Digital Commons Network^™

Metagenomic Study Of The Mesa: Detection Of Gemella Morbillorum And Association With Coronary Heart Disease, Kent D Taylor, Alexis C Wood, Jerome I Rotter, Xiuqing Guo, David M Herrington, W Craig Johnson, Wendy S Post, Russell P Tracy, Stephen S Rich, Shaista Malik

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a feature of coronary heart disease (CHD), but the role of proinflammatory microbial infection in CHD remains understudied.

METHODS AND RESULTS: CHD was defined in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) as myocardial infarction (251 participants), resuscitated arrest (2 participants), and CHD death (80 participants). We analyzed sequencing reads from 4421 MESA participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program using the PathSeq workflow of the Genome Analysis Tool Kit and a 65-gigabase microbial reference. Paired reads aligning to 840 microbes were detected in >1% of participants. The association of the …

Perineuronal Nets’ Role In Metabolism, Nan Zhang, Beite Song, Peng Bai, Li Du, Lulu Chen, Yong Xu, Tianshu Zeng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Perineuronal nets (PNNs), specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) structures that envelop neurons, have recently been recognized as key players in the regulation of metabolism. This review explores the growing body of knowledge concerning PNNs and their role in metabolic control, drawing insights from recent research and relevant studies. The pivotal role of PNNs in the context of energy balance and whole body blood glucose is examined. This review also highlights novel findings, including the effects of astroglia, microglia, sex and gonadal hormones, nutritional regulation, circadian rhythms, and age on PNNs dynamics. These findings illuminate the complex and multifaceted role of PNNs …

Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Responses To Ice Storm Damage In Mesic, Mixed Deciduous Forests In Southeast Ohio, United States, Christopher J. Hayes, Richard M. Turcotte

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In the eastern United States abiotic forest disturbances are common and cause extensive tree damage. Freshly broken trees and tree branches attract bark and ambrosia beetles that utilize inner bark and xylem of damaged branches and trees to fill requisite habitat needs. An ice storm in February 2003 on the Wayne National Forest presented an opportunity to study the local ambrosia beetle species and their reaction to this storm event. Ethanol baited Lindgren traps were deployed from 2003-2006 starting in the summer after the storm. Eight native and introduced Scolytinae ambrosia beetle species were trapped in large numbers (>500 …

Phenology And Host Choice Among Common Yet Little Understood Wood Borers (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) In A Midwestern Savanna, Noah I. Finney, Derek W. Rosenberger

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Horned powder-post beetles (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) are a geographically widespread family of wood-boring beetles. While members of this family represent important grain pests, are often intercepted in ports, and may play an important role in ecosystem processes, little work has investigated bostrichid life history in their native ranges. This gap limits our ability to assess ecosystem services and invasiveness. Three native species, Amphicerus bicaudatus (Say), Scobicia bidentata (Horn), and Xylobiops basilaris (Say), are commonly found in savannas in Northern Illinois. Although little is currently known about the life history of S. bidentata, A. bicaudatus and X. basilaris can be minor pests …

Blend Feeding Broilers To Daily Nutrient Requirements, J.T. Pope

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Broiler producers and nutritionists have used phase feeding as a practical means to define broiler feeding programs. Each feed phase has discreet nutrient definitions intended to be fed for a defined number of days based on a feed mass delivered per broiler. A typical broiler feeding program would consist of three to five feed phases over the production cycle that intend to address the changing nutrient requirements as broilers age. Phase feeding programs are easily defined, practical to manage, and provide a predictable cost structure for broiler producers. Despite the practicality of phase feeding, there are inherent flaws that will …

Current Trends And Experiences From A Contract Research Organization Perspective, Dan Moore

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

The primary goal of this presentation is to provide an update on the trends of research observed at a contract research organization (CRO) in recent years as it relates to species, study design type and products tested, as well as, challenge models used and products that have shown benefits in various study designs. The information in the presentation is based off of studies conducted from 2014-2024 at one CRO, Colorado Quality Research (CQR), and represents the experiences at CQR. Many of the parameters discussed will be from 2014-2019 and 2020-2024 to observe trends from over 5 years ago and more …

