Background The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms associated with conventional swine production practices has increased interest in acid-based compounds having antimicrobial properties and other biologic...Background The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms associated with conventional swine production practices has increased interest in acid-based compounds having antimicrobial properties and other biological functions as nutritional interventions.Despite the interest in organic acids and monoglycerides,few studies have examined the effects of the combination of these acid-based additives in weaned pigs under disease challenge conditions.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with blend of organic acids and/or medium-chain fatty acid monoglycerides on intestinal health and systemic immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)F18 at 4-week of age.Results Dietary supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or both organic acids and monoglycerides(combination)reduced(P<0.05)the diarrhea frequency of ETEC F18-infected pigs throughout the experimental period(d−7 to 21 post-inoculation).This is consistent with the reduced(P<0.05)proportion ofβ-hemolytic coliforms in feces observed for the organic acid and combination treatments on d 10 post-inoculation.Supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or combination also reduced(P<0.05)bacterial translocation in mesenteric lymph nodes on d 21 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or combination had lower(P<0.05)white blood cells on d 5 post-inoculation,and pigs fed the combination also had lower(P<0.05)lymphocytes than pigs in control group.Monoglyceride supplementation increased(P<0.05)white blood cells and neutrophils compared with control group on d 14 post-inoculation.However,supplementation with organic acid blend,monoglyceride blend,or combination did not affect growth performance in this experiment.Conclusions Supplementation with monoglycerides or organic acids alone or in combination improves the detrimental effects of ETEC F18 infection in weaned pigs,as indicated by reduced diarrhea,fecal shedding ofβ-hemolytic coliforms,and bacterial translocation,and thus enhancing disease resistance.Monoglycerides reduced the inflammatory response during peak infection,but their immunomodulatory and possible synergistic effects with organic acids need to be further investigated.展开更多
Background Using yeast culture as additives in ruminant feed prevents rumen microbial dysbiosis,enhances performance,and regulates rumen pH.The yeast culture used in this study was developed in-house,and has been show...Background Using yeast culture as additives in ruminant feed prevents rumen microbial dysbiosis,enhances performance,and regulates rumen pH.The yeast culture used in this study was developed in-house,and has been shown to promote rumen epithelial growth in several sheep trials.Changes in protein expression associated with the promotion of rumen epithelial development following the addition of yeast culture,along with the associated molecular mechanisms,remain unknown.We used 2045-day-old weaned lambs to investigate the specific proteins and molecular mechanisms involved in these processes.Half of the lambs were fed yeast culture,and the other half were used as controls.Results Yeast culture enhanced growth performance,facilitated rumen fermentation,and promoted rumen papilla development in weaned lambs.Proteomics data identified 4,831 proteins in the rumen epithelial tissue of lambs,comprising 87 upregulated and 425 downregulated proteins.Administration of yeast culture activated multiple molecular functions within rumen epithelial cells,including oxidative phosphorylation,glutathione metabolism,apoptosis,cell cycle,and vitamin digestion and absorption.The expression of proteins associated with cell cycle regulation increased,whereas those associated with apoptosis decreased.Administration of yeast culture also reduced the duration of the G0/G1 phase of rumen epithelial cells and accelerated the cell cycle.Furthermore,yeast culture showed increased cyclin D1,cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK)2,CDK4,CDK6,and cyclin E1 expressions and decreased cytochrome C(Cyto-c),Bcl-2-related X protein(Bax),cleaved caspase 3(C-caspase 3),caspase 3,and cleaved caspase 7(C-caspase 7)protein expressions.Yeast culture upregulated the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor(IGF-1R)and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5(IGFBP-5)mRNA expressions in rumen epithelial cells.Conclusions Yeast culture facilitates rumen epithelial development by regulating the cell cycle and IGF-1 signaling and reducing the expression of proteins associated with apoptosis in rumen epithelial cells.The findings of this study provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms through which yeast culture promotes rumen epithelial development in weaned lambs.展开更多
Background Oxidative stress can impair intestinal barrier function and cause liver damage,resulting in reduced animal productivity.Paraquat(PQ)induces significant oxidative stress in weaned piglets.The antioxidant,ant...Background Oxidative stress can impair intestinal barrier function and cause liver damage,resulting in reduced animal productivity.Paraquat(PQ)induces significant oxidative stress in weaned piglets.The antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and metabolic regulatory functions of taurine(Tau),a free amino acid that is widely distributed in the body,have been extensively studied.However,the mechanisms by which dietary Tau alleviates oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage in weaned piglets remain unclear.Methods Forty weaned piglets(20 males and 20 females;6.41±0.11 kg;25 days old;Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)were used in a 2×2 factorial design to investigate the mechanism by which dietary Tau(0%or 0.4%)alleviates PQ-induced oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage.We analyzed key biomarkers related to gut barrier function,mucosal damage repair,liver damage,gut-liver immunity,antioxidant capacity,systemic immune homeostasis,antioxidant levels,and gut microbiota diversity in piglets under normal and acute oxidative stress.In particular,we evaluated the coordinated regulation of gut-liver axis function mediated by Tau through the Nrf2/Keap1(antioxidant)and TLR4/NF-κB(immune modulation)signaling pathways.Partial least squares path modeling and molecular docking were used to explore the intrinsic relationship between PQ,Tau,and the gut-liver axis.Results PQ exposure impaired gut barrier function,increased the liver fibrosis area,and markedly affected gut microbial diversity(P<0.05).Tau effectively alleviated PQ-induced oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.This enhanced gut barrier function,promoted mucosal repair,and significantly suppressed the concentration and circulation of lipopolysaccharides in the blood,consequently reducing liver damage(P<0.05).This further facilitated the optimization of gut microbiota composition,thereby supporting the positive regulation of the gut-liver axis and improving systemic immune and antioxidant functions.Conclusions Tau improved the health status of weaned piglets under both normal and stressed conditions by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and TLR4/NF-κB pathways,offering a potential new nutritional strategy for alleviating gut-liver damage.展开更多
Background L-Glutamate and L-aspartate are functional amino acids that play pivotal roles in the cellular metabolic pathways of swine enterocytes.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-glut...Background L-Glutamate and L-aspartate are functional amino acids that play pivotal roles in the cellular metabolic pathways of swine enterocytes.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-glutamate and L-aspartate on growth performance,diarrhea severity,intestinal barrier integrity,and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets challenged with F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC).Weaned piglets were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments,including unchallenged and ETEC-challenged controls,amino acid-supplemented groups,and an antibiotic control,to assess their responses to ETEC challenge.Results Supplementation with 1%L-glutamate or 2%L-aspartate enhanced growth performance,with significantly greater(P<0.05)average daily weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio compared with the positive control group from d 0 to d 5 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with 1%or 2%L-aspartate had reduced(P<0.05)diarrhea severity in ETEC-challenged pigs compared with the positive control group.The 1%L-aspartate supplementation also supported intestinal structure by increasing(P<0.05)duodenal villi height and ileal villi width compared with carbadox supplementation.Additionally,1%L-glutamate supplementation significantly improved(P<0.05)resilience in ETEC-challenged pigs by reducing fecal shedding ofβ-hemolysin-producing bacteria compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Moreover,1%L-aspartate supplementation promoted intestinal barrier integrity by significantly up-regulated(P<0.05)the expression of ileal OCDN and ileal ZO-1 compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Interestingly,2%L-aspartate supplementation altered the intestinal mucosa by down-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of jejunal CLDN-1,while up-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of ileal CLDN-1 compared with the negative control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Furthermore,L-glutamate supplementation significantly changed proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and showed the trend for enrichment in beneficial bacterial genera such as Bifidobacterium and Megasphaera in ETEC-infected pigs by d 14 post-inoculation.Conclusion Supplementation with L-glutamate or L-aspartate promoted growth performance,supported gut health,and enhanced disease resistance in weaned pigs challenged with F18 ETEC.During the weaning period,L-glutamate or L-aspartate could potentially be considered conditionally essential amino acids,helping to alleviate weaning complications and reduce the need for antibiotic use in swine farming.展开更多
