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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]

Liver fibrosis is a disease largely driven by resident and recruited macrophages. The phenotypic switch of hepatic macrophages can be achieved by chemo-attractants and cytokines. During a screening of plants traditionally used to treat liver diseases in China, paeoniflorin was identified as a potential drug that affects the polarization of macrophages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of paeoniflorin in an animal model of liver fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanisms. Liver fibrosis was induced in Wistar rats via an intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. In addition, the RAW264.7 macrophages were cultured in the presence of CoCl2 to simulate a hypoxic microenvironment of fibrotic livers in vitro. The modeled rats were treated daily with either paeoniflorin (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) or YC-1 (2 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Hepatic function, inflammation and fibrosis, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were assessed in the in vivo and in vitro models. The expression levels of M1 and M2 macrophage markers and the NF- κ B/HIF-1 α pathway factors were measured using standard assays. Paeoniflorin significantly alleviated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, as well as hepatocyte necrosis in the CCl4-induced fibrosis model. Furthermore, paeoniflorin also inhibited HSC activation and reduced ECM deposition both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, paeoniflorin restrained M1 macrophage polarization and induced M2 polarization in the fibrotic liver tissues as well as in the RAW264.7 cells grown under hypoxic conditions by inactivating the NF- κ B/HIF-1 α signaling pathway. In conclusion, paeoniflorin exerts its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in the liver by coordinating macrophage polarization through the NF- κ B/HIF-1 α pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate estimation of the recurrence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors help with prognosis, guide follow-up, and avoid futile treatments.Purpose: To investigate whether MRI features could preoperatively estimate the recurrence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and to refine a novel prognostic model through developing a nomogram incorporating various MRI features.Study Type: Retrospective.Population: In all, 81 patients with clinicopathologically confirmed nonmetastatic PNETs.Field Strength/sequences: 1.5 T MR, including T1 -weighted, T2 -weighted, and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences.Assessment: Qualitative and quantitative MRI features of PNET were assessed by three experienced radiologists.Statistical Tests: Uni- and multivariable analyses for recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model. The MRI-based nomogram was then designed based on multivariable logistic analysis in our study and the performance of the nomogram was validated according to C-index, calibration, and decision curve analyses.Results: MRI features, including tumor size (hazard ratio [HR]: 14.131; P = 0.034), enhancement pattern (HR: 21.821, P = 0.032), and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values (HR: 0.055, P = 0.038) were significant independent predictors of RFS at multivariable analysis. The performance of the nomogram incorporating various MRI features (with a C-index of 0.910) was improved compared with that based on tumor size, enhancement pattern, and ADC alone (with C-index values of 0.672, 0.851, and 0.809, respectively). The calibration curve of the nomogram exhibited perfect consistency between estimation and observation at 0.5, 1, and 2 years after surgery. The decision curve showed that a nomogram incorporating three features had more favorable clinical predictive usefulness than any single feature.Data Conclusion: MRI features can be considered effective recurrence predictors for PNETs after surgery. The preliminary nomogram incorporating various MRI features could assess the risk of recurrence in PNETs and may be used to optimize individual treatment strategies.Level Of Evidence: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:397-409. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]