Search Results (273)

Tuberculosis (TB) and undernutrition are intricately linked, significantly impacting health outcomes. However, nutritional support for TB patients is not systematically implemented in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This study evaluated the effects of nutritional counselling and support on nutritional recovery and TB treatment outcomes. A longitudinal study involved 297 individuals with drug-susceptible TB, 39.4% of whom had a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5 kg/m². Participants were divided into an observation group and an intervention group, the latter receiving nutritional support. Nutritional support included ready-to-use therapeutic food and therapeutic milk products, tailored to patients’ nutritional status. Data collection was conducted at four intervals during treatment. By the end of treatment, 84.3% of participants improved their nutritional status to a BMI of 18.5 kg/m² or higher. The intervention group showed early nutritional recovery, particularly during the intensive phase of TB treatment, although the p-value (p = 0.067) should be interpreted with caution. The overall treatment success rate was high at 90.6%, with no significant difference between groups. Factors associated with treatment success included age under 45, HIV-negative status, a BMI of 18.5 kg/m² or higher, and clinically diagnosed pulmonary TB. Further assessment is required for the operational feasibility to provide systematic nutritional assessment and counselling for people with TB in Lao PDR. Full article

This study evaluated the productivity, nutritional composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid profile and presence of Salmonella spp. of housefly larva meal reared on domestic animal manure. A study was conducted to produce larva on three types of manure in a controlled environment located at 3200 mASL. Adult flies used as brood stock were reared in advance to avoid contamination with pathogenic germs and were fed sugar syrup and pasteurized milk to promote oviposition. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, the Kruskal–Wallis test and descriptive statistics, using confidence intervals. The results indicate that the type of organic substrate had an effect on the time of development, weight, size and percentage mortality of larva, being higher in a mixture of swine manure and poultry manure. Regarding nutritional composition, it was determined that larva meals contain 56.5% crude protein, 13.07% fat, 12.03% carbohydrates, 10.93% ash and 6.77% crude fiber. The most abundant fatty acids are palmitic acid with 29.34%, palmitoleic acid with 21.65% and oleic acid with 26.53%. An adequate balance of amino acids was determined, highlighting among them the content of arginine and threonine within the essential amino acids. House fly larva meals contain an adequate balance of nutrients and can be used as an ingredient for animal feed formulation. However, their use in animals should be further evaluated in future studies to assess their viability, absorption, bioavailability, and potential allergic reactions. Full article

The determination of the live body weight of camels (required for their successful breeding) is a rather difficult task due to the problems with handling and restraining these animals. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to predict the ABW of eight indigenous camel (Camelus dromedarius) breeds of Pakistan (Bravhi, Kachi, Kharani, Kohi, Lassi, Makrani, Pishin, and Rodbari). Selected productive (hair production, milk yield per lactation, and lactation length) and reproductive (age of puberty, age at first breeding, gestation period, dry period, and calving interval) traits served as the predictors. Six data mining methods [classification and regression trees (CARTs), chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID), exhaustive CHAID (EXCHAID), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSs), MLP, and RBF] were applied for ABW prediction. Additionally, hierarchical cluster analysis with Euclidean distance was performed for the phenotypic characterization of the camel breeds. The highest Pearson correlation coefficient between the observed and predicted values (0.84, p < 0.05) was obtained for MLP, which was also characterized by the lowest root-mean-square error (RMSE) (20.86 kg), standard deviation ratio (SD_ratio) (0.54), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) (2.44%), and mean absolute deviation (MAD) (16.45 kg). The most influential predictor for all the models was the camel breed. The applied methods allowed for the moderately accurate prediction of ABW (average R² equal to 65.0%) and the identification of the most important productive and reproductive traits affecting its value. However, one important limitation of the present study is its relatively small dataset, especially for training the ANN (MLP and RBF). Hence, the obtained preliminary results should be validated on larger datasets in the future. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of a phytobiotic additive formulated based on cinnamon and oregano essential oils (50% free and 50% microencapsulated) combined with turmeric extract and tannins to the diet of cows has beneficial effects on health, productivity, and milk quality. In a completely randomized design, eighteen Jersey cows were used in a compost barn system over 45 days. The cows were divided into two homogeneous groups: one control (without additive; n = 9) and another treatment (with a phytobiotic at a dose of 2 g/cow/day; n = 9). The diet was formulated based on corn silage, hay and concentrate for daily 30 L/cow production. Blood and milk samples were collected at 15-day intervals. There was a treatment × day interaction: cows that consumed the phytobiotic additive produced a more significant amount of milk at days 14, 17, 18, 30, 39 and 45 (p ≤ 0.05). When we corrected milk production for fat percentage, we observed higher milk production in the cows that consumed phytobiotics compared to the control during the experimental period (p = 0.01). The feed intake of cows fed phytobiotics was lower (p = 0.01). Thus, feed efficiency was better in cows that consumed phytogenics. There was a higher percentage of fat in the milk of cows that consumed phytobiotics and a higher amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to the control (p = 0.02). There was an increase in total protein and globulin levels (p = 0.01), which may be associated with the interaction of the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties of the phytobiotic additive. An increase in immunoglobulins (p = 0.01) and a reduction in acute-phase proteins (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in the blood of cows in the phytobiotic group. Lower levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and higher levels of IL-10 in the serum of cows that consumed the phytoactive (p = 0.01) reaffirm the anti-inflammatory effect of the additive. Lower levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed in the serum of cows in the phytobiotic group. Greater catalase and superoxide dismutase activity was observed in cows that consumed the phytogenic (p < 0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that the additive in question has antioxidant, immunological, and anti-inflammatory actions and has the potential to improve productive performance when corrected for milk fat. Full article

