Effect of coconut processing by-product graded feeding on carcass traits and meat quality of lambs.

The inclusion of by-product coconut mesocarp skins (CMS) in diets was evaluated in feedlot lambs. The objective of this study was to evaluate CMS levels effects on carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Thirty-five male lambs with an initial body weight of 16.9 ± 2.93 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with five CMS levels in total dry matter (0; 4.8; 9.6; 14.4 and 19.2%) and fed during 71 d until slaughter. High levels of CMS decreased the intake of dry matter and negatively affected the performance of lambs. Fat and protein contents of Longissimus lumborum muscle (P < 0.05) and the saturated fatty acid (FA) decreased (P < 0.001) whereas polyunsaturated FA increased (P < 0.01) with the inclusion of CMS. The ratio t10/t11-18:1 increased with the inclusion of CMS (P < 0.001). The instrumental color descriptors were unaffected by CMS levels. According to the effects on the investigated meat quality traits we recommend up to 4.8% CMS in diets of confined lambs.

Molecular therapy for polyQ disorders: from bench to clinical trials.

Polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders are monogenic neurodegenerative disorders. Currently, no therapies are available for this complex group of disorders. Here, we aim to provide an overview of recent promising preclinical studies and the ongoing clinical trials focusing on molecular therapies for polyQ disorders.

Folding Kinetics and Volume Variation of the ß-Hairpin Peptide Chignolin upon Ultrafast pH-Jumps.

In-depth characterization of fundamental folding steps of small model peptides is crucial for a better understanding of the folding mechanisms of more complex biomacromolecules. We have previously reported on the folding/unfolding kinetics of a model α-helix. Here, we study folding transitions in chignolin (GYDPETGTWG), a short ß-hairpin peptide previously used as a model to study conformational changes in ß-sheet proteins. Although previously suggested, until now, the role of the Tyr2-Trp9 interaction in the folding mechanism of chignolin was not clear. In the present work, pH-dependent conformational changes of chignolin were characterized by circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultrafast pH-jump coupled with time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry (TR-PAC), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Taken together, our results present a comprehensive view of chignolin's folding kinetics upon local pH changes and the role of the Tyr2-Trp9 interaction in the folding process. CD data show that chignolin's ß-hairpin formation displays a pH-dependent skew bell-shaped curve, with a maximum close to pH 6, and a large decrease in ß-sheet content at alkaline pH. The ß-hairpin structure is mainly stabilized by aromatic interactions between Tyr2 and Trp9 and CH-π interactions between Tyr2 and Pro4. Unfolding of chignolin at high pH demonstrates that protonation of Tyr2 is essential for the stability of the ß-hairpin. Refolding studies were triggered by laser-induced pH-jumps and detected by TR-PAC. The refolding of chignolin from high pH, mainly due to the protonation of Tyr2, is characterized by a volume expansion (10.4 mL mol-1), independent of peptide concentration, in the microsecond time range (lifetime of 1.15 µs). At high pH, the presence of the deprotonated hydroxyl (tyrosinate) hinders the formation of the aromatic interaction between Tyr2 and Trp9 resulting in a more disorganized and dynamic tridimensional structure of the peptide. This was also confirmed by comparing MD simulations of chignolin under conditions mimicking neutral and high pH.

The interplay between climate change and ageing: A systematic review of health indicators.

Climate change and rapid population ageing pose challenges for communities and public policies. This systematic review aims to gather data from studies that present health indicators establishing the connection between climate change and the physical and mental health of the older population (≥ 65 years), who experience a heightened vulnerability to the impacts of climate change when compared to other age cohorts. This review was conducted according to the PICO strategy and following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. Three databases (PubMed, Scopus and Greenfile) were searched for articles from 2015 to 2022. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria,nineteen studies were included. The findings indicated that various climate change phenomena are associated with an elevated risk of mortality and morbidity outcomes in older adults. These included cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and mental diseases, along with physical injuries. Notably, the impact of climate change was influenced by gender, socioeconomic status, education level, and age-vulnerability factors. Climate change directly affected the health of older adults through ambient temperature variability, extreme and abnormal temperatures, strong winds, sea temperature variability, extreme El Niño-southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions and droughts, and indirectly by air pollution resulting from wildfires. This review presents further evidence confirming that climate change significantly impacts the health and well-being of older adults. It highlights the urgency for implementing effective strategies to facilitate adaptation and mitigation, enhancing the overall quality of life for all individuals.

