Abstract
Byproducts are a good source of protein and energy in ruminant diets and replacing corn with distillers grains (DG) has led to improvements in cattle performance. Objectives of this study ...were to evaluate the contribution of nutrient components of DG on diet digestibility, digestible energy (DE), and in situ NDF disappearance in high forage diets fed to steers. An 84 d digestion study was conducted utilizing 6 ruminally fistulated steers (initial BW = 362 kg, SD = 27 kg) in a Latin square design dosed daily with 10 g of TiO2. Diets contained 56.0% diet DM brome and 40% concentrate. The control diet contained 40% diet DM dry-rolled corn (CON) while the DG diet contained 40% modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS). The remaining four diets replaced a portion of DRC and included byproducts selected to isolate the various nutrient components found in MDGS: corn bran included at 20% of diet DM to represent the fiber found in MDGS (FIB), corn gluten meal included at 20% of diet DM to represent the protein in MDGS (CGM), tallow included at 3% of diet DM to represent the fat in MDGS (TAL), and solubles (SOL) included at 15% of diet DM to represent the solubles found in MDGS. Six periods 14 d in length allowed 8 d for diet adaptation at ad libitum intake. Starting on d 9 steers were fed 95% ad libitum intake with fecal grab samples collected at 0700, 1100, 1500, and 1900 h on d 11 to d 14. Digestible energy was measured utilizing bomb calorimetry. Fiber (brome and corn bran) was ruminally incubated (24 h on d 14) to determine NDF disappearance. No differences in DM intake or OM intake were observed among diets (P ≥ 0.70). Neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI) was greatest for diets FIB or MDGS (P < 0.01). No differences in DM digestibility, OM digestibility, or NDF digestibility were observed (P ≥ 0.19). Replacement of DRC by MDGS and CGM resulted in the greatest DE (3.1 Mcal / g and 3.0 Mcal / g, respectively; P < 0.01) compared to all other diets. Lowest DE was observed in the CON and SOL diets (3.85 and 3.86 Mcal / g, respectively). Treatment had no effect on in situ NDF disappearance (P ≥ 0.12). Overall it was observed that protein is the component of MDGS that results in increased DE in high forage diets.
Byproducts are a good source of protein and energy in ruminant diets and replacing corn with distillers grains (DG) has led to improvements in cattle performance. Objectives of this study were to ...evaluate the contribution of nutrient components of DG on diet digestibility, digestible energy (DE), and in situ NDF disappearance in high forage diets fed to steers. An 84 d digestion study was conducted utilizing 6 ruminally fistulated steers (initial BW = 362 kg, SD = 27 kg) in a Latin square design dosed daily with 10 g of TiO2. Diets contained 56.0% diet DM brome and 40% concentrate. The control diet contained 40% diet DM dry-rolled corn (CON) while the DG diet contained 40% modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS). The remaining four diets replaced a portion of DRC and included byproducts selected to isolate the various nutrient components found in MDGS: corn bran included at 20% of diet DM to represent the fiber found in MDGS (FIB), corn gluten meal included at 20% of diet DM to represent the protein in MDGS (CGM), tallow included at 3% of diet DM to represent the fat in MDGS (TAL), and solubles (SOL) included at 15% of diet DM to represent the solubles found in MDGS. Six periods 14 d in length allowed 8 d for diet adaptation at ad libitum intake. Starting on d 9 steers were fed 95% ad libitum intake with fecal grab samples collected at 0700, 1100, 1500, and 1900 h on d 11 to d 14. Digestible energy was measured utilizing bomb calorimetry. Fiber (brome and corn bran) was ruminally incubated (24 h on d 14) to determine NDF disappearance. No differences in DM intake or OM intake were observed among diets (P ≥ 0.70). Neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI) was greatest for diets FIB or MDGS (P < 0.01). No differences in DM digestibility, OM digestibility, or NDF digestibility were observed (P ≥ 0.19). Replacement of DRC by MDGS and CGM resulted in the greatest DE (3.1 Mcal / g and 3.0 Mcal / g, respectively; P < 0.01) compared to all other diets. Lowest DE was observed in the CON and SOL diets (3.85 and 3.86 Mcal / g, respectively). Treatment had no effect on in situ NDF disappearance (P ≥ 0.12). Overall it was observed that protein is the component of MDGS that results in increased DE in high forage diets.
