Effects of different emulsifiers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and digestive enzyme activity in weanling pigs1.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of diets supplemented with sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL), polyglycerol fatty acid ester (PGFE), and combined emulsifiers (0.02% SSL and 0.08% PGFE) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and plasma lipid profiles in weaned piglets and to further evaluate the possible effects of feeding exogenous emulsifiers on digestive enzyme activities and liver bile acid (BA) metabolism. Twenty-eight barrows (age at 35 d, Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an initial BW of 10.13 ± 0.16 kg were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatment groups (7 pigs/treatment). Dietary treatment groups included the following: 1) basal diet (Control, CTR); 2) basal diet with 0.1% SSL (SSL); 3) basal diet with 0.1% PGFE (PGFE); and 4) basal diet with 0.08% PGFE+0.02% SSL (PG-SL). SSL diet increased ADG and ADFI of piglets during day 0 to 17 (P < 0.05) compared with the CTR treatment. Piglets fed emulsifier diets experienced a significant improvement in the digestibility of nutrients (DM, CP, ether extract, energy, calcium, and phosphorus) during the first 17 d (P < 0.05). The level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was lower in the PGFE and PG-SL treatment groups than in the CTR treatment group (P < 0.05). Feeding emulsifier diets increased the lipase activity of the pancreas when compared with the CTR diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, the emulsifier diets significantly increased the mRNA expression of FXR (P < 0.05) and decreased the mRNA expression of CYP27A1 (P < 0.05) in the liver. In conclusion, the addition of emulsifiers improved nutrient digestibility and increased the mRNA expression of FXR BA receptors while inhibiting the mRNA expression of BA biosynthesis by CYP27A1 in weanling piglets.

Influence of emulsifier blends having different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum lipid profiles, and meat quality of broilers.

Energy is a major cost component in diets for poultry. We hypothesized that the supplementation of emulsifier blends in broiler diets may contribute to the efficient utilization of energy and in increasing fat digestibility, thereby improving performance. To test our hypothesis, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a blend of emulsifiers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum lipid profiles, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 768 1-d-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks with an average initial body weight of 45.55 ± 0.34 g were used in a 35 days feeding trial. Broilers were sorted into 4 treatments, 12 replications per treatment, and 16 birds per pen. Dietary treatments consisted of corn-soybean meal based basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.10% emulsifier. As a result of this study, the inclusion of 0.05%, 0.075%, and 0.10% emulsifier blends (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL) and Tween 20) in the basal diet linearly increased (P = 0.0001) body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (linear effect P = 0.0001) on d 7 to 21, d 21 to 35 as well as overall. Broilers fed with different levels of emulsifier blends also showed a linear increment (P < 0.05) in dry matter (DM) and fat digestibility. A trend of linear reduction (P = 0.051) in low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the serum of broilers fed emulsifier blend was observed. The lightness value of breast muscle color linearly increased (P = 0.001), the redness and yellowness values tended to increase (P = 0.072 and P = 0.094 respectively), and the water holding capacity (WHC) showed trends in reduction (P = 0.078) with an increase in the level of emulsifier blends. With regards to relative organ weight, spleen weight was linearly (P = 0.001) reduced with the increase in the supplemental levels of emulsifier blends. A positive correlation between emulsifier content in the diet and BWG, DM and fat digestibility, and breast muscle color indices, were also observed. In conclusion, emulsifier blend supplementation positively influenced growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens.

Phytoformulation of Sassurea lappa plant extract: A Single blind, noninvasive and split face study of cream on various skin parameters.

Saussurea lappa (SL) has been reported for its antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. Due to this reason it can be incorporated in a stable phytoformulations for cosmetic use. The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-aging potential of cosmetic o/w emulsion containing the botanical extract of SL. An emulsion (o/w) was prepared using TEGO® Care 450 (Polyglceryl-3-Methyl Glucose Distearate) emulsifier and final emulsion was loaded with 4 % extract of SL in aqueous phase. This emulsion evaluated for its antioxidant and anti-ageing properties on healthy human subjects using a non-invasive technique called surface evaluation of living skin (SELS). The formulation containing SL extract showed significant (p<0.05) changes in Skin roughness (SEr) as -3.13%, -6.26%, -9.39%; Skin Scaliness (SEsc) as - 4.19%, -8.39%, -12.58%; Skin wrinkles (SEw) as -0.5%, -1.08%, -1.63%; and Skin smoothness (SEsm) as 3.28%, 6.57%, 9.85%, respectively, after 30, 60 and 90 days of continous use. Topical application of the cosmetic cream containing SL extract exerts have a significant anti-aging effects, perhaps due to the presence of Kaempferol, gallic acid, Caffeic acid and other essential phenolics.

