Body Mass Research Articles

Effect of dolutegravir on weight changes and lipid profile compared with efavirenz in people living with HIV: A retrospective cohort study.

There are limited data on DTG-associated weight gain among treatment-naïve Asian people living with HIV (PLHIV). Eighty-one and 100 PLHIV initiating DTG-based and efavirenz (EFV)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART), respectively, were retrospectively investigated for weight changes and lipid profiles at 6 and 12 months after ART initiation. At baseline, the DTG group had a lower mean body weight (BW) (60.7 kg vs. 64.3 kg, p = 0.071) and lower mean cholesterol level (172 mg/dL vs. 185 mg/dL, p = 0.029) than the EFV group. Mean BW remained lower in the DTG group than in the EFV group at 6 [58.2 kg vs. 66.0 kg, mean difference (MD) -7.8, p = 0.005] and 12 (59.6 kg vs. 67.0 kg, MD -7.3, p = 0.008) months. BW did not significantly change between baseline and 12 months in the DTG group (60.7 kg vs. 59.6 kg, p = 0.495), whereas it significantly increased between baseline and 12 months in the EFV group (64.3 kg vs. 66.9 kg, p = 0.019). Cholesterol levels did not significantly increase between baseline and 12 months in either group. After adjustment, DTG use [MD -5.85, 95 % confidence interval (CI) -10.45, -1.24, p = 0.013] and baseline BW (MD 0.97, 95 % CI 0.79, 1.15, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with BW changes over time. DTG-based ART was not significantly associated with increased BW and cholesterol levels compared with EFV-based ART in treatment-naïve Thai PLHIV.

Conventional and machine learning-based analysis of age, body weight and body height significance in knot position-related thyrohyoid and cervical spine fractures in suicidal hangings.

The thyrohyoid complex and cervical spine fracture distribution patterns may reflect the knot position as the force distribution by the noose to different neck regions may vary depending on it. Recently, machine learning models (MLm) were used to classify knot position through these fractures. The contribution of aging on the fracture susceptibility is better demonstrated, but data on body weight (BW) and height (BH) significance on this is more doubtful and MLm did not consider them. A retrospectively obtained autopsy data on sex, age, BW, BH and distribution of greater hyoid bone horn (GHH), superior thyroid cartilage horn (STH), and cervical spine fractures in 368 suicidal hangings were analyzed by standard statistics to determine association of the anthropometrics (age, BW, and BH) with the fracture occurrence, and by machine learning algorithms to determine if body weight and height improved MLm classification of hanging cases with typical and atypical knot positions. In the sample, unilateral GHH fracture was significantly more common in atypical hangings, while isolated STH fractures were more common in typical hangings. Age was a predictor of GHH fractures and BW of STH fractures, but BW poorly correlated with their number. BH was not a predictor of any thyrohyoid fracture. On the ROC curve analysis, the MLm that considered BW and BH did not perform statistically better than MLm that did not consider them. The study indicates that body weight and height are of no detrimental value in assessing the thyrohyoid and cervical spine fracture patterns in suicidal hangings.

Holiday Weight Change in a US College Student Sample: AProspective Observational Cohort Study.

The November through January holiday period is often thought to produce weight gain, coined "holiday weight gain." While this trend has been documented among early to midlife adults, it is less certain whether college students experience similar levels of weight gain during this period, as they undergo lifestyle changes (e.g., returning to their families of origin) that may differ from adults at later stages of development. Thus, the primary aim of the current study was to determine body weight and body composition changes during the holiday season in college students. The secondary aim was to examine the association of psychosocial variables with primary outcomes. Participants included 47 undergraduate students. Body weight, body composition, and psychosocial variables were measured prior to Thanksgiving break and after returning from December to January break. Differences in body weight and body composition variables were determined using paired-sample t-tests. Associations of psychosocial variables with changes in primary outcomes were determined by Spearman's correlation coefficients and linear regressions. On average, college students experienced a 1.08% increase in body weight between study visit 1 in November and study visit 2 in January (0.74±1.81kg; p=0.02). Lean mass increased (1.49±3.21kg; p=0.01), while body fat % did not change (p=0.12). Psychosocial variables were not significantly associated with or predictive of changes in body weight or body fat % (p's>0.05). College students gained a small, yet significant, amount of weight over the holiday period. Weight gain occurred alongside increases in lean mass but not body fat. Results provide important context to previous findings observing weight gain in college students and adults over the holiday season. Specifically, findings indicate a healthy increase in lean mass-a potential promotive factor in optimal health and wellbeing.

