ABSTRACT
Background@#The relationships between the postpartum subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) occurrence and predicted bacterial functions during the periparturient period are still not clear in Holstein cows. @*Objectives@#The present study was performed to investigate the alterations of rumen fermentation, bacterial community structure, and predicted bacterial functional pathways in Holstein cows. @*Methods@#Holstein cows were divided into the SARA (n = 6) or non-SARA (n = 4) groups, depending on whether they developed SARA during the first 2 weeks after parturition.Reticulo-ruminal pH was measured continuously during the study period. Reticulo-ruminal fluid samples were collected 3 weeks prepartum, and 2 and 6 weeks postpartum, and blood samples were collected 3 weeks before, 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks postpartum. @*Results@#The postpartum decline in 7-day mean reticulo-ruminal pH was more severe and longer-lasting in the SARA group compared with the non-SARA group. Changes in predicted functional pathways were identified in the SARA group. A significant upregulation of pathway “PWY-6383” associated with Mycobacteriaceae species was identified at 3 weeks after parturition in the SARA group. Significantly identified pathways involved in denitrification (DENITRIFICATION-PWY and PWY-7084), detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (PWY1G-0), and starch degradation (PWY-622) in the SARA group were downregulated. @*Conclusions@#The postpartum SARA occurrence is likely related to the predicted functions of rumen bacterial community rather than the alterations of rumen fermentation or fluid bacterial community structure. Therefore, our result suggests the underlying mechanisms, namely functional adaptation of bacterial community, causing postpartum SARA in Holstein cows during the periparturient period.
ABSTRACT
Anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibody administration has the potential benefits of neutralizing and consequently controlling rumen-derived LPS during subacute ruminal acidosis. Four Holstein bulls were used in this crossover study with a 2-week wash-out period. Anti-LPS antibody (0 or 4 g) was administered once daily for 14 days. Significantly lower ruminal LPS and higher 1-h mean ruminal pH were identified in the 4 g group. However, blood metabolites, acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and hepatic transcriptomes were not different between the two groups. Therefore, anti-LPS antibody administration mitigated ruminal LPS release and pH depression without accompanying responses in acute-phase inflammation or hepatic transcriptomic expression.
ABSTRACT
Anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibody administration has the potential benefits of neutralizing and consequently controlling rumen-derived LPS during subacute ruminal acidosis. Four Holstein bulls were used in this crossover study with a 2-week wash-out period. Anti-LPS antibody (0 or 4 g) was administered once daily for 14 days. Significantly lower ruminal LPS and higher 1-h mean ruminal pH were identified in the 4 g group. However, blood metabolites, acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and hepatic transcriptomes were not different between the two groups. Therefore, anti-LPS antibody administration mitigated ruminal LPS release and pH depression without accompanying responses in acute-phase inflammation or hepatic transcriptomic expression.
ABSTRACT
It is well known that eccentric exercise induces muscle damage that is characterized by a prolonged decrease in muscle strength and range of motion, development of delayed onset muscle soreness. The previous studies showed that hold-relax stretching (HRS) was effective for improving the decreases in range of motion and muscle soreness. In addition, modified proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (mPNF) was an equally effective for HRS. However, it was unclear whether there are differences between acute effects of HRS and mPNF on muscle strength and muscle soreness in eccentrically damaged muscle. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the acute effects of HRS with those of mPNF on muscle strength and soreness in eccentrically damaged muscle. The participants comprised 40 volunteers randomly assigned to either the HRS group (N = 20) or the mPNF group (N = 20). Initially, the participants of both groups performed 60 maximal eccentric contractions of the knee extensors. Two days after this exercise, each group performed either HRS or mPNF for 60 s at a time and repeated them six times for a total of 360 s. Muscle strength and soreness during stretching and contraction were measured before and immediately after HRS and mPNF. The results showed that the muscle soreness observed after eccentric contraction significantly decreased immediately after both HRS and mPNF. In addition, there were no significant changes in muscle strength immediately after both HRS and mPNF. These results suggest that while both HRS and mPNF can effectively decrease muscle soreness without reducing performance.
ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effect of preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab [IVB] on surgical] procedures, visual prognosis, and postoperative complications, especially postoperative vitreous hemorrhage, in cases with proliferative diabetic retinopathy [PDR]. Seventy-one eyes of 54 consecutive patients [23 eyes of 18 women, 48 eyes of 36 men] were investigated in this study. Twenty-five eyes received IVB one to 30 days before the vitrectomy [Bevacizumab Group] and the other 46 eyes had the vitrectomy alone [Control Group]. The surgical procedures, best-corrected visual acuities at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after the vitrectomy, and postoperative complications in the Bevacizumab Group were compared to the Control Group. The patients were significantly younger in the Bevacizumab Group compared to the Control Group [P = 0.008]. The incidence of preoperative vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, and iris neovascularization was significantly higher in the Bevacizumab Group than in the Control Group [P = 0.017, 0.041, and 0.018, respectively]. The surgical procedures performed and the visual acuity at all time points was not significantly different between groups [P> 0.05, all comparisons]. The incidence of early [<4 weeks] postoperative vitreous hemorrhage was significantly higher in the Bevacizumab Group [27%] than in the Control Group [7%; P = 0.027] although the rate of late [>4 weeks] postoperative vitreous hemorrhage was not significantly different between groups [P> 0.05]. Vitrectomy with preoperative IVB may have no detrimental effect on surgical procedures and achieves the surgical outcomes for repair of PDR equal to vitrectomy alone despite the obvious selection bias of the patients in this study. However, special monitoring is highly recommended for early postoperative vitreous hemorrhage because bevacizumab in the vitreous may be washed out during vitrectomy