Effects of increased levels of supplemental vitamins during the summer in a commercial artificial insemination boar stud.

Heat stress due to increasing extremes in ambient temperature and humidity results in reduced semen quality in boars. This has caused reduced efficiency of the swine industry, requiring more boars to breed the same number of sows. Vitamins such as vitamin C (VC) and E (VE) have been shown to improve semen quality in boars. Recently, vitamin D has been shown to improve semen quality in boars. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of increased supplemental vitamins on boar reproduction during the summer season in a commercial boar stud. One hundred and sixty Pig Improvement Company (PIC) terminal line boars (n = 32 per treatment) and 39 maternal, heat-sensitive boars (n = 7 or 8 per treatment) were randomly allocated to treatment and fed a corn and soybean meal-based diet adjusted based on individual boar body condition score. A control (CNT) diet was used that met PIC recommendations for boars. Increased supplementation of specific vitamins was given in the form of a top-dress and consisted of CNT wheat middlings, CNT plus VC (560 mg/day), CNT plus 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (VD) (125 µg/day), CNT plus VE (275 mg/day) and CNT plus VC, VD and VE (CDE). The experiment was split into three periods based on maximum daily high temperatures in the barn, where period 1 was weeks 1 to 4, period 2 was weeks 5 to 11 and period 3 was weeks 12 to 14. Semen was collected from boars as needed using the stud's normal production schedule and was analyzed for sperm quantity and quality characteristics. There were no dietary effects on semen volume, sperm concentration or total sperm production (P ≥ 0.553). Total motility of sperm was not impacted by diet (P = 0.115); although, VC tended (P = 0.064) to have a greater progressive motility than CDE. Percentages of morphologically normal sperm and normal acrosomes were not affected by dietary supplementation (P ≥ 0.157). Period effects were observed for most semen quality parameters, with quality generally becoming reduced over time. The present study demonstrates that increased supplementation of vitamins beyond PIC recommendations was not beneficial for boar reproduction during the summer.

Evaluating the impact of maternal vitamin D supplementation: I. Sow performance, serum vitamin metabolites, and neonatal muscle characteristics.

In Exp. 1, 56 gestating sows (PIC 1050; 35 d postinsemination) were used in a 30-d trial to determine serum 25(OH)D response to increasing concentrations of dietary vitamin D. Sows were randomly allotted to 1 of 7 dietary D treatments (200, 800, 1,600, 3,200, 6,400, 12,800, or 25,600 IU of added D per kilogram of complete diet) with 8 sows per treatment. Increasing D increased (quadratic; < 0.001) serum 25(OH)D with the response depicted by the prediction equation: serum 25(OH)D, ng/mL = 35.1746 + (0.002353 × dietary D, IU/d) - (0.0000000156 × dietary D, IU/d). In Exp. 2, 112 sows and their litters were used to determine the effects of dietary vitamin D regimen on sow performance, subsequent preweaning pig performance, neonatal bone and muscle characteristics, and serum vitamin metabolites. Sows were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments 3 to 5 d following breeding: 800, 2,000, or 9,600 IU of D per kilogram of the diet or 50 µg of 25(OH)D (2,000 IU of D equivalent from Hy-D, DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ) per kilogram of diet. There were 25 to 27 sows per treatment. Increasing dietary D increased (linear, = 0.001) serum 25(OH)D of sows on d 100 of gestation, at farrowing, and at weaning. Increasing D in sow diets increased piglet serum 25(OH)D at birth (linear, = 0.001) and weaning (quadratic, = 0.033). Sows fed 50 µg of 25(OH)D/kg had intermediate ( < 0.004) serum 25(OH)D concentrations on d 100 of gestation, at farrowing, and at weaning compared with sows fed 2,000 IU of D/kg and sows fed 9,600 IU of D/kg. Pigs from sows fed 50 µg of 25(OH)D/kg had greater serum 25(OH)D compared with pigs from sows fed 2,000 IU of D/kg, but at weaning, serum 25(OH)D concentrations were similar. Also, pigs from sows fed 9,600 IU of D/kg had greater ( = 0.011) serum 25(OH)D at birth and weaning compared with pigs from sows fed 50 µg of 25(OH)D/kg. Maternal performance, litter characteristics, neonatal bone ash content, and neonatal muscle fiber characteristics were largely unaffected by the dietary vitamin D treatments. Overall, D and 25(OH)D are both useful at increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations, but more D (on an equivalent IU basis) is needed to achieve similar serum 25(OH)D responses compared with feeding 25(OH)D. Concentration of maternal vitamin D supplementation in lactation impacted milk transfer of the vitamin more so than the form of the vitamin, as evidence by the weaned pig serum 25(OH)D concentrations.