Summary Background Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is reported to be a life-saving intervention in low-income settings. The effect of breastfeeding counselling by peer counsellors was assessed in ...Africa. Methods 24 communities in Burkina Faso, 24 in Uganda, and 34 in South Africa were assigned in a 1:1 ratio, by use of a computer-generated randomisation sequence, to the control or intervention clusters. In the intervention group, we scheduled one antenatal breastfeeding peer counselling visit and four post-delivery visits by trained peers. The data gathering team were masked to the intervention allocation. The primary outcomes were prevalance of EBF and diarrhoea reported by mothers for infants aged 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Country-specific prevalence ratios were adjusted for cluster effects and sites. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00397150. Findings 2579 mother–infant pairs were assigned to the intervention or control clusters in Burkina Faso (n=392 and n=402, respectively), Uganda (n=396 and n=369, respectively), and South Africa (n=535 and 485, respectively). The EBF prevalences based on 24-h recall at 12 weeks in the intervention and control clusters were 310 (79%) of 392 and 139 (35%) of 402, respectively, in Burkina Faso (prevalence ratio 2·29, 95% CI 1·33–3·92); 323 (82%) of 396 and 161 (44%) of 369, respectively, in Uganda (1·89, 1·70–2·11); and 56 (10%) of 535 and 30 (6%) of 485, respectively, in South Africa (1·72, 1·12–2·63). The EBF prevalences based on 7-day recall in the intervention and control clusters were 300 (77%) and 94 (23%), respectively, in Burkina Faso (3·27, 2·13–5·03); 305 (77%) and 125 (34%), respectively, in Uganda (2·30, 2·00–2·65); and 41 (8%) and 19 (4%), respectively, in South Africa (1·98, 1·30–3·02). At 24 weeks, the prevalences based on 24-h recall were 286 (73%) in the intervention cluster and 88 (22%) in the control cluster in Burkina Faso (3·33, 1·74–6·38); 232 (59%) and 57 (15%), respectively, in Uganda (3·83, 2·97–4·95); and 12 (2%) and two (<1%), respectively, in South Africa (5·70, 1·33–24·26). The prevalences based on 7-day recall were 279 (71%) in the intervention cluster and 38 (9%) in the control cluster in Burkina Faso (7·53, 4·42–12·82); 203 (51%) and 41 (11%), respectively, in Uganda (4·66, 3·35–6·49); and ten (2%) and one (<1%), respectively, in South Africa (9·83, 1·40–69·14). Diarrhoea prevalence at age 12 weeks in the intervention and control clusters was 20 (5%) and 36 (9%), respectively, in Burkina Faso (0·57, 0·27–1·22); 39 (10%) and 32 (9%), respectively, in Uganda (1·13, 0·81–1·59); and 45 (8%) and 33 (7%), respectively, in South Africa (1·16, 0·78–1·75). The prevalence at age 24 weeks in the intervention and control clusters was 26 (7%) and 32 (8%), respectively, in Burkina Faso (0·83, 0·45–1·54); 52 (13%) and 59 (16%), respectively, in Uganda (0·82, 0·58–1·15); and 54 (10%) and 33 (7%), respectively, in South Africa (1·31, 0·89–1·93). Interpretation Low-intensity individual breastfeeding peer counselling is achievable and, although it does not affect the diarrhoea prevalence, can be used to effectively increase EBF prevalence in many sub-Saharan African settings. Funding European Union Sixth Framework International Cooperation–Developing Countries, Research Council of Norway, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education, South African National Research Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Foundation.
