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Piglets are born with reduced plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D(3)) and are thus highly predisposed to vitamin D deficiency. Furthermore, sow milk contains little vitamin D, and the slow intestinal vitamin D absorption of sows limits the efficacy of dietary vitamin D supplementation. Hence, the neonate depends, to a large extent, on the vitamin D stores built up in fetal tissues from maternal sources. The current study was undertaken to evaluate whether the source and quantity of dietary vitamin D provided to the gestating and lactating sow, and also directly in the form of creep feed to the piglet, would influence the vitamin D status, growth performance, and skeletal development of piglets. A total of 39 primiparous and multiparous sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments (13 in each treatment), supplemented with either 5 or 50 μg of the commonly used cholecalciferol (vitamin D(3)) or 50 μg of 25-OH-D(3) per kilogram of feed. By wk 3 of lactation, piglets were offered a creep diet with vitamin D supplementation according to the treatment of the dam, and they were offered the same creep diets after weaning at d 35 of age until they reached a BW of approximately 20 kg. When dietary 25-OH-D(3) was provided, circulating concentrations of 25-OH-D(3) in piglet serum increased (P 0.05) were observed between the 2 other groups. After weaning, ADFI was greater (P < 0.05) and growth performance tended (P = 0.08) to improve when doses of 50 μg/kg were administered, regardless of the vitamin D source. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet with 50 μg/kg of either source of vitamin D was proved to be adequate in meeting the needs of gestating sows and in permitting the accumulation of vitamin D in fetal tissues, as well as for normal skeletal mineralization and growth in the offspring. Furthermore, the markedly improved vitamin D status of piglets whose mothers received 25-OH-D(3) possibly resulted from greater tissue reserves present at birth and a greater availability of vitamin D when released from those stores.

We prospectively evaluated a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach for the rapid diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and presence of the mecA gene in 902 blood samples from 468 infectious episodes of 384 patients. Eight of 12 blood culture (BC)-confirmed samples were positive by the S. aureus-specific PCR. In addition, the mecA gene PCR correctly detected all cases of BC-confirmed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. A positive PCR result was also obtained in ten of 462 BC-negative infectious episodes, including three patients with culture-confirmed S. aureus infection at other body sites.

Self-management is a vital element in the care of type 2diabetes patients. In turn, self-efficacy plays a major role in patients’ self-management. Self-efficacy is the patient’s personal judgement of his/herconfidence in performing aspects of diabetes self-management. This study investigated the level of self-efficacy of patients attending the Pretoria Academic Hospital Diabetes Clinic, in the light of high levels ofre-admission due to complications, suggesting low self-efficacy levels. Eighty type 2 diabetes patients, mean age of 59 years, completed thepublished IDEA LL baseline questionnaire, to establish a self-efficacyscore. Relationships between self-efficacy and demographic factors wereinvestigated using the chi-square test. The mean self-efficacy level of thesample population is excellent (mean = 85.44%).A lthough self-reported self-efficacy levels are excellent, in comparison to the Sarkar study (2006) in which participants only scored “fair”, it is speculated that self-efficacy is not transferred to self-management behaviour in thispopulation. Afrikaans and English speaking participants score significantly better than those from other language categories. There is a positive relationship between self-efficacy and level of education and employment status (tendedtowards significance with p values of 0.06 and 0.07 respectively). A lthough self-efficacy scores of clients at this tertiary level outpatient clinic are excellent, further research is necessary to quantify self-management strategies andto correlate these with self-efficacy levels.

Summary Measurements of nitrogen, carbon and energy balances were done on eight female adult cats aged approximately 1.5 years with the help of respiration chambers. The cats were fed with a marked dry food for kittens (Biomill® kitten). Faeces and urine samples were collected with the help of a special cat toilet that allows the single collection of both materials. The calculated energy requirement of these eight female cats was 239.6 kJ ME/kg BW/day (R2 = 0.98). Including the data, on 12 young male adult cats, of Lauger, (2001), an energy requirement of 238 kJ ME/kg BW/day (R2 = 0.95) could be calculated. From these data, it can be followed that the energy requirements of young, active cats are higher than that of the older cats. The method of indirect calorimetry does not necessarily lead to lower energy requirements.

