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Bovine mastitis, the inflammation of the mammary gland, is a contagious disease characterized by chemical and physical changes in milk and pathological changes in udder tissues. Depressed immunity and higher expression of inflammatory cytokines with an elevated milk somatic cell count can be observed during mastitis in dairy cattle. The use of somatic cell count (SCC) and somatic cell score (SCS) as correlated traits in the indirect selection of animals against mastitis resistance is in progress globally. Traditional breeding for mastitis resistance seems difficult because of the low heritability (0.10-0.16) of SCC/SCS and clinical mastitis. Thus, genetic-marker-selective breeding to improve host genetics has attracted considerable attention worldwide. Moreover, genomic selection has been found to be an effective and fast method of screening for dairy cattle that are genetically resistant and susceptible to mastitis at a very early age. The current review discusses and summarizes the candidate gene approach using polymorphisms in immune- and inflammation-linked genes (CD4, CD14, CD46, TRAPPC9, JAK2, Tf, Lf, TLRs, CXCL8, CXCR1, CXCR2, C4A, C5, MASP2, MBL1, MBL2, LBP, NCF1, NCF4, MASP2, A2M, and CLU, etc.) and their related signaling pathways (Staphylococcus aureus infection signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, Cytokine-cytokine receptor, and Complement and coagulation cascades, etc.) associated with mastitis resistance and susceptibility phenotypic traits (IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IL17, IL8, SCS, and SCC) in dairy cattle.

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a well-known phenomenon experienced by ruminants, especially during the transition from late gestation to successful lactation. This overproduction of ROS may lead to oxidative stress (OS), which compromises the immune and anti-inflammatory systems of animals, thus predisposing them to health issues. Besides, during the periparturient period, metabolic stress is developed due to a negative energy balance, which is followed by excessive fat mobilization and poor production performance. Excessive lipolysis causes immune suppression, abnormal regulation of inflammation, and enhanced oxidative stress. Indeed, OS plays a key role in regulating the metabolic activity of various organs and the productivity of farm animals. For example, rapid fetal growth and the production of large amounts of colostrum and milk, as well as an increase in both maternal and fetal metabolism, result in increased ROS production and an increased need for micronutrients, including antioxidants, during the last trimester of pregnancy and at the start of lactation. Oxidative stress is generally neutralized by the natural antioxidant system in the body. However, in some special phases, such as the periparturient period, the animal’s natural antioxidant system is unable to cope with the situation. The effect of rumen-protected limiting amino acids and choline on the regulation of immunity, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory status and milk production performance, has been widely studied in ruminants. Thus, in the current review, we gathered and interpreted the data on this topic, especially during the perinatal and lactational stages.

The current study evaluated the corn steep liquor (CSL) and urea-alkali pretreatment effect to enhance biodegradation and hydrolysis of rice straw (RS) by ruminal microbiome. The first used RS (1) without (Con) or with additives of (2) 4% CaO (Ca), (3) 2.5% urea plus 4% CaO (UCa) and (4) 9% corn steep liquor + 2.5% urea + 4% CaO (CUCa), and then the efficacy of CSL plus urea-alkali pretreatment was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, cellulose degree of polymerization and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively, results showed that Ca, UCa, and CUCa pretreatment altered the physical and chemical structure of RS. CSL plus Urea-alkali pretreated enhanced microbial colonization by improving the enzymolysis efficiency of RS, and specially induced adhesion of Carnobacterium and Staphylococcus. The CUCa pretreatment could be developed to improve RS nutritional value as forage for ruminants, or as feedstock for biofuel production.

A novel pre-treatment using corn steep liquor (CSL) and urea was developed to enhance the enzymatic saccharification and degradability of rice straw (RS). We used RS (1) without (Con) or with additives of (2) 5% urea (U), (3) 9% CSL and 2.5% urea (CU), and (4) 9% CSL and 5% urea (C5U). The result showed that the water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) conversion of RS reached 69.32% after C5U pre-treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) confirmed that the surface of pre-treated RS exposed more cellulose and hemicellulose due to the disruption of the resistant structure of lignocellulose. Pre-treated RS significantly decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents and increased crude protein (CP) content, microbial colonization, and induction of Carnobacterium and Staphylococcus attachment. Altogether, we concluded that pre-treatment of a combination of CSL and urea has the potential to improve the nutritive value of RS.

IntroductionHospital-at-home (HaH) services have become increasingly popular. However, the experience of HaH implementation in Asia is inadequate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate individuals' willingness to accept HaH services and the potential related factors.MethodsThe researchers visited households to select appropriate participants. An online questionnaire survey was conducted among the inhabitants of selected communities. An individual's awareness, willingness to accept HaH services, and demands such as ideal service providers and more detailed information to accept HaH care were investigated. The outcome measure was the willingness to accept HaH services. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors.ResultsA total of 622 subjects participated in this study. The findings indicate that 55.9% of the participants were not aware of HaH services, while most of the subjects (88.4%) were willing to accept them. Regression models indicated that having health insurance (OR = 2.170, 95% CI: 1.003–4.697), an awareness of the necessity of HaH services (OR = 4.721, 95% CI: 2.471–9.019), very much hoping staff from central hospitals would be service providers (OR = 20.299, 95% CI: 5.718–72.068), and somewhat hoping that staff from central hospitals would be service providers (OR = 9.139, 95% CI: 2.714–30.775) were the factors associated with a greater willingness to accept HaH services.ConclusionThe study indicates that compared to the awareness of HaH care, residents had a greater willingness to accept such care. The willingness to utilize HaH services among individuals was associated with enabling factors, predisposing factors, and HaH-related demand factors.