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Abstract In this article, we present a new path planning algorithm based on the rapidly exploring random tree-fixed node (RRT*FN) algorithm for manipulators. It addresses the problem that RRT*FN complex environment processing is not fast enough to meet real-time requirements, and RRT*FN is basically impossible to search for an effective manipulator path in a narrow-channel environment. In the new path planning algorithm, a heuristic sampling method is adopted and the leaf nodes outside the ellipsoids are preferentially deleted to address the node removal problem, resulting in better search paths and faster search speeds. When the nodes are expanded, new nodes are generated due to goal gravity and random point gravity, with the weight values dynamically adjusted via dichotomy, and the new nodes are expanded to the goal point twice to more rapidly obtain a tree extension direction that is closer to the goal point. For boundary points, the issues of narrow channels and stepped obstacles can be effectively solved by extending the local environment sampling boundaries. To optimize the paths, the redundant intermediate nodes are simplified based on the triangle inequality. Simulation analyses show that the proposed planner can adapt to a variety of scenarios in real time while satisfying optimal path conditions.

This study aims to explore the antioxidant, immune, and enzyme metabolism aspects in goats experiencing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Furthermore, we seek to elucidate the relationship between the symbiotic microbiota of goats and their metabolic function. Sixteen goats were equally divided into two groups and fed a normal-concentrate diet (NC, 55% concentrate) or a high-concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate) for five weeks. We found that the HC diet reduced the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.022) and increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (p = 0.015), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (p = 0.008) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p = 0.002) concentration of goats. Simultaneously, the HC diet significantly increased the concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and amylase (AMY) in the blood and rumen fluid of goats (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis in the rumen of goats revealed that the HC diet decreased bacterial richness and diversity, as evidenced by the changed observed species, Chao 1, PD whole tree and Shannon when compared to the NC diet (p < 0.01). The proportion of Proteobacteria increased while that of Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres significantly decreased with the HC diet (p < 0.05). The Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 in rumen was notably decreased when a diet was switched from 55% concentrate diet to 90% concentrate diet (p < 0.05). Additionally, microbial functional potentials deduced that the HC diet significantly increased the abundance of the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) (ko00020) associated with carbohydrate metabolism (p = 0.028). Furthermore, the HC diet significantly increased the glutathione metabolism (ko00480) associated with the metabolism of other amino acids (p = 0.008). Our findings suggested that SARA reduced the total antioxidant capacity and increased levels of inflammatory factors in goats, as well as decreased rumen bacterial species and abundance.

BackgroundThere was some evidence that gut microbiota was closely related to cholelithiasis, but the causal relationship between them remained unclear. In this study, we try to use Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to clarify the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and cholelithiasis.MethodsSummary Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) statistical data for gut microbiota was obtained from MiBioGen, and the data of cholelithiasis was obtained from UK Biobank (UKB). Two-sample MR analyses were performed to assess causalities between gut microbiota and cholelithiasis mainly using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method. Sensitivity analyses were used to determine the robustness of the MR results. Reverse MR analyses were performed to examine the reverse causal association.ResultsOur research results, based primarily on the IVW method, support the existence of a causal relationship between nine gut microbial taxa and cholelithiasis. We observed a positive association between Genus Butyrivibrio (p=0.032), Genus Lachnospiraceae_UCG_001 (p=0.015), Genus Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group (p=0.003), Genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG_011 (p=0.010) and cholelithiasis, while Order Rhodospirillales (p=0.031), Genus Actinomyces (p=0.010), Genus Phascolarctobacterium (p=0.036), Genus Rikenellaceae_RC9_gutgroup (p=0.023), Genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG_013 (p=0.022) may be associated with a reduced risk of cholelithiasis. We did not find a reverse causal relationship between cholelithiasis and 9 specific gut microbial taxa.ConclusionsThis is the first mendelian randomization study to explore the causalities between specific gut microbiota taxa and cholelithiasis, which may provide new ideas and a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of cholelithiasis in the future.