This study was conducted to determine the biological and environmental factors affecting milk yield and dry matter consumption and to analyze the effects of these factors on animal production. The study determined the variables affecting milk yield as input factors, such as lactation period, number of days of gestation, age, TMR dry matter ratio, and environmental factors. As a result of regression analyses, it was determined that each 1% increase in the TMR dry matter ratio decreased the milk yield by 0.9148 L, and each increase in the number of lactations increased the daily milk yield by 3.753 L. However, it was observed that the increase in the number of lactation days caused a decrease in milk production, and milk yield decreased as the gestation period extended. The most appropriate independent variable values were determined using statistical optimization analyses to maximize milk yield and optimize dry matter consumption. As a result of the analyses, the optimum value for the TMR dry matter ratio was calculated as 46.77%, 5 for lactation number, 6 for lactation day number, 230 days for gestation period, 55.8 months for cow age, and 20 °C for air temperature. The optimum values of the dependent variables were determined to be 61.145 L for daily milk yield and 19.033 units for dry matter consumption. The prediction intervals provided by the model served as reference points for future observations and showed that milk production was strongly affected by certain environmental and biological factors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, accounting for 7% of maternal mortality. Labetalol and nifedipine are the first-line drugs for the management of hypertension in pregnancy, but there are little data guiding the choice of one drug over the other. The current pilot longitudinal study aims to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of labetalol stereoisomers throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: This is a single-center clinical study recruiting up to 40 pregnant individuals ≥ 18 years of age at the time of enrollment, taking labetalol as per the standard of care. The exclusion criteria include any pathophysiology impacting the PK of labetalol, e.g., liver failure. Maternal plasma, urine, amniotic fluid, cord blood, and breast milk will be collected, and labetalol stereoisomers will be measured using a validated LC-MS/MS assay. Heart rate and blood pressure will be measured as the PD endpoints. These may be assessed throughout a participant’s dosing interval at scheduled PK study visits, which will occur every 6–10 weeks during pregnancy, at delivery, during the 1st week postpartum, and up to 20 weeks postpartum. The primary aim is to characterize the PK and PD of labetalol during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. The secondary aim is to determine the extent of breast milk excretion of and infant exposure to labetalol from breast milk. The data will be analyzed using population PK modeling to evaluate the PK/PD relationship and ultimately develop trimester-specific dosing recommendations. Results/Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study aiming to characterize the PK of labetalol stereoisomers across pregnancy and postpartum, utilizing individual stereoisomer data to evaluate the PK/PD relationship, and collecting postpartum samples, including breast milk, to model infant exposure to labetalol through breast milk. This study will provide important PK/PD data and knowledge which will be combined with large multi-center clinical trial data to develop trimester-specific dosing regimens for anti-hypertensive agents. Full article