Evaluating the impact of maternal vitamin D supplementation on sow performance: II. Subsequent growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs.

A of subsample of 448 growing pigs (PIC 327 × 1050) weaned from 52 sows fed varying dietary vitamin D regimens were used in a split-plot design to determine the effects of maternal and nursery dietary vitamin D on growth performance. Sows were previously administered diets containing vitamin D as vitamin D (800, 2,000, or 9,600 IU/kg) or as 25(OH)D (50 µg [or 2,000 IU vitamin D equivalent]/kg from HyD; DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ). Once weaned, pigs were allotted to pens on the basis of previous maternal vitamin D treatment, and then pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 nursery vitamin D dietary regimens (2,000 IU of vitamin D/kg or 50 µg 25(OH)D/kg). Pigs remained on nursery vitamin D treatments for 35 d, and then they were provided common finishing diets until market (135 kg). Growing pig serum 25(OH)D suggested that maternal dietary vitamin D influenced ( < 0.001 at weaning) serum concentrations early after weaning, but nursery vitamin D regimen had a larger impact ( < 0.001) on d 17 and 35 postweaning. Overall growth performance was not influenced by nursery vitamin D dietary treatments. From d 0 to 35 in the nursery, pigs from sows fed increasing vitamin D had increased (quadratic, < 0.003) ADG and ADFI, but G:F was similar regardless of maternal vitamin D regimen. Also, pigs from sows fed 50 µg/kg of 25(OH)D had increased ( = 0.002) ADG compared with pigs weaned from sows fed 800 IU of vitamin D. Throughout finishing (d 35 postweaning until 135 kg), ADG was increased (quadratic, = 0.005) and G:F was improved (quadratic, = 0.049) with increasing maternal dietary vitamin D. Also, pigs from sows fed 50 µg/kg of 25(OH)D had increased ( = 0.002) ADG compared with pigs weaned from sows fed 800 IU of vitamin D. Carcass data were collected from a subsample population separate from that used for the growth performance portion of the study, and a total of 642 carcasses from progeny of sows fed the varying dietary vitamin D treatments were used. Live BW of pigs at marketing and HCW were heavier ( < 0.030) for pigs from sows previously fed 25(OH)D compared with pigs from sows fed 9,600 IU of vitamin D. Overall, pigs from sows fed 2,000 IU of vitamin D grew faster after weaning compared with pigs from sows fed 800 or 9,600 IU of vitamin D. Pigs from sows fed 25(OH)D hag greater ADG compared with pigs from sows fed 800 IU of vitamin D, and they had increased final BW and HCW compared with pigs from sows fed 9,600 IU of vitamin D.

Effects of drought-affected corn and nonstarch polysaccharide enzyme inclusion on nursery pig growth performance.

The effectiveness of carbohydrase enzymes has been inconsistent in corn-based swine diets; however, the increased substrate of nonstarch polysaccharides in drought-affected corn may provide an economic model for enzyme inclusion, but this has not been evaluated. A total of 360 barrows (PIC 1050 × 337, initially 5.85 kg BW) were used to determine the effects of drought-affected corn inclusion with or without supplementation of commercial carbohydrases on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of nursery pigs. Initially, 34 corn samples were collected to find representatives of normal and drought-affected corn. The lot selected to represent the normal corn had a test weight of 719.4 kg/m3, 15.0% moisture, and 4.2% xylan. The lot selected to represent drought-affected corn had a test weight of 698.8 kg/m3, 14.3% moisture, and 4.7% xylan. After a 10-d acclimation period postweaning, nursery pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial with main effects of corn (normal vs. drought affected) and enzyme inclusion (none vs. 100 mg/kg Enzyme A vs. 250 mg/kg Enzyme B vs. 100 mg/kg Enzyme A + 250 mg/kg Enzyme B). Both enzymes were included blends of ß-glucanase, cellulose, and xylanase (Enzyme A) or hemicellulase and pectinases (Enzyme B). Pigs were fed treatment diets from d 10 to 35 postweaning in 2 phases. Feed and fecal samples were collected on d 30 postweaning to determine apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients. The nutrient concentrations of normal and drought-affected corn were similar, which resulted in few treatment or main effects differences of corn type or enzyme inclusion. No interactions were observed (P > 0.10) between corn source and enzyme inclusion. Overall (d 10 to 35), treatments had no effect on ADG or ADFI, but enzyme A inclusion tended to improve (P < 0.10; 0.74 vs. 0.69) G:F, which was primarily driven by the improved feed efficiency (0.76 vs. 0.72; P < 0.05) of pigs fed Enzyme A in Phase 2 (d 10 to 25 postweaning) and was likely a result of improved xylan utilization. In conclusion, drought stress did not alter the nonstarch polysaccharide concentration of corn beyond xylan concentration, so it was not surprising that enzyme inclusion showed little benefit to nursery pig growth performance. However, improved feed efficiency of pigs fed diets containing Enzyme A from d 10 to 25 postweaning warrants further investigation

