Kerry Group (Ireland)

Studies in humans and livestock have demonstrated Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 to have probiotic potential, suggesting that it may alleviate gastrointestinal (GI) distress commonly associated with diet change in dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 on fecal scores, pH, dry matter (DM) percentage, and microbiota populations of dogs following an abrupt diet change. English Pointer dogs (n = 12; age = 5.9 ± 2.5 yr; body weight = 26.6 ± 6.1 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design and fed commercial diets containing no probiotics or prebiotics. The following treatments were administered orally in gelatin capsules before each daily feeding: (1) placebo control (250 mg maltodextrin/day); (2) B. coagulans [low dose; 5 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/day]; and (3) B. coagulans (high dose; 2.5 × 109 CFU/day). An extruded kibble diet was fed for 28 days. Dogs were then abruptly switched to a canned diet and fed for 14 days, with fecal samples collected before and 2, 6, 10, and 14 days after diet change. All data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4, testing the effects of treatment, time, and treatment*time interactions. Treatment*time interactions were not observed, but the abrupt diet change reduced (p < 0.0001) fecal DM content, increased (p < 0.0001) fecal scores and pH, and reduced (p < 0.0001) fecal bacterial species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Diet change also increased (p < 0.001) fecal Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, and Proteobacteria, decreased (p < 0.001) fecal Firmicutes, and altered ~40 fecal bacterial genera relative abundances. Diet-induced changes were minimally impacted by B. coagulans, but fecal scores tended to be lower (i.e., firmer stools; p < 0.10), fecal E. coli and Faecalibacterium abundances were greater (p < 0.05), and fecal bacterial phylogenetic diversity was higher (p < 0.05) in dogs supplemented with the low dose than in controls. Our results demonstrate that abruptly transitioning dogs from a kibble to a canned diet negatively influences fecal characteristics and considerably shifts the composition of the fecal microbiota. Supplementation with B. coagulans did not mitigate the diet-induced shifts to fecal characteristics and most of the microbial taxa, although the low dose impacted some microbial taxa. Further investigation into optimal inclusion levels in pet foods is warranted.

Background: Abrupt dietary changes may disrupt gut microbiota populations and lead to gastrointestinal issues. This study aimed to determine the effects of live Bacillus pumilus SG154 or Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 327 postbiotic on fecal characteristics and microbiota populations of dogs following an abrupt diet change. Methods: Twelve healthy adult English pointer dogs (6.38 ± 2.75 yr) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to test the following treatments: (1) placebo (control; 250 mg maltodextrin/d); (2) live B. pumilus [5 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU)/d]; and (3) L. paracasei postbiotic (100 mg; derived from 2 × 109 CFU/d). Each period lasted 42 days, with the diet change occurring on day 28. Fecal samples were scored and analyzed for pH, dry matter content, and microbiota before and 2, 6, 10, and 14 days after the diet change. Results: The abrupt diet change increased (p &lt; 0.01) fecal pH, increased (p &lt; 0.01) the dysbiosis index, decreased (p &lt; 0.0001) fecal dry matter, and led to a large shift in the fecal microbiota community. Fecal scores were lower (p &lt; 0.05) in the B. pumilus group. B. pumilus reduced (p &lt; 0.05) the relative abundance of fecal Prevotella and Muribaculaceae, while both treatments (B. pumilus; L. paracasei) increased (p &lt; 0.05) the relative abundance of fecal Holdemanella. Conclusions: These results suggest that an abrupt diet change leads to large shifts in fecal microbiota and modified fecal characteristics. The supplementation with a B. pumilus probiotic and a L. paracasei postbiotic slightly altered the relative abundance of a few microbial taxa but was unable to attenuate most responses.