The dairy industry relies on the health and well-being of dairy cows for the optimal production of milk and dairy products. Mastitis, a prevalent and economically burdensome disease characterized by udder inflammation, poses significant challenges to dairy farmers worldwide. In this study, we employed peptidomics to explore the peptide profiles of dry secretions collected from dairy cows at specific intervals during the dry-off period. We hypothesized that alterations in peptide composition during the dry period may influence pathogen proliferation and immune cell functioning, thereby impacting mastitis susceptibility. Our objectives were to investigate the following: (i) differences in peptide composition and alterations between healthy cows and those with subclinical mastitis, potentially serving as biomarkers for early mastitis detection and offering insights into udder bioprocesses; (ii) variations in peptide profiles between the early (day 2) and later (day 21) stages of the dry-off period during both health conditions. Dry secretions were collected from 16 udder quarters of 8 cows at two defined time points—Day 2 (D2) and Day 21 (D21)—during the dry period. Our results revealed distinct peptide patterns between healthy and subclinical mastitis cows, as well as temporal variations in peptide profiles throughout the dry-off period. A total of 1235 peptides, originating from 59 distinct proteins (primarily β-casein), were detected across the four groups: subclinical mastitis day 21 (SCM-D21), subclinical mastitis day 2 (SCM-D2), healthy day 21 (H-D21), and healthy day 2 (H-D2). Furthermore, 56 out of the 1235 peptides identified in total matched known functional peptides, with a total of 17 different functions including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory, suggesting their potential roles in mastitis pathogenesis and mammary gland physiology. Comparative analyses revealed changes in the levels of these functional peptides across the four different groups, suggesting their potential roles in regulating immune responses, oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and other biological activities during subclinical mastitis and the dry-off period. These findings provide valuable insights into mastitis detection, management strategies, and dairy cow health monitoring, offering promising avenues for enhancing milk quality and dairy industry sustainability. Full article

In dairy cow, the peripartum metabolic stage is critical as may affect post-partum metabolic and reproductive recovery, colostrum quality, and overall reproductive fitness. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying doses of α-ketoglutarate (AKG) on lactation performance, reproductive performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in periparturient dairy cows. A total of 180 periparturient dairy cows were randomly assigned to four groups, with each cow receiving 1 g, 5 g, or 10 g of AKG in their prepartum diets. Results indicated that feeding 5 g and 10 g of AKG significantly increased the colostrum fat and protein content, reduced somatic cell counts, and improved daily milk yield. Regarding reproduction, AKG supplementation regulated reproductive hormones, increased postpartum estrogen levels, improved conception rates, and shortened the interval between breeding periods. For immune and antioxidant functions, AKG significantly increased serum IL-10 levels while reducing TNF-α and interleukins 1β and 6. It also significantly elevated glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels, reducing oxidative stress and demonstrating anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Additionally, cows receiving medium-to-high doses of AKG had a significantly lower incidence of postpartum diseases such as mastitis. In conclusion, appropriate AKG supplementation can improve lactation performance, reproductive performance, immune function, and overall health in periparturient dairy cows, providing a theoretical basis for its use in dairy cow nutrition management. Full article

Automated feeding robots (AFR) are increasingly being used on North American dairy farms to reduce dependency on human labor for feeding. These systems mix, deliver, and push up feed to cows at any frequency or interval desired, allowing for more frequent feed delivery than conventional feeding systems (CFS). This observational study investigated differences in ration consistency, milk components, milk fatty acid profile, and cow behavior between herds using AFR and those using CFS. Sixteen commercial dairies with automated milking systems (AMS) in the upper Midwest United States were paired based on herd size and location into eight blocks each consisting of one CFS and one AFR herd. Feed bunk samples were collected at four equally spaced time points for 3 consecutive d and analyzed for coefficient of variation (CV) of nutrient composition and particle size distribution. Bulk tank milk samples were collected 1 ×/d for 3 d and analyzed for fat, protein, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), lactose, and milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Daily AMS visit intervals, milk yield and composition, and rumination time data were collected from AMS software. A linear mixed model tested fixed effects of feeding system, block, and the random effect of day nested within block. The CV of feed bunk DM, ADF, NDF, and lignin was lower in AFR. Bulk tank milk fat, protein, and MUN were not different between AFR or CFS. AFR had a greater proportion of de novo synthesized FA, but no difference in preformed or mixed FA. Herds with AFR had a shorter AMS visit interval with more AMS refusals per day than CFS. Results imply that AFR may be associated with lower daily variation in fiber concentration at the feed bunk, increased mammary de novo fatty acid synthesis, and increased frequency of cow visits to the AMS compared to conventional PMR feeding. Full article