Prediction of weaning success from invasive mechanical ventilation remains a challenge in everyday clinical practice.Several prediction scores have been developed to guide success during spontaneous breathing trials t...Prediction of weaning success from invasive mechanical ventilation remains a challenge in everyday clinical practice.Several prediction scores have been developed to guide success during spontaneous breathing trials to help with weaning decisions.These scores aim to provide a structured framework to support clinical judgment.However,their effectiveness varies across patient populations,and their predictive accuracy remains inconsistent.In this review,we aim to identify the strengths and limitations of commonly used clinical prediction tools in assessing readiness for ventilator liberation.While scores such as the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index and the Integrative Weaning Index are widely adopted,their sensitivity and specificity often fall short in complex clinical settings.Factors such as underlying disease pathophysiology,patient characteristics,and clinician subjectivity impact score performance and reliability.Moreover,disparities in validation across diverse populations limit generalizability.With growing interest in artificial intelligence(AI)and machine learning,there is potential for enhanced prediction models that integrate multidimensional data and adapt to individual patient profiles.However,current AI approaches face challenges related to interpretability,bias,and ethical implementation.This paper underscores the need for more robust,individualized,and transparent prediction systems and advocates for careful integration of emerging technologies into clinical workflows to optimize weaning success and patient outcomes.展开更多
Objective:To explore the role of lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation in assessing the risk of weaning from mechanical ventilation(MV)in severe patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted o...Objective:To explore the role of lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation in assessing the risk of weaning from mechanical ventilation(MV)in severe patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 severe patients admitted to the hospital from December 2022 to December 2024,all of whom underwent MV treatment.Based on weaning status,thirty-eight patients were successfully weaned(success group),and 22 patients failed weaning(failure group).All patients underwent lung ultrasound and multi-organ evaluation.The parameter differences between the two groups were compared,risk factors for weaning risk were evaluated,and a receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was drawn to assess the predictive value of lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation for weaning risk.Results:The lung ultrasound score(LUS)of the success group was lower than that of the failure group,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was higher than that of the failure group,and the diaphragmatic excursion(DE)and diaphragmatic thickening fraction(DTF)were higher than those of the failure group(P<0.05).Multifactor analysis showed that LUS was a risk factor for weaning risk,while LVEF,DE,and DTF were protective factors(P<0.05).The ROC showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of a single parameter for weaning risk was smaller than that of the combined parameters(P<0.05).Conclusion:Lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation can predict the weaning risk of severe patients undergoing MV treatment,and the diagnostic efficiency of multiple parameters combined evaluation is higher.展开更多
Objectives:Weaning induces oxidative stress in pigs,increasing the risk of diarrhea and death.Intestinal damage is associated with obstructed intestinal cell cycles.To stop damage caused by reactive oxygen species(ROS...Objectives:Weaning induces oxidative stress in pigs,increasing the risk of diarrhea and death.Intestinal damage is associated with obstructed intestinal cell cycles.To stop damage caused by reactive oxygen species(ROS),N-acetyl cysteine(NAC)has been widely employed.In this study,we examined changes in the intestinal cyclin of weaning piglets and assessed the impact of NAC on intestinal cell cycle arrest and intracellular signaling pathways.Methods:We conducted two animal experiments.In the first,we divided 12 litters of 120 newborn piglets into two groups:a control group and a weaning group.The control piglets were allowed to suckle normally.The weaning group was weaned after 3 weeks and fed a normal diet for piglets.We slaughtered six piglets from the control group and six from the weaning group.We observed cyclin changes and intestinal development at days 0,1,4,and 7 after weaning.In the second experiment,we divided 15 litters of 150 piglets that were 2 weeks old into three groups:the control group,the weaning group,and the NAC group.Control piglets were allowed to suckle normally.Piglets in the weaning and NAC groups were weaned when they were 21 days old.The NAC group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg NAC,and the weaning group was fed the basal diet alone.The experimental period was 14–25 days of age.Four days after weaning,we slaughtered one piglet from each litter.We then analyzed intestinal cell cycle indexes,intestinal oxidative stress,c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),and p38 phosphorylation.Results:Weaning decreased the piglets’feed intake and daily gain,reduced the serum antioxidant capacity,and increased the intestinal ROS level.Furthermore,the jejunum histology and barrier development of the jejunum exhibited damage after weaning,the microvilli displayed hypoplasia,and the p21 and p27 protein expression levels of the jejunum were significantly elevated.We did not observe any significant differences in cyclin D and E after days 1,4,and 7 post-weaning compared with the control group.We observed,however,significantly increased cyclin D and E expression,lower ERK,JNK,and p38 kinase phosphorylation;villus atrophy alleviation;decreased p21 and p27 expression;and increased average daily intake of feed and weight gain.Conclusion:This research demonstrates that weaning stress inhibits piglet intestinal proliferation by reducing cyclin D and cyclin E expression.NAC downregulates p21 and p27 through modulating mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKase)phosphorylation,thereby promoting cell proliferation.The results indicate that NAC promotes intestinal function and the integrity of enterocytes and holds promise as a new feed additive for animal health.展开更多
Background Monoglycerides have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional practices due to their biolog-ical activities,including antimicrobial properties.However,few studies have assessed the efficacy of mono...Background Monoglycerides have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional practices due to their biolog-ical activities,including antimicrobial properties.However,few studies have assessed the efficacy of monoglyceride blend on weaned pigs and their impacts on performance,immune response,and gut health using a disease chal-lenge model.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary monoglycerides of short-and medium-chain fatty acids on the immunity and gut health of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18.Results Pigs supplemented with high-dose zinc oxide(ZNO)had greater(P<0.05)growth performance than other treatments,but no difference was observed in average daily feed intake between ZNO and monoglycerides groups during the post-challenge period.Pigs in ZNO and antibiotic groups had lower(P<0.05)severity of diarrhea than control,but the severity of diarrhea was not different between antibiotic and monoglycerides groups.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or ZNO had lower(P<0.05)serum haptoglobin on d 2 or 5 post-inoculation than control.Pigs in ZNO had greater(P<0.05)goblet cell numbers per villus,villus area and height,and villus height:crypt depth ratio(VH:CD)in duodenum on d 5 post-inoculation than pigs in other treatments.Pigs supplemented with monoglyc-erides,ZNO,or antibiotics had reduced(P<0.05)ileal crypt depth compared with control on d 5 post-inoculation,contributing to the increase(P=0.06)in VH:CD.Consistently,pigs in ZNO expressed the lowest(P<0.05)TNFa,IL6,IL10,IL12,IL1A,IL1B,and PTGS2 in ileal mucosa on d 5 post-inoculation,and no difference was observed in the expres-sion of those genes between ZNO and monoglycerides.Supplementation of ZNO and antibiotic had significant impacts on metabolic pathways in the serum compared with control,particularly on carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism,while limited impacts on serum metabolites were observed in monoglycerides group when compared with control.Conclusions The results suggest that supplementation of monoglyceride blend may enhance disease resist-ance of weaned pigs by alleviating the severity of diarrhea and mitigating intestinal and systemic inflammation,although the effectiveness may not be comparable to high-dose zinc oxide.展开更多
Background Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)is one of the primary causes of diarrhea in piglets,creating substantial economic losses in the swine farming industry worldwide.This study aimed to investigate the imp...Background Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)is one of the primary causes of diarrhea in piglets,creating substantial economic losses in the swine farming industry worldwide.This study aimed to investigate the impacts of zinc caproate(ZnCA,C_(12)H_(22)O_(4)Zn)on the intestinal health,growth performance,inflammatory status,and Zn homeostasis of weaned piglets challenged with ETEC K88.In total,48 weaned piglets(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire,7.78±0.19 kg,28 d)were selected for a 21-d experiment.Each experimental treatment consisted of 6 replicate pens with 2 piglets each.The treatment conditions were as follows:i)a basal diet(CON),ii)a basal diet+ETEC K88(NC),iii)a basal diet+2,500 mg/kg of Zn(provided as zinc oxide,ZnO)+ETEC K88(PC),and iv)a basal diet+1,600 mg/kg of Zn(provided as ZnCA)+ETEC K88(ZnCA).Results The addition of 1,600 mg/kg ZnCA to the diet of post-weaning piglets effectively enhanced growth performance and nutrient digestibility and reduced the incidence of diarrhea and inflammatory reactions caused by ETEC K88 infection.These therapeutic effects were comparable to those of pharmacological doses of ZnO.In terms of improving intestinal health and Zn homeostasis in post-weaning piglets challenged with ETEC K88,the effectiveness of 1,600 mg/kg ZnCA surpassed that of pharmacological doses of ZnO.Conclusions Overall,under the experimental conditions of this study,ZnCA exhibited the potential to reduce the pharmacological dosage of ZnO while improving intestinal health and Zn homeostasis in weaned piglets.展开更多
