Search Results (774)

Heat stress during summer significantly impairs seminal quality in swine production. As a key genetic resource for enhancing indigenous Chinese fatty pig breeds, Ningxiang boars require effective nutritional strategies to maintain reproductive performance under thermal challenge. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined antioxidant dietary supplement on seminal quality, antioxidant status, and gut microbiota in heat-stressed Ningxiang boars. Ten Ningxiang boars were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 5 per group). The control group received a basal diet, while the experimental group was fed the same basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg vitamin E, 5 g/kg yeast-derived zinc, 250 mg/kg yeast-derived selenium, and 800 mg/kg N-carbamylglutamate (NCG). Results demonstrated that sperm and seminal plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly elevated in the supplemented group compared to the control (p < 0.05), whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that dietary supplementation combined antioxidant markedly altered gut microbiota composition: the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, particularly members of the Muribaculaceae family, increased significantly (p < 0.05), while opportunistic pathogens within the Acholeplasmataceae family were reduced (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with this antioxidant combination improves seminal quality in Ningxiang boars, potentially by enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses and modulating gut microbial balance. Full article

Testosterone is a key regulator of male and female physiology, influencing reproductive function, muscle and bone anabolism, metabolic homeostasis, and psychological well-being. Growing evidence indicates a secular, age-independent decline in testosterone levels across populations, a trend associated with reduced fertility, metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction, mood disturbances, and impaired quality of life. While aging and genetic factors play a role, a wide range of modifiable influences—including obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary patterns, chronic stress, poor sleep, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals or other environmental stressors—appear to contribute substantially to this phenomenon. This narrative review synthesizes the evidence on testosterone’s physiological significance, the causes and consequences of its secular decline, and evaluates potential interventions, emphasizing lifestyle and environmental strategies (physical activity, nutrition, weight management, sleep, stress reduction, sunlight exposure) as well as pharmacological and nutraceutical options. Overall, the contemporary testosterone decline represents a complex, multifactorial public health issue requiring integrated approaches to preserve hormonal and systemic health. Full article

Small pelagic fish, including sardines, are essential to global fisheries and aquaculture feed production. However, these species are increasingly exposed to intense exploitation. In Chile, the common sardine (Strangomera bentincki), endemic to the Humboldt Current System, supports major industrial and artisanal fisheries. Landings are expected to reach 300,000 tons by 2025, mostly for fishmeal production. As a keystone species, S. bentincki is highly sensitive to environmental variability during early development, which can reduce recruitment and threaten long-term population sustainability. This interdisciplinary approach integrates ecological and biotechnological perspectives to assess the feasibility of controlled juvenile sardine production in land-based Ecological Aquaculture (EA) systems, including Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), which are designed to reduce environmental impacts. These systems enable precise control of temperature, feeding regimes, and water quality, facilitating investigations into larval and juvenile survival, growth performance, and physiological responses under variable thermal and nutritional conditions. Emphasis is placed on fatty acid metabolism during ontogeny, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are essential for somatic growth, reproductive development, and thermal tolerance. Developing standardized protocols for juvenile S. bentincki culture addresses key gaps in husbandry and physiology (temperature threshold, nutrient density, larval growth rate, etc.) while introducing a novel ecological–aquaculture integration framework. This approach links early-life ecology with applied rearing techniques to support stock enhancement, strengthen artisanal fisheries, and promote sustainable aquaculture diversification under increasing environmental variability. Full article

Background: Maternal overweight and obesity, which show a rising trend globally, are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term health risks for both mother and child. Awareness and understanding of these risks among women of reproductive age are essential for effective prevention and early intervention. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 958 women planning pregnancy, currently pregnant or breastfeeding to assess their knowledge and attitudes regarding overweight and obesity in the perinatal period. The questionnaire covered lifestyle behaviors, breastfeeding practices, and knowledge related to overweight and obesity in pregnancy. Results: Overall knowledge regarding the consequences of maternal overweight and obesity was low, with notable deficits in understanding the associated health risks and frequent misconceptions about dietary recommendations during pregnancy. Awareness gaps were particularly noticeable in domains related to fetal outcomes and recommended energy requirements across pregnancy. Excessive gestational weight gain was reported in over 75% of pregnancies, including among women with normal body mass index. Participation in antenatal classes, current breastfeeding and older age were significantly associated with higher knowledge; however, these factors together explained only 6.2% of variability. Still, several key aspects were not well recognized despite high educational attainment and frequent contact with maternity care services. Conclusions: Our study highlights a clear and urgent need for better, more targeted educational strategies to improve women’s understanding of metabolic health and nutrition before and during pregnancy. The low explained variance indicates that maternal knowledge is influenced by multifactorial and not easily captured determinants, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and individualized educational approaches. Enhancing maternal awareness could support better health outcomes for both mothers and their offspring. Full article