Surveillance of infant pertussis in Sweden 1998-2012; severity of disease in relation to the national vaccination programme.

In Sweden, pertussis was excluded from the national vaccination programme in 1979 until acellular vaccination was introduced in a highly endemic setting in 1996. The general incidence dropped 10-fold within a decade, less in infants. Infant pertussis reached 40-45 cases per 100,000 in 2008 to 2012; few of these cases were older than five months. We present an observational 15-year study on the severity of infant pertussis based on 1,443 laboratory-confirmed cases prospectively identified from 1998 to 2012 in the national mandatory reporting system and followed up by telephone contact. Analyses were made in relation to age at onset of symptoms and vaccination history. Pertussis decreased in non-vaccinated infants (2003 to 2012, p<0.001), indicating herd immunity, both in those too young to be vaccinated and those older than three months. The hospitalisation rates also decreased (last five-year period vs the previous five-year periods, p <0.001), but 70% of all cases in under three month-old infants and 99% of cases with apnoea due to pertussis were admitted to hospital in 1998 to 2012. Median duration of hospitalisation was seven days for unvaccinated vs four days for vaccinated infants aged 3-5 months. Nine unvaccinated infants died during the study period.

An evaluation of the effects of added vitamin D3 in maternal diets on sow and pig performance.

A total of 84 sows (PIC 1050) and their litters were used to determine the effects of supplementing maternal diet with vitamin D3 on sow and pig performance, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), milk vitamin D3, neonatal bone mineralization, and neonatal tissue vitamin D3. After breeding, sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary vitamin D3 treatments (1,500, 3,000, or 6,000 IU/kg of complete diets). Sows were bled on d 0 and 100 of gestation and at farrowing and weaning (d 21). Pig BW was recorded at birth and weaning, and serum was collected from 2 pigs/litter at birth, on d 10 and at weaning. A total of 54 pigs (18/treatment) were euthanized at birth and necropsied to sample bones and tissues. Sow and suckling pig performance and neonatal bone ash and bone density did not differ among maternal vitamin D3 treatments; however, sow 25(OH)D3 and milk vitamin D3 increased (linear, P < 0.01) with increasing maternal vitamin D3 supplementation. Piglet serum 25(OH)D3 increased (quadratic, P < 0.03) with increased maternal vitamin D3. Neonatal kidney vitamin D3 tended (quadratic, P = 0.08) to decrease with increasing maternal vitamin D3, but liver vitamin D3 tended (linear, P = 0.09) to increase with increasing maternal vitamin D3. At weaning, a subsample of 180 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050) were used in a 3 × 2 split plot design for 35 d to determine the effects of maternal vitamin D3 and 2 levels of dietary vitamin D3 (1,800 or 18,000 IU/kg) from d 0 to 10 postweaning on nursery growth and serum 25(OH)D3. Overall (d 0 to 35), nursery ADG and G:F were not affected by either concentration of vitamin D3, but ADFI tended (quadratic, P < 0.06) to decrease with increasing maternal vitamin D3 as pigs from sows fed 3,000 IU had lower ADFI compared with pigs from sows fed 1,500 or 6,000 IU/kg. Nursery pig serum 25(OH)D3 increased with increasing maternal vitamin D3 (weaning) on d 0 (linear, P < 0.01), and maternal × diet interactions (P < 0.01) were observed on d 10 and 21 because pigs from sows fed 1,500 IU had greater increases in serum 25(OH)D3 when fed 18,000 IU compared with pigs from sows fed 3,000 IU. In conclusion, sow and pig serum 25(OH)D3, milk vitamin D3, and neonatal tissue vitamin D3 can be increased by increasing maternal vitamin D3, and nursery pig 25(OH)D3 can be increased by increasing dietary vitamin D3; however, sow and pig performance and neonatal bone mineralization was not influenced by increasing vitamin D3 dietary levels.

Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on bone mineral density, bone markers, and body composition in older adults: the DAWN trial.

UNLABELLED: We present results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effect of 50 mg daily oral DHEA supplementation for one year on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism and body composition in 225 healthy adults aged 55 to 85 years. INTRODUCTION: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels decline dramatically with age, concurrent with the onset of osteoporosis, suggesting a role for DHEA supplementation in preventing age-related bone loss. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effect of 50 mg daily oral DHEA supplementation for one year on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism and body composition in 225 healthy adults aged 55 to 85 years. RESULTS: DHEA treatment increased serum DHEA and DHEA sulfate levels to concentrations seen in young adults. Testosterone, estradiol and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels increased in women (all p < 0.001), but not men, receiving DHEA. Serum C-terminal telopeptide of type-1 collagen levels decreased in women (p = 0.03), but not men, whereas bone-specific alkaline phosphatase levels were not significantly altered in either sex. After 12 months, there was a positive effect of DHEA on lumbar spine BMD in women (p = 0.03), but no effect was observed for hip, femoral neck or total body BMD, and no significant changes were observed at any site among men. Body composition was not affected by DHEA treatment in either sex. CONCLUSION: Among older healthy adults, daily administration of 50 mg of DHEA has a modest and selective beneficial effect on BMD and bone resorption in women, but provides no bone benefit for men.

Effects of methionine loading on plasma and erythrocyte sulphur amino acids and sulph-hydryls before and after co-factor supplementation in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinaemia, which is potentially atherogenic, is common in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients but the reason for this is not yet known. The methionine (Met) loading test (MLT) is used to test the capacity of homocysteine (Hcy) disposal by the trans-sulphuration pathway and thus may provide information on the metabolism of sulphur amino acids. The availability of vitamin B(6) and folic acid, as co-factors for Hcy metabolism may affect the response to MLT. In the present study, we compared the effect of Met loading on plasma and erythrocyte (RBC) sulphur amino acids and sulph-hydryls before and after co-factor supplementation in healthy subjects and HD patients. METHODS: In 10 HD patients and 10 healthy subjects the effect of Met loading, 0.1 g/kg BW, on plasma and RBC methionine metabolites was studied over 7 h, before and after 4 weeks supplementation with high daily doses of vitamin B(6) (200 mg) and folic acid (15 mg). RESULTS: MLT before vitamin supplementation in HD patients, compared to the healthy subjects, caused significantly greater increases in plasma Hcy levels (43+/-12 vs 15+/-5 micromol/l), cysteinesulphinic acid (CSA) (1.34 vs 0.36 micromol/l) and gamma-glutamylcysteine (0.98+/-0.83 vs -01+/-0.42 micromol/l) and no decline in plasma cysteine (Cys) (0.5+/-33.9 vs -31+/-26 micromol/l), but no significant differences in plasma taurine, cysteinylglycine, and glutathione concentrations. In RBCs there was a small increase in Hcy levels and a more marked increase in Tau levels, with no difference between the healthy subjects and HD patients. Vitamin supplementation in pharmacological doses failed to correct the abnormal responses to MLT in the HD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Oral methionine loading in HD patients leads to higher accumulation of Hcy and other Met metabolites in plasma and RBCs than in healthy subjects, indicating impaired metabolism of sulphur amino acids via the trans-sulphuration pathway. Supplementation with high doses of vitamin B(6) and folic acid does not correct this impairment, suggesting that it most probably is not due to lack of these co-factors.

Isolectins from Solanum tuberosum with different detailed carbohydrate binding specificities: unexpected recognition of lactosylceramide by N-acetyllactosamine-binding lectins.

