Search Results (117)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the dietary effects of β-mannanase on growth performance, cecal ammonia concentration, lipid fraction contents and physiological responses in broiler chicks. A total of nine hundred 1 d old Ross male broiler chicks were assigned to six groups arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial of three levels of energy and CP [standard energy + standard CP (HEHP), 75 kcal/kg diet reduction in energy + standard CP (REHP), 75 kcal/kg diet reduction in energy + 1% reduction in CP (RERP)], with or without β-mannanase (0 or 0.05%). As dietary energy and CP decreased, growth performance also decreased. The growth and feed conversion ratio in chicks fed diets containing β-mannanase significantly improved. No significant differences were observed in the levels of serum enzymes and the relative weight and length of each fraction of small intestine among groups, except for the liver. The concentration of cecal ammonia in chicks fed diets containing β-mannanase was significantly lower than those of corresponding groups without β-mannanase. The levels of serum and hepatic lipid fractions were not influenced by supplementing β-mannanase to the diets. These results indicated that dietary β-mannanase may improve growth performance and utilization of dietary energy and protein in broiler chicks. Full article

Astaxanthin (Ax) is a potent antioxidant, yet its poor water solubility and instability limit its application. While alginate-Ca encapsulation protects Ax during digestion, its release in the colon is often inefficient. This study aims to optimize colon-targeted delivery by integrating inulin and fucoidan, which respond selectively to Bacteroides-mediated fermentation. A novel delivery system was developed using Ax-containing particles formulated in an alginate–inulin–fucoidan matrix (Ax-Mix), with most particles ranging from 2 to 20 μm. In vitro results showed that the incorporation of inulin and fucoidan enhanced Ax release in alginate-Ca (Ax-Alg) through Bacteroides fermentation. Ax-Mix exhibited robust structural integrity under varying pH, thermal, and ionic conditions. Ax-Mix remained intact through the oral cavity, stomach, and small intestine, but disintegrated in the colon, triggering Ax release. Ax-Mix alleviated colitis in mice, characterized by increased weight gain and colon length and reduced disease activity index, tissue damage, and oxidative stress. Ax-Mix reshaped the gut microbiota by increasing microbial diversity and enriching beneficial taxa linked to colitis improvement. These alterations resulted in increased propionate and butyrate production. Compared to Ax-Alg, Ax-Mix exhibited superior therapeutic effects on colitis, though the underlying mechanisms require further investigation. This study presents a promising strategy for microbiota-targeted delivery of active substances. Full article

Ascaridia nymphii is a roundworm species affecting domestic avian species, initially described in 2015. One pen-reared, 4-year-old, female American Show Racer pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) was submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS) Turlock branch, University of California–Davis, for postmortem examination and diagnostic work-up. Grossly, large numbers of ascarids were in the lumen of the proventriculus, gizzard, and duodenum, and a small number was present in the lumen of the trachea, esophagus, and crop. A focal, coiled adult nematode was embedded in the hepatic parenchyma. Ascarids were tan and measured approximately 3.5–4.5 cm in length. The liver was moderately enlarged, green-tinged, and had small, firm, and off-white scattered nodules. Microscopically, we observed multifocal to coalescing granulomas containing intralesional nematodes delineated by necrotic debris, multinucleated giant cells, eosinophilic and heterophilic inflammation, hemorrhage, and bacterial colonies in the liver. The genotypic characterization of the Ascaridia sp. in our case (GenBank database accession PX488893) shared 100% identity with A. nymphii isolated from the intestinal tract of a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) from Japan in 2015 (GenBank database accession LC057210.1) based on PCR and sequence analysis of an 815 bp segment of the 18S rRNA gene. This report describes the accidental A. nymphii infection, which caused severe gastrointestinal impaction and hepatic migration in a domestic pigeon. Full article

