d 1, 8, 15, and 21 during the cold exposure. Egg production was recorded daily. Feed intake, egg and eggshell quality were determined during the 1st and 3rd wk of cold stress. Plasma levels of corticosterone, thyroid hormones (3, 3', 5-triiodothyronine and thyroxine), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, were determined after 1 d and 21 d of cold exposure. Compared to both AP and NP hens, WP hens were able to maintain their body temperature without increasing feed intake and losing BW. The eggs from WP hens had thicker eggshell during the 3rd wk of cold exposure. Warmed perch hens also had a lower thyroxine conversion rate (3, 3', 5-triiodothyronine/thyroxine) at d 1, while higher plasma concentrations of IL-6 at d 21. Plasma levels of corticosterone, 3, 3', 5-triiodothyronine, and IL-10 were not different among treatments. Our results indicate that the warmed perch system can be used as a novel thermal device for preventing cold stress-induced negative effects on hen health and welfare through regulating immunity and metabolic hormonal homeostasis.

Effects of dietary supplementation of a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) on bone mass and meat quality of broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a dietary probiotic supplement on bone mass and meat quality of broiler chickens. Two hundred ten 1-day-old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were divided among 21 floor pens (10 chicks per pen). The pens were randomly distributed to 1 of 3 dietary treatments containing a probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, at 0 (control), 0.25 (0.25X), and 0.5 (0.5X) g/kg (n = 7). Gait score, footpad dermatitis (FPD), leg straightness, and hock burn (HB) were examined at day 33, and a latency-to-lie test was performed at day 34. At the end of the experiment (day 35), plasma, right leg, and litter samples were collected for mineral contents, meat quality, bone morphometric parameters, and litter quality assessments. The results indicated that probiotic-fed birds stood much longer during the latency-to-lie test with a greater tibial length, weight, and strength as well as higher plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus compared with the controls. In addition, probiotic-fed birds' leg muscle had higher color lightness at both 30 min and 5 h postmortem and greater water-holding capacity with a trend for less cooking loss (P = 0.056) and lower pH values (P < 0.05) at 5 h postmortem. Probiotic-fed birds' leg meat was tastier (P < 0.05) at 24 h after slaughter. These probiotic effects were greater in the 0.5X group than in the 0.25X group. There were no treatment effects on other measured parameters including gait score, HB, FPD, tibial lateral and medial wall thickness, diaphysis and medullary canal diameters, robusticity and tibiotarsal indexes, plasma magnesium concentrations, and litter moisture and pH values (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that the probiotic supplement could be a useful management tool for improving broiler production and welfare by enhanced bone mass and meat quality.

Osteocalcin prevents insulin resistance, hepatic inflammation, and activates autophagy associated with high-fat diet-induced fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in aged laying hens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of osteocalcin (OCN) on fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in aged laying hens. Thirty 68-week-old White Plymouth laying hens were randomly assigned into conventional single-bird cages, and the cages were randomly allocated into one of 3 treatments (n = 10): normal diet (ND + vehicle, ND + V), high-fat diet (HFD + vehicle, HFD + V), and HFD + OCN (3 µg/bird, 1 time/2 d, i.m.) for 40 d. At day 30, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) were performed. At the end of experiment, the hens were euthanized followed by blood collection. The plasma aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Pathological changes in the liver were examined under both light and transmission electron microscopes. The plasma inflammatory factors including interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed by ELISA, and the gene expressions of these inflammatory factors in the liver were analyzed by real-time PCR. The level of oxidative stress was evaluated using malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) assay kits, respectively. The results showed that HFD + V hens had more severe liver hemorrhage and fibrosis than ND + V hens (P < 0.05). The ultramicrostructural examination showed that hepatocytes of HFD + V hens exhibited necrotic pyknosis showing great intracellular electron, mitochondrial swelling, shrunk nucleus, and absence of autolysosomes. Osteocalcin mitigated HFD + V-induced pathological changes in aged laying hens. High-fat diet + OCN hens had higher insulin sensitivity; lower liver concentrations of MDA (P = 0.12) but higher GSH-Px (P < 0.05); and lower blood TNF-α concentrations (P < 0.05) and mRNA expressions (P < 0.05) than HFD + V hens. These results suggest OCN functions in preventing the FLHS process in old laying hens through inhibiting excessive energy diet-induced metabolic disorder, oxidative stress, and related pathological damage.

