Search

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) on performance and health of calves during the first 63 d of age. Sixty Holstein calves (30 males and 30 females) at 2 d of age were blocked by sex and date of birth then randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of 3 treatments. A texturized calf starter was fed ad libitum containing 0 (control), 0.5, or 1% SCFP (Original XPC, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) of DM. In addition, the supplemented calves were fed 1 g/d SCFP (SmartCare, Diamond V) in milk until d 30. All calves were fed 4 L of colostrum within 1 h of birth and were subsequently fed milk twice daily until weaned at 56 d of age. Male calves were harvested on d 56. Performance and health of weaned female calves were monitored until 63 d of age to determine the effect of preweaning treatment of SCFP on weaning stress. Starter intake, fecal scores, and medical treatments were recorded daily. Body weight measures and blood samples were collected on d 2, 28, 56, and 63. Serum was analyzed for blood urea nitrogen, fatty acids, insulin-like growth factor-1, glucose, and total protein. Oxidative biomarkers and total antioxidant capacity were also evaluated in the serum. Body weight, DMI, blood parameters, and oxidative biomarkers did not differ among treatments. Supplementation of SCFP lowered fecal scores in the pre- and postweaning periods. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products can be used to reduce the diarrhea in calves grown under normal commercial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) in the calf starter and milk on ruminal fermentation, gastrointestinal morphology, and microbial community in the first 56 d of life. Thirty Holstein bull calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a texturized calf starter containing 0 (CON), 0.5, or 1% SCFP (XPC, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) of dry matter from d 4 to 56. In addition, the XPC-supplemented calves were fed with 1 g/d SCFP (SmartCare, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) in milk from d 2 to 30. All calves were fed 4 L of colostrum within 1 h of birth and were subsequently fed milk twice daily until weaned on d 56. Rumen fluid was collected by an esophageal tube 4 h after the morning feeding on d 28 and 56 to determine ruminal pH, ammonia-N, and volatile fatty acids concentrations. On d 56, 15 (5 per treatment) calves were harvested and slaughter weight, gastrointestinal morphology parameters, and bacteria community were recorded. Papilla length, width, and surface area were measured from 5 locations within the rumen. Villus height, width, surface area, crypt depth, and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio were measured in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Next-generation sequencing technology was used to test the microbial community of the rumen and duodenum samples on d 28 and 56. Data were analyzed by MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) with contrast statements to declare CON versus all SCFP and 0.5 versus 1% SCFP in starter grains. Ruminal pH, ammonia- N, and total volatile fatty acids were not altered by SCFP. However, the supplemented groups exhibited higher ruminal butyrate concentrations coinciding with higher Butyrivibrio and lower Prevotella richness than CON group. Supplementation of SCFP increased papilla length in the rumen. In the small intestine, SCFP reduced crypt depth of jejunum, and increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in all segments of the small intestine, especially when supplemented at a higher dosage in the starter. In conclusion, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products improved gastrointestinal morphology, possibly due to increased Butyrivibrio and decreased Prevotella richness of the rumen fluid, which resulted in an increase in butyrate production, and the effect was slightly greater with the higher dosage of SCFP in the starter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-producing dairy cows typically experience immunosuppression with dysregulated neutrophil function (e.g., compromised phagocytosis) during the transition period (3 wk before to 3 wk after parturition), which is causally associated with increased risk of infections. Enhanced neutrophil immune competence has significant bearing with the wellbeing of transition dairy cattle. In the current study, we investigated the effect of OmniGen-AF (OG; Phibro Animal Health, Quincy, IL) and its dose in modulation of neutrophil function of transition cows. Forty-eight multiparous cows were stratified by parity, somatic cell count, and expected calving date and randomly