Speed breeding technologies offer a promising avenue for accelerating crop improvement, yet their application to biennial crops like sugar beet remains constrained by extended generation cycles. This study examined the effects of supplemental phosphorus-potassium (PK) nutrition on the development of two hybrids under a speed-breeding protocol. Plants received one of four nutritional regimes: PK supplementation, potassium (K) supplementation, standard Knop’s solution (KS), or nutrient deficiency (D). Digital phenotyping confirmed that adequate nutrition maintained photosynthetic health, as deficiency significantly reduced NDVI and increased PSRI by 75 days. The most notable, genotype-specific effects were observed in reproductive architecture. PK nutrition significantly increased the median number of flower stalks by 17% in Smart Iberia KWS (21.0 vs. 18.0) and substantially in Dubravka KWS (33.0 vs. 1.0). PK also supported root development, increasing mini-steckling weight by 45–183% under white light. In the generative phase, plants under PK nutrition consistently showed the highest progression to flowering and capsule formation. A consistent increase in median 1000-seed weight of 24–36% was associated with PK treatment. In conclusion, supplementing standard nutrition with phosphorus and potassium enhances key yield-related architectural traits and supports reproductive development in sugar beet under speed-breeding conditions, with the magnitude of response depending on genotype. This provides a practical basis for optimizing mineral nutrition to improve the efficiency of accelerated breeding protocols. This provides a practical basis for optimizing mineral nutrition to improve the efficiency of speed breeding protocols. Full article

Yaks are important for the ecology and economy of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The growth of the yak industry depends on sustainable and accelerated growth of calves, sustaining herd reproduction and production systems. Yak calves born in the summer months of June and July are faced with a heightened risk of winter mortality. Exclusive traditional, natural feeding prolongs the suckling period, and this leads to a series of problems due to the harsh high-altitude environment, such as inadequate nutrition leading to retarded growth and an imbalanced herd structure. To enhance growth performance and breeding efficiency, 12 male calves of similar weights (68.53 ± 6.41 kg) were randomly assigned to a control group (suckle the dam (SU)) or an experimental group (early weaning with full feeding, concentrate and oat hay at a 7:3 ratio (CO)). The results showed that compared with suckling, early weaning with full feeding significantly improved the growth performance, volatile fatty acids and digestive enzyme activity. The abundance of the Firmicutes was reduced, but there was an increased abundance of Bacteroidetes, which affected the rumen metabolome. In conclusion, early weaning with full feeding improves growth performance, promotes rumen fermentation and carbohydrate degradation, reduces the diversity and richness of rumen microbial flora and alters the content and pathways of metabolites in yak calves. These factors contribute to the growth and market readiness of yak calves born in June and July, accelerate herd turnover and enhance the production efficiency of grazing yaks. Full article

In aquaculture and in laboratory settings, the development of sustainable and functional feeds is crucial in order to promote fish welfare, growth, and reproductive performance. Among natural dietary supplements, spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), a blue-green microalga rich in proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidant molecules, represents a promising bioactive ingredient capable of influencing both physiological and behavioral traits. A 32-week longitudinal study was conducted on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to evaluate the effects of spirulina supplementation (5%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) compared to a standard diet. Parameters related to survival, growth, reproductive fitness, and reproductive behavior were assessed in vivo and supported by a morphometric analysis of the gonads. Supplementation with 5% improved survival rate and the Body Condition Index, while 25% supplementation increased survival, enhanced reproductive behavior and spawning success (140% egg production vs. control), and supported optimal gonadal development and gamete maturation timing. Higher percentages of spirulina (50–100%) seem to cause nutritional imbalance, impairing health and reproductive fitness. This study demonstrates that moderate spirulina supplementation (5–25%) supports health, reproductive physiology, and behavior in zebrafish in a dose-dependent manner. These results highlight the potential of spirulina as a functional supplement for precision nutrition approaches, with implications for fish welfare, reproductive performance, and aquaculture sustainability. Full article

