Nutrient ileal digestibility evaluation of dried mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae compared to three animal protein by-products in growing pigs.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the nutrient ileal digestibility of dried mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae and compare with those of three animal protein by-products in growing pigs. METHODS: A total of 12 crossbred ([Landrace×Yorkshire]×Duroc) growing pigs with average body weights of 24.12±0.68 kg were surgically equipped with simple T-cannulas after being deprived of feed for 24 h according to published surgical procedures. These pigs had a recovery period of two weeks. A total of 12 pigs were assigned to individual metabolic crates and allotted to one of four treatments with 3 replicates in a fully randomized design. Dietary treatments included the following: i) Fish meal, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% fish meal; ii) Meat meal, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% meat meal; iii) Poultry meal, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% poultry meal; iv) Tenebrio molitor, corn-vegetable by-product basal diet+9.95% dried Tenebrio molitor larvae. RESULTS: Results showed that the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Lys was higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed Tenebrio molitor diet than that in pigs fed fish meal diet. Pigs fed Tenebrio molitor diet showed increased (p<0.05) AID of His and Arg compared to pigs fed Fish meal or Meat meal diet. The AID of Cys was increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed poultry meal and Tenebrio molitor diets compared to that in pigs fish meal diet. Pigs fed meat meal, poultry meal, and Tenebrio molitor diets showed higher (p<0.05) standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of total energy compared to pigs fed fish meal diet. The SID of Arg was higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed Tenebrio molitor diet than that in pigs fed fish meal or meat meal diet. Furthermore, pigs fed poultry meal or Tenebrio molitor diets showed increased (p<0.05) SID of Cys compared to pigs fed fish meal diet. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, providing pigs with diets that contained Tenebrio molitor larvae meal improved AID and SID of nutrients as well as essential and non-essential amino acids. The digestibility of dried mealworm larvae protein and its utilization in vivo are also good. Therefore, dried mealworm larvae protein can be used as protein source at 10% level in growing pigs.

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products on dairy calves: Performance and health.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) on performance and health of calves during the first 63 d of age. Sixty Holstein calves (30 males and 30 females) at 2 d of age were blocked by sex and date of birth then randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of 3 treatments. A texturized calf starter was fed ad libitum containing 0 (control), 0.5, or 1% SCFP (Original XPC, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) of DM. In addition, the supplemented calves were fed 1 g/d SCFP (SmartCare, Diamond V) in milk until d 30. All calves were fed 4 L of colostrum within 1 h of birth and were subsequently fed milk twice daily until weaned at 56 d of age. Male calves were harvested on d 56. Performance and health of weaned female calves were monitored until 63 d of age to determine the effect of preweaning treatment of SCFP on weaning stress. Starter intake, fecal scores, and medical treatments were recorded daily. Body weight measures and blood samples were collected on d 2, 28, 56, and 63. Serum was analyzed for blood urea nitrogen, fatty acids, insulin-like growth factor-1, glucose, and total protein. Oxidative biomarkers and total antioxidant capacity were also evaluated in the serum. Body weight, DMI, blood parameters, and oxidative biomarkers did not differ among treatments. Supplementation of SCFP lowered fecal scores in the pre- and postweaning periods. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products can be used to reduce the diarrhea in calves grown under normal commercial conditions.

Inflammatory response of a prostate stromal cell line induced by Trichomonas vaginalis.

While Trichomonas vaginalis, a cause of sexually transmitted infection, is known as a surface-dwelling protozoa, trichomonads have been detected in prostatic tissue from benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis by immunoperoxidase assay or PCR. However, the immune response of prostate stromal cells infected with T. vaginalis has not been investigated. Our objective was to investigate whether T. vaginalis could induce an inflammatory response in prostate stromal cells. Incubation of a human prostate stromal myofibroblast cells (WPMY-1) with live T. vaginalis T016 increased expression of the inflammatory chemokines CXCL8 and CCL2. In addition, TLR4, ROS, MAPK and NF-κB expression increased, while inhibitors of TLR4, ROS, MAPKs and NF-κB reduced CXCL8 and CCL2 production. Medium conditioned by incubation of WPMY-1 cells with T. vaginalis stimulated the migration of human neutrophils and monocytes (THP-1 cells). We conclude that T. vaginalis increases CXCL8 and CCL2 production by human prostate stromal cells by activating TLR4, ROS, MAPKs and NF-κB, and this in turn attracts neutrophils and monocytes and leads to an inflammatory response. This study is the first attempt to demonstrate an inflammatory reaction in prostate stromal cells caused by T. vaginalis.

