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Background and aims Predicting the treatment outcomes of biological therapies is an unmet need in Crohn's Disease. In this study, we explored the potential of serum neutrophil‐related biomarkers to predict infliximab therapeutic results and disease progression in Crohn's Disease patients, over a 2‐year period, in a real‐world setting. Methods The study included 100 asymptomatic Crohn's Disease patients in the IFX maintenance phase from the prospective, observational, multicenter DIRECT study. Patients were categorized according to a composite outcome reflecting progression that included surgery, hospitalizations, new fistulae, abscess or stricture, and drug treatment escalation. Serum neutrophil elastase, lipocalin‐2, lactoferrin, and resistin (non‐neutrophil control) were analyzed via multiplex magnetic bead assays at multiple touchpoints. Fecal calprotectin was assessed by ELISA. Results Over up to 2 years of follow‐up, serum biomarkers did not differentiate between the composite outcome groups, whereas fecal calprotectin was significantly higher in patients with worse outcomes. During the infliximab maintenance phase, there was a significant, sustained reduction of neutrophil elastase (p < 0.001), lipocalin‐2 (p < 0.001), and lactoferrin (p < 0.001), but not of resistin, despite stable neutrophil levels. Correlations between NE and NGAL levels were strong (Pearson correlations 0.75–0.85); all other correlations were of small magnitude. Conclusion Our real‐world data do not support using serum neutrophil elastase, lipocalin‐2, or lactoferrin concentrations as predictors of treatment outcomes or disease evolution in infliximab ‐treated Crohn's Disease patients. On the other hand, the sustained decrease in biomarkers over time suggests that neutrophil stabilization might be an additional infliximab mechanism of action.

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal combination of regrowth age and residue height of BRS Capiaçu elephant grass that yields the best balance between the dry mass production (DMP) of the harvested forage and silage quality. Four regrowth ages (75, 90, 105, and 120 days) and two residue heights (10 and 50 cm) were evaluated. The experimental design used a randomized complete block design with a 4 × 2 factorial scheme and 3 replicates. The regrowth age led to a linear increase in DMP. As regrowth age advanced, there were linear increases in the dry matter (DM) concentration, cell wall constituents, and fraction C (acid detergent insoluble nitrogen) of crude protein and reductions in the in vitro digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber (IVNDFD) in both the plant and its silage. Lower pH values were observed in silage made from plants harvested at 10 cm. No significant effects of the studied factors were found on the concentrations of organic acids in the silage, except for propionic acid. Management using a 105-day regrowth period and a 10-cm residue height resulted in a better balance between the dry mass production, fermentative profile and nutritional value of silage.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria inoculation on the fermentation profile and nutritional value of BRS Capiaçu elephant grass silages harvested at two regrowth ages. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five inoculants (I) and two regrowth ages (A, 90 and 105 days), in a completely randomized design, with three replicates. There were I × A interactions (p < 0.05) on pH, acetic acid, and water-soluble carbohydrates. The silage treated with Kera-Sil showed a lower pH compared with the control silage. The highest ammonia nitrogen content was recorded in the silage treated with Yakult®. There were I × A interactions (p < 0.05) on the dry matter (DM) content, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDMD) and NDF (IVNDFD). Silages treated with Kera-Sil and Silo-Max at 90 days of regrowth showed a higher DM and higher IVDMD (p < 0.05). A higher NDF content and lower IVDMD and IVNDFD were recorded in silages produced with grass harvested at 105 days of regrowth (p < 0.05). The use of commercial microbial inoculants improved the fermentative and nutritional parameters of the silages.

Abstract The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cultivar Mombasa) silage harvested in the summer (February) and winter (August) of 2017, at 60 and 122 days of regrowth, respectively. The grass was chopped into 1.5 cm particle size and ensiled in bags measuring 25.4 × 35.56 cm. The bags were stored at room temperature and triplicate bags were opened after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days of fermentation. The 16s rRNA gene sequences were obtained by pre-selecting cells grown in 5 mL MRS broth at 37 ºC for 18 h. The 16S rRNA sequences that showed similarity equal to or greater than 97% were considered of the same Operational Taxonomic Unit. A total of 366 strains (170 in the summer and 196 in the winter) belonging to 21 different LAB species were isolated. The following species were identified: Enterococcus canintestini (1.27%), E. faecium (0.55%), E. gallinarum (2.19%), E. saccharolyticus (0.27%), Lactobacillus brevis (7.92%), L. buchneri (0.27%), L. coryniformis (0.27%), L. curieae (0.27%), L. hordei (0.55%), L. mali (3.28%), L. pantheris (4.10%), L. paracasei (10.38%), L. plantarum (24.04%), Lactococcus garvieae (0.55%), L. lactis (5.19%), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (6.01%), Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (1.37%), Pediococcus pentosaceus (26.23%), Weissella confusa (1.09%), W. oryzae (0.27%), and W. paramesenteroides (3.83%). Of these, only Lactobacillus brevis, L. plantarum,and Lactococcus lactis were common to both grass growing seasons. At 56 days of fermentation, Pediococcus pentosaceus (60%) and Lactobacillus pantheris (32%) were the predominant LAB species in summer and winter, respectively. On the last day of fermentation, P. pentosaceus (100%) and L. paracasei (28%) were the dominant species in the respective seasons. Greater heterogeneity of species was observed in the winter period.

