T2 Group Research Articles

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and in-hospital all-cause mortality under different glucose metabolism status among patients with coronary artery disease.

This current study aimed to investigate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and in-hospital all-cause mortality of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with different glucose metabolic statuses. Participants were divided into three groups according to tertiles of the TyG index. Glucose metabolic status was classified as normal glucose regulation, pre-diabetes mellitus, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The primary outcome was in hospital all-cause mortality. We observed a significant relationship between the TyG index and in-hospital deaths of patients with CAD in this study. After adjusting for multiple factors in the logistic regression model, the TyG index was still an independent risk factor, and the T3 group (OR, 2.311; 95% CI = 1.237-4.317; P = 0.009) was correlated with a 2.311-fold risk compared with the T1 group. In the subgroup analysis of different glucose metabolic status, the T3 group (OR, 1.541; 95% CI: 1.013-2.344; P = 0.043) were associated with a significantly higher risk of in-hospital deaths in CAD patients with DM. An increased TyG index was correlated with a higher risk of in-hospital all-cause mortality. Our study indicated that TyG index could be a valuable predictor of in-hospital death of CAD patients, especially for individuals with DM.

Association between stress hyperglycemia ratio and postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in noncardiac surgeries: a large perioperative cohort study

BackgroundThere has been a concerning rise in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) following noncardiac surgeries (NCS), significantly impacting surgical outcomes and patient prognosis. Glucose metabolism abnormalities induced by stress response under acute medical conditions may be a risk factor for postoperative MACCE. This study aims to explore the association between stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and postoperative MACCE in patients undergoing general anesthesia for NCS.MethodsThere were 12,899 patients in this perioperative cohort study. The primary outcome was MACCE within 30 days postoperatively, defined as angina, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, or in-hospital all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves visualized the cumulative incidence of MACCE. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to assess the association between the risk of MACCE and different SHR groups. Restricted cubic spline analyses were conducted to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Additionally, exploratory subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsA total of 592 (4.59%) participants experienced MACCE within 30 days after surgery, and 1,045 (8.10%) within 90 days. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared to the SHR T2 group, the risk of MACCE within 30 days after surgery increased by 1.34 times (95% CI 1.08–1.66) in the T3 group and by 1.35 times (95% CI 1.08–1.68) in the T1 group respectively. In the non-diabetes group, the risk of MACCE within 30 days after surgery increased by 1.60 times (95% CI 1.21–2.12) in the T3 group and by 1.61 times (95% CI 1.21–2.14) in the T1 group respectively, while no statistically significant increase in risk was observed in the diabetes group. Similar results were observed within 90 days after surgery in the non-diabetes group. Additionally, a statistically significant U-shaped nonlinear relationship was observed in the non-diabetes group (30 days: P for nonlinear = 0.010; 90 days: P for nonlinear = 0.008).ConclusionIn this large perioperative cohort study, we observed that both higher and lower SHR were associated with an increased risk of MACCE within 30 and 90 days after NCS, especially in patients without diabetes. These findings suggest that SHR potentially plays a key role in stratifying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk after NCS.

Effects of In Ovo Taurine Injection on Embryo Development, Antioxidant Status, and Bioactive Peptide Content in Chicken Embryos (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Stress in birds disrupts the homeostasis of the organism, leading to an inability to neutralize reactive oxygen species. Taurine, an effective antioxidant, affects various cellular mechanisms, including cation modulation, protein phosphorylation, and cell proliferation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of colloid with taurine applied in ovo to Albumin on embryonic development, oxidative stress indicators and the content of bioactive peptides—carnosine and anserine—in the pectoral muscle. The research materials were eggs of the parent flock (Ross 308) divided into four groups (K (without injection), T50-concentration of taurine hydrocolloid 50 ppm (mg/L); T100-colloid concentration 100 ppm (mg/L) taurine; T500-colloid concentration of 500 ppm (mg/L) taurine). The experimental solutions were injected in an amount of 0.3 mL into egg white. Eggs were incubated under standard incubation conditions. The addition of 100 and 500 ppm taurine had a highly significant (p = 0.001) effect on the plasma antioxidant potential in chicks. The level of anserine increased with increasing concentrations of taurine. These changes were highly significant (p = 0.007). The level of anserine in the T2 and T3 groups was determined to be 2.5 times higher than in the pectoral muscles of embryos not treated with taurine colloid. An analysis of the results showed that the administration of an increased dose of hydrocolloid with taurine increased the content of carnosine and anserine in the pectoral muscle. Colloid with taurine applied in ovo to chicken white egg reduces oxidative stress and increases homeostasis of the organism.

