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We have investigated novel GeO2–SiO2glass scintillators doped with Dy3+ions. The conventional melt-quenching technique prepares germanosilicate glass scintillators. Optical and physical properties of the samples are measured, such as X-ray diffraction and glass transition temperature. We used different radiation sources, including LED, X-ray, and proton beams, to investigate the luminescence characteristics of the germanosilicate glass scintillator. We measured the transmittance spectra to comprehend the absorption state. Further research into the transition states of the Dy3+doped glass scintillator involves the measurement of the X-ray, LED, and proton-induced emission spectra.

The preadipocyte-to-adipocyte differentiation (adipogenesis) is a key process in fat mass increase and thus it is regarded as a compelling target for preventing or treating obesity. Of adipogenic hormone receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has crucial roles in adipogenesis and lipid accumulation within adipocytes. Here we demonstrate that the NEDD8 (neuronal precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 8)-based post-translation modification (neddylation) of PPARγ is essential for adipogenesis. During adipogenesis, NEDD8 is robustly induced in preadipocytes and conjugates with PPARγ, leading to PPARγ stabilization. When the neddylation process was blocked by NEDD8-targeting siRNAs (or viral vectors) or an inhibitor MLN4924, adipocyte differentiation and fat tissue development were substantially impaired. We also demonstrate that MLN4924 effectively prevents the high-fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in mice. This study provides a better understanding of how the PPARγ signaling pathway starts and lasts during adipogenesis and a potential anti-obesity strategy that targets the neddylation of PPARγ.

Opuntia humifusaRaf. (O. humifusaRaf.) is a member of the Cactaceae family. To determine the antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory effects of this herb, various solvent fractions (methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water) prepared from the leaves of cacti were tested using DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐l‐picrylhydrazyl radical) and xanthine oxidase assays, and nitric oxide (NO)‐producing macrophage cells. We found that O. humifusaRaf. displayed potent antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory activity. Thus, all solvent fractions, except for the water layer, showed potent scavenging effects. The scavenging effect of the ethyl acetate fraction was higher than that of the other fractions, with IC50 values of 3.6 and 48.2 μg mL−1. According to activity‐guided fractionation, one of the active radical scavenging principles in the ethyl acetate fraction was found to be quercetin. In contrast, only two fractions (chloroform and ethyl acetate) significantly suppressed nitric oxide production from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions significantly blocked the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) from the RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Moreover, ethyl acetate fractions significantly blocked the expression of IL‐1β from the RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Therefore, the results suggested that O. humifusaRaf. may modulate radical‐induced toxicity via both direct scavenging activity and the inhibition of reactive species generation, and the modulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Finally, O. humifusaRaf. may be useful as a functional food or drug against reactive species‐mediated disease.

Opuntia humifusaRaf. (O. humifusaRaf.) is a member of the Cactaceae family. To determine the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of this herb, various solvent fractions (methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water) prepared from the leaves of cacti were tested using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl radical) and xanthine oxidase assays, and nitric oxide (NO)-producing macrophage cells. We found that O. humifusaRaf. displayed potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, all solvent fractions, except for the water layer, showed potent scavenging effects. The scavenging effect of the ethyl acetate fraction was higher than that of the other fractions, with IC50 values of 3.6 and 48.2 μg mL−1. According to activity-guided fractionation, one of the active radical scavenging principles in the ethyl acetate fraction was found to be quercetin. In contrast, only two fractions (chloroform and ethyl acetate) significantly suppressed nitric oxide production from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions significantly blocked the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from the RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Moreover, ethyl acetate fractions significantly blocked the expression of IL-1β from the RAW264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Therefore, the results suggested that O. humifusaRaf. may modulate radical-induced toxicity via both direct scavenging activity and the inhibition of reactive species generation, and the modulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Finally, O. humifusaRaf. may be useful as a functional food or drug against reactive species-mediated disease.

Five dihydrobenzofuran neolignans, woorenosides I (1), II (2), III (3), IV (4), and V (5), isolated from Coptis japonica (Ranunculaceae), suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (ΝΟ) production, as well as lymphocyte proliferation triggered by inflammatory signals such as various mitogens, in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that the woorenosides strongly inhibit the mitogenic response by activated macrophage and lymphocytes and suggest that these compounds may participate in regulating inflammatory processes.

