Search Results (47)

A global interest in the cultivation of Kalibaus (Labeo calbasu) has emerged due to decreasing natural stocks and a consistent rise in market value and demand. Given these concerns, understanding the species’ physiological responses to environmental changes is crucial. The present research aimed to assess the effect of varying environmental temperatures on metabolism, haemato-biochemical indices, hormonal concentrations and immune responses in L. calbasu. This study was conducted in triplicate using 100 L glass aquariums at four different temperatures: 22, 26, 30, and 34 °C. The highest weight and length gain were observed at 30 °C, while the lowest occurred at 22 °C. Notably, the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.51 ± 0.03 was also recorded at 30 °C. Although haematological and biochemical parameters remained within normal ranges, they varied with temperature changes. Indicators of cold and heat stress were evident through lower hematocrit levels and higher white blood cell (WBC) counts. Biochemical indicators such as serum albumin (1.84 ± 0.05 g dL⁻¹), serum globulin (1.64 ± 0.06 gdL⁻¹), HCO₃ (30.93 ± 0.62), Na⁺ (115.60 ± 3.72 mmolL⁻¹), alkaline phosphatase (93.33 ± 9.39 AP, IUL⁻¹), and AST/SGOT (21.00 ± 4.55 UL⁻¹) were significantly higher at 30 °C. Regarding hormonal responses, peak levels of growth hormone (GH), triiodothyronine (T3) (1.44 ± 0.07 ngmL⁻¹), and thyroxine (T4) were recorded at 30 °C. Meanwhile, serum cortisol (1.62 ± 0.06 µgdL⁻¹) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (18.01 ± 3.26 pgmL⁻¹) were highest at 34 °C. Immune responses were strongest between 26 and 30 °C. In conclusion, the results suggest that L. calbasu should ideally be cultured between 26 and 30 °C for optimum growth and health, making it ideal for commercial farming. Full article

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is the leading cause of liver-related mortality. In ALD, excessive inflammatory response may induce a massive loss of hepatocytes and lead to irreversible liver damage with progressive fibrosis. Chemokines stimulate the migration of immune cells to the site of inflammation and contribute to the inflammatory cascade that may result in organ failure. We aimed to investigate blood concentrations of CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL16 chemokines and their diagnostic and prognostic significance in patients with ALD. In a prospective observational study, 88 individuals were recruited, including 63 patients with ALD (44 men and 19 women, aged 48.49 ± 10.88) and 25 healthy control volunteers matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. In blood samples, concentrations of CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL16 were measured using immunoenzymatic ELISAs. Correlations were examined between CXCL levels and (a) traditional inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio-NLR) and (b) liver dysfunction severity scores: Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP), MELD-NA, MELD 3.0, and modified Maddrey’s discriminant function (mDF). Patients’ survival within 30 days of hospital admission was recorded for analysis. CXCL capabilities in predicting the severity of liver dysfunction and ALD outcome were validated. ALD patients showed significant systemic upregulation of all studied chemokines compared to the control group. Patients with advanced liver disease, classified as MELD-Na ≥ 20, MELD3.0 > 19, and CTP class C, as well as poor short-term outcomes, presented with significantly higher CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels compared to their counterparts. ALD non-survivors had significantly higher concentrations of all studied CXCLs in comparison to controls. Positive correlations between CXCL16 and CRP, leukocytosis, neutrophils, and NLR were confirmed (0.67; 0.46; 0.48; 0.54, respectively). Although none of the chemokines correlated with ALT activity, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL16 showed positive correlations with bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase and inverse correlations with albumin levels. Our findings revealed the diagnostic and prognostic value of the studied CXCLs in ALD. In particular, CXCL9 and CXCL10 may have potential for discrimination of severe liver dysfunction and poor short-term prognosis. Further multicenter studies are required to confirm our results. Full article

Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), a prebiotic derived from yeast cell walls, has been shown to enhance growth performance and health status in various aquatic species. As an exogenous antigen adjuvant, MOS modulates T-cell-mediated immune responses, thereby improving immune function and suppressing excessive inflammatory reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary MOS supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, muscle composition, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant and immune status, and the mTOR signaling pathway in juvenile GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Juveniles (initial body weight: 16.17 ± 1.32 g) were randomly assigned to six treatment groups (three replicate tanks per group) and fed diets supplemented with MOS at 0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1% (equivalent to 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g/kg of diet, respectively) for 60 days. Compared with the control group, fish fed MOS-supplemented diets exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) weight gain rates, specific growth rates, and protein efficiency ratios, along with a significantly lower (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio. Serum albumin, high-density lipoprotein, and lysozyme levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In the liver, head kidney, and spleen, the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, and interferon γ) was significantly downregulated (p < 0.05), while the expression of antioxidant and protective genes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, interleukin-10, transforming growth factor β, and heat shock protein 70) as well as mTOR signaling pathway-related genes (mammalian target of rapamycin, akt protein kinase B, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, and ribosomal protein S6 kinase polypeptide 1) was significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). Overall, MOS positively affects tilapia’s growth, health, and immunity, with 0.60% identified as the optimal dietary level based on growth performance. Full article

The tree monitor lizards of the subgenus Hapturosaurus are an understudied but increasingly important group of reptiles in zoos. The routine blood analysis of reptiles in captivity is highly recommended; however, the lack of reliable reference values for many species severely limits their clinical use. This study aims to establish preliminary reference values (RV) for the main hematological and biochemical parameters in three species of the subgenus Hapturosaurus (Varanus macraei, Varanus prasinus and Varanus beccarii). Blood samples were taken from healthy adult individuals (n = 34), females (n = 18) and males (n = 16), maintained under controlled conditions in a zoo. A complete biochemical analysis was performed on all individuals, including alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, aspartate-aminotransferase, creatine kinase, bile acids, urea, uric acid, total solids, total proteins, albumin, glucose, fructosamine, lactate, cholesterol, triglycerides, amylase, calcium, phosphorus, calcium:phosphorus ratio, and magnesium. In addition, a complete hematological analysis was conducted on these individuals, including hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, total erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, and leukocyte differential count. From the data obtained, reference intervals were established following the guidelines provided by the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP). In this study, the results of the three species were unified to increase the sample size and to obtain more representative reference intervals. This unification was supported by a statistical analysis using the one-factor ANOVA test, which showed no statistically significant differences between species (p < 0.050). These data constitute an essential first step for the clinical practice and management of these Hapturosaurus species in zoos and specialized centers. Future collaboration with other institutions will help expand the dataset and enhance the accuracy of the established reference values. Full article

