Variation In Body Weight Research Articles

Imidacloprid increases intestinal permeability by disrupting tight junctions

The neonicotinoid pesticide, imidacloprid (IMI), is frequently detected in the environment and in foods. It is absorbed and metabolized by the intestine; however, its effects on intestinal barrier integrity are not well studied. We investigated whether IMI disrupts the permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier via in vivo tests on male Wistar rats, in vitro assays using the human intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2, and in silico analyses. A repeated oral dose 90-day toxicity study was performed (0.06 mg/kg body weight/day). IMI exposure significantly increased intestinal permeability, which led to significantly elevated serum levels of endotoxin and inflammatory biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta) without any variation in body weight. Decreased transepithelial electrical resistance with increased permeability was also observed in 100 nM and 100 μM IMI-treated Caco-2 cell monolayers. Amounts of tight junction proteins in IMI-treated colon tissues and between IMI-treated Caco-2 cells were significantly lower than those of controls. Increased levels of myosin light chain phosphorylation, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and p65 subunit of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB p65) phosphorylation were found in IMI-exposed cells compared with control cells. Furthermore, the barrier loss caused by IMI was rescued by the MLCK inhibitor, ML-7, and cycloheximide. Pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) was inhibited by low-dose IMI treatment. In silico analysis indicated potent binding sites between PXR and IMI. Together, these data illustrate that IMI induces intestinal epithelial barrier disruption and produces an inflammatory response, involving the down-regulation of tight junctions and disturbance of the PXR-NF-κB p65-MLCK signaling pathway. The intestinal barrier disruption caused by IMI deserves attention in assessing the safety of this neonicotinoid pesticide.

Impact of Fasting on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Hypertension.

Fasting has been frequently practiced for religious or medical purposes worldwide. However, limited literature assesses the impact of different fasting patterns on the physiologic and cardiac-related parameters in patients with hypertension. This review aims to examine the effect of fasting on cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients. Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library were systematically screened until March 2021 for observational prospective cohorts investigating the effect of fasting on cardiovascular outcomes. Articles were assessed by searching for hypertension and fasting, both as Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and text words. The review included studies assessing Ramadan, intermittent, and water-only fasting. Water-only fasting reduces body weight, blood pressure, and lipolytic activity of fasting hypertensive patients without affecting average heart rate. Ramadan fasting enhances lipid profile, although it shows conflicting results for body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate variability. Considering the limited studies in this field, further research should be conducted to support the clinical impact of fasting on the cardiovascular health of patients with hypertension.

CONDIÇÃO CORPORAL DE FÊMEAS SUÍNAS NA GESTAÇÃO ALOJADAS EM BAIAS COLETIVAS COM DIFERENTES SISTEMAS DE ARRAÇOAMENTO

Landrace and Large White hybrid swine females were housed in collective pens during the gestation phase and submitted to different feeding systems. In one of the housing was used the manual feeding system, with feed provided directly on the floor. In the other, the electronic feeding system in a cage with free access Gestal 3G was installed. Two groups, composed of three matrices each, were separated by housing. The females were allocated according to their Body Condition Score (ECC) and birth order, seeking the homogeneity of the lots. The objective was to evaluate the variation of Body Weight (PC), ECC and Thickness of Bacon (ET) up to 107 days of gestation. For this purpose, CP and ECC measurements were performed every two weeks. ET was evaluated each 21 days. The data were submitted to descriptive and regression analysis over time. It was observed at the end of gestation that the group housed in the pens with an electronic feeding system showed less unevenness in relation to the PC and greater control of ECC. These results, added to the reduction of hierarchical disputes and for food competition, are important for maintaining the welfare of these females. Thus, automated feeding system proved to be important allies on the creation of pregnant swine matrices in collective pens.

Anti-COVID-19 measures threaten our healthy body weight: Changes in sleep and external synchronizers of circadian clocks during confinement

Emergency measures in the face of the recent COVID-19 pandemic have been different among countries, although most have opted for confinement and restrictions on social contact. These measures have generated lifestyle changes with potential effects on individuals' health. The disturbances in daily routines due to confinement and remote work have impacted circadian rhythms and energy balance; however, the consequences of these disruptions have not been studied in depth. The objective was to evaluate the impact of 12-week confinement on body weight, considering changes in several external synchronizers of the biological clock. The participants, 521 university students (16-35 years), responded to 52 questions oriented to determine light exposure, sleep patterns, sedentary lifestyle, and eating times. We found a reduction in sunlight exposure and sleep duration, an increment in sedentarism and screen exposure, and a delay in the timing of the main meals and sleep in the whole cohort. These behavioral changes were associated with a twofold increase in obesity. Subjects who increased their sedentary hours and shortened their sleep to a higher degree were those who gained more bodyweight. The most influential factors in body weight variation during confinement were sleep duration, physical activity (sedentarism), and light (timing of screen exposure). The mediation model explained 6% of the total body weight variation. Results support a significant impact of confinement on several external synchronizers of the biological clock and on body weight. Health-related recommendations during the pandemic must include behavioral recommendations to mitigate the adverse effects on the biological clock.

