LM Treatment Research Articles

PSV-9 Effects of Supplemental Methionine Sources in Finishing Pig Diets on Carcass Characteristics, Cutting Yields, and Meat Quality

Abstract While supplemental methionine (Met) is widely used within the swine industry, data are limited regarding the effect of Met sources on carcass cutability and meat quality. The objective was to determine the effects of DL-methionine (DLM, 99%), L-methionine (LM, 99%), or calcium salt of DL-methionine hydroxyanalogue (MHA-Ca, 84%) in finishing pig diets on carcass characteristics and meat quality. Pigs (n = 240) were allocated to 60 single-sex pens. For the final 7 wk of the finisher phase, pigs (BW= 79.9 ± 0.80 kg) were fed diets containing DLM, LM, or MHA-Ca, with the supplemental methionine source providing 25% of the sulfur amino acid requirement. One pig per pen was slaughtered, and left sides of carcasses were fabricated into subprimal cuts to determine carcass-cutting yields. Loin quality including proximate composition and shear force was measured. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Hot carcass weight was not different (P= 0.34) between treatments (DLM 103.0 kg; LM 104.5 kg; MHA-Ca 101.5kg), moreover loin eye area was not different (P= 0.98) between treatments (DLM 52.49 cm²; LM 52.65 cm²; MHA-Ca 52.81 cm²). Boneless carcass cutting yield was not different (P = 0.56) between treatments (DLM 54.82 kg; LM 54.97 kg; MHA-Ca 54.52 kg). Loin pH was not different (P = 0.24) between treatments (DLM 5.48; LM 5.45; MHA-Ca 5.45). However, drip loss tended to be reduced (P = 0.11) by the DLM treatment (5.58%) compared with LM (7.03%) and MHA-Ca (6.68%) treatments. Shear force was not different (P = 0.85) between treatments (DLM 3.06 kg; LM 3.03 kg; MHA-Ca 3.10 kg). However, cook loss tended to be reduced (P = 0.06) by the DLM treatment (16.20%) compared with LM (18.18%) and MHA-Ca (18.50%) treatments. These data suggest that only minimal differences in carcass cutability and meat quality can be attributed to methionine sources in finishing pig diets.

Remediation effect of mercapto-palygorskite combined with manganese sulfate on cadmium contaminated alkaline soil and cadmium accumulation in pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.)

Cadmium pollution in alkaline soil in some areas of northern China seriously threatens agricultural production and human health, but there are few materials and methods to remediate cadmium pollution in alkaline soil. Therefore, it is necessary to further study the economic and adaptive remediation and regulation techniques of cadmium pollution in alkaline soil. In the study, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of MP and MnSO4 combined treatment on the immobilization effect of cadmium contaminated alkaline soils. The results showed that LM and HM treatments in different periods had little effect on the content of extractable Cd fraction in soil without MP treatment, but the EXC–Cd content in the soil with Mn(15) was lower than that in the soil with Mn(29). The EXC–Cd content under MP+ LM and MP + HM treatments reduced by 3%–7% and 7%–9%, respectively. The OX–Cd content increased by 13%–16% after MP + Mn treatment. The content of DTPA–Cd decreased by 17.9%–28.6% under MP + Mn treatment except for MP + HM(15). Under the treatment of MP, LM(29), HM, MP + LM and MP + HM, the content of Cd in shoots of pak choi were decreased by 27.2%, 13.1%, 19.8%–27.9%, 28.5%–54.2% and 34.2%–41.1%, respectively. Compared with CK, the TFCd values in HM(15), LM(29), HM(29), MP + LM(29) and MP + HM(29) treatments were reduced to 35.7%, 41.1%, 35.7%, 42.9% and 37.5%, respectively, while no statistical difference was observed in other treatments. There was no significant difference in BCFCd between MP(15) and LM(15), but the BCFCd was significantly decreased. For MP + MnSO4 treatment group, the content of Mn oxides in soil was negatively correlated with the content of EXC–Cd (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with the content of OX–Cd (P < 0.05).