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites of Aspergillus spp. They are highly toxic, carcinogenic, and immunosuppressive; AFs cause nonspecific disorders in humans and animals, which makes their diagnosis complex. The objective was to describe the time course of toxic effects of a single exposure to AFs-contaminated feed. Fifteen male calves (2 weeks old) were examined over 30 days for clinical, biochemical, and pathological changes resulting from the ingestion of AF-contaminated feed (1.0 mg/kg BW). Compared with 15 unexposed calves, exposed calves showed transient depression and rough coat; BW gain, dry matter intake, albumin, total plasma protein, and hepatic and renal glutathione-S-transferase concentrations progressively decreased. However, conversion ratio (feed/BW), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, reduced glutathione, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and alanine and aspartate aminotransferases progressively increased. Necropsy and histology at 7 days postexposure (dpe) showed liver with multifocal hemorrhages, yellowish coloration, friable consistency, periportal fibrosis, and steatosis. Kidneys were hemorrhagic, with brush border losses, glomerular atrophy, sclerotic glomerulonephritis, and lymphocytic infiltration. However, at 30 dpe, the liver showed pale discoloration, diffuse macrovesicular steatosis, and periportal fibrosis. The kidneys had mottled appearance and firm consistency, fibrosis, loss of normal architecture, and thickening of Bowman’s capsule. These results suggest that the identification of alterations in animal performance and biochemical and histological characteristics could be useful for integrating a proper diagnosis of bovine aflatoxicosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2–3% of all cancers, with approximately 25% of patients being detected at the metastatic stage. This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of co-evaluating two risk parameters: one, the HALP score based on haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, and the other, albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in patients with metastatic RCC treated with targeted therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 147 patients with metastatic RCC. The HALP score and AAPR values were calculated from pre-treatment blood test results, and followingly, the cut-off value was determined by using ROC analysis. Patients were categorised into three groups with a low, moderate or high combined risk score based on this cut-off value. The effect of these risk groups on survival was evaluated. Results: The mean age of patients was 64.1 ± 11.9. The median follow-up time was 38.3 months, and the mortality rate was 53.7% in all groups. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the combined scores of the risk groups: the median survival time was 51.6 months in the low-risk group, 20.7 months in the medium-risk group, and 10.4 months in the high-risk group (p < 0.001), with 5-year survival rates being 38.8% in the low-risk group, 30% in the intermediate-risk group, and 19% in the high-risk group. When compared to the low-risk group, Cox regression analysis revealed that the mortality risk, i.e., HR (hazard ratio), was 2.42 times higher in the intermediate-risk group and 3.76 times higher in the high-risk group. A nephrectomy operation decreased the mortality risk (HR = 0.24) by 4.16 times. Conclusions: This new combined risk scoring, obtained from co-evaluating the HALP score and AAPR, was found to be an independent prognostic factor in metastatic RCC patients. This combined risk scoring is expected to help clinicians in treatment decisions. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the pre-treatment albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in early-stage colorectal cancer patients and to compare it with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) within the same patient cohort. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 540 patients who were followed up after a diagnosis of early-stage colorectal cancer and whose albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), neutrophil, platelet, and lymphocyte values were measured before treatment. Results: In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for overall survival (OS), the AAPR index Area Under Curve (AUC):0.560, (p = 0.018), NLR index (p = 0.079), and PLR index (p = 0.692) were evaluated. In the ROC analysis for OS, a cut-off value of the AAPR index of ≤0.423 was found. In the AAPR-low group, the relapse and death rates were higher than in the AAPR-high group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively). As the AAPR index decreased, the NLR and PLR indexes increased (p = 0.027 and p = 0.003, respectively). Median disease-free survival (DFS) was worse in the AAPR-low group (128 versus 156) months (p = 0.015). The AAPR index significantly affected OS with hazard ratio (HR):0.42 (95%CI, 0.18–0.97) (p = 0.044). At 5 years, 68% of the patients in the AAPR-low group and 79% of the patients in the AAPR-high group were alive (p = 0.005). In a multivariate analysis, low AAPR, patient age at diagnosis, TNM stage, and recurrence status were independent factors affecting OS (p = 0.022, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: In early-stage colorectal cancer patients, the OS was worse in the AAPR-low group than in the AAPR-high group. The AAPR index demonstrated significant prognostic value for OS compared to the NLR and PLR in the same patient cohort. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in enzymic activity, metabolites, and hematological responses during the first 56-d of arrival of newly received calves, which were qualified at reception as high-risk but diagnosed as clinically healthy. A total of 320 blood samples were taken from 64 crossbred bull calves (average initial body weight = 148.3 ± 1.3 kg) at different times from arrival (d 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56 of received). Calves included in the study were received in June (n = 20), November (n = 24), and April (n = 20); thus, experimental treatments were arranged in a generalized complete block design (three blocks = month of arrival). The following parameters were determined: total white blood cells (WBC): lymphocytes (LYM), lymphocytes % (LYM%), monocytes (MON), monocytes % (MON%), granulocytes (GRA), granulocytes % (GRA%), platelets (PLT), and mean platelet volume (MPV); red blood cells (RBC): red blood cell distribution width test % (RDW%), hematocrit (HCT), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV); hemoglobin (HGB): mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The enzymatic activity and metabolites analyzed were alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), ALB/GLO ratio, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total bilirubin (TBIL), total cholesterol (TCHO), triglycerides (TG); (4) calcium (Ca), glucose (GLU), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), and chlorine (Cl⁻). It was observed that ALP, ALT, TP, ALB, GLO, ALB/GLO ratio, TCHO, TG, Ca, and GLU increased as days from reception increased (linear effect, p ≤ 0.04), whereas CRE and TBIL were reduced (linear effect, p ≤ 0.02). A quadratic response (p ≤ 0.001) was observed to GGT and AST values being maximal on days 1 and 56 after arrival (p ≤ 0.001). Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ concentrations were not affected by prolonged days after arrival. Finally, blood cells of LYM, LYM%, PLT, RBC, HGB, HCT%, MCV, and MCH increased (linear effect, p ≤ 0.001) as the number of days after arrival increased. Whereas MON% was linearly decreased (p ≤ 0.05). It was concluded that even when all parameters were within the range of reference intervals (RIs) determined for healthy cattle, during the period of monitoring, as the days after arrival lengthened, blood serum parameters related to health and immunity increased, and metabolites related to tissue injury decreased. In contrast, plasmatic electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻) were slightly reduced as the day after arrival increased. Apparently, at least 42 d is the minimum period after arrival to permit calves to reach more adequate physiological and metabolic conditions before starting the fattening phase. Full article

