[Conservative management of postoperative urinary incontinence in men]. / Konservative Therapie der postoperativen Harninkontinenz des Mannes.

Urinary incontinence in men most commonly occurs after radical prostatectomy. Of these patients, 3-23% remain incontinent a year after prostatectomy. Data on conservative therapy for postoperative incontinence is contradictory. Nonetheless, conservative treatment strategies must generally be attempted before any operative technique. Early pelvic floor muscle training with or without biofeedback therapy and duloxetine seem to have a positive effect on continence. Further randomised controlled studies are necessary to accurately assess other conservative therapeutic options such as extracorporeal magnetic innervation and electrical stimulation therapy.

Neurophysiological assessment of the electrostimulation procedures used in stroke patients during rehabilitation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the associated electrotherapeutical and kinesiotherapeutical treatment in patients after ischemic stroke (N=24), mainly by means of neurophysiological tests. All patients underwent the same 20 days of neurorehabilitation procedures. Particular attention was paid to three-stage modified electrotherapy procedures such as: oververtebral functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and the alternate neuromuscular functional electrical stimulation (NMFES) of antagonistic muscles of the wrist and the ankle (N=16). Electrotherapy was supplemented with kinesiotherapeutic (mainly PNF) procedures acting as an amplifier. Clinical assessment included muscle tension (Ashworth's scale), muscle force (Lovett's scale) and reflex scoring at wrist and ankle. However, the effectiveness of the procedures was measured by the assessment of results in complex and repetitive, bilaterally performed global electromyography (EMG) and electroneurography (ENG; M-wave studies). The statistical analysis obtained from results in clinical and neurophysiological examinations suggested that the dorsiflexion of wrist and ankle was improved in the majority of patients who took part in this study. EMG and ENG examinations showed that 20 days of therapy improved both activity in muscle motor units on the more paralyzed side (mainly within upper extremities) and to a lesser degree in the transmission of efferent impulses within motor fibers of nerves. The results obtained suggest that patients after ischemic strokes never show an isolated unilateral disability in motor functions. No definite similarities between the results of clinical and neurophysiological studies were found, which may suggest greater accuracy of the neurophysiological evaluation.

Prevention of high-fat diet-induced adipose tissue remodeling in obese diabetic mice by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and extensive reorganization of adipose tissue. As polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) appear to inhibit diabetes development, we investigated PUFA effects on markers of matrix remodeling in white adipose tissue. METHODS AND PROCEDURE: Male obese diabetic (db/db) mice were treated with either a low-fat standard diet (LF), or high-fat diets rich in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (HF/S), n-6 PUFA (HF/6) or the latter including marine n-3 PUFA (HF/3). White adipose tissue was analyzed for gene expression, fatty acid composition and by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: HF/S treatment increased adipose tissue expression of a number of genes involved in matrix degradation including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12, -14 and cathepsin K, L and S compared with LF. MMP-12 gene was expressed in macrophages and adipocytes, and MMP-12 protein colocalized with both cell types. In addition, mean adipocyte area increased by 1.6-fold in HF/S-treated mice. Genes essential for collagen production, such as procollagen I, III, VI, tenascin C and biglycan were upregulated in HF/S-treated animals as well. N-3 PUFA supplementation resulted in enrichment of these fatty acids in adipose tissue. Moreover, n-3 PUFA inhibited the HF/S-induced upregulation of genes involved in matrix degradation and production I restored mean adipocyte area and prevented MMP-12 expression in macrophages and adipocytes. CONCLUSION: N-3 PUFA prevent high-fat diet-induced matrix remodeling and adipocyte enlargement in adipose tissue of obese diabetic mice. Such changes could contribute to diabetes prevention by n-3 PUFA in obese patients.