Evaluation of the Hemostatic Profile in Mice with Chronic Liver Disease: Effects of Protein S and Combined Gas6 and Protein S Deficiencies

IntroductionAdvanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) is characterized by changes in the coagulation system that embrace both hypo- and hypercoagulability. In this rebalanced situation, hypercoagulability can contribute to fibrosis progression and cirrhosis complications.Common hemostasis tests fail to reflect bleeding and thrombotic tendencies in ACLD patients. Therefore, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is mandatory for setting-up new assays and treatments.Here, we assessed the hemostatic changes by means of routine laboratory tests and thrombin generation assay (TGA) in two murine hepatotoxin-induced ACLD models.To better evaluate hemostatic changes, wild-type mice, mice carrying a partial protein S (Pros1) deficiency -thrombotic risk factor- and with a complete deficiency in Gas6, protective factor for fibrosis progression, have been investigated.MethodsAdult C57Bl6/129 Pros1+/+ and Pros1+/- mice received 1ml/kg carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) i.p. and 0.3g/L phenobarbital (PB) in drinking water 2x/week for 11 weeks. Similarly, Pros1+/+, Pros1+/-, Gas6-/-Pros1+/+, Gas6-/-Pros1+/- mice received 200mg/kg of thioacetamide (TAA) i.p. 3x/week for 12 weeks.At the end of the treatment, body, liver and spleen were weighed. Liver sections were stained with Sirius Red to score fibrosis according to METAVIR system. Plasma was analyzed for prothombin time (PT), fibrinogen (Fb), factor V (FV), factor VIII coagulant (FVIII:c) and thrombin and antithrombin complexes (TAT). TGA was performed in presence/absence of activated protein C (APC) or thrombomodulin (TM).ResultsAfter 11 weeks of CCl4/PB treatment, only 45% mice survived and developed an advanced CLD independently of their genotype (Pros1+/+ vs Pros1+/-). In particular, 42% Pros1+/+ (n=9)and 58% Pros1+/- (n=7) mice developed a severe cirrhosis (METAVIR: F4), 48% Pros1+/+ (n=10)and 42% Pros1+/- (n=5) an advanced fibrosis stage (F3) and only 10% Pros1+/+ (n=2) a modest fibrotic stage (F2). Treated mice presented hepatomegaly with darkish discoloration and nodular surface. The liver to body weight ratio was significantly increased compared to untreated controls (Pros1+/+=9.7% and Pros1+/-= 10.8% vs Pros1+/+ untreated =5.3%, P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively).No variations were observed on PT, Fb, FV and platelets. Differently, increased FVIII:c (Pros1+/+=340±69 and Pros1+/-=378±103 vs Pros1+/+ untreated 212±62% vs hFVIII, P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively) and TAT (Pros1+/+=30.2 and Pros1+/-=41.8±36.7 vs Pros1+/+ untreated 8.4±2.2 ug/L) were measured independently of disease severity (F3 vs F4).TAA treatment showed a reduced mortality paralleled by the development of less severe fibrotic stages in comparison to CCl4/PB treatment. In particular, 11% Pros1+/+ (n=4)and 31% Pros1+/- (n=4) mice were found at F4, 50% Pros1+/+ (n=12)and 54% Pros1+/- (n=7) at F3 while 39% Pros1+/+ (n=10)and 15% Pros1+/- (n=3) showed a moderate fibrotic disease (F2). In line with published data, preliminary data indicate a frequency reduction of the severe/advanced fibrotic stages in Gas6-/-Pros1+/+ mice: 37% (n=3) at F3 and 63% (n=5) at F2. Interestingly, this trend was reversed in Gas6-/-Pros1+/- mice: 54% (n=6) at F3 and 46% (n=5) at F2.No variations in body, liver and spleen weight and morphology were observed. The hemostatic profile did not show relevant variations of PT, Fb, FV, FVIII and platelets. TAT was increased in Pros1+/+ and Pros1+/- mice while levels in Gas6-/-Pros1+/+ mice