Nutritional Restriction Research Articles

Maternal undernutrition in the first eighty days of gestation negatively programs ovarian development in dairy calves

Abstract We hypothesized that in dairy cattle maternal energy restriction applied during two gestational windows (up to day 80 or 120 of gestation) impairs ovarian and cardiovascular development in juvenile female offspring. We also investigated the role of maternal leptin and testosterone in developmental programming in calves. Holstein-Friesian heifers were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups; starting 10 days before artificial insemination, they were individually fed at: (i) 0.6 of their maintenance energy requirements (M) up to day 80 (Nutrient Restricted, NR80) or (ii) day 120 of gestation (NR120); (iii) 1.8 M until day 120 of pregnancy (Control, CTR). Plasma leptin concentrations increased transiently in nutritionally restricted heifers pregnant with a single female calf, but maternal testosterone concentrations were not influenced by diet. Calves had similar body growth, but daughters of NR80 and NR120 had impaired ovarian development, as assessed by reduced gonadal weight, fewer surface antral & primary follicles and recovered COCs, as well as lower circulating AMH concentrations. Cardiovascular morphology and function in the offspring were not influenced by maternal diet, as determined by peripheral arterial blood pressure, echocardiography, post-mortem heart weight and aortic circumference. Regardless of its duration (until day 80 or 120 of gestation), nutritional restriction resulted in a similar alteration of ovarian development in juvenile progeny, but cardiovascular development was unaltered. Evidence suggests that the window of development that encompasses the peri-ovulatory period to the first 2.6 months of gestation is critical in ovarian programming and that maternal leptin may be involved.

Adaptation of Chlorella vulgaris immobilization on rice straw with liquid manure to create a sustainable feedstock for biogas production and potential feed applications

Rice straw (RS) is a widely available agricultural residue with significant potential for biogas production and feed applications; however, its poor digestibility and nutritional value limit its utilization. This study explores an innovative approach to enhance the digestibility and nutritional value of RS by cultivating Chlorella vulgaris through immobilization technology on RS, using liquid manure (LM) as an alternative to the traditional BG11 medium. The results showed an increase in chlorophyll a (Chl a) after 12 days for both the BG11 medium and LM-based treatments, from 0.13 to 0.34 and 0.24 mg Chl a/g product (DM), respectively. Additionally, the immobilized microalgal biomass increased to 284.18 and 170.14 mg algal biomass/g product (DM), respectively. Soaking under microaerobic conditions during cultivation led to the partial degradation of RS. This, combined with the formed microalgal biofilm, contributed to an improved digestibility of the dry matter, reaching 69.1% and 65.9% for the final products based on the BG11 medium and LM mediums, respectively, compared to 52.1% for the raw RS. Furthermore, the crude protein and lipids contents were significantly improved with the potential for applications in feed, reaching 21.4% and 4.1% for the BG11 medium-based product, while they were observed to be 12.8% and 3.0%, respectively, for the LM-based product. Additionally, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was significantly reduced compared to the raw RS. The higher digestibility and improved nutritional value contributed to increased biogas production, reaching 129.3 and 118.7 mL/g (TS) for the products based on the traditional medium and LM medium, respectively, compared to 86.7 mL/g (TS) for the raw RS. The immobilization mechanism and biofilm development could be attributed to the roughness of the RS and extracellular polymer substances. This study demonstrates that integrating C. vulgaris cultivation on RS with LM as a nutrient source not only enhances the digestibility and nutritional value of RS but also offers a sustainable waste management solution with potential applications in biogas production and animal feed.

Energy Availability and Body Composition in Professional Athletes: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Background/Objectives: Energy availability (EA) is essential for maintaining physiological functions, significantly influencing athletes’ health and performance. Nutritional behaviors, however, vary across sports. This study aims to assess EA levels in athletes from different disciplines, focusing on the relationship between EA and body composition in endurance athletes compared to rugby players. Methods: This study involved 18 endurance athletes (15 men, 3 women) and 36 rugby players (all men). Data were gathered through interviews, questionnaires, and bioimpedance analysis. Energy intake (EI) was measured with a 24 h dietary recall, and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) was calculated using the IPAQ questionnaire. EA was calculated as EA = (EI − EEE)/fat-free mass (FFM), with results categorized into clinical, subclinical, and optimal ranges. Results: The endurance group had a lower average FFM (57.81 kg) compared to the rugby players (67.61 kg). EA was also significantly lower in endurance athletes (11.72 kcal/kg FFM) than in rugby players (35.44 kcal/kg FFM). Endurance athletes showed more restrictive nutritional behavior with lower EI and higher EEE, but both groups maintained body composition within normal ranges. Conclusions: Endurance athletes exhibit greater nutritional restrictions compared to rugby players, though their body composition remains healthy. Further research is required to investigate the long-term effects of low EA on performance, injury risk, and potential impairment when EA falls below the optimal threshold of 45 kcal/kg FFM/day.