Glycosphingolipid recognition by two isolectins from Solanum tuberosum was compared by the chromatogram binding assay. One lectin (PL-I) was isolated from potato tubers by affinity chromatography, and identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as a homodimer with a subunit molecular mass of 63,000. The other (PL-II) was a commercial lectin, characterized as two homodimeric isolectins with subunit molecular masses of 52,000 and 55,000, respectively. Both lectins recognized N-acetyllactosamine-containing glycosphingolipids, but the fine details of their carbohydrate binding specificities differed. PL-II preferentially bound to glycosphingolipids with N-acetyllactosamine branches, as Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta6(Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3)Galbeta4Glcbeta1C er. PL-I also recognized this glycosphingolipid, but bound equally well to the linear glycosphingolipid Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer. Neolactotetraosylceramide and the B5 pentaglycosylceramide were also bound by PL-I, while other glycosphingolipids with only one N-acetyllactosamine unit were non-binding. Surprisingly, both lectins also bound to lactosylceramide, with an absolute requirement for sphingosine and non-hydroxy fatty acids. The inhibition of binding to both lactosylceramide and N-acetyllactosamine-containing glycosphingolipids by N-acetylchitotetraose suggests that lactosylceramide is also accomodated within the N-acetylchitotetraose/N-acetyllactosamine-binding sites of the lectins. Through docking of glycosphingolipids onto a three-dimensional model of the PL-I hevein binding domain, a Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4 binding epitope was defined. Furthermore, direct involvement of the ceramide in the binding of lactosylceramide was suggested.

Effects of high-dose folic acid and pyridoxine on plasma and erythrocyte sulfur amino acids in hemodialysis patients.

In this investigation, sulfur amino acids (sAA) and sulfhydryls were determined in the plasma and erythrocytes (RBC) of 10 uremic patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) treatment and 10 healthy subjects, before and after supplementation with 15 mg/d of folic acid and 200 mg/d of pyridoxine for 4 wk. The basal total plasma concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), cysteinylglycine (Cys-Gly), gamma-glutamylcysteine (gamma-Glu-Cys), glutathione (GSH), and free cysteinesulfinic acid (CSA) were significantly higher in HD patients when compared to healthy subjects, whereas methionine (Met) and taurine (Tau) concentrations were the same in the two groups. HD patients showed significantly higher RBC levels of Hcy and Cys-Gly, whereas the RBC concentrations of Met, Cys, Tau, and GSH were not different from those in the healthy subjects. The plasma concentrations of sAA and sulfhydryls differed compared with RBC levels in the healthy subjects and HD patients. In both groups, supplementation with high doses of folic acid and pyridoxine reduced the plasma Hcy concentration. In addition, increased plasma concentrations of Cys-Gly and GSH were found in the HD patients and of CSA in the healthy subjects. After vitamin supplementation, the RBC concentrations of Hcy, Cys, and GSH increased and that of Tau decreased in healthy subjects. The only significant finding in RBC of HD patients was an increase in GSH levels after supplementation. This study shows several RBC and plasma sAA and sulfhydryl abnormalities in HD patients, which confirms earlier findings that RBC and plasma pools play independent roles in interorgan amino acid transport and metabolism. Moreover, high-dose supplementation with folic acid and pyridoxine significantly reduced Hcy levels, but did not restore the sAA and sulfhydryl abnormalities to normal levels. The increase that was observed in GSH after vitamin supplementation may have a beneficial effect in improving blood antioxidant status in uremic patients. Finally, the findings of elevated plasma Cys levels correlating to the elevated plasma Hcy levels in the presence of elevated plasma CSA levels, both before and after vitamin supplementation, led to the hypothesis that a block in decarboxylation of CSA is linked to hyperhomocysteinemia in end-stage renal failure.

Evaluation of enzymatically modified potato starches in diets for weanling pigs.

