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Background: Incorporation of bentonite into the diets of ruminants can be helpful to maximize their performance. Modifying the structure of bentonite to nano and nanocomposite has improved their chemical stability and physicochemical properties, enhancing adsorption, absorption, and cation exchange capacity. Aims: This study aimed to assess the effect of magnetic bentonite nanocomposite (MBNC) on in vivo and in vitro fermentation process patterns, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of Baluchi male lambs. Methods: Effects of control (basal diet), natural bentonite (NB) (10 g/kg dry matter (DM)), processed bentonite (PB) (5 and 10 g/kg DM basal diet), and MBNC (5 and 10 g/kg DM basal diet) on gas production (GP), and the fermentation process were determined using in vitro GP technique. For the in vivo experiment, 20 Baluchi male lambs were used with 4 experimental treatments: control, NB (5 g/kg DM), PB (5 g/kg DM), and MBNC (5 g/kg DM) and 5 replications in a completely randomized design for 60 consecutive days. Results: The potential for GP and its fractional rates were significantly decreased and increased in MBNC, respectively (P<0.01). The lowest cumulative GP, and CH4 yield were observed in MBNC (P<0.05). In vitro, DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility and all fermentation parameters increased with the addition of two levels of MBNC to the culture medium (P<0.01). Except for feed conversion ratio (FCR), other growth performance parameters increased with the addition of MBNC to the diet (P<0.01). The ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), acetate, and propionate significantly increased when MBNC incorporated to the diet (P<0.01). The NH3-N (P<0.001) was significantly decreased in MBNC. The bentonite supplementation decreased acetate to propionate (P=0.001) compared to the control. Conclusion: Adding MBNC at the 5 g/kg diet DM level can be used as a useful supplement to optimize rumen fermentation pattern, reduce methane production, and increase lamb performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bentonite is considered the most effective adsorbent for aflatoxin (AF) decontamination, and recent studies have shown that changing its structure in nano form improves its physicochemical properties and chemical stability. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of bentonites as binders on performance, plasma metabolites, and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) levels in contaminated milk of Baluchi ewes. The study was conducted with 12 ewes randomly assigned to four different experimental diets. The experimental diets were: (1) control (the basal diet had no supplements and contained bakery waste naturally contaminated with AF); (2) control diet supplemented with natural bentonite (NB) (5 g/kg DM); (3) control diet supplemented with modified bentonite (MB) (5 g/kg DM) and (4) control diet supplemented with magnetic bentonite nanocomposite (MBNC) (5 g/kg DM). The study found that adding bentonite clays to the diet of ewes resulted in increased milk yield (P<0.01) and milk components (P<0.01) such as fat, protein, lactose, total solids, and solids not fat. The highest milk yield and milk components were observed in the MBNC treatment. However, there was no significant difference in glucose, urea, cholesterol, albumin, globulin, and total protein among the diets (P>0.05). The study also found that increasing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) intake resulted in a decreased carryover of AFB1 into AFM1 (P<0.01), with MBNC having the lowest carryover compared to other treatments (P<0.01). These results suggest that modification of bentonite structure in nanocomposite form improves chemical stability, physicochemical properties, and efficiency as novel toxin binders for crops and animal products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential of some rangeland plants by in vitro gas production kinetics and ruminal fermentation parameters in the Torbat-e Jam region using a meta-analysis approach. A comprehensive literature searches in the scientific databases was carried out to identify studies that investigated the variables of interest. The data analyzed were extracted from 13 peer-reviewed publications. The effect size of all outcomes was reported as a standardized means difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Q test and I² were calculated to determine the heterogeneity, and a metaregression was also used to investigate sources of heterogeneity. A significant increase for 24 h in vitro gas production (IVGP) was observed (P<0.01). Among the estimated gas parameters, potential GP (bgas) and fractional rate of GP (cgas) were increased significantly (P<0.05). Also, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (P<0.05), microbial protein yield (MPY) (P<0.01), and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (P<0.01) of culture medium were increased. The values of I² (>50) and Q (P<0.05) for 24 h IVGP, bgas, cgas, SCFA, MPY and NH3-N indicated high heterogeneity. No publication bias was found for 24 h IVGP, bgas, and SCFA. With the evaluation of funnel plots, only one study on the right of each plot indicates publication bias for cgas, MPY, and NH3-N. A strong regression relation (P<0.01) between some chemical compositions (dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber) and MPY and NH3-N was suggested from meta-regression analysis. In conclusion, the current meta-analysis confirmed that there were differences in