High deoxynivalenol and ergot alkaloid levels in wheat grain: effects on growth performance, carcass traits, rumen fermentation, and blood parameters of feedlot cattle.

This study was designed to assess the impacts of a mixture of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ergot alkaloids (EAs) on growth performance, rumen function, blood parameters, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle. Forty steers (450 ± 6.0 kg) were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments; control-low (CON-L), control-high (CON-H) which contained low or high wheat screenings that lacked mycotoxins at the same level as the mycotoxin-low (MYC-L; 5.0 mg/kg DON, 2.1 mg/kg EA), and mycotoxin-high (MYC-H: 10 mg/kg DON, 4.2 mg/kg EA) diets that included wheat screening with mycotoxins. Steers were housed in individual pens for a 112-day finishing trial. Intake was 24.8% lower (P < 0.001) for MYC steers compared to CON steers. As a result, average daily gains of MYC steers were 42.1% lower (P < 0.001) than CON steers. Gain to feed ratio was also lower (P < 0.001) for MYC steers compared to CON steers. Platelets, alanine aminotransferase, globulins, and blood urea nitrogen were lower (P ≤ 0.008), and lymphocytes, glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were elevated (P ≤ 0.002) in MYC steers compared to CON steers. Hot carcass weights and backfat thickness were reduced (P < 0.001) in MYC steers, resulting in leaner (P < 0.001) carcasses and higher (P < 0.007) meat yield compared to CON steers. Results suggest that a mixture of DON and EAs negatively impacted health, performance, and carcass traits of feedlot steers, with the majority of this response likely attributable to EAs. However, more research is needed to distinguish the relative contribution of each mycotoxin to the specific responses observed.

Effects of the inclusion of Moringa oleifera seed on rumen fermentation and methane production in a beef cattle diet using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec).

Moringa oleifera seeds are currently being used as a livestock feed across tropical regions of the world due to its availability and palatability. However, limited knowledge exists on the effects of the raw seeds on ruminant metabolism. As such, the rumen stimulation technique was used to evaluate the effects of substituting increasing concentrations of ground Moringa seeds (0, 100, 200 and 400 g/kg concentrate dry matter (DM)) in the diet on rumen fermentation and methane production. Two identical, Rusitec apparatuses, each with eight fermenters were used with the first 8 days used for adaptation and days 9 to 16 used for measurements. Fermenters were fed a total mixed ration with Urochloa brizantha as the forage. Disappearance of DM, CP, NDF and ADF linearly decreased (P<0.01) with increasing concentrations of Moringa seeds in the diet. Total volatile fatty acid production and the acetate to propionate ratio were also linearly decreased (P<0.01). However, only the 400 g/kg (concentrate DM basis) treatment differed (P<0.01) from the control. Methane production (%), total microbial incorporation of 15N and total production of microbial N linearly decreased (P<0.01) as the inclusion of Moringa seeds increased. Though the inclusion of Moringa seeds in the diet decreased CH4 production, this arose from an unfavourable decrease in diet digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters.

Levobunolol 0.5% and timolol 0.5% to prevent intraocular pressure elevation after neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prophylactic effect of levobunolol 0.5%, timolol 0.5%, or vehicle in reducing the incidence of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes of 5 and 10 mm Hg or more in patients having neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy. SETTING: Miami Vision Center, Coral Gables, Florida; Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio; South Texas Cataract and Glaucoma Center, San Antonio, Texas; Mid-South Eye Foundation, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. METHODS: This prospective, double-masked, randomized study comprised 144 patients having Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in one eye. One drop of the test medication was administered preoperatively and one drop on the evening after surgery; IOP was measured preoperatively and 1,2,3 and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure elevations of 5 mm Hg or more were seen in 1 of 60 patients (2%) in the levobunolol group, 4 of 54 (7%) in the timolol group, and 10 of 28 (36%) in the vehicle group. These elevations occurred significantly more frequently in the vehicle group than in the levobunolol (P < .001) or timolol (P < .004) groups. Elevations of 10 mm Hg or more were found in 2 of 28 patients (7%) treated with vehicle but were not observed in the patients treated with levobunolol or timolol. CONCLUSIONS: Levobunolol 0.5% or timolol 0.5% administered preoperatively and again in the evening after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy effectively blunted the IOP rise that frequently follows laser surgery.

Cyclodialysis cleft following holmium laser sclerostomy, treated by argon laser photocoagulation.

I report, to my knowledge for the first time, a case of inadvertent cyclodialysis cleft formation as a complication of holmium laser sclerostomy. Argon laser photocoagulation was used successfully to repair the cleft.

Therapeutic ultrasound for refractory glaucoma: a three-center study.

We present the results of therapeutic ultrasound for refractory glaucoma in a three-center study over 1 year. One hundred fifty-eight eyes were treated, with a mean follow-up of 8.0 months. The mean fall in intraocular pressure was 38.4%. Life table analysis for three success criteria are presented. Success varied between 66% and 72% at the mean follow-up time. Complications occurred in 11.4%, including phthisis bulbi in 0.6% and persistent hypotony in 2.5%. There was a mean loss of less than one line of visual acuity. Therapeutic ultrasound appears to be safe and effective for treatment of refractory glaucoma.

Early loss of central visual acuity in glaucoma.

Central visual acuity is usually maintained until late in the course of glaucoma. Ten patients (5 men, 5 women) between the ages of 25 and 79 were found to have decreased visual acuity associated with central or centrocaecal scotomas early in their course. Five patients had chronic open-angle glucoma, three and pigmentary glaucoma, one and juvenile glaucoma, and one had Axenfeld's syndrome. A Marcus Gunn pupil was present in all six patients not on miotics. Most lost central acuity at pressures under 30 mmHg. Seven patients had vision of 20/200 or less. All with marked visual loss had a cup disc rate of .8 or greater. Other causes were carefully ruled out. Proposed mechanisms for the development of these central defects include either double Bjerrum scotomas which extend centrally or early papillomacular bundle involvement due to temporal cupping. This study demonstrates that decreased vision with associated central field loss can be a relatively early finding in glaucoma.

Long-term results of valve implants in filtering surgery for eyes with neovascular glaucoma.

Filtration surgery was performed with a pressure-sensitive, unidirectional valve implant in 79 eyes with neovascular glaucoma. The device consisted of an open Supramid tube (outside diameter 0.58 mm) sealed to a Silastic tube with a slit valve. The Supramid tube was inserted at the corneoscleral limbus 1 to 4 mm into the anterior chamber. The Silastic portion was located under a scleral flap. Of the 79 eyes, 53 had postoperative intraocular pressures less than or equal to 24 mm Hg after a mean follow-up period of 23.7 +/- 10.9 months. Bleb revision for external scarring was required in ten of these 53 eyes and postoperative medical therapy was required in 26. The valve implant failed to control intraocular pressure in 26 of the 79 eyes. Failure was secondary to scarring of the external bleb in 18 eyes and to closure of the internal Supramid tube in five eyes. Mortality during the follow-up period was high: 12 of the 53 successfully treated patients and five of the unsuccessfully treated patients died.