Production Levels Research Articles

Association between cytokine polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss: A review of current evidence.

Cytokines are a type of protein that play an important role in the immune response and can also affect many physiological processes in the body. Cytokine polymorphisms refer to genetic variations or mutations that occur within the genes that code for cytokines, which may affect the level of cytokine production and function. Some cytokine polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk of developing certain diseases, while others may be protective or have no significant effect on health. In recent years, the role of cytokine polymorphisms in the development of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has been studied. RPL or miscarriage is defined as the occurrence of two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before the 20th week of gestation. There are diverse causes leading to RPL, including genetic, anatomical, hormonal, and immunological factors. With regard to cytokine polymorphisms, a few of them have been found to be associated with an increased risk of RPL, for instance, variations in the genes that code for interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-10. The exact mechanisms by which cytokine polymorphisms affect the risk of recurrent miscarriage are still being studied, and further research is essential to fully understand this complex condition. This brief review aims to summarize the recent literature on the association between cytokine polymorphisms and RPL.

Characteristics of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products in multiple sclerosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background. The purpose of this study was to investigate plasma levels of fibrinogen and products of its degradation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with and without a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and methods. We examined 97 patients with MS. Based on the presence of COVID-19, all cases were divided into two groups. MS group included 56 patients who did not suffer from COVID-19 previously. MS + COVID group consisted of 41 cases who had a laboratory-verified diagnosis of COVID-19. The group of healthy controls included 30 healthy volunteers. Spectrophotometric techniques were used to measure the concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimer, and soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMCs). Size-exclusion chromatography was applied to analyze the composition of SFMC fractions. Results. We found that concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimer, and SFMCs were remarkably increased in plasma of all MS patients compared with healthy controls. The levels of D-dimer, and SFMCs did not differ between two MS groups, while plasma fibrinogen concentration was significantly increased in MS + COVID patients compared to MS group. Moreover, the development of MS was accompanied by the changes in both quantity and quality of SFMC composition compared to that of healthy controls. Our results demonstrated accumulation of high-molecular-weight SFMCs in plasma of MS patients. Conclusions. The findings indicated that MS patients had changed hemostasis characteristics; however, more research is required to determine the connection between particular hemostatic factors, namely fibrinogen, D-dimer, and SFMCs, and the pathophysiology of MS.

Unveiling combat strategies against Candida spp. biofilm structures: Demonstration of photodynamic inactivation with innovative phthalocyanine derivatives

Antimicrobial resistance is an important problem for infection control and therapy. Microorganisms in biofilm structure are remarkably less susceptible to antimicrobials compared to planktonic cells. Increasing rates of resistance to antimicrobials have led to the development of new antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative treatment method that may contribute to the fields of infection control and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activities of photosensitizers and the anti-biofilm activities of phthalocyanine derivatives on C. albicans and C. parapsilosis strains. The anti-biofilm effects of aPDT on the biofilm of Candida albicans were also visualized via SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). Our findings showed that aPDT with phthalocyanines inhibited biofilm production levels and reduced the mature biofilm levels of Candida strains. Additionally, SEM results supported that aPDT application successfully eradicated fungal cells and inhibited the biofilm produced by C. albicans. Although more detailed experiments are needed, we suggest that the use of Pcs in aPDT may be beneficial for the treatment of biofilm-related Candida infections.

Regulating Transgenic Soybean Production in Argentina: The Role of Agro-Associations

Argentina's economy is organized mainly around the export of transgenic soybeans. This production is associated with several environmental and social costs. This article investigates transgenic soybean production regulation possibilities, which fulfills efficiency, acceptability, and feasibility by directly controlling production levels. Production quota markets are promising because they make it possible to implement cost-effective production. However, Argentina's agricultural sector is organized into large agro-associations with significant political power. The exercise of market power could challenge the attractive properties of production quota markets. This article considers the possibility of these organizations manipulating the quota market to capture a larger share of production. The production quota market could give rise to "raising rivals' costs" behavior. Contrary to the existing literature, this article shows that this strategy is profitable, even though the price of transgenic soybeans is fixed on international markets. To restore efficiency in production levels while preserving policy acceptability, we propose to auction production quotas with an adequate rebate revenue. Alternatively, initial quota allocation can be hybrid. The initial allocation chosen will depend on the trade-off between efficiency and acceptability of the environmental policy. Thus, while proposing a specific and adapted regulation for transgenic soybeans in Argentina, this article contributes to the knowledge of tradeable production quotas, which are almost less analyzed in the economic literature.

