Fecal Weight Research Articles

Shimanami Leaf Intake Affects Bowel Movement and Intestinal Microbiota in Mice.

The Shimanami Leaf®, produced at Innoshima Island in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, is a leafy vegetable that does not require pesticide use and has a high nutritional value. Although the leaf has abundant dietary fiber and other nutrients, reports on its biological regulatory functions are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the effects of Shimanami leaf intake on bowel movement and gut microbiota in mice. We examined the effects of Shimanami leaves on fecal weight, fecal water content, and intestinal microbiota composition. On day 10 of administration, the Shimanami leaf-treated group exhibited significantly higher fecal weight and water content than the control group. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed that the ingestion of Shimanami leaf increased the abundances and diversity of intestinal bacteria, including members from Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Muribaculaceae. Our findings suggest that Shimanami leaf supplementation improves bowel movement and promotes defecation.

P16-006-23 Determining Changes in Fecal Fermentation Profile and Weight Gain in a Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean v. Western Diet

P16-006-23 Determining Changes in Fecal Fermentation Profile and Weight Gain in a Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean v. Western Diet

Triptolide attenuates irritable bowel syndrome via inhibiting ODC1

BackgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the gut-brain axis with significant morbidity. Triptolide, an active compound extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), has been widely used as a major medicinal herb in the treatment of inflammatory disease.MethodsThe chronic-acute combined stress (CAS) stimulation was used to establish IBS rat model. The model rats were then gavaged with triptolide. Forced swimming, marble-burying, fecal weight and abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score were recorded. Pathologic changes in the ileal and colonic tissues were validated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The inflammatory cytokines and Ornithine Decarboxylase-1 (ODC1) in the ileal and colonic tissues were performed by ELISA and WB.ResultsTriptolide didn’t have antidepressant- and antianxiety- effects in rats caused by CAS, but decreased fecal weight and AWR score. In addition, Triptolide reduced the release of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α and the expression of ODC1 in the ileum and colon.ConclusionThe therapeutic efficacy of triptolide for IBS induced by CAS was revealed in this study, which may be related to the reduction of ODC1.

Electro-acupuncture promotes gut motility and alleviates functional constipation by regulating gut microbiota and increasing butyric acid generation in mice

ObjectiveAbnormalities in the gut microbiota and intestinal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels are implicated in the pathogenesis of functional constipation (FC). Electro-acupuncture (EA) has been shown to improve constipation-related symptoms and rebalance the gut microbiota. However, it is currently unknown whether the gut microbiota is a key mechanistic target for EA or how EA promotes gut motility by regulating the gut microbiota and SCFAs. Therefore, we assessed the effects of EA in FC mice and pseudo-germfree (PGF) mice to address these questions. MethodsForty female Kunming mice were randomly separated into a normal control group (n = 8), an FC group (n = 8), an FC + EA group (n = 8), a PGF group (n = 8) and a PGF + EA group (n = 8). The FC group and FC + EA group were treated with diphenoxylate to establish the FC model; the PGF group and PGF + EA group were given an antibiotic cocktail to initiate the PGF model. After maintaining the model for 14 d, mice in the FC + EA and PGF + EA groups received EA stimulation at the ST25 and ST37 acupoints, once a day, 5 times per week, for 2 weeks. Fecal parameters and intestinal transit rate were calculated to assess the efficacy of EA on constipation and gastrointestinal motility. Colonic contents were used to quantify gut microbial diversity using 16S rRNA sequencing, and measure SCFA concentrations using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. ResultsEA significantly shortened the first black stool defecation time (P < 0.05) and increased the intestinal transit rate (P < 0.01), and fecal pellet number (P < 0.05), wet weight (P < 0.05) and water content (P < 0.01) over 8 h, compared with the FC group, showing that EA promoted gut motility and alleviated constipation. However, EA treatment did not reverse slow-transit colonic motility in PGF mice (P > 0.05), demonstrating that the gut microbiota may play a mechanistic role in the EA treatment of constipation. In addition, EA treatment restored the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and significantly increased butyric acid generation in FC mice (P < 0.05), most likely due to the upregulation of Staphylococcaceae microorganisms (P < 0.01). ConclusionEA-mediated resolution of constipation occurs through rebalancing the gut microbiota and promoting butyric acid generation.Please cite this article as: Xu MM, Guo Y, Chen Y, Zhang W, Wang L, Li Y. Electro-acupuncture promotes gut motility and alleviates functional constipation by regulating gut microbiota and increasing butyric acid generation in mice. J Integr Med. 2023; Epub ahead of print.

