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The objectives of this study were to determine true P digestibility, the gastrointestinal endogenous P outputs associated with soybean meal (SBM), and the role of the large intestine in P digestion in growing pigs. Four Yorkshire barrows, with average initial and final BW of 40 and 58 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum and fed four diets according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. The diets were cornstarch-based and contained four levels of P (0.098, 0.196, 0.293, and 0.391% on a DM basis) from so]vent-extracted conventional SBM. Chromic oxide (3.5 g/kg of diet, as-fed basis) was included as a digestibility marker. Each experimental period consisted of 8 d with a 4-d adaptation period and a 4-d collection of representative ileal digesta (2d) and fecal (2d) samples. True ileal and fecal P digestibility values and the ileal and fecal endogenous P outputs associated with SBM were determined by the regression analysis technique. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in true P digestibility values (ileal, 59.0 [+ or -] 8.3 vs. fecal, 51.3 [+ or -] 7.9%, n = 16) and endogenous P outputs (ileal, 0.59 [+ or -] 0.18 vs. fecal, 0.45 [+ or -] 0.21 g/kg of DMI, n = 16) between the ileal and the fecal levels. The endogenous fecal P loss accounted for 8.1 and 17.6% of the NRC (1998) recommended total and available P requirements in growing pigs, respectively. In conclusion, approximately 51% of the total P in conventional SBM is digested in growing pigs. The large intestine does not play an important role in the digestion of P associated with SBM in the growing pig. The fecal loss of the gastrointestinal endogenous P is an important route of P excretion in the growing pig. Key Words: Digestibility, Losses, Phosphorus, Pigs, Soybean Oilmeal

Some bioactive peptides originating from β-casein have been shown to be resistant to enzymatic digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and to influence immunological responses. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), a critical anti-inflammatory mediator, can catalyze the hydrolytic dephosphorylation of endotoxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and other emblematic members of pathogen-associated-molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as ATP, therefore preventing gut dysbiosis and disorders. Objectives of this study were to determine responses in the enzyme kinetics, including affinity (Km) and maximum activity (Vmax) of IAP in hydrolyzing ATP, in piglets fed liquid formulas with varying levels of β-casein. Three formulas were formulated, including a control formula containing whey protein as the sole source of protein, and two testing formulas containing total casein to whey protein ratio (%) of 40:60, but differing in β-casein at 3.51 and 4.36% (on air-dry basis), respectively. Contents of all other dietary nutrients, including ME, CP, minerals and vitamins, were formulated to be equal among the three formulas. A total of 24 colostrum-suckled 3-d-old piglets were randomly assigned to the three formulas, housed individually in metabolic crates, and fed their assigned formulas for 18 d according to a randomized block design. Piglets were euthanized at the end of their study periods and the proximal jejunal tissue samples were collected. Each kinetic experiment was conducted with homogenized porcine jejunal samples (about 5 μg protein each incubation) and 11 gradient concentrations of ATP, ranging 0 - 1.25 mM in incubation media in 4 replicates at pH 7.4 and 37°C. The kinetics (parameter estimates ± SE, P < 0.05, R2 = 0.66 - 0.93 for equations; n = 44) of jejunal IAP in hydrolyzing dephosphorylation of ATP were obtained, including Vmax values (ug/mg protein·min) of 4.39 ± 0.12, 2.90 ± 0.07, and 2.17 ± 0.14; and Km values (mM,) of 0.070 ± 0.008, 0.056 ± 0.006, and 0.046 ± 0.013 in the control, the 3.51%-β-casein, and the 4.36%-β-casein formulas, respectively. Pooled t-test comparisons showed although the Vmax values were reduced (P < 0.05) by dietary β-casein feeding, the Km value of the control group was higher (P < 0.05) than the 3.51%-β-casein group by 20%, and the 4.36%-β-casein group by 52%, respectively. Results of this study suggest dietary β-casein affects the jejunal IAP functionality. Dietary inclusion of β-casein at 3.51-4.36% has been demonstrated to increase IAP affinity for dephosphorylation of ATP, potentially protecting neonatal piglets from gut dysbiosis and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broiler chicken growth rates are rapidly accelerating in the industry, requiring an average of 6 to 7 weeks to achieve market body weight. A possible determinant is intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), a key enzyme which dephosphorylates pathogen-associated-molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as endotoxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and ATP, thereby preventing gut dysbosis and disorders. However, IAP's roles in maintaining gut health have yet to be elucidated in the broiler chicken. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine IAP activity kinetics for hydrolyzing ATP at pH 7.4 and 41°C in the duodenal, jejunal, and ileal segments of young broilers. Ten 28-d old broiler (Ross 708) chickens, maintained on a standard grower corn soybean meal diet, were euthanized for collecting duodenal, jejunal, and ileal tissue samples. Each ATP kinetic experiment was conducted with 20 gradient concentrations of ATP in 4 replicates, ranging 0 - 5 mM in incubation media. All enzymatic incubations were conducted with about 3 µg protein of the homogenized small intestinal segmental tissues. The kinetics (parameter estimates ± SE, P < 0.05, R2 = 0.82 - 0.93; n = 80) of the broiler small intestinal segmental IAP activities of hydrolyzing ATP were obtained, including Vmax values (µg/mg protein·min) of 7.59 ± 0.09, 8.60 ± 0.16, and 7.77 ± 0.19; and Km values (mM) of 0.045 ± 0.004, 0.132 ± 0.015, and 0.105 ± 0.015 in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively. Pooled t-tests showed that the Vmax was higher (P < 0.05) in the jejunum than in the duodenum and the ileum, while the Vmax value was higher (P < 0.05) in the ileum than in the duodenum. Furthermore, the Km value was lower (P < 0.05) in the duodenum than in the jejunum by 2-fold and the ileum by 1.3-fold, respectively, while the Km value was lower (P < 0.05) in the ileum than in the jejunum by 26%. Our results suggest that young broiler chickens express differential alkaline phosphatase activity and enzyme affinity in hydrolyzing ATP along the small intestinal longitudinal axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal alkaline phosphatases (IAP), one group of the most abundant apical membrane-bound enzymes in the gut, play a pivotal role in protecting intestinal health and preserving mutually beneficial host-microbial relationships against pathogenic bacterial toxins by reducing their toxicity through dephosphorylation of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS) lipid moiety and other emblematic members of pathogen-associated-molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as ATP, therefore preventing gut dysbiosis and enteric diseases. There are 6 alkaline phosphatase genes identified in the porcine genome with possible 4 IAP and 1 tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase isomers that are all likely expressed in the small intestine. To elucidate roles of post-translational glycosylation on IAP isomer affinity, this study was conducted to characterize a porcine IAP isomer (protein product ID: XP_003133777.1-X1) that had been over-expressed in the prekaryotic E. Coli BL21 (DE3) without glycosylation. Both negative and X1-IAP over-expressed E. coli BL21 (λDE3) cell samples were sonicated to be homogenous and diluted for further enzyme kinetic analyses. The kinetic experiments were carried out by using the chromogenic synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) with 16 gradient concentrations of PNPP, ranging 0-6 mM in incubation media in 4 replicates at pH 7.4 and 37°C for 30 minutes. The kinetics (parameter estimates ± SE, P < 0.05, R2 = 0.91-0.94, n = 64) of the X1-IAP isomer specific and the intrinsic E. coli BL21 (λDE3) alkaline phosphatase activities were obtained, including Vmax values of 11.59 ± 1.58 vs. 19.02 ± 3.39 nmol/(mg protein·min) and Km values of 4.72 ± 1.16 vs. 7.56 ± 2.09 mM. The X1-IAP isomer Km value measured at 4.72 ± 1.16 mM in this study is substantially higher than the range of the IAP Km values (0.1-0.3 mM) determined in the weanling porcine jejunum under the same conditions (using PNPP at pH 7.4 and 37°C) from our previous studies. It is known that alkaline phosphatase isomers expressed in vivo in the porcine gut would be highly glycosylated. Results of this study show that the porcine X1-IAP isomer over-expressed in the E. coli BL21 (λDE3) without glycosylation was associated with a very low enzyme affinity. Therefore, factors affecting post-translational glycosylation of the alkaline phosphatase isomers in the porcine gut would greatly influence their enzyme affinity towards detoxifying relatively low levels of pathogenic bacterial LPS and other emblematic PAMPs members in the gut lumen for protecting gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine true phosphorus (P) digestibility and the gastrointestinal endogenous P output associated with corn and soybean meal (SBM)-based diets for weanling pigs by the substitution method. Twelve Yorkshire weanling barrows, with initial BW between 10 and 12 kg, were fed two diets according to a completely randomized