Normal reference intervals (RI) of hematologic and biochemical parameters are important for assessing and monitoring the health status of captive and free-living chelonians; however, such information is not available for most wildlife species. Giant Galapagos tortoises are one of the most iconic animals on earth and health information can make an important contribution to their conservation and management. This study provides formal RI of haematology and plasma biochemistry parameters and describes cell morphology along with morphometrics of free-living Eastern Santa Cruz (Chelonoidis donfaustoi), Española (Chelonoidis hoodensis) and San Cristóbal tortoises (Chelonoidis chathamensis). We explored differences in blood parameters between sexes, across the tortoise species in this study and with previously published RI of the Western Santa Cruz tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri). Biochemistry parameters of both Santa Cruz species were overall more similar to each other than to Española and San Cristobal tortoises. This research constitutes the first RI for these three Galapagos tortoise species and may be of value for advising captive-breeding and conservation plans. We recommend further research to establish RI in additional tortoise species so we may better understand and interpret haematology and biochemistry parameters as a valuable conservation tool for species of this critically endangered taxon.

Shift work has become increasingly common in modern society. Shift work has been associated with a range of negative health outcomes. Therefore, this 10-years retrospective cohort study, aimed to investigate the relationship between shift work and blood and metabolic parameters. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a metal parts manufacturing industry in 2023. In this study, 204 shift workers and 204 day workers were examined. All the studied blood and metabolic parameters were collected by reviewing the medical records of all participants during a 10-years period (2013-2022). Moreover, the amounts of physical, chemical, and ergonomics harmful agents in the work environment were investigated. All the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The values of Body Mass Index (BMI), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), Platelets Count (PLT), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Level (TSH), Fasting Blood Sugar Level (FBS), Creatinine, Triglyceride (TG), Liver Enzymes level (SGOT and SGPT), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) were higher among the shift work employees, and a significant difference was observed between the values of these parameters between the two groups. The results of logistic regression showed that the highest effect of shift work was observed on the parameters of FBS, TG, SGPT, TSH, Physical activity, BMI, Sleep duration, PLT, and Sleep quality with beta coefficient values of 0.49, 0.33, 0.29, 0.29, 0.20, 0.18, 0.14, 0.13 and, 0.11, respectively (p-value < 0.01). The present study contributes to a growing body of evidence that blood and metabolic factors are likely to be influenced by shift work. These findings have important implications for policy makers, highlighting the need for interventions to mitigate the negative health effects of shift work on workers.

This study aimed to determine the impact of age on the fecal microbiota in the genetic nucleus of cattle, with a focus on microbial richness, composition, functional diversity, and correlations with blood parameters. Fecal and blood samples from 21 cattle were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Older cattle exhibited greater bacterial diversity and abundance, with significant changes in alpha diversity indices (p < 0.05). Beta diversity analysis revealed significant variations in microbial composition between age groups and the interaction of age and sex (p < 0.05). Correlations between alpha diversity, community composition, and hematological values highlighted the influence of microbiota on bovine health. Beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Ruminococcaceae, were more abundant in older cattle, suggesting a role in gut health. Functional diversity analysis indicated that younger cattle had significantly more abundant metabolic pathways in fermentation and anaerobic chemoheterotrophy. These findings suggest management strategies including tailored probiotic therapies, dietary adjustments, and targeted health monitoring to enhance livestock health and performance. Further research should include comprehensive metabolic analyses to better correlate microbiota changes with age-related variations, enhancing understanding of the complex interactions between microbiota, age, and reproductive status.

Sainfoin species (Onobrychis spp.) have been employed for centuries as an essential forage for ruminant animals, both for grazing and as hay. The seeds produced by sainfoin have also been investigated as an animal feed source and were indicated to be a particularly protein-rich supplement for monogastric animals. This study explores the effects of two sainfoin seed inclusion rates in rat diets compared to a control diet, focusing on blood biochemical parameters and a comprehensive histopathological evaluation of multiple organ systems. Thus, we provide a novel contribution to the body of evidence investigating sainfoin seeds as a protein supplement in monogastric animal diets. In this 21-day experiment, seven rats each were assigned to the control group, a 5% sainfoin seed group, and a 10% sainfoin seed group. The control group received standard feed and water; the second group received feed with 5% sainfoin seeds; and the third group received feed with 10% sainfoin seeds. At the experiment\'s end, necropsies and evaluations were conducted. Histopathological exams revealed normal organ structures in all 21 samples, regardless of the group. Blood analysis showed statistically significant decreases in creatine, ALT, P, Ca, and Mg levels in the sainfoin seed groups compared to the control group, with most values nearing reference levels, suggesting potential benefits. Notably, no adverse effects were observed when sainfoin seeds were included at 5% and 10% in the rat feed. These findings contribute to a growing body of research investigating the inclusion of sainfoin seeds in monogastric animal diets, which is a foundational component of assessing sainfoin\'s potential as a novel pulse crop for human consumption.

