Search Results (547)

Background: Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a naturally occurring redox cofactor with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been shown to protect against cardiac injury. However, its therapeutic potential in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) induced by Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods: A T2DM mouse model was established via a high-fat diet and low-dose STZ. We investigated the cardioprotective effects of 12-week oral PQQ administration, assessing fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, blood biochemistry, mitophagy, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In vitro experiments using AC16 cardiomyocytes exposed to palmitic acid and high glucose were also conducted. Results: Results showed PQQ significantly improved cardiac function, attenuated remodeling, and reduced proinflammatory cytokines in mice with T2DM, regulated key mitophagy-related proteins (Parkin, Beclin-1, LC3B-II, p62), and downregulated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway components (Caspase-1, NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18). In vitro experiments demonstrated that PQQ reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, improved mitochondrial membrane potential, promoted mitophagy, and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Conclusions: PQQ alleviates DCM in mice with T2DM by improving mitochondrial quality control, promoting mitophagy, and subsequently inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for T2DM-associated cardiomyopathy. Full article

Objectives: Seasonal influenza leads to substantial global morbidity and mortality, especially in adults aged 65 years and older, who present poor immune responses to standard-dose influenza vaccines. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the preclinical safety and immunogenicity of a high-dose quadrivalent seasonal influenza split vaccine (HD-QIV), providing preclinical evidence for its clinical application in the elderly. Methods: Following GLP guidelines, we performed single-dose and repeated-dose toxicity tests in Sprague–Dawley rats, active systemic anaphylaxis assays in guinea pigs, and immunogenicity assessments in young and aged BALB/c mice. Safety indicators included general clinical signs, hematology, blood biochemistry, histopathology and allergic reactions; immunogenicity was evaluated via hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers and antigen-specific cellular immune responses. Results: HD-QIV only caused mild and reversible local irritation in rats without obvious systemic toxicity, and no dose-related systemic anaphylaxis was observed in guinea pigs. HD-QIV induced robust and dose-dependent humoral immune responses, and showed significantly higher HI antibody titers, earlier seroconversion and longer antibody persistence than standard quadrivalent influenza vaccine in aged mice. Cellular immunity was slightly enhanced but not the dominant protective response. Conclusions: The HD-QIV demonstrates favorable preclinical safety and superior immunogenicity, supporting its further clinical development and use as a priority vaccine for the elderly population. Full article

Background: Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer-related mortality globally, and chemo-immunotherapy is a core therapeutic strategy for it. The novel bacterial composite vaccine (Neo-BCV) we developed previously can activate anti-tumor immunity. This study explored its synergistic anti-tumor effect with cisplatin (CDDP), along with the underlying immunomodulatory mechanisms and molecular regulatory networks. Methods: A murine Lewis lung cancer (LLC) model was established to evaluate the efficacy of the combination therapy. Flow cytometry and multiplex cytokine assay were used to detect immune cell subsets and functional molecules in the spleen, serum and tumor tissues. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to elucidate the molecular regulatory networks following the combination therapy in the tumor tissues. Body weight, blood indexes, serum biochemistry and H&E staining were monitored to verify biosafety. Results: Neo-BCV combined with CDDP achieved an 87.77% tumor growth inhibition rate, showing the most significant anti-tumor effect. The combination promoted DC maturation, enhanced effector immune cell infiltration, reduced immunosuppressive cells, upregulated Th1-type cytokines and downregulated CD8⁺ T cell surface PD-1. RNA-seq confirmed enrichment of multiple immune effector pathways, supporting tumor immune microenvironment remodeling. The combination alleviated CDDP-induced weight loss, had no obvious adverse effects on physiological indicators, and exhibited good biosafety. Conclusions: Neo-BCV combined with CDDP achieves enhanced anti-tumor efficacy and favorable biosafety in murine lung cancer models by regulating immune cell subsets and activating immune-related molecular pathways, providing a solid preclinical basis for its clinical translation in lung cancer treatment. Full article