P320 Comparing faecal elastase, pancreatic enzyme doses, HbA1c and insulin doses in adult cystic fibrosis patients pre- and 6 months postcommencement of Kaftrio®

To evaluate the effect of Kaftrio on units of lipase/kg/day, faecal elastase level, HbA1c, insulin doses (primary outcome measures) and weight (secondary outcome measure) after a 6 month period in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Antidiarrheal activities of methanolic crude extract and solvent fractions of the root of Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (Scrophularaceae) in mice

BackgroundIn Ethiopian traditional medicine, V. sinaiticum is one of the most often utilized medicinal herbs for the treatment of diarrhea. Therefore, this study was conducted to validate the use of the plant for the treatment of diarrhea in the traditional medical practice of Ethiopia. MethodsCastor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling, and intestinal motility test models in mice were used to evaluate the antidiarrheal properties of the 80% methanol crude extract and the solvent fractions of the root component of V. sinaiticum. The effects of the crude extract and the fractions on time for onset, frequency, weight, and water content of diarrheal feces, intestinal fluid accumulation, and intestinal transit of charcoal meal were evaluated and compared with the corresponding results in the negative control. ResultsThe crude extract (CE), aqueous fraction (AQF), and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) at 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea. Besides, the CE and AQF at 200 and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) of the doses, and EAF at 200 (p < 0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) significantly decreased the frequency of diarrheal stools. Furthermore, CE, AQF, and EAF at their three serial doses (p < 0.001), significantly reduced the weights of the fresh diarrheal stools as compared to the negative control. The CE and AQF at 100 (p < 0.01), and 200 and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) of their doses and EAF at 200 (p < 0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) significantly decreased the fluid contents of diarrheal stools compared to the negative control. In the enteropooling test, the CE at 100 (p < 0.05), and 200 and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001), AQF at 200 (P < 0.05) and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.01), and EAF at 200 (p < 0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) significantly decreased the weights of intestinal contents compared to the negative control. Additionally, the CE at 100 and 200 (p < 0.05) and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001), AQF at 100 (p < 0.05), 200 (p < 0.01), and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) of the doses, and EAF at 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05), produced significant reductions in the volumes of intestinal contents. In the intestinal motility test model, the CE, AQF, and EAF at all their serial doses (p < 0.001), significantly suppressed the intestinal transit of charcoal meal and peristaltic index compared to the negative control. ConclusionOverall, the results of this study showed that the crude extract and the solvent fractions of the root parts of V. sinaiticum had considerable in vivo antidiarrheal activities. Besides, the crude extract, especially at 400 mg/kg, produced the highest effect followed by the aqueous fraction at the same dose. This might indicate that the bioactive compounds responsible for the effects are more of hydrophilic in nature. Moreover, the antidiarrheal index values were increased with the doses of the extract and the fractions, suggesting that the treatments might have dose-dependent antidiarrheal effects. Additionally, the extract was shown to be free of observable acute toxic effects. Thus, this study corroborates the use the root parts of V. sinaiticum to treat diarrhea in the traditional settings. Furthermore, the findings of this study are encouraging and may be used as the basis to conduct further studies in the area including chemical characterization and molecular based mechanism of actions of the plant for its confirmed antidiarrheal effects.

