Biliary Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Case Report.

A 10 years old boy who was initially diagnosed as choledochal cyst underwent laparotomy. There was presence of necrotic and soft tissue growth within common bile duct (CBD). After extensive toileting of bile duct, a T-tube was placed. His histopathology followed by immunohistochemistry revealed Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. Later the patient received VAC regime chemotherapy. On follow-up imaging, there was no tumour mass in CBD. So, T-tube removed and now the patient is doing well.

Effects of genomic estimated breeding value and dietary energy to protein ratio on growth performance, carcass trait, and lipogenic gene expression in Hanwoo steer.

"Genome-based precision feeding" is a concept that involves the application of customised diets to different genetic groups of cattle. We investigated the effects of the genomic estimated breeding value (gEBV) and dietary energy to protein ratio (DEP) on growth performance, carcass traits, and lipogenic gene expression in Hanwoo (Korean cattle) steers. Forty-four Hanwoo steers (BW = 636 kg, age = 26.9 months) were genotyped using the Illumina Bovine 50 K BeadChip. The gEBV was calculated using genomic best linear unbiased prediction. Animals were separated into high gEBV of marbling score or low-gMS groups based on the upper and lower 50% groupings of the reference population, respectively. Animals were assigned to one of four groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: high gMS/high DEP (0.084 MJ/g), high gMS/low DEP (0.079 MJ/g), low gMS/high DEP, and low gMS/low DEP. Steers were fed concentrate with a high or low DEP for 31 weeks. The BW tended to be higher (0.05 < P < 0.1) in the high-gMS groups compared to the low-gMS groups at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks. The average daily gain (ADG) tended to be lower (P = 0.08) in the high-gMS group than in the low-gMS group. Final BW and measured carcass weight (CW) were positively correlated with the gEBV of carcass weight (gCW). The DEP did not affect ADG. Neither the gMS nor the DEP affected the MS and beef quality grade. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the longissimus thoracis (LT) tended to be higher (P = 0.08) in the high-gMS groups than in the low-gMS groups. The mRNA levels of lipogenic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid binding protein 4 genes in the LT were higher (P < 0.05) in the high-gMS group than in the low-gMS group. Overall, the IMF content tended to be affected by the gMS, and the genetic potential (i.e., gMS) was associated with the functional activity of lipogenic gene expression. The gCW was associated with the measured BW and CW. The results demonstrated that the gMS and the gCW may be used as early prediction indexes for meat quality and growth potential of beef cattle.

Socio-economic inequalities in undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh: is there a gender difference?

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine: (1) the prevalence and socio-economic distribution of undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM); (2) the relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled DM; and (3) if this relationship is mediated by gender. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional nationally representative household-based survey. METHODS: We used data from the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey from 2017 to 18. Our findings were based on the responses of 12,144 individuals aged 18 years and older. As a measure of SES, we focused on standard of living (hereinafter referred to as wealth). The study's outcome variables were prevalence of total (diagnosed + undiagnosed), undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled DM. We used three regression-based approaches-adjusted odds ratio, relative inequality index, and slope inequality index-to assess different aspects of SES differences in the prevalence of total, undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled DM. We used logistic regression analysis to look at the adjusted association between SES and the outcomes after gender stratification to see whether gender status moderates the association between SES and the targeted outcomes. RESULTS: In our sample analysis, the age-adjusted prevalence of total, undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled DM was 9.1%, 61.4%, 64.7%, and 72.1%, respectively. Females had a higher prevalence of DM and undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled DM than males. When compared to people in the poor SES group, people in the rich and middle SES groups had 2.60 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.05-3.29) and 1.47 times (95% CI 1.18-1.83) higher chance of developing DM. When compared to individuals in the poor SES group, those in the rich SES groups were 0.50 (95% CI 0.33-0.77) and 0.55 times (95% CI 0.36-0.85) less likely to have undiagnosed and untreated DM. CONCLUSIONS: In Bangladesh, rich SES groups were more likely than poor SES groups to have DM, whereas poor SES groups with DM were less likely than rich SES groups to be aware of their disease and obtain treatment. The government and other concerned parties are urged by this study to pay more attention to developing suitable policy measures to reduce the risk of DM, particularly among rich SES groups, as well as targeted efforts to screen for and diagnose DM in socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

Effect of prepartum dietary energy sources on productive and reproductive performance in Nili Ravi buffaloes.