Canine leishmaniosis can cause a variety of signs. The detailed assessment of disease severity lacks a standardized, validated scoring system. This prospective study aimed to develop and validate an objective scoring system (“Total Leishmania Score”, TLS) combining clinical and laboratory parameters for monitoring dogs with Leishmania (L.) infantum infection. Fifty-one L. infantum-infected dogs were examined every 3 months over 1 year. Evaluations included physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, urinalysis including protein-to-creatinine ratio, and a L. infantum antibody Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). At each visit, 2 veterinarians applied the TLS, comprising 10 clinical and 8 laboratory parameters graded on a four-point severity scale (0–3) and weighted according to their estimated prognostic relevance values. Interobserver agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman analysis. Longitudinal changes were analyzed using robust linear mixed-effects models. In total, 488 scores were evaluated. Interobserver reliability was excellent (ICC: 0.998; CI_95%: 0.997–0.998; p < 0.001) with no relevant systematic bias. Reliability remained excellent at all time points (ICC: 0.996–0.999). The TLS increased significantly before and during relapse (p < 0.001) and decreased significantly within 3 months after leishmanicidal treatment (p < 0.001). The TLS demonstrated excellent reliability and responsiveness, supporting its use for the longitudinal monitoring of dogs with leishmaniosis. Full article

Turmeric has a long history of use as a colorant and flavoring agent. Turmeric extract (TE) is a feed additive containing at least 90% total curcuminoids, comprising mainly curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. The published antioxidant effects of TE in humans have sparked interest and feeding studies in companion animals. Studies describing the feeding of TE to cats are scarce and do not provide adequate toxicology data; regulatory approval is required to allow use of TE as a nutritional antioxidant in pet food. The current study describes a safety test of TE in cats. Control cats were fed a standard extruded dry diet whilst two groups of test cats were fed the same diet supplemented with two different levels of TE for four months. Physical examination, body weight, body condition score, food intake, fecal score, monitoring of adverse effects (vomiting, diarrhea, clinical signs), complete blood count, and blood biochemistry (particularly liver enzymes) were used to monitor toxicity signs. The lack of statistically significant effects of clinical or toxicological concern concludes that feeding TE to cats at a dietary level providing up to 1040 ppm total curcuminoids is safe. This allows future application of this ingredient in cat food as a nutritional antioxidant. Full article

This study explored the differences in slaughter performance, blood biochemical indices, and ruminal and colonic microbiota between 6-month-old male and female Small-tailed Han sheep, a typical meat-wool dual-purpose breed in China. Twenty weaned lambs (10 males and 10 females) with uniform body condition were reared under unified feeding management until 6 months of age, followed by slaughter sampling and microbial sequencing detection. Results showed that male lambs had significantly higher pre-slaughter live weight, carcass weight and serum ALP content than females (p < 0.05), with lower BUN and β-BHBA levels (p < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene in rumen fluid and colon contents revealed that microbial alpha diversity in the rumen was extremely significantly higher than that in the colon (p < 0.01), and their microbial community structures were distinctly separated (p = 0.001). Sex had no significant effect on overall microbial diversity, but altered specific flora and functional pathways: male rumen had higher Actinobacteriota abundance, while female colon had enriched galactose metabolism and male colon had enhanced folate-mediated one-carbon pool pathway. These findings clarify the tissue specificity of gastrointestinal microbiota and sex-related phenotypic differences, providing a theoretical basis for sex-specific feeding of Small-tailed Han sheep. Full article

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary lipid and starch levels on growth performance, biochemical components, and hepatic glycolipid metabolism in hybrid grouper. Nine isonitrogenous diets were formulated to contain three levels of lipid (6%, 10%, or 14%) and starch (14%, 21%, or 28%) using a 3 × 3 factorial design. Juvenile fish (initial body weight: 19.06 ± 0.03 g) were randomly allocated to 27 floating net cages (25 fish per cage, three replicates per diet) in an indoor seawater recirculation system and hand-fed to apparent satiation twice daily. Two-way ANOVA was conducted to check treatment effects of dietary lipid and starch levels. No interaction effect between lipid and starch on growth and feed utilization was observed across all treatments; however, significant interactions between the two were observed for condition factor (CF), and some serum biochemical indicators and some hepatic glycolipid metabolic enzyme activities. Growth rate, specific growth rate, and feed efficiency (FE) exhibited a declining trend with increasing dietary lipid levels (p < 0.05). Conversely, hepatosomatic index (HSI), viscerosomatic index (VSI), condition factor, hepatic lipid and glycogen contents, muscle lipid content, serum triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol contents, as well as hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities, showed an increasing trend (p < 0.05). As lipid levels increased, serum total cholesterol (TC) and total protein (TP) contents dropped to a minimum at the intermediate lipid level (10%) and then rose, regardless of starch level. Hepatic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP) activity increased significantly when lipid level rose from 6% to 10% (p < 0.05). With increasing dietary starch levels, HSI, VSI, hepatic and muscle glycogen contents, and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content increased, while FE and serum TP content decreased (p < 0.05). Hepatic CPT-1, LPL, FBP, and pyruvate kinase activities were significantly enhanced when starch levels increased from 14% to 21% or 28% (p < 0.05). Serum aspartate aminotransferase activity was significantly higher in fish fed 14% lipid compared to those fed 6% or 10% lipid. These findings indicate that there is no interaction of dietary lipid and starch on growth and feed utilization, but high dietary lipid (14%) may enhance hepatic lipid oxidation while suppressing glycolysis, thereby limiting growth and promoting hepatic lipid deposition. The results provide a practical reference for optimizing dietary lipid and starch levels in cost-effective feed formulations for hybrid grouper. Full article