Effects of Supplemental Levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product on Lactation Performance in Dairy Cows under Heat Stress.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of different supplemental levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP; Original XP; Diamond V) on lactation performance in Holstein dairy cows under heat stress. Eighty-one multiparous Holstein dairy cows were divided into 27 blocks of 3 cows each based on milk yield (23.6±0.20 kg/d), parity (2.88±0.91) and day in milk (204±46 d). The cows were randomly assigned within blocks to one of three treatments: 0 (control), 120, or 240 g/d of SCFP mixed with 240, 120, or 0 g of corn meal, respectively. The experiment was carried out during the summer season of 2014, starting from 14 July 2014 and lasting for 9 weeks with the first week as adaption period. During the experimental period, average daily temperature-humidity index (measured at 08:00, 14:00, and 20:00) was above 68, indicating that cows were exposed to heat stress throughout the study. Rectal temperatures tended to decrease linearly (p = 0.07) for cows supplemented with SCFP compared to the control cows at 14:30, but were not different at 06:30 (p>0.10). Dry matter intake was not affected by SCFP supplementation (p>0.10). Milk yield increased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of SCFP. Feed efficiency (milk yield/dry matter intake) was highest (p<0.05) for cows fed 240 g/d SCFP. Cows supplemented with SCFP gained (p<0.01) body weight, while cows in the control lost body weight. Net energy balance also increased linearly (p<0.01) with increasing levels of SCFP. Concentrations of milk urea nitrogen (p<0.01) decreased linearly with increasing levels of SCFP, while no difference (p>0.10) was observed among the treatments in conversion of dietary crude protein to milk protein yield. In summary, supplementation of SCFP alleviated the negative effect of heat stress in lactating Holstein dairy cows and allowed cows to maintain higher milk production, feed efficiency and net energy balance. Effects of SCFP were dose-dependent and greater effects were observed from higher doses.

Lateral spread response monitoring during microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. Comparison of two targets of partial neuromuscular blockade.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine (1) whether successful intraoperative electromyography monitoring for lateral spread response (LSR) is possible with partial neuromuscular blockade (NMB) in subjects undergoing microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm and (2) the adequate level of NMB to achieve that goal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients in whom LSR was monitored during MVD were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: group TOF in which the NMB target was maintenance of two train-of-four (TOF) counts and group T1 in which the NMB target was maintenance of a T1/Tc ratio of 50 % (T1: first twitch height of TOF and Tc: control twitch height). The adductor pollicis brevis muscle was used to monitor TOF responses. The frequency of successful LSR monitoring, defined as successful baseline establishment and maintenance of LSR until surgical decompression, was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 61 patients 2 were excluded from the study so that 30 patients in group TOF and 29 patients in group T1 were analyzed. The success rate of LSR monitoring was clinically acceptable and significantly higher in group T1 than in group TOF, i.e. n = 15 (50.0 %) in group TOF versus n = 24 (82.8 %) in group T1 (P = 0.008), corresponding to a 32.8 % higher success rate in group T1 than group TOF (95 % CI: 13.9-51.7 %). Mean vecuronium infusion dose was smaller and mean TOF count was higher in group T1 than group TOF with a TOF count = 2 (1) in group TOF versus 3 (1) in group T1 (P = 0.003). Mean sevoflurane and remifentanil infusion doses were not different between groups. There was no incidence of spontaneous movement during microscopy in either group. CONCLUSION: Maintenance of partial NMB with a target T1/Tc ratio of 50 % resulted in a clinically acceptable success rate of LSR monitoring and surgical condition during MVD. Maintenance of partial NMB with a target T1/Tc ratio of 50 % rather than TOF count of two during LSR monitoring for MVD can therefore be recommended.

