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Monzogranite is known for its high surface area and cation exchange capacity, which play a crucial role in ameliorating the challenges by enhancing nutrient adsorption and facilitating nutrient availability during the weaning period. Weaned crossbred piglets (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace), initially weighing 5.36 ± 0.26 kg, were allocated into four treatments with 6 replicates each (10 pigs per replicate). The treatments encompassed CON (basal diet), Z0.1 (0.1% monzogranite supplementation in basal diet), Z0.2 (0.2% monzogranite supplementation), and Z0.3 (0.3% monzogranite supplementation). In phase 1, a linear increase in total average daily gain (ADG) was observed across treatment groups, with a concomitant linear increase in ADG and gain-to-feed ratio (G/F). The overall results showed a linear increase in ADG and G/F. A linear decrease in aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels was observed across treatment groups. Conversely, no significant differences were noted in the levels of albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, triglycerides, and gamma-glutamyl transferase among the treatment groups. Faecal scoring indicated a linear reduction in scores at Day 7 among the treatment groups. However, no significant differences were observed at Days 14 and 28. The assessment of immunoglobulins demonstrated a significant increase in both immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A levels in the Z0.1 treatment group compared to the CON. In both phase 1 and phase 2, a linear decrease in cortisol levels was evident. In conclusion, a linear increase in total ADG and G/F during phase 1, sustained across both phases, suggests monzogranite potential to enhance growth performance. Moreover, stress mitigation was shown through a consistent linear decrease in cortisol levels across phases. These findings underscore monzogranite multifaceted impact, emphasizing its potential as a dietary supplement to enhance growth, liver health, and stress resilience in weanling pigs.

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Both alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease are leading contributors to chronic liver diseases. These conditions often coexist, exacerbating disease progression. Despite ALD being a leading cause of liver transplantation, many individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) do not receive treatment. In this review, we discussed the epidemiology of ALD in AUD, various treatment options for AUD, and their efficacy on liver health. Our critical analysis of current evidence underscores the need for integrated models involving multiple stakeholders to improve ALD management.

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A multi-strain yeast-based paraprobiotic (MsYbP) comprising inactive cells and polysaccharides (ß-glucan, mannan oligosaccharides, and oligosaccharides) derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cyberlindnera jadinii could ensure optimal growth and health in farmed fish. This study assessed the impact of an MsYbP on the growth, immune responses, antioxidant capacities, and liver health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) through lab-scale (65 days) and pilot-scale (15 weeks) experiments. Two groups of fish were monitored: one fed a control diet without the MsYbP and another fed 0.08% and 0.1% MsYbP in the lab-scale and pilot-scale studies, respectively (referred to as YANG). In the lab-scale study, four replicates were conducted, with 20 fish per replicate (average initial body weight = 31.0 ± 0.8 g), while the pilot-scale study involved three replicates with approximately 1500 fish per replicate (average initial body weight = 80.0 ± 2.2 g). The results indicate that the MsYbP-fed fish exhibited a significant increase in growth in both studies (p < 0.05). Additionally, the dietary MsYbP led to a noteworthy reduction in the liver function parameters (p < 0.05), such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and hepatic nuclear density, indicating improved liver health. Furthermore, the dietary MsYbP elevated the antioxidative capacity of the fish by reducing their malondialdehyde levels and increasing their levels and gene expressions related to antioxidative markers, such as total antioxidant ca-pacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (nrf2) and kelch-1ike ech-associated protein (keap1) in both studies (p < 0.05). In terms of hepatic immune responses, the lab-scale study showed an increase in inflammation-related gene expressions, such as interleukin-1ß (il-1ß) and transforming growth factor ß1 (tgf-ß1), while the pilot-scale study significantly suppressed the expressions of genes related to inflammatory responses, such as tumor necrosis factor α (tnfα) and interleukin-10 (il-10) (p < 0.05). In summary, our findings underscore the role of dietary multi-strain yeast-based paraprobiotics in enhancing the growth and liver health of largemouth bass, potentially through increased antioxidative capacity and the modulation of immune responses, emphasizing the significance of employing yeast-based paraprobiotics in commercial conditions.

