bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants and Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hospitalization Among Confirmed Cases in Washington State: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Paredes Miguel I , Lunn Stephanie M , Famulare Michael , Frisbie Lauren A , Painter Ian , Burstein Roy , Roychoudhury Pavitra , Xie Hong , Mohamed Bakhash Shah A , Perez Ricardo , Lukes Maria , Ellis Sean , Sathees Saraswathi , Mathias Patrick C , Greninger Alexander , Starita Lea M , Frazar Chris D , Ryke Erica , Zhong Weizhi , Gamboa Luis , Threlkeld Machiko , Lee Jover , McDermot Evan , Truong Melissa , Nickerson Deborah A , Bates Daniel L , Hartman Matthew E , Haugen Eric , Nguyen Truong N , Richards Joshua D , Rodriguez Jacob L , Stamatoyannopoulos John A , Thorland Eric , Melly Geoff , Dykema Philip E , MacKellar Drew C , Gray Hannah K , Singh Avi , Peterson JohnAric M , Russell Denny , Torres Laura Marcela , Lindquist Scott , Bedford Trevor , Allen Krisandra J , Oltean Hanna N
Published: April 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is dominated by variant viruses; the resulting impact on disease severity remains unclear. Using a retrospective cohort study, we assessed the hospitalization risk following infection with 7 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants.

Methods

Our study includes individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the Washington Disease Reporting System with available viral genome data, from 1 December 2020 to 14 January 2022. The analysis was restricted to cases with specimens collected through sentinel surveillance. Using a Cox proportional hazards model with mixed effects, we estimated hazard ratios (HR) for hospitalization risk following infection with a variant, adjusting for age, sex, calendar week, and vaccination.

Results

In total, 58 848 cases were sequenced through sentinel surveillance, of which 1705 (2.9%) were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Higher hospitalization risk was found for infections with Gamma (HR 3.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.40–4.26), Beta (HR 2.85, 95% CI 1.56–5.23), Delta (HR 2.28 95% CI 1.56–3.34), or Alpha (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.29–2.07) compared to infections with ancestral lineages; Omicron (HR 0.92, 95% CI .56–1.52) showed no significant difference in risk. Following Alpha, Gamma, or Delta infection, unvaccinated patients show higher hospitalization risk, while vaccinated patients show no significant difference in risk, both compared to unvaccinated, ancestral lineage cases. Hospitalization risk following Omicron infection is lower with vaccination.

Conclusions

Infection with Alpha, Gamma, or Delta results in a higher hospitalization risk, with vaccination attenuating that risk. Our findings support hospital preparedness, vaccination, and genomic surveillance.
Origin, evolution, breeding, and omics of Apiaceae: a family of vegetables and medicinal plants
Authors: Wang Xiao-Jing , Luo Qing , Li Tong , Meng Ping-Hong , Pu Yu-Ting , Liu Jie-Xia , Zhang Jian , Liu Hui , Tan Guo-Fei , Xiong Ai-Sheng
Published: April 2022

Many of the world’s most important vegetables and medicinal crops, including carrot, celery, coriander, fennel, and cumin, belong to the Apiaceae family. In this review, we summarize the complex origins of Apiaceae and the current state of research on the family, including traditional and molecular breeding practices, bioactive compounds, medicinal applications, nanotechnology, and omics research. Numerous molecular markers, regulatory factors, and functional genes have been discovered, studied, and applied to improve vegetable and medicinal crops in Apiaceae. In addition, current trends in Apiaceae application and research are also briefly described, including mining new functional genes and metabolites using omics research, identifying new genetic variants associated with important agronomic traits by population genetics analysis and GWAS, applying genetic transformation, the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system, and nanotechnology. This review provides a reference for basic and applied research on Apiaceae vegetable and medicinal plants.
Transcriptome analysis reveals the regulatory mechanism by whichMdWOX11suppresses adventitious shoot formation in apple
Authors: Mao Jiangping , Ma Doudou , Niu Chundong , Ma Xiaolong , Li Ke , Tahir Muhammad Mobeen , Chen Shiyue , Liu Xiuxiu , Zhang Dong
Published: April 2022

Adventitious shoot (AS) regeneration accelerates plant reproduction and genetic transformation. WOX11 is involved in many biological processes, but its regulation of AS regeneration has not been reported. Here, we showed that the genotype and CK/IAA ratio of apple leaves were the key factors that affected their capacity for AS formation. Moreover, the expression level of MdWOX11 was negatively correlated with the capacity for AS formation. Phenotypic analysis of MdWOX11 transgenic plants showed that overexpression of MdWOX11 inhibited AS formation. Endogenous hormone analysis demonstrated that the contents of auxin (IAA), cytokinin (CK), and abscisic acid (ABA) were higher in MdWOX11-RNAi plants than in MdWOX11-OE transgenic plants. We used RNA sequencing to examine the transcriptional responses of genes in MdWOX11-RNAi and MdWOX11-OE transgenic apple plants at different AS stages. We identified 8066 differentially expressed genes and focused our analysis on those involved in the IAA, CK, ABA, and gibberellin (GA) hormone signaling pathways. The expression of genes related to the CK signaling pathway and shoot development was higher in GL-3 than in MdWOX11-OE transgenic plants during the callus and AS emergence stages. However, the expression of MdCKX5 was higher in MdWOX11-OE transgenic plants than in GL3 and MdWOX11-RNAi transgenic plants. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and ChIP-qPCR showed that MdWOX11 binds to the promoter of MdCKX5, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that MdWOX11 enhanced the promoter activity of MdCKX5. We concluded that MdCKX5 acts downstream of MdWOX11 to control AS formation, and we built a regulatory model of the suppression of AS formation by MdWOX11 in apple.
MYB308-mediated transcriptional activation of plasma membrane H+-ATPase 6 promotes iron uptake in citrus
Authors: Fan Zhengyan , Wu Yifang , Zhao Liuying , Fu Lina , Deng Lile , Deng Jiarui , Ding Dekuan , Xiao Shunyuan , Deng Xiuxin , Peng Shu’ang , Pan Zhiyong
Published: April 2022