Synergistic effects of A1896, T1653 and T1762/A1764 mutations in genotype c2 hepatitis B virus on development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The effects of genomic changes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear, especially in relation to the genotype of HBV. In this study, we examined the effects of genomic changes in HBV of genotype C2 on the development of HCC. A total of 318 patients with HBV-associated HCC and 234 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were studied. All of HCC cases were diagnosed histologically and treated with surgical resection. The whole of the X, S, basal core promoter (BCP) and precore regions of the viral genome from sera or liver tissues were sequenced. All subjects had HBV of genotype C2. The prevalence of the T1653 mutation in the X region and the A1896 mutation in the precore region of HBV was significantly higher in the HCC group than in the control CHB group (22% vs 11%, P = 0.003; 50% vs 23%, P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the T1762/A1764 mutations in the BCP region in combination with either T1653 or A1896 were more common in the HCC compared with the CHB group (BCP+X1653: 18% vs 11%, P = 0.05; BCP+PC, 40% vs 15%, P < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, T1653 and A1896 were revealed to be independent risk factors for HCC development. G1896A in the precore region and C1653T mutation in the X region of genotype C2 HBV are important risk factors for HCC development. Also, the A1762T/G1764A double mutation may act in synergy with C1653T to increase the risk of HCC in patients chronically infected with HBV genotype C2.

[Recovery from parkinsonism with N-acetylcysteine-differentiated neurons].

The upregulation of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation is necessary for stem cell therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, neuronal differentiation efficiency increased by more than 2 times in P19 embryonic stem cells (ESCs) induced by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and retinoic acid (RA) as compared to RA alone, with suppressed glial differentiation. The majority of NAC-treated stem cells grafted into brains of PD mice differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and persisted well for 6 weeks. Parkinsonism was also greatly improved after grafting NAC-treated cells in comparison to cells treated with only RA. Our results strongly suggest that NAC treatment may be an effective strategy for generating stem cells fated to become dopaminergic neurons for PD clinical therapy.

Effects of magnesium sulphate on postoperative coagulation, measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM(®)).

We investigated the effects of magnesium sulphate on blood coagulation profiles using rotational thromboelastometry in gynaecological patients undergoing pelviscopic surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to the magnesium group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). The magnesium group received magnesium sulphate (50 mg.kg(-1) followed by continuous infusion of 15 mg.kg(-1).h(-1)), whereas the control group received the same volume of isotonic saline according to the same methods. Mean (SD) postoperative serum magnesium levels were 1.58 (0.17) mmol.l(-1) in the magnesium group compared with 0.98 (0.06) mmol.l(-1) in the control group (p < 0.001). Postoperative clotting time, clot formation time, α-angle and maximum clot firmness of INTEM, and clot formation time, α-angle, and maximum clot firmness of EXTEM were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). Intra-operative infusion of magnesium sulphate seems to attenuate postoperative hypercoagulability by maintaining magnesium levels at the upper limit of the normal range.

A fibrolytic enzyme additive for lactating Holstein cow diets: ruminal fermentation, rumen microbial populations, and enteric methane emissions.

The objective was to determine if supplementing a dairy cow diet with an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme additive (Econase RDE; AB Vista, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK) altered fermentation, pH, and microbial populations in the rumen or enteric methane (CH(4)) emissions. In a companion study, this enzyme additive improved efficiency of fat-corrected milk production in a dose-dependent manner by up to 11% for early lactation dairy cows. Nine ruminally cannulated, lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Dietary treatments were 0 (control), 0.5 (low), and 1.0 (high) mL of enzyme/kg of total mixed ration dry matter. Rumen contents were collected on 2 d (d 15 and 19), ruminal pH was measured continuously for 6 d (d 13 to 18) by using an indwelling system, and enteric CH(4) production was measured for 3 d (d 16 to 18) using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique. The enzyme additive did not alter volatile fatty acids, NH(3), pH, or population densities of total protozoa, bacteria, and methanogens in ruminal fluid. However, population densities of certain bacteria, calculated as copy number of species-specific 16S-rRNA, were affected by enzyme treatment. Population density of Ruminobacter amylophilus was increased and that of Fibrobacter succinogenes tended to be increased by the high enzyme treatment. Selenomonas ruminantium tended to increase linearly with increasing levels of enzyme in the diet, although its population density was only numerically increased by the high enzyme treatment. Streptococcus bovis, however, tended to be decreased by the low enzyme treatment. Increasing the level of enzyme supplement in the diet also linearly increased enteric CH(4) production, even when adjusted for feed intake or milk production (19.3, 20.8, and 21.7 g of CH(4)/kg of dry matter intake or 12.9, 13.6, and 15.1g of CH(4)/kg of milk for the control, low, and high enzyme treatments, respectively). This shift in ruminal bacterial communities and higher CH(4) emissions could imply increased ruminal digestion of feed, which needs to be substantiated in longer term studies.