Effect of Feed Supplementation of Shatavari Root Powder (Asparagus racemosus) on Growth Performance of Broiler in Konkan Region

The present study aimed to highlights the effect of feed supplementation of Shatavari root powder (Asparagus racemosus) on growth performance of broiler in Konkan region. A substantial portion of the production expenses is attributed to the cost of feed and in a developing country like India, the supply of quality and affordable feed has been inconsistent. To enhance the overall productivity of poultry birds, it is imperative to maintain a reliable source of low-cost feed. The experimental trial of six weeks was undertaken for total 200-day old broiler chicks. They were randomly distributed into five experimental diets. Each treatment group was replicated into four with 10 birds per replicate. The control (T0) group was fed standard ration and T1, T2, T3, and T4 group were provided same standard ration supplemented with 5.00, 10.00 , 15.00 and 20.00 g /kg Shatavari root powder, respectively. Result of experiment showed that supplementation of Shatavari root powder was significantly highest live body weight in treatment T2 (1852.50 g/bird) as well as average live weight gain (264.64 g/bird). It is concluded that, 10.00 g of Shatavari root powder significantly improved growth performance than other treatments groups.

Well-Being and Performance of Nursery Pigs Subjected to Different Commercial Vaccines Against Porcine Circovirus Type 2, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Lawsonia intracellularis

Background/Objectives: Vaccination is a strategy in pig farming for the control of several pathogens, but commercial vaccines may have detrimental side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of commercial vaccines on the control of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp), and Lawsonia intracellularis (L. intracellularis) and their potential side effects on welfare, behavior, acute inflammation biomarkers (C-reactive protein and haptoglobin), and the performance of piglets during the nursery phase. Methods: A total of 240 piglets, both female and castrated males, with an average weight of 6.3 ± 0.9 kg were subjected to four treatments: T1-FLEXcombo® (Ingelvac®CircoFLEX and Ingelvac®MycoFLEX) + Enterisol® Ileitis; T2-FLEXCombo® + Porcilis® Ileitis; T3-Porcilis® PCV M HYO + Porcilis® Ileitis; and T4-FLEXCombo® + 0.9% saline solution. This study measured therapeutic interventions, body condition score, behavioral changes, rectal temperature, and inflammation biomarkers post-vaccination. Results: The T3 group required more therapeutic interventions and exhibited a 23.1% higher incidence of thin body condition (p < 0.05) and 10 times more animals with depressed behavior than T1 (p < 0.05). The piglets vaccinated for L. intracellularis (T2 and T3) had rectal temperatures exceeding 39.7 °C post-vaccination, significantly higher than in T1 (p < 0.05). The T1 animals showed five times more positive behavior traits 24 h after vaccination (p < 0.05). Touch response was 29% lower in the T2 and T3 groups, and the lying down behavior was higher in these groups compared to T1. Additionally, 41.7% of the T3 animals exhibited a sitting posture 48 h after vaccination. Higher serum C-reactive protein and haptoglobin levels were observed in T3 (p < 0.05) at 24 and 48 h post-vaccination. Feed intake was higher in T1 compared to T3 between 29 and 35 days of age. It is important to note that this study did not measure immune responses to the pathogens and did not include challenge tests, and therefore, it does not assess which vaccine is superior in pathogen control. Conclusions: The vaccine programs resulted in similar zootechnical performance. However, T1, T2, and T4 showed better effects on piglet welfare and behavior compared to T3.