The skimmed milk proteome of dairy cows is affected by the stage of lactation and by supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids

The impact of nutritional modification to increase functional polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (FA) or conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), on milk proteome profile during early lactation remains largely unknown. We used an untargeted proteomics approach to investigate the impact of lactation day and PUFA supplementation on the proteome signature in skimmed milk over the course of early lactation. Sixteen Holstein dairy cows received abomasal infusion of saturated FA (CTRL) or a mixture of essential FA and CLA (EFA + CLA group) from − 63 to + 63 days relative to parturition. Using quantitative proteomics, 479 unique proteins were identified in skimmed milk at days 1, 28, and 63 postpartum. The top discriminating proteins between transition milk (day 1) and mature milk (days 28 and 63), including members of complements (i.e. C2 and C5), growth factor (TGFB2), lipoproteins (i.e. APOE and APOD), and chaperones (i.e. ST13 and CLU), are associated with calves’ immune system and gut development. The EFA + CLA supplementation moderately affected a few proteins associated with regulating mammary glands’ lipogenesis through the (re)assembly of lipoprotein particles, possibly under the PPAR signaling pathway. Collectively, skimmed milk proteome is dynamically regulated initially by cow’s metabolic and physiological changes and to a lesser extent by nutritional PUFA modifications.

Fatty acid composition, lipid profile and oxidative stability of meat of broiler chickens fed diet containing bird eye pepper of varying inclusion level and sieve size.

Nutritional modifications to improve meat quality is targeted by farmers. Bird eye pepper (BEP) contains bio-compounds of physiological significance. The potency of BEP of varying inclusion level and sieve size on meat quality [fatty acid (FA), lipid profile and oxidative stability] of broiler chickens was investigated. A total of 246 birds fed diet-containing BEP [inclusion level (0, 0.15 and 0.3%), sieve size (0.05 and 0.1mm)] were randomized to six treatments replicated 4 times in a 2 by 3 factorial layout. After feeding (31 days), forty-eight birds (two per replicate) were slaughtered and breast muscles harvested. Meat lipid profile and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARs) were determined on day (d) 0, while TBARs was further assessed on d 3 and 5, but FA on d 10 of refrigeration storage. BEP diet (0.15%) increased (p < 0.05) total monounsaturated FA (MUFA), unsaturated FA (UFA) and n-3 FA, while 0.05mm BEP lowered (p < 0.05) meat index of thrombogenicity (TI) but increased meat hypocholesteromic: hypercholesteromic (HH) value. Dietary 0.15% (0.05mm) BEP yielded low (p < 0.05) SFA but high MUFA: SFA, UFA: SFA and NVI, while 0.15% (0.1mm) BEP diet resulted in high total MUFA and higher (p < 0.05) UFA, n-3 and n-3: n-6 FA. Control, 0.15% and 0.05mm BEP diets reduced (p < 0.05) meat cholesterol value. This study has shown that 0.15% (0.05mm) BEP diet had no deleterious effect on the growth of broiler chickens but improved the NVI, IA, TI, HH, TBARs and cholesterol of the meat - a significance to health-conscious consumers.

Evaluating Nutritional Selection and Outcomes in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Retrospective Review.

The rising incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has amplified the importance of nonpharmacological interventions in its management, which include the selection of feedings. With the goal of obtaining an accurate assessment of the effects of current feeding practices in NAS infants in our neonatal intensive care unit, we conducted a retrospective review of NAS infants at our hospital over a 3-year period to determine their nutritional selections and evaluate their length of stay (LOS), length of treatment (LOT), and growth outcomes. Retrospective chart review of term infants (≥37 weeks of gestation) with NAS. Maternal and infant demographics and characteristics were recorded. Infants were grouped based on majority (>50% of total feeding) nutritional selections and LOS, LOT, and growth parameters were evaluated. Linear regression was used to compare group outcomes. Significance was set at a p-value <0.05. A total of 70 infants were included and grouped based on majority feeds into maternal breast milk (MBM), standard term formula (STF), low lactose formula (LLF), and extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF) groups. Feeding selections were provider-dependent and infants were placed on MBM or STF as an initial selection. In all infants included in our review, LLF was selected as the first choice following MBM or STF for increased gastrointestinal (GI) disturbance-related Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring scores and changed to EHF if LLF failed to improve the GI-related symptoms. The STF-fed infants had the shortest LOS, and none of these infants required pharmacological treatment. The LOT and LOS were similar in the MBM- and LLF-fed groups. Infants who were EHF fed had the longest LOT and LOS. All feeding groups demonstrated appropriate growth. Nutritional selections in our NAS infants were modified for the severity of their withdrawal symptoms. All nutritional modifications driven by severity of withdrawal symptoms supported favorable growth outcomes in the infants. · Our NAS infants were fed with multiple types of nutrition.. · Infants with severe NAS required more elemental feeds.. · All formula selections supported favorable growth..