Feeding of dietary energy sources has been extensively studied in dairy cows but not well described in dairy buffaloes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prepartum dietary energy sources on productive and reproductive performance in Nili Ravi buffaloes (n = 21). The buffaloes were offered isocaloric (1.55 Mcal/kg DM NEL (net energy for lactation)) glucogenic (GD), lipogenic (LD), and mixed diet (MD) during 63 days prepartum and maintained (1.27 Mcal/kg DM NEL) at lactation diet (LCD) during 14 weeks postpartum. Effects of dietary energy sources and week on animals were analyzed with the mixed model. The DMI, BCS, and body weights remained similar during the pre- and postpartum periods. The prepartum diets did not affect birth weight, blood metabolites, milk yield, and composition. The GD tended to early uterine involution, more follicle numbers, and early follicle formation. The prepartum feeding of dietary energy source had a similar effect on first estrus expression, days open, conception rate, pregnancy rate, and calving interval. So, it could be concluded that prepartum feeding of an isocaloric dietary energy source had a similar effect on the performance of buffaloes.

Prospective Study of Deterioration of Quality-of-Life among Elderly Women with Untreated Fracture of Neck of Femur in Rural Areas of Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Elderly women are very much prone to develop fracture at neck of femur sustained by even minute trauma. Most of the cases are due to fall. Osteoporosis gives rise to this vulnerable condition. In developing countries like Bangladesh the women of rural areas are the prime victims mostly due to illiteracy. To assess the quality-of-life (QOL) of elderly women (>60 years) with untreated hip fractures in a rural areas in Mymensingh, Bangladesh is the objective of this study. This prospective study was done from January 2019 to December 2019 in Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department of Mymensingh Medical Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Twenty-five elderly women with untreated fracture neck of femur were enlisted in this study. EuroQol (EQ-5D) was applied to assess the Quality of life of subjects before and after the situation. Twenty-five elderly women of healed operated neck of femur were included as comparison group, matched for age, economic condition and educational status among neighborhood people. So, sample size was fifty. Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were applied to compare EQ-5D mean scores. Participants with hip fracture, 60% (15/25), 68% (17/25), 68% (17/25), 60% (15/25) and 92% (23/25) reported severe problems with mobility, pain, usual activity, self-care and anxiety respectively. The EQ-5D mean score among the elderly with fracture neck of femur was 0.198 (SD 0.14). It was low when compared with the same subjects before the occurrence of the event (Z-6.522, p<0.001) and as compared with the comparison group (Z-7.92 p<0.001). QOL scores assessed using EQ-5D index scores was poor among elderly women with untreated fracture neck of femur as compared with the healed operated comparison group. Vast majority of study participants in this study were reported severe problems like mobility, pain, usual activity and self-care and anxiety.

Effects of prepartum dietary protein level and feed intake on postpartum lactation performance and feeding behavior of multiparous Holstein dairy cows.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of low and high metabolizable protein (MP) diets when fed for ad libitum and controlled intake during the prepartum period on postpartum lactation performance and feeding behavior of dairy cows. Thirty-six multiparous Holstein cows were blocked by parity, expected calving date, and previous lactation milk yield at -21 d relative to expected calving and were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 close-up period dietary treatments providing low MP (LMP) or high MP (HMP) diets with controlled intake (CNI) or ad libitum intake (ALI). The concentrations of MP were 65 and 90 g/kg dry matter for LMP and HMP diets, respectively, whereas intake was controlled to supply 100 and 160% of the NRC (2001) energy requirements for CNI and ALI groups, respectively. The concentration of net energy for lactation (NEL) in the treatment diets was 1.50 Mcal/kg. All cows were fed a similar lactation diet after calving (1.50 Mcal/kg of NEL and 83.3 g/kg of MP). The HMP diet increased dry matter intake during the first 3 wk and tended to increase dry matter intake over the 9 wk of lactation. Meal size and eating rate increased in the ALI cows during the prepartum period. Meal frequency increased with the HMP diet during the postpartum period. Milk yield increased by 15.2% with the HMP diet over the 9 wk of lactation. The HMP diet increased energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield in CNI versus ALI cows, whereas the LMP diet increased ECM yield in ALI versus CNI cows over the 9 wk of lactation. The increase in ECM yield of LMP-ALI versus LMP-CNI cows was supported by greater body condition loss and serum ß-hydroxybutyrate over the 9 wk of lactation. Taken together, these data indicate that prepartum controlled intake of a high protein diet can provide the benefits of both strategies.

