Conventional Cages Research Articles

Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in flocks of laying hens in different housing systems in eastern Croatia from 2020 to 2023

Human Salmonella infections are often associated with the consumption of infected eggs and egg products. Therefore, knowing the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in flocks of laying hens and the factors that influence the occurrence of Salmonella on farms is of the utmost importance. Since 2012, housing laying hens in conventional cages has been prohibited in the European Union, and hens may only be kept in enriched cages or alternative housing systems. The prohibition of conventional cages has improved the welfare of laying hens, but has raised issues concerning the detrimental consequences for the spread and occurrence of infectious diseases in hen flocks. The aim of this study was to analyse the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in laying hen flocks in eastern Croatia in the period from 2020 to 2023, and to determine whether housing systems have an impact on occurrence. During this period, a total of 1534 samples of laying hen faeces from 191 flocks (106 flocks housed in enriched cages and 85 flocks in housing systems with closed outdoor runs) were tested at the Diagnostics Laboratory of the Croatian Veterinary Institute, Veterinary Department Vinkovci, as part of implementation of the National Salmonellosis Control Programme and official sampling in the Republic of Croatia for the presence of Salmonella spp. Isolation, identification and serotyping of Salmonella was conducted in accordance with the standard HRN EN ISO 6579-1:2017/A1:2020 method. Salmonella spp. was confirmed in the faeces of seven laying hen flocks (6.60%) housed in enriched cages, and 11 flocks (12.94%) of laying hens in housing systems with outdoor runs. The research results showed that there was no significant difference in the total occurrence of Salmonella between flocks of laying hens housed in housing systems with outdoor runs and those in enriched cages. The highest percentage of positive flocks was found in 2020 in 11.11% of flocks of laying hens housed in enriched cages and 18.18% of flocks of laying hens kept in housing systems with outdoor runs. When observed by county over the four-year study period, the percentage of positive flocks was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Brod-Posavina County in comparison with Osijek-Baranja County and Vukovar-Srijem County. The research results suggest that there is small possibility that transitioning from enriched cage systems to alternative housing systems, with strict biosecurity measure implementation, would increase Salmonella infections in laying hen flocks.

Radiological evaluation of fusion patterns after Lateral Lumbar Interbody fusion with 3D-printed porous titanium cages vs. conventional titanium cages.

The assessment of segmental fusion after Lateral Lumbar Interbody fusion (LLIF) using 3D-printed porous titanium cage is still not well studied. Various criteria, such as the presence of bone bridges (BB) between adjacent vertebrae, serve as indicators for anterior fusion. However, limited radiological studies have investigated zygapophyseal joints (ZJ) status following LLIF with porous titanium cages vs. conventional titanium threaded cages. The porous design of the latest titanium intervertebral cages is thought to enhance the bone-to-implant fusion rate. This radiological study aimed to compare the fusion patterns post-LLIF using 3D-printed porous titanium cages against those using threaded titanium cages. This radiological study aimed to compare the fusion patterns after LLIF using 3D-printed porous titanium cages against those using threaded titanium cages. This retrospective, single-center radiological study involved 135 patients who underwent LLIF and posterior percutaneous screw fixation for degenerative spondylolisthesis. The study included 51 patients (Group A) with the novel porous titanium cages and 84 patients (Group B) with conventional threaded titanium cages. Inclusion criteria mandated complete radiological data and a minimum follow-up period of 24 months. The study evaluated intervertebral bone bridges (BB) for anterior fusion and zygapophyseal joints (ZJ) ankylotic degeneration, based on Pathria et al., as evidence of posterior fusion and segmental immobilization. Two years after surgery, intervertebral BB were identified in 83 segments (94.31%) in Group A and in 87 segments (88.77%) in Group B. ZJ Pathria grade I was observed in 2 segments (2.27%) of Group A and in 4 segments (4.08%) of Group B. Grade II was seen in 5 segments (5.68%) of Group A and in 6 segments (6.12%) of Group B. Posterior fusion, classified as grade III, was found in 81 segments (92.04%) of Group A and 88 segments (89.79%) of Group B. Subsidence incidence was 5.88% (3 segments) for the novel cage and 9.88% (8 segments) for the conventional cage. The architecture of porous titanium cages offers a promising solution for increasing bone ingrowth and bridging space, supporting successful spinal fusion while minimizing the risk of subsidence.

