Investigation of in-feed organic acids as a low cost strategy to combat Salmonella in grower pigs.

Salmonella carriage in pigs is a significant food safety issue. Dietary supplementation with organic acids has previously been shown to reduce shedding and transmission of Salmonella. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of three commercially available organic acid-based products on Salmonella levels in grower pigs, using a model of experimental infection that closely mimics natural exposure to the organism. Seven week old trial pigs (n=40) with a mean weight of 14.7kg were placed in one of four pens with 10 pigs/pen. Pens had previously been contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium 4,[5],12;i;- via seeder pigs. Trial pigs received one of four diets for 28days: 1, control diet; 2, sodium butyrate supplemented diet; 3, benzoic acid supplemented diet and 4, formic-citric acid supplemented diet. A further 10 pigs were placed in a Salmonella-free pen receiving the control diet. Pigs were weighed and blood sampled on days 0 and 28. Faeces was collected on day 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 and examined for Salmonella. On day 28, 5 pigs/group were euthanised and ileocaecal lymph nodes (ILN) and caecal contents sampled for culture. The remaining 5 pigs/pen were then fed the control diet and faeces were collected on days 35 and 42. On day 42 pigs were euthanised and ILN and caecal contents tested for Salmonella levels. The trial was repeated once. Within the first two days of exposure to the contaminated environment, 96% (77/80) of pigs became infected. Most pigs shed Salmonella at levels of between 100-103 CFU/g faeces for at least 7days post-exposure. A significant reduction in Salmonella faecal concentration was observed after supplementation with sodium butyrate (p=0.001) and a formic citric acid blend (p<0.0001). Average daily weight gain (ADWG) was significantly increased in all groups fed the supplemented feed when compared to the positive control group. The use of sodium butyrate or a blend of formic and citric acid in feed could be considered a cost-effective control measure to reduce Salmonella faecal shedding and improve ADWG in Salmonella infected herds.

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture and Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells on in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cell product and a S. cerevisiae culture product on the in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation of ground corn, soluble starch, alfalfa hay, and Coastal bermudagrass hay. In the presence of ground corn, neither concentration (0.35 or 0.73 g/L) of S. cerevisiae culture nor live cells had any effect on final pH, H2, CH4, propionate, or butyrate. The S. cerevisiae culture had no effect on acetate, but both concentrations of S. cerevisiae live cells decreased acetate and the acetate:propionate ratio. When soluble starch was the substrate, both concentrations of S. cerevisiae live cells and 0.73 g/L of S. cerevisiae culture decreased the acetate:propionate ratio. Although the treatment effects were not statistically significant, both concentrations of live cells and 0.73 g/L of the culture decreased lactate concentrations compared with the control incubations. When alfalfa hay served as the substrate, neither the S. cerevisiae culture nor the live cells had an effect on propionate, butyrate, or the acetate:propionate ratio. Both concentrations of S. cerevisiae culture decreased the final pH and in vitro dry matter disappearance, and the 0.73 g/L treatment decreased the amount of acetate. However, both treatments of S. cerevisiae live cells increased final pH and decreased acetate and in vitro dry matter disappearance. Neither yeast treatment had much effect on the Coastal bermudagrass hay fermentations. In general, both S. cerevisiae supplements seemed to have similar effects on the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation.

First report of a family with Lynch syndrome type II in Puerto Rico

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in Puerto Rico has increased prodigiously since incidence figures were first recorded in 1950. Implications for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in concert with this increased CRC incidence are discussed. A family with the Amsterdam-positive criteria of the Lynch syndrome II variant, identified in the eastern area of Puerto Rico, is described. As far as we can determine, this is the first such report of this disorder in Puerto Rico

First report of a family with Lynch syndrome type II in Puerto Rico.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in Puerto Rico has increased prodigiously since incidence figures were first recorded in 1950. Implications for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in concert with this increased CRC incidence are discussed. A family with the Amsterdam-positive criteria of the Lynch syndrome II variant, identified in the eastern area of Puerto Rico, is described. As far as we can determine, this is the first such report of this disorder in Puerto Rico.

Melatonin: a sleep-promoting hormone.

This review discusses the issue of a dual effect of melatonin on sleep: acute sleep promotion that typically occurs within one hour of administration, and the ability to alter the phase of an underlying circadian pacemaker after a repeated melatonin treatment. The authors suggest that both mechanisms are at work, that they are complementary, and that they may manifest jointly or separately. The review provides some basic information on melatonin, an overview of the literature, and the authors' experience in studying the acute effects of melatonin treatment in humans of different age groups. This review also illustrates the authors' cautious attitude toward melatonin treatment that induces supraphysiologic circulating levels of the hormone.

Colorectal cancer in a nuclear family. Familial or hereditary?

Because of the high incidence of colorectal cancer, familial aggregations of this disease are common. Differentiation between etiologies contributing to familial clustering (which may have resulted either from common environmental exposure or from mere chance) and primary genetic factors may prove vexing to the physician. This report deals with the myriad problems encountered when attempting to make such etiologic distinctions in order to provide appropriate surveillance and management, based upon tumor spectrum and natural history, for patients at increased cancer risk.

Familial cancer in an oncology clinic.

Knowledge of cancer genetics provides the physician with a powerful tool for the recognition of patients who might profit from highly targeted cancer surveillance/management programs. Family history was evaluated by registered nurses on 565 consecutively ascertained patients with verified cancer from Creighton's Oncology Clinic. This initial assessment yielded 199 (35.5%) families with two more family members with cancer (all sites) within an informative nuclear component, which constituted parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, siblings, and children. One or more of the operational criteria for cancer familiality, namely vertical transmission of cancer, bilaterality, and/or multiple primaries, early age of onset, and three or more site specific cancers, were found on physician review in 171 (30.5%) of the families. This group was referred for comprehensive cancer genetic evaluation consisting of pedigree extension and tumor verification through all second degree, and when possible, third degree relatives. It was determined that approximately 4% of the total clinic population demonstrated findings compatible with hereditary cancer syndromes. Its universal extension in clinical practice is advocated because of the potential yield from meticulous surveillance for cancer of highly targeted organs in such high-risk kindreds, as well as the economy and general case of obtaining detailed family history by registered nurses. The physician is able, therefore, to devote his primary effort toward pedigree analysis and syndrome identification.