Clinicopathologic Features of Gastric and Gastrooesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common tumors and remains the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. The incidence of gastric carcinoma is declining in the last few years in some areas like USA, UK, Canada etc, because of reduction in chronic H. pylori infection, smoking, decrease use of smoked and salted food. The gastric carcinoma still remains a burden for Bangladesh as the prevalence of H. Pylori has not substantially decreases. Among the gastric carcinomas, adenocarcinomas are the most common type. So the study was performed to observe the location and histomorphologic pattern of Gastric and gastrooesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2013 to December 2014. A total of 130 patients with primary gastric and GEJ adenocarcinomas were included in this study. All the cases were evaluated for routine histological examination. The age range of the patients was 17 to 80 years and male to female ratio was 2.25:1. Antrum is the most common (66.9%) site being affected, followed by GEJ (19.2%), body (13%) and fundus (0.76%). Tumors of the antrum and GEJ were found mostly in the late age. On macroscopic examination, the ulcerated tumor mass (69.2%) was most frequent then the others. Regarding histological examination, 84(64.6%) cases were intestinal type, 32(24.6%) diffuse and 14(10.8%) mixed type by Laurens classification. According to WHO classification, about half of the cases (49.2%) were tubular carcinoma and rest were others. Most of the intestinal type carcinoma (71.4%) was presented with moderately differentiated and 25.0% with well differentiated. Where as the diffuse type presented with poorly differentiated in 96.9% cases.

Secondhand smoke and illness: are mother-child pairs from low socio-economic strata at increased risk in Bangladesh?

To examine: 1) whether exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) at home is associated with symptoms of self-reported illness among mother-child pairs (MCPs); and 2) the relationship between low socio-economic status and SHS exposure and the role these play as obstacles to the reduction of risk of illness in MCPs. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Rajshahi District, Bangladesh, from May to July 2017. A total of 541 MCPs were interviewed. The prevalence of SHS exposure at home in our sample data was 49.0%. SHS exposure was found to be associated with a higher likelihood of any self-reported rhinitis, any respiratory symptoms and any reproductive health problems among mothers. SHS exposure in children was found to be associated with a higher likelihood of any self-reported rhinitis and food sensitisation, any respiratory symptoms and otitis media. Our findings also suggested that although SHS had an independently adverse effect on MCPs, wealth moderated the likelihood of illness. MCPs who were both poor and exposed to SHS were uniquely disadvantaged in terms of their poor health conditions than MCPs who were wealthier and exposed to SHS. .

Comparison of oil and fat supplementation on lactation performance of Nili Ravi buffaloes.

The effects of feeding rumen-inert fat sources on production responses of lactating dairy cows have been well reported but less thoroughly described in lactating dairy buffalo. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of oil and 2 different rumen-inert fat sources on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, and milk fatty acid (FA) profile in Nili Ravi buffalo. Twelve multiparous mid-lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes received 4 treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with a period length of 21 d. The treatments were (1) the basal diet without supplementation of oil or fats (CTRL), (2) the basal diet supplemented with canola oil (CO), (3) the basal diet supplemented with calcium salts of palm FA (Ca-FA), and (4) the basal diet supplemented with high palmitic acid (PA). Dry matter intake was decreased by 4.4% in the CO compared with Ca-FA and PA. Milk yield and milk fat yield were increased by 7.8 and 14.3%, respectively, in CO, Ca-FA, and PA compared with the CTRL. Milk fat content increased by 7.5%, whereas milk fat yield tended to increase with the supplementation of Ca-FA and PA compared with CO. No effect on milk yield and milk composition was observed in Ca-FA versus PA treatments. The yield of medium-chain FA was increased by Ca-FA and PA versus CO. The CO treatment increased the yield of long-chain FA compared with Ca-FA and PA treatments. Plasma glucose level was higher in CO, Ca-FA, and PA compared with the CTRL. In conclusion, feeding rumen-inert fats in the lactating buffalo diet proved to be a useful strategy to increase the 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield due to the higher milk fat content in this study.

