In vitro addition of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and carnitine alters palmitate oxidation and esterification in isolated ovine hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes from 4 wethers were used to study the effects of carnitine and increasing concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine on palmitate oxidation and esterification. Liver cells were isolated from the wethers and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with 1 mM [14C]-palmitate. Radiolabel incorporation was measured in CO2, acid-soluble products, and esterified products, including triglyceride, diglyceride, and cholesterol esters. Carnitine increased production of CO2 and acid-soluble products from palmitate by 41% and 216%, respectively, but had no effect on conversion of palmitate to esterified products. Epinephrine had a quadratic-increasing effect on palmitate oxidation to CO2, but norepinephrine did not increase palmitate oxidation to CO2. Neither epinephrine nor norepinephrine affected the production of acid-soluble products from palmitate. Increasing concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine linearly increased rates of triglyceride formation from palmitate. Increasing norepinephrine concentrations linearly increased diglyceride and cholesterol ester formation from palmitate in the presence of carnitine; epinephrine did not affect diglyceride or cholesterol ester formation. In general, catecholamine treatment had the greatest effect on the formation of esterified products from palmitate, and effects of norepinephrine were more pronounced than epinephrine. Conditions that result in catecholamine release might lead to fat accumulation in the liver.

Effects of in vivo phlorizin treatment and in vitro addition of carnitine, propionate, acetate, and 5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid on palmitate metabolism in ovine hepatocytes.

Modulatory effects of l-carnitine, acetate, propionate, and 5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid (TOFA; an inhibitor of acetyl-CoA carboxylase) on oxidation and esterification of [1-14C]-palmitate were studied in hepatocytes isolated from phlorizin-treated and control wethers. Our hypotheses were that (1) palmitate oxidation would be greater in hepatocytes from sheep injected with phlorizin; (2) l-carnitine would increase palmitate oxidation more in hepatocytes from sheep injected with phlorizin; and (3) acetate and propionate would decrease oxidation in sheep hepatocytes partly through action of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Palmitate metabolism did not differ between cells from control and those from phlorizin-treated wethers. Carnitine increased oxidation of palmitate to CO2 and acid-soluble products (ASP; mainly ketone bodies) and decreased esterification of palmitate in isolated hepatocytes from both groups of wethers, but the increase in oxidation to ASP was greater in cells from phlorizin-treated wethers. Propionate increased palmitate oxidation to CO2 in phlorizin-treated wethers. Propionate increased oxidation of palmitate to ASP in control wethers but decreased oxidation to ASP in phlorizin-treated wethers. Propionate increased esterification of palmitate to total esterified products and triglyceride, and the effect was larger in phlorizin-treated wethers. Acetate decreased palmitate esterification to total esterified products in control wethers, but the effect was blunted in phlorizin-treated wethers. Acetate did not affect palmitate oxidation. Addition of TOFA increased production of triglyceride from palmitate in the presence of propionate. The lack of interaction between TOFA and propionate indicates that propionate does not inhibit carnitine palmitoyltransferase I via cytosolic generation of methylmalonyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA carboxylase. In conclusion, although in vivo phlorizin treatment did not affect in vitro metabolism of palmitate by isolated ovine hepatocytes, phlorizin increased the stimulatory effect of carnitine on oxidation of palmitate to ASP and the inhibitory effect of propionate on oxidation of palmitate to ASP. Metabolism of acetate and propionate by acetyl-CoA carboxylase did not affect palmitate oxidation or esterification. Results provide additional insight into control of fatty acid metabolism in hepatocytes.

Effects of dietary calcium and phosphorus on reproductive performance and markers of bone turnover in stall- or group-housed sows.

Increasing productivity and new housing standards necessitate a reevaluation of nutrient requirements for sows, including minerals. The objective of this study was to determine if the recommended levels of dietary Ca and P are adequate for sows housed in groups and that, therefore, have the potential for increased mobility. A total of 180 multiparous sows and gilts were assigned to 1 of 6 treatments. Treatments, arranged as a 3 × 2 factorial, included the main effects of dietary Ca:P-0.70:0.55% Ca:P (as-fed basis; control), 0.60:0.47% Ca:P (as-fed basis; Low CaP), and 0.81:0.63% Ca:P (as-fed basis; High CaP)-and housing-stalls or groups. The trial was initiated when sows were moved from the breeding stalls to the gestation room at wk 4 or 5 after breeding. Sows were initially fed 2.3 kg/d. This allotment was increased to 3.0 kg/d 2 wk prior to farrowing. Group-housed sows, fed in individual stalls, were allowed access to a loafing area after feeding. Serum samples were collected at the start of the trial and on d 100 of gestation, and both serum and milk samples were collected at mid lactation and prior to weaning. Neither diet nor housing had an effect on the total number of piglets born, ADG from birth to weaning, or weaning weight ( > 0.10). The number of live-born piglets and birth weight were unaffected by diet ( > 0.10) but were improved by group housing relative to stalls ( < 0.05). In late gestation, group-housed sows fed the Low CaP diet had reduced serum Ca (diet × housing interaction, = 0.02), and the greatest reduction (between d 28 and 100 of gestation) in serum P level was observed in group-housed sows fed the Low CaP diet (diet × housing interaction, = 0.04). Osteocalcin and pyridinoline, markers of bone formation and resorption, respectively, were unaffected by diet or housing ( > 0.10). Results from these studies imply that the level of dietary Ca and P recommended by the NRC is adequate for sows of modern genetics, whether housed in stalls or groups.