The present retrospective study aimed to investigate the value of blood parameters in predicting mortality in patients with below-knee amputation (BKA). A total of 178 patients with BKA were included in the present study. The patients were divided into two groups, namely the exitus group (n=136; 76.4%) and the survivors group (n=42; 23.6%). Patients in the exitus group were further divided into three subgroups: i) Those who experienced mortality in <1 month (n=55; 40.4%); ii) those who experienced mortality between 1-12 months (n=48; 35.3%); and iii) those who experienced mortality in >12 months after surgery (n=33; 24.3%). Binary logistic regression and a generalized linear model were used for relational analysis, and a receiver operator characteristic curve was used for diagnostic tests. It was found that the parameters of age (B=0.061; P=0.01), eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) (B=-2.861; P<0.05), C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (B=0.027; P<0.01) and mean platelet volume (MPV)/lymphocyte ratio (B=0.310; P<0.01) had a significant effect on mortality at the multivariate level. Moreover, regression coefficients showed that the effect of age, CRP/albumin and MPV/lymphocyte ratios on mortality were positive, whereas the effect of the ELR was negative. The mortality predictive values of age [area under the curve (AUC)=0.681; P=0.01], ELR (AUC=0.630; P=0.01), CRP/albumin ratio (AUC=0.746; P=0.01) and MPV/lymphocyte ratio (AUC=0.676; P<0.01) were also found to be statistically significant. For the 27.51 CRP/albumin cut-off value, the sensitivity was found to be 80.1%, whereas the specificity was 54.8%. For the 36.93 CRP/albumin cut-off value, the sensitivity was 71.3%, and the specificity was 73.8%. Furthermore, MPV (B=-0.37; P<0.01) and hemoglobin/red-blood-cell distribution width (RDW) ratio (B=5.20; P<0.01) were found to have a significant effect on the time to death at the multivariate level. The parameters MPV (AUC=0.648; P<0.01) and hemoglobin/RDW (AUC=0.673; P=0.01) had predictive value in terms of the time to death. The predictive value for MPV was found to be 64.8%, whereas that for the hemoglobin/RDW ratio was 67.3%. For the 0.54 cut-off value for hemoglobin/RDW, the sensitivity was 74.5%, and the specificity was 11.1%. By contrast, for the 0.84 cut-off value for the hemoglobin/RDW ratio, the sensitivity was 10.9% and the specificity was 81.5%. In conclusion, the CRP/albumin ratio was identified as a significant mortality parameter, whereas the hemoglobin/RDW ratio was a significant time to death predictor, according to the results of the present analysis. These results may guide clinical practices and further research in terms of predicting mortality in patients with BKA.

This study investigated how sucralose influenced rabbit intestine and caecal microbial activity, blood parameters, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and digestibility. In total, 160 5-week-old rabbits from the APRI line weighing 563.29 gm were randomly assigned to four experimental groups with four replicates-5 males and 5 females in each. Four experimental groups were used, as follows: SUC1, SUC2, and SUC3 got 75, 150, and 300 mg of sucralose/kg body weight in water daily, while the control group ate a basal diet without supplements. The results showed that both the control and SUC1 groups significantly (p < 0.05) increased daily weight gain and final body weight. Sucralose addition significantly improved feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05) and decreased daily feed intake (gm/d). The experimental groups do not significantly differ in terms of mortality. Furthermore, nutrient digestibility was not significantly affected by sucralose treatment, with the exception of crud protein digestion, which was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Additionally, without altering liver or kidney function, sucralose administration dramatically (p < 0.05) decreased blood serum glucose and triglyceride levels while increasing total lipids, cholesterol, and malonaldehyde in comparison to the control group. Furthermore, the addition of sucrose resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the count of total bacteria, lactobacillus, and Clostridium spp., and a decrease in the count of Escherichia coli. Further analysis using 16S rRNA data revealed that sucralose upregulated the expression of lactobacillus genes but not that of Clostridium or E. Coli bacteria (p < 0.05). Therefore, it could be concluded that sucralose supplementation for rabbits modifies gut microbiota and boosts beneficial bacteria and feed conversion ratios without side effects. Moreover, sucralose could decrease blood glucose and intensify hypercholesterolemia and should be used with caution for human consumption.

In this study, We aim to explore the association between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and distant metastasis of gastric cancer and develop an efficient nomogram for screening patients with distant metastasis. A total of 1281 inpatients with gastric cancer were enrolled and divided into the training and validation set.Univariate, Lasso regression and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis was used to identify the risk factors of distant metastasis. The independent predictive factors were then enrolled in the nomogram model. The nomogram\'s predictive perform and clinical practicality was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, calibration curves and decision curve analysis. Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis identified D-dimer, CA199, CA125, NLR and PNI as independent predictive factors. The area under the curve of our nomogram based on these factors was 0.838 in the training cohort and 0.811 in the validation cohort. The calibration plots and decision curves demonstrated the nomogram\'s good predictive performance and clinical practicality in both training and validation cohort. Therefore,our nomogram could be an important tool for clinicians in screening gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis.

