Determination of in situ ruminal degradation of phytate phosphorus from single and compound feeds in dairy cows using chemical analysis and near-infrared spectroscopy.

The ruminal degradation of P bound in phytate (InsP6) can vary between feeds, but data on ruminal degradation of InsP6 from different feedstuffs for cattle are rare. One objective of this study was to increase the data base on ruminal effective degradation of InsP6 (InsP6ED) and to assess if InsP6ED of compound feeds (CF) can be calculated from comprising single feeds. As a second objective, use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict InsP6 concentrations was tested. Nine single feeds (maize, wheat, barley, faba beans, soybeans, soybean meal (SBM), rapeseed meal (RSM), sunflower meal (SFM), dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS)) and two CF (CF1/CF2), consisting of different amounts of the examined single feeds, were incubated for 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h in the rumen of three ruminally fistulated Jersey cows. Samples of CF were examined before (CF1/CF2 Mash) and after pelleting (CF1/CF2 Pellet), and InsP6ED was calculated for all feeds at two passage rates (InsP6ED5: k = 5%/h; InsP6ED8: k = 8%/h). For CF1 and CF2, InsP6ED was also calculated from values of the respective single feeds. Near-infrared spectra were recorded in duplicate and used to establish calibrations to predict InsP6 concentration. Besides a global calibration, also local calibrations were evaluated by separating samples into different data sets based on their origin. The InsP6ED8 was highest for faba beans (91%), followed by maize (90%), DDGS (89%), soybeans (85%), wheat (76%) and barley (74%). Lower values were determined for oilseed meals (48% RSM, 65% SFM, 66% SBM). Calculating InsP6ED of CF from values of single feeds underestimated observed values up to 11 percentage points. The NIRS calibrations in general showed a good performance, but statistical key data suggest that local calibrations should be established. The wide variation of InsP6ED between feeds indicates that the ruminal availability of P bound in InsP6 should be evaluated individually for feeds. This requires further in situ studies with high amounts of samples for InsP6 analysis. Near-infrared spectroscopy has the potential to simplify the analytical step of InsP6 in the future, but the calibrations need to be expanded.

Prececal amino acid digestibility and phytate degradation in broiler chickens when using different oilseed meals, phytase and protease supplements in the feed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of phytase and protease supplementation on prececal (pc) amino acid (AA) digestibility, phytate (InsP6) degradation, and MEn concentration in diets using 3 oilseed meals as main protein sources in broiler chicken feed. The broiler chicken diets, which lacked mineral phosphorus, contained either soybean meal (SBM), SBM and rapeseed meal (SBM/RSM), or SBM and sunflower meal (SBM/SFM) as main protein sources. Diets were not supplemented with enzymes or supplemented with 1,500 or 3,000 FTU phytase/kg, or with 1,600 mg protease/kg. For diets containing SBM as the main protein source, the effects of phytase supplementation with and without monocalcium phosphate were also investigated. Data were obtained during 2 subsequent runs from days 14 to 22 and from days 23 to 31. Each diet was tested using 8 replicates with 4 replicates per run. For pc AA digestibility, no significant interactions were observed between main protein sources, enzyme supplementation, or addition of monocalcium phosphate except for Cys. Supplementation of 1,500 FTU phytase/kg increased pc digestibility of all AA. No differences in pc AA digestibility were observed between 1,500 and 3,000 FTU phytase/kg supplementation treatments. Prececal disappearance of InsP6 and pc P digestibility were greater in the high phytase supplementation treatment. Protease supplementation increased pc digestibility of all AA except for Cys when SBM/RSM was the main protein source. Supplementation of protease and 3,000 FTU phytase/kg increased MEn concentrations. The effect of phytase on pc AA digestibility was fully expressed at a lower supplementation level than needed for a maximized pc InsP6 disappearance and MEn concentration.

Low in vitro third-body wear on total hip prostheses induced by calcium sulphate used for local antibiotic therapy.

In case of implant associated infection, implant preservation is associated with high failure rates. Therefore, a removal or exchange of the implant is most often mandatory for treatment success. Alternatively, under certain conditions, local antibiotic delivery can be applied - preserving the implant, using for example calcium sulphate as a resorbable carrier. In this work, third-body wear on total hip prostheses caused by calcium sulphate particles was tested in a hip simulator. Inlays made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) against 28 mm CoCrMo heads and 36 mm alumina pairings were tested in triplicate, both with and without calcium sulphate particles in the test liquid. Neither the alumina articulations nor the CoCrMo heads were affected by the calcium sulphate particles since calcium sulphate is a relatively soft material. The polyethylene inlays showed 39-89 % higher wear during exposure compared to references, but wear returned to normal when no more particles were added. Thus, calcium sulphate might be used as antibiotic carrier even in the presence of total hip prostheses without fearing excessive third-body wear.

