Total Blood Cell Count Research Articles

The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among United States adults with COPD: results from NHANES 1999-2018.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is considered a biomarker of systemic inflammation and immune activation. However, its relationship with the risk of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between NLR and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with COPD. Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from January 1999 to December 2018. The calculation method of NLR involves dividing the neutrophil count by the lymphocyte count in the total blood cell count. The optimal NLR threshold associated with survival outcomes was determined using the maximally selected rank statistics method (MSRSM). The relationship between NLR and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in COPD was investigated using a weighted multivariable Cox regression model. Additionally, restricted cubic spline (RCS) was employed to discuss the potential relationship between NLR patients in different groups and the risk of mortality. In this study, 716 adults with COPD were included using the maximally selected rank statistics method, among whom 208 had higher NLR (≥2.56) and 508 had lower NLR (<2.56). During a median follow-up of 111.5 months, 162 COPD patients died from all causes, and 49 patients died from cardiovascular diseases. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors, the risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.46-2.94) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 3.03, 95%CI: 1.63-5.65) in patients with higher NLR was increased by 2-3 times compared to those with lower NLR. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly lower survival rates in patients with higher NLR for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (p < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a linear correlation between NLR and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. NLR has a high value in independently predicting long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risks in community-dwelling COPD patients. Therefore, NLR can serve as a cost-effective and widely available indicator for assessing the prognosis of COPD patients.

Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among elderly patients at a tertiary hospital in Estern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Background: As anemia is a prevalent condition in geriatrics and old age and its frequency proportionately increases with age, leading to severe consequences; any magnitude of it is now recognized as a risk factor for any adverse outcomes: decreased quality-of-life, hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Despite its clinical importance, the problem is not widely recognized. Therefore, regular surveillance could provide evidence-based local data required for interventions. This study is aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among elderly patients in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: From June 20 to July 30, 2022, a cross-sectional study centered in an institution was carried out, enrolling 381 elderly patients. Direct interviewing and review of medical records were used to gather socio-demographic and clinical data. Each participant provided a venous blood sample to determine total blood cell count and blood peripheral film examination; to identify hemoparasites and the morphological type of anemia. Using SPSS version 25, descriptive statistical analysis and bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used, and statistical significance was set at p&lt;0.05. Result: Anemia was seen in 40.4% of participants, mild, moderate, and severe anemia accounts for 71.1%, 23.1%, and 5.8%, respectively. Normocytic normochromic anemia was seen in 55.13% of cases, and microcytic hypochromic in 37.18%. The anemia was substantially correlated with being male [AOR=0.352 95% CI: 0.174, 0.708], having a lower socioeconomic status [AOR=0.041 95% CI: 0.011, 0.156], and eating meat less than once per week [AOR=0.301 95% CI: 0.114, 0.793]. Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of anemia among elderly patients in this area was found to be a severe public health problem. Mild anemia was the predominant type. Identified risk factors should be considered to prevent and control anemia, and screening for anemia among the elderly should be a part of their routine management.

Noninvasive Red Laser Intervention before Radiotherapy of Triple-negative Breast Cancer in a Murine Model.

Radiotherapy is a well-established cancer treatment; it is estimated that approximately 52% of oncology patients will require this treatment modality at least once. However, some tumors, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), may present as radioresistant and thus require high doses of ionizing radiation and a prolonged period of treatment, which may result in more severe side effects. Moreover, such tumors show a high incidence of metastases and decreased survival expectancy of the patient. Thus, new strategies for radiosensitizing TNBC are urgently needed. Red light therapy, photobiomodulation, has been used in clinical practice to mitigate the adverse side effects usually associated with radiotherapy. However, no studies have explored its use as a radiosensitizer of TNBC. Here, we used TNBC-bearing mice as a radioresistant cancer model. Red light treatment was applied in three different protocols before a high dose of radiation (60 Gy split in 4 fractions) was administered. We evaluated tumor growth, mouse clinical signs, total blood cell counts, lung metastasis, survival, and levels of glutathione in the blood. Our data showed that the highest laser dose in combination with radiation arrested tumor progression, likely due to inhibition of GSH synthesis. In addition, red light treatment before each fraction of radiation, regardless of the light dose, improved the health status of the animals, prevented anemia, reduced metastases, and improved survival. Collectively, these results indicate that red light treatment in combination with radiation could prove useful in the treatment of TNBC.

