• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.299-304
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• 2021

A 3-year-old female Connemara pony was referred to Jeju National University Equine Hospital because of weight loss and prolonged anorexia. On admission, heart and respiratory rates were slightly elevated while body temperature was within the normal range. The color of the conjunctival and oral mucosa was yellowish pink. The blood chemistry results showed that total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were remarkably elevated while blood urea nitrogen was within the reference range. Transcutaneous abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged right lobe of the liver with prominently increased parenchymal echogenicity, reduced hepatic vessels, and rounded caudal border. The pony was tentatively diagnosed with chronic hepatitis and icterus; rest and supportive treatments were provided. Clinical signs aggravated on day 2 with hind quarter paresis and cranial nerve signs such as circling, drooping, jerking, and head pressing against walls. Recumbency and generalized ataxia (grade 5/5) were shown on day 3. Plasma ammonia concentration on day 3 was as high as 656 µmol/L. Necropsy and histopathologic examinations strongly supported a diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy. This case of hepatic encephalopathy exhibited rapid progress from low to terminal grade within 4 days in a Connemara pony. The results provide well-established clinical and pathological data for future application.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1685-1692
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of rumen-protected biotin (RPB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization and plasma biochemical parameters of Liaoning cashmere goats during the cashmere fiber growing period. Methods: Sixteen 6-month-old Liaoning cashmere twin-doelings (24.8±1.20 kg) were allocated to 2 diet groups that were individually ad libitum fed 30% concentrate and 70% forage diet (dry matter [DM]) by a paired experimental design. Goats of the control group were fed the basal diet, while goats belonging to the RPB group were fed the basal diet with 10 mg RPB/d per animal. The duration of the experiment was 16 weeks with two 8-week periods. Digestibility was determined at weeks 7 and 15, and other measures were taken every four weeks. Results: Compared with the control group, the average daily gain of the RPB group increased by 10.94% (p<0.05), and the intake of neutral detergent fiber was increased (p = 0.045). There were some increasing tendencies for the intake of DM, acid detergent fiber and ether extract (p = 0.070, 0.088, and 0.070, respectively). The intake and digestibility of N tended to increase (p = 0.062 and 0.093, respectively), while the N fecal excretion percentage of N intake was decreased (p = 0.093) in the RPB compared with the control group. N retention tended to increase (p = 0.084) with the addition of adding RPB to the diet. Plasma total protein was increased (p = 0.037), whereas the urea-N concentration was decreased (p = 0.049) in the RPB diet group compared with the control diet group. The levels of propionyl-CoA carboxylase (p<0.001) and methylmalonyl-CoA (p = 0.013) were increased in the RPB group. Conclusion: Supplementation of rumen-protected biotin in the diet of cashmere goats can enhance the utilization of N and improve daily weight gain during cashmere fiber growing period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2013

This study elucidated the effects of limited concentrate feeding on growth, plasma profile, and gene expression of gluconeogenic enzymes and visfatin in the liver of Hanwoo beef calves. The purpose of this study was to test that reducing the amount of concentrate would partially be compensated by increasing the intake of forage and by altering the metabolic status. The study utilized 20 Korean native beef calves (Hanwoo; 60 to 70 d of age) divided into two groups of 10 calves each for 158 d. Control group calves received the amount of concentrate as per the established Korean feeding standards for Hanwoo, whereas calves in the restricted group only received half the amount of concentrate as per standard requirements. Good quality forage (Timothy hay) was available for ad libitum consumption to both groups. Since calves were with their dam until 4 months of age in breeding pens before weaning, the intake of milk before weaning was not recorded, however, the concentrate and forage intakes were recorded daily. Body weights (BW) were recorded at start and on 10 d interval. Blood samples were collected at start and at 50 d interval. On the final day of the experiment, liver biopsies were collected from all animals in each group. The BW was not different between the groups at all times, but tended to be higher (p = 0.061) only at final BW in control than restricted group. Total BW gain in the control group was 116.2 kg as opposed to 84.1 kg in restricted group that led to average BW gain of 736 g/d and 532 g/d in respective groups, and the differences were significant (p<0.01). As planned, the calves in the control group had higher concentrate and lower forage intake than the restricted group. The plasma variables like total protein and urea were higher (p<0.05) in control than restricted group. The mRNA expressions for the gluconeogenic enzymes such as cytosolic phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.32) and pyruvate carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.1), and visfatin measured by quantitative real-time PCR in liver biopsies showed higher expression (p<0.05) in restricted group than control. Overall, restricting concentrate severely reduced the growth intensity and affected few plasma indices, and gene expression in liver was increased indicating that restricting concentrate in the feeding schemes during early growth for beef calves is not advocated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1742-1750
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• 2015