assigned to 3 treatments: OG fed at 0 g/head per day (CON), 60 g/head per day (OG60; recommended dose), and 90 g/head per day (OG90; 1.5× recommended dose). The OG was added from dry off (61.8 ± 1.69 d before parturition) to 28 d in milk (DIM), and removed from all treatment groups at 29 to 35 DIM (the last week of the experimental period). Neutrophil phagocytic ability against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was improved and tended to be improved, respectively, by OG from d 28 before parturition to 28 DIM. Cows in OG60 had higher neutrophil phagocytic ability against S. aureus and E. coli compared with CON cows from d 28 before parturition to 28 DIM. Neutrophil phagocytosis of S. aureus and E. coli was higher and tended to be higher for OG60 compared with CON on 35 DIM. The relative gene expression of CXCL8 and SELL were upregulated and tended to be upregulated by OG from 60 d before parturition to 28 DIM; this was due to cows in OG60 having greater SELL and CXCL8 gene expression than CON. Expression of SELL in circulating white blood cells of OG60-treated cows was greater than OG90 and the relative expression of CXCL8 gene tended to be greater for OG60 compared with CON on 35 DIM. In conclusion, feeding OG at the recommended dose of 60 g/head per day from dry off was effective in maintaining peripheral blood neutrophil function in transition dairy cows, and it is not necessary to feed OG beyond the recommended dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report systematic measurements of anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in Mn1.5Ga/Ta and Mn1.5Ga/Pt bilayers modified by strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) of the heavy metals. The results are compared with the AHE in Mn1.5Ga/Cu with weak SOC. We have used a scaling involving multiple competing scattering mechanisms to distinguish different contributions to the modified AHE. The scaling analysis reveals that the origin of the modified AHE in Mn1.5Ga/Cu is different from those in Mn1.5Ga/Ta and Mn1.5Ga/Pt. The direct observation of spin-orbit torque induced magnetization switching confirms that the result is a combination of the AHE of Mn1.5Ga and spin Hall effect of the heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prey animals modify their behaviour and physiology in the presence of predators. Domestic animals differ from wild animals in having less exposure to wild predators, but whether they still retain an antipredator instinct is frequently unknown. In this study, we used domesticated Small Tail Han sheep as a model prey animal to gauge their response to the presence of predators, in the form of odours from the faeces of lion, tiger, and leopard. The faeces of male sheep and male rabbit (as a heterogeneous non-predator) were used as control. We found that the frequency and time of feeding, exploration, moving, watching, and lying down behaviours were significantly affected by predator odour, and that there was an interaction between odour sources and sex. When exposed to predator odour, sheep reduced their frequency and time of feeding, and increased their exploratory, moving, and watching behaviours. Female sheep showed greater motivation towards frequent and lengthy exploration, moving, watching, and lying down behaviours than male sheep, and less motivation towards feeding and drinking behaviours. Serum cortisol levels were lowest in response to tiger stimuli. These results illustrated that Small Tail Han sheep could recognise predator odour and adjust their behaviour to display antipredator strategies, and displayed some physiological responses, although only changing in serum cortisol could be significantly attributed to the odour of predators., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the effects of incremental tributyrin supplementation in pasteurized waste milk on growth performance, health, and blood metabolism of dairy calves before and after weaning. Forty-eight newborn female Holstein dairy calves (39.6 ± 2.75 kg; mean ± standard deviation) were blocked by age and randomly assigned to 3 treatments: pasteurized waste milk (1) without supplementation, (2) with 1 g/L of tributyrin products (unprotected solid powder; containing 35% tributyrin), or (3) with 2 g/L of tributyrin products. The calves were weaned on d 56 and were raised until d 77. Data were analyzed for the preweaning, postweaning, and overall periods. The results showed that starter intake and hay intake were not different among treatments in any period of the trial, but the crude protein intake tended to increase linearly with tributyrin supplementation during the overall period. Although tributyrin supplementation had no effects