Search Results (973)

A total of 288 male Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: crumbled-pellet feed (CPF), hard-pellet feed (HPF), standard-nutrient soft-pellet feed (SPF), and low-nutrient SPF, each with eight replicates of nine birds. The 42-day trial was divided into stage 1 (days 1–21) and stage 2 (days 22–42). In stage 1, the broilers fed standard-nutrient SPF showed higher final body weight (FBW) and lower dry matter feed conversion ratio (DMFCR) than those fed CPF (p < 0.05), along with enhanced liver antioxidant capacity, reduced serum uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CREA), and improved intestinal morphology and disaccharidase activities compared with the CPF group. In stage 2, continued SPF feeding increased abdominal fat, serum total cholesterol (TC), and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced intestinal microbiota diversity (p < 0.05). In contrast, the broilers switched to HPF in stage 2 achieved growth performance comparable to that of the broilers fed SPF throughout both stages (TG3) but without health impairment. Low-nutrient SPF maintained growth despite reduced protein levels but increased dysbiosis risk. Under the conditions tested in this study, feeding standard-nutrient SPF in stage 1 followed by HPF in stage 2 appeared to be the most effective strategy among those tested, maximizing performance while preserving health. However, because the dietary formulations were intentionally adjusted to achieve the desired nutrient levels for each feed type, the observed effects reflect the combined influence of feed form and nutrient composition; further studies with iso-nutrient controls are needed to confirm the specific role of feed form. Full article

Donor liver scarcity is exacerbated by preservation-related injury, particularly ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which reduces organ utilization and increases discard rates. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) play a critical role in mediating IRI, yet their response to static cold storage (SCS) remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the impact of SCS on isolated rat LSECs. Isolated rat hepatocytes, stellate cells, Kupffer cells, and LSECs were subjected to up to 3 days of SCS followed by up to 2 days of recovery, with LSECs also receiving apoptosis and/or oxidative stress inhibition. Afterwards, changes in survivability, functionality, and morphology were measured. Additionally, changes in gene, cytokine, and chemokine expression were also measured. We found that SCS reduced cell viability by approximately 40%, accompanied by a 60% reduction in metabolic activity and ATP levels, indicating substantial impairment in cellular energetics. SCS also doubled reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and upregulated oxidative stress and apoptosis-related genes, leading to functional decline in LSECs. Importantly, combined inhibition of apoptosis and oxidative stress improved LSEC viability by 20% and metabolic activity and ATP levels by 30% and 40%, respectively, and reduced ROS production by 50%. These findings highlight LSEC vulnerability to preservation injury and the importance of understanding LSEC-specific injury mechanisms to provide a foundation for the development of endothelial-targeted preservation strategies to significantly improve liver transplantation outcomes, subsequently increasing access to this life-saving treatment. Full article

In 2025, a severe mass mortality outbreak struck captive Geochelone sulcata at a zoo in Guangdong Province, China. To trace the causative agent, identify the viral strain and characterize associated pathological lesions, respiratory tract samples collected from diseased tortoises were subjected to a combined technical workflow. Metagenomic high-throughput sequencing was first applied to screen for potential pathogens, followed by virus isolation via cell culture. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe viral morphology. The major capsid protein (MCP) gene was amplified by PCR for molecular identification, and whole-genome sequencing together with phylogenetic analysis was performed to clarify the genetic features of the isolate. The results verified that ranavirus was the primary pathogen responsible for the mortality. Pathological examination demonstrated acute necrosis, hemorrhage and inflammatory infiltration in multiple organs including the liver, spleen, lung, and pancreas. TEM observation revealed typical iridovirus-like particles with an average diameter of approximately 70 nm. Molecular and genomic analyses confirmed the pathogen as Tiger Frog Virus (TFV) of the genus Ranavirus, designated TFV-CN2025, which shared 99.8% nucleotide sequence homology with known TFV reference strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of lethal TFV infection in G. sulcata, which provides detailed pathological evidence for this cross-species transmission event from amphibian hosts to terrestrial chelonians. Our findings indicate that TFV poses considerable risks to the tortoise breeding industry and ecological security in China. We therefore suggest incorporating TFV detection into routine quarantine and disease surveillance programs for captive tortoises. Full article

