Mycotoxin sequestering agent: Impact on health and performance of dairy cows and efficacy in reducing AFM1 residues in milk.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the exposure to a diet naturally contaminated with mycotoxins on lactation performance, animal health, and the ability to sequester agents (SA) to reduce the human exposure to AFM1. Sixty healthy lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to two groups: naturally contaminated diet without and with the addition of a SA (20 g/cow/d AntitoxCooPil® -60% zeolite-40% cell wall-). Each cow was monitored throughout lactation. The concentration of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in feed and M1 (AFM1) in milk, health status, and productive and reproductive parameters were measured. AFB1 concentration in feed was very low (2.31 µg/kgDM). The addition of SA reduced the milk AFM1 concentrations (0.016 vs. 0.008 µg/kg) and transfer rates (2.19 vs. 0.77%). No differences were observed in health status, production and reproduction performance. The inclusion of SA in the diet of dairy cows reduce the risk in the most susceptible population.

Quantitative risk assessment for aflatoxin M1 associated with the consumption of milk and traditional dairy products in Argentina.

A quantitative risk assessment for exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) related to the consumption of milk and traditional dairy products of Argentina was developed. The frequency and concentration of AFM1 was modelled at various stages through the milk processes, considering Argentinean practices. Concentration of AFM1 (0.046 µg/l, 95%CI = 0.002-0.264 µg/l) in raw milk was estimated. The AFM1 concentration in milk was sensitive to the carry-over rate (r = 0.80), and milk yield in the first third of lactation during the spring-summer season (r = 0.11). AFB1 levels in silage (r = 0.22), pasture during the spring-summer season (r = 0.11), concentrate (r = 0.08), and cotton seed (r = 0.05) were the factors most correlated with AFM1 concentrations. Although the results showed that MoE values for the mean and median exposure to AFM1 were < 10,000 in infants, toddlers, and other children, the additional cancer risk due to exposure to AFM1 in infants, toddlers, and other children was 0.007, 0.005, and 0.0009 additional cases per year per 100,000 individuals, respectively, which indicates no health concern. In addition, the percentages of the population exceeding HI values (HI > 1) for exposure to AFM1 for infants, toddlers, and other children were 45%, 49.1%, and 40.6%, respectively. Under this scenario, the most susceptible population at risk was children < 10 years old; therefore, it is necessary to establish measures to prevent contamination of AFM1 in milk and milk products.

Quantification of aflatoxin M1 carry-over rate from feed to soft cheese.

From January to December 2016, samples of milk and feeds of dairy cattle were monthly collected. The concentration of mycotoxins in all matrices was determined using the enzymatic immunoassay technique. The average concentration of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) in feed was 3.01, 218.5 and 467 ug/kg, respectively. The average AFB1 carry-over rate was 0.84% with a variation between 0.05 to 5.93%. Particle size of the feed (P = 0.030) and individual milk production (P = 0.001) affected this rate. Mini-soft cheeses were produced using milk naturally contaminated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) as raw material to study its distribution both in whey and in cheese. The average level of AFM1 in milk was 0.014 µg/l. None of milk samples exceeded the maximum level accepted for AFB1 by the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) legislation (0.5 µg/l) and only 5.5% of samples exceeded the European Union (UE) regulations (0.05 µg/l). After the cheese elaboration, the concentration of AFM1 was determined in whey and in cheese. The greatest proportion (60%) was detected in whey while 40% AFM1 remained in the cheese. However, the concentration of AFM1 was higher in the cheese compared to the original milk.

Improvement in exercise capacity after correction of anemia in patients with end-stage renal failure.

Changes in exercise tolerance occurring after correction of anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin in a group of patients with end-stage renal failure were evaluated. Ten patients, aged 29 +/- 11 years, on chronic hemodialysis treatment, with no associated diseases, were evaluated by cardiopulmonary bicycle exercise testing and M-mode, 2-dimensional and pulsed doppler echocardiography before and after anemia correction. After 1 and 3 months of therapy, hemoglobin plasma levels increased from 5.9 +/- 1.2 to 7.7 +/- 1.3 and 9.9 +/- 1.4 g/dl, with a concomitant increase in peak oxygen consumption (VO2) from 21.4 +/- 4.3 to 24.4 +/- 4.3 and 26.6 +/- 4.6 ml/kg/min and of VO2 at the ventilatory threshold from 15.0 +/- 3.7 to 17.3 +/- 3.7 and 16.8 +/- 3.4 ml/kg/min. After 3 months of therapy, systolic blood pressure significantly decreased both at peak exercise (159 +/- 35 to 134 +/- 22 mm Hg) and ventilatory threshold (140 +/- 27 to 123 +/- 19 mm Hg), whereas cardiac index at rest decreased from 3.3 +/- 0.7 to 2.8 +/- 0.5 liters/min/m2 and heart rate from 77 +/- 12 to 70 +/- 10 beats/min. However, no significant relation was found between hemoglobin plasma levels and peak VO2, whereas a significant relation was found between hemoglobin concentration and cardiac index at rest.

