Search Results (224)

Background and Objectives: The hypothesis that fascial thickness variability may serve as a biomarker for low back pain (LBP) requires a clear understanding of typical thickness values in both LBP and non-LBP populations—an area still lacking in the literature. This narrative review aims to define reference values and patterns of variability for the superficial fascia, deep fascia, and subcutaneous tissue in individuals with and without LBP. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and ScienceDirect using keywords such as superficial fascia, deep fascia, thoracolumbar, subcutaneous fat, back pain, lumbar, thorax, and thickness. Inclusion criteria focused on human studies with proper identification of the relevant soft tissue structures. A total of 21 studies, published up to February 2024, met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Results: The review revealed notable intra- and inter-study variability in the thickness of the investigated structures. In LBP populations, both deep fascia and subcutaneous tissues were generally equal to or thicker than in controls (non-LBP), whereas consistent data on superficial fascia thickness remain limited. Age, sex, and anatomical location were discussed as potential influencing factors. Conclusions: These findings support the establishment of reference thickness values for subcutaneous and fascial tissues and encourage further investigation into their structural and functional roles in LBP. The observed variability may offer a basis for patient- and site-specific assessment and intervention strategies. Full article

Childhood obesity is a substantial health problem worldwide. The origin of obesity (increased adiposity) can be partly traced back to intrauterine life. However, the determinants of fetal fat deposition remain unclear. This study investigated the association between cord blood adipocytokines related to lipid metabolism (leptin, adiponectin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) and fetal adiposity during gestation. A prospective study was conducted in a cohort of 94 singleton pregnancies. Fetal ultrasonography was performed at 24, 30, and 36 weeks of gestation. Estimated fetal adiposity (EFA) was calculated by integrating measurements of cross-sectional arm and thigh fat area percentages and anterior abdominal wall thickness. Plasma cytokine levels and C-peptide immunoreactivity (as a proxy for fetal insulin resistance) were evaluated in cord blood samples obtained at delivery. The associations of cord blood leptin, adiponectin and IGF-1 levels with EFA at 24, 30, and 36 weeks were determined by multiple linear regression, adjusted for potential covariates. The multivariate analyses indicated that leptin was significantly correlated with EFA at 30 and 36 weeks. Leptin was also positively correlated with C-peptide immunoreactivity in the umbilical cord. Cord adiponectin levels were not associated with EFA across gestation. Cord IGF-1 levels were significantly correlated with EFA and estimated fetal body weight (EFW) at 36 weeks. In conclusion, cord leptin was associated with EFA at 30 and 36 weeks, and IGF-1 was associated with EFA at 36 and EFW at 36 weeks. In Conclusion, cord leptin was associated with EFA at 30 and 36 weeks, and IGF-1 was associated with EFA and EFW at 36 weeks. Considering the effects of leptin and IGF-1 on fetal insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, increased levels of leptin and IGF-1 are potential plasma biomarkers of increased fetal adiposity, which may predispose to infant obesity and metabolic dysfunction in later life. Full article

Carcass and meat quality traits are critical in pig breeding and production. Estimating genetic parameters for these traits is a vital aspect of breeding engineering, as accurate genetic parameters are essential for estimating breeding values, predicting genetic progress, and optimizing breeding programs. This study was conducted on a population of 461 Yorkshire pigs from the same breeding farm, which were slaughtered to assess nine carcass traits and seven meat quality traits, followed by descriptive statistical analysis. Additionally, we estimated the genetic parameters of these traits using genomic information based on 50K chip data. The results indicated that sex significantly affected most carcass and meat quality traits. Carcass traits including carcass length indicators (h² = mean 0.35), backfat thickness indicators (h² = mean 0.36), eye muscle area (h² = 0.28), and the number of rib pairs (h² = 0.28) exhibited medium to high heritability. Carcass length indicators showed high genetic correlations with backfat thickness indicators (r = mean −0.49) and the number of rib pairs (r = mean 0.63), while high negative genetic correlation (r = −0.72) was noted between eye muscle area and the number of rib pairs. Meat quality traits also displayed medium to high heritability, expect for pH value measured within one hour post-slaughter (h² = 0.12). Drip loss indicators had higher genetic correlations with pH (r = mean −0.73) than with meat color indicators (r = mean 0.22). These findings may provide a theoretical reference for genetic evaluation and breeding in the Yorkshire pig population. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of fermented banana agro-waste silage (BAWS) in finishing diets for KHAPS pigs (Duroc × MeiShan hybrid). BAWS was produced via 30 days of anaerobic fermentation of disqualified banana fruit, pseudostem, and wheat bran, doubling crude protein content and generating short-chain fatty acids, as indicated by a satisfactory Flieg’s score. Thirty-six pigs were assigned to control (0%), 5%, or 10% BAWS diets formulated to meet NRC nutritional guidelines. Over a 70-day period, BAWS inclusion caused no detrimental effects on growth performance, carcass traits, or meat quality; a transient decline in early-stage weight gain and feed efficiency occurred in the 10% group, while BAWS-fed pigs demonstrated reduced backfat thickness and increased lean area. Fore gut microbiome analysis revealed reduced Lactobacillus and elevated Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Terrisporobacter, Streptococcus, and Prevotella, suggesting enhanced fiber and carbohydrate fermentation capacity. Predictive COG (clusters of orthologous groups)-based functional profiling showed increased abundance of proteins associated with carbohydrate transport (COG2814, COG0561, COG0765) and stress-response regulation (COG2207). These results support BAWS as a sustainable feed ingredient that maintains production performance and promotes fore gut microbial adaptation, with implications for microbiota-informed nutrition and stress resilience in swine. Full article