Effects of partially replacing dietary starch with dry glycerol in a lactating cow diet on ruminal fermentation during continuous culture.

The effects of dry glycerol as a partial replacement for dietary starch in a lactating cow diet on ruminal fermentation and bacterial protein synthesis were evaluated using 4 single-flow, continuous-culture fermentors (ranging from 1,015 to 1,040 mL in volume). The basal lactating cow diet was formulated to have partial contents of dietary starch provided from a corn starch supplement [at 12.37% diet dry matter (DM)], which was partially or completely replaced by a dry glycerol product. Both the corn starch supplement and dry glycerol product contained 65% of pure corn starch or glycerol, respectively. The final inclusion rate for pure glycerol was at 0, 3, 5, or 8% of DM in the basal diet. The experiment was conducted using a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 9-d periods, with the first 6 d for adaptation and last 3 d for sampling. Fermentors were inoculated with 1L of ruminal fluid and 25 g of ruminal digesta from a ruminally cannulated cow receiving a lactation total mixed ration (16% crude protein, 32% neutral detergent fiber, and 25% starch; DM basis). Each fermentor was fed 75 g of DM of its respective experimental diet daily in 3 equal portions (at 0800, 1400, and 2000 h). Liquid dilution rate of the fermentors was maintained at 10%/h and solids retention time was set at 24 h. Fermentation fluid and the effluent from each fermentor were sampled once daily (at 1330 h) from d 7 to 9 of each period and pooled by period. Postprandial ruminal fermentation was studied by sampling the fermentors hourly for 5 h after the 0800 h feeding on d 9 of each period. The total fermentation contents were harvested at the end of the period for estimations of bacterial protein synthesis. Replacing corn starch with dry glycerol linearly increased the proportions of propionate and valerate at the expense of acetate in the fermentation fluid measured daily or for the first 5h after feeding. Replacing corn starch with dry glycerol also linearly increased the digestibility of dietary neutral detergent fiber without a change on the flow or efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis during continuous culture. Results indicate that glycerol as a dry product can replace dietary starch as corn starch at a level of up to 8% of DM in the diet without negatively affecting ruminal fermentation and digestibility during continuous culture.

N-acetylcysteine enhances neuronal differentiation of P19 embryonic stem cells via Akt and N-cadherin activation.

We examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) enhanced embryonic body (EB) formation and neuronal differentiation in terms of EB formation, neuronal marker (microtubule-associated protein 2; MAP-2) expression, and neuron maturation using P19 embryonic stem cells. The size and numbers of EBs were greatly increased, together with the up-regulated N-cadherin expression. Also, MAP-2 expression and neurite outgrowth were much increased with activation of serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) and blocked by addition of an Akt inhibitor (LY294002). Our results suggested that NAC increased EB formation by up-regulating the N-cadherin expression. Furthermore, NAC-enhanced neuronal differentiation was mediated by activation of Akt.

Relationship between rumen methanogens and methane production in dairy cows fed diets supplemented with a feed enzyme additive.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between ruminal methanogen community and host enteric methane (CH(4) ) production in lactating dairy cows fed diets supplemented with an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme additive. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ecology of ruminal methanogens from dairy cows fed with or without exogenous fibrolytic enzymes was examined using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analyses and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The density of methanogens was not affected by the enzyme additive or sampling times, and no relationship was observed between the total methanogen population and CH(4) yield (as g per head per day or g kg(-1) DMI). The PCR-DGGE profiles consisted of 26 distinctive bands, with two bands similar to Methanogenic archaeon CH1270 negatively correlated, and one band similar to Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii strain HO positively correlated, with CH(4) yield. Three bands similar to Methanogenic archaeon CH1270 or Methanobrevibacter smithii ATCC 35061 appeared after enzyme was added. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementing a dairy cow diet with an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme additive increased CH(4) yield and altered the composition of the rumen methanogen community, but not the overall density of methanogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first study to identify the correlation between methanogen ecology and host CH(4) yield from lactating dairy cows.