Background Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is widely recognized as being associated with gut microbiota dysbio-sis.However,it has been challenging to clarify which specific intestinal microbiota and their metabolites ...Background Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is widely recognized as being associated with gut microbiota dysbio-sis.However,it has been challenging to clarify which specific intestinal microbiota and their metabolites play a crucial role in the antidiarrhea process of weaned piglets.Results In this study,we first observed that piglets with diarrhea exhibited a lower average daily gain and higher diarrhea score,and elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and D-lactate(D-LA)compared to healthy piglets.Subsequently,we analyzed the differences in intestinal microbial composition and metabolite levels between healthy and diarrheal weaned piglets.Diarrheal piglets demonstrated intestinal microbiota dysbiosis,characterized pri-marily by a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio,a deficiency of Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillus reuteri,and an increased abundance of Bacteroides sp.HF-5287 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.Functional pro-filing of the gut microbiota based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)data was performed,and the results showed that tryptophan metabolism was the most significantly inhibited pathway in piglets with diar-rhea.Most tryptophan metabolites were detected at lower concentrations in diarrheal piglets than in healthy piglets.Furthermore,we explored the effects of dietary indole-3-aldehyde(IAld),a key tryptophan metabolite,on intestinal development and gut barrier function in weaned piglets.Supplementation with 100 mg/kg IAld in the diet increased the small intestine index and improved intestinal barrier function by promoting intestinal stem cell(ISC)expansion in piglets.The promotion of ISC expansion by IAld was also confirmed in porcine intestinal organoids.Conclusions These findings revealed that intestinal microbial tryptophan metabolite IAld alleviates impaired intesti-nal development by promoting ISC expansion in weaned piglets.展开更多
Maternal consumption of a high-fat diet has been linked to increased risks of obesity and impaired glucose metabolism in offspring.However,the precise epigenetic mechanisms governing these intergenerational effects,pa...Maternal consumption of a high-fat diet has been linked to increased risks of obesity and impaired glucose metabolism in offspring.However,the precise epigenetic mechanisms governing these intergenerational effects,particularly during the early stages of offspring development,remain poorly understood.In this study,female C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to either a high-fat diet or normal chow diet throughout gestation and lactation.Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation(MeDIP)coupled with microarray analysis was employed to identify differentially methylated genes in the livers of offspring at weaning age.We found that maternal high-fat diet feeding predisposes offspring to obesity and impaired glucose metabolism as early as the weaning period.DNA methylation profile analysis unveiled a significant enrichment of differentially methylated genes within the natural killer(NK)cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway.MeDIP-PCR validated reduced methylation levels of specific genes within this pathway,including tumour necrosis factorα(TNF-α),phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K),and SHC adaptor protein 1(SHC1).Consistently,the expressions of TNF-α,PI3K,and SHC1 were significantly upregulated,accompanied by elevated serum TNF-αand interleukin-6(IL-6)levels in offspring from dams fed with high-fat diet.Moreover,we assessed the expressions of genes associated with NK cell activities,uncovering a notable rise in hepatic granzyme B levels and a trend towards increased CD107a expression in offspring from dams fed a high-fat diet.In addition,methylation levels of TNF-α,PI3K,and SHC1 promoters were inversely correlated with glucose response during glucose tolerance testing.In conclusion,our findings underscore the critical role of the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity signaling pathway in mediating DNA methylation patterns,thereby contributing to the programming effects of maternal high-fat diet consumption on offspring glucose metabolism as early as the weaning period.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of diaphragm thickening fraction(DTF)combined with cough peak expiratory flow(CPEF)on the success rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation.Methods:The clinical data of ...Objective:To investigate the predictive value of diaphragm thickening fraction(DTF)combined with cough peak expiratory flow(CPEF)on the success rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation.Methods:The clinical data of patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation via oral endotracheal intubation in the ICU of our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were studied.All patients underwent a 30-minute spontaneous breathing trial(SBT)using low-level pressure support ventilation(PSV)after meeting the clinical weaning screening criteria.Among them,150 patients who met the clinical weaning criteria were weaned from the ventilator.They were divided into a successful weaning group(n=100)and a failed weaning group(n=50)based on the weaning outcome.Clinical data,including age,gender,APACHE II score,duration of mechanical ventilation,DTF,and CPEF,were collected from 150 patients.The differences in clinical data between the two groups were compared,and the correlation between DTF,CPEF,and the success rate of weaning was analyzed.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in gender ratio(χ^(2)=0.884,P=0.347>0.05),age(t=0.350,P=0.727>0.05),and APACHE II score(t=1.295,P=0.197>0.05),but there was a significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation(t=3.766,P<0.001).The DTF and CPEF values in the successful weaning group were significantly higher than those in the failed weaning group(P<0.05).ROC curves were drawn to predict the weaning results using DTF,CPEF,and the combination of DTF and CPEF.The results showed that the specificity of the combination of DTF and CPEF was comparable to that of either metric alone,but the sensitivity and AUC were significantly higher than those of either metric alone.Conclusion:The combination of DTF and CPEF can be used as an effective indicator to evaluate the weaning efficacy of mechanically ventilated patients,which has important clinical significance for guiding clinical weaning treatment,improving the success rate of weaning,reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia,and shortening the length of hospital stay.展开更多
[ Objective] The study aimed to explore the function mechanism of microbial ecological agent DUAN-NAI-AN on controlling weaned piglet diarrhea. E Method] DUAN-NAI-AN was given to the weaned piglets by oral administrat...[ Objective] The study aimed to explore the function mechanism of microbial ecological agent DUAN-NAI-AN on controlling weaned piglet diarrhea. E Method] DUAN-NAI-AN was given to the weaned piglets by oral administration and its effects on diarrhea rate, growth performance, in- testinal microflora, pH values of different parts of the intestine and intestinal mucosal morphology were observed. [ Result] DUAN-NAI-AN could im- prove the growth performance of weaned piglets by increasing the growth rate and phase weight gain, showing as higher livability, average daily gain and daily feed intake as well as lower diarrhea rate with 19.24% decline by contrast to the control. In addition, DUAN-NAI-AN could keep the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier and normal digestive function by strengthening intestinal resistance and thus enhance the intestinal mucosal im- mune level. It could also decrease the proportion of potential pathogens and their toxicity effects inside the intestine to help the piglets transfer to and then maintain the dynamic balance of intestinal microflora in a very short period, and it also showed a trend of decreasing the pH value of piglet in- testinal contents. [ Conclusion] DUAN-NAI-AN is an effective microbial ecological agent for the control of weaned piglet diarrhea.展开更多
In order to investigate the appIication effects of microbial ecoIogical agents as repIacements for antibiotics in weaned pigIets, a total of 120 28 d oId healthy Duroc ＆#215;Landrace ＆#215;Large White weaned pigIets...In order to investigate the appIication effects of microbial ecoIogical agents as repIacements for antibiotics in weaned pigIets, a total of 120 28 d oId healthy Duroc ＆#215;Landrace ＆#215;Large White weaned pigIets with simiIar bogy weights and body fats and cIose birth dates were seIected. They were randomIy divided into three groups, incIuding controI group （CK）, antibiotic group （A） and microbial ecoIogical agent group （MEA）. The growth performance, health status and economic benefits of the weaned pigIets were measured. The resuIts showed that the A and MEA groups couId better enhance the immunity of weaned pigIets and improve the economic benefits in the whoIe experimental period compared to the CK group （P〈0.01）. How-ever, there were no significant differences in pigIet immunity and economic benefits between the A and MEA groups （P〉0.05）. It is indicated that the Rujunbao, a mi-crobial ecoIogical agent, can be promoted in weaned pigIet production as a repIace-ment for antibiotic.展开更多