block design. The diets were corn and SBM-based and contained two levels of P (0.74 and 0.53% on DM basis) with the lower P diet formulated by replacing corn and SBM with 29% cornstarch. Chromic oxide (3.0 g/kg diet, on as-fed basis) was included as a digestibility marker. Each experimental period consisted of 8 d with 10-d adaptation and 4-d collection of representative fecal samples. True fecal P digestibility (61.2 ± 7.7%, n = 6) and the fecal endogenous P output (0.534 ± 0.481 g/kg DMI, n = 12) associated with the diet were determined by the substitution method. In conclusion, true fecal P digestibility and the endogenous P output associated with test dietary mixtures can be determined by the substitution method with dietary P levels meeting or close to recommended dietary P requirement levels in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Potentially avoidable hospitalisations (PAHs) are proxy measures of effective primary care at a population level. PAHs are higher in rural and disadvantaged areas. This qualitative study sought a deeper understanding of PAHs for chronic health conditions in a rural context from the perspectives of patients and health professionals, and aimed to develop a logic model for rural health services to identify intervention targets., Methods: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive cardiac failure or type 2 diabetes, admitted to a rural hospital in Australia and local health professionals were invited to participate in interviews in late 2019. Semistructured interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Themes were mapped against a programme logic model developed in a similar study., Results: patients and 16 health professionals participated. The logic model encompassed patient level (knowledge, skills, health status), provider level (workforce availability, attributes) and system level (clinical pathways) contexts. These contexts influenced key mechanisms of relationships, continuity of care and capacity to offer services. Outcomes included responsive and timely access to care, improved clinical outcomes and resource use. Themes that did not readily map to the logic model included socioeconomic disadvantage and healthcare costs, which influenced affordability and equity of access., Conclusion: Patients' complex health and social circumstance, health service access and unclear care pathways were strong themes associated with PAH in this rural context. Patient, provider and system contexts influencing key mechanisms and outcomes need to be understood when designing solutions to address PAHs in rural settings. Ideally, interventions should address the cost of healthcare alongside interventions to enhance relationships, continuity of care and capacity to offer services., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Cellulases play important roles in the dietary fibre digestion in pigs, and have multiple industrial applications. The porcine intestinal microbiota display a unique feature in rapid cellulose digestion. Herein, we have expressed a cellulase gene, p4818Cel5&#95;2A, which singly encoded a catalytic domain belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 2, and was previously identified from a metagenomic expression library constructed from porcine gut microbiome after feeding grower pigs with a cellulose-supplemented diet. The activity of purified p4818Cel5&#95;2A was maximal at pH 6.0 and 50 °C and displayed resistance to trypsin digestion. This enzyme exhibited activities towards a wide variety of plant polysaccharides, including cellulosic substrates of avicel and solka-Floc ® , and the hemicelluloses of β-(1 → 4)/(1 → 3)-glucans, xyloglucan, glucomannan and galactomannan. Viscosity, reducing sugar distribution and hydrolysis product analyses further revealed that this enzyme was a processive endo-β-(1 → 4)-glucanase capable of hydrolyzing cellulose into cellobiose and cellotriose as the primary end products. These catalytic features of p4818Cel5&#95;2A were further explored in the context of a three-dimensional homology model. Altogether, results of this study report a microbial processive endoglucanase identified from the porcine gut microbiome, and it may be tailored as an efficient biocatalyst candidate for potential industrial applications.

The shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the United States has resulted in more and more patients presenting to primary care clinics with mental health concerns. Consequently, clinicians often find themselves dealing with issues outside their expertise. The Psychiatric Assistance Line was created in 2014 to connect primary care clinicians with mental health professionals for consultations and provide assistance with psychiatry referrals. This article looks at the use of the service and outcomes following its first six months of operation.