Effect of selenium and vitamin C on clinical outcomes, trace element status, and antioxidant enzyme activity in horses with acute and chronic lower airway disease. A randomized clinical trial

Theranostic applications of selenium nanomedicines against lung cancer

The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer are among the highest in the world. Traditional treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Although rapid progress has been achieved in the past decade, treatment limitations remain. It is therefore imperative to identify safer and more effective therapeutic methods, and research is currently being conducted to identify more efficient and less harmful drugs. In recent years, the discovery of antitumor drugs based on the essential trace element selenium (Se) has provided good prospects for lung cancer treatments. In particular, compared to inorganic Se (Inorg-Se) and organic Se (Org-Se), Se nanomedicine (Se nanoparticles; SeNPs) shows much higher bioavailability and antioxidant activity and lower toxicity. SeNPs can also be used as a drug delivery carrier to better regulate protein and DNA biosynthesis and protein kinase C activity, thus playing a role in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. SeNPs can also effectively activate antigen-presenting cells to stimulate cell immunity, exert regulatory effects on innate and regulatory immunity, and enhance lung cancer immunotherapy. This review summarizes the application of Se-based species and materials in lung cancer diagnosis, including fluorescence, MR, CT, photoacoustic imaging and other diagnostic methods, as well as treatments, including direct killing, radiosensitization, chemotherapeutic sensitization, photothermodynamics, and enhanced immunotherapy. In addition, the application prospects and challenges of Se-based drugs in lung cancer are examined, as well as their forecasted future clinical applications and sustainable development.

Studies on Antioxidant Capacity in Selenium-Deprived the Choko Yak in the Shouqu Prairie

The fencing device on pasture has seriously restricted the foraging range in grazing animals. As a result, the incidence of selenium (Se) deficiency is rising in grazing Choko yaks in the Shouqu prairie in Northwest China. To study the effect of Se deprivation on antioxidant capacity in the Choko yaks, the mineral contents in soil, forage, blood, and liver have been analyzed. The parameters of physiology and biochemistry in animal were also measured. The tested results showed that Se contents in soil and forage from tested pastures were very greatly lower than those in the control ranges (P < 0.01), and there were no extreme differences in other elements. Se contents in blood and the liver in tested animals were very extremely lower than those in the control yaks (P < 0.01). Levels of hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte (RBC), and hematocrit (HCT) were very extremely less than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in blood from the tested yaks were very much lower than those in the control animals (P < 0.01). Contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in tested yaks were extremely higher than those in the control animals (P < 0.01). Therefore, it is suggested that Se-deficient forage in natural habitat not only influenced mineral contents in the blood and the liver but also causes serious harm to antioxidant function in the Choko yaks.

Studies on Edema Pathema in Hequ Horse in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

As a consequence of contracted and fenced grassland, the incidence of edema pathema in the Hequ horse is rising. The main pathological symptoms are edema, emaciation, anemia, heterophilia, inappetence, and dyskinesia. To study the cause of edema disease in Hequ horse, the Hequ horse farm with a high incidence was chosen as the experimental pasture, and the Azi husbandry experimental station without edema disorder was the control pasture. The research methods in this paper are included: (1) The mineral contents in soil, forage, blood, and liver were analyzed. (2) Routine parameters and biochemical values in blood were also measured. (3) Conduct a prevention trial and a treatment experiment. The results showed that Se contents in soil and forage was much significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference in other elements. Se contents in blood and liver in affected animals were very significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Hb, HCT, MCV, and MCH were greatly significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Activities of GSH-Px in blood were very significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Before the onset season of the disorder in the affected area, Na₂SeO₃ was used to conduct a prevention trial on 1576 Hequ horses. A dose of 0.03 mg Na₂SeO₃ was given orally per kilogram of body weight, once every 15 days and twice continuously. There was no edema illness that year. In the treatment experiment, 235 horses were administered Na₂SeO₃ orally at 0.04 mg per kilogram of body weight, once every 3 days for 4 consecutive times, and 198 horses were cured, with a cure rate of 84.26%. Therefore, it is possible that Hequ horse edema pathema is caused by Se deficiency in soil and forage.

Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency

Background

Selenium or alpha‐tocopherol deficiency can cause neuromuscular disease. Beta‐carotene has limited documentation in horses.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of owner practices on plasma beta‐carotene concentration and risk of selenium and alpha‐tocopherol deficiencies.

Animals

Three‐hundred and forty‐nine adult (≥1 year), university and privately owned horses and mules.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. Whole blood selenium, plasma alpha‐tocopherol, and plasma beta‐carotene concentrations were measured once. Estimates of daily selenium and vitamin E intake, pasture access, and exercise load were determined by owner questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t tests, Mann‐Whitney tests, parametric or nonparametric analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal‐Wallis test, Spearman's correlation and contingency tables (P < .05).