Development of double-layer rotors for asynchronous drives of mining and transport machines

Due to the simplicity of the design and high energy indicators, asynchronous electric motors (AM) are the main consumers in the power supply systems of mining enterprises. Large starting currents of motors lead to heating and damage to the insulation of the stator windings. An urgent problem to improve the reliability of mining and transport machines is the development of AM, providing smooth transients with increased starting torque and reduced starting current. In an AM with a closed-loop rotor, a magnetic conductor is performed by a charged cylinder on the rotor shaft, which is made of electrotechnical steel with high magnetic permeability. The electrical conductor is often a squirrel cage-type short-circuited rotor made of a material with high specific conductivity. A technology has been developed for producing ferro-copper alloys for the active outer cylinder of a double-layer rotor, replacing a "squirrel cage". These alloys combine the properties of an electric current conductor and a magnetic flux. This allows us to obtain the effect of displacement and reduction of current in the rotor, which is accompanied by an increase in the effective resistance of the rotor and the electromagnetic torque during the start-up process. Full-scale experiments have been carried out with asynchronous motors with various rotors having a displacement effect. Motors having double-cage or deep-groove rotors develop an increased starting torque at a relatively lower starting current. The starting quality of these motors is, on average, 1,5 times higher than that of a motor without current displacement. Replacing a double-cage rotor with a double-layer rotor leads to a decrease in the starting current by 25% and an increase in the starting torque by an average of 2,5 times. The quality factor of starting an asynchronous motor with a double-layer rotor is 3-4 times higher than the quality factor of starting similar motors with a conventional rotor cage without current displacement, 2-2,5 times compared with a double cage or a deep groove and 1,3-1,5 times compared with a rotor with a high electrical resistivity. The use of double-layer rotors limits voltage fluctuations in the network, ensures a reliable, smooth start, eliminates vibration and extends the service life of all equipment.

Spatiotemporal understanding of behaviors of laying hens using wearable inertial sensors

Automatic detection of behaviors and locations has been increasingly needed in the management of non-cage systems where hen behaviors are highly diverse and active. Here we show a technology to spatiotemporally understand behaviors using a wearable inertial sensor, containing a three-axis accelerometer and three-axis angular velocity sensor (i.e., gyroscope), and a marker. Using supervised machine learning, we first developed a tool that automatically classified and counted 11 behaviors, including comfort behaviors such as head scratching and tail-wagging with small movements as well as dust-bathing with dynamic movements. As expected, these behaviors were observed more frequently in floor pens than in conventional cages (all P < 0.01). We also spatially mapped the behaviors in floor pens and visualized the behavioral frequency in each resource by detecting the colored markers on the sensor. Furthermore, using the time-series information included in the sensor data, we analyzed the behavioral transition from one behavior to another. The behavioral transitions were more complex in floor pens, and the number was higher in body shaking, tail-wagging, resting, litter scratching, dust-bathing, preening, and moving in floor pens than in conventional cages (all P < 0.05). Our tools presented deeper insights into where and what hens behaved and also suggested that connectivity between behaviors, as well as observing the frequency of a behavior, can be an important indicator for welfare assessment in laying hens.