Effect of a milk byproduct–based calf starter feed on dairy calf nutrient consumption, rumen development, and performance when fed different milk levels

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a milk byproduct-based starter pellet, high in lactose, on feed intakes, growth, and rumen development when calves were fed either a high or low level of milk. This was done by using a 2 × 2 factorial design, with 120 Holstein heifer calves randomly assigned to 1 of 2 milk treatments and 1 of 2 feed treatments upon enrollment at birth. Calves were either assigned to a low (LM) or high (HM) level of milk replacer by an automated milk-feeding system for individually-housed calves. The LM treatment calves were offered 6 L/d (150 g/L; 1.2 L, 5×/d), whereas HM treatment calves were offered 15 L/d (150 g/L; 3 L, 5×/d) of milk replacer. Calves were also assigned to a milk byproduct- (whey) based starter feed treatment (WF), or a grain-based starter ration (95% concentrate starter pellet, 5% chopped wheat straw) feed treatment (GF). All calves were offered their treatment feed starting on d 5, with water offered ad libitum from d 0. The WF treatment calves were offered 150 g/d of the milk byproduct-based pellet until they consumed the entirety for 2 out of 3 consecutive days. At this point, WF treatment calves received 150 g of the milk byproduct-based pellet top dressed onto the grain-based ration to allow for ad libitum feed consumption until weaned, when they only received the grain-based ration postweaning (d 64-77). Calves on the GF feed treatment received only the grain-based ration. All calves were gradually weaned from d 43 to 63. By design, calves on the HM treatment consumed greater levels of milk than LM treatment calves for the majority of the days in the preweaning phase (8.9 ± 0.11 vs. 5.5 ± 0.11 L/d; SE). Calves on the GF and WF treatments consumed similar amounts of milk in the preweaning phase (7.2 ± 0.11 vs. 7.2 ± 0.11 L/d); however, there was a milk and feed treatment interaction detected for milk consumption in the weaning phase, with HM-GF calves drinking more milk than the other treatments and HM-WF calves drinking more milk than both LM-GF and LM-WF calves. The WF treatment calves had greater solid feed intake during the preweaning phase than GF treatment calves, with no feed intake differences in the weaning or postweaning phases. The WF calves drank more water in the preweaning phase than GF calves. Average daily gain was similar throughout the study between the GF and WF treatment calves. Rumen physiological measures were all similar by the end of the trial (d 77) regardless of feed or milk treatment, suggesting similar rumen development postweaning. Overall, regardless of the level of milk fed, offering the milk byproduct-based starter pellet may increase preweaning feed intake, along with water consumption. However, both feed and milk treatments had similar performance and rumen development measures by the end of the trial.

Developing recommendations for increased productivity in cassava-maize intercropping systems in Southern Nigeria.

Cassava-maize intercropping is a common practice among smallholder farmers in Southern Nigeria. It provides food security and early access to income from the maize component. However, yields of both crops are commonly low in farmers’ fields. Multi-locational trials were conducted in Southern Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 to investigate options to increase productivity and profitability through increased cassava and maize plant densities and fertilizer application. Trials with 4 and 6 treatments in 2016 and 2017, respectively were established on 126 farmers’ fields over two seasons with a set of different designs, including combinations of two levels of crop density and three levels of fertilizer rates. The maize crop was tested at low density (LM) with 20,000 plants ha−1 versus high density (HM) with 40,000 plants ha−1. For cassava, low density (LC) had had 10,000 plants ha−1 versus the high density (HC) with 12,500 plants ha−1.; The fertilizer application followed a regime favouring either the maize crop (FM: 90 kg N, 20 kg P and 37 kg K ha−1) or the cassava crop (FC: 75 kg N, 20 kg P and 90 kg K ha−1), next to control without fertilizer application (F0). Higher maize density (HM) increased marketable maize cob yield by 14 % (3700 cobs ha−1) in the first cycle and by 8% (2100 cobs ha−1) in the second cycle, relative to the LM treatment. Across both cropping cycles, fertilizer application increased cob yield by 15 % (5000 cobs ha−1) and 19 % (6700 cobs ha−1) in the FC and FM regime, respectively. Cassava storage root yield increased by 16 % (4 Mg ha−1) due to increased cassava plant density, and by 14 % (4 Mg ha−1) due to fertilizer application (i.e., with both fertilizer regimes) but only in the first cropping cycle. In the second cycle, increased maize plant density (HM) reduced cassava storage root yield by 7% (1.5 Mg ha−1) relative to the LM treatment. However, the negative effect of high maize density on storage root yield was counteracted by fertilizer application. Fresh storage root yield increased by 8% (2 Mg ha−1) in both fertilizer regimes compared to the control without fertilizer application. Responses to fertilizer by cassava and maize varied between fields. Positive responses tended to decline with increasing yields in the control treatment. The average value-to-cost ratio (VCR) of fertilizer use for the FM regime was 3.6 and higher than for the FC regime (VCR = 1.6), resulting from higher maize yields when FM than when FC was applied. Revenue generated by maize constituted 84–91% of the total revenue of the cropping system. The highest profits were achieved with the FM regime when both cassava and maize were grown at high density. However, fertilizer application was not always advisable as 34 % of farmers did not realize a profit. For higher yields and profitability, fertilizer recommendations should be targeted to responsive fields based on soil fertility knowledge.