Differing effects of 2 active dried yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) strains on ruminal acidosis and methane production in nonlactating dairy cows.

Fifteen ruminally cannulated, nonlactating Holstein cows were used to measure the effects of 2 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, fed as active dried yeasts, on ruminal pH and fermentation and enteric methane (CH(4)) emissions. Nonlactating cows were blocked by total duration (h) that their ruminal pH was below 5.8 during a 6-d pre-experimental period. Within each block, cows were randomly assigned to control (no yeast), yeast strain 1 (Levucell SC), or yeast strain 2 (a novel strain selected for enhanced in vitro fiber degradation), with both strains (Lallemand Animal Nutrition, Montréal, QC, Canada) providing 1 × 10(10) cfu/head per day. Cows were fed once daily a total mixed ration consisting of a 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio (dry matter basis). The yeast strains were dosed via the rumen cannula daily at the time of feeding. During the 35-d experiment, ruminal pH was measured continuously for 7 d (d 22 to 28) by using an indwelling system, and CH(4) gas was measured for 4 d (d 32 to 35) using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique (with halters and yokes). Rumen contents were sampled on 2 d (d 22 and 26) at 0, 3, and 6h after feeding. Dry matter intake, body weight, and apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients were not affected by yeast feeding. Strain 2 decreased the average daily minimum (5.35 vs. 5.65 or 5.66), mean (5.98 vs. 6.24 or 6.34), and maximum ruminal pH (6.71 vs. 6.86 or 6.86), and prolonged the time that ruminal pH was below 5.8 (7.5 vs. 3.3 or 1.0 h/d) compared with the control or strain 1, respectively. The molar percentage of acetate was lower and that of propionate was greater in the ruminal fluid of cows receiving strain 2 compared with cows receiving no yeast or strain 1. Enteric CH(4) production adjusted for intake of dry matter or gross energy, however, did not differ between either yeast strain compared with the control but it tended to be reduced by 10% when strain 2 was compared with strain 1. The study shows that different strains of S. cerevisiae fed as active dried yeasts vary in their ability to modify the rumen fermentative pattern in nonlactating dairy cows. Because strain 2 tended (when compared with strain 1) to lower CH(4) emissions but increase the risk of acidosis, it may be prudent to further evaluate this strain in cattle fed high-forage diets, for which the risk of acidosis is low but CH(4) emissions are high.

Improved milk production efficiency in early lactation dairy cattle with dietary addition of a developmental fibrolytic enzyme additive.

A 3-part study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a developmental fibrolytic enzyme additive on the digestibility of selected forages and the production performance of early-lactation dairy cows. In part 1, 4 replicate 24-h batch culture in vitro incubations were conducted with alfalfa hay, alfalfa silage, and barley silage as substrates and ruminal fluid as the inoculum. A developmental fibrolytic enzyme additive (AB Vista, Marlborough, UK) was added at 5 doses: 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 µL/g of forage dry matter (DM). After the 24-h incubation, DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) disappearance were determined. For alfalfa hay, DM, NDF, and ADF disappearance was greater at the highest dosage compared with no enzyme addition. Barley silage NDF and ADF and alfalfa silage NDF disappearance tended to be greater for the highest enzyme dosage compared with no enzyme addition. In part 2, 6 ruminally cannulated, lactating Holstein dairy cows were used to determine in situ degradation of alfalfa and barley silage, with (1.0 mL/kg of silage DM) and without added enzyme. Three cows received a control diet (no enzyme added) and the other 3 received an enzyme-supplemented (1.0 mL/kg of diet DM) diet. Enzyme addition after the 24h in situ incubation did not affect the disappearance of barley silage or alfalfa silage. In part 3, 60 early-lactation Holstein dairy cows were fed 1 of 3 diets for a 10-wk period: (1) control (CTL; no enzyme), (2) low enzyme (CTL treated with 0.5 mL of enzyme/kg of diet DM), and (3) high enzyme (CTL treated with 1.0 mL of enzyme/kg of diet DM). Adding enzyme to the diet had no effect on milk yield, but dry matter intake was lower for the high enzyme treatment and tended to be lower for the low enzyme treatment compared with CTL. Consequently, milk production efficiency (kg of 3.5% fat-corrected milk/kg of DM intake) linearly increased with increasing enzyme addition. Cows fed the low and high enzyme diets were 5.3 (not statistically significant) and 11.3% more efficient, respectively, compared with CTL cows. This developmental fibrolytic enzyme additive has the potential to increase fiber digestibility of forages, which could lead to greater milk production efficiency for dairy cows in early lactation.

