Days Of Age Research Articles

鹿児島県海域で採集されたモジャコ(ブリ稚魚)の日齢と成長

鹿児島県海域で採集されたモジャコ(ブリ稚魚)の日齢と成長

Cord-Blood High-Sensitivity Troponin-I Reference Interval and Association with Early Neonatal Outcomes.

This study was aimed to establish a reference interval for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) in umbilical cord blood of infants and to assess its association with the risk of predetermined early neonatal outcomes in a high-acuity tertiary care hospital. Umbilical cord-blood samples were collected and hs-cTnI was measured in all infants born between August 2015 and September 2015 at McMaster Children's Hospital (n = 256). Gestational age, birth weight, Apgar's scores, age in days at which feeding was established, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, and discharge in days after birth were recorded. The 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles for the term infant subcohort were 19.75, 41.45, and 166.30 ng/L, respectively. We observed decreased mean gestational ages and birth weights in both the 90th (37.7 weeks; 2,961.4 g) and 95th percentiles (37.1 weeks; 2,709.9 g) when compared with the remaining infants. Moreover, levels of hs-cTnI were significantly higher in infants with respiratory distress requiring intervention (p < 0.05), low birth weight infants (p < 0.01), preterm infants (p < 0.001), and those requiring NICU admission (p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression of the recorded demographic factors revealed prematurity (gestational age <35 weeks: coefficient 0.346 ± 0.160, p < 0.05; gestational age <37 weeks: coefficient 0.253 ± 0.105, p < 0.05) and male sex (coefficient 0.138 ± 0.047; p < 0.01) to be most predictive of log-hs-cTnI levels. This study establishes the reference values for cord-blood hs-cTnI in infants at a tertiary care center. Premature and sick infants requiring NICU admission had significantly higher levels of hs-cTnI. · Established the 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles of neonatal cord-blood hs-cTnI in term infants as 19.75, 41.45, and 166.30 ng/L, respectively.. · Infants with hs-cTnI levels exceeding the 90th percentile had lower gestational ages and birth weights with higher rates of NICU admissions.. · Infants with respiratory distress or requiring NICU admission were found to have higher levels of hs-cTnI..

328 Chorionic villi angiogenic protein expression in normal human pregnancy

Our goal was to examine the changes in chorionic villi (CV) expression of angiogenic proteins VEGF165, VEGF165b and MMP-9 throughout gestation in normal human pregnancy. Placentas were obtained from normal pregnant women who underwent elective abortion in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, and from women who delivered at term. CV protein expressions were analyzed by ELISA using monoclonal antibodies to human VEGF165, VEGF165b and MMP-9 proteins (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Non-parametric test considered p<0.05 as significant. Our study highlights gestational age-specific alterations in all three CV proteins. VEGF165b protein peaked in the 2nd trimester while VEGF165 protein peaked in the third. MMP-9 protein progressively increased with increase in gestational age. Spearman's correlation showed that VEGF165, VEGF165b and MMP-9 proteins were significantly correlated with gestational age in days (r2=+0.236, p=0.001; r2= +0.158, p=0.028; r2=+0.475, p=0.0001, respectively). In the 3rd trimester, a significant positive correlation was seen between VEGF165 and VEGF165b (r2=+0.368, p=0.001); and a significant negative correlation was seen between VEGF165 and MMP-9 proteins (r2= -0.306, p=0.003). Of the three proteins selected, VEGF165 is the dominant angiogenic protein and its overexpression can result in tumorigenesis. VEGF165b is down-regulated in tumors. MMP-9 degrades ECM and promotes endothelial cell migration and is considered angiogenic. The 3rd trimester of human pregnancy is a unique phase when maximum angiogenesis needs to occur, yet as pregnancy approaches parturition the angiogenic process needs to be terminated. The correlation seen between the two isoforms of VEGF in the 3rd trimester suggest that when fetal demand is at its peak the two VEGF isoforms work synergistically to maximize angiogenesis. And, the ample presence of VEGF165b in the 3rd trimester and the inverse correlation seen between MMP-9 and VEGF165 could be mechanisms at place to restrict overexpression of VEGF165 and placental angiogenesis as pregnancy approaches parturition.