fermentation parameters among all rangeland plants. However, all plants species had a relatively high potential nutritive value. According to the reported fermentation parameters, it seems that most of the Torbat-e Jam rangeland plants species have high nutritional value in small ruminant feeding. More in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to assess the other nutritive values and their effects on animal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune/inflammatory condition. Approximately 15–20% of patients develop symptoms before their 18th birthday and are diagnosed with juvenile-onset SLE (JSLE). Gender distribution, clinical presentation, disease courses and outcomes vary significantly between JSLE patients and individuals with adult-onset SLE. This study aimed to identify age-specific clinical and/or serological patterns in JSLE patients enrolled to the UK JSLE Cohort Study. Methods: Patient records were accessed and grouped based on age at disease-onset: pre-pubertal (≤7 years), peri-pubertal (8–13 years) and adolescent (14–18 years). The presence of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria, laboratory results, disease activity [British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2 K) scores] and damage [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index] were evaluated at diagnosis and last follow up. Results: A total of 418 JSLE patients were included in this study: 43 (10.3%) with pre-pubertal disease onset; 240 (57.4%) with peri-pubertal onset and 135 (32.3%) were diagnosed during adolescence. At diagnosis, adolescent JSLE patients presented with a higher number of ACR criteria when compared with pre-pubertal and peri-pubertal patients [pBILAG2004 scores: 9(4–20] vs. 7(3–13] vs. 7(3–14], respectively, p = 0.015] with increased activity in the following BILAG domains: mucocutaneous (p = 0.025), musculoskeletal (p = 0.029), renal (p = 0.027) and cardiorespiratory (p = 0.001). Furthermore, adolescent JSLE patients were more frequently ANA-positive (p = 0.034) and exhibited higher anti-dsDNA titres (p = 0.001). Pre-pubertal individuals less frequently presented with leukopenia (p = 0.002), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.004) or low complement (p = 0.002) when compared with other age groups. No differences were identified in disease activity (pBILAG2004 score), damage (SLICC damage index) and the number of ACR criteria fulfilled at last follow up. Conclusions: Disease presentations and laboratory findings vary significantly between age groups within a national cohort of JSLE patients. Patients diagnosed during adolescence exhibit greater disease activity and "classic" autoantibody, immune cell and complement patterns when compared with younger patients. This supports the hypothesis that pathomechanisms may vary between patient age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is more severe than adult-onset disease, including more lupus nephritis (LN). Despite differences in phenotype/pathogenesis, treatment is based upon adult trials. This study aimed to compare treatment response, damage accrual, time to inactive LN and subsequent flare, in JSLE LN patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCYC). Methods: UK JSLE Cohort Study participants, ≤16 years at diagnosis, with ≥4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE, with class III or IV LN, were eligible. Mann–Whitney U tests, Fisher's exact test and Chi-squared tests were utilized for statistical analysis. Results: Of the patients, 34/51 (67%) received MMF, and 17/51 (33%) received IVCYC. No significant differences were identified at 4–8 and 10–14 months post-renal biopsy and last follow-up, in terms of renal British Isles Lupus Assessment Grade scores, urine albumin/creatinine ratio, serum creatinine, ESR, anti-dsDNA antibody, C3 levels and patient/physician global scores. Standardized Damage Index scores did not differ between groups at 13 months or at last follow-up. Inactive LN was attained 262 (141–390) days after MMF treatment, and 151 (117–305) days following IVCYC (p = 0.17). Time to renal flare was 451 (157–1266) days for MMF, and 343 (198–635) days for IVCYC (p = 0.47). Conclusion: This is the largest study to date investigating induction treatments for proliferative LN in children, demonstrating comparability of MMF and IVCYC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) group proposed revised classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLICC-2012 criteria). This study aimed to compare these criteria with the well-established American College of Rheumatology classification criteria (ACR-1997 criteria) in a national cohort of juvenileonset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) patients and evaluate how patients' classification criteria evolved over time. Methods: Data from patients in the UK JSLE Cohort Study with a senior clinician diagnosis of probable evolving, or definite JSLE, were analyzed. Patients were assessed using both classification criteria within 1 year of diagnosis and at latest follow up (following a minimum 12-month follow-up period). Results: A total of 226 patients were included. The SLICC-2012 was more sensitive than ACR-1997 at diagnosis (92.9% versus 84.1% p < 0.001) and after follow up (100% versus 92.0% p < 0.001). Most patients meeting the SLICC-2012 criteria and not the ACR-1997 met more than one additional criterion on the SLICC-2012. Conclusions: The SLICC-2012 was better able to classify patients with JSLE than the ACR-1997 and did so at an earlier stage in their disease course. SLICC-2012 