Effect of synbiotics on thyroid hormones, intestinal histomorphology, and heat shock protein 70 expression in broiler chickens reared under cyclic heat stress.

This study examined effect of a dietary synbiotic supplement on the concentrations of plasma thyroid hormones, expressions of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and intestinal histomorphology in broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress (HS). Three hundred and sixty day old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were randomly distributed among 3 dietary treatments containing a synbiotic (PoultryStar meUS) at 0 (control), 0.5 (0.5×), and 1.0 (1.0×) g/kg. Each treatment contained 8 replicates of 15 birds each housed in floor pens in a temperature and lighting controlled room. Heat stimulation was established from days 15 to 42 at 32°C for 9 h daily. The results indicated that under the HS condition, both synbiotic fed groups had lower liver and hypothalamus HSP70 levels (P < 0.001) compared to control group; however, HSP70 mRNA expression was not different among treatments (P > 0.05). There were no treatment effects on the levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) as well as T3/T4 ratio (P > 0.05). Compared to controls, 1.0× HS broilers had greater villus height in the duodenum (P < 0.01), and greater villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratios in the ileum (P < 0.01). There were no differences among treatments on the measured intestinal parameters in the jejunum (P > 0.05). The results suggest that the synbiotic may ameliorate the negative effects of HS on chicken health as indicated by the changes in the intestinal architecture and the levels of HSP70. Dietary synbiotic supplement could be a feasible nutritive strategy for the poultry industry to improve the health and welfare of chickens when exposed to hot environmental temperature.

Cell-derived matrices (CDM)-Methods, challenges and applications.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) provides both physical support and bioactive signals such as growth factors and cytokines to cells at their microenvironment or niche. Engineering the matrix niche becomes an important approach to study or manipulate cellular fate. This work presents an overview on the reconstitution of the ECM niche through a wide range of approaches ranging from coating culture dish with ECM molecules to decellularization of native tissues. In particular, we focused on reconstituting the complex ECM niche through cell-derived matrix (CDM) by reviewing the methodological approaches used in our group to derive ECM from mature cells such as chondrocytes and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), undifferentiated stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as MSCs undergoing chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation, in 2D or 3D models. Specific attention has also been given to key factors that should be considered in various applications and challenges in relation to the CDM. Last but not the least, a few future perspectives and their significance have been proposed.

Plasma concentration of ZCCHC14 contributes to prognostic efficacy in intracerebral hemorrhage patients.

OBJECTIVE: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating cerebrovascular disease of the central nervous system. In this study, we aimed to investigate plasma ZCCHC14 expression and its correlation with the diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical features of ICH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The plasma levels of ZCCHC14, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were dynamically detected among 130 ICH patients and 60 corresponding healthy subjects. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used for the statistical analysis of the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of ICH. RESULTS: Hypertension (p = 0.005), ARB application (p = 0.014), ZCCHC14 level (p < 0.001), TNF-α (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and IL-10 (p < 0.001) were found to be different between ICH patients and healthy controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that ZCCHC14 levels at admission were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.002, OR = 0.440, 95% CI 0.290-0.718). Plasma ZCCHC14 levels dynamically changed, increasing at admission, and peaking on day 7. ZCCHC14 was a potential diagnostic marker for ICH (AUC = 0.953, p < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.901-1.004) with a specificity and sensitivity of 84.6% and 95.5%, respectively. The plasma ZCCHC14 level was negatively correlated with IL-6 concentration (p = 0.024, r = -0.311) but was positively correlated with IL-10 concentration (p = 0.041, r = 0.298). Furthermore, the plasma ZCCHC14 level was correlated with hypertension (p = 0.005), GOS (p = 0.025), bleeding volume (p < 0.001), midline shift (p = 0.003), and poor outcome (p = 0.006). The low ZCCHC14 expression group had poorer outcomes (death or severe disability) than high ZCCHC14 expression group (Breslow, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the plasma ZCCHC14 level might be a potential biomarker for both the early diagnosis of and prediction of outcomes in ICH.

Effect of cooled perches on the efficacy of an induced molt in White Leghorn laying hens previously exposed to heat stress.