were comparable to the untreated group (Pros1+/+=50.2±34.8 and Pros1+/-=47.7±57.9 vs Gas6-/-Pros1+/+=10.8±5.5 Gas6-/-Pros1+/-=13.9±17.9). Preliminary data on TGA showed a lack of APC resistance in all the treated groups (nAPCsr: Pros1+/+=1.0±0.3, Pros1+/-=1.3±0.7, Gas6-/-Pros1+/+=1.3±0.3and Gas6-/-Pros1+/-=1.1) but an acquired resistance to TM in Pros1+/+ and Pros1+/- mice (nTMsr: Pros1+/+=2.1±0.4, Pros1+/-=1.9±0.5, Gas6-/-Pros1+/+=1.2±0.4and Gas6-/-Pros1+/-=1.1). Primary results suggest a positive correlation between nTMsr and the METAVIR score for Pros1+/+ mice (r=0.46, n=6).ConclusionThese data provide the first evaluation of the hemostatic profile in murine ACLD at different stages. Preliminary data suggest that TM resistance might be discriminatory for the severity of the disease. Further TGA analysis and evaluation of the thrombotic risk on treated and control mice are needed. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Impact of switching to TAF/FTC/RPV, TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi and ABC/3TC/DTG on cardiovascular risk and lipid profile in people living with HIV: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundWe aimed to assess the overall cardiovascular and metabolic effect of the switch to three different single tablet regimens (STRs) [tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine/rilpivirine (TAF/FTC/RPV), TAF/FTC/elvitegravir/cobi (TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi) and ABC/lamivudine/dolutegravir (ABC/3TC/DTG)] in a cohort of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) under effective ART.MethodsAll PLWH aged above 18 years on antiretroviral treatment with an HIV-RNA < 50 cp/mL at the time of the switch to TAF/FTC/RPV, TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi and ABC/3TC/DTG were retrospectively included in the analysis. Framingham risk score modification after 12 months from the switch such as lipid profile and body weight modification were assessed. The change from baseline to 12 months in mean cardiovascular risk and body weight in each of the STR’s group were assessed by means of Wilcoxon signed-rank test whereas a mixed regression model was used to assess variation in lipid levels.ResultsFive-hundred and sixty PLWH were switched to an STR regimen of whom 170 (30.4%) to TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi, 191 (34.1%) to TAF/FTC/RPV and 199 (35.5%) to ABC/3TC/DTG.No difference in the Framingham cardiovascular risk score was observed after 12 months from the switch in each of the STR’s groups. No significant overtime variation in mean total cholesterol levels from baseline to 12 months was observed for PLWH switched to ABC/3TC/DTG [200 (SD 38) mg/dl vs 201 (SD 35) mg/dl; p = 0.610] whereas a significant increment was observed in PLWH switched to TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi [192 (SD 34) mg/dl vs 208 (SD 40) mg/dl; p < 0.0001] and TAF/FTC/RPV [187 (SD 34) mg/dl vs 195 (SD 35) mg/dl; p = 0.027]. In addition, a significant variation in the mean body weight from baseline to 12 months was observed in PLWH switched to TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi [72.2 (SD 13.5) kilograms vs 74.6 (SD 14.3) kilograms; p < 0.0001] and TAF/FTC/RPV [73.4 (SD 11.6) kilograms vs 75.6 (SD 11.8) kilograms; p < 0.0001] whereas no difference was observed in those switched to ABC/3TC/DTG [71.5 (SD 12.8) kilograms vs 72.1 (SD 12.6) kilograms; p = 0.478].ConclusionNo difference in the cardiovascular risk after 1 year from the switch to these STRs were observed. PLWH switched to TAF/FTC/EVG/cobi and TAF/FTC/RPV showed an increase in total cholesterol levels and body weight 12 months after the switch.

