Evaluation of wet distillers composite for finishing ruminants.

Two trials evaluated the effect of a composite of feed ingredients formulated to be similar in nutrient composition to wet distillers byproducts on finishing performance of sheep and cattle. Trial 1 used 60 crossbred lambs (31 kg) assigned to one of four treatments: dry-rolled corn (DRC) control, dried distillers grains plus solubles, wet corn gluten feed (WCGF), and wet distillers grains composite (COMP1). The COMP1 consisted (DM basis) of 47.5 WCGF, 11.9% condensed distillers solubles, 30.5% corn gluten meal, 9.7% tallow, and .4% dicalcium phosphate and was fed at 40% of the diet DM. Lambs fed the COMP1 diet were 27% more efficient (P < .10) than lambs fed WCGF and 12% more efficient (P > .10) than lambs fed DRC. In Trial 2, 60 yearling crossbred steers (272 kg) were assigned to one of five treatments: DRC control, WCGF, wet distillers grains composite (COMP2), COMP2 minus tallow (-FAT), or COMP2 minus corn gluten meal (-CGM). the COMP2 consisted (DM basis) of 65.7% WCGF, 26.3% corn gluten meal, and 8.0% tallow and was fed at 40% of the diet DM. Steers fed COMP2 were more efficient (P < .10) than steers fed DRC or WCGF, and the steers fed -FAT and -CGM were intermediate to these three dietary treatments. A composite diet of WCGF, condensed distillers solubles, corn gluten meal, and tallow, formulated to be similar in nutrient composition to wet distillers byproducts, may improve feed efficiency compared with WCGF or DRC.

Evaluation of corn and sorghum distillers byproducts.

Two trials were conducted to determine the feeding value of sorghum distillers byproducts. Trial 1, a finishing trial, used 160 yearling steers (327 kg). Treatments consisted of dry-rolled corn (DRC) control, sorghum wet distillers grains (SWDG), sorghum wet distillers grains plus solubles (SWDGS), and sorghum dried distillers grain plus solubles (SDDGS). Distillers byproducts were fed at 40% of the diet DM. Cattle fed diets containing SWDG, SWDGS, or DRC were similar in efficiency of gain (P > .10); cattle fed SDDGS were less efficient (P < .10) than all other treatments. Sorghum wet distillers grains, SWDGS, and SDDGS contained 96, 102, and 80% relative NEg of corn, respectively. In Trial 2, 16 crossbred lambs (55 kg) were used to determine the digestibility of sorghum and corn distillers byproducts. Byproducts were fed at 80% of the diet DM and treatments consisted of corn wet distillers grains (CWDG), corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (CDDGS), SWDG, and SDDGS. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was not different among treatments (P > .10). Corn wet distillers grains were higher in true nitrogen (P < .001), apparent nitrogen (P < .01), and organic matter digestibility (P < .05) than SWDG. Wet distillers byproducts were higher (P < .01) in apparent organic matter and nitrogen digestibility than dried distillers byproducts. Digestibility of distillers byproducts and subsequent energy values are influenced by type of grain used in the fermentation process and drying of the finished byproduct.

Effects of feto-placental markers with plasma exchange in pregnancy.

To evaluate changes in feto-placental markers with plasma exchange in pregnancy, two patients at varying stages of pregnancy referred to a tertiary care hospital and requiring plasma exchange for intercurrent problems were evaluated. Alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and free estriol were sequentially measured in the patients' plasma and in the fluid removed, thus permitting calculations of permeability rates and clearances. Despite markedly different molecular weights, all three feto-placental markers had similar permeabilities and clearances. While in both patients maternal levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin decreased rapidly with plasma separation and rebounded rapidly to baseline, free estriol responded differently and did not appear to decrease with therapy. Maternal levels of feto-placental markers only transiently changed with plasma exchange during pregnancy and rapidly returned to baseline with no apparent consequences to the pregnancy.

Secretory otitis media and mastoid air cell development.

Controversy continues over the factors involved in the development of the mastoid air cell system (MACS). This study examines the effect of persistent secretory otitis media with effusion (SOME) on the development of the MACS. Thirty-one children, aged 4, were drawn from a cohort of cleft palate children in a multi-centre, prospective otological study set up in 1984. The initial presence of SOME was assessed by otoscopy, tympanometry and bilateral myringotomy, performed under the same anaesthetic as surgical repair of the cleft lip or palate. Only one ear in each child was ventilated with a tube and the other, the control ear, was assessed by regular follow-up otoscopy and tympanometry. The persistence of SOME after palate repair in over 70% of the non-ventilated ears in 4 years olds and the presence of a contralateral ventilated middle ear provides the perfect model for assessing the effect of SOME on MACS development. Plain, lateral mastoid X-rays were assessed by planimetry to give a well accepted measurement of mastoid pneumatization. Nine children were excluded from analysis as they did not meet the strict criteria of one persistently ventilated middle ear and one with persistent SOME. 22 children (44 ears) were available for analysis, 9 children were tubed at 3 months and 13 were tubed at 12 to 16 months. In 19 of the 22 ears the mastoid air cell system was larger on the tubed side.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of palate repair on otitis media with effusion.

Cleft palate in children is very frequently associated with otitis media with effusion. In this prospective study of 150 cleft palate children aged between 2 and 18 months, the prevalence of otitis media with effusion at myringotomy before palate repair was 92 percent. Otoscopic and tympanometric follow-up assessments for 140 children indicate that there is minimal improvement in middle ear status after palate repair. The condition is persistent in 70 percent of children up to 4 years of age. Furthermore, there is no evidence that age at repair or type of cleft is influential. These findings have implications for otologic management of cleft palate children. Early routine unilateral ventilation to ensure adequate hearing but minimize the morbidity of ventilation tubes is advocated.

Acute plasma separation with hemodialysis equipment.

Although plasma separation has been reported to have a relatively small complication rate in large series of healthy outpatients, little attention has been directed to the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of the therapy in acutely ill, hospitalized patients. The experience of using standard hemodialysis equipment and membrane plasma separators with 281 plasma separation treatments in 49 patients over the last 7 yr is reported and analyzed. The data reveal a 1.4% incidence of hypotension and a 0.4% incidence of hematuria in the 281 treatments--rates similar to those reported in outpatients. In addition, analysis of the diseases and patients treated over the 7 yr reported demonstrates a marked shift from immunological and hematological disorders towards neurological disorders. The data suggest that plasma separation may be easily and safely performed by any institution capable of performing acute hemodialysis.

Cleft palate and glue ear.

The invariable presence of otitis media with effusion in children with cleft palate aged from 2 to 20 months is confirmed in a prospective trial, and the diagnosis was made in each case by myringotomy. Treatment planning should take account of this, and long term ventilation of at least one ear seems to be mandatory in order to correct bilateral congenital deafness. Close cooperation between otologist and plastic surgeon is essential for diagnosis and treatment of otitis media in these patients.