[Analysis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease differences from metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease based on clinical features].

Objective: To explore the clinical features of fatty liver disease (FLD) from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), so as to elucidate its clinical application value under three renames. Methods: Patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, from January 2020 to September 2023 and met the diagnosis of NAFLD, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), or MASLD were selected as the research subjects. The clinical indicators differences among the three groups of patients were compared, mainly including general information (age, gender, body mass index, past history, etc.), serological indicators (liver and kidney function, blood lipids, blood sugar, coagulation function, etc.), non-invasive liver fibrosis indicators, fat attenuation parameters, etc. Measurement data were analyzed using ANOVA and the rank sum test, while count data were analyzed using the χ(2) test. Results: NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD prevalence rates among 536 cases were 64.0%, 93.7%, and 100%, respectively. 318 cases (59.3%) met the three fatty liver names at the same time among them. Male population proportions in NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD were 30.9%, 55.8%, and 53.9%, respectively. The alcohol consumption history proportion was 0, 36.7%, and 36.0%, respectively. The smoking history proportion was 7.0%, 31.9%, and 30.6%, respectively. The body mass index was (27.66 ± 3.97), (28.33 ± 3.63), and (27.90 ± 3.89) kg/m(2), respectively. The γ-glutamyltransferase levels were 26.6 (18.0, 47.0) U/L, 31.0 (20.0, 53.0) U/L, and 30.8 (19.8, 30.8) U/L, respectively. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were 1.07 (0.90, 1.23) mmol/L, 1.02 (0.86, 1.19) mmol/L, and 1.03 (0.87,1.21) mmol/L, respectively. Sequentially measured uric acid was (322.98 ± 84.51) µmol/L, (346.57 ± 89.49) µmol/L, and (344.89 ±89.67) µmol/L, respectively. Sequentially measured creatinine was 69.6 (62.9, 79.0) µmol/L, 73.0 (65.0, 83.5) µmol/L, and 73.0 (65.0, 83.0) µmol/L, respectively. The sequential analysis of obesity proportion was 74.3%, 81.7%, and 76.5%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with the NAFLD population, the MAFLD and MASLD populations were predominantly male, obese, and had a history of smoking and drinking. The levels of γ-glutamyltransferase, uric acid, and creatinine were slightly higher, while the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower. MASLD appeared in NAFLD and MAFLD on the basis of inheritance and progression, emphasizing once again the important role of metabolic factors in a fatty liver.

Influence of eggshell ultrastructural organization on hatchability.

Eggshell quality is associated with hatchability, and ultrastructural organization is an important eggshell quality parameter. To the determine the relationship of shell ultrastructural properties with hatchability, we measured the effect of eggshell thickness, mammillary layer thickness, and the average size of mammillary cones on hatchability. Eggs with thick shells and thick mammillary layers had the highest incidence of hatching. As such, hatchability correlated positively with both eggshell thickness (r = 0.30; P < 0.05) and mammillary layer thickness (r = 0.28; P < 0.05). In addition, the correlation between the average size of mammillary cones and hatchability was not statistically significant. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between the average size of mammillary cones and mammillary layer thickness. It can be concluded that eggshell thickness and mammillary layer thickness affect hatchability.

Monocytes-macrophages phagocytosis as a potential marker for disease resistance in generation 1 of dwarf chickens.

Monocytes-macrophages play an indispensable role in the immune system. The current study investigated the effect of selection for monocytes-macrophages phagocytosis on disease resistance in generation 1 (G1) of dwarf chickens. Five hundred dwarf chickens of generation 0 (G0) were divided into high and low phagocytic index (PI) groups (HPIG and LPIG, respectively) based on their PI of monocytes-macrophages at 290 d of age. Then, 2 x 2 mating combinations were conducted. Sixty G0 chickens from another dwarf chicken group were used to measure the levels of monocytes-macrophages phagocytosis at different developmental stages. Among a total of 2,500 randomly selected G1 chickens, 2,100 individuals were used for a surviving and growing test under adverse feeding circumstances, and the other 400 individuals were tested for Salmonella Pullorum challenge. The results showed that progenies of HPIG hens (female symbol) were more resistant to Salmonella Pullorum. After challenge, the death rate of progeny from HPIG female symbol (28.9%) was only 58% that of progeny from LPIG female symbol (49.4%, P < 0.001). In addition, the natural infection rate of Salmonella Pullorum before 207 d for offspring from HPIG female symbol (35.0%) was significantly lower than that for offspring from LPIG female symbol (48.3%, P < 0.001). The natural mortality before 56 d in progeny of HPIG female symbol (22.6%) was significantly lower than that in progeny of LPIG female symbol (29.1%) with a P-value of 0.001. The G1 chickens of HPIG G0 female symbol weighed more than those born to LPIG G0 female symbol at 28 and 42 d of age, whereas the difference was not statistically significant at 56 d of age. The heritability of monocytes-macrophages phagocytosis was 0.40, which was moderate. The PI values were at a low level before 126 d and increased dramatically until they declined significantly after 294 d. It could be concluded that phagocytosis of monocytes-macrophages is a marker for breeding excellent progeny with strong disease resistance.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 gene association with egg traits in dwarf chickens.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8), a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene family with a role in clusterin processing, was investigated as a candidate gene for egg quality-related traits. One SNP from C to T at position 1623 of the open reading frame of LRP8 was identified and genotyped by a high-throughput genotyping method, matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in 747 egg-type dwarf layers from 44 sire families. There were no significant differences among genotypes for any interior egg traits measured, except for yolk color, in which color was deeper for the TT genotype than CC or CT (P < 0.05). For shell traits, strength and thickness were greater for TT than CC (P < 0.05), with CT intermediate and not different from either. Shape index was lower for CT than either TT or CC, which did not differ, whereas for shell color, CT was intermediate to the homozygotes, which differed (CC > TT). The present results indicated that LRP8, as a new member of eggshell matrix protein, may be a candidate gene associated with eggshell traits.