Importance Of A Rooster Feed In Broiler Breeder Production, Alex Corzo, Marcelo Silva

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Of all feed phases in poultry production, rooster feeding is arguably the least studied. During the rear phase, there is general agreement that male and female broiler breeders can be provided a common feed program, only differing on feed amounts provided, that results in growth targets reached for each sex. It is during the production phase that there is some disagreement on the best way to support the nutritional needs of the adult rooster. A considerable segment of the world does employ a rooster feed as a way to better support the nutritional needs of working males. Other poultry operations …

Vitamin Update And Sustainability, Edgar Orlando Oviedo-Rondón

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

This presentation addressed the status of research on vitamin nutrition in poultry species and current recommended levels. The economic, environmental, and socio-political aspects of sustainability are addressed. Most of the information presented is described in detail in the book Optimum Vitamin Nutrition for More Sustainable Poultry Farming (Oviedo-Rondon et al., 2023). However, this presentation also used more recent publications and news of the latest events related to scientific recommendations and the worldwide vitamin market. The objective is to provide a brief overview of scientific findings to aid nutritionists in the decision-making process when selecting optimum levels for poultry nutrition. …

Every Day Feeding Of Broiler Breeder Pullets, David Brandt

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Broiler breeders are characterized by their fast growth and sensitivity to light stimuli. Unlike commercial layers, they have a lower egg production rate and are kept on the floor during rearing and laying periods. Fertile eggs are the primary objective, necessitating careful management of their egg-laying properties, while controlling their body weights. Unrestricted feeding leads to early laying with poor peak and persistency in egg production. Therefore, nutrient intake must be restricted to achieve target body weights at light stimulation (22 weeks). This involves both quantitative and qualitative feed restrictions. Quantitative feed restriction can lead to issues such as poor …

Integration Of Commercial Broiler Data Into A Broiler Growth Model, David Brandt

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

This study explores the alignment of theoretical broiler growth models with practical farm conditions, emphasizing the value of integrating commercial data into simulation models. The EFG Broiler Growth Model, developed by Emmens, Fisher and Gous, is highlighted for its mechanistic approach, predicting growth based on feed intake. While empirical models are useful, they are limited by changes in genetics. Both mechanistic and empirical models struggle to predict how broilers will respond to feed under the challenging conditions typically experienced in commercial operations. The study also discusses the development of empirical models to determine broiler responses to balanced protein and energy, …

Monitoring Of Cadmium And Lead Accumulation In Soil-Forage-Animal Continuum In Pasture Land Irrigated With Ground Water In Bhalwal, Punjab, Pakistan, Zafar Iqbal, Kausar Parveen, Kafeel Ahmad, Tasneem Ahmad, Naila Riaz, Abrar Hussain, Asma Ashfaq, Faiza Zubair, Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Abid Ejaz, Hafsa Memona, Shahzadi Mahpara, Allah Bakhsh Gulshan, Tayyaba Aziz, Tayyba Liaqat, Mumtaz Akhtar, Muhammad Umer Farooq Awan, Farzana Siddique, Abdllah Saleh Alsubail, Rand Suleiman Alhuthayli

Journal of Bioresource Management

Recent study was directed to check the accumulation of Cd and Pb in pasture land treated with ground water. In particular the transfer of cadmium and lead from soil to forages and in turn to animal (buffaloes) was conducted in Bhalwal, Punjab, Pakistan which comes under sub-tropical environmental conditions. The Cd and Pb concentration in selected samples was explored by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA-6300 Shimadzu Japan). The results depicted the concentration of cadmium in water, soil, forages, milk and hair of buffaloes was in the range of 0. 00320 – 0.00866 mgL^-1, 1.9500 to 5.3000 mg/kg, 0.300 to …