The Androgen Deprivation Therapy Landscape in 2024 – Co-navigating the Available Options with Prostate Cancer Patients

This symposium convened during the 2024 European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Paris, France, focusing on the multifaceted aspects of prostate cancer (PCa) treatment from the patient’s perspective. The session delved into the nuanced needs, expectations, and treatment experiences encountered by individuals diagnosed with this condition. A pivotal aspect of the discussion centred on the imperative of ensuring patient awareness and informed consent, particularly concerning androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), given its array of potential side effects. ADT, a cornerstone in advanced PCa management, encompasses a spectrum of side effects including both physical and psychological dimensions. These include, but are not limited to, body hair loss, weight fluctuations, mood alterations, decreased libido, cognitive impairments, muscle atrophy, and bone density loss. Effective management of these side effects requires comprehensive support to be provided to patients to mitigate complications and optimise quality of life. The options for ADT were discussed, with their comparative strengths and challenges. ADT strategies take effect over different time periods (from 12 hours up to 4 weeks), exert varying effects on testosterone levels, and carry different side effect profiles. Selecting the optimal course of treatment for localised or locally advanced PCa requires consideration of whether the patient is at intermediate-, high-, or very high-risk of biochemical recurrence, and whether the intermediate-risk disease is classified as favourable intermediate-risk (FIR) or unfavourable intermediate-risk (UIR). While continuous ADT is the standard of care, intermittent ADT has been associated with significantly better quality of life scores for hot flushes, desire for sexual activity, and urinary symptoms, with a trend toward improvement in the level of fatigue. Furthermore, the interplay between PCa, ADT, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) was discussed to underscore the imperative for clinicians to assess the cardiovascular risks associated with ADT, particularly in patients with heightened cardiovascular vulnerability. Mitigating the adverse skeletal effects of ADT mandates a multifaceted approach encompassing nutritional supplementation, exercise regimens, and lifestyle modifications including alcohol cessation and smoking cessation. Integrating a prehabilitation checklist into clinical practice emerges as a pragmatic strategy to facilitate informed discussions regarding the potential adverse effects of ADT, enabling proactive support provision to optimise patient outcomes.

The association between atopic dermatitis and linear growth in children- a systematic review.

To evaluate the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and linear growth in children, and determine factors associated with compromised linear growth in children with AD. A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was conducted. Databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane) were searched from inception to June 2024 for articles that reported a quantitative relationship between AD and linear growth in children (< 18years old). Quality of included articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools while quality of evidence in these studies was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Fourteen studies (comprising 50,146 patients with AD) were included. Seven studies reported a strong positive or positive association between AD and reduced height standard deviation score (SDS) in children; the others reported no association. Only 3 studies had moderate quality of evidence, all of which reported an association between AD and poorer height SDS; the remaining 11 studies scored low in quality of evidence. Three studies reported the impact of AD on height to be transient. Secondary analysis showed AD severity, earlier AD onset, sleep disruption and, food restriction, to be risk factors for linear growth impairment in patients with AD. Topical steroid use was not associated with shorter stature in patients with AD. Conclusion: Current evidence on the association between childhood AD and poor linear growth is weak and inconsistent. However, patients with more severe AD, earlier disease onset, poorer sleep quality and higher nutritional restrictions appear more susceptible to linear growth impairment. What is known? • There is inconsistent evidence of the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and linear growth in children in current literature, with some studies suggesting that AD may negatively impact linear height while other studies do not report similar associations. What is new? • There is no strong association between AD in childhood and poorer linear growth. • There may be a transient slowing of linear growth in children with AD, mimicking constitutional growth delay. • Children with severe AD, earlier disease onset, poorer sleep quality and nutritional restrictions may be at risk of more significant linear growth impairment. • Topical steroid use does not appear to contribute to shorter height in children with AD.

6577 National Trends in Fragility Hip Fractures Among Community Dwelling Women With Low Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Density

Abstract Disclosure: A. Atri: None. C. Anastasopoulou: None. Introduction: Fragility hip fractures are a major public health burden and are considered a good measure of the quality of healthcare. However, contemporary trends in fragility hip fractures in women with low femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) in the United States are not known. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2009-10, 2013–14 and 2017–18 to include U.S. women aged ≥ 60 years with bone mineral density (BMD) T score ≤ -1 at the femur neck, which was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) on Hologic Discovery Model A Densitometers (Hologic, Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts). Fragility fracture at the hip was defined as self-reported hip fracture resulting from a fall from standing height or less. Participants with missing BMD and fracture data were excluded. ANOVA was used for comparing means. The Cochran-Armitage test was utilized for trend analysis. Results: Overall, in women aged ≥ 60 years with femoral neck T score ≤ -1, the average age of women of low BMD decreased from 71(±7.2) years to 69.6 (±6.7) years, whereas the mean T-score modestly worsened from – 1.96 (±0.62) to -2.04 (±0.77) from 2009-10 to 2017-18. Similarly, the prevalence of women with T score ≤ -2.5 increased from 18.1% to 21.3%. We also found no significant change in proportion of women who reported treatment for osteoporosis (2009-10: 19.8%, 2013-14: 18.5%, 2017-18: 19.7%; p trend = 0.052). However, proportion of women who experienced fragility hip fractures decreased significantly (2009-10: 2.4%, 2013-14: 1.5%, 2017-18: 1.2%; p trend = 0.001). The mean age of index fragility hip fracture was 70.6 years in 2009-10, 68.3 years in 2013-14 and 71.7 years in 2017-18 (p = 0.001). Age stratified analysis showed a decreasing trend in proportion of women ≥ 80 years who experienced their index fragility hip fracture (2009-10: 25.9%, 2013-14: 14.7%, 2017-18: 15%; p trend = 0.001) and 70-79 years (2009-10: 40.9%, 2013-14: 21.1%, 2017-18: 35.8%; p trend = 0.001), while an increasing trend was seen in women 60–69 years (2009-10: 33.2%, 2013-14: 64.2%, 2017-18: 49.2%; p trend = 0.001). Discussion In this nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling US women with a low femoral neck BMD, we found a 50% decrease in burden of fragility hip fractures over a 10-year period from 2009-10 to 2017-18. This trend was observed despite worsening mean femoral neck T-scores, T score ≤ -2.5, and similar rates of osteoporosis treatment. Interestingly, the proportion of women who experienced their index fragility hip fracture showed a declining trend among the 70-79 years and ≥ 80 years age-groups. This change may be due to increasing awareness and utilization of measures to decrease falls such as exercise, nutrition, health education and environment modifications targeted towards the elderly population. Presentation: 6/2/2024

9288 National Trends in Fragility Hip Fractures Among Community Dwelling Women With Low Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Density

Abstract Disclosure: A. Atri: None. C. Anastasopoulou: None. Introduction: Fragility hip fractures are a major public health burden and are considered a good measure of the quality of healthcare. However, contemporary trends in fragility hip fractures in women with low femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) in the United States are not known. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2009-10, 2013–14 and 2017–18 to include U.S. women aged ≥ 60 years with bone mineral density (BMD) T score ≤ -1 at the femur neck, which was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) on Hologic Discovery Model A Densitometers (Hologic, Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts). Fragility fracture at the hip was defined as self-reported hip fracture resulting from a fall from standing height or less. Participants with missing BMD and fracture data were excluded. ANOVA was used for comparing means. The Cochran-Armitage test was utilized for trend analysis. Results: Overall, in women aged ≥ 60 years with femoral neck T score ≤ -1, the average age of women of low BMD decreased from 71(±7.2) years to 69.6 (±6.7) years, whereas the mean T-score modestly worsened from – 1.96 (±0.62) to -2.04 (±0.77) from 2009-10 to 2017-18. Similarly, the prevalence of women with T score ≤ -2.5 increased from 18.1% to 21.3%. We also found no significant change in proportion of women who reported treatment for osteoporosis (2009-10: 19.8%, 2013-14: 18.5%, 2017-18: 19.7%; p trend = 0.052). However, proportion of women who experienced fragility hip fractures decreased significantly (2009-10: 2.4%, 2013-14: 1.5%, 2017-18: 1.2%; p trend = 0.001). The mean age of index fragility hip fracture was 70.6 years in 2009-10, 68.3 years in 2013-14 and 71.7 years in 2017-18 (p = 0.001). Age stratified analysis showed a decreasing trend in proportion of women ≥ 80 years who experienced their index fragility hip fracture (2009-10: 25.9%, 2013-14: 14.7%, 2017-18: 15%; p trend = 0.001) and 70-79 years (2009-10: 40.9%, 2013-14: 21.1%, 2017-18: 35.8%; p trend = 0.001), while an increasing trend was seen in women 60–69 years (2009-10: 33.2%, 2013-14: 64.2%, 2017-18: 49.2%; p trend = 0.001). Discussion In this nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling US women with a low femoral neck BMD, we found a 50% decrease in burden of fragility hip fractures over a 10-year period from 2009-10 to 2017-18. This trend was observed despite worsening mean femoral neck T-scores, T score ≤ -2.5, and similar rates of osteoporosis treatment. Interestingly, the proportion of women who experienced their index fragility hip fracture showed a declining trend among the 70-79 years and ≥ 80 years age-groups. This change may be due to increasing awareness and utilization of measures to decrease falls such as exercise, nutrition, health education and environment modifications targeted towards the elderly population. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Optimization of iron, phosphate, and salinity in nutrient medium using response surface methodology for enhancing biochemical composition in Chlorella sp. culture

Microalga Chlorella sp. is a highly scientifically and commercially attractive unicellular microorganism and has developed a stable industry as a nutritional supplement for people and animals. Various nutrient media have been used to grow Chlorella sp. cultures to enhance their growth, pigmentation, and lipid content. However, the optimal biochemical composition and density of Chlorella sp. cultures require an understanding of optimizing the nutrient medium to study their production. The present study aims to investigate the effects of iron, phosphate, and salinity concentrations by working synergically in a nutrient medium on the growth responses, pigments, and lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. culture using a response surface methodology (RSM) approach. Using the result from the RSM software, a total of 18 experimental groups (E1 – E18) were evaluated, and one confirmation (C) study was conducted. The results revealed that the E7 experiment in Chlorella sp. culture provided the highest cell density and specific growth rate (SGR) with 176.00 × 106 cells mL−1 and 0.35 day−1, respectively. Similarly, the E5 and E1 experiments produced the highest cell density of 166.10 × 106 cells. mL−1 and 152.13 × 106 cells mL−1, respectively. The SGR was also increased at 0.33 day−1 in the E5 experiment and 0.33 day−1 in the E1 experiment. Consequently, the culture of Chlorella sp. containing high iron and phosphate concentrations and lower salinity in a nutrient medium had the highest number of cells, SGR, and pigment accumulation (chlorophyll a and total carotenoid). In addition, the presence of high salinity concentrations reduces Chlorella sp. growth. However, the increase in the growth of Chlorella sp. culture did not indicate an increase in other biochemical compositions. In some cases, biochemical compositions are high due to nutritional limitations or stress factors. For example, in pigment accumulation, chlorophyll a pigment accumulation was increased in experiment E7 (51.57 μg mL−1), while total carotenoid accumulation was increased in experiment E8 (20.68 μg mL−1). In addition, increasing salinity concentration increased chlorophyll a and total carotenoid contents per cell, but decreased Chlorella sp. growth as shown in the E4 experiment, which achieved chlorophyll a levels of 1.38 pg cell−1 and total carotenoid levels of 0.52 pg cell−1. Furthermore, Chlorella sp. culture produces a higher lipid accumulation of 37.38 % in the E3 experiment. Hence, the results of this study contribute to understanding the optimal biochemical composition and cell growth of Chlorella sp. cultures.

Cluster-analysis of human pulse wave by self-organizing Cohonen maps to identify markers of age groups

The present study is methodological in nature and describes an approach to the study of the human cardiovascular system. The assessment of biological age is important for the management of the human aging process. Regular monitoring of this indicator makes it possible to take preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disasters. The aim of the study is to determine the age groups based on the pulse waves of the subjects using Kohonen neural networks. In this study, Kohonen self-organizing maps were used to cluster pulse waves of people of different ages by observing the dy-namic change of the pulse wave with the selection of parameters of the neural network self-organization algorithm. A data set of different age groups was used. Each group con-tained files of subjects of the same age, each file – pulse waves of these subjects. As a result of experiments with neural network configurations, cluster structures were obtained and geometric characteristics of pulse waves corresponding to age groups were estab-lished. The clustering algorithm used broke the pulse waves into clusters, the reliability of which in some cases reached 91–96 %. The software implementation of the trained neural network and the portability of the pulse wave measuring device allow the proposed tech-nique to be used to monitor the state of the cardiovascular system in people at risk of cardiovascular disasters, as well as people associated with dangerous professions, ath-letes, office workers, etc. Registration of changes in biological age contributes to the adoption of timely preventive measures, decisions on the modification of nutrition, life-style and physical activity. The resulting network can be used in diagnostic systems to support medical decision-making.

Assessing the influence of dietary patterns on preeclampsia and obesity among pregnant women in the United States

This review paper examines the influence of dietary patterns on preeclampsia and obesity among pregnant women in the United States, aiming to elucidate the connection between nutrition and maternal health outcomes. The paper explores common dietary patterns, their impact on pregnancy complications, and the potential mechanisms through which nutrition affects maternal and fetal health. By synthesizing existing research, the review highlights the critical role of personalized dietary counseling and lifestyle interventions in improving pregnancy outcomes. It also emphasizes the need for comprehensive policy initiatives and future research directions to enhance maternal health through optimal nutrition and lifestyle modifications. Through a detailed analysis, the review underscores the importance of adopting healthy dietary patterns to mitigate risks and promote positive health outcomes for both mothers and their children.

RfaH contributes to maximal colonization and full virulence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) have emerged as clinically important pathogens, posing a serious threat to human health. RfaH, a transcriptional elongation factor, has been regarded as implicated in facilitating the transcription of long virulence operons in certain bacterial species. In K. pneumoniae, RfaH plays a vital role in promoting CPS synthesis and hypermucoviscosity, as well as mediating bacterial fitness during lung infection. In this study, we aim to conduct a systematic investigation of the roles of rfaH in the survival, dissemination, and colonization of hvKp through in vitro and in vivo assays. We found that bacterial cells and colonies displayed capsule -deficient phenotypes subsequent to the deletion of rfaH in K. pneumoniae NTUH-K2044. We confirmed that rfaH is required for the synthesis of capsule and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by positively regulating the expression of CPS and LPS gene clusters. We found that the ΔrfaH mutant led to a significantly decreased mortality of K. pneumoniae in a mouse intraperitoneal infection model. We further demonstrated that the absence of rfaH was associated with slower bacterial growth under conditions of low nutrition or iron limitation. ΔrfaH displayed reduced survival rates in the presence of human serum. Besides, the engulfment of the ΔrfaH mutant was significantly higher than that of NTUH-K2044 by macrophages in vivo, indicating an indispensable role of RfaH in the phagocytosis resistance of hvKp in mice. Both mouse intranasal and intraperitoneal infection models revealed a higher bacterial clearance rate of ΔrfaH in lungs, livers, and spleens of mice compared to its wild type, suggesting an important role of RfaH in the bacterial survival, dissemination, and colonization of hvKp in vivo. Histopathological results supported that RfaH contributes to the pathogenicity of hvKp in mice. In conclusion, our study demonstrates crucial roles of RfaH in the survival, colonization and full virulence of hvKp, which provides several implications for the development of RfaH as an antibacterial target.

Transcriptome Analysis Identified PyNAC42 as a Positive Regulator of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Induced by Nitrogen Deficiency in Pear (Pyrus spp.)

Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolites in plants, which contribute to fruit color and nutritional value. Anthocyanins can be regulated by environmental factors such as light, low temperature, water conditions, and nutrition limitations. Nitrogen (N) is an essential macroelement for plant development, its deficiency as a kind of nutrition limitation often induces anthocyanin accumulation in many plants. However, there is a lack of reports regarding the effect of nitrogen deficiency on anthocyanin biosynthesis in pears. In this study, we found that N deficiency resulted in anthocyanin accumulation in pear callus and upregulated the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway structural genes (PyPAL, PyCHS, PyCHI, PyF3H, PyDFR, PyANS, and PyUFGT) and key regulatory factors (PyMYB10, PyMYB114, and PybHLH3). Through analysis of transcriptome data of treated pear callus and RT-qPCR assay, a differentially expressed gene PyNAC42 was identified as significantly induced by the N deficiency condition. Overexpression of PyNAC42 promoted anthocyanin accumulation in “Zaosu” pear peels. Additionally, dual luciferase assay and yeast one-hybrid assay demonstrated that PyNAC42 could not directly activate the expression of PyDFR, PyANS, and PyUFGT. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays confirmed that PyNAC42 interacted with PyMYB10 both in vivo and in vitro. Co-expression of PyNAC42 and PyMYB10 significantly enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in “Zaosu” pear peels. Dual luciferase assay showed that PyNAC42 significantly enhanced the activation of PyDFR, PyANS, and PyUFGT promoters by interacting with PyMYB10, which suggests that PyNAC42 can form the PyNAC42-PyMYB10 complex to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear. Thus, the molecular mechanism underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis induced by N deficiency is preliminarily elucidated. Our finding has expanded the regulatory network of anthocyanin biosynthesis and enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying nutrient deficiency modulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear.

PSV-13 Betaine supplementation and nutrient restriction during gestation: Influences on growth in fetal sheep offspring