Abstract Scarce high-quality protein feed resources has limited the development of animal husbandry. In this study, we used a dual-flow continuous culture system to evaluate effects of difference dietary protein sources including soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CSM), and rapeseed meal (RSM), on nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation, and microbiota of XiongDong black goats. Dietary proteins of either CSM, RSM or SBM had no effect on nutrient disappearance (P > 0.05). CSM or RSM significantly reduced (P 0.10). Although the bacterial community changed with different dietary protein sources, the disappearances of nutrients were not affected, suggesting that CSM and RSM could be used by rumen bacteria, as in case with SBM, and are suitable protein sources for ruminant diets.

BackgroundThe relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and thyroid diseases is still controversial. Due to confounders and reverse causation, previous studies were not convincing. We aimed to investigate the relationship between SLE and hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsWe performed a two-step analysis using bidirectional two-sample univariable and multivariable MR (MVMR) to explore the causality of SLE and hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism in three genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets, including 402,195 samples and 39,831,813 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In the first step analysis, with SLE as exposure and thyroid diseases as outcomes, 38 and 37 independent SNPs strongly (P < 5*10-8) associated with SLE on hyperthyroidism or SLE on hypothyroidism were extracted as valid instrumental variables (IVs). In the second step analysis, with thyroid diseases as exposures and SLE as outcome, 5 and 37 independent SNPs strongly associated with hyperthyroidism on SLE or hypothyroidism on SLE were extracted as valid IVs. In addition, MVMR analysis was performed in the second step analysis to eliminate the interference of SNPs that were strongly associated with both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. 2 and 35 valid IVs for hyperthyroidism on SLE and hypothyroidism on SLE were obtained in MVMR analysis. MR results of two steps analysis were estimated respectively by multiplicative random effects-inverse variance weighted (MRE-IVW), simple mode (SM), weighted median (WME) and MR-Egger regression methods. Sensitivity analysis and visualization of MR results were performed by heterogeneity test, pleiotropy test, leave-one-out test, scatter plots, forest plots and funnel plots.ResultsThe MRE-IVW method in the first step of MR analysis revealed that SLE was causally associated with hypothyroidism (OR = 1.049, 95% CI = 1.020-1.079, P < 0.001), but not causally associated with hyperthyroidism (OR = 1.045, 95% CI = 0.987-1.107, P = 0.130). In the inverse MR analysis, the MRE-IVW method revealed that both hyperthyroidism (OR = 1.920, 95% CI = 1.310-2.814, P < 0.001) and hypothyroidism (OR = 1.630, 95% CI = 1.125-2.362, P = 0.010) were causally associated with SLE. Results from other MR methods were consistent with MRE-IVW. However, when MVMR analysis was performed, there was no longer a causal relationship of hyperthyroidism on SLE (OR = 1.395, 95% CI = 0.984-1.978, P = 0.061), nor was there a causal relationship of hypothyroidism on SLE (OR = 1.290, 95% CI = 0.823-2.022, P = 0.266). The stability and reliability of the results were confirmed by sensitivity analysis and visualization.ConclusionsOur univariable and multivariable MR analysis revealed that systemic lupus erythematosus was causally associated with hypothyroidism, but did not provided evidence to support a causal relationship of hypothyroidism on SLE or between SLE and hyperthyroidism.

