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In view of the influence of feed and water intake, housing and environment and the social setting on postweaning piglet performance, the interaction among these is assessed. Liquid feeding for weaners is proposed to enhance feed intake during the period immediately following weaning and to help maintain the continuity of nutrient supply. A process of fermentation to promote the acceptability and beneficial effects of liquid feeds is discussed.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common forms of cancer. Its onset from chronic inflammation is widely accepted. Moreover, dysbiosis plays an undeniable role, thus the use of probiotics in CRC has been suggested. They exhibit both anti- and pro-inflammatory properties and restore balance in the microbiota. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of six lactobacilli with probiotic features in an in vitro model of macrophage-like cells and to test these pooled probiotics for their anti-tumour properties in a chemically induced CRC model using Wistar male rats. Upon co-culture of M1- and M2-like macrophages with lactobacilli, cytokine release (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18, IL-23) and phagocytic activity using fluorescent-labelled bacteria were tested. The effects of orally administered probiotics on basic cancer and immune parameters and cytokine concentration (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18) in colon tumours were studied. Tested lactobacilli exhibited both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties in in vitro conditions. In vivo study showed that the administration of probiotics was able to decrease multiplicity, volume and total tumour numbers, restore colon length (p < 0.05) and increase IL-18 production (p < 0.05) in tumour tissue. These data indicate both an immunomodulatory effect of probiotics on distinct macrophage subsets and a protective effect against chemically-induced CRC.

Manumycin A is a natural antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces parvulus with broad range of biological activities including antineoplastic activity in several in vitro and in vivo cancer models. Immodin [dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE)] is a dialysate released from disintegrated blood leukocytes of healthy donors which exerts immunonormalizing effects on cell-mediated immune responses. The aim of the present study was to explore the antitumor potential of the combination of manumycin A and Immodin in an experimental breast cancer model. Experiments were carried using a 4T1 tumor-bearing BALB/c mouse model. Survival analysis, tumor growth, hematological and biochemical profiles, leukocyte differential, phagocytic activity of leukocytes and histology of the primary tumor were examined. The combination treatment suppressed the tumor growth and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice, decreased the number of monocytes, plateletes and plateletcrit in peripheral blood of the tumor-bearing mice and increased the infiltration of neutrophils and eosinophils in the primary tumor. Moreover, individual therapies enhanced the phagocytic activity of monocytes and neutrophils. These findings demonstrate the antitumor effect of the combination of manumycin A and Immodin in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice associated with strong antiplatelet activity and innate immunity activation.

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