The Relative Importance of Factors Influencing Saudi Arabia's Productivity

A country's productivity reflects its current economic standing and where it could potentially grow in the future. This paper explains the relative significance of factors affecting the productivity of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The issue of productivity has been raised in the growing diversion of the economic literature to the development side, leaving little research on countries productivity as measured in gross domestic product (GDP), that provides empirical basses for the developmental debates. Eight important factors are researched for their relative explanation of the KSA’s productivity, which include the spendings on i) education, 2) subsidies, 3) research & development, 4) physical capital, 5) health, 6) gender equality, 7) inflation, and 8) openness to trade. These factors are assessed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and combine autoregressive features with those of moving averages (ARIMA). The study has theoretical implications for raising fresh evidence for the relative importance of these factors of production for developing countries such as KSA. The relative significance of these factors also informs predictions and policy making for the efficient resource allocation of keeping in view the targeted productivity level while chasing developmental objectives, such as those envisioned for 2030 in KSA. Received: 31 January 2024 / Accepted: 16 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

Influence of Agricultural Practices on Food Safety in Nigeria

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of agricultural practices on food safety in Nigeria Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The influence of agricultural practices on food safety in Nigeria is significant, with traditional and modern methods impacting the safety and quality of food. The use of pesticides and fertilizers, often unregulated, can lead to residue accumulation in crops, posing health risks. Additionally, the prevalence of subsistence farming without proper sanitation measures can contribute to the contamination of food products. There is also concern about the spread of zoonotic diseases through livestock farming, exacerbated by inadequate veterinary services and poor handling practices. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social identity theory, stakeholder theory & norm activation theory may be used to anchor future studies on analyze the influence of agricultural practices on food safety in Nigeria. Promote the adoption of good agricultural practices (GAPs) and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies among farmers to minimize food safety risks at the production level. Advocate for the development and enforcement of robust food safety regulations and standards that encompass the entire agricultural supply chain.

Hemp Flour as a Functional Ingredient for the Partial Replacement of Nitrites in a Minced Meat Model: Effect on Nutrient Composition, Antioxidant Profile and Sensory Characteristics

Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about synthetic preservatives like nitrites in meat, prompting the meat industry to explore alternatives in order to lower nitrite levels. This study investigated the effects of incorporating hemp flour on the chemical and shelf-life characteristics of minced meat products with reduced nitrite content. Three types of products were prepared: HF0 (control) (0% hemp flour, 30 mg/kg NaNO2), HF4 (4% hemp flour, 15 mg/kg NaNO2), and HF6 (6% hemp flour, 15 mg/kg NaNO2). Analyses were conducted on proximate composition, fatty acid composition, antioxidant properties, lipid oxidation, colour, texture, and sensory characteristics. The addition of hemp flour at 6% reduced moisture content and influenced ash and sodium chloride levels in minced meat products. Despite the favorable fatty acid profile of hemp flour, its inclusion did not significantly alter the composition of the products. However, it did lead to significantly lower levels of lipid oxidation and modified the antioxidant capacity. Colour attributes were affected, with a higher hemp flour content resulting in colour deterioration. Cooking loss increased with a higher hemp flour content, and the minced meat products were significantly harder. Visual and olfactory sensory evaluation indicated that there were no significant differences in most traits, suggesting consumer acceptance of hemp-flour-enriched minced meat products. Overall, this study highlights the potential of hemp as a functional ingredient in minced meat products, also exhibiting the ability to reduce lipid oxidation.

