Serum Constituents Research Articles

Role of Nannochloropsis Oculata supplement in improving performance, antioxidant status, blood metabolites, and egg quality of laying hens under hot environmental conditions

The increase in environmental temperature led to economic losses in the poultry industry, urging the use of feed supplements to mitigate the negative effects on chick's welfare and performance. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of marine microalgae (Nannochloropsis Oculata, N. Oculata) additive on commercial Brown Lohmann laying hen's performance, blood metabolites, and antioxidant status under hot environmental conditions. One hundred and eighty birds (34 weeks old with an initial body weight of 1885 ± 23.5 g) were used till 47 weeks. The birds were divided into three equal groups (birds in each group were distributed into four equal replicates 15 hens/ replicate). The 1st group was the control (CON) and was fed the basal diet, while the 2nd (TR1) and 3rd (TR2) groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0% of N. Oculata, respectively. The results showed that total protein and globulin concentrations increased (P < 0.05) in treated groups compared with the control group, whereas, albumin concentration increased (P < 0.05) in TR2 compared to the control group. The concentration of ALT and AST decreased in hens fed N. Oculata. Supplementing with N. Oculata reduced serum cholesterol and creatinine concentrations, while glucose concentration increased (P < 0.05) in the treated groups compared to the control group. Serum calcium, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Triiodothyronine (T3), and progesterone increased (P < 0.05) in hens fed N. Oculata. N. Oculata supplement improved production performance through a positive effect on egg number, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, and mortality rate. In addition, the overall mean of shell thickness increased (P < 0.05) in hens fed N. Oculata. It can be concluded that the supplementation of 1.0% N. Oculata to the laying hens' diet enhanced productive performance, serum constituents, and antioxidant status under hot environmental conditions.

Exploring the inflammation-related mechanisms of Lingguizhugan decoction on right ventricular remodeling secondary to pulmonary arterial hypertension based on integrated strategy using UPLC-HRMS, systems biology approach, and experimental validation

BackgroundPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and the consequent right heart dysfunction persist with high morbidity and mortality, and the mechanisms and pharmacologic interventions for chronic right-sided heart failure (RHF) have not been adequately investigated. Research has shown that prolonged inflammation is critical in precipitating the progression of PAH-associated right heart pathology. Some research demonstrated that Lingguizhugan decoction (LGZGD), as a classical Chinese medicine formula, had beneficial effects in alleviating PAH and RHF, while its underlying mechanisms involved are not fully elucidated. PurposeBased on that, this study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of LGZGD on PAH-induced RHF. Study DesignIn this study, we identified the serum constituents and deciphered the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism and crucial components of LGZGD using combined approaches of UPLC-HRMS, transcriptomic analysis, and molecular docking techniques. Finally, we used in vivo experiments to verify the expression of key targets in the monocrotaline (MCT)-induced RHF model and the intervene effect of LGZGD. ResultsIntegrated strategies based on UPLC-HRMS and systems biology approach combined with in vivo experimental validation showed that LGZGD could improve right heart fibrosis and dysfunction via regulating diverse inflammatory signaling pathways and the activity of immune cells, including chemokine family CCL2, CXCR4, leukocyte integrins family ITGAL, ITGB2, and M2 macrophage infiltration, as well as lipid peroxidation-associated HMOX1, NOX4, and 4-HNE. ConclusionThe present research demonstrated for the first time that LGZGD might improve PAH-induced RHF through multiple anti-inflammatory signaling and inhibition of ferroptosis, which could provide certain directions for future research in related fields.

Assessing the Impacts of Different Levels of Nano-Selenium on Growth Performance, Serum Metabolites, and Gene Expression in Heat-Stressed Growing Quails.