Early Versus Late Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia

To evaluate the agreement in brain injury findings between early and late magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in newborn infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated with therapeutic hypothermia and to compare the ability of early vs late MRI to predict early neurodevelopmental outcomes. This was a prospective longitudinal study of 49 patients with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who underwent therapeutic hypothermia and had MRI performed at both <7 and≥7days of age. MRIs were reviewed by an experienced neuroradiologist and assigned brain injury severity scores according to established systems. Scores for early and late MRIs were assessed for agreement using the kappa statistic. The ability of early and late MRI scores to predict death or developmental delay at 15-30months of age was assessed by logistic regression analyses. Agreement between the early and late MRI was substantial to near perfect (k>0.75, P<.001) across MRI scoring systems. In cases of discrepant scoring, early MRI was more likely to identify severe injury when compared with late MRI. Early MRI scores were more consistently predictive of adverse outcomes compared with late MRI. The results of this study suggest that a single MRI performed in the first week after birth is adequate to assess brain injury and offer prognostic information in this high-risk population.

Genetic analysis of sexual size dimorphism in Markhoz goat.

Genetic bases of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in Markhoz goat (5268 kids descended from 242 sires and 1499 dams) were unraveled as it was thought that sex-specific genetic mechanism is in the place governing SSD of birth weight (BW), weaning weight at 90days of age (WW_90d), and post-weaning weights at 6 (W6), 9 (W9), and 12 (W12) months of age. Male kids excelled for BW, WW_90d, W6, W9, and W12 than their female counterparts in the tune of 10, 17, 14, 17, and 23%, respectively. Estimates of sexual dimorphism levels (expressed as M/F) were 1.09, 1.17, 1.14, 1.17, and 1.23 for BW, WW_90d, W6, W9, and W12, respectively, which indicated relatively low levels of sexual size dimorphism in the studied traits. Though the additive genetic, residual and phenotypic variances were higher in males than females, for mostly all studied traits, but the heritability estimates for all traits except birth weight were higher in females. Differences in direct and maternal effects between male and female kids indicated that body weights traits could be treated as separate trait for male and female kids. Cross-sex genetic correlations revealed that almost all ages, genetic correlations between the two sexes, were high, and the lowest estimate (0.88) was for W6, which highlighted this trait as the most dimorphic trait in this breed. High and positive genetic correlations between the sexes indicated that selection for body weight in males would result in a correlated response in females and vice versa and, consequently, would prevent phenotypic divergence.

Non-invasive continuous renal tissue oxygenation monitoring to identify preterm neonates at risk for acute kidney injury.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an emerging tool to identify signs of inadequate tissue oxygenation in preterm neonates with acute kidney injury (AKI). Previous studies have shown a correlation between low renal tissue oxygenation (RrSO2) in the first 24hours of age and the later development of AKI. In this prospective clinical trial, NIRS monitoring was used to identify changes in RrSO2 in comparison to traditional AKI markers, serum creatinine (SCr), and urine output (UOP). We enrolled 35 preterm neonates born less than 32weeks' gestation and applied neonatal NIRS sensors at less than 48hours of age. Neonates underwent 7days of continuous monitoring. Renal and demographic information were collected for the first 7days of age. AKI was determined by the modified neonatal Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definition including UOP. Three patients experienced AKI, all based on both SCr and UOP criteria. Each neonate with AKI had decreases in RrSO2 over 48hours prior to changes in SCr and UOP. Patients with AKI had lower median RrSO2 values compared to patients without AKI over the first week of age, (32.4% vs. 60%, p < 0.001). RrSO2 monitoring identified preterm neonates at risk for AKI. NIRS detected a decline in RrSO2 prior to changes in SCr and UOP and was significantly lower in patients with AKI compared to those without AKI. Further studies are needed to evaluate the ability of RrSO2 monitoring to detect signs of kidney stress prior to the diagnosis of AKI. Graphical abstract.

Correlation of the levels of fat-soluble vitamins with biochemical parameters in infants with cholestatic liver disease