The purpose of this experiment is to investigate how different doses of Bacillus subtilis KG109 powder affect the growth performance, carcass quality, serum biochemical indexes, serum antioxidant and immunological index, intestinal morphology, and digestive enzyme activity of broilers. Four hundred chicks of a similar weight (1 day old) are randomly assigned to four groups of five replicates of 20 chicks each (half males and half females). The control group is fed a basal ration, and the experimental groups T1, T2, and T3 are supplemented with 6.0 × 10⁸ CFU/kg, 1.2 × 10⁹ CFU/kg, and 1.8 × 10⁹ CFU/kg of Bacillus subtilis KG109 bacterial powder, respectively, in the basal ration. The feeding cycle is 52 d. Compared with the control group, Bacillus subtilis KG109 powder (1) increases the broiler feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05), (2) improves the carcass quality (slaughter rate, cooking loss, L* and b* values) (p < 0.05), (3) enhances the serum biochemical indexes (alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), albumin (ALB), and triglycerides (TG)) (p < 0.05), (4) improves the serum antioxidant capacity (total an-tioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)) and immunoglobulins (lg A, lg G, lg M) (p < 0.05), (5) improves the intestinal morphology (villus height and villus height to crypt depth (VCR)) (p < 0.05), and (6) increases the intestinal digestive enzyme activities (amylase, protease, and lipase) (p < 0.05). In summary, adding Bacillus subtilis KG109 to broiler diets can result in a significant decrease in broilers’ FCR, an increase in their slaughtering rate, a decrease in their serum ALT, ALP, and AST activities, an increase in their serum TG content, an improvement of their immune and antioxidant capacity, an improvement of their intestinal morphology, and an improvement of their intestinal digestive enzyme activity. It is recommended to add 1.8 × 10⁹ CFU/kg of bacteria. Full article

Postmortem biochemistry is a valuable tool in forensic investigations, providing insights into the tissue damage and organ dysfunction associated with death. This study aimed to identify biochemical markers that distinguish primary and secondary hypothermia. Twenty-one Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: the Control group (n = 7), which was exposed only to hypothermic conditions, the Alcohol + Hypothermia group (n = 7), and the Benzodiazepines + Hypothermia group (n = 7). The temperature metrics assessed included the normal core temperature, the post-ketamine (0.3 ml injection) core temperature, the immersion temperature, temperature at the onset of hypothermia, and temperature at death. Blood samples were collected from the thoracic aorta in EDTA vacuum tubes for biochemical analysis. The key biochemical parameters measured included the Total Protein (g/L), Albumin (g/L), Globulin (g/L), Albumin to Globulin Ratio, Alanine Aminotransferase (U/L), Alkaline Phosphatase (U/L), Cholesterol (mmol/L), Amylase (U/L), and Lipase (U/L), using an automated IDEXX (Netherlands) cell counter. Significant between-group differences were found for the total protein and globulin levels (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), with post-hoc tests confirming differences between the alcohol and control, and benzodiazepine and control groups. The cholesterol levels were found to be significantly different through an omnibus test (p = 0.03), but post hoc tests did not confirm these differences on a statistically significant level. The amylase levels varied significantly across all groups (p < 0.001), with post hoc tests confirming significant differences among all pairs: alcohol vs. benzodiazepine (p = 0.002), alcohol vs. control (p = 0.003), and benzodiazepine vs. control (p < 0.001). The lipase levels showed significant differences in the omnibus test (p = 0.030), but there was no significance in the post hoc tests. Amylase emerged as the most significant parameter in our study, with reduced levels strongly associated with secondary hypothermia. These findings highlight the potential use of total protein, globulin, and amylase levels as biomarkers to differentiate between primary and secondary hypothermia in forensic contexts. Full article