Co-Administration of Hibiscus sabdariffa linn and Daflon-500® mitigates weight loss, hyperglycemia, hematological and oxidative changes in male rats with type-2 diabetes

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder associated with persistent hyperglycemia and metabolic imbalance. Flavonoid compounds possess notable qualities in mitigating diabetes and its complications. AimHibiscus sabdariffa linn and daflon-500® were assessed for their effects on body weight, blood glucose/indices, and oxidative changes in type-2 diabetes rats over 28 days. Methods35 male rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n=5). Diabetes mellitus was induced in groups 2-7 via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 55mg/kg). Group 1(DW) received distilled water (2mL/kg) only. Group 2 (STZ; untreated), group 3 {MET; metformin (200mg/kg)}, group 4 {HS; Hibiscus sabdariffa (400mg/kg)}, group 5 {DAF; daflon-500® (1000mg/kg)}, group 6 {DAF+HS; daflon-500® (1000mg/kg) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (400mg/kg)}, group 7 {DAF+MET+HS; daflon-500® (1000mg/kg), metformin (200mg/kg), and Hibiscus sabdariffa (400mg/kg)}. Body weight and blood glucose were assessed fortnightly. Blood and hepatic/pancreatic tissues were collected for hematological and antioxidant testing. ResultsGroups 2-7 revealed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight on day 14 compared to the increased growth rate observed on day 28 (Group 7).Blood glucose levels significantly increased on days 1 and 14 in groups 2-7 but declined on day 28 in groups 4-7. Significantly higher packed cell volume, hemoglobin levels, red blood cell counts, lymphocytes, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were observed in groups 5-7. Platelet counts were higher in Groups 2 and 5. Untreated group 2 exhibited considerably reduced catalase activity, glutathione, and malondialdehyde concentrations compared to the treated groups. ConclusionHibiscus sabdariffa linn and Daflon-500® expressed substantial hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and hemato-protective effects.

Early adolescent second-generation antipsychotic exposure produces long-term, post-treatment increases in body weight and metabolism-associated gene expression.

The use of second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medications in pediatric patients raises concerns about potential long-term adverse outcomes. The current study evaluated the long-term effects of treatment with risperidone or olanzapine on body weight, caloric intake, serum insulin, blood glucose, and metabolism-associated gene expression in C57Bl/6J female mice. Compared to mice treated with vehicle, female mice treated with risperidone or olanzapine gained weight at higher rates during treatment and maintained higher body weights for months following treatment cessation. High-fat diet feeding did not produce a robust difference in weight gain in previously treated vs. control groups. Finally, female mice previously treated with olanzapine also exhibited increased expression of genes associated with inflammation and lipogenesis. These findings suggest that pediatric use of SGA medications that induce excess weight gain during treatment may exert persistent effects on body weight and gene expression and such outcomes may form an important aspect of assessing risk-to-benefit ratios in prescribing decisions.

Pharmacokinetics of difloxacin after single intravenous, oral and intramuscular administration in pigeons.