This study examined the effect of water-chilled perches on hen production and physiological responses to induced molt during elevated temperatures. A total of 288White Leghorns at 82 wk of age were housed in 36 cages of 6 banks. Each bank was assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: cooled perches, air perches, and no perches. The hens were subjected to 2 heat episodes during their first laying cycle at week 21 to 35 and week 73 to 80, respectively. The hens were subjected to a 28 D nonfasted molting regimen starting at 85 wk of age. Cyclic heat of 32°C (6:00 am to 6:00 pm) was applied daily during the molting period. After molt, hens were returned to a layer diet and housed under thermoneutral condition. Two birds per cage were monitored for BW change during molt. Egg production was recorded daily. Feed utilization was measured during molt at 86 and 88 wk of age. Egg weight and eggshell traits were examined at 84 wk (pre-molt) and post-molt at 92, 96, and 104 wk of age. Rectal temperature and blood samples were collected from 2 birds per cage at the end of molt. Blood samples were used for determining heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, corticosterone, and thyroid hormones. Plumage condition was examined at 22 wk post-molt. Compared to control and air perch hens, cooled perch hens had higher feed usage and greater BW loss, lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratios (P < 0.05) with no difference in thyroid hormones and corticosterone at the end of molt. Cooled perch hens also had higher egg production beginning at 98 wk of age (Ptreatment*age < 0.0001) than control hens and sometimes the air-perch hens. Cooled perch hens had higher rectal temperature than control but not air perch hens at end of molt. Moreover, cooled perch hens had better breast feather scores than air perch hens but worse vent plumage (P ≤ 0.05) than both control and air perch hens. These results indicate that the provision of cooled perches assists hens with better adaptation to stressors, such as induced molt plus heat exposure, resulting in improved post-molt egg production.

Effect of a synbiotic supplement on cecal microbial ecology, antioxidant status, and immune response of broiler chickens reared under heat stress.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a dietary synbiotic supplement on the cecal microflora, antioxidant status, and immune response of broiler chickens under heat stress (HS). A total of 360 one-day-old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were randomly distributed among 3 dietary treatments containing a synbiotic (PoultryStar consists of Bifidobacterium animalis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus reuteri, Pediococcus acidilactici, and fructooligosaccharides) at 0 (control), 0.5 (0.5X), and 1.0 (1.0X) g/kg. Each treatment contained 8 replicates of 15 birds each housed in floor pens. Heat stimulation was at 32°C for 9 h daily from day 15 to 42. Heat stress-induced changes of cecal bacteria were detected using bacteria-specific agars, and spleen protein concentration and mRNA expression of interleukins and antioxidants were examined using ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. Under the HS condition, synbiotic fed broilers regardless of dose had lower cecal enumerations of Escherichia coli and coliforms, and a lower heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio (P < 0.05) compared to controls. 1.0X group also had higher cecal enumerations of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., spleen glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and plasma nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), and a lower H/L ratio compared to both control and 0.5X groups (P < 0.05). However, there were no treatment effects on the levels of Enterococcus spp., the circulating monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, Toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interlukin-10 (IL-10), and their mRNA expression, as well as plasma Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1) (P > 0.05). These results suggest that the synbiotic could inhibit the negative effects of HS on broiler health through the reduction of cecal pathogens, regulation of stress reactions, and improvement of antioxidant status.

Pathophysiological characteristics and gene transcriptional profiling of bone microstructure in a low calcium diet fed laying hens.

Calcium depletion is a valuable non-invasive tool for studying skeletal system disorders. A low calcium diet (LCD) was used to examine the pathophysiological characteristics and molecular mechanisms of osteoporotic damage in caged laying hens. Sixty 64-wk-old laying hens were randomly housed in single-bird cages, and the cages were divided into 2 treatments: fed a regular calcium diet (RCD, 3.69%) or a LCD (1.56%) for 8 wk. The diet-induced changes of serum bone remodeling indicators, bone strength, microstructure of the distal femur, and the gene expression profiling of keel bone were measured. Compared to RCD hens, LCD hens had higher activity of serum alkaline phosphatase and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase but lower serum calcium concentrations with reduced tibial and femoral mass, width, and strength (P < 0.05). In addition, LCD hens had greater densities of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, connective tissue cells, and osteoid in the trabecular bone (P < 0.05). The transcriptome analysis revealed that 563 unigenes were differentially expressed in keel bone between LCD and RCD hens. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that these differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with the osteoporosis-related signaling pathways involved in the biological functions of the bone cellular and extracellular structural modulations. The real-time PCR analysis further confirmed that the LCD enhanced the mRNA expression of collagen type 1 alpha 2, integrin-binding sialoprotein and periostin, but inhibited sclerostin expression. These findings indicate that LCD hens have a higher bone turnover and micro-architectural damage compared to RCD hens. The results further evidence dietary supplement of calcium is a critical nutrient strategy for improving hen skeletal health.