Abstract: The essential features of the Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method, and of the Local Boundary Integral Equation (LBIE) method, are critically examined from the points of view of a non-element interpolation of the field variables, and of the meshless numerical integration of the weak form to generate the stiffness matrix. As truly meshless methods, the MLPG and the LBIE methods hold a great promise in computational mechanics, because these methods do not require a mesh, either to construct the shape functions, or to integrate the Petrov-Galerkin weak form. The characteristics of various meshless interpolations, such as the moving least square, Shepard function, and partition of unity, as candidates for trial and test functions are investigated, and the advantages and disadvantages are pointed out. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics of the global forms of the nodal trial and test functions, which are non-zero only over local sub-domains Ωtr J and Ωte I , respectively. These nodal trial and test functions are centered at the nodes J and I (which are the centers of the domains Ωtr J and Ωte I ), respectively, and, in general, vanish at the boundaries ∂Ωtr J and ∂Ωte I of Ωtr J and Ωte I , respectively. The local domains Ωtr J and Ωte I can be of arbitrary shapes, such as spheres, rectangular parallelopipeds, and ellipsoids, in 3-Dimensional geometries. The sizes of Ωtr J and Ωte I can be arbitrary, different from each other, and different for each J, and I, in general. It is shown that the LBIE is but a special form of the MLPG, if the nodal test functions are specifically chosen so as to be the modified fundamental solutions to the differential equations in Ωte I , and to vanish at the boundary ∂Ωte I . The difficulty in the numerical integration of the weak form, to generate the stiffness matrix, is discussed, and a new integration method is proposed. In this new method, the Ith row in the stiffness matrix is generated by integrating over the fixed sub-domain Ωte I (which is the support for the test function centered at node I); or, alternatively the entry K I J in the global stiffness matrix is generated by integrating over the intersections of the sub-domain Ωtr J (which is the sub-domain, with node J as its center, and over which the trial function is non-zero), with Ωte I (which is the sub-domain centered at node I over which the test function is non-zero). The generality of the MLPG method is emphasized, and it is pointed that the MLPG can also be the basis of a Galerkin method that leads to a symmetric stiffness matrix. This paper also points out a new but elementary method, to satisfy the essential boundary conditions exactly, in the MLPG method, while using meshless interpolations of the MLS type. This paper presents a critical appraisal of the basic frameworks of the truly meshless MLPG/LBIE methods, and the numerical examples show that the MLPG approach gives good results. It now apears that the MLPG method may replace the well-known Galerkin finite element method (GFEM) as a general tool for numerical modeling, in the not too distant a future.

Abstract: In this paper, the conventional moving least squares interpolation scheme is generalized, to incorporate the information concerning the derivative of the field variable into the interpolation scheme. By using this generalized moving least squares interpolation, along with the MLPG (Meshless Local Petrov–Galerkin) paradigm, a new numerical approach is proposed to deal with 4th order problems of thin beams. Through numerical examples, convergence tests are performed; and problems of thin beams under various loading and boundary conditions are analyzed by the proposed method, and the numerical results are compared with analytical solutions.