169 The impact of corn-based fiber on intestinal morphology and disaccharidase activity in growing pigs

Abstract Dietary changes can modify gastrointestinal architecture and function; thus, our experimental objective was to evaluate how different insoluble corn-based fiber sources (CBF) impact intestinal morphology and brush-border disaccharidases. Two replicates of 28 gilts [26.7 ± 2.5 kg body weight (BW); PIC800 x Camborough; n = 56], were randomly assigned to one of 7 semi-synthetic diets, including a control (CTL) diet with a formulated total dietary fiber (TDF) value of < 1% and 6 diets with a CBF replacing 30% of the corn starch in CTL: dehulled degermed corn (DHDG; TDF = 1.09%), ground corn (COR; TDF = 3.24%), high protein dried distillers grains (HP; TDF = 8.79%), dried distiller’s grains (DDGS; TDF = 9.35%), corn gluten meal (CGM; TDF = 9.88%), and corn bran (BRN; TDF = 13.15%). Pigs were individually housed, and limit-fed 2.4 times maintenance. On d 31, pigs were necropsied, and duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon tissue were collected for histological analysis. Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model with treatment as a fixed effect, replicate as a random slope or fixed effect, where appropriate, using the mixed procedure of SAS. In the duodenum, DHDG, COR, and CGM had the least (P = 0.04) levels of maltase production. Duodenal sucrase production was least in BRN and HP, and DHDG had the greatest (P = 0.04). Duodenal villi height was shortest (P < 0.01) in CTL and BRN compared with HP, DDGS, and CGM, which had the tallest (P < 0.01; Table). Similarly, CTL and BRN had the shallowest duodenal crypt depth (P < 0.01) and tended (P = 0.08) to have a lesser duodenal villus:crypt ratio compared with the other treatments. There were no differences (P > 0.10) among treatments for ileal sucrase or lactase production, but maltase production was greatest in CTL, DDGS, and CGM (P = 0.03). Relative to CTL and BRN, gilts fed HP, DDGS, and CGM, had the tallest (P = 0.01) villus height in the ileum. However, neither ileal villi:crypt ratio nor crypt depth differed (P > 0.10). Cecal crypt depth for BRN increased 32% compared with CTL (P < 0.01). Cecal crypt width was narrowest (P < 0.01) in CTL and DHDG and widest in HP, DDGS, CGM, and CB (P < 0.01). Colon crypt width was narrowest (P < 0.01) in CTL and DHDG and widest in DDGS, CGM, and CB (P < 0.01). Collectively, these data demonstrate that different fiber types have a significant impact on intestinal morphology and disaccharidase production in the growing pig.

PSIII-13 Putative metabolites for sow lifetime opportunity and production traits

Abstract Identifying females with favorable lifetime born alive (opportunity) and weaned (wn; production) traits requires extended observation. Estimate of lifetime (4 parities) difference in the economic margin over genetic cost between a high producing female (48 pigs weaned; wn) and a low producing female (31 wn) is approximately $1,000. Determining metabolic compounds present from females with favorable or unfavorable longevity traits may provide profiles that could be assessed in younger females prior to entry within the breeding system to indicate their potential productivity. Females within the USMARC breeding system were retained through four parities then harvested between 12 to 15 d following their post-weaning estrus. Liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipose tissues were collected and stored at -80° C for later analyses. Females were categorically identified by the level of opportunity (born alive; ba) and production (wn) over their lifetime. Females with consistent opportunity and production traits at each parity were categorized as high (H; 61 ba), medium (M; 50 ba), or low (L; 39 ba) opportunity and H (50 wn), M (42 wn), or L (34 wn) production resulting in six categories (HH, HL, MH, ML, LH, LL). Tissue extracts were subjected to positive mode UPLC-MS and numerous features were detected. Using Progenesis Q software features were annotated and those with a fold-change ≥ 2.0 and P < 0.05 by category were then tested using a mixed model in SAS to determine LS Mean differences of raw abundances among the six categories. Of those compounds tested in SAS, a significance threshold was set at P < 0.01 as a false discovery adjustment. Within liver 877 compounds were analyzed with 152 yielding a significant (P < 0.01) categorical effect. Of those, 43 compounds predominantly identified either HH or LL from other categories. Within skeletal muscle 359 compounds were subjected to mixed models, 221 compounds had significance for a category effect, and 105 compounds were predominantly different for HH or LL from all other categories. Within adipose tissue, 406 compounds were submitted to mixed model testing, 186 compounds had a categorical effect with 44 compounds predominantly different for HH or LL categories. Annotation of these compounds suggest differences in metabolites associated with, but not limited to, bacteria by-products (pradmicin, adifolin, lactobacillic acid), alkyloids, sapogenins, amino acids (lysine, tyrosine), minerals (calcium, copper), lipids (sphingomyelin), and fatty acids (mono-, di-, tri-acylglycerol). Future confirmation and evaluation of these metabolites in young pre-breeding females will need to be done. Establishing a metabolic profile panel that could discern young pre-breeding gilts with a likelihood of becoming a LL female will improve economic productivity and animal welfare concerns.