Effects of rumen-protected choline and dry propylene glycol on feed intake and blood parameters for Holstein dairy cows in early lactation.

A 6 x 6 Latin square design was used to test 3 sets of comparisons simultaneously to study response in dry matter intake, milk yield, and blood parameters to propylene glycol (PG) supplementation delivered by 2 methods [incorporating PG into the total mixed ration (TMR) vs. top dressing; comparison I]; individual or combined dietary choline and PG supplementation as a 2 x 2 factorial (comparison II); or increasing amounts of dietary choline (comparison III). Six multiparous (lactation number = 1.5 +/- 0.8 SD) Holstein dairy cows were at 41 d in milk (+/- 9 SD) at the start of the experiment. Propylene glycol used was a dry product containing 65% PG, and choline was a rumen-protected choline product (RPC; estimated to be 50% rumen-protected) containing 50% choline chloride. In comparison I, treatments compared were 1) control: no PG; 2) PG-TMR: 250 g/d of dry PG (corresponding to 162.5 g/d of PG) incorporated into the TMR; and 3) PG-top dress: 250 g/d of dry PG top-dressed onto the TMR. In comparison II, treatments compared were 1) control: no PG and no RPC; 2) PG: 250 g/d of dry PG incorporated into the TMR; 3) RPC: 50 g/d of RPC top-dressed onto the TMR; and 4) PG+RPC: combination of treatments 2 and 3. In comparison III, treatments compared were 0, 25, and 50 g/d of RPC top-dressed onto the TMR. Each experimental period lasted 10 d with 9 d of adaptation followed by 1 d of serial blood sampling. Dry matter intake and milk yield were recorded daily. During the serial blood sampling, jugular blood was sampled every 20 min for the first 4 h and at 8 and 12 h after treatment administration. Results obtained from comparison I showed that feeding 250 g/d of PG as a dry product decreased plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration (mean +/- SEM) from 701 +/- 81 (control) to 564 +/- 76 micromol/L without affecting serum insulin, plasma glucose, or plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. Top-dressing PG decreased plasma BHBA concentrations more than by incorporating it into the TMR [527 vs. 601 micromol/L (+/- 81 pooled SEM)]. Results obtained from comparison II showed that supplementing choline as RPC, PG, or both had no effect on dry matter intake, milk yield, or any of the blood parameters measured. Results obtained from comparison III showed that milk yield tended to increase linearly with increasing amounts of dietary choline as RPC. We concluded that feeding PG as a dry product reduced plasma BHBA concentration but top-dressing PG was more efficient at reducing plasma BHBA level than incorporating PG into the TMR. Dietary choline as RPC tended to increase milk yield linearly. However, a combined effect of dietary PG and choline was not evident and therefore not beneficial.

Effects of dietary forage level and monensin on lactation performance, digestibility and fecal excretion of nutrients, and efficiency of feed nitrogen utilization of Holstein dairy cows.

