Comparison of Aroma and Taste Profiles of Kiwi Wine Fermented with/without Peel by Combining Intelligent Sensory, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

Kiwi wine (KW) is tipically made by fermenting juice from peeled kiwifruit, resulting in the disposal of peel and pomace as by-products. However, the peel contains various beneficial compounds, like phenols and flavonoids. Since the peel is edible and rich in these compounds, incorporating it into the fermentation process of KW presents a potential solution to minimize by-product waste. This study compared the aroma and taste profiles of KW from peeled (PKW) and unpeeled (UKW) kiwifruits by combining intelligent sensory technology, GC-MS, and 1H-NMR. Focusing on aroma profiles, 75 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in KW fermented with peel, and 73 VOCs in KW without peel, with 62 VOCs common to both. Among these compounds, rose oxide, D-citronellol, and bornylene were more abundant in UKW, while hexyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, and 2,4,5-trichlorobenzene were significantly higher in PKW. For taste profiles, E-tongue analysis revealed differences in the taste profiles of KW from the two sources. A total of 74 molecules were characterized using 1H-NMR. UKW exhibited significantly higher levels of tartrate, galactarate, N-acetylserotonin, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelate, fumarate, and N-acetylglycine, along with a significantly lower level of oxypurinol compared to PKW. This study seeks to develop the theoretical understanding of the fermentation of kiwifruit with peel in sight of the utilization of the whole fruit for KW production, to increase the economic value of kiwifruit production.

Improved predictions of total kidney volume growth rate in ADPKD using two-parameter least squares fitting.

Mayo Imaging Classification (MIC) for predicting future kidney growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients is calculated from a single MRI/CT scan assuming exponential kidney volume growth and height-adjusted total kidney volume at birth to be 150 mL/m. However, when multiple scans are available, how this information should be combined to improve prediction accuracy is unclear. Herein, we studied ADPKD subjects ( n = 36 ) with 8+ years imaging follow-up (mean = 11 years) to establish ground truth kidney growth trajectory. MIC annual kidney growth rate predictions were compared to ground truth as well as 1- and 2-parameter least squares fitting. The annualized mean absolute error in MIC for predicting total kidney volume growth rate was 2.1 % ± 2 % compared to 1.1 % ± 1 % ( p = 0.002 ) for a 2-parameter fit to the same exponential growth curve used for MIC when 4 measurements were available or 1.4 % ± 1 % ( p = 0.01 ) with 3 measurements averaging together with MIC. On univariate analysis, male sex ( p = 0.05 ) and PKD2 mutation ( p = 0.04 ) were associated with poorer MIC performance. In ADPKD patients with 3 or more CT/MRI scans, 2-parameter least squares fitting predicted kidney volume growth rate better than MIC, especially in males and with PKD2 mutations where MIC was less accurate.

A Primer for Utilizing Deep Learning and Abdominal MRI Imaging Features to Monitor Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression.

Abdominal imaging of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has historically focused on detecting complications such as cyst rupture, cyst infection, obstructing renal calculi, and pyelonephritis; discriminating complex cysts from renal cell carcinoma; and identifying sources of abdominal pain. Many imaging features of ADPKD are incompletely evaluated or not deemed to be clinically significant, and because of this, treatment options are limited. However, total kidney volume (TKV) measurement has become important for assessing the risk of disease progression (i.e., Mayo Imaging Classification) and predicting tolvaptan treatment's efficacy. Deep learning for segmenting the kidneys has improved these measurements' speed, accuracy, and reproducibility. Deep learning models can also segment other organs and tissues, extracting additional biomarkers to characterize the extent to which extrarenal manifestations complicate ADPKD. In this concept paper, we demonstrate how deep learning may be applied to measure the TKV and how it can be extended to measure additional features of this disease.

Effects of Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts and Their Pairwise Combinations in Co-Fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the Quality of Chunjian Citrus Wine.