The Military Macaw is a Neotropical psittacid that is endangered in Mexico. It faces significant threats due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. However, little is known about the nutritional characteristics of the plant resources available to this species throughout its annual cycle. This study aimed to characterize the nutritional profile of the fruits consumed by macaws in the Alto Balsas Basin, Mexico, and to infer potential seasonal patterns in the availability of the fruits they feed on in relation to the Macaws’ reproductive phenology. We identified 13 plant species that have been consistently reported as components of the diet of the macaws within the Alto Balsas Basin using a literature review, field observations, and local interviews. We conducted bromatological analyses to assess the content of moisture, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and fiber for the pulp and seeds of all 13 identified plant species. Although we did not measure quantitative food intake, we integrated these data with reproductive phenology and resource availability to infer potential patterns of nutritional use. The results revealed significant differences in nutritional content among the different species, as well as seasonal variation in the nutritional profiles of available resources that coincide with the physiological demands of the macaw life cycle. During the non-breeding season, the availability of species whose fruits have high lipid and carbohydrate contents, such as Bursera spp., hackberry and madras thorn, may provide essential energy. Conversely, during the breeding season, resources with higher lipid and protein content (such as Mexican kapok tree and red mombin) could support the increased energetic investment associated with courtship, egg production, and chick provisioning. Although our study did not directly quantify the amount of each food item consumed, the integration of nutritional and ecological data provides a preliminary view of how resource quality may influence seasonal foraging patterns, offering valuable insights for the conservation and management of this species. Full article

Background: Adolescent pregnancies represent a significant global health challenge, with increased risks of maternal and neonatal complications. Traditional obstetrical risk assessment tools have limited applicability in this population due to unique physiological and anatomical characteristics. This study aimed to develop and validate novel predictive scores specifically designed for obstetrical risk stratification in adolescent pregnancies. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over seven years (2018–2024) in Brasov County, Romania, including 1322 adolescent pregnancies (ages 12–16 years). Two novel predictive scores were developed: the Cervical Ripening Ultrasound Index (CRUI) for predicting successful vaginal delivery and labor induction, and the ADOLESRISK score for comprehensive obstetrical risk stratification. Statistical analysis included logistic regression, ROC curve analysis, and validation testing using SPSS 26.0 and R Studio version 4.3.2. Results: The CRUI score demonstrated superior predictive performance (AUC = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.84–0.90) compared to traditional Bishop score (AUC = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.58–0.66) for successful labor induction in adolescents. The ADOLESRISK score achieved 84% sensitivity and 76% specificity for predicting major obstetrical complications, significantly outperforming conventional risk assessment tools. Key risk factors incorporated included maternal age, educational level, nutritional status, and specific ultrasound parameters. Internal validation using train–test split methodology (70–30%) confirmed robust performance in the independent validation cohort (n = 397), with maintained discriminative ability (CRUI: AUC = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.80–0.90; ADOLESRISK: AUC = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.77–0.87) across different demographic subgroups. Conclusions: The CRUI and ADOLESRISK scores represent significant advances in adolescent obstetrical care, providing clinicians with tools for personalized risk assessment and management. Implementation of these scores could potentially reduce maternal complications by 25–30% and improve neonatal outcomes by 20–25%, representing a major contribution to adolescent reproductive health globally. Full article

Cellular memory, or epigenetic memory, represents the capacity for cells to retain information beyond the underlying DNA sequence. This heritable characteristic is primarily governed by epigenetic mechanisms which enable cells to maintain specialized characteristics across divisions. This persistent cellular state is essential for fundamental biological processes, such as maintaining tissue identity and facilitating cell differentiation, especially embryonic cells. Early-stage perturbations such as assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and nutritional stress links embryonic exposures to adult health and disease within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework. Crucially, memory established during early embryogenesis links these epigenetic modifications to adult long-term phenotypes related to metabolic disorders. These modifications—including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs—support cellular memory transmission across cell divisions, and in certain organisms, can be transmitted across generations without alterations to the DNA sequence. This review synthesizes recent advances in epigenetic pathways that mediate cellular memory, highlights critical preimplantation windows of vulnerability and outlines gaps necessary for mammalian developing interventions that safeguard future generations. Full article

Background and Objectives: The Mediterranean diet is traditionally linked to metabolic balance and improved reproductive health. However, dietary patterns in Mediterranean regions have progressively shifted toward more Westernized models, particularly among women of reproductive age, raising concerns about declining adherence to this historically protective diet. Objective: To assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet among women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) and to explore possible associations with ovarian response and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a reproductive clinic in Sicily between 1 June and 31 July 2022. One hundred women aged 18–40 years undergoing infertility assessment and scheduled for controlled ovarian stimulation were enrolled. Mediterranean diet adherence was evaluated using the validated 14-item MEDAS questionnaire during the first clinical visit. ART-related outcomes, including ovarian response and pregnancy rates, were extracted from medical records. Results: The mean MEDAS score was 7.6 ± 1.2: 93% of women showed moderate adherence, 3% high adherence, and 4% low adherence. No significant associations were found between MEDAS score, and total oocytes retrieved, MII oocytes, or clinical pregnancy. Conclusions: Despite living in a traditionally Mediterranean area, participants demonstrated only moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Although no associations with single-cycle ART outcomes emerged, the findings underscore the need for structured nutritional counseling to reinforce sustained adherence and support long-term reproductive health. Full article

