The impact of a community-based food skills intervention on cooking confidence, food preparation methods and dietary choices - an exploratory trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of undertaking a food skills intervention study in areas of social deprivation aimed at altering cooking confidence, food preparation methods and dietary choices. DESIGN: A standardised skills programme was implemented in community-based settings. Pre- (T1) and post-intervention (T2) and 6-month follow-up (T3) measures (7-day diaries and self-administered questionnaires) were undertaken in intervention and comparison groups. SETTING: Eight urban communities in Scotland. SUBJECTS: One hundred and thirteen adults living in areas of social deprivation. RESULTS: It was clear that many subjects led fragmented lives and found commitment to intervention classes problematic. Sixty-three subjects completed the final (T3) assessments. The response to each component varied due to inability to attend sessions, illness, study requirements, employment, moving out of the area, change in circumstances, loss of interest and loss of postal questionnaires. At baseline, reported consumption of fruit and vegetables was low (mean frequency 8.1 +/- 4.78 times per week). Fruit intake increased significantly (P < 0.05) between T1 and T2 in the intervention group (1.7 +/- 2.36 to 2.7 +/- 3.28 times per week) only. Between T1 and T3, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in intervention subjects who reported confidence in following a recipe (67-90%,). CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory trial shows that a food skills intervention is likely to have a small but positive effect on food choice and confidence in food preparation. A full-scale randomised controlled trial in this hard-to-reach group would require a range of flexible approaches rather than a fully defined intervention, and presents challenges for trial design.     

Osteomalacia as a result of phosphorus deficiency in beef cattle grazing subtropical native pastures in Uruguay

We investigated 2 outbreaks of osteomalacia as a result of phosphorus (P) deficiency in herds of lactating beef cows grazing subtropical native pastures in Uruguay. Cows exhibited pica, difficulty to stand and walk, rib fractures, and body weight loss even with adequate forage availability. Osteopenia and severe osteomalacia were observed on gross and histologic examination. The concentrations of bicarbonate-extractable P in soil (4.0, 4.1 mg P/kg), total P in pasture (0.9, 1.1 g P/kg), inorganic P in serum (1.0, 0.71 mmol P/L), and P in bone (73 mg P/mL) were all low. Although injectable and mineral salt supplements provided additional P in both outbreaks, these supplementary amounts were insufficient to prevent P deficiency. The P ingested by the cows from the pasture and supplements would have provided 20–55% of their daily P requirements of ~21 g P/d. Osteomalacia occurred in cattle at the 2 ranches as a result of severe P deficiency in the soil and forage, and inadequate P supplementation. Following diagnosis, control of P deficiency in beef cattle requires estimation of the amount of pasture P ingested and provision of sufficient additional supplementary P to meet the animals’ requirements.     

Jejunal perforation due to porcupine quill ingestion in a horse

An 8-month-old Andalusian filly was treated for jejunal perforations due to ingestion of a porcupine quill. During exploratory laparotomy, 2 separate stapled side-to-side jejunojejunal resection and anastomoses were performed. Post-operative complications after 2 years follow-up included mild incisional herniation following incisional infection and chronic intermittent colic.     

Evaluation of hepatitis E virus infection between different production systems of pigs in Brazil

The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pigs from large-scale and family-scale farms, (2) genetically characterize the strains isolated, and (3) study the pathogenesis of swine HEV infection via immunohistochemistry. A total of 50 pigs from 10 farms in Mato Grosso State, Brazil were divided according to type of production system into either large-scale farms (n?=?5) or family-scale farms (n?=?5). Samples of liver, gallbladder, small and large intestines, bile, and feces from the pigs were analyzed by nested PCR with primers targeting the ORF2 region of HEV and by immunohistochemistry. Of the eight HEV-positive samples from pigs of family-scale farms, phylogenetic analysis revealed that seven of the swine HEV isolates clustered with subtype 3b of genotype 3 and one isolate was categorized with subtype 3 f. The HEV antigen was detected mainly in the small intestine samples from family-scale farms, suggesting an early stage HEV infection. HEV was not detected in the samples of pigs from large-scale farms, reinforcing the need for additional studies to evaluate the risk of transmission of HEV to humans from pigs from family-scale farms in Mato Grosso State.     