Association of the triglyceride glucose index with myocardial ischemia in patients with minimal to moderate coronary artery disease

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index has been suggested as a reliable substitute to indicate insulin resistance. Several studies have identified the association between the TyG index and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between the TyG index and the incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with minimal to moderate coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been clearly assessed. We aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and the incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with minimal to moderate CAD. A total of 1,697 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations and had minimal to moderate CAD were retrospectively included in the study. The TyG index and computed tomography–derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) were used to assess insulin resistance (IR) and myocardial ischemia, respectively. Myocardial ischemia was defined as a CT-FFR value ≤ 0.80. Logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between the TyG index and myocardial ischemia. The incidence of myocardial ischemia was higher in the highest TyG index tertile (T3) group than in the lowest TyG index tertile (T1) group. After adjusting for other variables, the T3 group remained associated with a higher risk of myocardial ischemia than the T1 group did (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01–2.04; p = 0.047). A 1- standard deviation (SD) increase in the TyG index was correlated with a 19–24% elevated risk of myocardial ischemia when regarding the TyG index was considered as a continuous variable. Subgroup analysis revealed similar effects. A TyG index is associated with a higher risk of myocardial ischemia detected by CT-FFR in patients with minimal to moderate CAD.

Impact of Triglyceride Levels on the Long-term Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Hypertriglyceridemia is a known cardiovascular risk factor. However, the relationship between serum triglyceride (TG) levels and the clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear. We conducted a single-center, retrospective observational study involving 538 consecutive patients with AMI who underwent emergent percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 hours of onset. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their serum TG levels at admission as follows: T1 group (TG <78 mg/dl, n=172), T2 group (78≤TG<141 mg/dl, n=177), and T3 group (141 mg/dl ≤TG, n=176). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI, and non-fatal stroke. The median follow-up period was 2.4 (1.5-4.2) years. Patients in the T1 group were older, had a higher proportion of females, and had fewer cardiovascular risk factors. However, they also had a higher prevalence of multi-vessel coronary artery disease and severely calcified culprit lesions. The T1 group had a significantly higher rate of MACEs (20.4% in T1, 12.4% in T2 and 8.5% in T3, p<0.05 by Log-rank test, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that T1 was an independent predictor of MACEs (hazard ratio=2.19, 95% confidence interval=1.16-4.14, p<0.05). Although patients with AMI with low TG levels at admission had fewer coronary risk factors, they had more severe calcified culprit lesions and worse clinical outcomes.

Circulating beta-hydroxybutyrate levels are associated with major adverse clinical events in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality, and effective biomarkers are required for the risk stratification of patients with AMI. In cardiovascular diseases, circulating levels of ketone bodies (KB) such as beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate are altered. However, the relationship between circulating KB levels and major adverse clinical events (MACE) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. Methods Patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 2010 to June 2020 were enrolled, and divided into T1 (&amp;lt; 0.09 mmol/L, n=219), T2 (0.09-0.28 mmol/L, n=202), and T3 (&amp;gt; 0.28 mmol/L, n=211) tertiles according to the circulating BHB levels within 24 h of admission. The primary endpoint was in-hospital MACE, including all-cause mortality, stroke, recurrence of AMI, or target vessel revascularization. Results The incidence of in-hospital MACE in the T3 group (20.9%) was significantly higher than in the T1 group (10.5%) and T2 group (14.9%) (P=0.012). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elevated circulating BHB levels were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and MACE during hospitalization (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.08-1.85, P = 0.012). During follow-up period, multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that elevated circulating BHB levels were associated with higher all-cause mortality and MACE (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.19-1.56, P &amp;lt; 0.001). The impact of BHB on MACE were similar for all the subgroups. Conclusion Elevated circulating BHB levels within 24 h of admission were associated with an increased risk of MACE in patients with STEMI undergoing PCI, and could be a promising prognosis biomarker.

Effect of coated calcium feeding on growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, blood biochemistry and tibial bone morphometry in commercial broiler chicken.

The bone abnormalities pose great concern in heavy, rapidly growing broilers, resulting in significant economic loss, and health issues in birds. To address these problems and prevent unnecessary mineral excretion into environment, it is crucial to optimise the inclusion level of dietary calcium in broiler's diet. The calcium utilisation by the bird is also affected by its source, particle size, bioavailability etc. Hence this study aimed to study the effect of partially replacing conventional dietary calcium source with coated calcium on growth performance, immune response, carcass traits, blood calcium and phosphorus, and mineral retention in broilers. About 416 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four treatments, each with eight replicates of 13 birds and fed with iso-calcium, isocaloric, and isonitrogenous diet for 42 days. The T0 (control) was a basal diet while the T1, T2, and T3, were treatment diets in which conventional calcium source (limestone) was partially replaced with coated calcium by 10, 20, and 30% respectively. The birds of T3 group showed higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain, better feed conversion ratio and higher carcass yields compared to T0, T1, and T2 diet fed birds. Further the treatment groups exhibited higher (P < 0.05) cell-mediated and humoral immune responses and immune organ weights compared to control. The tibial bone weight, length and average diameter was highest (P < 0.05) in T3. Moreover, the T3 diet fed group also showed higher (P < 0.05) calcium and phosphorus content in serum and bone and lowest content of these minerals in the excreta followed by T2, T1 and control. These findings suggest that a 30% conventional calcium source with coated calcium may be used as a high-grade mineral source for broiler chicken feed.