As an important natural enemy insect, Harmonia axyridis has significant biological control effects on a variety of pests such as aphids in agroforestry ecosystems. The large-scale application of H. axyridis has long been limited by the unstable supply of natural prey, poor rearing of alternative prey and artificial diets, and high costs. In this paper, we review the research progress on the effects of alternative prey and artificial diets, and present the results and shortcomings of H. axyridis rearing. Focusing on the nutritional requirements of H. axyridis and the nutrient composition of natural prey, the paper aims to analyze and optimize the core components of artificial diets, develop diet formulations that are highly efficient, low-cost, support the ladybird throughout its complete life cycle, and identify the key factors for breaking the bottleneck of large-scale reproduction of H. axyridis, with a view to facilitate the industrialization of H. axyridis, enhancing the efficacy of biocontrol, and providing references to the development of diets for other natural enemy insects. Full article

In viviparous teleosts, the lack of oviducts defines intraovarian gestation, with the ovary being the site for oogenesis but also the site for insemination, fertilization, and gestation. Consequently, intraovarian gestation is a complex and exceptional type of reproduction among vertebrates. The analysis of the morphological and physiological components of intraovarian gestation documents the evolutionary process of nutrition in viviparous species. Two types of embryonic nutrition may occur during gestation: (a) lecithotrophy, when most nutrients for the embryo come from the abundant yolk stored during oogenesis, and (b) matrotrophy, when nutrients for the embryo with scarce yolk must be obtained during gestation by additional maternal provisioning, developing a placenta. Then, investment of maternal nutrients for the embryo is greater during oogenesis in lecithotrophic species, and investment of maternal resources for the nutrition of the embryo is greater during gestation in matrotrophic species. Microscopic techniques allow for proper observation of maternal and embryonic structures involved in both types of nutrition during the development of embryos. Specifically, we focused on the morphology of placental structures associated with embryonic nutrition at different stages of development, which are the yolk sac and the pericardial sac. The oocytes of Poecilia latipinna contain a large amount of yolk (an average oocyte diameter of 1.9 mm); in contrast, the oocytes of Heterandria formosa contain extremely reduced amounts of yolk (an average oocyte diameter of 0.4 mm). Therefore, these species represent appropriate models for studying the strategy of two different types of embryonic nutrition, lecithotrophy and matrotrophy, in viviparous teleosts. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oregano essential oil (OEO) in improving the production performance, health, and welfare of late-phase laying hens raised under commercial farm conditions by analyzing its effect on performance metrics and metabolic and endocrine profiles. Daily performance data for approximately 7884 Hy-Line Brown layers divided into two commercial flocks, one consisting of 96-week-old hens (n = 3849) and the other of 79-week-old hens (n = 4035), were recorded before (Pre-OEO Tx), during (OEO Tx-Week) and one week (Post-OEO Tx Week) following the week of water supplementation with commercial oregano essential oil (5%) of Origanum heracleoticum containing carvacrol (79.75%) as the main component (300 mL of product/1000 L of water). The results show a significant improvement in hen-day egg production (HDEP) during treatment (p < 0.05), a significant decrease in daily mortality one week after the cessation of treatment, mainly in the youngest hens (p < 0.05), and a reduction in feed conversion rate (p < 0.05). The general model (GLM) analysis of data from blood samples collected before and after OEO addition showed a significant decrease in plasma levels of procalcitonin (PCT), calcium, albumin (p < 0.05), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.01). In contrast, a significant increase in estradiol, total protein globulin (p < 0.01), and phosphorus levels (p < 0.05) was recorded. The changes in endocrine profiles were significantly related to a restoration of calcium–phosphorus balance and a decrease in hepatic activity of AST and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). These results reveal the investigative value of PCT, in conjunction with metabolic profiling and reproductive hormones, for evaluating the effectiveness of phytogenic additives. Further studies are suggested to determine whether essential oil components can improve health and production performances of laying hens by a potential concurrent modulation of their metabolism, inflammatory response, and reproductive axis function. Full article