Nano-minerals are employed to enhance mineral bioavailability thus promoting the growth and well-being of animals. In recent times, nano-selenium (nano-Se) has garnered significant attention within the scientific community owing to its potential advantages in the context of poultry. This study was conducted to explore the impact of using variable levels of nano-Se on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum constituents, and gene expression in growing Japanese quails under both thermoneutral and heat stress conditions. A randomized experimental design was used in a 2 × 3 factorial, with 2 environmental conditions (thermoneutral and heat stress) and 3 nano-Se levels (0, 0.2, and 0.5 mg/kg of diet. The findings revealed that heat stress negatively affected the growth and feed utilization of quails; indicated by the poor BWG and FCR. Additionally, oxidative stress was aggravated under heat stress condition; indicated by increased lipids peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzymes activities. The addition of nano-Se, especially at the level of 0.2 mg/kg of diet, significantly improved the performance of heat stressed quails and restored blood oxidative status. The expression profile of inflammatory and antioxidant markers was modulated by heat stress and/or 0.2 and 0.5 nano-Se in conjunction with environmental temperature in quail groups. In comparison to the control group, the heat stress-exposed quails' expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 showed a notable up-regulation. Significantly lower levels of the genes for IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 and higher levels of the genes for SOD and GPX as compared to the heat stress group demonstrated the ameliorative impact of 0.2 nano-Se. The expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 are dramatically elevated in quails exposed to 0.5 nano-Se when compared to the control group. SOD and GPX markers, on the other hand, were markedly down-regulated. It was concluded that nano-Se by low level in heat stressed growing quails provides the greatest performance and its supplementation can be considered as a protective management practice in Japanese quail diets to reduce the negative impact of heat stress.

Using Metabolomics to Understand Selective Breeding of Goats that Enables Tolerance of Plant Secondary Compounds

The objective of this study was to determine aspects of liver function in goats with a divergent propensity to consume juniper ( Juniperus spp.), a terpene -containing woody plant. Goats represent a significant contribution to sustainable food production and local economies worldwide. Climate change in arid and semiarid regions has led to a transition of grasslands to woodlands. Goats ( Capra hircus) are adapted to utilize woody plants as a food source; however, herbivory can be limited by plant secondary compounds (e.g., monoterpenes). Estimated breeding values (EBV) have been determined for domestic goats based on their propensity to consume above (H: EBV = 13.1 ± 0.2) or below (L: EBV = −14.8 ± 0.5) the herd average for proportion of juniper in the diet of free-ranging animals. To investigate the physiological and metabolic mechanisms enabling increased intake and tolerance of juniper, H and L adult male Spanish goats within young (2-yr-old) and old (3-5-yr-old) groups that spent their life grazing pastures containing juniper were randomly selected from our research herd. Twenty goats (n = 5 of each age and juniper consumption combination) were weighed and harvested. Serum samples and multiple organs (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, spleen, adrenal, testis) were collected, weighed, and preserved for analyses. With an initial focus on the liver, samples (200 mg) were submitted to Metabolon, Inc. (Morrisville, NC) to identify metabolites by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem high resolution/accurate mass spectrometry chromatography methods. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Goat body weight (BW), relative organ weight (g/kg BW), and serum constituents were analyzed using a model that included age (O, Y), treatment (H, L), and the age x treatment interaction. Animals were the experimental unit and error degrees of freedom = 16. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05. Multiple differences in metabolites of the lipid and protein pathways were identified. For example, the relative intensity of 19 monoacylglycerol metabolites was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in H than L goats. This report, however, focuses on the gamma-glutamyl amino acid (GGAA) pathway due to its role in diagnosis of liver dysfunction. Relative liver weight (g/kg BW) was numerically greater (P = 0.15) in H (15.80 ± 0.75) than L (14.58 ± 0.39) goats. Serum gamma glutamyl transferase (U/L) was within the clinically normal range but was greater (P &lt; 0.0001) in H (59.2 ± 2.1) versus L (44.3 ± 2.2), and in Y (55.3 ± 2.9) versus O (48.2 ± 3.2) goats. Of the 18 GGAAs identified from the GGAA super- and sub-pathways, the relative intensities of 11 metabolites were greater (P &lt; 0.05) in liver from H than L; 8 were greater in HY versus LY, and only 2 were greater in OH versus OL goats. The increased expression of serum and liver components of the GGAA pathway for the goats with a positive estimated breeding value for juniper consumption may be indicative of metabolic mechanisms and biomarkers associated with increased tolerance of plant secondary compounds. Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Effect of dietary Arthrospira platensis phycocyanin on broiler chicken growth performance, physiological status, fatty and amino acid profiles.

