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Abstract: Morphology and composition changes occurring at the surface of CuO thin film electrode, used as conversion material for lithium-ion battery, were investigated at different stages of the electrochemical cycling by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Analyses were performed on samples obtained in LiPF6 containing carbonate-based electrolyte and prepared by linear sweep voltammetry. The formation/partial dissolution of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) was evidenced by XPS analyses. The SEI layer formed on lithiated CuO thin film during the first reduction between [3.5–0.8] V/Li+/Li is characterized by a LiF-rich inner layer and a Li2CO3-rich outer layer. Furthermore, reduction/oxidation cycles induced important surface morphology modifications. In particular, the growth and then the vanishing of large spherical nodules (∼400 nm in diameter) were observed during the lithium insertion and the subsequent deinsertion. During the twenty first cycles performed, even if a stable electrochemical behavior was shown, breathing of the thin film was also clearly evidenced by AFM images with the appearance and disappearance of numerous cracks as a function of Li removal and Li insertion processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In cats, the incidence of obesity and diabetes is increasing, and little is known about specific aspects of the endocrine control of food intake in this species. Recent data suggest that ghrelin has an important role in the control of insulin secretion and vice versa, but this role has never been demonstrated in cats. Here we aimed to improve our understanding about the relationship between insulin, amylin and ghrelin secretion in response to a nutrient load in overweight cats. After a 16 h fast, weekly, six overweight male cats underwent randomly one of the four testing sessions: saline, glucose, arginine and TAG. All solutions were isoenergetic and isovolumic, and were injected intravenously as a bolus. Glucose, insulin, acylated ghrelin (AG), amylin and prolactin were assayed in plasma before and 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 min after the nutrient load. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the effect of bolus and time on the parameters. A parenteral bolus of glucose or arginine increased insulin and ghrelin concentrations in cats. Except for with the TAG bolus, no suppression of ghrelin was observed. The absence of AG suppression after the intravenous load of arginine and glucose may suggest: (1) that some nutrients do not promote satiation in overweight cats; or that (2) AG may be involved in non-homeostatic consumption mechanisms. However, the role of ghrelin in food reward remains to be assessed in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which compared orocecal transit time (OCTT) as assessed by use of the sulfapyridine time in plasma after oral administration of sulfasalazine in dogs of varying age and body size, and determined whether OCTT correlates with fecal quality. Background to the study; Materials and methods; Results; Conclusions and clinical relevance.

Presents information on a study that estimated the effects of graded dietary protein levels on protein synthesis, breakdown and oxidation in dogs during the postabsorptive phase, using the C-leucine method. Methodology; Results and discussion.

Abstract: To determine whether glutamine affects glutathione (GSH, γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) metabolism, seven healthy beagle dogs received 6-h infusions of [15N]glutamate and [13C]leucine after a 3-day fast. Isotope infusions were performed during oral feeding with an elemental regimen, supplemented with either l-glutamine or an isonitrogenous amino acid mixture, on two separate days and in randomized order. Timed blood samples were obtained, and a surgical duodenal biopsy was performed after 6 h of isotope infusion. GSH fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was assessed from [15N]glutamate incorporation into blood and gut GSH, and duodenal protein synthesis from [13C]leucine incorporation into gut protein. Glutamine supplementation failed to alter erythrocyte GSH concentration (2189±86 vs. 1994±102 μmol L−1 for glutamine vs. control; ns) or FSR (64±17% vs. 74±20% day−1; ns). In the duodenum, glutamine supplementation was associated with a 92% rise in reduced/oxidized GSH ratio (P=.024) and with a 44% decline in GSH FSR (96±15% day−1 vs. 170±18% day−1; P=.005), whereas total GSH concentration remained unchanged (808±154 vs. 740±127 μmol kg−1; P=.779). We conclude that, in dogs receiving enteral nutrition after a 3-day fast: (1) glutamine availability does not affect blood GSH, and, (2) in contrast, in the duodenum, the preserved GSH pool, along with a decreased synthesis rate, suggests that glutamine may maintain GSH pool and intestinal redox status by acutely decreasing GSH utilization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies the adipose tissue in obese insulin-resistant dogs by researchers from France. Modulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ expression; Role of PPAR in inflammatory status; Plausibility for UCP1 to contribute to the adaptive change in energy expenditure.

The article presents a study that determines the effect of the two dietary supplements, hydroxycitric acid and conjugated linoleic acid, on body composition, total energy expenditure, and least observed metabolism of adult neutered cats. Normal weight cats, who were fed 50 kilocalorie of a food of metabolizable energy was used in the study. The results show that cats were nonobese and their body weight was stable. It shows that dietary supplements could be more effective in young growing cats.