Background: Cataract is a progressive lens opacity. According to the World Health Organization, about 45 million people in the world are blind, with about half of these cases attributable to cataracts. Due to the complexity of cataract disease, current research on cataracts is far from sufficient, so it is especially important to understand the development process and the pathogenic factors of cataracts. Myodes rufocanus (M. rufocanus) is an animal of the M. rufocanus of the hamster family Volinae. In developing M. rufocanus, we found an individual of M. rufocanus with a congenital cataract phenotype. We confirmed the symptoms of cataract under natural light and using a slit lamp. Methods: Therefore, we analyzed the mechanism of congenital cataract in M. rufocanus from the aspects of pathological histology, physiology and biochemistry, and gene level, aiming to explore the feasibility of its development into an animal model of cataract. Cataract is a progressive lens opacity and a leading cause of visual impairment. Understanding its pathogenesis requires appropriate animal models. In a laboratory-bred colony of M. rufocanus, we identified individuals with a spontaneous congenital cataract phenotype, confirmed by gross observation and slit lamp examination. To characterize this phenotype and explore its potential as an animal model, we performed pathological, physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic analyses using three cataract-affected and three normal age-matched male individuals (8 weeks old per group). Results: Blood tests revealed significantly lower white blood cell and lymphocyte counts in the cataract group, while blood glucose and other biochemical parameters showed no significant differences. Histologically, cataractous lenses exhibited eosinophilic aggregation in the nuclear region with disorganized fiber cells. Transcriptome analysis identified 6544 differentially expressed genes, including downregulation of crystallin genes (CRYBB2, CRYBA4, CRYGS) known to be associated with congenital cataract. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis highlighted retinol metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and cytochrome P450-related pathways. RT-qPCR confirmed reduced CRYBB2 expression in cataractous eyes. Conclusions: This study provides the first transcriptome dataset for M. rufocanus ocular tissues and offers preliminary evidence that this naturally occurring cataract phenotype may serve as a potential model for congenital cataract research. Full article

Background/Objectives: The preschool period is critical for neurodevelopment, yet evidence investigating fortified formula’s effect and potential microbiota–gut–brain axis mechanisms in this age group is limited. To evaluate fortified formula milk’s effect on neurodevelopment and explore potential microbiota–gut–brain axis mechanisms in preschool children. Methods: In this 9-month cluster-randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 120 healthy children aged 3–6 years from four kindergarten classes were stratified by grade and randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either multi-nutrient fortified formula (intervention, n = 60) or standard control milk (n = 60). Neurocognitive function was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Safety was evaluated through anthropometry and blood biochemistry. Gut microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing) and fecal metabolomes (untargeted LC-MS) were analyzed at baseline and 9 months. Results: The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed no significant difference in Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (adjusted mean difference: 1.05 points; 95% CI: −1.42, 3.52; p = 0.400). However, the intervention group significantly improved the Processing Speed Index (adjusted mean difference: 5.91 points; 95% CI: 1.88, 9.93; p = 0.004), increased gut microbial alpha diversity (Shannon index) and Bifidobacterium abundance. Metabolomic analysis revealed elevated fecal 2-hydroxybutyric acid (2-HB), a marker of propanoate metabolism. Increases in both Bifidobacterium and 2-HB levels showed a positive association with PSI improvement (both p < 0.05). All children maintained normal growth and safety parameters. Conclusions: Fortified formula milk improved processing speed in preschoolers, a benefit associated with gut ecosystem modulation characterized by Bifidobacterium enrichment and upregulated microbial propanoate metabolism. These results offer preliminary evidence for the role of the microbiota–gut–brain axis in nutritional cognitive programming during early childhood. (Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2400084211). Full article