IntroductionThe risk of alcoholic cirrhosis increases in a dose- and time-dependent manner with alcohol consumption and ethanol metabolism in the liver. Currently, no effective antifibrotic therapies are available. We aimed to obtain a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. MethodsWe performed single-cell RNA-sequencing to analyze immune cells from the liver tissue and peripheral blood form patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and healthy controls to profile the transcriptomes of more than 100,000 single human cells and yield molecular definitions for non-parenchymal cell types. In addition, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis to reveal the immune microenvironment related to alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Hematoxylin and eosin, Immunofluorescence staining and Flow cytometric analysis were employed to study the difference between tissues and cells with or without alcoholic cirrhosis.ResultsWe identified a fibrosis-associated M1 subpopulation of macrophages that expands in liver fibrosis, differentiates from circulating monocytes, and is pro-fibrogenic. We also define mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells that expand in alcoholic cirrhosis and are topographically restricted to the fibrotic niche. Multilineage modeling of ligand and receptor interactions between the fibrosis-associated macrophages, MAIT, and NK cells revealed the intra-fibrotic activity of several pro-fibrogenic pathways, including responses to cytokines and antigen processing and presentation, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, cell adhesion molecules, Th1/Th2/Th17 cell differentiation, IL-17 signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.DiscussionOur work dissects unanticipated aspects of the cellular and molecular basis of human organ alcoholic fibrosis at the single-cell level and provides a conceptual framework for the discovery of rational therapeutic targets in liver alcoholic cirrhosis.

The biological mechanism by which maternal undernutrition increases the metabolic disorder risk of skeletal muscles in offspring is not fully understood. We hypothesize that maternal intake restriction influences metabolic signals in the skeletal muscles of offspring via a glucagon-mediated pathway. Twenty-four pregnant goats were assigned to the control group (100% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) and restricted group (60% of the control feed allowance from pregnant days 45 to 100, n = 12). Blood and Longissimus thoracis muscle were sampled from dams (100 d of gestation), fetuses (100 d of gestation), and kids (90 d after birth) in each group. The data were analyzed using the linear MIXED model, with the multiple comparison method of SIDAK applied. Intake restriction reduced (P

BackgroundPrevious studies reported controversial results on the relationship between cholecystectomy (CHE) and colorectal cancer (CRC). We hypothesized that gallbladder disease (GBD), instead of cholecystectomy, increased the risk of CRC. We aimed to investigate the incidence of benign gallbladder disease (BGBD) and CHE in CRC patients and local adults undergoing annual health examination by analyzing large data from a tertiary hospital in southwest China.MethodsA propensity score matching (PSM) analyzed, retrospective study from January 1, 2013, to August 31, 2020, including 7,471 pathologically confirmed CRC patients and 860,160 local annual health examination adults in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, was conducted. The prevalence of BGBD and the CHE rate were analyzed before and after a 1:1 PSM.ResultsOf the 7,471 CRC patients, 7,160 were eligible for the case group. In addition, 860,160 local health examination adults were included for comparison. The incidence of BGBD was higher in the CRC patients than in the local adults (19.2% vs. 11.3%, P < 0.001), but no significant difference in CHE rate existed between the case group and the control group (5.0% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.340). In the subgroup analysis, patients with BGBD had a higher risk of colon cancer than rectal cancer (20.4% vs. 18.2%, P = 0.024) and more significantly in the right colon (P = 0.037). A weakly positive correlation between CHE and right colon cancer was observed before PSM but no longer existed after PSM (P = 0.168).ConclusionsBenign gallbladder disease was positively correlated with colorectal cancer, especially right colon cancer. Cholecystectomy did not increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of nano-selenium (nano-Se) in protecting laying hens from mercury (Hg)-induced prehierarchical follicular atresia. Furthermore, the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) was explored to reveal the molecular mechanism. In vivo, 720 Hyline-Brown laying hens were treated with Hg and nano-Se alone or in combination. In vitro, the prehierarchical follicles were treated with Hg, nano-Se and 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA) alone or in combination (Control, 25 μM Hg group, 10 μM nano-Se group, 20 μM nano-Se group, 25 μM Hg + 10 μM nano-Se group, 25 μM Hg + 20 μM nano-Se group, 25 μM Hg + 4-PBA group, and 25 μM Hg + 20 μM nano-Se + 4-PBA group). The GCs were treated with Hg and nano-Se alone or in combination (Control, 15 μM Hg group, 6 μM nano-Se group, 12 μM nano-Se group, 15 μM Hg + 6 μM nano-Se group, 15 μM Hg + 12 μM nano-Se group). The results revealed that dietary Hg significantly reduced laying performance (P < 0.05) and egg quality (P < 0.05), whereas nano-Se addition prevented these reductions (P < 0.05). Hg exposure significantly induced the accumulation of Hg in PHFs (P < 0.05), prehierarchical follicular atresia (P < 0.05) and apoptosis in PHFs, whereas nano-Se addition significantly prevented these effects (P < 0.05). The levels of sex hormones (P < 0.05) were significantly decreased after Hg exposure in vivo and in vitro, while nano-Se addition prevented the reductions. Furthermore, the RNA-Seq results showed that the key factors of the ERS presented differential expression, including C/EBP homologous protein, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) in GCs. Hg exposure significantly increased the key gene expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress in GCs, whereas nano-Se addition prevented the induction of expression of these genes. In addition, the protein levels of PERK, inositol requiring protein 1α (IRE1α) and ATF6 were significantly increased, whereas nano-Se addition prevented the enhancements of protein expression in GCs. In conclusion, this study shows that Hg exposure can reduce induce prehierarchical follicular atresia, whereas nano-Se can prevent these effects. Our results also elucidate a key role of ERS in these protective effects of nano-Se in laying hens.