The effect of polydextrose on fecal bulk and bowel function in mildly constipated healthy adults: a double-blind, placebo controlled study

Background &amp; Aims. Polydextrose (PDX) (8-30g/day) has been reported to increase faecal bulk and consistency, leading to easier stool passage. However, studies on its effect on defaecation frequency and colonic transit time have provided mixed results, and most focused on either healthy or highly constipated adults, leaving the question on if and how PDX could also aid mildly constipated individuals partially unanswered.Methods. We investigated the effects of PDX consumption by healthy subjects experiencing one or more symptoms of mild constipation on faecal bulk, defaecation frequency, stool consistency, ease of stool passage, and total colonic transit time to further characterize and generate additional evidence regarding the potential beneficial effects of this fibre. 51 subjects participated in a 4-week, two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study testing a control (CON) and a PDX treatment (18 g/d included in biscuits and drink mixtures) (registered on clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier" NCT05309837").Results. Consumption of PDX resulted in 120.7 g and 25.7 g higher faecal wet and dry weight, respectively (p &lt; 0.05). Colonic transit time was ~4 h shorter in the PDX group: although this difference did not reach significance (p &gt; 0.05) as the study was underpowered to detect a statistical difference for this secondary outcome, this result still carries a physiological importance. Consumption of PDX was well-tolerated, with some PDX volunteers reporting more mild flatulence (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions. All in all, our study adds new evidence on how a moderate (18g) daily intake of PDX could increase faecal bulking and potentially shorten colonic transit time, making this ingredient a good candidate to be used to formulate, and reformulate, foods and beverages by replacing caloric carbohydrates with reduced caloric content, enriching food items easily consumed to enhance fibre intake and support bowel function.

Oral iron supplementation exacerbates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloody, mucous-laden stools. In one-third of UC patients, severity of blood loss is sufficient to cause iron deficiency anemia, making it the most common extra-intestinal manifestation of UC. Oral iron supplementation is the first line treatment for IDA. However, there is a debate concerning the safety of orally administered iron, as some studies have reported an exacerbation of disease, whereas others report the treatment is well tolerated and effective. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral iron administration on disease activity in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, a model that effectively recapitulates ulcerative colitis. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that iron-supplemented chow will increase disease activity and lead to pathogenic changes in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Methods: Experimental acute colitis (UC) was produced in BALBc/AnNCrl (male and female; 7 weeks old) mice by administration of 3% DSS dissolved in drinking water for 7 days. Control mice received standard water. Normal control (NC) and UC (UC) animals were fed standard chow contained 200 parts per million (ppm) ferrous sulfate (2018 Teklad Global 18% Protein Rodent Diet, Huntingdon, UK), while normal (NCFe) and UC (UCFe) experimental animals were fed an iron-supplemented diet containing 600 ppm ferrous sulfate (2018 Teklad Global 18% Protein Rodent Custom Diet, Huntingdon, UK). Food and water were provided ad libitum. Daily scores for weight loss, stool consistency, and fecal blood content were averaged to produce a disease activity index as previously described by Friedman and co-workers (DAI, 2009). On day-8 post-treatment, mice were euthanized with 5% isoflurane. Length of colon was measured from cecum to rectum, and epithelial cells were isolated from distal colon by EDTA chelation technique. Histopathology, RNA isolation, and qRT-PCR analyses were performed using standard techniques. Results: Food and water consumption were not significantly altered among the 4 groups of mice. Additional iron supplementation significantly: 1) increased DAI; 2) decreased fecal dry weight; and 3) increased blood inflammatory cytokine levels in UCFe as compared to UC group. Colon length was shortened one-third in UC as compared to NC, but was not further significantly altered by iron supplementation. Loss of crypt architecture and increased influx of inflammatory cells identified in UC colon was not significantly altered in colons from the UCFe group. Expression of apical iron importer DMT1 was increased in UC as compared to NC, but not in the UCFe group. In total, there were no differences due to iron supplementation, and no differences were present due to gender. Conclusion: We conclude that iron supplementation increases the severity of colitis by stimulating water secretion. This study was supported by the National Institute of Health NIDDK DK104791 and DK112085 grants This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

An optimization and refinement of the whole-gut transit assay in mice.