This systematic review evaluates the comparative effectiveness of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) in guiding regional anesthesia, with a focus on block accuracy, anesthetic spread, clinical efficacy, and procedural safety. A total of seven high-quality clinical studies were included, encompassing a range of nerve blocks such as celiac plexus, interscalene, intertransverse, and erector spinae plane blocks. Ultrasound guidance consistently demonstrated outcomes that were equivalent or superior to CT guidance in terms of anesthetic distribution, pain control, and patient satisfaction. In most cases, ultrasound enabled real-time visualization, minimized procedural complications, and eliminated radiation exposure while maintaining a high degree of accuracy, as validated by CT or MRI in select trials. CT retained value primarily as a secondary validation tool or in anatomically complex cases where ultrasound imaging is limited. The findings support the preferential use of ultrasound as the first-line imaging modality for regional anesthesia in a variety of clinical contexts. This review highlights the clinical and procedural advantages of ultrasound over CT and emphasizes the need for ongoing research to refine imaging-guided anesthetic techniques.

Food systems face significant challenges that include increasing demand for agricultural products and accelerating environmental degradation. Regenerative agriculture has emerged as concept to reduce environmental harm while maintaining or even improving productivity. However, adoption of regenerative agriculture remains limited. This partly due to the absence of a shared definition and a standardised process to monitor, assess and report regenerative agriculture outcomes. To address this gap, SAI Platform, a member-led organisation within the food and beverage sector, collaborated with stakeholders to develop a global framework for regenerative agriculture. Drawing from a review of existing frameworks and consultations with SAI Platform members, farmers, and academics, we developed a framework that defines regenerative agriculture as an outcome-based approach that enhances environmental impact. It includes eight regenerative agriculture outcomes across the environmental areas of soil health, biodiversity, water and climate and suggests indicators to quantify progress. The framework process emphasises the need to understand local contexts and farmer needs when implementing regenerative agriculture. It does so through a four-step process that includes (i) a context analysis to identify key material criteria of a production system, (ii) the prioritisation of outcomes based on the context analysis, (iii) the selection of practices to achieve improved performance against prioritised outcomes, and (iv) the development and implementation of continuous improvement plans to monitor and report progress. Farm groups or individual farms can use this framework to independently verify the implementation of the steps defined in the framework and claim different performance levels for progress towards regenerative agriculture. These claims create a foundation for regenerative agriculture programmes, incentive mechanisms, and corporate reporting. While the framework is a starting point, collaboration and refinement are necessary to address evolving challenges in implementation. SAI Platform commits to research and stakeholder engagement to continuously improve the framework and support fair transitions towards regenerative agriculture.

Background/Objectives: Unexplained infertility is a worldwide problem affecting a significant proportion of couples of reproductive age. Recent studies suggest that alterations in the vaginal microbiota are related to female infertility, while supplementation with some probiotic strains has been shown to improve pregnancy rates in couples experiencing this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of oral administration of Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT5713 on pregnancy success rates in couples with unexplained infertility prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: Seventy couples were randomized to receive either a placebo or a probiotic intervention (one capsule per day containing an excipient only or 3 × 109 viable cells of L. salivarius CECT5713 plus an excipient, respectively); 57 couples completed the study. Baseline data on demographics, health status (including gynecological and reproductive history), and lifestyle habits were collected. Vaginal swabs and semen samples were obtained from each couple before the intervention and immediately prior to IVF or upon confirmed pregnancy and were analyzed for microbiological (using both culture-dependent and -independent methods) and immunological profiles. Results: Oral administration of L. salivarius CECT5713 in couples with unexplained infertility scheduled for IVF resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy success rate (48.1%) compared to the placebo group (20.0%) (one-tailed Chi-square test; p < 0.024). The probiotic intervention improved both vaginal and semen immunological profiles, with no substantial changes observed in their microbial composition. Conclusions: These preliminary findings support the potential of L. salivarius CECT5713 supplementation to enhance fertility outcomes in couples with unexplained infertility.