Dietary Salicornia ramosissima improves the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) inflammatory response against Photobacterium damselae piscicida.

Introduction: Modern fish farming faces challenges in sourcing feed ingredients, most related with their prices, 21 availability, and specifically for plant protein sources, competition for the limited cultivation space for 22 vegetable crops. In that sense, halophytes have the added value of being rich in valuable bioactive compounds and salt tolerant. This study assessed the inclusion of non-food fractions of S. ramosissima in European seabass diets. Methods: Different levels (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) were incorporated into seabass diets, replacing wheat meal (diets ST2.5, ST5, and ST10) or without inclusion (CTRL). Experimental diets were administered to seabass juveniles (8.62 ± 0.63 g) for 34 and 62 days and subsequent inflammatory responses to a heat-inactivated Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp) were evaluated in a time-course manner (4, 24, 48, and 72 h after the challenge). At each sampling point, seabass haematological profile, plasma immune parameters, and head-kidney immune-related gene expression were evaluated. Results: After both feeding periods, most parameters remained unaltered by S. ramosissima inclusion; nonetheless, seabass fed ST10 showed an upregulation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor 1 (mcsf1r1) and cluster of differentiation 8 (cd8ß) compared with those fed CTRL after 62 days of feeding. Regarding the inflammatory response, seabass fed ST10 showed lower plasma lysozyme levels than their counterparts fed ST2.5 and ST5 at 24 h following injection, while 4 h after the inflammatory stimulus, seabass fed ST10 presented higher numbers of peritoneal leucocytes than fish fed CTRL. Moreover, at 4 h, fish fed ST2.5, ST5, and ST10 showed a higher expression of interleukin 1ß (il1ß), while fish fed ST5 showed higher levels of ornithine decarboxylase (odc) than those fed CTRL. An upregulation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor 1 (mcsf1r1) and glutathione peroxidase (gpx) was also observed at 72 h in fish fed ST10 or ST5 and ST10 compared with CTRL, respectively. Discussion: In conclusion, incorporating up to 10% of the non-food fraction S. ramosissima in feed did not compromise seabass growth or immune status after 62 days, aligning with circular economy principles. However, S. ramosissima inclusion improved the leucocyte response and upregulated key immune-related genes in seabass challenged with an inactivated pathogen.

Salicornia ramosissima Biomass as a Partial Replacement of Wheat Meal in Diets for Juvenile European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

The green tips of Salicornia ramosissima are used for human consumption, while, in a production scenario, the rest of the plant is considered a residue. This study evaluated the potential of incorporating salicornia by-products in diets for juvenile European seabass, partially replacing wheat meal, aspiring to contribute to their valorization. A standard diet and three experimental diets including salicornia in 2.5%, 5% and 10% inclusion levels were tested in triplicate. After 62 days of feeding, no significant differences between treatments were observed in fish growth performances, feeding efficiency and economic conversation ratio. Nutrient digestibility of the experimental diets was unaffected by the inclusion of salicornia when compared to a standard diet. Additionally, salicornia had significant modulatory effects on the fish muscle biochemical profiles, namely by significantly decreasing lactic acid and increasing succinic acid levels, which can potentially signal health-promoting effects for the fish. Increases in DHA levels in fish fed a diet containing 10% salicornia were also shown. Therefore, the results suggest that salicornia by-products are a viable alternative to partially replace wheat meal in diets for juvenile European seabass, contributing to the valorization of a residue and the implementation of a circular economy paradigm in halophyte farming and aquaculture.

Impacts of humic substances, elevated temperature, and UVB radiation on bacterial communities of the marine sponge Chondrilla sp.