The aquaculture sector plays a vital role in global food security, yet it grapples with significant challenges posed by infectious diseases. Piscine lactococcosis is one of the significant threats in rainbow trout aquaculture due to its potential to cause severe economic losses through mortalities, reduced growth rates, and increased susceptibility to other pathogens. It poses challenges in disease management strategies, impacting the sustainability and profitability of rainbow trout farming. The current study focuses on the variations in serum blood parameters of farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss during a lactococcosis outbreak caused by Lactococcus garvieae. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, fish were examined for parasites and bacteria, and DNA from bacterial colonies was PCR-amplified and sequenced for identification. Overall, 13 biochemical parameters, including proteins, enzymes, lipids, chemicals, and minerals, were measured in serum blood samples from both diseased and healthy fish. The results indicate significant alterations in the levels of these parameters during the outbreak, highlighting the impact of infections on the blood profile of farmed rainbow trout. Urea levels were significantly higher in diseased fish compared to controls, and creatinine, phosphorus, and magnesium also showed similar trends. Alanine aminotransferase and total protein levels were higher in control fish. Chloride levels differed significantly between groups. Iron levels were higher in controls and lower in diseased fish. No significant differences were found in other parameters. This study reveals significant changes in serum blood parameters of rainbow trout during a lactococcosis outbreak caused by L. garvieae. These changes highlight the potential of these parameters as tools for monitoring health status, stress, and aquaculture management. Continuous monitoring can provide valuable insights into disease severity and overall fish health, aiding in the development of improved management practices. The presented data contribute to understanding the pathophysiology of piscine lactococcosis and developing effective mitigation strategies for farmed rainbow trout.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different nutritional strategies on the intensification of beef cattle farming on pastures during the dry period of the year. Eighty male cattle (testers) were randomly allocated to 16 paddocks formed with Mombaça grass (Megathyrsus maximus), totaling five animals (testers) per paddock. The strategies consisted of two LCs [10 and 16.7 g·kg-1 body weight (BW)] and two PSs with DDGS and SBM in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The chemical, structural, and productive characteristics of the forage were evaluated, as well as the performance, productivity, and serum parameters of the supplemented animals. The forage presented a greater L:C (p = 0.033) and CP content (p = 0.007) when the lowest LC was used. Animals that received the highest LC had the highest supplement intake (p < 0.001) and the lowest pasture intake (p < 0.001). The nutritional strategy with an LC of 16.7 g·kg-1 of body weight (BW) resulted in a greater increase in total BW, i.e., 200 kg·BW ha-1 more. Therefore, higher levels of concentrate ensure greater productivity for beef cattle grazing, and DDGS can replace SBM in supplements used in the intensive raising of beef cattle on pasture without compromising the performance and productivity of the animals.

Use of brown seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) as a nutraceutical source in indigenous chicken diets is limited by high dietary fibre levels. Inoculating seaweeds with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) spawn (OMS) could enhance the utility of the spent mushroom substrate (SMS). This study investigated the effect of feeding incremental levels of brown seaweed SMS on growth performance, physiological responses, and meat quality parameters in Boschveld roosters. A total of 324, 4-week-old Boschveld roosters were weighed and randomly allotted to 36 pens (9 birds per pen) to produce six replicates per dietary treatment. The diets were formulated as follows: a standard grower diet (CON); and CON containing 150 g/kg of brown seaweed inoculated with OMS at 0 (SMS0), 20 (SMS20), 30 (SMS30), 40 (SMS40) and 50% (SMS50). Birds fed diet CON had the least feed intake (p < 0.05) than all the other SMS treatment levels in weeks 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15. Diet SMS40 promoted higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) than CON in weeks 6, 7, 9 and 14. Gain-to-feed ratio linearly increased in weeks 7 [R2 = 0.288; p = 0.010], 11 [R2 = 0.581, p = 0.0001] and 14 [R2 = 0.389, p = 0.004], respectively. Quadratic responses (p < 0.05) were observed for BWG in week 5, white blood cells, heterophils, platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes, and relative spleen and large intestine weights as OMS levels increased. Linear increases were recorded for slaughter [R2 = 0.197, p = 0.017] and breast weights [R2 = 0.197, p = 0.020] as OMS levels increased. Diet SMS0 promoted higher (p < 0.05) relative caeca weights than the CON and SMS treatment groups. Neither quadratic nor linear responses (p > 0.05) were observed for breast meat quality parameters. In conclusion, feeding brown seaweed SMS improved growth performance and slaughter weight, altered some blood parameters and internal organs, without affecting breast meat quality of Boschveld roosters. Based on the quadratic response for BWG, the optimum OMS level was deduced at 20% in a brown seaweed-based Boschveld rooster diet.