Changing the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio in sow diets alters serum, colostrum, and milk fatty acid profiles, but has minimal impact on reproductive performance.

This experiment tested the hypothesis that reducing the omega-6 (n-6) to omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) ratio in sow diets will improve performance, characterized by increased litter size, decreased preweaning mortality, and improved growth performance. Second, we determined if the FA profile in sow and piglet blood, colostrum, and milk are altered when sows are fed diets with varied n-6:n-3 ratios and if the dietary FA ratio impacts circulating concentrations of IgG, IgA, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), or docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid. Sows (n=150) were assigned to 1 of 5 treatments (each divided into gestation and lactation diets) on d 80 of gestation. Period 1 (P1) is defined as d 80 of gestation to weaning and Period 2 (P2) refers to the subsequent breeding to weaning. Diets were wheat and barley based (5% crude fat) and treatments consisted of a control (tallow), 3 diets with plant oil-based n-6:n-3 ratios (9:1P, 5:1P, and 1:1P), and a 5:1 fish oil diet (5:1F). Litter size was unaffected by treatment during P1 and P2 (P>0.10). In P1, birth weight was unaffected by diet (P>0.10); however, weaning weight (P=0.019) and ADG from birth to weaning (P=0.011) were greatest for piglets born to 9:1P and 5:1P sows. During P2, 5:1F sows consumed 10% less feed during lactation (P=0.036), tended to have reduced piglet birth weights (P=0.052), and piglet weaning weight was reduced by 0.8 kg (P=0.040) relative to the other diets. Colostrum and piglet serum IgA and IgG concentrations were unaffected by diet (P>0.10). Serum n-3 FA were greatest in sows (P<0.01) consuming 1:1P and 5:1F diets and in their offspring (P=0.014). Serum α-linolenic acid (ALA) was greatest in 1:1P sows and EPA and DHA were greatest in 5:1F sows (P<0.01). In pre-suckle piglet serum, ALA did not differ among treatment groups (P>0.10). Relative to piglets of sows consuming the control diet, EPA was 2.5-fold greater in the 1:1P group and 4-fold greater in 5:1F group (P<0.01) before suckling. In post-suckle samples, ALA was greatest in piglets from the 1:1P sows (P<0.01) and EPA and DHA were greatest in piglets from the 5:1F sows (P<0.01). Feeding diets with plant-based n-6:n-3 ratios of 5:1 or 1:1 did not impact performance relative to a control group but improved the conversion of ALA into EPA and increased the transfer of n-3 to piglets through milk. When a fish-based 5:1 ratio diet was fed, pre-weaning mortality was increased, and piglet birth and weaning weights decreased.

Flaxseed fed pork: n-3 fatty acid enrichment and contribution to dietary recommendations.

The potential to increase n-3 fatty acid (FA) intake via flaxseed fed pork is underestimated when restricted to pure longissimus muscle, whereas a combination of muscle and adipose tissue is typically consumed. Presently, the FA content of pigs fed 0%, 5% and 10% dietary flaxseed for 11 weeks was measured in loin, picnic and butt primals (lean muscle with epimysium (L), L plus seam fat (LS), and LS plus 5 mm backfat (LSS)). The n-3 FA content necessary for an enrichment claim in Canada (300 mg/100 g serving) was exceeded in L from all primals when feeding 5% flaxseed, being 4 fold that of controls (P<0.001), with further enrichment from inclusion of associated adipose tissues (P<0.001). Increasing flaxseed feeding levels in combination with adipose tissue inclusion amplified total long chain n-3 FA (P<0.05), particularly 20:5n-3 and 22:5n-3. Flaxseed-fed n-3 FA enriched pork can contribute substantially to daily long chain n-3 FA intakes, particularly for societies with typically low seafood consumption.

Effects of dietary soybean oil on pig growth performance, retention of protein, lipids, and energy, and the net energy of corn in diets fed to growing or finishing pigs.