Sponges are abundant components of coral reefs known for their filtration capabilities and intricate interactions with microbes. They play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of coral reefs. Humic substances (HS) affect bacterial communities across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. However, the specific effects of HS on sponge-associated microbial symbionts have largely been neglected. Here, we used a randomized-controlled microcosm setup to investigate the independent and interactive effects of HS, elevated temperature, and UVB radiation on bacterial communities associated with the sponge Chondrilla sp. Our results indicated the presence of a core bacterial community consisting of relatively abundant members, apparently resilient to the tested environmental perturbations, alongside a variable bacterial community. Elevated temperature positively affected the relative abundances of ASVs related to Planctomycetales and members of the families Pseudohongiellaceae and Hyphomonadaceae. HS increased the relative abundances of several ASVs potentially involved in recalcitrant organic matter degradation (e.g., the BD2-11 terrestrial group, Saccharimonadales, and SAR202 clade). There was no significant independent effect of UVB and there were no significant interactive effects of HS, heat, and UVB on bacterial diversity and composition. The significant, independent impact of HS on the composition of sponge bacterial communities suggests that alterations to HS inputs may have cascading effects on adjacent marine ecosystems.

Increasing the polarity of ß-lapachone does not affect its binding capacity with bovine plasma protein.

Despite ortho-quinones showing several biological and pharmacological activities, there is still a lack of biophysical characterization of their interaction with albumin - the main carrier of different endogenous and exogenous compounds in the bloodstream. Thus, the interactive profile between bovine serum albumin (BSA) with ß-lapachone (1) and its corresponding synthetic 3-sulfonic acid (2, under physiological pH in the sulphonate form) was performed. There is one main binding site of albumin for both ß-lapachones (n ≈ 1) and a static fluorescence quenching mechanism was proposed. The Stern-Volmer constant (KSV) values are 104 M-1, indicating a moderate binding affinity. The enthalpy (-3.41 ± 0.45 and - 8.47 ± 0.37 kJ mol-1, for BSA:1 and BSA:2, respectively) and the corresponding entropy (0.0707 ± 0.0015 and 0.0542 ± 0.0012 kJ mol-1 K-1) values indicate an enthalpically and entropically binding driven. Hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding are the main binding forces. The differences in the polarity of 1 and 2 did not change significantly the affinity to albumin. In addition, the 1,2-naphthoquinones showed a similar binding trend compared with 1,4-naphthoquinones.

Interaction between a water-soluble anionic porphyrin and human serum albumin unexpectedly stimulates the aggregation of the photosensitizer at the surface of the albumin.

The 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-difluoro-3-sulfophenyl)porphyrin (TDFPPS4) was reported as a potential photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy. The capacity of the photosensitizers to be carried in the human bloodstream is predominantly determined by its extension of binding, binding location, and binding mechanism to human serum albumin (HSA), influencing its biodistribution and ultimately its photodynamic therapy efficacy in vivo. Thus, the present work reports a biophysical characterization on the interaction between the anionic porphyrin TDFPPS4 and HSA by UV-visible absorption, circular dichroism, steady-state, time-resolved, and synchronous fluorescence techniques under physiological conditions, combined with molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The interaction HSA:TDFPPS4 is spontaneous (ΔG° < 0), strong, and enthalpically driven (ΔH° = -70.1 ± 3.3 kJ mol-1) into subdomain IIA (site I). Curiously, despite the porphyrin binding into an internal pocket, about 50 % of TDFPPS4 structure is still accessible to the solvent, making aggregation in the bloodstream possible. In silico calculations were reinforced by spectroscopic data indicating porphyrin aggregation between bound and unbound porphyrins. This results in an adverse scenario for anionic porphyrins to achieve their therapeutical potential as photosensitizers and control of effective dosages. Finally, a trend of anionic porphyrins to have a combination of quenching mechanisms (static and dynamic) was noticed.

Facemasks: An insight into their abundance in wetlands, degradation, and potential ecotoxicity.