Sheep hemoglobin hydrolysate (SHH) has important biological antioxidant functions. However, the specific mechanism is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of SHH in vivo and its potential mechanism. Eighteen Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into DG (gavaged with 0.9% saline), VC (gavaged with vitamin C 100 mg/kg BW) and SHH (gavaged with SHH 800 mg/kg BW) groups. The rats were given intragastric administration for 21 days. On the 22nd day, all rats were intraperitoneally injected with diquat as a challenge. The results showed that SHH treatment had no obvious effect on the growth performance and main organ index of rats after the diquat challenge. Compared to the DG group, the SHH group maintained higher serum T-AOC and GSH-Px levels after the diquat challenge. SHH significantly increased GSH-Px activity in the liver and kidney, and decreased MDA content in the kidney after the diquat challenge. SHH significantly up-regulated the gene expression of TrxR in the liver and Nrf2 in the kidney but had no significant effect on the expression of NF-κB in the kidney. Histopathological observations showed that SHH could improve the morphology of liver cells, and no obvious pathological damage was found in all organs. In conclusion, the relative decrease in oxidative stress markers observed with prophylactic SHH supplementation after diquat challenge may be mediated by the regulation of transcriptional expression of Nrf2-related redox genes. These findings demonstrate SHH’s potential as a natural antioxidant and provide promising strategies for converting low-value meat industry byproducts into functional supplements. Full article

Obesity and obesity-associated hepatic steatosis represent major metabolic health challenges, yet effective pharmacological interventions remain limited. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural polyphenol, has been reported to exert anti-obesity effects; however, its specific roles in restoring hepatic lipid homeostasis and modulating glucose metabolism under diet-induced obesity remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects and underlying mechanisms of RA in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. RA significantly reduced body weight gain and adipose tissue mass without altering total energy intake, accompanied by increased nocturnal energy expenditure and fecal lipid excretion. RA restored hepatic lipid homeostasis by improving circulating lipid profiles and markedly attenuating hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular injury. These effects were associated with increased fecal lipid excretion, suppression of hepatic lipogenesis, and enhancement of fatty acid oxidation-related markers. Furthermore, RA reduced fasting blood glucose levels and modulated the expression of hepatic glucose metabolism-related genes. Pancreatic immunohistochemistry showed morphological changes in insulin-positive and glucagon-positive cells following RA supplementation. Collectively, these findings indicate that RA ameliorates obesity-associated metabolic disturbances and hepatic steatosis through coordinated regulation of lipid metabolism and hepatic glucose metabolism-related pathways, highlighting its potential relevance for obesity-associated fatty liver conditions. Full article

Palmitic acid (PA) can be used as a substitute for fish oil in aquaculture; however, excessive intake can easily cause lipotoxic liver damage in animals, and the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with it. Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) share a high degree of genetic homology with humans and possess conserved lipid metabolism pathways, making them ideal model organisms for studying hepatic lipotoxicity. This paper presents a comprehensive narrative review of studies on PA-induced hepatic lipotoxicity, with a primary focus on the adult zebrafish model: it elucidates the morphological and functional abnormalities in liver tissue caused by PA exposure; explains the molecular mechanisms by which PA induces metabolic disorders and cellular stress through upregulation of lipid synthesis and inhibition of β-oxidation, which further activates inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB/JNK and may ultimately contribute to liver fibrosis; and summarizes intervention strategies targeting these mechanisms. Studies using embryonic or larval zebrafish are included only as supplementary mechanistic evidence where adult data are unavailable and are clearly distinguished throughout the text. To ensure transparency, the literature search and screening process are reported in detail, although formal systematic review methodologies (e.g., PRISMA, dual independent screening, and quantitative risk-of-bias assessment) were not applied. This study aims to refine the evaluation system for PA-induced hepatic lipotoxicity, providing both theoretical support for the scientific application of PA in aquaculture and important references for elucidating the pathogenesis of human NAFLD/NASH and developing preventive and therapeutic measures. Full article

