Effects of Quebracho Tannins on Growth Performance and Blood Routine of Simmental Fattening Cattle

[Objectives]The effects of condensed quebracho tannins on the production performance and blood routine indices of Simmental fattening cattle were investigated experimentally.[Methods]Twenty four Simmental fattening cattle were selected and randomly divided into two treatment groups according to their body weight,with 12 animals in each group.The diet of the control group consisted of beef cattle concentrate supplement+silage+hay,and the diet of the experimental group consisted of beef cattle concentrate supplement+silage+hay+tannins,and the experimental period was 30 d.[Results]Compared with the control group,the addition of tannins[30 g/(cattle·d)]to the diet of beef cattle increased the daily weight gain of Simmental beef cattle by 24.68%(P<0.01),while the feed conversion ratio decreased by 2.57%(P>0.05).The gross profit per cattle increased by 973.63 yuan,and the economic benefit increased by 114.78%.Platelets were higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01);hemoglobin was lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01);leukocytes,neutrophils,monocytes and lymphocytes were lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01);and erythrocytes were lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational utilization of quebracho tannins.

Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate,Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate and Entecavir:Which is the Most Effective Drug for Chronic Hepatitis B?A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background and Aims:The therapeutic effect of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate(TAF),tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF)and entecavir(ETV)on chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients remains inconsistent.The aim of this study was to explore the differences in virological responses to TAF,TDF and ETV in patients with CHB.Methods:Literature searches were conducted of the PubMed,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Library databases to identify randomized controlled trials and observational studies published up to July 21,2020.Statistical comparisons of virological response between TDF,ETV,and TAF were carried out with pooled odds ratio(OR)values.Results:The virological response in TDF-treated CHB patients was notably superior to that of the ETV-treated CHB patients after 12-weeks[OR=1.12,95%confidence interval(CI):0.89–1.41],24-weeks(OR=1.33,95%CI:1.11–1.61),48-weeks(OR=1.62,95%CI:1.16–2.25),72-weeks(OR=1.43,95%CI:0.78–2.62),and 96-weeks(OR=1.56,95%CI:0.87–2.81)treatment.No significant difference was observed for the virological responses in CHB patients after 48-weeks treatment with TAF or TDF.The virological response in TDF+ETV-treated CHB patients was superior to that of TDF-treated CHB patients after 24-weeks,48-weeks(OR=1.54,95%CI:1.17–2.02),96-weeks,and 144-weeks.Conclusions:The virological response in TDF-treated CHB patients was superior to that in ETV-treated CHB patients,but there was no significant difference between TAF and TDF.In addition,the therapeutic effect of TDF+ETV was superior to TDF alone.

Connectome-based prediction of the severity of autism spectrum disorder

Background:Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)is characterized by social and behavioural deficits.Current diagnosis relies on be-havioural criteria,but machine learning,particularly connectome-based predictive modelling(CPM),offers the potential to uncover neural biomarkers for ASD.Objective:This study aims to predict the severity of ASD traits using CPM and explores differences among ASD subtypes,seeking to enhance diagnosis and understanding of ASD.Methods:Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 151 ASD patients were used in the model.CPM with leave-one-out cross-validation was conducted to identify intrinsic neural networks that predict Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule(ADOS)scores.After the model was constructed,it was applied to independent samples to test its replicability(172 ASD patients)and specificity(36 healthy control participants).Furthermore,we examined the predictive model across different aspects of ASD and in subtypes of ASD to understand the potential mechanisms underlying the results.Results:The CPM successfully identified negative networks that significantly predicted ADOS total scores[r(df=150)=0.19,P=0.008 in all patients;r(df=104)=0.20,P=0.040 in classic autism]and communication scores[r(df=150)=0.22,P=0.010 in all patients;r(df=104)=0.21,P=0.020 in classic autism].These results were reproducible across independent databases.The networks were characterized by enhanced inter-and intranetwork connectivity associated with the occipital network(OCC),and the sensorimotor network(SMN)also played important roles.Conclusions:A CPM based on whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity can predicted the severity of ASD.Large-scale net-works,including the OCC and SMN,played important roles in the predictive model.These findings may provide new directions for the diagnosis and intervention of ASD,and maybe could be the targets in novel interventions.