As a novel approach for disease control and prevention, nutritional modulation of the intestinal health has been proved. However, It is still unknown whether branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) is needed to maintain intestinal immune-related function. The objective of this study was to determine whether BCAA supplementation in protein restricted diet affects growth performance, intestinal barrier function and modulates post-weaning gut disorders. One hundred and eight weaned piglets ($7.96{\pm}0.26kg$) were randomly fed one of the three diets including a control diet (21% crude protein [CP], CON), a protein restricted diet (17% CP, PR) and a BCAA diet (BCAA supplementation in the PR diet) for 14 d. The growth performance, plasma amino acid concentrations, small intestinal morphology and intestinal immunoglobulins were tested. First, average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p<0.05) of weaned pigs in PR group were lower, while gain:feed ratio was lower than the CON group (p<0.05). Compared with PR group, BCAA group improved ADG (p<0.05), ADFI (p<0.05) and feed:gain ratio (p<0.05) of piglets. The growth performance data between CON and BCAA groups was not different (p>0.05). The PR and BCAA treatments had a higher (p<0.05) plasma concentration of methionine and threonine than the CON treatment. The level of some essential and functional amino acids (such as arginine, phenylalanine, histidine, glutamine etc.) in plasma of the PR group was lower (p<0.05) than that of the CON group. Compared with CON group, BCAA supplementation significantly increased BCAA concentrations (p<0.01) and decreased urea concentration (p<0.01) in pig plasma indicating that the efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization was increased. Compared with CON group, the small intestine of piglets fed PR diet showed villous atrophy, increasing of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) number (p<0.05) and declining of the immunoglobulin concentration, including jejunal immunoglobulin A (IgA) (p = 0.04), secreted IgA (sIgA) (p = 0.03) and immunoglobulin M (p = 0.08), and ileal IgA (p = 0.01) and immunoglobulin G (p = 0.08). The BCAA supplementation increased villous height in the duodenum (p<0.01), reversed the trend of an increasing IELs number. Notably, BCAA supplementation increased levels of jejunal and ileal immunoglobulin mentioned above. In conclusion, BCAA supplementation to protein restricted diet improved intestinal immune defense function by protecting villous morphology and by increasing levels of intestinal immunoglobulins in weaned piglets. Our finding has the important implication that BCAA may be used to reduce the negative effects of a protein restricted diet on growth performance and intestinal immunity in weaned piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2017

Objective: Two trials were conducted in order to examine the effects of level of supplemental methionine on productive performance, dietary energetic, plasma amino acid concentration, and digestive function. Methods: Dietary treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based diet containing urea as the only source of supplemental nitrogen supplemented with no supplemental amino acid (control), or control plus 1.01% lysine and 0.032%, 0.064%, 0.096%, or 0.128% methionine. In Trial 1, 150 Holstein steer calves ($127{\pm}4.9kg$) were utilized to evaluate the influence of treatments on growth-performance, dietary energetic, plasma amino acid concentration during the first 112 days of growing period. During the initial 56-d period calves received the 5 experimental diets. During the subsequent 56-d period all calves were fed the control diet. Results: During the initial 56-d period, methionine supplementation increased (linear effect, p<0.01) plasma methionine. In the presence of supplemental lysine, increases on level of methionine in diet did not affect average daily gain. However, increased gain efficiency (quadratic effect, p = 0.03) and estimated dietary net energy (NE; linear effect, p = 0.05). Estimated metabolizable methionine supply was closely associated ($R^2=0.95$) with efficiency NE utilization for maintenance and gain. During the subsequent 56-d period, when all calves received the control diet (no amino acid supplementation), plasma amino acid concentrations and growth performance was not different among groups. However, the effects of methionine supplementation during the initial 56-period carried over, so that following a 56-d withdrawal of supplementation, the overall 112-d effects on gain efficiency (quadratic effect, p = 0.05) dietary NE (linear effect, $p{\leq}0.05$) remained appreciable. In Trial 2, 5 cannulated Holstein steers were used to evaluate treatment effects on characteristics of digestion and amino acid supply to the small intestine. There were no treatment effects on flow of dietary and microbial N to the small intestine. Postruminal N digestion increased (p = 0.04) with increasing level of supplemental methionine. Methionine supplementation linearly increased (p<0.01) duodenal flow of methionine. Likewise, lysine supplementation increased an average of 4.6% (p = 0.04) duodenal flow of lysine. In steers that received non-supplemented diet, observed intestinal amino acid supply were in good agreement with expected. Conclusion: We conclude that addition of rumen-protected methionine and lysine to diets may enhance gain efficiency and dietary energetics of growing Holstein calves. Observed amino acid supply to the small intestine were in good agreement with expected, supportive of NRC (2000, Level 1).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1456-1463
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• 2011