Objective To investigate the correlation of the levels of fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) with the changes of related indicators in infants with cholestatic liver disease, and to provide a basis for the supplementation of FSVs in infants with cholestatic liver disease. Methods A total of 136 children with cholestatic liver disease who were hospitalized in Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, from January 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled as observation group, and 30 healthy infants who underwent physical examination in our hospital during the same period of time were enrolled as control group. Related data were recorded, including gestational age, age in days, sex, and etiology, and related examinations were performed, including liver function, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, coagulation function, etiology, radiological examination, and gene detection. The serum levels of vitamins A, D, E, and K were also measured. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results There were significant differences in the levels of FSVs between the observation group and the control group (vitamin A: Z=-2.850, P= 0.004; vitamin D3: Z=-5.705, P 0.05). Serum total bilirubin was significantly correlated with vitamins A and D3 (vitamin A: r=-0.178, P=0.038; vitamin D3: r=-0.296, P 0.05), while there was a significant change in vitamin K level after treatment (Z=-5.662, P Conclusion The levels of FSVs in children with cholestatic liver disease are significantly lower than those in healthy infants of the same age in days. An increase in serum total bilirubin can indicate the deficiency of vitamins A and D3; increases in serum direct bilirubin and total bile acid can indicate vitamin D3 deficiency; an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase can indicate the deficiency of vitamins A and D3.

Effects of High-Fructose Diet vs. Teklad Diet in the MNUInduced Rat Mammary Cancer Model: Altered Tumorigenesis, Metabolomics and Tumor RNA Expression

Epidemiology, clinical and experimental animal studies suggest high fructose diets are detrimental to metabolic status and may contribute to tumor development. This due to increased obesity and metabolic syndrome, known risk factors for many types of cancer. We compared tumor development in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-treated rats fed either a high (60%)-fructose diet (HFD) or a standard diet (SD). Female Sprague-Dawley rats at 43 days of age (DOA) were fed a SD or HFD followed by administration of MNU at 50 DOA. Rats were palpated weekly and sacrificed at 190 DOA. MNU-treated rats on HFD exhibited decreased tumor latency and roughly a two-fold increase in tumor multiplicity. RNA-Seq on frozen tumors (SD vs. HFD rats) showed altered expression of approximately 10% of genes (P < 0.05). When examined by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, multiple highly significant pathways were identified including A) mechanisms of cancer, B) Wnt pathway, C) immune response (e.g., "Th1 and Th2 activation" and "antigen presentation") and D) LXR/RXR nuclear receptor. These generalized pathways were indirectly confirmed by alterations of various interrelated disease pathways (epithelial cancers, T cell numbers and apoptosis). In a second study, serum was collected from rats on the HFD or SD pre-MNU and at the time of sacrifice. Metabolomics revealed that the HFD yielded: A) increased levels of fructose, B) increases of various monoglycerols, C) reduced levels of various diacylglycerols and oxygenated inflammatory lipids (9 and 13 HODE and 12,13 DHOME) and D) increased levels of secondary bile acids (hyodeoxycholate and 6-oxolithocholate), which may reflect microbiome changes. These metabolomic changes, which are distinct from those on a high-fat diet, may prove relevant when examining individuals who consume higher levels of fructose.

Продуктивное долголетие голштинских коров ленинградской популяции при разных способах содержания

To identify the advantages of a tethering system (TS) or loose-housing system (LHS), a comparative analysis of the level of milk productivity and the duration of productive longevity of cows in the Leningrad Region was carried out for a livestock of 4,272 cows that left in 2015–2019. The following indicators were calculated: period of productive use (PPU) – age in days from the first calving to the retirement of the cow, lifetime milk yield (LTMY); milk yield (kg) for 1 milking day, for 1 day of PPU and 1 day of life (Efficiency of Milk Production – EMP) – calculated by dividing lifetime milk yield by the number of milk days, PPU or life. With TS the LTMY is higher by 10,634 kg, which is obtained for 107 additional days of their productive use, milk production for 1 day of milking, the day of use, EMP is higher by 8,2 kg, 6,7 kg and 4,6 kg, respectively, the majority of cows have an EMP level in the ranges of 10,01–15,00 kg of milk (32,0%) and 15,01–20,00 kg (38,2%), and 11,0% of animals have reached an EMP level of more than 20,00 kg of milk. With LHS mainly cows are concentrated in the ranges of 5,01–10,00 kg of milk (43,6%) and 10,01–15,00 kg of milk (46,6%). Desirable cows with LTMY over 30 thousand kg, and in this range, the EMP is almost 10 times higher with TS (43,9 instead of 4,5%). The results obtained cannot be attributed to the advantages of TS. This is confirmed by the great influence of the father on the EMP (factor «Sire» – 0,679) or the inherent genetic potential of productivity, and only by 0,268 system (factor «System of housing») and by 0,296 (factor «Farm») housing conditions on the farm. The «System of housing» influences more on milk yield per 1 day of PPU than on EMP and LTMY (0,342 instead of 0,268 and 0,110, respectively). The effectiveness of LHS is evidenced by the fact that when comparing animals with the same level of EMP under this system, they are used for a longer time and, accordingly, produce more milk per life. So, with a level of 5,01–10,00 kg of milk, cows have a LTMY of 18,1% more with LHS, which were used for 0,54 lactation with PPU for 211 days longer than analogs with TS. A similar trend is observed at the level of 10,01–15,00 kg (+20,8%, +1,17 lact., +461 days) and at the level of 15,01–20,00 kg (+11,3%, +1,18 lact., +499 days). Therefore, for profitable dairy production with a LTMY of more than 30 thousand kg of milk during the PPU of Holstein cows with a LHS, attention should be paid to the level of the inherent genetic potential of productivity (according to the analyzed sample, at least 8000 kg of milk), that is, to select bulls with high breeding qualities.