Hypericum perforatum differentially affects corticosteroid receptor-mRNA expression in human monocytic U-937 cells.

A dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis represents a prominent finding in major depression, possibly related to a dysfunction of the corticosteroid receptor system. Antidepressants are involved in the restoration of the altered feed-back mechanism of the HPA-axis, probably via normalization of corticosteroid receptor functions. Since Hypericum perforatum has antidepressive properties, we here examined its putative actions on glucocorticosteroid receptor mRNA levels in human blood cells as a peripheral model for neuroendocrine effects in human brain cells. Our data show that Hypericum (LI 160) affects the cellular mRNA levels of both, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-α and its inhibitory counterpart, the GR-ß, at clinically-relevant concentrations. Under these conditions, a bimodal effect was observed. Dose-response studies suggest a rather small effective concentration range and time-effect data show a primary and transient up-regulation of GR-α mRNA levels and a down-regulation of GR-ß mRNA levels after 16 h of treatment. The sodium channel blocker benzamil neutralized the effects of Hypericum, pointing to an at least partial mechanism of action via this pathway. In conclusion, Hypericum treatment differentially affects GR-mRNA levels in the human system. Our data suggest a bimodal effect on GR, resulting in a time-and dose-related modification of GR-mediated cellular effects. Such a mechanism has been alleged as an important way of action for a number of antidepressants. It is the first time that a specific effect on both receptors, especially on the subtype of GR-ß, is shown under antidepressive treatment in a human system under in vitro conditions.

Traditional injury scoring underestimates the relative consequences of orthopedic injury.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that patients with multiple injuries who have orthopedic injuries (ORTHO) face greater challenges regarding functional outcome than those without, to identify domains of postinjury dysfunction, and to illustrate the increasing discordance of functional recovery over time for ORTHO patients in relation to nonORTHO patients. METHODS: A convenience sample of adult blunt force trauma patients admitted to a Level I trauma center was evaluated at admission, and at 6 and 12 months after injury. Data were collected from the trauma registry (Trauma One), chart review, and interviews. Mailed surveys were completed 6 and 12 months after injury. The Short Form 36 (SF36) general health survey and the Sickness Impact Profile work scale (SIPw) were administered at both time points. Data are presented as mean +/- SEM or percent (%). To compare means, t tests were conducted, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) was controlled by linear regression before the evaluation of the role of ORTHO injury pattern on outcome measures. Significance is noted at the 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The 165 patients studied averaged 37.2 +/- 1.1 years in age and were 67% men. The mean ISS was 14.4 +/- 0.6 and 61% had ORTHO injury. ORTHO patients were no different from nonORTHO in any measure of baseline status including the SIPw score and all domains of the SF36, except that the ISS was greater in the ORTHO group (15.6 +/- 0.96 vs. 12.7 +/- 0.73, p = 0.017). Baseline SF36 values were similar to national norms. Follow-up was 75% at 6 months, and 51% at 12 months. Those lost to follow-up differed only in that they were more likely to be men. Sixty-four percent had returned to work 12 months after injury. After controlling for ISS with linear regression, the ORTHO patients had worse scores on all physical measures of the SF36 (bodily pain, physical function, and role-physical). By 12 months after injury, the relative dysfunction of the ORTHO patients had expanded to include the SIPw score (p = 0.016) and six of eight SF36 domains (bodily pain, physical function, role-physical, mental health, role-emotional, and social function, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Injury severity affects both mortality and the potentially more consequential issues of long-term morbidity. Patients with ORTHO injury have relatively worse functional recovery, and this worsens with time. As trauma centers approach the limits of achievable survival, new advances in trauma care can be directed more toward the quality of recovery for our patients. This will be contingent on further development of screening, scoring, and treatment systems designed to address issues of functional outcome across injury boundaries for those who survive.

Effects of noise on different disease states of recurrent affective disorders.