Quantitative cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor cells are a potential biomarker of response for proton craniospinal irradiation for leptomeningeal metastasis.

BackgroundLeptomeningeal metastasis (LM) involves cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) seeding of tumor cells. Proton craniospinal irradiation (pCSI) is potentially effective for solid tumor LM. We evaluated whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the CSF (CTCCSF), blood (CTCblood), and neuroimaging correlate with outcomes after pCSI for LM.MethodsWe describe a single-institution consecutive case series of 58 patients treated with pCSI for LM. Pre-pCSI CTCs, the change in CTC post-pCSI (Δ CTC), and MRIs were examined. Central nervous system progression-free survival (CNS-PFS) and overall survival (OS) from pCSI were determined using Kaplan Meier analysis, Cox proportional-hazards regression, time-dependent ROC analysis, and joint modeling of time-varying effects and survival outcomes.ResultsThe median CNS-PFS and OS were 6 months (IQR: 4–9) and 8 months (IQR: 5–13), respectively. Pre-pCSI CTCCSF < 53/3mL was associated with improved CNS-PFS (12.0 vs 6.0 months, P < .01). Parenchymal brain metastases (n = 34, 59%) on pre-pCSI MRI showed worse OS (7.0 vs 13 months, P = .01). Through joint modeling, CTCCSF was significantly prognostic of CNS-PFS (P < .01) and OS (P < .01). A Δ CTC-CSF≥37 cells/3mL, the median Δ CTC-CSF at nadir, showed improved CNS-PFS (8.0 vs 5.0 months, P = .02) and further stratified patients into favorable and unfavorable subgroups (CNS-PFS 8.0 vs 4.0 months, P < .01). No associations with CTCblood were found.ConclusionWe found the best survival observed in patients with low pre-pCSI CTCCSF and intermediate outcomes for patients with high pre-pCSI CTCCSF but large Δ CTC-CSF. These results favor additional studies incorporating pCSI and CTCCSF measurement earlier in the LM treatment paradigm.

DDIS-31. A NOVEL BRAIN-PERMEANT CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER LEPTOMENINGEAL METASTASIS

Abstract Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), a spread of cancer to the cerebrospinal fluid and meninges, is universally and rapidly fatal due to poor detection and no effective treatment. Breast cancers account for a majority of LMs from solid tumors, with triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) having the highest propensity to metastasize to LM. The treatment of LM is challenged by poor drug penetration into CNS and high neurotoxicity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new modalities and targeted therapies able to overcome the limitations of current treatment options. Quadriga has discovered a novel, brain-permeant chemotherapeutic agent that is currently in development as a potential treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). Recently, we have demonstrated dose-dependent in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity with various breast cancer cell lines including the human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231. To evaluate the in vivo antitumor activity of the compound on LM, we used the mouse model of LM based on the internal carotid injection of luciferase-expressing MDA-MB-231-BR3 cells. Once the bioluminescence signal intensity from the metastatic spread reached (0.2 - 0.5) x 106photons/sec, mice were dosed i.v. (8 mg/kg once a week for nine weeks) or i.p. (4 or 8 mg/kg twice a week for nine weeks). Tumor growth was monitored by bioluminescence. The compound was well tolerated and caused a significant delay in metastatic growth resulting in significant extension of survival. Tumors regressed completely in ~ 28 % of treated animals in the i.p. group. Given that current treatments for LM are palliative with only few studies reporting a survival benefit, Quadriga’s new agent could be effective as a therapeutic for both primary and metastatic brain tumors such as LM. REF: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pro6.43