A mixture of endo- and exo-Cp2TaH(CH2&dbd;CHMe) (1a) and catecholborane (HBCat, Cat = 1,2-O2C6H4) reacted to give endo-Cp2TaH2(BCat) (2a) and n-PrBCat as the major products. Small quantities of exo-2a are also formed during the reaction. When the reaction was monitored by ¹H NMR, the resonances for endo-1a were diminished relative to exo-1a, and eventually all of the olefin complex was consumed. The analogous reaction employing DBCat led to deuterium incorporation at the α-methylene position of n-PrBCat and the deuteride positions of 2a. The alkylborane and deuteride resonances in the ²H NMR spectrum integrated in a 40:60 ratio. ¹H NMR spectra indicate the α-methylene integration in n-PrBCat-d0-1 is depleted by 50% of its normal value. A mechanism involving borane attack on a propylidene hydride intermediate is invoked to account for the labeling results. A mixture of endo- and exo-Cp2NbH(CH2&dbd;CHMe) (1b) reacts with HBCat to generate n-PrBCat, propane, propylene, Cp2NbH2BCat (2b), and Cp2NbH(BCat)2 (3). The Markovnikov hydroboration product, i-PrBCat was not detected. Cp2NbH(BCat)2 was isolated as lemon-yellow crystals in 21% yield by fractional crystallization from toluene. ¹H NMR indicates inequivalent boryl environments in compound 3, and two distinct boron resonances at δ 65 (Δν1/2 = 250 Hz) and δ 60 (Δν1/2 = 210 Hz) were resolved in the ¹¹B NMR spectrum (C6D6, 60 °C). ¹H{¹¹B} spectra and isotopic labeling experiments indicated coupling between the niobium hydride and the ¹¹B resonance at δ 60. Reaction of 1b with DBCat gave 2b-d2, 3-d, propane-d0-2 and n-PrBCat-d0-2. The deuteride resonance in 3-d is shifted to higher field by 180 ppb relative to the hydride shift in compound 3. The chemical shift of the hydride resonance in compound 3 was temperature independent between −80 and 25 °C (THF-d8).Compound 3 was crystallized as a yellow acetone solvate, and its molecular structure was determined. The Nb center lies on a C2 axis, and the chemically inequivalent boryl groups are symmetry related. An Nb−B distance of 2.29(1) Å was found for compound 3, and the hydride position could not be reliably located. At low temperature the reaction between exo- and endo-1b with HBCat generates a persistent intermediate, 4, as the major Cp-containing component. ¹H NMR spectra indicated two new hydride resonances reaction δ −4.40 and δ −6.00, and ¹H{¹¹B} spectra demonstrated that the resonance at δ −6.00 is coupled to boron. A NOESY spectrum revealed a cross-peak between the two hydride positions of intermediate 4. Generation of 4-d1 from DBCat and exo- and endo-1b proved that the hydride resonance at δ −6.00 arises from the borane. The deuteride resonance in 4-d is shifted to higher field by 210 ppb relative to the hydride shift in compound 4. A modest temperature dependence for the hydride chemical shifts was observed between −50 and 50 °C (toluene-d8). Intermediate 4 isomerizes to endo-2b, and reacts with CO (100 psi at 25 °C) to give the carbonyl compound, Cp2NbH(CO), and HBCat. Small quantities of intermediate 4 could be generated by heating a solution of endo-2b. An equilibrium constant could not be accurately determined. On the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical reactivity, the structure exo-Cp2NbH(η²-HBCat) was assigned to intermediate 4.

The modulation of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in response to alkyl sulfides and alkyl ethers including allyl disulfide (ADS), allyl sulfide (AS), allyl ether (AE), propyl disulfide (PDS), propyl sulfide (PS), propyl ether (PE) and butyl sulfide (BS) was studied. Whereas pretreatment of rats with either ADS or AS (50 mg/kg, 7 days) blocked a CCl4-induced increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity by 91 and 56%, respectively, AE, PDS, PS, PE or BS treatment enhanced CCl4-induced ALT activity by 52, 55, 238, 25 or 86%, respectively. Histochemical examinations supported the results of plasma ALT activity. Injection of GdCl3 to PS-pretreated rats failed to block the potentiated ALT increase, whereas GdCl3 completely prevented vitamin A-enhanced elevation of ALT activity. AS treatment completely blocked PS-potentiated CCl4 intoxication. Concomitant treatment of animals with both PS and vitamin A followed by a CCl4 insult resulted in super-potentiation of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, suggesting that the mechanism of PS-enhanced hepatotoxicity differs from that caused by vitamin A. Pyridine or phenobarbital potentiation of CCl4-induced increases in ALT activity implys that cytochrome P450 2E1 (P450 2E1) and P450 2B expression may be associated with the increased toxicity. P450 2E1 expression appeared to be associated with the alkyl sulfide-modulated hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by both immunoblot analyses and metabolic activity. P450 2B immunoblot analysis revealed that either AS or PS substantially induced hepatic P450 2B1/2 levels. Thus, PS-enhanced CCL4 hepatotoxicity may be related in part with P450 2B induction. ADS, AS or PS treatment caused increases in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) conjugating activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene. ADS, AS or PS induced Ya and Yb1 subunits by 2- to 3-fold. ADS or AS treatment also significantly elevated the levels of Yc subunits. PS failed to induce Yc expression, although this agent effectively increased Yb2 expression. Northern blot analyses revealed that ADS and AS concomitantly stimulated GST Ya, Yb1 and Yc2 gene expression, whereas PS increased the levels of Ya, Yb1, and Yb2 mRNA, but not Yc2 mRNA levels. The expression of GST subunit Yc2 in response to these compounds might be associated with hepatoprotective effects. These results demonstrate that ADS and AS have distinct capability of blocking CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, whereas certain saturated alkyl sulfides rather potentiate CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and that the underlying mechanism is associated with P450 2E1 and P450 2B expression, and possibly with certain GST expression.

