Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Seasonal Heat Stress in Kagoshima Berkshire Pigs Reared in the Subtropical Region.

Introduction: Potential biomarkers for chronic seasonal heat stress in Kagoshima Berkshire pigs reared in the subtropical region were investigated by comparing the biomarker changes in the summer (a period of chronic heat stress) and winter (a thermoneutral period) seasons. Material and Methods: Pigs were allocated to summer- and winter-finishing cohorts, 12 each. The evaluations included assessment of carcass traits and internal organs' normality carried out at the time of slaughter, and measurement of biomarkers in whole blood: derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential as markers of oxidative stress, and serum amyloid A and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio as markers of acute and chronic inflammation, respectively. Results: The summer-finished pigs reared under subtropical field conditions showed lower carcass quality than the winter-finished pigs, indicating a potential adverse effect of summer temperatures on the swine industry. Marginal changes were observed in d-ROMs and the A/G ratio between the summer- and winter-finishing cohorts. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that d-ROMs and the A/G ratio could be used as sensitive markers for heat stress under field conditions.

Comparison of the effects of a new 32-gauge × 4-mm pen needle and a 32-gauge × 6-mm pen needle on glycemic control, safety, and patient ratings in Japanese adults with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate two pen needles (PNs) with the same diameter but different lengths (4 mm and 6 mm) and different needle tip shapes (straight and tapered) to compare their effects on glycemic control, perceived pain, safety, patients' ease of use and preferences, and visual impression. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, open-label, controlled crossover study, 41 insulin-treated patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were randomized into either Group 1 (the 32-gauge × 4-mm PN was used during Study Period 1, then the 32-gauge × 6-mm PN was used during Study Period 2) or Group 2 (the order for using the PNs was reversed). RESULTS: The 32-gauge × 4-mm PN provided an equivalent glycemic control in diabetes patients as the 32-gauge × 6-mm PN, with an equivalent occurrence rate of adverse events. The 32-gauge × 4-mm PN was perceived as significantly less painful and rated as significantly more favorable than the 32-gauge × 6-mm PN according to the survey results on patients' ease of use and preferences and on their visual impressions. CONCLUSIONS: The 32-gauge × 4-mm PN was not only as safe and efficacious as the 32-gauge × 6-mm PN, but also was perceived as less painful, easier to use, and more favorable to Japanese adult patients with diabetes.

Metal-induced decomposition of perchlorate in pressurized hot water.

Decomposition of perchlorate (ClO(4)(-)) in pressurized hot water (PHW) was investigated. Although ClO(4)(-) demonstrated little reactivity in pure PHW up to 300°C, addition of zerovalent metals to the reaction system enhanced the decomposition of ClO(4)(-) to Cl(-) with an increasing order of activity of (no metal)≈Al < Cu < Zn < Ni << Fe: the addition of iron powder led to the most efficient decomposition of ClO(4)(-). When the iron powder was added to an aqueous ClO(4)(-) solution (104 µM) and the mixture was heated at 150°C, ClO(4)(-) concentration fell below 0.58 µM (58 µg L(-1), detection limit of ion chromatography) in 1 h, and Cl(-) was formed with the yield of 85% after 6 h. The decomposition was accompanied by transformation of the zerovalent iron to Fe(3)O(4). This method was successfully used in the decomposition of ClO(4)(-) in a water sample contaminated with this compound, following fireworks display at Albany, New York, USA.