We conducted three growth trials to evaluate replacing carbohydrate sources with enzymatically modified potato starches in diets for weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 180 pigs (initially 5.3 kg and 21+/-2 d of age) were used to compare the effects of corn (36.5%), edible-grade oat flour (36.5%), two enzymatically modified potato starches (12%), and added lactose (12%) on pig performance. Potato Starch 1 had a dextrose equivalent (DE) of 6 and Potato Starch 2 had a DE of 20; both were spray-dried maltodextrans. Pigs that were fed Potato Starch 2 had greater (P<.05) ADG and ADFI than pigs fed diets that contained corn or oat flour from d 0 to 14 after weaning, and pigs fed either Potato Starch 1 or added lactose had intermediate ADG and ADFI. However, for the overall trial (d 0 to 35), no differences (P>.10) in growth performance were observed. In Exp. 2, 198 pigs (initially 4.3 kg and 19+/-2 d of age) were used to determine whether modified Potato Starch 2 could replace a portion of the corn or lactose in the diet. The control diet contained 10% dried whey, and additional treatments were formulated by adding 7 or 14% modified Potato Starch 2 or lactose in place of corn. A positive control diet was formulated containing 29% dried whey. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, increasing dietary lactose improved (linear, P<.04) ADG and ADFI. Increasing the potato starch had no effect on ADG but increased ADFI (linear, P<.02). In Exp. 3, 180 pigs (initially 3.9 kg and 14+/-3 d of age) were used to evaluate Potato Starch 2 or 3 (DE = 30, a spray-dried glucose syrup) as replacements for either corn or lactose in the diet. Pigs were fed a control diet containing 15% dried whey and 12% added lactose. Twelve percent modified Potato Starch 2 or 3 replaced either corn or lactose in the diet on a wt/wt basis. From d 0 to 14 and d 0 to 21, pigs fed either modified potato starch substituted for corn had greater (P<.07) ADG than those fed the control diet. Pigs fed diets with either modified starch substituted for lactose had similar ADG as those fed the control diet. These results suggest that when substituted for corn, Potato Starch 2 can improve growth performance of weanling pigs.

Evaluation of potato proteins on the growth performance of early-weaned pigs.

We conducted five experiments to evaluate conventional and low-glycoalkaloid potato protein (CPP and LGPP, respectively) in diets for early-weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 150 weanling pigs (initially 4.4 +/- .9 kg and 15.5 +/- 2 d of age) were fed either a control diet containing 3% spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) or diets with additional SDAP (2.5 or 5% added; 5.5 or 8% total) or CPP (2.6% or 5.1%) substituted on a total lysine basis. From d 0 to 14 after weaning, increasing SDAP increased (linear, P < .05) ADG and ADFI, whereas increasing CCP had no effect on growth performance. In Exp. 2, 180 weanling pigs (initially 5.9 +/- 1.2 kg and 20 +/- 2 d of age) were fed diets containing a LGPP replacing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the 7% dietary SDAP on a digestible lysine basis. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, increasing LGPP increased and then returned to control levels ADG and ADFI (quadratic, P < .01) and gain:feed ratio (quadratic, P < .05). In Exp. 3, 175 weanling pigs (initially 5.5 +/- 1.1 kg and 20 +/- 3 d of age) were fed either a control diet containing 20% dried whey, 17.5% dried skim milk, and 4% select menhaden fish meal (SMFM) or diets consisting of lactose and either 3.5 and 7.0% SDAP or 4.0 and 8.0% LGPP added at the expense of dried skim milk on a digestible lysine basis. From d 0 to 7 after weaning, ADG and ADFI increased (linear, P < .05) with increasing SDAP. With increasing LGPP, ADG and ADFI increased and then decreased (quadratic, P < .10 and P < .05, respectively). Gain:feed ratio (G/F) was not affected by SDAP and was improved (linear, P < .05) for pigs fed increasing LGPP. In Exp. 4, 270 weanling pigs (initially 6.2 +/- 1.6 kg and 20 +/- 3 d of age) were used to compare three diets that contained either 2.5% spray-dried blood meal (SDBM), 4.8% SMFM, or 3.92% CPP; test feedstuffs were substituted on a total lysine basis and diets were fed from d 7 to 28 after weaning. Pigs fed CPP had decreased (P < .05) ADG and G/F compared with those fed the other protein sources. In Exp. 5, 255 weanling pigs (initially 5.3 +/- 1.2 kg and 17 +/- 2 d of age), were used to compare five diets that contained either 2.5% SDBM, 5.51% SMFM, 4.17% CPP, 4.17% LGPP or 8.34% LGPP; feedstuffs were substituted on a digestible lysine basis and diets were fed from d 7 to 28 after weaning. No differences (P > .10) were observed in growth performance among pigs fed any of the protein sources within the experiment. However, pigs fed the LGPP had numerically greater ADG and better G/F than those fed CPP. In conclusion, these results suggest that LGPP can be an effective replacement for a portion of the SDAP in diets for weanling pigs.

