Search Results (2,655)

The replacement of fishmeal with plant-based ingredients in aquafeeds, while economically and environmentally advantageous, can impair lipid metabolism and liver function in fish due to the lack of specific bioactive compounds such as bile acids (BAs). BAs are amphipathic steroid molecules that facilitate lipid digestion and act as signaling hormones, yet their optimal inclusion levels in conventional, balanced diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) remain undefined. This study evaluated the effects of dietary BA inclusion on growth performance, feed efficiency, body composition, and serum biochemical parameters of juvenile Nile tilapia (GIFT strain, initial weight 18.04 ± 3.67 g) and estimated the optimal inclusion level. Six isoproteic (320 g kg⁻¹) and isoenergetic (3300 kcal kg⁻¹) plant-based diets were formulated with increasing BAs levels (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg kg⁻¹) and fed to quadruplicate groups for 45 days. Only the Linear Response Plateau (LRP) model converged for weight gain data, estimating the optimal BA level at 479.70 mg kg⁻¹, with a plateau weight gain of 76.60 g. Inclusion of the 50–600 mg kg⁻¹ BAs significantly improved specific growth rate (up to 4.53%), crude protein retention efficiency (up to 81.11%), and whole-body crude protein content (up to 50.52%) compared to the control (p < 0.05). Fish fed 200 mg kg⁻¹ BAs exhibited the highest protein retention and lowest ether extract deposition, indicating a protein sparing effect. Serum lipase activity increased proportionally with BAs levels, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were reduced at 400 mg kg⁻¹ BAs, reflecting improved liver health. No mortality was recorded. In conclusion, dietary BAs inclusion enhances growth, protein utilization, and hepatic function in juvenile Nile tilapia fed plant-based diets. The recommended optimal level is 479.70 mg kg⁻¹ (dry matter basis), although significant benefits already occur from 50 mg kg⁻¹. These findings support the strategic use of BAs to improve the sustainability and efficiency of tilapia production. Full article

Spontaneous movement analysis provides valuable information about the maturation of the central nervous system and the emergence of motor control strategies in very young babies. Nonlinear measures capture dynamic aspects of movement that cannot be represented by linear methods. However, their implementation in clinical practice faces challenges, including the lack of standardized protocols and accessible tools for routine use. This scoping review aimed to map and characterize the nonlinear measures used to analyze spontaneous infant movement, including assessment context, instruments, data collection protocols, and main variables. The review followed JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed^®, Web of Science™, IEEE Xplore^®, ScienceDirect^®, and Google Scholar for studies published from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2025. Of 1166 records identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria. The nonlinear measures were grouped into five main methodological families: entropy-based measures (n = 10), state-space and dynamical systems measures (n = 4), recurrence-based analysis (n = 3), symbolic and discrete-state approaches (n = 3), and variance and frequency-based nonlinear descriptors (n = 1). Studies were conducted in laboratory settings (n = 6) and in hospital and/or home environments (n = 10). Two studies did not clearly specify the assessment context. Kinematic assessment was mainly performed using video-based systems (n = 7), accelerometers (n = 4), and wearable sensors (n = 2), with most studies focusing on the upper and lower limbs. Several investigations extended beyond single-joint analyses to examine inter-limb relationships and whole-body configurations, capturing spatial coordination patterns across multiple body segments. Kinetic assessment was conducted using pressure mats (n = 4) and force platforms (n = 1), with the center of pressure displacement as the primary outcome. Future research should prioritise methodological harmonisation and theoretical clarity. Consensus is needed regarding minimal data requirements, parameter selection, and reporting standards for commonly used nonlinear measures. Studies should also move beyond single-metric approaches and adopt multivariate frameworks that integrate complementary nonlinear metrics. The absence of standardised acquisition and analytical protocols currently limits cross-study comparability and hinders the clinical translation of nonlinear movement metrics as objective tools for early neurodevelopmental assessment. Full article