Weaning introduces a variety of health-related challenges in piglets, but the relative contributions of the weaning event itself versus biological age at weaning remain unclear. During this period, the gastrointestinal tract has not yet fully developed, adding to the obstacles faced by piglets during this transitory phase in their life, which includes stress from a switch in diet and environment, in addition to potential exposure to pathogens. We investigated the intestinal morphology, expression of genes related to intestinal function and inflammation, and the gut microbiota in 40 piglets weaned at either 3 or 5 weeks of age through complementary analyses: age-matched comparisons (22, 25, 32, 36, and 39 days old) assessed developmental trajectories, while days post-weaning (DPW) comparisons (1 and 4 days post-weaning) isolated acute weaning responses independent of biological age. Animals weaned at 3 weeks of age were divided into five pens of four piglets, while the other group remained with the sow until weaning. At each timepoint, we measured the small intestine length, villus length, crypt depth and mucosal CD3⁺ T-cell infiltration in mid-jejunal tissue. The gene expression of inflammatory markers, tight junction proteins and functional markers was quantified from duodenal and mid-jejunal tissue. The colonic microbiota composition was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Both weaning groups showed similar acute morphological responses. However, adaptive gene expression patterns differed significantly. The DPW analysis revealed compensatory mechanisms: at DPW4, the early-weaned piglets exhibited 4-fold higher duodenal IAP than the late-weaned piglets (p < 0.001), while the late-weaned piglets maintained higher antimicrobial defenses (IL-8, p = 0.031; lysozyme, p = 0.027). Additionally, microbiota analysis revealed distinct succession patterns between the two groups. These findings demonstrate that acute physiological responses to weaning are age-independent, but biological maturity fundamentally shapes adaptive mechanisms and recovery trajectories. Early weaning requires compensatory physiological adjustments, while late weaning confers resilience through more stable microbiota and sustained innate defenses. Full article

Background/Objectives: Small intestine and vermiform appendix lengths are critical anatomical parameters with significant implications for bariatric surgery, transplantation, and the management of short bowel syndrome. However, reliable normative data derived from direct in vivo measurements in healthy individuals remain limited. This study aimed to establish reference values in a homogeneous cohort of healthy living liver donors and to investigate the potential anatomical and functional correlation between these two structures based on their shared embryological origin and immunological roles. Methods: Data from 99 healthy living liver donors representing a multi-ethnic population were analyzed. Intraoperative measurements were performed using a standardized surgical technique: small intestine length was measured from the ligament of Treitz to the ileocecal valve, and appendix length from the base to the tip. Relationships between morphometric measurements and anthropometric variables were evaluated. Results: The mean small intestine length was 630 ± 104.7 cm, and the mean appendix length was 84.8 ± 21.1 mm. Small intestine length was significantly greater in males (p = 0.011), while appendix length showed no sex-based difference. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was found between small intestine length and appendix length (r = 0.237; p = 0.021). Furthermore, an appendix length ≥ 8 cm was associated with a higher probability of having a small intestine length > 600 cm. Notably, the retrocecal appendix position was observed in only 4.0% of donors, a prevalence substantially lower than that reported in appendicitis series, suggesting it may be a risk factor for inflammation. Conclusions: This study reports descriptive measurements of small intestine and appendix lengths in healthy individuals undergoing donor hepatectomy. The relationship between the appendix and the small intestine appeared weak and should be interpreted as exploratory, warranting further investigation without implications for clinical decision-making. Full article

Background/Objectives: The mouse model of postoperative ileus separates the gastrointestinal tract into 15 sections, 10 of which are in the small intestine, to measure intestinal transit time. Usually, mice are standardised according to age or body weight. This inherently assumes that intestinal lengths are similar among the included mice irrespective of the method of standardisation. We aimed to test this assumption by comparing intestinal lengths, measuring their variability in commonly used out- and inbred strains. Methods: Mice were humanely killed, and their intestines were removed and measured in a standardised fashion. We compared the coefficients of variability via the modified signed-rank likelihood test. Results: We included 125 mice of the Crl:CD1(ICR) background and 10 mice of the C57Bl/6J and C57Bl/6NCrl substrains. The mean small intestinal length of Crl:CD1(ICR) mice was 437 mm (standard deviation 54), while it was 473 mm (standard deviation 29) in C57Bl/6J mice and 419 mm (standard deviation 57) in C57Bl/6NCrl mice. The respective coefficients of variation were 12.4%, 6.1%, and 13.6% and did not differ between the out- and inbred strains (modified signed likelihood ratio 5.878, p = 0.053). This was not the case for caecal and large intestinal lengths. Conclusions: Due to substantial variation in small intestinal length, the separation of the small intestine into ten equally sized segments to measure intestinal transit time might not be warranted. This could be addressed by measuring small intestinal transit time in absolute values and relative to the intestinal length. Full article