Yushu yaks face nutritional deficiency and poor production performance in the cold season on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, yet their metabolic responses to different feeding modes remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of traditional grazing, grazing with concentrate supplementation, and TMR stall-feeding on 90 four-year-old Yushu yaks (30 per group) during a 180-day cold-season trial, by determining body weight changes, serum biochemical parameters and plasma metabolic profiles. Stall-fed yaks had the highest average daily gain (259.05 ± 61.56 g/d), while grazing yaks showed negative gain (−279.50 ± 44.45 g/d) and supplementary-fed yaks had intermediate performance; grazing yaks had stronger antioxidant enzyme activity, and supplemented/stall-fed yaks had higher serum mineral and albumin levels. Metabolomic analysis identified 2024 plasma metabolites, with grazing yaks enriched in plateau adaptation and antioxidant pathways, stall-fed yaks in energy metabolism pathways, and supplementary-fed yaks in both growth and antioxidant pathways. Our findings confirm that gradient nutritional interventions regulate the balance between yak growth and plateau adaptability, with concentrate supplementation as the optimal cold-season feeding mode for local herders and stall-feeding suitable for intensive breeding to maximize growth efficiency. Full article

Dietary phytogenic additives and microalgae are increasingly investigated as natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in rabbit production due to their potential effects on gut health and nutrient utilisation. This study evaluated the nutraceutical potential of Chlorella vulgaris and Laurus nobilis as plant-based additives for growing New Zealand White rabbits. A 45-day feeding trial was conducted using control and experimental diets enriched with 0.1% Chlorella and 0.1% Laurus. Productive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemistry and faecal composition were monitored, and polyphenolic compounds were analysed in feed, blood, faeces and caecal microbiota using HPLC-DAD. Final body weight (3097 vs. 2909 g) and feed intake (142.7 vs. 145.0 g day⁻¹) did not differ significantly between treatments. However, crude protein digestibility was significantly lower in the supplemented group than in the control group (54.39–47.79% vs. 63.73–62.33%; p < 0.05). Faecal chemical composition differed significantly between groups, particularly for dry matter, which was higher in the supplemented group across sampling times. Polyphenols detected across biological matrices confirmed the bioavailability of selected phytochemicals, with ferulic acid showing the highest stability. Correlation analysis indicated shared metabolic or absorptive pathways among several compounds. Overall, low-dose supplementation with C. vulgaris and L. nobilis appears safe and may support improved digestive physiology and nutrient utilisation without compromising rabbit health. Further research with larger sample sizes and detailed microbiome profiling is needed to clarify metabolic interactions and long-term effects of these nutraceutical strategies. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of different environmental enrichment tools on broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 120,000 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments, each consisting of four replicates with 6000 birds per replicate. Replicates were housed in pens measuring approximately 362 m². The treatments included: T1, green balls (approximately 40 balls per pen); T2, hanging toys (8–10 toys per pen); T3, hanging strings (8–10 string bundles per pen); T4, rotational use of green balls, hanging toys, and strings at equivalent densities; and T5, a control group without enrichment. Data were collected on growth performance, foot health, behavioral activity, serum biochemical parameters, and carcass and meat quality traits. Birds provided with hanging enrichment tools showed significantly improved growth performance (p ≤ 0.05) compared with the control group. Among enriched treatments, T2 yielded the highest body weight and weight gain, as well as the lowest feed conversion ratio. Enrichment treatments also resulted in significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) in carcass characteristics and selected meat quality parameters, including lightness (L*) and pH stability. Behavioral observations indicated substantially higher activity levels in enriched groups relative to the control. Toe damage scores differed significantly among treatments (p = 0.004), with the lowest scores observed in T1 and the highest in T4; however, no significant differences were detected in footpad dermatitis or hock burn scores (p > 0.05). In conclusion, hanging environmental enrichment tools, particularly hanging toys, can effectively enhance growth performance, behavioral activity, and selected carcass and meat quality traits in broiler production systems, while their effects on footpad health appear limited under the conditions of this study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Histologic remission has emerged as a key treatment target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but routine assessment requires repeated endoscopy and biopsies. Blood-based indices reflecting inflammation, nutritional status and atherogenic risk are inexpensive and widely available, yet their integrated contribution to histologic activity remains unclear. This study addresses this gap by simultaneously analyzing a broad panel of 44 variables—including nutritional status indicators, CBC-derived inflammation indices, and atherogenic lipid indices—in IBD patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, 100 patients with IBD (50 Crohn’s disease [CD], 50 ulcerative colitis [UC]) without additional comorbidities and with concomitant histologic assessment were analyzed. Histologic activity was coded as active vs. remission. At the time of biopsy, the complete blood count, biochemistry and lipid profile were used to calculate immuno-nutritional indices (CONUT score, prognostic nutritional index), inflammatory indices (neutrophil-to-platelet ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR], systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic inflammation response index [SIRI], aggregate index of systemic inflammation, C-reactive protein to albumin ratio) and atherogenic indices (atherogenic index of plasma [AIP], triglyceride-to-HDL cholesterol ratio). Variable selection was performed separately for CD and UC using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA). Independently associated predictors were then entered into multivariable logistic regression models, and their discriminative performance was evaluated using ROC analysis with bootstrap-derived 95% confidence intervals. Results: LASSO analysis identified a broadly similar systemic profile associated with histologic activity in CD and UC, dominated by the CONUT score, SIRI, AIP, LMR and red blood cell parameters, whereas demographic features and most routine biochemical markers were shrunk towards zero. Cross-validated AUCs for the LASSO models were 0.93 in CD and 0.87 in UC. sPLS-DA confirmed this pattern: CONUT, SIRI and AIP consistently showed the highest variable importance in projection scores and loadings on the first latent component. In multivariable regression, the CONUT score, SIRI and AIP remained independent predictors of histologic activity in CD, while hematocrit, CONUT score, SIRI and AIP were independently associated with histologic activity in UC. In ROC analysis, AUCs for CONUT, SIRI and AIP were 0.81, 0.89 and 0.87 in UC, and 0.72, 0.82 and 0.83 in CD, respectively. Conclusions: Histologic activity in IBD is characterized by a coupled systemic profile in which immuno-nutritional compromise (captured by CONUT) forms the core signal, supplemented by systemic inflammation (SIRI) and atherogenic dyslipidemia (AIP). These readily available blood-based indices may help to approximate histologic disease activity in clinical practice. However, considering that comorbid diseases may affect these indices, the strict exclusion criteria applied in this study may limit the generalizability of the findings among patients with IBD. Consequently, further validation in larger prospective cohorts is warranted. Full article

The high demand for conventional ingredients used in the formulation of rabbit diets has increased competition, resulting in higher costs. Tropical forage plants with high nutritional content can provide relief for this pressing issue, as well as offer potential health benefits to the animal, which would ultimately lead to a quality product. A review of 33 studies on Trichanthera gigantea (T. gigantea), Morus alba (M. alba, MA), Leucaena leucocephala (L. leucocephala, LL), Gliricidia sepium (G. sepium) and Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) and their effect on rabbits spanning 1999 to 2026 was conducted. This review demonstrated that alternative tropical fodder trees found in the Caribbean have the potential to enhance performance, the oxidative status of sera and meat, carcass traits, blood and meat biochemistry indicators and digestibility. On the contrary, most of these plants contain anti-nutrients that exert negative effects on growing rabbits and their health. The evidence revealed in this review shows that various inclusion levels of the forages can improve rabbit meat production, thereby lowering ingredient costs and providing consumers with a quality protein option. Therefore, the incorporation of tropical forages in rabbit diets is recommended. Full article

This study investigated the potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal to replace soybean meal in broiler diets by evaluating growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical responses. A total of 160 ten-day old Ross 708 chicks (216.74 ± 0.74, g) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0%, 20%, 40%, or 60% BSFL meal replacing soybean meal on a 100% equivalent basis, respectively, and evaluated during the starter (10–21 days), grower (21–42 days), and overall (10–42 days) phases. Carcass characteristics, meat color, and blood biochemistry were assessed on day 42. Data was analyzed using polynomial (linear and quadratic) contrasts. Increasing dietary BSFL levels resulted in significant reductions in body weight, average daily gain, and feed intake, while the feed conversion ratio increased linearly. Carcass yield decreased to higher inclusion levels, accompanied by a marked increase in gizzard weight. Meat color (L*, a*, b*) remained largely unchanged across treatments. Blood biochemical analysis revealed linear and quadratic shifts in key metabolites, enzymes, and electrolytes, including reductions in aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, and creatine phosphokinase, as well as altered calcium and phosphorus concentrations. Overall, BSFL meal inclusion as 20% replacement improved growth performance and stimulated beneficial lipid and protein metabolism adaptations in broilers. Full article