Maternal size on reproductive performance, egg and larval quality in the endangered Asian catfish, Clarias magur

The Asian catfish, Clarias magur, is an endangered fish species, which is immensely important due to its high commercial value in India and other South-East Asian countries. Various anthropogenic activities and natural habitat loss have greatly impacted the biodiversity of C. magur in natural water bodies, leading to the addition of this species to the endangered species list. The development of captive spawning and selection of an ideal broodstock size are critical steps to maximize the efficiency and robustness of conservation efforts for the catfish. An induced spawning experiment was conducted to ascertain the reproductive performance, egg and larval quality of catfish broodstock from fish with varying body weights. Five female C. magur broodfish from each of the following size ranges, F65 (65 ± 5.0); F130 (130 ± 7.9), F180 (180 ± 3.5) and F250 (253 ± 9.7g), were selected along with male broodfish with the same body weight range. The present study's results revealed that the stripping response was higher (F = 2.06; p = 0.15) for medium-sized F180 magur female broodstock; however, no significant differences were observed for this group. Total (F = 20.79; p < 0.001) and relative fecundity (F = 3.09; p = 0.057) were found to be significantly higher for F250 and F65 broodfish respectively. Total fecundity had a strong significant positive correlation (r = 0.99; p = 0.012) and also had significant linear regression relation (R2 = 0.98; p = 0.012) to maternal size. Hatching rate was observed to be significantly higher (F = 7.82; p = 0.002) for the medium-sized broodfish, F130. The medium-sized broodstock of 130–180 g had strong positive influence on the growth and survival of the progeny, while F250 broodfish produced poor-quality larvae, which resulted in reduced larval growth performance and survival. Specific growth rate (SGR) and thermal growth coefficient (TGC) were also found to be significantly higher for F130 female broodstock. Hence, the selection of medium-sized (130–180) or 1- to 2-year-old female broodstock had a significant effect on the reproductive performance, egg and larval quality of magur in captivity. The results from this study can be utilized as helpful and practical information enhancing selection protocols for the hatchery operators to select ideal broodstock based on size, enabling the production of viable egg and larvae in indoor conditions and a scalable seed production system.

Association of Body-Weight Fluctuation With Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between body-weight fluctuation and risks of clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods and Results:We measured intra-individual variations in body weight from baseline and follow-up visits in 1,691 participants with HFpEF from the Americas from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial. The primary endpoint was any cardiovascular events (a composite of death from cardiovascular disease, non-fatal myocardial infarction, aborted cardiac arrest, or hospitalization for HF). The body-weight fluctuation was measured according to average successive variability and high variability was defined as greater than or equal to the median. After adjustment for risk factors, mean body weight and weight change, each increase of 1 standard deviation in body-weight variability was significantly associated with increased risks of any cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR] 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–1.33, P < 0.001). Patients with high variability had a 47% increased risk of any cardiovascular events and 27% increased risk of all-cause death compared with those with low variability. Such association was similar among patients with New York Heart Association functional class I/II vs. III/IV, obesity vs. non-obesity, and weight loss, gain vs. stability (the P-values for interaction were all insignificant).Conclusion: Among patients with HFpEF, body-weight fluctuation was associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and regardless of HF severity, baseline weight or weight change direction.Clinical Trial Registration: Aldosterone antagonist therapy for adults with heart failure and preserved systolic function (TOPCAT), https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier [NCT00094302].

Body weight variability and cancer incidence in men aged 40\xa0years and older-Korean National Insurance Service Cohort

Repeated weight fluctuation has been proposed as a potential risk factor for increasing morbidity and mortality including cancer. We aimed to investigate the association between body weight variability (BWV) and all cancer and site-specific cancer incidence and the impact of smoking on these associations. A total of 1,759,848 cancer-free male subjects who had their weight measured at least 5 times from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort from 2002 to 2011 were included and followed up until 2015. BWV was defined as the average absolute difference between successive values (ASV). The risk of cancer and site-specific cancer from BWV was identified using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for potential confounders including weight, and stratified analysis was also conducted according to smoking status. During the 7,015,413 person-years of follow-up, 11,494 patients (0.65%) developed new-onset cancers. BWV was associated with a higher risk of all cancers after adjustment for confounders. The highest BWV quintile group compared to the lowest had greater risks of all cancers and site-specific cancers including lung, liver, and prostate cancer (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15–1.30; HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07–1.39; HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.19–1.81; HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.15–1.62, in all cancers, lung, liver and prostate cancer, respectively). Due to small number of cancer occurrence, the risk of kidney cancer was increased, but statistically insignificant (HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.91–2.10). Similar results were observed in noncurrent smokers. However, in current smokers, the risks of all cancers and only prostate cancer were significantly increased in the highest BWV quintile group (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.31; HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.08–2.11). The risk of kidney cancer also increased in this group, although the finding was not statistically significant (HR 1.77, 95% CI 0.87–3.63) This study suggested BWV is an independent risk factor for cancer in men, especially in lung, liver, and prostate cancer, but evidence was weaker in kidney cancer. This association remained significant only in prostate cancer in current smokers.