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of benzoic acid and two dietary protein levels on pig performance, nitrogen balance and urinary pH. A total of 24 crossbred barrows (26 kg to 106 kg BW) received one of four diets: low protein level with and without 1% benzoic acid (LP- and LP+, respectively) and high protein level with and without 1% benzoic acid (HP- and HP+, respectively). The animals were fed restrictively grower and finisher diets and were kept in metabolic cages in weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12 of the experiment. The addition of benzoic acid did not improve weight gain and feed conversion ratio. N-intake and digested N were only influenced by dietary protein level (p0.01), while N-balance was similar in all four diets. Dietary benzoic acid improved N-digestibility in the grower period (p0.01) but not in the finisher period. The addition of benzoic acid reduced urinary pH by about one pH-unit in both feeding periods independent of the protein level of the diet (p0.01) and increased the concentration of urinary hippuric acid markedly (p0.01). The results of this study indicate a positive influence of dietary benzoic acid on pigs especially in case of feeding a low protein diet in the grower period.

Both vitamin E and C have antioxidative properties and may act synergistically. To examine a possible interaction between vitamin E, C and oxidative stability in various tissues, 40 barrows (25–105 kg body weight) were allocated to four cereal-based diets (13.4 MJ digestible energy/kg, 168 g crude protein/kg, 140 mg dietary dl -α-tocopheryl acetate) which were supplemented with 0 (B), 150 (C100), 300 (C200) or 600 (C400) mg/kg crystalline ascorbic acid. The influence of storage time on these factors in m. longissimus dorsi samples (LD) was investigated. Samples of liver (LI), heart (HT), spleen (SP), backfat outer layer (BF) and LD were obtained. Dry matter, vitamin E, vitamin C and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were analyzed in all investigated tissues and in addition color ( L ∗ , a ∗ , b ∗ values) and drip loss measurements in LD at day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 were collected. The treatments did not influence growth performance and slaughter data of the pigs. Neither the vitamin E nor the vitamin C content of investigated tissues showed differences due to feeding treatments. There was also a lack of response to the amount in TBARS. Parameters in LD samples were only affected by storage time and not by diets. The results show that dietary use of both vitamins simultaneously did not further improve qualitative characteristics of the investigated pork tissues.

Forty Swiss Large White piglets of 4 weeks of age were used to determine the effect of dietary Chinese rhubarb on growth performance, as well as on energy and nitrogen metabolism by means of indirect respiration calorimetry studies. A cereal-based diet, supplemented with four different dosages of Chinese rhubarb (0.0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%), was offered ad libitum to the piglets. Gaseous exchange was measured, and urine, faeces, and blood samples were taken. The addition of 0.25% dietary rhubarb increased feed intake (+32%) and daily weight gain (+67%) compared to the diet containing the greatest amount of rhubarb (1%). The piglets fed diet supplemented with 0.25% rhubarb digested and metabolised more energy and nitrogen relative to the animals of treatment 1%. As a consequence, the same group (0.25%) converted more energy and nitrogen into body protein than piglets receiving diet supplemented with 1% rhubarb. However, compared to the control group, the addition of 0.25% rhubarb to the diet resulted in not significantly alter growth performance, energy, and nitrogen metabolism of the animals. Blood parameters were not affected by the rhubarb supplementation. The dose-responding effect of Chinese rhubarb was reflected by the dry matter content of faecal samples. According to the laxative effect of higher doses of rhubarb, the addition of 1% rhubarb to the diet reduced dry matter content of faeces. This effect was well visible in practice, although not relevant in statistical terms. The addition of 0.5% dietary rhubarb had no relevant effect on growth performance or on energy and nitrogen metabolism of treated animals.

To investigate the influence and possible interactions of dietary vitamin E and C supplementation on vitamin content of both vitamins and oxidative stability of different pork tissues 40 Large White barrows from 25 kg to 106 kg were allocated to four different cereal based diets: Basal diet (B), dl-alpha-tocopherylacetate + 200 mg/kg (E), crystalline ascorbic acid + 300 mg/kg (C) or both vitamins (EC). At slaughtering samples of liver, spleen, heart, kidney, backfat outer layer, ham and M. tongissimus dorsi were obtained. Growth performance of the pigs and carcass characteristics were not influenced by feeding treatments. Dietary vitamin E supplementation had a significant effect on the vitamin E and alpha-tocopherol concentration in all investigated tissues. Backfat outer layer, liver, spleen, kidney and heart had higher vitamin E concentrations than ham and M. longissimus dorsi. Dietary vitamin C supplementation tended towards enhanced vitamin E levels except for ham samples. Therefore, some synergistic actions without dietary vitamin E supplementation between the two vitamins could be shown. The vitamin C concentration and TBARS were increased or at least equal in all tissues due to vitamin C supplementation. Dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation resulted in lower TBARS in backfat outer layer (malondialdehyde 0.35 mg/kg in B vs. 0.28 mg/kg in E), but increased in heart and ham. When both vitamins were supplemented (EC) TBARS were lower in M. longissimus dorsi and backfat outer layer, equal in heart and higher in liver and ham compared to a single vitamin C supplementation. Rancimat induction time of backfat outer layer was 0.3 h higher in C compared to B and 0.17 h higher in EC than in E. Correlations between levels of both vitamins were positive for kidney (r = 0.169), M. longissimus dorsi (r = 0.499) and ham (r = 0.361) and negative for heart (r = -0.350). In liver and spleen no interaction could be found. In backfat outer layer vitamin E was positively correlated with rancimat induction time (r = 0.550) and negatively with TBARS (r = -0.202), but provided no evidence that dietary vitamin E supply led to better oxidative stability.

