Evaluation of Renal Function and Plasma Osmolality among Covid-19 Patients in Sudan

Objective: COVID-19 is a very serious disease and is considered a pandemic by the WHO. The aim of this study is to determine the renal function and serum osmolality among COVID-19 patients in Khartoum state, Sudan. Method: This is retrospective study was conducted in Gebra Hospital, Khartoum state, Sudan from April 2021 to August 2021. The study enrolled 50 patients with Covid-19 and 50 healthy individuals as a control group. After all the enrolled participants signed the informed consent the samples were analyzed for Creatinine, Urea, Sodium, and potassium. By using an A25 fully automated chemistry analyzer, and serum Osmolality (mOsm / kg) was calculated according to Smithline and Gardner formula. Results: The study revealed a significant increase of the mean of Urea (P.value = 0.001), Creatinine (P.value = 0.001), however significant decrease in the mean of e GFR (P.value<0.05) on the first day of the admission. There was a significant increase in the mean of plasma Urea, Creatinine, and eGFR on the 7th day of admission when compared with the first day, P.value = (0.0001), (0.001), (0.001), respectively. The study revealed a significant difference in plasma Osmolality in COVID-19 patients (280.73 ±16.10 mOsm/kg) when compared with the control group (288.13 ±3.42 mOsm/kg), P.value = 0.0. Conclusion: COVID-19 does not affect only the lungs; it can also affect the kidney. This study concluded that there were an elevated serum creatinine, blood urea, and low glomerular filtration, and there was a significant difference in serum osmolality in COVID- 19 than in the healthy group. Keywords: COVID -19; Serum Osmolality; eGFR; Renal function; Sudan.

Effects of Inclusion of N-Carbamylglutamate in the Non-Protein Diet on Growth and Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality, Nitrogen Metabolism and Antioxidant of Holstein Bulls

The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effects of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on growth and slaughter performance, meat quality, nitrogen utilization, plasma antioxidant and amino acids of Holstein bulls. In this case, 24 Holstein bulls (490 ± 29.0 kg of body weights and 540 ± 6.1 d of age) were blocked by body weights and age and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (1) CON group: bulls were fed the control diet, (2) CON + NCG group: bulls were fed the control diet with 40 mg/kg BW NCG, (3) Urea group: bulls were fed the urea diet, and (4) Urea + NCG group: bulls were fed the urea diet with 40 mg/kg BW NCG. Feeding NCG significantly improved ADG, FCR, DM and CP digestibility, carcass weight, slaughter weight, DOP, eye muscle area, shear force (p = 0.001) and reduced L* of color, drip loss and cooking loss. Concurrently, feeding the urea diet induced a decreased ADG, carcass weight and slaughter weight, DOP, eye muscle area and shear force. NCG decreased contents of fecal N and urinary N, plasma urea in bulls and ammonia but increased N retention and utilization, plasma NO, plasma Arg, Leu, Ile and Tyr. On the other hand, feeding the urea diet increased urinary N, plasma urea and ammonia. Thus the study efficiently demonstrates that beef benefited from being fed a NCG product in the urea diet by enhancing its growth and slaughter performance, meat quality, nitrogen metabolism and plasma amino acids.

Intake, ruminal fermentation parameters, and apparent total tract digestibility by beef steers consuming Pensacola bahiagrass hay treated with calcium oxide