Iron-deficiency chlorosis is a common nutritional disorder in crops grown on alkaline or calcareous soils. Although the acclimation mechanism to iron deficiency has been investigated, the genetic regulation of iron acquisition is still unclear. Here, by comparing the iron uptake process between the iron-poor-soil-tolerant citrus species Zhique (ZQ) and the iron-poor-soil-sensitive citrus species trifoliate orange (TO), we discovered that enhanced root H + efflux is crucial for the tolerance to iron deficiency in ZQ. The H+ efflux is mainly regulated by a plasma membrane-localized H+-ATPase, HA6, the expression of which is upregulated in plants grown in soil with low iron content, and significantly higher in the roots of ZQ than TO. Overexpression of the HA6 gene in the Arabidopsis thaliana aha2 mutant, defective in iron uptake, recovered the wild-type phenotype. In parallel, overexpression of the HA6 gene in TO significantly increased iron content of plants. Moreover, an iron deficiency-induced transcription factor, MYB308, was revealed to bind the promoter and activate the expression of HA6 in ZQ in yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift, and dual-luciferase assays. Overexpression of MYB308 in ZQ roots significantly increased the expression level of the HA6 gene. However, MYB308 cannot bind or activate the HA6 promoter in TO due to the sequence variation of the corresponding MYB308 binding motif. Taking these results together, we propose that the MYB308 could activate HA6 to promote root H+ efflux and iron uptake, and that the distinctive MYB308-HA6 transcriptional module may be, at least in part, responsible for the iron deficiency tolerance in citrus.
Immunoendocrinology and Ecoimmunology in Brazilian Anurans
Authors: Gomes Fernando Ribeiro , Madelaire Carla Bonetti , Moretti Eduardo Hermógenes , Titon Stefanny Christie Monteiro , Assis Vania Regina
Published: April 2022

This paper reviews several aspects of immunoendocrinology and ecoimmunology in Brazilian species of anurans under investigation for more than a decade, including (1) patterns of annual covariation of circulating steroids, calling behavior and innate immunity, (2) endocrine and immune correlates of calling performance, (3) behavioral and physiological correlates of parasite load, (4) thermal sensitivity of immune function, and (5) endocrine and immunomodulation by experimental exposure to acute and chronic stressors, as well as to endocrine manipulations and simulated infections. Integrated results have shown an immunoprotective role of increased steroid plasma levels during reproductive activity in calling males. Moreover, a higher helminth parasite load is associated with changes in several behavioral and physiological traits under field conditions. We also found anuran innate immunity is generally characterized by eurythermy, with maximal performance observed in temperatures close to normal and fever thermal preferendum. Moreover, the aerobic scope of innate immune response is decreased at fever thermal preferendum. Experimental exposure to stressors results in increased corticosterone plasma levels and immune redistribution, with an impact on immune function depending on the duration of the stress exposure. Interestingly, the fate of immunomodulation by chronic stressors also depends in part on individual body condition. Acute treatment with corticosterone generally enhances immune function, while prolonged exposure results in immunosuppression. Still, the results of hormonal treatment are complex and depend on the dose, duration of treatment, and the immune variable considered. Finally, simulated infection results in complex modulation of the expression of cytokines, increased immune function, activation of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Interrenal axis, and decreased activity of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal axis, as well as reduced melatonin plasma levels, suggesting that anurans have a functional Immune-Pineal axis, homologous to that previously described for mammals. These integrated and complementary approaches have contributed to a better understanding of physiological mechanisms and processes, as well as ecological and evolutionary implications of anuran immunoendocrinology.
88 Effect of Increasing Levels of a Novel Consensus Bacterial 6-Phytase Variant on Ileal and Total Tract Digestibility of Nutrients in Diets Fed to Young Pigs
Authors: Espinosa Charmaine D , Velayudhan Deepak , Dersjant-Li Yueming , Stein Hans H
Published: April 2022