A protocol for performing Rh catalyzed aromatic borylations in cyclohexane has been devised. Borylation at the 5-position of several 1,3-substituted aromatic species ranging from electron-rich (1,3-(NMe2)2C6H4) to electron-deficient (1,3-(CF3)2C6H4) yields the corresponding aryl boronate esters. Veratrole was selectively borylated at the 4-position, thus extending regioselectivity to 1,2-substituted benzenes. Selective borylation at the 3-position of an N-protected pyrrole has also been demonstrated, providing a valuable reagent for cross-coupling reactions in a single step.

Kinetic parameters for the unimolecular thermal isomerizations of methylcyclopropane to four isomeric butenes have been determined from rate constant measurements over a wide range of temperatures, 695−1154 K, using a single-pulse shock tube and a static reactor. For the overall reaction, Ea = 64.4 ± 0.3 and log(A, s^-1) = 15.37 ± 0.07, values consistent with earlier studies at lower temperatures. The measured rate constants for the isomerization to cis- and trans-2-butene give Ea = 63.3 ± 0.3 and 64.9 ± 0.3 kcal/mol, and log(A, s^-1) = 14.60 ± 0.07 and 14.75 ± 0.06, respectively, values in good agreement with the thermochemically based predictions of O'Neal and Benson. The similarity of kinetic parameters for the two reactions is consistent with the formation of the two 2-butenes through a common diradical intermediate. Kinetic data for 1-butene and 2-methylpropene formation are well represented by Ea = 64.5 ± 0.5 and 66.4 ± 0.2 kcal/mol and log(A, s^-1) = 15.02 ± 0.11 and 14.81 ± 0.05. The higher Ea for 2-methylpropene formation compared with Ea for the production of 1-butene, and of cis- and trans-2-butene, is due to the higher energy required to break the C(2)−C(3) bond compared with the methyl-substituted C(1)−C(2) bond.

Abstract: We report three cases of small bowel angioedema that showed circumferential wall thickening of the small bowel loops during infusion of iodinated contrast media. Follow-up small bowel series or computed tomography confirmed the normalized small bowel loops. When significant wall thickening of the long segment of the small bowel during infusion of contrast media is seen, radiologists should consider the possibility of isolated small bowel angioedema in spite of its rarity.

We report on the findings at color and power Doppler US in 2 cases of Krukenberg tumor. Power Doppler US may suggest a Krukenberg tumor when it shows a relatively prominent vascular signal along the wall of well-demarcated intramural cysts in a solid ovarian mass