Despite lower birth weight, Meishan piglets exhibit a notably higher pre-weaning survival rate compared to Western commercial breeds. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low birth weight (LBW) on intestinal barrier function in Meishan neonates. Six pairs of neonatal piglets (one normal birth weight, NBW: 0.85 ± 0.06 kg; one LBW: 0.65 ± 0.02 kg) from the same sow were euthanized at birth prior to suckling. Morphological parameters, goblet cell density, antioxidant enzyme activities, cytokine gene expression, and tight junction protein levels in the small intestine (SI) were assessed. Results showed that LBW piglets had a significantly higher SI length-to-body weight ratio (p < 0.05), along with reduced villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01). Notably, microvillus structure remained intact despite the presence of mitochondrial swelling. LBW piglets also exhibited decreased goblet cell numbers, lower antioxidant capacity, dysregulated expression of cytokines (CD8, IFNγ, IL4, IL2), and reduced levels of mucin 2, ZO-1, and occludin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although LBW Meishan piglets showed impairments in multiple aspects of intestinal barrier function, the structural integrity of the microvillus was preserved, which may contribute to their higher survival rate and represents a key adaptive advantage over commercial pig breeds. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of additional L-serine supplementation in diets on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and small intestine development in broilers. A total of 300 one-day-old unsexed Yellow-Feathered broilers were randomly divided into three groups with 10 replicates of 10 birds each. The broilers were fed basal diet (CON), basal diet + 0.085% L-Alanine (Isonitrogenous) and basal diet + 0.1% L-serine (0.1% Ser), respectively. The whole trial lasted for 42 d. The results showed that 0.1% L-serine supplementation in broiler diets could increase final body weight and average daily weight gain (p < 0.05) and had no significant effect on serum biochemical indexes (p > 0.05). Compared with the Isonitrogenous group, the 0.1% Ser group significantly reduced FCR (p < 0.05). Regarding meat quality, the 0.1% Ser group significantly increased by a*45 min and 24 h pH values, while it decreased by b*45 min values in both breast and leg muscles (p < 0.05) and reduced cooking loss in leg muscles (p < 0.05). L-serine effectively reduced localized fat deposition and promoted intestinal development. Morphometric analysis revealed significantly increased small intestinal villus length and villus length/crypt depth ratio in the 0.1% Ser group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, L-serine can be used as an effective supplement in broiler farming to improve its productivity. Full article

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is seriously affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc), due to fibrosis and persistent inflammation. Patients with GI involvement frequently exhibit poor nutritional status, which affects disease burden and quality of life. The aim of the present review was to discuss all nutritional issues in SSc and serve as a primer for the nutritional assessment of patients with scleroderma. Patients with SSc suffer from GI impairments that affect the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Symptomatology includes microstomia, xerostomia, dysphagia, reflux, esophageal dysmotility, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and fecal incontinence, among others, which may contribute to inadequate food intake. As a result, patients often suffer from malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty, while presenting with micronutrient deficiencies that impact disease outcomes and worsen their condition. This aggravated nutritional status is related to greater disease severity, organ involvement, reduced physical function, and increased length of hospitalization and mortality. GI involvement is well-documented within the SSc population, yet routine nutritional assessments are lacking in the hospital setting. Currently, there is a lack of specific recommendations from scientific societies regarding the nutritional care of patients with SSc. Given the high risk of nutritional impairments in this population, systematic assessments should be undertaken, and novel tools tailored to their unique needs should be developed and implemented. Full article

Eggshell membrane (ESM) is composed of approximately 90% protein. Our previous studies in healthy adults demonstrated that two months of daily ESM intake improved respiratory function, zigzag walking speed, and skin elasticity. The present study aims to address the knowledge gap regarding the in vivo effects of ESM in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Proteomic analysis was performed on powdered ESM used as a dietary supplement. To investigate its pharmacokinetics in mice, tritium (³H)-labeled ESM was prepared using the ⁶Li(n,α)³H nuclear reaction. The therapeutic potential of ESM was further examined in a 2.0% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine model of IBD. In addition, fecal samples from both mice and healthy human subjects were analyzed using a modified terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) method. Lysozyme C (LYZ) was the most abundant protein (47%), followed by lysyl oxidase (12%) in ESM used in this study. ³H-ESM was mixed with MediGel, and orally administered to mice. Radioactivity levels were measured in blood, organs (duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, liver, kidney, lung, skin), and rectal feces at 0.5, 2, 5, 24, 48, and 72 h post-administration. Radioactivity in feces indicated excretion of undigested components, while systemic distribution suggested potential whole-body effects of ESM. Oral ESM and LYZ significantly alleviated body weight loss, diarrhea, and hematochezia in a DSS-induced murine model of IBD, leading to a significantly lower disease activity index on day 3 and showing a similar trend on day 5. Gut microbiota analysis showed increased Bacteroidales in the DSS group, while the ESM + DSS group maintained levels similar to the control. In humans, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of ESM on gut microbiota in healthy adults. Participants received either ESM or placebo for 8 weeks. revealed a significant increase in alpha diversity at weeks 1 and 8 in the ESM group (p < 0.05), with between-group differences evident from week 1 (p < 0.01). ESM intake reduced Bacteroides and significantly increased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillales at weeks 4 and 8. These findings suggest ESM supplementation promotes beneficial modulation of gut microbiota. These findings suggest that ESM, through its major protein components such as LYZ, may serve as a promising dietary intervention for maintaining intestinal health and mitigating inflammation in the context of IBD. Full article