Recall Rate in Congenital Hypothyroidism Screening: Influence of the Day of Sample Collection and Lower Cutoff.

The recall rate in congenital hypothyroidism (CH) newborn screening programs depends on several factors such as primary screening strategy, sample collection guidelines, and cut-off. A recall rate of 0.05% is recommended but recall rates of 0.01-13% are reported worldwide. The aim of the study was to assess the recall rate in association with the age of the newborn at sample collection and with a lower cut-off. This was a retrospective correlational study concerning TSH results in CH screening program. All newborns from a tertiary center in Targu Mures, Romania between 2013-2018 were included. Four groups were created and a correlation test between TSH median value and age in days was performed. The recall rate was calculated using three cut-off levels for 8182 TSH results performed in 2018. 90% of the DBS were collected in days 3-5 after birth and 1/79 live births from this group had TSH above the lower cut-off used (10 mUI/L). 2% of the samples were collected in less than 48 hours after birth and 1/21 live birth from this group had TSH > 10 mUI/L. The recall rate in our center in 2018 was 0.08%, higher than the recommended rate of 0.05%. With the cut-off value recommended by the Health Ministry a 0.03% recall rate was obtained. Sample collection in less than 48 hours increases the recall rate in CH screening with TSH primary testing strategy. A lower cut-off raises the recall rate with a higher rate of false-positive cases (94.12%) but with 100% negative predictive value.

Effects of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f.) essential oil administration under three different dietary energy levels on growth performance, nutrient, and energy utilization in broilers.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of star anise essential oil (SAO) supplementation in diets with different energy levels on growth performance, nutrient metabolic efficiency of broilers. One hundred and ninety-two Arbor Acres male broiler chicks at 28days of age were divided into a 3×4 factorial arrangement design with three dietary energy levels (13.41, 12.82, 12.23MJ/kg) and 4 levels of SAO supplementation (0, 200, 400, and 600mg/kg of diet). Dietary supplementation with SAO increased (p<.05) apparent metabolic efficiency of CP, EE, GE, and all of the amino acids except Trp. Significant interactions were noted between energy level and SAO administration for metabolic efficiency of CP, all of the amino acids except Cys. Inclusion of SAO enhanced apparent nutrient metabolic efficiency of broilers in a dose-dependent manner, birds supplemented with 400mg/kg of SAO in high-energy diets appeared to contain highest nutrient metabolic efficiency, moreover, the metabolic efficiency of nutrients in low-energy diets along with 200 or 400mg/kg of SAO was similar with that in high-energy diets without SAO, which indicated that the SAO might ameliorate the negative effects of reduced dietary metabolic energy on nutrient utilization in broilers.

Genetic predisposition to fetal and neonatal cancer.

Neonatal tumors represent an extremely rare and heterogeneous disease with an unknown etiology. Due to its early onset, it has been proposed that genetic factors could play a critical role; however, germline genetic analysis is not usually performed in neonatal cancer patients PATIENTS AND METHODS: To improve the identification of cancer genetic predisposition syndromes, we retrospectively review clinical characteristics in 45 patients with confirmed tumor diagnosis before 28days of age, and we carried out germline genetic analysis in 20 patients using next-generation sequencing and directed sequencing. The genetic studies did not find any germline mutation except patients diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma who harbored RB1 germline mutations. Our results suggest that genetic factors have almost no higher impact in most neonatal tumors. However, since the heterogeneity of the tumors and the small sample size analyzed, we recommend complementary and centralized germline studies to discard the early onset as an additional criterion to take into account to improve the identification of cancer genetic predisposition syndromes in neonates.