Discovery, biosynthesis, and mechanism of action of the zaragozic acids: potent inhibitors of squalene synthase.

The zaragozic acids (ZAs), a family of fungal metabolites containing a novel 4,6,7-trihydroxy-2,8-dioxobicyclo[3.2.1]octane-3,4,5-tricarboxylic acid core, were discovered independently by two separate groups screening natural product sources to discover inhibitors of squalene synthase. This family of compounds all contain the same core but differ in their 1-alkyl and their 6-acyl side chains. Production of the ZAs is distributed over an extensive taxonomic range of Ascomycotina or their anamorphic states. The zaragozic acids are very potent inhibitors of squalene synthase that inhibit cholesterol synthesis and lower plasma cholesterol levels in primates. They also inhibit fungal ergosterol synthesis and are potent fungicidal compounds. The biosynthesis of the zaragozic acids appears to proceed through alkyl citrate intermediates and new members of the family have been produced through directed biosynthesis. These potent natural product based inhibitors of squalene synthase have potential to be developed either as cholesterol lowering agents and/or as antifungal agents.

Treatment of IgA nephropathy with omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids: a prospective, double-blind, randomized study.

In several studies diets supplemented with fish oil containing a high proportion of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (w-3-PUFA) have been shown to produce beneficial effects, such as a reduction in blood pressure, lipid levels and inflammation, all of which may affect the course of IgA nephropathy. However, the results of hitherto published studies concerning IgA nephropathy have been inconclusive. We therefore carried out a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled six-month study with a higher daily dose of w-3-PUFA than used in previous studies. Thirty-two adult patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and proteinuria completed the study: 15 were assigned to a fish-oil product with a high percentage of w-3-PUFA (K 85, with 55% eicosapentenoic and 30% docosahexenoic acid) and 17 to corn oil, 6g daily of either oil. At the start, no significant differences were found between the two groups (K85: 3 females/12 males, mean age 39 years (range 22-64), corn oil: 4 females/13 males, age 42 years (range 26-68). By six months, supplements of K85 resulted in a slight but significant reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) compared to the start: 51Cr-EDTA: 63 +/- 22 to 59 +/- 21 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05), creatinine clearance: 91 +/- 31 to 79 +/- 25 ml/min (p < 0.01), s-creatinine: 131 +/- 39 to 139 +/- 39 mumol/l, whereas no change in GFR was observed in the corn oil group. The urinary total protein and red blood cell excretions were not affected in any of the groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Supplemented dialysis: amino acid-based solutions in peritoneal dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis is associated with several metabolic and nutritional abnormalities, some of which are related to the use of glucose-based solutions. Furthermore, the catabolic effects of uremia per se, protein and amino acid losses into the dialysate, peritonitis and poor appetite contribute to amino acid abnormalities, negative nitrogen balance and a high prevalence of malnutrition in peritoneal dialysis patients. To overcome these problems the use of amino acid instead of glucose as an osmotic agent has been proposed. Short-term studies have shown that amino acid-based solutions in peritoneal dialysis may supplement in excess the daily losses of amino acids during dialysis with glucose-based solutions. The amino acid solutions produce similar ultrafiltration and solute transport as the standard glucose solutions although the period of effective ultrafiltration is rather short. However, it should be noted that some studies have reported that the transport of small and large solutes may increase in patients using amino acid solutions. During the early 1980s several investigators have developed and tested different amino acid solutions for peritoneal dialysis. The initial clinical experience from Toronto with amino acid solutions containing large amounts of non-essential amino acids and inadequate amount of buffer were in general discouraging. The patients, who were not always malnourished and tended to have a low energy intake, developed increased BUN levels, acidosis, no improvement in nutritional status or amino acid abnormalities and, in some cases, anorexia. In 1985 a new 1% amino acid solution, containing an increased buffer amount and amino acids (mainly essential) in proportions which take the amino acid abnormalities in uremic patients into account, became available. The use of this solution resulted in some improvement in amino acid pattern and nutritional parameters, but acidosis and increased BUN levels remained problems. The experiences from these and previous studies showed that: (1) the improvement of the composition of amino acid solutions was beneficial; (2) a further increase of the buffer amount was needed; (3) patients included should have signs of protein malnutrition combined with low dietary protein intake to benefit from intraperitoneal amino acid supply, and (4) energy intake should be sufficient to prevent amino acids to end up as energy source. For this purpose a new improved 1.1% amino acid solution has been developed containing a further increase of some essential amino acids and an increased amount of lactate (40 mmol/l). This solution has been tested in malnourished patients eating 0.8 g protein/kg/day and 25-30 kcal/kg/day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Nutritional aspects on peritoneal dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis is associated with metabolic and nutritional abnormalities due to the combined effects of uremia per se, glucose absorption from the dialysate and a variety of catabolic factors, such as protein and amino acid losses into the dialysate, poor appetite possibly reflecting insufficient removal of small solutes, and recurrent episodes of peritonitis. Signs of protein-energy malnutrition are common, especially in patients with minimal or no residual renal function. Variables that best correlate with the degree of malnutrition include serum albumin, midarm muscle circumference, clinical signs of muscle wasting and loss of subcutaneous fat, and a history of anorexia. The incidence of malnutrition is higher in females than in males and in diabetics than in non-diabetics. CAPD patients generally have a lower protein intake than HD patients, but may have a lower average protein requirement than HD patients. Progression of malnutrition may occur in CAPD patients due to the synergistic effects of loss of residual renal function, underdialysis, anorexia and inadequate dietary intake. In underdialyzed CAPD patients, the amount of dialysis should be increased and measures should be taken to increase the supply of energy and protein. The use of amino acid-based dialysis fluid may provide new opportunities for compensation of dialytic losses of protein and amino acids, normalization of essential amino acids, supplementation of inadequate dietary protein intake, and improvement of the nutritional status in CAPD patients.