Disposable facemasks represent a new form of environmental contamination worldwide. This study aimed at addressing the abundance of facemasks in an overlooked natural environment with high ecological and economic value - the wetlands (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, as study case), evaluating their potential biodegradation using naturally occurring fungi and assessing the potential ecotoxicity of released microfibres on local bivalves. All masks collected within 6500 m2 area of Aveiro wetland were 100 % disposable ones (PP-based, confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - FTIR) with an initial abundance of 0.0023 items/m2 in Sept. 2021, which was reduced by ∼40 % in Apr. 2022 and ∼87 % in Sept. 2022, as a reflection of the government policies. Analysis of the carbonyl index (0.03 to 1.79) underlined their state of degradation, primarily due to sun exposure during low tides. In laboratory conditions, 1 mm2 microplastics obtained from new disposable facemasks were prone to biodegradation by Penicillium brevicompactum and Zalerion maritimum inferred from microplastics mass loss (∼22 to -26 % and ∼40 to 50 %, respectively) and FTIR spectra (particularly in the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups). In addition, microfibres released from facemasks induced sublethal effects on the clam, Venerupis corrugata, mostly in their UV-aged form when compared to pristine ones, characterised by a decrease in cellular energy allocation (CEA) and an increase in aerobic energy metabolism (ETS). Concomitantly, clams exposed to 1250 items/L of UV-aged microplastics (similar to field-reported concentrations) expressed greater clearance capacity, indicating a need to compensate for the potential energy unbalance. This study provides the first baseline monitoring of facemasks in wetlands while bringing new evidence on their biodegradation and ecotoxicity, considering environmentally relevant conditions and keystone organisms in such environments. Such studies require scientific attention for rapid regulatory action against this emerging and persistent pollutant, also targeting remediation and mitigation strategies considering these items under pandemic scenarios.

Human-umbilical cord matrix mesenchymal cells improved left ventricular contractility independently of infarct size in swine myocardial infarction with reperfusion.

Background: Human umbilical cord matrix-mesenchymal stromal cells (hUCM-MSC) have demonstrated beneficial effects in experimental acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Reperfusion injury hampers myocardial recovery in a clinical setting and its management is an unmet need. We investigated the efficacy of intracoronary (IC) delivery of xenogeneic hUCM-MSC as reperfusion-adjuvant therapy in a translational model of AMI in swine. Methods: In a placebo-controlled trial, pot-belied pigs were randomly assigned to a sham-control group (vehicle-injection; n = 8), AMI + vehicle (n = 12) or AMI + IC-injection (n = 11) of 5 × 105 hUCM-MSC/Kg, within 30 min of reperfusion. AMI was created percutaneously by balloon occlusion of the mid-LAD. Left-ventricular function was blindly evaluated at 8-weeks by invasive pressure-volume loop analysis (primary endpoint). Mechanistic readouts included histology, strength-length relationship in skinned cardiomyocytes and gene expression analysis by RNA-sequencing. Results: As compared to vehicle, hUCM-MSC enhanced systolic function as shown by higher ejection fraction (65 ± 6% vs. 43 ± 4%; p = 0.0048), cardiac index (4.1 ± 0.4 vs. 3.1 ± 0.2 L/min/m2; p = 0.0378), preload recruitable stroke work (75 ± 13 vs. 36 ± 4 mmHg; p = 0.0256) and end-systolic elastance (2.8 ± 0.7 vs. 2.1 ± 0.4 mmHg*m2/ml; p = 0.0663). Infarct size was non-significantly lower in cell-treated animals (13.7 ± 2.2% vs. 15.9 ± 2.7%; Δ = -2.2%; p = 0.23), as was interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in the remote myocardium. Sarcomere active tension improved, and genes related to extracellular matrix remodelling (including MMP9, TIMP1 and PAI1), collagen fibril organization and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis were downregulated in animals treated with hUCM-MSC. Conclusion: Intracoronary transfer of xenogeneic hUCM-MSC shortly after reperfusion improved left-ventricular systolic function, which could not be explained by the observed extent of infarct size reduction alone. Combined contributions of favourable modification of myocardial interstitial fibrosis, matrix remodelling and enhanced cardiomyocyte contractility in the remote myocardium may provide mechanistic insight for the biological effect.

Microencapsulated Diets as an Alternative to Bivalve Feeding: Particle Size and Microalga Content Affect Feed Intake.

Bivalve mollusks represent a nutritious source with a low environmental impact; as a result, they are one of the most attractive aquaculture options. Advances in microencapsulation technology offer great potential to face key bivalve nutrition problems, and an alga-based microencapsulated diet can turn enriched bivalves into potential functional foods. The central goal of this study was the evaluation of food intake as a function of particle size and microalga content following the supply of four microencapsulated diets, incorporating as core material Nannochloropsis sp. or Tetraselmis sp. in 20 or 40 µm diameter pellets (diets N20, T20, N40, and T40, respectively) in five bivalve species (Magallana gigas, Solen marginatus, Ruditapes decussatus, Ruditapes philippinarum, and Cerastoderma edule). Overall, all tested diets were easily ingested, although food intake was higher for N20 (except for the S. marginatus, which showed a higher rate for the diet T40). Concerning a size-related analysis, C. edule and S. marginatus favored, respectively, smaller and bigger pellet-sized diets, with no signs of selectivity for microalga species. The diet T20 was the lesser ingested, except for C. edule. This knowledge enables a better selection of feed with appropriate and species-adjusted profiles, contributing to the optimization of microencapsulated diets for bivalve rearing and a better final product.

Enrichment of Brain n-3 Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA) and Retinal n-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Lambs Fed Nannochloropsis oceanica Microalga.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have special physiological functions in both brain and retinal tissues that are related to the modulation of inflammatory processes and direct effects on neuronal membrane fluidity, impacting mental and visual health. Among them, the long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFAs, as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are of special importance. Scarce data are available about the fatty acid (FA) composition of the ruminant brain in response to dietary intervention. However, we decided to examine the brain and retina FA composition of lambs supplemented with an EPA-rich microalga feed for 21 days, as it is known that despite the extensive biohydrogenation of dietary PUFAs in the rumen, ruminants can selectively accumulate some n-3 LC-PUFAs in their brain and retinal tissues. Twenty-eight male lambs were fed a control diet, or the same diet further supplemented with Nannochloropsis sp. microalga. Their brains and retina were collected for FA characterization. Overall, the brain FA profile remained unchanged, with little alteration in omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) enhancement in both the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Retinal tissues were particularly responsive to the dietary intervention, with a 4.5-fold enhancement of EPA in the freeze-dried-fed lambs compared with the control lambs. We conclude that retinal tissues are sensitive to short-term n-3 PUFA supplementation in lambs.

Health-Promoting Additives Supplemented in Inert Microdiets for Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Post-Larvae: Effects on Growth, Survival, and Health Status.

Dietary additives have the potential to stimulate the whiteleg shrimp immune system, but information is scarce on their use in diets for larval/post-larval stages. The potential beneficial effects of vitamins C and E, ß-glucans, taurine, and methionine were evaluated. Four experimental microdiets were tested: a positive control diet (PC); the PC with decreased levels of vitamin C and E as negative control (NC); the PC with increased taurine and methionine levels (T + M); and the PC supplemented with ß-glucans (BG). No changes in growth performance and survival were observed. However, post-larvae shrimp fed the NC had lower relative expressions of pen-3 than those fed the PC, suggesting that lower levels of vitamins C and E may impact the shrimp immune status. Lipid peroxidation levels dropped significantly in the BG compared to the PC, indicating that ß-glucans improved the post-larvae antioxidant mechanisms. Furthermore, when compared with the NC diet, PL fed with BG showed significant increases in tGSH levels and in the relative expression of crus and pen-3, suggesting a synergistic effect between vitamins C and E and ß-glucans. Amongst the additives tested, ß-glucans seems to be the most promising even when compared to a high-quality control diet.

