Estimation of Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Layer Chicks Depending on Dynamic Model.

Four trials were conducted to establish a protein and amino acid requirement model for layer chicks over 0-6 weeks by using the analytical factorization method. In trial 1, a total of 90 one-day-old Jing Tint 6 chicks with similar body weight were selected to determine the growth curve, carcass and feather protein deposition, and amino acid patterns of carcass and feather proteins. In trials 2 and 3, 24 seven-day-old and 24 thirty-five-day-old Jing Tint 6 chicks were selected to determine the protein maintenance requirements, amino acid pattern, and net protein utilization rate. In trial 4, 24 ten-day-old and 24 thirty-eight-day-old Jing Tint 6 chicks were selected to determine the standard terminal ileal digestibility of amino acids. The chicks were fed either a corn-soybean basal diet, a low nitrogen diet, or a nitrogen-free diet throughout the different trials. The Gompertz equation showed that there is a functional relationship between body weight and age, described as BWt(g) = 2669.317 × exp(-4.337 × exp(-0.019t)). Integration of the test results gave a comprehensive dynamic model equation that could accurately calculate the weekly protein and amino acid requirements of the layer chicks. By applying the model, it was found that the protein requirements for Jing Tint 6 chicks during the 6-week period were 21.15, 20.54, 18.26, 18.77, 17.79, and 16.51, respectively. The model-predicted amino acid requirements for Jing Tint 6 chicks during the 6-week period were as follows: Aspartic acid (0.992-1.284), Threonine (0.601-0.750), Serine (0.984-1.542), Glutamic acid (1.661-1.925), Glycine (0.992-1.227), Alanine (0.909-0.961), Valine (0.773-1.121), Cystine (0.843-1.347), Methionine (0.210-0.267), Isoleucine (0.590-0.715), Leucine (0.977-1.208), Tyrosine (0.362-0.504), Phenylalanine (0.584-0.786), Histidine (0.169-0.250), Lysine (0.3999-0.500), Arginine (0.824-1.147), Proline (1.114-1.684), and Tryptophan (0.063-0.098). In conclusion, this study constructed a dynamic model for the protein and amino acid requirements of Jing Tint 6 chicks during the brooding period, providing an important insight to improve precise feeding for layer chicks through this dynamic model calculation.

An integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent can effectively mitigate the combined toxicity of AFB1, DON and OTA on the production performance, liver and oviduct health in broiler breeder hens.

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of an integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent in reducing the adverse effects of co-occurring dietary aflatoxin B1 deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A on broiler breeder hens. 360 30-week-old Hubbard Efficiency Plus broiler breeder hens were allocated into four groups and received a basal diet (BD; Control), BD added 0.15 mg/kg aflatoxin B1+1.5 mg/kg deoxynivalenol+0.12 mg/kg ochratoxin A (Toxins), BD plus Toxins with 0.1% TOXO-XL (Toxins + XL1), and BD plus Toxins with 0.2% TOXO-XL (Toxins + XL2), respectively, for 8 weeks, and then received the same BD for another 4 weeks. Compared with control, mycotoxins decreased total egg weigh, egg laying rate, settable eggs rate, hatch of total eggs rate, egg quality, but increased feed/egg ratio and mortality rate, and impaired the liver and oviduct health during weeks 1-8 and(or) 9-12. It also increased PC and MDA concentrations, TUNEL-positive cells and IL-1ß and IL-6 expression, and decreased T-AOC, GPX and CAT activities in liver and/or oviduct. Notably, most of these negative changes were mitigated by both dosages of TOXO-XL. Generally, 0.2% TOXO-XL displayed better mitigation effects than 0.1% TOXO-XL. Conclusively, these findings revealed that TOXO-XL could mitigate the combined mycotoxins-induced toxicity on the performance, liver and oviduct health, through the regulation of redox, immunity, and apoptosis in broiler breeder hens.

Oleic Acid (OA), A Potential Dual Contrast Agent for Postmortem MR Angiography (PMMRA): A Pilot Study.