PSXIII-13 Evaluation of physiological functions and performance in laying hens in different housing systems

Abstract Egg production faces many challenges of economics, disease control and animal welfare concerns. Therefore, investigation of physiological characteristics in laying hens should be required for further discussion on such issues from a scientific point of view. In this study, we evaluated physiological functions and production parameters of hens raised in three different housing systems, conventional battery cage (CC), enriched cage (EC) and aviary system (AV). Lohmann Selected Leghorn Lite laying hens (n = 251) were used. At first, all the pullets were housed in CC. Then, a telemetric transmitter was implanted to randomly selected 18 hens on d 171 after birth to record electrocardiograms (ECGs), heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT) and locomotor activity (LA). Heart rate variability (HRV), which was analyzed using ECG, has been established as a suitable method for investigating autonomic nervous functions, and to assess stress and well-being of housing systems. On d 200 after birth, some of the hens were randomly selected and transferred to EC or AV (CC; n = 88, EC; n = 72, AV; n = 91), including hens implanted a transmitter (6 hens in each group). All parameters at 10 d before and 1 wk after the group division were compared. Egg laying rate (ELR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and shell deformation were evaluated for egg production parameters. Hens were basically housed under the same management condition, and a constant light-dark cycle (light-on from 0300 to 1930 h). Feeding was conducted during light-phase, and water was supplied ad libitum. Statistical significance was defined as P &amp;lt; 0.05. Comparing the physiological parameter, HR during dark-phase and LA during light-phase after transferred to EC or AV were greater than those in CC. However, there was no significant difference in HR during light-phase or LA during dark-phase between CC and the other two groups. The high frequency (HF) power of HRV, which reflects parasympathetic nervous function, was high during the dark-phase (7.59 ± 1.56) and low during the light-phase (6.04 ± 0.78) in CC. This diurnal variation disappeared in EC or AV because the HF power during the dark-phase decreased. As for production, ELR, FCR and shell deformation were decreased after moved to AV, which were not found in other two groups after the group division. This study was conducted to clarify the effects of housing systems on the physiological functions and productivity of laying hens, and these results suggest that CC might provide hens with parasympathetic dominance with greater quality of rest in dark-phase, and AV causes the reduction of egg production. However, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that these results are influenced by movement to a different housing system. Therefore, further analysis should be performed to assess the relations between physiological functions, management and egg production.

Theoretical and experimental approaches for flexible cage dynamic characteristics of four-point contact ball bearing considering multi-point contact behaviors

Multi-point contact often occurs between the balls and raceways of the four-point contact ball bearing (FPCBB) due to operating conditions and manufacturing errors, which can lead to unstable motion and wear of the cage. A dynamic analysis method for FPCBB with a flexible cage under multi-point contact is presented in this paper. Initially, the boundary conditions for different contact points (two-point, three-point, and four-point contact) are clarified through the research of the dynamic interaction and collision mechanisms between the balls and the raceways. Subsequently, based on the structure flexibility, and the collision effect among the balls, cage, and guiding ring, a dynamic model for FPCBB is constructed, and the heightened accuracy and superiority of the model are substantiated through comparative analyses with the conventional rigid cage model. Furthermore, the influence of operating conditions and manufacturing errors on the rotational stability and the wear degree of the cage are explored, and the accuracy and reliability of the model are experimentally verified. The results show that the degree of cage wear is strongly influenced by the contact state, and the maximum wear degree varies at different positions. Reasonable speeds, loads, and manufacturing error range can effectively improve the contact conditions, thereby augmenting cage motion stability and mitigating wear. This research contributes novel insights into the failure analysis and structural optimization of the FPCBB.

Effects of different housing systems on the oxidative defence system, heterophil functions, cellular immune response and cytokines in laying hens.