should be considered for classification of JSLE patients in observational studies and clinical trial eligibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out to evaluate how interactions between forage to concentrate ratio and dietary crude protein level may alter nitrogen efficiency and UT-B expression in growing Baluchi male lambs. Four Baluchi male lambs [30 ± 2 kg BW] were used in a 4 x 4 latin square design with 28-d periods and a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. The treatments fed forage: concentrate [FC; DM basis] ratios of 45:55 low concentrate (LC) or 25:75 high concentrate (HC) with dietary levels of CP of 14 low protein (LP) or 18% high protein (HP) [CP, DM basis]. Dry matter intake increased as dietary concentrate level increased. Treatments, dietary CP content and F: C ratio had significant effect on CP intake. Increasing dietary N content of the diet increased dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) digestibility. Forage to concentrate ratio had a significant effect on neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and OM digestibility. Treatments had significant effect on the CP, NDF and OM digestibility. There were an interaction between dietary CP content and F: C ratio on the ruminal pH, NH3-N concentration, individual volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, acetate: propionate ratio and BUN concentration. Except ruminal pH, all ruminal fermentation and blood metabolite factors were affected by both dietary CP content and F: C ratio in trial. Treatments had significant influence on the NI (g/d) and urinary N excretion (g/d) (% of N intake). Also, both dietary CP content and F: C ratio had significant effect on NI. The lambs consume high crude protein treatments tended to have greater urinary N excretion (g/d) than those consume low crude protein treatments. The F: C ratio had a significant effect on urinary N excretion (g/d). Approximately 6.56 times more UT-B was expressed by the rumen ventral sac for lambs on the treatments contain 18% crude protein relative to those on the treatments contain 14% crude protein. In conclusion this study shows that changes in characteristic of the diet produce significant changes in UT-B urea transporter expression within the ovine rumen. Changing urea entry into the GIT via dietary regulation of UT-B could serve as important mechanism to maintenance of nitrogen balance and increase nitrogen efficiency in Baluchi growing lambs. Our findings suggest that the dietary regulation of urea transporters plays a major role in altering urea entry into the gastrointestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Click here for the corresponding questions to this CME article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Alloimmunization with the prevalence rate of 60% is a common problem in chronically transfused patients. This problem has been reported to be less common in transfused hospital-based patients, amounting to 1-2 percent. Alloimmunization can lead to some difficulty varying from delay in the provision of similar blood types to delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The aim of this study was to analyze alloimmunization against RBCs among non-chronically transfused patients in Namazi Hospital in Shiraz. Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis of 3487 non-chronically transfused patients was conducted with antibody screening test and identification of patients' alloantibodies with the panel cell test. For patients with alloantibody, the data for sex, age, and history of transfusion and surgery were collected. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software v. 15 using chi-square (CI= 95%). Results Twenty-eight out of 3487 patients had alloantibody (prevalence rate of 0.8%). The most common clinically significant alloantibodies found were anti-K (23%), anti- E (15%) and anti-C (11%). The most common clinically significant alloantibodies identified in males and females were anti-K and anti-C, respectively. Conclusions Alloantibody prevalence rate did not show any correlation with age and sex and was more common in patients with surgery history and transfusion record. Important factors contributing to the higher prevalence of the above alloantibodies are the higher prevalence of the related antigens in the population, higher antigenicity power, and the lack of crossmatch and grouping for the antigens before blood transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fish finger produced from mince and surimi of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) as well as the changes in chemical, microbial and sensory quality of the during product process were examined. The moisture content in the fish fingers produced from mince (FFm) and surimi (FFs) was reduced from 76.65 to 66.10 % and from 83.76 to 70.08 %, respectively (p<0.05). The Ash and fat content increased signiicantly in both kinds of fish finger. The increase in the protein content was only signiicant in ish inger produced by surimi. The protein content in surimi-based ish inger increased from 10.85% to 12.09%. There was also a signiicant decrease in TBC, TC and E. coli during the production process of both ish ingers (p<0.05). There were no signiicant difference in sensory parameters of odor, taste and texture, but the difference in color and general acceptability of both groups was significant (p<0.05). The Overall mean score of sensory evaluation of ish ingers produced from surimi was higher than ish ingers produced from mince. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]