ACTH and beta-endorphin responses to physical exercise in adolescent women tested for anxiety and frustration.

Thirty healthy adolescent women (age: 14 years), high school students without clinical signs of psychiatric or major affective disorders, received psychological and endocrinological examinations. Two psychological tests were used: the Anxiety Score Test for Adolescents and the Pictures Frustration Test for Adolescents of Rosenzweig. On the basis of the results of these tests, subjects were divided into two groups: A (n = 21), normal subjects; B (n = 9), subjects with evidence of anxiety (n = 1), frustration (n = 1), or both (n = 7). Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and beta-endorphin were measured under basal conditions and after physical exercise (Step Test) in all subjects. Hormonal responses in groups A and B were compared. Basal concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were similar in the two groups, whereas basal beta-endorphin levels were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Exercise induced a slight but significant increase in plasma concentrations of both ACTH (32% increase) and beta-endorphin (60% increase) in group A. A striking increase in plasma ACTH (100% increment) and a slight increase of beta-endorphin (60% increment) levels were observed in group B after exercise. Absolute levels of ACTH and beta-endorphin after physical exercise were significantly higher in group B than in group A. These findings indicate increased levels of adrenocorticotropic and opioid activity in adolescent women with high scores on psychological measures of anxiety and frustration.

Renormalization of high cardiac output and of left ventricular size following long-term recombinant human erythropoietin treatment of anemic dialyzed uremic patients.

To obtain information on the effects of the correction of uremic anemia on cardiac function and size, nine normotensive dialyzed patients were studied before, during and six months after the start of i.v. treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). Pulsed-doppler echocardiographic determinations of the cardiac index (CI) and M-Mode echocardiographic estimations of the indexed left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDDi), interventricular septum (IVSi), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWi), with calculations of the left ventricular mass index (LVMi), were made on every occasion. Mean (+/- SD) hemoglobin (Hb) concentration before rHuEPO was 5.9 +/- 1.3 g/dl and rose significantly (p less than 0.0001) up to the third month, then remained constant. Baseline CI (3.4 +/- 0.6 l/min/m2bsa) was significantly higher (p less than 0.0001) than in healthy subjects (2.5 +/- 0.5 l), and decreased after the third month to a value (2.8 +/- 0.5 l) no longer different from that of controls. From pooled baseline and third month data, an inverse relationship between Hb and CI was found (p less than 0.0001). Baseline LVEDDi (32.7 +/- 4.3 mm/m2bsa), IVSi (6 +/- 1.1 mm/m2bsa) and LVPWi (5 +/- 0.8 mm/m2bsa) were all significantly higher than in controls. After three months of therapy, the only change was a decrease in LVPWi while after six months all indices, including the LVMi, decreased to values no longer higher than in controls. From pooled baseline and six months data, an inverse relationship between Hb and LVMi was found (p less than 0.0001). We conclude that treatment of uremic patients by rHuEPO is able to renormalize their already increased cardiac output soon after correction of the anemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of changes in intravascular volume on atrial size and plasma levels of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide in uremic man.

To study the trigger for the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in man, we measured the atrial areas (AA) by 2-D echocardiography, the total blood volume (TBV) by 131I-serum albumin and plasma immunoreactive ANP (i-ANP) concentrations by radioimmunoassay, after prior plasma extraction, for 10 dialyzed uremic patients. Measurements were made when the patients were volume-loaded or volume-depleted by isoosmotic ultrafiltration and again 48 h later, when they were again volume-loaded. Analysis of plasma extracts by high-performance gel permeation chromatography revealed that the greatest amount of the i-ANP fraction was a peptide eluting like human synthetic alpha-ANP. Ultrafiltration consistently decreased the TBV, while spontaneous regain of body-fluids caused TBV to rise to pre-ultrafiltration levels. Changes in TBV were closely related in time to changes in both right (RAA) and left (LAA) atrial area and in plasma i-ANP concentrations. Significant direct relationships were found between TBV and RAA, TBV and i-ANP and between both LAA and RAA and i-ANP. Furthermore, the decreases and the increases in TBV, RAA and LAA were closely correlated with changes in i-ANP. Multiple regression analysis, however, revealed that the changes in plasma i-ANP were mainly related to the changes in RAA, with little or no relationship to the changes in TBV or LAA. These findings are evidence for a positive feed-back between the level of intravascular filing volume, extent of atrial distention and amount of i-ANP released into the blood stream.