Effect of cooled perches on performance, plumage condition, and foot health of caged White Leghorn hens exposed to cyclic heat.

We examined the effects of water-chilled perches as cooling devices on hen performance during 2 summers using daily cyclic heat. White Leghorns, 17 wk of age, were assigned to 36 cages arranged into 6 banks. The banks were assigned to cooled perches, air perches, and no perches resulting in 2 replicate banks and 12 cages per treatment. Chilled water (10°C) was circulated through the cooled perches during heat episodes. Daily cyclic heat of 35°C was applied from 0600 to1800 h with a lowering of temperature to 28°C from 1800 to 0600 h during the 2014 and 2015 summers when hens were 21 to 35 and 73 to 80 wk of age, respectively. Mortality and egg production were recorded daily. Feed utilization, egg weight, and shell quality traits were measured at 4-wk intervals during the heat episodes and at 8-wk intervals during thermoneutrality. Body weight was determined at 17, 35, 72, and 80 wk of age and physical condition at 80 wk of age. At several ages during the heat episodes, cooled perch hens had increased egg production (P < 0.0001) and feed usage (P < 0.04) as compared to both air perch and control hens. The cooled perch hens had higher BW at 35 and 72 wk of age (Ptreatment*age = 0.03) and lower cumulative mortality (P = 0.02) than control hens but not air perch hens. Eggs from cooled perch hens had overall heavier weights (P < 0.0001) and higher breaking force (P < 0.0001) than eggs from the other two group hens. Greater eggshell percentage (Ptreatment*age = 0.03) and eggshell thickness (Ptreatment*age = 0.01) occurred at some ages during the 2 heat episodes as compared to the other 2 treatments. Nail length, feet hyperkeratosis, and overall feather score were similar among treatments. These results indicate that cooled perch ameliorates the negative effects of heat stress on egg traits and performance without influencing the physical condition of hens.

Effect of cooled perches on physiological parameters of caged White Leghorn hens exposed to cyclic heat.

We assessed the effects of water-chilled perches as a cooling device on the physiological parameters of caged laying hens exposed to 2 cyclic heating episodes. White Leghorns, 17 wk of age, were randomly assigned to 36 cages of 6 banks placed in the same room. Each bank was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: cooled perch (CP), air perch (AP), and no perch (CTRL) resulting in 2 replicate banks and 12 cages per treatment. Chilled water (10°C) circulated through the CP during heat periods when hens were 21 wk to 35 wk and 73 wk to 80 wk of age, respectively. During the heating episodes, hens were submitted to a daily cyclic temperature regimen of 35°C (0600 h to 1800 h) and 28°C (1800 h to 0600 h). Rectal temperature, packed cell volume, heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, and plasma levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, immunoglobulin (Ig) Y, interferon (IFN)-γ, and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 were measured on the last day of the 2 heating episodes. At the end of the first heating episode, CP hens had lower rectal temperature (P = 0.02) than both AP and CTRL hens. The CP hens also had lower HSP 70 (P = 0.04) than CTRL hens but not AP hens. At the end of the second heating episode, the CP hens had lower rectal temperature (P = 0.02) and circulating H/L ratio (P = 0.01) than both AP and CTRL hens. The CP hens also had higher levels of T3 (P = 0.002) and T3/T4 ratio (P = 0.0006) than CTRL hens but not AP hens, with a greater packed cell volume than AP hens (P = 0.02) but not CTRL hens. Cytokines and IgY levels were similar among treatments. These results indicate that CP hens were better able to cope with cyclic heat stress than CTRL and sometimes AP hens as noted by the beneficial effects on rectal temperature, thyroid activity, HSP, and H/L ratio.

Effects of probiotic supplementation on performance traits, bone mineralization, cecal microbial composition, cytokines and corticosterone in laying hens.