Natural antioxidants are crucial for preserving and enhancing the health, survival, reproduction, and reproductive function of poultry. Phycocyanin (PC) is a natural blue food colorant with various health benefits. The aim of this study was to extract Arthrospira platensis phycocyanin (ApPC) from A. platensis using simple and economical methods and investigate the impact of phytocyanin supplementation on the performance and fatty and amino acid profiles of broiler chicks. PC was extracted from A. platensis by freezing and thawing, and optimization conditions such as pH and temperature were applied during storage periods. A total of 270 1-week-old Ross breed broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the following three treatment groups: basal diet supplemented with 0 mg of PC/kg diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 1 g PC/kg diet (T1), and basal diet supplemented with 2 g PC/kg (T2). In a completely randomized design, three cage replicates (30 birds each) were assigned to each of the three groups. The dietary effects of ApPC on growth performance (body weight gain [BWG], body weight [BW], feed intake, feed conversion ratio, serum constituents, and antioxidant indices) in broiler chickens, free amino acids, and fatty acids in muscles were evaluated. Total BWG and BW increased without a significant effect on the total feed consumption. Serum levels of total proteins and albumin increased with increasing ApPC supplementation. In addition, globulin levels significantly increased. There was a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol levels among the treatments. The activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity) is significantly increased. In contrast, an increase in ApPC caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde. The content and quantity of fatty acids and amino acids in the meat of broiler chicks supplemented with PC varies. The addition of PC to broiler chicken diets enhances antioxidant activities, BW, BWG, and meets quality requirements.

Integrated UPLC-MS and multivariate data processing approach to explore the chemical components of Uncaria rhynchophylla and its absorbed components in rats following oral adminstration

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks (Gouteng in Chinese, UR), a common herbal medicine, is chosen for treating cerebral diseases such as convulsions, hypertension, epilepsy, and eclampsia. However, comprehensive research on the chemical components of UR and its absorbed components has not been revealed. To develop an integrative UP LC-Q-TOF-MS and multivariate data processing approach for determining the chemical constituents of UR and its absorbed constituents in rat serum after oral adminstration. A UP LC-Q-TOF-MS equipped with a Waters UP LCT M HSS T3 was applied for sample seperation. P CA and OP LS-DA were applied to extract differential variables. Based on the self-built databases combined with mass spectrometry cleavage patterns and reference standards, the components structural identification were carried out. In total, 40 compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids were identified in UR. Amongst them, 26 prototype constituents were found in rat serum, which might be the potential active constituents.The identified constituents absorbed in blood could be the effective constituents. This work provided a solid experimental data for further research on the pharmacological substance basis and demonstrated the practicability of the UP LC-Q-TOF-MS for chemical constituents structural elucidation from herbal medicines.

Stability of Aspartate Transaminase in Blood Specimens Subjected to Various Storage Temperatures and Times Prior to Centrifugation

Aspartate Transaminase (AST) is an enzyme used to diagnose medical problems and found in erythrocytes other than in the heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney, and brain. Prolonged serum-clot contact time and the fluctuation in storage temperature are possible reasons for the changes in chemical constituents in serum. The objective of this experimental study was to determine the effect of the storage time (three and six hours) before centrifugation and the storage temperature (4℃ and 28℃) on the stability of AST in blood. Methods: The study sample consisted of fifty-three healthy adult volunteers. Five milliliters of blood samples were collected from each subject and then aliquoted into five Eppendorf tubes. One of the aliquots was centrifuged within 30 minutes of collection, and the AST assay was done to obtain the control (baseline) value. Two of the remaining aliquots were stored at 4℃ while the other two aliquots were stored at room temperature for three hours and six hours, respectively prior to centrifugation. The difference between the baseline AST values and paired values of samples at different times of storage and temperatures was analyzed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Significant differences were found in AST level compared to the baseline value when samples were stored at room temperature for three hours (p=0.027) and six hours at room temperature (p=0.011). Conclusions: AST in blood was unstable for at least three hours at room temperature (28℃). At 4℃, AST was stable for up to six hours, and blood samples can be stored at 4℃ for up to six hours for analysis of AST.

Platelet-Rich Plasma as Xenofree-Growth Factor For Mesenchymal Stem Cells Culture

Stem cell-based therapy is currently believed to be the future of medicine. The type of stem cell that is widely used in cell-based therapy is mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In stem cell-based therapy, the MSCs that will be used mostly need to be expanded first by culturing the cells. The serum that is often used in MSCs culturing is a fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, animal components should be avoided in clinical applications and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). FBS is not adhering to GMP, which compromises the safety and effectiveness of cell-based therapies. Therefore, other supplements are required for cultures without animal serum constituents. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a plasma fraction derived from blood with a platelet concentration of 3-5 times higher than in blood. Several studies have shown that PRP contains various growth factors that can increase the proliferative and differentiation capacity of MSCs which is equivalent to or even better than FBS. PRP also has the advantage that it can be an autologous or allogeneic product from human peripheral blood, so it is free from animal substances. Therefore in the future PRP has great potential as an alternative to FBS both in culture expansion and in MSCs processing.