on body weight during preweaning and overall periods, body weight increased linearly with tributyrin supplementation postweaning. The average daily gain tended to increase linearly during postweaning and overall periods. No effects were observed on feed efficiency in any period. A positive linear relationship between body length and tributyrin supplementation was observed during the postweaning period, but no differences were found for the other body structural measurements in any period. The results of diarrhea showed that tributyrin concentration had a negative linear relationship with diarrhea frequency during preweaning and overall periods. The rectal temperature did not differ among treatments in any period, but a treatment × week effect for rectal body temperature was observed. For blood metabolism, tributyrin supplementation had no effects on insulin, growth hormone, total protein, albumin, or globulin. No differences were found in serum amyloid A concentration in any of the periods, yet haptoglobin concentration decreased linearly with increasing tributyrin concentration during postweaning and overall periods. Endothelin concentration showed a tendency to decrease linearly during preweaning and postweaning periods and decreased linearly with tributyrin supplementation during the overall period. An increasing tributyrin concentration was associated with a negative linear relationship with IL-1β concentration during the preweaning period, and no differences were found in the other periods. The concentration of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were not different among treatments in any of the periods. These data suggest that increasing the concentration of tributyrin in pasteurized waste milk could increase growth performance and health of dairy calves, and incremental tributyrin supplementation could linearly reduce haptoglobin, endothelin, and IL-1β concentrations, indicating a positive effect of tributyrin on alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory status of dairy calves. Calves fed pasteurized waste milk supplemented with tributyrin products (containing 35% tributyrin) at 2 g/L compared with 1 g/L of milk had more improved growth and health., (Copyright © 2021 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the characterisitics of the death cases suspected to be related to vaccination in Fujian Province from 2012 to 2017. Methods: A total of 33 death cases information which was suspected to be related to the vaccinations from 2012 to 2017 were extracted from Chinese Adverse Events Following Immunization Information System (AEFI). The autopsy reports and the conclusions made by AEFI investigation diagnosis expert committee were collected at the same time. The inoculation data were obtained through the Fujian province Immunization Program Information System. The AEFI incidence, rare vaccine reaction incidences and mortality rates following immunization were figured out to analyze the characterisitics of the death cases associated with vaccination. Results: The age of deuths cases was from 26 days to 52 months. Among 33 cases, 23 were males, and 8 were due to vaccine-related reaction, and the others were due to coincidental events. The number of rare vaccine reaction cases from 2012 to 2017 were 2,3,6,8,7 and 7, respectively. The highest AEFI incidence was measles and rubella combined attenuated live vaccine [38.88 (95 %CI : 36.85-40.91)/100 000 dose], and the lowest was trivalent oral poliomyelitis attenuated live vaccine [2.01 (95 %CI : 1.73-2.30)/100 000 dose]. The highest rare vaccine reaction incidence was measles and rubella combined attenuated live vaccine [15.04 (95 %CI : 13.78-16.30)/100 000 dose], and the lowest was trivalent oral poliomyelitis attenuated live vaccine [0.38 (95 %CI : 0.25-0.50)/100 000]. The highest mortality rate was inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine [0.26 (95 %CI : 0.04-0.54)/100 000 doses], and the lowest mortality rate was measles, mumps and rubella combined attenuated live vaccine [0.01 (95 %CI : 0.00-0.08)/100 000 doses]. The Spearman correlation analysis showed that there were correlations between AEFI incidence and rare vaccine reaction incidence ( r= 0.64, P= 0.048), there were no correlations between AEFI incidence and mortality rate ( r= -0.34, P= 0.329), and there were no correlations between rare vaccine reaction incidence and mortality rate ( r= -0.25, P= 0.484). Conclusion: Neither AEFI incidence nor rare vaccine reaction incidence was correlation with mortality rate. The main causes of death following vaccination were coincidental events.