Background/Objectives: The relationship between body composition (BC), sarcopenia, and multiple sclerosis (MS) remains poorly understood. A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher risk of MS and brain atrophy. However, limited data are available on BC in patients in the early stages of the disease. This study investigates differences in BC and sarcopenia between early-diagnosed patients with MS (pwMS) and healthy controls (HC), while exploring correlations with brain atrophy and biomarkers of oxidative stress and axonal injury. Methods: This project is part of BPS-ARMS, a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019–2022 at Verona University involving 51 participants aged 18–40 years, diagnosed with MS in the last two years, and currently not taking disease-modifying drugs. Seventeen (69% females) pwMS consented to be enrolled in this sub-study, matched by age and body mass index (BMI) to 17 HC; BC was assessed using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Collected variables included BMI, fat and lean mass, and sarcopenia index (SI). A brain MRI scan was performed in pwMS between 6 months before and 1 month after inclusion, to assess T2 lesion, normalized brain (NBV), white matter (WMV) and gray matter (GMV) volumes, and presence of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesions. Biomarker analysis was performed on blood samples collected at baseline. Oxidative stress was assessed as plasma gluthatione (GSH) and gluthatione disulphide (GSSG) levels and STAT1 phosphorylation at Tyr 701 (pSTAT) in peripheral blood cells, while axonal damage was measured as serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels. Results: A significantly lower SI was found in pwMS compared to HC (p = 0.038), particularly in female cases. In the pwMS group, WMV was inversely correlated with SI (p = 0.028) and lean body mass (p = 0.016). BMI was inversely correlated with WMV (r = −0.658, p = 0.02). A significant inverse correlation of plasma GSSG level was found with SI (r = −0.546, p = 0.023) and lean mass (r = −0.585, p = 0.014); the ratio of GSH over GSSG (GSH/GSSG) was directly correlated with SI (r = 0.518, p = 0.036) and lean mass (r = 0.568, p = 0.017). Conclusions: Patients with early-stage untreated MS and low-grade disability are more prone to sarcopenia than HC. Moreover, MS subjects with higher BMI show lower brain white matter volume and a lower global brain volume. Full article

Background: Perioperative bleeding from cancellous bone remains a clinically relevant challenge in orthopaedic surgery. Bone wax has long been used as a simple and inexpensive mechanical hemostatic agent, but previous reviews have focused mainly on total joint arthroplasty or on the material history of bone wax and its substitutes. The broader clinical evidence across orthopaedic subspecialties has not been comprehensively mapped. Methods: This scoping review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework, with methodological refinements proposed by Levac et al., and was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. Five electronic sources and grey literature were searched through May 2025. Clinical studies evaluating bone wax in orthopaedic surgery were eligible regardless of study design; a relevant clinical trial registry record with sufficient methodological detail was also retained to map ongoing evidence. Preclinical and purely material-based studies were excluded. The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/K3ZAV). Results: Of 486 identified records, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Eight records concerned joint replacement, two spinal surgery, three excision of abnormal bony structures, and two sealing applications. The strongest comparative evidence came from arthroplasty, where bone wax was generally associated with reduced intraoperative or perioperative blood loss without clear evidence of adverse effects on early postoperative recovery outcomes reported in the included studies. Evidence for spinal and nontraditional applications was more heterogeneous and was derived mainly from small observational studies, case series, technical reports, or a trial registry record. Complications such as foreign-body reaction and chronic inflammation were described primarily in spine-related reports of retained nonabsorbable wax. Conclusions: Bone wax remains a useful and inexpensive adjunct for hemostasis in orthopaedic surgery. The strongest clinical evidence is concentrated in arthroplasty, whereas spinal and nontraditional applications remain supported by limited and heterogeneous data. Future research should clarify indication-specific benefits and risks and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bioresorbable alternatives in well-designed clinical studies. Full article

Bacillus subtilis has been widely investigated as a probiotic feed additive for weanling piglets due to its potential to improve growth performance, gut health, and disease resilience during the post-weaning period. This systematic review evaluated the effects of Bacillus subtilis supplementation in pigs following PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS framework. A total of 619 records published between 2000 and 2025 were identified through PubMed, Scopus, and AGRICOLA databases, of which 29 studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis. Overall, Bacillus subtilis supplementation frequently improved average daily gain, body weight, feed efficiency, and reduced diarrhea incidence, particularly under enteric challenge conditions. Many studies also reported beneficial effects on intestinal morphology, immune regulation, intestinal barrier-related gene expression, nutrient digestibility, and modulation of gut microbiota toward bacterial communities associated with intestinal health. However, responses varied depending on Bacillus subtilis strain, dosage, diet composition, and experimental design. In contrast, effects on biochemical and oxidative stress indicators were less consistent across studies. Collectively, the findings support the potential role of Bacillus subtilis as a functional probiotic in swine nutrition while highlighting the need for standardized long-term studies to better define optimal strains, supplementation strategies, and mechanisms of action. Full article

This systematic narrative review synthesizes 42 distinct sources including peer-reviewed journal articles, selected conference papers, and policy documents to examine the role of knowledge management (KM) processes in Saudi higher education accreditation, with specific focus on the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (NCAAA) standards. Drawing on literature published between 2005 and 2025, the review investigates how KM frameworks, including Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model (socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization), may be associated with accreditation outcomes in Saudi universities. The reviewed literature suggests an association between systematic KM approaches and more effective accreditation processes; causal conclusions are not warranted given the observational and case study nature of the evidence base. Certainty of the overall evidence body is rated as low to moderate. The study reveals significant challenges, including information decentralization, inadequate training, resistance to change, and the absence of dedicated governance structures that appear to impede effective knowledge transfer during accreditation processes. A secondary sustainability coding pass identified associations between KM-driven accreditation practices and institutional sustainability, environmental sustainability, and alignment with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions); these findings are hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory. It should be noted that all screening and data extraction were conducted by a sole reviewer; a post hoc validation exercise achieved Cohen’s kappa = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.72–0.90) for inclusion/exclusion decisions, providing retrospective assurance of acceptable consistency. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Full article

Two growth trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM), low-oligosaccharide soybean meal (LO-SBM), and enzyme-treated soybean meal (ET-SBM) on the growth performance, feed utilization, and gut microbiome of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Nine diets were tested, including a basal diet using solvent-extracted soybean meal as the main protein source. The solvent-extracted soybean meal was then replaced with LO-SBM or ET-SBM at 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% on an isonitrogenous and isolipidic basis. In the 8-week outdoor green water trial, all growth metrics, FCR and apparent net protein retention (ANPR) showed no significant differences among diets (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant effect of LO-SBM on phosphorus retention. In the clear water trial, intermediate inclusion levels of LO-SBM (60–80%) slightly improved growth metrics and phosphorus retention (p < 0.05) without affecting protein utilization, while 100% LO-SBM did not provide additional benefits. Diets with ET-SBM showed similar performance; however, phosphorus retention was reduced. Diets did not affect whole-body composition (p > 0.05), except for phosphorus and moisture. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that shrimp fed 100% ET-SBM had notably higher alpha diversity (Shannon index = 5.45, observed species = 326.41) compared to those fed 100% LO-SBM (Shannon index = 4.59, observed species = 242.69), indicating improved microbial stability with ET-SBM. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in beta diversity or taxonomic composition between treatments (p > 0.05). This study demonstrates that incorporating 60–80% LO-SBM into the diet improves shrimp growth and nutrient utilization. Additionally, ET-SBM may also support shrimp growth, nutrient efficiency, and microbial diversity, suggesting that both LO-SBM and ET-SBM can be beneficial for shrimp nutrition. Full article