Changes in partition of extracellular fluid volumes in anemic dialyzed uremic patients after partial correction of the anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin treatment.

The purpose of this work was to study the effects of correcting anemia on the distribution and partition of body fluids in dialyzed uremic subjects. We studied nine (7 m, 2 f) patients before and three months after the start of i.v. treatment with rHu-EPO, measuring total body water (TBW) with 3H2O, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) with 35SO4 and plasma volume (PV) with 125I-SA. The intracellular water (ICW) and the interstitial fluid volumes (IFV) were derived by calculation from those measurements. The total blood volume (TBV) was calculated from the PV and the packed cell volume (PCV). Mean TBW, 482 +/- 45 (M +/- SD) ml/kg/bw and ECFV, 168 +/- 27.5 ml were significantly lower in patients than in nine matched normal controls, while the mean ICW (315 +/- 43 ml/kg) was similar. PCV before the start of rHu-EPO was 17.2 +/- 2.9% and had risen significantly to 31.3 +/- 4.8% (p = 0.000) after three months of therapy. Body weight (58 +/- 13 kg), TBW, ECFV and ICW did not change. TBV before rHU-EPO was 68.7 +/- 7.5 ml/kg and remained nearly unchanged, while PV fell significantly from 57 +/- 9 to 48 +/- 8 ml/kg (p < 0.025), with the calculated IFV rising from 111 +/- 25 to 127 +/- 27 (p = 0.000). The PV/IFV ratio decreased from 0.53 +/- 0.12 to 0.38 +/- 0.09 (p = 0.001). The decrease in PV/IFV ratio was paralleled by simultaneous increase in PCV in all but one patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Which vascular access for chronic hemodialysis in uremic elderly patients?

The type of hemodialysis vascular access (fistula, graft, catheter) employed plays an important role in the results of dialysis treatment. Moreover, different complications can affect the vascular access and interfere with the morbidity and mortality of patients. The ideal vascular access is the Cimino Brescia fistula. Graft and catheter methods should be considered as 'second choice' because they present a higher incidence of complications, mainly due to thrombosis and infections. Finally, in elderly patients the vascular bed is frequently damaged and this may make it difficult to create a Cimino Brescia fistula. In a 5-year period, 140 elderly patients (>65 years) and 63 'young' patients (< 65 years) started dialysis treatment in our facility. In the elderly group, a native fistula was created in 88% of cases, whereas in the younger patients the percentage was 94% (p: NS). The grafts were, respectively, 11% in elderly and 6% in young patients. Only in one case, in one elderly patient, was a permanent catheter the first vascular access. We also report survival rate of the first vascular access, the incidence of thrombosis, and the need for creating another type of access. We suggest that a native fistula can be easily created in elderly patients and a 'second choice' access should be limited to a small proportion of patients.

Exposure assessment of mycotoxins in cow's milk in Argentina.

A stochastic simulation model was developed to carry out the first quantitative risk exposure assessment of the mycotoxin level in cow's milk produced in Argentina. The prevalence and concentration of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) were modeled at various stages through milk processes complying with Argentinean practices. Concentration of AFM1 (0.059ppb), DON (0.338ppb) and ZEA (0.125ppb) in dairy milk were estimated. The proportion of feed samples that exceeded the maximum level accepted by European regulations for AFB1, DON and ZEA were estimated at 25.07%, 0.0% and 8.9%, respectively. The percentage of milk samples that exceeded the maximum level accepted for AFB1 by the MERCOSUR (0.5ppb) and the European Union regulations (0.05ppb) were 0.81 and 32.65, respectively. The probability distribution of AFM1 concentration in milk was affected by the carry-over rate equations applied in the model. Mycotoxin levels in corn silage and concentrated feeds were the factors most correlated with mycotoxin concentrations in milk. Therefore, agricultural practices, crop management and feed production require prompt attention regarding mycotoxin issues.

