Search Results (7,841)

This study, for the first time, evaluated the therapeutic potential of resveratrol-loaded phytosome nanoparticles (RES-PNPs) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and associated testicular dysfunction, compared with free resveratrol (RES). Ninety male Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups, (1) control; (2) RES (10 mg/kg/day, orally); (3) RES-PNPs (10 mg/kg/day, orally); (4) EAC, induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 × 10⁶ cells; (5) EAC + RES; and (6) EAC + RES-PNPs, treated for 20 days post-tumor inoculation. Tumor growth parameters, reproductive function, antioxidant enzyme activities, inflammatory mediators, apoptotic markers, and histopathological features were assessed. Additionally, in silico docking was performed to identify molecular targets mediating RES effects. RES-PNPs markedly reduced tumor volume, ascitic cell viability, and body weight gain while significantly prolonging survival compared with free RES. Molecular assays revealed enhanced pro-apoptotic signaling (increased Bax and Caspase-3, decreased Bcl-2), suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and inhibition of COX-2 with reduced TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β levels. RES-PNPs also restored semen quality, normalized reproductive hormones, elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced lipid and protein oxidation, corroborated by notable testicular histological protection. In conclusion, Resveratrol-loaded phytosome nanoparticles provide superior anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic benefits compared with free RES. These findings highlight RES-PNPs as a potent and stable nanoformulation for effective EAC suppression and preservation of male reproductive integrity. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation on yak physiology by evaluating growth performance, serum biochemical indices and plasm metabolomic profiles to elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Twenty-four male yaks (4–5 years; 249.38 ± 11.69 kg BW) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments (n = 8): CON (basal diet), GAA1 (basal diet + 0.055% GAA), and GAA2 (basal diet + 0.11% GAA), with 55:45 of concentrate:roughage (DM basis). After a 10-day adaptation period, the feeding trial lasted 90 days. Body weights were measured on days 0 and 90 for growth performance evaluation, with blood samples collected on the final day for separation into serum and plasma to assess serum metabolic and antioxidant parameters and for plasma metabolomic profiling. The result showed that growth performance parameters displayed a positive trend, with average daily gain (ADG) showing marginal improvement (p = 0.072). Serum biochemical analysis revealed that dietary supplementation of GAA had no effect on serum biochemical parameters while tendency decreased GSH-Px activity (p = 0.087). Non-targeted metabolomics identified 39–121 differentially abundant metabolites in plasma across treatment groups. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of these metabolites revealed pathways such as tryptophan metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and arginine metabolism. Among the differentially abundant metabolites, N(omega)-Hydroxyarginine and tryptophan metabolites such as 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin were specifically highlighted. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of GAA in yaks has been confirmed to improve ADG, with a 0.11% supplementation level being more effective, and this may be associated with GAA enhancing amino acid metabolism, particularly arginine and tryptophan metabolism. Full article