This study identified genomic variants and potential candidate genes associated with 11 primal cut traits (back fat, belly fat, total fat, loin fat, ham fat, picnic fat, butt fat, loin intramuscular fat content, ham side fat, shoulder dorsal fat, and belly side fat thicknesses) in Canadian commercial crossbred pigs. Genome-wide association studies using whole genome sequencing data were conducted using genotyping data from 1118 commercial crossbred pigs. This analysis revealed multiple QTLs across chromosomes SSC1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 14, 15, and 17, associated with fat traits. Notably, an SNP at position 160,230,075 bp on SSC1 was significantly associated with multiple fat traits, including belly fat, butt fat, ham fat, loin fat, picnic fat, and side fat. Common genes in windows associated with multiple traits, such as MC4R, RNF152, and CDH20 were shared across these traits, suggesting pleiotropic effects. Some of the QTLs were near previously identified QTLs or candidate genes that have been reported to be linked to meat quality traits associated with backfat and intramuscular fat. Other candidate genes identified in the study include TNFRSF11A, LEPR, and genes from the SERPINB family, highlighting their roles in fat deposition and composition. Additional candidate genes were also implicated in regulation of fat metabolism, adipogenesis, and adiposity. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic architecture of fat traits in pigs, which could inform breeding strategies aimed at improving the pork quality. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Rhodotorula yeast culture (RYC) supplementation on carcass traits, meat quality, antioxidant capacity, shelf life, and flavor substance in fattening lambs. Twenty-four three-month-old male Dorper × Han crossbred sheep (body weight: 36 ± 4 kg) were randomly assigned to four groups: R0 (basal diet), R10 (basal diet + 10 g RYC/day), R20 (basal diet + 20 g RYC/day), and R40 (basal diet + 40 g RYC/day). The experiment lasted 75 days. Compared to the control group, the R10, R20, and R40 groups exhibited significant reductions in shear force (p < 0.01), malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.01), and day-15 total volatile basic nitrogen values (p < 0.05), along with significant increases in glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.05) and total umami-taste amino acid content (p < 0.01). The R20 group also demonstrated significant increases in backfat thickness, muscle crude protein content, and total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). These results indicate that dietary supplementation with 20 g RYC improves physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, shelf life, and flavor compounds in fattening lambs. Full article

Glycerol can effectively replace corn as an energy source in lamb diets without negatively impacting productive performance. This study evaluated the effects of substituting ground corn with different glycerol levels on the productive performance, ruminal fermentation, carcass characteristics, and meat quality at 24 h, 7, 14, and 21 d post-slaughter. A total of 40 male Suffolk × Hampshire crossbred lambs (25 ± 5 kg live weight) were used in a completely randomized design with four treatment groups (n = 10 each): 0% glycerol (GLY₀), 5% glycerol (GLY0₅), 10% glycerol (GLY₁₀), and 15% glycerol (GLY₁₅). Including glycerol in the diet did not affect growth performance (p > 0.05). However, it did lead to an increase (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of NH₃-N and the proportions of propionic and butyric acids, while the acetic acid levels decreased (p < 0.05). The backfat thickness, loin eye area (LEA), and carcass yield were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) by the addition of glycerol. Additionally, pH and color were also unaffected (p > 0.05), although the water-holding capacity showed a decrease (p < 0.05) over the shelf life of the meat. The chemical composition of the meat remained similar across all treatments, time points, and interactions (p > 0.05). In contrast, the protein content was significantly affected (p < 0.05) by the glycerol inclusion, time, and interactions between treatment and time. The results indicate that substituting up to 15% of ground corn with glycerol in lamb diets does not negatively impact productive performance, backfat thickness, LEA, carcass traits, or meat quality during shelf life. Throughout the shelf life, the crude protein concentrations and water-holding capacity decreased, while the propionic acid and NH₃-N concentrations increased. Full article

