Changes in rumen fermentation and bacterial community in lactating dairy cows with subacute rumen acidosis following rumen content transplantation.

Rumen microbiota intervention has long been used to cure ruminal indigestion in production and has recently become a research hotspot. However, how it controls the remodeling of rumen bacterial homeostasis and the restoration of rumen fermentation in cows of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) remains poorly understood. This study explored changes in rumen fermentation and bacterial communities in SARA cows following rumen content transplantation (RCT). The entire experiment comprised 2 periods: the SARA induction period and the RCT period. During the SARA induction period, 12 ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows were selected and allocated into 2 groups at random, fed either a conventional diet [CON; n = 4; 40% concentrate, dry matter (DM) basis] or a high-grain diet (HG; n = 8; 60% concentrate, DM basis). After the SARA induction period, the RCT period began. The HG cows were randomly divided into 2 groups: the donor-recipient (DR) group and the self-recipient (SR) group, and their rumen contents were removed completely before RCT. For the DR group, cows received 70% rumen content from the CON cows, paired based on comparable body weight; for the SR group, each cow received 70% rumen content, self-derived. The results showed that nearly all rumen fermentation parameters returned to the normal levels that the cows had before SARA induction after 6 d of transplantation, regardless of RCT. The concentrations of acetate, valerate, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were not recovered in the SR cows, whereas all of them were recovered in the DR cows. The amplicon sequencing results indicated that both the SR and DR cows rebuild their rumen bacterial homeostasis quickly within 4 d after RCT, and the DR group showed a higher level of bacterial community diversity. At the genus level, the DR cows displayed an improved proportion of unclassified Ruminococcaceae and Saccharofermentans compared with the SR cows. Correlation analysis between the rumen bacteria and rumen fermentation suggested some potential relationships between the predominant transplantation-sensitive operational taxonomic units and VFA. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that RCT affected only those rumen bacterial taxa that showed weak interactions with other taxa and did not affect the pivotal rumen bacteria with high levels of co-occurrence. Our findings indicate that RCT contributes to the restoration of rumen bacterial homeostasis and rumen fermentation in cows suffering from SARA without affecting the core microbiome.

Lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, arginine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and threonine maintenance requirements of broiler breeders.

Five hundred and sixty Cobb-Vantress broiler breeders were used to determine the maintenance requirement of dietary Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, and Val in 10 21-d assays using the comparative slaughter technique. Fifty sexually immature broiler breeder pullets per assay were given crystalline amino acid diets containing graded levels of Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, or Val, respectively, representing 0, 10, 20, 30, 40% of their suggested requirement level (NRC, 1994) with all other amino acids maintained at 40% of their suggested requirement level. Sixty hens were slaughtered prior to the beginning of the study to assess initial body composition at 3 weight groups. Linear regression lines (protein accretion vs. amino acid intake) were determined and the maintenance requirements were calculated based on zero protein accretion. The maintenance requirements expressed on a metabolic weight basis were determined to be 174, 94, 52, 81, 60, 126, 133, and 155 mg/kg(0.75)/d for Arg, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, and Val, respectively. Additionally, the maintenance requirements, expressed on metabolic protein weight basis, were determined to be 651, 329, 172, 295, 223, 523, 478, and 546 mg/kgCP/d for Arg, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, and Val, respectively. The requirement for His could not be established as the results obtained were outside of assay range.

Amino acid requirements of broiler breeders at peak production for egg mass, body weight, and fertility.