A total of 629 Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White crossbred pigs were utilized in three experiments (Exp. 1, 222 pigs weighing $25.6{\pm}2.0\;kg$ BW; Exp. 2, 216 pigs weighing 5$6.2{\pm}4.3\;kg$ BW; Exp. 3, 191 pigs weighing $86.4{\pm}4.6\;kg$ BW) conducted to determine the effects of fermented potato pulp on performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits and plasma parameters in growingfinishing pigs. Each experiment lasted 28 d. The pigs were assigned to one of two corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 0 or 5% fermented potato pulp. The inclusion of fermented potato pulp increased weight gain (p<0.05) in experiments 1 and 2 and increased feed intake (p<0.05) in experiment 2. Feed conversion was improved (p<0.05) in experiment 2 and showed a tendency to improve (p<0.10) in experiments 1 and 3 when pigs were fed fermented potato pulp. Fermented potato pulp increased (p<0.05) dry matter digestibility in experiments 1 and 3 and energy digestibility in experiment 2. Feeding fermented potato pulp decreased plasma urea nitrogen (p<0.05) and alanine aminotransferase (p<0.05) in experiments 1 and 2, while plasma aspartate aminotransferase was decreased (p<0.05) in experiment 3. Dietary fermented potato pulp did not affect the carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Feeding fermented potato pulp reduced (p<0.05) fecal ammonia concentration in all three experiments. In conclusion, feeding growing-finishing pigs diets containing 5% fermented potato pulp improved weight gain and feed conversion without any detrimental effects on carcass traits. The improvements in pig performance appeared to be mediated by improvements in nutrient digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.536-542
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• 2007