This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of difloxacin in pigeons following oral (PO), intramuscular (IM), and intravenous (IV) administration. Thirty pigeons were randomly divided into three groups (IM, IV, and PO; n = 10 per group). Difloxacin was administered at 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) via each route. Blood samples were collected at various intervals from 0 to 48 h, and plasma was analyzed for difloxacin concentrations using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using Phoenix software and a non-compartmental analysis (NCA) approach. After PO and IM administration, peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) were observed as 1.81 ± 0.47 and 6.52 ± 1.62 μg/mL, occurring at 2.60 ± 0.97 and 0.63 ± 0.24 h, respectively. Bioavailability (F) was 38.35 % ± 10.45 % for PO and 90.25 % ± 26.14 % for IM administration. Following IV administration, difloxacin was widely distributed, with a volume of distribution (VZ) of 2.52 ± 0.65 L/kg and a steady-state volume of distribution (VSS) of 1.87 ± 0.27 L/kg. Difloxacin exhibited slow elimination, with elimination half-lives (t1/2λzs) of 1.61 ± 0.3, 2.64 ± 0.64, and 4.27 ± 1.14 h after IM, PO, and IV administration, respectively. Based on the AUC/MIC ratios calculated here, the current IM or IV administration at 10 mg/kg BW is effective against bacterial infections with MIC values ≤ 0.1 μg/mL, while the current oral dose (10 mg/kg BW) may be insufficient, particularly for infections caused by pathogens with MIC values exceeding 0.1 μg/mL.

Floor Management and Amendment Applications Affected Dry-farmed Tomato Production during a 2020 Experiment in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

‘Early Girl’ tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) was dry-farmed during 2020 to determine the effects of floor management and amendment treatments on the total and unblemished yields, average fruit weight, blossom-end rot (BER) incidence, sunscald incidence, plant size, soil water tension, predawn leaf water potential (PDLWP), and leaf and soil nutrient concentrations. Floor management treatments included leaf mulching (4 inches of semi-composted leaf mulch), dust mulching (mechanical tillage to a depth of 6 to 8 inches after rain events), and a weedy treatment (weeds were not controlled). Amendment treatments included high compost (additional 73.5 wet tons/acre), high nitrogen (N) (160 lb/acre N applied as composted chicken manure and feather meal), low N (40 lb/acre N), and gypsum (2075 lb/acre gypsum). All these treatments were compared with a clean-cultivated control fertilized at 100 lb/acre N. No floor management treatment performed better (referring to total yield, unblemished yield, fruit count, fruit weight, BER incidence, sunscald incidence, and PDLWP) than the clean-cultivated control, and the leaf mulch and weedy treatments performed significantly worse. The leaf mulch treatment decreased the average fruit weight (30%), increased the BER incidence (34%), and increased the necrotic BER incidence (88%) when compared with the control. However, the leaf mulch treatment also used soil moisture more slowly than the control did. The weedy treatment decreased total yields (65%) and unblemished yields (88%), decreased the total fruit count (53%), decreased the average fruit weight (25%), increased the BER incidence (53%) and necrotic BER incidence (82%), decreased PDLWP (suggesting that the plants were more drought-stressed) on 20 Jul (27%) and 3 Aug (44%), and resulted in smaller plants when compared with those treated with the control. No amendment treatment performed better than the control, and the high compost treatment performed significantly worse. When compared with the control, the high compost treatment decreased the average fruit weight (15%), increased the BER incidence (39%), increased the necrotic BER incidence (67%), and increased plant aboveground biomass at the end of the experiment (34%). Increasing applications of organic fertilizers increased the BER incidence, with 48% BER at 40 lb/acre N and 62% BER at 160 lb/acre N. These data suggest that excess fertilizer applications and factors that increase drought stress (e.g., weeds) induce BER in dry-farmed tomato. Dust mulching may not be necessary, and shallow cultivation can be used instead for weed management. Dry farmers in the Willamette Valley must control weeds and avoid excess soil fertility and leaf mulches because they can result in large plants with a large fruit set; however, these fruit are more susceptible to BER.

Ganoderic acid a potential protective impact on bleomycin (BLM) -induced lung fibrosis in albino mice: Targeting caveolin 1/TGF-β/ Smad and P38MAPK signaling pathway.

