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SUMMARY: As global poultry production expands to meet rising demand, the susceptibility of birds to heat stress has increased owing to advancements in chicken genetics and global warming. This review explores the significant impact of heat stress on poultry gut health by altered gut permeability and microbiota. Heat stress is characterised by prolonged exposure to elevated ambient temperatures, triggering thermoregulatory processes in poultry, which can lead to adverse effects such as respiratory alkalosis and bone degeneration. These physiological disruptions compromise homoeostasis, suppress intestinal immunity and digestive functions and cause gastrointestinal inflammation, thereby affecting the growth, productivity and overall well-being of poultry. Various strategies, including housing modifications, genetic selection, food manipulation and the use of feed additives, such as bioactive chemicals, prebiotics, organic acids, medicinal plants and probiotics, have been employed to mitigate these effects. This review emphasises the role of feed additives in supporting poultry gut health, thereby enhancing animal welfare, productivity and sustainability in the face of climate change. Future research avenues are suggested to improve our understanding and development of effective nutritional strategies to combat heat stress in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As more and more countries legalize medicinal cannabis, and more and more people start using this therapy, it is absolutely necessary that there should be identified some research priorities regarding therapeutic cannabis, using the pioneering research results from various countries from all over the world. It is also required an accurate preventive or curative professional information for the medical staff of any specialty. The present paper brings an overall image on the research in this field, which, despite of its novelty, already proves to have a great potential in medical research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a multifactorial disease that is part of today's epidemic and also increases the risk of other metabolic diseases. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) provide one tier of regulatory mechanisms to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Although lncRNAs are a significant constituent of the mammalian genome, studies aimed at their metabolic significance, including obesity, are only beginning to be addressed. Here, a developmentally regulated lncRNA, termed as obesity related (Obr), whose expression in metabolically relevant tissues such as skeletal muscle, liver, and pancreas is altered in diet‐induced obesity, is identified. The Clone 9 cell line and high‐fat diet‐induced obese Wistar rats are used as a model system to verify the function of Obr. By using stable expression and antisense oligonucleotide‐mediated downregulation of the expression of Obr followed by different molecular biology experiments, its role in lipid metabolism is verified. It is shown that Obr associates with the cAMP response element‐binding protein (Creb) and activates different transcription factors involved in lipid metabolism. Its association with the Creb histone acetyltransferase complex, which includes the cAMP response element‐binding protein (CBP) and p300, positively regulates the transcription of genes involved in lipid metabolism. In addition, Obr is regulated by Pparγ in response to lipid accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resting metabolic rate (RMR), the energy required by the body at rest, is the largest part of total daily energy expenditure. Commonly used prediction equations may overestimate RMR in adults with Down syndrome (DS). The purpose of this study was to assess the equivalency of prediction equations for estimating RMR in adults with DS., Methods: Twenty-five adults with DS (24 ± 5 years of age, 64% female) completed RMR assessments at an academic medical centre in the United States between November 2021 and July 2023. Measured RMR (kilocalories per day) was compared to estimated RMR from eight prediction equations using a null hypothesis significance (i.e., a paired t-test) and equivalence (i.e., a two one-sided test) tests. Bland-Altman plots, Pearson correlations and linear regressions were used to evaluate the bias between the measured and predicted RMR values., Results: Measured RMR in adults with DS was 1090 ± 136 kcal/day. Prediction equations overestimated RMR by 8 ± 16% (76 ± 165 kcal/day) to 45 ± 16% (488 ± 165 kcal/day) except for the Bernstein fat-free mass equation which underestimated RMR by 0.2 ± 11.5% (8 ± 123 kcal/day) and was statistically equivalent to measured RMR in our sample (p = 0.027)., Conclusions: The Bernstein fat-free mass equation offers better accuracy in adults with DS than other RMR prediction equations, but the equation needs to be evaluated in larger, more diverse samples of adults with DS., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and MENCAP.)

