Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibilily by caltie offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Background： The potential for acid-detergent insoluble ash （ADIA）, alkaline-peroxide lignin （APL）, and acid-detergent lignin （ADL） to predict fecal output （FO） and dry matter digestibility （DMD） by cattle offered bermudagrass [Cynodon doctylon （L） Pers.] hays of different qualities was evaluated. Eight ruminally cannulated cows （594 ± 35.5 kg） were allocated randomly to 4 hay diets： low （L）, medium low （ML）, medium high （MH）, and high （H） crude protein （CP） concentration （79, 111,131, and 164 g CP/kg on a DM basis, respectively）. Diets were offered in 3 periods with 2 diet replicates per period and were rotated across cows between periods. Cows were individually fed 20 g DM/kg of body weight in equal feedings at 08：00 and 16：00 h for a 10-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection. Actual DM intake （DMI）, DMD, and FO were determined based on hay offered, ort, and feces excreted. These components were then analyzed for ADL, APL, and ADIA concentration to determine marker recovery and marker-based estimates of FO and DMD. Results： Forage DMI was affected by diet （P = 0.02）, and DMI from MH and H was greater （P 〈 0.05） than from L. Apparent DMD tended （P = 0.08） to differ among diets while FO （P = 0.20） was not affected by diet treatments. Average ADL recovery （1.16） was greater （P 〈 0.05） than that of ADIA （1.03） and APL （1.06）, but ADIA and APL did not differ （P = 0.42）. Estimates of FO and DMD derived using APL and ADIA were not different （P≥0.05） from total fecal collection while those using ADL differed （P 〈 0.05）. There was no diet by marker interaction （P≥ 0.22） for either FO or DMD. Conclusion： Acid-detergent insoluble ash and APL accurately predicted FO and DMD of cattle fed bermudagrass hay of varying nutrient composition. These internal markers may facilitate studies involving large numbers of animals and forages. Results from such studies may be used to develop improve     

Effect of ginger- and garlic-supplemented diet on growth performance,some hematological parameters and immune responses in juvenile Huso huso

Physiological parameters and growth performance of Huso huso fingerlings fed with diet supplemented with herbal plants were studied in this study. Dietary treatments were 0 g (= control), 1.0 g (garlic) and 1.0 g (ginger) of 100 g^?1 feed for 60 days. Specific growth rate, body weight gain and condition factor were significantly increased in ginger treatment at the end of the trial. Highest levels of erythrocyte and hematocrit were observed in fingerlings ginger group after 60 days. Globulin increased significantly in ginger group, and the highest level of albumin was observed in garlic group. To sum up, it seems that herbal diet can improve some growth and physiological parameters in this species.     

Metformin as an adjunct to insulin for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes after CABG surgery: a randomized double blind clinical trial

Perioperative hyperglycemia is common in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery and there is a direct relation between postoperative hyperglycemia and mortality rate in these patients. The aim of the present study is to determine the efficacy of metformin on glycemic control in diabetic patients after CABG surgery. In a randomized double blind clinical trial, 100 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted in open heart ICU after CABG surgery in Mazandaran Heart Center were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. Three hours after extubation, therapeutic antiglycemic regimens were applied in these two groups and continued for three days. Intervention group received regular insulin infusion along with two metformin 500 mg tablets per twelve hours while control group received regular insulin infusion with two placebo tablets per twelve hours. Blood glucose level and other parameters were measured and recorded in determined intervals. To analyze the data, independent T-test, paired T-test, Mann-Whitney and repeated measure ANOVA tests were employed. Mean blood glucose level was not significantly different in the two groups at the beginning of the ICU admission; however, mean glucose level in insulin-metformin group, twelve hours after the initiation of the study, was significantly lower than insulin group (p < 0.05). In addition, mean doses of potassium and insulin demand as well as mean number of episodes of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and glucose levels out of the accepted range were significantly lower in insulin-metformin group (p < 0.05). Alterations in mean levels of lactate, BE, pH and creatinine were not statistically significant in these two groups. It seems that adding metformin to insulin leads to a better glycemic control in type two diabetic patients undergoing CABG surgery without causing metabolic acidosis. Therefore, it might be a potential option in blood glucose control protocol in this group of patients.     

