Potential Anti-Aging Substances Derived from Seaweeds

Aging is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The exact mechanisms underlying the aging process are not fully elucidated. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that several pathways, such as sirtuin, AMP-activated protein kinase, insulin-like growth factor, autophagy, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 play critical roles in regulating aging. Furthermore, genetic or dietary interventions of these pathways can extend lifespan by delaying the aging process. Seaweeds are a food source rich in many nutrients, including fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. The health benefits of seaweeds include, but are not limited to, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obese activities. Interestingly, a body of studies shows that some seaweed-derived extracts or isolated compounds, can modulate these aging-regulating pathways or even extend lifespans of various animal models. However, few such studies have been conducted on higher animals or even humans. In this review, we focused on potential anti-aging bioactive substances in seaweeds that have been studied in cells and animals mainly based on their anti-aging cellular and molecular mechanisms.     

不同环境因子对草履虫种群生长的影响

为了研究不同环境因子对草履虫种群生长的影响,培养出优质的草履虫,分别在pH梯度为:6.0、6.5、7.0、7.5、8.0,光照梯度为:0lx、500lx、1 000lx、1 500lx条件下培养草履虫,结果表明,小白菜培养液培养草履虫的最适pH值为7.0,并且相比于弱酸性环境,草履虫更适宜在弱碱性环境中生长。在光照为0lx条件下,草履虫数量在第4天时达到最大值4 073ind/100mL,在光照为500~1 500lx条件下,随着光照度的增加,草履虫的种群数量也随之增加。     

Potential of indigenous Bacillus spp. as probiotic feed supplements in an extruded low‐fish‐meal diet for juvenile olive flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

A 12‐week feeding trial was designed to assess the probiotic potential of indigenous Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and/or Bacillus subtilis singly or in combination with Bacillus licheniformis in an extruded feed for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) juveniles. A high fish meal (FM) diet (control) and a low‐FM diet containing an alternative protein blend (30% FM replacement, FM30) were formulated. Three other experimental diets were prepared by inclusion of B. amyloliquefaciens (BA), B. subtilis (BS), or a mixture of B. amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis (BASL) into FM30 diet, with a final concentration of 10⁶ CFU/g diet. Results indicated that the FM30 diet was well tolerated by flounder, and the overall performance was not affected by dietary treatments. Lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulin level were significantly reduced in flounders when fed with the FM30 diet compared with the BASL and BA diets, respectively. The Bacillus additives neither enriched the relative abundance of the corresponding Bacillus spp. in the relevant gut microbiota of olive flounder nor modulated the presumptive gene functions of the gut microbiome. Despite the absence of growth‐promoting effect, the tested probiotics could still be economically viable for use as immunostimulants in commercial flounder diets with partial FM replacement.     

STRAIN ELASTOGRAPHY USING DOBUTAMINE‐INDUCED CAROTID ARTERY PULSATION IN CANINE THYROID GLAND

Thyroid disease is common in dogs and conventional ultrasonography is a standard diagnostic test for diagnosis and treatment planning. Strain elastography can provide additional information about tissue stiffness noninvasively after applying external or internal compression. However, natural carotid artery pulsations in the canine thyroid gland are too weak to maintain sufficient internal compression force. The objective of the present study was to describe the feasibility of strain elastography for evaluating the canine thyroid gland and the repeatability of dobutamine‐induced carotid artery pulsation as an internal compression method. In seven healthy Beagle dogs, strain on each thyroid lobe was induced by external compression using the ultrasound probe and internal compression using carotid artery pulsation after dobutamine infusion. The thyroid appeared homogeneously green and the subcutaneous fat superficial to the thyroid lobe appeared blue. Strain values and strain ratios did not differ among dogs or between the left and right lobes. Interobserver repeatability was excellent for both compression methods. Intraobserver repeatability of the strain ratio measured using the carotid artery pulsation method (intraclass coefficient correlation = 0.933) was higher than that measured using the external compression method (0.760). Mean strain values of thyroid lobes for the external compression method (142.93 ± 6.67) differed from the internal method (147.31 ± 8.24; P < 0.05). Strain ratios between the two methods did not differ. Strain elastography was feasible for estimating thyroid stiffness in dogs. Carotid artery pulsation induced by dobutamine infusion can be used for canine thyroid strain elastography with excellent repeatability.     

