Diet supplementation with fish oil and sunflower oil to increase conjugated linoleic acid levels in milk fat of partially grazing dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to determine the long-term effect on milk conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA) of adding fish oil (FO) and sunflower oil (SFO) to the diets of partially grazing dairy cows. Fourteen Holstein cows were divided into 2 groups (7 cows/treatment) and fed either a control or oil-supplemented diet for 8 wk while partially grazing pasture. Cows in group 1 were fed a grain mix diet (8.0 kg/d, DM basis) containing 400 g of saturated animal fat (control). Cows in the second group were fed the same grain mix diet except the saturated animal fat was replaced with 100 g of FO and 300 g of SFO. Cows were milked twice a day and milk samples were collected weekly throughout the trial. Both groups grazed together on alfalfa-based pasture ad libitum and were fed their treatment diets after the morning and afternoon milking. Milk production (30.0 and 31.2 kg/d), milk fat percentages (3.64 and 3.50), milk fat yield (1.08 and 1.09 kg/d), milk protein percentages (2.97 and 2.88), and milk protein yield (0.99 and 0.91 kg/d) for diets 1 and 2, respectively, were not affected by the treatment diets. The concentrations of cis-9, trans-11 CLA (1.64 vs. 0.84 g/100 g of fatty acids) and vaccenic acid (5.11 vs. 2.20 g/100 g of fatty acids) in milk fat were higher for cows fed the oil-supplemented diet over the 8 wk of oil supplementation. The concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk fat reached a maximum (1.0 and 1.64 g/100 g of fatty acids for diets 1 and 2, respectively) in wk 1 for both diets and remained relatively constant thereafter. The concentration of vaccenic acid in milk fat followed the same temporal pattern as cis-9, trans-11 CLA. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of partially grazing cows with FO and SFO increased the milk cis-9, trans-11 CLA content, and that increase remained relatively constant after 1 wk of oil supplementation.

Short communication: Eicosatrienoic acid and docosatrienoic acid do not promote vaccenic acid accumulation in mixed ruminal cultures.

Previous research found that docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) was a component of fish oil that promotes trans-C18:1 accumulation in ruminal cultures when incubated with linoleic acid. The objective of this study was to determine if eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-3) and docosatrienoic acid (C22:3n-3), n-3 fatty acids in fish oil, promote accumulation of trans-C18:1, vaccenic acid (VA) in particular, using cultures of mixed ruminal microorganisms. Treatments consisted of control, control plus 5 mg of C20:3n-3 (ETA), control plus 5 mg of C22:3n-3 (DTA), control plus 15 mg of linoleic acid (LA), control plus 5 mg of C20:3n-3 and 15 mg of linoleic acid (ETALA), and control plus 5 mg of C22:3n-3 and 15 mg of linoleic acid (DTALA). Treatments were incubated in triplicate in 125-mL flasks, and 5 mL of culture contents was taken at 0 and 24 h for fatty acid analysis by gas-liquid chromatography. After 24 h of incubation, the concentrations of trans-C18:1 (0.87, 0.88, and 0.99 mg/culture), and VA (0.52, 0.56, and 0.62 mg/culture) were similar for the control, ETA, and DTA cultures, respectively. The concentrations of trans-C18:1 (5.51, 5.41, and 5.36 mg/culture), and VA (4.78, 4.62, and 4.59 mg/culture) were also similar between LA, ETALA, and DTALA cultures, respectively. These data suggest that C20:3n-3 and C22:3n-3 are not the active components in fish oil that promote VA accumulation when incubated with linoleic acid.

Analysis of wild-type and mutant aspartate aminotransferases using integrated rate equations.

A general integrated rate equation was fit to reaction progress curves catalyzed by wild-type E. coli aspartate aminotransferase and the site-specific mutant enzymes, H193Q and Y70F. A nonlinear step-regression code, revised for this study selected from all kinetic constants in a general integrated rate equation for all unbranched enzyme mechanisms with stoichiometries upto two substrates and two products including terms for substrate inhibitions and that of an exogenous inhibitor. For each aspartate aminotransferase enzyme studied only kinetic constants consistent with a substituted enzyme mechanism were found statistically significant, thus the enzyme mechanism and sources of inhibition were determined objectively by statistics. The kinetic constants for wild-type and Y70F aspartate aminotransferase were similar to those previously reported indicating the validity of the integrated rate equation analysis. Minor changes in kinetic constants were observed for the H193Q mutant enzyme suggesting that the catalytic effects of the electrostatic hydrogen bonding network extending from the pyridine nitrogen of the cofactor through Asp-222, His-189 ends prior to His-193.

Kinetic analysis of lactate dehydrogenase using integrated rate equations.

The reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase was analyzed under fully second-order conditions using integrated rate equations. A two-step regression analysis was utilized to fit twenty-one progress curves repeated in sextuplicate to the general mechanism second-order integrated rate equation with additional terms of substrate inhibition. The fitting error was less than one percent. The resulting kinetic constants support a ternary complex mechanism; in no case were constants supporting another mechanism predicted. The inhibition constant for oxamate was also determined.

Western Polynesia's first home for the aged: Are concept and culture compatible?

In 1975 Western Polynesia's first home for the aged, called Mapuifagalele, was established in a village just outside Apia. The home was operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor and housed 83 elderly Samoans of both Catholic and Protestant faith. This paper outlines the traditional Samoan patterns of aging and the high priority placed on family care for elders. In discussing the home and its residents, we consider ways in which what might appear to be an incompatible institutional concept has been adapted to fit the local cultural configuration. We also speculate on a variety of factors which may or may not be responsible for the acceptance and on-going operation of a facility of this type.

Mapuifagalele, Western Samoa's home for the aged--a cultural enigma.

Mapuifagalele is Polynesia's first home for the aged, and why it exists at all is something of a mystery. Although Samoan families emphatically insist that they can and do provide for their own aged (and in fact suffer loss of face if they do not), this institution is full to overflowing and there is a waiting list. The article discusses the origin and function of this residence for the aged and explores the changing life style, economic patterns and world view that make its existence possible and even necessary.

Trends in anthropological gerontology: from Simmons to the seventies.

An analysis of the major trends and findings of socio-cultural studies of the aged in various cultures, as carried out by anthropologists or by other social scientists using anthropological methodology. The paper discusses the present state of our knowledge concerning comparative gerontological phenomena and gives suggestions for further research.