This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of mycotoxin adsorbent galactomannan oligosaccharides (GMOS) on growth performance, fermentation parameters, mycotoxins residues, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress parameters of the goats. The in vitro test indicated that 0.05% GMOS outperformed yeast cell wall (YCW) and montmorillonite (MMT) in aflatoxins absorption. Then 20 3-month-old Xiangdong black goats (15.0 ± 1.9 kg) were randomly divided into two dietary treatments for the animal test. The control group (CON group) was fed a multi-mycotoxins contaminated diet, whereas the experimental group (GMOS group) received multi-mycotoxins contaminated diet plus 0.05% GMOS. The trail lasted for 60 days, with 12 days of adaptation period and 48 days of formal experiment period. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.10) on growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The concentrations of zearalenone in the rumen were lower (P < 0.05) in the GMOS group. GMOS significantly reduced (P < 0.05) propionate concentration in the cecum, resulting in a rise (P < 0.01) in acetate/propionate ratio in GMOS as compared to CON. Goats of GMOS exhibited considerably greater (P < 0.05) levels of creatine kinase but lower (P = 0.02) levels of creatinine than CON. Compared with CON, GMOS supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) platelet count (PLT), platelet volume distribution width (PDW), and platelet hematocrit (PCT), while decreased (P < 0.05) albumin content (ALB). The 0.05% GMOS protected goats in ruminal fermentation parameters, mycotoxins residues and serum biochemistry. Moreover, GMOS had no adverse effect on goat health. To our knowledge, this is the first report of GMOS in small ruminants. These findings suggested the feasibility of dietary GMOS as a health-maintaining addictive in goat diets.

Here, the effects of non-protein nitrogen sources on fermentation parameters and microbial diversity were explored using three fistula goats as rumen fluid donors. The experiments involved six fermenters in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with three dietary non-protein sources [ammonium chloride (A), biuret (B), and glutamine (G)] as treatment factors. A dual-flow continuous culture fermentation system was used. Microbial protein content in group B was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). Ammonia nitrogen concentration significantly differed among the three groups (P < 0.01), following the order of G > A > B group. The acetate-to-propionate ratio in group G was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01). At the phylum level, the relative abundances of Cyanobacteria, Elusimicrobia, and Armatimonadetes were the highest in group G, being significantly higher than those in group B (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus_1 was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). Overall, glutamine shifted the fermentation pathway from acetate to propionate, and the lower microbial crude protein content and relative abundances of the major fiber-degrading bacteria Ruminococcus_1 and protein-degrading bacteria Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 in group B indicate that biuret is not suitable as a dietary non-protein nitrogen source.