Two experiments evaluated the effects of corn residue harvest method on animal performance and diet digestibility. Experiment 1 was designed as a 2 ... 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments using ...60 individually fed crossbred steers (280 kg SD 32 initial BW; n = 12). Factors were the corn residue harvest method (high-stem and conventional) and supplemental RUP at 2 concentrations (0 and 3.3% diet DM). A third harvest method (low-stem) was also evaluated, but only in diets containing supplemental RUP at 3.3% diet DM because of limitations in the amount of available low-stem residue. Therefore, the 3 harvest methods were compared only in diets containing supplemental RUP. In Exp. 2, 9 crossbred wethers were blocked by BW (42.4 kg SD 7 initial BW) and randomly assigned to diets containing corn residue harvested 1 of 3 ways (low-stem, high-stem, and conventional). In Exp. 1, steers fed the lowstem residue diet had greater ADG compared with the steers fed conventionally harvested corn residue (P = 0.03; 0.78 vs. 0.63 kg), whereas steers fed highstem residue were intermediate (P > 0.17; 0.69 kg), not differing from either conventional or low-stem residues. Results from in vitro OM digestibility suggest that low-stem residue had the greatest (P < 0.01) amount of digestible OM compared with the other 2 residue harvest methods, which did not differ (P = 0.32; 55.0, 47.8, and 47.1% for low-stem, high-stem, and conventional residues, respectively). There were no differences in RUP content (40% of CP) and RUP digestibility (60%) among the 3 residues (P ≥ 0.35). No interactions were observed between harvest method and the addition of RUP (P ≥ 0.12). The addition of RUP tended to result in improved ADG (0.66 ± 0.07 vs. 0.58 ± 0.07 for supplemental RUP and no RUP, respectively; P = 0.08) and G:F (0.116 ± 0.006 vs. 0.095 ± 0.020 for supplemental RUP and no RUP, respectively; P = 0.02) compared with similar diets without the additional RUP. In Exp. 2, low-stem residue had greater DM and OM digestibility and DE (P < 0.01) than high-stem and conventional residues, which did not differ (P ≥ 0.63). Low-stem residue also had the greatest NDF digestibility (NDFD; P < 0.01), whereas high-stem residue had greater NDFD than conventional residue (P < 0.01). Digestible energy was greatest for low-stem residue (P < 0.05) and did not differ between high-stem and conventional residues (P = 0.50). Reducing the proportion of stem in the bale through changes in the harvest method increased the nutritive quality of corn residue.
Raloxifene hydrochloride (60 mg/day) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator indicated for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Raloxifene treatment for 3 years increases ...bone mineral density (BMD) and, unlike tamoxifen (a triphenylethylene selective estrogen receptor modulator), does not stimulate the endometrium in healthy postmenopausal women. The effect of longer duration of treatment with raloxifene is not known. Therefore, the main objectives of these analyses are (1) to compare the effect of 5 years of treatment with raloxifene (60 mg/day) with placebo in terms of the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and (2) to evaluate the effect of 5 years of raloxifene treatment on the endometrium and incidence of vaginal bleeding.
The current analyses include integrated data from two identically designed, prospective, double-blinded trials including postmenopausal women (mean age, 55 years) randomly assigned to either placebo (n = 143) or raloxifene (60 mg/day; n = 185). Osteoporosis and osteopenia were diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria, using the manufacturer's database for the lumbar spine and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's 1998 reference base for the hip. Endometrial thickness was determined using transvaginal ultrasonography. Clinical diagnoses of endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer were confirmed by blinded review of histopathology reports.