The objectives of this experiment were 1) to determine if dietary soybean oil (SBO) affects the NE of corn when fed to growing or finishing pigs, 2) to determine if possible effects of dietary SBO on the NE of corn differ between growing and finishing pigs, and 3) to determine effects of SBO on pig growth performance and retention of energy, protein, and lipids. Forty-eight growing (initial BW: 27.3 ± 2.5 kg) and 48 finishing (initial BW: 86.0 ± 3.0 kg) barrows were used, and within each stage of growth, pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 groups. Two groups at each stage of growth served as an initial slaughter group. The remaining 4 groups were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments and pigs in these groups were harvested at the conclusion of the experiment. A low-lipid basal diet containing corn, soybean meal, and no added SBO and a high-lipid basal diet containing corn, soybean meal, and 8% SBO were formulated at each stage of growth. Two additional diets at each stage of growth were formulated by mixing 25% corn and 75% of the low-lipid basal diet or 25% corn and 75% of the high-lipid basal diet. Results indicated that addition of SBO had no effects on growth performance, carcass composition, or retention of energy, protein, and lipids but increased (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility of acid hydrolyzed ether extract and GE. Addition of SBO also increased (P < 0.05) DE and NE of diets, but had no effect on the DE and NE of corn. Finishing pigs had greater (P < 0.05) growth performance and retention of energy, protein, and lipids than growing pigs. A greater (P < 0.05) DE and NE of diets was observed for finishing pigs than for growing pigs and the DE and NE of corn was also greater (P < 0.05) for finishing pigs than for growing pigs. In conclusion, addition of SBO increases the DE and NE of diets but has no impact on the DE and NE of corn. Diets fed to finishing pigs have greater DE and NE values than diets fed to growing pigs and the DE and NE of corn are greater for finishing pigs than for growing pigs.

Effects of dietary soybean hulls and wheat middlings on body composition, nutrient and energy retention, and the net energy of diets and ingredients fed to growing and finishing pigs.

The objectives of this experiment were 1) to determine the effect of dietary soybean hulls (SBH) and wheat middlings (WM) on body composition, nutrient and energy retention, and the NE of diets and ingredients fed to growing or finishing pigs and 2) to determine if finishing pigs use the energy in SBH and WM more efficiently than growing pigs. Forty growing barrows (initial BW: 25.4 ± 0.7 kg) and 40 finishing barrows (initial BW: 84.8 ± 0.9 kg) were randomly allotted to 5 groups within each stage of growth. Two groups at each stage of growth served as the initial slaughter group. The remaining pigs were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments and harvested at the conclusion of the experiment. The basal diet was based on corn and soybean meal and was formulated to be adequate in all nutrients. Two additional diets were formulated by mixing 70% of the basal diet and 30% SBH or 30% WM. In the growing phase, ADG, G:F, and retention of lipids were greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the basal diet than for pigs fed the diets containing SBH or WM. Retention of energy was also greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the basal diet than for pigs fed the SBH. In the finishing phase, pigs fed the SBH diet tended (P = 0.10) to have a greater ADG than pigs fed the WM diet, and energy retention was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the basal diet than for pigs fed the WM diet. The NE of the basal diet fed to growing pigs was greater (P < 0.01) than the NE of the diets containing SBH or WM, and there was a tendency for a greater (P = 0.05) NE of the basal diet than of the other diets when fed to finishing pigs. The NE of SBH did not differ from the NE of WM in either growing or finishing pigs, and there was no interaction between ingredients and stage of growth on the NE of diets or ingredients. The NE of diets for growing pigs (1,668 kcal/kg) was not different from the NE of diets for finishing pigs (1,823 kcal/kg), and the NE of the diets containing SBH (1,688 kcal/kg) was not different from the NE of the diets containing WM (1,803 kcal/kg). Likewise, the NE of SBH (603 kcal/kg) did not differ from the NE of WM (987 kcal/kg). In conclusion, inclusion of 30% SBH or WM decreases the performance and nutrient retention in growing pigs but has little impact on finishing pigs. The NE of the diets decreases with the inclusion of SBH and WM, but the NE of diets and ingredients is not affected by the BW of pigs. The NE of SBH is not different from the NE of WM.

The impact of ractopamine hydrochloride on growth and metabolism, with special consideration of its role on nitrogen balance and water utilization in pork production.

Two experiments were conducted to determine if ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) could improve nutrient utilization and decrease water utilization, thus reducing the environmental footprint of hog operations. The tissue accretion experiment used comparative slaughter involving 120 barrows (95 ± 3 kg of BW), including 12 assigned to an initial slaughter group; the remaining pigs were slaughtered at 108 or 120 kg. Growth performance and nutrient retention were determined. The 15-d metabolism experiment consisted of 54 pigs (95 ± 3 kg of BW). Growth performance, feed and water intake, and urine and fecal output were measured. The metabolism experiment used 9 dietary treatments arranged as a 3 × 3 factorial: 3 quantities of RAC (0, 5, and 10 mg/kg) and 3 standardized ileal digestible-Lys:DE ratios (1.73, 2.14, and 2.63 g/Mcal of DE). The tissue accretion study was designed as a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments using the same 9 dietary treatments to include slaughter BW (108 and 120 kg of BW) as an additional factor. In the tissue accretion experiment, RAC had no effect on ADG, ADFI, or G:F (P>0.10). With increased Lys, G:F improved (P=0.029), but not ADG or ADFI (P>0.10). Protein deposition rates increased numerically (P=0.11); water deposition rates increased (P=0.050), whereas lipid deposition tended to decrease with RAC inclusion (P=0.055). With greater RAC and Lys, the pigs had improved ADG (P=0.002) and G:F (P<0.001) in the metabolism experiment. Daily water intake (P=0.017.) and water output (P=0.033) decreased with RAC inclusion. Lysine inclusion did not alter the water balance (P>0.10). Urinary N excretion (P<0.001), total N excretion (P=0.003), and the urine N:fecal N ratio (P<0.001) decreased with the addition of RAC; fecal N (P=0.008) increased with RAC inclusion. Retention of N improved with addition of RAC to the diet (P=0.003). With greater dietary Lys, fecal N was reduced (P<0.001). The pigs fed the 2.14 g of Lys/Mcal tended to have the least urinary N (P = 0.069) and total N excretion (P=0.086) and to have the greatest N retention (P=0.086) and urinary N:fecal N ratio (P=0.009). A RAC × Lys interaction was observed for N digestibility (P=0.001), excretion (P=0.001), and retention (P=0.002) and for fecal (P=0.001) and urinary N (P=0.036). By improving N and water utilization in finishing pigs, RAC-containing diets supplemented with sufficient Lys can reduce N excretion into the environment from swine facilities.