This study investigated the potential of dietary garlic skin supplementation to enhance meat quality in black goats, addressing the growing demand for natural feed additives in sustainable livestock production. Twelve 4-month-old Youzhou black goats were randomly assigned to a control group (FR, basal diet) or an experimental group (NR, 16% garlic skin supplementation) for 90 days. Meat quality parameters, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and metabolomic pathways were systematically analyzed. The NR group demonstrated significantly reduced backfat thickness (p < 0.05), increased eye muscle area (p < 0.05), higher pH at 0 h post-slaughter (p < 0.05), and improved meat color (L* and a* values at 24 h, p < 0.05) compared to FR. Cooking loss was significantly lower in NR (p < 0.05), alongside elevated arginine and n-3 PUFA (α-linolenic acid, EPA, DHA) levels (p < 0.01) and a favorable n-6/n-3 ratio. Metabolomics identified 1970 differentially abundant metabolites, with key enrichments in propionate metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and amino acid pathways, notably linking acylcarnitines to color stability and water retention. These findings indicated that garlic skin improved meat quality through coordinated regulation of lipid metabolism, antioxidant enhancement, and mitochondrial optimization. The study provided foundational evidence for utilizing garlic byproducts as functional feed additives to improve nutritional and sensory attributes in goat meat, supporting sustainable meat production strategies. Full article

This research examined the phenotypic and genotypic variability of traits assessed in the gilt performance test and their subsequent impact on gilt selection. The traits evaluated in the gilt performance test were analyzed on two pig farms over a period of 3 consecutive years. A total of 3664 gilts were included in the research. At the end of the test, body weight, backfat thickness (BF1 and BF2), and longissimus dorsi muscle depth (MLD) were measured using an ultrasound device. The following breeds were evaluated on the farms: Landrace (L)–1981 gilts, Large White (LW)–1344 gilts, and Duroc (D)–339 gilts. In the analyzed population, direct genetic effects accounted for 0.2647 of the total variation in age at the end of the test (AET). Heritability coefficients of 0.37 for BF1 and 0.35 for BF2 indicate that these traits are highly heritable in the studied population. On the other hand, the heritability coefficient for the depth of MLD, which is 0.23, places this trait in the group of medium heritable traits. High heritability coefficients of these traits indicate great potential for genetic improvement through selection. The use of well-designed selection programs aimed at these traits can significantly accelerate the genetic improvement of the population and have an impact on the economic profit of pork production. Full article