The proliferation of 3D sensors, due to the increased demand for 3D data, induced the 3D computer vision research in the last decade, and 3D data processing has gained a lot of interest. As in many other applications in computer vision, deep learning-based methods were quickly applied to 3D data classification and have become the state-of-the-art in this area. More recently, capsule networks, which are novel neural structures, have been introduced to enhance the ability of neural networks to better capture the parts-relationship, which yields more accurate classification with less training data. Moreover, deploying deep machine learning models on mobile platforms requires the models to be optimized due to limited memory and computational constraints. In this work, we propose methods to boost the accuracies of a standard 3D CNN-based and a Capsule Network-based classifier, help the training to better generalize the data distribution with limited data, and optimize the models for resource-constrained environments, such as mobile platforms. We also show that the introduction of capsules to 3D object classification pipeline improves the classification performance with limited training data, while a specifically optimized weight pruning method keeps the model compact enough for mobile deployment. Our broad spectrum of experiments show that proposed methods improve the performance of the base model while significantly reducing the memory and computation requirements.

At present, feeding a high-corn diet to goats is used to provide enough protein and energy supply to meet their higher dietary requirements. In fact, because corn grain is commonly scarce in the traditional rice cropping region of southern Asia, paddy is thereby used as an alternative feed applied in goat diets. However, the effects of the high paddy proportion on the microbiota and metabolites of the intestine are unclear. Here, we investigate the effects of high paddy proportion on bacterial community, potential function, and metabolic reaction in the cecum of goats. Sixteen Liuyang black goats were divided into two groups fed either a normal-paddy (NP) diet (55% concentrate) or a high-paddy (HP) diet (90% concentrate) for 5 weeks. Total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration was higher in the hindgut chyme of the HP-fed goats than in that of the NP-fed goats (p = 0.001). The acetic proportion was significantly decreased and the propionic proportion was increased in the HP group (p < 0.05). The HP diet decreased the value of pH, lactic acid concentration, and lactate dehydrogenase activity but increased the activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and amylase, together with lipopolysaccharide concentration in the hindgut chyme of goats (p < 0.05). The abundance rates of the Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group was increased (p = 0.050), whereas the abundance of Prevotellaceae_UCG_004, dgA-11_gut_group, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, and Desulfovibrio were significantly decreased with the HP diet (p < 0.05). These results suggested that the HP diet altered the microbiota and metabolites, which negatively modified intestinal epithelial health in goats.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high rice grain diet on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance, nitrogen digestion, blood parameters and rumen fermentation in goats. Sixteen growing goats were divided into 2 groups and fed a normalconcentrate diet (NC, 55% concentrate of dry matter; n=8) or a high concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate of dry matter; n=8) for 5 wk. Growth performance, nutrients digestibility, nitrogen digestion, blood parameters and ruminal fermentation were measured. Total weight gain and average daily gain increased in the HC group (P

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is a large and elevated plateau (mean elevation 4500 m) in northwestern China, where with a harsh environment for animal survival. Tibetan sheep is an important dominant livestock that inhabit this harsh environment. The objective of this trial was to preliminarily explore and compare the effects of indigenous barley straw (BS) and artificial cultivated oat hay (OH) on growth performance, visceral organ mass and meat quality of Tibetan sheep. Twenty-four Tibetan sheep with initial weights of 15.9±1.92 kg were randomly assigned to two mixed diets containing the same concentrate mixed with BS or OH, and the experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design. The weight of lungs and thymus for OH was greater (P≤0.05) than that of BS, while the weight of other viscera (heart, liver, kidney, epinephros and spleen) had no significant difference (P>0.05) between the two. The weight of the rumen, reticulum and abomasum for OH was 10.31%, 31.22% and 33.44% (P≤0.01) higher than that of BS. The length of the colon in sheep fed OH diet was longer (P≤0.01) than the sheep fed BS diet. The content of Histidine in longissimus dorsi muscle of OH was greater (P≤0.05) than that of BS, while there were no significant (P>0.05) differences between the two for the other individual amino acids (AA), umami AA, essential AA and total AA. It is concluded that the two types of roughage did not affect the growth and slaughter performance, meat quality, but OH is beneficial for the gastrointestinal development for Tibetan sheep.