Results

Nearly 88% of the horses received supplemental selenium; 71.3% received ≥1 mg/d. Low blood selenium concentration (<80 ng/mL) was identified in 3.3% of horses, and 13.6% had marginal concentrations (80‐159 ng/mL). Non‐supplemented horses were much more likely to have low blood selenium (odds ratio [OR], 20.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.26‐42.7; P < .001). Supplemental vitamin E was provided to 87.3% of horses; 57.7% received ≥500 IU/d. Deficient (<1.5 μg/mL) and marginal (1.5‐2.0 μg/mL) plasma (alpha‐tocopherol) occurred in 15.4% and 19.9% of horses, respectively. Pasture access (>6 h/d) and daily provision of ≥500 IU of vitamin E was associated (P < .001) with higher plasma alpha‐tocopherol concentrations. Plasma beta‐carotene concentration was higher in horses with pasture access (0.26 ± 0.43 versus 0.12 ± 0.13 μg/mL, P = .003).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Suboptimal blood selenium and plasma alpha‐tocopherol concentrations occurred in 16.7% and 35.5% of horses, respectively, despite most owners providing supplementation. Inadequate pasture access was associated with alpha‐tocopherol deficiency, and reliance on selenium‐containing salt blocks was associated with selenium deficiency.

Selenium-Chromium(VI) Interaction Regulates the Contents and Correlations of Trace Elements in Chicken Brain and Serum

This study aims to investigate the contents of trace elements in the brain and serum of male chickens and the effect of selenium-chromium(VI) interaction. A chronic experimental model was established by supplementing 22.14 mg/kg K₂Cr₂O₇ with 0.00, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.50, and 5.00 mg/kg Na₂SeO₃ mg/kg B.W. to water for chicken daily. After 14, 28, and 42 days of exposure to the solution, the brain and serum of chickens from each group were collected to detect the levels of Ca, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Mg by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Cr(VI) time-dependently accumulated in the brain and serum. The contents of Cr increased both in the brain and serum with prolonged exposure. Cr contents in the brain and serum decreased in all Se groups compared with those in only Cr-treated groups. Ca contents decreased with prolonged exposure and increasing Se dosage. The contents of Cu and Mn increased on the 28th day but decreased on the 42nd day in the brain and serum. Fe and Zn contents decreased in the serum under prolonged exposure and increased on the 28th day but decreased on the 42nd day in the brain. Cr exposure did not significantly affect Mg contents in the brain but slightly decreased those in the serum. Therefore, appropriate doses of Se affected Cr accumulation, leading to adjustments in the contents and correlations of trace elements.

The effects of ovariectomy on meat performance and expression of GH/IGF-I in young goats

Zhang, L., Wang, Y.-y., Fu, M.-z., Li, G., An, N., Li, S.-y. and Zhou, Z.-q. 2014. The effects of ovariectomy on meat performance and expression of GH/IGF-I in young goats. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 619–626. Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of ovariectomy on meat production efficiency and to explore the expression of GH/IGF-I in young goats. Animal performance, meat quality, levels of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I), and mRNA levels of three key genes [GH Receptor (GHR), IGF-I and IGF-I Receptor (IGF-IR)] in longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris muscles were measured. The results show that carcass weight, net meat mass, fat weight and loin eye area of ovariectomized goats were higher than those of the controls, and ovariectomized goats lost 0.40 kg of bone weight (P<0.05). There was no statistically valid difference for the color, pH, water-holding capacity, or cooking rate of meat (P>0.05) between the two groups, except for the shear value, which was significantly lower in the Ovx group than in the control group (P<0.05). The results of this research show for the first time a significant trend (P<0.05) for serum GH and IGF-I in the direction of increasing in ovariectomized goats. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of GHR, IGF-I and IGF-IR in muscle were all up-regulated, except for the IGF-I gene in biceps femoris, by ovariectomy. In summary, ovariectomy showed a beneficial promotion in animal performance, but did not reduce meat quality, and increased serum GH and IGF-I and mRNA expression levels of GHR, IGF-I and IGF-IR in young female goats.

The effect of deposition Se on the mRNA expression levels of GPxs in goats from a Se-enriched county of China

Previous studies revealed that Se was an important regulatory factor for glutathione peroxidase (GPx) genes. However, the relationship between Se concentrations and mRNA expression levels of GPxs were unclear in goats, especially the goats living in natural Se-enriched area. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the Se concentrations and the mRNA expression levels of GPx-1, GPx-2, GPx-3, and GPx-4 in goats from Ziyang County (ZY-H and ZY-L goats) and Baoji City (BJ-P goats), which were Se-rich region and Se-poor region in China, respectively. Atomic fluorescence spectrometry was used as an essential method to determine the Se concentrations in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, longissimus, biceps femoris, and serum, and the gene expressions were quantified in mRNA samples extracted from the above tissues by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We found that the Se concentrations in ZY-H and ZY-L goats were higher than that in BJ-P goats significantly (P < 0.05), and the pertinence relations of Se levels between serum and heart, liver, spleen, and kidney were significant (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of GPx-1 in ZY-H and ZY-L goats were higher than that in BJ-P goats very significantly (P < 0.01) except for longissimus (P < 0.05). Our results indicated a significant trend for GPx-2 in the direction of increasing mRNA levels with increasing Se concentrations in goats but had no statistical significance (P > 0.05) in our experimental conditions. As to GPx-3, its mRNA expression in spleen, lung, and kidney (P < 0.05) were upregulated and were consensual to high Se contents in ZY-H goats, but no significant effects were observed in heart, liver, longissimus, and biceps femoris among our three groups (P > 0.05). The mRNA levels of GPx-4 in heart, liver, lung, and kidney of ZY-H and ZY-L goats were higher than that of BJ-P goats (P < 0.05), and the difference was very significant in lung especially (P < 0.01), but no change in spleen, longissimus, and biceps femoris (P > 0.05). In summary, these data suggested that the goats living in Ziyang County were rich in Se, and the deposition Se played important roles in the mRNA expression of GPx-1, GPx-3, and GPx-4 in certain tissues of goats differentially.