Effect of Lactobacillus Probiotic Supplement on Growth and Haematological Performance of Indian Major Carp Labeo rohita

The influence of probiotics bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus improves the survival, growth, and Hematological performance of the Indian major carp Rohu (Labeo rohita). After acclimation, a 60-day experimental study was conducted with four different types of treatments; namely, T1: Control, i.e. Basal feed without Probiotic supplements, T2: Basal feed with Aeromonas hydrophila, T3: Lactobacillus supplemented probiotic feed without Aeromonas hydrophila, and T4: Lactobacillus supplemented probiotic feed with A. hydrophila. After the experimental study, growth parameters were monitored through Weight gain, Specific growth rates, survival percentage, and haematological parameters including WBC, RBC, haemoglobin (Hb), and haematocrit (Hct) values of probiotics treated group (T3 and T4) were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than control and T2 group. The Present study indicated that the positive effects of the L. acidophilus probiotic supplement diet improved the survival, growth, and Haematological performance in aquaculture.

Evaluating the efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus derived postbiotics on growth metrics, Health, and Gut Integrity in broiler chickens.

Continuous use of antibiotics in poultry feed as growth promoters poses a grave threat to humanity through the emergence of antibiotic resistance, necessitating the exploration of novel and sustainable alternatives. The present study was carried out to evaluate the performance of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus acidophilus in broiler birds. The postbiotics were harvested by culturing probiotic bacteria from the stock cultures at the required temperature and duration under laboratory conditions and supplemented to broilers via feed. For experimentation, 480-day-old CARI-Bro Dhanraja (slow-growing broiler) straight-run chicks were randomly split up into six groups. Treatment groups diets are as follows: T1- Basal diet (BD)+0.2%(v/w) MRS Broth/ uninoculated media; T2 - BD + Antibiotic (CTC); T3- BD + Probiotic; T4, T5 & T6 - BD + postbiotics supplementation of 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%(v/w) respectively. The chicks were raised under an intensive, deep litter system with standard protocol for 6 weeks. Results showed that 0.2% of postbiotics (T4) had significantly (P < 0.001) higher body weight (1677.52g) with better FCR (1.75) and immune response. Postbiotic supplementation altered various serum attributes positively, in this study. Significant (P < 0.001) reductions in total plate counts (TPC), coliform counts, and maximum Lactobacillus counts were recorded in all postbiotic-supplemented groups. The villus height (1379.25μm), width (216.06μm) and crept depth (179.25μm) showed significant (P < 0.001) improvement among the treatment groups on the 21st and 42nd day of the experimental trial, with the highest value in the T4 group (0.2% postbiotic supplementation). Jejunal antioxidant values also noted significantly (P < 0.001) higher values in T4 group. The study concludes that 0.2% postbiotic supplementation can act as a substitute to antibiotic growth promoters and also combat the disfavour activity of probiotics in broilers.

Optimum Level of Lactobacillus plantarum Supplementation as Probiotic on In Vitro Digestibility and Rumen Fermentation Products in Thai Native Cattle