Carbohydrate utilization by juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). I. Uptake and clearance of monosaccharides following intraperitoneal injection

Abstract Intraperitoneal carbohydrate tolerance tests were done to assess the ability of silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus, to utilize the predominant monosaccharides in plant ingredients currently being used in the formulation of aquaculture feeds for this species. Preliminary experiments carried out to assess baseline plasma glucose concentrations indicated that blood glucose levels were elevated within 2 min of handling and silver perch required a period of 48 h without feeding before plasma glucose levels remained constant. In the first carbohydrate test, either glucose, galactose or xylose were administered by injection into the intraperitoneal cavity at a dose rate of 1 g carbohydrate kg^?1 body weight (BW). In the second carbohydrate test, glucose was administered at a dose rate of either 2 or 4 g glucose kg BW^?1. Following injection, uptake and clearance rate of the carbohydrates from the blood stream was monitored over a 24‐h period. Silver perch were significantly more efficient at the uptake and clearance of glucose from the blood stream than xylose or galactose. Maximum plasma glucose concentrations (22.2 mmol L ^?1) were recorded at 1 h following injection and basal levels (3.44 mm ) were attained between 6 and 12 h following injection. For both galactose and xylose, maximum concentrations were recorded at 1 and 3 h, respectively, and concentrations of both monosaccharides remained significantly elevated 24 h after the administration. Plasma glucose concentrations of silver perch administered with either 2 or 4 g glucose kg BW^?1 were significantly elevated and peaked at similar levels (30.2 mmol L ^?1 and 30.7 mmol L ^?1 respectively) 3 h after injection. Basal plasma glucose concentrations were attained in silver perch injected with 2 g glucose kg BW^?1 at 24 h following administration. Plasma glucose concentrations remained significantly elevated in fish injected with 4 g glucose kg BW^?1 after 24 h. These findings indicate that silver perch are more efficient at utilizing glucose than either xylose or galactose, and that there are also differing maximum threshold for the inclusion of ingredients rich in glucose, galactose and xylose into the diets of silver perch.     

The immune response to anesthesia: Part 1

ObjectiveTo review the immune response to anesthesia including mechanical ventilation, inhaled anesthetic gases, and injectable anesthetics and sedatives.Study designReview.Methods and databasesMultiple literature searches were performed using PubMed and Google Scholar from spring 2012 through fall 2013. Relevant anesthetic and immune terms were used to search databases without year published or species constraints. The online database for Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia and the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care were searched by issue starting in 2000 for relevant articles.ConclusionRecent research data indicate that commonly used volatile anesthetic agents, such as isoflurane and sevoflurane, may have a protective effect on vital organs. With the lung as the target organ, protection using an appropriate anesthetic protocol may be possible during direct pulmonary insults, including mechanical ventilation, and during systemic disease processes, such as endotoxemia, generalized sepsis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate and fibre on the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linn.)

Glucose, sucrose, dextrin, starch and a-cellulose were incorporated into experimental rations at three levels (10%, 25% and 40%) and fed to juvenile O. niloticus for 63 days. Inclusion level was adjusted with polypropylene powder. Growth improved as the level of glucose, sucrose, dextrin and starch was increased from 0% to 40%. Carcass fat similarly increased with the addition of assimilable carbohydrate (maximum level 8.2% liveweight). At the 40% level, net protein retention (NPR) was highest on the dextrin diet and lowest on the glucose diet. At 10%, glucose spared more, and at 40%, spared less protein energy in the diet than dextrin, starch or sucrose at corresponding levels. The value of these carbohydrates for replacing protein energy in rations for tilapia is discussed.As a-cellulose was increased from 0% to 40%, growth, food conversion efficiency (FCE), NPR, carcass fat and condition factor were reduced. Growth and FCE on the 25% and 40% a-cellulose diets was lower than the control. The use of a-cellulose as an inert bulker in experimental diets for fish is discussed.