Accuracy of Serological Markers, Synovial Fluid, Microbiological Culture, and Histopathological Examination for Diagnosing Periprosthetic Knee Infection.

Objective This study assessed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of serological tests, synovial fluid markers, microbiological tissue culture, and histopathological examination of the periprosthetic membrane in diagnosing periprosthetic knee infection. Methods This study is prospective, and it includes patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty revision surgery from November 2019 to December 2021. The analysis consisted of serological tests (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], and D-dimer), synovial fluid markers (leukocyte and polymorphonuclear cell counts), periprosthetic tissue culture, and histopathological examination of the periprosthetic membrane of all patients. Results Sixty-two patients had periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) according to the 2018 International Consensus Meeting criteria (infection group), while 22 subjects had no infection. ESR sensitivity and specificity were 83.6% and 45.4%, respectively. CRP sensitivity and specificity were 64.5% and 100%, whereas D-dimer sensitivity and specificity were 78.9% and 25%, respectively. Leukocyte count sensitivity and specificity were 75.6% and 100%, polymorphonuclear cell count sensitivity and specificity were 33% and 100%, respectively. Periprosthetic tissue culture sensitivity and specificity culture were, respectively, 77.4% and 100%. Histopathological examination sensitivity and specificity were 43.7% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions In our study, the total blood cell count in synovial fluid and microbiological cultures of periprosthetic tissues were the most accurate tests for PJI diagnosis. In contrast, polymorphonuclear cell percentage was the least accurate test for PJI diagnosis.

Infectious bursal disease virus: predicting viral pathotype using machine learning models focused on early changes in total blood cell counts

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an avian viral disease caused in chickens by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). IBDV strains (Avibirnavirus genus, Birnaviridae family) exhibit different pathotypes, for which no molecular marker is available yet. The different pathotypes, ranging from sub-clinical to inducing immunosuppression and high mortality, are currently determined through a 10-day-long animal experiment designed to compare mortality and clinical score of the uncharacterized strain with references strains. Limits of this protocol lie within standardization and the extensive use of animal experimentation. The aim of this study was to establish a predictive model of viral pathotype based on a minimum number of early parameters measured during infection, allowing faster pathotyping of IBDV strains with improved ethics. We thus measured, at 2 and 4 days post-infection (dpi), the blood concentrations of various immune and coagulation related cells, the uricemia and the infectious viral load in the bursa of Fabricius of chicken infected under standardized conditions with a panel of viruses encompassing the different pathotypes of IBDV. Machine learning algorithms allowed establishing a predictive model of the pathotype based on early changes of the blood cell formula, whose accuracy reached 84.1%. Its accuracy to predict the attenuated and strictly immunosuppressive pathotypes was above 90%. The key parameters for this model were the blood concentrations of B cells, T cells, monocytes, granulocytes, thrombocytes and erythrocytes of infected chickens at 4 dpi. This predictive model could be a second option to traditional IBDV pathotyping that is faster, and more ethical.

Noninvasive Red Laser Intervention before Radiotherapy of Triple-negative Breast Cancer in a Murine Model.

Radiotherapy is a well-established cancer treatment; it is estimated that approximately 52% of oncology patients will require this treatment modality at least once. However, some tumors, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), may present as radioresistant and thus require high doses of ionizing radiation and a prolonged period of treatment, which may result in more severe side effects. Moreover, such tumors show a high incidence of metastases and decreased survival expectancy of the patient. Thus, new strategies for radiosensitizing TNBC are urgently needed. Red light therapy, photobiomodulation, has been used in clinical practice to mitigate the adverse side effects usually associated with radiotherapy. However, no studies have explored its use as a radiosensitizer of TNBC. Here, we used TNBC-bearing mice as a radioresistant cancer model. Red light treatment was applied in three different protocols before a high dose of radiation (60 Gy split in 4 fractions) was administered. We evaluated tumor growth, mouse clinical signs, total blood cell counts, lung metastasis, survival, and levels of glutathione in the blood. Our data showed that the highest laser dose in combination with radiation arrested tumor progression, likely due to inhibition of GSH synthesis. In addition, red light treatment before each fraction of radiation, regardless of the light dose, improved the health status of the animals, prevented anemia, reduced metastases, and improved survival. Collectively, these results indicate that red light treatment in combination with radiation could prove useful in the treatment of TNBC.