Two experiments (Exp. 1 and 2) were conducted using a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 2 replications (n = 8) to evaluate effects of feeding Holstein dairy cows a total mixed ration containing 50 or 60% of ration dry matter (DM) from forages with or without supplementation of monensin. In Exp. 1, alfalfa silage (AS) was used as the major forage (55% forage DM), and corn silage (CS; 45% forage DM) was used to make up the rest of the forage portion of diets (55AS:45CS). In Exp. 2, CS was used as the major forage (70% forage DM) and alfalfa hay (AH; 30% forage DM) was used to make up the rest of the forage portion of diets (70CS:30AH). Experimental diets were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial with 50 or 60% ration DM from forages and monensin supplemented at 0 or 300 mg/cow daily. In Exp. 1 (55AS:45CS), feeding 60% forage diets decreased DM intake (DMI; 27.3 vs. 29.6 kg/d) but maintained the same levels of milk (45.8 vs. 47.0 kg/d) compared with 50% forage diets. The efficiency of converting feed to milk or 3.5% fat-corrected milk was greater for cows fed 60% compared with 50% forage diets (1.7 vs. 1.6 kg milk or 3.5% fat-corrected milk/kg of DMI, respectively). Increasing dietary forage level from 50 to 60% of ration DM increased milk fat percentage (3.4 to 3.5%); however, adding monensin to the 60% forage diet inhibited the increase in milk fat percentage. Feeding 60% forage diets decreased feed cost, but this decrease ($0.5/head per day) in feed cost did not affect income over feed cost. Feeding 60% forage diets decreased fecal excretion of DM (10.6 to 9.6 kg/d) and nitrogen (N; 354 to 324 g/d) and improved apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber from 43 to 49% and apparent efficiency of feed N utilization from 32.3 to 35.9% compared with 50% forage diets. In Exp. 2 (70CS:30AH), feeding 60% forage diets decreased DMI from 29.6 to 28.2 kg but maintained the same level of milk (41.1 vs. 40.8 kg/d) and therefore increased the efficiency of converting feed to milk (1.46 vs. 1.38 kg milk/kg DMI) compared with 50% forage diets. Daily feed cost for feeding 60% forage diets was $0.3/head lower than for the 50% forage diets. Fecal excretion of DM (10.3 vs. 11.5 kg/d) was lower and fecal excretion of N (299 vs. 328 g/d) tended to be lower for 60% compared with 50% forage diets. Results from these 2 experiments suggest that a 60% forage diet consisting of either AS or CS as the major forage can be fed to high producing Holstein dairy cows without affecting milk production while improving or maintaining the efficiency of converting feed to milk and the apparent efficiency of utilization of feed N. Cows receiving a 60% forage diet had a similar or improved digestibility of nutrients with a similar or reduced fecal excretion of nutrients. Effects of monensin under the conditions of the current experiments were minimal.

Ruminal and blood responses to propylene glycol during frequent feeding.

The objective of the current experiment was to study the responses of ruminal and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy cows to propylene glycol (PG) under different methods of delivery during frequent feeding. By providing the same amount (200 mL or 200 g) of PG, delivery methods for PG were assessed: 1) control treatment: no PG; 2) dietary treatment: 200 g of PG as a dry product (65% purity; corresponded to 308 g of the dry product) mixed into the TMR; 3) oral-drench treatment: 200 mL of liquid PG (100% purity) orally drenched; and 4) rumen-drench treatment: 200 g of PG as a dry product drenched via the rumen cannula to mimic top dressing. Eight multiparous (lactation = 3 +/- 1.1 SD) ruminally cannulated Holstein dairy cows (DIM = 204 +/- 104.5 SD) were fed PG for 4 d (d 11 to 14) in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with an experimental length of 14 d for each period. On the last day of each period, serial blood samples were removed from an indwelling catheter placed in the right jugular vein immediately before and for 4 h after PG administration. Cows were fed at 12x feeding/d for 2 d before entering the serial sampling period to minimize postprandial influences on blood metabolites. Ruminal content was also sampled hourly for 4 h on d 14. Milk was sampled from 2 consecutive milkings on d 13 during each period. Dry matter intake and milk yield were not affected by PG. Percentages of milk lactose were increased by PG delivered by all methods tested in the current experiment. Ruminal concentrations (as percentages of total volatile fatty acids) of acetate were decreased and concentrations of propionate and isovalerate were increased by PG, regardless of the delivery method; however, total volatile fatty acid concentration was not affected by PG. Ruminal concentrations of butyrate were decreased and concentrations of valerate were increased by PG drench, via either an oral or ruminal drench. The degree of reduction in butyrate concentration or increase in valerate concentration was affected by PG dose. Serum insulin peaked more rapidly and at a greater concentration for cows receiving PG via drenching, but not when PG was provided as a part of the TMR. Plasma glucose, however, tended to peak more rapidly at a greater concentration for cows receiving PG, regardless of the delivery method. Propylene glycol for the amount drenched (orally or ruminally) or fed (incorporated into the ration) shifted ruminal fermentation toward a more glucogenic environment. Drenching demonstrated a better efficacy than feeding PG because of the amount of PG that was available to the animal at the time of sampling. Effects of drenching dry PG into the rumen were comparable with orally drenching liquid PG.