Effect of Terplex/VEGF-165 gene therapy on left ventricular function and structure following myocardial infarction. VEGF gene therapy for myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: We used a novel lipopolymeric gene delivery system, TeplexDNA, to transfect myocardium with plasmid vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (pVEGF) and evaluated the ability of pVEGF to preserve left ventricular function and structure after coronary ligation in a rabbit model. METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits underwent circumflex coronary ligation after direct intramyocardial injection of either Terplex alone or Terplex + 50 microg pVEGF-165. Serial echocardiography and histologic studies were performed (n = 12/group). Mortality did not differ between groups. The data is reported as the mean +/- standard deviation. RESULTS: Over the 21 days following coronary ligation, pVEGF-165-treated animals demonstrated significant improvement in fractional shortening (20-25%, p = 0.02), long axis two-dimensional ejection fraction (42-51%, p=0.02) and short axis m-mode ejection fraction (46-54%, p = 0.02). No significant improvements were noted in the control group. VEGF-treated animals had a 50% increase in peri-infarct vessel density and a trend towards a smaller infarct size (20% vs. 29%, p = 0.10). In animals receiving pVEGF-165, the diastolic ventricular area increased from 1.87 +/- 0.24 cm2 prior to ligation to 2.19 +/- 0.23 cm2 at 21 days following ligation, compared to an increase from 1.84 +/- 0.38 to 2.54 +/- 0.55 cm2 over the same period in control animals (p = 0.03). Similarly, the systolic ventricular area in VEGF-165 animals increased from 1.06 +/- 0.26 cm2 prior to ligation to 1.50 +/- 0.29 cm2 at 21 days following ligation, compared to an increase from 1.16 +/- 0.30 to 1.86 +/- 0.43 cm2 over the same period in the control animals (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: TerplexDNA mediated delivery of plasmid VEGF administered at the time of coronary occlusion improves left ventricular function and reduces left ventricular dilation following myocardial infarction.

Influence of neutron activation factors on matrix tablets for site specific delivery to the colon.

The impact of the neutron activation procedure, i.e. incorporation of samarium oxide (Sm(2)O(3)) and neutron irradiation, on the compression properties (including the crushing strength) and in vitro dissolution of potential colonic delivery systems based on matrix tablets of amidated pectin (Am.P) or two types of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was investigated. The neutron activation factors did not influence the compression properties of the tablets. Replacement of magnesium stearate with samarium stearate in directly compressed Am.P tablets to achieve both radiolabelling and lubrication resulted in a greater extent of concentration-dependent reduction of the crushing strength. Dissolution tests demonstrated that irradiation increased the release of the model drug ropivacaine from the tablets. The extent of this increase was unexpectedly low considering the previously observed degradation of the polymer expressed as an irradiation-induced viscosity reduction in solutions prepared from the polymers. Delayed-release coating with Eudragit L 100 protected the HPMC tablets against the release-increasing effect of irradiation until the late phases of release. Sm(2)O(3) retarded the release to a varying extent depending on particle characteristics. Incorporation of Sm(2)O(3) in the coating layer did not influence the release. However, one-third of the radioactivity leached from the coating within 60 min in 0.1 M HCl.

Effects of a tristearate-containing lipid and canola oil on plasma and tissue lipids in rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semipurified diets containing 12% fat and 0.4% cholesterol for 4 wk. The fats were palm oil, a high-stearate fat and canola oil; each of the latter two fat sources was substituted for palm oil in 4% (w/w) increments (i.e, 4, 8 and 12%) thus yielding 3 stearate-containing, 3 canola-containing, and a 12% palm oil diet. Stearate-fed animals exhibited significantly decreased food efficiency ratios, plasma total cholesterol, and liver cholesterol whereas the substitution of canola for palm oil did not consistently alter these parameters. Liver fatty acids generally reflected the composition of the dietary fat sources with the exception of significantly higher arachidonate observed in the stearate-fed rats.

Suppression of arachidonic acid in lipids of rat tissues by dietary mixed isomeric cis and trans octadecenoates.

The influence of dietary isomeric cis and trans octadecenoic fatty acids (ICTO) on the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids in rat tissues was studied by feeding a defined diet rich in partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Experimental and control animals received equal and more than adequate amounts of linoleic and linolenic acids. The total phospholipid (PL) fatty acids of liver, heart, testis, brain and sciatic nerve, and the fatty acids of liver triacylglyceride, cholesteryl ester and individual PL classes were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. The content of arachidonic acid in the total fatty acids of liver lipids of ICTO-fed rats was found to be lower than those from control rats by the following amounts (in percent): total PL, 35; phosphatidylcholine, 50; phosphatidylinositol, 35; phosphatidylserine 26; phosphatidylethanolamine, 12; cholesteryl ester, 55; and tryglyceride 75. PL 18:2 omega 6 and 20:3 omega 6 levels were elevated, suggesting inhibition of the desaturase-elongase enzymes involved in synthesis of arachidonic acid. Synthesis of 20:5 omega 3 and 20:3 omega 9 was accentuated by the ICTO diet, suggesting an omega 6 series-specific inhibition. A nearly perfect negative correlation between cis 12-18:1 and arachidonic acid was found in liver PL.

Erythromycin stearate in acute maxillary sinusitis.

76 patients with acute maxillary sinusitis were treated with oral erythromycin stearate (500 mg twice or 3 times a day for 10 days). The mean concentration of erythromycin in the sinus secretion after 3-5 days' treatment was 0.6 mug/ml with the lower dosage and 1.3 mug/ml with the higher. The concentration of erythromycin in the sinus secretion was, on the average, 10-20 times higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for group A streptococci and pneumococci, and reached MIC values for 15-30% of 100 examined strains of Haemophilus influenzae. 81% of the patients given the smaller and 94% of those given the larger dose improved or recovered. Radiological improvement was demonstrated in both groups. The infections with H. influenzae tended to respond somewhat less to the treatment than those with pneumococci. Comparisons of the roentgen findings and the findings at aspiration showed good agreement. An extra projection taken with the patient recumbent and the affected side downwards gave no information above that obtained from the routine projections. The large dose caused side effects more often (in 17/41 patients) than the smaller one (4/35 patients). In 10 patients treatment was discontinued because of side effects; 8 of them had received the larger dose.