Socio-economic inequalities in secondhand smoke exposure at home in the context of mother-child pairs in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine socio-economic disparities in mother-child pairs' self-reported and cotinine-measured secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh from May to July 2017. A total of 541 mother-child pairs were interviewed for self-reported measured SHS; cotinine-measured saliva test was performed on 263 mothers and 236 children. Mother-child pairs' SHS exposure at home was the outcome of interest. RESULTS: Overall self-reported prevalence of SHS exposure at home was 49.0%. Self-reported SHS exposure among mothers (50.2%) and children (51.3%) were lower than the prevalence rate of cotinine-measured exposure for mothers (60.5%) and their children (58.9%). Maternal rich bands of wealth were found to be associated with lower likelihood of self-reported (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35-0.99) and cotinine-measured SHS exposure among mothers (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.08-0.37). Maternal rich bands of wealth were also found to be associated with lower likelihood of cotinine-measured SHS exposure among children (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07-0.26). CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic inequalities exist in exposure to SHS at home. Interventional approaches aimed at reducing SHS at home are urgently needed at public health and healthcare service level, with special focus given to the socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Short communication: Stall occupancy behavior of Nili Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) when first introduced to freestall housing.

The aim of the present study was to assess stall occupancy of Nili Ravi buffaloes when first introduced to freestall housing. Thirty Nili Ravi buffaloes of different parity, weight, and pregnancy status were enrolled from the dairy farm of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. All of the enrolled animals had no previous experience with freestalls. The selected buffaloes were introduced to the freestall shed. During an adaptation period of 7 d, all buffaloes had 24 h of free access to lie down in 1 of 3 areas: (1) freestalls, (2) alleys, and (3) an outside open area. After the adaptation period, all buffaloes were housed indoors during nighttime (restricted period) to ensure that only freestalls or alleys were available as lying areas. An observer monitored animals at 0100 h and recorded the number of animals lying in freestalls, in alleys, and in the outside open area. The results indicated that during the adaptation period, herd-level freestall occupancy in buffaloes remained below 10%. During the restricted period, herd-level stall occupancy was 0, 13, 50, and 90% on d 1, 2, 5, and 17, respectively. Buffaloes with parity ≥3 took fewer days (6.6 ± 1.0; mean ± standard error of the mean) to occupy stalls than buffaloes with parity 2, 1, and heifers (13.2 ± 1.5, 16.7 ± 2.1, and 13.5 ± 2.1 d, respectively). Body weight and pregnancy status of buffaloes did not have any effect on stall occupancy. Buffaloes showed adjacent stall occupancy, filling opposite stalls first. The results indicated that older buffaloes occupied freestalls earlier than younger buffaloes. Our findings would help better manage buffaloes in freestall housing.

Etiology of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Study of 50 Cases in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

This cross sectional observational study was done in the Department of ENT & Head-Neck Surgery, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh from January 2013 to July 2014. Fifty (50) cases of carcinoma larynx were purposively selected. Clinically diagnosed cases of carcinoma larynx and histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma were included. Among 50 cases age ranged from 35-75 years with an average age of 58.1 years. Maximum patients were in 5th and 6th decades with male-female ratio 16:1. Most of the patient (78%) came from rural areas and came from low socio-economic condition (58%); maximum patients were cultivator (42%) & illiterate (50%). Smoking was the commonest (64%) personal habit. The other common personal habits were chewing of Betel nut & leaf (44%) and chewing of Tobacco (36%). Most of them have more than one habit.