Altered Hematological and Selected Serum and Rumen Constituents of Egyptian Rahmani Sheep Fed on Dried Chinese Herbal Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract Supplemented Ration

Altered Hematological and Selected Serum and Rumen Constituents of Egyptian Rahmani Sheep Fed on Dried Chinese Herbal Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract Supplemented Ration

Effects of natural and synthetic immunostimulants on growth, feed utilization, immune status, and disease resistance against vibriosis in sea bream (Sparus aurata)

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) and AQUA-IMMUNOPROTECT® on growth, feed utilization, serum constituents, and disease resistance against vibriosis in gilthead sea bream juveniles. The research involved three groups: TC (control) received a basal diet, TSI (received a basal diet with 2% AQUA-IMMUNOPROTECT®), and TNS (received a basal diet with 2% N. sativa). The experiment period extended for 2 months. Results revealed a significant rise in erythrogram (RBCs, HB, and PCV %), leucogram (total differential leucocytic count), serum total protein, and globulin in gilthead sea bream treated with 2% Nigella sativa supplemented diets after an 8-week trial. No substantial variations were found in liver enzymes, urea, uric acid, and creatinine between the groups. Respiratory burst activity was notably greater in the N. sativa group after 2 months of feeding compared to the other groups. In the experimental challenge, the control group experienced higher mortality rates than the other groups following an IP injection of V. harveyi at a dose of 106 CFU per 0.5 ml/fish (106 fish/challenge). Overall, the findings of this research indicate that N. sativa can enhance non-specific immunity and minimize susceptibility and pathogenicity to V. harveyi in gilthead sea bream.

Serum Pharmacochemistry Combined with Network Pharmacology-Based Mechanism Prediction and Pharmacological Validation of Zhenwu Decoction on Alleviating Isoprenaline-Induced Heart Failure Injury in Rats.

Zhenwu decoction (ZWD) is a famous classical formula in the treatment of heart failure (HF) with significant clinical effects. Owing to the complex material basis of ZWD, it is challenging to elucidate the pharmacodynamic substances and pharmacological mechanisms of ZWD against HF. Therefore, an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography system coupled with a high-resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry method was used to profile the chemical components and the absorbed prototype constituents in ISO-induced HF rat serum after oral administration of ZWD, and 33 out of 115 compounds were identified. In the in vivo study, ZWD could improve cardiac function and reduce the content of serum biochemical indexes, which are heart failure markers. With the help of network pharmacology and molecular docking simulation analysis, 112 ZWD targets oriented by HF were obtained, with STAT3, TNF, AKT1, VEGFA, and ALB as the core targets. Furthermore, we found that paeoniflorin and its derivatives may play a bigger role than other serum migrant components. Enriched pathway analysis yielded multiple HF-related signaling pathways, which indicated that ZWD may attenuate HF through the effect of PI3K-Akt, and MAPK pathways by regulating key targets such as STAT3, TNF, and AKT1. Finally, STAT3/MAPK pathways were experimentally validated in the anti-HF effect of ZWD. The phosphorylation levels of p38, JNK, ERK, and STAT3 were significantly increased in the ISO group and reversed by ZWD intervention. The results provided a reasonable strategy for the rapid screening of bioactive components in ZWD and a reference for quality control and further mechanism study of ZWD.

Screening anti-fatigue components of American ginseng saponin by analyzing spectrum-effect relationship coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

American ginseng has an obvious anti-fatigue effect, but the effective material basis is still unclear. The spectrum-effect relationship is a scientific method that studies the correlations between chemical spectra and pharmacological effect. To reveal the real bioactive compounds in American ginseng saponin (AGS) based on a study of the underlying correlations between these compounds' occurrence in rat serum after their intake of AGS and the anti-fatigue effect of AGS. We utilized ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with quadrupole and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS) to analyze the extract of AGS and its constituents in serum after oral administration in rats. The anti-fatigue effect of AGS in rats was measured using the time weight-bearing swimming technique, the content of blood urea nitrogen, hepatic glycogen, and blood lactic acid. The relationship between the peak area values in fingerprints from rat serum and pharmacodynamic parameters of AGS was established using correlation analysis with partial least square regression (PLSR) method and gray correlation method. We detected and identified 22 compounds from extract, and 8 prototype components from serum. Through PLSR and gray correlation method, it was found that the ginsenosides Re, Rb1, and Rb2 were significantly positively related to the pharmacodynamic data. Based on the spectrum-effect relationship, PLSR and gray correlation method can be used to screen for the anti-fatigue components available in AGS. Such an approach is of practical significance as it provides an effective means for exploring the material basis for the efficacy of American ginseng, particularly as an anti-fatigue agent.