This study comparatively analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of the gut microbiome across gastrointestinal segments in Changle geese versus yellow-feathered broilers to discover their links with growth and intestinal development. Twelve 63-day-old male yellow-feathered broilers and twelve 70-day-old male Changle geese were selected. Body weight (BW), slaughter weight (SW), absolute lengths of the small intestine (LSI) and cecum (LC), and their relative lengths normalized to body size (RLSI/RLC) were measured. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing of crop, proventriculus, gizzard, jejunum, cecum, and rectum microbiota was conducted to assess microbial diversity, composition, and its correlation with phenotypes. Results demonstrated higher BW, SW, LSI, LC and lower RLSI and RLC in geese versus broilers (p < 0.001). Alpha diversity analysis revealed lower microbial richness and diversity in broilers across most gastrointestinal segments (p < 0.05), while beta diversity analysis confirmed distinct community structures between two species (p = 0.001). Firmicutes dominated broiler gut microbiota (94.49%), whereas geese exhibited greater phylum-level diversity (p < 0.05). Random forestry analysis identified Top 15 core Amplicon Sequencing Variants in both the cecum and rectum, with ASV12260 (unclassified Lachnospiraceae) and ASV12412 (uncultured Faecalibacterium sp.) as key biomarkers. Correlation analyses found 21 phenotype-related ASVs (p < 0.05). Specially, two Lactobacillus ingluviei strains showed negatively correlated with LSI and RLSI in the chicken foregut (p < 0.05). And two Gallibacterium anatis strains were associated with RLSI, with one strain also showing an inverse correlation with LSI in the goose foregut (p < 0.05). Interestingly, one Peptococcus strain was negatively correlated with BW and SW, while the other was inversely associated with LC and RLC in the goose hindgut (p < 0.05). These findings provide insights into species-specific distribution patterns of gut microbiota across poultry species and their correlation with growth performance and intestinal development, developing a theoretical foundation for advancing avian digestive physiology research and optimizing feeding strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Crohn’s disease (CD) is one of the most frequent causes of short bowel syndrome (SBS), a severe clinical condition with huge morbidity and social costs. SBS occurs when, following intestinal resections, the remaining small bowel in continuity is less than 200 cm in length. Intestinal failure (IF) can complicate SBS when intravenous nutritional or electrolyte supplementation is required to maintain dietary needs. The primary aim of this study was to identify clinical predictive factors of SBS in a cohort of outpatients with CD. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-center, cohort study enrolling consecutive CD outpatients at a tertiary-level inflammatory bowel disease center. Detailed demographic and clinical features were collected. Significant factors associated with the onset of SBS in the univariate analysis were input into a multivariate logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of SBS. Results: In total, 232 CD patients (52.6% male, median age 49 years [IQR 37–60]) were included: 24.6% of them were smokers; extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) were present in 21.6% of patients; and 67.7% of patients had at least one intestinal resection (27% of them with more than one surgical intervention). At enrollment, 96.1% of patients were on advanced therapies, and considering the course of the disease, 24.6% of patients were exposed to ≥3 different advanced therapies. A total of 18 patients had SBS and 9 had IF. In univariate analysis, the following variables were statistically associated with the risk of developing SBS: disease duration (p < 0.001), upper gastrointestinal disease localization (L4) (p < 0.001), penetrating behavior (p = 0.023), perianal disease (p = 0.036), length of first intestinal resection (p < 0.001), shorter time elapsing from CD diagnosis to start the first advanced therapy (p < 0.001), and treatment with advanced therapy after first intestinal resection (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, disease duration (OR 1.083, 95% C.I. 1.025–1.145, p = 0.005) and L4 (OR 20.079, 95% C.I. 2.473–163.06, p = 0.005) were independently associated with the development of SBS. Conversely, the number of different advanced therapies before the onset of SBS was independently associated with a reduced risk of developing SBS (OR 0.247, 95% C.I. 0.107–0.58, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our data identifies several clinical features that could possibly predict the development of SBS in CD. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm our findings. Full article