Adipose tissue inflammation induced by high-fat diet in obese diabetic mice is prevented by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Inflammatory alterations in white adipose tissue appear to underlie complications of obesity including diabetes mellitus. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly those of the n-3 series, modulate immune responses and may ameliorate insulin sensitivity. In this study, we investigated how PUFA affect white adipose tissue inflammation and gene expression in obese diabetic animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated db/db mice as well as lean non-diabetic mice (db/+) with either low-fat standard diet (LF) or high-fat diets rich in (1) saturated/monounsaturated fatty acids (HF/S), (2) n-6 PUFA (HF/6) and (3) the latter including purified marine n-3 PUFA (HF/3). RESULTS: Many genes involved in inflammatory alterations were upregulated in db/db mice on HF/S compared with LF in parallel with phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In parallel, adipose tissue infiltration with macrophages was markedly enhanced by HF/S. When compared with HF/S, HF/6 showed only marginal effects on adipose tissue inflammation. However, inclusion of n-3 PUFA in the diet (HF/3) completely prevented macrophage infiltration induced by high-fat diet and changes in inflammatory gene expression, also tending to reduce JNK phosphorylation (p<0.1) in diabetic mice despite unreduced body weight. Moreover, high-fat diets (HF/S, HF/6) downregulated expression and reduced serum concentrations of adiponectin, but this was not the case with n-3 PUFA. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: n-3 PUFA prevent adipose tissue inflammation induced by high-fat diet in obese diabetic mice, thereby dissecting obesity from adipose tissue inflammation. These data suggest that beneficial effects of n-3 PUFA on diabetes development could be mediated by their effect on adipose tissue inflammation.

Effects of source of gossypol and supplemental iron on plasma gossypol in Holstein steers.

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate factors influencing concentrations of plasma total gossypol (TG) in 30 Holstein steers fed cottonseed products. At the end of each 28-d experiment, steers were weighed and blood samples were collected and analyzed for plasma TG concentrations. During the entire study, steers did not show any overt signs of gossypol toxicity. In the 28 d before experiment 1, 30 steers with a body weight (BW) of 273 kg were fed a standardization diet with 15.0% Upland whole cottonseed (WCS) that resulted in a mean intake of 9.08 g/d of TG per steer/d and a plasma TG of 1.66 microg/mL. In experiment 1, 30 steers were fed 1 of 5 diets with 15.0% Upland WCS, but different levels of supplemental Fe [0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 mg/kg of diet dry matter (DM)]. Average daily gain was not affected by level of Fe in the diet, but DM intake, plasma TG, and plasma TG response decreased linearly as Fe in diets increased. In experiment 2, steers were fed diets with 15.0% Upland cottonseed as whole, cracked, roasted, cracked-roasted, or extruded. Analysis of the seed revealed that roasting or extrusion markedly reduced free gossypol (FG) content. Minor effects on animal performance were observed, but plasma TG decreased with roasting or extrusion of seeds, with the greatest reduction when the seed was cracked and then roasted. In experiment 3, steers were fed 2 levels of WCS (7.0 or 14.0% of DM) with 3 levels of cottonseed meal (2.8, 5.5, or 8.5% of DM) in the diet. Animal performance was not altered by diet, but plasma gossypol concentrations and responses were greater in steers fed diets with more WCS, because of the greater FG intake. In experiment 4, 24 steers were fed diets with 15.0% cottonseed (Upland or Pima) either as whole or cracked. Pima cottonseed increased TG and FG intakes, which resulted in greater plasma TG concentration and response. Animal response to processing of cottonseed tended to differ according to type of cottonseed. However, feeding Pima and cracking of cottonseed increased gossypol availability and plasma TG concentrations.

Propolis solution for the treatment of chronic vaginitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of 5% propolis solution in recurrent vaginitis. METHOD: Fifty-four patients with recurrent vaginal infections having undergone at least one cycle of antibiotic treatment were instructed to apply a 5% aqueous propolis solution as a vaginal douche for seven days. Vaginal smears and specific symptoms were evaluated at baseline and 14 days after treatment. Long-term well-being was assessed by telephone interview six months after follow-up. RESULT: At the follow-up, the vaginal smears of 41 patients (75.9%) had improved. Forty-seven patients (87%) reported reliefs concerning at least one complaint. Associated improvement of smear and well-being was observed in 36 women (66.7%). After 6 months, 33 patients (61.1%) were satisfied with their condition without having undergone further treatment. CONCLUSION: Propolis may have a role as an alternative treatment for chronic vaginal infection.

The effects of varying gossypol intake from whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal on lactation and blood parameters in lactating dairy cows.

