Use of spray-cooling technology for development of microencapsulated capsicum oleoresin for the growing pig as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics: a study of release using in vitro models

The aim of this study was to develop sustained release microspheres of capsicum oleoresin as an alternative to in-feed additives. Two spray-cooling technologies, a fluidized air bed using a spray nozzle system and a vibrating nozzle system placed on top of a cooling tower, were used to microencapsulate 20% of capsicum oleoresin in a hydrogenated, rapeseed oil matrix. Microencapsulation was intended to reduce the irritating effect of capsicum oleoresin and to control its release kinetics during consumption by the animal. Particles produced by the fluidized air bed process (batch F1) ranged from 180 to 1,000 microm in size. The impact of particle size on release of capsaicin, the main active compound of capsicum oleoresin, was studied after sieving batch F1 to obtain 4 formulations: F1a (180 to 250 microm), F1b (250 to 500 microm), F1c (500 to 710 microm), and F1d (710 to 1,000 microm). The vibrating nozzle system can produce a monodispersive particle size distribution. In this study, particles of 500 to 710 microm were made (batch F2). The release kinetics of the formulations was estimated in a flow-through cell dissolution apparatus (CFC). The time to achieve a 90% dissolution value (T90%) of capsaicin for subbatches of F1 increased with the increase in particle size (P < 0.05), with the greatest value of 165.5 +/- 13.2 min for F1d. The kinetics of dissolution of F2 was slower than all F1 subbatches, with a T90% of 422.7 +/- 30.0 min. Nevertheless, because CFC systems are ill suited for experiments with solid feed and thus limit their predictive values, follow-up studies were performed on F1c and F2 using an in vitro dynamic model that simulated more closely the digestive environment. For both formulations a lower quantity of capsaicin dialyzed was recorded under fed condition vs. fasting condition with 46.9% +/- 1.0 vs. 74.7% +/- 2.7 for F1c and 32.4% +/- 1.4 vs. 44.2% +/- 2.6 for F2, respectively. This suggests a possible interaction between capsaicin and the feed matrix. Moreover, 40.4 +/- 3.9% of the total capsaicin intake in F2 form was dialyzed after 8 h of digestion when feed had been granulated vs. 32.4 +/- 1.4% when feed had not been granulated, which suggests that the feed granulation process could lead to a partial degradation of the microspheres and to a limitation of the sustained release effect. This study demonstrates the potential and the limitations of spray-cooling technology to encapsulate feed additives.     

Aggressive local therapy combined with systemic chemotherapy provides long‐term control in grade II stage 2 canine mast cell tumour: 21 cases (1999–2012)

This retrospective case series evaluates the outcome of 21 dogs with grade II stage 2 mast cell tumour (MCT) treated with adequate local therapy and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (prednisone, vinblastine and CCNU). The median survival for all dogs was 1359 days (range, 188–2340). Median disease‐free interval was 2120 days (149–2325 days). Dogs treated with surgery and chemotherapy had shorter survival (median, 1103 days; 188–2010 days) than those that underwent surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy as part of their treatment (median, 2056 days; 300–2340 days). Two patients had local recurrence in the radiation field and four patients had de novo MCT. Distant metastasis was not observed in any dogs. The results of this study suggest that, in the presence of loco‐regional lymph node metastasis in grade II MCT, the use of prednisone, vinblastine and CCNU after adequate local‐regional therapy can provide a median survival in excess of 40 months.     

Magma flow instability and cyclic activity at soufriere hills volcano, montserrat, british west indies

Dome growth at the Soufriere Hills volcano (1996 to 1998) was frequently accompanied by repetitive cycles of earthquakes, ground deformation, degassing, and explosive eruptions. The cycles reflected unsteady conduit flow of volatile-charged magma resulting from gas exsolution, rheological stiffening, and pressurization. The cycles, over hours to days, initiated when degassed stiff magma retarded flow in the upper conduit. Conduit pressure built with gas exsolution, causing shallow seismicity and edifice inflation. Magma and gas were then expelled and the edifice deflated. The repeat time-scale is controlled by magma ascent rates, degassing, and microlite crystallization kinetics. Cyclic behavior allows short-term forecasting of timing, and of eruption style related to explosivity potential.     

A simple stem taper model with mixed effects for boreal black spruce

We simplified Kozak’s taper model by setting the inflection point at 1.3 m (dbh) without losing accuracy and precision. The simplification was required to facilitate the estimation of the covariance parameters when using a mixed-effects method. This method was necessary to take into account the correlation among multiple diameter measurements on an individual stem. The simple stem taper model was fitted to an extended data set collected across the province of Quebec, Canada. Comparison of the predicted stem taper and the derived stem volume with those obtained using existing models showed a comparable predictive power for the simple model. Including a prediction of the tree random effects based on supplementary diameter measurements of the bole improves the predictive ability of the model around the extra diameter observation. This model offers welcome simplicity as a means of predicting tree taper at coarse resolution for planning tree harvesting.     

Distance-independent tree basal area growth models for Norway spruce,Douglas-fir and Japanese larch in Southern Belgium

This paper presents new harmonized distance-independent individual tree basal area growth models for Norway spruce, Douglas-fir and Japanese larch in pure even-aged stands in Southern Belgium. The selected model was originally developed for Norway spruce and Douglas-fir in neighboring France. New formulations are proposed for some of the model components in order to lower the number of fitted parameters and facilitate the fitting procedure. The resulting models integrate the most recent corresponding top-height growth models and use four simple and usually collected explanatory variables: stand age, top-height, total basal area and tree girth at breast height. The modified formulations maintain similar fitting performances and make it easier to interpret the influence of the explanatory variables on tree growth. Parameters estimates were fitted on thousands of growth measurements gathered from several monitoring plots, forest management inventories and silvicultural field experiments that represent the wide range of site conditions and of forest management scenarios applied to coniferous stands in Southern Belgium. Cross-validation of the models revealed no bias and highlighted their consistent behavior over the entire range of girth at breast height, age, top-height, site index and density represented in our dataset. Combining utility and robust performances, these models represent useful forest management tools, purposely ideal for forest simulation software development. Moreover, the flexibility and generic capabilities of the model formulation should make it easily adjustable for other species in even-aged stands.     

Viability of equine articular chondrocytes in alginate beads exposed to different oxygen tensions

Ischaemia and reperfusion are suspected to alter chondrocyte metabolism. Here, we studied the effects of three oxygen (O2) tensions on the viability of equine articular chondrocytes isolated from the cartilage of the distal interphalangeal joint of horses. Chondrocytes were cultured in alginate beads under 1%, 5% or 21% gas phase O2 concentration for 14 days, cellular growth kinetics were measured (n=6), and the cells were observed by light microscopy after staining for necrotic and apoptotic cell detection. For information about the metabolic status, the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was measured. The number of chondrocytes remained stable for the first eight days, then decreased especially at 1% and 21% O2. At 21% O2, normal cells decreased and necrotic cells increased at the end of the 14 day-period. No significant variations were found at 5% O2 except for a decrease in necrotic cells at day 14. Most apoptotic cells were found at 1% O2 from days 5 to 11, and normal cells decreased during the same period. But an unexpected increase in normal cells and decrease in apoptotic cells were observed at day 14. The intracellular ATP content remained stable. It was concluded that, in a three-dimensional culture model of equine articular chondrocytes, O2 tension affected the viability of the cells after an 11-day period, with the most important effects observed at 21% and 1% O2 conditions.     

Masitinib is safe and effective for the treatment of canine mast cell tumors

Background: Activation of the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is associated with the development of canine mast cell tumors (MCT). Hypothesis/Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of masitinib, a potent and selective inhibitor of KIT, in the treatment of canine MCT. Animals: Two hundred and two client‐owned dogs with nonmetastatic recurrent or nonresectable grade II or III MCT. Methods: Double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled phase III clinical trial. Dogs were administered masitinib (12.5 mg/kg/d PO) or a placebo. Time‐to‐tumor progression (TTP), overall survival, objective response at 6 months, and toxicity were assessed. Resulsts: Masitinib increased overall TTP compared with placebo from 75 to 118 days (P= .038). This effect was more pronounced when masitinib was used as first‐line therapy, with an increase in the median TTP from 75 to 253 days (P= .001) and regardless of whether the tumors expressed mutant (83 versus not reached [P= .009]) or wild‐type KIT (66 versus 253 [P= .008]). Masitinib was generally well tolerated, with mild (grade I) or moderate (grade II) diarrhea or vomiting as the most common adverse events. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Masitinib is safe and effective at delaying tumor progression in dogs presenting with recurrent or nonresectable grade II or III nonmetastatic MCT.     

Effects of quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, and 7 on growth, carcass, and meat quality traits in backcross Meishan x Large White pigs

The aim of this work was to estimate whether genetic dissection of QTL on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, and 7, detected in an F2 Meishan x Large White population, can be achieved with a recombinant back-cross progeny test approach. For this purpose, a first generation of backcross (BC1) was produced by using frozen semen of F1 Large White x Meishan boars with Large White females. Four BC1 boars were selected because of their heterozygosity for at least 1 of the 4 regions. The BC1 boars were crossed with Large White sows, and the resulting BC2 offspring were measured for several growth and body composition traits. Contrary to the F2 animals, BC2 animals were also measured for meat quality traits in adductor, gluteus superficialis (GS), longissimus dorsi, and biceps femoris (BF) muscles. Each BC1 boar was tested for a total of 39 traits and for the 4 regions with statistical interval mapping analyses. The QTL effects obtained in BC1 families showed some differences compared with those described in F1 families. However, we confirmed QTL effects for growth in the SW1301-SW2512 markers interval on chromosome 1 and also for body composition in the SW1828-SW2512 markers interval on chromosome 1, in the SW2443-SWR783 markers interval on chromosome 2, and in the SW1369-SW632 markers interval on chromosome 7. In addition, we detected new QTL for growth traits on chromosome 2 and for meat quality traits on chromosomes 1 and 2. Growth of animals from weaning to the end of the test was influenced by the IGF2 gene region on chromosome 2. Concerning meat quality, ultimate pH of adductor, longissimus dorsi, and BF were affected by the interval delimited by UMNP3000 and SW2512 markers on chromosome 1, and a* of GS, L* of BF, and water-holding capacity of GS were affected by QTL located between marker loci SW2443 and SWR783 on chromosome 2. Recombinant progeny testing appeared to be a suitable strategy for the genetic dissection of the QTL investigated.