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The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of dietary arginine level on the growth performance, immune function, and small intestine development of broilers. A total of 600 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates in each group and 20 chickens in each replicate. Each group was supplemented with 0, 0.65%, 1.15%, 1.65%, and 2.15% arginine in the basal diet. The trial period was 42 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the body weight and average daily gain (ADG) of broilers in the 0.65% supplementation group were significantly higher (P<0.05), and the villus height/recess depth of duodenum and jejunum were significantly higher after 42 days of experiment (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the content of serum immune protein in the 2.15% supplementation group increased significantly on the 21st day (P<0.05), and the index of bursa of fabricius increased significantly on the 42st day (P<0.05). The study indicates that proper addition of 0.65% arginine in basal diet can increase the body weight, average daily gain, and promote the development of duodenum and jejunum in the later growth stage of broilers. High level of arginine (2.15%) can improve the level of serum immune protein and promote the development of small intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of dietary microencapsulated compound probiotics on the growth performance, immune function, and intestinal flora of weaned piglets. Twenty-four healthy weaned piglets (Landrace x Rongchang) with similar weight were randomly divided into a control group and experimental group, with three replicates in each group and four pigs in each replicate. The control group was fed with corn-soybean meal basal diet, while the experimental group was fed with 0.1% microencapsulated compound probiotics, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis. The trial period was 42 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed-to-weight ratio of piglets in the experimental group had no significant difference, but the serum growth hormone content tended to increase. Compared with the control group, the concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM in the experimental group had no significant difference, but the concentrations of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 decreased significantly (P<0.05). The relative abundance of Muribaculaceae, ruminal bacteria, Christenium and other bacteria in the experimental group increased significantly. The study indicates that adding microencapsulated compound probiotics in diet increased the content of growth hormone in piglets, reduced the content of inflammatory molecules, increased the richness and diversity of intestinal microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of diets with different concentrate-to-coarse ratios on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrients apparent digestibility, and serum immune indexes of autumn lambs. Thirty 4-month-old F1 hybrid male lambs of 'Dubo x Small Tail Han sheep' were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 replicates in each group and one sheep in each replicate. Experimental Group I, Group II, and Group III were fed with diets with the ratio of concentrate to coarse of 40:60, 55:45, and 70:30, respectively. The results showed that the average daily gain of lambs in Group III was significantly higher than that in Group I (P<0.05), and the feed to gain ratio of Group II and Group III was significantly lower than that in Group I (P<0.05). The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber in Group I was significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05), while the apparent digestibility of organic matter in Group II was significantly higher than that in Group III (P<0.05). The content of propionic acid in rumen of lambs in experimental group I was significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05), and the ratio of ethylene to propylene in experimental group I was significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05). The level of serum immunoglobulin G in Group II was significantly higher than that in Group III (P<0.05), and the level of serum interleukin-6 in Group II was significantly lower than that in other groups (P<0.05). The study indicates that when the concentrate-to-coarse ratio is 55:45, the growth of lambs in autumn can be healthier, the utilization rate of feed can be improved, the growth performance of lambs can be improved, and the economic benefits can be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnoides GG (LGG) on growth performance, antioxidation, immune function and intestinal health of SD rats under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stress. A total of twenty four healthy male SD rats of similar age and weight were randomly divided into control group (CON group) and LGG group with 6 replicates in each group (n=2). The rats in LGG group were gavaged with 2 mL of LGG (1×108 CFU/mL), while CON group were administered the same amount of normal saline for 15 days. On the 14th day of the experiment, one rat was randomly selected from each replicate to be injected intraperitoneally with LPS solution (2 mg/kg BW), which was named LPS group and LGG+LPS group, and the remaining rats were injected with the same amount of sterile normal saline. The rats were dissected after anesthesia, and the serum and ileum were collected to detect the antioxidant index, the content of inflammatory factors and the morphology of ileum. The results showed that compared with the CON group, the feed weight ratio of LGG group has a significant decreasing trend (0.05≤P<0.10). In addition, the serum ALT, AST, IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α contents of LPS group were significantly higher than those of the CON group (P<0.05), while the serum ALB and TP contents of LPS group were significantly lower than those of the CON group (P<0.05). Under LPS stress, the contents of serum ALT, AST, IgA, IgG, IgM, IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly reduced after LGG pretreatment (P<0.05), while the content of ALB and TP were significantly increase (P< 0.05). Meanwhile, LPS stress also caused a significantly decrease in CAT content and T-AOC in serum and ileum mucosa (P<0.05), as well as a significantly increase in MDA content (P<0.05). Under LPS stress, CAT content in serum and ileum mucosa and T-AOC in ileum mucosa were significantly increased after LGG pretreatment (P<0.05), and MDA content in serum and ileum mucosa was significantly decreased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in liver, thymus and spleen index, ileum villus height, villus width, crypt depth and villus height/crypt depth among all groups (P>0.05). To sum up, LPS stress can induce liver injury, oxidative stress and immune stress in rats. LGG pretreatment can improve the feed conversion rate of rats to a certain extent, by improving the antioxidant function, immune function to prevent and alleviate the negative effects of LPS stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use disorders (SUD) present a worldwide challenge with few effective therapies except for the relative efficacy of opioid pharmacotherapies, despite limited treatment access. However, the proliferation of illicit fentanyl use initiated a dramatic and cascading epidemic of lethal overdoses. This rise in fentanyl overdoses regenerated an interest in vaccine immunotherapy, which, despite an optimistic start in animal models over the past 50 years, yielded disappointing results in human clinical trials of vaccines against nicotine, stimulants (cocaine and methamphetamine), and opioids. After a brief review of clinical and selected preclinical vaccine studies, the "lessons learned" from the previous vaccine clinical trials are summarized, and then the newest challenge of a vaccine against fentanyl and its analogs is explored. Animal studies have made significant advances in vaccine technology for SUD treatment over the past 50 years, and the resulting anti-fentanyl vaccines show remarkable promise for ending this epidemic of fentanyl deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】The experiment was carried out to study the effects of potassium magnesium sulfate (PMS) on sow performance, plasma biochemical indicators, antioxidant capacity and immune function in late pregnancy. 【Method】By using simple factor design of the experiment, sixty sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) with 3-4 parity, good health and similar expected delivery in the third trimester of pregnancy (85th day of pregnancy) were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 replicates in each group and 1 sow in each replicate). The experimental groups during gestation were supplemented with PMS 0 (CK), 5, 10 and 15 g/d for each sow, respectively. After delivery, all sows during lactation were fed the same commercial lactation feed. The experiment ended on the 18th day of lactation.【Result】(1) Supplemental PMS had no significant effects on litter size, healthy litter size, back fat thickness, labor, body weight, feed intake in sows during lactation, and newborn weight of piglets, number of weaned piglets and number of deaths of lactating piglets. Compared with the control group, the fecal score of sows during late pregnancy after PMS supplementation showed a linear increase (Plinear＜ 0.05) and 10 g/d group had significant effects (PANOVA＜ 0.05); After supplementation with PMS, it showed a linear increase (Plinear＜ 0.05) in newborn litter weight, litter weight of weaned piglets, average litter gain of lactating piglets and daily gain of lactating piglets (PANOVA ＜ 0.05). Compared with the control group, the newborn litter weight, litter weight of weaned piglets, average litter gain of lactating piglets and daily gain of lactating piglets in the 10 g/d group were increased by 16.27%, 24.42%, 35.14% and 31.64%. Except for newborn litter weight, all other indicators showed quadratic effect (PQuadratic ＜ 0.05) and significant differences were found between groups (PANOVA ＜ 0.05) ; (2) It showed a linear increase in the contents of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and insulin (INS) in plasma of sows supplemented with PMS (Plinear＜ 0.05). The contents of TG, CHO, LDL and INS in the 10 g/d group increased by 50.00%, 28.35%, 25.00% and 31.98% compared with the control group; TG and LDL had a quadratic effect (PQuadratic ＜ 0.05). (3) Linear changes were found in contents of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (Plinear＜ 0.05) in the plasma of sows after supplementation with PMS, and they were increased by 17.10%, 20.34%, 8.00% and 15.04% in the 10 g/d group, compared with the control group. (4) It showed a linear increase (PANOVA ＜ 0.05) in fat content of colostrum of sow with PMS supplementation (Plinear＜ 0.05), with significant increase. Non-fat milk solids, lactose and protein were linearly increased (Plinear＜ 0.05) and had an increasing trend (0.05 ＜ PANOVA ＜ 0.1). The fat content of colostrum supplemented with 10 g/d were increased by 51.42% compared with the control group. 【Conclusion】 PMS supplementation in late preganancy can significantly improve the fecal scores of sows, relieve sow constipation, and improve sow performance and body health, with 10 g/d supplementation as the optimal dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) on immune inflammatory response and cognitive function in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Methods: 150 patients with laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair who were admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Hefei from March 2020 to March 2022 were divided into group A (n=75) and group B (n=75) according to the random number table method.Both groups were treated with dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine TAPB, group A was given 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine and group B was given 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine. The hemodynamics, visual analogue scale (VAS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), inflammatory response and immune function related indicators were compared in two groups. Results: Compared with group A at the beginning of operation 1 h (T1) and immediately after the end of operaion (T2), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were lower in group B (P<0.05). The incidence of POCD in group B was lower than that in group A (P<0.05). Compared with group A 1 d and 2 d after operation, the MMSE score in group B was higher (P<0.05). Compared with group A at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation, the VAS score in group B was lower (P<0.05). Compared with group A 2 d after operation, CD8+ was lower, and CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were higher in group B(P<0.05). Compared with group A 2 d after operation, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were lower in group B (P<0.05). Conclusion: Anesthesia with 1 μg/kg dose of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine TAPB in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, which can reduce pain, alleviate the degree of immune inflammatory response, maintain hemodynamic stability, and reduce the incidence of POCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Xingpi Yanger Granules combine with Saccharomyces boulardii sachets on the intestinal microecology and inflammatory immune response in children with rotavirus enteritis. Methods: 118 children with rotavirus enteritis admitted to Jinan Second Maternal and Child Health Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were selected, the children were randomly divided into control group (n=59) and observation group (n=59) by random number table method. The control group received treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii sachets, while the observation group received additional treatment with Xingpi Yanger granules on the basis of the control group. Evaluated the clinical efficacy, symptom improvement time, intestinal microecology indicators, inflammatory factors, immune function, and adverse reactions of two groups. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 91.53%, which was higher than the control group's 76.27%(P<0.05). The observation group had shorter diarrhea relief time, fever relief time, hospitalization time and bowel movement recovery time compared to the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the observation group had higher levels of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factorα(TNFα), Interleukin-6(IL-6) in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of CD3+, CD4+/CD8+, CD4+ in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, while CD8+ levels were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence rates of adverse reactions in both groups were no significant difference(P>0.05). Conclusion: The combination of Xingpi Yanger Granules and Saccharomyces boulardii sachets has a good therapeutic effect on children with rotavirus enteritis, it can improve clinical symptoms, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, regulate the level of intestinal microecology, enhance the immune function of children, and has good safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of 0.5 μg/kg, 1.0 μg/kg, 1.5 μg/kg three doses of dexmedetomidine mix with ropivacaine ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block(TPVB) combine with general anesthesia on stress response, immune function and micrometastasis in patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer. Methods: 132 patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer in our hospital were selected, and patients were divided into high dose group (1.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combine with ropivacaine ultrasound-guided TPVB, 44 cases), middle dose group (1.0 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combine with ropivacaine ultrasound-guided TPVB, 44 cases) and low dose group (0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine combine with ropivacaine ultrasound-guided TPVB, 44 cases) according to the random number table. The recovery quality, hemodynamics [heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP)], stress response indexes [epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (Cor)], immune function [CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+], micrometastasis [epidermal growth factor receptor messenger ribonucleic acid (EGFR mRNA), lung specific X protein (LUNX mRNA), cytokeratin 19 (CK19 mRNA)] and incidence of adverse reactions were compared in three groups. Results: The recovery time, tracheal extubation time and recovery room stay time in low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group were prolonged in turn(P<0.05). HR, SBP and DBP in low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group increased in turn at the time of tracheal extubation (T2) and 5 min after tracheal extubation (T3) (P<0.05). The levels of E, NE and Cor in low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group increased in turn at 48h after operation (P<0.05). CD8+ in low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group increased in turn, while CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ decreased in turn at 48 h after operation (P<0.05). EGFR mRNA, LUNX mRNA, and CK19 mRNA decreased at 48 h after surgery in the three groups, but there was no significant difference between the three groups.There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions in three groups(P>0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine combine with ropivacaine ultrasound-guided TPVB can effectively control the stress response of patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer, maintain hemodynamic fluctuations, reduce immunosuppression, and improve micrometastasis, the dose of 0.5 μg/kg is the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the effects of frailty on anxiety and depression, immune function and cognitive function in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: 138 RA patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected, and patients were divided into frailty group and non-frailty group according to whether frailty occurred. The changes of anxiety and depression scores, immune function related indicators and cognitive function scores in frailty group and non-frailty group were compared. Results: Among 138 elderly RA patients, 91 had frailty, and 47 had no frailty. Patients were divided into frailty group (n=91) and non-frailty group (n=47) according to whether they were frail or not. The scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) in frailty group were higher than those in non-frailty group(P<0.05). CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in frailty group were lower than those in non-frailty group, and CD8+ was higher than that in non-frailty group (P<0.05). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score in frailty group were lower than those in non-frailty group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Frailty can increase the degree of anxiety and depression in elderly RA patients, and can also lead to a decline in immune function and cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress has been one of the most important factors in the dairy industry against global warming in recent years. The milk performance of dairy cows can be confined to long-term heat stress. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of spoiler fans cooling on milk performance and immune function in dairy cows. Two cowsheds were used with the same building structure and system. The spoiler fan were installed, while the control cowshed was uninstalled any fans. The lactation performance (including milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, milk protein rate, milk fat rate and lactose rate) and lymphocyte apoptosis rate were detected in different experimental periods; Meanwhile, blood biochemical parameters and their mRNA expression were also investigated, including four kinds of cytokines (Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-6 (IL-12), and Interleukin-12 (IL-12)), six kinds of apoptotic factors (BAK, Mcl-1, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and P53), and three kinds of immunoglobulins (Immunoglobulin A (Ig A), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Immunoglobulin M (IgM)). Besides, Spearman correlation analysis was carried out between milk performance or immune parameters and equivalent temperature index for cattle (ETIC). Approximately 200 Holstein lactating dairy cows were kept in each cowshed. The whole experiment period was 42 days from June to August, including four stages: initial (0 d), early (1-14 d), middle (15-28 d) and late stage (29-42 d). The results showed that: 1) The installed fans improved the cowshed environment, where the ETIC was reduced by 3.52 ℃ during the entire period, compared with the control cowshed. Cows in the control shed were in the moderate heat stress, while cows in the fan-installed shed were in the mild heat stress. Thus, the fans significantly alleviated the heat stress in cows. 2) Installation of fans improved the production performance of dairy cows exposure to heat stress. The milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, and milk fat increased in the fan-installed shed during the middle and late periods of experiments, compared with the control shed (P<0.05). Particularly, the 4% fat-corrected milk increased by 39.1% during the middle period and by 35.2% during the late period, respectively. The milk fat percentage in the fan-installed shed also showed an increase of 22.5% and 20.8%, respectively (P<0.05). 3) Installed fans improved the immune function of dairy cows under heat stress. Blood lymphocyte counts during the middle and late periods were greater in the fan-installed shed than those in the control group (P<0.05), and their early apoptosis rates of lymphocytes decreased (P<0.05). Moreover, there was a reduction in the mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic factor Bax in lymphocytes and its serum level (P<0.05) during the late period. An increase was found in the mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-xl in lymphocytes and its serum level was demonstrated (P<0.05) during the middle and late periods. Besides, the installed fans increased the serum levels of IL-12 and IgG (P<0.05). 4) The correlation analysis showed that the milk protein rate and the lymphocyte count demonstrated a negative correlation with ETIC (P<0.05), and the BAK mRNA expression in lymphocyte and serum IL-6 level exhibited a positive correlation with ETIC (P<0.05). In conclusion, the spoiler fans in the shed can be expected to effectively relieve the heat stress in cows in summer, thus promoting the thermal environment and blood biochemical indicators in cows for better production performance and immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Zhongguo Yufang Shouyi Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition) is the property of Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition) Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Heat-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum nF1 (HT-nF1) increases immune cell activation and the production of various immunomodulators (e.g., interleukin (IL)-12) as well as immunoglobulin (Ig) G, which plays an important role in humoral immunity, and IgA, which activates mucosal immunity. To determine the effect of HT-nF1 intake on improving immune function, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 100 subjects with normal white blood cell counts. The HT-nF1 group was administered capsules containing 5 × 1011 cells of HT-nF1 once a day for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of HT-nF1 intake, significant changes in IL-12 were observed in the HT-nF1 group (p = 0.045). In particular, the change in natural killer (NK) cell activity significantly increased in subjects with low secretory (s) IgA (≤49.61 μg/mL) and low NK activity (E:T = 10:1) (≤3.59%). These results suggest that HT-nF1 has no safety issues and improves the innate immune function by regulating T helper (Th)1-related immune factors. Therefore, we confirmed that HT-nF1 not only has a positive effect on regulating the body's immunity, but it is also a safe material for the human body, which confirms its potential as a functional health food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine is the property of Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fungal probiotics have the potential as feed additives, but less has been explored in ruminant feed up to date. This study aimed to determine the effect of compound probiotics (CPs) with Aspergillus oryzae 1, Aspergillus oryzae 2 and Candida utilis on Hu sheep’s growth performance, rumen fermentation and microbiota. A total of 120 male Hu sheep, aged 2 months and with the body weight of 16.95 ± 0.65 kg were divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of 5 replicates, with 6 sheep per replicate. Group A was the control group fed with the basal diet. Group B, C and D was supplemented with the basal diet by adding 400, 800 and 1,200 grams per ton (g/t) CPs, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 60 days after a 10-day adaptation period. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) of sheep in the CPs groups were significantly higher, the feed/gain were significantly lower than those in group A in the later stage and the overall period. The addition of CPs increased the economic benefit. The levels of CD4+ and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the CPs groups were higher than those in Group A. The levels of GSH, IgG, IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ in group C were significantly elevated compared with group A. Group B showed a significant increase in rumen NH3-N and cellulase activity. There was no difference in VFAs content between group A and group B, however, with the increasing addition of CPs, the butyric acid and isobutyric acid content tended to decrease. The rumen microbiota analysis indicated that the CPs addition increased the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria abundances, decreased the Bacteroidetes abundance. The correlation analysis showed that Prevotella was negatively correlated with ADG, and the addition of 400 CPs in group B reduced Prevotella’s relative abundance, indicating CPs increased sheep growth by decreasing Prevotella abundance. The CPs addition reduced caspase-3, NF-κB and TNF-α expression in liver, jejunum and rumen tissues. In conclusion, the addition of CPs increased the sheep production performance, reduced inflammation, improved rumen and intestinal health. Considering the above points and economic benefits, the optimal addition of CPs as an additive for Hu sheep is 800 g/t.

In this study, Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl polysaccharides (LSP) was prepared using the water-alcohol precipitation method to evaluate its effects on growth performance, slaughter performance, cytokines, immune organ indices, cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and microbial community structure in broiler chickens when added to the basal diet. Seventy-five broiler chickens were selected and randomly divided into five groups, with 15 chickens per group. All groups were fed a basal diet for 7 days. From 7 days of age, the control group continued to receive the basal diet, while the positive drug group was fed a diet supplemented with Astragalus polysaccharides (APS, 100 g/kg) in addition to the basal diet. The experimental groups were fed diets containing different concentrations of LSP (50, 100, and 200 g/kg) in addition to the basal diet, and the supplementation continued for 42 days. The findings indicated that the incorporation of LSP into the feed significantly enhanced average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed to gain ratio (F/G), dressing percentage, percentage of breast muscle, percentage of leg muscle, and percentage of abdominal fat while concurrently reducing drip loss rate and cooking loss rate (p

Yeast peptides, which are small-molecule active peptides extracted from yeast proteins, are known for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effects of yeast peptide on suckling calves remain unclear. In this study, the effects of yeast peptide supplementation on the growth, diarrhea incidence, and immune function of calves during the suckling period were determined. Thirty newborn calves were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (CON) and the treatment group (AP), which received fresh pasteurized milk supplemented with yeast peptides (5 g/day). The experiment lasted for 49 days (7–56 days of age). The dry matter intake, body weight, diarrhea status, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and anti-inflammatory activity of the calves were analyzed. The AP group had higher dry matter intake, daily weight gain, and feed efficiency than the CON group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the duration and frequency of diarrhea were significantly lower in the AP group than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the immune, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities of the AP group were significantly higher than those of the CON group (P < 0.05). These findings provide valuable insights for the improvement of early health management during calf rearing.

With trends towards low fishmeal and higher plant ingredient-based diets for shrimp, there is consequently greater demand on feed additives to bolster the protein and nutrient profile quality for achieving more efficiency. Also, there is a need to enhance innate immunity and resilience to infection under intensive shrimp production scenarios. This investigation tested incremental levels 0, 0.2; 0.4; 0.6 and 0.8 % of a commercial yeast cell wall extract mainly comprising β-glucan and mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) (YM, YeaMOS, Angel Yeast, Yichang, Hubei, China) for post-larval shrimp Penaeus vannamei in isonitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets with proteinaceous plant ingredients amounting to 50 % contribution of the diet formulation. After 60 d, growth and feed utilization performance were not significantly affected in shrimp in terms of weight gain or FCR, but due to much higher survival, total biomass in groups of shrimps fed with dietary YM was higher compared to the control treatment. A sequential specific pathogen challenge test with Vibrio parahaemolyticus at final dose of 104 CFU mL−1 resulted in a marked improvement in survival against the control group with much enhancement at the inclusion level of 0.4 % YM (p

Background and aims: Whole grain consumption is widely recognized as a vital component of a balanced diet. Dietary fiber has been well-documented to play a crucial role in these health benefits attributed to whole grain intake. However, population-based evidence directly linking whole grain consumption to anti-inflammatory effects, especially in the context of immune-mediated inflammation, remains limited. We hypothesized that whole grain consumption promotes health by modulating immune-mediated inflammation. Methods and results: This study was designed as a real-world, population-based randomized controlled trial. We compared the effects of whole grain versus refined grain consumption on immune-mediated inflammation through staple food substitution, while participants maintained their usual dietary practices. The results demonstrated that whole grain consumption significantly reduced circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-22 and IL-23 compared to refined grain consumption. These reductions were associated with optimized short-chain fatty acid profiles and changes in CD4+ T cell subset distributions. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of whole grain consumption in middle-aged and elderly populations are mediated by targeting specific CD4+ T cell subsets, in addition to modulating both upstream short-chain fatty acid composition and downstream expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-22 and IL-23.

Objective: This research utilized network pharmacology to investigate the potential of Fuzheng Qudu prescription (FZQDP) in treating lung cancer (LC). Methods: The components and their targets of FZQDP were analyzed for their relationship with LC-related targets using bioinformatics tools. Mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were cultured in vitro and treated with FZQDP or cisplatin (DDP) before applying the MTT assay to determine FZQDP concentrations, and the IC50 value. According to the IC50 value, the effect of FZQDP on apoptosis and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Mouse tumor growth was recorded using live animal imaging, and measurements of tumor and spleen weight were used to calculate the tumor inhibition rate and spleen index. The effects on mouse liver and kidneys were observed by analyzing levels of AST, ALT, BUN, and CRE in blood and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections. Additionally, levels of IL-2, IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-γ in serum, along with the frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen, were measured using Mouse multiple Cytokine Assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: SRC, STAT3, MAPK3, and MAPK1 could be crucial targets of FZQDP in the treatment of LC. FZQDP demonstrated inhibition of LC cell proliferation and tumor growth, as well as enhancement of apoptosis and induction of G2 phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, FZQDP led to elevated levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ, increased frequencies of CD4+ T cells and decreased levels of IL-6 and IL-10. Importantly, FZQDP did not exhibit any noticeable hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic effects in mice. Conclusion: FZQDP may target multiple signaling pathways to treat LC. In a LC mouse model, FZQDP was found to inhibit tumor growth and improve immune function.