To determine the effect of CaO treated Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) hay on intake, ruminal fermentation parameters, and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, 9 ruminally cannulated Angus-crossbred steers were used in a triplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Steers had ad libitum access to either: 1) untreated dry hay (DH; n = 8); 2) hay at 50% DM treated with 8.9% CaCO3 [dry matter (DM) basis; CC; n = 9]; or 3) hay at 50% DM treated with 5% CaO (DM basis; CO; n = 8). Water was added to reach 50% DM in the CC and CO diets. Ruminal fluid and blood samples were collected every 3 h for 24 h. Ruminal fluid was analyzed for pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N). Blood was analyzed for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN). Hay and fecal samples were collected for 4 d, 4 times daily for hay and twice daily for feces, to determine apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients. The hay provided to steers during the digestibility period was analyzed for in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) for 48h. Data were analyzed as repeated measures for blood and ruminal fermentation parameters. Total DM intake was not affected (P ≥ 0.674) by treatment. A treatment effect (P &lt; 0.001) was observed for average ruminal pH, where steers consuming CO had the greatest pH (P &lt; 0.001). Ruminal concentration of NH3-N tended (P = 0.059) to be reduced in steers consuming CO. There was a treatment × time interaction (P = 0.023) on concentrations of PUN, where at 3 h DH and CO were lesser than CC (P ≤ 0.050) and at 21 h DH was lesser than CC (P = 0.020). Total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, branched-chain VFA, and valerate concentrations were affected by treatment (P ≤ 0.035), where a reduction (P ≤ 0.034) occurred in steers consuming CO. No treatment differences were observed for total-tract digestibility of DM (P = 0.186), organic matter (P = 0.169), or crude protein (P = 0.152); however, steers consuming DH had greater neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.038) than CC and tended to be greater than CO (P = 0.082). The CO hay had greater (P = 0.005) IVOMD compared with DH and tended (P = 0.100) to be greater than CC. Bahiagrass hay treated with CaO may reduce ruminal fermentation, as indicated by decreased total VFA concentration without altering DM intake. The addition of CaO did not improve the digestibility of bahiagrass hay in vivo; however, in vitro results are contradictory and warrant further elucidation.

The Impact of Re-Mating Interval and Genotype on Physiological Response of Rabbits after First Kindling

This is an experiment aimed to study the effect of re-mating interval on rabbit does after first kindling on hormonal (insulin, leptin, and T3) and metabolites (triglycerides, urea, and glucose) levels. DNA damage in ovary cells of rabbit does during the 2nd parity was also studied. Two varieties were used: APRI (synthetic line) and Baladi Black (BB, Egyptian breed). A total number of 120 mature rabbit does (60 does for each breed) were 6 months of age and were used at the beginning of the breeding season. Does of each breed were divided into three equal groups according to reproductive rhythm. The 1st group was postpartum (PP). The 2nd group was 11 days after parturition (P11). The 3rd group was post-weaning (PW). There were significant (P&ge;0.05) differences in plasma leptin concentration during 1st parity. The highest value of plasma leptin concentration was recorded by the PW group at mating. Also, there were significant differences in plasma insulin and T3 hormones concentrations of doe rabbits. The highest value of plasma insulin concentration was recorded by the PW group at mating in 1st parity and the highest value of plasma T3 hormone concentration was recorded for the PS group at mating. While there were insignificant differences during 2nd parity in T3 hormone concentration in rabbits, the differences of plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations of doe rabbits during 1st parity and 2nd parity were significant. However, the highest significant value of plasma glucose concentration was recorded by the PW group at mating. On the other hand, there were insignificant differences in plasma urea concentration of doe rabbits during 1st parity and 2nd parity. Finally, no significant effects were observed on comet length, head diameter, tail length, or DNA % tail.

Identifying cattle with superior growth feed efficiency through their natural 15N abundance and plasma urea concentration: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to test two candidate biomarkers of feed efficiency in growing cattle. A database was built using performance data from 13 trials conducted with growing heifers, steers and young bulls and testing 34 dietary treatments. The database included 769 individual records for animal performance and laboratory data for N isotopic discrimination measured in plasma or muscle (Δ15Nanimal-diet; n = 749) and plasma urea concentration (n = 659). Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and residual feed intake (RFI) criteria were calculated for a duration ranging between 56 and 259 d, depending on the trial. For FCE prediction, mixed models included the random effects of study, diet within-study and pen within-study (i.e. contemporary group; CG) allowing these effects to be progressively excluded from the relationship. For RFI prediction, simple linear regressions were tested with the CG effect removed from biomarker values before analysis. Better models were obtained with Δ15Nanimal-diet compared to plasma urea concentration, irrespective of using mean or individual values and regardless of the feed efficiency criterion. Prediction error (0.027 kg/kg) from mixed-effect models using mean FCE and Δ15Nanimal-diet values would allow discrimination of 2 dietary treatments or production conditions in terms of FCE if they differ by more than 0.10 kg/kg. The Δ15Nanimal-diet values showed a negative and significant (P<0.001) relationship with FCE at the individual level and results highlighted that it is possible to significantly discriminate two animals randomly selected from the same CG if they differ by at least 0.06 kg/kg FCE. In addition, the top 20% highest and lowest animals within-CG in terms of RFI and FCE (extreme animals) showed significant (P<0.001) differences in Δ15Nanimal-diet values, while only extreme FCE animals could be discriminated when using plasma urea concentrations (P=0.002). No gain in feed efficiency prediction was observed when combining candidate biomarkers. However for FCE, when average daily gain data was combined with Δ15Nanimal-diet, the prediction at the individual level was strengthened compared to using only single predictors. Our findings confirm that Δ15Nanimal-diet may be useful to form groups of animals for precision feeding. Further studies are warranted, however, to evaluate the usefulness of this promising biomarker for genetic selection.