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease frequently associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), widely used for T2DM and obesity, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may be relevant in psoriasis. However, individual GLP-1RAs differ substantially in their pharmacological characteristics and clinical effects. Our objective was to systematically review the available evidence on the effects of individual GLP-1RAs in patients with psoriasis. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Scopus were searched up to April 2026 for studies evaluating GLP-1RAs in psoriasis. Case reports, case series, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials were included. Preclinical, clinical and safety outcomes were extracted and narratively synthesized. Results: Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Most involved patients with concomitant obesity and/or T2DM. Overall, semaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, and tirzepatide were associated with improvements in psoriasis severity, often accompanied by reductions in body weight, glycated haemoglobin, inflammatory markers, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Semaglutide and liraglutide showed the most consistent evidence of benefit. Experimental and clinical data also suggested direct immunomodulatory effects on pathways involved in psoriasis pathogenesis. However, paradoxical psoriasiform eruptions and psoriasis exacerbations were reported with some agents. The evidence base was limited by the predominance of case reports and small observational studies, substantial heterogeneity, and the limited availability of randomized controlled trials. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that GLP-1RAs may improve both psoriatic disease activity and cardiometabolic outcomes, particularly in patients with obesity or T2DM. Nevertheless, potential differences among individual agents warrant further investigation in larger controlled studies. Full article

Background: Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation) is a dynamic sequence of yoga that incorporates movement, breath and mindfulness, and is known for its many potential multidimensional health benefits. Despite the increasing volume of research, a comprehensive and domain-specific synthesis examining the multidimensional effects of Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions incorporating Suryanamaskar remains limited. Hence, the present study was designed to systematically review and synthesize the existing evidence related to the effects of Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions using Suryanamaskar sequence on various populations and outcome domains. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement and Cochrane Handbook recommendations. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from database inception to 31 December 2025. Studies involving human participants and Suryanamaskar-based interventions reporting measurable physical, physiological, or psychological outcomes were included. Fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria. Study characteristics, intervention protocols, and outcome measures were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized studies and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. Due to substantial heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions incorporating Suryanamaskar were associated with improvements in physical fitness, physiological health, psychological well-being, and body composition across diverse populations. Most included studies reported favourable changes in physical fitness, physiological, psychological, and body-composition outcomes; however, the magnitude and consistency of findings varied substantially across study designs, participant populations, intervention protocols, and outcome measures. Conclusions: Promising but heterogeneous evidence suggests that Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions incorporating Suryanamaskar may contribute to improvements in physical fitness, physiological function, psychological well-being, and body composition across diverse populations. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of variability in study designs, intervention protocols, participant characteristics, and risk of bias. Although Suryanamaskar appears to be a practical, low-cost, and holistic intervention with potential applications in educational, sports, and health-promotion settings, further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and larger sample sizes are required to strengthen the evidence base. Full article

Palm fruits are produced extensively in tropical and subtropical regions and consumed worldwide. However, over 20% of the total yield is discarded due to inferior quality, resulting in significant agricultural waste and economic loss. To mitigate this challenge and enable the safe valorization of discarded dates (DD) in animal feeding systems, this study employed solid-state fermentation (SSF) to upgrade the nutritional quality of DD and evaluated its potential as a functional feed ingredient for goats. Twenty-four male goats (6 months old; initial body weight 25.86 ± 0.25 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: a basal diet (control), a diet containing 10% raw DD (D1), and a diet containing 10% solid-state fermented DD (D2). Inclusion of DD in the diet significantly increased average daily gain (ADG), final body weight (BW), and feed efficiency, with the highest values recorded for D2 (p < 0.05). Feeding of DD altered (p < 0.001) all measured rumen fermentation parameters, except pH, with higher levels (p < 0.05) of total volatile fatty acids, propionate, microbial crude protein, and ammonia nitrogen recorded for D1 and D2, as compared to control. Similarly, blood biochemistry revealed elevated total protein, albumin, and globulin in both supplemented groups (p < 0.05), whereas higher glucose and cholesterol levels were recorded for the D1 group (p < 0.05). Notably, systemic antioxidant status improved with the inclusion of SSF fermented DD, as evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities, alongside reduced malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.05). The inclusion of DD in the diet decreased cooking and drip losses, and decreased shear force (indicating enhanced tenderness) and water-holding capacity (p < 0.05), with better values recorded for D2. Carcass protein and fat contents increased with the inclusion of DD in the diet, with higher values recorded for D2 (p < 0.05). Fatty acid analysis revealed higher (p < 0.05) contents of rumenic acid and octadecenoic acid in D2, as compared to D1 and control. The concentrations of lysine, methionine, threonine, leucine, and valine in meat were also higher in D2-fed goats (p < 0.05). In conclusion, incorporating solid-state-fermented discarded dates into goat diets represents a promising and sustainable strategy to valorize agricultural waste while concurrently improving growth performance, antioxidant status, meat quality, and selected nutrient profiles of goat meat. These preliminary findings warrant validation in larger-scale production. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of partial replacement of fishmeal with 11% defatted Hermetia illucens meal (corresponding to approximately 35% replacement of the fishmeal-derived animal protein fraction) on growth performance, fillet proximate composition, and instrumental sensory responses of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) reared under commercial offshore farming conditions. A total of 60,000 fish were distributed into four sea cages and fed either a control diet (FM) or an insect-based diet (HIM) for 181 days. No significant differences were observed between dietary treatments in final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, or somatic indices, indicating that insect meal inclusion did not impair productive performance under farm-scale conditions. Fillet proximate composition was largely preserved. Fillet sensory characteristics were assessed using an integrated artificial sensing platform including an electronic eye (E-eye), electronic nose (E-nose), and electronic tongue (E-tongue) coupled with multivariate analysis. E-eye and E-nose analyses showed no clear discrimination between dietary groups, indicating that dietary insect meal inclusion had limited effects on fillet visual appearance and volatile compound profiles. In contrast, E-tongue analysis revealed a clear separation between treatments, suggesting selective modulation of taste-related attributes associated with dietary inclusion of insect meal. Overall, the results demonstrate that defatted H. illucens meal can be incorporated into practical seabream diets under commercial farming conditions without compromising productive performance or major fillet quality traits. Furthermore, this study provides farm-scale evidence that artificial sensing technologies can effectively detect subtle diet-related changes in sensory characteristics, particularly those associated with taste perception. Full article