Assessment of Food Processing Technologies on Allergen Reduction in United States

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the assessment of food processing technologies on allergen reduction in United States. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Recent advancements in food processing technologies in the U.S. are focusing on reducing allergenicity in food products. Thermal methods are traditionally used, but novel nonthermal techniques, such as high-pressure processing and cold atmospheric plasma, are now being explored for their potential to create hypoallergenic products. These methods aim to modify allergenic proteins without using heat, which can preserve food quality while reducing allergen reactivity. Despite these advancements, ensuring the complete removal of allergens remains challenging, highlighting the ongoing need for robust detection and control strategies​. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Risk assessment theory, health belief model (HBM) & diffusion of innovations theory may be used to anchor future studies on analyze the assessment of food processing technologies on allergen reduction in United States. Implementing advanced food processing technologies focused on allergen reduction can revolutionize industry practices. Regulatory bodies could use empirical data from these assessments to set more precise guidelines and safety standards for allergen levels in food products.

PSI-12 Dietary isoacids modulate nutrient digestibility and fermentation products in ileal digesta and feces of growing pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets

Abstract Branched-chain fatty acids, or isoacids, are the product of branched-chain amino acid fermentation and have been associated with benefits on the productivity of ruminants, primarily by positively modulating gut microbes and promoting gastrointestinal health. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal inclusion level of isoacid blend product based on apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, and fermentation products in growing pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets. Twelve cannulated pigs [body weight (BW) = 20.9 + 0.6 kg] were used in a 5-period switch-back design with 6 diets and 2 replicate pigs in each period (n = 10 observations per dietary treatment). Experimental diets consisted of increasing levels (0%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, and 1.5%) of an isoacid blend (isobutyrate, isovalerate, and 2-methyl butyrate, 1:1:1) added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. Each experimental period lasted 14 d: 10 d for acclimatization to the diets, 2 d for fecal collection, and 2 d for digesta collection. Diets, fecal, and ileal digesta samples were analyzed for gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), fiber composition, amino acids (AA), and titanium. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids and ammonia were analyzed in digesta and fecal samples. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effects of increasing levels of isoacids. Dietary supplementation of isoacids improved (P < 0.1, linear and/or quadratic) AID of crude fiber and hemicellulose and most of the indispensable AA (except Met+Cys, Trp, and Val) as well as ATTD of CP, GE, neutral detergent fiber, and hemicellulose. In addition, ATTD of Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Met+Cys, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val increased quadratically (P < 0.1). Collectively, 1% isoacid inclusion promoted the greatest responses in most measured variables (% increase: unsupplemented vs. 1%): AID of Lys (9.3%), Met (5.7%), Thr (17.8%), Leu (7.4%), Ile (9.2%), Phe (7.8%), His (5.9%), Arg (4.9%); ATTD of CP (2.1%), GE (1.3%), NDF (3.9%), hemicellulose (>50%), overall indispensable AA (9.5%), overall dispensable AA (8.6%). On the other hand, the inclusion of isoacids quadratically increased (P = 0.071) the concentration of ammonia and decreased (P < 0.1) the concentration of acetic acid, iso-valeric acid, and total VFA in ileal digesta samples. In fecal samples, the proportion of acetic acid decreased (P < 0.05) quadratically while the proportion of propionic, valeric, and caproic acids increased (P < 0.1). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of isoacids at 1% can improve dietary nutrient digestibility, particularly ileal AA digestibility. Based on the changes in fermentation products, the modulation of intestinal microbiota through the gastrointestinal tract could be potentially related to the effects of isoacids on nutrient digestibility. However, the effects of isoacids supplementation on intestinal microbiota must be determined.

