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We evaluated the effects of tannins from Flemingia macrophylla ( CIAT 17403) and Calliandra calothyrsus (San Ramón CIAT 22310 and Patulul CIAT 22316) on in vitro ruminal and post-ruminal dry matter and apparent protein degradation. For each tannin source (legumes), different dosages of polyethylene glycol ( PEG) (8000 Da) in McDougall buffer were added to achieve ratios of 0:3, 1:3, 2:3 and 3:3 PEG:condensed tannin ( CT). Ruminal fluid mixed with McDougall buffer (1:4) was added to tubes containing only legume foliage (control) or PEG-treated legume foliage. For both Calliandra varieties, a higher ruminal dry matter degradation was observed at a PEG: CT ratio of 3:3. For F. macrophylla, no differences were found between 2:3 and 3:3 ratios (p > 0.05), indicating that a PEG: CT ratio of 2:3 might be enough to bind tannins. Increasing PEG: CT ratios increased apparent ruminal degraded protein and ammonia concentration (p < 0.0001) differing among species (species × ratio: p < 0.0001). The degradation of bypass crude protein ( dBCP) was influenced by both legume type and PEG: CT ratio (p < 0.0001). For Patulul, as PEG: CT ratio increased, dBCP increased, but after tannin ratio of 2:3, there was not a significant increase, and for San Ramón, dBCP degradation was higher as PEG: CT ratio increased up to 2:3. For Flemingia, dBCP was higher than PEG: CT ratio of 0:3 but not different among 1:3, 2:3 or 3:3. Low concentration of CT (116 mg/g DM) increased the proportion of protein digested in the abomasum, but higher levels of CT (252 mg/g) clearly reduced the proportion of digested CP. For Flemingia, PEG: CT ratio of 2:3 is enough to inactivate tannins, while PEG: CT ratio of 3:3 was needed for Calliandra and consequently increased ruminal degradation of dry mater (rd DM), and crude protein (rd CP), total degradation of dry matter (td DM), crude protein (td CP) and ammonia levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite effective analgesic therapy, inadequate pain control is frequently perceived by patients and caregivers. Aims To assess satisfaction with management of pain in cancer patients. Methods Between January and May 2007, a cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted in 64 Medical Oncology Departments throughout Spain. A total of 525 outpatients with oncological diseases completed a questionnaire with demographic data, characteristics and intensity of pain, and perceptions and attitudes towards pain management at the time of a routine clinical visit. Physicians also completed a questionnaire with tumour-related and treatment-related data. Cluster analysis was used to classify patients into three groups (satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied or neutral, dissatisfied) according to pain intensity and satisfaction with treatment. Results Patients satisfied with their analgesic treatment (33%) had lower pain intensities and, when regularly asked about their pain, considered their physicians to be more involved in their treatment. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied patients (neutral) (44%) had higher mean pain intensities. Two-thirds of them achieved marked relief of their pain and also thought that physicians were aware of their situation. Dissatisfied patients (23%) had moderate to severe pain intensities, and said that they were asked less frequently about their pain, and thought that their physicians were less involved in their analgesic treatment. Conclusion Physician-patient communication and information provided to patients are essential aspects of patient perceptions and attitudes towards control of cancer-related pain. Pain is seen as a condition that may be controlled but affects the capacity to lead a normal life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purified condensed tannins (CT) extracted from the legume Calliandra calothyrsus (var. San Ramón CIAT 22310), harvested in the dry and the rainy season and cultivated with low or high level of fertilization were added to soybean meal in a ratio of 600 mg/g of the incubated crude protein (CP). Effects on degradation either in ruminal fluid only, or in ruminal fluid followed by incubation in HCl/pepsin, were evaluated using a modified two-step in vitro method. Season was found to have larger effects on in vitro ruminal and post-ruminal CP degradation than fertilization. Condensed tannins from the rainy season harvest reduced ruminal CP degradation less than that from the dry season harvest. They had also less negative effects on the degradability of rumen escape protein and enhanced the proportion of post-ruminally degraded CP more than CT from the dry season harvest. An increase in level of fertilization reduced ruminal CP degradation in CT from the rainy season plants but this was not associated with effects on post-ruminal degradation. The study demonstrated the importance of environmental factors for the efficiency of CT in modifying ruminal and post-ruminal CP degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]