Individual variation and repeatability of methane production from dairy cows estimated by the CO2 method in automatic milking system.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the individual variation, repeatability and correlation of methane (CH4) production from dairy cows measured during 2 different years. A total of 21 dairy cows with an average BW of 619 ± 14.2 kg and average milk production of 29.1 ± 6.5 kg/day (mean ± s.d.) were used in the 1st year. During the 2nd year, the same cows were used with an average BW of 640 ± 8.0 kg and average milk production of 33.4 ± 6.0 kg/day (mean ± s.d.). The cows were housed in a loose housing system fitted with an automatic milking system (AMS). A total mixed ration was fed to the cows ad libitum in both years. In addition, they were offered concentrate in the AMS based on their daily milk yield. The CH4 and CO2 production levels of the cows were analysed using a Gasmet DX-4030. The estimated dry matter intake (EDMI) was 19.8 ± 0.96 and 23.1 ± 0.78 (mean ± s.d.), and the energy-corrected milk (ECM) production was 30.8 ± 8.03 and 33.7 ± 5.25 kg/day (mean ± s.d.) during the 1st and 2nd year, respectively. The EDMI and ECM had a significant influence (P<0.001) on the CH4 (l/day) yield during both years. The daily CH4 (l/day) production was significantly higher (P<0.05) during the 2nd year compared with the 1st year. The EDMI (described by the ECM) appeared to be the key factor in the variation of CH4 release. A correlation (r=0.54) of CH4 production was observed between the years. The CH4 (l/day) production was strongly correlated (r=0.70) between the 2 years with an adjusted ECM production (30 kg/day). The diurnal variation of CH4 (l/h) production showed significantly lower (P<0.05) emission during the night (0000 to 0800 h). The between-cows variation of CH4 (l/day, l/kg EDMI and l/kg ECM) was lower compared with the within-cow variation for the 1st and 2nd years. The repeatability of CH4 production (l/day) was 0.51 between 2 years. In conclusion, a higher EDMI (kg/day) followed by a higher ECM (kg/day) showed a higher CH4 production (l/day) in the 2nd year. The variations of CH4 (l/day) among the cows were lower than the within-cow variations. The CH4 (l/day) production was highly repeatable and, with an adjusted ECM production, was correlated between the years.

Changes in mammary metabolism in response to the provision of an ideal amino acid profile at 2 levels of metabolizable protein supply in dairy cows: Consequences on efficiency.

The aim of this study was to compare the modifications in mammary gland metabolism by supplying an ideal versus an imbalanced essential AA (EAA) profile at low and high metabolizable protein (or PDIE, its equivalent in the INRA feeding system). Four lactating, multiparous Holstein cows received 4 treatments composed of 2 basal diets containing 2 levels of PDIE (LP or HP) and 2 different infusions of AA mixtures (AA- or AA+) in the duodenum. The AA+ mixture contained Lys, Met, Leu, His, Ile, Val, Phe, Arg, Trp, and Glu, whereas the AA- mixture contained Glu, Pro, and Ser. The infusion mixtures were iso-PDIE. The diet plus infusions provided 13.9 versus 15.8% of crude protein that corresponded to 102 versus 118g/kg of dry matter of PDIE in LP and HP treatments, respectively. The treatments were designed as a 2×2 crossover design of 2 levels of PDIE supply (LP vs. HP) with 28-d periods. Infusions of AA in the duodenum (AA- vs. AA+) were superimposed to diet within each 28-d period according to 2×2 crossover designs with 14-d subperiods. Increasing the PDIE supply tended to increase milk protein yield; however, the efficiency of PDIE utilization decreased and the plasma urea concentration increased, indicating a higher catabolism of AA. The AA+ treatments increased milk protein yield and content similarly at both levels of protein supply. This was explained by an increase in the mammary uptake of all EAA except His and Trp. The mammary uptake of non-EAA (NEAA) was altered to the increase in EAA uptake so that the total AA uptake was almost equal to milk protein output on a nitrogen basis. The ratio between NEAA to total AA uptake decreased from 46% in LPAA- to 40% in LPAA+, HPAA-, and HPAA+ treatments. The PDIE efficiency tended to increase in the AA+ versus the AA- treatments because the NEAA supply and the amount of NEAA not used by the mammary both decreased. Nevertheless, our AA+ treatments seemed not to be the ideal profile: the mammary uptake-to-output ratio for Thr was higher than 1 in LPAA-, but it decreased to 1 in all the other treatments, suggesting that Thr was deficient in these treatments. Conversely, an excess of His was indicated because its uptake was similar in AA+ and AA- treatments. In conclusion, balancing the EAA profile increased milk protein yield and metabolizable protein efficiency at both levels of protein supply by increasing the mammary uptake of EAA and altering the NEAA uptake, leading to less AA available for catabolism.

