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Hair follicle is a regenerative organ, and its growth process constantly goes through the cycle of growth, decline and rest period. The cyclic growth of hair follicle determines the growth and loss of fur. Hair follicles are not only regulated by genetic, environmental, and other factors, but also closely related to the content and type of nutrients in the diet, especially the protein content and amino acid composition. Protein is an important substance in the composition of fur animal coat. Sulfur-containing amino acids are the main amino acids that restrict the growth of coat. Sulfur elements exist in the coat in the form of disulfide bonds, which play an important role in maintaining the network space structure of coat fibrin molecules and resisting the erosion of various adverse factors from the outside world. In addition, lysine, tryptophan, tyrosine, glutamic acid, and other non-sulfur-containing amino acids are also involved in the formation of fur animal skin sheets, which play an important role in controlling fur animal skin coat color, promoting coat growth and regulating fur maturation. In this paper, the recent research progress on the effects of protein content and amino acid composition in feed on fur quality of fur animals is reviewed, in order to provide a reference for guiding the genetic selection and production of fur animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of compound nutritional supplements on immune performance and antioxidant function in dogs and cats. Twenty adult healthy Linqing lion cats and twenty adult healthy Chinese garden dogs were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, respectively, with 10 replicates in each group. The experimental group was supplemented with 5 g of compound nutritional supplements mixed with 60 mL of water, while the control group was not supplemented. The trial period lasted for 30 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the initial weight, final weight, and average daily feed intake of dogs and cats in the experimental group (P>0.05). The average water consumption of the dogs in the experimental group was significantly reduced (P<0.05), while the average total water intake of the dogs and cats in the experimental group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the average hemoglobin content, average red blood cell volume and globulin content in the blood of cats in the experimental group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The number of blood granulocytes of dogs in the experimental group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum SOD activity and IL-6 content of dogs and cats in the experimental group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The serum IgD content of cats in the experimental group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The serum IgA and IgG content of dogs in the experimental group were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the serum MDA content in the experimental group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the fecal score of cats in the experimental group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The study indicates that compound nutritional supplements can increase the water intake of dogs and cats, improve antioxidant capacity and immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For polymersomes to achieve their potential as effective delivery vehicles, they must efficiently encapsulate therapeutic agents into either the aqueous interior or the hydrophobic membrane. In this study, cell membrane-mimetic polymersomes were prepared from amphiphilic poly(D,L-lactide)-b-poly(2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine) (PLA-b-PMPC) diblock copolymers and were used as encapsulation devices for water-soluble molecules. Thioalkylated zwitterionic phosphorylcholine protected quantum dots (PC@QDs) were chosen as hydrophilic model substrates and successfully encapsulated into the aqueous polymersome interior, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and flow cytometry. In addition, we also found a fraction of the PC@QDs were bound to both the external and internal surfaces of the polymersome. This interesting immobilization might be due to the ion-pair interactions between the phosphorylcholine groups on the PC@QDs and polymersomes. The experimental encapsulation results support a mechanism of PLA-b-PMPC polymersome formation in which PLA-b-PMPC copolymer chains first form spherical micelles, then worm-like micelles, and finally disk-like micelles which close up to form polymersomes.