This review comprehensively examines the impact of anesthesia and surgical interventions on the immune function of cancer patients postoperatively. Recent studies have shown that surgery and its accompanying anesthesia management can significantly influence immune function in cancer patients, potentially affecting their prognosis. This review synthesizes clinical studies and basic research to summarize the specific effects of anesthesia methods, drugs, postoperative analgesia, intraoperative transfusion, surgical techniques, and trauma extent on the immune function of cancer patients post-surgery. Additionally, this review discusses optimization strategies based on current research, aiming to refine anesthesia and surgical management to maximize the preservation and enhancement of postoperative immune function in cancer patients, with the potential to improve clinical outcomes.

Abstract (301 words): Introduction: The effects of low energy availability (LEA) on the immune system are poorly understood. This study examined the effects of 14 days of LEA on immune cell redox balance and inflammation at rest and in response to acute exercise, and exercise performance in female athletes. Methods: Twelve female endurance athletes (age: 26.8 ± 3.4 yrs, maximum oxygen uptake (V˙O2max): 55.2 ± 5.1 mL × min−1 × kg−1) were included in a randomized, single-blinded crossover study. They were allocated to begin with either 14 days of optimal energy availability diet (OEA, 52 ± 2 kcal × kg fat free mass (FFM)−1 × day−1) or LEA diet (22 ± 2 kcal × kg FFM−1 × day−1), followed by 3 days of refueling (OEA) with maintained training volume. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and plasma obtained at rest before and after each dietary period. The PBMCs were used for analysis of mitochondrial respiration and H2O2 emission and specific proteins. Exercise performance was assessed on cycle by a 20-min time trial and time to exhaustion at an intensity corresponding to ∼110 % V˙O2max). Results: LEA was associated with a 94 % (P = 0.003) increase in PBMC NADPH oxidase 2 protein content, and a 22 % (P = 0.013) increase in systemic cortisol. LEA also caused an alteration of several inflammatory related proteins (P

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDanggui Buxue decoction (DBD) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the combination of Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelica sinensis (AS) is a classic prescription of tonifying qi and enriching blood. DBD has the functions of hematopoietic, immune enhancement and inflammation inhibition, usually used to treat qi and blood deficiency symptoms.Aim of the studyCyclophosphamide (CY) can inhibit humoral and cellular immunity, leading to the overall immune disorder of the body, resulting in immunosuppressive (IS). Pre-laboratory studies confirmed the immunomodulatory effects of DBD, but its mechanisms have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, the main purpose was to determine the effects of DBD on the immune function and intestinal mucosal barrier function of IS mice induced by CY, and initially explored the immunomodulatory mechanism of DBD.Materials and methods100 g of AR and 20 g of AS were accurately weighed and 0.5 g/mL of the DBD was obtained by boiling, filtration and rotary evaporation. Then, mice in the DBD group were administered 5 g/kg of DBD by gavage, positive group were administered 40 mg/kg of levamisole hydrochloride, whereas those in the control and model groups were given the corresponding volume of normal saline by gavage for 1 week. At the end of the experiment, blood, spleen, thymus, ileum and cecum contents of all the experimental mice were collected aseptically. IS mouse model induced by intraperitoneal injection of 80 mg/kg CY for three consecutive days. Pathomorphology was used to observe the physical barrier of the intestine, flow cytometry to detect splenic lymphocytes, immunohistochemistry to determine the content of intestinal barrier-associated proteins, ELISA to measure the secretion of ileal SIgA, qRT-PCR to detect the mRNA expression of immune-related genes in the intestine, and high-throughput sequencing and analysis of cecum contents.ResultsDBD alleviated spleen tissue damage and restored impaired immune functions, such as increased thymus index and CD4+/CD8+ subsets of spleen lymphocytes. In addition, DBD could increase ileum villi length and the ratio of villi length to crypt depth (V/C), and decrease crypt depth. Moreover, DBD administration up-regulated the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, MUC-2 mRNA in ileum. And the secretions of sIgA and ZO-1 in ileum were also significantly improved. Furthermore, the administration of DBD can increase the diversity of gut microbiota, improve the composition of intestinal flora and increase the relative abundance of beneficial genus, such as Bacteroides.ConclusionDBD alleviated CY-induced immune damage by decreasing the ratio of spleen index to CD4+/CD8+ of T lymphocyte subsets. And the intestinal barrier function of mice was by improves improving the intestinal morphology of the ileum and up-regulating the expression levels of ZO-1, MUC-2 and SIgA. DBD regulates CY-induced gut microbiota dysregulation in mice by increasing species diversity and richness, regulating the phylum, class and order levels of Bacteroidetes.