BACKGROUND: Nonlinear dynamics are currently proposed to explain the course of recurrent affective disorders. Such a nonlinear disease model predicts complex interactions with stochastic influences, in particular, because both disease dynamics and stochastic influences, such as psychosocial stressors, will vary during the course of the disease. We approach this problem by investigating general effects of noise intensity on different disease states of a nonlinear model for recurrent affective disorders. METHODS: A recently developed neurodynamic model is studied numerically. RESULTS: Noise can cause unstructured randomness or can maximize periodic order. The frequency of episode occurrence can increase with noise but it can also remain unaffected or even can decrease. The observed effects, thereby, depend critically on both the noise intensity and the internal nonlinear dynamics of the disease model. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that altered stochastic influences can significantly affect the outcome of a dynamic disease. To evaluate the effects of noise, it is essential to know about the underlying dynamics of respective disease states. Therefore, characterization of low-dimensional dynamics might become valuable for disease prediction and control.

[Work profile of social work in inpatient psychotherapy. Clinical fields and social rights implications]. / Das Tätigkeitsprofil der Sozialarbeit in der stationären Psychotherapie. Klinische Arbeitsfelder und sozialrechtliche Implikationen.

OBJECTIVES: The task profile of social work in (acute) inpatient psychotherapy--unlike psychiatric inpatient treatment--is only fragmentarily described by the so-called Psychiatrie-Personalverordnung (Psych-PV). The aim of the present investigation was, therefore, to provide valid and representative data to define its respective scope of duties. METHODS: During a prospective one-year assessment at the Department of Psychotherapy and Behavioral Medicine at the Philipps-University of Marburg/Germany, we recorded corresponding data of social work referring to three areas of interest, i.e., "education and occupation", "housing and family", and "psychotherapy support". RESULTS: Our data suggest a broad overlap with the corresponding task profile of social work at psychiatric hospitals, which clearly differs, however, from the more therapeutical approach in social work as practiced in Anglo-American countries. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings stress the need for a re-evaluation of social work in inpatient psychotherapy concerning its specific task profile and the respective time values.

Endocrinological and polysomnographic findings in Kleine-Levin syndrome: no evidence for hypothalamic and circadian dysfunction.

Five subjects--four men, ages 17-28, and one woman, age 30--with Kleine-Levin syndrome were investigated during symptomatic (SP) and asymptomatic (ASP) periods. Investigations comprised medical history, MRI, polysomnography, 24-hour hormone profile of human growth hormone, melatonin, TSH, cortisol and FSH (in the woman only) assessed every 2 hours, actimetry, and sleep logs. Medical history confirmed presence of the three symptoms diagnostic of of typical Kleine-Levin syndrome: hypersomnia, excessive food intake, and psychic alteration. MRIs of the brain were normal in all patients. Symptomatic periods were triggered by unspecific events, such as infection, sleep deprivation, and alcohol. Polysomnography revealed low sleep efficiency during SPs, decreased amount of slow-wave sleep, and high frequency of stage shifts, indicating sleep fragmentation. Mean 24-hour growth hormone levels were reduced during the SPs in only two patients. Their hGH peaks were dissociated from slow-wave sleep during attacks and intervals, often occurring during wake time. Twenty-four-hour melatonin levels were increased during the SPs in all patients, but were lower in two patients during the nocturnal sleep period. Cortisol, TSH and FSH did not reveal important differences between attacks and intervals. Except for hGH, all hormones had normal circadian excretion during symptomatic and asymptomatic periods. Amplitude of nocturnal activity as assessed by actimetry was significantly increased in two patients, whereas amplitude of daytime activity was significantly reduced in three patients. Actimetry and sleep logs demonstrated prolonged sleep phases during SPs. Our investigation could confirm changes of sleep structure described in the literature. The neuroendocrinological findings could not confirm decreased hGH and cortisol and increased TSH levels during SPs, as previously reported in single cases by many authors. Endocrinological findings did not support an underlying circadian disorder in KLS.

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system in panic disorder.

The responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system was investigated with the combined dexamethasone-corticotropin-releasing hormone (DEX-CRH) challenge test in 13 patients with "pure" panic disorder. After DEX pretreatment, this group of patients had higher CRH-induced adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels than the control group, but lower than a reference group of depressed patients. The panic disorder patients were also in a middle position in the ratio of suppressors to nonsuppressors on the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and in the ratio of normal to abnormal results on the DEX-CRH test. Our results using the combined DEX-CRH test, which is known to be much more sensitive than the original DST, support the hypothesis that HPA system functioning is altered in panic disorder patients and that this dysregulation is directly involved in the pathogenesis of the disorder.