The development of new/different management and feeding strategies to stimulate gut development and health in newly-weaned pigs, in order to improve growth performance while minimizing the use of antimicrobial compoun...The development of new/different management and feeding strategies to stimulate gut development and health in newly-weaned pigs, in order to improve growth performance while minimizing the use of antimicrobial compounds such as antibiotic growth promotants （AGP） and heavy mineral compounds, is essential for the long-term sustainability of the pig industry. Factors including the sub-optimal intake of nutrients and energy, inappropriate microbiota biomass and （or） balance, immature and compromised immune function, and psychosomatic factors caused by weaning can compromise both the efficiency of digestion and absorption and intestinal barrier function through mucosal damage and alteration of tight junction integrity. As a consequence, pigs at weaning are highly susceptible to pathogenic enteric conditions such as post-weaning diarrhea that may be caused by serotypes of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil Many dietary components, e.g., protein, fiber, feed additives and minerals, are known to influence microbial growth in the gastrointestinal tract that in turn can impact upon pig growth and health, although the relationships between these are sometimes not necessarily apparent or obvious. In a world climate of increased scrutiny over the use of antibiotics per se in pig production, certain feed additives are seen as alternatives/replacements to antibiotics, and have evolved in some cases to have important roles in everyday commercial pig nutrition. Nevertheless and in general, there remains inconsistency and variability in the efficacy of some feed additives and in cases of severe disease outbreaks, for example, therapeutic antibiotics and/or heavy minerals such as zinc oxide （ZnO） are generally relied upon. If feed ingredients and （or） feed additives are to be used with greater regularity and reliability, then it is necessary to better understand the mechanisms whereby antibiotics and minerals such as ZnO influence animal physiology, in conjunction with the use of appropriate challenge models and in vitro and in vivo techniques.展开更多
Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the immune status and protein synthesis in early-weaned pigs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate how arginine affects the expression of ...Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the immune status and protein synthesis in early-weaned pigs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate how arginine affects the expression of key proteins that regulate growth and nutrient transport of jejunum, a total of 12 healthy piglets （21 day-old, similar body weight, Landrace x Yorkshire） delivered by four sows were randomly divided into two groups. Piglets in the test group were reared with feed supplemented L-arginine at a concentration of 6.0 g/kg, while piglets in the control group were fed with feed supplemented L-alanine at a concentration of 12.3 g/kg （isonitrogenous control）. After 7 d, jejunum mucosae was collected and analyzed with the 2-D PAGE MS technology. Compared with the control pigs, arginine decreased the levels of proteins that regulate the protein syn- thesis, intermediary metabolism and tissue growth （ similar to anterior gradient 2 homolog, cyclophilin_ABHJike, hypothetical protein FLJ39502 and tetratrioopeptide repeat domain 16, similar to KIAA0156, mitechondrial ATP synthase, hydrion transporting F1 complex, beta subunit and alpha-tu- bulin ubiquitous isoform 19, prolyl 4-hydroxylase, beta subunit precursor）. In addition, arginine increased the levels of proteins that are involved in proteolysis and immune response （ PGAM1, T cell receptor beta variable 20, membrane steroid binding protein, similar to myomesin-1, and chain A, structure of pig muscle Pgk complexed with MgATP）. Therefore, arginine influences the immune response and protein synthesis mechanisms as well as improves eady weaned stress syndrome of piglets.展开更多
Background:Tannic acid(TA)is potential to reduce diarrhea in weaning pigs,but knowledge about the influence of TA on intestinal barrier integrity and function is still scarce.This experiment was conducted to investiga...Background:Tannic acid(TA)is potential to reduce diarrhea in weaning pigs,but knowledge about the influence of TA on intestinal barrier integrity and function is still scarce.This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary TA supplementation on growth performance,diarrhea rate,intestinal barrier integrity and function of weaned pigs.Methods:A total of 108 crossbred(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)piglets,with an initial average body weight of 6.60±0.27 kg,were allotted to 3 groups(6 pigs/pen and 6 replicates/group)in a randomized complete block design according to their gender and body weight.Piglets were fed the basal diet with 0(control,CON),0.2%and 1.0%TA,respectively.The trial lasted for 28 d.Results:Compared with the CON group,dietary 0.2%and 1.0%TA supplementation didn’t affect ADFI,ADG and F:G(P>0.05),but reduced diarrhea rate,diarrhea index and diarrhea score of piglets(P<0.05),reduced diamine oxidase(DAO)activity and D-lactic acid concentration in serum(P<0.01).The higher occludin expression and localization were observed in the duodenum,jejunum and ileum after supplementation with 0.2%or 1.0%TA(P<0.05).Adding 0.2%TA to diet significantly decreased crypt depth,increased villus height/crypt depth ratio in the duodenum(P<0.05),and dietary 1.0%TA tended to decrease crypt depth(P<0.10)and significantly decreased villus height(P<0.05)of the ileum.Moreover,lower malondialdehyde content in the ileum was detected in the pigs fed 1.0%TA(P<0.05).In the duodenum,both 0.2%and 1.0%TA groups had higher occludin(OCLN)mRNA and 0.2%TA group had higher zonula occludens-2(ZO-2)level(P<0.05).Meanwhile,dietary 1.0%TA supplementation tended to up-regulate OCLN mRNA levels in the jejunum(P<0.10)and 0.2%TA supplementation tended to up-regulate zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)mRNA levels in the ileum(P<0.10).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation of 0.2%or 1.0%TA could effectively alleviate postweaning diarrhea without altering growth performance in weaned piglets,which might be achieved by improving intestinal barrier integrity and function.展开更多
Background:This study was conducted to investigate the effects of each phytogenic feed additive(PFA;PFA1,bitter citrus extract;PFA2,a microencapsulated blend of thymol and carvacrol;PFA3,a mixture of bitter citrus ext...Background:This study was conducted to investigate the effects of each phytogenic feed additive(PFA;PFA1,bitter citrus extract;PFA2,a microencapsulated blend of thymol and carvacrol;PFA3,a mixture of bitter citrus extract,thymol,and carvacrol;PFA4,a premixture of grape seed,grape marc extract,green tea,and hops;PFA5,fenugreek seed powder)on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,intestinal morphology,and immune response in weaned pigs infected with Escherichia coli(E.coli).Results:A total of 634-week-old weaned pigs were placed in individual metabolic cages and assigned to seven treatment groups.The seven treatments were as follows:1)NC;basal diet without E.coli challenge,2)PC;basal diet with E.coli challenge,3)T1;PC+0.04%PFA1,4)T2;PC+0.01%PFA2,5)T3;PC+0.10%PFA3,6)T4;PC+0.04%PFA4,7)T5;PC+0.10%PFA5.The experiments lasted in 21 d,including 7 d before and 14 d after the first E.coli challenge.In the E.coli challenge treatments,all pigs were orally inoculated by dividing a total of 10 mL of E.coli F18 for 3 consecutive days.The PFA-added groups significantly increased(P<0.05)average daily gain and feed efficiency and decreased(P<0.05)the fecal score at d 0 to 14 post-inoculation(PI).Tumor necrosis factorαwas significantly lower(P<0.05)in the PFA-added groups except for T1 in d 14 PI compared to the PC treatment.The T3 had a higher(P<0.05)immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A concentration compared to the PC treatment at d 7 PI.Also,T3 showed significantly higher(P<0.05)villus height:crypt depth and claudin 1 expression in ileal mucosa,and significantly downregulated(P<0.05)the expression of calprotectin compared to the PC treatment.Conclusions:Supplementation of PFA in weaned pigs challenged with E.coli alleviated the negative effects of E.coli and improved growth performance.Among them,the mixed additive of bitter citrus extract,thymol,and carvacrol showed the most effective results,improving immune response,intestinal morphology,and expression of tight junctions.展开更多
In order to explore a breeding method for mycoplasmal pneumonia-negative swine population, the purifying effects of combination therapy, SEW and three-point breeding and management system on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae w...In order to explore a breeding method for mycoplasmal pneumonia-negative swine population, the purifying effects of combination therapy, SEW and three-point breeding and management system on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were investigated in this study. After the processes of screening pregnant sows, programmed therapy for sows, SEW, three-point breeding and management in the barrier isolation system and programmed therapy for piglets, the newly-bred piglets were monitored as long as four months by serum antibody detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and fluorescent quantitative PCR of nose swabs. The results showed that when the newlybred five batches of piglets were older than 35 d, they were all negative by serum antibody detection and nose swab antigen detection. Therefore, the combination therapy, SEW and three-point production and management system can effectively purify Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, providing theoretical basis and clinical experience for the control and purification of domestic mycoplasmal pneumonia.展开更多
[Objective] The aim was to find a suitable weaning regime, including weaning period and weaning feed, for Angui//a mormorata glass eels. [Method] A weaning processing experiment was conducted indoor in fiberglass tank...[Objective] The aim was to find a suitable weaning regime, including weaning period and weaning feed, for Angui//a mormorata glass eels. [Method] A weaning processing experiment was conducted indoor in fiberglass tanks, two kinds of artificial feeds （eel grower powder feed and eel grower piece feed） were selected as weaning diets against a control group fed on natural food （minced octopus flesh）, two weaning periods, 5 and 15 d, were introduced in weaning experiment. [Result] The growth rate and survival rate of the groups with 15-day＇s weaning period were higher than that of the groups with 5-day＇s weaning period, revealing that a 20% increase every 3 d from 0% to 100% in the proportion of grower paste in the minced octopus flesh during weaning is suitable for A. mormorata glass eels. [Conclusion] A. mormorata glass eels can be weaned from natural food to the commer- cially available eel grower feeds over a certain weaning period, and of the artificial feeds with same ingredients and nutrient, A. mormorata glass eels accepted powder feed more readily over 28 d than piece feed.展开更多
基金supported by Animal Nutrition,Eastman Chemical Company,Kingsport,TN,USA.