Serous surface papillary carcinoma (SSPC) is a malignant tumor originating from the surface epithelium of the ovary, and is characterized by macroscopic normal ovaries accompanied by diffuse peritoneal dissemination. Therefore diagnosis of SSPC cannot usually be made preoperatively. We report on two cases of SSPC in which US, CT, and MR demonstrated nodularities along the surface of the normal-sized ovaries, adjacent organs and pelvic peritoneum in addition to findings of peritoneal seeding. These imaging findings may suggest the correct preoperative diagnosis of SSPC.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of protease on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. A total of 96 pigs (initial BW of 69.82 ± 2.30 kg; equal number of barrows and gilts) were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments (8 pigs/replicate; 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (BW as a block). Dietary treatments were 1) a diet based on corn, soybean meal, and wheat (CON) and 2) CON + 0.02% protease (PRO). The protease was a commercial product (Ronozyme®ProAct, DSM Nutritional Products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Bacillus licheniformis. Pigs were fed their respective diets for 6 weeks. All pigs were housed in environmentally controlled pens with free access to diets and water throughout the entire experiment period. After 6 weeks, pigs were fasted with only free access to water for 4 h and final BW of pigs was recorded prior to transportation. Pigs were transferred to a local commercial slaughter facility with a conventional scalding-singeing process. Measurements were growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. All data were analyzed using the PROC GLM procedure of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement included dietary effect and BW as a covariate. There was no difference in ADG between CON and PRO (0.891 vs. 0.929 kg/d). However, pigs fed PRO had lower ADFI (2.92 vs. 3.29 kg/d, P< 0.05) and higher G:F ratio (0.319 vs. 0. 271 kg/kg, P< 0.05) than those fed CON. No differences were found in hot carcass weight (83.55 vs. 82.81 kg), dressing percentage (76.94 vs. 77.07%), final backfat depth (17.20 vs. 16.73 mm), and fat free lean (58.13 vs. 57.99%) between CON and PRO. In conclusion, addition of protease in finisher pig diets increased feed efficiency but did not affect carcass characteristics.

The present study was conducted to evaluate effects of multigrain carbohydrases (DSM Nutrition Korea Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea) on productive performance and white blood cells of lactating sows. A total of 12 sows (218.37 ± 5.5 kg BW; 2 parity) were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments: a diet based on corn–soybean meal (CON) and CON supplemented with 0.01% multigrain carbohydrase (MCS). The MCS contained xylanase (2,700 units/g), glucanase (700 units/g), and cellulase (800 units/g). Sows were fed the dietary treatments for 28 d (weaning) after farrowing. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 0, 3, and 7 after farrowing and 2 randomly selected nursing piglets in each sow on d 3, 7, and 14 after birth. Measurements were performances and number of white blood cells (WBC) of sows and litter by an automated hematology analyzer calibrated for porcine blood and frequency of diarrhea of litter. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement except frequency of diarrhea included dietary effect and parity as a covariate. The χ2test was used for the frequency of diarrhea. Sows fed MCS had less BW change during lactation (−7.85 vs. −15.47 kg; P< 0.05) than those fed CON, but ADFI and backfat depth change of sows was not different between CON and MCS. Nursing piglets from sows fed MCS had greater ADG during lactation (210.91 vs. 183.49 g/d; P< 0.05) than those from sows fed CON. However, no differences were found on preweaning mortality and frequency of diarrhea of nursing piglets from sows fed either CON or MCS. Sows fed MCS had lower WBC on d 3 after farrowing (11.36 vs. 13.70 103/µL; P< 0.05) than those fed CON. Moreover, nursing piglets from sows fed MCS had lower WBC on d 7 after birth (13.22 vs. 17.77 103/µL; P< 0.05) than those from sows fed CON. In conclusion, addition of multigrain carbohydrase in the lactation diet decreased BW change of sows and increased ADG of their litter.