Bleomycin (BLM), an anticancer medication, can exacerbate pulmonary fibrosis by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant properties are exhibited by ganoderic acid A (GAA). So, we aim to assess GAA's protective impact on lung fibrosis induced via BLM. Forty mice were randomly classified into four groups. Lung fibrosis was induced by injection of BLM intraperitoneally (15mg/kg body weight). GAA was given by oral gavage (25mg/kg body weight). Lung tissue MDA, TAC, and GSH were assessed spectrophotometrically. As well, TGFβ, p38 MAPK, TNF-α, IL-1β, and CAV1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gene expression of tumor growth factor beta (TGF-β), Smad2, Smad3, and glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) were also evaluated. GAA had significantly improved biochemical biomarkers as well as histopathology of the lung. The protective impact of GAA may be linked to the upregulation of GCL gene expression and subsequent GSH levels. In addition, the GAA-treated group showed a significant decrement in the levels of TGF-β, Smad2&3, P38 MAPK, TNF-α, IL1β, and MDA compared to BLM induced lung fibrosis group. GAA has a protective impact on lung fibrosis induced by BLM via downregulation of TGF-β and upregulation of CAV1 level and GCL expression which may play a critical role in the improvement of the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis induced via BLM.

The efficacy of anamorelin in gastrointestinal cancer with cancer cachexia: Single center experience.

815 Background: Cancer cachexia is a catabolic syndrome that causes weight loss and loss of appetite in cancer patients. Anamorelin (ANAM) is an oral drug approved in Japan to treat cancer cachexia by selectively activating ghrelin receptors. There is limited real-world data available on the efficacy of ANAM for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. We assessed its efficacy and identified associated clinical features. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from medical records and questionnaires on gastric and colorectal cancer patients who received ANAM between April 2021 and March 2023. We evaluated the change in body weight, appetite, and oral intake from the time of initiation of ANAM. We judged the responder who gained more than 0.5 kg in body weight, improved appetite, and increased oral intake, respectively. The association between clinical features and the responders was also assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: 72 patients were included in this study. Characteristics of the patients: median age: 68 years old (range 38-85), male/female: 35/37, gastric/colorectal cancer: 39/33, PS 0-1/2 or more: 63/9, median body mass index (BMI): 18.0 kg/m 2 (range 12.3-27.9), number of prior chemotherapy regimens 1/2/3 or more: 17/22/33, ascites none/mild/moderate/severe: 42/19/7/4, median serum albumin levels (Alb): 3.2 g/dl (range 2.0-4.2). The median treatment duration of ANAM was 47.5 days (3-450 days). 57 patients (79.2%) continued ANAM for more than 3 weeks, and 9 patients for more than 12 weeks. The main reasons for discontinuation were progressive disease (39.7%), ineffective (12.7%), effective (11.1%) and adverse events of ANAM (11.1%). 33 patients (45.8%) gained weight, 41 patients (56.9%) improved appetite and 34 patients (47.2%) increased oral intake. There was a correlation found between BMI ＜ 18.0 kg/m 2 and the responders (OR 3.43, p = 0.041). Conclusions: In this study, 68.0% of patients who received ANAM for showed response, that is, gained body weight, or improved appetite, or increased oral intake. And these observations suggested that BMI was associated with effects of ANAM. Further studies involving more patients needed.

Genome-Assisted Gene-Flow Rescued Genetic Diversity Without Hindering Growth Performance in an Inbred Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Population Selected for High Growth Phenotype

Selective breeding is a powerful tool for improving aquaculture production. A well-managed breeding program is essential, as populations can otherwise lose genetic diversity, leading to reduced selection response and inbreeding excesses. In such cases, genetic diversity in broodstock must be restored by introducing individuals from external populations. However, this can reduce the accumulated genetic gains from selective breeding. However, the selective introduction of individuals with superior phenotypes will allow the restoration of genetic diversity without sacrificing these gains. In this study, we demonstrated this possibility using a selectively bred (SB) and a randomly bred (RB) population of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Forty males with superior growth were selected from the RB population using genomic selection and crossed with 127 randomly collected females from the SB population, producing a newly bred (NB) population. Genetic diversity, assessed from population statistics such as effective number of alleles, allele richness, and observed heterozygosity of 11 microsatellite markers, was higher in NB than in SB and RB. Additionally, fork length and body weight were compared among the three populations after 12 months of growth post-fertilization in common tanks. The least-squares means of fork length and body weight were similar between NB (164.9 mm and 57.9 g) and SB (161.1 mm and 53.7 g), while both were significantly greater than RB (150.4 mm and 43.0 g). Our results highlight the effectiveness of genome-assisted gene flow in restoring the genetic diversity of a population without compromising accumulated genetic gain in growth.