The present study aimed on understanding the activities of herbal extracts, focusing on Corchorus olitorius L (Molokhia), known for its several biological effects. We found the immune enhancing effect of water extracts of C. olitorius L. (WEC) in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat. Namely, WEC increased the populations of neutrophils, and lymphocytes in the blood. In splenocytes, the activating markers of natural killer (NK) cell such as CD56, CD16, NKp46 and NKp30 were significantly upregulated. The protein expressions of CD69 (T-cell marker), CD56 (NK cell marker), and NKp30, and NKp46 (NK cell activator markers) are significantly upregulated on splenocytes. Additionally, the surface markers of M1 macrophages, such as CD80, CD11b/c+, and MHC-II were amplified with WEC treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, IL-18, IL-1β, and TNF-α), NOS2, NLRP3, MAPKs and NF-κB were significantly improved. These results demonstrated that WEC augments an immune activity and may represent a potential immunostimulant for an immunity of human.

ABSTRACT: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) can cause chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in chickens, which has a significant negative economic impact on the global poultry sector. Respiratory flora is the guardian of respiratory health, and its disorder is closely related to respiratory immunity and respiratory diseases. As a common probiotic in the chicken respiratory tract, Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) has potential antioxidant, growth performance enhancing, and anti-immunosuppressive properties. However, the specific mechanism through which L. salivarius protects against MG infection has not yet been thoroughly examined. This study intends to investigate whether L. salivarius could reduce MG-induced tracheal inflammation by modulating the respiratory microbiota and metabolites. The results indicated that L. salivarius reduced MG colonization significantly and alleviated the anomalous morphological changes by using the MG-infection model. L. salivarius also reduced the level of Th1 cell cytokines, increased the level of Th2 cell cytokines, and ameliorated immune imbalance during MG infection. In addition, L. salivarius improved the mucosal barrier, heightened immune function, and suppressed the Janus kinase/Signal transducer, and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. Notably, MG infection changed the composition of the respiratory microbiota and metabolites, and L. salivarius therapy partially reversed the aberrant respiratory microbiota and metabolite composition. Our results highlighted that these findings demonstrated that L. salivarius played a role in MG-mediated inflammatory damage and demonstrated that L. salivarius, by altering the respiratory microbiota and metabolites, could successfully prevent MG-induced inflammatory injury in chicken trachea.

Abstract Background Numerous previous reports have demonstrated the efficacy of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in promoting growth and preventing disease in animals. In this study, Enterococcus faecium ZJUIDS-R1 and Ligilactobaciiius animalis ZJUIDS-R2 were isolated from the feces of healthy rabbits, and both strains showed good probiotic properties in vitro. Two strains (108CFU/ml/kg/day) were fed to weaned rabbits for 21 days, after which specific bacterial infection was induced to investigate the effects of the strains on bacterial diarrhea in the rabbits. Results Our data showed that Enterococcus faecium ZJUIDS-R1 and Ligilactobaciiius animalis ZJUIDS-R2 interventions reduced the incidence of diarrhea and systemic inflammatory response, alleviated intestinal damage and increased antibody levels in animals. In addition, Enterococcus faecium ZJUIDS-R1 restored the flora abundance of Ruminococcaceae1. Ligilactobaciiius animalis ZJUIDS-R2 up-regulated the flora abundance of Adlercreutzia and Candidatus Saccharimonas. Both down-regulated the flora abundance of Shuttleworthia and Barnesiella to restore intestinal flora balance, thereby increasing intestinal short-chain fatty acid content. Conclusions These findings suggest that Enterococcus faecium ZJUIDS-R1 and Ligilactobaciiius animalis ZJUIDS-R2 were able to improve intestinal immunity, produce organic acids and regulate the balance of intestinal flora to enhance disease resistance and alleviate diarrhea-related diseases in weanling rabbits.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of thymosin α1 combined with XELOX in improving immune function and reducing serum tumor markers in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) after radical surgery. A total of 180 patients who underwent radical surgery for CRC were divided into two groups: an observation group (n = 94) receiving thymosin α1 in combination with XELOX and a control group (n = 86) receiving XELOX alone. Immune function, inflammatory factor levels, serum tumor markers, and quality of life were assessed before and after treatment. Adverse reactions and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups in 1 and 3 years. Following therapy, there was a notable increase in the levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ in all cohorts, particularly in the observation cohort, when compared to pre-therapy levels. Conversely, CD8+ levels decreased across all cohorts, especially in the observation cohort. Additionally, there was an increase in the levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the observation cohort, compared to both pre-therapy and control cohort levels, while IL-6 levels decreased. The presence of CEA, CA242, and CA724 reduced significantly across all cohorts following post-therapy, particularly in the observation cohort. Post-therapy, there was a significant increase in the scoring for role, cognitive, social, emotional, and somatic functions in all cohorts, with the most significant improvement observed in the observation cohort. There were no significant differences in the incidence of side effects across cohorts, while neutropenia events were significantly lower in the observation cohort (32.98%) compared to the control cohort (48.84%). The 12-month recurrence rate showed no statistical significance across cohorts, while the observation cohort had a significantly lower three-year recurrence rate (24.47%) compared to the control cohort (59.30%). Thymosin α1 combined with XELOX is effective in improving immune function, reducing serum tumor markers, and minimizing recurrence in CRC patients after radical surgery. This combination therapy may be a promising new direction for the treatment of CRC.