文摘Background The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms associated with conventional swine production practices has increased interest in acid-based compounds having antimicrobial properties and other biological functions as nutritional interventions.Despite the interest in organic acids and monoglycerides,few studies have examined the effects of the combination of these acid-based additives in weaned pigs under disease challenge conditions.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with blend of organic acids and/or medium-chain fatty acid monoglycerides on intestinal health and systemic immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)F18 at 4-week of age.Results Dietary supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or both organic acids and monoglycerides(combination)reduced(P<0.05)the diarrhea frequency of ETEC F18-infected pigs throughout the experimental period(d−7 to 21 post-inoculation).This is consistent with the reduced(P<0.05)proportion ofβ-hemolytic coliforms in feces observed for the organic acid and combination treatments on d 10 post-inoculation.Supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or combination also reduced(P<0.05)bacterial translocation in mesenteric lymph nodes on d 21 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or combination had lower(P<0.05)white blood cells on d 5 post-inoculation,and pigs fed the combination also had lower(P<0.05)lymphocytes than pigs in control group.Monoglyceride supplementation increased(P<0.05)white blood cells and neutrophils compared with control group on d 14 post-inoculation.However,supplementation with organic acid blend,monoglyceride blend,or combination did not affect growth performance in this experiment.Conclusions Supplementation with monoglycerides or organic acids alone or in combination improves the detrimental effects of ETEC F18 infection in weaned pigs,as indicated by reduced diarrhea,fecal shedding ofβ-hemolytic coliforms,and bacterial translocation,and thus enhancing disease resistance.Monoglycerides reduced the inflammatory response during peak infection,but their immunomodulatory and possible synergistic effects with organic acids need to be further investigated.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFE0100400)Science and Technology Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(2020GG0036)+2 种基金Basic Scientific Research Business Project of Universities directly under the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(BR22-11-17)National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy(2023-JSGG-5)the Special Project for Improving the Research Ability of Young Teachers of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University(BR220133).
文摘Background Using yeast culture as additives in ruminant feed prevents rumen microbial dysbiosis,enhances performance,and regulates rumen pH.The yeast culture used in this study was developed in-house,and has been shown to promote rumen epithelial growth in several sheep trials.Changes in protein expression associated with the promotion of rumen epithelial development following the addition of yeast culture,along with the associated molecular mechanisms,remain unknown.We used 2045-day-old weaned lambs to investigate the specific proteins and molecular mechanisms involved in these processes.Half of the lambs were fed yeast culture,and the other half were used as controls.Results Yeast culture enhanced growth performance,facilitated rumen fermentation,and promoted rumen papilla development in weaned lambs.Proteomics data identified 4,831 proteins in the rumen epithelial tissue of lambs,comprising 87 upregulated and 425 downregulated proteins.Administration of yeast culture activated multiple molecular functions within rumen epithelial cells,including oxidative phosphorylation,glutathione metabolism,apoptosis,cell cycle,and vitamin digestion and absorption.The expression of proteins associated with cell cycle regulation increased,whereas those associated with apoptosis decreased.Administration of yeast culture also reduced the duration of the G0/G1 phase of rumen epithelial cells and accelerated the cell cycle.Furthermore,yeast culture showed increased cyclin D1,cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK)2,CDK4,CDK6,and cyclin E1 expressions and decreased cytochrome C(Cyto-c),Bcl-2-related X protein(Bax),cleaved caspase 3(C-caspase 3),caspase 3,and cleaved caspase 7(C-caspase 7)protein expressions.Yeast culture upregulated the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor(IGF-1R)and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5(IGFBP-5)mRNA expressions in rumen epithelial cells.Conclusions Yeast culture facilitates rumen epithelial development by regulating the cell cycle and IGF-1 signaling and reducing the expression of proteins associated with apoptosis in rumen epithelial cells.The findings of this study provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms through which yeast culture promotes rumen epithelial development in weaned lambs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372894)Key Project of Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission(KJZD-K202300209)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for National Key R&D Program of China(SQ2022YFD1300007)Innovation Research 2035 Pilot Program of Southwest University(SWU-XDPY22005).
文摘Background Oxidative stress can impair intestinal barrier function and cause liver damage,resulting in reduced animal productivity.Paraquat(PQ)induces significant oxidative stress in weaned piglets.The antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and metabolic regulatory functions of taurine(Tau),a free amino acid that is widely distributed in the body,have been extensively studied.However,the mechanisms by which dietary Tau alleviates oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage in weaned piglets remain unclear.Methods Forty weaned piglets(20 males and 20 females;6.41±0.11 kg;25 days old;Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)were used in a 2×2 factorial design to investigate the mechanism by which dietary Tau(0%or 0.4%)alleviates PQ-induced oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage.We analyzed key biomarkers related to gut barrier function,mucosal damage repair,liver damage,gut-liver immunity,antioxidant capacity,systemic immune homeostasis,antioxidant levels,and gut microbiota diversity in piglets under normal and acute oxidative stress.In particular,we evaluated the coordinated regulation of gut-liver axis function mediated by Tau through the Nrf2/Keap1(antioxidant)and TLR4/NF-κB(immune modulation)signaling pathways.Partial least squares path modeling and molecular docking were used to explore the intrinsic relationship between PQ,Tau,and the gut-liver axis.Results PQ exposure impaired gut barrier function,increased the liver fibrosis area,and markedly affected gut microbial diversity(P<0.05).Tau effectively alleviated PQ-induced oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.This enhanced gut barrier function,promoted mucosal repair,and significantly suppressed the concentration and circulation of lipopolysaccharides in the blood,consequently reducing liver damage(P<0.05).This further facilitated the optimization of gut microbiota composition,thereby supporting the positive regulation of the gut-liver axis and improving systemic immune and antioxidant functions.Conclusions Tau improved the health status of weaned piglets under both normal and stressed conditions by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and TLR4/NF-κB pathways,offering a potential new nutritional strategy for alleviating gut-liver damage.
基金Funding support was from the Novo Nordisk Foundation with the project's grant number NNFSA210073688.
文摘Background L-Glutamate and L-aspartate are functional amino acids that play pivotal roles in the cellular metabolic pathways of swine enterocytes.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-glutamate and L-aspartate on growth performance,diarrhea severity,intestinal barrier integrity,and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets challenged with F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC).Weaned piglets were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments,including unchallenged and ETEC-challenged controls,amino acid-supplemented groups,and an antibiotic control,to assess their responses to ETEC challenge.Results Supplementation with 1%L-glutamate or 2%L-aspartate enhanced growth performance,with significantly greater(P<0.05)average daily weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio compared with the positive control group from d 0 to d 5 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with 1%or 2%L-aspartate had reduced(P<0.05)diarrhea severity in ETEC-challenged pigs compared with the positive control group.The 1%L-aspartate supplementation also supported intestinal structure by increasing(P<0.05)duodenal villi height and ileal villi width compared with carbadox supplementation.Additionally,1%L-glutamate supplementation significantly improved(P<0.05)resilience in ETEC-challenged pigs by reducing fecal shedding ofβ-hemolysin-producing bacteria compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Moreover,1%L-aspartate supplementation promoted intestinal barrier integrity by significantly up-regulated(P<0.05)the expression of ileal OCDN and ileal ZO-1 compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Interestingly,2%L-aspartate supplementation altered the intestinal mucosa by down-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of jejunal CLDN-1,while up-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of ileal CLDN-1 compared with the negative control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Furthermore,L-glutamate supplementation significantly changed proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and showed the trend for enrichment in beneficial bacterial genera such as Bifidobacterium and Megasphaera in ETEC-infected pigs by d 14 post-inoculation.Conclusion Supplementation with L-glutamate or L-aspartate promoted growth performance,supported gut health,and enhanced disease resistance in weaned pigs challenged with F18 ETEC.During the weaning period,L-glutamate or L-aspartate could potentially be considered conditionally essential amino acids,helping to alleviate weaning complications and reduce the need for antibiotic use in swine farming.