High Fat, High Sucrose Diet Promotes Increased Expression Of Ace2 Receptor In The Siv-Infected Host: Implications For Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Elizabeth C. Delery, Danielle E. Levitt, Angela M. Amedee, Patricia E. Molina, Liz Simon

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction: People with pre-existing conditions, including metabolic comorbidities, are at greater risk for complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection and expression of machinery required for viral entry into host cells may be a contributing factor. This study tested the hypothesis that high fat, high sucrose diet (HFSD) and alcohol use increase expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) in tissues isolated from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infected macaques, the most clinically relevant model for the study of HIV. Methods: Biospecimens obtained from a longitudinal study of SIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) …

Foliar Application Of Vermitea On Wheat Against Salt Stress Under Hydroponic Condition, Basir Ahmed, Anser Ali, Muhammad Sarwar, Wajad Nazeer, Imdad Ullah

Journal of Bioresource Management

Salinity is one of the major issues that drastically reduce wheat production. In a hydroponic investigation, vermitea was employed to evaluate the impact of salinity on wheat. The vermitea is a by-product of the vermicomposting process that has both macro- and micronutrients. When these plants reached full maturity, they were harvested. The evaluation was based on their morphological characteristics, such as root/shoot dry weight, root/shoot ratio, plant height, root/shoot length, number of spikelets per spikelet, spike length, number of grains per spikelet, and biological yield per plant. The leaves relative water contents and other biochemical parameters including K+, Na+, chlorophyll …

Histopathology Of Heart And Spleen As A Result Of Chromium Exposure In Mice, Syeda Nadia Ahmad, Sana Akram, Iram Inayat, Muhammad Ali Kanwal, Sadia Suleman, Khawaja Raees Ahmad

Journal of Bioresource Management

Potassium dichromate (K₂CR₂O₇) contains hexavalent chromium that was tested for cardiac and splenic histopathology and micro anatomical and morphometric analysis at sub-toxic chronic exposure in drinking water in mice at 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm concentration. Its duration of exposure was 30 days. The forty animals were divided into 4 groups as Group I was designated as Control (Ctl) received free normal drinking water, other groups (Group II-IV) were Cr (VI)50 ppm, Cr(VI)100 ppm, Cr(VI)200 ppm received 50, 100 and 200 ppm chromium in drinking water respectively. The animals were sacrificed after …

Hormone Replacement Therapy And Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer In Postmenopausal Women: Evidence From The Us National Inpatient Sample 2008–2018, Lei Liu, Xinyu Wang, Dekai Guo, Ruirui Ma, Haibing Gong, Congjun Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a serious, usually fatal disease and one of the most aggressive malignancies. Research into whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might protect against pancreatic cancer has yielded mixed results. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between HRT and the risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women.

METHODS: This population-based, retrospective study extracted data from the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2008-2018. Hospitalized females aged ≥55 years were eligible for inclusion. Associations between HRT, other study variables, and pancreatic cancer diagnosis were determined using univariate and multivariable regression analyses.

RESULTS: After 1:4 matching by age, data …

Artificial Fruit Ripening Agents And Their Impact On Health Of The University Students In Lahore, Muhammad Ahsan, Faraz Ahmad, Faiza Usman, Shamaila Habib, Imran Shahid, Sohail Abbas, Sajida Munir

Journal of Bioresource Management

To evaluate the impact of chemicals used in artificial fruit ripening and to create an approach for raising public awareness of the risks associated with artificial fruit ripening. It was a cross-sectional and observational study, in which data was gathered from 900 university students by convenient sampling technique in Lahore. The duration of research was from May 2021 to Dec 2021. The adverse reactions caused due to different fruits were recorded on a questionnaire. Candidates included in this research were, aged between 18 years to 28 years and healthy, whereas unhealthy were excluded. Out of 900 participants, 247 (27.4 %) …