Change and predictors of body composition after gastrectomy for gastric cancer during first postoperative year.

After gastrectomy for gastric cancer, patients often lose significant body weight because of decreased caloric intake and nutrient absorption. Body weight typically requires approximately 1 year to stabilize. This study aimed to examine the changes and predictors of body composition during the first postoperative year. A total of 230 patients underwent radical gastrectomy for stage I to III gastric cancers. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and changes were analyzed over 1 year. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of body composition changes. Body composition changes and significant body weight and body fat mass reductions occurred primarily within the first 6 months postoperatively. Skeletal muscle mass initially decreased but improved after 6 months without significant changes related to adjuvant chemotherapy. Increased edema was observed at 6 and 12 months postoperatively in patients after total gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Gastrectomy type and body mass index significantly affected postoperative body weight changes. In addition, gastrectomy type was associated with changes in skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral content. Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly affected the whole-body phase angle at 6 and 12 months. Our findings emphasized the initial significant reductions postoperatively and subsequent adjustments over time and elucidated the complex interplay between surgical techniques, adjuvant treatment, and patient characteristics and midterm changes in body composition.

HERIZON-BTC-302: A phase 3 study of zanidatamab with standard-of-care (SOC) therapy vs SOC alone for first-line treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced/metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC).

TPS648 Background: Zanidatamab is a humanized, IgG1-like, HER2-targeted bispecific antibody that simultaneously binds to 2 non-overlapping domains on HER2. Zanidatamab is being investigated for the treatment of HER2-expressing solid tumors, including BTC. In the phase 2 HERIZON-BTC-01 trial, zanidatamab monotherapy demonstrated promising antitumor activity in 80 patients with previously treated HER2-positive BTC. Confirmed objective response rate (cORR) was 41.3% with rapid and durable responses and a manageable safety profile. This phase 3 trial is assessing zanidatamab + SOC therapy vs SOC alone for first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced/metastatic BTC. Methods: This ongoing, global, phase 3, randomized, open-label trial (NCT06282575) is investigating the efficacy and safety of zanidatamab with cisplatin and gemcitabine (CisGem) vs CisGem alone ± a programmed cell death protein-1/ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) inhibitor (pembrolizumab or durvalumab at physician’s discretion if locally approved) as first-line treatment for patients with advanced HER2-positive BTC. Eligibility criteria include ≥18 years of age; locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-positive BTC by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assay (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+); and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1. Patients may have received ≤2 cycles of a gemcitabine-based regimen ± pembrolizumab or durvalumab. Prior HER2-targeted therapy is not allowed except for patients who completed it for breast cancer &gt;5 years prior to BTC diagnosis. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive zanidatamab (flat 2-tiered dosing: 1800 mg intravenous [IV; body weight &lt;70 kg] or 2400 mg IV [body weight ≥70 kg] every 3 weeks) + a standard dose of CisGem ± a PD1/L1 inhibitor or CisGem alone ± a PD1/L1 inhibitor (≤8 cycles). The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with IHC 3+ tumors. Secondary/exploratory endpoints include overall survival (IHC 3+ subgroup; overall population), PFS (overall population), cORR, incidence and severity of adverse events, and patient-reported outcomes. The study is currently recruiting patients. Clinical trial information: NCT06282575 .

Experience with multiple devaluation is associated with elevated emotional eating, perceived weight, and body mass index: An exploration of mediating factors and the role of irrational beliefs in general population and university samples.