Background and Objectives: The Albumin-to-Alkaline Phosphatase ratio (AAPR) is an easily applicable and cost-effective marker investigated as an outcome predictor in solid cancers. Preliminary evidence in breast cancer suggests that a low AAPR correlates with a poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in primary tumors. However, data regarding the axillary response are lacking. This study aims to evaluate whether the AAPR can predict the axillary response in initially nodal-positive (cN+) breast cancer patients undergoing NAC. Materials and Methods: Clinical and biochemical variables of cN+ breast cancer patients undergoing NAC were collected. Pre-NAC albumin and alkaline phosphatase serum values were utilized in the AAPR calculation. Fisher’s exact test was performed to identify differences between the two groups of patients (high and low AAPR according to the cut-off reported in the literature). The primary outcome was the nodal pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in the two groups of patients. Results: Nodal pCR was achieved in 20/45 (44.4%) patients. A total of 36/45 (80%) patients had an AAPR > 0.583. Among patient and tumor characteristics, the only statistically significant difference between the two groups was the axillary pCR between the low and high AAPR groups (p-value = 0.03, OR = 0.129, 95% CI = 0.00–0.835). Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that the pre-treatment AAPR might be an early predictor of axillary response in cN+ breast cancer patients undergoing NAC. This result justifies further investigation in larger prospective trials to validate this finding. Full article

The development of effective biomaterials for tissue regeneration has led to the exploration of blood derivatives such as leucocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). A novel variant, Albumin-Enriched Platelet-Rich Fibrin (Alb-PRF), has been introduced to improve structural stability and bioactivity, making it a promising candidate for bone regeneration. This study aimed to evaluate Alb-PRF’s capacity for cytokine and growth factor release, along with its effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of human osteoblasts in vitro. Alb-PRF membranes were analyzed using histological, scanning electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy techniques. Cytokine and growth factor release was quantified over seven days, and osteoinductive potential was evaluated with MG-63 osteoblast-like cells. Structural analysis showed Alb-PRF as a biphasic, highly cellularized material that releases lower levels of inflammatory cytokines and higher concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared to L-PRF. Alb-PRF exhibited higher early alkaline phosphatase activity and in vitro mineralization (p < 0.05) and significantly increased the OPG/RANKL mRNA ratio (p < 0.05). These results indicate that Alb-PRF has promising potential as a scaffold for bone repair, warranting further in vivo and clinical assessments to confirm its suitability for clinical applications. Full article