1. This study investigated the effects of different housing systems on oxidative defence mechanisms, heterophil functions, cellular immune response and cytokine production in laying hens. One hundred and twenty laying hens were allocated into one of four groups: conventional cages, furnished cages, deep litter, and free range.2. Housing system did not affect malondialdehyde concentrations and enzymatic antioxidant status. Ascorbic acid values were higher in deep-litter hens than in those in conventional cages and free range.3. Phagocytic and chemotactic activities tended to rise in the deep-litter system, and oxidative burst was higher than in furnished cages. Cytotoxic T cells were decreased in furnished cages, both cytotoxic and helper T cells decreased in deep litter compared to free range.4. The IL-2 and IL-13 expression was higher in deep litter than in conventional cages, and IL-6 expression was higher in furnished cages than in free range.5. Housing system had no significant effects on the oxidative defence system; however, they affected heterophil functions, cellular defence mechanisms and cytokine production. The results suggested that breeders need to consider the housing system's potential effects on immune defence responses while applying a breeding strategy appropriate for animal welfare and consumer demand.

Rattling the cage: Behaviour and resource use of mice in laboratory and pet cages

Conventional housing for laboratory mice limits the expression of species-specific behaviours and restricts the control over their environment, thus failing to guarantee the animals’ welfare. To better understand the behaviour and resource use of laboratory mice, we housed mice (n = 64) of two common laboratory strains (C57BL/6 and Swiss), both sexes and two group sizes (3 and 5) in large extensively enriched pet cages and conventional laboratory cages, respectively, and assessed their behaviour, resource use, and space use under these different housing conditions. Mice in pet cages showed more running, mostly on the running disc, and other locomotor behaviour, but also spent much time hidden in deep bedding, while mice in conventional laboratory cages climbed more on the cage grid, reared more and exhibited more stereotypic behaviour. Our findings emphasize the significance of a proper substrate for shelter, as well as other resources that facilitate species-specific behaviour.

Impacts of Excreta Exposure and Age on Ileal Microbial Communities, Intestinal Permeability, and Corticosterone in Hens Housed in Enriched Colonies and Cage-Free Housing Systems

To tease apart differences between conventional cage (CC) and cage-free (CF) housing systems, this study focuses on the effects of excreta exposure and age by comparing microbial communities, intestinal permeability, and corticosterone in hens in enriched colonies (EC) and CF housing systems during early- and late-lay. Hens were randomly selected from two rooms of CF (n = 20) and EC (n = 20) at 35 and 76 weeks of age. One hour following an oral gavage of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D), hens were euthanized, and ileal contents and blood were collected. Serum FITC-D using a fluorescent spectrophotometer and corticosterone using a commercial competitive ELISA kit were analyzed. Following DNA isolation from the ileum contents, the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced. Sequence data were filtered in Mothur v1.43.0, followed by de novo operational taxonomic unit (OTU) clustering and classifying with the SILVA SSU v138 reference database. Serum FITC-D was altered by housing type, age of hens, and the interaction between housing type and age of hens (p &lt; 0.001), with 76-week-old hens housed in EC having the highest FITC-D. Corticosterone increased with age (p = 0.023). Microbial community diversity measurements favored hens housed in the CF housing system as ileal contents tended to have increased species evenness (p = 0.008) and greater alpha diversity (p = 0.006). The majority of the over-representation of OTUs were associated with peak lay.

How much 'enrichment' is enough for laboratory rodents? A systematic review and meta-analysis re-assessing the impact of well-resourced cages on morbidity and mortality