This retrospective cohort study examined the association between delayed milk ejection (DME), defined as bimodal milk flow, and milk yield in dairy cows milked with an automated milking system (AMS). Additionally, we identified risk factors for DME. Using data from a farm milking approximately 1350 cows, we analyzed 689,484 individual milking records and 194,142 daily cow observations over 350 days with generalized linear mixed models. Cows with DME generally had higher daily milk yields, regardless of lactation number. However, first-lactation cows early in lactation and older cows (≥third lactation) late in lactation produced less milk when experiencing DME. In contrast to the higher daily milk yield, cows produced less milk per milking when experiencing delayed milk ejection. However, more frequent milkings contributed to higher daily milk yield, even with more instances of delayed milk ejection. Risk factors for DME included lactation number, stage of lactation, milking frequency, and milking interval. These findings underscore the complexity of DME in AMS and suggest that optimizing individualized milking protocols could improve milk yield efficiency. Understanding the interplay of cow characteristics and milking management may enhance AMS performance and dairy herd productivity. Full article

In dairy cattle, ovarian cysts (COFs) represent a major cause of infertility. They can be divided morphologically into follicular and luteal cysts based on their wall thickness, which can be examined by ultrasound, and progesterone secretion, which can be analyzed in serum or milk. The aim of our study was to evaluate cyst recovery using a modified ovsynch protocol with no need to differentiate COFs. Additionally, the beta-hydroxybutyric acid level (BHB), progesterone values, and trace elements in the serum were measured when therapy started. Fourteen days after treatment, COF recovery was confirmed in 88% of the cases. The median calving-to-conception interval, number of artificial inseminations until pregnancy, and median number of days from treatment to pregnancy were not different between the modified ovsynch protocol group and all other COF treatments. The logistic regression for COF included the parameters group, the cyst type, breed, the number of artificial inseminations (AIs), calving to conception cut at 200 d p.p., the cyst size, and therapy. The backward (and also forward) variable selection of the logistic regression yielded only the cyst size as a significant negative impact factor for recovery. In conclusion, the modified ovsynch protocol is a useful, practical option for COF treatment with the advantage of not needing to differentiate between the two cyst types. Full article

Background/Objectives: The epidemiology of childhood feeding disorders (PFDs) reveals a significant prevalence. The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for the persistence of PFDs. The study considered psychosocial and biological factors. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at two time points (Stage I and II); the mean interval was three years. The study included 56 children hospitalised between 2013 and 2023. Participants were divided into Group A (n = 39) and Group B (n = 17). Group A included children whose feeding disorders persisted until Stage II, while Group B included children whose symptoms of feeding disorders were no longer noted at Stage II. The mean age of children in Stage I was 4.5 ± 4.3 years in Group A and 6.25 ± 6.1 years in Group B. In Stage II, the mean age was 7.76 ± 5.3 years in Group A and 9.4 ± 6.7 years in Group B. Results: In Stage I (Groups A + B), 22 (39.29%) children refused to eat all foods, 26 (46.43%) consumed fewer foods than in the previous period, 19 (33.93%) ate only at night, and 12 (21.43%) consumed only selected food. A significant difference in the prevalence of wasting was noted at Stage II (Group A n = 19, 48.7% vs. Group B n = 3, 17.6%, p = 0.029). Feeding difficulties were found to start during exclusive breastfeeding in 28.6% in Group B but only in 10.8% in Group A. Feeding disorders concerning foods other than milk were significantly more common in Group A (n = 31; 83.8%) than Group B (n = 6; 42.9%; p = 0.011). At the end of one year of age, foods of all consistencies were consumed more often by children in Group B (n = 9; 64.3% vs. n = 10; 27%; p = 0.036). Conclusions: Children with feeding disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of patients. Those who only present feeding disorders associated with the consumption of milk and who consume foods of different consistencies by the end of one year of age demonstrate a better prognosis. Full article