LPTO-06. A NOVEL BRAIN-PERMEANT CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER LEPTOMENINGEAL METASTASIS

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), a spread of cancer to the cerebrospinal fluid and meninges, is universally and rapidly fatal due to poor detection and no effective treatment. Breast cancers account for a majority of LMs from solid tumors, with triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) having the highest propensity to metastasize to LM. The treatment of LM is challenged by poor drug penetration into CNS and high neurotoxicity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new modalities and targeted therapies able to overcome the limitations of current treatment options. Quadriga has discovered a novel, brain-permeant chemotherapeutic agent that is currently in development as a potential treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). The compound is active in suppressing the growth of GBM tumor cell lines implanted into the brain. Radiolabel distribution studies have shown significant tumor accumulation in intracranial brain tumors while sparing the adjacent normal brain tissue. Recently, we have demonstrated dose-dependent in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity with various breast cancer cell lines including the human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231. To evaluate the in vivo antitumor activity of the compound on LM, we used the mouse model of LM based on the internal carotid injection of luciferase-expressing MDA-MB-231-BR3 cells. Once the bioluminescence signal intensity from the metastatic spread reached (0.2 - 0.5) x 106 photons/sec, mice were dosed i.p. twice a week with either 4 or 8 mg/kg for nine weeks. Tumor growth was monitored by bioluminescence. The compound was well tolerated and caused a significant delay in metastatic growth resulting in significant extension of survival. Tumors regressed completely in ~ 28 % of treated animals. Given that current treatments for LM are palliative with only few studies reporting a survival benefit, Quadriga’s new agent could be effective as a therapeutic for both primary and metastatic brain tumors such as LM. REF: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pro6.43

Lactobacillus plantarum LC27 and Bifidobacterium longum LC67 simultaneously alleviate high-fat diet-induced colitis, endotoxemia, liver steatosis, and obesity in mice

Long-term feeding of a high-fat diet (HFD) induces endotoxemia and gastrointestinal inflammation by disturbing gut microbiota composition and membrane permeability, resulting in the acceleration of obesity. Some probiotics exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesized that anti-inflammatory probiotics could lead to the simultaneous attenuation of endotoxemia, liver steatosis, obesity, and colitis in mice with HFD-induced obesity. Herein, we examined whether Lactobacillus plantarum LC27 and/or Bifidobacterium longum LC, which significantly suppressed NF-κB activation in lipopolysaccharide- or fecal lysate-stimulated Caco-2 cells, could simultaneously alleviate liver steatosis and colitis in mice with HFD-induced obesity. Oral administration of LC27, LC67, or their (3:1) mixture (LM) reduced HFD-induced aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and lipopolysaccharide levels in the blood and liver. Their treatments also suppressed HFD-induced NF-κB activation and increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and claudin-1 and occludin expression in the liver and colon. Moreover, LC27, LC67, or LM treatment reduced HFD-induced Firmicutes and Proteobacteria populations in gut microbiota and fecal lipopolysaccharide production. The hypothesis was supported by the findings that anti-inflammatory LC27 and/or LC67 simultaneously alleviated liver steatosis, obesity, and colitis by regulating NF-κB and AMPK activation through the inhibition of gut microbiota lipopolysaccharide production.

Palliative cerebrospinal fluid shunting for leptomeningeal metastasis-related hydrocephalus in patients with lung adenocarcinoma: A single-center retrospective study.

PurposeManagement of leptomeningeal metastasis-related hydrocephalus (LM-H) is particularly challenging regarding the control of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting due to intracranial hypertension. To investigate the improvements of performance status and outcome with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery for LM-H in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsData on patients with leptomeningeal metastasis-related hydrocephalus from lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed by MR imaging and/or cytological examination were retrospectively analyzed. Between August 2008 and July 2017, the authors reviewed 31 patients requiring CSF shunt, who underwent ventriculo-peritoneal or lumbo-peritoneal shunt.ResultsThe patients consisted of 11 men and 20 women with a median age of 59 years. Twenty-six patients received EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). CSF shunt surgery yielded rapid improvement in the performance status of 90.3% of patients. Median overall survival from the diagnosis of LM in patients with ECOG performance status less than 2 was 7.7 months, and this was significantly longer than those in patients with PS 3 or 4 (4.4 or 1.5 months; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis by Cox regression revealed survival differences according to PS at diagnosis of LM [PS 1–3 vs. PS4, hazard ratio (HR) 0.201, p = 0.034], controlled extracranial disease (HR 0.248, p = 0.005), and post-shunt EGFR-TKI for LM treatment (HR 0.193, p = 0.008). Postoperative symptomatic peritoneal carcinomatosis was observed in one patient (3.2%).ConclusionCSF shunting may be a safe and effective strategy in patients with LM-H from lung adenocarcinoma. A prospective study is needed to establish the effectiveness and safety of palliative CSF shunt for LM-H.