Evaluation of serum C-reactive protein level and its related factors in hemodialysis patients in Sari, Iran

Chronic inflammation, as reflected by increased level of acute phase protein such as C-reactive Protein (CRP) is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. CRP is a strong predictor of overall and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in hemodialysis patients. This research was conducted to determine the C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels and its correlation to demographic and clinical characteristics and Laboratory values in hemodialysis patients in Sari, Iran. In a cross sectional study, 147 hemodialysis patients were studied. Patients' demographic and clinical data were recorded and also serum CRP, Cholesterol, Albumin, Phosphorous, Calcium, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit levels were measured. Overall, the mean CRP concentration was 15.8 mg L(-1). With considering to the different cutoff point (5, 6.2, 10 mg L(-1)) for CRP level, 107 patients (72.8%) had CRP level >5 mg L(-1), 99 patients (67.3%) had CRP level > 6.2 mg L(-1) and 77 patients (52.4%) had CRP level >10 nmg L(-1). The CRP levels greater than 6.2, had a direct statistically significant correlation with duration of hemodialysis and phosphorus level (p = 0.01). Also, CRP levels above 10 mg L(-1) had a direct statistically significant correlation with age and phosphorus levels (p = 0.02). According to the prevalence of high CRP level and it's correlation with age, duration ofhemodialysis and phosphorus level in hemodialysis patients, CRP level should be screened in this group of patients routinely because of its prognostic importance.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibility by cattle offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Camelina sativa is an oil seed crop which can be grown on marginal lands. Camelina seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (>35%) and γ-tocopherol but is also high in erucic acid and glucosinolates. Camelina meal, is the by-product after the oil has been extracted. Camelina meal was fed to 28 d old weaned pigs at 3.7% and 7.4% until age 56 d. The camelina meal supplements in the soy based diets, improved feed efficiency but also significantly increased the liver weights. Gene expression analyses of the livers, using intra-species microarrays, identified increased expression of phase 1 and phase 2 drug metabolism enzymes. The porcine versions of the enzymes were confirmed by real time PCR. Cytochrome 8b1 (CYP8B1), aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2), and thiosulfate transferase (TST) were all significantly stimulated. Collectively, these genes implicate the camelina glucosinolate metabolite, methyl-sulfinyldecyl isothiocyanate, as the main xeniobiotic, causing increased hepatic metabolism and increased liver weight.     

Influenza A Virus Surveillance in the Invasive American Mink (Neovison vison) from Freshwater Ecosystems,Northern Spain

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are negative‐sense, single‐stranded and segmented RNA viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family that may cause acute respiratory disease in a wide range of birds and mammals. Susceptibility of several species within the family Mustelidae to IAVs has been reported as a result of natural or experimental infections. The objectives of this study were to assess whether free‐ranging American mink populations from Northern Spain were infected with IAV and try to define the role of this species in the epidemiology of IAV. Sera from 689 American mink from Northern Spain captured between 2011 and 2014 were tested for the presence of antibodies against IAVs using a commercial competition cELISA. Positive sera were further analysed with haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Fifteen of the 689 (2.2%, 1.3–3.6 CI_95%) of the American minks analysed were ELISA positive. No significant differences were observed between years of capture, provinces, river basins, sexes or ages of the animals. All seropositive sera resulted negative to the panel strains used in the HI assay, showing that the most relevant strains circulating in swine, the most relevant avian subtypes (H5 and H7) and the H10N4 subtype isolated in minks have not been circulating in this free‐ranging exotic carnivore from Spain. In the light of these results, the free‐range American mink from Northern Spain do not seem to have an important role in the epidemiology of IAVs.     

Effects of nanoclay on physical and mechanical properties of wood-plastic composites

Effects of nanoclay (NC) on physical and mechanical properties of wood-plastic composite (WPC) were studied here. Virgin, recycled, and mixed (50/50% of virgin/recycled) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were used as the matrix in the WPC. Specimens with three NC contents of 1.5%, 3%, and 5% were manufactured; they were then compared with control specimens. Totally, 12 treatments were manufactured. The physical and mechanical properties were measured in accordance with the ASTM standards. The highest properties were found in specimens made from virgin PVC. Addition of recycled PVC resulted in significant decrease in all properties. NC improved all physical and mechanical properties studied in the present research project; the highest properties were observed in specimens with 5% of NC content. The improvement in properties was as a result of formation of bonds between the hydroxyl groups of NC with the wood flour components. It was concluded that NC would significantly improve the properties in all the three PVC types of virgin, recycled, and mixed. From an industrial point of view, it was concluded that mixing virgin and recycled PVC can be recommended not only to decrease production costs, but also to partially solve the problem of PVC residue which are not bio-degradable.     