Objectives: Triptolide (TP), a bioactive diterpenoid from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., has pharmacological activity, but repeated exposure is limited by hepatotoxicity. CYP2E1 is a hepatic metabolic-redox enzyme linked to oxidative liver injury. This study evaluated whether liver-directed Cyp2e1 RNA interference mitigates TP-induced subacute hepatotoxicity without evidence of a marked reduction in short-term systemic TP exposure. Methods: Cyp2e1-targeting siRNA was encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (si-Cyp2e1 LNPs) and validated for hepatic CYP2E1 protein knockdown in female C57BL/6J mice. Subacute liver injury was induced by oral TP at 800 μg/kg/day for 7 days. Prophylactic and concurrent si-Cyp2e1 regimens were evaluated using serum transaminases, gross liver morphology, H&E histopathology with blinded semi-quantitative scoring, oxidative-stress indices, RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and exploratory LC-MS/MS pharmacokinetic analysis. Results: si-Cyp2e1 LNPs showed favorable nanoscale properties and robust hepatic CYP2E1 protein knockdown. Both regimens reduced ALT/AST elevations, improved gross liver appearance and histological injury scores, decreased hepatic ROS and malondialdehyde, and restored glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses indicated TP-associated PI3K/AKT activation and reduced PI3K/AKT phosphorylation after si-Cyp2e1 treatment. Exploratory pharmacokinetic profiling showed a lower early plasma TP peak, whereas AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ appeared broadly comparable within the 0–3 h observation window. Conclusions: Liver-directed Cyp2e1 silencing provided proof-of-concept hepatoprotection against repeated TP exposure, accompanied by redox recovery and attenuated stress-associated PI3K/AKT activation. Because CYP2E1 enzymatic activity, TP-derived reactive metabolites, and pathway causality were not directly tested, these findings should be interpreted as pathway-associated evidence requiring further validation. Full article

Mycotoxin contamination in feed poses a major threat to animal health and productivity, particularly in pigeons. This study evaluated the protective effects of three mycotoxin biodegradation agents (MBAs) in pigeons subchronically co-exposed to a mycotoxin-contaminated (MYC) diet for 60 days. The MYC diet was prepared by mixing 3% naturally mold-contaminated corn with 97% basal diet, yielding final dietary concentrations of fumonisin B1 (7829.41 µg/kg), aflatoxin B1 (201.16 µg/kg), zearalenone (1675.46 µg/kg), T-2 toxin (7721.41 µg/kg), and deoxynivalenol (1211.77 µg/kg). Birds were allocated to five groups (n = 18/group): CON (basal diet); MYC (MYC diet alone); and TRT1–TRT3 fed the MYC diet supplemented with 1.5 g/kg of MBA I (Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus licheniformis + Devosia sp.), MBA II (Bacillus licheniformis + Saccharomyces cerevisiae), or MBA III (Bacillus subtilis + glucose oxidase), respectively. Subchronic co-exposure to the MYC diet significantly increased serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), whereas all three MBAs effectively attenuated these elevations. Histopathological examination revealed inflammatory infiltration and tissue damage in the jejunum and liver of MYC birds, which were markedly alleviated by MBA supplementation. Gut microbiota analysis showed that mycotoxins decreased Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and increased Proteobacteria and Streptococcus, whereas MBAs partially restored microbial balance. Among the three MBAs, MBA II exhibited the strongest protective effect, as reflected by the greatest improvements in serum biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and microbial composition. Liver transcriptome analysis showed that mycotoxin mainly affected pathways related to cell cycle and DNA replication, whereas MBA II enhanced pathways associated with intestinal immune function and antigen processing and presentation. Collectively, these findings suggest that MBA II offers effective protection against combined mycotoxin-induced toxicity in pigeons and may serve as a promising feed additive for mitigating mycotoxin contamination in poultry production. Full article

Benign biliary tumors and precursor neoplasms of the biliary tract are a heterogeneous group of uncommon neoplasms with significant clinical and diagnostic implications. Their importance lies in their variable malignant potential and morphological and molecular similarities to pancreatic neoplasms. The sixth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Digestive System Tumours (WHO DST6), published online in 2026, introduced major revisions to the classification of these entities. According to WHO DST6, benign tumors and precursor neoplasms of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts include bile duct adenoma, biliary adenofibroma, and mucinous cystic neoplasm, whereas those of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts include biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts, intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm of the bile ducts, intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts, and mass-forming intracholecystic neoplasm. Despite these advances, their histological and molecular heterogeneity continues to pose significant diagnostic challenges, particularly in distinguishing them from malignant biliary tumors on limited biopsy specimens and in recognizing early invasive lesions. This review summarizes the clinicopathological and molecular features of benign biliary tumors and precursor neoplasms, emphasizing differential diagnosis and key updates introduced in WHO DST6. Full article