Gastrointestinal motility measurements in mice are currently performed under suboptimal conditions, as these nocturnal animals are measured during light conditions. In addition, other stressors, like individual housing, placement in a new cage during observation, and lack of bedding and cage enrichment cause animal discomfort and might contribute to higher variability. Here we aimed to develop a refined method of the widely-used whole-gut transit assay. Wildtype mice (N = 24) were subjected to the standard or refined whole-gut transit assay, either with or without a standardized slowing in gastrointestinal motility induced by loperamide. The standard assay consisted of a gavage with carmine red, observation during the light period and individual housing in a new cage without cage enrichment. For the refined whole-gut transit assay, mice were gavaged with UV-fluorescent DETEX®, observed during the dark period, while pairwise housed in their home cage with cage enrichment. Time until excretion of the first colored fecal pellet was assessed, and pellets were collected to assess number, weight, and water content. The DETEX®-containing pellets were UV-detectable, allowing to measure the mice in their active period in the dark. The refined method caused less variation (20.8% and 16.0%) compared to the standard method (29.0% and 21.7%). Fecal pellet number, weight, and water content was significantly different between the standard and refined method. This refined whole-gut transit assay provides a reliable approach to measure whole-gut transit time in mice in a more physiological context, with reduced variability compared to the standard method.

The influence of tropical pasture improvement on animal performance, nitrogen cycling, and greenhouse gas emissions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

This study evaluated beef cattle performance, nitrogen (N) dynamics, and potential greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in tropical pastures receiving N fertilization or mixed with legumes. During the cool season, 54 Nellore heifers were randomly allotted to continuous grazing in three plots of each pasture type: T1 (Marandu grass with 150 kg N/ha), T2 (Marandu grass with 120 kg N/ha), T3 (Marandu grass with Arachis pintoi), T4 (Marandu grass with Desmodium heterocarpo), T5 (Marandu grass without N fertilization), and T6 (degraded pasture). The stocking rate was periodically adjusted to achieve the target canopy height of 20–25 cm. Animal performance and N livestock excretion were estimated by variation in live weight and spot samples of urine and feces, respectively. GHG emissions were calculated using the methodology of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Animal performance was higher in fertilized and mixed pastures (e.g., T1 to T4) than in T5 and T6 pastures. Heifers grazing on T1, T2, T3, and T4 excreted lower amounts of urine with higher N concentrations than heifers grazing on T5 and T6. Heifers grazing in T2 and T4 pastures had a lower concentration of fecal N than those grazing on other pastures, reflecting lower N excretion in this form. The potential for direct nitrous oxide emissions per unit area in pastures mixed with legumes was approximately four times lower than that in pastures with mineral N fertilization. The recovery of degraded pastures and the inclusion of forage legumes contributed to maintaining the sustainability of animal production in pastures

In vivo evaluation of holocellulose and cellulose isolated from kumaizasa (Sasa senanensis) powder on bowel movements in rats

Background: Kumaizasa (Sasa senanensis Rehder) is a representative natural plant growing in Hokkaido, Japan, and has a history of being used in herbal medicine and as a health food option. Nishihira et. al. (2019) confirmed in a clinical trial that the kumaizasa dry powder had the effect of improving bowel movements of healthy volunteers. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the components of kumaizasa powder, like holocellulose (hemicellulose + cellulose) and cellulose, involved in the bowel movement of rats and tried to elucidate the role of each component.Methods: Male rats (Slc:SD, weight 79~93 g) were administered kumaizasa powder (3000 mg/kg/day) orally, holocellulose (1500 mg/kg/day), cellulose (900mg /kg/day) or water using a stomach tube twice a day for 14 days.Results: Among the intervention groups (kumaizasa powder, holocellulose, cellulose group) and control group (water), no significant differences were observed with changes in body weight and food consumption. All the feces were normal, with one exception of watery feces on day 2 in the cellulose group. Multigroup comparison by the Tukey-Kramer method showed that the dry weight of feces collected at day 14 in the kumaizasa powder group significantly increased as compared with that of the control group (p&lt;0.01). This result confirmed that kumaizasa powder had the effect of increasing fecal amount. A paired t-test between each kumaizasa group and control group indicated that the cellulose increased the fecal dry weights and moisture content in feces, while the kumaizasa powder and the holocellulose increased only fecal dry weights.Conclusion: It is shown that the holocellulose and cellulose of kumaizasa powder have the effect of increasing the bowel movement of rats by oral administration. It is also suggested that the cellulose increases the moisture content in the feces by swelling, while hemicellulose in the holocellulose acts as a prebiotic to regulate the moisture content in feces.Keywords: Kumaizasa, Sasa senanensis Rehder, hemicellulose, cellulose, holocellulose, bowel movements

Pink1-/- Rats Demonstrate Swallowing and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in a Model of Prodromal Parkinson Disease.