Recent researches have showed that probiotics promote bone health in humans and rodents. The objective of this study was to determine if probiotics have the similar effects in laying hens. Ninety-six 60-week-old White Leghorn hens were assigned to four-hen cages based on their BW. The cages were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: a layer diet mixed with a commercial probiotic product (containing Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus reuteri) at 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg feed (Control, 0.5×, 1.0× and 2.0×) for 7 weeks. Cecal Bifidobacterium spp. counts were higher in all probiotic groups (P0.05). In addition, the plasma concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α) and corticosterone as well as the levels of heterophil to lymphocyte ratio were similar between the 2.0× group and the control group (P>0.05). In line with these findings, no differences of cecal tonsil mRNA expressions of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6 and lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α factor were detected between these two groups (P>0.05). These results suggest that immune cytokines and corticosterone may not involve in the probiotic-induced improvement of eggshell quality and bone mineralization in laying hens. In conclusion, the dietary probiotic supplementation altered cecal microbiota composition, resulting in reduced shell-less egg production and improved bone mineralization in laying hens; and the dietary dose of the probiotic up to 2.0× did not cause negative stress reactions in laying hens.

Effects of a dietary synbiotic inclusion on bone health in broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress episodes.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a dietary synbiotic inclusion on broiler bone health under daily cyclic heat stress. A total of 360 Ross 708 broilers were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments (8 replicates per treatment): a regular diet (control) and the regular diet mixed with a commercial synbiotic product at 0.5 (0.5X) or 1.0 (1.0X) g/kg. The synbiotic contains a prebiotic (fructooligosaccharides) and a probiotic mixture of 4 microbial strains (Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Lactobacillus reuteri). Room temperature was gradually decreased from 34°C on d 1 by 0.5°C/d for the first 14 d; then a cyclic heat stress episode (32°C/9 h/d) was applied from d 15 to 42. Gait score assessment and the latency-to-lie test were conducted when broilers were 40 and 41 d of age, respectively. The tibia, femur, and humerus were collected for measuring bone parameters at 42 d of age. The data indicated that bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and bone area were higher and the level of gait score was lower in the 1.0X group (P = 0.05) but not in the 0.5X group (P > 0.05) compared to controls. The proportions of broilers showing signs of lameness were ranked 1.0X group (25%) < 0.5X group (45%) < control (54%). Compared to controls, broilers of 0.5X group stood longer (P = 0.03) during the latency-to-lie test. In conclusion, under the present conditions the synbiotic profoundly improves multiple indices of leg health of broilers subjected to the cyclic heat episodes, resulting in an improvement in walking ability.

Effects of probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) supplementation on meat quality characteristics of breast muscle from broilers exposed to chronic heat stress.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of probiotic feeding and chronic heat stress on meat quality, total lipid and phospholipid contents, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity, and heat shock protein abundance of broiler breast muscle. A total of 240 male broilers (5 birds per pen) were subjected to 4 treatments consisting of a 2 × 2 factorial design. Broilers were kept at 21-32-21°C for 10 h daily (heat stress, HS) or 21°C (thermoneutral condition) and fed a regular diet or the diet mixed with probiotic (250 ppm of Sporulin containing 3 strains of Bacillus subtilis). A total of 48 broilers (12 birds/treatment) were harvested at 46 d. Neither HS nor probiotic had substantial impacts on water-holding capacity, shear force, and color characteristics. HS induced lipid oxidation as increased 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), in which probiotic feeding decreased TBARS value (P = 0.002) and phospholipid contents (P = 0.0033) in breast muscle of HS broilers. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was increased with HS (P < 0.0001), but no significant impact of probiotic supplementation was found. Neither probiotic nor HS affected catalase activity, but superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were lower in HS broilers compared to thermoneutral controls (P < 0.0001) and in probiotics-fed broilers (P < 0.0001) compared to their counterparts. In addition, a significant interaction between probiotic and HS was found at glutathione peroxidase activities, in which breast muscle of broilers fed probiotic at thermoneutral condition showed the highest activity (P < 0.05). Regarding heat shock protein (HSP) determination, HS slightly increased the levels of both HSP70 (P = 0.08) and HSP27 (P = 0.05), but no significant impacts of probiotic supplementation were found. Our results indicate that probiotic feeding could improve breast muscle weight without adverse impacts on meat quality attributes, as well as alleviate oxidative deterioration of breast muscle of broilers undergoing heat stress.

Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic reduces heat stress-related behaviors and inflammatory response in broiler chickens.