Weight stigma, the social devaluation of people based on a perception of high body weight, is associated with a number of adverse health consequences including avoidance of medical care, suicide risk, disordered eating, decreased exercise, and weight gain. Experiences of stigma in a variety of domains in addition to weight may intersect to exacerbate these outcomes. Participants in two samples (one of 327 women and men from the general population and one of 128 female university students) reported experiences of devaluation on three body size and eight non-body size-related characteristics (referred to as multiple devaluation experience or MDE) and completed assessments of emotional eating (EE), feeling fat, weight self-stigma, impulsivity, and irrational beliefs. Participants were also asked to rate their body weight. MDE was correlated with elevated weight self-devaluation and anticipation of weight stigma, negative EE (NEE), feeling fat, and impulsivity in both men and women. None of these measures moderated the relationship between MDE and EE. The positive relationship between MDE and NEE was mediated by anticipated weight stigma only in women in the general population sample at higher levels of irrational beliefs. The positive relationship between MDE and body mass index (BMI) was mediated by NEE in women in the general population. The positive relationship between MDE and perceived body weight was mediated by feeling fat in women in both samples. These results suggest that women's experiences of stigma may increase anticipation of ongoing stigma, prompting NEE and resulting in elevated BMI. The results also suggest that feelings of fatness could lead to an elevation of women's perceived body weight, which in prospective studies is linked to later elevation of actual weight.

Sex-specific effects on the heart from combined exposure to simulated galactic cosmic radiation and hindlimb unloading.

Future long duration space missions will expose astronauts to higher doses of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) than those experienced on the international space station. Recent studies have demonstrated astronauts may be at risk for cardiovascular complications due to increased radiation exposure and fluid shift from microgravity. However, there is a lack of direct evidence on how the cardiovascular system is affected by GCR and microgravity since no astronauts have been exposed to exploratory mission relevant GCR doses. Therefore, we utilized a ground-based mouse model to determine the cardiovascular risks for space radiation exposure while the mice were simultaneously hindlimb suspended to mimic microgravity. 6-month-old male and female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to an absorbed dose of 0 Gy, 0.5 Gy, or 1.5 Gy simulated GCR (GCRsim) that comprised beams of 5 ions at NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory. Subcohorts of mice were hindlimb unloaded (HLU), starting 5 days before GCRsim until the completion of radiation exposure. GCRsim + HLU was performed over 8 hours (0.5 Gy) or 24 hours (1.5 Gy). After completion of GCRsim and HLU, mice were shipped to UAMS for long-term observation. Cardiac function was measured using high resolution ultrasound at 6 and 9 months after exposure. Tissues were collected after the final ultrasound and prepared for further analysis. Female mice exposed to 1.5 Gy + HLU demonstrated a significant increase in body weight compared to ground controls months after GCR exposure; however, there was no change in male body weights. Cardiac ultrasound revealed 0.5 Gy GCRsim decreased left ventricular (LV) mass, LV posterior wall thickness in diastole, and systole in males 6 months after exposure. In females, 1.5 Gy + HLU significantly increased LV posterior wall thickness in diastole and systole at 6 months. These changes in ultrasound measurements were no longer seen at 9 months. Moreover, at 9 months there was no change in total collagen content or density of the capillary network in the heart. Lastly, the combination of GCRsim and HLU influenced immune cell markers in the heart of female mice. These data suggest that combined simulated GCR and microgravity result in minor, yet statistically significant sex-dependent changes to body weight and cardiac structure.

Deoxynivalenol induces spleen damage, apoptosis, and inflammation in mice by increasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species: Protective effects of curcumin.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium mycotoxin, causes spleen apoptosis and inflammation, which damage the organ. Curcumin (Cur) is a member of the ginger family. It has anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects that maintain the health of the organism's immune system. Here, the protective effects of Cur against DON-induced spleen damage were explored. First, we found DON (2.4mg/kg body weight) decreased the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase, mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate, and disturbed hematoxylin and eosin staining in mice spleen. The results confirmed that DON causes mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) overproduction leading to spleen damage. Second, we found DON decreased the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and increased the expression of nuclear AIF, Bcl2-associated X (Bax), cysteine-aspartate protease-3 (caspase-3), caspase-9. Mitoquinone is a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant that can prevent of mitochondrial oxidative damage. These expression increases were not observed in the mitoquinone-treated group, confirming that mtROS was an upstream regulatory target of apoptosis and inflammation in DON-exposed mice spleens. Finally, we confirmed that Cur (50 or 100mg/kg body weight) attenuated DON-induced apoptosis and inflammation by inactivating mtROS. Collectively, these results confirm that DON causes spleen damage by increasing mtROS, and the protective effects of curcumin.