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that increasing levels of phytase increases apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in diets fed to young pigs. A negative control (NC) diet that was deficient (compared with NRC recommendation) in total Ca (-0.15%), standardized total tract digestible P (-0.16%), net energy (-33 kcal/kg), and standardized ileal digestible amino acids (average -0.02% unit) was formulated. Five additional diets were formulated by adding 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 phytase units per kg of a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant (PhyG) to the NC diet. All diets were based on corn, soybean meal, and canola meal. Eighteen ileal-cannulated pigs (17.81 ± 1.71 kg) were allotted to a 6 × 3 incomplete Latin square design with 6 diets and 3 periods. There were 3 pigs per diet in each period; therefore, there were nine replicate pigs per diet. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Procedure of SAS with diet as the fixed effect whereas pig and period were considered random effects. Linear and quadratic effects of PhyG on nutrient digestibility were determined using polynomial contrast statements. Linear (P < 0.01) and quadratic (P < 0.05) increases in AID of all individual amino acids (except Arg) were observed as dietary concentrations of PhyG increased (Table 1). Likewise, an increase (linear, P < 0.01; quadratic, P < 0.05) in ATTD of minerals in diets was observed as the concentration of PhyG increased in diets. Increasing levels of PhyG in diets also increased (linear, P < 0.05) ATTD of gross energy. In conclusion, increasing levels of the novel phytase (PhyG) effectively increased ileal and total tract digestibility of nutrients by pigs.
113 Effects of Maternal Parity and Prebiotics on the Microbiome of Nursery Pigs
Authors: Law Kayla , Garcia Eduardo Rosa Medina , Hastad Chad W , Murray Deborah , Urriola Pedro E , Gomez Andres
Published: April 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal parity on sow and offspring microbiomes, and the influence of parity on pig fecal microbiome and performance in response to a prebiotic post-weaning. Fecal and vaginal swabs were collected from 22 primiparous and 74 multiparous sows in a commercial farm at weaning. Fecal swabs were also collected from 48 randomly selected piglets (n = 24, from primiparous and multiparous sows respectively) at d 0, 21, and 42 post-weaning. At weaning, piglets were allotted into 3 dietary treatment groups: a standard nursery diet including pharmacological doses of Zn and Cu (CTRL), a group fed a commercial prebiotic only (PRE), and a group fed the prebiotic plus Zn and Cu (PRE+ZnCu). Extracted DNA was sequenced on the MiSeq platform targeting the V4 variable region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, and sequence data were analyzed using DADA2 plus various packages within the R statistical software. Although there were no differences in vaginal microbiome composition between primiparous and multiparous sows, fecal microbiome composition was different (PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.02, P = 0.03). The fecal microbiomes of primiparous offspring displayed significantly higher bacterial diversity compared with multiparous offspring at d0 and d21 (Shannon’s H, P < 0.01), with differences in community composition observed at d21 only (PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.03, P = 0.04). When analyzing the effects of maternal parity within each treatment, only the PRE diet showed significant compositional distinctions between primiparous and multiparous microbiomes (d21: PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.13, P = 0.01; d42: PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.19, P = 0.001). Compositional differences in pig fecal microbiomes between treatments, regardless of maternal parity, were observed only at d21 (PERMANOVA, R2 = 0.12, P = 0.001). No significant differences in growth performance between treatment groups were observed. These results indicate that maternal parity influences pig gut microbiomes post-weaning, and may influence the effects of dietary prebiotics on nursery pig microbiomes.
155 Effects of Ad Libitum or Restricted Feeding from 140 to 200 Days of Age on Removal Rate and Semen Production of PIC 800 Boars
Authors: Lu Ning , Dritz Steve , Vier Carine M , Navales Ron A , Cast Wayne R , Kleve-Feld Michael , Orlando Uislei A
Published: April 2022

Our objective was to determine the effects of ad libitum or restricted feeding PIC 800 boars from 140 to 200 d of age on removal rate and semen production. A total of 206 boars (141±1.5 d of age, 115±1.9 kg of body weight) were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 treatments that consisted of ad libitum feeding in pens (n = 119, 1.16 square meter floor space per boar) and restricted feeding with 2.3 kg/d in crates (n = 87, 1.05 square meter floor space per boar). All boars were fed a common diet that was formulated to have 2300 Kcal of NE/kg and 0.61% of standardized ileal digestible lysine. The 2 different feeding regimens were applied for approximately 58 d, with boars being individually weighed at approximately 140 and 200 d of age. Boars were then shipped to commercial boar studs where the removal and semen production data were collected. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model in R, and individual boar was considered the experimental unit. The feed intake of ad libitum fed boars were predicted to be 3.6 kg/d according to previously published models (Lu et al., 2021). At 200 d of age, restricted fed boars had reduced final body weight (143 and 186 kg, P < 0.001) and average daily gain (492 and 1,212 g/d, < 0.001) compared with those fed ad libitum. By d 450 of age, boars that were restricted fed had improved survival probability (78% and 56%, P = 0.002), and reduced removal probability due to structure reasons (9% and 26%, P = 0.017). The probability of the collected semen to be used was not affected by treatment (98.1 and 98.9%, P = 0.112). In the current experiment, restricted feeding from 140 to 200 d of age reduced growth rate of boars, increased their subsequent survival probability, but did not impact semen production.
180 Supplementation of One-Carbon Metabolites to Beef Heifers During Early Gestation Increases Fetal Organ Weight at Day 63 of Gestation
Authors: King Layla , Syring Jessica , Entzie Yssi , Hirchert Mara R , Crouse Matthew S , Caton Joel , Dahlen Carl R , Ward Alison K
Published: April 2022