Effects of varying amounts of gossypol from whole Upland cottonseed (WCS) and cottonseed meal (CSM) were evaluated in 40 midlactation Holstein cows. After 14 d of pretreatment, cows were assigned to 1 of the 5 treatments for 84 d: control (no gossypol), 931 mg/kg total gossypol (TG) and 850 mg/kg free gossypol (FG) from WCS (moderate TG and high FG); 924 mg/kg TG and 91 mg/kg FG from CSM (moderate TG and low FG), 945 mg/kg TG and 479 mg/kg FG with equal amounts of TG from WCS and CSM (moderate TG and FG), or 1894 mg/kg TG and 960 mg/kg FG with equal amounts of TG from WCS and CSM (high TG and FG). Concentrations of plasma gossypol (PG) and its isomers were directly proportional to FG intake. Concentrations of PG reached a plateau after 28 d on treatment, and they were highest in cows receiving a diet with high TG and FG. Erythrocyte fragility differed among treatments and increased with increasing FG intake. Plasma gossypol returned to negligible concentrations 28 d after withdrawal of cottonseed products from the high TG and FG diet. Serum vitamin A was similar among treatments, but vitamin E increased with increasing FG intake. Serum enzymes were generally unaffected by treatments, but urea N increased in diets higher in TG and FG. Intake of dry matter was higher for the diet high in TG and FG than for the control diet, but was similar for other treatments. Cows receiving the high TG and FG diet produced more milk and 3.5% fat-corrected milk, with no changes in milk composition. Feeding a diet containing 1894 mg/kg TG and 960 mg/kg FG for 84 d increased PG concentrations and erythrocyte fragility and resulted in minor changes in blood metabolites and enzymes, but no detrimental effect on lactation performance was observed. Indicators of liver, kidney, and muscle cell viability suggest that the higher amounts of gossypol consumed in this study had only minor effects on those tissues in lactating dairy cows.

The effects of feeding varying amounts of gossypol from whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal in lactating dairy cows.

Effects of feeding varying amounts of total gossypol from whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal were evaluated in 30 lactating Holstein cows. After a 14-d pretreatment period, cows were assigned for 42 d to one of five treatments: control (diet A); 1040 mg/kg of total gossypol, and 989 mg/kg of free gossypol from whole cottonseed (diet B); 900 mg/kg of total gossypol and 64 mg/kg of free gossypol from cottonseed meal (diet C); 960 mg/kg of total gossypol and 531 mg/kg of free gossypol with equal amounts of total gossypol from whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal (diet D); or 1922 mg/kg of total gossypol and 1050 mg/kg of free gossypol with equal amounts of total gossypol from whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal (diet E). Concentrations of plasma gossypol and its isomers were directly proportional to free gossypol intake. Plasma gossypol concentrations plateaued after 35 d on treatment, and they were highest in cows receiving diet E. At 42 d on treatment, erythrocyte fragility was higher in the cows receiving the diet E, but it did not differ among other treatments. Dry matter intakes were similar for all groups. Cows receiving diet E produced more milk and 3.5% fat-corrected milk, but milk protein content decreased. Feeding diets containing 1900 mg/kg of total gossypol and 1050 mg/kg of free gossypol for 42 d resulted in increased plasma gossypol concentrations and erythrocyte fragility, but no detrimental impact on lactation performance were observed.

Plasma insulin levels are increased by sertraline in rats under oral glucose overload.

Recognition and control of depression symptoms are important to increase patient compliance with treatment and to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients. Clinical studies indicate that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are better antidepressants for diabetic patients than other drugs. However, preclinical trials have demonstrated that not all SSRI reduce plasma glucose levels. In fact, fluoxetine increases and sertraline decreases glycemia in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. In the present study we evaluated plasma insulin levels during fasting and after glucose overload after treatment with sertraline. Adult male Wistar rats were fasted and treated with saline or 30 mg/kg sertraline and submitted or not to glucose overload (N = 10). Blood was collected and plasma insulin was measured. The mean insulin levels were: fasting group: 25.9 +/- 3.86, sertraline + fasting group: 31.10 +/- 2.48, overload group: 34.1 +/- 3.40, and overload + sertraline group: 43.73 +/- 5.14 microU/ml. Insulinemia was significantly increased in the overload + sertraline group. There were no differences between the other groups. No difference in glucose/insulin ratios could be detected between groups. The overload + sertraline group was the only one in which a significant number of individuals exceeded the upper confidence limit of insulin levels. This study demonstrates that sertraline increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion without any change in peripheral insulin sensitivity.

[Phytoestrogens and SERMS, alternatives to classical hormone therapy?]. / Phytoöstrogene und SERMs, Alternativen zur klassischen Hormontherapie?