Background/Objectives: Stunting and weight faltering (WF) remain pressing public health challenges in low- and middle-income countries, with long-term consequences for child growth, development, and survival. While the role of gut health in early growth is increasingly recognized, evidence on how the gut microbiome and metabolome respond to nutritional interventions in WF infants is scarce. This study explored gut microbiome and metabolome changes in Indonesian infants aged 6–12 months who overcame WF following a one-month intervention. Methods: Infants were assigned to either a Nutritional Advice (NA) group or a Nutritional Advice plus Oral Nutritional Supplements (NAONS) group. Stool samples were collected before and after the intervention for microbiome (16S rRNA sequencing) and metabolome (LC-MS) analysis. Results: Significant shifts in gut microbial composition (beta diversity) and species richness (Chao1 index) were observed in both groups, suggesting enhanced microbial diversity and gut resilience. Within-group analysis revealed increases in beneficial genera such as Faecalibacterium and Peptostreptococcus, and a reduction in pro-inflammatory Fusobacterium in the NA group. The NAONS group showed a notable decrease in Proteus, a potentially pathogenic genus. Between-group comparisons indicated higher abundances of Lactococcus and Leuconostoc in the NAONS group, likely reflecting the influence of milk protein-rich supplements on microbial colonization, favoring lactic acid bacteria over SCFA-producing taxa, leading to better gut health. Metabolome analysis revealed significant changes in the NA group, increases in metabolites like Threonine, Tryptophan, and Xylose pointed to improved energy metabolism and gut health, while a decrease in Oxalic Acid suggested better metabolic efficiency. In contrast, the NAONS group, while benefiting from rapid weight gain, displayed a distinct metabolic profile influenced by high milk protein intake. No significant correlations were found between microbiome and metabolome changes, highlighting the complexity of gut-host interactions, suggesting that the interventions led to independent shifts in the aforementioned profiles. Conclusions: Overall, the findings suggest that nutritional interventions may enhance gut health and support recovery from weight faltering, providing insights into strategies that may contribute to restoring healthy growth trajectories and preventing stunting by modulating gut health. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of olive cake (OC) supplementation on buffalo performance and meat quality. Sixty Italian Mediterranean Buffalo males (thirty/group) were enrolled for 90 days before slaughter and allocated into two homogeneous groups according to body weight and age. The Innova group received concentrate with a 7% inclusion of OC, whereas the Ctrl group received no supplementation. Animal performances were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the trial to assess average daily gain (ADG), final live weight, and carcass weight. The Longissimus thoracis muscle samples were harvested and analyzed for chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and total polyphenols content. Dietary inclusion of OC improved animal performances, with greater ADG, final live weight, and carcass weight than the Ctrl group. Furthermore, the Innova meat exhibited a greater polyphenols content and a better acidic profile, represented by greater monounsaturated fatty acids and lower saturated fatty acids. Innova meat had a greater n-3/n-6 ratio, lower atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic index (TI), and greater hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (H/H) compared with Ctrl meat. These results suggest that inclusion of OC in buffalo diet improved the meat’s fatty acid profile and nutritional value, contributing to healthier, higher-quality products while supporting circular economy principles. Full article

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining attention in research and industry as a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the advantages of sodium over lithium in terms of accessibility, price, and environmental impact are currently not fully exploited because of inexperience in production, leading to inhomogeneities in their behavior. Using electrical (e.g., open-circuit voltage curve (OCV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and non-electrical measurement methods (e.g., laser scanning microscopy, computed tomography), three widely used LIB technologies and one SIB technology, all with the same rated capacity (1500 mAh) and format (18650), are compared in this article. The study reveals significant differences, such as a 12% lower cell weight at the same rated capacity of the SIB using less windings in the jelly roll, as well as a high energy density cell configuration and a much more severe dependency of the discharge capacity on temperature, exceeding the LIBs by at least a factor of 5. Additionally, the impedance of the SIB differs due to slower ion kinetics on the electrodes, showing relevant differences in both the frequency behavior and the pulse relaxation to the LIBs. An OCV reconstruction indicates the sparsity in the available literature data and the necessity to further investigate the characteristics of the SIB to validate it as a drop-in technology on the market. Full article

Oxidative stress impairs the productivity and welfare of heat-stressed hair sheep; however, the key factors contributing to its occurrence remain unclear. Twenty-two Dorper × Katahdin ewe lambs weighing 23.5 ± 2.8 kg and experiencing outdoor heat stress in a desert region were used to establish the contribution of climatic variables, physiological responses, metabolism, and feedlot performance to the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance. Pearson’s correlation, principal component analysis, and multiple linear regression were applied to the datasets. Oxidative stress biomarkers showed positive relationships with average and minimum climatic variables, morning rectal temperature, serum triglycerides and insulin, and feed efficiency. Still, these biomarkers were negatively correlated with maximum ambient temperature (Te) and temperature-humidity index (THI), morning and afternoon respiratory rate (RR), total protein, and feed intake. While total oxidant capacity and fat oxidation were mainly associated with decreased maximum Te, protein oxidation was primarily associated with increased morning RR. Total antioxidant capacity was favored by a reduction in maximum THI and oxidative stress index (OSI) by an increase in maximum relative humidity. With minimal contribution (≤6%), protein and fat oxidation were also explained by increased serum insulin and feed intake, respectively, whereas OSI was explained by increased weight gain. Overall, the presence of oxidative stress in feedlot hair sheep experiencing outdoor heat stress was regulated by a combination of climatic conditions, morning RR, and, to a lesser extent, productive performance. Full article