We hypothesized a low maternal plane of nutrition will impair fetal growth in early gestation and that supplementation of one-carbon metabolites (OCM) will rescue the growth restriction. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial with 2 levels of gain, each with or without supplementation of OCM. Angus-cross heifers were bred with female-sexed semen from a single sire. At breeding (d 0), beef heifers were individually fed using a Calan gate system and assigned to treatment (n = 8 per treatment): Control intake (targeted: 0.45 kg/d, actual: 0.60 kg/d ADG) without OCM (CON-OCM), CON with OCM (CON+OCM), Restricted intake (targeted/actual: -0.23 kg/d ADG) without OCM (RES-OCM), or RES with OCM (RES+OCM). The OCM supplement consisted of ruminal-protected choline (60 g/d) and methionine (10 g/d) in a fine-ground corn carrier fed daily, and weekly injections of folate (320 mg) and vitamin B12 (10 mg). The -OCM heifers received the corn carrier and saline injections. Heifers were slaughtered and fetal tissues collected on d 63. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedures of SAS. Fetal body weight tended (P = 0.07) to be lighter and stomach complex weight was lighter (P = 0.03) in RES than CON. When organ weights were normalized to total brain weight to assess allometric growth, OCM × gain interactions were observed in heart (P = 0.04), left longissimus dorsi (P = 0.04), and right hemisphere (P = 0.01) with CON+OCM greater than CON–OCM. The normalized left hemisphere trend to be greater in RES+OCM than RES-OCM (P = 0.08). These data suggest that OCM supplementation during early gestation increases allometric growth of fetal cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue. Day 63 is within the period of peak primary myogenesis in cattle, therefore differences in muscle growth during this time could have lasting implications in post-natal calf growth and performance.
200 Evaluating Performance of Calf-Fed Steers Fed Steam-Flaked Corn Based Finishing Diets with Varying Levels of Distillers Grains
Authors: Troyer Braden , Norman Mitch , McPhillips Levi J , Watson Andrea K , MacDonald Jim C , Erickson Galen E
Published: April 2022

Steam-flaked corn (SFC) is becoming more common in Northern Plains and Midwest feeding areas. While performance benefits of feeding wet (WDGS) or modified (MDGS) distillers grains are well documented in diets with dry-rolled or high-moisture corn, fewer data are available evaluating distillers grains in SFC-based diets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate performance when feeding WDGS or MDGS at increasing inclusions in SFC-based finishing diets. Crossbred steers (n = 560; initial BW = 299 kg; SD = 15 kg) were utilized in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial design with factors consisting of 2 distillers types (MDGS or WDGS) fed at 1 of 3 inclusions (10%, 20%, or 30%) replacing SFC on a dry matter (DM) basis. A 0% distillers treatment was used for determining type by inclusion interactions. An interaction between type and inclusion of distillers was observed for dry matter intake (DMI;P = 0.06) and feed efficiency (G:F; P =0.02). Intake for steers fed WDGS tended to quadratically increase (P = 0.08), while steers fed MDGS had a more dramatic linear increase (P < 0.01) in DMI. Increasing WDGS inclusion resulted in a linear increase in G:F (P = 0.01), whereas increasing MDGS inclusion had no effect on G:F (P = 0.16). No interaction between type and inclusion of distillers grains for other variables (P > 0.20). Feeding distillers grains, regardless of type, resulted in linear increases in daily gain (ADG), hot carcass weight, and backfat (P ≤ 0.03). Control cattle gained 1.73 kg/d while cattle fed 30% MDGS and WDGS had ADG of 1.88 kg/d and 1.90 kg/d, respectively. Overall, gain of calf-fed steers was improved when distillers grains was increased in steam-flaked corn based finishing diets regardless of type, but G:F was increased with WDGS and not MDGS suggesting feeding WDGS provides more energy than MDGS in SFC-based diets.
PSIV-20 The Effect of Live Yeast and Yeast Extracts Included in Lactation and Nursery Diets on Nursery Pig Fecal Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Chance Jenna A , DeRouchey Joel M , Amachawadi Raghavendra G , Ishengoma Victor , Nagaraja Tiruvoor , Goodband Robert D , Woodworth Jason C , Tokach Mike D , Kang Qing , Loughmiller Joseph , Hotze Brian , Gebhardt Jordan T
Published: April 2022

A 45-d study used 340 weaned pigs (Line 241×600, DNA) to evaluate yeast additives in sow diets and yeast-based pre- and probiotics (Phileo by Lesaffre, Milwaukee, WI) in nursery diets on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of fecal Escherichia coli. At weaning, pigs were penned based on sow diet and randomly assigned to 2 treatments with 5 pigs/pen and 17 pens/treatment. Treatments were a 2×2 factorial of sow treatment (control vs. yeast-based pre- and probiotic diet; 0.10% ActiSaf Sc47HR+ and 0.025% SafMannan) and nursery treatment (control vs. yeast-based pre- and probiotic diet; 0.10% ActiSaf Sc47HR+, 0.05% SafMannan, and 0.05% NucleoSaf from d 0-7, then levels reduced 50% from d 7-24). A common diet was fed from d 24-45. Microbroth dilutions were used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of E. coli isolates to 14 antimicrobials. A 3-way interaction of sow treatment×nursery treatment×sampling day was observed (P < 0.05) for ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, sulfisoxazole, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Table 1). For ciprofloxacin, MIC was reduced (P = 0.044) on d 45 for the yeast-fed sow, yeast-fed nursery group compared with pigs from the yeast-fed sow, control-fed nursery group. The MIC values for the yeast-fed sow, yeast-fed nursery treatment were greater (P = 0.021) for gentamicin on d 5 but less (P = 0.018) than on d 24 compared with the yeast-fed sow, control-fed nursery treatment. On d 45, progeny of the control sows fed yeast in the nursery had less (P = 0.005) MIC to sulfisoxazole than control-fed sow, control-fed nursery treatment. Fecal E. coli had decreased (P = 0.004) MIC on d 5 to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole from the control-fed sow, yeast-fed nursery treatment compared with the control-fed sow, control-fed nursery treatment. All fecal E. coli isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials except tetracycline on d 5. In conclusion, feeding sows live yeast and yeast extracts impacted fecal E. coli AMR in their progeny and this impact depends on nursery diet and post-weaning sampling day.
PSV-1 Addition of Ammonium Chloride to Feed is an Effective Strategy to Attenuate Growth in 25-Kg Pigs
Authors: Kokinos Brittney , Grez-Capdeville Mariola , Crenshaw Thomas D
Published: April 2022