Two trials were conducted to determine the amino acid and protein requirements of broiler breeders at peak production. In trial 1, 32-wk-old Cobb 500 broiler breeders with similar BW were selected to determine the digestible amino acid requirement for daily product output (g of egg mass + g of BW gain/b/d) and feed conversion (g of feed/g of product) for Met, Phe, Arg, Ile, Lys, and CP in a 42-d production study. In trial 2, 30-wk-old Cobb 500 broiler breeders were selected to determine the digestible requirement for Met, Lys, Ile, Arg, Cys, Val, Trp, and Thr in a 70-d production study. Breeders were given a corn-soy basal diet plus crystalline amino acids with 8 graded levels of amino acids (10 birds per level), representing 40 to 130% of the highest suggested requirements reported in the literature. All other amino acids were maintained at 100% of their suggested requirement level. All breeders were inseminated weekly and fertility was determined. A third trial consisted of 41-wk-old colostomized hens randomly assigned to 1 of 2 diets differing only in the amount of Ile. Urine was collected after a 6-wk feeding period. The average digestible requirements per breeder per day for both product and feed/product ratio from trials 1 and 2 for Met, Cys, TSAA, Phe, Phe + Tyr, Trp, Arg, Ile, Lys, Val, Thr, and CP were 424, 477, 901, 689, 997, 252, 1,026, 830, 916, 799, 613 mg/d, and 20.0 g/d, respectively. The ideal profile for digestible Met, Cys, TSAA, Phe, Phe + Tyr, Trp, Arg, Ile, Lys, Val, and Thr was 46, 52, 98, 76, 108, 28, 112.0, 91, 100.0, 87, and 67%, respectively. A significant decrease in fertility was noted with increasing levels of Ile and Lys. Urine pH was significantly more alkaline in hens fed the higher level of Ile. It is suggested that adequate dietary Lys and Ile should be provided for maximum hatching egg production but an excess may affect fertility.

Estimate of 2009 H1N1 influenza cases in Shenzhen--the biggest migratory city in China.

The 2009 novel H1N1 influenza pandemic had a significant impact on Shenzhen's population with 2063 laboratory-confirmed human H1N1 cases and five deaths being reported. We used parameters from two population-based surveys and the Shenzhen Influenza Surveillance System to estimate the total number of H1N1 influenza infections in Shenzhen in the 2009 pandemic. The attack rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) in family households was 11·2% (95% CI 9·4-13·0), with 80·2% (95% CI 77·8-82·5) seeking medical care. The ILI attack rate in workers was 38·1% (95% CI 34·3-41·7) with 72·5% (95% CI 66·9-78·0) seeking medical care. The average H1N1 positive rate in individuals reporting ILI and testing by polymerase chain reaction was 22·7%. A total of 611 000-768 000 people, or 4·7-5·9% of the Shenzhen population, are estimated to have experienced H1N1 influenza. The estimated total number of cases of H1N1 is likely to be 330 times greater than the number of laboratory-confirmed cases.

Influenza surveillance in Shenzhen, the largest migratory metropolitan city of China, 2006-2009.

Shenzhen is one of the largest migratory metropolitan cities in China. A standardized influenza surveillance system has been operating in Shenzhen for several years. The objectives of the present study were to describe the epidemiology of influenza in Shenzhen and to assess the impact of pandemic H1N1 on influenza activity. An average rate of 71 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI)/1000 consultations was reported, which was greater than the rate in the preceding 3 years. Laboratory surveillance showed that the annual proportion of specimens positive for influenza was 25·4% in 2009, representing a significant increase over the proportions of 5·4%, 11·6% and 12·2% in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. A total of 414 ILI outbreaks were reported in 2009, which was a marked increase compared to the previous 3 years. Influenza activity reached a record high in Shenzhen in 2009. Seasonal A/H3N2 was the dominant strain during the summer and was gradually replaced by pandemic H1N1. A semi-annual cycle for influenza circulation began to appear due to the emergence of pandemic H1N1.

[Evaluation of the emergency response strategies and measures on the epidemic of COVID-19 in Shenzhen, China].

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the strategies on COVID-19 outbreak control in Shenzhen, and to clarify the feasibility of these strategies in metropolitans that have high population density and strong mobility. Methods: The epidemic feature of COVID-19 was described by different phases and was used to observe the effectiveness of intervention. Hierarchical spot map was drawn to clarify the distribution and transmission risk of infection sources at different time points. The Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Asymptomatic-Recovered model was established to estimate case numbers without intervention and compare with the actual number of cases to determine the effect of intervention. The positive rate of the nucleic acid test was used to reflect the risk of human exposure. A survey on COVID-19 related knowledge, attitude and behaviors were used to estimate the abilities of personal protection and emergency response. Results: The epidemic of COVID-19 in Shenzhen experienced the rising, plateau and decline stage. The case number increased rapidly at the beginning, with short duration of peak period. Although the epidemic curve showed human-to-human transmission, the "trailing" was not obvious. From the spot map, during the intervention period, the source of infection was widely distributed. More cases and higher transmission risk were observed in areas with higher population density. After the effective intervention measures, both infection sources and the risk of transmission decreased. After compared with the estimated case numbers without intervention, actual number proved the COVID-19 control strategies were effective. The positive rate of nucleic acid test for high risk populations decreased and no new cases reported since February 16. Shenzhen citizens had high knowledge, attitude and behavior level, and high protection ability and emergency response. Conclusions: Although the response initiated by the health administration department played a key role at the early stage of the epidemic, it was not enough to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. The first-level emergency response initiated by provincial and municipal government was effective and ensured the start of work resumption after the Spring Festival. Metropolitans like Shenzhen can also achieve the goals of strategies and measures for containment and mitigation of COVID-19.