Metritis affects 5–20% of cows after parturition, negatively impacting animal welfare and the profitability of dairy farms, increasing culling rates and costs, and decreasing productivity and reproduction rates. This study compared the results of a comprehensive biochemical panel consisting of 25 salivary and 31 serum analytes between healthy cows (n = 16) and cows with metritis (n = 12). Descriptive parameters such as depression, rectal temperature, body condition score (BCS), heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous color, ruminal motility, vaginal discharge, milk production, and complete hematology analyses were also assessed for comparative purposes. The biochemistry analytes comprised five analytes related to stress, five to inflammation, five to oxidative status, and nineteen to general metabolism. The two-way ANOVA analysis revealed that, in saliva, eight biomarkers (lipase, adenosine deaminase (ADA), haptoglobin (Hp), total proteins, g-glutamyl transferase (gGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatine kinase (CK)) were significant higher in cows with metritis. In serum, eight biomarkers (ADA, Hp, serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen, ferritin, AOPPs/albumin ratio, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and bilirubin) were significantly higher in cows with metritis, whereas six (total esterase (TEA), albumin, urea, lactate, phosphorus, and calcium) were lower. Of the total number of 23 biomarkers that were measured in both saliva and serum, significant positive correlations between the two biofluids were found for six of them (Hp, FRAP, CUPRAC, AOPPs, urea, and phosphorus). Urea showed an R = 0.7, and the correlations of the other analytes were weak (R < 0.4). In conclusion, cows with metritis exhibited differences in biomarkers of stress, inflammation, cellular immune system, and general metabolism in both salivary and serum biochemistry profiles. These changes were of different magnitudes in the two biofluids. In addition, with the exception of ADA and Hp, the analytes that showed changes in the saliva and serum profiles of cows affected by metritis were different. Overall, this report opens a new window for the use of saliva as potential source of biomarkers in cows with metritis. Full article

Background and Objectives: Microvascular invasion (MVI) significantly impacts recurrence and survival rates after liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pre-operative prediction of MVI is crucial in determining the treatment strategy. This study aims to develop a nomogram model to predict the probability of MVI based on clinical features in HCC patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 489 patients with a pathological diagnosis of HCC were enrolled from our hospital. Those registered from 2012–2015 formed the derivation cohort, and those from 2016–2019 formed the validation cohort for pre-operative prediction of MVI. A nomogram model for prediction was created using a regression model, with risk factors derived from clinical and tumor-related features before surgery. Results: Using the nomogram model to predict the odds ratio of MVI before hepatectomy, the AFP, platelet count, GOT/GPT ratio, albumin–alkaline phosphatase ratio, ALBI score, and GNRI were identified as significant variables for predicting MVI. The Youden index scores for each risk variable were 0.287, 0.276, 0.196, 0.185, 0.115, and 0.112, respectively, for the AFP, platelet count, GOT/GPT ratio, AAR, ALBI, and GNRI. The maximum value of the total nomogram scores was 220. An increase in the number of nomogram points indicated a higher probability of MVI occurrence. The accuracy rates ranged from 55.9% to 64.4%, and precision rates ranged from 54.3% to 68.2%. Overall survival rates were 97.6%, 83.4%, and 73.9% for MVI(−) and 80.0%, 71.8%, and 41.2% for MVI(+) (p < 0.001). The prognostic effects of MVI(+) on tumor-free survival and overall survival were poor in both the derivation and validation cohorts. Conclusions: Our nomogram model, which integrates clinical factors, showed reliable calibration for predicting MVI and provides a useful tool enabling surgeons to estimate the probability of MVI before resection. Consequently, surgical strategies and post-operative care programs can be adapted to improve the prognosis of HCC patients where possible. Full article

Enhancing the sustainability of chicken farming involves improving health and productivity and product qualities. This study explores the influence of Spirulina platensis (SP) supplementation on the productivity, egg quality, shelf life during storage, and blood biochemistry of laying hens. A total of 192 thirty-nine-week-old White Leghorn hens were randomly divided into 4 dietary groups: a control group and 3 treatment groups receiving 2.5 g/kg, 5 g/kg, or 10 g/kg of SP, respectively. The study was conducted for six weeks with measuring feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg quality, shelf life, and blood biochemistry. The results demonstrated significant enhancements in egg weight (p < 0.05) and egg mass (p < 0.05) in the treatment of SP groups. The SP treated hens showed significant improvements in yolk color (p < 0.05) and Haugh unit scores (p < 0.05). The SP supplementation showed a hepatoprotective effect, as indicated by significant reduction in Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p < 0.05) levels; however, increases in total protein, albumin, and globulin levels were observed. Furthermore, the egg quality of stored eggs for 21 days linearly increased with increments in the SP levels. In conclusion, it can be speculated that adding SP at 2.5 g/kg and 5 g/kg can significantly improve the productivity of laying hens, eggs’ quality, shelf life, and blood biochemistry, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and efficient chicken production. Full article