Background: The attainment of the primary (low density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C) and the secondary (non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol; non-HDL) lipid therapeutic targets may depend on several potential factors. Our aim was assess the associations between ultrasound fat indexes, lipid levels and the lipid goals attainment in high and very high cardiovascular (CV) risk patients. Methods: Four hundred twenty (n=420) patients (F/M=146/274; age=61 ± 7 y.o.) with high (43%) or very high (57%) cardiovascular risk and chronic statin treatment (³12 months) were enrolled into the study. Obesity measures (body-mass index, BMI; bioelectrical impedance body fat; BF, waist circumference, WC, body adiposity index; BAI), serum levels of lipids (total cholesterol–TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglycerides–TG) and goal lipid levels (LDL-C and non-HDL-C) according to the CV risk were determined in all patients. The following ultrasound fat parameters were used in the study: intraabdominal fat (IAT), preperitoneal fat thickness (PreFT), epicardial (EFT) and pericardial (PFT) fat thickness and were indexed to BMI. Results: Our study patients had 5.2 ± 1.7 CV risk factors (80% hypertension, 32% diabetes, 59% metabolic syndrome), 49% were obese, 63% had high BF% and 85% had increased waist circumference (F>80 or M>94cm). All the patients were on a long-term statin treatment (rosuvastatin, atorvastatin or simvastatin). The attainment of the target lipid levels in the study group was as follows: LDL-C–34%, non-HDL-C–39%, both LDL-C and non-HDL-C 31%. Mean fat parameters in the study group were as follows: IAT–76.4 ± 26mm, PreFT–23.3 ± 6.5mm, EFT–3.5 ± 1.5mm and PFT–8.6 ± 3.8mm. Patients with LDL-C goal attainment had significantly higher BAI (34.6 ± 33 vs 30.5 ± 7, p=0.04), but significantly lower IAT/BMI (2.35 ± 0.7 vs 2.51 ± 0.7, p<0.05) with no differences in other clinical (BMI, BF%, WC) and ultrasound (PreFT/BMI, EFT/BMI, PFT/BMI) indexes. The LDL-C goal achievement revealed inverse association with IAT/BMI (r=-0.15, p<0.05) and no associations with PreFT/BMI, EFT/BMI or PFT/BMI. Multivariable regression analysis revealed independent association between IAT/BMI and the LDL-C goal achievement. Conclusions: Intraabdominal fat thickness representing visceral adipose tissue is inversely associated with the LDL-C goal attainment independently from general obesity. It may help to identify individuals requiring more aggressive management of dylipidaemia.

This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of dietary protease on gut microbiota of weaned pigs. A total of 75 weaned pigs (7.06 ± 0.18 kg BW and 28 d old) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (5 pigs/pen and 5 pens/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW). The dietary treatments were 1) a diet based on corn and soybean meal to meet or exceed the requirement of CP as a positive control (PC; CP = 24.17%), 2) a low protein diet as a negative control (NC; CP = 23.51%), and 3) NC + 0.02% protease (PRO). The protease used in this experiment was a commercial product (Ronozyme ProAct; DSM nutrition products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Bacillus licheniformis. The dietary treatments did not include spray dried plasma, fishmeal, zinc oxide, and antibiotics to avoid their antibacterial or physiological effects. Pigs were fed each treatment for 6 wk. Three weaned pigs per dietary treatment were randomly selected to collect feces on the last day of the experiment to verify their gut microbiota by metagenomic analysis with pyrosequencing. The pyrosequencing data was analyzed using CLcommunity program. The PRO treatment increased (P< 0.05) phylum Firmicutes and genus Lactobacillusin gut microbiota of weaned pigs compared with PC or NC. However, PRO decreased (P< 0.05) phylum Bacteroidetes and genera Clostridiumand Streptococcusin gut microbiota of weaned pigs compared with PC or NC. In conclusion, addition of protease in nursery diets modulated gut microbiota of weaned pigs.

This study was conducted to investigate effects of dietary protease on nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. A total of 75 weaned pigs (initial BW = 7.06 ± 0.18 kg; 28 d old) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (5 pigs/pen; 5 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW). The dietary treatments were 1) a diet based on corn and soybean meal to meet or exceed the requirement of crude protein as a positive control (PC; CP = 24.17%), 2) a low protein diet as a negative control (NC; CP = 23.51%), and 3) NC + 0.02% protease (PRO). The protease used in this experiment was a commercial product (Ronozyme® ProAct, DSM nutrition products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Bacillus licheniformis. The dietary treatments did not include spray dried plasma, fishmeal, zinc oxide, and antibiotics to avoid their antibacterial or physiological effects. Pigs were fed each treatment for 6 weeks. For the last week of the experimental period, pigs were fed respective dietary treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Fecal samples from 1 randomly selected pig per replicate were collected daily by rectal palpation for the last 3 days after the 4-day adjustment period. One randomly selected pig per replicate was euthanized to collect ileal digesta at the end of the experiment. Measurements were apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, crude protein, and energy by an index method. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLM procedure of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement included dietary effect and BW as a covariate. Pigs fed PRO and PC had higher (P< 0.05) AID of dry matter (74.36 and 74.88 vs. 68.59%), crude protein (74.71 and 73.71 vs. 68.86%), and energy (77.04 and 76.64 vs. 70.72%) than those fed NC. In addition, pigs fed PRO and PC had higher (P< 0.05) ATTD of dry matter (85.12 and 85.64 vs. 83.77%) and crude protein (79.63 and 79.90 vs. 75.34%) than pigs fed NC, but there was also no difference on ATTD of energy among dietary treatments. In conclusion, the addition of protease in nursery diets with low protein level improved nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs.