Isoprene is the main component of steroid hormones. It is found in many plants and herbal compounds, e.g. the isoflavonoids are therefore slightly estrogenic. Since they are bound to the estradiol receptors, more active estrogens cannot induce a signal transduction. Hence phytoestrogens may be protective on breast tissue and other hormone dependent organs.

Endocrinological disorders. Focusing on melatonin's interactions.

BACKGROUND: The interaction of melatonin to sterility and anovulation as well as related hormonal disorders has not been sufficiently examined yet. We set out to investigate the interaction between melatonin and hyperprolactinemia, hyperandrogenemia, hypothyreosis and obesity in premenopausal females. METHODS: We evaluated the overnight urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT) in a group of 155 women using a radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Melatonin levels in patients with hyperprolactinemia and hyperandrogenemia with normal body mass index are significantly higher compared to matched controls. Obese females without hormonal disorders showed statistically lower 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels and in hypothyreotic females we found no difference in 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Melatonin plays an important role in patients with hormonal disorders such as hyperprolactinemia and hyperandrogenemia. Melatonin should be prescribed restrictively in all sterile patients. In patients with untreated hypothyreosis or obesity, melatonin seems to play a minor part; in those with hyperprolactinemia and hyperandrogenemia additionally to standard sterility treatment light therapy may improve the outcome.

Osteopenia in anorexia nervosa: specific mechanisms of bone loss.

Osteopenia is a well recognized medical complication of anorexia nervosa (AN). The mechanism of bone loss is not fully understood and there is uncertainty about its management. New markers of bone turnover have been developed. C-terminal type 1 propeptide (PICP) is a measure of bone formation and urinary pyridinolines such as deoxypyridinoline (DPYRX) and serum carboxyterminal crosslinked telopeptide (ICTP) are markers of bone resorption. The aim of this study was to examine these bone markers in patients with AN. Twenty female patients with AN and 12 healthy controls were included in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD) of AN patients was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Lumbar bone density was significantly reduced in the AN group compared to standardised values of thirty year old adults (t-score 83.2%, S.D. 12.1). Femoral neck bone density showed an even greater reduction (t-score 79.4%, S.D. 13.5). We found a significant negative correlation between femoral BMD and the duration of the illness. Femoral BMD correlated significantly with minimal body weight (r(16) = 0.504, p = 0.033). The markers of bone resorption were significantly higher in the patients with AN compared to the values of the control group (ICTP t(30) = -2.15, p = 0.04, DPYRX t(25) = -2.26, p = 0.033), whereas the markers of bone formation did not differ significantly between the groups. AN appears to be a low turn over state associated with increased bone resorption without concomitant bone formation. This pattern differs from osteopenia in menopausal women and should, therefore, lead to the development of specific therapeutic strategies in AN associated osteopenia. Hormone replacement therapy as well as calcium and vitamine D-supplementation are so far discussed controversially. Long-term treatment studies are warranted.

Gender-specific medicine: the new profile of gynecology.

The science of gynecology is undergoing a change and is swiftly turning into a holistic discipline, i.e. gender-specific medicine. The rationale for this is that the hormones of the ovary not only are responsible for reproduction but also perform a number of extragenital functions that extend far into other disciplines, giving rise to a different frequency of diseases in women than in men. For example, females are five times more likely to be affected by rheumatoid arthritis than males, the same also holding true for autoaggressive conditions. This phenomenon may be accounted for by the fact that physiological auto-aggression is involved in the reproductive process. Similarly, there is a difference between women and men with regard to the sicca phenomenon, or to such disorders as connective tissue weakness, cellulite, venous conditions or hypercholesterolemia. A cause-related treatment of such problems is now available through specific endocrine therapy. That is why gynecologists in future will increasingly have to adopt an interdisciplinary approach.

Role of group II secretory phospholipase A2 in atherosclerosis: 2. Potential involvement of biologically active oxidized phospholipids.

