PSVI-2 Effects of natural capsicum extract as a substitute for chlortetracycline on growth performance, nutrient utilization, antioxidant status, immune function, and meat quality in broilers

A total of 168 one-day old broilers (average BW 46.4 ± 0.6 g) were selected to determine effects of natural capsaicin extract (NCE) as a substitute for chlortetracycline (CTC) on performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function and meat quality of broilers [Founded by NSFC (31772612)]. Broilers were randomly allotted into 3 dietary treatments (n = 7) including a corn-soybean meal basal diet (CON), a basal diet + 75 mg/kg CTC (CTC), and a basal diet + 80 mg/kg NCE (NCE). The experiment contained phase 1 (day 1 to 21) and 2 (day 22 to 42). Compared with CON, broilers from NCE showed higher average daily gain at all stages (P < 0.05). On day 42, organic matter, crude protein and gross energy digestibilities of broilers from NCE were higher than those from the other two groups (P < 0.05). Higher percentage of bursa of Fabricius was observed in broilers fed NCE diets compared with CON (P < 0.05). Trypsin and lipase activities in the pancreas of broilers from NCE were higher than those from CON (P < 0.05). Breast muscle of broilers fed NCE diets showed lower L* values compared with CON (P < 0.05). Broilers from NCE also showed higher levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, lower levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α compared with broilers offered CON diets (P < 0.05). Compared with CON, lower concentrations of serum urea-N, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol, higher growth hormone level were observed in broilers fed NCE diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 80 mg/kg of NCE to diets could improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant and immune function, and meat quality of broilers. Moreover, broilers fed NCE diets exhibited similar growth performance and health status to those offered chlortetracycline (CTC) diets.

Analysis of Prevalence, Influencing Factors, and Countermeasures of Short Stature in Children and Adolescents Aged 6∼14 in Furong District, Changsha City, in 2020

In recent years, children’s and adolescents’ growth and development issues have received increasing attention with the socioeconomic development. The etiology of child short stature involves heredity, race, sex, nutrition, and a variety of endocrine hormones, which is very complex. The age of 6∼14 is the key period of children’s development. Understanding the height characteristics, the prevalence of short stature, and its influencing factors at this stage and formulating preventive measures as soon as possible are conducive to improving the average height of children and reducing the incidence of short stature. In this study, cluster sampling was used to select 56,865 children and adolescents aged 6∼14 years old from 40 primary and secondary schools in Furong District of Changsha City, and the height of each child and adolescent was measured. The results showed that the overall crude prevalence of short stature in children aged 6∼14 in Furong District of Changsha is 2.82%. Growth hormone level <10 μg/L, pubertal retardation, familial short stature, low egg intake, and intrauterine growth retardation are independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of short stature. In order to improve the status quo of short stature of children aged 6∼14 in Furong District, Changsha City, targeted intervention should be strengthened for people with combined high risk factors.

EVALUATION OF VITAMIN D3 AND ZINC LEVELS IN IRAQI CHILDREN WITH GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY AND THEIR RELATION WITH OTHER BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is suspected in subjects with short stature (SS) and decreased growth velocity in whom other causes of low growth have been excluded. The growth hormone itself has a direct stimulatory action on the production of vitamin D3. Both vitamin D and growth hormone metabolism influences each other. Zinc level also plays an essential regulator of bone growth and potential growth pathway. A total of 50 children aging 4-12 years old with growth hormone deficiency have participated in this study. They were compared with 38 healthy children as a control group. This study was conducted during the period from September 2019 to June 2020. The patients were attending the National Diabetic Center/ AL-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq. Growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, thyroid function test, cortisol level, vitamin D3, zinc level, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were measured in children with growth hormone deficiency. A nonsignificant difference was found in basal growth hormone between patients of growth hormone deficiency and control. There was a highly significant decrease in growth hormone level after 1 hour (provocation with clonidine) (p 0.001) and a significant decreased in growth hormone level after 1:30 hours (provocation with clonidine) (p 0.01) in patients of growth hormone deficiency compared to the control group. Also, it was observed a highly significant decrease (p 0.001) of insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in growth hormone deficiency patients when compared to control. It was also observed that there was a significant decrease (p 0.001) in the levels of Zn and vitamin D in patients with growth hormone deficiency compared to the control in addition to the distribution of the levels of vitamin D and Zinc have increased more in women than in men. It can be concluded that there was a highly significant decrease in vitamin D and Zn levels in patients with growth hormone deficiency compared to the control group. The deficiency of vitamin D and zinc levels may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of growing children with a growth hormone disorder.