Compared with the case of placebo, raloxifene treatment for 5 years reduced bone turnover markers (osteocalcin: -10.9%, P < 0.001; bone-specific alkaline phosphatase: -7.2%, P = 0.042; urinary C-telopeptide: -11.1%, P = 0.034) and was associated with increased BMD in the lumbar spine (2.8%; P < 0.001) and total hip BMD (2.6%; P < 0.001). Women taking raloxifene were less likely to develop osteoporosis (relative risk RR for raloxifene v placebo: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.37; P = 0.001) or osteopenia (RR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.81; P = 0.038) at the lumbar spine and were more likely to convert to normal BMD status at the lumbar spine (RR: 4.01; 95% CI: 1.34, 11.23; P = 0.043) and total hip (RR: 3.92; 95% CI: 1.12,14.27; P = 0.011) at 5 years, compared with the case of placebo. Raloxifene also significantly reduced total cholesterol (-5.5%; P < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-8.7%; P < 0.001), compared with the case of placebo. No significant changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.257) or triglycerides (P = 0.620) were detected. Incidence of hot flashes was higher among women taking raloxifene compared with those taking placebo raloxifene, 47 (28.8%); placebo, 21 (16.8%); P = 0.017. Women taking placebo or raloxifene reported a similar incidence of vaginal bleeding (P = 0.999) or of mean endometrial thickness of more than 5 mm at baseline and at each visit, up to the 5-year endpoint (P >/= 0.349). No diagnoses of endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer were made in either treatment group.
Five years of raloxifene treatment in healthy postmenopausal women preserves BMD, significantly reduces the likelihood of development of osteoporosis, and was not associated with an increased rate of vaginal bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia, or endometrial carcinoma, compared with the case of placebo.
Purpose Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can significantly affect both health and non-health-related quality of life (HRQOL and non-HRQOL). However, of the existent published patient-reported ...outcome (PRO) tools, none were developed from US patients, an ethnically diverse population. Furthermore, these tools do not address men with SLE or assess non-HRQOL issues. Herein, we present the development and validation of the Lupus Patient-Reported Outcome tool (LupusPRO) and discuss its clinical utility and research value compared with other PRO tools currently available for SLE. Methods Beginning with a conceptual framework, items for LupusPRO were generated using feedback from women and men with SLE. The tool underwent iterations based on patient feedback and clinimetric and psychometric analyses. Validity (content, construct, and criterion) and reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) for the 44-item LupusPRO tool are presented. Results Consistent with the conceptual framework, items were identified that were related to HRQOL and non-HRQOL constructs. HRQOL domains included (1) lupus symptoms; (2) physical health (physical function, role physical); (3) pain–vitality; (4) emotional health (emotional function and role emotional); (5) body image; (6) cognition; (7) procreation; and (8) lupus medications. Non-HRQOL domains were (1) available social support and coping; (2) desires–goals; and (3) satisfaction with medical care. Internal consistency reliability (0.68-0.94), test-retest reliability (0.55-0.92), content, construct ( r > 0.50 with SF-36), and criterion ( r > −0.35 with disease activity) validity were fair to good. Conclusions LupusPRO is a valid and reliable disease-targeted patient-reported health outcome tool that is generalizable to SLE patients in the United States of varied ethnic backgrounds and either gender.
Magnetorheological (MR) fluids constitute examples of controllable ("smart") fluids, whose Theological properties vary in response to an applied magnetic field. These fluids typically consist of ...micron-sized, magnetizable particles dispersed in a nonpermeable carrier fluid. The essential characteristic of MR fluids is that they may be continuously and reversibly varied from a state of free flowing liquids in the absence of an applied magnetic field to that of stiff semi-solids in a moderate field. Understanding the magnetic properties of MR fluids is crucial to the design of MR fluid-based devices and it also provides valuable insight into the character of the microstructure responsible for their field-dependent rheology. Prediction of the overall magnetic properties of MR composites is a challenging task, however, due to the highly nonlinear and strongly spatially variable nature of the magnetization of the constituents. In this paper we propose a model for this behavior that is based on the mathematical theory of homogenization. We derive effective equations that govern the magnetic response of (periodically arranged) particle-chains through magnetic saturation. Comparisons of numerical results for these equations with experimental data show good agreement which suggests that our approach could be useful in the design of improved MR fluids.