A comparison of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis for the metabolomics analysis of human serum

Cationic, anionic, zwitterionic and, partially polar metabolites are very important constituents of blood serum. Several of these metabolites underpin the core metabolism of cells (e.g., Krebs cycle, urea cycle, proteins synthesis, etc.), while others might be considered ancillary but still important to grasp the status of any organism through blood serum analysis. Due to its wide chemical diversity, modern metabolomics analysis of serum is still struggling to provide a complete and comprehensive picture of the polar metabolome, due to the limitations of each specific analytical method. In this study, two metabolomics-based analytical methods using the most successful techniques for polar compounds separation in human serum samples, namely hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), are evaluated, both coupled to a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer via electrospray ionization (ESI-Q-TOF-MS). The performance of the two methods have been compared using five terms of comparison, three of which are specific to metabolomics, such as (1) compounds’ detectability (2) Pezzatti score (Pezzatti et al. 2018), (3) intra-day precision (repeatability), (4) ease of automatic analysis of the data (through a common deconvolution alignment and extrapolation software, MS-DIAL, and (5) time & cost analysis. From this study, HILIC-MS proved to be a better tool for polar metabolome analysis, while CE-MS helped identify some interesting variables that gave it interest in completing metabolome coverage in metabolomics studies. Finally, in this framework, MS-DIAL demonstrates for the first time its ability to process CE data for metabolomics, although it is not designed for it.

A novel sensor based on calcium oxide fabricated from eggshell waste conjugated with L- serine polymer film modified carbon paste electrode for sensitive detection of moxifloxacin in human serum and pharmaceutical constituents

A novel sensor based on calcium oxide fabricated from eggshell waste conjugated with L- serine polymer film modified carbon paste electrode for sensitive detection of moxifloxacin in human serum and pharmaceutical constituents

SALIVA AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL-A REVIEW

Early perseverance of disease plays the important part of treatment planning and prognosis which reduces the severity of disease progression. This scrutiny explains the saliva as a fascinating diagnostic tool for routine examination of identifying the oral and systemic disease in its early stage. On upper hand, saliva includes uncluttering and non-invasive method with trouble free method of collecting the sample with low-cost storage. Whole saliva may be used for diagnosis of systemic and oral disease because it contains serum constituents which serve as accurate biomarkers for the diagnosis of disease. Saliva samples are easy to store and ship as it doesn't clot similar to blood. Saliva present in the oral cavity not only maintains the health of oral cavity but plays an important role in diagnosis of communicable and non-communicable disease. No need for trained medical staff, Multiple samples can be obtained easily, Collection and screening can be done at home Minimal risks of cross-contamination, more economical sampling, shipping and storage compared to serum, requires less manipulation during diagnostic procedures compared to serum, Commercial availability of screening assays. All these characteristics make saliva an appealing diagnostic candidate for the detection and monitoring of several biomarkers in infants, children, adults and uncooperative patients.

Evaluation of In Vitro Distribution and Plasma Protein Binding of Selected Antiviral Drugs (Favipiravir, Molnupiravir and Imatinib) against SARS-CoV-2.

There are a number of uncertainties regarding plasma protein binding and blood distribution of the active drugs favipiravir (FAVI), molnupiravir (MOLNU) and imatinib (IMA), which were recently proposed as therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19 disease. Therefore, proton dissociation processes, solubility, lipophilicity, and serum protein binding of these three substances were investigated in detail. The drugs display various degrees of lipophilicity at gastric (pH 2.0) and blood pH (pH 7.4). The determined pKa values explain well the changes in lipophilic character of the respective compounds. The serum protein binding was studied by membrane ultrafiltration, frontal analysis capillary electrophoresis, steady-state fluorometry, and fluorescence anisotropy techniques. The studies revealed that the ester bond in MOLNU is hydrolyzed by protein constituents of blood serum. Molnupiravir and its hydrolyzed form do not bind considerably to blood proteins. Likewise, FAVI does not bind to human serum albumin (HSA) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and shows relatively weak binding to the protein fraction of whole blood serum. Imatinib binds to AGP with high affinity (logK' = 5.8-6.0), while its binding to HSA is much weaker (logK' ≤ 4.0). The computed constants were used to model the distribution of IMA in blood plasma under physiological and 'acute-phase' conditions as well.