1099-P: Association between Variability in Body Mass Index and Development of Type 2 Diabetes: Panasonic Cohort Study

Objective: Contrasting results have been reported for the association between the variability in body weight and development of diabetes. No study has elucidated the association between the variability in body weight and the development of type 2 diabetes in a population without obesity and without body weight gain or loss during the study period. In the present study, we evaluated the association between the variability in body mass index (BMI) and development of type 2 diabetes in 19,412 Japanese participants without obesity and without body weight gain or loss during the study period. Methods: We recorded body weight of the participants consecutively each year in Panasonic Corporation, Osaka, Japan from 2008 to 2014 to evaluate the variability of BMI. The participants with obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) at baseline and body weight gain or loss from 2008 to 2014 (delta BMI ≥ ± 1 kg/m2) were excluded from the study. We used coefficient of variation (CV) to represent the variability in BMI during 6 years of the study period. Results: In total, 416 participants among all participants (315 participants among those without IFG at baseline) developed type 2 diabetes from 2015 to 2018. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes was higher in the fourth quartile of CV of BMI than that in the lowest quartile (first quartile; reference) of CV of BMI in all participants and in those without IFG at baseline (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.01-1.75 and hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.10-2.08, respectively). The risk for developing diabetes increased by 11.1% and 15.0% per 1% increase in CV of BMI in all participants and in those without IFG at baseline, respectively. Age, BMI at baseline, HDL cholesterol, glucose, current smoking habit, and fast eaters were also associated with the increased odds of developing type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: In conclusion, the variability in BMI is a risk factor for the development of diabetes in the Japanese population. Disclosure H. Okada: None. M. Hamaguchi: Research Support; Spouse/Partner; AstraZeneca K. K. M. Fukui: None.

Anti-melanoma effect of ruthenium(II)-diphosphine complexes containing naphthoquinone ligand

The use of natural products as potential ligands has been explored as a strategy in the development of metal-based chemotherapy. Since ruthenium complexes are promising alternatives to traditional antitumor agents, this study evaluated the anti-melanoma potential of two ruthenium(II) complexes containing the naphthoquinone ligands lapachol (lap), [Ru(lap)(dppm)2]PF6, and lawsone (law), [Ru(law)(dppm)2]PF6, in addition to the bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) ligand, referred to as complexes (1) and (2), respectively, using a syngeneic murine melanoma model. Activation of the apoptotic pathway by the treatments was assessed by immunohistochemistry in tumor tissue. Additionally, toxicity of the treatments was evaluated by variation in body and organ weight, quantification of biochemical indicators of renal damage, and genotoxicity in bone marrow and hepatocytes. First, the antiproliferative activity of (1) and (2) was observed in B16F10 cells, with IC50 values of 2.78 and 1.68 μM, respectively. The results obtained in mice showed that, unlike complex (1), (2) possesses significant anti-melanoma activity demonstrated by a reduction in tumor volume and mass (88.42%), as well as in mitosis frequency (83.86%). Additionally, complex (2) increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3, inducing tumor cell apoptosis. When compared to the metallodrug cisplatin, complex (2) exhibited similar anti-melanoma activity and lower toxicity considering all parameters evaluated. In silico studies demonstrated no difference in the binding energy of the naphthoquinone complex between complexes (1) and (2). However, the complex containing the lawsone ligand has a lower molar volume, which may be important for interactions with minor DNA grooves. The present results demonstrate the antitumor efficiency of complex (2) and a significantly lower systemic toxicity compared to cisplatin.

Evaluation of Acute, Subacute and LD50 values of Methanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus leaves in Albino mice

Sphaeranthus indicus is one of the extremely precious herbs in the Indigenous System of Medicine. The present study was carried out to acute, subacute and LD50 values of methanolic extract of S. indicus leaves in Swiss mice of both sexes. The acute toxicity studies were conducted oral administration of 1.75, 5.5, 17.5, 55, 175, 550, 2000mg/kg body weight SIME used. Observations were recorded systemically up to 24 h after dose administration for behavior related to nervous system response or autonomic functions. Food and water intake, body weight variations, hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed. In sub acute toxicity treatment there were no significant variation in the body weights and haematological parameters except dose-dependent increase in lymphocyte count was noted in both sexes supported immunostimulant activity. Pathologically, significant protective effect on hepatic, renal functions and decreased cholesterol, triglyceride levels. The results did not show any treatment related abnormalities in terms of hematological and biochemical parameters in sub-acute toxicity. After acute administration, no mortality was recorded in mice treated with the SIME orally at a dose of 1000mg/kg. The LD50 values were determined using graphical method; we found a broad therapeutic window and a high therapeutic index value showed that the LD50 of the extract is 2480mg/kg. The results suggest that the plant seems to be high margin of drug safety in mice.