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of early feed exposure (EFE) to different feedstuffs in dairy calves on feed preference once fed a free-choice diet and a total mixed ration later in life. Thirty (30) female Holstein calves were randomly assigned at birth to 1 of 3 EFE treatments-concentrate only (CON), hay only (HO), and concentrate and hay (COH)-from d 2 to 56. After that, all calves were offered both concentrate and hay in different buckets from d 57 to 70 to allow them free choice between the 2 feedstuffs. Calves were then transferred to a heifer barn, housed within treatment in pairs (2 calves/pen), and fed TMR from d 71 to 196. Feed intake was recorded daily from d 2 to 70 to determine the feed preference before and after weaning. Fresh TMR and orts were collected daily in the last week of the experiment (d 190 to 196) for analysis of feed sorting and intake. Body weight and structural growth were recorded at d 1, 28, 56, 70, and 190. Blood for determining glucose and rumen fluid for determining ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids concentrations were sampled on d 28, 56, 70, and 190. Early feed exposure did not affect feed intake, body weight, average daily gain, blood glucose, and structural growth before and after weaning but did affect feed preference and rumen fermentation. After transition to a free-choice diet, HO calves consumed more hay (550.2 g/d) than CON (177.4 g/d) and COH (396.4 g/d) calves on the first day only. However, COH calves consumed a greater amount of hay, resulting in a higher ratio of hay to total solids compared with either CON or HO calves during d 57 to 70. Upon transition to a TMR, a similar sorting pattern was exhibited between treatments, with calves sorting against the long and for the fine particle fractions. Although no significant long-term effects of different EFE on rumen pH, volatile fatty acids, and blood glucose persisted at wk 27 (from d 190 to 196), calves exposed to COH early had an improved ability to sort for long feed particles compared with CON and HO calves later in life. Our results suggest that EFE could influence choice of feed immediately after weaning and may have long-lasting effects on feed preference in heifers later in life. Further studies with more calves are recommended., (Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To report thigh muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests of four Chinese patients with dystrophinopathy with edema changes in adductor longus muscles that mimics adductor enthesopathy., Methods: Four boys, who were from four unrelated families and aged from 5 to 11 years, were investigated because of the clinical manifestations including myalgia or muscle weakness or the incidental findings of elevated serum creatine kinase levels, and were diagnosed with dystrophinopathy by gene test of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Their creatine kinase levels were increased from 4 087 IU/L to 32 700 IU/L (Normal range: 75-175 IU/L). The muscle biopsy of three patients all demonstrated a dystrophic pattern including necrosis, regeneration, hypertrophy, atrophy and connective tissue proliferation, with different proportions of dystrophin-negative muscle fibers. The gene test of DMD showed an out-frame deletion of exons in three of the four patients, involving either exons 45 or exons 49-52 deletion or exon 62 duplication, and c.2665 C>T with nonsense mutation in the other one. Muscle MRI tests of the bilateral thighs were performed with T1 weighed sequence and slow tau inversion recovery sequence. The degree of fatty infiltration changes was scored., Results: MRI of the thigh muscles showed mild to severe fatty infiltration changes in T1 weighed sequence with the total scores from 2 to 13.The most severe fatty infiltration changes were in the long head of biceps femoris and adductor magnus. Obvious hyperintensities appeared mainly in the adductor longus muscles on slow tau inversion recovery (STIR) images in all the patients without any abnormal signals in the attachment of the ligament, indicating edema changes of the adductor longus muscles which mimiced adductor enthesopathy. Two of the four patients presented with edema changes in the bilateral adductor longus muscles, while the other two were with only unilateral changes. Furthermore, other thigh muscles, including adductor magnus, semitendinosus, sartorius and rectus femoris muscles, could also have mild edema changes in two of the four patients., Conclusion: Dystrophinopathy can manifest as edema changes in the adductor longus muscles in thigh muscle MRI tests, which is a typical lesion in adductor enthesopathy. The adductor longus muscles in the dystrophinopathy patients may be easy to be impaired due to traction injury during sports.