Comparative study of certain Biochemistry parameters of serum constituents with reference to age

Comparative study of certain Biochemistry parameters of serum constituents with reference to age

Semen Characteristics and Blood Metabolites of Hi-Plus Buck Rabbits Fed on Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata Meal during the Summer Season

Feeding tiny amounts of micro-algae meal to animals enhances animal physiology by improving immune response, disease resistance, and gut function, as well as enhancing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial protection, reproductive performance, feed conversion ratio, and weight gain. The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of dietary microalgae meal (Nannochloropsis oculata) on physical semen quality, serum biochemical parameters, and oxidative status of Hi-Plus buck rabbits for 12 weeks during the summer. A total of 45, Hi-Plus buck rabbits aged 20-24 weeks were divided into three equally comparable experimental groups. Bucks in the first, second, and third groups were daily supplemented in their diets with 0% (control), 0.50% (T1), and 1.0% (T2) microalgae meal, respectively. Semen and blood samples were collected to evaluate semen quality traits and some serum biochemical constituents, and oxidative status, as well as serum triiodothyronine (T3) and testosterone (Ts) hormones concentrations. The obtained data revealed that dietary supplementation of Nannochloropsis oculata meal significantly improved most physical semen characteristics, including ejaculate volume, progressive sperm motility, semen pH value, sperm cell concentration, total sperm output, live sperm, and semen quality factor. Blood serum glucose, total proteins, and their fractions increased significantly in T1 and T2, compared with the control group, while total serum cholesterol and hepatic enzymes concentrations recorded a significant decrease in bucks supplemented with T1 and T2, compared with the control group. The total antioxidant capacity of serum significantly increased in both two levels of microalgae, compared with the control group. Serum T3 concentration significantly increased in both levels of dietary microalgae compared with the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Nannochloropsis oculata meal (1.0%) was advised to improve semen quality, serum constituents, and antioxidative status without any adverse effects on the liver and kidney functions of rabbits.

Measuring proteins in H2O using 2D-IR spectroscopy: pre-processing steps and applications toward a protein library.

The ability of two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy to measure the amide I band of proteins in H2O rather than D2O-based solvents by evading the interfering water signals has enabled in vivo studies of proteins under physiological conditions and in biofluids. Future exploitation of 2D-IR in analytical settings, from diagnostics to protein screening, will, however, require comparisons between multiple datasets, necessitating control of data collection protocols to minimize measurement-to-measurement inconsistencies. Inspired by analytical spectroscopy applications in other disciplines, we describe a workflow for pre-processing 2D-IR data that aims to simplify spectral cross-comparisons. Our approach exploits the thermal water signal that is collected simultaneously with, but is temporally separated from the amide I response to guide custom baseline correction and spectral normalization strategies before combining them with Principal Component noise reduction tools. Case studies show that application of elements of the pre-processing workflow to previously published data enables improvements in quantification accuracy and detection limits. We subsequently apply the complete workflow in a new pilot study, testing the ability of a prototype library of 2D-IR spectra to quantify the four major protein constituents of blood serum in a single, label-free measurement. These advances show progress toward the robust data handling strategies that will be necessary for future applications of 2D-IR to pharmaceutical or biomedical problems.

Integrating serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to identify chemical markers for quality control of Apocyni Veneti Folium.

Apocyni Veneti Folium (AVF) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb for the treatment of hypertension. Chemical markers are crucial for the quality control of herbal medicines; however, the therapeutic components of AVF remain to be well elucidated. This study was intended to integrate serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to identify chemical markers of AVF and establish an efficacy-related quality control method of AVF. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was applied to identify the absorbed AVF constituents in rat serum. Network pharmacology was further used to identify anti-hypertension-related chemical markers. Subsequently, a quantitative method was established using UPLC with diode array detection (DAD) and applied for quality evaluation of commercial AVF samples. Thirteen prototype constituents were unequivocally or tentatively characterized in serum samples, among which quercetin, kaempferol, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid were identified as dominant chemicals related to anti-hypertensive efficacy. The quantitative data showed that the total contents of seven marker components even showed 2-fold variation among 14 batches of commercial AVF samples with RSD values ranging from 12.15% to 75.61%. Hierarchical cluster analysis and heatmap analysis showed that 14 batches of commercial AVF samples could be divided into three main groups. The chemical markers obtained from this study could be applicable for efficacy-related quality control of AVF.