Introduction: The first six months of an infant’s life are crucial for the child’s physical and psychological development. During this period, maternal feeding practices significantly impact infant nutrition and growth. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with feeding difficulties in infants younger than six months. Methods: The study was conducted using a CAWI method. The study group consisted of 555 mothers who completed an online questionnaire about demographics, feeding methods, and feeding difficulties experienced, measured using the Montreal Children’s Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS). Infant feeding methods were clearly distinguished as direct breastfeeding, breast milk feeding (expressed milk), and formula feeding. Statistical analyses included effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: In the study group, 65% of mothers reported feeding difficulties. Significant predictors of feeding difficulties included maternal overweight and obesity (p = 0.041; Cohen’s d = 0.37, 95% CI [0.15, 0.59]), lower maternal education (p = 0.014; Cohen’s d = 0.45, 95% CI [0.22, 0.68]), lack of adequate partner support (38%), and the use of mixed feeding methods (mean difference = 4.4 points, p = 0.027; Cohen’s d = 0.46, 95% CI [0.23, 0.69]). Conclusions: Feeding difficulties during infancy are common and influenced by maternal health and sociodemographic factors. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted educational resources and lactation support interventions tailored specifically to mothers at increased risk. Full article

The aim of this study was to understand the status of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection in a large-scale dairy farm in Xi’an city and evaluate the impact via a “quarantine + elimination” model of bovine paratuberculosis on the production performance, reproductive performance, and economic benefits in said dairy farm. The paratuberculosis antibodies from 4488 dairy cow sera were detected by an ELISA kit, complemented by a comprehensive analysis of milk production parameters, health metrics, reproductive indices, and pharmaceutical expenditures (2021–2024). The results indicated that the paratuberculosis prevalence in the dairy farm gradually reduced from 6.76% (2021) to 3.58% (2024). It was also found that the paratuberculosis prevalence among dairy cows increased progressively with the increase in parity until the fifth calving, after which a significant decline was observed. The reduction in infection rates in the herd was correlated with measurable improvements in milk quality metrics, including elevated milk fat and protein content, extended shelf stability, and decreased somatic cell counts in milk. In addition, the reproductive performance of the dairy cows relatively improved with the decrease in paratuberculosis prevalence; there was a relative improvement in the reproductive performance of the dairy cows, which mainly occurred by the time of pregnancy at the first service of the cows, while the number of monthly occurrences of endometritis, diarrhea, calving intervals, and inseminations decreased. Further data correlation analysis showed that daily milk volume was positively correlated with lactase persistence (95% CI: 0.247–0.753, p = 0.001) and peaked at the day of milk production (95% CI: 0.135–0.698, p = 0.008) but was negatively correlated with parity (95% CI: −0.783–−0.315). In addition, lactation time was positively correlated with 305-day milk volume (95% CI: 0.173–0.718, p < 0.004) and peaked at the day of milk production (95% CI: 0.265–0.761) but showed the opposite trend with the milk fat rate (95% CI: −0.633–−0.018, p = 0.040) and milk protein rate (95% CI: −0.738–−0.215, p = 0.002). Furthermore, milk loss was negatively correlated with peak milk production (95% CI: −0.758–−0.258, p = 0.001). Intriguingly, the cost of medications for diarrhea exhibited a downward trend over the past three years. Taken together, these findings confirmed the necessity to reduce the incidence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in dairy cows and serve as a guide for the future successful and gradual eradication of paratuberculosis in Chinese dairy cow farms. Full article

Background: Dairy consumption has been associated with various health outcomes that may be mediated by changes in gut microbiota. Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between the colonic mucosa-associated gut microbiota and the self-reported intake of total dairy, milk, cheese, and yogurt. A total of 97 colonic mucosal biopsies collected from 34 polyp-free individuals were analyzed. Dairy consumption in the past year was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The 16S rRNA gene V4 region was amplified and sequenced. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) classification was performed using the UPARSE and SILVA databases. OTU diversity and relative abundance were compared between lower vs. higher dairy consumption groups. Multivariable negative binomial regression models for panel data were used to estimate the incidence rate ratio and 95% confidence interval for bacterial counts and dairy consumption. False discovery rate-adjusted p values (q value) < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: Higher total dairy and milk consumption and lower cheese consumption were associated with higher alpha microbial diversity (adjusted p values < 0.05). Higher total dairy and milk consumption was also associated with higher relative abundance of Faecalibacterium. Higher milk consumption was associated with higher relative abundance of Akkermansia. Higher total dairy and cheese consumption was associated with lower relative abundance of Bacteroides. Conclusions: Dairy consumption may influence host health by modulating the structure and composition of the colonic adherent gut microbiota. Full article