This study was conducted to investigate effects of dietary protease on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 96 growing pigs (initial BW 31.57 ± 2.97 kg; equal number of barrows and gilts) were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments (8 pigs/replicate; 6 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (BW as a block). Dietary treatments were 1) a diet based on corn, soybean meal, and wheat (CON) and 2) CON + 0.02% protease (PRO). The protease used in this study was a commercial protease product (Ronozyme® ProAct, DSM Nutritional Products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Bacillus licheniformis. Pigs were fed respective dietary treatments for 6 weeks. For the last week of the experimental period, pigs were fed respective dietary treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Fecal samples from two randomly selected pigs in each pen were collected daily by rectal palpation for the last 3 days after the 4-day adjustment period. Measurements were growth performances and digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy by an index method. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLM procedure of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement included dietary effect and BW as a covariate. Pigs fed PRO had greater ADG (0.944 vs. 0.877 kg/d; P< 0.05) and G:F (0.450 vs. 0.401 kg/kg; P< 0.05) than those fed CON. However, no difference was found in ADFI between CON and PRO (2.16 vs. 2.10 kg/d). In addition, there were no differences in apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (74.90 vs. 79.63%), nitrogen (69.62 vs. 76.23%), and energy (74.04 vs. 79.14%) between CON and PRO. In conclusion, addition of protease in grower diets improved growth performance and did not affect nutrient digestibility in growing pigs.

A study was conducted to determine effects of dietary protease on growth performance and intestinal morphology of weaned pigs. A total of 75 weaned pigs (7.06 ± 0.18 kg BW; 28 d old) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (5 pigs/pen; 5 pens/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW). The dietary treatments were 1) a diet based on corn and soybean meal to meet or exceed the requirement of crude protein as a positive control (PC; CP = 24.17%), 2) a low protein diet as a negative control (NC; CP = 23.51%), and 3) NC + 0.02% protease (PRO). The protease used in this study was a commercial product (Ronozyme® ProAct, DSM nutrition products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Bacillus licheniformis. The dietary treatments did not include spray dried plasma, fishmeal, zinc oxide, and antibiotics to avoid their antibacterial or physiological effects. Pigs were fed respective dietary treatments for 6 weeks. Blood was collected from randomly selected 1 pig per replicate on d 1, 3, 7, and 14 after weaning. Ileum samples were collected from randomly selected 1 pig per replicate at the end of experimental period. Measurements were growth performance, frequency of diarrhea, packed cell volume (PCV) by an automated hematology analyzer calibrated for porcine blood, ileal morphology by the hematoxylin and eosin staining. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLM procedure of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement included dietary effect and BW as a covariate. Pigs fed PRO and PC had higher (P< 0.05) ADG (323 and 322 vs. 220 g/d) and G:F (0.456 and 0.431 vs. 0.304 g/g) during overall experimental period and number of goblet cells (25 and 21 vs. 14) than those fed NC. Pigs fed PRO had higher (P< 0.05) villus height (318 vs. 282 μm) and villus height to crypt depth ratio (3.67 vs. 2.87 μm/μm) than those fed NC, but there was no difference on ileal morphology between PC and PRO. In addition, PRO decreased (P< 0.05) frequency of diarrhea for the first 2 weeks after weaning (16 vs. 36 and 41%) and PCV on d 14 after weaning (32.08 vs. 35.56 and 34.26%) compared with PC and NC. In conclusion, addition of protease in nursery diets with low protein level improved growth performance and decreased frequency of diarrhea of weaned pigs.