Legal Issues in Land Acquisition for Agricultural Production in Nigeria

Land is the nations’ most valuable asset, as it provides sustenance. Legally speaking, land tenure in Nigeria is a complicated web of connections between many organizations that establishes land ownership patterns in connection to various land uses. This study examined the legal issues in land acquisition for agricultural production in Nigeria. Secondary data sourced from books, journals, and the internet were used. Normative legal research techniques were adopted to discuss legal issues in land acquisition, while qualitative content analysis was used to ascertain the level of agricultural production in Nigeria, as well as the relationship between land acquisition and agricultural production in Nigeria. The study’s findings showed that Nigeria's land tenure system supports land partitioning (land fragmentation), which leads to scattered small-scale farming. Tenure rules stipulated in the Nigerian Land Use Act of 1978 hinder agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Additional relevant factors and challenges influencing Nigeria's agricultural production include land tenure insecurity, and political and bureaucratic bottlenecks in the acquisition of land rights for agricultural uses. To ensure improved agricultural productivity, the government should initiate and implement a new land tenure reform that will address the inherent challenges in the current land tenure system.

235 Evaluation of an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme combination in forage-based growing diets fed to growing beef cattle

Abstract Crossbred steers [n = 73; 287±19 kg initial body weight (BW)] were used in an 84-d growing study to investigate the effects of feeding an exogenous xylanase and cellulase combination product (EFE) and wheat straw (WS) inclusion level on the growth performance of growing beef cattle. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with two levels of WS, either 5% (low; LS) or 15% (high; HS) of diet dry matter, and two inclusion rates of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes, 0 (none; N) or 750 g/ton (enzyme; E; Bovizyme CX; Danisco Animal Nutrition and Health; Wilmington, DE) of diet. Body weights and blood samples were collected every 28 d. Individual intake data were collected using an automated feeding system (Insentec Roughage Intake Control, Hokofarm B.V., Marknesse, The Netherland). Average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), gain to feed ratio (G:F), plasma glucose (GLU), plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) were analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS Ins. Inc., Cary, N.C.). Animal was the experimental unit and fixed effects included blocks of body weight (n = 3) and original source of steers (n = 2). The model included the level of WS (LS, HS), level of EFE (N or E), and WS × EFE interactions. There were no WS × EFE interactions (P ≥ 0.31) for all measured traits. Supplementing EFE resulted in no differences (P ≥ 0.16) for ending BW, ADG, DMI, G:F, NEFA, and PUN. However, within HS diet, inclusion of E numerically increased ADG by 0.05 kg/d compared with N (1.29 vs. 1.24 kg/d; HSE vs. HSN, respectively; P > 0.31). Steers consuming E diets tended to have greater GLU compared with N (4.92 vs. 4.80 µmol/L, respectively; P = 0.10). Between levels of straw inclusion, ending BW was greater for steers consuming LS diet compared with HS diet (413 vs. 393 kg, respectively; P < 0.0001). Resulting in greater ADG for steers consuming LS diet compared with HS diet (1.49 vs. 1.26 kg, respectively; P < 0.01). Dry matter intake was greater for steers consuming LS diet than HS diet (9.06 vs. 8.33 kg, respectively; P < 0.01). Therefore, G:F was improved for steers consuming LS diet compared with HS diet (0.165 vs. 0.151, respectively; P < 0.01). Steers consuming LS diet had decreased NEFA compared with HS diet (311 vs. 376 µmol/L, respectively; P < 0.01). Results from this study indicate that regardless of the inclusion level of WS, supplementing growing steers with EFE did not influence growth performance. However, replacing ten percent of corn silage with WS reduced the energy concentration of the diet, decreasing growth performance.