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The present study aimed to compare the nutritional effects of cholesterol, bile acids, and combination of cholesterol with bile acids in plant-based diets on juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT; Oreochromis niloticus). The isonitrogenous (321 g/kg crude protein) and isolipidic (76 g/kg crude fat) diets (Con diet) were based on plant protein sources, which included corn gluten meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal. The Con diet was supplemented with 12 g/kg cholesterol (CHO diet), 0.2 g/kg bile acids (BAs diet), a combination of 12 g/kg cholesterol and 0.2 g/kg bile acids (CHO-BAs diet), respectively. Each diet was fed to three tanks in an indoor recirculating aquaculture system for 9 weeks. Results showed that compared to the Con group, fish had a higher weight gain rate, hepatosomatic index, and a lower feed conversion ratio in the CHO-BAs group. The highest levels of whole-fish fat and ash were found in the Con group. Serum parameters, including activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), along with levels of glucose (GLU) and triglyceride (TG) except for total cholesterol (TCHO), were lower in the CHO, BAs, and CHO-BAs groups than those in the Con group (P < 0.001). Histological examination revealed that fish in the Con group exhibited severe hepatocyte vacuolization and diminished hepatocyte proliferation. Gene expression analysis indicated that the transcriptional levels of bile acid metabolism-related genes (including fxr, fgf19, bsep) were up-regulated in the CHO-BAs group (P < 0.05), whereas cholesterol metabolism-related genes (acly and hmgcr) were down-regulated in both CHO and CHO-BAs groups (P < 0.001). Moreover, UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the higher taurine-conjugated bile acids (T-BAs), followed by free bile acids (Free-BAs) and glycine (G-BAs) were determined in tilapia bile. Among these, taurochenodeoxycholic bile acid was the predominant bile acid. Dietary bile acids supplementation also increased the proportion of T-BAs (tauro ß-muricholic acid and taurodehydrocholic acid) while decreasing Free-BAs in the fish bile. In conclusion, the incorporation of cholesterol with bile acids into plant-based diets can effectively reduce cholesterol uptake, suppress bile acids synthesis, enhance bile acids efflux, and promote hepatocyte proliferation, which is helpful for maintaining the normal liver morphology in tilapia, and thus improving its growth performance.

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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Food insecurity (FI) is a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced fibrosis in the general population, but its impact on liver disease in people with HIV (PWH) is unknown. METHODS: We examined the association of FI with prevalence of NAFLD and fibrosis in a diverse cohort of PWH. PWH aged ≥ 18 years on antiretroviral therapy, HIV RNA <200 copies/mL, and without other known liver diseases were screened for NAFLD (controlled attenuated parameter ≥263 decibels/meter) and advanced fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement ≥11 kilopascals) by vibration controlled transient elastography at 8 U.S. CENTERS: Participants were categorized as food insecure using the Six-Item Short Form Household Food Security Survey. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis by FI status. RESULTS: Among 654 PWH, NAFLD was present in 348 (53%) and advanced fibrosis in 41 (6%). FI was present in 203 of participants (31%), including 97/348 with NAFLD (28%) and 18/41 with advanced fibrosis (44%). In multivariable analysis, FI was associated with lower odds of NAFLD (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.37-0.88) and a greater, but nonsignificant, odds of advanced fibrosis (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.65-2.90). We identified a significant interaction between FI and diabetes (P = .02) on fibrosis risk, with greater odds of fibrosis among food insecure PWH and diabetes (OR, 3.83; 95% CI, 1.15-12.73) but not among food insecure nondiabetics (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.47-2.98). CONCLUSIONS: FI is highly prevalent among PWH and associated with lower odds of NAFLD, and among PWH with diabetes, there is greater odds of advanced fibrosis. FI may contribute to hepatic fibrosis through mechanisms other than steatosis in PWH.

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Chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death in the US and is often preventable. Rising burden, cost, and fatality due to liver disease are driven by intensified alcohol use in the US population and the contributions of comorbid conditions. This mini-review focuses on the topic of liver health in the context of chronic, behavioral cofactors of disease, using research-based examples from the Brown University Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation (CADRE). Our aim is to illustrate the current challenges and opportunities in clinical research addressing liver health in the context of behavioral and medical comorbidity and to highlight next steps in this crucial area of public health research and clinical care.