Liver Metastases in Newly Diagnosed Gastric Cancer: A Population-Based Study from SEER.

Purpose: Population-based data on the proportion and prognosis of liver metastases at diagnosis of gastric cancer are currently lacking. Besides, the treatment of gastric cancer with liver metastases is still controversial now.Methods: Patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases (GCLM) at the time of diagnosis in advanced gastric cancer were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression were performed to identify predictors of the presence of GCLM at diagnosis and factors associated with all-cause mortality.Results: We identified 3507 patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases at the time of diagnosis, representing 16.89% of the entire cohort and 44.12% of the subset with metastatic disease to any distant site. Among entire cohort, multivariable logistic regression identified thirteen factors (age, race, sex, original, tumor location, pathology grade, Lauren classification, T staging, N staging, tumor size, number of extrahepatic metastatic sites to bone, lung, and brain, insurance situation and smoking) as predictors of the presence of liver metastases at diagnosis. Median survival among the entire cohort with GCLM was 4.0 months (interquartile range: 1.0-10.0 mo). Patients receiving comprehensive therapy had longer median overall survival, of which the median survival was 12.0 months (interquartile range: 6.0-31.0 mo). Multivariable Cox model in SEER cohort confirmed nine factors (age, tumor location, Lauren classification, T staging, number of extrahepatic metastatic sites to bone, lung, and brain, surgery, chemotherapy, RSC and marital status) as independent predictors for overall survival.Conclusions: The findings of this study provided population-based estimates of the proportion and prognosis for LM at time of GC diagnosis. These findings provide preventive guidelines for screening and treatment of LM in GC patients.

Influence of diet and manure management on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from dairy barns

Dairy systems are a source of pollutant emissions, such as greenhouse gases (GHG) and NH3 that are associated with impacts on the environment. Gas emissions in barns are related mainly to diet intake and chemical composition, N excretion and manure management. A reduction in dietary N is known to be an effective way to reduce N excretion and the resulting NH3 emissions. However, most studies consider manure in liquid form with frequent removal from the barn. In deep litter systems, several processes can occur during the accumulation of solid manure that result in variable gas emissions. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of the interaction between dietary CP (low or high) and manure management (liquid or solid) on gas emissions (NH3, N2O, CH4) at the barn level. Dietary treatments provided either low (LowN; 12% CP) or high (HighN; 18% CP) degradable protein to modify the amount of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excreted. The cows were housed for two 8-week periods in two mechanically ventilated rooms equipped to manage manure either in liquid (LM; slurry) or solid form (SM; deep litter). In the LM treatment, N balance was measured for 4 days. As expected, animals fed the LowN diet ingested 35% less N and excreted 65% less N in their urine, with no reduction in faecal N excretion and N secretion in milk. On the LowN diet, excretion of urea-N and NH3-N emissions were reduced regardless of the manure management. On the HighN diet, urinary urea-N excretion was three times as high, while NH3-N emissions were 3.0 and 4.5 times as high in LM and SM, respectively. Manure management strongly influenced CH4-C emissions, which were 30% higher in SM than in LM, due to the accumulation of litter. Moreover, gas emissions from solid manure increased over the accumulation period, except for NH3 on the LowN diet. Finally, our results suggest that methods used for national inventories would become more accurate by considering the variability in TAN excretion, which is the primary factor that influences NH3 emissions.