Impact Of Bypass Fat Supplementation On Milk Production And Weight Gain In Nili Ravi Buffaloes Under Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Geo-Climatic Conditions, Shahzeb Khan, Arsalan Khan, Asad Ullah, Abid Ullah, Amjad Ali, Safi Ullah, Imran Khan, Muhammad Yasir, Israr Ud Din, Atta Ur Rehman, Muhammad Rizwan, Jahangir Ali

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study was conducted to examine the effect of bypass fat supplementation on milk production, composition, and body weight gain in Nili Ravi Buffaloes living in the unique geo-climatic conditions of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Twenty lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes were randomly assigned to control and bypass fat supplementation groups in randomized, controlled experiment. Over the course of three months, data were collected on milk yield, milk composition, and body weight while environmental factors were considered. The bypass fat group gained significantly more weight on average than the control (p0.05). Bypass fat supplementation can substantially increase milk production, milk fat content, …

Impacts Of Cruciferous Extracts On The Parasitism Efficiency Of Diadegma Insulare; A Hymenopterous Parasitoid Of The Diamondback Moth, Muhammad Sajid Qureshi, Wali Muhammad, Muhammad Adnan Bodlah, Abdul Mannan Hamzah, Muhammad Saeed, Riaz Hussain

Journal of Bioresource Management

Herbivore's attack stimulates chemical production in the plants; that communicates with natural enemies (chemical communication) and urges them for help (i.e. cry-for-help phenomenon). Such chemicals play an important role to attract the parasitoids and increase the chances of host pests' encounter. Current studies were performed to observe the extracts' efficacy in order to attract the parasitoid (i.e. Diadegma insulare) and thereby increase the likelihood of encounter with the host pest (i.e. Plutella xylostella). Cruciferous cultivars' extracts were developed and applied with artificial release of parasitoids under semi-field conditions. Findings revealed that extracts had the potential to enhance the …

A Review On Potential For Organic Farming In Pakistan, Amir Raza, Shahzada Asif Ali, Haroon Shahzad

Journal of Bioresource Management

Intensive use of agrochemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) has enhanced crop productivity in Pakistan. This rise in productivity has been achieved at the cost of degradation of natural resources (land and water), and environmental pollution. The current situation demands a gradual transformation towards eco-friendly farming practices like organic farming to ensure the sustainability of the agriculture sector. This article presents our viewpoint on the potential benefits of organic farming, its role in mitigating the impact of climate change and the potential for adoption and promotion of organic farming in Pakistan. Organic farming seems to offer promising opportunities on account of its …

Maximizing Growth And Yield Of Black Seed (Nigella Sativa L) Through Optimized Phosphorus And Boron Levels, Abdul Qudoos Khan, Abdul Qadeer Khan, Hanif Ullah, Navid Iqbal, Muhammad Junaid, Imad Murad, Faridullah Mamozai, Romaisa Amin, Waleed Iqbal, Uzair Ahmed

Journal of Bioresource Management

Improper nutrient management cause yield reduction in black seed yield and quality. Therefore, a field trial was executed in the growing season 2022-23 at The University of Agriculture Peshawar to inspect the effects of different phosphorus (P) and boron (B) levels on black seed (Nigella sativa L.). The experiment used a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement, replicated thrice. The study examined four P levels (0, 15, 30, and 45 kg/ha) and four B levels (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg/L) on various growth and yield parameters of black seed. Plots treated with 45 kg/ha of P …

A Comprehensive Study On One Health Strategy And Public Health Effects Of Salmonella, Muhammad Aqeel, Amjad Hussain Mirani, Parvez Ahmed Khoso, Jam Kashif Sahito, Riaz Ahmed Leghari, Abdul Latif Bhutto, Muhammad Mohsen Rahimoon, Abdul Azeem Khoso, Rasool Bux, Azmat Aliasn Arsalan Ali