Presents a study that assessed the influence of weight loss on body composition, energy expenditure and protein turnover rate, and compared the effects on the parameters of two diets differing mainly in protein content. Experimental procedures; Results and discussion.

Background The diagnosis of canine atopic dermatitis ( CAD) remains challenging due to the lack of a simple biomarker or metabolic profile. In human medicine, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR) is an analytical technique used for several diseases. It requires a small amount of sample and allows the identification of structural moieties of biomolecules on the basis of their infrared absorption, with limited sample pretreatment. Hypothesis/Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of FTIR. Animals Three groups were tested: 21 dogs with non food-induced CAD ( NFICAD), 16 dogs with inflammatory conditions of various origins but without allergic dermatoses ( OD) and 10 healthy dogs (H). Methods Peripheral blood was collected and spectra were acquired with a FTIR spectrophotometer. A principal component analysis ( PCA) was performed on the full wavenumber spectra (4000-600/cm), followed by a Fisher discriminant analysis ( DA) to assess the differences between the three groups. Results The PCA followed by the DA of whole spectra showed significant differences between the three groups. These results suggest that by using the FTIR method, dogs with NFICAD can be differentiated from healthy dogs and dogs with nonallergic inflammation. There was no overlap between the spectral data of the three groups indicating that NFICAD dogs were correctly segregated from the H and OD groups. Conclusions A study on a larger cohort including common pruritic skin diseases is necessary to confirm these initial results and the relevance of this diagnostic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of the quality of commercial diets is a topic of interest for the majority of dog owners. Recently, in a French consumer association magazine, an evaluation of eight dog commercial dry diets (from super-premium, basic-nutrition, private-label and economy brands) according to several nutritional criteria was published. The aims of the study were: (1) to evaluate the apparent digestibility of these diets; (2) to score these diets according to digestibility results; and (3) to compare these data with the scoring of the magazine. Six adult Beagle dogs were enrolled for the digestibility trials. Diets were scored according to energy, crude protein and crude fat (CF) apparent digestibility coefficients, digestible protein-to-energy ratios and ash content. Each of the five criteria was scored from 4 to 20 points. The ranges of crude protein, CF, crude fibre and ash content were 20·9-30·6%, 6·8-19·7%, 2·2-3·3% and 4·6-9·7% on a DM basis, respectively. The ranges of energy, crude protein and CF apparent digestibility coefficients were 72·6-87·7%, 70·4-82·5% and 76·1-95·4%, respectively. The range of the protein-to-energy ratio was 10-14 digestible crude protein per MJ metabolisable energy. Little overlap in the scoring systems was found, but the private-label brand and economy brand diets presented the lowest scores in the two systems. These results showed that the evaluation of commercial diets should take into account multiple nutritional aspects. In particular, analytical and biological (digestibility) criteria should be considered as complementary in the evaluation of dry dog commercial diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective--To compare large intestinal transit time (LITT) in dogs of various body sizes and determine whether fecal quality was correlated with LITT. Animals--6 Miniature Poodles, 6 Standard Schnauzers, 6 Giant Schnauzers, and 6 Great Danes. Procedure--LITT was calculated as the difference between total (TTT) and orocecal transit time (OCTT). Minimum and mean OCTTs were determined by use of the sulfasalazine-sulfapyridine method. Minimum TTT was estimated by use of chromium and ferric oxide as color markers, and mean TTT was calculated from the recovery from feces of ingested colored plastic beads. Fecal moisture content was determined and fecal consistency was scored during the same period. Results--Large-breed dogs had higher fecal moisture content and more watery fecal consistency. No association between body size and OCTT was detected, but there was a positive correlation between body size and mean TTT. Mean LITT increased significantly with body size, from 9.1 ± 1.1 hours in Miniature Poodles to 39.4 ± 1.6 hours for Giant Schnauzers. Significant correlations were detected among mean LITT, mean TTT, and fecal scores, whereas no correlation was observed between fecal moisture content and TTT or LITT. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--LITT was correlated with fecal consistency in dogs of various body sizes. Mean LITT can be predicted from values for mean TTT in healthy dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective--To evaluate the effect of dietary fat and energy density on body weight gain, body composition, and total energy expenditure (TEE) in neutered and sexually intact cats. Animals--12 male and 12 female cats Procedure--Male cats were castrated (castrated male [CM]) or underwent no surgical procedure (sexually intact male [IM]). Female cats underwent ovariectomy (spayed female [SF]) or laparotomy and ligation of both uterine tubes without ovary removal (sexually intact female [IF]). Cats were fed either the low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet for 26 weeks, with the final allocation consisting of 8 groups: IF-LF, IF-HF, SFLF, SFHF, IM-LF, IM-HF, CM-LF, and CM-HE Mean food intake for each group was recorded daily, and body weight was monitored weekly throughout the study. Body composition and TEE were measured before surgery in week 0 and at the end of the study (week 26) by isotope dilution (double-labelled water). Results--Neutered cats gained significantly more body fat and body weight (53.80 ± 5.79%) than sexually intact cats (27.11 ± 5.79%) during the study. Body weight gain of neutered cats fed the HF diet was greater than those fed the LF diet. Following correction for body composition, TEE was similar in all groups and no pattern towards increased food intake was evident. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Weight gain in neutered cats was decreased by feeding an LF, low energy-dense diet. To prevent weight gain in cats after neutering, a suitable LF diet should be fed in carefully controlled meals rather than ad libitum. (Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1708-1713). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the relationship between electrolyte apparent absorption and fecal quality in adult dogs differing in body size by researchers from France. Presentation of diversity on body weight and size of the domestic dog among other mammalian species; Evaluation on the potential physiological consequences in relation to the extreme variation; Indications that large-breed dogs have higher fecal water content and greater frequency of soft feces compared with small-breed dogs.