Effects of dietary leucine and tryptophan on serotonin metabolism and growth performance of growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that increased dietary Trp is needed in high-Leu diets for growing pigs to prevent a drop in plasma serotonin and hypothalamic serotonin concentrations and to maintain growth performance of animals. A total of 144 growing pigs (initial weight: 28.2 ± 1.9 kg) were assigned to 9 treatments in a randomized complete block design with 2 blocks, 2 pigs per pen, and 8 replicate pens per treatment. The 9 diets were formulated in a 3 × 3 factorial with 3 levels of dietary Leu (101, 200, or 299% standardized ileal digestible [SID] Leu:Lys), and 3 levels of dietary Trp (18, 23, or 28% SID Trp:Lys). A basal diet that met requirements for SID Leu and SID Trp was formulated and 8 additional diets were formulated by adding crystalline L-Leu and (or) L-Trp to the basal diet. Individual pig weights were recorded at the beginning of the experiment and at the conclusion of the 21-d experiment. On the last day of the experiment, one pig per pen was sacrificed, and blood and hypothalamus samples were collected to measure plasma urea N, plasma serotonin, and hypothalamic serotonin concentrations. Results indicated that increasing dietary Trp increased (P &lt; 0.05) hypothalamic serotonin, whereas increases (P &lt; 0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were observed only in pigs fed diets containing excess Leu. Increasing dietary Leu reduced (P &lt; 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and hypothalamic serotonin. However, the increase in ADG and ADFI caused by dietary Trp was greater if 299% SID Leu:Lys was provided than if 101% SID Leu:Lys was provided (interaction, P &lt; 0.05). Plasma Leu concentration was positively affected by dietary Leu and negatively affected by dietary Trp, but the negative effect of Trp was greater if 299% SID Leu:Lys was provided than if 101% SID Leu:Lys was provided (interaction, P &lt; 0.05). Plasma concentration of Trp was positively affected by increased dietary Trp and increased dietary Leu, but the increase in plasma concentration of Trp was greater if Leu level was at 101 % SID Leu:Lys ratio than at 299% SID Leu:Lys ratio (interaction, P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, increased dietary Leu reduced ADG, ADFI, and hypothalamic serotonin concentration, and influenced metabolism of several indispensable amino acids, but Trp supplementation partly overcame the negative effect of excess Leu. This demonstrates the importance of Trp in regulation of hypothalamic serotonin, and therefore, feed intake of pigs.

Metabolic alkalosis following mitral valvuloplasty in a dog with preoperative acute kidney injury

CASE DESCRIPTION An 11-year-old sexually intact male Shih Tzu diagnosed with acute kidney injury and left-sided congestive heart failure that had nonelective mitral valve surgery. CLINICAL FINDINGS Metabolic alkalosis developed postoperatively, and plasma bicarbonate concentration peaked 2 days after surgery (40.2 mmol/L; pH, 7.550). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Acetazolamide administration increased the urinary excretion of bicarbonate and contributed to the improvement of the dog’s acid-base status and oxygenation capacity. Metabolic alkalosis persisted for 4 days after surgery, and no treatment was required after resolution. Plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations normalized 2 days after surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Severe metabolic alkalosis can occur as a complication following mitral valve surgery. Acetazolamide may be suitable for the treatment of severe metabolic alkalosis.