Background: Dietary acid load (DAL) influences acid–base balance and has been implicated in chronic metabolic disorders. However, its association with excess weight (EW; overweight/obesity) remains insufficiently studied, particularly in Chinese populations with unique dietary patterns. Clarifying this relationship is crucial for guiding targeted nutritional strategies aimed at reducing obesity and associated metabolic risks in China. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 7758 adults in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a multistage, stratified cluster survey. Dietary intake was evaluated using three consecutive 24 h recalls, and DAL was calculated using potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP). The relationship between DAL and EW was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression, with additional insights gained from subgroup analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods. Results: The final analysis encompassed 7758 individuals, among whom 3072 (39.6%) were diagnosed with EW. After adjusting for all relevant factors, a higher DAL was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of EW. Individuals in the highest tertile experienced a 27% increased risk associated with PRAL (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.09–1.48, p = 0.002) and a 14% increased risk associated with NEAP (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01–1.29, p = 0.029), demonstrating a consistent linear trend (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that the positive association between DAL and EW was particularly evident in men (PRAL: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.12–1.76; NEAP: OR = 1.46, 95%: 1.14–1.85) and in participants younger than 60 years (PRAL: OR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.11–1.58). Importantly, the association remained significant among individuals without diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease (PRAL: OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.47). RCS analysis further confirmed a linear dose–response relationship between DAL and EW risk. Conclusions: This study establishes a significant dose–response relationship between higher DAL and increased risk of EW in Chinese adults. These findings underscore the potential of diets with lower acid load, particularly those rich in fruits and vegetables, as a strategic approach to mitigating the obesity epidemic. Full article

Background: Obesity is a highly prevalent chronic disease characterized by excessive weight gain and fat accumulation. There is growing evidence that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains with bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity are effective in preventing and alleviating obesity. Methods: Initially, we screened bacterial strains with high hydrolytic activity against glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GDCA), and constructed an isogenic bsh1 knockout mutant. Subsequently, male C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) were randomly assigned to receive daily gavage of either the wild-type Lp20 (Lp20-WT) or the bsh1-deficient mutant (Lp20-Δbsh1) for 8 weeks. Serum cholesterol levels and histopathological changes in liver sections were monitored. Hepatic gene expression was quantified by RT-qPCR, and fecal bacterial communities were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These comprehensive assessments aimed to evaluate metabolic improvements and uncover the potential mechanisms behind the observed effects. Results:L. plantarum Lp20 hydrolyzed 91.62% of GDCA, exhibiting the highest bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity among tested isolates. Whole-genome sequencing and in-silico analyses mapped this activity to bsh1; gene deletion of bsh1 confirmed the role of bsh1 in GDCA hydrolysis. Daily gavage of the wild-type strain (Lp20-WT) to diet-induced obese mice markedly attenuated weight gain, reduced inguinal white adipose tissue and mesenteric fat mass, and lowered serum TC and LDL-C by 20.8% and 33.3%, respectively, while decreasing ALT and AST levels and reversing hepatic steatosis. In contrast, the bsh1-null mutant (Lp20-Δbsh1) failed to elicit any measurable metabolic benefit. Mechanistically, Lp20-WT upregulated rate-limiting bile-acid synthetic enzymes CYP7A1 and CYP27A1, thereby accelerating the catabolism of cholesterol into bile acids. Concurrently, it activated hepatic TGR5 and FXR signaling axes to modulate hepatic metabolism. Moreover, Lp20-WT restructured the gut microbiota by notably enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as norank_f__Muribaculaceae, Akkermansia, and Alistipes, while reducing the abundance of potentially harmful taxa, including norank_f__Desulfovibrionaceae, Dubosiella, and Mucispirillum. Conclusions: This study provides direct evidence of BSH’s anti-obesity effects through gene deletion. Specifically, BSH lowers cholesterol by modulating hepatic bile-acid metabolism-related gene expression and altering the gut microbiota composition. However, the study is limited by a small sample size (n = 6), the use of male mice only, and its preclinical stage, indicating a need for further validation across diverse strains and human populations. Full article