Net energy of soybean oil and choice white grease in diets fed to growing and finishing pigs.

The objectives of this experiment were 1) to determine the NE of soybean oil (SBO) and choice white grease (CWG) fed to growing and finishing pigs, 2) to evaluate the effects of inclusion rate of SBO on the NE by growing and finishing pigs, and 3) to determine if there is a difference in the NE of SBO and CWG between growing and finishing pigs. Forty-eight growing (initial BW: 22.13 ± 1.78 kg) and 48 finishing (initial BW: 84.17 ± 5.80 kg) barrows were used, and they were housed and fed individually. Within each stage of growth, pigs were allotted to 8 outcome groups of 6 barrows based on BW. Within each outcome group, pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 6 groups. Two groups at each stage of growth served as an initial slaughter group. Pigs in the remaining groups were assigned to 4 dietary treatments and slaughtered at the conclusion of the experiment. The basal diet contained corn, soybean meal, and no supplemental lipids. Three additional diets were formulated by mixing 95% of the basal diet and 5% SBO, 90% of the basal diet and 10% SBO, or 90% of the basal diet and 10% CWG. Average daily gain and G:F for finishing pigs and apparent total tract digestibility of energy for growing and finishing pigs increased (linear, P < 0.05) with lipid content, but was not affected by lipid source. The lipid gain:protein gain ratio and the energy retention also increased (linear, P ≤ 0.05) with lipid content in growing and finishing pigs. There were no interactive effects between lipid content and stage of growth or between lipid source and stage of growth on the NE of diets and the NE of dietary lipids. The NE of diets increased (linear, P < 0.01) with increasing SBO (2,056, 2,206, and 2,318 kcal/kg for diets containing 0, 5, or 10% SBO). The NE of the diet containing 10% CWG (2,440 kcal/kg) was greater (P < 0.05) than the NE of the diet containing 10% SBO. The NE of diets was greater (P < 0.05) for finishing pigs than for growing pigs regardless of lipid content or source. The NE of SBO included at 5% (5,073 kcal/kg) was not different from the NE of SBO included at 10% (4,679 kcal/kg), but the NE of CWG (5,900 kcal/kg) was greater (P < 0.05) than the NE of SBO. The stage of growth had no impact on the NE of SBO or CWG. In conclusion, the NE of lipids is not affected by the content of dietary lipids, but the NE of CWG is greater than the NE of SBO.

Increasing omega-3 levels through dietary co-extruded flaxseed supplementation negatively affects pork palatability.

To clarify the impact of feeding co-extruded flaxseed on carcass quality and pork palatability, 96 pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts) were fed three different levels of flaxseed (0%, 5% and 10% of dietary intake) for 76days. Carcass quality and meat quality characteristics of pure loin muscle and ground pork (20% fat) were evaluated. Fat hardness and belly firmness decreased (P<0.001) with increasing co-extruded flaxseed. Pigs fed co-extruded flaxseed levels had higher lean yield (P=0.045) and total lean content (P=0.034). Loin from barrows had higher fat content compared to gilts (P<0.001). Co-extruded flaxseed supplementation increased (P<0.001) omega-3 content in loin and ground pork. Pork flavour intensity and off-flavour intensity scores lowered (P<0.001) with increasing levels of co-extruded flaxseed, being more accentuated (P=0.023) in reheated pork chops from barrows. Diet affected all texture and flavour sensory characteristics (P<0.05) as tissue levels of omega-3 fatty acids increased, likely as a result of increased lipid oxidation.

