King Khalid University

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-based probiotics are widely recognized as effective and sustainable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters due to their ability to improve intestinal integrity, modulate host immunity, and enhance productive performance in poultry. This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus acidilactici (1 × 10 8 CFU/g) administered via drinking water on the productive performance, egg quality characteristics, hatching traits, serum biochemical indices, and immune responses of broiler breeder hens. A total of 240 hens (29 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups receiving 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 g of Pediococcus acidilactici per liter of drinking water, with six replicates of ten birds each. All birds were maintained under standardized management and environmental conditions for an eight-week experimental period. Supplementation at 0.2 and 0.3 g/L significantly increased egg production, egg weight, and egg mass, while also improving feed efficiency ( P < 0.05) without affecting feed intake, final body weight, or livability ( P > 0.05). These inclusion levels also enhanced reproductive performance—including settable eggs, fertility, hatchability, and hatch of fertile eggs—while reducing embryonic mortality ( P < 0.05). In terms of egg quality, hens receiving 0.2 and 0.3 g/L exhibited significant improvements in egg length, egg width, and Haugh unit scores ( P < 0.05), whereas other internal and external egg quality parameters remained statistically unchanged ( P > 0.05). Furthermore, probiotic supplementation at these levels significantly reduced serum triglyceride concentrations and elevated antibody titers against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis viruses ( P < 0.05). Taken together, these findings demonstrate that supplementing drinking water with PA, particularly at a concentration of 0.2 g/L, can effectively enhance the productivity, reproductive performance, and immune status of breeder hens. Future research should explore the long-term effects of PA across different genetic strains and production stages, while also integrating gut microbiota profiling and metabolic studies to better elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.

Maxillofacial reconstruction requires precise restoration of bone volume and anatomical alignment. Traditional bone grafting methods have limitations, such as donor site morbidity, limited availability, and suboptimal anatomical congruence. Three-dimensional (3D) printed bone substitutes offer patient-specific solutions that may overcome these challenges. To systematically evaluate and quantify the clinical efficacy of 3D-printed bone substitutes compared with traditional grafting techniques in maxillofacial reconstruction, focusing on outcomes including bone regeneration, surgical precision (distance and angular deviation), and operative duration. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library was conducted up to March 2025. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing 3D-printed bone substitutes with traditional methods in maxillofacial or craniofacial surgery were included. Meta-analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software v3.7, applying fixed- or random-effects models based on heterogeneity (I2 threshold of 25%). In total, 12 studies (three RCTs and nine cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis. 3D-printed bone substitutes demonstrated significantly superior outcomes in key surgical metrics compared with traditional methods. Bone regeneration volume was markedly higher in the 3D group, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.737 (95% CI: 0.640-0.834; p<0.0001), indicating a moderate-to-large effect size. Operative efficiency also improved, with a mean reduction in surgical duration of -12.32min (95% CI: -14.08 to -10.56; p<0.0001). However, greater positional deviation was observed with 3D-printed plates, including distance deviation (MD=1.328; 95% CI: 1.08-1.57; p<0.0001) and angular deviation (MD=1.643°; 95% CI: 1.11-2.18; p<0.0001). 3D-printed bone substitutes significantly improve bone regeneration and reduce operative time in maxillofacial surgery. However, greater positional and angular deviations suggest the need for enhanced surgical navigation. These findings support the integration of 3D-printing in clinical practice, with emphasis on precision improvement in future applications.