Effect of wet sea buckthorn pomace utilized as an additive on silage fermentation profile and bacterial community composition of alfalfa
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Chen, Liangyin; Qu, Hui; Bai, Shiqie; Yan, Lijun; You, Minghong; Gou, Wenlong; Li, Ping; Gao, Fengqin
Abstract
To effectively preserve nutrients, alfalfa silage was treated without (control) or with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) and their mixture (LP + SBP). Results showed that SBP decreased (P < 0.05) final pH value and ammonia-N of total N, increased (P < 0.05) lactic, acetic and propionic acid contents, resulting in more residual water soluble carbohydrate and crude protein contents and less fiber content in relative to control. Moreover, SBP decreased (P < 0.05) the number of observed species, richness index of ACE and diversity index of Shannon at early stage of ensiling, while Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, and/or Lactobacillus brevis dominated in silages. In particular, LP + SBP enhanced the growth of Lactococcus lactic at early stage and Lactobacillus plantarum at late stage of ensiling, resulting in higher lactic and acetic acid contents and lower propionic acid content as compared with LP. These confirmed that SBP could be used as an additive for improving silage quality of alfalfa.
Activin Receptor-Ligand Trap for the Treatment of beta-thalassemia: A Serendipitous Discovery
MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Authors: Brancaleoni, Valentina; Nava, Isabella; Delbini, Paola; Duca, Lorena; Motta, Irene
Abstract
beta-thalassemia is a hereditary disorder caused by defective production of beta-globin chains of hemoglobin (Hb) that leads to an increased alpha/beta globins ratio with subsequent free alpha-globins. Alpha globin excess causes oxidative stress, red blood cells membrane damage, premature death of late-stage erythroid precursors, resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily signaling acts on biological processes, such as cell quiescence, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and migration, and plays an essential role in regulating the hematopoiesis. This pathway can lose its physiologic regulation in pathologic conditions, leading to anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis. Activin receptor-ligand trap molecules such as Sotatercept and Luspatercept downregulate the TGF-beta pathway, thus inhibiting the Smad2/3 cascade and alleviating anemia in patients with beta-thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. In this review, we describe in extenso the TGF-beta pathway, as well as the molecular and biological basis of activin receptors ligand traps, focusing on their role in various beta-thalassemia experimental models. The most recent results from clinical trials on sotatercept and luspatercept will also be reviewed.