Abstract Background Maternal undernutrition programs fetal energy homeostasis and increases the risk of metabolic disorders later in life. This study aimed to identify the signs of hepatic metabolic programming in utero and during the juvenile phase after intrauterine undernutrition during midgestation. Methods Fifty-three pregnant goats were assigned to the control (100% of the maintenance requirement) or restricted (60% of the maintenance requirement from day 45 to day 100 of midgestation and realimentation thereafter) group to compare hepatic energy metabolism in the fetuses (day 100 of gestation) and kids (postnatal day 90). Results Undernutrition increased the glucagon concentration and hepatic hexokinase activity, decreased the body weight, liver weight and hepatic expression of G6PC, G6PD, and PGC1α mRNAs, and tended to decrease the hepatic glycogen content and ACOX1 mRNA level in the dams. Maternal undernutrition decreased the growth hormone (GH) and triglyceride concentrations, tended to decrease the body weight and hepatic hexokinase activity, increased the hepatic PCK1, PCK2 and PRKAA2 mRNAs levels and glucose-6-phosphatase activity, and tended to increase the hepatic PRKAB1 and CPT1α mRNAs levels in the male fetuses. In the restricted female fetuses, the hepatic hexokinase activity and G6PC mRNA level tended to be increased, but PKB1 mRNA expression was decreased and the ACACA, CPT1α, NR1H3 and STK11 mRNA levels tended to be decreased. Maternal undernutrition changed the hepatic metabolic profile and affected the metabolic pathway involved in amino acid, glycerophospholipid, bile acid, purine, and saccharide metabolism in the fetuses, but not the kids. Additionally, maternal undernutrition increased the concentrations of GH and cortisol, elevated the hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and tended to decrease the hepatic glycogen content in the male kids. No alterations in these variables were observed in the female kids. Conclusions Maternal undernutrition affects the metabolic status in a sex- and stage-specific manner by changing the metabolic profile, expression of genes involved in glucose homeostasis and enzyme activities in the liver of the fetuses. The changes in the hormone levels in the male fetuses and kids, but not the female offspring, represent a potential sign of metabolic programming.

Summary: Background and objectives: Delayed hepatectomy is the preferred approach for spontaneous rupture of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, delayed surgery for ruptured HCC may increase the risk of peritoneal metastasis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the pooled data obtained from 44 HCC patients with spontaneously ruptured hemorrhage, These patients were divided into emergency group and delayed group. Perioperative events, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates, and the incidence of recurrent and metastatic disease were compared between these two groups. Results: Median survival time was 17.0 months in the emergency group vs. 28.0 months in the delayed group. In the emergency group, the 6-month, 1-year and 3-year OS rates were 58.8%, 57.6% and 11.5%. In the delayed hepatectomy group, the 6-month, 1-year and 3-year OS rates of were 84.3%, 77.5% and 37.8%. The incidence of peritoneal metastasis was higher in delayed group than in the emergency group, but the difference was not statistically significant (40.7% vs. 35.3%, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Delayed hepatectomy warrants better short-term prognosis, compared with emergency hepatectomy, for HCC patients with spontaneously ruptured hemorrhage. Delayed hepatectomy does not increase the possibility of postoperative peritoneal metastasis. Keywords: Peritoneal metastasis, Delayed hepatectomy, Emergency hepatectomy, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Spontaneous rupture

