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Zinc oxide nanoparticles are known to possess anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties and find wide application in the preparation of topical ointments. Wound dressings in the form of hydrogels can replenish the wound microenvironment to aid the healing process in a multidimensional way. We have fabricated a composite hydrogel using 1–3 wt. % ZnO nano‐particles, synthesized by chelation reaction, and poly‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA)/acrylamide, synthesized, and co‐polymerized in 8 kGy gamma irradiation. Developed powders and composite membranes have been thoroughly analyzed for XRD, FTIR, SEM–EDX mapping, DTA/TGA, particle size, shape, morphology, porosity, water uptake, and contact angle. Thermally stable phase‐pure ZnO spherical nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of 40 ± 2 nm have been used for fabricating well‐dispersed composite with contact angle varying 78o–88o. These membranes, when used in vivo, rendered a suitable environment conducive to tissue regeneration and ECM component deposition sequentially. Endowed with antibacterial properties, these hydrogels also demonstrated excelling swelling capacity which proved beneficial in maintaining a moist wound environment aiding in the healing process. An earlier wound closure was achieved with 2%–3% ZnO‐pHEMA/acrylamide hydrogels which demonstrate the potential of ZnO nanoparticles in signaling and instructing the wound bed milieu towards the efficient repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This present study evaluated the efficacy of dietary benzoic acid (BA) and oregano essential oil (OEO) separately or together as a substitute for a commercial coccidiostatic drug (salinomycin) on growth performance and physiological and immunological responses in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species. It was found that the BA and OEO applied alone or in combination significantly reduced gut pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and Eimeria spp. and concurrently enhanced the Lactobacillus population with better body weight gain, improved feed utilization, and superior hematological values. It boosted the immune system by enhancing Eimeria-specific immunoglobulin Y titer and up- and down-regulated various immune gene expressions to protect the chickens from inflammatory reactions that were not demonstrated in salinomycin-treated birds. This study suggests that the combined application of OEO and BA can substitute for salinomycin in controlling coccidiosis as well as improving growth performance, gut health, and immune responses in broiler chickens. To overcome the antimicrobial residues in food, benzoic acid (BA) and oregano essential oil (OEO) are used in the broiler chicken industry. Independently, both exerted anticoccidial and antimicrobial actions and improved growth performance in broiler chickens. Their effect may be multiplied when they are used in combination. This present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of dietary BA and OEO alone or in combination as a substitute for a commercial coccidiostatic drug on growth performance and physiological and immunological responses in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species. A total of 252 unsexed 1-day-old broiler chicks were equally allotted to 36 pens, each pen containing seven chicks. The pens were randomly assigned to six treatments with six pens (replicates) for each treatment (n = 6)—(i) negative control, (ii) positive control, coccidia-challenged and non-treated, (iii) supplemented with salinomycin (an anti-coccidial drug) at 60 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged, (iv) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged, (v) supplemented with OEOat 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged (OEO), and (vi) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and OEO at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged (B&O). The liver enzymes and thyroxine and creatinine levels were not affected (p > 0.05) both in coccidia-challenged and supplemented chickens. The BA and OEO applied separately or in combination (B&O) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced gut pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and Eimeria spp., and concurrently enhanced (p > 0.05) the Lactobacillus population with better body weight gain, improved feed utilization, and superior hematological values. It also up-regulated (p > 0.05) the interferon-γ gene expression and down-regulated (p < 0.05) the interleukin-10 and Toll-like receptor-4 gene expression to protect the chickens from inflammatory reactions, which were not demonstrated in salinomycin-treated birds. The B&O supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the immune system by enhancing Eimeria-specific immunoglobulin Y titer and lymphocyte proliferation response. This study suggests that the combined application of OEO and BA can substitute for a commercial anti-coccidial agent (salinomycin) in controlling coccidiosis as well as improving growth performance, gut health, and immune responses in broiler chickens with a means of antimicrobial-resistant free food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Puneet. Bhattacharya, Sridip. Chatterjee, Samiran. Mondal Background: The literature survey shows improvement in cognitive performance following acute bouts of physical exercise and chronic exercise patterns. However, neurocognitive growth through [...]