Laboratory rodent housing often fails to meet rodents' behavioral and physiological needs. We previously found that compared to well-resourced (often called 'enriched') housing, conventional cages increase mortality rates and the morbidity of stress-sensitive experimentally-induced diseases (anxiety, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, stroke). This systematic review and meta-analysis updates and re-analyzes this dataset, and supplements it with an author survey (via protocol https://hdl.handle.net/10214/26983), to test the hypothesis that cages meeting more needs are better for rodent health. This hypothesis predicts that providing more types of resources ('enrichments' meeting different needs) will result in dose-dependent health benefits. We also explored whether this relationship was linear (such that each additional resource has equivalent value), or instead reflected diminishing welfare returns (perhaps even reaching a plateau), as a plausible alternative. Updating previous searches (May 24, 2020, updated May 6, 2022, via Ovid, CABI, Web of Science, Proquest, SCOPUS) yielded 1589 further publications. After screening for inclusion criteria (published in English, using mice or rats, and providing resources in long-term housing), this yielded 48 new articles, totaling 233 unique articles in the combined dataset (using 4953 mice, 2611 rats). Each beneficial resource type (additional space, burrowing substrates, chewing/gnawing materials, environmental complexity, foraging opportunities, fresh plant material or its odours, nesting material, shelters, sweet or high fat food, wheels) was given one point if added to well-resourced cages, up to a potential maximum of ten (with well-resourced cages in practice supplying 1–5 additional resources over control conditions). The prediction of dose-dependent benefits was met for disease morbidity: as more resource-types were supplied (compared to controls), health benefits linearly increased (F1,164= 9.12, p = 0.0029) Each additional resource increased the standardized mean difference by 0.11 (0.04–0.19). No such effect occurred for mortality (F1,13 = 0.59, p = 0.4565), but power here was low. Risk of bias (assessed using the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation 'SYRCLE' tool) in included studies was high; however, overall effects were large and confidence in the analysis was considered high. Providing multiple resources is thus important for rodent health: here, providing up to five additional resource-types (the maximum we could assess) steadily reduced morbidity. However, there was no evidence of diminishing returns (let alone plateau effects) over this range, and so additional resources should be supplied to further improve rodent health and welfare (and perhaps even reach asymptotic levels). This research was funded by NSERC and UFAW.

Environmental performance of laying poultry in na intensive and automated system in Southern Brazil

Eggs are an animal protein of high nutritional value and is considered an alternative source to red meat. It is accessible to all social extracts. In addition, substantial demand growth is expected in the coming decades, which requires a significant increase in production volume. Consequently, there is a question of how these eggs will be produced. The current production systems must meet demands related to environmental sustainability, ensuring food security in terms of production volume and product safety. Thus, this study assesses the environmental performance of intensive and automated egg production in conventional cages in the southern region of Brazil. The data that comprise the inventory were modeled from data collected on a farm between 2017 and 2018. We conducted the assessment using the methodology of life cycle analysis (LCA) and the software Open LCA v. 1.7.4. The functional unit (FU) used was one ton of eggs (equivalent to 17,873 units), and the results were allocated financially. The impact attribution method was CML 2002; the database was Ecoinvent v. 3.4. The impact categories evaluated were acidification, with a total impact of 6.47 kg SO2-eq/FU, eutrophication, with a result of 4.17 kg PO4-eq/FU, and a carbon footprint of 1,411.85 CO2-eq/FU. We conclude that the environmental externalities of egg production in Brazil’s southern region are similar to those reported by other studies worldwide. The production phase is responsible for about 85% of the environmental impacts in the categories evaluated. The feeding of birds contributes to the largest share of impacts.

Environmental enrichment and the combined interventions of EE and metformin enhance hippocampal neuron survival and hippocampal-dependent memory in type 2 diabetic rats under stress through the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathways

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) with depression causes severe cognitive impairments. The devastating conditions will further compromise the overall quality of life. The overconsumption of high-fat and high-sucrose (HFS) diet is one of the modifiable risk factors for T2D, depression, and cognitive impairments. Thus, it is essential to identify effective therapeutic strategies to overcome the cognitive impairments in T2D with depression. We proposed environmental enrichment (EE) which encompasses social, cognitive, and physical components as the alternative treatment for such impairments. We also investigated the potential neuroprotective properties of the antidiabetic drug metformin. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EE and metformin interventions on hippocampal neuronal death, and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment in T2D rats under stress. MethodsThirty-two male rats (200–250 g) were divided into four groups: C group (standard diet + conventional cage), DS group [HFS-induced T2D + restraint stress (RS)], DSE group [HFS-induced T2D + RS + EE] and DSEM group [HFS + RS + EE + metformin]. Serum corticosterone (CORT) was measured to evaluate stress levels. The serum Free Oxygen Radicals Testing (FORT) and Free Oxygen Radicals Defence Test (FORD) were measured to evaluate the systemic oxidative status (OS). Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and T-maze tasks were performed to evaluate cognitive functions. Rats were humanely sacrificed to collect brains for histological, morphometric, and hippocampal gene expression studies. ResultsThe CORT and the serum FORT levels in the DSE and DSEM groups were lower than in the DS group. Meanwhile, the serum BDNF, T-maze scores, histological, and morphometric analysis were improved in the DSE and DSEM groups than in the DS group. These findings supported that EE and the combined interventions of EE and metformin had neuroprotective properties. The hippocampal gene expression analysis revealed that the DSE and DSEM groups showed improved regulation of BDNF-TrkB signalling pathways, including the BDNF/TrkB binding, PI3K – Akt pathway, Ras–MAPK pathway, PLCγ–Ca2+ pathway, and CREB transcription. ConclusionEE and the combined interventions of EE and metformin improved hippocampal neuron survival and hippocampal-dependent memory in T2D rats under stress by enhancing gene expression regulation of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