The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cultivar Mombasa) silage harvested in the summer (February) and winter (August) of 2017, at 60 and 122 days of regrowth, respectively. The grass was chopped into 1.5 cm particle size and ensiled in bags measuring 25.4 × 35.56 cm. The bags were stored at room temperature and triplicate bags were opened after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days of fermentation. The 16s rRNA gene sequences were obtained by pre-selecting cells grown in 5 mL MRS broth at 37 °C for 18 h. The 16S rRNA sequences that showed similarity equal to or greater than 97% were considered of the same Operational Taxonomic Unit. A total of 366 strains (170 in the summer and 196 in the winter) belonging to 21 different LAB species were isolated. The following species were identified: Enterococcus canintestini (1.27%), E. faecium (0.55%), E. gallinarum (2.19%), E. saccharolyticus (0.27%), Lactobacillus brevis (7.92%), L. buchneri (0.27%), L. coryniformis (0.27%), L. curieae (0.27%), L. hordei (0.55%), L. mali (3.28%), L. pantheris (4.10%), L. paracasei (10.38%), L. plantarum (24.04%), Lactococcus garvieae (0.55%), L. lactis (5.19%), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (6.01%), Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (1.37%), Pediococcus pentosaceus (26.23%), Weissella confusa (1.09%), W. oryzae (0.27%), and W. paramesenteroides (3.83%). Of these, only Lactobacillus brevis, L. plantarum,and Lactococcus lactis were common to both grass growing seasons. At 56 days of fermentation, Pediococcus pentosaceus (60%) and Lactobacillus pantheris (32%) were the predominant LAB species in summer and winter, respectively. On the last day of fermentation, P. pentosaceus (100%) and L. paracasei (28%) were the dominant species in the respective seasons. Greater heterogeneity of species was observed in the winter period.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microbial inoculant (MI) containing Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) on silage fermentation and aerobic stability (AS) of sorghum silages. The whole plant was chopped into 2 cm particle size and ensiled in plastic buckets (mini-silos) 25 cm diameter and 25 cm height, sealed with tight lids. Five mini-silos replicates were prepared. The mini-silos were stored at room temperature in a closed barn and opened after 90 days of storage. The inoculants evaluated were (1) control (without inoculant), (2) the novel LB strain 50.1; (3) the novel LB strain 50.4; and 4) commercial inoculant “LALSIL AS” (CI; L. buchneri CNCM I-4323, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Brazil). The strains used were isolated from sorghum silages. An inoculant application rate of 1.0 × 106 cfu/g of fresh forage was used for all treatments. After mini-silo opening, silage samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), pH, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP) and microbial population and samples of approximately 2 kg were removed from each mini-silo and returns to the buckets to assess the AS. Also, we calculated the silage DM recovery (DMR). Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design using the PROC MIXED procedures of SAS and the means were separated by Tukey’s test. The pH, and the concentrations of WSC and CP were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments (Table 1). The treatment with LB affected the LAB population, DMR and AS of sorghum silages (Table 1). The addition of LB to sorghum silages is recommended because it reduces the population of yeasts and, consequently, increases the aerobic stability. Then, the strains 50.1 and 50.4 may be considered as promising strains for use as microbial inoculant in sorghum silages.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microbial inoculant (MI) containing Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) on silage fermentation and aerobic stability (AS) of sorghum silages. The whole plant was chopped into 2 cm particle size and ensiled in plastic buckets (mini-silos) 25 cm diameter and 25 cm height, sealed with tight lids. Five mini-silos replicates were prepared. The mini-silos were stored at room temperature in a closed barn and opened after 90 days of storage. The inoculants evaluated were (1) control (without inoculant), (2) the novel LB strain 50.1; (3) the novel LB strain 50.4; and 4) commercial inoculant \"LALSIL AS\" (CI; L. buchneri CNCM I-4323, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Brazil). The strains used were isolated from sorghum silages. An inoculant application rate of 1.0 x 106 cfu/g of fresh forage was used for all treatments. After mini-silo opening, silage samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), pH, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP) and microbial population and samples of approximately 2 kg were removed from each mini-silo and returns to the buckets to assess the AS. Also, we calculated the silage DM recovery (DMR). Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design using the PROC MIXED procedures of SAS and the means were separated by Tukey's test. The pH, and the concentrations of WSC and CP were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments (Table 1). The treatment with LB affected the LAB population, DMR and AS of sorghum silages (Table 1). The addition of LB to sorghum silages is recommended because it reduces the population of yeasts and, consequently, increases the aerobic stability. Then, the strains 50.1 and 50.4 may be considered as promising strains for use as microbial inoculant in sorghum silages.

The UEG Journal is committed to values, such as diversity and inclusion, and the composition of this group of Trainee Editors reflects just that. Anna Burelli and Zsa Zsa Weerts will help create striking visual abstracts that will enrich our social media platforms, Journal's Website and the understanding of the key points of UEG Journal's articles. [...]by (1) expanding the engagement of UEG ambassadors with social media platforms to reach a wider audience; (2) creating a podcast in line with the published content; (3) providing more visual content through visual abstracts.

An abstract of a study by Silva et al examining the effect of Lactobacillus buchneri isolated from tropical corn silage on fermentation and aerobic stability of sugarcane silage is presented. This study evaluated the L buchneri strains isolated from tropical whole-plant corn silage for use as a silage inoculant in sugarcane. Regarding the ethanol concentration, the silages inoculated with the strains 56.1, 56.4, and 40788 showed lower values than the silages inoculated with the strains 56.9 and 56.26, whereas the control silage showed intermediate values (P = 0.016). In addition, lower DM losses were observed for the isolated strains 56.1 and 56.4 and the commercial strain 40788 in comparison with the control silage (P < 0.001). However, there was no effect of the inoculation with the strains of L buchneri on the aerobic stability (P = 0.524). Even so, the strains 56.1 and 56.4 are promising for use as an inoculant in sugarcane silages.