Improvement of flesh quality in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed supranutritional dietary selenium yeast is associated with the inhibited muscle protein degradation

Supranutritional dietary selenium (Se) has been demonstrated beneficial for fish health, however, its effects on fish flesh quality remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of supranutritional dietary Se on the flesh quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and their potential mechanism. Fish were fed a basal diet supplemented with or without graded Se yeast for 10 weeks. Results showed that Se supplementation significantly increased fillet crude protein and enhanced fillet water‐holding capacity as well as fillet firmness. Supplementing with both 2 and 4 mg/kg Se significantly downregulated the expressions of two autophagy–lysosome‐related genes (autophagy‐related 12‐like and gamma‐aminobutyric acid type A receptor‐associated protein‐like 1) in fish muscle, while supplementing with 4 mg/kg Se also significantly downregulated the expression of two ubiquitin–proteasome‐related genes (muscle RING finger 2 and F‐box protein 25). Correlation analysis indicated that the improved fillet quality parameters were closely correlated with the expressions of these differentially expressed genes. This study revealed that dietary Se was effective for the improvement of rainbow trout flesh quality, and the improved fish flesh quality was associated with the inhibited protein degradation in fish muscle.     

Preliminary study to evaluate the effects of dietary bile acids on growth performance and lipid metabolism of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed plant ingredient‐based diets

A 9‐week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BAs) on juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) based on the evaluations of growth performance and parameters relevant to lipid metabolism. Each of five vegetable protein‐based diets containing BAs at a level of 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.45 or 1.35 g/kg diet was fed to three replicates with 40 fish (8.2 g per fish). The results showed that weight gain (WG) increased significantly with the increase in BAs from 0 to 0.15 g/kg diet and then decreased significantly at a higher BA supplementation. Dietary BAs significantly reduced the crude lipid content in the whole body, muscle and liver tissue of GIFT. Fish fed diet with 1.35 g BAs/kg diet developed serious nuclear migration and vacuolization in hepatocytes. Gall bladder appeared to contain white solid and has fragile capsules. Dietary BA supplementation had significant effects on serum biochemical indices and activities of lipid metabolism enzymes in liver and intestine. In conclusion, dietary bile acid supplementation (0.15 g/kg) can facilitate the lipid metabolism and therefore promote the growth of tilapia. However, overdosed dietary BAs induced gallstone development, disrupted lipid metabolism and depressed the growth performances of GIFT.     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of processed agro‐food by‐products in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of processed agro‐food by‐products were assessed in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Each experimental diet was obtained by replacing 300 g/kg of a commercial‐based diet used as reference (REF) with a test ingredient: wheat germ (GERM), okara meal (OKA), poultry by‐product meal (POULT), steam hydrolysed (FeHY) and enzyme‐treated feather meal (FeENZ), beta‐lactoglobulin (β‐Lg) and peptide fractions >3,000 Da obtained from brewer's yeast (YeastP) and fish by‐products (FishP). Dry matter ADC was highest in β‐Lg (95%) and lowest in OKA (40%). Protein ADCs were high in β‐Lg, FishP, GERM and POULT (>93%); intermediate in FeHY and FeENZ (85%–88%); and moderate in OKA and YeastP (70%–78%). The essential amino acids' ADC mean was above 91% in POULT, β‐Lg, GERM and FishP, 84%–89% in FeHY and FeENZ and 73%–76% in YeastP and OKA. Energy ADC was highest in POULT and β‐Lg (89%–95%) and lowest in YeastP and OKA (61%–64%). Lipid ADC was highest for POULT and GERM (100%). Phosphorus ADC was lowest in GERM (19%) and highest in β‐Lg (88%). FeHY, FeENZ, POULT, GERM, FishP and β‐Lg are highlighted as protein sources for European seabass.     