Early motor and non-motor signs of Parkinson disease (PD) include dysphagia, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and constipation. However, because these often manifest prior to formal diagnosis, the study of PD-related swallow and GI dysfunction in early stages is difficult. To overcome this limitation, we used the Pink1-/- rat, a well-established early-onset genetic rat model of PD to assay swallowing and GI motility deficits. Thirty male rats were tested at 4months (Pink1-/- = 15, wildtype (WT) control = 15) and 6months (Pink1-/- = 7, WT = 6) of age; analogous to early-stage PD in humans. Videofluoroscopy of rats ingesting a peanut-butter-barium mixture was used to measure mastication rate and oropharyngeal and pharyngoesophageal bolus speeds. Abnormal swallowing behaviors were also quantified. A second experiment tracked barium contents through the stomach, small intestine, caecum, and colon at hours 0-6 post-barium gavage. Number and weight of fecal emissions over 24h were also collected. Compared to WTs, Pink1-/- rats showed slower mastication rates, slower pharyngoesophageal bolus speeds, and more abnormal swallowing behaviors. Pink1-/- rats demonstrated significantly delayed motility through the caecum and colon. Pink1-/- rats also had significantly lower fecal pellet count and higher fecal pellet weight after 24h at 6months of age. Results demonstrate that swallowing dysfunction occurs early in Pink1-/- rats. Delayed transit to the colon and constipation-like signs are also evident in this model. The presence of these early swallowing and GI deficits in Pink1-/- rats are analogous to those observed in human PD.

Evaluation of Nutrient Digestibility and Metabolizable Energy of Yeast-Fermented Acacia mangium Leaf by Japanese Quails

The nutrient digestibility and the metabolizable energy (AME) of Acacia mangium leaf (AM) and yeast-fermented AM (YFAM) by Japanese quails were investigated. Fifty-four of 4-weeks-old Japanese quails were divided into 3 groups with six replications of three quails. Each quail was randomly fed with an experimental diet composed of dextrose (protein-free diet for determining endogenous excretion) 40 % AM and 40% YFAM. The quails were raised individually in a metabolic cage, where feed and water were provided ad-libitum. Both feed intake and feces weight were recorded. Experimental diets and excreta were sampled and subjected to proximate analysis for gross energy. The results of nutrient composition indicated that the fermentation AM with yeast highly significantly increased (P&lt;0.01) dry matter (DM), ash, and nitrogen-free extractives (NFE) content but decreased (P&lt;0.01) crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), and gross energy (GE) content. In addition, the birds fed dietary YFAM compared with AM showed significantly increased (P≤0.01) DM, organic matter (OM), CP, and GE digestibility but decreased (P≤0.01) EE and CF digestibility. The protein utilization of birds fed dietary YFAM showed significantly greater (P≤0.01) FI, protein retained, protein intake, net protein utilization (NPU), and AME than those fed dietary AM. In conclusion, the fermentation of AMLM with yeast improved nutrient composition and enhanced the digestibility of nutrients, protein utilization, and AME of AMLM in Japanese quail.

Evaluation of Antidiarrheal, Antispasmodic, and Antisecretory Activities of Extract and Fractions of Castanopsis costata Leaves in Animal Models

Background: The use of traditional medicinal plants Castanopsis costata in the management of diarrhea is an ancient practice in North Sumatra, Indonesia, but its safety and efficacy have not been examined scientifically in animal models. Therefore, this study aims to determine the antidiarrheal effect of C. costata leaf extract and fractions in vivo. Methods: The antidiarrheal activity was evaluated against animal models of diarrhea induced by castor oil, charcoal meal, and entero-pooling test. The extract group received doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, while the fraction groups was treated with WFCC, EAFCC, and nHFCC, in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The negative control received 10 mL/kg of the dissolving vehicle, while the positive was treated with loperamide 3 mg/kg. Results: The results showed that EECC doses of 200 mg/kg, WFCC, and EAFCC at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively significantly delayed the onset of diarrhea, while WFCC and EAFCC at 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the amount of wet feces output and total feces output. In addition, only WFCC and EAFCC (at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively) significantly reduced the mean weight of wet feces and total feces. The percentage of maximum diarrhea inhibition was observed at the EAFCC dose of 100 mg/kg. Based on the charcoal meal test results, only EAFCC significantly inhibited the distance traveled by charcoal meal and reduced the peristaltic index at a dose of 100 mg/kg, while the percentage decrease in gastrointestinal motility was 46.87%. Similarly, in the entero-pooling test, WFCC and EAFCC significantly reduced the volume and weight of intestinal contents at a dose of 100 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: The results confirm that the extract and fractions of C. costata have antidiarrheal activity. Therefore, this study provides scientific support for the traditional use of C. costata in treating diarrhea.