Non-Saccharomyces (NSc) yeasts have great potential in improving wine qualities. In this study, two NSc and two Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) samples were tested on their performance of mono-inoculated and composite culture in the fermentation of Chunjian citrus wine. The cell count, Brix degree, total sugar, total acidity, alcohol level, pH value, color intensity (CI), and tonality were determined to evaluate the contribution of NSc to the quality of citrus wine in the mixed fermentation. Volatile compounds were analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS, and sensory evaluation was carried out. During the 9-day fermentation, the mixed-culture wine exhibited a higher cell concentration than the pure culture. After the fermentation, mixed-culture wine specifically decreased the concentrations of unfavorable volatile compounds, such as isobutanol and octanoic acid, and increased favorable volatile compounds, including ethyl octanoate, ethyl decanoate, and phenylethyl acetate. The quality category of the citrus wine was improved compared with the Sc mono-inoculated wines, mainly in regard to aroma, retention, and sweetness. The study shows that the mixed fermentation of NSc and Sc has positive impacts on reducing alcohol level and total acidity and increasing CI. The present work demonstrates that the mixed fermentation of NSc and Sc has enormous beneficial impacts on improving the quality of citrus wine.

The "crosstalk" between microbiota and metabolomic profile in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice supplemented with Bletilla striata polysaccharides and composite polysaccharides.

The potential prebiotic feature of Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSP) has been widely accepted, while the beneficial effect of BSP on high-fat-diet-induced obesity is unclear. Moreover, the "crosstalk" between microbiota and metabolomic profile in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice supplemented with BSP still need to be further explored. The present study attempted to illustrate the effect of BSP and/or composite polysaccharides on high-fat-diet-induced obese mice by combining multi-matrix (feces, urine, liver) metabolomics and gut microbiome. The results showed that BSP and/or composite polysaccharides were able to reduce the abnormal weight gain induced by high-fat diet. A total of 175 molecules were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) in feces, urine and liver, suggesting that multi-matrix metabolomics could provide a comprehensive view of metabolic regulatory mechanism of BSP in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice. Several pathways were altered in response to BSP supplementation, mainly pertaining to amino acid, purine, pyrimidine, ascorbate and aldarate metabolisms. In addition, BSP ameliorated high-fat-diet-induced imbalanced gut microbiome, by lowering the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. Significant correlations were illustrated between particular microbiota's features and specific metabolites. Overall, the anti-obesity effect of BSP could be attributed to the amelioration of the disorders of gut microbiota and to the regulation of the "gut-liver axis" metabolism.

Effect of Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum genus) Addition on Flavor Profile in Fermented Ciba Chili (Capsicum genus) Using GC-IMS Combined with E-Nose and E-Tongue.

This study examined the flavor profiles of fermented Ciba chili, comparing samples with Sichuan pepper (HJ) to those without Sichuan pepper (CK), using three analytical techniques: E-tongue, E-nose, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). The results obtained from the E-tongue and E-nose exhibited a clear difference in taste and flavor between CK and HJ. In detail, CK mainly exhibited a sour flavor profile, whereas HJ displayed an intricate and rich flavor. The HS-GC-IMS results identified a total of 60 compounds in the samples, with terpenes, alcohols, and esters being the primary volatile flavor compounds. Additionally, Zanthoxylum was found to significantly enhance the concentration of these compounds in fermented Ciba chili. Through robust principal component analysis (rPCA), 17 distinct flavor compounds were selected. Correlation analysis revealed that most terpenes exhibited positive correlations with LY2/LG, LY2/gCT1, LY2/Gct, LY2/G, LY2/Gh, and terpenes were found in higher concentrations in HJ. This study contributes a theoretical basis and provides data support for optimizing the fermentation process and elucidating the underlying mechanism of characteristic aroma formation in Ciba chili after fermentation.

Clinical Quality Control of MRI Total Kidney Volume Measurements in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Total kidney volume measured on MRI is an important biomarker for assessing the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and response to treatment. However, we have noticed that there can be substantial differences in the kidney volume measurements obtained from the various pulse sequences commonly included in an MRI exam. Here we examine kidney volume measurement variability among five commonly acquired MRI pulse sequences in abdominal MRI exams in 105 patients with ADPKD. Right and left kidney volumes were independently measured by three expert observers using model-assisted segmentation for axial T2, coronal T2, axial single-shot fast spin echo (SSFP), coronal SSFP, and axial 3D T1 images obtained on a single MRI from ADPKD patients. Outlier measurements were analyzed for data acquisition errors. Most of the outlier values (88%) were due to breathing during scanning causing slice misregistration with gaps or duplication of imaging slices (n = 35), slice misregistration from using multiple breath holds during acquisition (n = 25), composing of two overlapping acquisitions (n = 17), or kidneys not entirely within the field of view (n = 4). After excluding outlier measurements, the coefficient of variation among the five measurements decreased from 4.6% pre to 3.2%. Compared to the average of all sequences without errors, TKV measured on axial and coronal T2 weighted imaging were 1.2% and 1.8% greater, axial SSFP was 0.4% greater, coronal SSFP was 1.7% lower and axial T1 was 1.5% lower than the mean, indicating intrinsic measurement biases related to the different MRI contrast mechanisms. In conclusion, MRI data acquisition errors are common but can be identified using outlier analysis and excluded to improve organ volume measurement consistency. Bias toward larger volume measurements on T2 sequences and smaller volumes on axial T1 sequences can also be mitigated by averaging data from all error-free sequences acquired.