AIM: To describe an outbreak of congenital microphthalmia in Texel lambs in New Zealand.
METHODS: Affected eyes were fixed in 10% formol saline, processed routinely for histopathology and stained ...with haematoxylin and eosin, Holme's silver and haematoxylin with and without luxol fast blue, and luxol fast blue alone.
RESULTS: Macroscopically, the globes and optic nerves were hypoplastic. Histologically, all embryonic components of the eye were present, but the lens, ciliary body, iris and retina were dysplastic. Axons of the hypoplastic optic nerve were poorly myelinated.
CONCLUSIONS: Congenital microphthalmia occurs in Texel sheep in New Zealand, and is likely inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
Background The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative cardiac troponin (cTn) assessment can improve risk stratification in a spectrum of patients with non–ST-segment elevation (NSTE) ...acute coronary syndrome (ACS) using the validated Global Registry of Acute Cardiac Events (GRACE) risk model. Methods The Canadian ACS Registry II is a prospective, multicenter study that enrolled patients admitted to hospital with a suspected NSTE ACS within 24 hours of symptom onset. Of the total 2297 patients, those with elevated cTn (n = 1013) were further stratified into tertiles of cTn ranges. Our primary end point was death and our secondary end point was a composite of death or/and recurrent myocardial infarction at 1-year follow-up. Results Multivariable analysis adjusting for validated predictors of death confirmed the independent prognostic value of any abnormal cTn (vs normal) for death (adjusted odds ratio 2.28, 95% CI 1.49-3.49, P < .001) and for the composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.61-2.95, P < .001) at 1 year. With quantitative assessment, the gradient of mortality risk with increasing cTn level was not evident after adjusting for other prognosticators. Quantitative (compared to qualitative) assessment of cTn level did not improve either the GRACE risk model discrimination for 1-year death. Conclusions Any cTn elevation is associated with higher rate of death at 1 year, but its quantitative assessment did not prove as important as its mere presence as an independent long-term prognosticator in a nonclinical trial, “real-world” NSTE ACS population.
Background: Past studies have suggested that amlodipine, a dihydropyridine L-type Ca2+ channel antagonist, may exert useful effects in congestive heart failure (CHF). The present study examined the ...effects of amlodipine or nifedipine treatment in a model of developing CHF on left ventricular (LV) pump function and myocyte contractility. Methods and Results: Pigs (25 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: 1) pacing-induced CHF (rapid atrial pacing at 240 bpm) for 3 weeks (n = 9), 2) concomitant Ca2+ channel blockade with amlodipine (1.5 mg/kg/day) and rapid pacing (n = 7), 3) concomitant Ca2+ channel blockade with nifedipine (0.7 mg/kg twice daily) and rapid pacing (n = 7), and 4) sham controls (n = 7). LV fractional shortening fell with pacing CHF from baseline values (17% ± 1% v 42% ± 1%, P <.05). With rapid pacing and concomitant amlodipine treatment, LV fractional shortening increased from pacing CHF values (24% ± 1%, P <.05) but was unchanged with concomitant nifedipine treatment (20% ± 2%, P =.2). LV myocyte velocity of shortening, as measured by high speed videomicroscopy, was reduced with pacing CHF compared with controls (42 ± 2 μm/s v 87 ± 9 μm/s, P <.05), and increased from pacing CHF values with amlodipine or nifedipine treatment (62 ± 8 μm/s, 64 ± 4 μm/s, respectively; P <.05). Inotropic response to extracellular Ca2+ (8 mmol/L) was reduced with pacing CHF (94 ± 5 μm/s v 160 ± 15 μm/s, P <.05) and increased from CHF values with amlodipine or nifedipine treatment (132 ± 14 μm/s and 133 ± 7 μm/s, respectively, P <.05) Conclusions: These results suggest that the primary mechanism for the effects of amlodipine on myocyte contractility in developing CHF is because of direct Ca2+ channel blockade.
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