Supplemental Bacillus subtilis PB6 Improves Growth Performance and Gut Health in Broilers Challenged with Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens (CP) is the principal pathogenic bacterium of chicken necrotic enteritis (NE), which causes substantial economic losses in poultry worldwide. Although probiotics are known to provide multiple benefits, little is known about the potential effects of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) application in preventing CP-induced necrotic enteritis. In this study, 450 male Arbor Acres broilers were divided into 5 experimental treatments: A: basal diet (control group); B: basal diet and CP challenge (model group); C: CP challenge+10 mg/kg enramycin (positive control group); D: CP challenge+ 4 × 10 7 CFU / kg of feed B. subtilis PB6 (PB6 low-dosage group); and E: CP challenge+ 6 × 10 7 CFU / kg of feed B. subtilis PB6 (PB6 high-dosage group). There were 6 replicate pens per treatment with 15 broilers per pen. The present research examined the effect of Bacillus subtilis PB6 (B. subtilis PB6) on growth performance, mRNA expression of intestinal cytokines and tight junctions, and gut flora composition in broilers challenged with CP. The entire experiment was divided into two phases: the non-CP challenge phase (d0–18) and the CP challenge phase (d18–26). PB6 did not increase the growth performance during the first stage, but the PB6 high-dosage group was found to have larger body weight gain and ADFI during the CP challenge stage. Feed supplementation with PB6 reduced the lesion score of challenged chicks, with increased tight junction-related gene expression (occludin and ZO-1) and decreased TNF-α expression compared with CP-infected birds. A decrease in the abundance of Clostridium XI, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus was observed after CP infection ( P < 0.05 ), while supplementation with PB6 restored the ileal microbial composition. In conclusion, administration of B. subtilis PB6 improved growth performance, enhanced intestinal barrier function, and mitigated intestinal inflammation/lesions, which might be due to its restoring effects on the ileal microbial composition in CP-challenged broilers.

Trends of Medication Usage and Associated Outcomes for Taiwanese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease from 2001 to 2015

Background: No nationwide, long-term follow-up study has assessed medication-associated outcomes for Asian patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study examined medication-associated outcomes for Taiwanese patients with IBD. Methods: In this nationwide cohort study, 3806 patients who had received catastrophic illness registration for IBD from 2001 to 2015 were enrolled. Results: A higher accumulated dosage of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was associated with decreased risks of hospitalization (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.6) and operation (HR = 0.5). Thiopurine was associated with increased risks of hospitalization (HR = 2.1 in the high-dosage group) and tuberculosis (TB; HR = 3.6) reactivation but not with operation risk. A higher accumulated dosage of anti-TNF-α agents was associated with increased risks of hospitalization (HR = 3.3), operation (HR = 2.9), hepatitis B (HR = 4.3), and TB (HR = 5.1) reactivation. Corticosteroids were associated with increased risks of hospitalization (HR = 3.5 in the high-dosage group), risk of operation, hepatitis B (HR = 2.8) and TB (HR = 2.8) reactivation. Conclusions: 5-ASA usage is associated with decreased risks of hospitalization and operation for patients with IBD, whereas thiopurine, corticosteroids, and anti-TNF-α agents are associated with increased risks of hospitalization and hepatitis B and TB reactivation.

Influences of Realgar-Indigo naturalis, A Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula, on the Main CYP450 Activities in Rats Using a Cocktail Method

The purpose of this work was to study the influences of Realgar-Indigo naturalis(RIF) and its principal element realgar on 4 main cytochrome P450 enzymes activities in rats. A simple and efficient cocktail method was developed to detect the four probe drugs simultaneously. In this study, Wistar rats were administered intragastric RIF and realgar for 14 days; mixed probe drugs were injected into rats by caudal vein. Through analyzing the pharmacokinetic parameter of mixed probe drugs in rats, we can calculate the CYPs activities. The results showed that RIF could inhibit CYP1A2 enzyme activity and induce CYP2C11 enzyme activity significantly. Interestingly, in realgar high dosage group, CYP3A1/2 enzyme activity was inhibited significantly, and different dosage of realgar manifested a good dose-dependent manner. The RIF results indicated that drug coadministrated with RIF may need to be paid attention in relation to drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Realgar, a toxic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), does have curative effect on acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Its toxicity studies should be focused on. We found that, in realgar high dosage group, CYP3A1/2 enzymes activity was inhibited. This phenomenon may explain its potential toxicity mechanism.