Unveiling New Druggable Pockets in Influenza Non-Structural Protein 1: NS1-Host Interactions as Antiviral Targets for Flu.

Influenza viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide in winter seasonal outbreaks and in flu pandemics. Influenza viruses have a high rate of evolution, requiring annual vaccine updates and severely diminishing the effectiveness of the available antivirals. Identifying novel viral targets and developing new effective antivirals is an urgent need. One of the most promising new targets for influenza antiviral therapy is non-structural protein 1 (NS1), a highly conserved protein exclusively expressed in virus-infected cells that mediates essential functions in virus replication and pathogenesis. Interaction of NS1 with the host proteins PI3K and TRIM25 is paramount for NS1's role in infection and pathogenesis by promoting viral replication through the inhibition of apoptosis and suppressing interferon production, respectively. We, therefore, conducted an analysis of the druggability of this viral protein by performing molecular dynamics simulations on full-length NS1 coupled with ligand pocket detection. We identified several druggable pockets that are partially conserved throughout most of the simulation time. Moreover, we found out that some of these druggable pockets co-localize with the most stable binding regions of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) sites of NS1 with PI3K and TRIM25, which suggests that these NS1 druggable pockets are promising new targets for antiviral development.

Forage based diet as an alternative to a high concentrate diet for finishing young bulls - Effects on growth performance, greenhouse gas emissions and meat quality.

Two groups of 8 individually housed young crossbred-bulls, in the finishing period, were used to test the effect of a Total Mixed Ration diet with high forage content (54% DM), low starch content (14% DM), supplemented with sunflower seeds (10% DM) (HFS) on growth performance, carcass and meat quality, fatty acid profile and carbon footprint, with reference to a conventional concentrate-based (90% DM) (Control) diet. The experiment lasted 64 days before slaughter. During the experiment, feed intake was monitored daily and live weight every 14 days. Individual CH4 emissions were assessed at 16-days intervals, using a GreenFeed for Large Animal unit. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were higher for HFS diet, but average daily weight gain and feeding costs were similar for the two diets. Dressing percentage was reduced with HFS diet. The HFS increased redness, yellowness and Chroma of subcutaneous fat, but did not compromise commercial value of the carcasses. Meat colour, shear force, or sensory parameters were not affected by diet. The HFS diet allowed a healthier FA profile, due to the higher proportions of 18:3n-3, t11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2 and the lower proportion of t10-18:1. The HFS diet did not reduce the carbon footprint in the finishing period of young bulls, due to increased digestive CH4 emissions. The results of this experiment showed that the HFS diet can be an alternative to the conventional diets used in finishing young-bulls. Although it may result in a slight reduction in animal performance, it has a strong impact on reducing dependence on inputs from outside the farm.

Exploring the Antioxidant and Genoprotective Potential of Salicornia ramosissima Incorporation in the Diet of the European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

The identification of novel feed materials as a source of functional ingredients is a topical priority in the finfish aquaculture sector. Due to the agrotechnical practices associated and phytochemical profiling, halophytes emerge as a new source of feedstuff for aquafeeds, with the potential to boost productivity and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the potential of Salicornia ramosissima incorporation (2.5, 5, and 10%), for 2 months, in the diet of juvenile European seabass, seeking antioxidant (in the liver, gills, and blood) and genoprotective (DNA and chromosomal integrity in blood) benefits. Halophyte inclusion showed no impairments on growth performance. Moreover, a tissue-specific antioxidant improvement was apparent, namely through the GSH-related defense subsystem, but revealing multiple and complex mechanisms. A genotoxic trigger (regarded as a pro-genoprotective mechanism) was identified in the first month of supplementation. A clear protection of DNA integrity was detected in the second month, for all the supplementation levels (and the most prominent melioration at 10%). Overall, these results pointed out a functionality of S. ramosissima-supplemented diets and a promising way to improve aquaculture practices, also unraveling a complementary novel, low-value raw material, and a path to its valorization.