Laying performance and egg quality of blue-shelled layers as affected by different housing systems.

Blue-shelled eggs are gaining popularity as the consumption demand diversifies in some countries. This study was carried out to investigate the laying performance and egg quality of the blue-shelled egg layers as well as the effects of different housing systems on egg production and quality traits. One thousand pullets from Dongxiang blue-shelled layers were divided into 2 even groups and kept in different housing systems (outdoor vs. cage). Daily laying performance was recorded from 20 to 60 wk of age. External and internal egg quality traits were examined at 26, 34, 42, and 50 wk. Yolk cholesterol concentration and whole egg cholesterol content were measured at 40 wk of age. Average laying rate from 20 to 60 wk for the cage (54.7%) was significantly higher than that of outdoor layers (39.3%). Among all of the egg quality traits, only eggshell color was affected by housing system. Interaction between housing system and layer age was found in egg weight, eggshell color, eggshell ratio, yolk color, and yolk weight. Meanwhile, cholesterol concentration in yolk was 8.64 +/- 0.40 mg/g in the outdoor eggs, which was significantly lower than that of eggs from the cage birds (10.32 +/- 0.48 mg/g; P < 0.05). Whole egg cholesterol content in the outdoor eggs (125.23 +/- 6.32 mg/egg) was also significantly lower than that of eggs from the caged layers (158.01 +/- 8.62 mg/egg). The results demonstrated that blue-shelled layers have lower productivity in the outdoor system than in the cage system. Blue-shelled layers have lower egg weight, larger yolk proportion, and lower cholesterol content compared with commercial layers. In a proper marketing system, lower productivity could be balanced by a higher price for the better quality of blue-shelled eggs.

Effect of selection for phagocytosis in dwarf chickens on immune and reproductive characters.

In current study, phagocytosis product (PP) of peripheral blood monocytes was detected among 920 dwarf chickens (460 per sex) at 20 wk of age, and based on discrepancies of PP, the flock was grouped (the highest group, the medium group, and the lowest group). Then serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers and subpopulations of T-lymphocytes of each group were examined after inoculations of avian influenza virus H5N2 inactivated vaccine (20 wk of age), avian influenza virus H9 inactivated vaccine (24 wk of age), and Newcastle disease virus-egg drop syndrome virus bigeminal inactivated vaccine (28 wk of age), respectively, to study the relationship between PP and immune response. To gain insight into effects of selection for PP on number of eggs, mean egg weight, fertilization rate, hatchability, and rate of healthy chicks, 9 (3 x 3) mating combinations were conducted. The results showed that (1) selection for higher PP in both sexes benefited to humoral immunity but not CD8(+) T-lymphocyte mediated immunity in dwarf chickens; (2) there were effects of selection for higher PP in hens on fertilization rate (P < 0.05), hatchability (P < 0.05), rate of healthy chicks (P < 0.05), and level of IgY antibody (P < 0.0001); however, hens' PP had no effects on number of eggs (P > or = 0.05) or egg weight (P > or = 0.05) and cocks' PP had no effect (P > or = 0.05) on any trait mentioned above. The results indicated that phagocytosis of peripheral blood monocytes might be an indicator of humoral immunity in dwarf chickens; furthermore, selection of hens with higher PP was not only beneficial to fertilization rate, but also benefited to hatchability and rate of healthy chicks in that the hens had stronger humoral immunity, which might contribute to maternal antibody in eggs.

Heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations of egg quality traits in brown-egg dwarf layers.

Albumen height, albumen weight (AW), eggshell color (ESC), eggshell index, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, eggshell weight (ESW), egg weight (EW), Haugh units, and yolk weight (YW) were measured in 2,272 eggs collected 3 d sequentially from 920 brown-egg dwarf layers caged individually. The restricted maximum likelihood procedure was applied to estimate heritabilities and genotypic and phenotypic correlations for these egg quality traits. Heritabilities of albumen height, AW, ESC, eggshell index, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, ESW, EW, Haugh units, and YW were 0.51, 0.59, 0.46, 0.40, 0.24, 0.34, 0.64, 0.63, 0.41, and 0.45, respectively. The genetic correlations between EW and AW, YW, and ESW were high ranging from 0.67 to 0.97, whereas those for ESC with external and internal egg quality traits were low ranging from -0.23 to 0.13. Thus although heritabilities for these traits were moderate to high, genetic correlations with ESC were low, suggesting a minor relationship between shell color and physical attributes of the shell as well as internal egg quality in brown-egg dwarf layers.