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This review explores the likely clinical impact of Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) activation by vitamin K on human health. PXR, initially recognized as a master regulator of xenobiotic metabolism in liver, emerges as a key regulator influencing intestinal homeostasis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy. The activation of PXR by vitamin K highlights its role as a potent endogenous and local agonist with diverse clinical implications. Recent research suggests that the vitamin K-mediated activation of PXR highlights this vitamin's potential in addressing pathophysiological conditions by promoting hepatic detoxification, fortifying gut barrier integrity, and controlling pro-inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. PXR activation by vitamin K provides an intricate association with cancer cell survival, particularly in colorectal and liver cancers, to provide new insights into potential novel therapeutic strategies. Understanding the clinical implications of PXR activation by vitamin K bridges molecular mechanisms with health outcomes, further offering personalized therapeutic approaches for complex diseases.

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INTRODUCTION: Liver disease is among the leading causes of global mortality and morbidity. Given their substantial impact on public health, raising awareness about liver diseases is paramount for their prevention and effective management. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behaviors of Syrians regarding liver health, chronic liver disorders, and their associated serious and irreversible complications. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study encompassing the adult Syrian population between August 25 and September 29, 2023, excluding non-Syrians and individuals below the age of 18 years. A validated questionnaire, adapted from a previous study, was employed, consisting of 31 questions that covered topics related to knowledge and awareness of liver health and diseases (3-point Likert scale), attitudes towards liver screening, diagnosis, and treatment, and awareness of treatment options and vaccination. Statistical analysis including logistic regression was conducted using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 28; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY), with statistical significance set established at pp-values below 0.05. RESULTS: This study included 941 participants, with an average age of 26.5 years. While two-thirds of respondents demonstrated awareness of hepatitis B and C as viral diseases (663 (70.4%) and 612 (65.4%), respectively), approximately 66 (7%) were unaware of the potential for hepatitis to induce chronic liver inflammation or lead to liver failure. Over half of the participants were knowledgeable about the non-genetic nature of hepatitis B and C, and 579 (61.7%) were informed about the transmission risks associated with these infections. The most common reason cited for not participating in health screening tests was the perception of being in good health (219, 77.4%), and prescription medication was the most frequently sought treatment for hepatitis (543, 83.9%). Bivariate analysis revealed correlations between participant knowledge and sex, socioeconomic status, educational level, and occupation (P < 0.05). Similarly, the study identified significant associations between participant attitudes and age, gender, economic status, job, and educational level (P < 0.05). Moreover, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that gender, occupation, and educational level significantly influenced both participants' knowledge and attitudes. Specifically, males exhibited lower knowledge and less favorable attitudes than females (P = 0.041 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The Syrian population possessed moderate knowledge of liver health and liver disorders. To bridge this knowledge gap and enhance preventive measures, it is recommended that additional health programs and awareness initiatives be implemented, involving healthcare providers and leveraging their expertise.

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Berberine (BBR) and silymarin (SM) are natural compounds extracted from plants known for their antioxidant and chemoprotective effects on the liver. The present study aimed to investigate the beneficial properties of BBR and SM and the association of BBR with SM on liver function using fish as "in vivo" models. Moreover, the study investigated their hepatoprotective role after acetaminophen (APAP) exposure. For this purpose, the fish (N = 360; 118.4 ± 11.09 g) were fed with control or experimental diets for 9 weeks. In the experimental diets, the feed was supplemented with either SM (1 g/kg feed), BBR (100 and 200 mg/kg feed), or a combination of BBR with SM (SM 1 g/kg feed + BBR 100 mg/kg feed and, respectively, SM 1 g/kg feed + BBR 200 mg/kg feed). After the feeding trial, seven fish from each tank were randomly selected and exposed to a single APAP dose. The selected serum biochemical markers, oxidative stress markers, and lysozyme activity were used to evaluate the efficiency of the supplements on carp's health profile, particularly regarding the hepatopancreas function. Our results showed that the inclusion of SM and BBR (either as a single or in combination) reduced the serum contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and alanine transaminase. An increase in the high-density cholesterol was observed after the administration of BBR or BBR in association with SM. Both supplements showed hepatoprotective activity against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, especially BBR. The ameliorative effects of SM (1 g) in association with BBR (100 mg) were highlighted by the modulation of the nonspecific immune system and oxidative stress alleviation after APAP exposure.

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OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with lysolecithins (LPC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, immunity, and liver health in broiler chickens. METHODS: A cohort of 240 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers of comparable weight was divided into four treatment groups, each comprising six replicates of 10 birds. The groups were defined as follows: positive control with recommended metabolizable energy (PC+ME), negative control with 90 kcal/kg reduced ME (NC+ME), PC supplemented with 300 mg/kg LPC (PC+LPC), and NC supplemented with 300 mg/kg LPC (NC+LPC). RESULTS: LPC supplementation led to a statistically significant reduction in the feed conversion ratio (p = 0.05) and a decrease in the proportion of abdominal fat and the liver (p<0.05). Digestibility of dry matter was also enhanced (p<0.05). Malondialdehyde concentrations in the liver were significantly reduced by LPC (p<0.01), with a noteworthy interaction between energy levels and LPC affecting this reduction (p<0.05). Serum levels of interleukin-6 were reduced on day 21, and both endotoxin and interleukin-6 levels were lower on day 42. Notably, a significant interaction was observed between the energy levels and LPC on relative liver weight and endotoxin concentrations in the serum (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that LPC positively affects growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune response, and antioxidative capacity in broiler chickens, affirming its value as a beneficial feed additive in poultry nutrition.

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BACKGROUND: Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake has been positively associated with obesity and diabetes. The relationship between UPF intake and liver health has been scarcely studied. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the association of UPF intake with risk of adverse liver outcomes including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, liver cancer, severe liver disease, and serum biomarkers of liver health. METHODS: A total of 173,889 participants aged 40 to 69 y from the UK Biobank were included. UPF intake was defined using 24-h dietary recalls and NOVA classification. Liver outcome data were obtained from cancer registry, in-hospital records, and death registries. Serum biomarkers were measured at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between UPF and adverse liver outcomes adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, body mass index, and diabetes. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate associations between UPF and liver function biomarkers. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 8.9 y, we documented 1108 NAFLD, 350 liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, 134 liver cancer, and 550 severe liver disease cases. Higher UPF intake was associated with increased risk of NAFLD (HRQuartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.70; Ptrend < 0.001), liver fibrosis/cirrhosis (HR: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.59; Ptrend = 0.009), and severe liver disease (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.90; Ptrend < 0.001) but not with liver cancer (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.63, 1.58; Ptrend = 0.88). Higher UPF intake was associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and triglycerides and lower cholesterols (all Ptrend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher UPF intake is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and severe liver disease and adverse levels of multiple clinical biomarkers, suggesting the potential importance of reducing UPF intake to improve liver health.

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The hybrid grouper (♀ Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × â™‚ E. lanceolatus) is a new species of grouper crossed from giant grouper (E. lanceolatus) as the male parent and brown-marbled grouper (E. fuscoguttatus) as the female parent. We hypothesized that optimal levels of dietary protein may benefit liver function. High-lipid diets are energetic feeds that conserve protein and reduce costs, and are a hot topic in aquaculture today. Therefore, the objective of the research is to investigated the effects of dietary protein level in high-lipid diets on serum and liver biochemistry, liver histology, and liver immune and antioxidant indexes and gene mRNA expression of the juvenile hybrid grouper (♀ Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × â™‚ E. lanceolatus). Six iso-lipidic (161 g/kg) diets were formulated containing graded levels of protein (510 as control, 480,450, 420, 390 and 360 g/kg). Each treatment consisted of three replicates and 30 fish (6.70 ± 0.02 g) in one replicate. After an 8-week feeding experiment, the results indicated the following: (1) With the decreasing of dietary protein level, the specific growth rate (SGR) of groupers increased gradually and then decreased; SGRs of the 390 and 360 g/kg groups were significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.05). (2) In terms of serum and liver, the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) content, and the activity of immune enzymes such as lysozyme (LYS) and immunoglobulin (IgM) was significantly increased under the appropriate protein level. (3) Based on liver histology, we know that high or low dietary protein levels cause liver damage. (4) Dietary protein levels can significantly affect the mRNA expression levels of an anti-inflammatory factor gene (tgfß), pro-inflammatory factor genes (il6, il8), heat shock proteins, and antioxidant and immune genes (hsp70 and hsp90, gpx, nrf2, keap1). It is concluded that the appropriate protein level can promote the growth performance of groupers, improve antioxidant activity and immune enzyme activity in serum and liver, and enhance the expression of immune genes.