Background: Obesity is a major public health concern and shows a clear social gradient, with higher prevalence among individuals with lower socioeconomic position. Educational level is a key indicator of socioeconomic status, but the extent to which lifestyle factors explain its association with obesity remains unclear. Objective: To examine the association between educational level and obesity in a working-age population and to evaluate how adjustment for lifestyle factors influences the magnitude of the association between educational level and obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3108 working-age adults undergoing occupational health assessments in Spain. Educational level was categorised into three groups (higher, intermediate, and primary or none). Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m². Lifestyle variables included smoking status, physical activity assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), and adherence to the Mediterranean diet evaluated with the MEDAS-14 score. Sequential logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), with progressive adjustment for demographic, behavioural, and clinical factors. Results: The overall prevalence of obesity was 16.6%, with a clear gradient across educational levels (11.5% in higher education vs. 19.8% in primary or no education). In crude analyses, individuals with the lowest educational level had higher odds of obesity (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.46–2.45). Adjustment for age and sex attenuated the association (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.32–2.24), with further reduction after inclusion of lifestyle factors (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.24–2.13). In the fully adjusted model, the association remained statistically significant (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.18–2.21), indicating that adjustment for lifestyle factors attenuated the association between educational level and obesity, although the association remained statistically significant. Conclusions: Lower educational level is associated with a higher risk of obesity. Adjustment for lifestyle factors attenuated this association, although a statistically significant relationship remained. These findings support the role of education as a fundamental determinant of health and highlight the need for strategies addressing broader social and structural determinants of obesity. Full article