Large Volume Paracentesis in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Temporarily Diminishes Blood Cell Count.

Large-volume paracentesis is the preferred treatment for patients with severe and refractory ascites. Several complications were reported during therapeutical paracentesis. However, there are very few published studies on the change in blood cell count after paracentesis. This study aimed to evaluate any changes in blood cell counts after ascites fluid drainage. This study was conducted on patients with severe ascites and chronic liver disease who underwent large-volume paracentesis at Namazi Hospital, in Shiraz, Iran, between March 2021 and February 2022. A data gathering form containing the patient's medical history, cause of cirrhosis, ascites fluid volume, as well as routine tests including primarily sodium, potassium, and basal creatinine, was filled out. Before and after the surgery, the total blood cell count was measured. Before the procedure, adjustment was made in the case of coagulopathy and albumin deficiency. The effect of factors such as the volume of drained fluid, splenomegaly, antibiotics, and steroid use was assessed on the changes in the number of blood cells. Using the JAMOVI 2.3.9 software, a paired t test and multiple regression were applied for statistical analysis (P<0.001). The study included 37 patients. After the paracentesis procedure, the number of blood cells significantly decreased in all groups (P<0.001). The followings are the amounts of each type of blood cells before and after the procedure: Platelet=153837±91862 and 115648±69136, red blood cells=3.53±0.784 and 3.22±0.705, white blood cells=12.3±7.78 and 8.6±5.5. None of the study variables, including drained volume, splenomegaly, antibiotics, and steroid use, were significant predictors of the changes in the blood cell count after paracentesis (P>0.001). The findings of the present study showed that children with tense ascites who had large-volume paracentesis might experience a sharp drop in blood cell count after the procedure, which was a transient physiological condition.

Protective Effects of Chlorella vulgaris Supplemented Diet on Antibacterial Activity and Immune Responses in Rohu Fingerlings, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), Subjected to Aeromonas hydrophila Infection.

The current study focuses on the antibacterial activity and potential efficiency of dietary supplements of Chlorella vulgaris on the immune response, improved growth performance, and disease resistance of Labeo rohita fingerlings against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Crude ethanolic extract of Chlorella and partially purified fractions of the extract were tested against two selected fish pathogens using the disc diffusion method. A total number of 360 rohu fingerlings (25 ± 2 g) were allocated to 4 treatments for 90 days. They were fed with an experimental diet containing Chlorella powder (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g Kg-1 of a basic diet). To evaluate the non-specific immunity parameters including serum bactericidal, lysozyme activity, superoxide anion production, and biochemical and haematological indices, the fish were sampled at day 30, 60, 90, and after bacterial challenge. Mortalities of the fish were observed over 10 days post challenge with A. hydrophila. The protein and globulin levels of the treatment group were significantly higher after being treated with Chlorella than those of the control group. The total blood-cell count and haemoglobin content were also increased in the algal-diet-treated group. Among all the experimental diets, the 0.5 g Kg-1Chlorella fed group of fish showed significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum bactericidal activity and superoxide anion production when compared with the control group on day 90. Maximum lysozyme activity (750.00 ± 3.27) was noticed in the 1.0 g Kg-1 diet fed group on day 30. The Chlorella treated group exhibited a better growth performance of the fish. The maximum survivability (86.5%) was recorded in the 1.0 g Kg-1 diet fed group at the end of the 10-day fish exposure to A. hydrophila. These results suggest that the optimum dietary Chlorella supplementation could be 0.5-1.0 g Kg-1 of the diet, which stimulates immunity and protects L. rohita from A. hydrophila infection.