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This study evaluated the effects of feeding an ultra-diluted complex to dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation. Thirty multiparous pregnant dairy cows were blocked and randomly assigned to either a placebo control (CON) group or ultra-diluted complex (UD) group. The CON group received a placebo (basal diet + 40 g/cow/day of expanded silicate), while the UD group received the ultra-diluted complex (basal diet + 40 g/cow/day of PeriParto Transição-RealH, composed of ultra-diluted substances + vehicle: expanded silicate). Cows were evaluated from 30 days before the expected calving date until 60 days in milk (DIM) for sample and data collection. Post-partum dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected by the treatment. Cows fed UD had higher DMI relative to BW. Feeding UD increased milk lactose content and decreased milk protein content. Cows fed UD had lower somatic cell counts in the third and fourth week of lactation. Cows fed UD showed a tendency for higher liver health index. Using UD during the transition period and early lactation may benefit liver and udder health of dairy cows with no detrimental effect on milk performance.

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Liver disease and liver cancer disparities in the U.S. are reflective of complex multiple determinants of health. This review describes the disproportionate burden of liver disease and liver cancer among racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority, rural, low socioeconomic status (SES) populations, and place-based contexts. The contributions of traditional and lifestyle-related risk factors (e.g., alcohol consumption, evitable toxin exposure, nutrition quality) and comorbid conditions (e.g., viral hepatitis, obesity, type II diabetes) to disparities is also explored. Biopsychosocial mechanisms defining the physiological consequences of inequities underlying these health disparities, including inflammation, allostatic load, genetics, epigenetics, and social epigenomics are described. Guided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) framework, integrative research of unexplored social and biological mechanisms of health disparities, appropriate methods and measures for early screening, diagnosis, assessment, and strategies for timely treatment and maintaining multidisciplinary care should be actively pursued. We review emerging research on adverse social determinants of liver health, such as structural racism, discrimination, stigma, SES, rising care-related costs, food insecurity, healthcare access, health literacy, and environmental exposures to pollutants. Limited research on protective factors of liver health is also described. Research from effective, multilevel, community-based interventions indicate a need for further intervention efforts that target both risk and protective factors to address health disparities. Policy-level impacts are also needed to reduce disparities. These insights are important, as the social contexts and inequities that influence determinants of liver disease/cancer have been worsened by the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic and are forecasted to amplify disparities.