Patient costs during tuberculosis treatment in Bangladesh and Tanzania: the potential of shorter regimens.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the costs incurred by patients during the intensive and continuation phases of the current 6-month tuberculosis (TB) regimen in Bangladesh and Tanzania, and thus identify potential benefits to patients of a shorter, 4-month treatment regimen. DESIGN: The validated Stop TB patient cost questionnaire was adapted and used in interviews with 190 patients in the continuation phase of treatment with current regimens. RESULTS: In both countries, overall patient costs were lower during 2 months of the continuation phase (US$74 in Tanzania and US$56 in Bangladesh) than during the 2 months of the intensive phase of treatment (US$150 and US$111, respectively). However, continuation phase patient costs still represented 89% and 77% of the 2-month average national income in the respective countries. Direct travel costs in some settings were kept low by local delivery system features such as community treatment observation. Lost productivity and costs for supplementary foods remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is not a straightforward exercise to determine the exact magnitude of likely savings, a shorter regimen would reduce out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients in the most recent 2 months of the continuation phase and allow an earlier return to productive activities.

Regional metastasis in supraglottic and glottic carcinoma of larynx.

This cross sectional study was conducted in Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Mitford and Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2009 to December 2009 by purposive sampling method. Among the 50 cases, involvement of supraglottic (72%) region is significantly higher than glottic (28%) region. Affected peoples are mainly male and mean age was 58.1±10.4 years. Frequency of regional metastasis of supraglottic carcinoma (47.22%) was higher than glottic carcinoma (7.14%). Most of the lymphnode involvement was at level-II to IV. Most of the patients presented at stage-I & stage-II.

Milk protein responses in dairy cows to changes in postruminal supplies of arginine, isoleucine, and valine.

An ideal profile of essential AA (EAA) can improve the efficiency of metabolizable protein (or PDIE, the equivalent in the INRA feeding system) utilization in dairy cows. Compared with other EAA, existing recommendations for the requirements of Arg, Ile, and Val are few and inconsistent. Four multiparous Holstein dairy cows at 22±6 wk of lactation received 4 treatments (duodenal infusions of 445±22.4 g/d of an EAA mixture complementing a low-protein diet in a 4×4 Latin square design with a period length of 1 wk). The control treatment provided a balanced supply (in % of PDIE) of 5.1% Arg, 5.2% Ile, and 5.9% Val, whereas in the 3 subsequent treatments of -Arg, -Ile, and -Val, the concentrations of these 3 EAA were reduced to 3.5, 4.1, and 4.5%, respectively. All treatments were made isonitrogenous and were balanced to provide 7 other EAA (Lys, Met, His, Leu, Phe, Thr, and Trp), according to the recommendations described in the literature. Combined, the diet and the infusions provided 14.3±0.1% crude protein on a dry matter basis, and 66.0±1.2 g of PDIE/Mcal of net energy for lactation. Neither dry matter intake (19.2 kg/d) nor milk yield (30.4±0.4 kg/d) was affected by treatments. The -Arg and -Ile treatments did not modify milk protein synthesis or the efficiency of N utilization. However, the -Val treatment decreased milk protein content by 4.9% and milk crude protein content by 4.3%, and tended to decrease the efficiency of N use for milk protein yield by 3.7% (compared with the control). These effects of Val were related to a decrease in the plasma concentration of Val as well as a trend toward decreasing plasma concentrations of Met, His, and the sum of all EAA and nonessential AA in the -Val treatment, which indicates a different utilization of all AA in response to the Val deficit. The deletion of Ile, compared with the deletion of Val, tended to decrease the milk protein-to-fat ratio by 3.8%. In conclusion, the supply of Arg at 3.5% of PDIE was not limiting for milk protein synthesis. The slight effect on the milk protein-to-fat ratio caused by decreasing the supply of Ile suggests a need to reevaluate the Ile requirement more precisely. A low Val supply could be limiting for milk protein synthesis, provided that the requirements of Lys, Met, and His are met.

Milk protein synthesis in response to the provision of an "ideal" amino acid profile at 2 levels of metabolizable protein supply in dairy cows.