Summary: The SIMulation supported LIVer Assessment for donor organs (SimLivA) project aims to develop a mathematical model to accurately simulate the influence of mechanical alterations in marginal liver grafts (specifically steatotic ones) and cold ischemia on early ischemia‐reperfusion injury (IRI) during liver transplantation. Our project tackles significant research challenges, including the co‐development of computational methodologies, experimental studies, clinical processes, and technical workflows. We aim to refine a continuum‐biomechanical model for enhanced IRI prediction, collect pivotal experimental and clinical data, and assess the clinical applicability of our model. Our efforts involve augmenting and tailoring a coupled continuum‐biomechanical, multiphase, and multi‐scale partial differential equation‐ordinary differential equation (PDE‐ODE) model of the liver lobule, allowing us to numerically simulate IRI depending on the degree of steatosis and the duration of ischemia. The envisaged model will intertwine the structure, perfusion, and function of the liver, serving as a crucial aid in clinical decision‐making processes. We view this as the initial step towards an in‐silico clinical decision support tool aimed at enhancing the outcomes of liver transplantation. In this paper, we provide an overview of the SimLivA project and our preliminary findings, which include: a cellular model that delineates critical processes in the context of IRI during transplantation; and the integration of this model into a multi‐scale PDE‐ODE model using a homogenized, multi‐scale, multi‐component approach within the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) framework. The model has successfully simulated the interconnected relationship between structure, perfusion, and function—all of which are integral to IRI. Initial results show simulations at the cellular scale that describe critical processes related to IRI during transplantation. After integrating this model into a multiscale PDE‐ODE model, first simulations were performed on the spatial distribution of key functions during warm and cold ischaemia. In addition, we were able to study the effect of tissue perfusion and temperature, two critical parameters in the context of liver transplantation and IRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: This study is aimed at investigating the potential correlation of thyroid hormone sensitivity with visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and body mass index (BMI) among euthyroid type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. Methods: Thyroid hormone sensitivity indices were calculated by thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), TSH index (TSHI), thyrotropin thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI), and free thyroxine (fT4)/free triiodothyronine (fT3) ratio. These indices were then categorized into quartiles for analysis. The outcomes were the change rates in VFA, SFA, and BMI among the participants. Result: The present study included 921 patients, with a median follow-up of 2.2 years. In multivariate linear regression, when compared to the first quartile, SFA demonstrated a notable decline in the fourth quartile of TFQI, TSHI, and TT4RI (β coefficient = -5 78, -7 83, and - 6 84 cm2 per year), while it significantly increased in the fourth quartile of fT4/fT3 ratio (β coefficient = 6 13 cm2 per year). Similarly, in the fourth quartile of TFQI, TSHI, and TT4RI, VFA decreased significantly, evidenced by β coefficients of -5.14, -4.80, and -4.08 cm2 per year. Yet, among the quartiles of the fT4/fT3 ratio, no discernible trend in VFA was observed. There was no significant association between indices of thyroid hormone sensitivity and change in BMI. Conclusion: Impaired central sensitivity to thyroid hormones was significantly associated with the reduction of VFA and SFA, while impaired peripheral sensitivity was associated with an increase of SFA in euthyroid individuals with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical removal of the thyroid gland (TG) for treating thyroid disorders leaves the patients on lifelong hormone replacement that partially compensates the physiological needs, but regenerating TG is challenging. Here, an approach is reported to regenerate TG within the spleen for fully restoring the thyroid's functions in mice, by transplanting thyroid tissue blocks to the spleen. Within 48 h, the transplanted tissue efficiently revascularizes, forming thyroid follicles similar to the native gland after 4 weeks. Structurally, the ectopically generated thyroid integrates with the surrounding splenic tissue while maintaining its integrity, separate from the lymphatic tissue. Functionally, it fully restores the native functions of the TG in hormone regulation in response to physiological stimuli, outperforming the established method of oral levothyroxine