Effects of Jinye Baidu Granule (金叶败毒颗粒) on Fetal Growth and Development with Maternal Active Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

To evaluate the effects of Jinye Baidu Granule （金叶败毒颗粒, JYBDG）, a traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription, on fetal growth and development with maternal active human cytomegalovirus infection. Methods： A prospective, randomized and controlled trial was adopted during January 1996 to June 2002. From the pregnant women with an abnormal pregnant history, 240 cases were screened to be infected by human cytomegalovirus （HCMV） by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay （ELISA） and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. They were assigned according to the random number table to two groups. The 122 cases in the treatment group were administrated with JYBDG, one package each time, three times a day for two continuous weeks, while the other 118 in the control group did not receive any treatment. The negative conversion rate of both HCMV-IgM and HCMV late mRNA, the positive rate of HCMV-DNA in placenta and the intrauterine transmission rate between the two groups were compared, and fetal growth and development in partial fetuses were also observed. Results： The negative conversion rate of both HCMV-IgM and HCMV late mRNA, the positive rate of HCMV-DNA in placenta and the intrauterine transmission rate in the treatment group were 77. 05% （94/122）, 48.98% （48/98） and 21.74% （10/46） respectively, while those in the control group were 38. 14% （45/118）, 67.50% （54/80） and 52.63% （20/38） respectively, all showing significant difference between the two groups （P〈0.01）. Totally 35 normal infants and 11 abnormal infants were born in the treatment group, and the number in the control group was 20 and 18 respectively, and comparison between the two groups showed significant difference （P〈0.01）. Six months of child birth, the scores of both mental development index （MDI） and psychomotor development index （PDI） of infants were higher in the treatment group （20 cases） than those in the control group （20 cases）, but there was no significant difference between the two groups （P〉0.05）. Conclusion： JYBDG could decrease the intrauterine transmission of HCMV and is beneficial to fetal growth and development.

The significance of N‑carbamoylglutamate in ruminant production

Improving the efficiency and production of grazing ruminants to support food and fiber production,while reducing the environmental footprint and meeting the welfare needs of the animals,is important for sustainable livestock production systems.Development of new technologies that can improve the efficiency of nitrogen(N)utilization in ruminants,and that are effective and safe,has important implications for ruminant livestock production.N-carbomoylglutamate(NCG)is a functional micronutrient that stimulates endogenous synthesis of arginine,which can improve survival,growth,lactation,reproductive performance,and feed efficiency in mammals.There is a growing body of evidence to support the potential of dietary NCG supplementation to improve the productive capacity and N utilization efficiency of ruminants.This review summarizes the current literature on the effects of dietary supplementation with NCG in ruminants and impacts on production and potential to reduce the environmental footprint of farmed ruminant livestock.The current literature highlights the potential for commercial application in ruminant livestock to improve productivity and N utilization efficiency.