Potential benefits of a blend of essential oils on metabolism, digestibility, organ development and gene expression of dairy calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate blood cells and metabolites, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), digestibility, internal organs weight and histology, gene expression, and spleen cell proliferation of pre-weaned bull calves supplemented with a blend of essential oils in milk replacer (MR). Sixteen newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy bull calves, with body weight at birth of 33.3 ± 3.7 kg, were housed in individual sand bedded pens, blocked by genetic composition, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a randomized complete block design: Control (CON, n = 8) and blend of essential oils supplementation (BEO, n = 8, 1 g/day/calf, Apex Calf, Adisseo, China). The commercial blend was composed by plant extracts derived from anise, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Animals were fed 5 L of MR/day reconstituted at 15% (dry matter basis), divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea, and glucose were evaluated weekly, IGF-1 was evaluated biweekly, and total blood cell count was performed every four weeks until the end of the trial at eight weeks of age. Feed samples were collected three times a week and polled for weekly analysis. Apparent total nutrient digestibility was determined from d 56 to 60 of age. On d 60 ± 1, animals were euthanized for organ weight, histology, spleen cell proliferation, and intestinal gene expression analysis. Data were analyzed independently using linear mixed models using the REML method in the nlme package in R for continuous outcomes. A non-parametric test was used for ordered categorical outcomes using the Artools package in R. There were no differences between groups for blood evaluations, digestibility, gene expression, and a spleen cell proliferation assay. However, BEO calves presented a heavier pancreas, heavier intestines, bigger ileum villi, and higher cecum butyrate levels (P < 0.05), demonstrating that the EO supplementation helped intestinal development and symbiotic bacteria. It was also observed in CON animals’ heavier respiratory tract and a higher eosinophil count (P < 0.05). Therefore, the organs where eosinophils are more active had a better response for BEO animals. No differences were found in the intestinal gene expression in the immune context. These results demonstrate that supplementing essential oils in MR could contribute to gut development and immune function. However, more research is needed to understand its impact on body development and define the best dosage and route of administration.

Toxicity of tributyltin chloride on haarder (Liza haematocheila) after its acute exposure: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant defense, histological, and transcriptional analyses

Liza haematocheila is exposed to various chemical contaminants from anthropogenic sources, including tributyltin chloride (TBTC). Yet the toxicity mechanism of TBTC on haarder remains unclear. The haarder was exposed to different doses (0, 10%, 20%, and 50% of LC50-96 h) of TBTC. In this study, the results revealed its high bioaccumulation in the livers and significant alteration for development. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased after 96-h exposure to TBTC, this accompanied by an increased malondialdehyde level. TBTC exposure caused the intense production of reactive oxygen species, a reduction in total blood cell count in serum, and apoptosis-related alterations in livers, indicating that enhanced oxidative stress occurred in the process of TBTC exposure. Histological results revealed angiorrhexis and infiltration of inflammatory cells, vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes in the livers, and swelling, fusion, and disintegration of gill organs. Interestingly, the obtained transcriptional profiles indicated that high doses of TBTC caused energy disorder, apoptosis, and adipogenesis restriction mediated by cytokines and adipokines in Jak-STAT and adipocytokine signaling pathways. In summary, acute exposure to high doses of TBTC could impair the antioxidant system and pathways related to energy, apoptosis and adipogenesis, eventually posing a serious challenge to the fitness of haarder individuals and its fish populations as marine resources.

A Patient with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) Infected from a Sick Dog with SFTS Virus Infection.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by Dabie bandavirus (formerly SFTS virus, SFTSV), which belongs to the Bandavirus genus (formerly Phlebovirus genus) of the Phenuiviridae family (formerly Bunyaviridae family), is a tick-borne novel bunyavirus infection with high rates of mortality. SFTSV infection was diagnosed virologically in a 4-year-old dog with symptoms of lethargy and anorexia in western Japan in June 2017. The dog's owner, a man in his 40s, had taken care of the sick dog and became sick 10 days after disease onset in the dog, showing symptoms, such as fever, arthralgia, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Total blood cell counts revealed leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. He was treated as an outpatient. He had no scars suggesting that he had not been bitten by ticks. He was diagnosed as having SFTS via the detection of IgM and neutralizing antibodies to SFTSV. The patient was directly infected with SFTSV from the SFTSV-infected dog. In conclusion, humans can be at a risk of SFTSV infection through direct contact with sick dogs infected with SFTSV.

Hypoxia Induces Oxidative Injury and Apoptosis via Mediating the Nrf-2/Hippo Pathway in Blood Cells of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Investigating how aquatic animals respond to hypoxia brought about by changes in environmental temperature may be of great significance to avoid oxidative injury and maintain the quality of farmed fish in the background of global warming. Here, we investigated the effects of hypoxia on oxidative injury and environment-sensing pathway in blood cells of Micropterus salmoides. The total blood cell count (TBCC) and Giemsa staining showed that hypoxia could lead to damage of blood cells. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the apoptosis rate, Ca2+ level, NO production and ROS of blood cells were significantly increased under hypoxia stress. Environment-sensing pathways, such as Nrf2 pathway showed that hypoxia resulted in significant up-regulation of hiF-1 alpha subunit (Hif-1α), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and kelch-1ike ECH- associated protein l (Keap1) expression. Meanwhile, the expression of Hippo pathway-related genes such as MOB kinase activator 1 (MOB1), large tumor suppressor homolog 1/2 (Lats1/2), yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) were significantly increased in blood cells after hypoxia exposure. In addition, hypoxia stress also increased the expression of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), but decreased the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Consequently, our results suggested that hypoxia could induce oxidative injury and apoptosis via mediating environment-sensing pathway such as Nrf2/Hippo pathway in blood cells of M. salmoides.

Cordycepin from Medicinal Fungi Cordyceps militaris Mitigates Inflammaging-Associated Testicular Damage via Regulating NF-κB/MAPKs Signaling in Naturally Aged Rats

Inflammaging in male reproductive organs covers a wide variety of problems, including sexual dysfunction and infertility. In this study, the beneficial effects of cordycepin (COR), isolated from potential medicinal fungi Cordyceps militaris, in aging-associated testicular inflammation and serum biochemical changes in naturally aged rats were investigated. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into young control (YC), aged control (AC), and COR (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) treated aged rat groups. Aging-associated serum biochemical changes and inflammatory parameters were analyzed by biochemical assay kits, Western blotting, and real-time RT-PCR. Results showed a significant (p < 0.05) alteration in the total blood cell count, lipid metabolism, and liver functional parameters in AC group when compared with YC group. However, COR-treated aged rats ameliorated the altered biochemical parameters significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively). Furthermore, the increase in the expression of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tissue necrosis factor-alpha) in aged rat testis was significant (p < 0.05) when compared with YC group. Treatment with COR at 20 mg/kg to aged rats attenuated the increased expression of inflammatory mediators significantly (p < 0.05). Mechanistic studies revealed that the potential attenuating effects exhibited by COR in aged rats was mediated by regulation of NF-κB activation and MAPKs (c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and p38) signaling. In conclusion, COR restored the altered serum biochemical parameters in aged rats and ameliorated the aging-associated testicular inflammation proving the therapeutic benefits of COR targeting inflammaging-associated male sexual dysfunctions.

Hematology and serology analysis of healthy and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infected equids in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that causes equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA), that is characterized by fever, anorexia, depression, limb oedema. Hematological and serological alterations are important findings during the disease. We analyzed whole blood and serum from 37 horses and mules from three locations in Minas Gerais, Brazil, for total blood cell count, leucocytes, platelets, renal and hepatic profiles. Equids infected by A. phagocytophilum had differences in blood cell count and renal and hepatic profiles. As a zoonosis, the study of equine A. phagocytophilum infection in areas with high population density and in breeding farms, is important to understand the disease dynamics and avoid human cases of anaplasmosis.

Durational exposure dependent effect of carbamate treated net on haematological indices in wistar rat