Canola seed is a high-energy oilseed with potential as an alternative feed ingredient in broiler diets, yet its use is limited by nutrient encapsulation and antinutritional factors. This study aimed to evaluate the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of canola seed and its effects on broiler performance, organ development, serum biochemical profile, and carcass yield from hatch to 42 days of age. A digestibility trial was conducted using 300 broilers in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design (whole vs. ground seed, with or without enzyme, at 100 or 200 g/kg replacement). A performance trial involved 660 broilers fed diets with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 g/kg of ground canola seed (GCS). Grinding without enzyme addition significantly increased AME from 2318 to 3864 kcal/kg and AME corrected for nitrogen retention (AMEn) from 2192 to 3734 kcal/kg (p < 0.05). An interaction was observed between seed x enzyme and seed × levels (p < 0.05). Addition of enzymes increased the AME value of canola from 3091 to 4091 kcal/kg and the AMEn value from 2963 to 3958 kcal/kg (p < 0.001). Inclusion of GCS up to 150 g/kg did not affect feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), organ index, serum parameters, or carcass traits (p > 0.05). However, higher inclusion levels (200 and 250 g/kg) reduced body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) and worsened FCR, particularly in the early growth stages (p > 0.05). In the period 1–42 days of age, only the 250 g/kg level worsened FCR (p < 0.001), and BWG decreased in 200 and 250 g/kg (p < 0.001). In conclusion, GCS can be included up to 150 g/kg in broiler diets without compromising performance or metabolism, and grinding combined with enzyme supplementation enhances its nutritional value. Full article

Early growth in broilers depends on the rapid development of supply organs that enable nutrient use and support the growth of demand tissues such as muscle and bone. This study evaluated whether increasing dietary fat (and thereby AME) and amino acid concentration in starter diets enhances supply organ development and growth performance in Cobb male broilers. A 2 × 2 factorial design compared two fat levels, corresponding to two AME levels (F− 2750 vs. F+ 3050 kcal/kg), and two standardized ileal digestible lysine levels (AA− 1.0% vs. AA+ 1.2%) in an ideal ratio, to other essential AAs during days 0–11. Higher amino acid concentration consistently improved body weight gain, feed efficiency, and nutrient utilization throughout the trial, whereas the benefits of higher AME were mainly observed during the first 11 days. Diets high in both fat and amino acids reduced early feed intake, suggesting satiety effects. The effects on supply organ development were limited; only the pancreas and small intestine exhibited treatment-related differences in relative weight or allometric growth. In conclusion, increased amino acid concentration in starter diets improved overall broiler performance and nutrient efficiency, whereas dietary fat provided only short-term benefits. These improvements were not consistently associated with morphological changes in supply organs. Full article

An eight-week study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary marine protein hydrolysates as fish meal replacements in low-fish-meal diets on the growth performance, feed utilization, and health status of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). The high-fish-meal (HFM) diet contained 25% fish meal, while the low-fish-meal (LFM) diet replaced 60% of the fish meal with soybean meal. Three experimental diets were formulated by supplementing the LFM diet with 5% tuna hydrolysate (TH), 2% shrimp hydrolysate (SH), and 5% salmon silage (SS), each replacing an equivalent amount of fish meal. These diets were designated as LFM + TH, LFM + SH, and LFM + SS, respectively. The results showed that the LFM + TH diet significantly improved the percentage of weight gain, average daily growth, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio compared to the LFM diet (p < 0.05), without negatively affecting feed intake or metabolic markers. Histological analysis revealed improved villus length and goblet cell count in the intestine, indicating better nutrient absorption (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in hematological and immunological parameters, blood plasma metabolic markers, or carcass proximate composition (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the LFM + TH diet exhibited superior survival rates under ammonia stress, highlighting its potential to enhance stress tolerance. These findings suggest that marine protein hydrolysates, particularly 5%TH, can serve as a sustainable and efficient alternative to fish meal protein in diets with up to 60% in soybean meal compensation, promoting better growth and survival in Asian seabass. Full article

The use of herbal medicines has gained popularity, both in science and among the public, as a natural alternative for the treatment of numerous diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate peri-implant and long bone biomechanics in type 2 diabetic animals, treated or not with Bauhinia forficata. Methods: Thirty-two rats were allocated into four groups: normoglycemic (NG), normoglycemic + Bauhinia forficata (NGBf), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and T2D + Bauhinia forficata (T2DBf). Diabetes was induced using a cafeteria diet and streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Bauhinia forficata tea (50 g/L) was administered to the NGBf and T2DBf groups. After 14 days, titanium implants were installed in the tibial metaphysis of all animals. Biomechanical analysis (removal torque), computerized microtomography, three-point bending test, confocal microscopy, and real-time PCR were performed. The results were tabulated, and a statistical test was conducted with a significance level of 5%. Results: Bauhinia forficata significantly improved the weight and blood glucose levels of the animals. In terms of biomechanics and the microarchitecture of long bones, T2D did not impair bone metabolism, and the use of the therapy did not cause significant changes in the parameters evaluated. However, T2D promoted significant impairment in the structural, biomechanical, and molecular characteristics of the peri-implant repair process, and the use of Bauhinia forficata increased the parameters evaluated in T2DBf. Conclusions: Type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly compromises peri-implant bone repair, with no influence on the metabolism of long bones, and Bauhinia forficata acts positively on both the etiopathogenesis of the disease and the tissue response to bone repair. Full article

