Dietary calcium and nonphosphate phosphorus interaction influences tibiotarsus development and related gene expression of broilers from 1 to 21 days of age.

The dietary needs of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) are interdependent, thus accurate evaluation of Ca and P requirements of broilers to support skeleton health and optimal growth is critical. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary Ca and nonphytate P (NPP) levels and their interactions on growth performance, tibiotarsus characteristics, tibiotarsus metabolism-related enzyme and proteins, and their gene expression of broilers, so as to provide a rational recommendation for Ca and NPP levels in diet. A total of 540 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allotted to 1 of 15 treatments with 6 replicate cages of 6 birds per cage for each treatment in a completely randomized design involving a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (5 levels of Ca × 3 levels of NPP). The birds were fed the corn-soybean meal diet containing 0.60%, 0.70%, 0.80%, 0.90%, or 1.00% Ca and 0.35%, 0.40%, or 0.45% NPP for 21 d. Dietary Ca level affected (P < 0.03) the bone mineral density, bone mineral content (BMC), breaking strength, ash percentage and ash Ca contents in tibia, which showed linear (P < 0.006) responses to dietary Ca levels. Dietary NPP level affected (P < 0.05) tibia BMC, ash percentage, and FGF23 mRNA level. Broilers that received 0.40% and 0.45% NPP had higher (P < 0.04) tibia BMC and ash percentage than those that received 0.35% NPP, but no differences (P > 0.05) were found between 0.40% and 0.45% NPP. Broilers that received 0.40% NPP had higher (P = 0.02) tibia FGF23 mRNA level than those that received 0.35% NPP, but no differences (P > 0.05) were detected between 0.40% and 0.45% NPP or 0.45% and 0.35% NPP. The interactions between dietary Ca and NPP affected (P < 0.05) ADG, ALP activity, bone gal protein, FGF23 contents, and the mRNA expression levels ALP and bone gal protein in tibia of broilers. Results from the present study indicate that dietary Ca and NPP interaction influences growth, tibiotarsus development, and related gene expression of broiler chickens. Considering all the criteria, the dietary levels of 0.90% Ca and 0.45% NPP would be optimal for both growth and tibiotarsus development of broilers fed a conventional corn-soybean meal diet from 1 to 21 d of age.

Influence of Lonicera japonica and Radix Puerariae Crude Extracts on the Fecal Microbiome and Nutrient Apparent Digestibility of Finishing Pigs.

This study aims to investigate the influence of adding Lonicera japonica (L. japonica) and Radix Puerariae crude extracts and their mixture to the diet of finishing pigs on their fecal microbes and nutrient apparent digestibility. A total of 72 healthy Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred barrows without significant differences in body weight (93 ± 2 kg) were selected and randomly divided into four groups (18 in each group). Three replicate pens per group (six pigs per pen) were used, and two pigs were evaluated for each pen. The groups were fed the following diets: control group (CON), basic diet; chlorogenic acid group (CGA group), basic diet + 1 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract; Pueraria flavonoid group (PF group), basic diet + 1 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract; and mix group (Mix group), basic diet + 0.5 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract + 0.5 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract. The following results were obtained: (1) At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Proteobacteria, Fibrobaeteres, and Kiritimatiellaeota were the main components of the fecal microbiota (top 5); the relative abundance of bacteria from phyla Firmicutes significantly increased in the Mix group than in the CON group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Treponema_2, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae, uncultured_bacterium_f_Prevotellaceae, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group were the main components of the fecal microbiota (top 5); the relative abundance of bacteria from genus Lactobacillus significantly increased in the Mix group than in the CON group (p < 0.05). Chao1 and Ace counts were significantly higher in group CGA than in the CON group and group Mix (p < 0.05). The alpha and beta diversities and the relative abundance of fecal microbes were higher in all test groups than in the CON group. (2) The protein digestibility was significantly higher in the CGA and PF groups than in the CON group, and the TP digestibility was significantly higher in the CGA than in the CON and Mix groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Lonicera japonica and Radix Puerariae crude extract supplementation in the diet significantly changed fecal microbiota and improved the protein and TP digestibility of finishing pigs.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Haemaphysalis concinna (Ixodida: Ixodidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Haemaphysalis concinna is reported for the first time in this study. Its entire mitogenome is 14,675 bp in length, contained 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two non-coding regions. Among the 13 protein-coding genes, apart from the nad1, nad4, nad4L, and nad5 gene encoded on the L-strand, the remaining protein-coding genes were encoded on the H-strand. The phylogenetic analysis by Bayesian inference method shows that Amblyomma sphenodonti and H. parva formed one clade, while H. concinna and other species of genus Haemaphysalis formed the other clade, indicating that H. concinna belong to the genus Haemaphysalis.

A case report of the beneficial effects of botulinum toxin type A on Raynaud phenomenon in a patient with lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Raynaud phenomenon is a vasospastic disorder affecting the hands and feet, and the efficacies of traditional treatments, such as pharmacological therapies and sympathectomy, are not uniform. Patients with paraneoplastic Raynaud phenomenon do not benefit from the traditional treatments. The use of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) for Raynaud phenomenon has been reported for several years; however, there are few reports regarding botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of paraneoplastic Raynaud phenomenon. We describe a case report of the beneficial effects of botulinum toxin type A on Raynaud phenomenon in a patient with lung cancer. METHODS: A 63-year-old male complained of pain and discoloration of his fingers and indicated that oral nifedipine and low-dose aspirin were not effective. After approximately 8 months, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Chemotherapy partially reduced the pain and discoloration of his fingers; however, no significant changes occurred in his fingers after the fourth cycle. We used BTX-A to treat this patient with paraneoplastic RP. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the clinical response. RESULTS: After approximately 2 months, the patient reported relief from pain, stiffness, numbness, and cold sensation. Furthermore, no local or general adverse effects were exhibited by the patient. CONCLUSION: This study used botulinum toxin type A for a patient with paraneoplastic Raynaud phenomenon. Botulinum toxin type A significantly improved the patient's clinical symptoms without significant complications. These findings suggest that BTX-A may represent a good option for the treatment of paraneoplastic RP.

Chorea associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia: An uncommon patient with bilateral movements.

We report a 74-year-old woman who presented with bilateral chorea and no known history of diabetes. Movement disorders such as chorea can be observed in patients presenting with hyperglycemia. The occurrence of hemichorea-hemiballism has been increasingly associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia in the medical literature. The chorea disappeared completely after correction of the hyperglycemia.