Piglet Body Weight Variation and the Influence of Birth Weight on Piglet Growth During Lactation and Weaning

Summary Piglets are an important category in pig farming which should, alongside sows, be considered essential production heads. Over the past decades, the intensive selection in pig production has given priority to economically important traits resulting in greater feed utilization and obtaining more piglets from fewer sows. However, such selection practices have failed to improve the overall vitality of piglets and their ability to survive immediately after birth or during their stay in the farrowing unit. Body weight is of great importance in pig production, especially the piglet body weight at birth. A number of parameters can be predicted according to the piglet birth weight: mortality and growth rate, the physiological status of the heard, sensitivity to external influences, vitality and etc. The purpose of this paper is to determine the piglet body weight variation from birth to weaning (measured at birth, 3 hours after birth, 24 hours after birth and at weaning) and to examine the relationship between the birth weight of piglets and their body weight during the transition into nursing. A total of 105 piglets were enrolled in this study from the F1 generation sows followed through eight consecutive parities. The paper presents the results obtained using descriptive statistics, as well as variance and correlation analysis. The relationship between the piglet body weight at different stages of their life and overall production parameters was found to emphasize the centrality of housing conditions as the piglet weight at birth exerts a great impact on the body weight of older piglets, especially in the first days of the piglet life. Therefore, the proper care of piglets in farrowing units is of paramount importance to pig production, especially because piglets have lower body weight at birth nowadays than before.

Effect of feeding rate and hormonal treatments on the condition factor and the reproductive performance of the catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

ABSTRACT This paper aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding rate and the hormonal treatments for spawning induction on the condition factor, and the reproductive performance of the striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. A commercial diet with 35% of protein in three feeding rates – 1%, 2%, and 3% biomass, were supplied for 184 days – and two hormonal methods – hCG injections and GnRHa implants – were applied. A marked influence of the feeding rates on the monthly variations in body weight and condition factor was observed, with the highest values for fishes fed at 3% biomass. No spawning occurred in females in the 1% biomass group. The relative fecundity in both sexes, the fertilization, and the hatching rates were significantly higher in the 3% biomass group than observed in the 2% biomass group. Thus, the use of diets with 35% protein provided at 3% biomass to the breeders of P. hypophthalmus, is recommended.

AB0683 OSTEOARTHRITIS PAIN AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE LOCKDOWN IMPACT

Background:Both peripheral and central nervous system processes are involved in osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Several aspects such as environmental, psychological and constitutional factors contribute to OA pain and they were enhanced during and after lockdown, for COVID-19 pandemic.Objectives:The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the modified lifestyle forced by lockdown on joint pain using Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) scale. the variation of VAS pain, the reduction of physical activity, the variation of body weight, the stress values defined by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the use of anxiolytics and antidepressant drugs were measured in OA patiens during the lockdown period.Methods:74 adult patients affected by primary or secondary OA were included. The median age was 69.8 years old and 55/74 (74%) of the patients were female. Sex, age, comorbidities, pharmacological therapy, variation rate of VAS pain referred to OA symptoms (0-100) during lockdown, weight variation, degree of physical activity (defined as: absent 0 h, low 1-5 h, moderate 6-10 h, high &gt; 10 h) were recorded. Perceived stress using PSS was recorded and patients were divided into two classes: low (0-13) or moderate-high (14-40) stress scale. This observational retrospective real-life study was conducted in May 2020. A linear regression model was used to analyze the different patients groups separately. Overall variables were expressed on analogic scales. To assess the impact on VAS pain, regression models were estimated with VAS pain as dependent variable, and weight increase, physical activity and perceived stress as independent variable.Results:Patients enrolled with a pre lockdown VAS pain &lt; 40 were 30, whereas 44 patients referred a pre lockdown VAS pain &gt; 40. Patients taking anxiolytics, antidepressant, anxiolytics or antidepressant drugs were 14/74 (19%), 7/74 (9%), 19/74 (26%) respectively. PSS score Low (score 0-13), Med (score 14-26), High (score 27-40) was recorded in 34/74 (46%), 36/74 (49%), 4/74 (5%) patients respectively.Patients were divided in two different groups on the basis of baseline pre lockdown VAS pain: low VAS pain (&lt; 40) (n=30) and moderate-high (≥ 40) (n=44). In the low-VAS group there was an average increase of pain by 1,36 points, an average increase of weight by 0.63 kg, and an average decrease of weekly physical activity by 6.4 hours that was statistically relevant (p&lt; 0.0001). In moderate-high VAS group an average increase of pain and weight, by 2.62 points and 0.35 kg respectively, and a significant decrease of physical activity by 3.15 h weekly (p&lt; 0.0001) has been recordedIn low VAS group, 43% of the patients perceived low stress values vs 57% moderate-high. In VAS &gt; 40 group 47% of the patients perceived low stress value vs 53% high-moderate. 80% of low- VAS &lt;group did not take anxiolytics and antidepressant drugs and for this cluster of patients was not recorded a VAS increase regardless of PSS. 16.7% of patients (5/30) with VAS &lt; 40, taking anxiolytics / antidepressant medications and with a moderate-high PSS displayed an average increase of VAS pain by 20 mm. In the VAS &gt; 40 group a VAS variation was not recorded, regardless of taking anxiolytics / antidepressant medications and PSS.Conclusion:Lockdown impact on OA pain has been higher in the cluster of patients who were taking anxiolytics / antidepressant drugs with a moderate-high PSS. VAS pain increase in this cluster of patients exceeds minimal clinically relevant difference reported in literature 1. A relevant physical activity decrease which might negatively impact on OA course has also been recorded.