therapy in maintaining systemic homeostasis. The study demonstrates the full restoration of thyroid functions post‐thyroidectomy by intrasplenic TG regeneration, providing fresh insights for designing novel therapies for thyroid‐related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rambouillet rams were managed on either a positive (POS ; gain 12% body weight [ BW ]; n  = 8), maintenance (MAINT ; maintain BW; n  = 8), or negative (NEG ; lose 12% BW; n  = 8) plane of nutrition before breeding. Rams were bred to ewes (n  = 10 per ram) that were managed similarly throughout gestation, and lambs were fed a common diet postnatally. Two ewe lambs (7.6 ± 0.02 mo of age, BW = 47.1 ± 1.17 kg) from each sire were selected and within-pair, randomly assigned to be managed for a moderate (MOD , 0.11 kg/d; n  = 23) or accelerated (ACC , 0.20 kg/d; n = 22) rate of gain for 56 d. Ewe lamb BW was recorded on a weekly basis and blood was collected on days 0, 28, and 56 for analysis of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), triiodothyronine (T 3 ), thyroxine (T 4 ), glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) were conducted from days −7 to −4 and days 57 to 64. A unilateral ovariectomy was performed and ovarian follicles were staged and counted macro and microscopically. Sire treatment × day and ewe treatment × day interactions were present for BW (P  ≤ 0.05), where POS had slower growth than MAINT and NEG, and tended (P  = 0.10) to have reduced average daily gain (ADG) when managed at an accelerated rate of gain. By design, ACC had greater BW and ADG than MOD (P  < 0.05). Concentrations of IGF-1 and T4 were greater in ACC than MOD (P  ≤ 0.05), and NEG tended to have greater concentrations of IGF-1 than POS and MAINT (P  = 0.08). At the first IVGTT, the concentration of insulin was influenced by a sire treatment × time interaction (P  ≤ 0.05), suggesting impaired secretion in NEG-sires ewes, but no differences in area under the curve (AUC) for glucose, insulin, or their ratio (P  ≥ 0.11). No interactive effects of sire and ewe treatment (P  ≥ 0.52) were observed at the second IVGTT, but insulin and insulin:glucose ratio were influenced by sire treatment × time (P  ≤ 0.02), as NEG had greater insulin concentration at 60 min than MAINT (P  = 0.03) and greater AUC than POS and MAINT (P  ≤ 0.04). No differences in ovary size, weight, or total counts of macro and microscopic follicles were observed (P  ≥ 0.23). Ewes-fed ACC had a greater number of small surface follicles (P  = 0.02), whereas MOD tended to have a greater number of large surface follicles and tertiary follicles (P  < 0.06). These findings suggest that the paternal plane of nutrition influences female offspring physiology, particularly at varying growth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to establish the role biological sex plays in circulating factors following heat stress (HS). Barrows and gilts (36.8 ± 3.7 kg body weight) were kept in either thermoneutral (TN; 20.8 ± 1.6 °C; 62.0% ± 4.7% relative humidity; n  = 8/sex) conditions or exposed to HS (39.4 ± 0.6 °C; 33.7% ± 6.3% relative humidity) for either 1 (HS1; n  = 8/sex) or 7 (HS7; n  = 8/sex) d. Circulating glucose decreased as a main effect of the environment (P  = 0.03). Circulating non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) had an environment × sex interaction (P  < 0.01) as HS1 barrows had increased NEFA compared to HS1 gilts (P  = 0.01) and NEFA from HS7 gilts increased compared to HS1 gilts (P  = 0.02) and HS7 barrows (P  = 0.04). Cortisol, insulin, glucagon, T3, and T4 were reduced as a main effect of environment (P  ≤ 0.01). Creatinine was increased in HS1 and HS7 animals compared to TN (P  ≤ 0.01), indicative of decreased glomerular filtration rate. White blood cell populations exhibited differential patterns based on sex and time. Neutrophils and lymphocytes had an environment × sex interaction (P  ≤ 0.05) as circulating neutrophils were increased in HS1 barrows compared to TN and HS7 barrows, and HS1 gilts (P  ≤ 0.01) and HS7 barrows had less neutrophils compared to TN barrows (P  = 0.01), whereas they remained similar in gilts. In contrast, barrow lymphocyte numbers were similar between groups, but in HS7 gilts they were decreased compared to TN and HS1 gilts (P  ≤ 0.04). In total, these data demonstrate that HS alters a host of circulating factors and that biological sex mediates, at least in part, the physiological response to HS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betaine is widely used as a feed additive in the chicken industry to promote laying performance and growth performance, yet it is unknown whether betaine can be used in geese to improve the laying performance of goose breeders and the growth traits of offspring goslings. In this study, laying goose breeders at 39 wk of age were fed basal (Control, CON) or betaine-supplemented diets at low (2.5 g/kg, LBT) or high (5 g/kg, HBT) levels for 7 wk, and the breeder eggs laid in the last week were collected for incubation. Offspring goslings were examined at 35 and 63 d of age. The laying rate tended to be increased (P  = 0.065), and the feed efficiency of the breeders was improved by betaine supplementation, while the average daily gain of the offspring goslings was significantly increased (P  < 0.05). Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) in serum and liver were significantly increased in the HBT group (P  < 0.05), with age-dependent alterations of serum T3 levels. Concurrently, hepatic mRNA expression of the IGF gene family was significantly increased in goslings derived from betaine-treated breeders (P  < 0.05). A higher ratio of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-immunopositive nuclei was found in the liver sections of the HBT group, which was confirmed by significantly upregulated hepatic expression of PCNA mRNA and protein (P  < 0.05). Moreover, hepatic expression of thyroxine deiodinase type 1 (Dio 1) and thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) was also significantly upregulated in goslings of the HBT group (P  < 0.05). These changes were associated with significantly higher levels of global DNA 5-mC methylation, together with increased expression of methyl transfer genes (P  < 0.05), including betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), glycine N -methyltransferase (GNMT), and DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). The promoter regions of IGF-2 genes, as well as the predicted TRβ binding site on the IGF-2 gene, were significantly hypomethylated (P  < 0.05). These results indicate that gosling growth can be improved by dietary betaine supplementation in goose breeders via epigenetic modulation of the IGF gene family, especially IGF-2 , in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scope: This research examines the effects of maternal high-fat (HF) diet and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on offspring lipid metabolism and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) profile., Methods and Results: GDM is induced using the insulin receptor antagonist S961. Weaning offspring are categorized into HF-GDM, HF-CON, NC-GDM, and NC-CON groups based on maternal diet or GDM. Adult offspring are then grouped into NC-CON-NC, NC-CON-HF, NC-GDM-NC, NC-GDM-HF, HF-CON-NC, HF-CON-HF, HF-GDM-NC, and HF-GDM-HF according to dietary patterns. Gas chromatography determines PUFA composition. Western blot assesses PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related protein expression. Feeding a normal chow diet until adulthood improves the distribution of hepatic PUFA during weaning across the four groups. PI3K expression is upregulated during weaning in HF-CON and HF-GDM, particularly in HF-CON-NC and HF-GDM-NC, compared to NC-CON-NC during adulthood. Akt expression increases in NC-GDM-NC after weaning with a normal diet. The hepatic PUFA profile in HF-CON-HF significantly distinguishes among the maternal generation health groups. Maternal HF diet exacerbates the combined impact of maternal GDM and offspring HF diet on hepatic PUFA and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins during adulthood., Conclusions: Early exposure to HF diets and GDM affects hepatic PUFA profiles and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway protein expression in male offspring during weaning and adulthood., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Some studies of endocrine-disrupting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and thyroid hormones (THs) are inconclusive. To assess the associations between PAHs and THs, and the influence of the iodine status on PAHs–THs, we employed 648 adolescents (12–19 years old) and 2691 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. PAH metabolites [1-hydroxynaphthalene (1-NAP), 2-NAP, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-PHE), 2-PHE, 3-PHE, 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-FLU), 3-FLU, 9-FLU, and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-PYR)], THs [total and free thyroxine (TT4 and FT4), total and free triiodothyronine (TT3 and FT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroglobulin (Tg)], peripheral deiodinase activity (GD) and thyroid's secretory capacity (GT) were involved. Multiple linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were used to assess PAH–TH associations and the interaction between PAHs and the iodine status. Stratification analyses were conducted based on sex, smoking and iodine status. For adolescents, in a multivariable-adjusted regression model (β; 95% CI), 1-PHE (4.08%; 1.01%, and 7.25%), 2-PHE (3.98%; 0.70%, and 7.25%) and 9-FLU (3.77%; 1.10%, 7.47%) were positively correlated with TT3; 3-PHE and 1-PYR interacted with the iodine status (P-int < 0.05); 9-FLU was positively correlated with GD in both sexes. Combined exposure to PAHs was positively associated with Tg (0.137; 0.030, and 0.243), and negatively