Beef quality traits of heifer in comparison with steer,bull and cow at various feeding environments

The present review has been focused largely on the sex type differences in beef quality among heifers, cows, steers and bulls in various feeding environments. Genetic groups, feeding systems and gender are the major factors that change carcass characteristics and fatty acid profiles of cattle. Studies identified that heifer beef has super characteristics in eating quality and a better healthy composition in fatty acids than steer, cow and bull. Diet influences the variation of fatty acid profile; particularly the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) interacts with breed and sex. Animals finished in pasture systems were reported to show better ratios of PUFA/ saturated fatty acids and n‐6/n‐3. Carcasses of roughage‐fed beef are lighter and have less marbling and lower quality grades but have higher cutability than carcasses of grain‐fed bulls. Heifers and cows are reported to deposit more fat than steers and bulls. Among males, lower production of testosterone by steers favors more fat thickness compared with bulls. Marbling greatly varies among cattle belonging to different sexes, and particularly, females have genetic makeup that efficiently controls deposition. The current review identified that heifers can be a premium beef brand, while steer beef currently take a large part of market share across the world.     

泽泻和慈姑叶片对低温胁迫的响应

以泽泻和慈姑叶片为试验材料,研究其在0、-10、-15、-20℃低温胁迫下叶片中可溶性糖(WSC)、游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及相对电导率等5个生理生化指标的变化。结果表明,在0℃时2个植物的POD和CAT活性显著增加,之后随温度的降低而下降,在-20℃无活性。随着温度的降低,叶片相对电导率、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量均有所增加,但增加幅度不同,综合5项指标分析得出,慈姑的抗寒性强于泽泻。     

Determination of reference intervals for metabolic profile of Hanwoo cows at early,middle and late gestation periods

Background

Metabolic profile was initially designed as a presymptomatic diagnostic aid based on statistical analyses of blood metabolites to provide an early warning of certain types of metabolic disorder. However, there is little metabolic profile data available about Korean Hanwoo cows. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reference intervals of metabolic profile for Korean Hanwoo cows.

Methods

Healthy animals (2,205) were selected and divided into early (day 1 to 95), middle (day 96 to 190) and late (day 191 to 285) period according to their gestating period. Metabolic profile including total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), urea (UREA), glucose (Glu), total cholesterol (T-Cho), long-chain fatty acid (LCFA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), creatinine (Crea), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorous (iP) and magnesium (Mg) were analyzed using a TBA-40FR automatic biochemical analyzer. The data of Korean Hanwoo cows were then compared to those of the Japanese Wagyu cows.

Results

Most of the data of the Korean Hanwoo cows were relatively higher than those of Japanese Wagyu cows, with the exception of Glu and GGT. This may indicate that the nutritional level of feed for the Korean Hanwoo cows was higher than that of the Japanese Wagyu cows because of the different feeding system. In particular, relatively higher levels of UREA and LCFA were observed in the Korean Hanwoo cows, and this may also contribute to the low reproduction efficiency.

Conclusions

These findings may provide some theoretical basis for understanding the reproductive and feeding situation of Korean Hanwoo cows.     