Introduction: Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) accounts for 15% of emergency department (ED) admissions. While conservative management is recommended, surgery becomes necessary when strangulation is suspected. Identifying which patients need surgery remains a challenge, as traditional imaging lacks sufficient sensitivity and specificity. This study aimed to explore radiomic features to identify potential predictors of strangulation. Methods: This retrospective study included patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital ED between 2019 and 2023, diagnosed with Adhesion Small Bowel Obstruction (aSBO) via contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans. Two patient groups were examined: those who underwent surgery with bowel resection and ischemic changes confirmed histologically (operative management—OM) and those successfully treated with conservative management (CM). All CT scans were reviewed blindly by a general surgeon and an experienced radiologist. Pre-obstructive loop segmentation was performed using 3D Slicer software, with slice-by-slice contouring of intestinal borders on images of suspected strangulated bowel. Radiomic features were extracted, followed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results: A total of 55 patients were included: 27 CM and 28 OM. Significant differences emerged in GLCM (Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix), GLDM (Gray Level Dependence Matrix), GLRLM (Gray Level Run Length Matrix), and GLSZM (Gray Level Size Zone Matrix), particularly involving entropy and uniformity. These metrics reflect subtle variations in gray levels not visible to the naked eye. Conclusions: Differences in entropy, uniformity, and energy align with imaging and histopathological findings, supporting the development of radiomic models and future AI-based prediction tools. Full article

Background/Objectives: Medium- and long-chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) and 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) are functional ingredients abundant in human milk; however, their effects on small intestinal development and health remain largely unknown, and no research has explored their potential combined effects. Methods: In this study, growing C57BL/6 mice (3 weeks old) were fed diets without or with 2.5 g/100 g of MLCT, 2′-FL, or the combination (MLCT + 2′-FL; 5:1) for 21 days. Body weight, major organ indices, small intestinal morphology-related indicators (small intestinal length, villus height, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth (V/C) ratio, and epithelial cell proliferation), and intestinal barrier function markers (goblet cell and Paneth cell count, protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin, and levels of sIgA and LPS) were measured. Results: In addition to the shared promotion of epithelial cell proliferation, MLCT intervention raised villus height and crypt depth, while 2′-FL intervention elevated Paneth cell count and sIgA levels. Notably, MLCT + 2′-FL intervention offered additional advantages (increasing the V/C ratio, goblet cell count, and expression of ZO-1 and occludin) without affecting crypt depth. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of cecal contents revealed that all three interventions mainly affected beta diversity rather than alpha diversity, and enriched differentially abundant bacterial taxa: Erysipelotrichaceae, Faecalibaculum, UBA1819, and Faecalitalea in the MLCT group; Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia, and Allobaculum in the 2′-FL group; Bifidobacterium, Romboutsia, Clostridia, and several other bacterial taxa in the MLCT + 2′-FL group. Conclusions: These results indicate that MLCT and 2′-FL interventions alone appear to provide different benefits for small intestinal development, and their combination may confer more comprehensive advantages. Full article

Weaning is one of the most challenging stages in a piglet’s life, with multiple stressors contributing to poor gut health. For several years, zinc oxide (ZnO) was the preferred means of promoting a healthy gut and preventing post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). However, with the banning of its use at medicinal levels in the EU since 2022, alternatives are needed. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat diarrhea and has pharmacological properties that could make this molecule an attractive alternative to ZnO. The aim of this study was to investigate how berberine is metabolized in the intestinal tract and liver of weaned piglets; determine which metabolites are detected in intestinal contents and plasma; and whether a low dose can alter histomorphological parameters, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and gut microbiota composition. A total of 60 piglets weaned at 4 weeks were divided into two groups (Control and BBR), each consisting of six pens of five animals. After two weeks of feeding with a normal diet or a berberine-supplemented diet (30 mg berberine/kg feed), berberine and its metabolites were quantified in intestinal contents and plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) on 12 animals per group (2 male piglets per pen). Moreover, villus length and crypt depth were measured in small-intestinal tissue, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to examine jejunal, cecal, and colonic gut microbiota composition. Our findings show that piglets metabolize berberine into phase I and II metabolites; however, a low dose does not affect their histomorphology, microbiota composition, or SCFA production. Full article