Clinical effect of combined fascial sheath suspension with upper blepharoplasty to treat congenital ptosis in Uygur population

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of combined fascial sheath suspension with upper blepharoplasty to treat congenital ptosis in Uygur population. Methods 42 patients with congenital ptosis (63 eyes) were selected during December 2015 to September 2017 in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Combined fascia sheath suspension with levator levator shortening was used for the treatment. The postoperative correction effect was observed and the patients were followed up for the complications and satisfaction. Results The moderate and severe ptosis was improved and the effective rate was 95.0%, and so the surgical treatment was effective. The incidence of adverse reactions and the recurrence rate of the disease were significantly lower than those of other procedures. Conclusions CFS plus LM treatment for severe ptosis has obvious surgical results in Uygur population, and the satisfactory rate is higher than moderate patients. In addition, the incidence of orbital regurgitation in moderate patients is lower than that in severe patients. Key words: Uygur nationality; Joint fascial sheath; Fascia; Suspension; Upper eyelid levator muscle shortening; Blepharoptosis

Staged margin-controlled excision (SMEX) for lentigo maligna melanoma in situ.

No consensus exists regarding the best surgical strategy to achieve clear surgical margins while minimizing tissue excision when definitely excising lentigo maligna melanoma in situ (LM). The staged margin controlled excision (SMEX) technique is a modification of the spaghetti technique that allows surgeons to minimize margins and ensure complete excision of LM. Our objectives were twofold: a) to evaluate the effectiveness of SMEX for treatment of LM and b) detail the SMEX technique. A retrospective chart review of adult patients who underwent the SMEX technique for treatment of LM from 2011 to 2016 was conducted. Twenty-four patients were identified with predominantly facial lesions. The mean defect size was 12.1 cm2 . A mean number of two SMEX procedures, with an average margin of 9 mm, were required to obtain complete excision of the LM. Using SMEX, we achieved 100% clearance of LM over a median follow up period of 18 months, with a range of 1-63 months. SMEX offers a reliable surgical excision method that ensures complete excision of LM in a cosmetically sensitive manner. The recurrence outcomes of SMEX are comparable, if not better, than those of alternative excision techniques in the literature.

Effects of Mushroom Residue Application Rates on Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Purple Paddy Soil

China is the leading country for production of edible mushrooms and also outputs numerous mushroom residues. The recycling of mushroom residue can solve environmental pollution problems, provide nutrients for the farmland, and play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing soil carbon sequestration capacity. In order to investigate the effects of mushroom residue amounts on net greenhouse gas emissions in purple paddy soil, potted experiments using static opaque chamber and gas chromatography methods were used to study the changes of greenhouse gases, soil carbon sequestration, and net greenhouse gas emissions (NGHGE) in the paddy soil with five treatments: no fertilizer (CK), conventional fertilization (NPK), 9 t·hm-2 mushroom residue+NPK (LM), 18 t·hm-2 mushroom residue+NPK (MM), and 36 t·hm2 mushroom residue+NPK (HM) from March 2017 to September 2017.The results showed that: ① The greenhouse gas emissions (including CH4, CO2, and N2O) increased with increasing additions of mushroom residue. The emissions of CH4 from highest to lowest followed: HM > MM > LM≈NPK > CK. The HM treatment significantly increased the CH4 emission flux (P<0.01) more than the other treatments and showed an obvious single peak curve, while the CH4 emission flux with the LM treatment showed a bimodal curve, and the MM treatment showed a multiple peak curve. The CO2 emission flux followed: MM > NPK≈LM > HM > CK; and the curves for the LM, MM, and HM treatments were a single peak curve, bimodal curve, and multiple peak curve, respectively. The N2O cumulative emission from the NPK treatment was significantly higher than with the other treatments. The N2O emission flux of the NPK treatment was a bimodal curve and that of the HM treatment was a single peak curve, while the N2O emission flux of treatments LM and MM showed multiple peak curves. ② The carbon sequestration capacity with the LM treatment was lower than that of the other treatments and that from the MM treatment was the highest. The carbon sequestration capacity of the MM treatment increased by 59.2% compared to that of the NPK treatment and increased by 87.79% and 65.65% compared to that of the LM and HM treatments. The LM treatment has the highest carbon sequestration capacity, which was higher than that of the NPK and MM treatments and about 2.1 times greater than the CK treatment and HM treatment. ③ The minimum NGHGE value was -490.29 kg·hm-2 for the whole rice production period, and 18 t·hm-2 mushroom residue applied to the soil was the best way to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in purple paddy soil.

R-Limonene Enhances Differentiation and 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes by Activating the Akt Signaling Pathway.