The objective of this study was to determine in vitro gas production kinetics, and rumen fermentation products of total mixed ration (TMR) supplemented with different level of Lactobacillus plantarum supplementation in Thai native cattle. The experiment design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The in vitro procedure was completed using 200 mg DM of TMR and four different concentration of L. plantarum; CON (without supplementation of L. plantarum), T1 (107 CFU / mL of L. plantarum supplementation), T2 (108 CFU / mL of L. plantarum supplementation), and T3 (109 CFU / mL of L. plantarum supplementation). The samples were prepared in three replications and incubated for 96 hours for gas production. Rumen fermentation products (pH, NH3, VFA) and digestibility experiment were done in four replications and incubated for 24 hours. In vitro gas production for 96 hours, gas production from insoluble fraction (b), and potential extent of gas production (|a|+b) were improved in the T1 and T2 groups (P &lt; 0.05). The in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility, and true digestibility were particularly enhanced in the T1 group compared to other treatments (P &lt;0.05). The pH and NH3 in this study were significantly affected (P&lt;0.05). The significant improvements on the in vitro rumen fermentation products and digestibility endorse L. plantarum supplementation at concentration of 107 CFU/mL as probiotic candidate.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaf extract: Effects on growth, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism in Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

The addition of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaf extract (ELE) enhances growth, immunity and antioxidant capacity in crustaceans, which has not been studied on the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of ELE on the growth, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzymes activities, and lipid metabolism of red swamp crayfish. A total of 240 individuals of red swamp crayfish were randomly assigned to four groups. Each group was fed with feed a diet supplemented with varying doses of ELE: 0 g/kg (CK), 0.5 g/kg (T2), 1.0 g/kg (T3), and 1.5 g/kg (T4). After 30 days, the results indicated that T2 group exhibited a significantly higher final average weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate compared to the CK (P<0.05). Significantly lower feed conversion ratios than the CK (P<0.05) were observed in the T2 and T3 groups. For antioxidant indicators, hepatopancreas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed to significantly increased in the T3 and T4 groups, while levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in which were significantly reduced in hepatopancreas and hemolymph (P<0.05). Regarding biochemical indicators and intestinal function, significant enhancement of lipase (LPS) activity was observed in the T2 group, which decreased in the T4, compared to the CK (P<0.05). Moreover, significant decrease of the glucose (GLU), total triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) content of the hemolymph (P<0.05) were observed in the T4 group. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes in the T4 group were primarily enriched in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), and lipid metabolism pathways. Furthermore, it seems that ELE supplements significantly upregulated the expression of apoa-II, acaox1, acox3, me1, and plin1 in the PPAR signaling pathway to regulate lipid metabolism. In conclusion, 0.5 g/kg and 1.5 g/kg ELL addition amount can enhance growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism of red swamp crayfish.

Effects of dietary rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaf powder and Bacillus subtilis on the growth performance, digestive enzymes, antioxidant and immune-related gene expression, and resistance to Aeromonas hydriphila in common carp, Cyprinus carpio

Abstract Due to increasing demand about the application of natural feed additives in aquaculture, the efficacy of separate and the combination of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and B. subtilis on the growth performance, blood indices, innate immunity, antioxidant defense, digestive enzymes activity, the expression levels of genes with immunity modulation, as well as the act of resisting against Aeromonas hydriphila, in common carp, C. carpio is reported. Fish (44.63 ± 0.04 g) were divided into four treatments including the T0 (control treatment) fed with basal diet, T1 fed with rosemary at the rate of 3 %, T2 fed with 1.5×107 CFU g-1 B. subtilis, and T3 fed with a combination of rosemary at the rate of 3 % and 1.5×107 CFU g-1 B. subtilis. After 56 days enriched feed with B. subtilis and combination of rosemary and B. subtilis caused significant improvement in weight gain (WG %), feed conversion ratio (FCR), hematological and biochemical indices, the innate immune responses including in total Ig level, lysozyme and ACH50 activities as well as the chymotrypsin, pepsin, protease, and amylase activities correlate to the control group (P&lt;0.05). Additionally, the serum CAT and GPX activity were significantly enhanced in the T3 group (P&lt;0.05). The mRNA expression of CAT and LYS genes significantly increased in T2 and T3 contrary to T0 (p&lt;0.05). Fish challenged with A. hydrophila had variable survival and the best survival was in the T3. In summary, combination the rosemary and B. subtilis enhanced immune parameters and the ability of fish to cope with A. hydrophila as a fish pathogen. These findings indicated the potential of these substances as a promising feed additive.

Effects of Increasing Oral Deoxynivalenol Gavage on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Metabolism, Histology, and Microbiome in Rats.