Introducing the Occupational Health and Safety Potential Midpoint Impact Indicator in Social Life Cycle Assessment

Occupational health and safety (OSH) is crucial for sustainable development, recognized by corporations, the European Union, and Sustainable Development Goals. This study introduces a characterization model for OSH in the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) to support the quantification of OHS along product supply chains and sustainable decision making. The characterization model aims to provide a practical approach for assessing OHS at the product level with actual working hours or recommends a secondary approach with monetary data, when working hours are unavailable, to calculate the Occupational Health and Safety Potential (OHSP). The developed model was tested in a theoretical case study on shirt production in Europe and globally. The case study shows that the European shirt value chain resulted in higher OHSP values than the global shirt values chain. In addition, the model shows which life cycle stages and organizations highly contributed to the OHSP results. In both approaches, the shirt production stage contributed highly. Differences in results emerged based on the calculation approach, underscoring the model’s versatility, because increasing the complexity of calculating the CFs with monetary values will affect the results based on sectorial monetary output. Additionally, the study mentions benefits to the operationalization of social impact assessment and limitations when the developed characterized model is employed. Last, this study aids in offering a tool for organizations to meet the demands of the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive by quantifying and publicizing OHS data.

Knockdown of NADK promotes LUAD ferroptosis via NADPH/FSP1 axis

BackgroundLung cancer is a serious threat to human health and is the first leading cause of cancer death. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered form of programmed cell death associated with redox homeostasis, is of particular interest in the lung cancer, given the high oxygen environment of lung cancer. NADPH has reducing properties and therefore holds the potential to resist ferroptosis. Resistance to ferroptosis exists in lung cancer, but the role of NADK in regulating ferroptosis in lung cancer has not been reported yet.MethodsImmunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyse the expression of NADK in 86 cases of lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD) and adjacent tissues, and a IHC score was assigned to each sample. Chi-square and kaplan-meier curve was performed to analyse the differences in metastasis and five-year survival between the two groups with NADK high or low scores. Proliferation of NADK-knockdown LUAD cell lines was detected in vivo and vitro. Furthermore, leves of ROS, MDA and Fe2+ were measured to validate the effect and mechanism of NADK on ferroptosis in LUAD.ResultsThe expression of NADK was significantly evaluated in LUAD tissues as compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The proliferation of NADK-knockdown cells was inhibited both in vivo and vitro, and increasing levels of intracellular ROS, Fe2+ and lipid peroxide products (MDA) were observed. Furthermore, NADK-knockdown promoted the ferroptosis of LUAD cells induced by Erastin/RSL3 by regulating the level of NADPH and the expression of FSP1. Knockdown of NADK enhanced the sensitivities of LUAD cells to Erastin/RSL3-induced ferroptosis by regulating NADPH level and FSP1 expression.ConclusionsNADK is over-expressed in LUAD patients. Knockdown of NADK inhibited the proliferation of LUAD cells both in vitro and in vivo and promotes the Erastin/RSL3-induced ferroptosis of LUAD cells by down-regulating the NADPH/FSP1 axis.