Adipocyte is an important place for lipid storage. Defects in lipid storage in adipocytes can lead to lipodystrophy and lipid accumulation in muscle, liver, and other organs. It is the condition of mixed dyslipidemia which may favor the development of insulin resistance via lipotoxic mechanisms. Our objective of the study was to investigate the potential role of R-limonene (LM) on differentiation, lipid storage, and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) uptake in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Genes and proteins associated with differentiation, lipid accumulation, 2DG uptake and its signaling pathways in the adipocytes were analyzed using qPCR and western blot methods. LM treatment increased differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic markers such as C/EBP-α, C/EBP-β, PPARγ, SREBP-1, RXR, FAS, and adiponectin. However, the LM concentration at 10μM decreased (p < 0.05) adipogenesis and lipogenesis via regulating key transcriptional factors. LM treatment increased activation of Akt by increasing its phosphorylation, but p44/42 activation was not altered. MK-2206, an Akt specific inhibitor, reduced the activation of Akt phosphorylation whereas LM treatment aborted the MK-2206 mediated inhibition of Akt activation. LM enhanced glucose uptake in differentiated adipocytes. Overall data suggested that LM treatment favored lipid storage and glucose uptake in adipocytes via activation of key transcriptional factors through activation of Akt phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Effects of dietary methionine on growth performance, meat quality and oxidative status of breast muscle in fast- and slow-growing broilers

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary methionine (Met) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and oxidative status of breast muscle in fast- (Arbor Acres, AA) and slow- (Partridge Shank, PS) growing broilers from 1 to 42 d of age. The broilers were divided into a 2 × 3 factorial design with 6 replicates per treatment. Diets were formulated to contain low (LM, 0.35 and 0.31% during 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 d), adequate (AM, 0.50 and 0.44%) and high (HM, 0.65 and 0.57%) Met, respectively. The main effects showed that the AA broilers had superior (P < 0.05) growth performance and carcass traits compared with those of the PS broilers. The breast muscle of the AA broilers had lower (P < 0.05) drip loss and malondialdehyde (MDA) content but higher (P < 0.05) cooking loss and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity than that of the PS broilers. Compared with the LM diets, the AM and HM diets increased (P < 0.05) 42-d BW, ADG, eviscerated yield and breast muscle yield only in the AA broilers. The AA broilers fed the HM diets had higher (P < 0.05) pH but lower (P < 0.05) L*, cooking loss and ether extract content in breast muscle than those fed the LM diets. Compared with the LM diets, the HM diets resulted in strain-dependent changes (P < 0.05) in muscle oxidative status, with total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased in the AA broilers, GPX activity increased and MDA content decreased in the PS broilers, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in both strains of broilers. No differences were observed between the AM and HM diets except for T-AOC in breast muscle. In conclusion, the LM treatment negatively affected broiler growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and oxidative status of breast muscle in a strain-dependent manner, particularly in the AA broilers, whereas the HM treatment had limited effects compared to the AM treatment.

Impacts of manure application on soil environment, rainfall use efficiency and crop biomass under dryland farming.

Because of inadequate nutrient and water supply, soils are often unproductive in Northwest China. We studied the effects of manure application at low (LM 7.5 t ha–1), medium (MM 15 t ha–1), and high (HM 22.5 t ha–1) rates combined with fixed levels of chemical fertilizers on maize growth and rainfall use efficiency compared with chemical fertilizers (CK) under semi-arid conditions over a three-year period. HM and MM treatments could significantly increase soil water storage (0–120 cm) at tasseling stage of maize compared with LM treatment and CK (P < 0.05). Dry matter accumulation and rainfall use efficiency increased as manure application rate increasing (P < 0.05). HM treatment significantly increased rainfall use efficiency by 6.5–12.7% at big trumpeting – tasseling stage compared with LM and MM treatments. HM and MM treatments increased rainfall use efficiency by 8.6–18.1% at tasseling – grain filling stage compared with CK. There was no significant difference on biomass between HM and MM treatments at grain filling and maturity stages of maize in 2009 and 2010.

Lithothamnion muelleri controls inflammatory responses, target organ injury and lethality associated with graft-versus-host disease in mice.