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Cottonseed protein concentrate is a sustainable fishmeal alternative in aquafeed. A 10-week experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a cottonseed protein concentrate-based diet with and without multi-strain yeast fractions (MsYF) on growth, bile acid metabolism, and health in largemouth bass. Four hundred fish (54.0 ± 0.0 g) were casually distributed into 16 tanks (4 replicates/diet). Fish were fed with 4 iso-nitrogen and iso-energetic diets 3 times daily, including a fishmeal diet (FM), a soy protein concentrate-based diet (SPC; replacing 81% fishmeal protein), a cottonseed protein concentrate-based diet (CPC; replacing 81% fishmeal protein), and a CPC diet supplemented with 800 mg/kg MsYF (CPCY). Results showed that the survival of SPC was the lowest, i.e., 48%, with no apparent diet effect among other treatments; we omitted the SPC in additional analyses. Fish fed cottonseed protein concentrate-based diets showed lower growth than FM (P < 0.05). Fish fed CPC showed the highest nuclear dense hepatic phenotypes ratio (50%), followed by CPCY (33%) and FM (17%). Further, dietary CPC increased hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride levels with concurrently increased cholesterol synthesis but decreased triglyceride synthesis-associated transcription levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary CPC increased bile acid synthesis but decreased bile acid transport-associated transcription levels (P < 0.05), and then induced an increment of plasma cholic acid and hepatic chenodeoxycholic acid content and the decrement of genus Romboustia (P < 0.05). Regarding the effect of MsYF, fish fed CPCY reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and total plasma bile acid content (P < 0.05) compared to CPC, suggesting an improvement in liver health. Also, dietary MsYF could reverse the microbiota community structure showing a similar gut microbial composition to FM. In conclusion, 81% of fishmeal protein replaced by cottonseed protein concentrate suppressed growth and liver health, while dietary MsYF might mitigate the negative impact of a high cottonseed protein concentrate level diet on liver functions via gut microbiota regulation.

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This study investigated the effects of yellow mealworm meal (TM) on growth performance, hepatic health and digestibility in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The fish were fed with the basic feed and the test feed (70% basic feed and 30% raw materials) containing Cr2O3, and feces were collected for digestibility determination. The fish were fed with five isonitrogenous (47% crude protein) and isolipidic (13% crude lipid) diets, in which fishmeal (FM) was replaced with 0% (TM0), 12% (TM12), 24% (TM24), 36% (TM36) and 48% (TM48) TM. The fish were reared in cylindrical plastic tanks in a recirculating aquaculture system for 11 weeks. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), of dry matter, crude protein and crude lipid, in largemouth bass of TM were 74.66%, 91.03% and 90.91%, respectively. The ADC of total amino acid (TAA) of TM in largemouth bass was 92.89%, and the ADC of essential amino acid (EAA) in TM in largemouth bass was 93.86%. The final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) in the TM24 group were significantly higher than those in other groups. Similarly, the highest mRNA expression levels of hepatic protein metabolism genes (pi3k, mtor, 4ebp2 and got) and antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase, Gpx; catalase, Cat) activities were observed in the TM24 group. Moreover, the expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors (il-10 and tgf) in liver were up-regulated and the expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors (il-8 and il-1ß) in liver were down-regulated. Quadratic regression model analysis, based on weight gain rate (WGR) against dietary TM level, indicated that the optimum level of dietary TM replacing FM in largemouth bass diet was 19.52%. Appropriate replacement levels (less than 36%) of FM by TM in the diets can enhance the antioxidant capacity and immunity of largemouth bass. However, high levels of FM substitution with TM (more than 48%) in the feeds can damage the liver health and inhibit the growth of largemouth bass. Notably, largemouth bass has high ADC and high utilization of TM, which indicates that it is feasible to use TM as feed protein source for largemouth bass.

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OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency in diets on growth performance, hepatic lipid metabolism, and antioxidant capacity in Yellow River Carp Cyprinus carpio haematopterus. METHODS: In this study, 72 healthy experimental fish (initial weight = 12.0 ± 0.1 g [mean ± SE]) were randomly selected and distributed to two groups, with three replicates in each group. The groups were fed either a P-sufficient diet or a P-deficient diet for 8 weeks. RESULT: The P-deficient feed significantly decreased the specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and condition factor of Yellow River Carp. Fish that were fed the P-deficient feed demonstrated higher contents of triglyceride, total cholesterol (T-CHO), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the plasma and a higher T-CHO content in the liver compared to the P-sufficient diet group. In addition, the P-deficient diet significantly reduced the catalase activity level, decreased the glutathione content, and increased the malondialdehyde content in the liver and in the plasma. Furthermore, P deficiency in the diet significantly downregulated the messenger RNA expression of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, whereas it upregulated the messenger RNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α and fatty acid synthase in the liver. CONCLUSION: Dietary P deficiency reduced fish growth performance, induced fat deposition and oxidative stress, and impaired liver health.