Diet and cooling interactions on physiological responses of grazing dairy cows, milk production and composition.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of diet and cooling in the holding pen before milking on rectal temperature, respiration rate and milk production and composition. Fifty-eight lactating Holstein cows were used in a factorial split-plot design, at Rafaela Experimental Station from 12 January to 3 March 2003. The treatments were combinations of two diets: control (CD) and balanced (BD) with two levels of cooling before milking: none (NSF) and a sprinkler and fans (SF). Forage:concentrate ratios for CD and BD were 81:19 and 68:32, respectively. Cows were milked twice daily. Milk production was recorded daily, and milk composition (fat, protein, lactose and urea) was analysed twice a week. The physiological data were recorded once a week, before the cattle entered the holding pen and after milking, in the afternoon. Average maximum weekly temperature humidity index was 75.4 and ranged from 61.4 to 83. There were highly significant effects of cooling on physiological responses. Milk production was affected by diet and cooling, with no interaction; the highest and lowest production of milk was 22.42 and 20.07 l/cow per day, for BD+SF and CD+NSF, respectively. Protein was affected by diet, and was higher for BD (3.17 vs. 3.08%). There were interaction effects on milk fat at the 8% level, the highest concentration being 3.65% for BD+NFS. It was concluded that under grazing conditions, cooling by sprinkler and fans before milking improves the comfort of dairy cows, and that the effects on milk production and composition are enhanced when diets are specially formulated for heat-stress periods.

Effect of age on protein catabolic rate, morbidity, and mortality in uraemic patients with adequate dialysis.

To test the validity of the assumption that the protein catabolic rate (PCRn g/kg/day) is dependent on the normalized dose of dialysis (Kt/V urea), and to try to define the characteristics of the patients in the undefined domain A of the mechanistic map of the National Cooperative Dialysis Study (NCDS), which should include patients with adequate amount of dialysis but inadequate PCRn, urea kinetic modelling was performed over 12 months on 85 patients undergoing haemodialysis. All the patients were managed to maintain a Kt/V urea > or = 0.9. During the entire period of study the total number of hospitalizations and the number of days of hospitalization were recorded. Total serum proteins and serum albumin concentrations were measured at the start and at the end of the study. The results of the study show that there was no correlation between Kt/V and PCRn nor between Kt/V and patient's age, but there was a strong inverse correlation between age and PCRn (r = 0.578; P < 0.0001). Further division of the patients into four groups according to age showed that the lowest values of PCRn were for the group of patients > or = 75 years old. Twelve patients with PCRn < or = 0.8 and Kt/V > or = 0.9 were included in domain A of the mechanistic map. Eleven (92%) of these 12 patients were > or = 65 years old. No correlations were found between the total number of hospitalizations, the total days of hospitalization, Kt/V, time on HD, body weight and PCRn by multiple regression analysis, while the inverse correlation between PCRn and age was confirmed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of reduction of blood volume on plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor concentrations in normal man.

Plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (i-ANF) concentrations were measured in ten voluntary blood donors before and after acute blood loss induced after they had been supine for 20 min. Lying down caused i-ANF to increase significantly in all subjects. Bleeding (400 ml in 5 min) caused i-ANF to decrease to values significantly lower than either those observed before haemorrhage or those recorded in the upright position. These results provide evidence that in normal man acute changes in the intravascular volume, although limited within physiological limits, are able to induce opposite changes in i-ANF release.

Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide in relation to body fluid status in chronic uraemia.

Basal plasma alpha-human natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) values were found to be significantly higher in 7 fluid-overloaded chronic dialysis patients than in 13 non-dialysed renal patients without extracellular fluid (ECF) expansion. Iso-osmotic reduction of the body weight by a single 3-h ultrafiltration caused alpha-hANP to decrease significantly in all anuric patients to values comparable to those of non-dialysed subjects. In this latter group, however, there was a significant inverse relationship between alpha-hANP and glomerular filtration rate but not between alpha-hANP and total blood volume. These findings suggest that both ECF expansion and impaired renal removal of alpha-hANP might be responsible for the high alpha-hANP in chronic uraemia.