SUBCHRONIC TOXICITY OF MALAYSIAN ACALYPHA INDICA: BIOCHEMISTRY AND HAEMATOLOGY ANALYSIS OF RAT

Acalypha indica is one of the medicinal plants that have been used since ages to treat various diseases such as pneumoniae, asthma and skin diseases. This study aimed to explore the subchronic toxicity effect of Acalypha indica on Sprague Dawley rats based on haematological and biochemical parameters. The extract of Acalypha indica was prepared by aqueous extraction technique. 48 Sprague Dawley rats aged 7 weeks, weighing 150-200g were randomly divided into four groups, 6 animals per gender. A control group received water vehicle while three treated groups received the extract at dosage of 100 (low dosage group), 200 (medium dosage group) and 300 (high dosage group) mg/kg body weight. The sample was administered orally by using oral gavage daily for 90 days. No sign of toxicity and mortality was recorded in all groups throughout the study. There were no significant different (p>0.05) in body weight gain, food and water intake between control and treatment group. However, there was significant different in uric acid between control and high dosage group of male and female rats but the mean were in normal range. There were also reduced in mean of urea and creatinine in all dosage group of male and urea for all dosage group of female. Statistically significant reduced in urea was recorded between control and high dosage group of male only. Other parameters showed no significant different between control and treatment groups. Therefore, Acalypha indica is safe for human consumption and might be potential in reducing kidney damage problem.

A Teratological Evaluation and Postnatal Behavioral Screen of KF-868 In Rats

The effects of a new experimental drug, KF-868, were investigated after administration to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats at 0(vehicle), 0.1, 2.0, and 40.0 mg/kg per day during Days 7 through 17 of gestation by examination of term fetuses and naturally delivered offspring. Pregnant rats administered 0.1, 2.0, and 40.0 mg/kg per day gained significantly more weight during the dosage period than did the vehicle control group. Treatment-related physical signs, bloody crust on nose and stains on fur, were observed in the high dosage group. Fetal viability was significantly increased, and resorptions were significantly decreased for the mid and high dosage groups, when compared with the control group. Average fetal body weights for cesarean-delivered fetuses were less for the 40.0 mg/kg per day dosage groups than for the vehicle control group. Visceral and skeletal evaluations of fetuses revealed no difference between the control and test groups. Percent survival of pups was significantly less for the high dosage group than for the control group. Average rat body weights prior to mating for the high dosage group were generally less than for the control group. All physical and functional developmental values were comparable among the control and test groups. Evaluation of postweaning parameters of pups revealed no significant difference in sex maturation, behavior (open-field and water maze), and reproductive capacity. Average body weight gains during the 9-week growth period before mating were significantly less for the 40.0 mg/kg per day dosage group F1 generation female rats. Toxicity in fetuses and offspring was observed only at the highest dosage level. Dosage-dependent, significant increases in maternal body weight gain, as compared with control values, occurred for doses in the 3 KF-868-administered groups. These results indicate that 0.1 and 2.0 mg/kg per day dosages of KF-868 were not lethal and did not produce any adverse effects on the morphological or functional development of offspring. Toxicity was evident in offspring and fetuses of dams administered 40.0 mg/kg per day KF-868, 40,000 times as high as the daily therapeutic dose.

Endocrine Effects of Chronic Administration of Psychoactive Drugs to Prepubertal Male Rats. II. LSD

The endocrine effects of chronic D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) administration to prepubertal animals were studied by injecting intraperitoneally three times a week for a month either 100 μg or 500 μg of the psychoactive drug per kilogram or the vehicle to groups of Sprague–Dawley male rats starting at 21 days of age. Animals injected with either dosage of LSD had smaller body weights than controls and tail length was significantly reduced in the high dosage group, plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) were decreased in the high dosage group, and pituitary levels in the low dosage group. Plasma levels and pituitary concentrations of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were not significantly modified by the drug. The low dosage of LSD decreased the brain levels of noradrenaline and increased those of dopamine, while the high dosage decreased those of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. These data suggest that LSD, when administered chronically to developing animals, can inhibit body growth probably by altering the secretion of GH through modifications of its neuroendocrine control.