Hubei indigenous cattle have adapted to diverse environmental conditions, exhibiting unique genetic traits associated with both economic and adaptive characteristics. Understanding their adaptive selection offers insight into their evolutionary history and genetic enhancements. In this study, we analyzed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from five Hubei indigenous cattle breeds to identify selection signals. Selective sweep analysis revealed the candidate genes (USH2A, TMTC2, ABCC12, and SUGT1) associated with sensory perception, backfat thickness, reproduction, and immune function. The further integration of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) highlighted regulatory variants, influencing adaptive traits. Notably, positively selected genes such as RPS6KA2, CRLS1, MGST3, GPCPD1, and LDLRAP1 were associated with lipid metabolism, meat quality, and reproductive traits, influencing aldehyde volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fat deposition. These findings highlight the understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation and production traits in Hubei indigenous cattle and provide valuable insights for their conservation and potential breeding strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Functional spinal instability from multifidus dysfunction has been proposed as a mechanism for chronic postsurgical pain. Prior studies reported structural impairments in the lumbar multifidus in patients with chronic low back pain, including a reduced cross-sectional area, muscle thickness, and increased fat infiltration. This preliminary report examined the prevalence of multifidus fat infiltration after Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), an established pain management technique. It also assessed inter-rater reliability in evaluating fat infiltration using MRI. Methods: The medical imaging data from four patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II (PSPS II) treated with SCS were collected. Two independent operators performed the manual segmentation of the multifidus muscle on axial MRI images of the lumbar spine. The fat-to-muscle ratio was quantified and rated using a four-point classification system, categorizing multifidus fat infiltration as normal, mild, moderate, or severe. To assess the reliability of the manual segmentations, inter-rater reliability was determined. Results: The median fat-to-muscle ratio at the levels L2–L3 was 46.12 (Q1–Q3: 44.88–47.35). At the levels L3–L4, L4–L5, and L5–S1, the median values were 50.45 (Q1–Q3: 45.57–52.98), 52.11 (Q1–Q3: 48.81–52.80), and 52.84 (Q1–Q3: 49.09–56.39), respectively. An ICC value of one (95% CI from 0.999 to 1, p < 0.001) was found for inter-rater agreement on the muscle volume of the multifidus muscle. Conclusions: All the patients had moderate-to-severe fat infiltration of the multifidus muscle at each lumbar spinal level. Although time-consuming, the manual segmentation of the multifidus muscle in patients treated with SCS was feasible and yielded excellent inter-rater reliability when determining muscle volume. Future endeavors should focus on the automation of segmentation and classification. Full article

Fifty high-risk bull calves were used in a completely randomized design (ten calves/treatment) to evaluate the optimal period of calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation following arrival into the feedlot. The variables evaluated were the growth performance, dietary energetics, body fat reserves, serum metabolites, and economic return at day 56 of arrival. Calves, which were weighed at the moment of reception (156.2 ± 1.57 kg off-truck body weight, BW), were received with a 50:50 forage-to-concentrate ratio diet and clean water. At 12 h from reception, they were housed in individual pens during a 56 d feeding period and assigned to treatments consisting of a daily supplementation of a commercial product (Propical^® Dresen Química, SAPI de CV., Mexico City, Mexico) that provided 19 g CaPr/calf for 0, 14, 28, 42, or 56 d following arrival into the feedlot. Compared with the other treatments, the calves receiving CaPr during the initial 42 d had a greater average daily weight gain (p ≤ 0.035) without affecting the dry matter intake (p ≥ 0.24). Thus, the gain efficiency (p ≤ 0.050) and dietary energy utilization were improved (p ≤ 0.046). Rib fat thickness (p ≥ 0.090) and Longissimus lumborum muscle area (p ≥ 0.112) were not affected by the CaPr supplementation, whereas calves showed the greatest values (p ≤ 0.038) to the rump back fat thickness at 42 and 56 days of CaPr supplementation. With the exception of the total albumin (being maximal at day 56 (p ≤ 0.024)) and total cholesterol (which, compared to the controls, was maximal at 28 and 42 d; p = 0.030), the serum metabolic profiles were not affected by the treatments. Using the profit estimated for the control group as a baseline, supplementing CaPr for 42 d yielded a greater net income (USD 34.84 more/calf). CaPr supplementation for more or less than 42 d showed a very similar profit (~USD 6.80/calf). Because the cost of gain was very similar for these treatments and the controls (USD 1.42 vs. 1.46/kg), the positive difference in profit was mediated mainly by an increase in income selling (+USD 13.02/calf) for the CaPr calves. Based on the performance, serum metabolites, and profit, it is concluded that the optimal duration of supplemental CaPr is 42 d. Offering 19 g CaPr during this period enhanced the growth performance, dietary energy, and economic returns. Full article