文摘Prediction of weaning success from invasive mechanical ventilation remains a challenge in everyday clinical practice.Several prediction scores have been developed to guide success during spontaneous breathing trials to help with weaning decisions.These scores aim to provide a structured framework to support clinical judgment.However,their effectiveness varies across patient populations,and their predictive accuracy remains inconsistent.In this review,we aim to identify the strengths and limitations of commonly used clinical prediction tools in assessing readiness for ventilator liberation.While scores such as the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index and the Integrative Weaning Index are widely adopted,their sensitivity and specificity often fall short in complex clinical settings.Factors such as underlying disease pathophysiology,patient characteristics,and clinician subjectivity impact score performance and reliability.Moreover,disparities in validation across diverse populations limit generalizability.With growing interest in artificial intelligence(AI)and machine learning,there is potential for enhanced prediction models that integrate multidimensional data and adapt to individual patient profiles.However,current AI approaches face challenges related to interpretability,bias,and ethical implementation.This paper underscores the need for more robust,individualized,and transparent prediction systems and advocates for careful integration of emerging technologies into clinical workflows to optimize weaning success and patient outcomes.
基金Sichuan Provincial Medical Scientific Research Project(Project No.:s19085)。
文摘Objective:To explore the role of lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation in assessing the risk of weaning from mechanical ventilation(MV)in severe patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 60 severe patients admitted to the hospital from December 2022 to December 2024,all of whom underwent MV treatment.Based on weaning status,thirty-eight patients were successfully weaned(success group),and 22 patients failed weaning(failure group).All patients underwent lung ultrasound and multi-organ evaluation.The parameter differences between the two groups were compared,risk factors for weaning risk were evaluated,and a receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was drawn to assess the predictive value of lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation for weaning risk.Results:The lung ultrasound score(LUS)of the success group was lower than that of the failure group,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was higher than that of the failure group,and the diaphragmatic excursion(DE)and diaphragmatic thickening fraction(DTF)were higher than those of the failure group(P<0.05).Multifactor analysis showed that LUS was a risk factor for weaning risk,while LVEF,DE,and DTF were protective factors(P<0.05).The ROC showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of a single parameter for weaning risk was smaller than that of the combined parameters(P<0.05).Conclusion:Lung ultrasound combined with multi-organ evaluation can predict the weaning risk of severe patients undergoing MV treatment,and the diagnostic efficiency of multiple parameters combined evaluation is higher.
基金supported by the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University under the Scientific Startup Foundation for Doctors((2022)733)Shanghai Jiao Tong University under the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30972103).
文摘Objectives:Weaning induces oxidative stress in pigs,increasing the risk of diarrhea and death.Intestinal damage is associated with obstructed intestinal cell cycles.To stop damage caused by reactive oxygen species(ROS),N-acetyl cysteine(NAC)has been widely employed.In this study,we examined changes in the intestinal cyclin of weaning piglets and assessed the impact of NAC on intestinal cell cycle arrest and intracellular signaling pathways.Methods:We conducted two animal experiments.In the first,we divided 12 litters of 120 newborn piglets into two groups:a control group and a weaning group.The control piglets were allowed to suckle normally.The weaning group was weaned after 3 weeks and fed a normal diet for piglets.We slaughtered six piglets from the control group and six from the weaning group.We observed cyclin changes and intestinal development at days 0,1,4,and 7 after weaning.In the second experiment,we divided 15 litters of 150 piglets that were 2 weeks old into three groups:the control group,the weaning group,and the NAC group.Control piglets were allowed to suckle normally.Piglets in the weaning and NAC groups were weaned when they were 21 days old.The NAC group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg NAC,and the weaning group was fed the basal diet alone.The experimental period was 14–25 days of age.Four days after weaning,we slaughtered one piglet from each litter.We then analyzed intestinal cell cycle indexes,intestinal oxidative stress,c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),and p38 phosphorylation.Results:Weaning decreased the piglets’feed intake and daily gain,reduced the serum antioxidant capacity,and increased the intestinal ROS level.Furthermore,the jejunum histology and barrier development of the jejunum exhibited damage after weaning,the microvilli displayed hypoplasia,and the p21 and p27 protein expression levels of the jejunum were significantly elevated.We did not observe any significant differences in cyclin D and E after days 1,4,and 7 post-weaning compared with the control group.We observed,however,significantly increased cyclin D and E expression,lower ERK,JNK,and p38 kinase phosphorylation;villus atrophy alleviation;decreased p21 and p27 expression;and increased average daily intake of feed and weight gain.Conclusion:This research demonstrates that weaning stress inhibits piglet intestinal proliferation by reducing cyclin D and cyclin E expression.NAC downregulates p21 and p27 through modulating mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKase)phosphorylation,thereby promoting cell proliferation.The results indicate that NAC promotes intestinal function and the integrity of enterocytes and holds promise as a new feed additive for animal health.
文摘Background Monoglycerides have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional practices due to their biolog-ical activities,including antimicrobial properties.However,few studies have assessed the efficacy of monoglyceride blend on weaned pigs and their impacts on performance,immune response,and gut health using a disease chal-lenge model.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary monoglycerides of short-and medium-chain fatty acids on the immunity and gut health of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18.Results Pigs supplemented with high-dose zinc oxide(ZNO)had greater(P<0.05)growth performance than other treatments,but no difference was observed in average daily feed intake between ZNO and monoglycerides groups during the post-challenge period.Pigs in ZNO and antibiotic groups had lower(P<0.05)severity of diarrhea than control,but the severity of diarrhea was not different between antibiotic and monoglycerides groups.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or ZNO had lower(P<0.05)serum haptoglobin on d 2 or 5 post-inoculation than control.Pigs in ZNO had greater(P<0.05)goblet cell numbers per villus,villus area and height,and villus height:crypt depth ratio(VH:CD)in duodenum on d 5 post-inoculation than pigs in other treatments.Pigs supplemented with monoglyc-erides,ZNO,or antibiotics had reduced(P<0.05)ileal crypt depth compared with control on d 5 post-inoculation,contributing to the increase(P=0.06)in VH:CD.Consistently,pigs in ZNO expressed the lowest(P<0.05)TNFa,IL6,IL10,IL12,IL1A,IL1B,and PTGS2 in ileal mucosa on d 5 post-inoculation,and no difference was observed in the expres-sion of those genes between ZNO and monoglycerides.Supplementation of ZNO and antibiotic had significant impacts on metabolic pathways in the serum compared with control,particularly on carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism,while limited impacts on serum metabolites were observed in monoglycerides group when compared with control.Conclusions The results suggest that supplementation of monoglyceride blend may enhance disease resist-ance of weaned pigs by alleviating the severity of diarrhea and mitigating intestinal and systemic inflammation,although the effectiveness may not be comparable to high-dose zinc oxide.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1300300)the Innovation Fund of Henan University of Technology(2020ZKCJ25)the Cultivation Programme for Young Backbone Teachers in Henan University of Technology(21421204).
文摘Background Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)is one of the primary causes of diarrhea in piglets,creating substantial economic losses in the swine farming industry worldwide.This study aimed to investigate the impacts of zinc caproate(ZnCA,C_(12)H_(22)O_(4)Zn)on the intestinal health,growth performance,inflammatory status,and Zn homeostasis of weaned piglets challenged with ETEC K88.In total,48 weaned piglets(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire,7.78±0.19 kg,28 d)were selected for a 21-d experiment.Each experimental treatment consisted of 6 replicate pens with 2 piglets each.The treatment conditions were as follows:i)a basal diet(CON),ii)a basal diet+ETEC K88(NC),iii)a basal diet+2,500 mg/kg of Zn(provided as zinc oxide,ZnO)+ETEC K88(PC),and iv)a basal diet+1,600 mg/kg of Zn(provided as ZnCA)+ETEC K88(ZnCA).Results The addition of 1,600 mg/kg ZnCA to the diet of post-weaning piglets effectively enhanced growth performance and nutrient digestibility and reduced the incidence of diarrhea and inflammatory reactions caused by ETEC K88 infection.These therapeutic effects were comparable to those of pharmacological doses of ZnO.In terms of improving intestinal health and Zn homeostasis in post-weaning piglets challenged with ETEC K88,the effectiveness of 1,600 mg/kg ZnCA surpassed that of pharmacological doses of ZnO.Conclusions Overall,under the experimental conditions of this study,ZnCA exhibited the potential to reduce the pharmacological dosage of ZnO while improving intestinal health and Zn homeostasis in weaned piglets.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372830 and 31972528).