Increased accuracy of genomic predictions for growth under chronic thermal stress in rainbow trout by prioritizing variants from GWAS using imputed sequence data.

Through imputation of genotypes, genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP) using whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) data are cost‐efficient and feasible in aquaculture breeding schemes. The objective was to dissect the genetic architecture of growth traits under chronic heat stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and to assess the accuracy of GP based on imputed WGS and different preselected single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. A total of 192 and 764 fish challenged to a heat stress experiment for 62 days were genotyped using a customized 1 K and 26 K SNP panels, respectively, and then, genotype imputation was performed from a low‐density chip to WGS using 102 parents (36 males and 66 females) as the reference population. Imputed WGS data were used to perform GWAS and test GP accuracy under different preselected SNP scenarios. Heritability was estimated for body weight (BW), body length (BL) and average daily gain (ADG). Estimates using imputed WGS data ranged from 0.33 ± 0.05 to 0.55 ± 0.05 for growth traits under chronic heat stress. GWAS revealed that the top five cumulatively SNPs explained a maximum of 0.94%, 0.86% and 0.51% of genetic variance for BW, BL and ADG, respectively. Some important functional candidate genes associated with growth‐related traits were found among the most important SNPs, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 5B and 3 (STAT5B and STAT3, respectively) and cytokine‐inducible SH2‐containing protein (CISH). WGS data resulted in a slight increase in prediction accuracy compared with pedigree‐based method, whereas preselected SNPs based on the top GWAS hits improved prediction accuracies, with values ranging from 1.2 to 13.3%. Our results support the evidence of the polygenic nature of growth traits when measured under heat stress. The accuracies of GP can be improved using preselected variants from GWAS, and the use of WGS marginally increases prediction accuracy.

Effects of supplementing a healthy diet with pecan nuts or extra-virgin olive oil on inflammatory profile of patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomised clinical trial.

The consumption of nuts and extra-virgin olive oil has been associated with suppression of inflammatory pathways that contribute to atherosclerosis, but its role on the modulation of the inflammatory profile in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding pecan nuts or extra-virgin olive oil to a healthy diet on inflammatory markers in patients with stable CAD. In this randomised clinical trial, 204 patients were enrolled to three study groups: sixty seven to control group (CG: healthy diet), sixty eight to pecan nuts group (PNG: 30 g/d of pecans + healthy diet) and sixty nine to extra-virgin olive oil group (OOG: 30 ml/d of extra-virgin olive oil + healthy diet). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, in mg/l), fibrinogen (mg/dl), IL 2, 4, 6, 10 (pg/ml) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ, in pg/ml), IL-6/IL-10, IL-2/IL-4 and IFN-/γIL-4 ratios were evaluated at baseline and after the follow-up (12 weeks). As main results, after adjustment for sex, statin used and relative body weight variation, there were no differences between groups regarding inflammatory markers at the end of the study. IL-6 levels (primary outcome) were reduced in 12 weeks when compared with baseline in all study groups (CG: difference: -0·593 (se = 0·159) pg/dL; PNG: difference: -0·335 (se = 0·143) pg/dl; OOG: IL-6 difference: -0·325 (se = 0·143) pg/dl). In conclusion, there was no significant effect of including pecan nuts or extra virgin olive oil to a healthy diet on inflammatory markers in individuals with CAD.

