Effects of nitrogen fertilization and dried distillers grains supplementation: nitrogen use efficiency.

In a 3-yr study, 135 crossbred steers (330 ± 10 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) fed to yearling steers as a substitute for forage and N fertilizer and its effect on N use efficiency in yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. Steers were initially stocked at 6.8 animal unit months (AUM)/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures (CONT), at 9.9 AUM/ha on smooth bromegrass pastures fertilized with 90 kg of N/ha (FERT), or at 9.9 AUM/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures with 2.3 kg (DM) of DDGS supplemented daily per steer (SUPP). Paddock was the experimental unit, with 3 replications per treatment per year for 3 yr. Paddocks were strip-grazed, and put-and-take cattle were used to maintain similar grazing pressure among treatment paddocks during the 160-d grazing season. Steers consumed less forage (P < 0.01), but total N intake for SUPP was greater (P < 0.01) per steer and per hectare than for FERT, and both were greater (P < 0.01) than for CONT. Nitrogen retention for steers in the SUPP treatment was increased (P < 0.01) by 31% compared with N retention in the CONT and FERT treatments. Nitrogen retention per hectare for SUPP was 30 and 98% greater (P < 0.01) than N retention per hectare for FERT and CONT, respectively. Nitrogen excretion per steer and per hectare were also greater (P < 0.01) for SUPP than FERT, and both were increased (P < 0.01) compared with CONT. Animal N use efficiency was similar (P = 0.29) for steers in the CONT, FERT, and SUPP treatments. However, system-based N use improved (P < 0.01) by 144% for SUPP compared with FERT. The DDGS increased N intake and N excretion in yearling steers. However, because of improvements in BW gain and increases in stocking rate of pastures, DDGS can be a useful tool to increase the efficiency of N use in smooth bromegrass grazing systems.

[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)TAVI): A new therapeutic option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are not suitable or at high risk for surgical valve replacement]. / Perkutane Aortenklappenimplantation (TAVI): Neue Therapieoption für inoperable oder Hochrisikopatienten mit symptomatischer Aortenklappenstenose.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a new therapeutic method for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at very high surgical risk or in whom there are contraindications to surgical valve replacement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 2008 and December 2009, sixty such patients underwent TAVI at our hospital. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 82 +/- 6.1 years, 25 of them were men. The mean "European system for cardiac operative risk" (EuroSCORE) was 25.8 +/- 17.0%. A very high surgical risk was the indication for TAVI in 51 patients. The mean aortic valve orifice area was 0.6 +/- 0.1cm(2) and the mean transvalvular gradient 48.2 +/- 14.4 mm Hg before the intervention. The mean duration of the intervention was 62.6 +/- 19.9 minutes and the screening time 11.8 +/- 5.1 minutes. The procedure was technically successful in all but one patient. The post-interventional mean transvalvular gradient was 2.87.0 mm Hg. Significant residual aortic regurgitation (more than grade 3) was present in six patients but was reduced by the catheter-based "snare" technique in most cases. Mean hospital stay was 15.4 +/- 18.9 days. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in 22 of the patients. Eight patients died during the hospital stay, most of them for reasons not directly related to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: TAVI is becoming a new therapeutic method for elderly patients with severe co-morbidities and severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Complications of TAVI are not trivial and their management by catheter techniques is challenging. In consequence the selection of patients and of suitably experienced hospitals is crucial for the further development of this promising new technique.

Effects of nitrogen fertilization and dried distillers grains supplementation: forage use and performance of yearling steers.

In a 3-yr study, corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) were evaluated as a substitute for forage and N fertilizer in yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass. A total of 135 steers (330 +/- 10 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to measure the effects of DDGS supplementation and N fertilization on animal and pasture performance. Steers were initially stocked at 6.8 animal unit month (AUM)/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures (CONT), at 9.9 AUM/ha on smooth bromegrass pastures fertilized with 90 kg of N/ha (FERT), or at 9.9 AUM/ha on nonfertilized smooth bromegrass pastures with 2.3 kg of DDGS DM supplemented daily (SUPP). Paddock was the experimental unit, with 3 replications per year for 3 yr. Paddocks were strip-grazed and put-and-take cattle were used to maintain similar grazing pressure among treatment paddocks during the 160-d grazing season. In vitro DM disappearance declined quadratically (P < 0.01), whereas CP and standing crop showed cubic responses (P < 0.01) throughout the grazing season. Crude protein was greater (P < 0.05) for FERT compared with CONT and SUPP. Standing crop was 18% greater (P < 0.01) for FERT than CONT and was 10% greater (P < 0.01) than SUPP. Adjusted stocking rates (AUM/ha) were greater (P < 0.01) for FERT and SUPP compared with CONT. Final BW were greater (P < 0.01) for SUPP steers compared with CONT and FERT steers. Similar results were observed for ADG, with SUPP steers gaining more (P < 0.01) compared with CONT and FERT steers. Total BW gain per hectare was increased (P < 0.01) by 53% with FERT and by 105% with SUPP. Feedlot ADG was similar among treatments (P = 0.88), and SUPP steers maintained their BW advantage through the finishing phase. Dried distillers grains can be used to substitute effectively for N fertilizer by increasing the performance of yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass and increasing stocking rates compared with nonfertilized pastures.