Impact of piglet birth weight, birth order, and litter size on subsequent growth performance, carcass quality, muscle composition, and eating quality of pork.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships among birth weight, birth order, or litter size on growth performance, carcass quality, and eating quality of the ultimate pork product. Data were collected from 98 pig litters and, with the addition of recording birth weight and birth order, farrowing and piglet management were according to normal barn practices. In the nursery and during growout, the pigs received the normal feeding program for the barn and, with the addition of individual tattooing, were marketed as per standard procedure. From 24 litters, selected because they had at least 12 pigs born alive and represented a range of birth weights, 4 piglets were chosen (for a total of 96 piglets) and sent to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada-Lacombe Research Centre (Lacombe, Alberta, Canada) when they reached 120 kg for extensive meat quality and sensory analysis. Individual BW was measured at birth, on the day of weaning, 5 wk after weaning, at nursery exit, at first pull, and at the time of marketing. Litter sizes were divided into 3 categories: small (3 to 10 piglets), medium (11 to 13 piglets), and large (14 to 19 piglets). There were 4 birth-weight quartiles: 0.80 to 1.20, 1.25 to 1.45, 1.50 to 1.70, and 1.75 to 2.50 kg. Increased litter size resulted in reduced mean birth weight (P < 0.05), but had no effect on within litter variability or carcass quality (P > 0.05) when slaughtered at the same endpoint. Lighter birth-weight pigs had reduced BW at weaning, 5 and 7 wk postweaning, and at first pull and had increased days to market (P < 0.05). Birth weight had limited effects on carcass quality, weight of primal cuts, objective quality, and overall palatability of the meat at the same slaughter weight (P > 0.05). In conclusion, increased litter size resulted in decreased mean birth weight but no change in days to market. Lighter birth-weight pigs took longer to reach market. Despite some differences in histological properties, birth weight had limited effects on carcass composition or final eating quality of the pork when slaughtered at the same BW and large litter size resulted in more pigs weaned and marketed compared with the smaller litters. We concluded that based on the conditions of this study, other than increased days to market, there is no reason based on pig performance or pork quality to slow down the goal of the pork industry to increase sow productivity as a means to increase efficiency.

Feeding co-extruded flaxseed to pigs: effects of duration and feeding level on growth performance and backfat fatty acid composition of grower-finisher pigs.

To examine the effect of co-extrusion on subsequent n-3 fatty acids in pig tissues, 8 pigs (barrows and gilts) were assigned to either a control treatment or one of nine treatments arranged in a 3 x 3 factorial design with 3 levels of co-extruded flaxseed (5%, 10% and 15%) and 3 durations of feeding (4, 8 and 12 weeks). Feed conversion improved slightly (P=0.01) with increasing dietary flaxseed but feeding flax for more than 8 weeks reduced average daily gain (P=0.02). In general, the duration and level of co-extruded flaxseed feeding affected (P<0.05) most fatty acids except for 22:6n-3 (P>0.05). Increasing the duration of flax feeding led to significant quadratic effects in backfat 18:3n-3 (P<0.001) and total n-3 fatty acids (P=0.002) when feeding 5% co-extruded flaxseed. Those increases were linear (P<0.001) when feeding 10% and 15% co-extruded flaxseed. Consequently feeding higher levels of flax for shorter periods vs. lower levels for longer periods appears to be more efficient at increasing n-3 fatty acids in pig backfat, but increases appeared to be less consistent. Moreover the addition of a 50:50 mix of extruded flax/peas to pig diets provided a highly available source of 18:3n-3 yielding n-3 fatty acid enrichments in backfat comparable to studies where extracted flaxseed oil was fed. Feeding flax co-extruded with field peas can be used to optimize consistent enrichments of n-3 fatty acids in back fat and relatively small amounts of this fat could be used to manufacture pork products to meet Canadian standards for n-3 fatty acid enrichment.