Objective: To describe a method based on analysis of the histogram of intensity values produced from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantifying the degree of fatty infiltration., Methods: The study included 25 patients with dystrophinopathy. All the subjects underwent muscle MRI test at thigh level. The histogram M values of 250 muscles adjusted for subcutaneous fat, representing the degree of fatty infiltration, were compared with the expert visual reading using the modified Mercuri scale., Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the histogram M values and the scores of visual reading (r=0.854, P<0.001). The distinct pattern of muscle involvement detected in the patients with dystrophinopathy in our study of histogram M values was similar to that of visual reading and results in literature. The histogram M values had stronger correlations with the clinical data than the scores of visual reading as follows: the correlations with age (r=0.730, P<0.001) and (r=0.753, P<0.001); with strength of knee extensor (r=-0.468, P=0.024) and (r=-0.460, P=0.027) respectively. Meanwhile, the histogram M values analysis had better repeatability than visual reading with the interclass correlation coefficient was 0.998 (95% CI: 0.997-0.998, P<0.001) and 0.958 (95% CI: 0.946-0.967, P<0.001) respectively., Conclusion: Histogram M values analysis of MRI with the advantages of repeatability and objectivity can be used to evaluate the degree of muscle fatty infiltration.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) to improve the diagnostic level. Method: Clinical manifestations and thigh muscle MRI results of 8 cases of CMD diagnosed on genetic level from April 2013 to November 2015 were investigated. MRI was performed on the thigh muscles of all cases. Fatty infiltration of different muscles described in T1WI was graded to evaluate. Clinical symptoms and signs, as well as muscle MRI features were analyzed by statistical description. Result: Among these 8 cases, 2 cases were diagnosed with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD), 1 case had rigid spine with muscular dystrophy type 1 (RSMD1), 1 case had LMNA related muscular dystrophy (L-CMD), 1 case had congenital muscular dystrophy 1C (MDC1C) and 3 cases had congenital muscular dystrophy 1A (MDC1A), with 4 were males and 4 females, aged from 0.9 year to 4.8 years (median age was 2.2 years). All of these 8 cases presented with muscle weakness and hypotonia from birth to within the first six months, together with delayed motor development and joint contractures. Some cases had spinal deformity or skin changes. Various degrees of fatty infiltration in gluteus maximus and thigh muscles were shown in all of the cases, and differences among CMD subtypes in the form of fatty infiltration were detected; muscle edema was present in 5 cases, and muscle atrophy in 7 cases. However, none of them has muscle hypertrophy. Semimembranous muscle absence was detected in 1 case. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations and thigh muscle MRI findings of CMD have some features, and vary in certain CMD subtypes. MRI examination combined with clinical features may provide useful information to select appropriate genetic or other diagnostic techniques, which may help clinicians to make accurate diagnosis.

Background and Purpose: Elevated OEF is a surrogate for misery perfusion. Our aim was to detect misery perfusion in patients with unilateral steno-occlusive disease of the ICA or MCA by using T2*-based MR imaging and to determine the relationship between brain ischemia and OEF., Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients with unilateral steno-occlusive disease of the ICA or MCA and 8 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Hemodynamic information was obtained in all subjects by MR imaging. Three regions of interest were placed in the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the brain bilaterally to measure the OEF and CBF values. The OEFs of the regions of interest in the hemispheres ipsilateral and contralateral to the vascular lesions were compared. Brain regions with OEF greater than that in controls were determined as misery perfusion in patients. The association of vascular lesions, rCBF, and the presence of territory infarction with elevated OEF was investigated., Results: There was a statistically significant difference in OEF between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres in the patients (t = 3.632, P = .001). Fourteen regions of interest with misery perfusion were determined in the ipsilateral hemispheres, while 3 regions with elevated OEFs were found in the contralateral hemispheres. In the ipsilateral hemispheres, decreased rCBF was associated with elevated OEF (r = -0.451, P < .001). Patients with territory infarction had more regions of interest with misery perfusion than patients without territory infarction (χ(2) = 3.889, P = .049)., Conclusions: By using the MR imaging technique, misery perfusion demonstrated as elevated OEF was detected in patients with severe atherosclerotic ICA or MCA disease. Identification of misery perfusion with MR imaging may be helpful in the evaluation of brain ischemia.