The present study was undertaken to investigate the duration of exposure dependent effect of carbamate treated net on haematological indices in Wistar rats. Eighteen (18) Wistar rats were used in this study and designated into three (3) study groups of six rats each. Group 1 was the control group while groups 2 and 3 constituted the experimental groups containing rats exposed to carbamate treated net for 30 and 60 days respectively. At the end of the exposure period, the animals were sacrificed and blood sample were removed for haematological analysis. The result of the study shows that there was a significant increase in the body weight of exposed rats compared to rats in the control group at (P&lt;0.05). Relative organ weight of the exposed rats increased significantly (p&lt;0.05) when compared to rats in the control group. The PCV, Hb, RBC’s, PLT, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels all increased insignificantly in the exposed rats when compared to rats in the control group at (p&lt;0.05). The study also revealed that the total White Blood Cell (WBC) counts in the exposed groups was significantly elevated when compared to the control group at (P&lt;0.05). Finally, the result of the study shows a significant increase (p&lt;0.05) in the levels of neutrophil of the exposed rats when compared with the control group, while the level of lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes increased insignificantly (p&gt;0.05) in rats exposed for 30 days but increased significantly (p&lt;0.05) in rats exposed for 60 days when compared to rats in their control group. Therefore, the observation from this study suggests that long-term exposure to carbamate treated net may alter the haematological indices and hence lead to various health problem.&#x0D; Keywords: Body Weight, Carbamate, Organs Weight and Heamatological Indices

Neutrophil/lymphocyte, platelet/lymphocyte and monocyte/lymphocyte ratios in schizophrenia.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been used as markers of inflammation in mental illness. However, these indices have not been widely used in schizophrenia research in Chinese participants. Our aim was to use these ratios to explore the relationship between schizophrenia and inflammation. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we collected total blood cell counts of 549 patients with schizophrenia and 930 healthy controls at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital in October 2019. We analyzed the subjects' platelet, lymphocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil counts; compared the calculated NLR, MLR, and PLR between patients and healthy controls; and evaluated the correlations with age and gender. Platelet and lymphocyte counts were significantly lower, while NLR and MLR were significantly higher, in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. Additionally, monocyte count, lymphocyte count, MLR, and NLR were different between male and female subjects. This study supports the inflammatory hypothesis of schizophrenia in the Chinese population.

PSII-14 Supplementation of Bacillus Amyloquefaciens on Systemic Immunity of Weaned Pigs Experimentally Infected with a Pathogenic E. coli

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Bacillus amyloquefaciens on total and differential blood cell count in weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic E. coli. A total of 50 weaned pigs (7.41 ± 1.35 kg) were individually housed in disease containment rooms and randomly assigned to one of the 5 treatments: sham control (CON-), sham B. amyloquefaciens (BAM-), challenged control (CON+), challenged B. amyloquefaciens (BAM+) and challenged carbadox (CAR+). The experiment lasted 28 days with 7 days’ adaptation and 21 days after the first E. coli inoculation. The doses of F18 E. coli inoculum were 1010 CFU/3 mL oral dose daily for 3 consecutive days. Whole blood samples were collected from all pigs on d -7, and d 0, 7, 14, and 21 post infection (PI) to measure total and differential blood cell count by complete blood count (CBC) analysis. Supplementation of BAM or CAR increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) either the percentage or the number of lymphocytes on d 0 before E. coli inoculation. E. coli challenge increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) white blood cell (WBC) count on d 7 and 21 PI, while supplementation of BAM tended (P &amp;lt; 0.10) to have low WBC on d 7 PI and had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) WBC on d 21 PI compared with CON+. Pigs in BAM+ also had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) neutrophil count on d 14 PI, pigs fed with CAR had lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) neutrophil count on d 14 and 21 PI, compared with pigs in CON+. No difference was observed in red blood cell profile among all treatments throughout the experiment. In conclusion, pigs fed with B. amyloquefaciens have similar systemic immune response to pigs in antibiotic group and have relatively lower systemic inflammation caused by E. coli compared with control group.

PSII-16 Effects of Oligosaccharide-based Polymer on Blood Profiles in Weanling Pigs Experimentally Infected with a Pathogenic E. coli