The effects of increasing garlic powder and monensin supplementation on feed intake,nutrient digestibility,growth performance and blood parameters of growing calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing garlic powder and monensin supplementation on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance and blood metabolites of growing calves. Forty Holstein calves (BW = 100 ± 11 kg) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (n = 10) in a complete randomized design. Experimental treatments consisted of the following: (i) basal diet (control), (ii) basal diet supplemented with 0.0003% of dietary dry matter (DM) sodium monensin, (iii) low level of garlic powder (Low‐GAR; 0.5% of dietary DM) and (iv) high level of garlic powder (High‐GAR; 1% of dietary DM). DM intake (DMI) and DM digestibility were (p < 0.05) decreased by High‐GAR. However, calves supplemented with Low‐GAR had a similar DMI to the control calves and similar DM digestibility to the control and monensin groups. The digestibility of other nutrients were not affected by the treatments. Although supplementing monensin relative to Low‐GAR increased the DMI (p < 0.05), average daily gain was similar between Low‐GAR and monensin supplemented calves, which were higher than the control and High‐GAR groups (p < 0.05). As a result, feed conversion ratio was improved in the Low‐GAR group versus other treatment groups (p < 0.05). Administrating garlic powder decreased the blood low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and non‐esterified fatty acids (p < 0.05) without affecting the blood triglyceride, high‐density lipoprotein and beta‐hydroxybutyric acid concentrations. In conclusion, the calves fed the Low‐GAR showed an improved FCR and blood metabolites without changing the DMI and nutrient digestibility. It suggests that garlic powder could be used as an alternative to monensin for growing calves under the current feeding conditions.     

Comparison of acid-detergent lignin,alkaline-peroxide lignin,and acid-detergent insoluble ash as internal markers for predicting fecal output and digestibility by cattle offered bermudagrass hays of varying nutrient composition

Background:The potential for acid-detergent insoluble ash(ADIA),alkaline-peroxide lignin(APL),and acid-detergent lignin(ADL) to predict fecal output(FO) and dry matter digestibility(DMD) by cattle offered bermudagrass[Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers.]hays of different qualities was evaluated.Eight ruminally cannulated cows(594 ± 35.5 kg) were allocated randomly to 4 hay diets:low(L),medium low(ML),medium high(MH),and high(H) crude protein(CP)concentration(79,111,131,and 164 g CP/kg on a DM basis,respectively).Diets were offered in 3 periods with 2 diet replicates per period and were rotated across cows between periods.Cows were individually fed 20 g DM/kg of body weight in equal feedings at 08:00 and 16:00 h for a 10-d adaptation followed by a 5-d total fecal collection.Actual DM intake(DMI),DMD,and FO were determined based on hay offered,ort,and feces excreted.These components were then analyzed for ADL,APL,and ADIA concentration to determine marker recovery and marker-based estimates of FO and DMD.Results:Forage DMI was affected by diet(P = 0.02),and DMI from MH and H was greater(P 0.05) than from L.Apparent DMD tended(P = 0.08) to differ among diets while FO(P = 0.20) was not affected by diet treatments.Average ADL recovery(1.16) was greater(P 0.05) than that of ADIA(1.03) and APL(1.06),but ADIA and APL did not differ(P = 0.42).Estimates of FO and DMD derived using APL and ADIA were not different(P 0.05) from total fecal collection while those using ADL differed(P 0.05).There was no diet by marker interaction(P 0.22)for either FO or DMD.Conclusion:Acid-detergent insoluble ash and APL accurately predicted FO and DMD of cattle fed bermudagrass hay of varying nutrient composition.These internal markers may facilitate studies involving large numbers of animals and forages.Results from such studies may be used to develop improved equations to predict energy values of forages based on the relationship of dietary components to digestibility across a wide range of forages.