Nutritional value of flaxseed meal for swine and its effects on the fatty acid profile of the carcass.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value of flaxseed meal [FSM; 133 g of ether extract (EE) and 343 g of CP/kg of DM] for swine. In Exp. 1, apparent fecal digestibility (AD) of DM and EE, and the DE and NE contents were determined in growing pigs (n = 32; initial BW, 70 +/- 3 kg) and gestating sows (n = 24; parities, 2 to 4). Diets contained 0, 100, 200, or 300 g of FSM/kg at the expense of wheat, barley, and soybean meal. Fecal samples were collected for 3 d after a 9-d adaptation. The AD for DM and EE were 72.0 +/- 0.4% and 67.4 +/- 4.7%, respectively, for growing pigs and 68.0 +/- 0.5% and 48.9 +/- 1.9% for sows. The DE content was 3.51 and 3.54 Mcal/kg for growing pigs and gestating sows, and NE was estimated to be 2.43 and 2.44 Mcal/kg for growing pigs and sows, respectively. Five ileally cannulated barrows (initial BW, 38 +/- 3 kg) were fed semi-synthetic diets containing 400 g of FSM/kg for a 7-d period (4-d adaptation and 3-d collection) then 7 d of N-free diet to determine basal endogenous N losses in Exp. 2. Standardized ileal digestible AA contents were 29.6 +/- 1.0, 5.7 +/- 0.3, 12.1 +/- 0.8, 16.8 +/- 1.0, 10.3 +/- 0.4, 5.3 +/- 0.3, 14.0 +/- 0.7, 9.4 +/- 0.5, 2.9 +/- 0.2, and 13.8 +/- 0.8 g/kg of dry FSM for Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Trp, and Val, respectively. In Exp. 3, the AD of P and the effects of phytase inclusion on P availability were determined. Five groups of 8 barrows (initial BW, 45 +/- 4 kg) were fed a 300 g of FSM/kg semi-synthetic diet with increasing concentrations of exogenous phytase [0, 575, 1,185, 2,400 and 2,570 phytase units (FTU)/kg]. The AD of P increased from 21 to 61% (P < 0.001). Broken-line analysis estimated the optimal phytase inclusion rate to be 1,415 FTU/kg of diet. Growth performance and carcass fatty acid (FA) profiles of pigs fed FSM were determined in Exp. 4. Two hundred pigs (100 barrows and 100 gilts; initial BW, 32 +/- 4 kg), blocked by sex, were housed in groups of 5 pigs per pen and fed 1 of 4 diets containing 0, 50, 100, or 150 g of FSM/kg. Six market pigs per diet were selected for carcass FA analysis. The ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by dietary FSM (P > 0.05). Increasing FSM in the diet from 0 to 150 g of FSM/kg increased the alpha-linolenic acid content from 11.1 +/- 0.2 to 47.4 +/- 1.2 mg/g of backfat (P < 0.001) and from 5.0 +/- 0.1 to 10.1 +/- 0.6 mg/g of loin tissue (P < 0.001). Flaxseed meal despite its deficiency in lysine can be included up to 150 g/kg of diets for swine and will contribute to the enrichment of the carcass with n-3 fatty acids.

Intraarticular injection of anakinra in osteoarthritis of the knee: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical response, safety, and tolerability of a single intraarticular injection of anakinra in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Patients with OA of the knee were enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and randomized 2:1:2 to receive a single intraarticular injection of placebo, anakinra 50 mg, or anakinra 150 mg in their symptomatic knee. Patients were evaluated for 12 weeks postinjection. The primary end point was the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score from baseline to week 4. Safety assessments included the evaluation of adverse events (AEs), laboratory tests, and vital signs. Pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed in a subset of patients. RESULTS: Of 170 patients who enrolled, 160 (94%) completed the study. The mean improvements from baseline to week 4 in the WOMAC score were not statistically different between the placebo group and the patients who received 50 mg of anakinra (P = 0.67) or 150 mg of anakinra (P = 0.77). Anakinra was well tolerated. No withdrawals due to AEs or serious AEs, and no serious infections or deaths were reported. No clinically significant trends were noted in laboratory values or vital signs. Pharmacokinetic parameters demonstrated that the mean terminal half-life of anakinra in serum after intraarticular injection was approximately 4 hours. CONCLUSION: Anakinra was well tolerated as a single 50-mg or 150-mg intraarticular injection in patients with OA of the knee. However, anakinra was not associated with improvements in OA symptoms compared with placebo.

Response to dietary digestible energy concentration in growing pigs fed cereal grain-based diets.

Understanding how energy is utilized by the pig, and how the pig responds to changes in dietary energy concentration, is essential information in determining the optimal concentration of dietary energy under farm conditions, which are often highly diverse. The objective of these experiments was to determine how changes in dietary DE concentration, achieved through graded changes in diet composition, would affect the performance and carcass composition of growing pigs. In Exp. 1, which was conducted in a research facility, 300 pigs (31.1 +/- 2.6 kg) were assigned to diets containing 3.09, 3.24, 3.34, 3.42, or 3.57 Mcal of DE/kg. Experiment 2, which was conducted at a commercial swine farm, involved 720 pigs (36.8 +/- 5.9 kg) assigned to diets containing 3.12, 3.30, or 3.43 Mcal of DE/kg. Increased DE concentration was attained by using more wheat, soybean meal, and fat and less barley; true ileal lysine was adjusted as DE increased, and minimal AA:lysine ratios were maintained. In Exp. 1, ADG improved linearly as the energy content of the diet increased (P = 0.03). Feed intake decreased (P < 0.001) and feed efficiency and daily caloric intake improved (P = 0.005) with increased DE content. Variability in growth was not affected by treatment. Carcass index and LM thickness were not affected by increasing dietary DE content; backfat thickness, however, was increased (P < 0.001). In Exp. 2, overall ADG was unaffected by dietary energy content, although an improvement in growth was observed until the pigs reached approximately 80 kg of BW. Overall feed intake decreased with increasing energy content (P = 0.01), although this was not observed during the initial 6 wk of the experiment. Carcass index, lean yield, and backfat were not affected by increasing dietary energy content, whereas LM thickness tended to increase (P = 0.08). The value per pig was unaffected by increasing dietary energy content in both experiments, and returns above feed costs were reduced. Increasing the energy density of the diet for growing pigs through incremental changes in dietary composition had a variable impact on overall growth performance and carcass quality. Increasing the dietary DE had no effect on variations in BW at the time of marketing.