Early postoperative measurement of growth hormone level for prognosis of surgical outcomes in acromegaly

Aim.To investigate the value of 24 hours post-surgery measurement of growth hormone (GH) level for prognosis of surgical outcomes in acromegaly. Materials and methods.A prospective cohort study included 45 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly. The degree of parasellar extension was measured on the preoperative sellar magnetic resonance imaging according to the Knosps classification. All patients underwent a transsphenoid adenomectomy performed by one neurosurgeon. Basal GH level was measured at 24 hours after surgery. The efficacy of transsphenoidal adenomectomy evaluated at 12 months after surgery. Results.Acromegaly remission was achieved in 19 (42%) of 45 patients at 12 months after surgery. Pituitary microadenomas and the absence of paracellular invasion, corresponding to Knosp Grade 02, had low prognostic value for long-term remission due to low sensitivity (31.6%) and low specificity (38.5%), respectively. The highest prognostic value for acromegaly remission was showed for 24 hours post-surgery GH level with cut-off 1.30 ng/ml with sensitivity of 96.2% (95% confidence interval 81.199.8%) and specificity of 84.2% (95% confidence interval 62.494.4%). Conclusion.The study demonstrated the possibility of using GH level at 24 after surgery as a predictor for acromegaly remission. GH level 1.30 ng/ml at 24 hours after surgery showed better predictive value for long-term remission compared with the presence of microadenomas and Knosp Grade 02. The absence of decrease of GH level on the first day after surgery may serve as a reason for more close monitoring of patients in the postoperative period. Further studies in a larger number of observers are required to confirm our findings.

Downregulation of growth hormone in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: insights from the SYSTEMA cohort

Background Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a variant of cardiovascular autonomic disorder occurring predominantly in young women. POTS is characterized by an excessive heart rate increase when assuming upright posture accompanied by symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. The pathophysiology of POTS has not been fully established and is believed to be multifactorial. Purpose We aimed to investigate the alterations in circulating growth hormone level in POTS. Methods We conducted an age-matched case-control study enrolling 42 patients with POTS (age 31±9 years; 36 women) verified by positive head-up tilt testing and cardiovascular autonomic tests, and 46 controls (32±9 years; 35 women) with negative active standing test and no history of syncope, orthostatic intolerance and endocrine disease. We measured plasma levels of growth hormone using a high-sensitivity chemiluminescence immunoassay in relation to presence of POTS diagnosis. All study participants completed the validated Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ), consisting of two components: the symptoms assessment scale (OHSA) and daily activity scale (OHDAS) to evaluate the burden of symptoms. We applied standard statistical tests for group differences. Growth hormone values were log-transformed and standardized before the group comparison. Results POTS patients had significantly lower plasma levels of growth hormone (ng/mL) (median=0.53, IQR, 0.10–2.83 vs. median=2.33, IQR, 0.26–7.2, p=0.04) than controls. Levels of growth hormone were reversely related to OHDAS (p=0.049) among POTS patients. Supine heart rate was significantly higher in POTS patients (69.0±11.1 beats/min vs. 63.3±10.8 beats/min, p=0.02), as well as diastolic blood pressure (72.9±9.1 mmHg vs. 69.0±8.5 mmHg, p=0.04). We observed no significant difference in supine systolic blood pressure (116.6±13.3 mmHg vs. 115.2±10.0 mmHg, p=0.60). POTS patients had a significantly higher composite OHQ score than controls (60.0±18.6 vs. 4.2±7.5, p&lt;0.001), as well as OHSA (36.2±10.0 vs. 3.6±6.4, p&lt;0.001) and OHDAS (23.8±9.7 vs. 0.6±1.3, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion(s) Our study shows that patients with POTS have significantly reduced plasma levels of circulating growth hormone. Lower growth hormone levels among POTS patients are associated with increased impairment of daily life activities. Further studies are necessary to confirm our findings in the independent populations and explain the mechanisms behind this alteration. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Crafoord Foundation, Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation