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This study evaluated the effects of Biocide, containing silicon tetrahedrons and organic acids, on growth performance, feed utilization, immune response, and oxidative status in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A total of 300 Nile tilapia fingerlings (initial weight: 3.55 ± 0.01 g) were distributed across 15 tanks and fed diets containing 0.0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 g kg⁻¹ Biocide for 90 days, with three replicate tanks per treatment. Biocide is enriched with organic acids (fumaric acid and citric acid) and amino acids (glutamine, tyrosine, methionine, serine, and threonine). Fish fed Biocide-supplemented diets demonstrated significantly improved growth performance, with the highest weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio observed in the 1 g kg⁻¹ group. Survival rates did not differ significantly among treatments. Whole-body crude protein content peaked in the 1 g kg⁻¹ group, while moisture, lipid, and ash contents remained unchanged. Hematological parameters, including red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume, improved significantly. Serum lipid profiles showed reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein levels, alongside increased high-density lipoprotein levels, particularly in the 1 g kg⁻¹ group. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and total antioxidant capacity were significantly elevated in the liver and intestine, while malondialdehyde levels decreased. Digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, and protease) were markedly enhanced. Histopathological analysis revealed improved liver, stomach, and intestinal morphology, including increased mucous secretion and enhanced intestinal villi structure, in fish fed 1 g kg⁻¹ Biocide. In conclusion, Biocide supplementation, particularly at 1 g kg⁻¹, significantly improved growth performance, feed utilization, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in Nile tilapia. Notably, the findings highlight Biocide's primary mode of action on gut health, underscoring its potential as a dietary additive for improving aquaculture productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) is a very important neurotransmitter emerging from the raphe nuclei to several brain regions. Serotonergic neuronal connectivity has multiple functions in the brain. In this study, several techniques were used to trace serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe (DR) and median raphe (MnR) that project toward the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (Arc), dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DM), lateral hypothalamic area (LH), paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH), ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), fasciola cinereum (FC), and medial habenular nucleus (MHb). Cholera toxin subunit B (CTB), retro‐adeno‐associated virus (rAAV‐CMV‐mCherry), glycoprotein‐deleted rabies virus (RV‐ΔG), and simultaneous microinjection of rAAV2‐retro‐Cre‐tagBFP with AAV‐dio‐mCherry in C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. In addition, rAAV2‐retro‐Cre‐tagBFP was microinjected into Ai9 mice. Serotonin immunohistochemistry was used for the detection of retrogradely traced serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei. The results indicated that rAAV2‐retro‐Cre‐tagBFP microinjection in Ai9 mice was the best method for tracing serotonergic neuron circuits. All of the previously listed nuclei exhibited serotonergic neuronal projections from the DR and MnR, with the exception of the FC, which had very few projections from the DR. The serotonergic neuronal projections were directed toward the Arc by the subpeduncular tegmental (SPTg) nuclei. Moreover, the RV‐ΔG tracer revealed monosynaptic non‐serotonergic neuronal projections from the DR that were directed toward the Arc. Furthermore, rAAV tracers revealed monosynaptic serotonergic neuronal connections from the raphe nuclei toward Arc. These findings validate the variations in neurotropism among several retrograde tracers. The continued discovery of several novel serotonergic neural circuits is crucial for the future discovery of the functions of these circuits. Research Highlights: Various kinds of retrograde tracers were microinjected into C57BL/6 and Ai9 mice.The optimum method for characterizing serotonergic neuronal circuits is rAAV2‐retro‐Cre‐tagBFP microinjection in Ai9 mice.The DR, MnR, and SPTg nuclei send monosynaptic serotonergic neuronal projections toward the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.Whole‐brain quantification analysis of retrograde‐labeled neurons in different brain nuclei following rAAV2‐retro‐Cre‐tagBFP microinjection in the Arc, DM, LH, and VMH is shown.Differential quantitative analysis of median and dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons emerging toward the PVH, DM, LH, Arc, VMH, MHb, and FC is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusion The Migraine‐Specific Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire version 2.1 (MSQ 2.1) is one of the most frequently used tools in assessing the impact of migraine in clinical practice and in migraine research. This work aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the MSQ 2.1 in Arabic‐speaking patients with migraine and to assess its ability to detect subtle changes in quality of life after receiving prophylactic migraine medications.This multicenter prospective observational study was conducted with 140 patients experiencing migraine and indicated for prophylactic medications. Headache assessment was done at baseline and 3 months after receiving prophylactic medications using the Arabic version of MSQ 2.1, Headache Impact Test (HIT‐6), and visual analog scale (VAS). The MSQ 2.1 was repeated 1 week after the first visit to a group of patients (n = 70) to assess test–retest reliability.Cronbach's alpha for the MSQ 2.1 was 0.973, indicating excellent internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient (average measure) was 0.99, indicating excellent test–retest reliability. There were statistically significant correlations between the MSQ 2.1 total score and monthly migraine days, VAS, and HIT‐6 scores before and 3 months after prophylactic medications. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that an increase of 8.5 in the total score of the MSQ 2.1 represents the minimally important change that means significant improvement (area under the curve = 0.785, sensitivity = 0.861, specificity = 0.656, p < 0.001).The Arabic version of the MSQ 2.1 is a valid, reliable, and sensitive tool that can precisely assess the impact of migraine on quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]