Plant-derived additives are increasingly explored as functional aquafeed ingredients for supporting fish performance and physiological condition. This study evaluated the effects of dietary Wedelia chinensis extract (WCE) on growth performance, feed utilization, antioxidant status, innate immune-associated biomarkers, and immune- and antioxidant-related gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Juvenile fish with an initial body weight of 14.31 ± 0.03 g were fed diets supplemented with WCE at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 g kg⁻¹ diet for eight weeks. Growth indices, somatic indices, serum and hepatic antioxidant biomarkers, mucosal and systemic innate immune-associated parameters, and liver and intestine gene expression were assessed. Dietary WCE improved final weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio compared with the control, with WCE10 showing the most consistent growth-related response. Somatic indices were not significantly affected. WCE supplementation increased antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced malondialdehyde levels in serum and liver, particularly at moderate inclusion levels. It also increased lysozyme and peroxidase activities, alternative complement activity, phagocytic index, and respiratory burst activity, and modulated selected immune- and antioxidant-related genes in the liver and intestine. Taken together, dietary WCE, particularly at 10 g kg⁻¹ diet, improved growth and feed utilization while supporting antioxidant status and basal innate immune-associated biomarkers during the eight-week feeding trial, without detectable changes in somatic indices. These findings provide a basis for further evaluating WCE as a plant-derived functional additive for Nile tilapia aquafeeds under pathogen-challenge and practical farming conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impairs physical function and quality of life, particularly in women. Although muscle strength and postural stability are known to influence functional outcomes, their independent contributions after controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), and pain remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the differential roles of lower extremity muscle strength and postural stability on functional status, evaluated through both performance-based tests and patient-reported outcomes, in women with bilateral knee OA. Methods: Sixty-four women with bilateral knee OA (mean age: 55.71 ± 5.99 years) were included in this study. Lower extremity muscle strength was assessed using the five-times sit-to-stand test, and postural stability was evaluated with the Biodex Balance System. Performance-based function was measured using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and the stair climbing test (SCT), while self-reported function was assessed using the WOMAC function subscale (WOMAC-F). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age, BMI, and pain. Results: Muscle strength emerged as the strongest independent predictor of performance-based outcomes, significantly contributing to both SCT (β = 0.330, p = 0.005) and 6MWT (β = −0.409, p = 0.001). In the 6MWT model, the effects of age and BMI became non-significant after the inclusion of muscle strength, indicating a mediating role. In contrast, self-reported function (WOMAC-F) was primarily associated with pain (β = 0.385, p = 0.001) and postural stability (β = 0.243, p = 0.040), while muscle strength showed no significant contribution. Conclusions: Muscle strength is the primary determinant of objective functional performance, whereas pain and postural stability are more influential in shaping perceived functional limitations. These findings highlight a dissociation between actual performance and patient-reported function. Rehabilitation strategies should prioritize strength training to improve physical performance, while also addressing pain and balance to enhance patients’ perceived function. Full article

This study evaluated the responses of growing pigs to a matched compound enzyme in two feeding systems: a corn–soybean meal diet and a diversified diet. Two independent experiments were conducted, each using 80 pigs (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]; average body weight, 33.0 kg), which were assigned to two treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) according to initial body weight and sex, with five replicate pens per treatment and eight pigs per pen. In Exp. 1, pigs were fed a corn–soybean meal diet without or with 0.02% compound enzyme formulated (including xylanase, β-glucanase, β-mannanase, cellulase and pectinase) for this diet type. In Exp. 2, pigs were fed a diversified diet without or with 0.02% compound enzyme (including xylanase, β-glucanase, β-mannanase, cellulase, pectinase, amylase and protease). The supplemental level of the compound enzyme was selected according to the substrate characteristics of each diet, especially the content of fibrous components, and was further aligned with the inclusion rate recommended for practical feed production. Growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), serum immune and inflammatory indices, jejunal digestive enzyme activities, and cecal microbiota were evaluated. In Exp. 2, the G:F was higher during days 15–28 (p < 0.05) and tended to increase the overall G:F (p = 0.06). In Exp. 1, dietary compound enzyme supplementation increased the ATTD of dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), and gross energy (GE) on day 28 (p < 0.05), elevated serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration (p < 0.05) on day 14, reduced serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 on day 28 (p < 0.05), and increased jejunal amylase activity (p < 0.05). In Exp. 2, dietary compound enzyme supplementation increased the ATTD of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and GE (p < 0.05), and enhanced the activities of amylase and chymotrypsin on day 28 (p < 0.05). Enzyme supplementation reduced the abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae in Exp. 1 (p < 0.05) but increased the abundance of Chlamydiaceae in Exp. 2 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, matched compound enzyme supplementation improved nutrient utilization in both diet systems, but the response profiles differed. The diversified diet system showed clearer improvements in feed efficiency and protein-related digestibility. Full article