Tahıl Bazlı Fermente Fonksiyonel Gıda Katkısı İlavesinin Bıldırcınların Büyüme, Sekal Mikroflora ve Duodenum Histolojisine Etkileri (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary cereal based fermented functional food (CBFFF) supplementation on growth performance, duodenum histomorphology, internal organ development and cecum microflora of quails. In this study, a total of 100 mixed sex birds at 21 age of days were used as animal material. The birds were divided into 2 dietary groups as control (C) and 5 g/kg CBFFF supplementation (F) with 5 replicates (5 male average 64.33±0.32g and 5 female average 66.42±0.38g for each replicate. The experiment lasted 21 days. Live weight gain (LWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) determined weekly. At the end of the experiment, one female and one male bird were selected from each replicate (a total number of 20 quails) and their characteristics of cecum microbiota and duodenum histomorphology were determined. LWG, FI, FCR, inner organs, did not change among the groups. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast count was tend to increase, Enterobactericaea was tend to decrease. E coli and Coliforms count in cecum decreased statistically. Villi length increased in F group than in the C group. To conclude, CBFFF decreased pathogenic bacteria in cecum and developed intestinal microflora and increased the digestion surface area in duodenum. Therefore, it can be said that 5 g/kg dietary CBFFF can use to improve cecum microflora and duodenum histomorphology in quails. But further studies should be conducted to determine probiotics effects of CBFFF on other animal species, doses or stress factors such as feed restriction, high fiber or low protein in diet etc.

Influence of breed-type and parity order on pre-weaning litter traits of rabbits raised in derived savanna zone of Nigeria

Pre-weaning litter traits such as litter size and weight at birth and weaning are of economic importance for profitable expansion of the rabbit industry. This study investigated the influence of breed-type and parity order on pre-weaning litter traits of three rabbit breeds raised in Nigeria. Data were obtained on purebred progenies, from three parities, of does belonging to Chinchilla, Dutch and New Zealand white breeds. Does were firstmatedat9-11month sof age.Traits evaluated include litter size and weight at birth and weaning (56 daysof age) and pre-weaning mortality rate. Highly significant breed-type and parity order effects (p&lt;0.001) were found in litter size and weight at birth and weaning. The Chinchilla had 12.58% and 11.54% more kits at birth than the Dutch and New Zealand white breeds respectively.More kits (p&lt;0.01) were also weaned by the Chinchilla.On average, litters from Chinchilla were heavier (42.74 ± 1.28g and 390.51 ± 5.14g at birth and weaning respectively) than those from Dutch and New Zealand white. Litter size and weight at birth and weaning were highest in the first parity (p&lt;0.001). Pre-weaning mortality rate ranged from 19.47- 22.99% but was not affected by breed-type or parity order. The use of Chinchilla breed and selection criterion based on first parity litter traits is recommended for genetic and economic improvement of rabbits in Nigeria.

Genetic parameters of passive transfer of immunity for US organic Holstein calves

Passive transfer of immunity is important for calf health and survival. The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for calf passive transfer of immunity through producer-recorded serum total protein (STP) and to determine associations with other routinely evaluated traits in organic Holstein calves (n = 16,725) that were born between July 2013 to June 2018; a restricted subset (n = 7,518) of calves with known Holstein maternal grandsires was analyzed separately. Producers measured STP on farm, and STP was extracted from farm management software. Failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPT) was declared for calves with STP ≤5.2 g/dL. Calves that had the opportunity to reach 1 yr of age were recorded as either staying in the herd or leaving the herd (STAY365). Univariate and threshold models were fitted for STP and FPT, respectively, and included the fixed effects of herd-year-month of birth, calf age in days at STP measurement, dam age in years, and random effects of animal and birthdate within herd. Model effects for STAY365 included the fixed effects of herd-year-month of birth and random effects of animal and birthdate within herd. Multivariate analyses of STP with FPT or STAY365 were conducted to determine the genetic correlation between traits and STP was also regressed on gestation length. Heritability estimates of STP were 0.06 and 0.08 for full and restricted data, respectively. Heritability estimates for FPT were 0.04 and 0.06 for full and restricted data, respectively. The genetic correlation between STP and FPT was near unity. Heritability estimates for STAY365 ranged from 0.08 to 0.11 with genetic correlation estimates between STP and STAY365 ranging from 0.19 and 0.25. Approximate genetic correlations were estimated for sires (n = 302 and n = 256 for full and restricted data, respectively) with at least 10 daughters for STP and predicted transmitting abilities for health, calving traits, and production. Positive approximate genetic correlations were estimated for STP with cow livability, productive life, net merit dollars, and milk yield; favorable approximate genetic correlations were observed for daughter and sire calving ease, and sire stillbirth. Longer gestation length was associated with reduced STP genetically and phenotypically. These results suggest that passive transfer as measured through STP is heritable and favorably correlated with current measures of health, calving, and production.

