Healthy Ageing Is Associated with Preserved or Enhanced Nutrient and Mineral Apparent Digestibility in Dogs and Cats Fed Commercially Relevant Extruded Diets.

Age-related changes in gastrointestinal function have been reported in companion animals, but the impact on digestive efficiency remains uncertain. Healthy dogs ( = 37; 2.6-14.

Live-cell fluorescence imaging to investigate the dynamics of plant cell death during infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

Background: Plant cell death plays important roles during plant-pathogen interactions. To study pathogen-induced cell death, there is a need for cytological tools that allow determining not only host cell viability, but also cellular events leading to cell death with visualization of pathogen development. Here we describe a live cell imaging method to provide insights into the dynamics of cell death in rice (Oryza sativa).

Astaxanthin stimulates cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in cats.

Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant carotenoid and may play a role in modulating immune response in cats. Blood was taken from female domestic shorthair cats (8-9 mo old; 3.2 ± 0.

Dietary fish oil and flaxseed oil suppress inflammation and immunity in cats.

The modulatory activity of dietary n-3 fatty acids on inflammation and immune response in domestic cats is unknown. Mature female cats (n=14/treatment) were fed control, fish oil or flaxseed oil diets with n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratios of 20:1, 5:1 and 5:1, respectively, for 12 wk. Immune response was assessed on wk 0, 6 and 12, and skin hypersensitivity response on wk 6 and 12.

Dietary astaxanthin enhances immune response in dogs.

No information is available on the possible role of astaxanthin on immune response in domestic canine. Female Beagle dogs (9-10 mo old; 8.2 ± 0.

Pigmented potato consumption alters oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in men.

Pigmented potatoes contain high concentrations of antioxidants, including phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. These bioactive compounds have been implicated in the inhibition or prevention of cellular oxidative damage and chronic disease susceptibility. We assessed the effects of pigmented potato consumption on oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers in adult males.

Safety and tolerance of dietary supplementation with a canine-derived probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis strain AHC7) fed to growing dogs.

Although probiotics are generally considered to be safe, their increasingly widespread use warrants better understanding of their risks in companion animals. This study evaluated the safety and tolerance of dietary supplementation with a canine-derived probiotic, Bifidobacterium animalis strain AHC7 (Prostora, Procter & Gamble Pet Care), fed to growing beagles beginning at approximately 6 months of age (11 males; 9 females). Probiotic B.

Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on inflammation and cardiac function in BALB/c mice.

Astaxanthin is an antioxidant with immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. This study evaluated the use of dietary astaxanthin to decrease oxidative stress and improve cardiac function, thereby providing a potential cardioprotective supplement. Female BALB/c mice (8 weeks of age) were fed a semi-synthetic diet containing 0, 0.

Effect of dietary astaxanthin at different stages of mammary tumor initiation in BALB/c mice.

The effects of astaxanthin on tumor growth, cardiac function and immune response in mice were studied. Female BALB/c mice were fed a control diet (diet C) for 8 weeks, 0.005% astaxathin for 8 weeks (diet A), or diet C for weeks 1-5 followed by diet A thereafter (diet CA).

Astaxanthin uptake in domestic dogs and cats.

Background: Research on the uptake and transport of astaxanthin is lacking in most species. We studied the uptake of astaxanthin by plasma, lipoproteins and leukocytes in domestic dogs and cats.

Methods: Mature female Beagle dogs (18 to 19 mo old; 11 to 14 kg BW) were dosed orally with 0, 0.

Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans.

Background: Astaxanthin modulates immune response, inhibits cancer cell growth, reduces bacterial load and gastric inflammation, and protects against UVA-induced oxidative stress in in vitro and rodent models. Similar clinical studies in humans are unavailable. Our objective is to study the action of dietary astaxanthin in modulating immune response, oxidative status and inflammation in young healthy adult female human subjects.

Clinical benefits of probiotic canine-derived Bifidobacterium animalis strain AHC7 in dogs with acute idiopathic diarrhea.

This study evaluated the effect of supplementation with canine-derived probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis strain AHC7 (lams Prostora, Procter & Gamble Pet Care) on the resolution rate of acute idiopathic diarrhea in dogs randomly assigned to receive a placebo (n=18) or the probiotic (n=13). Nutritional management with the probiotic fed at 2 x 10(10) CFU/day significantly reduced the time to resolution (3.9 +/- 2.

Soy isoflavones modulate immune function in healthy postmenopausal women.

Background: The immune system may be compromised after menopause because of the effects of aging and diminishing concentrations of estrogen, an immune-modulating hormone. Isoflavones, plant-derived compounds with estrogenic and antioxidant properties, may offer immunologic benefits to women during this stage of life.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soy isoflavones, both in soymilk and in supplement form, on markers of immunity and oxidative stress in postmenopausal women.

C-reactive protein in the differentiation of pyometra from cystic endometrial hyperplasia/mucometra in dogs.

Hematological parameters, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor alpha were analyzed in 64 dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of pyometra. Final diagnosis (i.e.

Carotenoid action on the immune response.

Early studies demonstrating the ability of dietary carotenes to prevent infections have left open the possibility that the action of these carotenoids may be through their prior conversion to vitamin A. Subsequent studies to demonstrate the specific action of dietary carotenoids have used carotenoids without provitamin A activity such as lutein, canthaxanthin, lycopene and astaxanthin. In fact, these nonprovitamin A carotenoids were as active, and at times more active, than beta-carotene in enhancing cell-mediated and humoral immune response in animals and humans.

Effects of age and dietary beta-carotene on immunological variables in dogs.

beta-Carotene is a naturally occurring carotenoid reported to have health-promoting effects in several species. Advancing age is known to have a negative impact on various immune variables in several species. This study was conducted in order to assess the effect of age on immune response in dogs and to determine whether beta-carotene is able to reverse this age-associated decline.

Dietary lutein inhibits mouse mammary tumor growth by regulating angiogenesis and apoptosis.

Even though we previously reported that dietary lutein can inhibit mammary tumor growth, the mechanism of this action was unknown. Here, we studied the action of dietary lutein through its possible regulation of apoptosis and angiogenesis. Female BALB/c mice were fed a semi-purified diet containing 0 (control), 0.