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In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary methionine restriction (MR) on the antioxidant function and inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broilers reared at high stocking density. A total of 504 one-day-old male Arbor Acre broiler chickens were randomly divided into four treatments: 1) CON group, broilers fed a basal diet; 2) LPS group, LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet; 3) MR1 group, LPS-challenged broilers fed a methionine-restricted diet (0.3% methionine); and 4) MR2 group, LPS-challenged broilers fed a methionine-restricted diet (0.4% methionine). LPS-challenged broilers were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) of LPS at 17, 19, and 21 days of age, whereas the CON group was injected with sterile saline. The results showed that: LPS significantly increased the liver histopathological score (p < 0.05); LPS significantly decreased the serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity at 3 h after injection (p < 0.05); the LPS group had a higher content of Interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-α, but a lower content of IL-10 than the CON group in serum (p < 0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the MR1 diet increased catalase (CAT), SOD, and T-AOC, and the MR2 diet increased SOD and T-AOC at 3 h after injection in serum (p < 0.05). Only MR2 group displayed a significantly decreased liver histopathological score (p < 0.05) at 3 h, while MR1 and MR2 groups did so at 8 h. Both MR diets significantly decreased serum LPS, CORT, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α contents, but increased IL-10 content (p < 0.05). Moreover, the MR1 group displayed significantly increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), CAT, and GSH-Px at 3 h; the MR2 group had a higher expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), SOD, and GSH-Px at 8 h (p < 0.05). In summary, MR can improve antioxidant capacity, immunological stress, and liver health in LPS-challenged broilers. The MR1 and MR2 groups experienced similar effects on relieving stress; however, MR1 alleviated oxidative stress more rapidly. It is suggested that precise regulation of methionine levels in poultry with stress may improve the immunity of broilers, reduce feed production costs, and increase production efficiency in the poultry industry.

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Liver health is important to maintain survival and growth of fish. Currently, the role of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in improving fish liver health is largely unknown. This study investigated the role of DHA supplementation in fat deposition and liver damage caused by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four diets were formulated as control diet (Con), Con supplemented with 1 % DHA, 2 % DHA and 4 % DHA diets, respectively. The diets were fed to 25 Nile tilapia (2.0 ± 0.1 g, average initial weight) in triplicates for four weeks. After the four weeks, 20 fish in each treatment were randomly selected and injected with a mixture of 500 mg D-GalN and 10 µL LPS per mL to induce acute liver injury. The results showed that the Nile tilapia fed on DHA diets decreased visceral somatic index, liver lipid content and serum and liver triglyceride concentrations than those fed on the Con diet. Moreover, after D-GalN/LPS injection, the fish fed on DHA diets decreased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase activities in the serum. The results of liver qPCR and transcriptomics assays together showed that the DHA diets feeding improved liver health by downregulating the expression of the genes related to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway, inflammation and apoptosis. This study indicates that DHA supplementation in Nile tilapia alleviates the liver damage caused by D-GalN/LPS through increasing lipid catabolism, decreasing lipogenesis, TLR4 signaling pathway, inflammation, and apoptosis. Our study provides novel knowledge on the role of DHA in improving liver health in cultured aquatic animals for sustainable aquaculture.

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Herein, Galla Chinensis tannin (GCT) was examined for its influence on preventing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver damage in broiler chickens. Approximately 486 one-day-old healthy broilers were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups (control, LPS, and LPS + GCT). The control and LPS groups were fed a basal diet and the LPS+GCT group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg GCT. LPS was intraperitoneally injected (1 mg/kg body weight BW) in broilers in the LPS and LPS+GCT groups at 17, 19, and 21 days of age. The results manifested that dietary GCT addition attenuated LPS-induced deleterious effects on serum parameters and significantly increased serum immunoglobulin and complement C3 concentrations relative to the control and LPS groups. Dietary supplementation of GCT inhibited LPS-induced increase in broiler hepatic inflammatory cytokines, caspases activities, and TLR4/NF-κB pathway-related gene mRNA expression. Therefore, 300 mg/kg GCT addition to the diet improved the immune function of broilers and inhibit liver inflammation by blocking the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Our findings provide support for the application of GCT in poultry production.