The responses of whole body protein and glucose kinetics and of nitrogen (N) metabolism to non-protein energy intake (NPEI) were determined using an isotope dilution approach and measurement of N balance in three adult male goats. The diets containing 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times ME maintenance requirement, with fixed intake of CP (1.5 times maintenance) and percentage of hay (33%), were fed twice daily for each 21 d experimental period. After an adaptation period of 11 d, N balance was determined over 3 d. On day 17, whole body protein synthesis (WBPS) and glucose irreversible loss rate (ILR) were determined during the absorptive state by a primed-continuous infusion of [$^2H_5$]phenylalanine, [$^2H_2$]tyrosine, [$^2H_4$]tyrosine and [$^{13}C_6$]glucose, with simultaneous measurements of plasma concentrations of metabolites and insulin. Ruminal characteristics were also measured at 6 h after feeding over 3 d. Nitrogen retention tended to increase (p<0.10) with increasing NPEI, although digestible N decreased linearly (p<0.05). Increasing NPEI decreased (p<0.01) ammonia N concentration, but increased acetate (p<0.05) and propionate (p<0.05) concentrations in the rumen. Despite decreased plasma urea N concentration (p<0.01), increased plasma tyrosine concentration (p<0.05), and trends toward increased plasma total amino N (p<0.10) and phenylalanine concentrations (p<0.10) were found in response to increasing NPEI. Increasing NPEI increased ILR of both glucose (p<0.01) and phenylalanine (p<0.05), but did not affect ($p{\geq}0.10$) that of tyrosine. Whole body protein synthesis increased (p<0.05) in response to increasing NPEI, resulting from increased utilization rate for protein synthesis (p<0.05) and unchanged hydroxylation rate of phenylalanine ($p{\geq}0.10$). These results suggest that increasing NPEI may enhance WBPS and glucose turnover at the absorptive state and improve the efficiency of digestible N retention in goats, with possibly decreased ammonia and increased amino acid absorption. In addition, simultaneous increases in WBPS and glucose ILR suggest stimulatory effect of glucose availability on WBPS, especially when sufficient amino acid is supplied.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common syndrome resulting in kidney damage and malfunction within a few days or even a few hours. The diagnosis of AKI depends on routine biochemical tests, including serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and electrolytes. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker that shows correlation with the severity of acute infections and kidney injuries. The predictive value in other conventional assays for kidney functions has been reported to cause distraction for AKI syndrome. The aim of this study is to verify the predictive value of plasma NGAL in patients with established AKI. The NGAL kit for checkup demonstrates sensitivity of ${\geq}300$ (92.2%), ${\geq}200$ (95.6%), ${\geq}100$ (99.6%), specificity of ${\geq}300$ (95.1%), ${\geq}200$ (97.3%), ${\geq}100$ (99.4%), positive predictability of ${\geq}300$ (93.3%), ${\geq}200$ (93.4%), ${\geq}100$ (99.2%), and negative predictability of ${\geq}300$ (96.7%), ${\geq}200$ (97.7%), ${\geq}100$ (98.1%), respectively. The plasma NGAL compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been shown to be an early predictive biomarker of AKI. The NGAL kit, recently developed for point-of-care of plasma specimens, is thought to be a useful and reliable biomarker for the early diagnosis of decreased kidney functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.277-283
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• 2002

In the present study, adverse effects of megadose of dietary perilla oil were investigated in an experimental model consisted of 6 groups of Wistar rats. To compare the adverse effects of megadose perilla oil with different kind of dietary fat, rats were fed one of the following diets for one month: 10% beef tallow (B$_1$B), 10% corn oil (C$_1$B), 10% perilla oil (P$_1$B), 20% beef tallow (B$_2$B), 20% corn oil (C$_2$B), and 20% perilla oil (P$_2$B) diet. The body weight gain rate seemed to be more affected by the size of fat contents than the species of fat in the diet, so the body weight gain rate of 20% fat groups were significantly higher than those of 10% fat groups in spite of the larger amount of flood intake in 10% fat groups than in 20% fat groups. The levers of plasma triglyceride and total-cholesterol in 20% fat groups were significantly increased in dose dependent fashion when compared to 10% groups, the values of beef tallow (B$_2$B) group being the highest among all groups. Plasma glutainic pyruvic transferase activities and level of blood urea nitrogen had a tendency to increase along with increase of fat contents (%) in diets, the values of P$_2$B group, the highest among all groups, being beyond the normal levers. The plasma carbon dioxide concentration of P$_2$B group was the highest in all groups and exceeded the normal value, there being no significant difference among the plasma carbon dioxide concentration of others groups. The results showed that large dose and long term intake of dietary perilla oil had some adverse effects on hepatic and other organic functions in rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1482-1486
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• 2008

The antihypertensive effects of the Wild Mountain Ginseng Cultured Root Extract (WMGCE) were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Daily oral administration of the WMGCE (100 and 200 mg/kg) exhibited a significant decrease in blood pressure in SHR rats during for 8 weeks. The systolic blood pressure was dose- and time-dependently decreased significantly from the second weeks (p < 0.05) to the end of WMGCE treatment in SHR. The WMGCE decreased the plasma levels of sodium, potassium, chlorides, urea and osmolarity in SHR rats but no statistically significant change was observed. Furthermore, no significant changes were noted on heart weight, heart rate and diameter of aorta after WMGCE treatment in SHR. Our results suggest that daily oral administration of WMGCE at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg for 8 weeks exhibited antihypertensive activities.