Exploring the Active Constitutions of Peach Blossom for Amelioration of Loperamide-Induced Mice Constipation by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Combined with Network Pharmacology

Constipation is a multifactorial health problem resulting from systemic or neurologic disorders including medication. Peach blossom, an edible flower, could promote defecation, urination, and improve abdominal pain. However, the active components and mechanisms of action remain unclear. In the present study, we established a loperamide-induced mice constipation model to validate the anti-constipation activity of peach blossom. Some classical biomarkers for constipation, including fecal water content, gastrointestinal transit ratio, and fecal pellet weight were used to evaluate the efficacy of peach blossom. Then, the chemical compounds present in peach blossom were screened out by Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-Orbitrap fusion mass spectrometer combined with diagnostic ions and database searching. Finally, the potential mechanism of peach blossom for the treatment of constipation was explored by network pharmacology on a system level. Peach blossom significantly reduced the fecal water content, gastrointestinal transit ratio, and fecal pellet weight, which were increased in the model group. Histological analysis showed that peach blossom could alleviate histological changes of the colon in constipated mice. In UPLC-MS analysis, 40 compounds, mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids, were identified. Network pharmacology analysis results indicate that 27 compounds exhibited anti-constipation activity by neurotransmitter receptor activity, carboxylic acid binding, flavin adenine dinucleotide binding, adrenergic receptor, and nuclear receptor activity. In this study, we found that peach blossom might alleviate the pathological process of constipation by regulating multi-targets. Our study serves as a theoretical basis for the utilization and further development of peach blossom as a promising health food for ameliorating constipation.

Trapping Behaviour of Duddingtonia flagrans against Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Cattle under Year-Round Grazing Conditions.

The purpose of using nematophagous fungi as biological control agents of gastrointestinal nematodes of livestock is to reduce the build-up of infective larvae on pasture and thus avoid clinical and subclinical disease. As the interaction of fungus-larval stages takes place in the environment, it is crucial to know how useful the fungal agents are throughout the seasons in areas where livestock graze all year-round. This study was designed to determine the predatory ability of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle during four experiments set up in different seasons. In each experiment, faeces containing eggs of gastrointestinal nematodes were mixed with 11,000 chlamydospores/g and deposited on pasture plots. A comparison between fungal-added faeces and control faeces without fungus were made with regard to pasture infectivity, larval presence in faecal pats, faecal cultures, faecal pat weight, and temperature inside the faecal mass. In three of the four experiments, Duddingtonia flagrans significantly reduced the population of infective larvae in cultures (68 to 97%), on herbage (80 to 100%), and inside the faecal pats (70 to 95%). The study demonstrated the possibility of counting on a biological control tool throughout most of the year in cattle regions with extensive grazing seasons.

Using cereal to increase dietary fiber intake to the recommended level and the effect of fiber on bowel function in healthy persons consuming North American diets