Providing a well-balanced supply of essential AA (EAA) can serve as an opportunity to reduce the protein intake for dairy cows by increasing the efficiency of metabolizable protein (or PDIE, its equivalent in the INRA feeding system) utilization for milk protein yield. Our objectives were to compare the effect of supplying an "ideal" EAA profile (EAA+) with an imbalanced AA profile (control) at 2 levels of PDIE/NE(L) (net energy for lactation) supplies to study the interaction between PDIE and AA profiles, and to compare this ideal profile with a simple mixture of the 4 most deficient EAA (4 EAA) in the diets of dairy cows. Six lactating multiparous Holstein cows received 6 treatments with 2 different levels of PDIE supplied by diets and AA infusions in the duodenum according to a changeover design with 3-wk periods. Within each PDIE supply level, the cows received 3 different AA infusions in the duodenum according to a 3×3 Latin square design with 1-wk subperiods, which corresponded to the following treatment groups: control (Glu), 4EAA (Lys, Met, His, Leu), and EAA+ (4 EAA plus Ile, Val, Phe, Trp, and Tyr). In the low and high PDIE treatments, diets and infusions provided 54.7 and 64.0 g/Mcal of PDIE/NE(L), respectively, which corresponded to crude protein levels of 13.6 and 15.2%, respectively. High-PDIE supplies increased the milk protein yield by 163 g/d, the milk protein content by 1.4 g/kg, the milk yield by 4.1 kg/d, and the lactose yield by 178 g/d and decreased the PDIE efficiency of utilization by 12.4%, whereas the N efficiency of utilization remained unaffected. Supplying the 2 EAA profiles (4EAA and EAA+) increased the milk protein yield by 67 g/d, the milk protein content by 1.3g/kg, and the milk yield by 0.9 kg/d, whereas the milk fat and milk lactose contents were decreased by 2.4 and 1.6g/kg, respectively. The responses regarding milk yield and its composition were similar whether the cows received the 4 EAA or the EAA+ treatment. The responses were similar for the milk yield and composition whether the EAA were supplied by low- or high-PDIE supplies. In conclusion, the efficiency of PDIE utilization was improved by 6.6% and the N efficiency was improved by 7.0% by correcting the EAA profiles, independent of the level of PDIE supplied. In addition, the increased efficiency observed, associated with provision of the 4 EAA, was similar to the provision of all EAA (EAA+) in this experiment.

Effect of citric acid, avilamycin, and their combination on the performance, tibia ash, and immune status of broilers.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the supplementation of an organic acid (citric acid), antibiotic growth promoter (avilamycin), and their combination for a period of 35 d on the growth, feed efficiency, carcass yield, tibia ash, and immune status of broilers. One hundred sixty 1-d-old broiler chicks (Hubbard Classic) were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 4 replicate cages having 10 birds in each. A corn-soybean-based diet was used as the basal diet (control). The basal diet was supplemented with an organic acid (citric acid, 0.5%), an antibiotic growth promoter (avilamycin, 0.001%), and their combination in other groups. The highest BW was attained in citric acid-fed chicks (1,318 g), which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than control chicks (1,094 g) or avilamycin-fed chicks (1,217 g). The combination-fed chicks showed similar weight (1,246 g) as citric acid- or avilamycin-fed chicks (P > 0.05). Total feed intake was higher in citric acid-fed chicks compared with antibiotic-supplemented chicks. The addition of citric acid improved feed conversion efficiency (g of weight gain/ kg of feed intake) significantly (P < 0.05) compared with control chicks or its combination with avilamycin. Higher carcass weights were found in chicks fed the combination diet. Supplementation of citric acid increased tibia ash percentage significantly (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Addition of citric acid reduced the pH of the formulated diets. An improvement of immune status was detected by densely populated immunocompetent cells in the lamina propria and submucosa of cecal tonsils and ileum and also in the cortex and medulla of bursa follicles in citric acid-supplemented chicks. Supplementation of citric acid at 0.5% in the diet had positive effects on growth, feed intake, feed efficiency, carcass yield, bone ash, and immune status of broilers. Therefore, citric acid might be a useful additive instead of antibiotic growth promoters such as avilamycin, considering performance and health status of broilers.

Characteristics of arsenic adsorption to sorghum biomass.

The development of efficient and economic new adsorbent materials for the removal of arsenic from groundwater is a priority in regions where human health is directly affected by elevated arsenic concentrations. Adsorption of arsenic on sorghum biomass (SB) was investigated for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions. Potentiometric titrations and FTIR analysis evidenced two potential binding sites associated with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the equilibrium time for arsenic adsorption to SB. The effect of pH on arsenic adsorption to SB was investigated for a pH range of 2.0-10.0. A strong influence of pH was demonstrated with a maximum removal of arsenic at pH 5.0. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were applied to equilibrium data. The Freundlich model fitted the equilibrium data and provided evidence for site heterogeneity at the binding surface. Column experiments were performed to obtain the breakthrough curves for both non-immobilized sorghum biomass and immobilized sorghum biomass.