Effects of Oxidative Stress on Spermatozoa and Male Infertility

Oxidative stress occurs when the production of potentially destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the body’s own natural antioxidant defences, resulting in cellular damage. Spermatozoa oxidative stress is intimately linked to several reproductive pathologies including the failure of spermatozoa cryopreservation and spermatozoa-egg recognition and fertilization. In this light, this review focuses on (i) the effects of oxidative stress on spermatozoa and application of antioxidants; (ii) production of ROS during cryopreservation; and (iii) oxidative stress in male infertility. This literature describes both a physiological and a pathological role of ROS in fertility. A delicate balance between ROS necessary for physiological activity and antioxidants to protect from cellular oxidative injury is essential for fertility

High Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of HCV among HIV-1 Infected People from Various High-Risk Groups in China

BACKGROUND: Co-infection with HIV-1 and HCV is a significant global public health problem and a major consideration for anti-HIV-1 treatment. HCV infection among HIV-1 positive people who are eligible for the newly launched nationwide anti-HIV-1 treatment program in China has not been well characterized. METHODOLOGY: A nationwide survey of HIV-1 positive injection drug uses (IDU), former paid blood donors (FBD), and sexually transmitted cases from multiple provinces including the four most affected provinces in China was conducted. HCV prevalence and genetic diversity were determined. We found that IDU and FBD have extremely high rates of HCV infection (97% and 93%, respectively). Surprisingly, people who acquired HIV-1 through sexual contact also had a higher rate of HCV infection (20%) than the general population. HIV-1 subtype and HCV genotypes were amazingly similar among FBD from multiple provinces stretching from Central to Northeast China. However, although patterns of overland trafficking of heroin and distinct HIV-1 subtypes could be detected among IDU, HCV genotypes of IDU were more diverse and exhibited significant regional differences. CONCLUSION: Emerging HIV-1 and HCV co-infection and possible sexual transmission of HCV in China require urgent prevention measures and should be taken into consideration in the nationwide antiretroviral treatment program

Effects of the Supplementation of Lysophospholipids through Pelleted Total Mixed Rations on Blood Biochemical Parameters and Milk Production and Composition of Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows

Lysophospholipids (LPL), a new feed additive, were supplemented to a pelleted total mixed ration (TMR) of dairy cows to examine its effects on feed intake, production, and composition of milk and plasma biochemical parameters. Two dietary treatments included diets supplemented without (control diet; CON) or with LPL at a dose of 0.5 g/kg of pelleted TMR. Twelve multiparous, mid-lactation, Holstein cows (Bodyweight 730 ± 9.3 kg; 100 ± 6.0 days in milk) were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary treatments with a 42-day measurement period after a 14-day adaptation period. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Feed intake and milk yields were recorded daily, blood samples were collected fortnightly, and milk samples weekly. The results showed that the supplementation of LPL did not change feed dry matter intake, milk yields, and milk composition. However, it increased total protein and globulin and the activity of alkaline phosphatase and decreased total cholesterol in plasma. This study suggests that LPL may have beneficent effects in animal health but might be not a feasible feed additive to increase production for dairy cows fed a pelleted TMR

Including ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) in the diet of dairy cows: effects on production performance, milk composition, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestion

This experiment was conducted to examine the effects of substituting mixed silage (fresh ramie: dry rice straw = 80: 20; kg: kg) composed of fresh forage ramie, also known as ‘China grass’, Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud (a nettle native to Asia) and rice straw for corn silage and alfalfa hay on the production performance, milk components, rumen fermentation parameters, and nutrient digestion in dairy cows. Thirty multiparous Chinese Holstein cows (629 ± 59.2 kg of BW, 25 ± 4.7 kg of milk yield, and 100 ± 18 DIM; mean ± SD) were randomly divided into three groups. The experimental treatments containing three diets, each consisting of differing proportions of mixed silage (0%, 10%, and 20%, designated as CON, MS1, and MS2, respectively) as a substitution for corn silage and alfalfa hay. There were no effects of mixed silage diets on dry matter intake (DMI), 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield, milk protein percentage, milk somatic cell count, and milk urea nitrogen (MUN), but linearly increased total solids (p = .03) and milk fat percentage (p = .001) in cows fed the MS1 and MS2 diets. Feeding mixed silage diets linearly reduced milk yield (p = .01) and milk lactose percentage (p = .01), and had linearly increased rumen pH values (p = .01). There were no observable differences in other rumen fermentation parameters between the mixed silage and control diets. Mixed silage diets exhibited increased DM digestibility (linearly, p = .04; quadratically, p = .017) and linearly decreased crude protein digestibility (p = .05), but we observed no differences in the apparent total-tract digestibility of EE, NDF, and ADF between the control and mixed silage diets. In conclusion, using ramie and rice straw mixed silage proved beneficial by increasing milk fat percentage, milk solids, and DM digestibility, ramie could be used as a potential forage resource in dairy cow diets.Highlights We tested the effects of substituting alfalfa hay and corn silage with mixed silage composed of fresh forage ramie and rice straw on dairy cows Mixed silage diets had no effect on dry matter intake (DMI) Mixed silage diets reduced milk yield and milk lactose percentag

Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in diets on performance, nutrient utilization, blood parameters, antioxidant status and meat colour stability in lambs

The aim of this research was to compare growth performance, nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, blood parameters, antioxidant status and meat colour stability of lambs fed by diets partially or completely substitution of corn with sorghum. Twenty-four male German merino weaned lambs (16.19 Âą 2.05 kg BW) were randomly divided into four treatments in a completely randomized design. The diets for four treatments contained 450 g/kg of ground corn (C), 300 + 150 g/kg of ground corn and sorghum (CSM1), 150 + 300 g/kg of ground corn and sorghum (CSM2) and 450 g/kg ground sorghum (S), all diets consisted of 70% concentrated feed and 30% L. chinensis hay. The lambs were fed the experimental diets for 56 days. Inclusion of sorghum tended to increase average daily weight gain (ADG) and total gain (P = 0.06), and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.10). Significant increase in nitrogen intake and fecal nitrogen excretion was observed after substitution of corn with sorghum and the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) was significantly reduced. Concentrations of ammonia N in rumen fluid were affected by treatment(P = 0.01) and an interaction (PË 0.01) between treatment and sampling time. No significant effects were found on blood parameters among treatments. Replacement of corn with sorghum significantly decreased b* values of meat during storage. Sorghum instead of corn is feasible in lamb diets, and has positive effect on the lamb growth and meat quality.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effects of Feeding Garlic Powder on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and the Health Status of Lambs Infected by Gastrointestinal Nematodes

For the study, forty lambs were weighed and assigned into two treatments to determine the effects of feeding garlic powder on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and the health status of lambs infected with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). The lambs were fed with a basal diet without or with 50 g/kg garlic powder for 84 d. Data were analyzed by a general linear or mixed model of SAS software and differences were considered statistically significant if p ≤ 0.05. Results showed that garlic powder supplementation increased the lambs’ average daily gain (p = 0.025), digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.019), and crude protein (p = 0.007). No significant changes were observed on the dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio, as well as the apparent digestibility of lipid and fiber. An interactive effect between treatment and feeding day was observed on ruminal pH (p < 0.001) and ammonia nitrogen concentration (p < 0.001). Ruminal pH (p < 0.001) and ammonia nitrogen concentration (p < 0.001) decreased with garlic powder supplementation, while ammonia nitrogen concentration increased (p = 0.001) with the extension of the feeding period. Garlic powder supplementation increased the total volatile fatty acid concentration (p < 0.001) in the rumen fluid, the molar proportion of acetic acid (p = 0.002), propionic acid (p < 0.001), and isovaleric acid (p = 0.049), but it decreased the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p = 0.015). The lambs’ fecal egg count decreased (p < 0.001), but the packed cell volume and body condition scores of lambs increased (p < 0.001) with garlic powder supplementation. In conclusion, feeding garlic powder increased growth performance, feed digestion, rumen fermentation, and the health status of lambs infected with GINs

Effects of Supplemental Feed with Different Levels of Dietary Metabolizable Energy on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Grazing Naturalized Swan Geese (Anser cygnoides)