PSVI-8 Meta-regression Analysis to Determine the Relationship Between Growing Pig Body Weight and Variation

Abstract The swine industry has been constantly evolving to select animals with improved performance traits and to minimize variation in body weight (BW) in order to meet packer specifications. Therefore, understanding variation presents an opportunity for producers to find strategies that could help reduce, manage, or deal with variation of pigs in a barn. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by collecting data from multiple studies and available data sets in order to develop prediction equations for coefficient of variation (CV) and standard deviation (SD) as a function of BW. Information regarding BW variation from 16 papers was recorded to provide approximately 204 data points. Together, these data included 117,268 individually weighed pigs with a sample size that ranged from 104 to 4,108 pigs. A random-effects model with study used as a random effect was developed. Observations were weighted using sample size as an estimate for precision on the analysis, where larger data sets accounted for increased accuracy in the model. Regression equations were developed using the nlme package of R to determine the relationship between BW and its variation. Polynomial regression analysis was conducted separately for each variation measurement. When CV was reported in the data set, SD was calculated and vice versa. The resulting prediction equations were: CV (%) = 20.04 – 0.135 × (BW) + 0.00043 × (BW)2, R2=0.79; SD = 0.41 + 0.150 × (BW) - 0.00041 × (BW)2, R2 = 0.95. These equations suggest that there is evidence for a decreasing quadratic relationship between mean CV of a population and BW of pigs whereby the rate of decrease is smaller as mean pig BW increases from birth to market. Conversely, the rate of increase of SD of a population of pigs is smaller as mean pig BW increases from birth to market.

The TOTUM-63 Supplement and High-Intensity Interval Training Combination Limits Weight Gain, Improves Glycemic Control, and Influences the Composition of Gut Mucosa-Associated Bacteria in Rats on a High Fat Diet.

Obesity and prediabetes are the two strongest risk factors of type 2 diabetes. It has been reported that TOTUM-63, a polyphenol-rich plant extract, has beneficial effects on body weight (BW) and insulin resistance in mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). The study aim was to determine whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and/or TOTUM-63 supplementation improved body composition and glycemic control and gut microbiota composition in a Western diet-induced obesity rat model. Wistar rats received a standard diet (CTRL; control; n = 12) or HFD (HFD; n = 48) for 16 weeks. Then, HFD rats were divided in four groups: HFD, HFD + TOTUM-63 (T63), HFD + HIIT (HIIT), and HFD + HIIT +T63 (HIIT + T63). Training was performed 4 days/week for 12 weeks. TOTUM-63 was included in diet composition (2%). The HIIT + T63 combination significantly limited BW gain, without any energy intake modulation, and improved glycemic control. BW variation was correlated with increased α-diversity of the colon mucosa microbiota in the HIIT + T63 group. Moreover, the relative abundance of Anaeroplasma, Christensenellaceae and Oscillospira was higher in the HIIT + T63 group. Altogether, these results suggest that the HIIT and TOTUM-63 combination could be proposed for the management of obesity and prediabetes.

Selection Methods for Models to Predict Feedstuff Associative Effects in Goats

Abstract Animal nutrition models can be useful to gain an understanding of factors responsible for and predict biological responses. However, specific models developed can vary among statistical methods employed, especially with relatively small datasets. In this meta-analysis study, independent variables selected by regression tree, stepwise regression, and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) analyses were compared. The database consisted of 135 treatment means (weighted by the number observations) from 25 publications in which goats consumed forage ad libitum with or without supplementation and was divided into three subsets of forage with a crude protein (CP) concentration &amp;lt; 6% (Low; n = 46), 6–10% (Moderate; n = 50), and &amp;gt; 10% (High; n = 39). Regression tree analysis was conducted with rpart of the R statistical programming language and stepwise regression (proc stepwise) and LASSO (proc glmselect) were conducted with SAS. The target variable was forage metabolizable energy (ME) intake relative to metabolic body weight (BW0.75) and potential predictor variables were supplement ME intake also scaled to BW0.75, forage organic matter (OM) digestibility and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, and supplement concentrations of ME and CP. As shown in Table 1, supplement ME intake was selected with each method. Based on the order of selection, forage NDF concentration had larger impact than supplement ME intake with the Low dataset, whereas supplement ME intake was most important with Moderate and High datasets. Among the statistical methods evaluated, selected variables varied most with the Low dataset, were similar for the Moderate dataset, and were the same for Stepwise and LASSO approaches with the High dataset. In conclusion, model development to predict feedstuff associative effects in goats requires careful attention to variable selection that is impacted by statistical method and varies with forage composition.