Nutritional assessment in anemic hemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin.

Nutritional status was assessed in 25 anemic hemodialysis patients before and during erythropoietin treatment. Nutritional assessment included regular blood chemistry determinations, anthropometric measurements, analysis of protein content in skeletal muscle, and estimation of daily protein intake from protein catabolic rate determinations (using urea kinetic modelling) and dialysis efficiency for urea. These measurements were done immediately prior to erythropoietin treatment, after anemia correction and after one year of maintenance erythropoietin treatment. Both relative body weights and subcutaneous fat stores were low at the start, but increased significantly (p less than 0.05) during the study. Sixteen of the 25 patients gained weight and eight patients lost weight. The patients with weight gain had at the start of the study low weight indices (body weight 89.9 +/- 7.6% of ideal body weight, body mass index 20.6 +/- 1.6), significantly (p less than 0.005) lower than the patients with weight loss. Although protein malnutrition was not obvious from arm anthropometrics, alkali soluble protein/DNA ratio or from serum albumin determinations, ASP/DNA ratio, increased in three of five patients investigated after one year on erythropoietin treatment. Neither protein catabolic rate nor dialysis efficiency changed significantly during the study. We conclude that anemia correction with erythropoietin has a positive effect on malnutrition in hemodialysis patients. In patients with underweight, an adjustment of fat stores was initially observed, followed possibly by an improvement in muscle protein content.

Sulphur amino acids in plasma and muscle in patients with chronic renal failure: evidence for taurine depletion.

The sulphur amino acids methionine, cysteine (1/2-cystine) and taurine were determined by ion-exchange chromatography in plasma and muscle biopsy material obtained from 46 patients with chronic renal failure. Twelve patients were untreated, eight patients were treated with a low protein diet supplemented with essential amino acids, 11 patients treated with maintenance haemodialysis and 15 patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Patient data were compared to data obtained from 18 healthy subjects. Plasma cysteine was elevated in the untreated patients, in the patients treated with low protein diet and in the maintenance haemodialysis patients. Muscle methionine was significantly elevated in the CAPD patients. Plasma taurine was decreased in the untreated patients and in the CAPD patients and muscle taurine was borderline low in the untreated patients and significantly decreased in the other patient groups. The results show that taurine depletion may occur in patients with chronic uraemia despite normal or elevated concentrations of precursor sulphur amino acids, suggesting inhibited synthesis or enhanced degradation of taurine in the uraemic state.