We previously demonstrated improvements of colonic lesions due to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats after 7 d of supplementation with resistant starch (RS) type 3, a substrate yielding high levels of butyrate (C(4)), a colonic cell fuel source. In the present study, we hypothesized that if inflammation is related to decreased C(4) utilization by the colonic mucosa, RS supplementation should restore C(4) use simultaneously with an increase in the amount of C(4) present in the digestive tract. Hence, we compared, in vivo, the cecocolonic uptake of C(4) and its oxidation into CO(2) and ketone bodies in control and DSS-treated rats fed a fiber-free basal diet (BD) or a RS-supplemented diet. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 60) were used. DSS treatment was performed to induce acute colitis and then to maintain chronic colitis. After cecal infusion of [1-(13)C]-C(4) (20 micro mol in 1 h), concentrations and (13)C-enrichment of C(4), ketone bodies, and CO(2) were quantified in the abdominal aorta and portal vein. Portal blood flow was recorded. During acute colitis, (13)C(4) uptake and (13)CO(2) production were lower in DSS rats than in controls. During chronic colitis, DSS rats did not differ from controls. After 7 d of chronic colitis, RS-DSS rats exhibited the same C(4) uptake as BD-DSS rats in spite of higher C(4) cecocolonic disposal. After 14 d, C(4) uptake was higher in RS-DSS than in BD-DSS rats. Thus, the increased utilization of C(4) by the mucosa is subsequent to evidence of healing and appears to be a consequence rather than a cause of this RS healing effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postprandial hyperglycemia and insulin secretion depend on many factors, such as food composition, carbohydrate type and processing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of foods differing in composition in nonobese clinically normal dogs. These dogs were offered in a single meal one of the four foods. Blood samples were collected before feeding and during the 180 min after the meal. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were determined. The integrated areas under the postprandial glucose and insulin response curves were calculated. Times to response peaks, maximum plasma insulin elevation, area under the insulin response curve and the insulinemic index differed between dog foods. Crude fiber content had no significant effect. The time to glucose peak was higher and the time to insulin peak lower with the food highest in protein and ether extract content. The time to glucose peak was correlated to protein, fat and nitrogen-free extract content of foods, whereas the time to insulin peak and the area under the insulin curve were correlated to protein and nitrogen-free extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comparative study on insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and plasma leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in cats fed diets differing in protein and carbohydrate content. The study utilized normal-weight cats and were assessed with insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion, plasma leptin and IGF-1 level. Findings show that high protein diet do not affect insulin sensitivity or insulin secretion in reaction to glucose in normal-weight cats and present lower IGF-1 level in opposition to results from previous studies. Furthermore, plasma leptin is consistent with the normal weight of the cats. However, further analysis is needed to obtain specific results on the effects of diets on metabolic equilibrium of glucose in cats.

Examines the effects of high protein intake in nonobese neutered cats by researchers from France. Influence of dietary composition on lean body mass in the cat models; Induction of weight loss with the administration of high-protein diets; Determination on the effect of a limited energy intake of a high-protein diet on the body composition.

Studies on the gastric emptying rate of different dog breeds by researchers from France. Relationship between gastric emptying rate and body weight in different canine body sizes; Tendency for large and giant breeds of dog to defecate more frequently with poor quality of feces when fed with an identical diet to smaller breeds; Efforts of the researchers to gain insight as to the effect of body size on fecal variables in otherwise healthy dogs.

Presents a study that evaluated body composition in dogs by isotopic dilution. Techniques used for evaluation of body composition; List of isotopes that are commonly used as water labels; Experimental procedures; Results and discussion.