The Impacts of Dietary Fermented Mao-tai Lees on Growth Performance, Plasma Metabolites, and Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites of Weaned Piglets

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with fermented Mao-tai lees (FML) on growth performance, plasma metabolites, and intestinal microbiota and metabolites of weaned piglets. A total of 128 Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire piglets (28-days old) were randomly assigned to one of four groups, feeding a basal diet (control group), a basal diet supplemented with 2, 4 or 6% FML, respectively, for 42days. The results showed that dietary 4% FML supplementation had higher (p&lt;0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and plasma triglyceride concentration during days 1–14 of the trial than the other FML supplemented groups. In addition, dietary 2 and 4% FML supplementation increased (p&lt;0.05) the ADG during days 15–28 of the trial and plasma total protein concentration on day 42 of the trial compared with the 6% FML supplement. The plasma concentrations of arginine, ethanolamine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, proline, taurine, threonine, and tyrosine were increased (p&lt;0.05) in the 4% FML group compared with the other three groups on day 14 of the trial. Dietary supplementation with 2–6% FML decreased (p&lt;0.05) the plasma urea nitrogen concentration on day 14 of the trial and the abundance of Escherichia coli in the colon, and dietary 2 and 4% FML supplementation decreased (p&lt;0.05) the abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria compared with the control group. In the intestinal contents, a higher concentration of FML (6%) supplementation decreased (p&lt;0.05) the colonic acetate concentration compared with the control and 2% FML groups, while 4% FML supplementation increased (p&lt;0.05) the colonic cadaverine concentration compared with the other three groups. In conclusion, dietary 4% FML supplementation might contribute to the increased amino acids metabolism without affecting the growth performance of weaned piglets. Moreover, dietary 2 and 4% FML supplementation were also beneficial to intestinal health via decreasing the abundances of specific pathogens and increasing the concentrations of microbial metabolites in the gut, which provides the theoretical basis and data support for the application of FML in pigs.

Morphology and cyclooxygenase-2 and renin expression in the kidney of young spontaneously hypertensive rats

The kidneys play an important role in blood pressure regulation under normal and pathological conditions. We examined the histological changes and expression patterns of cyclooxygenase-2, renin, and (pro)renin receptor (PRR) in the renal cortex of prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs). Moreover, blood pressure and plasma urea, creatinine, angiotensin II, and angiotensin (1–7) levels were measured. The results showed that both strains had similar blood pressure and plasma urea and creatinine levels. The glomerular area, basement membrane thickness, collagen fiber content, and arterial wall thickness were greater in SHRs than in WKYs. By immunohistochemistry, cyclooxygenase-2 was localized in the macula densa and renal tubules of both strains. In SHRs, cyclooxygenase-2 was detected in a larger number of tubules, and the cortical expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was also increased. In both strains, PRR and renin were localized in the tubular epithelium and juxtaglomerular cells, respectively. In SHRs, PRR immunolocalization was increased in the glomerulus. The cortical expression of immature renin was markedly increased in SHRs compared to that in WKYs, while renin was significantly decreased. These changes were associated with higher plasma angiotensin II levels and lower plasma angiotensin (1–7) levels in SHRs. The results indicate that the kidneys of SHRs showed morphological changes and variations in cortical expression patterns of PRR, cyclooxygenase-2, and renin before the development of hypertension.

Evaluation of rumen protective effectiveness of L-carnitine, in vitro and in vivo

This study aimed to evaluate the rumen protective effectiveness of L-carnitine through in vitro tests, rumen degradation tests and in vivo tests. Twelve rumen-fistulated crossbred rams with similar body weights of 55±3.6 kg and ages of 3±0.2 years old were divided into three treatment groups in a 3×3 Latin square design, G1 (basal diet with no additives), G2 (unprotected L-carnitine) or G3 (rumen-protected L-carnitine). Ruminal fluid and blood samples were collected before morning feeding on the last day of each experimental period (21 d). The percentage of L-carnitine remaining in the simulated rumen and abomasum and rumen increased with the increase in the wall material ratio (P< 0.05). L-carnitine supplementation decreased the plasma urea nitrogen concentration of the sheep (P< 0.05). G3 resulted in higher GSH-Px and SOD activities as well as T-AOC and lower MDA concentrations in plasma than G1, and the difference was significant among the groups (P< 0.01). Thus, L-carnitine in the rumen could be protected by encapsulation for a certain time. Unprotected and rumen-protected L-carnitine supplementation effectively enhanced the antioxidant capacity of sheep, and the antioxidant capacity of sheep supplemented with rumen-protected L-carnitine was higher than that of sheep supplemented with unprotected L-carnitine.