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to investigate dietary supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer on blood profiles of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic F18 Escherichia coli (E. coli). Forty-eight pigs (7.23 ± 1.11 kg BW) were individually housed in disease containment rooms and randomly allotted to one of four treatments with 12 replicate pigs per treatment. The four dietary treatments were a nursery basal diet (control), and 3 additional diets supplemented with 50 mg/kg Mecadox (AGP), 10 or 20 mg/kg of oligosaccharide-based polymer. The experiment lasted 18 d [7 d before and 11 d after the first inoculation (d 0)]. The doses of F18 E. coli inoculum were 1010 cfu/3 mL oral dose daily for 3 days. Blood samples were collected before E. coli inoculation (d 0), and on d 2, 5, 8, and 11 post-inoculation (PI). Total and differential blood cell count were analyzed by CBC test. All data were analyzed by ANOVA using the PROC MIXED of SAS with pig as the experimental unit. Supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer linearly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) reduced white blood cell counts, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils on d 2 PI, and neutrophils on d 5 PI, compared with the control. No differences were observed in total and differential white blood cell counts among AGP and two oligosaccharide-based polymer treatments except that pigs fed with AGP had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) lymphocytes on d 2 PI compared with pigs fed with oligosaccharide-based polymer diets. Supplementation of low dose oligosaccharide-based polymer or AGP reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) red blood cell count and packed cell volume on d 2 PI, whereas inclusion of high dose oligosaccharide-based polymer or AGP reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) packed cell volume on d 5 PI, compared with the control. In conclusion, supplementation of oligosaccharide-based polymer may alleviate the systemic inflammation caused by F18 E. coli infection.

Chronic Exposure to Environmental DDT/DDE in 2 Species of Small Rodents: Measures of Contaminant Load, Immune Dysfunction, and Oxidative Stress.

Persistent contaminants are ubiquitous in our water and soil, and thus chronic exposure to environmentally relevant levels of these contaminants may pose a risk to humans and wildlife. Two species of small mammals (deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus and cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus) were collected from historically dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)-contaminated and reference areas at the Redstone Arsenal (Huntsville, AL, USA), a US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-designated Superfund site. Soil samples taken concurrently with mammal collection from the DDT abatement site exhibited DDT and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) levels >1 ppm (USEPA total threshold limit concentration for DDT and DDE <1 ppm), whereas soil samples from the reference area had undetectable levels. Liver samples from individuals of both species collected in the contaminated areas also had significantly elevated DDT/DDE levels, with P. maniculatus averaging an approximately 20× greater load than that documented for S. hispidus. Both rodent species collected from the contaminated site had significantly lower total leukocyte counts and total differential blood cell counts (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively) than those collected from the nearby (~7000-m) reference site. Cellular stress indices also trended higher in both species, suggesting a potential for chronic exposure to DDT to act as a mediator of oxidative damage. The present study provides support to the idea that environmental exposure to low levels of contaminants can cause physiological consequences that may influence immune responsiveness and initiate cellular stress in resident mammals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1619-1629. © 2021 SETAC.

Immunomodulatory and Antiviral Effects of Macroalgae Sulphated Polysaccharides: Case Studies Extend Knowledge on Their Importance in Enhancing Shellfish Health, and the Control of a Global Viral Pathogen Ostreid Herpesvirus-1 microVar

Macroalgae are the primary source of non-animal sulphated polysaccharides (SPs) in the marine environment with fucoidans derived from brown algae (Phaeophyta) and carrageenans from red algae (Rhodophyta). Much research has been carried out on SP effects on Asian shrimp species (genera Penaeus and Metapenaeus) but their effect on commercially important bivalve mollusc species is limited and in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is unknown. Knowledge of their impact on bivalve pathogens and Palaemon shrimp is unknown. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyta), Mastocarpus stellatus (Rhodophyta) and algal derivatives (fucoidan and κ-carrageenan) on C. gigas performance, and on ostreid herpesvirus-1 microvar (OsHV-1 μVar) and bacteria Vibrio spp. development. Both pathogens have been associated with significant oyster mortalities and economic losses globally. The effects of sulphated galactan from Gracilaria fisheri (Rhodophyta) on European common prawn Palaemon serratus, an important fishery species, was also assessed. Findings indicate a rapid and prolonged increase in total blood cell count, lysozyme (enzyme that destroys pathogens), and a difference in the ratio of blood cell types in treated individuals compared to their control counterparts. A significantly lower OsHV-1 μVar prevalence was observed in treated oysters and κ-carrageenan was found to suppress viral replication (loads), while OsHV-1 μVar was not detected in the fucoidan treated oysters from Day 8 of the 26-day trial. No antibacterial effect was observed however, the oysters did not succumb to vibriosis. These findings contribute further knowledge to macroalgae sulphated polysaccharide biotherapeutic properties, their twofold effect on animal health and viral suppression.