AB090. SOH24AB_047. The efficacy of anchored stand-alone spacers in comparison to conventional cage and plate in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials for clinical and radiological outcomes

AB090. SOH24AB_047. The efficacy of anchored stand-alone spacers in comparison to conventional cage and plate in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials for clinical and radiological outcomes

The inflammatory immunity and gut microbiota are associated with fear response differences in laying hens

The fear response is a crucial adaptive mechanism for coping with environmental changes, and the individuals have different levels of fearfulness. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of the immune response and gut health in hens with different fear responses. A total of 80 healthy 75-week-old native Lindian chickens were individually housed in conventional cages and categorized into high (TH) and low (TL) levels of fearfulness using the tonic immobility (TI) test. The immunological status and intestinal health of the laying hens were assessed, and the intestinal microbial community was sequenced using 16S rRNA testing. The results showed that the immune-related genes of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IgG were significantly upregulated in the spleen of TH hens compared with hens in the TL group (P < 0.01). The inflammatory immune-related genes Toll-like receptor (TLR)2, TLR4, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, IL-10, and IgG were significantly increased in the intestinal tract, whereas IL-4, IgA, and the intestinal barrier gene claudin-4 were significantly decreased in TH hens (P < 0.05). In addition, serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-α and IgG were significantly higher in TH hens (P < 0.01). A high fear response also led to changes in gut microbial diversity, with a higher Simpson's index and lower β-diversity similarity than hens with a low-fear response (P < 0.05). The TH group showed an increase in eight genera, including Bacillaceae and Coprococcus, whereas the genus Anaerorhabdus decreased (P < 0.05). The gut microbiota has also been associated with gut barrier genes, and inflammatory cytokines. Bartonella stimulates IL-1β and IgG secretion, whereas Lactobacillus inhibits IL-6 secretion, and Coprococcus and Subdoligranulum are associated with the maintenance of intestinal barrier function. The results of this study suggest that laying hens with high fear response levels have a more sensitive immune response and a more enriched gut microbiota, which may have positive effects on adapting to a complex environment.

Utilizing 3-dimensional models to assess keel bone damage in laying hens throughout the lay cycle