TRIM11 expression levels was downregulated and prevents ferroptosis of cardiomyocyte by Dusp6 in acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the high incidence rate and mortality of common cardiovascular disease. Herein, we explored the critical role of TRIM11 in AMI and its underlying mechanism. Serum from patients with AMI were collected from our hospital. Mice of model group received angiotensin II. Mice of model + TRIM11 group received with Ang II and TRIM11 vectors. Mice of sham group received normal saline. H9c2 cells were performed transfections using Lipofectamine 2000 (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Shanghai, China), and treated with Ang II. TRIM11 mRNA expression was reduced, was negative correlation with collagen I/III mRNA expression, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, left anteroposterior atrial diameter, right atrial diameter, or left ventricular ejection fraction in patient with AMI. TRIM11 mRNA and protein expression were also suppressed. METTL3 regulates TRIM11 methylation to reduce TRIM11 gene stability in model of AMI. TRIM11 gene ameliorated AMI in mice model. TRIM11 gene reduced reactive oxygen species production level of cardiomyocyte in-vitro model. TRIM11 gene reduced ferroptosis of cardiomyocyte in-vitro model. TRIM11 gene reduced ferroptosis by the inhibition of mitochondrial damage of cardiomyocyte in model of AMI. TRIM11 induced Dusp6 protein expression. Bioluminescence imaging showed that TRIM11 virus increased Dusp6 expression in heart tissue of mice model. The inhibition of Dusp6 reduced the effects of TRIM11 on ferroptosis of cardiomyocyte in model of AMI. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that TRIM11 improves AMI by regulating Dusp6 to inhibit ferroptosis of cardiomyocyte, and suggest a novel target for AMI.

Effect of commercial fibrolytic enzymes application to normal- and slightly lower energy diets on lactational performance, digestibility and plasma nutrients in high-producing dairy cows.

The inclusion of fibrolytic enzymes in the diet is believed to have positive effects on animal production. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of supplementing diets with a commercial fibrolytic enzyme preparation (Vistamax; mixture of xylanase and cellulase) derived from Trichoderma reesei on lactational performance, digestibility, and plasma nutrient levels in high-producing dairy cows. Two dietary energy levels were considered: a normal energy diet (metabolizable energy = 2.68 Mcal/kg) and a slightly lower energy diet (metabolizable energy = 2.55 Mcal/kg). A total of 120 lactating Holstein cows (parity = 2; Days in Milk = 113 ± 23) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups using a 2 * 2 factorial arrangement. The dietary treatments consisted of: (1) normal energy diet without enzyme supplementation (NL); (2) normal energy diet with enzyme supplementation (NLE); (3) slightly lower energy diet without enzyme supplementation (SL); and (4) slightly lower energy diet with enzyme supplementation (SLE). The amount of enzyme added to the diets was determined based on previous in vitro studies and supplier recommendations. The enzyme and premix were mixed prior to the preparation of the total mixed ration, and the trial lasted for a duration of 42 days. The results indicated that the application of the fibrolytic enzyme did not have a significant effect on dry matter intake (DMI), but it did enhance the digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), potentially digestible NDF (pdNDF), organic matter (OM), milk production, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). On the other hand, the slightly lower energy diet resulted in a decrease in DMI, milk production, milk protein yield, plasma free amino acids (FAA), and an increase in plasma B-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). In conclusion, the inclusion of the fibrolytic enzyme in the diets of dairy cows led to improvements in the digestibility of DM, NDF, pdNDF, OM, milk production, and feed efficiency. Furthermore, the application of the enzyme to the slightly lower energy diet resulted in milk production levels comparable to those observed in cows fed the untreated normal energy diet.

Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool for Early Detection of Exercise-Induced Oxidative Damage in Female Athletes.