华北刺槐林与自然恢复植被土壤微生物量碳、氮含量四季动态

【目的】土壤微生物量碳、氮是植被所需碳、氮的重要“源”或“库”,是公认的综合评价土壤质量或肥力的重要指标,也是土壤生态系统变化的预警及敏感指标,研究其动态变化,可为退耕还林及后期管理决策提供科学依据,并为深入研究林地碳氮循环及温室气体排放提供参考。【方法】以农田( FL)为对照,研究华北土石山区10年生刺槐林、43年生刺槐林、自然恢复植被( NRV)土壤微生物量碳、氮的四季动态变化,并对各样地微生物量碳、氮对土壤营养库的贡献率进行对比研究。【结果】各样地微生物量碳、氮随土层加深而逐渐下降,其季节动态变化差异显著;农田、自然恢复植被、10和43年生刺槐林地0～20 cm 土层微生物量碳、氮含量四季均值分别为251.94,290.68,150.66,197.34 mg·kg －1和30.95,46.46,36.55,45.27 mg·kg －1。其中：自然恢复植被的微生物量碳、氮含量四季均值最高,其微生物量碳含量分别是农田、10和43年生刺槐林的1.15,1.93和1.47倍,微生物量氮含量分别是它们的1.50,1.27和1.03倍;土壤微生物量碳、氮含量随刺槐树龄增大而升高,43年生刺槐林0～20 cm 土层的微生物量碳、氮含量是10年生刺槐林的1.31和1.24倍。各植被样地不同层次土壤微生物量碳氮比季节差异明显,农田、自然恢复植被、10年和43年生刺槐林 0～20 cm 土层碳氮比四季均值分别为8.64,6.26,4.12 和4.36;10,43年生刺槐林碳氮比分别是农田的0.48和0.50倍,是自然恢复植被的0.66和0.70倍。在 0～20 cm 土层中,农田、自然恢复植被、10和43年生刺槐林地微生物量碳对土壤有机碳平均贡献率分别为1.88%,2.00%,1.54%和1.24%,土壤微生物量氮对土壤全氮的平均贡献率分别为1.21%,5.44%,3.55%和2.26%。【结论】各样地土壤微生物量碳、氮之间显著相关,它们与土壤全氮、有机质和速效钾含量均显著相关;除此之外,土壤微生物量碳还与土壤硝态氮含量显著相关。随着树龄的增加刺槐林土壤微生物量尤其是微生物量氮含量显著提高,因而土壤的生物肥力也显著提高;由土壤微生物量碳、氮含量及其对土壤营养库的贡献率可知,自然恢复植被更利于土壤微生物结构、功能的恢复和生物活性的改善。     

Dietary protein requirement for juvenile mandarin fish,Siniperca scherzeri

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the dietary protein requirement of juvenile mandarin fish, Siniperca scherzeri, a demersal freshwater piscivore with high commercial value in East Asia. Five isolipidic (100 g/kg) and isoenergetic (20 MJ/kg) practical diets were formulated to contain graded levels of 450, 500, 550, 600, and 650 g/kg crude protein, using mackerel fishmeal as the sole source of protein. Each of the five test diets was fed to visual satiety to triplicate groups of fish (initial mean body weight ± SE; 20.1 ± 0.2 g) reared in a recirculating freshwater system over the experimental period. Fish growth performance in terms of weight gain tended to improve with increasing dietary protein level, and the highest values were observed in those fish fed the 600–650 g/kg diets. Feed intake significantly declined as the protein content of the diet increased. Feed efficiency and protein retention tended to increase with increasing dietary protein levels, from 450 to 600 g/kg, and then declined when dietary protein content further increased to 650 g/kg. A similar trend was also found for the protein efficiency ratio, although the observed changes did not reach statistical significance. Whole‐body composition and plasma biochemical parameters were not significantly affected by the dietary protein content. Based on these findings and a broken‐line model of growth, 614.4 g/kg seems to be the proper amount of protein in a practical diet for >20 g mandarin fish.     

甘蓝型油菜种子萌发期耐铝毒特性综合评价及其种质筛选

种子萌发是油菜植株形态建成的重要阶段,铝毒是酸性土壤中影响其种子萌发的主要因素之一,因此筛选出种子萌发过程中耐铝毒种质对油菜生产及研究具有重要意义。本研究利用5份甘蓝型油菜品种(系)筛选出油菜萌发期耐铝毒种质资源处理的适宜胁迫浓度为90μg mL~(-1)。并以该浓度处理148份甘蓝型油菜品种(系)种子,于萌发期测定其发芽势、发芽率、鲜重、干重、根长和芽长等指标,通过铝毒胁迫耐性综合评价值(A值)、平均隶属函数值(ASF值)、对铝毒加权耐性系数(WAC值)、相关性、频数、主成分、灰色关联度、聚类和逐步回归分析等鉴定萌发期耐铝性,建立萌发期对铝毒耐性综合评价模型并筛选出适宜的评价鉴定指标。结果表明, 148份甘蓝型油菜的萌发期各指标在品种(系)间存在显著差异;筛选出萌发期耐铝毒甘蓝型油菜品种(系) 01188、WH-20、A109、甲预31棚等。根据灰色关联度及回归分析结果认为,在油菜萌发期测定其根长、芽长、鲜重、发芽率和发芽势,通过回归方程估算其A值,可以初步判断甘蓝型油菜种质的耐铝毒特性。