Total tract nutrient digestion and milk fatty acid profile of dairy cows fed diets containing different levels of whole raw soya beans.

Whole oilseeds such as soya beans have been utilized in dairy rations to supply additional fat and protein. However, antinutritional components contained in soya beans, such as trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinins (lectins) may alter digestibility of nutrients and consequently affect animal performance. The objective of the present experiment was to quantify the effect of different levels of whole raw soya beans in diets of dairy cows on nutrient intake, total tract digestion, nutrient balances and milk yield and composition. Sixteen mid to late-lactation cows (228 ± 20 days in milk; mean ± SD) were used in four replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with 21-d periods. Cows were assigned to each square according to milk yield and DIM. The animals were randomly allocated to treatments: control (without soya beans addition; CO), WS9, WS18 and WS27, with addition of 9%, 18% and 27% of whole raw soya bean in diet on a dry matter (DM) basis respectively. All diets contained identical forage and concentrate components and consisted of maize silage and concentrate based on ground corn and soya beans at a ratio of 60:40. There were no differences in OM, CP, NDF and NEL intakes (kg/day and MJ/day) among the treatments (p > 0.05). However, DM and NFC intakes were negatively affected (p = 0.04 and p < 0.01, respectively) and ether extract (EE) intake was positively affected (p < 0.01). Total tract digestion increased linearly with whole raw soya beans for EE (p < 0.01) and NDF (p = 0.01). The excretion (kg/day) of digested soya beans grains increased linearly according to addition of whole raw soya beans. However, the nutritive characteristics of excreted grains were not altered. Milk (kg), milk lactose (kg) and protein (kg) yield decreased linearly (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively) milk fat content (%) increased linearly (p < 0.01) with whole raw soya beans inclusion. Increasing addition of whole raw soya beans affected milk fatty acid profile with a linear decrease of cis-9-trans 11CLA and total saturated FA; and linear increase of total unsaturated and C18:3 FA. Energy balance was positively affected (p = 0.03) by whole raw soya beans as well as efficiency of NEL milk/DE intake (p = 0.02). Nitrogen balance and microbial protein synthesis were not affected by whole raw soya beans. Increasing doses of whole raw soya beans decreased dry matter intake and milk yield, however, led to an increase of unsaturated acids in milk and higher milk fat concentration.

Expression and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of cytosolic Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase from Schistosoma mansoni.

Active cytosolic (CT) Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase from Schistosoma mansoni (SmCTSOD) was recovered after thrombin cleavage of a glutathione-S-transferase linked fusion protein (GST-SmCTSOD) expressed in the presence of the active-site metals. Crystals have been obtained in two space groups, P2(1)2(1)2(1) and P2(1). The former have unit-cell parameters a = 74.64, b = 78.24, c = 95.18 A and typically diffract to 2.2 A. The monoclinic crystals have unit-cell parameters a = 39.27, b = 95.08, c = 78.41 A, beta = 103.55 degrees and diffract to at least 1.55 A. The calculated solvent content of the crystals is compatible with two dimers of SmCTSOD in the asymmetric unit in both cases. Molecular-replacement solutions have been obtained for both crystal forms and show that slight distortions in the crystal packing relate one form to the other.

[Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. A case report and review of the literature]. / Fístula arteriovenosa pulmonar. Relato de caso e revisão da literatura.

The aim of this paper is to review clinical and laboratory features of this unusual pathology and its complications, indicating transcatheter embolization as a first choice for its management. Our case report is of a seven year-old child, with complex pulmonary arteriovenous fistula of the anterior segment of right superior lobe, which was diagnosed mainly by cintilography and pulmonary angiogram. Clinically she had cyanosis, fatigue with exertion, clubbing of the fingers and polycythemia with low partial pressure of oxygen (PAO2: 68.1 mmHg; Sat O2: 92.4%; Hct: 47.5%; Hb: 16 gr%). She did not have Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. The anatomic structure and localization of the complex fistula was showed by cineangiographic study. We preferred to manage this fistula with transcatheter embolization with a 02 gauge stainless steel coil occluding device (Gianturco-Wallace), as it was single and the patient was too young for sustain surgical trauma and the outcome would be positively satisfactory. After the embolization cyanosis was relieved and we could see normal pulmonary circulation following the point of the pre-existing fistula. We concluded that a judicious assessment by cineangiography could help select the transcatheter embolization procedure as an attractive therapeutic approach instead of surgery.

Verminous aneurysm caused by filaria.

Aneurysms caused by atherosclerosis are relatively frequent, as a consequence of the high incidence of this degenerative disease of the arteries. Other types of aneurysm, for example, those of infectious etiology, are more uncommon. Bacterias and fungi are able to cause aneurysms in several parts of the arterial tree. Stengel et al (1943), in a review of world literature described 217 cases of mycotic aneurysms. The Stedman's Medical Dictionary refers to a special type of aneurysm observed in horses, caused by intra-vascular migration of a worm, the Strongylus vulgaris. It has been named verminous aneurysm and generally involves the mesenteric arteries. We haven't found in medical literature any similar observations refering to human cases. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of aneurysm the etiology of which we have imputed to the filaria (Wuchereria bancrofti). This case was observed in Marcilio Dias Naval Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.