Although blood still remains the most commonly utilized medium to detect increased levels of oxidative damage induced by exercise, saliva diagnostics have gained increasing popularity due to their non-invasive nature and athlete-friendly collection process. Given that the contribution of various phases of the menstrual cycle to the levels of oxidative damage may differ, the aim of this study was to evaluate an agreement between salivary and plasmatic levels of lipid peroxidation products in female swimmers in both the follicular (F) and luteal (L) phases of the menstrual cycle at rest and following exercise. Twelve well-trained female swimmers aged 19.6 ± 1.1 years old were examined. We measured diene conjugates (DCs), triene conjugates (TCs), and Schiff bases (SBs) in lipids immediately after their extraction from both saliva and blood plasma. All female swimmers were studied two times each, in the two different phases of one menstrual cycle, before and after high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Salivary and plasmatic levels of DCs, TCs, and SBs significantly increased post-exercise compared to pre-exercise, in both the F and L phases. A high positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of DCs, TCs, and SBs in the saliva and blood plasma of participants in the F and L phases, both at rest and following HIIE. Ordinary least products regression analysis indicates that there was no proportional and differential bias in the data. The Bland-Altman method also declares that there was no differential bias, since the line of equality was within the 95% confidence interval of the mean difference between salivary and plasmatic levels of DCs, TCs, and SBs in female swimmers, in both the F and L phases, before and after HIIE. There was also no proportional bias in the Bland-Altman plots. Thus, this is the first study to report a high agreement between the quantifications of DCs, TCs, and SBs in the saliva and blood plasma of female swimmers in both the F and L phases, at rest and following HIIE.

NREP, transcriptionally upregulated by HIF-1α, aggravates breast cancer cell growth and metastasis by promoting glycolysis

Breast cancer (BC) poses a great threat to women’s health. Neuronal regeneration related protein (NREP) is a multifunctional protein that is involved in embryonic development, regeneration, and human disease. However, the biological function of NREP in tumors is rarely reported and its role in BC remains unknown. Bioinformatics analysis showed that NREP is highly expressed and closely correlated with poor survival in BC patients. Under hypoxic conditions, NREP was upregulated in BC cells, and this promotion was reversed by hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α suppression. Luciferase reporter system and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that HIF-1α directly binds to the promoter of NREP to increase the transcriptional activity of NREP. NREP suppression inhibited cell proliferation, arrested the cell cycle at the G1/S phase, and promoted apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in BC cells. Suppression of NREP decreased the tube formation ability of HUVECs. In addition, NREP downregulation showed an inhibition effect on cell migration, invasion, and EMT of BC cells. In NREP overexpressed cells, all these changes were reversed. In vivo, animal experiments also confirmed that NREP promotes BC tumor growth and metastasis. In addition, NREP promoted cellular glycolysis and enhanced the levels of glucose consumption, ATP, lactate production, and glucose transporters expression in NREP-overexpressed BC cells. In summary, our results demonstrated that NREP could be transcriptional activated by HIF-1α, which may aggravate BC tumor growth and metastasis by promoting cellular glycolysis. This result suggested that NREP may play an essential part in BC progression.

Mechanisms for the Enhancement of Caproic Acid and H2 Production in Ruminococcaceae Bacterium CPB6 by Fe(II) and Mg(II): Growth and Gene Transcription Analyses.

The production of caproic acid (CA) and hydrogen gas (H2) from organic wastewater is economically attractive. The Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6 has demonstrated potential for CA production from lactate-containing wastewater. However, our understanding of the effects of Fe2+ and Mg2+ on the growth and metabolism of strain CPB6 remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of Fe2+ and Mg2+ on CA and H2 production, as well as on the expression of key genes involved in CA and H2 biosynthesis pathway. The results indicate that Fe2+ positively affects cell proliferation and H2 production while minimally impacting CA production. The highest levels of H2 production were achieved with the addition of 200mg/L Fe2+. Conversely, Mg2+ significantly enhances CA and H2 production, with the optimal yield observed in a medium enriched with 300mg/L Mg2+. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis reveals that Fe2+ promotes the expression of the hydrogenase gene, whereas Mg2+ has a negligible effect on hydrogenase expression. Notably, Fe2+ and Mg2+ inhibit the expression of key genes involved in CA synthesis. These findings suggest that Fe2+ enhances H2 production by boosting cell biomass and the expression of the hydrogenase gene, whereas Mg2+ improves CA and H2 production primarily by increasing cell biomass rather than influencing the expression of functional genes involved in CA biosynthesis.