In the search for antitack additives for Kollicoat EMM 30 D (ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate 30% dispersion, Ph. Eur.) film coatings, various possibilities were investigated. The best results were obtained using a combination of simethicone and talc. This mixture was tested on propranolol, theophylline, and verapamil HCl blank pellets in a previously developed Kollicoat EMM 30 D basic formulation. Almost any desired drug release rate can be obtained with all three pellet formulations by varying the two pore formers hypromellose 3mPas and microcrystalline cellulose type 105. A thin application of colloidal silica onto the coated pellets additionally prevents them from sticking together during storage.

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between high and low digestible energy levels (9.5 vs. 15.4 MJ ME/kg) and either tallow or soy oil supplementation (5%rpar; on lipogenic activities and fatty acid profile of the backfat tissue outer layer and liver tissue in finishing pigs. Twenty Large White pigs averaging 30 (initial) to 106 kg (final) live weight were allocated into four dietary groups and fed the diets ad libitum. The lipid content and fatty acid composition of the tissues were determined and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), malic enzyme (ME), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity were measured. Growth performance and carcass measurements were affected by the dietary energy levels but not by the fat sources. Lipid deposition rate of animals fed the low energy diets was lowered regardless whether tallow or soy oil was supplemented. Unlike lipid deposition, fatty acid profile was influenced by both dietary factors. Pigs fed the low energy diet supplemented with soy oil exhibited the lowest level of saturated (P

In-vitro/in-vivo correlations (IVIVC) are useful for predicting in-vivo results from in-vitro data. An IVIVC has been used to optimize a hydrocolloidal-based matrix tablet designed to be bioequivalent to an existing once-daily diltiazem HCl*** product (Dilacor XR 240 mg; Rhone-Poulenc Rorer). Data from a preliminary formulation dosed to fasted and fed subjects were used to establish the IVIVC. The correlation was then used during reformulation of the dosage forms to predict changes in the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma-concentration-time curve (AUC) for fasted and fed subjects using in-vitro dissolution data. The IVIVC adequately predicted plasma profiles of two optimized formulations in studies with fasted and fed subjects.

The 86-kilodalton immediate-early (IE) 2 protein (IE2-p86) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a multifunctional regulator of HCMV gene expression which appears to be essential for triggering the lytic replicative cycle. IE2-p86 functions as a promiscuous transactivator of both viral and cellular gene expression and can repress transcription from its own promoter. In this study we demonstrate that a viral early protein, termed pUL84, which is able to interact with IE2-p86 both in vivo and in vitro, modulates IE2-p86 in a specific manner. First, pUL84 acts as a transdominant inhibitor of IE2-p86-mediated transactivation of both homologous and heterologous promoters. Second, negative autoregulation by IE2-p86 is augmented in the presence of pUL84. Using two in vivo assays, we obtained evidence that expression of pUL84 during the IE phase of the viral replicative cycle leads to an inhibition of viral early gene expression which prevents replication of HCMV and results in a persistent infection of UL84-positive cell lines. Transdominant inhibition of a viral IE function by a protein expressed during the later phases of replication appears to be a novel principle used by herpesviruses which could account for the slow replication of HCMV and may be useful in the development of new antiviral strategies.

Zusammenfassung: In der vorliegenden Studie wurde der α-Tocopherolgehalt verschiedener Fleischstücke untersucht. Hähnchenschenkel hatte den höchsten α-Tocopherolgehalt, gefolgt von Hähnchenbrust und Schweineschulter (p Leber > Fettgewebe >Musculus longissimus dorsi. Die Nährstoffdichten betrugen 28.8, 7.3, 0.9 und 1.2 mg α-Tocopherol/MJ für Eigelb, Leber, Fettgewebe und Musculus longissimus dorsi der jeweiligen mit Vitamin E supplementierten Gruppe. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, daß Fleisch, mit Ausnahme des Hähnchenschenkels, von Tieren mit supplementierten Diäten kein bedeutender Vitamin E-Lieferant ist. Hingegen wurde Eigelb durch fütterungsbedingte Modifikation zu einer guten Vitamin E-Quelle