Simple Summary: The use of non-therapeutic antibiotics in poultry industry is a common practice to generate desired growth of the birds. Non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics were detected as a culprit for the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the food chain. Many countries restrict the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics. Consequently, there is an increased demand for alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). The study was conducted to assess the impact of dietary supplementation of a probiotic and a postbiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product, SCFP) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood haemato-biochemical profile, gut microflora, gut morphology, and immune response in broilers as an alternative to AGP. The study conducted on 324 one-day-old chickens revealed significant improvement of feed conversion ratio in the postbiotic group than the control. Cholesterol levels and concentrations of corticosterone were significantly lowered in the postbiotic group compared to other groups. Pathogenic- and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacterial populations were significantly lower in postbiotic and probiotic groups. Moreover, humoral immunity was significantly improved in postbiotic and probiotic groups than the control birds. It can be concluded that both postbiotics and probiotics could be viable alternatives to antimicrobials in poultry production. Concern for global health security and the environment due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues in meat and other livestock products has led many countries to restrict the use of antibiotics in animal feed. This experiment was performed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation of a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) and a postbiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood haemato-biochemical profile, gut microflora, gut morphology, and immune response in broilers as an alternative to antimicrobials in poultry production system to minimize the effect on global health security. A total of 324 one-day-old Ven Cobb 400 broiler chicks were randomly divided into three dietary groups, each containing 12 replicated pens, and each replicate contained nine chickens. The dietary groups consisted of (1) a basal diet without any growth promoters (T1), (2) the basal diet augmented with Bacillus subtilis at 200 g/MT feed (T2), and (3) the basal diet supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product at 1.25 kg/MT feed (T3). To calculate body weight gain, all birds and residual feed were weighed on a replicated basis on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42; mortality was recorded daily. At the end of the trial (42 d), two chickens from each replicate were slaughtered for carcass traits, gut microflora, and morphology measurements. Blood samples were collected for the haemato-biochemical profile on 35 d and antibody titer on 28 d and 35 d. Feeding with SCFP (T3 group) significantly improved average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of chickens compared to the T1 (control) and T2 (probiotic) groups from 1 to 14 days of age. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved in SCFP-fed birds (T3) relative to the control (T1) over the entire experimental period. Carcass traits and blood haemato-biochemical parameters remained unaffected by any diets. However, cholesterol levels and concentrations of corticosterone were significantly lower in T3 compared to T2 and T1 groups. Total E. coli, Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and Salmonella counts were significantly lower in T2 and T3 groups compared to T1 group and Salmonella counts were lower in T3 when compared to T2. However, there was no significant difference in Lactobacillus count among treatment groups. A significant increase in villi height and villi-height-to-crypt-depth ratio (VH: CD) was observed in both T3 and T2 groups. On day 28, the T3 and T2 groups exhibited a significant increase in antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bursal disease virus. It can be concluded that Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product and Bacillus subtilis probiotic could be viable alternatives to antimicrobials in poultry production considering beneficial impacts in broilers fed an antibiotic-free diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of patient‐specific bone scaffolds that can expedite bone regeneration has been gaining increased attention, especially for critical‐sized bone defects or fractures. Precise adaptation of the scaffold to the region of implantation and reduced surgery times are also crucial at clinical scales. To this end, bioactive fluorcanasite glass‐ceramic microparticulates were incorporated within a biocompatible photocurable resin matrix following which the biocomposite resin precursor was 3D‐printed with digital light processing method to develop the bone scaffold. The printing parameters were optimized based on spot curing investigation, particle size data, and UV–visible spectrophotometry. In vitro cell culture with MG‐63 osteosarcoma cell lines and pH study within simulated body fluid demonstrated a noncytotoxic response of the scaffold samples. Further, the in vivo bone regeneration ability of the 3D‐printed biocomposite bone scaffolds was investigated by implantation of the scaffold samples in the rabbit femur bone defect model. Enhanced angiogenesis, osteoblastic, and osteoclastic activities were observed at the bone‐scaffold interface, while examining through fluorochrome labelling, histology, radiography, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and x‐ray microcomputed tomography. Overall, the results demonstrated that the 3D‐printed biocomposite bone scaffolds have promising potential for bone loss rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]