In response to production challenges, after slaughter plant closures in 2020, growing pigs were fed standard diets plus 2% ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) to attenuate growth and reduce housing issues. Initially, no growth suppression was observed; however after diet modifications to reduce nutrient concentrations (HG diets), growth of 65 kg pigs was suppressed 90% over the first week. Pigs became refractory after the first week and averaged 50% growth reduction over 3 weeks. The current experiment objective was to evaluate use of NH4Cl as a nutritional strategy to maintain pigs (3 to 6 weeks) at essentially no growth during crisis management. Nine F2 barrows (24.2 kg), were fed standard diets for a 9-d pre-trial phase to establish baseline traits. Afterwards, HG diets with 1.25, 2.00, or 2.75% NH4Cl were fed for a 21-d treatment phase then fed control diets for an 11-d recovery phase. Pig weights and feed consumption were measured at various intervals. Additionally, whole-body bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and urine cation-anion profiles were determined to assess bone mineralization and physiological adaptation to NH4Cl. Compared with gain during the pre-trial phase, gain was reduced by 0, 39, and 98% for pigs fed 1.25, 2.0 and 2.75% NH4Cl. During an 11-d recovery, pigs gained 73.4, 118.5 and 154.1% more than baseline responses. Feed intake reflected similar responses as gain. Likewise, urine concentrations of Cl, NH4, K, and H responded to dietary treatments, however recovery to baseline values were not complete until day 3 of recovery. Based on limited observations for DXA scans, BMC appeared to be reduced by dietary treatment, but differences were not evident in BMD, likely a reflection of reduced growth. These results are consistent with the effectiveness of NH4Cl as a strategy to attenuate pig growth during a crisis, “stop-shipment” event.
PSVI-11 Flavonoid Supplementation to Low Protein Diets Recovers Growth Performance in Broilers
Authors: Song Jun Ho , Hoque Md Raihanul , Hossain Md Mortuza , Kim Inho
Published: April 2022

Recently, phytogenic feed additives containing flavonoids, essential oils and phenols are getting more attention as they have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and digestibility aiding abilities. Flavonoids have proved their abilities in reducing environmental stress along with activating immune responses. These positive impacts can be used to bring an improved growth performance in broilers, so we aimed to evaluate the effect of flavonoid supplementation to a low protein diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta bacterial count and excreta gas emission in broilers. In total 800 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers (average body weight of 42.90±1.43 g) were divided randomly into 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 10 replicate pens with 20 chickens. Treatment diets were HCP (High protein diet), basal diet; LCP (Low protein diet), basal diet – 2.5% protein; TRT1, LCP + 0.025 flavonoid; TRT2, LCP + 0.050% flavonoid. Experimental diets were provided to broilers from d 8 to 35. HCP, LCP supplemented with flavonoid showed greater (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) than the low protein diet (LCP) without flavonoid supplementation during d 8 to 21, and in the overall experiment. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) of HCP group was reduced (P < 0.05) than the LCP group during d 8 to 21 and in overall period. Increasing level of flavonoid supplementations brought a linear increase in BWG during d 8 to 21 (P = 0.0141), and overall period (P = 0.0153). Increasing doses of flavonoid showed a tendency of gradual increase (P = 0.0702) in dry matter (DM) digestibility in broilers. Lactobacillus, E. coli and Salmonella counts in excreta samples of experimental groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Flavonoid supplementation (0.050%) in low protein diet reduced (P < 0.05) drip loss in breast muscle than the low protein diet with 0% flavonoid supplementation. In short, flavonoid supplementation to a low protein diet recovered the body weight gain through better digestion broilers
PSVII-5 Poultry Meal Autoclaving Time-Related Reduction in Energy Utilization for Growing Pigs
Authors: Sung Jung Yeol , Wiltafsky-Martin Markus K , Caroline González-Vega J , Adeola Olayiwola
Published: April 2022

The objective of this study was to determine effect of autoclaving on energy concentrations in poultry meal (PoMe) fed to growing pigs. Poultry meal from the same batch was autoclaved at 134°C for 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, or 180 min for 7 samples. Eight experimental diets consisting of a basal diet based on corn and soybean meal and 7 test diets replacing 15% of energy-contributing ingredients in the basal diet with the 7 PoMe samples were used. A total of 64 barrows (initial BW = 19.4 ± 1.0 kg) were employed and the experiment consisted of 4 batches. In each batch, different 16 pigs were allotted to the 8 diets in a randomized complete block design based on BW as a blocking factor. Experimental period for each batch consisted of 5 d of adaptation and 5 d of quantitative collection. Feces were collected according to the marker-to-marker procedure and energy utilization in PoMe was derived using the difference procedure. As autoclaving time increased, digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and apparent total tract digestibility of nitrogen linearly decreased (P < 0.05) in the experimental diets. Based on regression lines of energy concentrations against autoclaving time, the respective digestible and metabolizable energy concentrations of PoMe linearly decreased (P < 0.05) from 4.7 to 3.9 kcal/g DM and 4.6 to 3.6 kcal/g DM with increasing autoclaving time from 0 to 180 min. In conclusion, autoclaving for 180 min decreased energy utilization in PoMe by approximately 20%, which could negatively affect growth performance of pigs.
Management and outcomes of traumatic paediatric spinal cord injuries in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Dalle David Ulrich , Ooi Setthasorn Zhi Yang , Sriram Smrithi , Bandyopadhyay Soham , Egiz Abdullah , Kotecha Jay , Kanmounye Ulrick Sidney , Higginbotham George , Bankole Nourou Dine Adeniran
Published: April 2022