Choosing proper perfusates as contrast agents is an important aspect for postmortem magnetic resonance angiography (PMMRA). However, in this emerging field, the number of suitable kinds of liquid is still very limited. The objective of this research is to compare MR images of oleic acid (OA) with paraffin oil (PO) in vitro and in ex situ animal hearts, in order to evaluate the feasibility to use OA as a novel contrast agent for PMMRA. In vitro, OA, PO and water (control) were introduced into three tubes separately and T1weighted-spin echo (T1w-SE) and T2w-SE images were acquired on a 1.5T MR scanner. In the second experiment, OA and PO were injected into left coronary artery (LCA) and left ventricle (LV) of ex situ bovine hearts and their T1w-SE, T2w-SE, T1w-multipoint Dixon (T1w-mDixon) and 3DT2w-mDixon images were acquired. The overall results indicate that OA may have a potential to be used as a dual (T1 and T2 based) contrast agent for PMMRA when proper sequence parameters are utilized. However, as the pilot study was based on limited number of animal hearts, more researches using OA in cadavers are needed to validate our findings.

Computed Tomography Imaging Study of Basilar Invagination and Atlantoaxial Dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze axis deformities and the biomechanics related to atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) in patients with basilar invagination (BI). METHODS: Seventy-six patients were retrospectively analyzed including 21 patients who had BI (group B), 32 patients with BI and AAD (group C), and 23 nondeformity control subjects (group A). Using 3-dimensional computed tomography imaging the distance from the tip of the dens above the Chamberlain line in the sagittal plane, atlantodental interval, sagittal inclination, coronal inclination, and craniocervical tilt, the height of the odontoid and ratio of the height to the odontoid basal width were measured in each patient. We statistically analyzed the resulting data for correlations among physiologic measurements and disease state. RESULTS: The height of the odontoid process in groups A, B, and C was 13.38 ± 1.50 mm, 10.87 ± 1.48 mm, and 8.49 ± 2.49 mm, respectively. The ratio of height-to-basal width of the odontoid in groups A, B, and C was 1.32 ± 0.21, 0.91 ± 0.21, and 0.65 ± 0.17, respectively. The sagittal inclination in groups A, B, and C was 85.85 ± 4.55 degrees, 105.76 ± 10.72 degrees, and 123.48 ±12.43 degrees, and the coronal inclination was 108.95 ± 24.09 degrees, 105.40 ± 25.16 degrees, and 108.82 ± 21.41 degrees, respectively. The craniocervical tilt in groups A, B, and C was 60.31 ± 6.98 degrees, 84.53 ± 18.94 degrees, and 71.79 ± 11.69 degrees, respectively. The height of the odontoid, height-to-basal width, and sagittal inclination were significantly correlated with both BI and AAD (P < 0.001). Odontoid height and height-to-basal width ratio were significantly correlated with BI, AAD, and sagittal inclination (P < 0.001). Finally, craniocervical tilt was correlated only with the BI severity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that deformities of the odontoid process and the lateral joint correlate with severity of BI, while deformity of the odontoid process may be a primary factor in AAD for patients with BI.

Effects of hemoglobin level on the early postsurgical cerebral metabolism in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explore the effects of different levels of haemoglobin (Hb) on early cerebral metabolism in patients with postoperative severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) . METHOD: Fifty-nine patients were randomly divided into catheter oxygen group and ventilator-assisted respiratory group. Each group was subsequently divided into three subgroups basing on different Hb level: Hb ≤ 70 g/L subgroup, 71 g/L ≤ Hb≤90 g/L subgroup and Hb ≥ 91 g/L subgroup. The blood samples from the femoral artery and the affected side internal jugular vein were, respectively, taken at the same time from the patient after postoperative 3 days. RESULTS: The incidence of anaemia after severe TBI operation was 88.14%. The VADL and cerebral glucose uptake (CMRglu) in both Hb ≤ 70 g/L and 71 g/L ≤ Hb≤90 g/L patients of oxygen catheter group were less than that in Hb ≥ 91 g/L patients. In the ventilator-assisted breathing group, the VADL and CMRglu of 71 g/L ≤ Hb≤90 g/L patients and Hb ≥ 91 g/L patients were lower than those in Hb ≤ 70 g/L patients. The result from comparing the two 71 g/L ≤ Hb ≤ 90 g/L subgroups showed that the brain metabolic indexs in the ventilator-assisted breathing group were better than those in the catheter oxygen group. CONCLUSIONS: In severe TBI postoperative patients, Hb≤90 g/L induced decrease in aerobic oxidation in brain tissue. Moreover, for the same Hb level of 71 g/L ≤ Hb≤90 g/L, ventilator-assisted breathing significantly improved cerebral metabolism.