Background:Dietary fiber intake remains low despite increasing evidence for its health benefits, including laxation. Objective:We aimed to assess the effects of increasing fiber intake on bowel habits and gastrointestinal tolerance in healthy persons consuming a typical Canadian or US diet. Design:Under a randomized crossover design, 23 free-living participants consumed a typical Canadian or US diet (35% fat, 12 g fiber/d) and received 25.0–28.7 g fiber/d from each of 5 breakfast cereals: All-Bran (AB), Bran Buds with Corn (BBC), Bran Buds with Psyllium (BBP), BBC with viscous fiber blend (VFB), or a low-fiber control for 3 wk, with each study arm separated by a washout of ≥1 wk. Seven-day stool collections and a symptom diary were obtained during the last week of each study arm. Results:All study cereals induced significant (P < 0.05) increases in fecal bulk from the control diet at 128 ± 38 g to 199 ± 56, 199 ± 57, 247 ± 87, and 197 ± 63 g with consumption of AB, BBC, BBP, and VFB, respectively; less intestinal transit time; and significantly (P < 0.05) greater bowel movement frequency. Despite the increased activity of the bowel, a positive level of comfort was maintained. BBP was more effective than other cereals in terms of increasing fecal wet weight (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Water-insoluble dietary fibers (ie, AB and BBC) and their mixtures with water-soluble fibers (ie, BBP and VFB) in the form of breakfast cereals (2.5 servings/d) proved to be a practical way of increasing fiber intake to recommended levels, while maintaining a good level of tolerance.

Starches of Varied Digestibilities Differentially Modify Intestinal Function in Rats

Starches of different digestibilities may enter the colon to different extents and alter colonic function. Male Fischer 344 rats were fed diets containing 25% cooked potato starch, arrowroot starch, high amylose cornstarch or raw potato starch for 6 wk. Fecal weight, transit time, colonic thymidine kinase activity (a marker for cell proliferation), and weight, starch content and pH of the cecum and proximal and distal colon were measured. Raw potato starch was much less completely digested than high amylose cornstarch, resulting in a 32-fold greater amount of undigested starch entering the cecum in the raw potato starch group. Both the high amylose cornstarch and raw potato starch diets significantly enhanced fecal weight and produced large intestinal hypertrophy, effects that were greatest in the raw potato starch group. Raw potato starch feeding was associated with the highest level of thymidine kinase activity, although the differences in thymidine kinase activity among the four groups were not significant. This diet also produced a 50% longer transit time. Entry of a large amount of raw potato starch into the colon resulted in greater luminal acidity, greater luminal bulk and slower transit. A much smaller amount of starch entered the colon in the high amylose cornstarch group and resulted in fecal bulking but no alteration in transit.

Investigation of physiological energetic response of the thick shell mussel, Mytilus coruscus, to microplastics and low salinity: Potential countermeasures to multi-environmental changes

Microplastics (MPs) contamination and salinity fluctuation are two common phenomena on the East China Sea coast. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the combined effects of MPs and salinity on the energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus. Juvenile mussels were exposed to six combined treatments with three MPs levels (0, 10 and 1000 items L−1) and two salinity levels (15, 25) for 28 d. The clearance rate, food absorption efficiency, respiration rate, ammonium excretion rate, and O:N ratio were significantly reduced, and the fecal organic dry weight ratio was significantly increased at salinity 15, inducing a reduction in the scope for growth. Under salinity 15, 1000 items L−1 MPs had significant negative effects on growth at Day 28. However, under salinity 25, the results were opposite in that the level of 1000 items L−1 MPs brought an obvious increment in scope for growth at Day 28. This meant that there were interactions between salinity and MPs in scope for growth at Day 28. These results suggest that the physiological energetics of juvenile M. coruscus can acclimate to MPs contamination with little physiological effect under normal salinity. This experiment has revealed that although marine MPs contamination is of concern, marine organisms likely have a significant capacity to adapt to it.

Testing of Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii) Droppings for Field Behavioural Endocrinology

Measurement of faecal hormonal metabolites has become a widespread method in field endocrinology due to its non-invasiveness and ability to assess long-term stress; however, this approach has some limitations. We tested the potential of this assay for the Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii), a small vespertilionid species (body mass 6–10 g), and we explored the relationship between cortisol and testosterone levels and dawn swarming, a signalling behaviour that occurs during roost-switching. Swarming was recorded using automated PIT-tag readers on the tree roosts of a maternity colony. In spite of absence of biological validation, our preliminary results demonstrate that field conditions of sample storage and small faeces weight do not interfere with hormonal measurement. We also found a positive correlation between individual levels of stress hormone (cortisol faecal metabolites) and swarming behaviour, but this should be interpreted with caution due to methodological shortcomings that need to be improved in future studies.