Background

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) accounts for a significant proportion of deaths and disability worldwide and this is largely concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Though rare, a subset of TSCIs occurs in children, which can lead to long-term comorbidities if not managed within the optimal time frame. However, the lack of pre-hospital care, infrastructure and specialist manpower in LMICs may pose a challenge for health practitioners to provide quality and consistent standard of care to the children. The variety in practice and lack of clarity on management and outcomes of TSCIs in LMICs necessitates an evaluation of the literature. This scoping review protocol outlines how the authors will address the said topic of interest.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase and Global Index Medicus will be searched from database inception to date in order to identify the relevant studies. Paediatric patients (ages 18 or below) with a TSCI managed in an LMIC country will be included. Surgical and conservative management of TSCIs will be considered. Original research, reviews, commentaries, editorials and case reports will be included.

Results

Primary outcomes will include TSCI epidemiology, presentation, management, morbidity, mortality and long-term complications. Secondary outcomes will include delays in receiving care.

Discussion

This scoping review will be the first to evaluate the current landscape of paediatric TSCI management and outcomes in LMICs, highlighting pertinent themes that may be used to guide further research as well as health system strengthening efforts by policymakers and stakeholders.
Star-dust geometry main determinant of dust attenuation in galaxies
Authors: Sachdeva Sonali , Nath Biman B
Published: April 2022

Analysing a large representative sample of local galaxies (8707), we find that the variation in the shape of their dust attenuation curves is driven primarily by their structure, i.e. distribution of stars (and dust) within them. The attenuation curve for spheroid dominated galaxies, as compared to the disc-dominated ones, is nearly twice as steep. Both structural types cover distinct ranges of attenuation slope values. Similar findings are reflected in the case of star-forming and passive galaxies. Spheroids and passive galaxies witness minimal attenuation in the optical compared to UV wavelengths, underlining the lack of dusty birth-clouds that define complex star-dust geometry. The distinction in the attenuation properties of spheroids and discs is maintained in each stellar mass range, emphasising that structure is the primal cause of variation. However, within a structural group, the attenuation curve becomes shallower with both the increase in total stellar mass and optical depth of the galaxy. Overall, with the extinction curve fixed to be the same for all galaxies, the star-dust geometry emerges to be the prime determinant of the variation in their attenuation properties.
Performance of a Triage Protocol for Monoclonal Antibodies in a Mixed Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Cohort of COVID-19 Patients Treated With Intravenous Infusion or Subcutaneous Injection
Authors: Rubin Emily B , Liu Mofei , Giobbie-Hurder Anita , Canha Lauren A , Keleher C Elizabeth , Sullivan Keri M , Dougan Michael
Published: April 2022

Background

Several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been shown to reduce rates of hospitalization in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have risk factors for severe disease. Due to capacity constraints, many health systems have been unable to provide mAbs to all eligible patients. There is little evidence regarding the performance of triage protocols for allocation or the relative effectiveness of subcutaneous administration vs intravenous infusion.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of 1063 patients with COVID-19 consecutively referred for monoclonal antibody therapy in a single large academic health care system, who were prioritized for mAb therapy using an allocation protocol grouping patients by risk.

Results

A triage protocol prioritizing patients who were not fully vaccinated and were at high risk of severe COVID-19 and patients who were heavily immunosuppressed performed well in terms of differentiating between groups of patients by risk of severe disease. The number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent 1 hospitalization was 4.4 for the highest priority group, 8.5 for the next highest priority group, and 21.7 for the third highest priority group. There was no significant correlation between route of administration and hospitalization for symptoms related to COVID-19 (odds ratio, 1.26 in the intravenous group compared with the subcutaneous group; 95% CI, 0.56–2.8; P = .58).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that triaging mAbs for patients with COVID-19 by risk can optimize benefit in terms of reducing rates of hospitalization and that rates of hospitalization may be no different between patients treated with subcutaneous injection and patients treated with intravenous infusion.
A Case of Vascular Graft Infection Caused by Haemophilus parainfluenzae
Authors: Okuhama Ayako , Murai Yuta , Ishikane Masahiro , Mezaki Kazuhisa , Isaka Erina , Matsushiro Takuya , Yamada Gen , Nomoto Hidetoshi , Yamamoto Kei , Morioka Shinichiro , Ohmagari Norio , Horai Tetsuya
Published: April 2022

Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is a part of the normal flora in the human upper airway and sometimes causes infective endocarditis. We present a case of a 68-year-old Japanese man who had vascular graft infection caused by H. parainfluenzae 4 years after surgery for chronic aortic dissection.
Early Switch From Intravenous to Oral Antibiotics in Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: An Algorithm-Based Prospective Multicenter Pilot Trial
Authors: Dellsperger Sandra , Kramer Simea , Stoller Michael , Burger Annika , Geissbühler Elio , Amsler Isabel , Hirsig Anna , Weyer Linda , Hebeisen Ursula , Aebi Philipp , Burgherr Nicolas , Brügger Fabienne , Chaix Edouard , Salamoni Jérôme , Glauser Sandra , Büchi Annina Elisabeth , Béguelin Charles , Waldegg Gabriel , Kessler Bernhard , Egger Martin , Sendi Parham
Published: April 2022

Background

In hospitalized patients with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), intravenous (IV) empiric antibiotic treatment is initiated. The best time point for switching from IV to oral treatment is unknown. We used an algorithm-based decision tree for the switch from IV to oral antibiotics within 48 hours and aimed to investigate the treatment outcome of this concept.

Methods

In a nonrandomized trial, we prospectively enrolled 128 patients hospitalized with SSTI from July 2019 to May 2021 at 3 institutions. Clinical and biochemical response data during the first week and at follow-up after 30 days were analyzed. Patients fulfilling criteria for the switch from IV to oral antibiotics were assigned to the intervention group. The primary outcome was a composite definition consisting of the proportion of patients with clinical failure or death of any cause.

Results

Ninety-seven (75.8%) patients were assigned to the intervention group. All of them showed signs of clinical improvement (ie, absence of fever or reduction of pain) within 48 hours of IV treatment, irrespective of erythema finding or biochemical response. The median total antibiotic treatment duration was 11 (interquartile range [IQR], 9–13) days in the invention group and 15 (IQR, 11–24) days in the nonintervention group (P < .001). The median duration of hospitalization was 5 (IQR, 4–6) days in the intervention group and 8 (IQR, 6–12) days in the nonintervention group (P < .001). There were 5 (5.2%) failures in the intervention group and 1 (3.2%) in the nonintervention group after a median follow-up of 37 days.

Conclusions

In this pilot trial, the proposed decision algorithm for early switch from IV to oral antibiotics for SSTI treatment was successful in 95% of cases.

Clinical Trials Registration. ISRCTN15245496
Tuberculosis Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Indonesia: A Cohort Study
Authors: Hamijoyo Laniyati , Sahiratmadja Edhyana , Ghassani Nadia G , Darmawan Guntur , Susandi Evan , van Crevel Reinout , Hill Philip C , Alisjahbana Bachti
Published: April 2022

Background

In previous studies, researchers have identified systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), but data from TB-endemic countries are still relatively scarce. We examined TB in a large cohort of SLE patients in Indonesia.

Methods

All patients registered in a lupus registry of the top referral hospital for West Java between 2008 and 2020 were included. Data on SLE characteristics and treatment were retrieved from the registry, and data on TB diagnosis, localization, and outcome were extracted from medical records. Cox-proportional hazard model was used to examine risk factors for development of TB.

Results

Among 1278 SLE patients observed over a total of 4804 patient-years, 131 patients experienced 138 episodes of TB, a median of 2 years (interquartile range, 0.6–5.4) after diagnosis of SLE. A total of 113 patients (81.9%) had pulmonary involvement and 61 (44.2%) had extrapulmonary involvement, with disseminated disease in 26 of 138 episodes (18.8%), and 13 of 131 patients (9.9%) died from TB. The estimated TB incidence was 2873 cases per 100 000 person years. In multivariate cox regression analysis, development of TB was associated with household TB contact (hazard ratio [HR], 7.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.05–12.80), pulse methylprednisolone therapy (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.01–2.67), and age ≤25 years old at SLE diagnosis (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.00–2.35).

Conclusions

There is a high burden of TB in SLE patients in this TB-endemic setting, underlining the need for evaluation or implementation of TB preventive strategies.
Efficacy of soursop juice extender on rooster semen quality, oxidative activity and spermatozoa kinematics
Authors: Jimoh Olatunji Abubakar , Nwachukwu Chinwe Uchechi
Published: April 2022

African medicinal plant like soursop (Annona muricate L.) within annonaceae are known for their biological, therapeutic, and pharmacological properties with little or no toxicity. The use of such plant requires good knowledge of the toxicity dosage, purity, suitable extraction solvent and adverse effects. The leaves, seeds, fruits, barks, and roots of African medicinal plants have been used for various nutraceuticals and functional effects according to African folk medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the semen quality, oxidative activity and spermatozoa kinematics of rooster semen in soursop juice extender. About 30 roosters were used for the in vitro analysis. Semen was collected twice a week for 2 weeks through dorsal-abdominal massage technique. The evaluation was done hourly until semen quality declined at the 5th-hour. The pooled semen was allotted to seven treatments of semen extenders as undiluted semen, dextrose saline, 10% soursop juice extender, 20% soursop juice extender, 30% soursop juice extender, 40% soursop juice extender, and 50% soursop juice extender for the study. The percentage motility, progressive motility, nonprogressive motility, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, straight line velocity, linearity, straightness, amplitude of lateral head, beat cross frequency and wobble were analyzed using computer aided sperm analysis. Oxidative status (antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation) was determined by assay. Result of rooster semen at room temperature and after 1-hour dilution showed that percentage motility, nonprogressive motility, and average path velocity were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by different soursop juice extenders compared to undiluted semen. After 2-hour dilution of rooster semen, nonprogressive motility, average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, wobble, liveability and amplitude of lateral head parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by different soursop juice extenders compared to undiluted semen. Antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation in both room temperature and after 5-hour dilution were affected by different soursop juice extenders in rooster semen. In conclusion, supplementation of soursop juices as an extender to rooster undiluted semen played an improvement role on spermatozoa fertility and oxidative status during processing or preserving ejaculates for insemination.
Exogenous hydrogen sulfide mediates Na+ and K+ fluxes of salt gland in salt-secreting mangrove plant Avicennia marina
Authors: Wei Ming-Yue , Li Huan , Zhang Lu-Dan , Guo Ze-Jun , Liu Ji-Yun , Ding Qian-Su , Zhong You-Hui , Li Jing , Ma Dong-Na , Zheng Hai-Lei
Published: April 2022