A correlation study between gene polymorphism of Th cell expressed chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligand levels with HCV infection prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: Chemokine receptor and its ligand participate in viral immunity and HCV infection, which are important inflammatory mediators. The current study showed the different roles of Th cell secreted chemokines CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR6 in chronic liver inflammation after HCV infection. As one important chemokine receptor, the role of polypeptide property and ligand level in HCV prognosis is still unclear. This study aims to investigate gene polymorphism of chemokine genes and ligand level, and their correlation with patient liver function, to provide evidence for HCV prognosis and chronic transition mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Whole blood samples were collected. Participants were divided into chronic hepatitis, HCV cirrhosis and self-clearance groups. Chemokine level, gene polymorphism of CXCR3 gene at loci rs2280964 and liver index were measured to analyze their correlation with HCV infection or prognosis. RESULTS: Gene polymorphism of CXCR3 at loci rs22809064 is one factor-affecting prognosis of HCV patients. CG genotype at these loci is one independent risk factor affecting chronic HCV infection. IP-10, Mig and I-TAC levels were significantly elevated in chronic hepatitis group or HCV cirrhosis group (p< 0.05 compared to self-clearance group). CONCLUSIONS: Gene polymorphism at rs2280964 locus of chemokine receptor CXCR3 is one possible reason explaining differential processes of chronic transition. CXCR3 ligands IP-10, Mig and I-TAC levels were all significantly elevated in chronic hepatitis and HCV cirrhosis patients, possibly functioning as one clinical index for HCV prognosis.

The cysteine, total sulfur amino acid, tyrosine, phenylalanine + tyrosine, and non-essential amino acid maintenance requirements of broiler breeders.

Two hundred and fifty Cobb-Vantress broiler breeders were used to determine the maintenance requirement and efficiency of utilization of dietary Cys, Tyr, and non-essential amino acids (AA) in a 21-day experiment. The breeders were fed crystalline amino acid diets containing graded levels of Cys or Tyr representing 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% of their suggested requirement level with all other amino acids maintained at 40% of their suggested requirement level. To determine the non-essential AA maintenance requirement, graded levels of non-essential AA were provided by glutamic acid to represent 12, 19, 26, 33, and 40% of the ideal level of glutamic acid with all other amino acids maintained at their maintenance requirement level. The total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) and Phe + Tyr requirements were calculated by combining Cys and Tyr results, respectively, with previously determined Met and Phe, respectively. The slope of Cys, Tyr, and non-essential AA accretion regression line indicated that 29% Cys, 24% TSAA, 21% Tyr, 20% Phe + Tyr, and 9% non-essential AA of crystalline amino acids were retained. The Cys requirement for zero protein accretion was calculated to be 30.48 mg/d or 17.006 mg/ kgBW(0.75)/d or 75.426 mg/kgCP/d. The TSAA requirement for zero accretion was calculated to be 132.25 mg/b/d, 71.48 mg/kgBW(0.75)/d, and 307.55 mg/kgCP/d. The Tyr requirement for zero protein accretion was calculated to be 65.907 mg/d or 37.233 mg/ kgBW(0.75)/d or 175.566 mg/kgCP/d. The Phe + Tyr requirement for zero protein accretion was calculated to be 352.18 mg/b/d, 190.37 mg/kgBW(0.75)/d, and 749.33 mg/kgCP/d. The non-essential AA requirement for zero protein accretion was calculated to be 3715.194 mg/d or 2003.155 mg/kgBW(0.75)/d or 9452.954 mg/kgCP/d.