Grazing Swan geese (Anser cygnoides) have good meat quality but grow slowly. This study aimed to study whether supplemental feeding could improve growth performance of grazing Swan geese and investigate a suitable dietary metabolizable energy (ME) level of supplemental diet for grazing Swan geese. Naturalized healthy male Swan geese (n = 144; 42 ± 2.0 days and 1.21 ± 0.17 kg) were randomly allocated into 4 groups and grazed on pasture alone (control, CON) or offered supplemental diets with ME of 9.5, 11.5, or 13.5 MJ/kg of DM after grazing. Growth performance and body-size measurements (including bone development) were lower (p < 0.05) in CON versus supplemented geese, as well as slaughter measurements on days 28 and 56. The DM intake linearly decreased (p < 0.01) with increasing dietary ME from day 29 to 56. Slaughter, semi-eviscerated, eviscerated, and thigh muscle yield linearly (p < 0.01) decreased with increasing dietary ME on day 56. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) for breast and thigh muscle on days 28 and 56, and breast muscle shear force on day 56, were lower (p < 0.01) in supplemented versus CON geese. In conclusion, supplemental feeding improved growth performance and carcass characteristics of grazing Swan geese, and supplemental feed with ME of 9.5 MJ/kg of DM could be offered to improve growth and meat quality of grazing Swan geese

Rhubarb Supplementation Promotes Intestinal Mucosal Innate Immune Homeostasis through Modulating Intestinal Epithelial Microbiota in Goat Kids

The abuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock production pose a potential health risk globally. Rhubarb can serve as a potential alternative to antibiotics, and several studies have looked into its anticancer, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to test the effects of rhubarb supplementation to the diet of young ruminants on innate immune function and epithelial microbiota in the small intestine. Goat kids were fed with a control diet supplemented with or without rhubarb (1.25% DM) and were slaughtered at days 50 and 60 of age. Results showed that the supplementation of rhubarb increased ileal villus height (<i>P</i> = 0.036), increased jejujal and ileal anti-inflammatory <i>IL-10</i> production (<i>P</i> < 0.05), increased jejunal and ileal <i>Claudin-1</i> expression at both mRNA and protein levels (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and decreased ileal pro-inflammatory <i>IL-1β</i> production (<i>P</i> < 0.05). These changes in innate immune function were accompanied by shifts in ileal epithelial bacterial ecosystem in favor of <i>Blautia</i>, <i>Clostridium</i>, <i>Lactobacillus</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas</i>, and with a decline in the relative abundance of <i>Staphylococcus</i> (<i>P</i> < 0.001) when rhubarb was supplemented. Additionally, age also affected (<i>P</i> < 0.05) crypt depth, cytokine production, <i>Claudin-1</i> expression and relative abundances of specific genera in epithelial bacteria. Collectively, the supplementation of rhubarb could enhance host mucosal innate immune homeostasis by modulating intestinal epithelial microbiota during the early stages of animal development

Left Atrial Dysfunction in Children with Repaired Pulmonary Artery Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

(1) Background: The left atrium (LA) is much more than a reservoir for left ventricular filling. The aim of this study was to assess the LA volume and function in patients with repaired pulmonary artery atresia with ventricular septal defect (rPA/VSD) using CMR. (2) Methods: 31 pediatric patients with rPA/VSD and 30 healthy controls were prospectively recruited. Left atrial ejection fraction (EF), strain and strain rate of three phases (reservoir, conduit, and pump) and left atrial volume were measured with cardiac function analysis software. (3) Results: Patients with rPA/VSD had decreased maximal volume index (p = 0.008). Compared to controls, LA reservoir strain and strain rate, conduit strain and strain rate, booster pump strain rate, total EF and passive EF were significantly lower (p = 0.001, p p = 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.03, p p p = 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.04, respectively) than the patients with higher RVEF (≥50%). (4) Conclusions: In patients with rPA/VSD, LA function was altered when biventricular EF was preserved, which may provide an early indication of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. CMR can detect LA dysfunction at an early stage, even before LA enlargement