Journal of Bioresource Management

Salmonella poses a significant public health challenge due to its antibiotic resistance, zoonotic transmission, and diverse clinical manifestations. Over 60 % of human diseases are zoonotic, influenced by ecological dynamics and human activities such as land use changes, population growth, and international travel. Foodborne diseases, particularly those caused by Salmonella spp., have a substantial global impact, especially in low-income countries. Salmonella is divided into two species, Salmonella enterica and Salmonella bongori, with more than 2000 serotypes and six subspecies within S. enterica. This bacterium is highly adaptable, surviving extreme conditions such as drying, high salt concentrations, and acidic …

Effect Of Curcuma Longa On Growth And Lipid Profile Of Broiler Chickens Across Seasons, Sehrish -, Roheela Yasmeen

Journal of Bioresource Management

The poultry sector plays a critical role in driving economic growth and meeting the protein needs of the population. Recently, natural additives like turmeric (Curcuma longa) have attracted attention for their antimicrobial properties and their potential to reduce the reliance on antibiotics in poultry feed. This study evaluated the effects of turmeric supplementation at varying concentrations on broiler chickens during winter and summer seasons. Over a 42-day period, 40 broilers were divided into four groups: Control, Experimental Group 1 (1% turmeric), Experimental Group 2 (1.5% turmeric), and Experimental Group 3 (2% turmeric). Vaccination against Newcastle Disease (ND) and …

Phenotypic Correlation, Path Analysis, And Quantitative Trait-Based Selection Of Elite Wheat Genotypes Under Heat Stress Conditions In The Terai Region Of Nepal, Radhakrishna Bhandari, Binod Panthi, Shivalal Nyaupane, Sandesh Shrestha, Prabin Sharma, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Sansar Sahani, Mukti Ram Poudel

Makara Journal of Science

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, but the production and productivity of wheat is affected by heat stress. A field experiment using an alpha lattice design with seven blocks was conducted on 35 elite wheat genotypes in the Terai region of Nepal to identify the most appropriate trait resulting in a high-yielding wheat genotype with high tolerance to heat stress. Correlation analysis revealed that booting-to-heading duration (BtoH), booting-to-anthesis duration (BtoA), plant height (Ph), spike length (SL), spike weight (SW), thousand grain weight (TGW), straw yield (SY), and total biomass yield (TY) had a significant positive correlation …

Antibacterial Activities And Chemical Composition Of Essential Oils From Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis), Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon Citratus), And Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Peels, Olumide Omoboye, Toyosi Sotola, Olaoye Balogun, Ololade Bamigbade, Olusola Oluwole, Adebowale Odeyemi, Anthonia Oluduro

Makara Journal of Science

This study investigated the chemical composition and antibacterial activities of lime Citrus aurantifolia (Cc) and lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus (Ca) essential oils (EOs). Standard methods were used to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine their composition. Each EO and their combination showed promising results in treating test bacterial infections. Cc EO showed the largest inhibition zone diameter (43 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens, and Ca EO showed the largest (30 mm) and smallest (12 mm) inhibition zone diameters against Bacillus stearothermophilus and S. marcescens …

It’S A Question At The ‘Root’ Of The Problem: Fungal Associations Of Dionaea Muscipula (Venus’ Flytrap) Roots In Its Native Habitat, Anna A. Carnaggio, Michelle M. Barthet

Biology

Carnivorous plants survive in harsh habitats with limited nutrients and a low pH. Much focus has been placed on carnivorous trap evolution as the primary mechanism to increase nutrient acquisition through insect digestion. Soil microbiome, however, may also play a pertinent role in nutrient acquisition influencing plant vigor and overall success. Dionaea muscipula, commonly known as the Venus’ flytrap, is endemic to rims of the Carolina Bays located in southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina, where D. muscipula survives in nutrient poor soils with a vestigial root system. We utilized a combination of microscopy, plating, and metagenomics, to investigate …

The Effects Of High-Intensity Functional Training On The Perceptions Of Exercise In Middle-Aged Females: A Pilot Study, Halle N. Brin, Baylie G. Sigmund, Nathan D. Dicks, Kathryn J. Deshaw, Tanis J. Walch, Michael J. Carper, Allison M. Barry