Characterization of Flavor Profile of "Nanx Wudl" Sour Meat Fermented from Goose and Pork Using Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry (GC-IMS) Combined with Electronic Nose and Tongue.

Sour meat is a highly appreciated traditional fermented product, mainly from the Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hunan provinces. The flavor profiles of sour meat from goose and pork were evaluated using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) combined with an electronic nose (E-nose) and tongue (E-tongue). A total of 94 volatile compounds were characterized in fermented sour meat from both pork and goose using GC-IMS. A data-mining protocol based on univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the source of the raw meat plays a crucial role in the formation of flavor compounds during the fermentation process. In detail, sour meat from pork contained higher levels of hexyl acetate, sotolon, heptyl acetate, butyl propanoate, hexanal, and 2-acetylpyrrole than sour goose meat. In parallel, sour meat from goose showed higher levels of 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one, n-butyl lactate, 2-butanol, (E)-2-nonenal, and decalin than sour pork. In terms of the odor and taste response values obtained by the E-nose and E-tongue, a robust principal component model (RPCA) could effectively differentiate sour meat from the two sources. The present work could provide references to investigate the flavor profiles of traditional sour meat products fermented from different raw meats and offer opportunities for a rapid identification method based on flavor profiles.

Metabolomic Characteristics of Cecum Contents in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice Intervened with Different Fibers.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of single or mixed fibers (arabinoxylan, ß-glucan, xyloglucan, and inulin) on the metabolome of cecum content in mice with obesity caused by a high-fat diet. Twenty-eight six-week-old male mice were divided randomly into seven groups (n = 4/group), including a normal-diet group (CON), a high-fat-diet group (HFD), and groups with the same high-fat diet but supplemented with arabinoxylan (HFAX), arabinoxylan + ß-glucan (HFAß), arabinoxylan + xyloglucan (HFAG), xyloglucan (HFXG), and xyloglucan + inulin (HFXI). A total of 66 molecules were identified and quantified in cecum content by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR). The metabolomic profiles combined with statistical analysis revealed compounds distinguishing the control group from those supplemented with fibers. In detail, a high-fat diet could significantly elevate the concentrations of acetone and methionine (p < 0.05) while decreasing the levels of methanol, arabinose, acetate, and 3-hydroxyphenylacetate (p < 0.05) in the cecum contents of mice. Compared to HFD, the supplementation caused higher levels of fumarate and hypoxanthine (p < 0.05) and lower levels of phenylacetate, acetate, fucose, formate, proline, betaine, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) (p < 0.05). An enrichment analysis highlighted that the pathways mainly altered were amino sugar metabolism, aspartate metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. In conclusion, non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) supplementation could change the metabolomic profiles of cecum contents in obese mice as a result of a high-fat diet. Moreover, mixed NSPs exhibited more beneficial effects than singular form on gut metabolism.

Endoscopic retrograde stent drainage therapies for malignant biliary obstruction: the distal opening of stent location above or across the duodenal papilla? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of the method of placing the distal stent opening above the duodenal papilla (hereinafter referred to Above method) for endoscopic retrograde stent internal drainage in MBO patients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of science and Cochrane databases were searched to identify clinical studies comparing the stent distal opening mounted above the papilla and across the papilla (hereinafter referred to Across method), Comparison indicators included stent patency, stent occlusion rate, clinical success rate, overall complication rate, postoperative cholangitis rate, and overall survival. Revman5.4 software was used for meta-analysis, funnel plot and publication bias and Egger's test were completed by Stata14.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 11 clinical studies (8 case-control studies, 3 RCT studies) were included, with a total of 751 patients (318 cases in the Above group and 433 cases Across group). The overall patency of Above method was longer than that of Across method (HR = 0.60, 95%CI [0.46-0.78], p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed statistical difference using plastic stent (HR = 0.49, 95%CI [0.33,0.73], p < 0.001). Inversely, there didn't exist significant difference in which metal stent were adopted (HR= 0.74, 95%CI [0.46,1.18], p = 0.21). Similarly, there also without statistical difference between patients with plastic stent placed above the papilla and metal stent mounted Across the papilla (HR = 0.73, 95%CI [0.15,3.65], p = 0.70). Moreover, the overall complication rate of the Above method was lower than that of the Across method (OR = 0.48,95%CI [0.30,0.75], p = 0.002). On the contrary, the differences of stent occlusion rate (OR = 0.86,95%CI [0.51,1.44], p = 0.56), overall survival (HR = 0.90, 95%CI [0.71,1.13]), p = 0.36), the clinical success rate (OR = 1.30, 95%CI [0.52,3.24], p = 0.57) and postoperative cholangitis rats (OR = 0.73, 95%CI [0.34,1.56], p = 0.41) were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The distal opening of the stent can be placed above the duodenal main papilla for eligible MBO patients who receiving endoscopic retrograde stent drainage treatment, which can effectively prolong the patency duration when plastic stent is used, and reduce the overall risk of complications.

Metabolomic Analysis of Multiple Biological Specimens (Feces, Serum, and Urine) by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy from Dairy Cows with Clinical Mastitis.

Due to huge economic losses to the dairy industry worldwide, mastitis can be considered as one of the most common diseases in dairy cows. This work aimed to study this disease by comparing multiple biological specimens (feces, serum, and urine) from individuals with or without clinical mastitis. This was performed by a single analytical platform, namely 1H-NMR, through a multi-matrix strategy. Thanks to the high reproducibility of 1H-NMR, we could characterize 120 molecules across dairy cow feces, serum, and urine. Among them, 23 molecules were in common across the three biofluids. By integrating the results of multi-matrix metabolomics, several pathways pertaining to energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism appeared to be affected by clinical mastitis. The present work wished to deepen the understanding of dairy cow mastitis in its clinical form. Simultaneous analysis of metabolome changes across several key biofluids could facilitate knowledge discovery and the reliable identification of potential biomarkers, which could be, in turn, used to shed light on the early diagnosis of dairy cow mastitis in its subclinical form.

Effect of Averaging Measurements From Multiple MRI Pulse Sequences on Kidney Volume Reproducibility in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: Total kidney volume (TKV) is an important biomarker for assessing kidney function, especially for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). However, TKV measurements from a single MRI pulse sequence have limited reproducibility, ± ~5%, similar to ADPKD annual kidney growth rates. PURPOSE: To improve TKV measurement reproducibility on MRI by extending artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically segment kidneys on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and steady state free precession (SSFP) sequences in axial and coronal planes and averaging measurements. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective training, prospective testing. SUBJECTS: Three hundred ninety-seven patients (356 with ADPKD, 41 without), 75% for training and 25% for validation, 40 ADPKD patients for testing and 17 ADPKD patients for assessing reproducibility. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: T2-weighted single-shot fast spin echo (T2), SSFP, and T1-weighted 3D spoiled gradient echo (T1) at 1.5 and 3T. ASSESSMENT: 2D U-net segmentation algorithm was trained on images from all sequences. Five observers independently measured each kidney volume manually on axial T2 and using model-assisted segmentations on all sequences and image plane orientations for two MRI exams in two sessions separated by 1-3 weeks to assess reproducibility. Manual and model-assisted segmentation times were recorded. STATISTICAL TESTS: Bland-Altman, Schapiro-Wilk (normality assessment), Pearson's chi-squared (categorical variables); Dice similarity coefficient, interclass correlation coefficient, and concordance correlation coefficient for analyzing TKV reproducibility. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In 17 ADPKD subjects, model-assisted segmentations of axial T2 images were significantly faster than manual segmentations (2:49 minute vs. 11:34 minute), with no significant absolute percent difference in TKV (5.9% vs. 5.3%, P = 0.88) between scans 1 and 2. Absolute percent differences between the two scans for model-assisted segmentations on other sequences were 5.5% (axial T1), 4.5% (axial SSFP), 4.1% (coronal SSFP), and 3.2% (coronal T2). Averaging measurements from all five model-assisted segmentations significantly reduced absolute percent difference to 2.5%, further improving to 2.1% after excluding an outlier. DATA CONCLUSION: Measuring TKV on multiple MRI pulse sequences in coronal and axial planes is practical with deep learning model-assisted segmentations and can improve TKV measurement reproducibility more than 2-fold in ADPKD. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Exploring the metabolome of seminal plasma in two different horse types: Light versus draft stallions.