Lithothamnion muelleri (Hapalidiaceae) is a marine red alga, which is a member of a group of algae with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. The present study evaluated the effects of treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri extract (LM) in a model of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), using a model of adoptive splenocyte transfer from C57BL/6 donors into B6D2F1 recipient mice. Mice treated with LM showed reduced clinical signs of disease and mortality when compared with untreated mice. LM-treated mice had reduced tissue injury, less bacterial translocation, and decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5)). The polysaccharide-rich fraction derived from LM could inhibit leukocyte rolling and adhesion in intestinal venules, as assessed by intravital microscopy. LM treatment did not impair the beneficial effects of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL). Altogether, our studies suggest that treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri has a potential therapeutic application in GVHD treatment.

Management of Head and Neck Lymphatic Malformations

Lymphatic malformations are congenital vascular malformations most commonly found in the head and neck and typically presenting early in life. Although this disease entity has been recognized for more than a century, there is currently no standardization of disease staging or classification, of treatment paradigms, or of outcome measures. A wide variety of treatment modalities have been proposed. This article reviews diagnostic, evaluation, and treatment strategies for head and neck lymphatic malformations. It also provides the reader specific information to improve treatment outcomes in patients with these lesions. Finally, it advocates for standardization of LM assessment and treatment.

耕作方式对紫色水稻土有机碳和微生物生物量碳的影响

Changes in soil organic carbon(SOC) storage are closely related to soil quality and the long-term sustainability of agriculture.Accurate assessments of the effects of tillage system on soil organic matter sequestration are needed.A small difference in SOC contents can substantially change soil C storage estimates because the terrestrial carbon pool is so large.Sequestration of C in soils represents a mechanism to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels,but the extent to which soils can sequester C varies with climate,cropping system,and tillage practices.Soil C sequestration represents the accumulation of soil organic matter,and is the difference between C inputs by plants and organic matter decomposition.Hence,microbial activity is an important factor influencing C sequestration potential in soils. The impacts of different tillage systems on SOC and soil microbial biomass carbon(SMBC) were studied in this paper.The tillage experimental site(30°26′N,106°26′E) is located at the farm of Southwest University in Chongqing,China.The experiment was initiated in 1990 and included four tillage treatments: 1) conventional tillage with rotation of rice and winter fallow system(DP),where regular tillage practices were used for rice with three times of plowing and harrowing annually,and after the rice harvest,the field was submerged with water;2) conventional tillage with rotation of rice and rape system(SH),where tillage was the same as in the DP treatment,but the field was alternately submerged and drained for rice and rape cultivation;3) no-till and ridge culture with rotation of rice and rape system(LM),where ridges(five in each plot) with the top of 25 cm width were intervened with the ditches of 30 cm width and 35 cm depth,with no tillage practices performed,rape cultivated on the top of the ridges with the water level being maintained just to the bottom of the ditch,and the field submerged in water to cultivate rice after rape being harvested;4) tillage and ridge culture with rotation of rice and rape system(LF),where ridges were made as in LM treatment,but ridges were made every year for cultivating rice after rape harvest.Soils sampling at the depths of 0-10,10-20,20-30,30-40,40-50 and 50-60 cmwere performed with a soil drill after the rape harvest in the spring of 2009. The results showed that the contents of SOC and SMBC both decreased with the increase of soil depth under four tillage systems;however LM treatment enriched SOC and SMBC contents near the soil surface.The differences of SOC and SMBC contents in the same soil layer among the four tillage systems were the largest in 0-10cm soil layer and the lowest in 50-60cm soil layer.In the whole soil layer(0-60cm),the order of SOC contents was LM(17.57 g/kg) DP(13.91 g/kg) LF(12.50 g/kg) SH(11.29 g/kg),SOC storage was LM(158.52 MgC/hm2) DP(106.74 MgC/hm2) LF(93.11 MgC/hm2) SH(88.59 MgC/hm2),and SMBC contents was LM(258.88 mg/kg) SH(213.23 mg/kg) LF(159.71 mg/kg) DP(144.08 mg/kg).Compared with the other three treatments,LM treatment significantly increased the content and storage of SOC,and SMBC content.Analysis of microbial quotient showed that tillage systems had different impacts on SOC and SMBC.SMBC were significantly correlated with soil organic carbon,total nitrogen,alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen,total phosphorus,effective phosphorus,total sulfur and effective sulfur which suggested SMBC could be a sensitive indicator for characterizing changes of purple paddy soil fertility in Southwest China.