Effects of replacing soybean meal with cottonseed meal on growth performance, carcass trait, intestinal development and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) on growth performance, carcass trait, intestinal development and intestinal microbiota of broilers. A total of 792 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allotted to three treatment groups, with 8 replicates per group and 33 birds per replicate. The control birds were administered a diet consisting primarily of corn and soybean meal. The two treatment groups were fed a similar diet with the soybean meal partially substituted by 5 % (5 % CSM group) or 10 % cottonseed meal (10 % CSM group). The experiment lasted 37 days. Results showed that in the starter phase, the 10 % CSM group had a higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) and a lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared to the control group and the 5 % CSM group (P < 0.05). Notably, the 10 % CSM group had the lowest body weight (BW) at 15 days of age (P < 0.05) among all treatments. In the grower phase, there were no significant differences in BW, average daily gain (ADG), and FCR of broilers among all groups (P > 0.05). In the finisher phase, both the 5 % and 10 % CSM groups significantly decreased ADG, and the 10 % CSM group significantly decreased ADFI (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in final body weight, ADG and ADFI among treatments from 1 to 37 days (P > 0.05). No significant effect of CSM was observed on the slaughter performance of broiler chickens. Compared with the basal diet, 5 % CSM significantly decreased the weight/length index of broiler ileum and the relative weight of duodenum and jejunum at both levels (P < 0.05). Moreover, 5 % and 10 % CSM significantly decreased breast meat pH in 24 h (P < 0.05). Cottonseed meal had no significant effect on the alpha diversity, beta diversity, and taxonomic composition at the phylum and genus levels of the ileal microbiota in broilers (P > 0.05). However, Spearman correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation (P < 0.05) between several bacterial phyla (genera) and the growth performance as well as slaughter performance of broilers. In conclusion, the effect of replacing SBM with CSM in broiler diet on growth performance of broilers varied at different ages. Thus, incorporating 10 % CSM resulted in decreased growth performance during the starter phase, while both 5 % and 10 % CSM levels had similar negative effects during the grower phase. In the finisher stage, the use of 5 % CSM influenced gut weight and meat pH but had no influence on slaughter performance, intestinal health and ileal flora structure of broilers.

Horses with previous episodes of laminitis have altered insulin responses to seasonal oral sugar testing and grazing compared to horses with no known history of laminitis

Forage is essential for equine health and performance, but intake of elevated pasture nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) may exacerbate metabolic disorders. This study aimed to investigate the influence of laminitis history on metabolic and morphometric responses in grazing horses. Twelve non-pregnant mares (15 ± 3.4 yrs) were selected based on previous diagnosis of laminitis (PRELAM; n=6) or not (NOLAM; n=6). Horses were maintained on 8.5-ha pasture. Weekly pasture samples were clipped at random for nutrient analysis. Monthly blood samples were collected and analyzed for glucose and insulin concentrations. Body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and cresty neck score (CNS) were evaluated monthly. Each month, a modified oral sugar test (OST) was used to assess basal (T0) and 75-minute (T75) insulin dynamics following 0.30 mL/kg BW Karo Light Corn Syrup. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED with repeated measures (SAS Institute). PRELAM had greater CNS (P < 0.001), BW (P < 0.05), and BCS compared to NOLAM (P < 0.05). Non-fasted glucose was influenced by month (P < 0.001) while non-fasted insulin was affected by group by month (P = 0.004). Fasted insulin concentrations (T0) were affected by month and group (P < 0.001) where PRELAM had greater concentrations. T75 glucose and insulin concentrations were affected by month (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and were higher for PRELAM (P = 0.003). These data suggest horses with greater general and regional adiposity, and previous history of laminitis, often exhibit greater insulin concentrations on pasture and to OST.