Probiotics reduce stress-related inflammation and abnormal behaviors in humans and rodents via regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The objective of this study was to determine if probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, has similar functions in broiler chickens under heat stress (HS). Two hundred forty 1-d-old broiler chicks were assigned to 48 pens with 4 treatments: Thermoneutral (TN)-RD (regular diet), TN-PD (the regular diet mixed with 1 × 106 CFU/g feed probiotic), HS-RD and HS-PD. Probiotic (Sporulin) was fed from day 1; and HS at 32°C for 10 h daily was initiated at day 15. The data showed that final BW, average daily gain , and feed conversion efficiency were improved in PD groups as compared to RD groups regardless of the ambient temperature (P < 0.01). Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was affected by treatment and its value was in the order of HS-RD > HS-PD > TN-RD > TN-PD birds (P < 0.01). Compared to TN birds, HS birds spent more time in wing spreading, panting, squatting close to the ground, drinking, sleeping, dozing, and sitting but spent less time in eating, standing, and walking (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In addition, HS birds had greater levels of hepatic IL-6, IL-10, heat shock protein (HSP)70, and HSP70 mRNA expression (P < 0.01) and greater levels of cecal IgA and IgY (P < 0.01) compared to TN birds. Within TN groups, TN-PD birds had greater concentrations of hepatic IL-10 (P < 0.05) and cecal IgA (P < 0.01) than TN-RD birds. Within HS groups, HS-PD birds spent less time in wing spreading, panting, squatting close to the ground, drinking, sleeping, dozing, and sitting but spent more time in eating, foraging, standing, and walking than HS-RD birds (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The HS-PD birds also had lower concentrations of hepatic IL-6 and HSP70 (P < 0.01), whereas greater levels of IL-10 (P < 0.05) and lower concentrations of cecal IgA and IgY (P < 0.01). These results indicate that broilers fed the probiotic, B. subtilis, are able to cope with HS more effectively by ameliorating heat-induced behavioral and inflammatory reactions through regulation of microbiota-modulated immunity.

Effect of dietary synbiotic supplement on behavioral patterns and growth performance of broiler chickens reared under heat stress.

This study examined the effects of a dietary synbiotic supplement on the behavioral patterns and growth performance of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress (HS). Three hundred sixty 1-day-old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were distributed among 24 floor pens (15 chicks per pen); each pen was randomly assigned to one of 3 dietary treatments containing a synbiotic at 0 (control), 0.5 (0.5X) and 1.0 (1.0X) g/kg. From d 15 to 42, birds were exposed to HS at 32°C daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Five broiler chickens were randomly marked in each pen for behavioral observation. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to record the birds' behavioral patterns. Performance parameters were measured on d 7, 14, 28 and 42. The synbiotic fed birds exhibited more standing, sitting, walking, feeding, preening and less wing spreading and panting behaviors (P < 0.05) compared to birds fed the control diet. The synbiotic group also had higher BW, BW gain and feed intake on d 7, 14 and 42 (P < 0.05), and higher BW, feed intake and feed conversion ratio at d 28 (P < 0.01). There were no treatment effects on drinking behavior, BW gain on d 28 and feed conversion ratio on d 42 (P > 0.05). There were few dose-related differences of the synbiotic on production performance; namely, the 1.0X concentration resulted in the highest BW and feed intake on d 14 and 42 (P < 0.05), while BW gain was higher compared to the control group only on d 42 (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the synbiotic supplement may prove to be an important management tool for the broiler industry to diminish the negative effects of HS, potentially safeguarding the welfare and production of broiler chickens, particularly in areas that experience hot climates.

Effect of Concentration on the Interfacial and Bulk Structure of Ionic Liquids in Aqueous Solution.

Bio and aqueous applications of ionic liquids (IL) such as catalysis in micelles formed in aqueous IL solutions or extraction of chemicals from biologic materials rely on surface-active and self-assembly properties of ILs. Here, we discuss qualitative relations of the interfacial and bulk structuring of a water-soluble surface-active IL ([C8MIm][Cl]) on chemically controlled surfaces over a wide range of water concentrations using both force probe and X-ray scattering experiments. Our data indicate that IL structuring evolves from surfactant-like surface adsorption at low IL concentrations, to micellar bulk structure adsorption above the critical micelle concentration, to planar bilayer formation in ILs with <1 wt % of water and at high charging of the surface. Interfacial structuring is controlled by mesoscopic bulk structuring at high water concentrations. Surface chemistry and surface charges decisively steer interfacial ordering of ions if the water concentration is low and/or the surface charge is high. We also demonstrate that controlling the interfacial forces by using self-assembled monolayer chemistry allows tuning of interfacial structures. Both the ratio of the head group size to the hydrophobic tail volume as well as the surface charging trigger the bulk structure and offer a tool for predicting interfacial structures. Based on the applied techniques and analyses, a qualitative prediction of molecular layering of ILs in aqueous systems is possible.