文摘Background Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is widely recognized as being associated with gut microbiota dysbio-sis.However,it has been challenging to clarify which specific intestinal microbiota and their metabolites play a crucial role in the antidiarrhea process of weaned piglets.Results In this study,we first observed that piglets with diarrhea exhibited a lower average daily gain and higher diarrhea score,and elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and D-lactate(D-LA)compared to healthy piglets.Subsequently,we analyzed the differences in intestinal microbial composition and metabolite levels between healthy and diarrheal weaned piglets.Diarrheal piglets demonstrated intestinal microbiota dysbiosis,characterized pri-marily by a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio,a deficiency of Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillus reuteri,and an increased abundance of Bacteroides sp.HF-5287 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.Functional pro-filing of the gut microbiota based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)data was performed,and the results showed that tryptophan metabolism was the most significantly inhibited pathway in piglets with diar-rhea.Most tryptophan metabolites were detected at lower concentrations in diarrheal piglets than in healthy piglets.Furthermore,we explored the effects of dietary indole-3-aldehyde(IAld),a key tryptophan metabolite,on intestinal development and gut barrier function in weaned piglets.Supplementation with 100 mg/kg IAld in the diet increased the small intestine index and improved intestinal barrier function by promoting intestinal stem cell(ISC)expansion in piglets.The promotion of ISC expansion by IAld was also confirmed in porcine intestinal organoids.Conclusions These findings revealed that intestinal microbial tryptophan metabolite IAld alleviates impaired intesti-nal development by promoting ISC expansion in weaned piglets.
基金sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China(81800703)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(GZC20231088)+8 种基金Beijing Nova Program(Z201100006820117 and 20220484181)Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(7184252)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(BMU2021MX013)Peking University Clinical Scientist Training Program(BMU2023PYJH022)Peking University Medicine Seed Fund for Interdisciplinary ResearchChina Endocrine and Metabolism Young Scientific Talent Research Project(2022-N-02-01)China Diabetes Young Scientific Talent Research ProjectBethune-Merck Diabetes Research Fund of Bethune Charitable Foundation。
文摘Maternal consumption of a high-fat diet has been linked to increased risks of obesity and impaired glucose metabolism in offspring.However,the precise epigenetic mechanisms governing these intergenerational effects,particularly during the early stages of offspring development,remain poorly understood.In this study,female C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to either a high-fat diet or normal chow diet throughout gestation and lactation.Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation(MeDIP)coupled with microarray analysis was employed to identify differentially methylated genes in the livers of offspring at weaning age.We found that maternal high-fat diet feeding predisposes offspring to obesity and impaired glucose metabolism as early as the weaning period.DNA methylation profile analysis unveiled a significant enrichment of differentially methylated genes within the natural killer(NK)cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway.MeDIP-PCR validated reduced methylation levels of specific genes within this pathway,including tumour necrosis factorα(TNF-α),phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K),and SHC adaptor protein 1(SHC1).Consistently,the expressions of TNF-α,PI3K,and SHC1 were significantly upregulated,accompanied by elevated serum TNF-αand interleukin-6(IL-6)levels in offspring from dams fed with high-fat diet.Moreover,we assessed the expressions of genes associated with NK cell activities,uncovering a notable rise in hepatic granzyme B levels and a trend towards increased CD107a expression in offspring from dams fed a high-fat diet.In addition,methylation levels of TNF-α,PI3K,and SHC1 promoters were inversely correlated with glucose response during glucose tolerance testing.In conclusion,our findings underscore the critical role of the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity signaling pathway in mediating DNA methylation patterns,thereby contributing to the programming effects of maternal high-fat diet consumption on offspring glucose metabolism as early as the weaning period.
文摘Objective:To investigate the predictive value of diaphragm thickening fraction(DTF)combined with cough peak expiratory flow(CPEF)on the success rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation.Methods:The clinical data of patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation via oral endotracheal intubation in the ICU of our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were studied.All patients underwent a 30-minute spontaneous breathing trial(SBT)using low-level pressure support ventilation(PSV)after meeting the clinical weaning screening criteria.Among them,150 patients who met the clinical weaning criteria were weaned from the ventilator.They were divided into a successful weaning group(n=100)and a failed weaning group(n=50)based on the weaning outcome.Clinical data,including age,gender,APACHE II score,duration of mechanical ventilation,DTF,and CPEF,were collected from 150 patients.The differences in clinical data between the two groups were compared,and the correlation between DTF,CPEF,and the success rate of weaning was analyzed.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in gender ratio(χ^(2)=0.884,P=0.347>0.05),age(t=0.350,P=0.727>0.05),and APACHE II score(t=1.295,P=0.197>0.05),but there was a significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation(t=3.766,P<0.001).The DTF and CPEF values in the successful weaning group were significantly higher than those in the failed weaning group(P<0.05).ROC curves were drawn to predict the weaning results using DTF,CPEF,and the combination of DTF and CPEF.The results showed that the specificity of the combination of DTF and CPEF was comparable to that of either metric alone,but the sensitivity and AUC were significantly higher than those of either metric alone.Conclusion:The combination of DTF and CPEF can be used as an effective indicator to evaluate the weaning efficacy of mechanically ventilated patients,which has important clinical significance for guiding clinical weaning treatment,improving the success rate of weaning,reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia,and shortening the length of hospital stay.
文摘[ Objective] The study aimed to explore the function mechanism of microbial ecological agent DUAN-NAI-AN on controlling weaned piglet diarrhea. E Method] DUAN-NAI-AN was given to the weaned piglets by oral administration and its effects on diarrhea rate, growth performance, in- testinal microflora, pH values of different parts of the intestine and intestinal mucosal morphology were observed. [ Result] DUAN-NAI-AN could im- prove the growth performance of weaned piglets by increasing the growth rate and phase weight gain, showing as higher livability, average daily gain and daily feed intake as well as lower diarrhea rate with 19.24% decline by contrast to the control. In addition, DUAN-NAI-AN could keep the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier and normal digestive function by strengthening intestinal resistance and thus enhance the intestinal mucosal im- mune level. It could also decrease the proportion of potential pathogens and their toxicity effects inside the intestine to help the piglets transfer to and then maintain the dynamic balance of intestinal microflora in a very short period, and it also showed a trend of decreasing the pH value of piglet in- testinal contents. [ Conclusion] DUAN-NAI-AN is an effective microbial ecological agent for the control of weaned piglet diarrhea.
基金Vegetable Basket Projects of Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture for Improving Scientific and Technological Capabilities of New Business Entities~~
文摘In order to investigate the appIication effects of microbial ecoIogical agents as repIacements for antibiotics in weaned pigIets, a total of 120 28 d oId healthy Duroc ＆#215;Landrace ＆#215;Large White weaned pigIets with simiIar bogy weights and body fats and cIose birth dates were seIected. They were randomIy divided into three groups, incIuding controI group （CK）, antibiotic group （A） and microbial ecoIogical agent group （MEA）. The growth performance, health status and economic benefits of the weaned pigIets were measured. The resuIts showed that the A and MEA groups couId better enhance the immunity of weaned pigIets and improve the economic benefits in the whoIe experimental period compared to the CK group （P〈0.01）. How-ever, there were no significant differences in pigIet immunity and economic benefits between the A and MEA groups （P〉0.05）. It is indicated that the Rujunbao, a mi-crobial ecoIogical agent, can be promoted in weaned pigIet production as a repIace-ment for antibiotic.
文摘The development of new/different management and feeding strategies to stimulate gut development and health in newly-weaned pigs, in order to improve growth performance while minimizing the use of antimicrobial compounds such as antibiotic growth promotants （AGP） and heavy mineral compounds, is essential for the long-term sustainability of the pig industry. Factors including the sub-optimal intake of nutrients and energy, inappropriate microbiota biomass and （or） balance, immature and compromised immune function, and psychosomatic factors caused by weaning can compromise both the efficiency of digestion and absorption and intestinal barrier function through mucosal damage and alteration of tight junction integrity. As a consequence, pigs at weaning are highly susceptible to pathogenic enteric conditions such as post-weaning diarrhea that may be caused by serotypes of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil Many dietary components, e.g., protein, fiber, feed additives and minerals, are known to influence microbial growth in the gastrointestinal tract that in turn can impact upon pig growth and health, although the relationships between these are sometimes not necessarily apparent or obvious. In a world climate of increased scrutiny over the use of antibiotics per se in pig production, certain feed additives are seen as alternatives/replacements to antibiotics, and have evolved in some cases to have important roles in everyday commercial pig nutrition. Nevertheless and in general, there remains inconsistency and variability in the efficacy of some feed additives and in cases of severe disease outbreaks, for example, therapeutic antibiotics and/or heavy minerals such as zinc oxide （ZnO） are generally relied upon. If feed ingredients and （or） feed additives are to be used with greater regularity and reliability, then it is necessary to better understand the mechanisms whereby antibiotics and minerals such as ZnO influence animal physiology, in conjunction with the use of appropriate challenge models and in vitro and in vivo techniques.