Abstract Restricted nutrition during gestation can reduce offspring productivity. Supplementation of betaine, a methyl donor, promotes fetal growth and liver function. We hypothesized that nutrient restriction during gestation impairs growth, including organ weights and muscle mass, while betaine supplementation would alleviate these negative effects. To determine if maternal betaine supplementation during gestation would improve growth of offspring of restricted-fed dams, multiparous Dorset ewes (n = 47) were estrus synchronized and bred to one of three rams. Ewes confirmed pregnant with twins (n = 32) and singletons (n = 15) were randomly assigned to one of four diets [100% NRC requirements (CON), 60% NRC (RES), CON+betaine (CON+BET; 2 g/d), and RES+BET] from d 30 to 130 of gestation. Among the twins, there were 27 males (CON-8, RES-5, CON+BET-5, and RES+BET-9) and 37 females (CON-8, RES-9, CON+BET-11, and RES+BET-9). Within singletons, there were 7 males (CON-2, RES-2, CON+BET-2, and RES+BET-1) and 8 females (CON-3, RES-1, CON+BET-1, and RES+BET-3). Dam body weight (BW) was measured weekly from d 30 to d 130 of gestation, and diet adjusted accordingly. Dams were euthanized at d 130 of gestation and fetal BW and tissue weights were collected. Data were analyzed using RStudio with P ≤ 0.05 considered significant and 0.05 &amp;lt; P ≤ 0.10 as tendency. At d 130, dams carrying twin fetuses in the CON group were 11.3% and 19.1% heavier than RES and RES+BET dams, respectively (P ≤ 0.05), and CON+BET dams were 18.4% and 10.5% heavier than RES and BET+RES dams, respectively (P ≤ 0.07). However, dams with singletons showed no significant difference in BW (P ≥ 0.37). Regarding fetal BW for singletons, RES fetuses (3.80 ± 0.28kg) were lighter than CON (4.60 ± 0.21kg), CON+BET (4.72 ± 0.27kg), and RES+BET (4.59 ± 0.24kg; P ≤ 0.03). Whereas in twins, RES+BET fetuses (3.19 ± 0.11kg) were lighter than CON (3.68 ± 0.12kg), RES (3.73 ± 0.14kg), and CON+BET (3.60 ± 0.13kg; P ≤ 0.02). In all fetuses, the livers of male RES (28.0 ± 1.49g) and male RES+BET (27.7 ± 1.44g) tended to be heavier than those of female RES+BET (24.5 ± 1.19g; P ≤ 0.07). In terms of muscle mass, female CON+BET (9.33 ± 0.43g) fetuses tended to have greater longissimus muscle (LM) mass compared with female CON (8.30 ± 0.35; P = 0.06), whereas male RES (9.06 ± 0.44g) tended to have heavier LM than male CON+BET (8.02 ± 0.43g; P = 0.09). There were no observed effects of diet, fetal sex, or fetal number on the weights of heart, kidney, perirenal fat, pancreas, semitendinosus muscle, and triceps brachii muscle (P ≥ 0.11). These findings suggest that betaine supplementation may have a significant role in improving fetal BW in singleton pregnancies, with variable effects in twins. Additionally, betaine supplementation may have sex-specific effects on muscle development.

478 Impact of crude protein and phosphorus deficiencies on liver mitochondrial content and transcriptome in growing Merino wethers

Abstract In grazing systems in Northern Australia, crude protein (CP) and phosphorus (P) availability varies, affecting ruminant production due to voluntary reduced intake and therefore body weight (BW) gain. We were interested in understanding metabolic regulation in this model system, both in terms of a) identifying key tissues, and b) detecting any modifications in mitochondrial physiology, given the central role of this organelle in bioenergetic homeostasis. Merino wethers (n = 24) were subjected to three dietary regimens: High CP, High P, (Control), Low CP, Low P (Deficient), and High CP, High P, with restricted feed intake (Restricted). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers, indicative of mitochondrial content, were measured via qPCR. Transcriptomic analyses through RNA sequencing targeted mitochondria-associated gene expression changes and pathways, using the MitoCarta 3.0 database. There was a significant decrease of mtDNA copy numbers in the liver of sheep under either Deficient and Restricted diets (P &amp;lt; 0.01), with as much as a 2-fold difference between the Control and Deficient diets. This may suggest reduced mitochondrial biogenesis as an adaptation to decreased energy intake. When compared with the Control group, both the Deficient and Restricted groups upregulated pathways related to vitamin metabolism (Log2FC: 0.231 and 0.449) and folate and 1-C metabolism (Log2FC: 0.409 and 0.706). However, impacted pathways shared between these two comparisons (Control v Deficient, Control v Restricted) also include choline and betaine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glycine metabolism, which suggests similar mechanisms being impacted by decreased energy intake, regardless of whether it is due to satiety from nutrient deficiency or restricted feed intake. Notably, the creatine metabolism pathway was uniquely upregulated in the Restricted group compared with the Deficient group (Log2FC: 0.114), although the CKMT2 gene was upregulated in the Restricted group compared with both the Control and Deficient group (Log2FC: 1.30 and 0.879). Additionally, the SLC25A family pathway, responsible for mitochondrial metabolite transport, was found to be upregulated in the Restricted group when compared with both Control and Deficient groups (Log2FC: 0.33 and 0.865). Overall, this study demonstrated a pronounced decrease in mitochondrial content in the liver of growing Merino wethers subjected to nutritional deficiencies and feed restriction. Multiple metabolic pathways were shared between the comparisons of the Control diet group to both Deficient and Restricted nutritional treatments. However, the SLC25A transporter family pathway was uniquely upregulated in the Restricted group compared with either an optimal or deficient diet. The regulation of these metabolic pathways is a subject of further study that may represent a systemic response to maintain homeostasis while undergoing significantly lower energy intake, with implications for animal growth, tissue deposition, and energetic maintenance. Understanding distinctions in the response to feed restriction and nutrient deficiency induced reduction in intake may help improve production strategies for ruminants grazing in these conditions.