Total and available tryptophan requirement of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,fingerlings

The dietary total and available requirement of tryptophan of Nile tilapia fingerlings was determined using linear regression analysis. Six hundred fish (3.4 ± 0.0 g) were fed diets containing 296.4 g/kg of crude protein and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy. Five extruded diets containing 2.5, 3.0, 3.4, 3.8 and 4.2 g/kg of total tryptophan were evaluated. Fish were fed four times a day during 45 days. Final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and net protein utilization of fish fed Trp 3.4 and Trp 3.8 diets were improved compared to fish fed Trp 2.5 and Trp 4.2 diets. No significant differences in survival rate, whole‐body moisture and ash were observed. Whole‐body amino acid profile of fish fed different diets did not differ statistically (p > .05). Fish fed Trp 3.0 and Trp 3.4 diets showed higher tryptophan retention compared to fish fed Trp 2.5 and Trp 4.2 diets. Excepting blood glucose, no effects of dietary tryptophan on haematological parameters were observed. The dietary total tryptophan requirement of Nile tilapia fingerlings based on weight gain was estimated to be 3.4 g/kg (11.0 g/kg of dietary crude protein) or 3.0 g/kg of available tryptophan (11.0 g/kg of dietary digestible protein).     

Effects of different arginine/lysine level on growth performance,body composition and digestive enzyme activity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Given the universal presence of antagonism between arginine and lysine, determining the optimal dietary arginine/lysine level is of great importance. In this study, eight diets were formulated to contain different arginine/lysine level, followed by a 9‐week feeding trial with shrimps of 2.10 ± 0.01 cm in length and 0.38 ± 0.02 g in weight to determine the effect of dietary arginine/lysine level on growth performance, body composition and enzyme activity. The results showed that the Diet 6 (arginine/lysine level of 29.4/21.0 g/kg) group had significantly higher weight gain rate, and specific growth rate than the control group and most of the other groups (p < .05) did. Similarly, the retention efficiency of arginine and lysine in the Diet 6 group was significantly higher than the control group and most of the other groups (p < .05). Moreover, most digestive enzymes had higher activity levels in the Diet 6 group, and evident antagonism between dietary arginine and lysine was detected. In summary, dietary arginine/lysine level of 29.4/21.0 g/kg produced the best growth performance, suggesting that a better growth performance in Macrobrachium rosenbergii culture can be obtained by adjusting the dietary arginine/lysine level.     

Dietary available phosphorus requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CASIII)

A 57‐day growth experiment was conducted with juvenile gibel carp (13.48 ± 0.10 g) in a flow‐through system to study the effect of dietary phosphorus on growth performance, body composition, nutrition utilization, phosphorus loading and enzymes activities. Seven semipurifed diets were formulated to contain 0.07 (the basal), 2.27, 5.32, 8.10, 12.06, 15.24 and 19.48 g available phosphorus/kg diet. The results showed that specific growth rate, body length and feed efficiency significantly increased in the fish fed diets containing 0.07 to 15.24 g available P/kg diet (p < .05). Ash and P content increased in fish fed diets containing 0.07–12.06 P g/kg (p < .05) and then levelled off, while moisture, crude protein and lipid had no significant difference (p > .05). The protein retention efficiency increased in the fish fed with diets 0.07–5.32 g/kg P (p < .05) and then reached a plateau. The P content in faeces was higher in fish fed diets containing 15.24 and 19.48 g available P/kg. Total P concentration in tank water increased in fish fed 0.07–12.06 g available P per kg diet (p < .05). The plasma P was higher in the fish fed with 15.24 g available P/kg diet (p < .05), triglycerides was lower in the fish fed diet containing 15.24 and 19.48 g available P/kg (p < .05), no significant differences were observed in plasma Ca, plasma glucose and calcitonin (p > .05). Based on SGR, whole body P content and FE, dietary available P requirement for juvenile gibel carp were 13.37, 13.97 g/kg and 15.06 respectively.     

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in all‐plant protein diets on growth,antioxidant capacity and muscle energy metabolism of bullfrog Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation in all‐plant protein diets were evaluated on growth, antioxidant capacity and muscle energy metabolism of Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana. Six diets were prepared: a basal fish meal diet (FM), an all soybean meal diet (SM) and four GAA‐supplemented diets by adding 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g GAA/kg to the SM diet (GAA2, GAA4, GAA6 and GAA8 diets). Triplicate groups of bullfrog (45 ± 0.2 g) were fed the diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Total substitution of FM with SM led to significantly (p < .05) reduced growth and feed utilization. Adding 0.4 g GAA/kg to the SM diet significantly improved growth performance, and the values were comparable to those of FM group. SM and GAA2 groups showed drastically lower serum total antioxidant capacity than FM, GAA4 and GAA6 groups. Also, SM and GAA2 groups showed significantly lower catalase activity than FM and GAA8 groups. A remarkable increase in serum malondialdehyde concentration was detected in SM and GAA2 groups. FM and GAA6 groups exhibited significantly higher serum creatinine concentration than other groups. Muscle creatine kinase activity and glycogen content were significantly decreased in SM group and application of 0.4–0.6 g GAA/kg significantly improved their values. GAA4 group showed significantly lower pyruvate kinase activity than FM and GAA6 groups. Also, GAA2 and GAA4 groups had significantly lower succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity than other treatments. These findings show that supplementing 0.4 g/kg GAA to SM‐based diets improves growth, antioxidant capacity and muscle energy metabolism.     

益生菌对肠内营养治疗并发腹泻的调节作用

为研究益生菌对行肠内营养治疗患者肠道适应性的调节作用,采用随机数表将157 例患者分为研究组（n＝101）和对照组（n＝56）,进行双盲、随机对照研究。根据Harris-Benedict公式测算基础能量消耗,氮供给量0.2 g/（kg?d）,研究组给予肠内营养＋益生菌,对照组给予肠内营养,治疗期10 d。统计患者的基础人口学资料及临床信息,于肠内营养治疗前和治疗后第10天观察并记录患者的体质量、体质量指数等指标,评价肠道及肾脏等重要脏器的营养代谢状况。结果表明：肠内营养治疗后第10天,2 组患者的营养不良     

黄瓜叶面喷施硅肥对果实糖分和维生素C积累及相关酶的影响

研究了黄瓜叶面喷施硅肥对其生长、产量、果实糖分、维生素C及相关酶活性和基因表达量的影响。结果表明：叶面喷施硅肥显著促进了黄瓜生长,增加了单株产量,提高了果实中碱性转化酶（NI）、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）、蔗糖合成酶（SS）及半乳糖内脂脱氢酶（GaILDH）活性,提高了果实果糖、葡萄糖和维生素C含量。其中,1.420 g · L^-1单硅酸处理效应最显著,其果糖、葡萄糖和维生素C含量分别较对照高13.79%、18.08%和75.11%。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,叶面喷施单硅酸的黄瓜果实碱性转化酶–3（NI-3）、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和半乳糖内脂脱氢酶（GaILDH）基因表达量显著提高。     

Impact of foliar nickel application on urease activity,antioxidant metabolism and control of powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa) in soybean plants

Nickel (Ni) is a cofactor for urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological impact of Ni on urea, antioxidant metabolism and powdery mildew severity in soybean plants. Seven levels of Ni (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 g ha^?1) alone or combined with the fungicides fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin were applied to soybean plants. The total Ni concentration ranged from 3.8 to 38.0 mg kg^?1 in leaves and 3.0 to 18.0 mg kg^?1 in seeds. A strong correlation was observed between Ni concentration in the leaves and seeds, indicating translocation of Ni from leaves to seeds. Application of Ni above 60 g ha^?1 increased lipid peroxidation in the leaf tissues, indicative of oxidative stress. Application of 40 g ha^?1 Ni combined with 300 mL ha^?1 of fungicide reduced powdery mildew severity by up to 99%. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and urease enzyme activity were greatest under these conditions. Urea concentration decreased in response to Ni application. Urease activity in soybean leaves showed a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The leaf Ni concentration showed a positive correlation with the urease and a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The results of this study suggest that urease is a key enzyme regulated by Ni and has a role in host defence against powdery mildew by stimulating antioxidant metabolism in soybean plants.