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a major freshwater aquaculture species in China, but its growth is limited under intensive high-density farming. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of plasma exosomes associated with distinct growth performance by isolating and characterizing exosomes from fast- and slow-growing grass carp after nine months of culture. Exosomes showed typical morphology and expressed characteristic markers (CD63, CD81, TSG101). Small RNA sequencing identified 3325 miRNAs, with 177 highly abundant miRNAs differentially expressed: immune-related miRNAs were upregulated, while development-inhibitory miRNAs were downregulated in fast-growing fish. Target gene enrichment highlighted pathways in neural and skeletal development and amino acid metabolism. Integrative analysis across tissues revealed 26 miRNAs with coordinated expression patterns between plasma exosomes and brain, liver, or muscle, validated by qPCR. DIA proteomics quantified 4203 proteins, identifying 843 differentially enriched proteins linked to immune response, energy metabolism, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Notably, TYMP was upregulated in muscle and exosomes, while several proteins (e.g., GYG2, BHMT) showed coordinated downregulation across tissues and exosomes in large fish. These results provide comprehensive evidence of exosome-mediated cross-tissue communication in teleosts and suggest a potential role for plasma exosomal miRNAs and proteins as non-invasive biomarkers correlated with growth status in aquaculture. Full article

Amphibian malformation syndromes significantly impact both conservation efforts and aquaculture, yet their underlying systemic pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly characterized. This study comprehensively examines the multi-level pathological processes associated with the “short-leg” malformation syndrome in the black-spotted frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) using an integrated methodology, encompassing morphological, histopathological, gut microbiome, and hepatic transcriptomic analyses. Affected frogs demonstrated shortened limbs, impaired motor function, and a distinctive metabolic phenotype, including increased body weight despite a shorter body length, accumulation of visceral fat, and shortened intestines. Gut microbiota analysis identified significant compositional shifts, characterized by a decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio, expansion of pro-inflammatory Proteobacteria, and reduction in beneficial Actinobacteriota, suggesting microbial niche restructuring that likely promotes metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Hepatic transcriptome profiling revealed 2617 differentially expressed genes, demonstrating a clear molecular dichotomy with concurrent up-regulation of immune-related pathways (e.g., neutrophil extracellular trap formation, complement cascades, and inflammatory signaling) and broad suppression of metabolic pathways (e.g., lipid oxidation, nutrient absorption, and PPAR and renin–angiotensin systems). This integrated analysis illustrates that the malformation syndrome represents a systemic pathophysiological state involving dysfunction of the gut–liver axis, characterized by the coexistence of gut microbiota alterations, hepatic metabolic suppression, and immune activation. These findings provide a framework for understanding amphibian malformations and suggest potential strategies to improve health outcomes in aquaculture. Full article

Objectives: This study investigated the short- and long-term metabolic effects of two β-sitosterol with propionic acid cocrystals (CCA and CCB) compared with commercial β-sitosterol in male hamsters. Methods: Five experiments were conducted, including three acute and two chronic dietary interventions. Acute experiments evaluated the metabolic response to a single dose of commercial β-sitosterol (S) or its cocrystals (513 mg/kg) administered with a pork-fat load following 40% caloric restriction. Blood samples were collected before and 5 h after the lipid challenge. Long-term studies assessed daily supplementation with CCA (264 mg/kg) or CCB (at two doses, 114 and 342 mg/kg) during exposure to high-fat (HF) or Western diets (WD), respectively, for 21 days. Results: Acutely, CCA attenuated postprandial triglyceride increases in adult animals, while CCB induced a reduced rise in postprandial cholesterol across the three studies compared to S. Young animals treated with CCA and CCB exhibited a reduction in postprandial glucose levels. Long-term, in HF-fed hamsters, CCA lowered plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels on day 14 and, at the endpoint, decreased liver weight and increased circulating sitosterol levels, unlike its commercial counterpart. In WD-fed animals, CCB supplementation dose-dependently elevated plasma sitosterol levels. At the low dose, CCB treatment reduced body weight gain and cholesterol increase and improved adipocyte morphology, whereas the high dose reduced diet-induced hepatic detrimental outcomes, showing a stronger hepatoprotective effect compared to S-treated animals. Together, these results indicate improved postprandial lipid handling in the short-term and a modulation of metabolic adaptation to obesogenic diets in the long-term. Conclusions: β-sitosterol with propionic acid cocrystals improved metabolic responses more effectively than commercial β-sitosterol, enhancing bioavailability and potential therapeutic value against diet-induced metabolic disturbances. Full article

Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has growth-promoting, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbiota-modulating properties; however, its effects on juvenile snakeheads (Channa argus) remain underexplored. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of HRW on the antioxidant capacity, immune response, and gut microbiota of juvenile snakeheads. A total of 360 fish (15.32 ± 0.50 g) were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group (aerated water), a low-hydrogen group (H1, 280 ± 50 ppb), and a high-hydrogen group (H2, 550 ± 50 ppb). The results revealed that, compared with the control group, H1 significantly reduced serum levels of total protein, triglycerides, glucose, and urea nitrogen (P < 0.05). In the liver, H1 upregulated tir-2 expression and downregulated tnf-α expression (P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum SOD activity was significantly increased in both H1 and H2 groups compared with the control (P < 0.05), while serum CAT activity was significantly elevated only in the H2 group (P < 0.05). No significant alteration was detected in intestinal morphology (P > 0.05), and similarly, digestive enzyme activity did not change significantly (P > 0.05). Regarding gut microbiota, the H1 group increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria (P < 0.05); at the genus level, it decreased the abundance of Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, while increasing the abundance of Agathobacter, Faecalibacterium, and Anaerostipes (P < 0.05). In summary, our findings revealed that optimal HRW supplementation enhances immunomodulatory and antioxidant functions and improves intestinal health, thereby establishing HRW as a promising functional water conditioner for sustainable aquaculture applications. Full article

This study assessed the effects of dietary honeycomb supplementation on laying performance, intestinal inflammation, ovarian function, and yolk precursor synthesis in laying hens. A total of 320 Dawu Golden Phoenix laying hens (288-d-old) were randomly assigned into four treatment groups with eight replicates of 10 hens each. Hens were provided diets containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 g/kg honeycomb for 30 d. Dietary honeycomb significantly increased average egg weight, average daily feed intake, and laying rate, while decreasing the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). It enhanced serum antioxidant capacity, as reflected by higher GSH, SOD, and CAT activity (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, honeycomb modulated the expression of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway-related genes, accompanied by increased expression of downstream antioxidant-related genes. Additionally, honeycomb downregulated intestinal inflammatory- and apoptosis-related factors (p < 0.05), which effectively alleviated intestinal inflammation responses. In the liver, honeycomb showed favorable histological changes, including fewer lipid droplets and less vacuolar degeneration. Furthermore, it decreased serum ALT, AST, and TG levels and promoted yolk precursor synthesis by upregulating genes associated with lipid transport and vitellogenesis (p < 0.05). In the ovary, honeycomb optimized ovarian morphology and follicle development; elevated serum FSH, E2, and MLT levels; and enhanced the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes (p < 0.05), thereby promoting steroid hormone synthesis and reducing follicular atresia. In conclusion, dietary honeycomb supplementation could maintain intestinal health, modulate hepatic and ovarian metabolism functions, promote yolk precursor synthesis, improve follicle development, and consequently, enhance the laying performance of hens. Full article

Multiparametric ultrasound (MPUS) has emerged as a clinically relevant platform for the non-invasive generation of quantitative imaging biomarkers, transforming conventional abdominal sonography from a morphological screening tool into a functional, data-rich instrument aligned with predictive and personalized medicine. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on MPUS-derived imaging biomarkers across the principal abdominal organ systems and to examine their integration with radiomics and artificial intelligence. A narrative structured review was conducted through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2007–May 2026), combining terms related to multiparametric ultrasound, elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), quantitative ultrasound, radiomics, and imaging biomarkers. Articles were selected purposively on the basis of relevance, methodological quality, and recency; the review does not follow PRISMA methodology and does not include a formal quantitative synthesis. MPUS integrates B-mode imaging, Doppler, elastography, CEUS, and quantitative acoustic parameters (attenuation coefficient, sound speed, and viscosity) within a single examination. In hepatology, multiparametric protocols enable non-invasive staging of steatosis, fibrosis, and steatohepatitis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, portal hypertension assessment, and focal lesion characterization. Emerging applications span pancreatic, renal, vascular, and digestive pathology. The integration of radiomics and artificial intelligence amplifies biomarker potential, enabling molecular subtype prediction, treatment-response assessment, and prognostic stratification. Multiparametric abdominal ultrasound holds genuine promise as a central, non-invasive platform in precision medicine. Standardization of protocols, multicenter validation of quantitative thresholds, and integration with clinical, biochemical, and molecular data remain the principal challenges limiting broader clinical translation. Full article