The global egg industry is rapidly transitioning to cage-free egg production from conventional cages. Hens housed in cage-free systems have an increased prevalence of keel damage that could lead to reduced egg production and compromised well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of n-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 on keel damage in hens housed in multi-tier aviary systems (AV). Brown hens were placed in 4 AV system rooms after rearing at 17 wk of age (woa) with each room containing 576 birds. At 12 woa, rooms were randomly assigned to a dietary treatment of flaxseed oil, fish oil, vitamin D3, or control. Focal birds (36 per treatment) were longitudinally examined for keel damage using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) at nine timepoints from 16 to 52 woa. Three-dimensional digital twins of the keels were created from the QCT scans and visually assessed for damage. An overall keel severity score was recorded as well as the location, direction, and severity of each deviation or fracture. Severity was ranked on a 0 to 5 scale with 0 being no damage and 5 being severe. Damage scores were analyzed utilizing odds ratios with main effects of age and treatment. At 16 woa, 80% of hens had overall keel scores of 0 and 20% had scores of 1. At 52 woa, all hens had damage, with 31% having a score of 1, 61% scored 2 to 3, and 8% scored 4 to 5. Most fractures were not observed until peak lay. Dietary treatments did not affect likelihood of fracture incidences, but younger birds had lower odds of incurring keel fractures than older birds (P < 0.0001). The initial incidences of keel deviations occurred earlier than fractures, with most birds obtaining a keel deviation by 28 woa. Keel damage was not able to be prevented, but the age at which keel fractures and deviations initiate appear to be different, with deviations occurring during growth and fractures during lay.

Toxicological Evaluation of Sub-Chronic Administration of Ethanol Leaf Extract of &lt;i&gt;Ocimum canum&lt;/i&gt; on Lipid Parameters, Heart Histology and Feed Consumption of Wistar Rats

Ocimum canum is a plant that is commonly used in many parts of SubSaharan Africa to treat ailments such as infection, discomfort, and diarrhea. The study was aimed to evaluate the sub-chronic toxicity of Ocimum canum on the heart, lipid profile and feed consumption in Wister rats after oral administration of the leaf extract. Animals of either sexes were chosen. Group 1 received distilled water (10 ml/kg), while groups 2, 3, and 4 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of Ocimum canum, respectively. Animals were kept in conventional cages and provided oral access to the extract, water, and food for 28 days before being weighed and slaughtered. Blood was drawn via heart puncture and immediately sent for hematological and chemopathological investigation. The plant's histological cardiotoxic potential was investigated using the haematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) staining technique. There was a significant (P&lt;0.05) drop in RBC, HGB, and MCV, but no change in neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, or platelets. The extract did not cause a significant (P&lt;0.05) change in cholesterol, LDL, or triglyceride levels, but it did induce a substantial increase in HDL levels. Histological examination of cardiac tissue confirms other parameters. The results indicated that the plant may not be cardiotoxic.

Raising laying hens: housing complexity and genetic strain affect startle reflex amplitude and behavioural response to fear-inducing stimuli.

Individual variation in fearfulness can be modified during ontogeny, and high levels of fear can affect animal welfare. We asked whether early-life environmental complexity and genetic strain affect fear behaviour in young laying hens (pullets). Four replicates of brown (B) and white (W) genetic strains (breeds) of layers were each raised in four environmental treatments (housing): conventional cages (Conv) and different rearing aviaries with increasing space and complexity (Low < Mid < High). We used a startle reflex test (weeks 4 and 14) to measure startle amplitude and autonomic response (i.e. comb temperature). A combination of novel arena (NA) and novel object (NO) tests was used (week 14) to assess NA exploration and alertness, latency to approach the centre and initial NO avoidance and investigation. Housing × strain affected startle amplitude (B-Conv, B-High < B-Low, B-Mid; B > W; no housing effect in W) but not autonomic response. Fear behaviour was affected by housing (NA exploration, investigation: Conv < Low, Mid, High; NO avoidance: Conv, High < Low, Mid), strain (NA alertness: B > W, NO avoidance: W > B) and their interaction (NA centre approach: B-Conv < all other groups). We present evidence for strain-specific fear responses depending on early experience.

Expandable cages that expand both height and lordosis provide improved immediate effect on sagittal alignment and short-term clinical outcomes following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF).