Protective effects of licofelone, a 5-lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, versus naproxen on cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis: a first multicentre clinical trial using quantitative MRI.

OBJECTIVE: In a multicentre study to explore the effects of licofelone as a disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug in comparison with naproxen in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), using MRI and x-ray examination. METHODS: Patients with knee OA (n = 355) were randomised to receive either licofelone (200 mg twice a day) or naproxen (500 mg twice a day). MRI and x-ray examinations were performed at baseline, 6 months (MRI only), 12 and 24 months. MRI was used to assess quantitatively changes in cartilage volume, and x-ray examinations (Lyon-Schuss) to measure changes in the mean and minimum joint space width (JSW) in the medial compartment. Questionnaires probing symptoms were completed. Data were presented as intention to treat (ITT) and according to protocol (ATP). RESULTS: Cartilage volume loss in the global joint and medial and lateral compartments was significantly less in the licofelone than in the naproxen group for ITT at 12 and 24 months and for ATP at all times except in the medial compartment. Patients with medial meniscal extrusion had a greater loss of cartilage volume. In these patients, licofelone markedly reduced the cartilage loss for both ITT and ATP at 12 and 24 months. Although licofelone showed less reduction in the JSW than naproxen, this did not reach significance. All clinical variables were improved at 24 months (p<0.001) for both groups, with a good safety profile. CONCLUSION: Licofelone and naproxen were equally effective in reducing OA symptoms; however, licofelone significantly reduced cartilage volume loss over time, thus having a protective effect in patients with knee OA. This study proves the superiority of quantitative MRI over x-ray examinations in a multicentre clinical trial.

A randomized, double-blind, crossover comparison of the efficacy and safety of oral controlled-release tramadol and placebo in patients with painful osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of controlled-release (CR) tramadol (Zytram XL, Purdue Pharma, Canada) and placebo in patients with painful osteoarthritis. METHODS: Patients underwent analgesic washout for two to seven days before random assignment to 150 mg daily of CR tramadol or placebo, and were titrated weekly to 200 mg, 300 mg or a maximum of 400 mg once daily. After four weeks, patients crossed over to the alternate treatment for another four weeks. Plain acetaminophen was provided as a rescue analgesic. All patients who completed the crossover study were eligible to receive open label CR tramadol for six months. RESULTS: Seventy-seven of 100 randomly assigned patients were evaluable for efficacy. CR tramadol resulted in significantly lower visual analogue scale pain intensity scores (37.4+/-23.9 versus 45.1+/-24.3, P=0.0009). Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index subscale scores for pain (189.0+/-105.0 versus 230.0+/-115.4; P=0.0001) and physical function (632.4+/-361.3 versus 727.4+/-383.4; P=0.0205) were significantly better with CR tramadol. Total pain and disability (22.8+/-14.5 versus 27.2+/-14.8; P=0.0004), and overall pain and sleep (104.7+/-98.0 versus 141.0+/-108.2; P=0.0005) scores in the Pain and Sleep Questionnaire were significantly lower for CR tramadol. Short-form 36 Health Survey scores were significantly better during CR tramadol treatment for the pain index (38.8+/-10.8 versus 35.6+/-9.0; P=0.0100), general health perception (46.5+/-11.2 versus 44.4+/-11.6; P=0.0262), vitality (43.1+/-13.2 versus 40.2+/-13.7; P=0.0255) and overall physical components (40.8+/-8.9 versus 37.8+/-7.7; P=0.0002). CR tramadol treatment was preferred by 55.8% of patients (P=0.0005) versus 20.8% and 23.4% of patients who chose placebo or had no preference, respectively. These improvements were sustained for up to six months, and 86.5% of patients reported at least moderate benefit from CR tramadol during long-term treatment. CONCLUSION: CR tramadol is effective for the management of painful osteoarthritis.

Once-daily, controlled-release tramadol and sustained-release diclofenac relieve chronic pain due to osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was a randomized, parallel, double-blind comparison between controlled-release (CR) tramadol and sustained-release (SR) diclofenac in patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the hips and/or knees. METHODS: Patients with at least moderate pain intensity, and having received analgesics over the past three months, underwent a two- to seven-day washout of current analgesics before initiation of 200 mg CR tramadol or 75 mg SR diclofenac. During the eight-week study, patients returned to the clinic biweekly. CR tramadol doses were titrated to a maximum of 200 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg per day. SR diclofenac doses were titrated to 75 mg or 100 mg once daily, or 75 mg twice a day based on pain relief and the presence of side effects. For rescue analgesic, patients took acetaminophen as needed, up to 650 mg three times a day. RESULTS: Forty-five patients on CR tramadol and 52 patients on SR diclofenac were evaluable. Significant improvements from prestudy treatment were shown for visual analogue scale pain (P=0.0001), stiffness (P<0.0005) and physical function (P=0.0001) scores for both treatments. There were no significant differences between the two treatments in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities subscales, overall pain, pain and sleep, or the clinical effectiveness evaluation. Overall incidence of adverse events was similar in both groups, with more opioid-related adverse events with CR tramadol, and two serious adverse events occurring with the use of SR diclofenac. CONCLUSIONS: CR tramadol is as effective as SR diclofenac in the treatment of pain due to knee or hip osteoarthritis, with the potential for fewer of the serious side effects that characterize nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration.