In the present investigation, data on the energy intakes and energy needs, as well as protein and fat accretion, of queens during pregnancy, during lactation and after lactation are given. Eleven adult cats were used as experimental animals. Data were collected during the fourth and seventh week of pregnancy, the second and sixth week of lactation and the second and sixth week after lactation. The cats were fed dry kitten food. During gestation and after lactation, all measurements were performed with respiration chambers. During lactation, balance trials without respiration chambers were performed. Body weight was measured and nitrogen, carbon and energy balances were calculated. From these, protein and fat accretion, as well as the metabolisable energy intake, was calculated. The weight gain during gestation was linearly independent of the number of kittens. During lactation, all cats lost weight; nevertheless, all cats except one were heavier 2 weeks after lactation than at mating. The energy intake of the cats during gestation was 1.8 times the maintenance requirement in the fourth week and two times maintenance requirement in the seventh week, and these energy intakes differed greatly among individuals. The energy intake of the cats during lactation was clearly higher than that recommended by National Research Council (NRC)1, whereas the recommended protein intake in the second week of lactation was met. As the calculated protein balance was negative, the NRC recommendation for protein intake seems to be too low. In comparison to previous data, the cats showed a higher energy intake during lactation (median 502 kJ/kgBW/d, second week lactation), and the weight loss was much lower. Further investigations on pregnant and lactating cats are necessary to complete the database.

BACKGROUND: Infertility may considerably reduce quality-of-life. Many of the existing generic quality-of-life measures, which often focus on physical impairments, do not represent the specific complaints of infertile patients. In this article, we report on the development and validatio n of the TLMK (Tubinger Lebensqualitatsfragebogen fur Manner mit Kinderwunsch), an instrument for measuring quality-of-life in male patients with involuntary childlessness. METHODS: The first version of the questionnaire, which consisted of 91 items, was administered to 275 men who attended andrology and gynaecology clinics for fertility evaluations. After the qu estionnaires were scored, item analysis and reduction, principal component analysis and internal consistency analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The final version of the TLMK consists of 35 items in four scales and provides an internally consistent quality-of-life profile for men experiencing involuntary childlessness. Convergent and discrimi nant validity was supported through the correlation of the TLMK scales with established questionnaires on life sati sfaction (FLZ) and partnership (PFB). CONCLUSION: The TLMK provides information about the quality-of-life in men experiencing involuntary childlessness and was found to be easy to administer and acceptable to patients. It may be used to assess patients’ baseline and ongoing quality-oflife during fertility treatment and as an outcome variable in the evaluation of integrated psychological counselling.

The purpose of this study was to assess certain pharmaceutical attributes of guar galactomannan, a hydrocolloid polysaccharide obtained from the endosperm of the leguminous plant Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (L.), following purification using both literature procedures and new processes. Experiments were performed to measure viscosity, hydration rate, tablet hardness, and dissolution profiles of guar galactomannan both before and after purification. The viscosity of an aqueous 1% purified galactomannan solution is typically 40-50% higher than its unpurified guar galactomannan precursor. The hydration rate of an aqueous 1% purified galactomannan solution increases by 100% after purification. These physicochemical changes resulted in improvements in pharmaceutical properties such as better stir speed independence in both tablet and capsule dissolution profiles and improved tablet hardness. For instance, time to 50% dissolution of ranitidine HCl from capsules containing unpurified guar gum was 0.4 and 1.8 hr at 20 and 40 rpm, respectively, using USP Apparatus II. Using the same amount of purified guar gum and the same conditions (20 and 40 rpm), these values were increased to 2.9 and 3.8 hr, respectively. These data demonstrate a reduced effect of changing agitation conditions and the need for less guar gum to sustain the release of a water-soluble drug. Tablet hardness of purified guar gum (particle size75 microns) was about 7 kP and the same unpurified guar gum of equal particle size and hydration gave a hardness of less than 1 kP.

In a cross-over study in 12 normal individuals, the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefalotin, cefradine and cefazolin were determined after intravenous injection of 1,000 mg of each substance. The microbiological activities in urine and serum were determined using the agar diffusion test; the pharmacokinetic data were calculated by a computer system on the basis of a Fortran programme. Cefazolin has significantly higher serum concentrations than the other two cephalosporins, distinctly longer serum half-lives, higher protein binding, and smaller apparent volumina of distribution. In 36 inpatients with mainly chronical and acute infections of the urinary tract, we tested the antibacterial effectivity, the compatibility, and the application modalities of cefazolin. In 29 patients we had a satisfactory clinical result, in 25 cases we achieved the elimination of bacteria by the end of the therapy. The compatibility of cefazolin was good; apart from a minor, reversible, liver-specific increase in enzymes in 6 patients, no side effects could be detected.