The application of the 'omics' studies in the field of animal reproduction has been aimed at identifying novel biomarkers of fertility since the last few years. When assessing reproductive efficiency in horses, breed should also be taken into account as it can influence semen quality and fertility. Considering the growing interest in metabolomic analysis to evaluate male fertility, we aimed to investigate the metabolomic profile of seminal plasma in two different horse breeds. Twelve healthy stallions, n.6 American Quarter Horse (AQH) and n.6 Italian Draft Horse (IDH) stallions, regularly used for artificial insemination, were included in the study. Two semen collections, performed 30-day apart, were considered for the assessment of semen parameters including gel-free volume, spermatozoa (spz) concentration, spz progressive motility and seminal plasma analysis by 1 H-NMR.Semen characteristics differed between IDH and AQH (p < .05) as well as the first cycle conception rate that was higher in AQH than IDH (p = .001). Metabolomic analysis quantified 56 molecules in equine seminal plasma, with 11 metabolites showing different concentrations in IDH compared to AQH (p < .05).This study provided evidence of differences in seminal plasma metabolites' concentrations between studied horse types, highlighting specific metabolomic fingerprints characterizing AQH and IDH sperm.

Effect of Capsaicin Stress on Aroma-Producing Properties of Lactobacillus plantarum CL-01 Based on E-Nose and GC-IMS.

Capsaicin stress, along with salt stress, could be considered the main stressors for lactic acid bacteria in traditional fermented pepper products. Until now, insufficient attention has been paid to salt stress, while the effect of capsaicin on the aroma-producing properties of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) is unclear. The present study attempted to illustrate the effect of capsaicin stress on the aroma-producing properties of L. plantarum CL-01 isolated from traditionally fermented peppers based on E-nose and GC-IMS. The results showed that E-nose could clearly distinguish the overall flavor differences of L. plantarum CL-01 under capsaicin stress. A total of 48 volatile compounds (VOCs) were characterized by means of GC-IMS, and the main VOCs belonged to acids and alcohols. Capsaicin stress significantly promoted L. plantarum CL-01 to produce alpha-pinene, ethyl crotonate, isobutyric acid, trans-2-pentenal, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, 1-penten-3-one, 2-pentanone, 3-methyl-1-butanol-D, and 2-heptanone (p < 0.05). In addition, under capsaicin stress, the contents of 1-penten-3-one, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, 5-methylfurfuryl alcohol, isobutanol, 2-furanmethanethiol, 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane, 1-propanethiol, diethyl malonate, acetic acid, beta-myrcene, 2-pentanone, ethyl acetate, trans-2-pentenal, 2-methylbutyl acetate, and 2-heptanone produced by L. plantarum CL-01 were significantly increased along with the fermentation time (p < 0.05). Furthermore, some significant correlations were observed between the response values of specific E-nose sensors and effective VOCs.

The Longer the Storage Time, the Higher the Price, the Better the Quality? A 1H-NMR Based Metabolomic Investigation of Aged Ya'an Tibetan Tea (Camellia sinensis).

As an essential beverage beneficial for Tibetan people, Ya'an Tibetan tea has received scarce attention, particularly from the point of view of the characterization of its metabolome. The aim of the study is to systematically characterize the metabolome of Tibetan tea by means of untargeted 1H-NMR. Moreover, the variations of its metabolome along ageing time are evaluated by taking advantage of univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 45 molecules are unambiguously identified and quantified, comprising amino acids, peptides and analogues, carbohydrates and derivates, organic acids and derivates, nucleosides, nucleotides and catechins. The concentrations of amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates and catechins are mainly determined by ageing time. The present study would serve as a reference guide for further work on the Ya'an Tibetan tea metabolome, therefore contributing to the related industries.

Lipidomics for Determining Giant Panda Responses in Serum and Feces Following Exposure to Different Amount of Bamboo Shoot Consumption: A First Step towards Lipidomic Atlas of Bamboo, Giant Panda Serum and Feces by Means of GC-MS and UHPLC-HRMS/MS.