Cancer patients' awareness of clinical trials, perceptions on the benefit and willingness to participate: Korean perspectives.

To understand patients' perceptions of clinical trials (CTs) is the principal step in the enrollment of patients to CTs. However, these perceptions in eastern countries are very rare. From 12 February 2007 to 13 April 2007, we consecutively distributed the questionnaire to 842 cancer patients who initiated a first cycle of chemotherapy regardless of each treatment step in the Seoul National University Hospital. Younger age, higher educational degree, higher economic status, and possession of private cancer insurance were related with significantly higher awareness of CTs (P=0.001, P=0.006, P=0.002, and P=0.009, respectively). However, unlike awareness, perceptions on benefits of CTs were not changed according to age, educational degree, and economic status (P=0.709, P=0.920, and P=0.847, respectively). Willingness was also not changed according to age, educational degree, economic status, and private cancer insurance (P=0.381, P=0.775, P=0.887, and P=0.392, respectively). Instead, males and heavily treated patients had more positive perceptions on benefits (P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively) and more willingness to participate in CTs (OR=1.17, 1.14-2.75: OR=1.59, 1.01-2.51, respectively). In summary, cancer patients' awareness of CTs, perceptions on the benefit in CTs, and willingness to participate are differently influenced by diverse medical and social conditions. This information would be very helpful for investigators to properly conduct CTs in eastern cancer patients.

Effects of prepartum dietary carbohydrate source and monensin on periparturient metabolism and lactation in multiparous cows.

Eighty-five multiparous Holstein cows were used in a completely randomized design with restrictions to evaluate the effects of prepartum carbohydrate (CHO) source and monensin on periparturient dry matter intake (DMI), blood parameters, and lactation performance of dairy cows. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with a conventional (CONV) dry cow diet and a nonforage fiber source (NFFS) dry cow diet not supplemented (-) or supplemented (+) with 330 mg/cow per d of monensin as a top dressing. The CONV diet contained 70% forage and the NFFS diet contained nonforage fiber sources such that 28% of the forage was replaced with cottonseed hulls and soyhulls. The experimental diets (CONV and NFFS) were fed throughout the entire dry period (for 60 d before parturition). Monensin was top dressed once daily starting 28 d (27 +/- 1.8 SD) before the expected calving date and continued until parturition. After parturition, all cows received the same lactating cow diet. During the last 28 d of gestation, cows receiving the NFFS diets prepartum had greater DMI (15.8 vs. 11.9 kg/d), DMI as a percentage of body weight (2.1 vs. 1.6% of body weight), plasma glucose (67.4 vs. 64.6 mg/dL), and serum insulin concentrations (0.59 vs. 0.45 ng/mL), and lower plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations (185 vs. 245 microEq/L) compared with cows receiving the CONV diets prepartum. Average milk production or composition during the first 56 d of lactation was not significantly affected by prepartum source of CHO, monensin, or their combination; however, there was a trend for the prepartum CHO source to affect milk production over time. Supplementation of monensin as a top dressing for 28 d prepartum had no effect on periparturient measurements. The prepartum diet did not affect postpartum DMI, blood glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, insulin concentrations, or liver triglyceride content. Results from this research demonstrated that partly replacing conventional dietary carbohydrate sources with NFFS, cottonseed hulls and soyhulls, in the dry cow diet improved or maintained the prepartum DMI and therefore enhanced the prepartum metabolic status, as indicated by key blood metabolite concentrations. This greater prepartum DMI may potentially increase milk production during early lactation.