Secretory nonpancreatic phospholipase A2 (group II sPLA2) is induced in inflammation and present in atherosclerotic lesions. In an accompanying publication we demonstrate that transgenic mice expressing group II sPLA2 developed severe atherosclerosis. The current study was undertaken to determine whether 1 mechanism by which group II sPLA2 might contribute to the progression of inflammation and atherosclerosis is by increasing the formation of biologically active oxidized phospholipids. In vivo measurements of bioactive lipids were performed, and in vitro studies tested the hypothesis that sPLA2 can increase the accumulation of bioactive phospholipids. We have shown previously that 3 oxidized phospholipids derived from the oxidation of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (PAPC) stimulated endothelial cells to bind monocytes, a process that is known to be an important step in atherogenesis. We now show that these 3 biologically active phospholipids are significantly increased in livers of sPLA2 transgenic mice fed a high-fat diet as compared with nontransgenic littermates. We present in vitro evidence for several mechanisms by which these phospholipids may be increased in sPLA2 transgenics. These studies demonstrated that polyunsaturated free fatty acids, which are liberated by sPLA2, increased the formation of bioactive phospholipids in LDL, resulting in increased ability to stimulate monocyte-endothelial interactions. Moreover, sPLA2-treated LDL was oxidized by cocultures of human aortic endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells more efficiently than untreated LDL. Analysis by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry revealed that the bioactive phospholipids, compared with unoxidized PAPC, were less susceptible to hydrolysis by human recombinant group II sPLA2. In addition, HDL from the transgenic mice and human HDL treated with recombinant sPLA2 in vitro failed, in the coculture system, to protect against the formation of biologically active phospholipids in LDL. This lack of protection may in part relate to the decreased levels of paraoxonase seen in the HDL isolated from the transgenic animals. Taken together, these studies show that levels of biologically active oxidized phospholipids are increased in sPLA2 transgenic mice; they also suggest that this increase may be mediated by effects of sPLA2 on both LDL and HDL.

[Effect of selective estrogen receptor modulators on estrogen-sensitive tissues]. / Wirkung von selektiven Ostrogen-Rezeptor-Modulatoren auf östrogensensitive Gewebe.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) act exclusively through estrogen receptors and possess tissue-specific agonistic or antagonistic properties. The effects of all referred SERMs in bone and cardiovascular system are estrogenic, namely they inhibit postmenopausal bone loss and favorably influence plasma lipoproteins and some coagulation factors. The aim of this paper is to review the effects of SERMs on estrogen-dependent breast tissues and on the endometrium. There are two types of SERMs in clinical use, based on their chemical structure: the triphenylethylenes and the benzothiophenes. The prototype of the SERMs with triphenylethylene structure is tamoxifen. Tamoxifen, like all other SERMs, is an estrogen antagonist in the breast and is widely used for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. A recent study suggests that tamoxifen also may prevent breast cancer in patients at risk. Because of the partial estrogenic activity of tamoxifen in the endometrium, its clinical use is associated with uterine hypertrophy and an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Other triphenylethylene SERMs, droloxifene, toremifene, and idoxifene, also show efficacy in the treatment of breast cancer, in a manner similar to tamoxifen. A better toxicology profile and a decreased endometrial estrogen agonism may be advantages of the new triphenylethylene SERMs. Raloxifene is a SERM with a chemical structure different from triphenylethylenes. Raloxifene, a benzothiophene, possesses an estrogen-antagonistic effect in the breast similar to triphenylethylenes. Clinical studies on postmenopausal osteoporotic women on raloxifene as compared with placebo show a significant decrease in the rate of newly diagnosed breast cancers. In clinical studies, in contrast to tamoxifen, no stimulatory effect in the endometrium could be observed with raloxifene.

Influence of sorghum grain processing on performance and nutrient digestibilities in dairy cows fed varying concentrations of fat.

Forty Holstein cows averaging 85 +/- 50 d in milk were assigned to five dietary treatments for 56 d to determine the effects of ruminal starch degradability and supplemental fat on milk yield and composition and nutrient digestibilities. Treatments were 1) dry-rolled sorghum, no added fat; 2) dry-rolled sorghum plus 2.5% prilled fatty acids; 3) steam-flaked sorghum, no added fat; 4) steam-flaked sorghum plus 2.5% prilled fatty acids; and 5) steam-flaked sorghum plus 5% prilled fatty acids. Fat supplementation at 2.5 and 5% increased the content of fatty acids in diets from 3.0 to 5.4 and 7.7%, respectively. Milk yield was increased 2.0 kg/d when steam-flaked sorghum plus 0 or 2.5% added fat was fed and was 2.4 kg/d higher when prilled fatty acids were fed at 2.5 versus 0%. Cows fed supplemental fat at 5% did not increase milk yield over that of cows fed no added fat. For cows fed 2.5% fat, steam-flaking decreased dry matter intake 12% and increased efficiency of conversion of feed to milk 11%. Milk composition was unaffected by treatments, except that lactose was depressed by fat supplementation. Milk protein yield and efficiency of conversion of dietary protein to milk protein were increased when steam-flaked sorghum was fed. Starch digestibilities were increased from 92.6 to 98.2% when sorghum was steam-flaked compared with dry-rolled and fat supplementation tended to decrease digestibility of neutral detergent fiber. Steam-flaking tended to improve, and the addition of 2.5% fat did improve, the lactational performances of the cows. These effects appeared additive, but 5% fat appeared to be excessive.