基金Supported by grants from the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences ( KSCX2-YW-N-051 and SW-323)NSFC(30901040, 30901041, 30928018, 30828025, 30700581, and 30771558 )+2 种基金National Basic Research Program of China(2009CB118800)National 863 Project ( 2008AA10Z316)National Scientific and Technological Supporting Project(2007BAQ01047 and 2006BAD12B07)~~
文摘Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the immune status and protein synthesis in early-weaned pigs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate how arginine affects the expression of key proteins that regulate growth and nutrient transport of jejunum, a total of 12 healthy piglets （21 day-old, similar body weight, Landrace x Yorkshire） delivered by four sows were randomly divided into two groups. Piglets in the test group were reared with feed supplemented L-arginine at a concentration of 6.0 g/kg, while piglets in the control group were fed with feed supplemented L-alanine at a concentration of 12.3 g/kg （isonitrogenous control）. After 7 d, jejunum mucosae was collected and analyzed with the 2-D PAGE MS technology. Compared with the control pigs, arginine decreased the levels of proteins that regulate the protein syn- thesis, intermediary metabolism and tissue growth （ similar to anterior gradient 2 homolog, cyclophilin_ABHJike, hypothetical protein FLJ39502 and tetratrioopeptide repeat domain 16, similar to KIAA0156, mitechondrial ATP synthase, hydrion transporting F1 complex, beta subunit and alpha-tu- bulin ubiquitous isoform 19, prolyl 4-hydroxylase, beta subunit precursor）. In addition, arginine increased the levels of proteins that are involved in proteolysis and immune response （ PGAM1, T cell receptor beta variable 20, membrane steroid binding protein, similar to myomesin-1, and chain A, structure of pig muscle Pgk complexed with MgATP）. Therefore, arginine influences the immune response and protein synthesis mechanisms as well as improves eady weaned stress syndrome of piglets.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Project(2016YFD0501204)the earmarked fund for China Agricultural Technology System(CARS-35)funded in part by Guangzhou Insighter Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.(GuangZhou,China).
文摘Background:Tannic acid(TA)is potential to reduce diarrhea in weaning pigs,but knowledge about the influence of TA on intestinal barrier integrity and function is still scarce.This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary TA supplementation on growth performance,diarrhea rate,intestinal barrier integrity and function of weaned pigs.Methods:A total of 108 crossbred(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)piglets,with an initial average body weight of 6.60±0.27 kg,were allotted to 3 groups(6 pigs/pen and 6 replicates/group)in a randomized complete block design according to their gender and body weight.Piglets were fed the basal diet with 0(control,CON),0.2%and 1.0%TA,respectively.The trial lasted for 28 d.Results:Compared with the CON group,dietary 0.2%and 1.0%TA supplementation didn’t affect ADFI,ADG and F:G(P>0.05),but reduced diarrhea rate,diarrhea index and diarrhea score of piglets(P<0.05),reduced diamine oxidase(DAO)activity and D-lactic acid concentration in serum(P<0.01).The higher occludin expression and localization were observed in the duodenum,jejunum and ileum after supplementation with 0.2%or 1.0%TA(P<0.05).Adding 0.2%TA to diet significantly decreased crypt depth,increased villus height/crypt depth ratio in the duodenum(P<0.05),and dietary 1.0%TA tended to decrease crypt depth(P<0.10)and significantly decreased villus height(P<0.05)of the ileum.Moreover,lower malondialdehyde content in the ileum was detected in the pigs fed 1.0%TA(P<0.05).In the duodenum,both 0.2%and 1.0%TA groups had higher occludin(OCLN)mRNA and 0.2%TA group had higher zonula occludens-2(ZO-2)level(P<0.05).Meanwhile,dietary 1.0%TA supplementation tended to up-regulate OCLN mRNA levels in the jejunum(P<0.10)and 0.2%TA supplementation tended to up-regulate zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)mRNA levels in the ileum(P<0.10).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation of 0.2%or 1.0%TA could effectively alleviate postweaning diarrhea without altering growth performance in weaned piglets,which might be achieved by improving intestinal barrier integrity and function.
基金carried out with the support of“Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science&Technology Development(Project No.PJ01622001)”Rural Development Administration,Korea。
文摘Background:This study was conducted to investigate the effects of each phytogenic feed additive(PFA;PFA1,bitter citrus extract;PFA2,a microencapsulated blend of thymol and carvacrol;PFA3,a mixture of bitter citrus extract,thymol,and carvacrol;PFA4,a premixture of grape seed,grape marc extract,green tea,and hops;PFA5,fenugreek seed powder)on the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,intestinal morphology,and immune response in weaned pigs infected with Escherichia coli(E.coli).Results:A total of 634-week-old weaned pigs were placed in individual metabolic cages and assigned to seven treatment groups.The seven treatments were as follows:1)NC;basal diet without E.coli challenge,2)PC;basal diet with E.coli challenge,3)T1;PC+0.04%PFA1,4)T2;PC+0.01%PFA2,5)T3;PC+0.10%PFA3,6)T4;PC+0.04%PFA4,7)T5;PC+0.10%PFA5.The experiments lasted in 21 d,including 7 d before and 14 d after the first E.coli challenge.In the E.coli challenge treatments,all pigs were orally inoculated by dividing a total of 10 mL of E.coli F18 for 3 consecutive days.The PFA-added groups significantly increased(P<0.05)average daily gain and feed efficiency and decreased(P<0.05)the fecal score at d 0 to 14 post-inoculation(PI).Tumor necrosis factorαwas significantly lower(P<0.05)in the PFA-added groups except for T1 in d 14 PI compared to the PC treatment.The T3 had a higher(P<0.05)immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A concentration compared to the PC treatment at d 7 PI.Also,T3 showed significantly higher(P<0.05)villus height:crypt depth and claudin 1 expression in ileal mucosa,and significantly downregulated(P<0.05)the expression of calprotectin compared to the PC treatment.Conclusions:Supplementation of PFA in weaned pigs challenged with E.coli alleviated the negative effects of E.coli and improved growth performance.Among them,the mixed additive of bitter citrus extract,thymol,and carvacrol showed the most effective results,improving immune response,intestinal morphology,and expression of tight junctions.
基金Supported by Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund[CX(12)1001-05]~~
文摘In order to explore a breeding method for mycoplasmal pneumonia-negative swine population, the purifying effects of combination therapy, SEW and three-point breeding and management system on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were investigated in this study. After the processes of screening pregnant sows, programmed therapy for sows, SEW, three-point breeding and management in the barrier isolation system and programmed therapy for piglets, the newly-bred piglets were monitored as long as four months by serum antibody detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and fluorescent quantitative PCR of nose swabs. The results showed that when the newlybred five batches of piglets were older than 35 d, they were all negative by serum antibody detection and nose swab antigen detection. Therefore, the combination therapy, SEW and three-point production and management system can effectively purify Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, providing theoretical basis and clinical experience for the control and purification of domestic mycoplasmal pneumonia.
基金Supported by Xiamen Marine Research and Development Institute [K10102(1)]~~
文摘[Objective] The aim was to find a suitable weaning regime, including weaning period and weaning feed, for Angui//a mormorata glass eels. [Method] A weaning processing experiment was conducted indoor in fiberglass tanks, two kinds of artificial feeds （eel grower powder feed and eel grower piece feed） were selected as weaning diets against a control group fed on natural food （minced octopus flesh）, two weaning periods, 5 and 15 d, were introduced in weaning experiment. [Result] The growth rate and survival rate of the groups with 15-day＇s weaning period were higher than that of the groups with 5-day＇s weaning period, revealing that a 20% increase every 3 d from 0% to 100% in the proportion of grower paste in the minced octopus flesh during weaning is suitable for A. mormorata glass eels. [Conclusion] A. mormorata glass eels can be weaned from natural food to the commer- cially available eel grower feeds over a certain weaning period, and of the artificial feeds with same ingredients and nutrient, A. mormorata glass eels accepted powder feed more readily over 28 d than piece feed.