correlated with TSH (−0.087; −0.166, and −0.008). For adults, 2-NAP was positively correlated with FT3 (0.90%; 0.20%, and 1.61%), FT4 (1.82%; 0.70%, and 2.94%), TT3 (1.31%; 0.10%, and 2.63%), TT4 (2.12%; 0.90%, and 3.36%) and GT (2.22%; 1.01%, and 3.46%), but negatively correlated with TSH (−4.97%; −8.33%, and −1.49%); 1-NAP interacted with the iodine status (P-int < 0.05); 1-PHE was inversely correlated with TT3 in males; 2-PHE was positively correlated with TT3 in females. Combined exposure to PAHs was positively associated with FT3 (0.008; 0.001, and 0.014). Combined exposure to PAHs was positively associated with FT3, TT3 and GD, and negatively correlated with FT4, TT4 and GT in non-smoking adults; but positively associated with Tg (β = 0.140; 95% CI: 0.042, 0.237) in smoking adults. Our results indicated that combined and individual PAH exposure might be related to THs, and the iodine status had an influence on PAH–TH associations. These associations were not identical between adolescents and adults, and there were sex and smoking status differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Halogen bonding (XB) is a potential mechanism for the inhibition of the thyroid‐activating/deactivating iodothyronine deiodinase family of selenoproteins through interactions with halogenated endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Trends in XB interactions were examined using density functional theory for a series of polyhalogenated dibenzo‐1,4‐dioxins, biphenyls, and other EDCs with methylselenolate, a simple model of the Dio active site selenocysteine. The strengths of the interactions depend upon the halogen (Br>Cl), the degree of substitution, and the position of the acceptor. In terms of donor‐acceptor energies, interactions at the meta position are often the strongest, suggesting a link to the topology of THs, especially for outer‐ring deiodination of thyroxine, which occurs at a meta iodine, and produces the active TH. However, relationships between XB interaction strengths and potential for Dio inhibition should be made in the context of the binding to the active sites, the topology of which are not fully characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive literature search to identify and collect studies related to the toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and brominated phenols (BPs) was performed in the three databases PubMed, Web of Science and SciFinder® for four Areas. After combination of the searches from the three databases and removal of the duplicates, the total number of references for Area 1 was 6,231, for Area 2 was 8,236, for Area 3 was 4,994 and for Area 4 was 6,363. The evaluation of all retrieved references for relevance by screening the title and abstract (if available) and applying eligibility criteria (inclusion/exclusion) resulted in a total number of relevant references for Area 1 of 378 (PBDEs), 46 (TBBPA) and 29 (BPs), for Area 2 of 188 (PBDEs), 37 (TBBPA) and 4 (BPs), for Area 3 of 518 (PBDEs), 180 (TBBPA) and 49 (BPs), and for Area 4 of 717 (PBDEs), 59 (TBBPA) and 18 (BPs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromedin B (NB), a bombesin-like peptide, exerts its specific actions by binding to the neuromedin B receptor (NBR), a G protein-coupled receptor. Female NBR-knockout (NBR-KO) mice exhibit resistance to diet-induced obesity, without hyperphagia, suggesting possible increase in energy expenditure. Skeletal muscle (SM) is crucial for whole body energy homeostasis, however, the presence of NB-NBR signaling and its effects in SM are unknown. Here, we show that male and female wild type express Nmbr and Nmb mRNA in SM, with higher levels in females. Female NBR-KO gastrocnemius showed increased Myh7 mRNA level, which characterizes type I fibers (oxidative profile). Their permeabilized gastrocnemius fibers, studied by high-resolution respirometry, exhibited higher consumption of O2 coupled to ATP synthesis and unaltered uncoupled respiration. NBR-KO gastrocnemius had higher protein levels of ATP-synthase and Nduf9 mRNA, corresponding to mitochondrial complex I subunit. NBR-KO gastrocnemius exhibited slight increase in mitochondria number, increased thickness of Z line at electron microscopy, and unaltered mitochondrial dynamics markers. Therefore, in the females' gastrocnemius, a predominantly glycolytic SM, the NBR absence promotes changes that favor mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity. In addition, in L6 myocytes, NB treatment (5 µg/mL/16 h) promoted lower O2 consumption coupled to ATP synthesis, suggesting direct action at SM cells. Altogether, the study reinforces the hypothesis that inhibition of NB-NBR signaling enhances the capacity for oxidative phosphorylation of white SM, encouraging future studies to elucidate their contribution on other types of SM and whole body energy expenditure, which may lead to a new target to drug development for obesity treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]