The Relationship Between Body Weight,Body Condition,and Survival in Cats with Heart Failure

Background: Obese people with heart failure have improved survival compared with their normal or underweight counterparts. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between body weight or body condition and survival in cats with heart failure. Hypothesis: Body weight and body condition score (BCS) are predictors of survival in cats with heart failure. Animals: One‐hundred and one cats with heart failure (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council Classes II, IIIa, or IIIb) evaluated between March 2007 and June 2009. Methods: Data regarding initial body weight and BCS, subsequent changes in body weight, and treatment were collected from records and compared with survival times. Results: Median initial body weight was 5.1 kg (range, 2.2–9.5 kg). Median BCS was 5 (range, 3–9). Of the 68 cats that were discharged from the hospital, median body weight change was 0.0 kg (range, ?2.6 to +2.3 kg). Survival time for all 101 cats was 93 days (0–811 days). Survival could be predicted using a model combining initial body weight (P= .02), body weight squared (P= .02), and survival to discharge (P < .001) with a resulting global P value for this model of P < .0001. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Cats with the lowest and highest body weights had reduced survival times compared with those with body weights in the intermediate ranges, suggesting a U‐shaped relationship between body weight and survival. Additional research into the effects of body composition could help to determine optimal management of cats with heart failure.     

肉仔鸡日粮外源核苷酸营养作用初探

为研究日粮核苷酸 (NT) ,对肉仔鸡的营养作用 ,72只 1日龄AA肉仔鸡饲喂纯合日粮 5天以耗竭可能由母源带来的核苷酸 ,然后分成 4组 ,分别喂以添加 0 ,0 .1 % ,0 .2 %的核苷酸及 0 .5 %酵母培养物的纯合日粮。测定了 1 0日龄及 1 4日龄各组试鸡肠粘膜、肝脏中蛋白质及RNA含量 ,十二指肠绒毛高度、肠壁厚度、肠粘膜湿重等指标 ,用一次性注射大剂量3H -Tyr的方法测定了 1 2日龄各组试鸡肠粘膜蛋白质合成率。结果表明纯合日粮能显著耗竭雏鸡肠粘膜中的RNA ,纯合日粮中添加 0 .2 %NT使雏鸡肠道粘膜核酸及蛋白质含量及肝脏的核酸含量比对照皆有显著的增加 ,并能促进肠绒毛的生长及提高肠壁厚度。说明满足了氨基酸需要的肉仔鸡内源合成的NT不能满足生长发育的需要     

Dietary requirements of synthesizable amino acids by animals: a paradigm shift in protein nutrition

Amino acids are building blocks for proteins in all animals. Based on growth or nitrogen balance, amino acids were traditionally classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential for mammals, birds and fish. It was assumed that all the “nutritionally nonessential amino acids (NEAA)” were synthesized sufficiently in the body to meet the needs for maximal growth and optimal health. However, careful analysis of the scientific literature reveals that over the past century there has not been compelling experimental evidence to support this assumption. NEAA (e.g., glutamine, glutamate, proline, glycine and arginine) play important roles in regulating gene expression, cell signaling, antioxidative responses, fertility, neurotransmission, and immunity. Additionally, glutamate, glutamine and aspartate are major metabolic fuels for the small intestine to maintain its digestive function and to protect the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. Thus, diets for animals must contain all NEAA to optimize their survival, growth, development, reproduction, and health. Furthermore, NEAA should be taken into consideration in revising the “ideal protein” concept that is currently used to formulate swine and poultry diets. Adequate provision of all amino acids (including NEAA) in diets enhances the efficiency of animal production. In this regard, amino acids should not be classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential in animal or human nutrition. The new Texas A&M University’s optimal ratios of dietary amino acids for swine and chickens are expected to beneficially reduce dietary protein content and improve the efficiency of their nutrient utilization, growth, and production performance.