This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of dietary protease on immune responses of weaned pigs. A total of 75 weaned pigs (7.06 ± 0.18 kg BW and 28 d old) were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (5 pigs/pen and 5 pens/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW). The dietary treatments were 1) a diet based on corn and soybean meal to meet or exceed the requirement of CP as a positive control (PC; CP = 24.17%), 2) a low-protein diet as a negative control (NC; CP = 23.51%), and 3) NC + 0.02% protease (PRO). The protease used in this experiment was a commercial product (Ronozyme ProAct; DSM nutrition products, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland) containing 75,000 protease units/g derived from Bacillus licheniformis. The dietary treatments did not include spray dried plasma, fishmeal, zinc oxide, and antibiotics to avoid their antibacterial or physiological effects. Pigs were fed each treatment for 6 wk. Blood was collected from 1 randomly selected pig in each pen on d 1, 3, 7, and 14 after weaning. Measurements were number of white blood cells (WBC) by an automated hematology analyzer calibrated for porcine blood and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and C-reactive protein (CRP) by the ELISA. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS. The statistical model for every measurement included dietary effect and BW as a covariate. Pigs fed PRO had lower WBC on d 7 (14.84 vs. 20.42 × 103/μL; P< 0.05) and TNF-α on d 7 (618 vs. 889 pg/mL; P= 0.085) and 14 (437 vs. 576 pg/mL; P= 0.069) than those fed NC, but there were no differences in WBC and TNF-α between pigs fed PC and pigs fed PRO. Pigs fed PRO had lower TGF-β on d 3 (630 vs. 1,588 and 1,396 pg/mL; P< 0.05) than those fed PC and NC. However, no differences were found on CRP among dietary treatments. In conclusion, addition of protease may reduce inflammatory responses of weaned pigs.

Background: Handheld ultrasound devices allow for a bedside screening although quantitative parameters are not easily obtained. We aim to assess the reliability of visual qualitative evaluation of left ventricle (LV) compared with standard quantitative evaluation with 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Methods: Two cardiologists have reviewed 135 consecutive standard TTE examinations. Both observers visually assessed LV size, hypertrophy (LVH) and ejection fraction (EF). LV diameter, volume, wall thickness and EF (Teichholz and Simpson) were also measured by both observers. Visual and quantitative agreement and inter and intraobserver variability were calculated. Results: Image quality allowed for evaluation of 130 examinations. Visually assessed EF compared with Simpson had better consistency (Intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0,91 IC95% 0,88-0,94) than with Teichholz (ICC 0,75 IC95% 0,66-0,82). We have also observed good interobserver agreement regarding visually assessed EF (ICC 0,81 IC95% 0,71-0,87) and Simpson EF (ICC 0,80 IC95% 0,70-0,89) as well as good intraobserver agreement (visual EF: ICC 0,81 IC95% 0,74-0,86; Simpson: ICC 0,89 IC95% 0,84-0,93). Regarding LVH we found moderate agreement between visual and quantitative assessment (weighted Kappa [wK] 0,44 (IC95% 0,32-0,56)), moderate interobserver agreement for quantitative assessment (ICC 0,59 IC95% 0,44-0,71) and poor interobserver agreement for visual assessment (wK 0,19 IC95% 0,08-0,30). Intraobserver variability regarding LVH visual estimation was moderate (wK 0,40 IC95% 0,29-0,52) and regarding LVH quantification was good (ICC 0,78 IC95% 0,70-0,84). LVH was visually overestimated in 25% of examinations. Regarding LV size, we found poor agreement between visual assessment and its quantification with end-diastolic diameter (wK 0,22 IC95% 0,06-0,39) and moderate agreement between visual assessment and end-systolic LV volume (wK 0,62 IC95% 0,47-0,77). Interobserver agreement regarding quantitative volume assessment was good (ICC 0,90 IC95% 0,85-0,94) and regarding visual assessment was moderate (wK 0,43 IC95% 0,26-0,70). We found good intraobserver variability of volume measurement (wK 0,64 IC95% 0,50-0,78) and of visual size assessment (ICC 0,96 IC95% 0,94-0,97). Conclusions: Visual LVEF assessment is consistent with quantitative assessment and should be regarded as a reliable parameter that can be obtained from bedside examination with a handheld device. Visual assessment of LV size and wall thickness is less reliable than its quantification and should be confirmed with standard measurements.