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1392-1405, 2024. The high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity in the U.S. is a public health crisis. This study aims to examine the effects of high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on exercise perceptions and physiological changes in inactive females. A pre-test and post-test, quasi-experimental design was conducted with inactive, middle-aged females (n = 8) participating in an 8-week supervised and verified intervention (2-week High-Intensity Interval Training, 6-weeks HIFT). The Health Belief Model Scale for Exercise (HBMS-E) survey was completed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up to assess exercise perceptions. Pre- and post-intervention physiological assessments …

Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, And Pharmacological Analysis Of Date Palm Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channel (Cngc) Gene Family In Response To Fungi, Mumtaz Ali̇ Saand, Marina Memon, Ameer Ahmed Mi̇rbahar, Qurban Ali̇ Magsi, Athar Abbas Babar, Sahib Abbas Ghanghro

Turkish Journal of Botany

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel (CNGC) is one of the important calcium conducting channels and involves in numerous biological functions such as plant development, phytohormone responses, plant-pathogen interactions. Nevertheless, identification of CNGC gene family has yet not been carried out in date palm crop. In this study, genome-wide identification, and pharmacological analysis of date CNGCs was conducted against fungal pathogens. The 26 PdCNGC genes were identified by using extensive bioinformatics tools. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that signal transduction, transmembrane transport and ion binding proteins were at the top in biological process and molecular functions of PdCNGCs. Protein-protein interaction of PdCNGCs …

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Induction Of Triticale Protective Systems Under Drought, Salt Stress Or A Combination Of The Two, Yuriy Kolupaev, Ivan V. Shakhov, Alexander I. Kokorev, Liana I. Relina, Alla I. Dyachenko, Alexander P. Dmitriev

Turkish Journal of Botany

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is currently considered to be an important stress metabolite with regulatory functions in plants. Exogenous GABA is known to be able to enhance the tolerance of different plant species to drought and salt stress. However, its effects on the functioning of stress-protective systems in triticale, an intergeneric wheat-rye hybrid with specific adaptation strategies to abiotic stresses, remained completely unstudied. We studied the effects of exogenous GABA (0.5 mM) on the growth as well as on the antioxidant and osmoprotective systems of triticale seedlings (cv. 'Rarytet') under simulated drought (15% PEG 6000), salt stress (100 mM NaCl), or …

A New Species Of Nigrospora (Apiosporaceae) In Corylus Heterophylla In China, Jing Wang, Zhong-Xuan Liu, Wei Yu, Chao Kang, Yi Hua Yang

Turkish Journal of Botany

Corylus heterophylla, the majestic hazelnut tree, stands as one of the esteemed quartet of grand nuts reigning across the landscapes of temperate Asia, Europe, and North America. But its relationship with endophytic fungi remains thinly explored. This study successfully identified a new species designated as Nigrospora coryli through conjoint analysis of morphology and systematics. The genetic regions examined encompassed ITS, TUB2, and TEF1-α.The detailed morphological description, colour photographs of Macro- and microcharacters are presented.

Transient Elastography And Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging For Assessment Of Liver Fibrosis In Children With Chronic Hepatitis C, Mohamed A El-Guindi, Alif A Allam, Ahmed A Abdel-Razek, Gihan A Sobhy, Menan E Salem, Mohamed A Abd-Allah, Mostafa M Sira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a health burden with consequent morbidity and mortality. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for evaluating fibrosis and assessing disease severity and prognostic purposes post-treatment. Noninvasive alternatives for liver biopsy such as transient elastography (TE) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) are critical needs.

AIM: To evaluate TE and DW-MRI as noninvasive tools for predicting liver fibrosis in children with CHC.

METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study initially recruited 100 children with CHC virus infection. Sixty-four children completed the full set of investigations including liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using TE and measurement of apparent diffusion …