Influence of feeding sunflower seed and meal protected against ruminal fermentation on ruminal fermentation, bacterial composition and in situ degradability in sheep.

The effects of treating sunflower seed (SS) and meal (SM), as well as of a mixture of both feeds (SSM; 45:55) with a solution of malic acid (1 M; 400 ml/kg feed) and heating for protection against ruminal degradation were studied. Four rumen-fistulated sheep were fed two mixed diets composed of oat hay and concentrate (40:60) and differing only in the concentrate, that contained either a mixture of untreated SS and SM (control diet) or treated SS and SM (MAH diet). A crossover design with two 24-d experimental periods was used, and each period included 10 d of diet adaptation, 9 d for in situ incubations of SS, SM and SSM, and 5 d for measuring ruminal fermentation characteristics and rumen emptying. From day 6 onwards a solution of (15NH4)2SO4 was continuously infused into the rumen of each sheep to label ruminal bacteria. Feeding the MAH diet did not affect either ruminal pH or concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and NH3-N, but decreased (p ≤ 0.01) the molar proportions of acetate and propionate and increased those of butyrate (p< 0.001). Organic matter and lipid contents of ruminal bacteria were lower whereas both N content and 15N enrichment were greater (p ≤ 0.05) in MAH-fed sheep. The in situ effective degradability (ED) of different fractions of SS, SM and SSM were calculated from the ruminal rates of particle comminution and passage, and values were corrected for microbial contamination. The MAH treatment decreased the ED of most fractions for all feeds and increased the supply of by-pass crude protein (CP) by 19.1% and 120% for SS and SM, respectively, and that of fat by 34% for SS. The MAH treatment also increased the in vitro intestinal digestibility of the by-pass CP for both SS (from 60.1% to 75.4%) and SM (from 83.2% to 91.0%). The simultaneous heating of both feeds (SSM) reinforced the protective effect of the MAH treatment and increased the by-pass CP without altering its intestinal digestibility, increasing the intestinally digested CP content by 16.8% compared with the value estimated from the results obtained for MAH-treated SS and SM incubated independently. These results indicate that the MAH treatment was effective to protect sunflower protein against rumen degradation and increased its intestinal digestibility.

Effect of a Diet Supplemented with Malic Acid-Heat (MAH) Treated Sunflower on Carcass Characteristics, Meat Composition and Fatty Acids Profile in Growing Lambs.

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of feeding sunflower meal (SM) and seeds (SS) protected against rumen degradation on carcass characteristics and composition and fatty acid (FA) profile of lamb meat. The protection of SM and SS was achieved by treating both feeds with malic acid at 150 °C for 2 h (MAH treatment) and in a previous study this treatment was shown to decrease ruminal degradability of protein of both feeds and fat degradability of SS. Two homogeneous groups of 12 lambs each were fed ad libitum high-cereal concentrates and cereal straw from 14 to 26 kg of body weight. The two concentrates differed only in the treatment SM and SS, which were included either untreated (control) or MAH treated. The MAH-fed lambs had greater thickness of dorsal fat (p = 0.016) and greater (p ≤ 0.016) values of the color parameters a* (redness) and C* (chromaticity) of the Rectus abdominis muscle. However, there were no differences in carcass measurements and in water-holding capacity, chemical composition, pH, color, or fatty acid of Longissimus muscle. In summary, the MAH treatment resulted in only subtle changes in meat composition and quality.

Effects of Feeding Rumen-Protected Sunflower Seed and Meal Protein on Feed Intake, Diet Digestibility, Ruminal, Cecal Fermentation, and Growth Performance of Lambs.

The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a treatment (MAH) of sunflower seed (SS) and meal (SM) with a malic acid solution (1 M; 400 mL/kg) and heating (150 °C, 2 h) to protect protein against rumen degradation and to improve the growth of lambs. Two homogeneous groups of 12 Lacaune lambs each (14.2 ± 0.35 kg body weight) were fed either a concentrate including untreated SS and SM or a concentrate with MAH-treated SS and SM. Lambs were fed concentrate and barley straw ad libitum for 40 days (about 26 kg body weight); feed intake and growth of lambs were recorded; blood samples were taken on days 0, 20, and the slaughter day for analysis of urea-N and amino acid-N; diet digestibility was determined; and ruminal and cecal samples were collected after slaughter. The in vitro incubation of both concentrates with sheep ruminal fluid for 12 h showed that the MAH-treatment tended to reduce NH3-N concentrations and increased propionate production. However, there were no differences (p > 0.05) between groups in any of the tested variables in the in vivo trial.