Mycotoxin-contaminated feed or food can affect physiological responses and cause illnesses in humans and animals. In this study, we evaluated the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) toxicity on the growth performance, blood biochemistry, histology, microbiome, and metabolism of rats fed with different toxin concentrations. After 1 week of acclimatization, seven-week-old male rats received 0.9% saline as a control, 0.02 mg/kg DON as T1, and 0.2 mg/kg DON as T2 via oral gavage for 4 weeks. The final body weight of the T2 group was significantly lower than that of the control and T1; however, the average daily gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio did not differ. Fibrosis and apoptosis were observed in various tissues as DON concentration increased. Creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly lower in the DON-treated group than in the control. Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota phyla dominated the cecum, whereas those in the feces were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Metabolomic profiling showed phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis as the most prominent pathways. Overall, our results suggest that low-dose and short-term DON exposure can trigger several adverse effects in rats. Dietary toxicants in rats may explain the physiological effects associated with the metabolism commonly reported in animals.

Comparative Efficacy of Magnesium and Potassium Towards Cholesterol and Quality of Life in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomised Single-Blinded Controlled Clinical Trial.

The present study was designed to compare the effect of magnesium, potassium and both (potassium and magnesium combined) on cholesterol levels and quality of life (QoL) among patients with T2DM. A randomised controlled trial (single blinded) was conducted at The University of Lahore and Lahore Medical Research Center (LMRC). The sample size was 290 patients with T2DM, who were divided into four groups: Group I (T1) that received control/placebo; Group II (T2) and Group III (T3) received magnesium and potassium supplements, respectively; and Group IV (T4) received both magnesium and potassium supplements. Blood samples were taken from all patients before and after 60 days of supplementation to determine the levels of K+, Mg2+ and cholesterol using a chemistry analyzer (photometer 5010 v5+). There was a decrease in mean cholesterol levels in all groups after the treatment, with the largest reduction (224.9 ± 61.92 to 163.4 ± 48.38) seen in the T3 group, that received potassium supplements. A significant increase in the social QoL, indicated by a p value change from 0.06 before medical intervention to 0.000 after medical intervention, was observed. p value was significant (<0.05) between pre- and post-QoL within the T2 (Mg) and T3 (K) treatment groups. The overall decrease in cholesterol levels and improvement in the social QoL after treatment imply that magnesium- and potassium-based formulations prove beneficial in combating hyperlipidaemia in patients with T2DM. NCT04642313.

Doppler ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography for evaluation of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy in IgA nephropathy.

The purpose of this study was to explore the value of Doppler ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating renal interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA). During April 2019 and November 2023, biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients were enrolled in our study. Conventional ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound imaging and SWE measurements were performed, and related parameters were collected. According to the Oxford classification of IgAN, interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (T) lesions were grouped into T0, T1 and T2 group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of SWE in identifying IFTA. A total of 100 IgAN patients were enrolled in the final cohort. 67 patients were in the T0 group, and 33 patients were in the T1/T2 group. The average SWE values were 42.17 ± 9.11kPa in the T0 group and 36.83 ± 10.32kPa in the T1/T2 group (p = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the SWE value and end diastolic velocity (EDV) of the interlobar artery were found to be independent risk factors for IFTA. For the diagnosis of IFTA, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of SWE alone was 0.652, whereas the AUC of SWE in combination with the EDV was 0.807 (p = 0.008). The combination of Doppler ultrasound imaging and SWE measurements could improve the diagnostic performance of quantitative assessment of IFTA in IgAN patients.

Marine macroalgae Chaetomorpha aerea as a dietary supplement: Optimizing immunity and resistance to Edwardsiella tarda in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

The intensification of aquaculture has led to a rise in fish infections, necessitating the search for alternative antibiotics. In this context, our study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Chaetomorpha aerea, a filamentous green algae, on the immune health and resistance to infections in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Diets containing varying concentrations of C. aerea (0, 1, 2, 5, and 10 g/kg) were prepared and administered to the fish for 30 days, followed by a challenge with Edwardsiella tarda to evaluate survival rates. The results were significant. The diet containing 5 g/kg of C. aerea (group T3) brought about substantial improvements in hematological parameters, including increases in red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (Hct), and hemoglobin (Hb). The T3 group exhibited a robust immune response, with higher lysozyme and ceruloplasmin activity in immunological assays. LBP gene expression was significantly elevated in the spleen and thymus of fish in the T3 group, which correlated with higher survival after bacterial challenge compared to the control group. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis confirmed that the 5 g/kg concentration stood out for maximizing immunological benefits without compromising the overall health of the fish. These findings highlight the robust immune response in the T3 group, a key finding of our study. We conclude that supplementation with C. aerea represents a promising and sustainable alternative in the formulation of diets for tilapia, contributing to improved health and resistance to diseases. Future studies are recommended to explore its application in other species and development stages, in addition to evaluating other health biomarkers.