Investigations of energy metabolism in weanling barrows: the interaction of dietary energy concentration and daily feed (energy) intake.

Much of our understanding of energy metabolism in the pig has been derived from studies in which the energy supply was controlled through regulated feed intake. In commercial situations, where ad libitum feeding is practiced, dietary energy concentration, but not daily feed intake, is under producer control. This study evaluated the interactive effects of dietary energy concentration and feeding level (FL) on growth, body composition, and nutrient deposition rates. Individually penned PIC barrows, with an initial BW of 9.5 +/- 1.0 kg, were allotted to 1 of 9 treatments in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement plus an initial slaughter group (n = 6) that was slaughtered at the beginning of the trial. Three NE concentrations (low, 2.15; medium, 2.26; and high, 2.37 Mcal of NE/kg) and 3 feeding levels (FL: 100, 80, or 70% of ad libitum access to feed) were investigated. Daily feed allowance for the restricted-fed pigs was adjusted twice per week on a BW basis until completion of the experiment at 25 +/- 1 kg of BW. Average daily gain, ADFI, and G:F were unaffected by NE (mean = 572 g, 781 g, and 0.732 g/g, respectively). Average daily gain and ADFI, but not G:F, increased (P < 0.05) with FL. Empty body lipid concentration increased with dietary NE concentration and with FL; a significant (P < 0.01) interaction revealed that empty body lipid concentration increased most rapidly as ADFI increased on the highest energy diet. Empty body lipid concentration was greatest in pigs with ad libitum access to the high-NE diet. Empty body protein concentration decreased with increasing NE (P < 0.05) but was not affected by FL. Empty body protein deposition (PD) increased with increasing FL (P < 0.001), but not with NE. Empty body lipid deposition (LD) and the LD:PD ratio increased (P < 0.01) in pigs with ad libitum access to the high-NE diet. In conclusion, NE did not interact with FL on growth, body protein concentration, or PD, suggesting that the conclusions regarding energy utilization obtained from experiments using restricted feed intake may not easily be applied to pigs fed under ad libitum conditions. The interactive effects of NE and FL on body lipid concentration, LD, and the LD:PD ratio indicate that changes in dietary energy concentration alter the composition of gain without necessarily changing overall BW gain. Consequently, the composition of gain is an important outcome in studies on energy utilization.

Responses to increasing amounts of high-oleic sunflower fatty acids infused into the abomasum of lactating dairy cows.

Increasing the oleic acid (18:1 cis-9) content of milk fat might be desirable to meet consumer concerns about dietary healthfulness and for certain manufacturing applications. The extent to which milk fat could be enriched with oleic acid is not known. Increasing the intestinal supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreases dry matter intake (DMI) in cows, but the effects of oleic acid have not been quantified. In a crossover design, 4 multiparous Holstein cows were abomasally infused with increasing amounts (0, 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 g/d) of free fatty acids from high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSFA) or with carrier alone. Continuous infusions (20 to 22 h/d) were for 7 d at each amount. Infusions were homogenates of HOSFA with 240 g/d of meat solubles and 11.2 g/d of Tween 80; controls received carrier only. The HOSFA contained (by wt) 2.4% 16:0, 1.8% 18:0, 91.4% 18:1 cis-9, and 2.4% 18:2. The DMI decreased linearly (range 22.0 to 5.8 kg/d) as the infused amount of HOSFA increased. Apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and energy decreased as the infusion increased to 750 g/d and then increased when 1,000 g/d was infused. Digestibility of total fatty acids increased linearly as infused fatty acids increased. Yields of milk, fat, true protein, casein, and total solids decreased quadratically as infused amounts increased; decreases were greatest when 750 or 1,000 g/d of HOSFA were infused. Concentrations of fat and total solids increased at the higher amounts of HOSFA. The volume mean diameter of milk fat droplets and the diameter below which 90% of the volume of milk fat is contained both increased as HOSFA infusion increased. Concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, 12:0, 14:0, and 16:0 in milk fat decreased linearly as HOSFA increased. The concentration of 18:1 cis-9 (19.4 to 57.4% of total fatty acids) increased linearly as HOSFA infusion increased. Concentrations of 18:1 cis-9 in blood triglyceride-rich lipoproteins increased linearly as infusion increased, whereas contents of 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, total 18:1 trans, and 18:2n-6 decreased linearly. The composition and physical characteristics of milk fat can be altered markedly by an increased intestinal supply of 18:1 cis-9, which could influence processing characteristics and the healthfulness of milk fat. However, an increased supply of free 18:1 cis-9 to the intestine decreased DMI and milk production.