Fatty Acid Composition of M. Biceps Femoris of Edible Dormouse (Glis glis L.).

This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of edible dormouse m. biceps femoris in both sexes. More than 20 FA were identified in the muscle, with the 18:1cis-9 (oleic acid) being the most abundant in both sexes, comprising more than 50% of total FA in muscle. The most dominated FA were monounsaturated (MUFA), followed by saturated FA (SFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), reaching 54.8%, 25.43% and 19.8% of total FA, respectively. Sums of PUFA and n-3 PUFA tended (p > 0.05) to be higher in males than in females. There were no significant differences between sexes on the FA composition. Nevertheless, the 18:2n-6 tended to differ between sexes (p = 0.063). Several long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) were detected in dormouse muscle, with the 20:4 n-6 (arachidonic acid, AA) and the 22:6 n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) being the most abundant in both sexes. The relatively high stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) indexes and the large concentration of 18:1cis-9 in dormouse muscle tissues might point to a low mobilization of the SCD products. Furthermore, finding the unusual FA 20:3 ∆5,∆11,∆14, suggests feeding on leaf and wood lipids of Coniferophytes. We demonstrated sexual size monomorphism in edible dormouse. The literature regarding the composition of dormouse meat is scarce and no studies reported the FA composition of muscle, thus, this work can contribute to increasing the knowledge on edible dormouse physiology and nutritional traits.

[Progress in research of 2019-nCoV infection in children and adolescents].

As 2019-nCoV vaccine is widely used in the adult population, children and adolescents have gradually become an important susceptible population to 2019-nCoV due to their low coverage of the vaccine and high contact degree. Understanding the characteristics of 2019-nCoV infection in minors is vital. This paper summarized the progress in the research of 2019-nCoV in minors by using the data from the retrieval of recently published literature. Furthermore, the key characteristics of 2019-nCoV infection in minors, including the susceptibility, transmissibility, prognosis and immune response were analyzed and the progress in child and adolescent vaccine development was introduced.

Partial replacement of soybean meal with Chlorella vulgaris in broiler diets influences performance and improves breast meat quality and fatty acid composition.

Alternative feed ingredients, such as microalgae, may be more sustainable in comparison to conventional feedstuffs that need large amounts of arable land and are often imported. This study evaluates the effects of Chlorella vulgaris various inclusion levels in the diet of broiler chickens on performance, carcass yield, organ measurements, breast meat quality, fatty acids profile, and antioxidant capacity. A total of two hundred forty 5 d old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly allotted to 4 groups (6 replicates of 10 birds each). Each group received either a control diet or a diet where soybean meal was replaced with 10% (CV10%), 15% (CV15%), or 20% C. vulgaris for 40 d. Performance parameters, carcass and meat traits were evaluated. Compared to the control group, birds supplemented with C. vulgaris (15% and 20%) had lower body weight, weight gain, and feed intake (P < 0.0001), whereas no differences were observed between the control and CV10% groups (P > 0.05). Feed conversion ratio did not differ between control and CV groups. Diets containing C. vulgaris significantly increased ileal digesta viscosity, weight and size of several gastrointestinal compartments, as well as breast muscle yield (P < 0.0001). Incorporation of C. vulgaris resulted in yellower breast muscle (P < 0.0001), with significantly increased chlorophyll a (P < 0.05), chlorophyll b, and total carotenoids contents (P < 0.0001). Inclusion of C. vulgaris decreased bacterial count in meat samples in comparison to controls (P < 0.0001). A 20% C. vulgaris inclusion resulted in higher water holding capacity (P < 0.05) and lower cooking loss (P < 0.05). As dietary C. vulgaris increased, concentrations of DHA + EPA (P < 0.05) and n-3 PUFA (P < 0.0001) increased in breast meat, while the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio decreased (P < 0.0001). Sensory analysis showed that breast meat from the CV10% group had the highest acceptance score. Overall, dietary concentrations of C. vulgaris of up to 20% improve breast meat quality, whereas 10% of C. vulgaris inclusion is recommended.