The Frontal Lobe Score: part I: construction of a mental status of frontal systems.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a bedside mental status examination to assess the behavioural effects of damage to the frontal lobes. DESIGN: A prospective clinical comparison of patients with cerebral lesions of different locations. SUBJECTS: A total of 118 subjects were examined: 27 patients with cerebral lesions confined to the frontal lobes, 25 patients with cerebral lesions without involvement of the frontal lobes, 18 patients with mixed frontal/nonfrontal lesions, and 48 normal control subjects. MEASURES: Twenty-three mental status tests, clinical examinations and rating scales that had been reported as indicative of frontal lobe function were brought together. By statistical analysis, 12 tests and a neurobehavioural rating scale were selected. These constitute the Frontal Lobe Score (FLS). RESULTS: The FLS detected pure frontal lesions with a sensitivity of 77.7%. It discriminated patients with frontal lesions from normal control subjects with a specificity of 100%. Differentiation from patients with nonfrontal lesions was obtained with a specificity of 84%. CONCLUSION: The Frontal Lobe Score is a useful screening instrument for the clinical detection of effects of frontal lobe damage.

[Frontal lobe dementia: a case report]. / Frontal lobe dementia: eine Fallbeschreibung.

Frontal lobe dementia (FDL) is a disorder that has only been described in recent years. It is mainly characterized by language disturbances and personality changes. We describe the problems and the possible therapeutic approaches to FLD, using a single case which has been well documented for several years.

Reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy following recombinant human erythropoietin treatment of anaemic dialysed uraemic patients.

To clarify the role of chronic anaemia in the pathogenesis of the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of chronic uraemia, nine normotensive dialysed patients were studied before and 3 and 6 months after start of intravenous treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo). M-Mode echocardiographic estimations of left ventricular mass indices (LVMi) and plasma noradrenaline determinations were made at 3 and 6 months, and total blood volume (TBV) only at 6 months. Resting haemoglobin values were 5.9 +/- 1.3 (SD) g/dl, increased within 3 months to 10.2 +/- 1.2 (P less than 0.001), then remained unchanged. Baseline LVMi was 115 +/- 18 g/m2 body surface area (b.s.a.) and decreased significantly (P less than 0.0025) over the entire period to a final value of 78 +/- 13 g, which did not differ from the average value for 19 healthy controls. Resting plasma noradrenaline was 1.45 +/- 0.44 pmol/ml and did not change significantly, although values were reduced at the 3rd month, when decreased heart rates and slightly and non-significantly increased blood pressures were recorded. TBV did not vary because the increased erythrocyte mass was compensated for by parallel decreases in plasma volume. These data demonstrate the existence of a cause-effect relationship between uraemic anaemia and LVH, although the precise mechanism remains unknown. Amelioration of anaemia with rHuEpo, by allowing recovery from the attendant LVH, might improve long-term cardiovascular prognosis in some dialysed uraemic patients.

Effects of feeding rations with genetically modified whole cottonseed to lactating Holstein cows.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, and milk composition from feeding rations that contained different sources of genetically modified whole cottonseed to Argentinean Holstein dairy cows. Twenty-four lactating multiparous Argentinean Holstein dairy cows were used in 2 experiments with a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design, with cows averaging 565 kg body weight and 53 d in milk at the beginning of the experiments. Treatments in Experiment 1 were: Bollgard cotton containing the cry1Ac gene, Bollgard II cotton containing cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes, Roundup Ready cotton containing the cp4 epsps gene, and a control nongenetically modified but genetically similar cottonseed. In Experiment 2, two commercial sources, a parental control line, and the transgenic cotton containing both cry1Ac and cp4 epsps genes were used as treatments. All cows received the same total mixed ration but with different whole cottonseed sources. Cottonseed was included to provide 2.50 kg per cow daily (dry matter [DM] basis) or about 10% of the total diet DM. The ingredient composition of the total mixed ration was 32% alfalfa hay, 28% corn silage, 22% corn grain, 17% soybean meal, and 2% minerals and vitamins. In addition, genomic DNA was extracted from a subset of milk samples and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blot hybridization for small fragments of the cry1Ac transgene and an endogenous cotton gene, acp1. No sample was positive for transgenic or plant DNA fragments at the limits of detection for the assays following detailed data evaluation criteria. The DMI, milk yield, milk composition, body weight, and body condition score did not differ among treatments. Cottonseed from genetically modified varieties used in these studies yielded similar performance in lactating dairy cows when compared to non-transgenic control and reference cottonseed.