Nutrition and fasting

Patients with rheumatic diseases often enquire about the options for nutritional therapy. Nutritional factors have been empirically described that are associated with the occurrence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases or flare-ups or improved disease states. Agrowing number of epidemiological and clinical studies deal with the evaluation of nutrition and dietary restriction in rheumatology. Narrative presentation of the evidence of nutritional interventions and fasting and its clinical implications. Only limited data from smaller clinical studies are available for evidence assessment. Abenefit in terms of symptoms and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis was shown for the Mediterranean and plant-based diet as well as the anti-inflammatory diet. The effect sizes are small to moderate and the effectiveness in the context of complex lifestyle programs is probably sustainable. The evidence for elimination diets is weak. Initial clinical studies indicate amoderate benefit of plant-based nutrition for osteoarthritis in the context of the metabolic syndrome. There is moderate evidence for the benefit of dietary weight normalization in psoriasis. There is clear experimental evidence of asignificant anti-inflammatory effect of prolonged fasting. Several clinical studies demonstrated asymptomatic benefit of prolonged modified fasting (therapeutic fasting) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). If fasting is followed by avegan and vegetarian diet, lasting effects of up to 1year have been documented. Cardiometabolic but not antirheumatic effects have been proven for intermittent fasting. Nutrition and fasting can be classified as apossible useful addition to conventional treatment but are currently only rarely taken into account in practice.

429 Maternal rate of gain and one-carbon metabolites supplementation alters the gene expression profile of fetal brain during early gestation in beef heifers

Abstract Maternal nutritional plane during pregnancy may leave lifelong impacts on offspring in beef cattle. Given that, we hypothesized that the supplementation of one-carbon metabolites (OCM) during pregnancy would mitigate the negative effects of maternal rate of gain through brain gene expression regulation in early developing bovine fetuses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of OCM supplementation and maternal rate of gain on gene expression in the developing fetal brain in gestating beef heifers. Herein, Angus crossbred heifers (n = 72, body weight = 406 ± 33 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two levels of maternal rate of gain (CON, 0.60 kg/d; and RES, -0.23 kg/d) each with or without OCM supplementation (+OCM, and -OCM). Heifers were fed individually and were bred using female-sexed semen from a single sire. The OCM supplementation included rumen-protected choline (44.4 g/d) and methionine (7.4 g/d) in corn carrier fed daily and weekly injections of folate (320 mg) and vitamin B12 (20 mg). The -OCM heifers received the corn carrier and saline injections. The treatments started at the time of breeding and continued until d 63 of gestation when pregnant heifers (n = 29) were slaughtered to collect fetal brain tissues for RNA sequencing. The fetal brain phenotypic data were analyzed using MIXED procedures of SAS, indicating that restricted nutrition affected the fetal right hemisphere weight (P &amp;lt; 0.05), and there was a strong tendency for overall fetal brain weight (0.05 &amp;lt; P &amp;lt; 0.1) to be affected as well. Brain transcriptomics data were analyzed using STAR aligner and a total of 177 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, FDR &amp;lt; 0.05) were identified across all treatment comparisons using DESeq2. Most of the DEGs were either isoforms of spliceosomal non-coding RNAs or micro-RNAs (miRNAs) associated with biological processes (FDR &amp;lt; 0.1) like mRNA processing, cellular nitrogen metabolism, lipid metabolism, and post-transcriptional gene silencing. The key miRNAs upregulated in the brain tissue of restricted fetuses without OCM supplementation, bta-mir-2375, bta-mir-876, and bta-mir-196a-1, were found to be associated with early embryogenesis and essential cellular regulatory processes. Conversely, in restricted fetuses with OCM supplementation, upregulated miRNAs such as bta-mir-216b, bta-mir-2285dd, and bta-mir-1298 were linked to early embryonic development, muscular development, and lipid metabolism in cattle. Both phenotypic and transcriptomics data here revealed that the maternal rate of gain altered fetal brain development, with differences seemingly compensated by OCM supplementation. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

51440 Characterizing the types and impact of dietary and nutritional modifications in the management of alopecia areata

51440 Characterizing the types and impact of dietary and nutritional modifications in the management of alopecia areata