Lipidic metabolites play essential roles in host physiological health and growth performance, serving as the major structural and signaling components of membranes, energy storage molecules, and steroid hormones. Bamboo, as wild giant pandas' exclusive diet, is the main determinant of giant pandas' lipidome, both as a direct source and through microbiota activity. Interestingly, the consumption of bamboo has attracted little attention from a lipidomic perspective. In the current study, we outline the lipidomic atlas of different parts of bamboo. By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we have been able to obtain the absolute quantification of 35 fatty acids pertaining to short chain fatty acids (8), medium chain fatty acids (6), long chain fatty acids (17), and very long chain fatty acids (4), while liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) allowed us to obtain the relative quantification of another 1638 lipids. Among the fatty acids quantified in absolute terms, eight showed significantly distinct concentrations among different bamboo parts. Subsequently, we investigated how the giant panda's serum and fecal lipidome adapt to the most important annual change in their diet, represented by the consumption of high amounts of bamboo shoots, typical of spring, the weight-gaining season. Five fatty acids were significantly altered in feces and two in serum, respectively, due to the different levels of bamboo shoot consumption. Furthermore, significant differences of the main bacteria strains were observed in feces between the two groups at the genus level, pertaining to Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, and Vagococcus. Correlations between giant panda fecal microbiome and lipidome were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. These findings suggest that a balanced diet, important for the overall lipidomic function and giant panda health, could be reached even in this remarkable case of a single food-based diet, by administering to the giant panda's combinations of different parts of bamboo, with specific lipidome profiles.

Evaluation of the metabolomic profile through 1H-NMR spectroscopy in ewes affected by postpartum hyperketonemia.

Ketosis is one of the most important health problems in dairy sheep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic alterations in hyperketonemic (HYK) ewes. Forty-six adult Sardinian ewes were enrolled between 7 ± 3 days post-partum. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein using Venosafe tubes containing clot activator from jugular vein after clinical examination. The concentration of ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was determined in serum and used to divide ewes into assign ewes into: Non-HYK (serum BHB < 0.80 mmol/L) and HYK (serum BHB ≥ 0.80 mmol/L) groups. Animal data and biochemical parameters of groups were examined with one-way ANOVA, and metabolite differences were tested using a t-test. A robust principal component analysis model and a heatmap were used to highlight common trends among metabolites. Over-representation analysis was performed to investigate metabolic pathways potentially altered in connection with BHB alterations. The metabolomic analysis identified 54 metabolites with 14 different between groups. These metabolites indicate altered ruminal microbial populations and fermentations; an interruption of the tricarboxylic acid cycle; initial lack of glucogenic substrates; mobilization of body reserves; the potential alteration of electron transport chain; influence on urea synthesis; alteration of nervous system, inflammatory response, and immune cell function.

Dominant Components of the Giant Panda Seminal Plasma Metabolome, Characterized by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy.

As an assisted breeding technique, artificial insemination has become the main effective practical approach in the captive breeding programs of giant panda worldwide. The composition of seminal plasma plays an important role in the success of breeding. The present work is the first attempt to characterize, by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), the metabolome of healthy giant panda seminal plasma. A total of 35 molecules were quantified, with the concentration of 2,3-butanediol being significantly different between individuals younger than 8 years and older than 13 years, and other distinct age-related trends were highlighted by a multivariate analysis. Isopropanol's concentration was significantly linked to estrus stages. Besides, the variations in the metabolome's profile during storage were also evaluated. This study may serve as a reference for further research wishing to shed light on the biological mechanisms affecting giant panda sperm's overall quality and may ultimately lead to novel approaches to giant panda artificial insemination.

Differences in the serum metabolome profile of dairy cows according to the BHB concentration revealed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR).

The mobilization of body reserves during the transition from pregnancy to lactation might predispose dairy cows to develop metabolic disorders such as subclinical ketosis or hyperketonemia. These conditions are not easily identifiable and are frequently related to other diseases that cause economic loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum metabolome differences according to the ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration. Forty-nine Holstein Friesian dairy cows were enrolled between 15 and 30 days in milk. According to their serum BHB concentration, the animals were divided into three groups: Group 0 (G0; 12 healthy animals; BHB ≤ 0.50 mmol/L); Group 1 (G1; 19 healthy animals; 0.51 ≤ BHB < 1.0 mmol/L); and Group 2 (G2; 18 hyperketonemic animals; BHB ≥ 1.0 mmol/L). Animal data and biochemical parameters were examined with one-way ANOVA, and metabolite significant differences were examined by t-tests. Fifty-seven metabolites were identified in the serum samples. Thirteen metabolites showed significant effects and seemed to be related to the mobilization of body reserves, lipids, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, and ruminal fermentation.