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of low-dose aspirin (LDA) in preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. A comprehensive search of recent randomized controlled trials was conducted, focusing on studies published within the last five years. The review included five studies that investigated LDA at doses ranging from 60 mg to 150 mg, with outcomes measured in diverse populations. Findings indicate that LDA can reduce preeclampsia risk, particularly in specific subgroups such as non-Hispanic white women, but its efficacy is influenced by factors such as aspirin resistance, ethnicity, and biomarker levels. The review also highlights the importance of anti-inflammatory biomarkers like 15-epi-lipoxin A4 and IL-2 in understanding aspirin's mechanism of action. However, significant variability was observed across studies, suggesting that a personalized approach to aspirin prophylaxis may be necessary. This review underscores the need for future research to address gaps in aspirin efficacy across different populations and to explore biomarker-driven strategies for preeclampsia prevention.

Acacia fiber is a soluble fiber often used as a processing aid in pet foods. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of acacia fiber, inulin, pectin (positive control), and cellulose (negative control) using an in vitro fermentation system and feline fecal inoculum. Triplicate samples of each fiber were fermented for 0, 6, 12, and 18h, with short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), pH, and microbiota measured at each time point. Blank-corrected data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX of SAS, with significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Significant (P < 0.01) fiber × time interactions were observed for pH change, gas and SCFA production, and microbiota populations. Pectin and inulin had greater (P < 0.01) gas production than acacia fiber and cellulose. Inulin had the greatest pH reduction, followed by pectin, both of which had greater pH reductions (P < 0.01) than acacia fiber and cellulose. Acacia fiber had a small reduction in pH, being lower than cellulose after 12h. Total SCFA production, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, was higher (P < 0.01) in pectin and inulin than acacia fiber and cellulose. However, acacia fiber had greater (P < 0.01) total SCFA, acetate, and propionate production than cellulose after 12h. Bacterial alpha diversity metrics increased (P < 0.01) during acacia fiber fermentation and decreased (P < 0.01) during inulin and pectin fermentation. Bacterial beta diversity shifted over time and showed separate clustering of bacterial communities among the different fiber substrates evaluated. The relative abundances of predominant (% sequences > 1%) bacterial genera were affected by significant fiber × time interactions. Specifically, acacia fiber had a greater (P < 0.01) increase in Bacteroides, Blautia, and Faecalibacterium than other fibers. Inulin had a greater (P < 0.01) increase in Collinsella, Prevotella, Megamonas, Holdemanella, Blautia, and Faecalibacterium, whereas pectin had a greater (P < 0.01) increase in Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Phascolarctobacterium, and Succinivibrio. These results suggest that acacia fiber is moderately fermentable, resulting in low gas and SCFA production, greater bacterial diversity, and microbiota shifts. Although positive responses were observed in vitro, research in live animals is necessary to confirm potential benefits in felines.

Usaha Mikro, Kecil, dan Menengah (UMKM) memiliki peran krusial dalam perekonomian Indonesia, khususnya dalam meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat dan menciptakan lapangan kerja. Fokus penelitian ini adalah pada UMKM keripik tempe di Desa Kamal, Kecamatan Arjasa, yang mengalami pertumbuhan pesat namun menghadapi persaingan pasar yang semakin ketat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis strategi pengembangan daya saing UMKM keripik tempe melalui pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif dengan menggunakan analisis SWOT dan observasi langsung. Hasil penelitian mengidentifikasi beberapa strategi kunci untuk meningkatkan daya saing UMKM, antara lain pemasaran online melalui e-commerce, penggunaan kemasan yang menarik, penambahan varian rasa, serta modernisasi alat produksi. Pemasaran digital dan e-commerce memungkinkan UMKM menjangkau pasar yang lebih luas, sementara inovasi dalam kemasan dan produk, serta modernisasi alat, berkontribusi pada peningkatan daya tarik dan efisiensi produksi. Sertifikasi Halal juga direkomendasikan untuk memperkuat kepercayaan konsumen dan membuka peluang pasar yang lebih luas. Temuan ini diharapkan dapat membantu UMKM keripik tempe di Desa Kamal dalam mengatasi tantangan dan memanfaatkan peluang untuk meningkatkan daya saing mereka secara efektif di pasar global.