Different dietary electrolyte balance values on performance, egg, and bone quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) under heat stress.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and quality of eggs and bones of Japanese quails that received different dietary electrolyte balance (EB) and were submitted to thermoneutrality or heat stress conditions. Eight hundred Japanese quails of 21days of age were selected and distributed randomly in two bioclimatic chambers: thermoneutral chamber (23°C ± 2°C) and heat-stress chamber (33°C ± 2°C). The treatments were in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement, with two temperatures and five EB levels (165, 215, 265, 315, 365mEq/kg) with four replicates of 20 birds each. The productive performance and egg quality (in 3 cycles of 21days) were measured. At 105days old, the bone quality was evaluated. Data were analyzed by Minitab, and the means were compared by Tukey's test and regression test for levels (P < 0.05). Quails submitted to thermoneutrality showed better performance and egg and bone quality. The highest production rate was the EB level of 265mEq/kg. Low values of EB (165 and 215mEq/kg) and high values (365) impaired egg quality, and the ideal was 315mEq/kg. Lower levels of balance provided poor bone density. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that heat stress impairs the production and quality of quail eggs and bones. Furthermore, by using intermediate EB levels (265 and 315) mEq/kg, it is possible to improve egg production and egg quality, and using high levels increases bone mineral density.

Early metformin treatment improves pancreatic function and prevents metabolic dysfunction in early overfeeding male rats at adulthood.

What is the central question of this study? Studies reported the efficacy of metformin as a promising drug for preventing or treating of metabolic diseases. Nutrient stresses during neonatal life increase long-term risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Can early metformin treatment prevent the malprogramming effects of early overfeeding? What is the main finding and its importance? Neonatal metformin treatment prevented early overfeeding-induced metabolic dysfunction in adult rats. Inhibition of early hyperinsulinaemia and adult hyperphagia might be associated with decreased metabolic disease risk in these animals. Therefore, interventions during infant development offer a key area for future research to identify potential strategies to prevent the long-term metabolic diseases. We suggest that metformin is a potential tool for intervention. Given the need for studies investigating the possible long-term effects of metformin use at crucial stages of development, and taking into account the concept of metabolic programming, the present work aimed to evaluate whether early metformin treatment might program rats to resist the development of adult metabolic dysfunctions caused by overnutrition during the neonatal suckling phase. Wistar rats raised in small litters (SLs, three pups per dam) and normal litters (NLs, nine pups per dam) were used as models of early overfeeding and normal feeding, respectively. During the first 12 days of suckling, animals from SL and NL groups received metformin, whereas the controls received saline injections. Food intake and body weight were monitored from weaning until 90days of age, when biometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. The metformin treatment decreased insulin concentrations in pups from SL groups, and as adults, these animals showed improvements in glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, body weight gain, white fat pad stores and food intake. Low-glucose insulinotrophic effects were observed in pancreatic islets from both NL and SL groups. These results indicate that early postnatal treatment with metformin inhibits early overfeeding-induced metabolic dysfunctions in adult rats.

Association between maternal diabetes and cardiac left ventricular structure and function in the neonate: a study from the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study

Abstract Background Prenatal exposure to maternal diabetes has been associated with increased risk of congenital heart defects. Purpose To evaluate whether maternal diabetes is associated with more subtle morphological and functional cardiac changes in neonates without congenital heart defects. Methods We included 17,869 newborns sampled from the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study, all of whom underwent transthoracic echocardiography within 30 days of delivery. We investigated the association between exposure to maternal diabetes (pre-existing diabetes [type 1 or type 2 diabetes] or gestational diabetes [GDM]) and the neonates' echocardiographic indices of left ventricular structure (left posterior wall thickness in end-diastole [LVPWd], interventricular septum thickness in end-diastole [IVSd], left ventricular internal diameter in end-systole [LVIDs] and end-diastole [LVIDd]), systolic function (fractional shortening [FS], stroke volume [SV]) and diastolic function (mitral valve peak early and atrial filling velocities, deceleration time of early filling, and E/A-ratio), using linear and logistic regression. Models were adjusted for maternal age, infant sex, infant birth weight for gestational age and gestational age in days. In additional analyses, we evaluated the relationship between HbA1C levels in first and third trimester and left ventricular structure and function. Results We found that infants exposed to pre-existing maternal diabetes (n=x) had, on average, a thicker LVPWd (mean difference 0.12 mm [95% CI: 0.06–0.19]), a smaller LVIDs (−0.27 mm [95% CI: −0.46, −0.07]) and LVIDd (−0.43 mm [95% CI: −0.66, −0.19]), and decreased SV (−0.50 ml [95% CI: −0.77, −0.23]). We found no significant differences in IVSd, FS, and measures of diastolic function for infants exposed to pre-existing maternal diabetes compared with infants not exposed to diabetes. Infants exposed to GDM (n=) also had thicker LVPWd (0.06 mm [95% CI: −0.28, −0.01]) and smaller LVIDs (−0.15 mm [95% CI: −0.28, −0.01]); however, on average, IVSd, LVIDd, and measures of systolic and diastolic function did not differ for infants born to mothers with and without GDM. We observed no consistent association between HbA1C levels measured early and late in pregnancy in mothers with diabetes and indices of left ventricular structure and function. Conclusion In conclusion, we found that exposure to maternal pre-existing diabetes, and to a lesser degree GDM, was associated with changes in neonatal left ventricular structure and function, including a thicker left ventricular posterior wall, smaller left ventricular internal diameters, and lower stroke volumes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Rigsbospitalet Research Foundation

Carcass traits, meat quality, and sensory attributes of fast-growing broilers given outdoor access at different ages

This study evaluated the effect of outdoor access offered to fast-growing broilers at different ages and its impact on meat quality attributes. A total of 200 straight-run broilers were arranged according to the completed randomized design and distributed into 4 treatment groups. The treatments were replicated 5 times; each replicate consisted of 10 birds. The treatment included age at exposure to outdoor access including day 21, day 28, and day 35, and a control group in which the birds were reared at an indoor facility for up to 56 days. Taste, flavor, juiciness, and overall acceptability of breast meat were highest for broilers given outdoor access on day 21 followed by day 28, day 21 and lowest for broilers without outdoor access. Tenderness of breast meat was highest in broilers without outdoor access followed by broilers given outdoor access on day 35 and day28 and lowest for broilers given outdoor access on day 21 of age. It can be concluded that giving outdoor access to fast-growing broilers at the age of day 21 improves carcass and meat quality traits.

The progression of salt-wasting and the body weight change during the first 2weeks of life in classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency patients.

One of the major purposes of newborn screening for 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) is preventing life-threatening adrenal crisis. However, the details of adrenal crisis in newborns are not precisely documented. We aimed to clarify the clinical details of salt-wasting in newborn 21OHD patients. Based on the follow-up survey of the screening in Tokyo from 1989 to 2017, we retrospectively analysed the conditions of classical 21OHD neonates before the initiation of therapy. One hundred classical 21OHD patients (55 male, 45 female) were analysed. The age at the first hospital visit was 0-20days with sex difference (male: 9.0±3.5days; female: 6.2±3.9days). Thirty-seven (37.4%) patients exhibited severe salt-wasting (SSW), that is, Na<130mEq/L, K>7mEq/L or Na/K ratio<20; except for one case, SSW developed in or after the second week of life. The serum concentrations of Na, K and Na/K were linearly correlated with age in days (R2 =.38, .25, and .34 respectively), suggesting that the risk of SSW increases linearly without a threshold. The age at which the regression lines reached Na<130mEq/L, K>7mEq/L and Na/K<20 was approximately coincided, 11.1, 12.3 and 11.2days, respectively. All SSW patients exhibited decreased body weight from birth in their second week of life. Our data revealed that the risk of developing SSW increases during the second week of life without a threshold, and for preventing SSW, early intervention, ideally during first week of life, is desirable. An increased body weight in the second week of life indicates the absence of SSW.