Background. It was reported that systemic immune inflammation index (SII) was related to poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. We aimed to investigate the ability of the prognostic predictors of SII in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) undergoing liver transplantation (LT). Methods. The 28 iCCA patients who underwent LT at our hospital between 2013 and 2018 were reviewed. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of SII. Patients were divided into the high and low SII groups according to the cut-off value. Results. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were significantly lower in the high SII group (85.7%, 28.6%, and 21.4%, respectively) than in the low SII group (92.9%, 71.4%, and 57.2%, respectively; P=0.009). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were, respectively, 57.1%, 32.7%, and 21.8% in the high SII group and 85.7%, 61.1%, and 61.1% in the low SII group (P=0.021). SII≥447.48×109/L (HR 0.273, 95% CI 0.082–0.908; P=0.034) was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusions. Our results showed that SII can be used to predict the survival of patients with iCCA who undergo LT.

Introduction: The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) model is superior to the Milan criteria in predicting the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation in European and Latin American populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of the AFP model in Chinese hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related cirrhosis HCC patients.Methods: A total of 189 patients with HBV-related cirrhotic HCC were included. The recurrence rate and survival rate were estimated, and predictability was assessed by the Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI) method.Results: Of the 189 patients, patients with an AFP score >2 had a higher recurrence rate at 5 years (48.94 vs. 13.53%, p < 0.05) and lower survival rate (43.96 vs. 68.97%, p < 0.05). Considering patients within the Milan criteria, a higher 5-year recurrence rate and lower survival rate were observed in patients with an AFP model score >2 points compared to patients with a score of ≤ 2 points (recurrence rate: 58.75 vs. 12.98%, p < 0.05; survival rate: 28.57 vs. 67.41%, p = 0.047). NRI analysis showed that the AFP model exhibited superior predictability as compared to the Milan criteria.Conclusions: The AFP model may be used as a selection tool for Chinese HBV patients who require liver transplantation due to HCC.

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of different sources and supplementation levels of yeast culture on in vitro fermentation characteristics of goats. The present study was performed in a 3×4 factorial design to examine the impacts of inclusion of three kinds of yeast culture (Se-enriched, Cr-enriched, Zn-enriched yeast culture) at four dose (0, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.40% and 0.55%) on the in vitro fermentation characteristics of cereal straw. For maize stover, the results shown that the average values of in vitro gas production, DM and NDF disappearance, pH and the ratio of acetate to propionate were increased (P

The study was carried out to investigate the impact of Bacillus Coagulans supplementation with different concenteration (0, 0.25×107, 0.50×107, and 0.75×107 cfu/mL) on in vitro parameters as methane (CH4) parameters, nutrients digestibility and the fermentation character of rumen of fibrous agriculture by-products (maize stover and rice straw) using probiotics preparations in ruminants. The results showed that, maximum gas production (Vf), gas production fraction (k) and the time when half of the maximum gas production was achieved (t0.5) of maize stover were significantly increased when compared to group of the rice straw. Additionally, in vitro dry matter disappearance; (IVDMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber disappearance (IVNDFD), individual volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and total VFA (TVFA) of maize stover were significantly in related to the rice straw group. Also, the gas production rate at the early incubation stage (FRD0), pH value of rumine and the acetate: propionate ratio of maize stover is significantly lower than the rice straw. Vf of rice straw was quadratic (P

We explored and compared the effects of four doses (0, 0.25 × 107, 0.50 × 107, and 0.75 × 107 cfu/mL) of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation on ruminal fermentation characteristics of maize stover and rice straw. The maximum gas production (Vf) for maize stover and the rate of gas production during early incubation (FRD0) for rice straw were quadratic (p .05) difference in CH4 production, ruminal pH value or A:P between the two substrates. The results indicate that L. acidophilus increase in vitro gas production and ruminal NH3-N concentration when using either fermentation substrate, with the greatest increase observed at a dosage of 0.75 × 107 cfu/mL. Additionally, maize stover is superior to rice straw as a fermentation substrate or forage for ruminants. The present positive in vitro results should be tested using in vivo experiments in future.