This study explored the developmental changes in small intestinal barrier function and the potential regulatory roles of intestinal microbiota and metabolites in different breeds of piglets during suckling and weaning periods. Taoyuan black (TB), Xiangcun black (XB), and Duroc (DR) piglets (10 litters per breed; half male and half female) were selected for sampling to evaluate the intestinal barrier-related indexes and intestinal microbiota and metabolites at 1, 10, 21 (weaned), and 24 (3 d after weaning) d old. The results showed that weaning led to severe shedding of small intestinal microvilli and sparse microvilli arrangement. D-lactate level in the ileum of TB and XB piglets during suckling and weaning periods was lower (P

Objective: To observe the effects of qidong yixin oral liquid combined with trimetazidine hydrochloride tablets on myocardial injury indexes, immune function and oxidative stress in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. Methods: 118 patients with angina pectoris of coronary heart disease admitted to our hospital from December 2020 to December 2022 were divided into control group (59 cases, treated with trimetazidine hydrochloride tablets) and study group (59 cases, treated with qidong yixin oral liquid combined with trimetazidine hydrochloride tablets) according to the random number table method. The cardiac function indexes, myocardial injury indexes, immune function indexes and oxidative stress indexes in two groups were compared. Results: The malondialdehyde (MDA), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), cardiac troponin (cTnI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), CD8+ were lower in study group 4 weeks after treatment, the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd) were smaller, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ were higher (P<0.05). Conclusion: Qidong Yixin oral liquid combined with trimetazidine hydrochloride tablets can effectively improve cardiac function, myocardial injury, immune function and oxidative stress indexes in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of xindili monoclonal antibody injection combined with S-1 and oxaliplatin (SOX) regimen as neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer. Methods: According to the random number table method, 98 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer received in Xuzhou Cancer Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023 were divided into control group (49 cases treated with SOX regimen) and study group (49 cases treated with xindili monoclonal antibody injection on the basis of control group). The efficacy [objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR)], serum tumor marker levels, T lymphocyte subsets and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups. Results: In study group, the ORR and DCR were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, CEA, CA724, CA125 and CD8+ in study group were lower than those in control group, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ were higher than those in control group(P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was 32.65% higher than that in the control group, which was 28.57%, but there was no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Xindili monoclonal antibody injection combined with SOX regimen neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer, which can effectively prevent disease progression, reduce serum tumor marker levels, improve immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a pivotal component of the body’s stress response, yet its dynamics under repeated acute stress and its interplay with immune biomarkers remain inadequately understood. Methods: This study examined 80 second-year military medical students undergoing a 5-day intensive surgical simulation designed to elicit stress responses. Salivary samples were collected daily upon waking and 30 min thereafter to measure cortisol and a panel of cytokines using bead-based multiplex ELISA. Results: Analysis revealed a significant blunting of the CAR on the third day of training (p = 0.00006), followed by a recovery on the fourth day (p = 0.0005). Concurrently, specific cytokines such as CXCL1 (r = 0.2, p = 0.0005), IL-6 (r = 0.13, p = 0.02), IL-10 (r = 0.14, p = 0.02), and VEGF-A (r = 0.17, p = 0.003) displayed patterns correlating with the CAR, with increased strength of associations observed when assessing cytokine levels against the CAR of the preceding day (CXCL1 r = 0.41, p = 0.0002. IL-6 r = 0.38, p = 0.0006. IL-10 r = 0.3, p = 0.008. VEGF-A r = 0.41, p = 0.0002). Conclusions: These results suggest a temporal relationship between stress-induced cortisol dynamics and immune regulation. The CAR pattern demonstrated in this study may represent induction of and recovery from psychological burnout. Moreover, the observed cytokine associations provide insight into the mechanisms by which stress can influence immune function. The results may have broader implications for managing stress in high-performance environments, such as military and medical professions, and for identifying individuals at risk of stress-related immune suppression.