Domain generalization (DG) aims to develop models that perform robustly on unseen target domains, a critical but challenging objective for real-world fault diagnosis. The challenge is further complicated in compound fault diagnosis, where the rigidity of hard labels and the simplicity of label smoothing under-represent inter-class relations and compositional structures, degrading cross-domain robustness. While current domain generalization methods can alleviate these issues, they typically rely on multi-source domain data. However, considering the limitations of equipment operational conditions and data acquisition costs in industrial applications, only one or two independently distributed source datasets are typically available. In this work, an adaptive label refinement network (ALRN) was designed for learning with imperfect labels under source-scarce conditions. Compared to hard labels and label smoothing, ALRN learns richer, more robust soft labels that encode the semantic similarities between fault classes. The model first trains a convolutional neural network (CNN) to obtain initial class probabilities. It then iteratively refines the training labels by computing a weighted average of predictions within each class, using the sample-wise cross-entropy loss as an adaptive weighting factor. Furthermore, a label refinement stability coefficient based on the max-min Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence ratio across classes is proposed to evaluate label quality and determine when to terminate the refinement iterations. With only one or two source domains for training, ALRN achieves accuracy gains exceeding 22% under unseen operating conditions compared with a conventional CNN baseline. These results validate that the proposed label refinement algorithm can effectively enhance the cross-domain diagnostic performance, providing a novel and practical solution for learning with imperfect supervision in cross-domain compound fault diagnosis. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) have gained recognition as promising alternatives to antibiotics due to their positive effects on bird growth performance, enhanced meat quality, and improved overall health, without producing the negative consequences associated with antibiotics. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of tea tree (TTEO) and thyme (TEO) EOs, individually or in combination with the probiotic BioPlus 2b (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis), on poultry broiler performance, including the meat quality. A total of 240 ROSS 308 broilers were assigned to eight dietary treatments over a 35-day trial. Parameters such as body weight (BW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass portion, drip loss, and meat pH were evaluated. TTEO had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) impact on final carcass and breast portion, while in combination with probiotics, specifically TTEO with BioPlus significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced meat drip loss. GC-MS analysis identified terpinen-4-ol and γ-terpinene as the major constituents of TTEO, and thymol and carvacrol as the major constituents of TEO. In conclusion, combinations of TTEO, TEO, and probiotics can have beneficial effects on chicken raw meat quality, providing a complementary benefit to the industry and representing a viable alternative to conventional agents. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of high doses of phytase on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and serum chemistry of late-finishing pigs housed under space-restricted conditions. Pigs (n = 375; 94.63 ± 0.61 kg) were randomly assigned to 48 pens, with 7 to 8 pigs per pen, balanced for gilts and barrows. Two phytase doses (control of 2500 FTU/kg or hyper-dose of 5000 FTU/kg) and two space allocation dimensions (adequate with 0.85 m²/pig or restricted with 0.66 m²/pig) were combined to create a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (12 replicates per treatment). The three heaviest pigs per pen were marketed on day 28, and the remaining pigs were marketed on day 42. No interactions (p > 0.10) were observed between the floor space allowance and phytase supplementation. The body weight, daily gain, and feed intake at the first marketing and for all pigs marketed were reduced (p ≤ 0.009) by space restriction, without affecting the gain-to-feed ratio. Space restriction increased serum protein and decreased urea N, and hyper-dosing phytase increased plasma inositol and serum glucose and decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05). The results indicate that space restriction reduced the growth rate, feed intake, and body weight of late-finishing pigs, and that hyper-dosing phytase was not beneficial in improving growth performance regardless of space allowance. Full article