Non-Structural Carbohydrates Accumulation in Seedlings Improved Flowering Quality of Tree Peony under Forcing Culture Conditions, with Roots Playing a Crucial Role.

(1) Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) is a woody ornamental plant originating from China, and beloved by people worldwide. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) play a crucial role in regulating the flowering quality of tree peonies in both field and potted conditions. However, the effects of NSCs accumulation and allocation in various organs during the vegetative growth stage on the flowering quality of tree peony under forcing culture remains unclear. (2) Two-year-old grafted seedlings of tree peony cv. 'Luoyanghong' were subjected to orthogonal treatments to investigate the role of NSCs accumulation in plants' developmental process. We measured leaf photosynthetic capacity, NSCs accumulation in the organs of seedlings, observed key ornamental characteristics of flowering quality under forcing culture conditions, and evaluated the qualities of seedlings and flowers using the seedling index (SI) and flowering index (FI), respectively. (3) There was a significant positive correlation between leaf photosynthetic capacity and NSCs accumulation in both the whole plant and roots of potted tree peony. Roots were identified as the primary organs for NSCs accumulation in potted tree peonies. Sufficient NSCs accumulation in the plant, particularly in the roots during the defoliation period, was essential not only for enhancing the seedling quality of potted tree peonies but also for improving the flowering quality under forcing culture conditions. Both the seedling index (SI) and flowering index (FI) exhibited a significant dose-response with increasing root NSCs accumulation at defoliation. The T3 group, which involved slight root pruning (by 25%), combined with a high-concentration rooting agent (750 mg·L-1) and Metarhizium anisopliae (20 million U·mL-1), resulted in the highest photosynthetic capacity, SI, FI and NSCs accumulation status (NSCAR), making it the optimal treatment combination. (4) This finding indicates that increasing NSCs accumulation in the roots of potted tree peonies is a crucial biological foundation for producing high-quality potted flowers under forcing culture conditions, which provide new insights into the importance of NSCs in tree peony flowering and may improve the production technology for high-quality potted tree peony flowers under forcing culture conditions.

Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus plantarum GCLP4 Derived From the Gut of Ctenopharyngodon idella Modulates Growth, Digestive Enzymes and Immune-Biochemical Parameters of Labeo rohita Fingerlings.

The present study was carried out to isolate, identify, and characterize bacterial probiotic strain from the gut of Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass carp) and then to study its effect on growth, digestive enzymes and immunity of Labeo rohita fingerlings. A total of 6 gram-positive bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus spp. (3), Bacillus spp. (2) and Staphylococcus spp. (1), were identified biochemically. Based on the biochemical results, the isolate GCLP4 was selected for molecular confirmation and BLAST analysis showed maximum homology with Lactobacillus plantarum (100% ident). Fish were fed for 60 days with diet containing 0 (T0), 105 (T1), 107 (T2), 109 (T3) cfu/g diet of L. plantarum GCLP4 and 105 (T4) of commercial probiotics. Results shows that supplementation of GCLP4 had significantly (p < 0.05) improve weight gain (%), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of L. rohita with better values in T3 group. The immunological parameters (white blood cell, red blood cell, haemoglobin, total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly higher (p < 0.05) with 107 and 109 Lactobacillus GCLP4 cfu/g diet. The digestive enzyme activities (protease, amylase and lipase) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher, particularly, with 109 Lactobacillus GCLP4 cfu/g of diet. All the groups supplemented with GCLP4 including the commercial probiotics have lower (p < 0.05) activities of serum transaminase enzymes along with lower (p < 0.005) level of glucose as compared to the control group. The results of the study collectively suggest that dietary L. plantarum GCLP4 at 109 cfu/g is an effective probiotic obtained from grass carp having potency to promote growth, digestive enzymes and immune-biochemical indices of L. rohita fingerlings in present culture condition.