Effects of a high proportion of concentrate in the diet on the ileal microbiota and metabolites in small ruminants are rarely reported. This study was designed to investigate the ileal microbiota and its relationship with host metabolic function in goats and aimed to elucidate the mechanisms involving in the ileal adaptation to a diet containing a high proportion of rice. Sixteen goats were equally divided into two groups and fed a diet with a normal concentrate proportion (NC, 55% concentrate) or a high-concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate). Results showed that the HC diet decreased bacterial diversity and elevated the abundance of five genera (Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Eubacterium_nodatum_group, Ruminococcus_gauvreauii_group, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group and Ruminococcus 1), but reduced the number of Anaerotruncus. Microbial functional potentials indicated that the HC diet activated the pathways related to metabolism of carbohydrate, glycan, lipid and vitamins, but inhibited the pathways associated with cell motility and signal transduction. The activities of amylase and alkaline phosphatase were greater (p < 0.05) in the intestinal digesta of the HC-fed goats. However, there were no differences in the villus height, crypt depth and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum between the two groups. These results indicate that the HC diet alters the bacterial community and pathways related to the metabolism of dietary nutrients and cell motility and signal transduction of bacteria in the ileum of goats.

Changes in the environment such as high-altitude hypoxia (HAH) high-altitude hypoxia can lead to adaptive changes in the blood system of mammals. However, there is limited information about the adaptation of Holstein dairy cows introduced to high-altitude areas. This study used 12 multiparous Holstein dairy cows (600 ± 55 kg, average three years old) exposed to HAH conditions in Nyingchi of Tibet (altitude 3000 m) and HAH-free conditions in Shenyang (altitude 50 m). The miRNA microarray analysis and iTRAQ proteomics approach (accepted as more suitable for accurate and comprehensive prediction of miRNA targets) were applied to explore the differences in the plasma proteomic and miRNA profiles in Holstein dairy cows. A total of 70 differential miRNAs (54 up-regulated, Fold change (FC) FC > 2, and 16 down-regulated, FC < 0.5) and 226 differential proteins (132 up-regulated, FC > 1.2, and 94 down-regulated, FC < 0.8) were found in the HAH-stressed group compared with the HAH-free group. Integrative analysis of proteomic and miRNA profiles demonstrated the biological processes associated with differential proteins were the immune response, complement activation, protein activation, and lipid transport. The integrative analysis of canonical pathways were most prominently associated with the APR signaling (z = 1.604), and LXR/RXR activation (z = 0.365), and FXR/RXR activation (z = 0.446) pathways. The current results indicated that Holstein dairy cows exposed to HAH could adapt to high-altitude hypoxia by up-regulating the APR, activating the LXR/RXR and FXE/RXR pathways.

Nutritional status during mid-gestation is often ignored under extensive husbandry. This study aimed to examine the effect of maternal undernutrition during mid-gestation on kid meat production under an extensive system. Twenty-seven goats (45 ± 3 d of gestation) were randomly assigned to an unrestricted group (100% of nutrient requirements), or a restricted group (60% of nutrient requirements from 45 to 100 d of gestation, and then re-alimented to 100%). Among the offspring, 16 eligible kids (eight per treatment) were selected, based on birth type and survival, and were harvested to evaluate the meat yield, quality, and composition at 90 d after birth. Maternal undernutrition reduced the body weight and size, average daily gain and hot carcass weight of the kids (p < 0.05). The lightness of the meat at 45 min postmortem was increased (p = 0.029) in the restricted kids. Apart from an increase in tyrosine concentration (p = 0.046), the proximate composition and the amino acid and fatty acid profiles were unaffected in the restricted kids (p > 0.05). Overall, maternal undernutrition during mid-gestation decreased the yield of kid meat, but did not significantly modify the quality and composition. These results highlight the importance of nutrient status during mid-gestation in the meat production of small ruminants under an extensive regime.