In the efforts towards germplasm innovation of livestock and poultry, strategies to improve meat quality have faced some increasingly challenging and dynamic concerns. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content and backfat thickness are two important traits contributing to meat quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs)—a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs maintaining cell homeostasis by inhibiting target gene expression—have been proven as critical regulators of body fat deposition, thus affecting farm animal production. Our previous in vitro and in vivo models of pigs have clarified that miR-130b overexpression can obviously suppress adipogenesis of subcutaneous preadipocytes and lower backfat thickness. However, the way miR-130b regulates proliferation and adipogenesis of primary cultured porcine intramuscular preadipocytes (PIMPA) and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. PIMPA derived from longissimus dorsi muscle were employed to examine the role of miR-130b in proliferation and adipogenesis and to further elucidate its underlying mechanism. Lipid deposition in cytoplasm was evaluated by TG quantification and ORO-staining, and EDU-staining was employed to measure cell proliferation. Adipogenic and proliferation-related gene expression were conducted by qPCR and Western blot. MiR-130b overexpression markedly stimulated proliferation of PIMPA by increasing cell cycle-related gene expression. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-130b significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation of PIMPA, mainly by inhibiting expression of adipogenic differentiation marker genes PPAR-γ and SREBP1. In addition, we proved that miR-130b significantly inhibited expression of PPAR-γ downstream target genes and ultimately repressed adipogenesis. Ssc-miR-130b accelerated proliferation but inhibited adipogenic differentiation of PIMPA, contributing to an enhanced knowledge of the function of ssc-miR-130b in lipid deposition, and providing potential implications for enhancing pork quality. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the optimization of dietary energy supply on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, energy metabolism, nutrient oxidation, slaughter performance, and meat quality of growing and fattening pigs under a low-temperature environment. In this study, forty-eight 60-day-old growing barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) with an initial body weight of 31.24 ± 3.56 kg were completely randomized into two treatment groups, with four replicates in each treatment group and six pigs in each replicate. The two groups were fed diets with equal protein levels and different energy levels (a conventional diet and an energy-optimized diet); the dietary energy level was increased by 8% by adding 6% fat, and the two groups were kept at the same ambient temperature (10 ± 1 °C) all day. After 5 d of prefeeding, the final weight reached approximately 110.00 kg prior to slaughter (99 days of age), and four pigs with a body weight of about 80.00 kg were selected in the two groups for digestion, metabolism, and respiratory calorimetry. The results showed that the average daily feed intake of the TES group (energy-optimized diet group, high fat and energy) was lower than that of the CON group (conventional diet group, normal fat and energy) (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the feed-to-gain ratio was lower in the TES group during the fattening period (60–110 kg) (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, fat and energy digestibility in the TES group were higher (p < 0.05), fecal nitrogen and urine nitrogen were lower (p < 0.05), the nitrogen deposition rate increased (p < 0.05), and fat oxidation and the sedimentation energy rate also increased (p < 0.05). The serum triglyceride concentration in the TES group was higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, the carcass weight, body fat content, backfat thickness, and eye muscle area in the TES group increased (p < 0.05); the L* value of flesh color also increased (p < 0.05); and the shear force was lower (p < 0.05). The dietary energy should be optimized under a low-temperature environment, and the feed conversion efficiency of fattening pigs could be improved by improving dietary energy levels by adding fat, increasing the fat oxidation proportion, promoting nitrogen deposition and sedimentation energy, and improving slaughter performance and meat quality. Full article

This study investigated whether the supplementation of prebiotic inulin to gestating sows programmatically affects offspring growth performance and meat quality while exploring its epigenetic effects through histone acetylation modulation. After mating, sixty multiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire; parity 2–3) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with inulin (0% vs. 1.5%) and fat (0% or 5%) supplementation until farrowing. Post-weaning, five litters (10 piglets per litter) per treatment were selected and maintained in their original litter for fattening under standardized feeding. The results demonstrated that maternal inulin supplementation during gestation accomplished the following: (1) Increased offspring liver index by 13.4% at weaning and 6.8% at finishing (p < 0.05) while reducing the finishing-phase backfat thickness by 11.6% (p < 0.01), with a significant inulin × fat interaction attenuating fat-induced abdominal lipid accumulation at weaning (p = 0.05). (2) Decreased longissimus dorsi muscle lightness (L*) by 4.5% in finishing pigs (p = 0.02) without altering the other meat quality parameters. (3) Suppressed offspring liver lipid deposition at birth and finishing (p < 0.05), concomitant with upregulated hepatic PGC-1α and CPT1A expression (p < 0.05). (4) Elevated neonatal serum butyrate by 15.6% (p = 0.06) while inhibiting hepatic histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and enhancing histone H3/H4 acetylation (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that maternal inulin supplementation during gestation mitigates offspring hepatic lipid deposition through butyrate-mediated epigenetic regulation, where microbial-derived butyrate from inulin fermentation inhibits HDAC activity, enhances histone acetylation levels, and upregulates fatty acid β-oxidation gene expression. This study provides novel mechanistic insights into how maternal dietary fiber nutrition programs offspring development through epigenetic reprogramming. Full article