Failure to restore lordotic alignment is not an uncommon problem following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF), even with expandable cages that increase disc height. This study aims to investigate the effect of the expandable cage that is specifically designed to expand both height and lordosis. We evaluated the outcomes of MIS TLIF in restoring immediate postoperative sagittal alignment by comparing two different types of expandable cages. One cage is designed to solely increase disc height (Group H), while the other can expand both height and lordosis (Group HL). Patients undergoing MIS TLIF using expandable cages were retrospectively reviewed, including 40 cases in Group H and 109 cases in Group HL. Visual analog scores of back and leg pain, and Oswestry disability index were collected. Disc height, disc angle, and sagittal alignment were measured. Complications were recorded, including early subsidence which was evaluated with computed tomography. Clinical and radiographic outcomes significantly improved in both groups postoperatively. Group HL showed superior improvement in segmental lordosis (4.4°±3.5° vs. 2.1°±4.8°, P=0.01) and disc angle (6.3°±3.8 vs. 2.2°±4.3°, P<0.001) compared to Group H. Overall incidence of early subsidence was 23.3%, predominantly observed during initial cases as part of the learning curve, but decreased to 18% after completion of the first 20 cases. Expandable cages with a design specifically aimed at increasing lordotic angle can provide favorable outcomes and effectively improve immediate sagittal alignment following MIS TLIF, compared to conventional cages that only increase in height. However, regardless of the type of expandable cage used, it is crucial to avoid applying excessive force to achieve greater disc height or lordosis, as this may contribute to subsidence and a possible reduction in lordotic alignment restoration. Long-term results are needed to evaluate the clinical outcome, fusion rate, and maintenance of the sagittal alignment.

Mechano-driven intervertebral bone bridging via oriented mechanical stimulus in a twist metamaterial cage: An in silico study

Stiffer cages provide sufficient mechanical support but fail to promote bone ingrowth due to stress shielding. It remains challenging for fusion cage to satisfy both bone bridging and mechanical stability. Here we designed a fusion cage based on twist metamaterial for improved bone ingrowth, and proved its superiority to the conventional diagonal-based cage in silico. The fusion process was numerically reproduced via an injury-induced osteogenesis model and the mechano-driven bone remodeling algorithm, and the outcomes fusion effects were evaluated by the morphological features of the newly-formed bone and the biomechanical behaviors of the bone-cage composite. The twist-based cages exhibited oriented bone formation in the depth direction, in comparison to the diagonal-based cages. The axial stiffness of the bone-cage composites with twist-based cages was notably higher than that with diagonal-based cages; meanwhile, the ranges of motion of the twist-based fusion segment were lower. It was concluded that the twist metamaterial cages led to oriented bone ingrowth, superior mechanical stability of the bone-cage composite, and less detrimental impacts on the adjacent bones. More generally, metamaterials with a tunable displacement mode of struts might provide more design freedom in implant designs to offer customized mechanical stimulus for osseointegration.

Low-cost, open-source device for simultaneously subjecting rodents to different circadian cycles of light, food, and temperature.

Exposure of experimental rodents to controlled cycles of light, food, and temperature is important when investigating alterations in circadian cycles that profoundly influence health and disease. However, applying such stimuli simultaneously is difficult in practice. We aimed to design, build, test, and open-source describe a simple device that subjects a conventional mouse cage to independent cycles of physiologically relevant environmental variables. The device is based on a box enclosing the rodent cage to modify the light, feeding, and temperature environments. The device provides temperature-controlled air conditioning (heating or cooling) by a Peltier module and includes programmable feeding and illumination. All functions are set by a user-friendly front panel for independent cycle programming. Bench testing with a model simulating the CO2 production of mice in the cage showed: a) suitable air renewal (by measuring actual ambient CO2), b) controlled realistic illumination at the mouse enclosure (measured by a photometer), c) stable temperature control, and d) correct cycling of light, feeding, and temperature. The cost of all the supplies (retail purchased by e-commerce) was <300 US$. Detailed technical information is open-source provided, allowing for any user to reliably reproduce or modify the device. This approach can considerably facilitate circadian research since using one of the described low-cost devices for any mouse group with a given light-food-temperature paradigm allows for all the experiments to be performed simultaneously, thereby requiring no changes in the light/temperature of a general-use laboratory.