Comparative study on gene expression profiles in the liver of male neonatal mice prenatally exposed to PFOA and its alternative HFPO-DA.

Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), which belongs to the class of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid (PFECA), is a new alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, whether HFPO-DA is a safer alternative to PFOA in neonates remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated neonatal hepatic toxicity on postnatal days 9-10 by orally exposing pregnant CD-1 mice to 0.3 or 3.0mg/kg/day (low or high doses) of HFPO-DA or PFOA from gestation days 15 to 17. The results showed that exposure of pregnant mice to HFPO-DA and PFOA induced similar phenotypic effects, including significant decreases in neonatal body weight (BW) and significant increases in liver weight relative to BW in the high-dose. Notably, HFPO-DA exposure significantly decreased in neonatal BW in the low-dose group, whereas PFOA did not. Comprehensive gene expression analysis revealed significant alterations in 408 and 1402 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver of neonates from the low- and high-dose HFPO-DA groups, respectively, while PFOA significantly altered 0 and 292 DEGs in the corresponding groups. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs induced by HFPO-DA and PFOA were enriched in pathway related to "PPAR signaling", "fatty acid metabolism", and "biological oxidations". In addition, transactivation assays revealed that mouse (m)PPARα and mPPARγ activity of HFPO-DA exceeds that of PFOA and molecular docking simulations analysis predicted that the binding conformation differ between PFOA and HFPO-DA. Overall, our findings demonstrate that HFPO-DA consistently affected neonatal phenotypes, liver gene expression and the molecular initiating events involving PPARα/γ, at lower concentrations than PFOA.

Improving efficiency of bacterial degradation of polyethylene microplastics using atmospheric and room temperature plasma mutagenesis

In this study, the bacterium XZ-A was genetically modified using atmospheric and room temperature plasma mutagenesis (ARTP) to increase the degradation efficiency of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) by up to 53.65 %. After 50 d of biodegradation, the mutagenized bacterium XZ-60S caused significant changes in the morphology, structure, thermal stability, and molecular weight of PE-MPs. The number average molecular weights and weight average molecular weights of the PE-MPs were significantly reduced by approximately 15.21 % and 4.80 %, respectively. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses showed that XZ-60S had a total of 106 single nucleotide polymorphic sites, and the expression of genes encoding laccases was significantly increased; this may explain the improved degradation of PE-MPs by XZ-60S. In this study, the degradation of PE-MPs by bacteria was improved through ARTP mutagenesis, which provides a reference for selecting and breeding bacteria that are highly efficient at degrading PE-MPs.

Contralateral Autologous Augmentation in DIEP Flap Reconstruction: Employing Computed Tomography Angiography and Volumetric Analysis for Preoperative Planning.

Autologous reconstruction accounts for approximately 20% of all breast reconstruction procedures. In cases of unilateral reconstruction, contralateral breast augmentation using autologous tissue can be performed to improve symmetry, and it is a viable option for patients interested in having more volume relative to their current size without the use of implants. Computed tomography scans have been used for preoperative planning in autologous reconstruction to evaluate available perforators. In this article, the authors report their experience using computed tomography angiography for preoperative volumetric assessment for autologous contralateral breast augmentation in the setting of unilateral autologous breast reconstruction. Twelve patients underwent autologous augmentation during the study period. The average reconstruction flap weight was 561.2 ± 253.6 g, and the average augmentation flap weight was 218.0 ± 133.7 g. No patients experienced flap loss. The authors demonstrate that the predicted volumes for the augmented and reconstructed breasts were comparable to the actual respective flap volumes. In addition, postoperative patient-reported outcome measures demonstrated high levels of satisfaction across multiple BREAST-Q subscales. This study demonstrates the utility of using computed tomography angiography to estimate reconstructive volumes to help preoperative planning and achieve predictable postoperative breast volumes. It also supports that contralateral autologous augmentation is a good option for patients who would like to avoid implants and are interested in a small to moderate increase in size. Therapeutic, IV.