Atraumatic cervical passage at outpatient hysteroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of topical anesthesia routinely administered to reduce discomfort and the need for additional local anesthesia during outpatient hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Comparative observational study. SETTING: Outpatient hysteroscopy clinic in a University hospital. PATIENT(S): Three hundred patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy. INTERVENTION(S): Application of lidocaine spray both to the surface of the cervix and into the cervical canal before performing hysteroscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The discomfort during passage of the hysteroscope through the cervical canal, the need for additional local anesthesia, and the failure rate of outpatient hysteroscopy. RESULT(S): One hundred fifty consecutive patients receiving lidocaine spray before the hysteroscopy were compared to a control group of another 150 consecutive patients who underwent the examination without pretreatment. Women treated with spray experienced significantly less pain at insertion of the hysteroscope. Furthermore, the spray significantly reduced both the need for additional anesthesia and the rate of failed hysteroscopies due to intolerable pain. CONCLUSION(S): Topical anesthesia with lidocaine spray is a simple method to alleviate patients' discomfort during cervical passage. It is effective in reducing the need for local anesthesia and should reduce the rate of failed outpatient hysteroscopies.

Milk yield and composition of lactating cows fed steam-flaked sorghum and graded concentrations of ruminally degradable protein.

To determine the effect of various amounts of ruminally undegradable protein in the diets of lactating cows fed steam-flaked sorghum, 24 Holstein cows (90 +/- 50 d in milk) were assigned to three treatments: 0.8% urea, 6% soybean meal, or 5% fish meal. Respective percentages of ruminally undegradable protein in the diets (as a percentage of crude protein) were 30, 35, and 39%. All diets contained 37% alfalfa hay; 3 to 5% cottonseed hulls; 10 to 13% whole cottonseed; 39% steam-flaked sorghum (360 g/L); 5% of a molasses, mineral, and vitamin supplement; and the different protein supplements. Intake of dry matter was higher for cows fed urea than for cows fed soybean meal or fish meal diets. In cows that yielded more than 40 kg/d of milk (4 cows per treatment), the soybean meal and fish meal diets resulted in higher yields of milk and 3.5% fat-corrected milk and a greater efficiency of conversion of feed to milk than did the urea diet. Cows that yielded less than 40 kg/d of milk (4 cows per treatment) at the beginning of treatment tended to yield more milk when fed urea than when fed the protein supplements. Nutrient digestibilities were not greatly affected by source of N, suggesting a beneficial effect of urea supplementation on nutrient digestibilities because replacement of protein supplements with cottonseed products caused the neutral detergent fiber content of the urea diet to be about 7% higher than that of the other diets. These data show that response to ruminally undegradable protein in diets of lactating cows fed steam-flaked sorghum was related to milk yield.

Influence of fat source and sorghum grain treatment on performance and digestibilities of high yielding dairy cows.

Forty-eight lactating Holstein cows averaging 81 d in milk were allotted to eight blocks based on milk yield during the 14-d pretreatment period and randomly assigned to six treatment groups in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments for 64 d. Factors were type of sorghum grain processing [dry-rolled vs. steam-flaked; fed at 34% of dry matter (DM) in a total mixed ration (TMR) based on alfalfa] and type of supplemental fat (2.5% of DM as cottonseed oil, tallow, or prilled fatty acids). Compared with dry-rolled sorghum, steam-flaked sorghum did not affect milk yield, fat percentage, or fat yield but did increase milk protein percentage, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation (22%). Fat source did not affect lactational response, but, compared with tallow, prilled fatty acids tended to decrease DM intake. Steam-flaked sorghum, compared with dry-rolled sorghum, increased digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and starch, regardless of fat source. The TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of DM and organic matter than did TMR containing cottonseed oil or tallow; and TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of crude protein and total fatty acids than did TMR containing tallow. This study showed that steam-flaking of sorghum grain increased milk protein content, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation, regardless of dietary fat source.