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), is a crucial biological player in plants. Here, we primarily explored the interaction between sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, a H2S donor) and the fluxes of Na+ and K+ from the salt glands of mangrove species Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. with non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) approaches under salinity treatments. The results showed that under 400-mM NaCl treatment, the addition of 200-μM NaHS markedly increased the quantity of salt crystals in the adaxial epidermis of A. marina leaves, accompanied by an increase in the K+/Na+ ratio. Meanwhile, the endogenous content of H2S was dramatically elevated in this process. The NMT result revealed that the Na+ efflux was increased from salt glands, whereas K+ efflux was decreased with NaHS application. On the contrary, the effects of NaHS were reversed by H2S scavenger hypotaurine (HT), and DL-propargylglycine (PAG), an inhibitor of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CES, a H2S synthase). Moreover, enzymic assay revealed that NaHS increased the activities of plasma membrane and tonoplast H+-ATPase. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that NaHS significantly increased the genes transcript levels of tonoplast Na+/H+ antiporter (NHX1), plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter (SOS1), plasma membrane H+-ATPase (AHA1) and tonoplast H+-ATPase subunit c (VHA-c1), while suppressed above-mentioned gene expressions by the application of HT and PAG. Overall, H2S promotes Na+ secretion from the salt glands of A. marina by up-regulating the plasma membrane and tonoplast Na+/H+ antiporter and H+-ATPase.
Members of the Fusarium oxysporum Complex Causing Wilt Symptoms in Medical Cannabis in Israel, Italy, and North America Comprise a Polyphyletic Assemblage
Authors: Jerushalmi Shachar , Maymon Marcel , O’Donnell Kerry , Freeman Stanley
Published: April 2022

Members of the Fusarium oxysporum complex are ubiquitous soilborne fungal pathogens causing wilt diseases in various plant hosts. Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) f. sp. cannabis was first reported causing wilt disease in hemp in Italy in 1962. To date, Fusarium wilt continues to cause concern in industrial and medicinal cannabis cultivation worldwide. During a 3-year period (2018 to 2021), Fo strains were isolated from medical cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa) exhibiting wilt symptoms that were cultivated in numerous commercial farms in Israel. A diverse set of these strains was subjected to molecular phylogenetic analyses to assess their genetic diversity and to compare them with other f. sp. cannabis isolates included in prior studies. Maximum likelihood bootstrap analysis of a partial translation elongation factor (TEF1) dataset, which included 24 f. sp. cannabis sequences, revealed that the 11 strains from Israel comprised five TEF1 haplotypes. Two of the haplotypes from Israel were identical to isolates previously reported from British Columbia and California and British Columbia and Ontario. Overall, the 24 f. sp. cannabis sequences included 12 unique TEF1 haplotypes. These were phylogenetically diverse, suggesting that pathogenicity to C. sativa may have evolved independently within the F. oxysporum complex. Pathogenicity tests of the Israeli strains were confirmed by Koch’s postulates assays. Strains of the five different f. sp. cannabis TEF1 haplotypes all caused wilt in cannabis seedlings but with varying levels of aggressiveness. The same isolates that originated from asymptomatic infected mother plants were found in wilted cuttings indicating that the pathogen can be spread via propagation material.
Supracondylar humerus fractures in children caused by monkey bar-related injuries: a comparative study
Authors: Aydin Mahmud , Surucu Serkan
Published: April 2022

We evaluated the functional and radiological outcomes of surgically treated supracondylar humerus fractures based on injury mechanisms, as well as the therapeutic and prognostic aspects of monkey bar-related injuries, in this study. Between December 2014 and December 2018, pediatric patients who had undergone surgical treatment for supracondylar humerus fractures were analyzed retrospectively. According to the mechanism of injury, patients were divided into two groups: monkey bar-related injuries and other injuries. Patients were evaluated functionally using the Mayo elbow performance score, while radiographically using the anterior humeral line, humero-capitellar angle, and Baumann angle. This study enrolled a total of 50 patients, 27 females and 23 males. Each patient was followed for a minimum of 24 months. There were no significant differences in age, sex or complications between the groups. The Mayo elbow performance score and fracture types were shown to be significantly associated with injury mechanisms (P = 0.017, P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant correlation between the necessity for open reduction and the mechanism of injury was found (P = 0.038). There were no significant differences in radiological evaluation between the groups. Supracondylar humerus fractures caused by falling from the monkey bar were more severe in children than supracondylar humerus fractures caused by other mechanisms of injury, and surgical treatment outcomes were worse for supracondylar humerus fractures caused by falling from the monkey bar.