Protecting protein against ruminal degradation could contribute to reduced methane production.

Ruminants have a low efficiency of nitrogen (N) utilization that has negative implications for animal production and the environment, but reducing the ruminal degradation of protein can help to reduce N losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of sunflower meal (SM) and sunflower seed (SS) protected against ruminal degradation in high-cereal diets on in vitro ruminal fermentation and CH4 production. Samples of SS and SM were sprayed with a solution of malic acid 1 M (400 ml/kg sample) and dried at 150°C for 1 hr as a protective treatment. Four diets were formulated to contain either 13 (low) or 17 (high) g of crude protein (CP)/100 g dry matter (DM), and included SM and SS either untreated (13CON and 17CON diets) or treated as before described (13TR and 17TR diets). Diets were incubated in vitro with rumen fluid from sheep for 8 and 24 hr. The treatment did not affect (p ≥ 0.57) total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production at any incubation time, but it reduced (p < 0.05) NH3 -N concentrations by 19.2 and 12.5% at 8 and 24 hr respectively. Both CH4 production and CH4 /VFA ratio were lower (p < 0.02) in TR than in CON diets at 8 hr, but differences disappeared (p > 0.05) at 24 hr. The treatment increased the molar proportion of propionate (p = 0.001) and reduced that of isovalerate (p = 0.03) at 8 hr compared with CON diets, but only a reduction of isovalerate proportion (p = 0.03) was detected at 24 hr. There were no treatment x crude protein level interactions (p > 0.05) in any parameter, but high-protein diets had greater NH3 -N concentrations (p < 0.001) and lower VFA production (p < 0.001) than low-protein diets at 24 hr. The treatment reduced protein degradation, and CH4 production was decreased by 4.6 and 10.8% for low- and high-protein diets, respectively, at short incubation times without affecting VFA production, thus improving fermentation efficiency and decreasing polluting emissions.

Mild cognitive impairment in elderly users of municipal centers of the Region of Murcia (Spain) / El deterioro cognitivo leve en personas mayores usuarias de centros municipales de la Región de Murcia (España)

This article of investigation tries to know the issue of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly users of municipal centres to measure the importance of psycho-educational dimension like preventive alternative. For this reason, we have used a qualitative methodology (semistructurated interview) after a selection of people applying quantitative scales (e.g. MMSE, EUROTEST and Lawton). We selected a sample of 148 people for the scales, out of which 30 people were considered suitable for the interviews. The results show that despite the fact that elderly people have a MCI , they are able to practice activities for improving their quality of life. Within this investigation, new lines of work based in the free time, lonely, self esteem and self are opened to elderly people with MCI

El trabajo de investigación recogido en este artículo tiene por objeto conocer la problemática del deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL) en personas mayores usuarias de centros sociales municipales de la Región de Murcia, para calibrar la importancia de la dimensión psicoeducativa como alternativa preventiva. Para ello se utilizó una metodología cualitativa (entrevistas semiestructuradas), tras una selección de sujetos aplicando escalas cuantitativas (e.g. MMSE, EUROTEST y Lawton). Se seleccionó una muestra de 148 sujetos para aplicar las escalas, de los que se consideró a 30 idóneos para las entrevistas posteriores. Los resultados arrojan evidencias de que, incluso en situaciones de DCL, se pueden llevar a cabo actividades que redunden en la mejora de la calidad de vida de los mayores. A partir de la investigación que se presenta, se podrían vehicular nuevas líneas centradas en el ocio y el tiempo libre, la soledad, la autoestima y el autoconcepto en las personas mayores con DCL

Biotecnología humana: herencia biológica y herencia cultural / Human biotechnology: biologic heritage and cultural heritage

El siguiente artículo se refiere a los avances técnicos de la biología molecular en sus aspectos de reproducción asistida, clonación, terapia génica y otros trabajos en general sobre el genoma humano. Se explica la eugenesia como también la influencia cultural en la formación de la persona. Finalmente se abordan aspectos éticos relativos a la supremacía de los valores eternos como determinantes de los límites para aquello que pueda constituir una amenaza a la dignidad humana

Biotecnología humana: herencia biológica y herencia cultural / Human biotechnology: biologic heritage and cultural heritage

El siguiente artículo se refiere a los avances técnicos de la biología molecular en sus aspectos de reproducción asistida, clonación, terapia génica y otros trabajos en general sobre el genoma humano. Se explica la eugenesia como también la influencia cultural en la formación de la persona. Finalmente se abordan aspectos éticos relativos a la supremacía de los valores eternos como determinantes de los límites para aquello que pueda constituir una amenaza a la dignidad humana (AU)