Composição química da forragem e do ensilado de azevém anual em função de diferentes tempos de secagem e estádios fenológicos / Chemical composition of annual ryegrass forage and silage for different drying times and phenological phases

O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar como o tempo de secagem e o estádio fenológico da planta influenciam na composição química e qualidade da silagem de azevém (Lolium multiflorum, Lam.). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos (vegetativo: cortar e ensilar; cortar + pré-secagem de 4 horas e ensilar; cortar + pré-secagem de 7 horas e ensilar; pré-florescimento: ensilagem, cortar e ensilar e pré-secagem de 4 horas; florescimento: cortar e ensilar) e quatro repetições, com quatro meses de conservação da silagem. Foram determinados: desaparecimento de massa após o corte, rendimento de massa seca, proteína bruta e frações fibrosas. Além disso, foram determinados na silagem: pH, lipídios totais, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro e ácido. O manejo empregado auxilia na desidratação da forragem, com perda na quantidade de nitrogênio no vegetativo. No pré-florescimento, essa perda não ocorre. O avanço do ciclo da forrageira ocasiona diminuição na quantidade de nutrientes na biomassa, entretanto a produção de forragem é aumentada. A silagem apresentou composição bromatológica semelhante à observada na massa verde de azevém, o que demonstra a eficiência do método de conservação. A ensilagem em estádios mais avançados é aconselhada quando se busca maior quantidade de biomassa ensilada, porém com qualidade inferior.(AU)

The aim was how to define the effect of pre-drying time and the plant phase's influence on chemical composition and quality of ryegrass silage. The experimental design was randomized blocks with six treatments (Vegetative: Cut and ensiled; cut + pre-drying 4 hours and ensiled and; cut + pre-drying of 7 hours and ensiled; Pre-flowering: Silage cutting and ensiled and pre-drying 4 hours Flowering:. cut and ensiled) and four repetitions. The silage was stowed for four months. It were determined the mass disappearance after cutting, dry matter yield, crude protein and fiber fractions. Moreover, it was determined on silage pH, total lipids and insoluble protein content. The management used aids in dehydration of fodder, resulting in losses on the amount of nitrogen on vegetative phase. For pre-flowering, this loss has not occur. The advance of fodder cycle causes a decrease in the amount of nutrients in biomass, but fodder yield increased. Ryegrass silage presented chemical composition similar to that observed on green mass of ryegrass, evinced the efficiency of fodder conservation method. The silage in more advanced phases is advised when seeking greater amount of ensiled biomass, but lower quality.(AU)

[Reduction of influenza-like infections by a phytoextract-vitamin-combination: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study]. / Reduktion grippaler Infekte durch eine Phytoextrakt-Vitamin-Kombination. Eine randomisierte, doppelblinde, placebokontrollierte Studie.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent infections are signs of a weakened immune system, and can be traced to a lack of vitamins and minerals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a nutriological combination of vitamins, trace elements and phytochemicals on the incidence and duration of influenza-like infections. METHODS: Healthy subjects at risk of increased infection exposure took part in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, each involving a supplementation period of 12 weeks. The occurrence and severity of influenza-like infections and resort to study medication was documented by diary entries. SF-36 questionnaires to measure the health-related quality of life were completed at the start and end of the study. At final examination compliance was examined with respect to returned study medication, diaries and a questionnaire administered to evaluate the effect, safety, and tolerability of the test substance. RESULTS: Of 100 randomized participants, 80 (38 test treatment and 42 placebo) completed the study according to the protocol. In the test treatment group there were 60 influenza-like infections (1.6 infections/12 weeks), significantly fewer (p = 0.0003) compared with the placebo group with 113 episodes (2.7 infections/12 weeks). Further, the average number of days that the infection lasted was shorter in the test treatment group at 10.0 +/- 6.7 days, which was significantly shorter (p = 0.0003) than the placebo group at 28.5 +/- 13.6 days. The influenza-like symptom score and the mean duration of sick leave did not differ statistically between groups. Participants in the test treatment group assessed the global effectiveness of the test substance significantly better (p < 0.0001) than the participants of the placebo group. At the beginning of the study there was no difference between groups with respect to SF-36 results. However, at the completion of the study 6 of the 8 scales of SF-36 in the test treatment group were significantly better compared with the placebo group. CONCLUSION: In summary, consumption of the complex nutriological test preparation was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of influenza-like infections, as well as their duration, and it was associated with significantly improved vitality, social functioning, and psychological well-being.

Damage to rabbit femoral articular cartilage following direct impacts of uniform stresses: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acute gross and histologic damage resulting to femoral cartilage from an in vitro direct impact of uniform stress. DESIGN: Gross and histologic evaluations were performed on rabbit femoral condyles impacted by a drop-tower device. BACKGROUND: It is thought that impacts above a given threshold stress may initiate post-traumatic arthritis. The extent of damage following impacts of specific stress has not been previously studied. METHODS: 12 New Zealand White rabbit medial femoral condyles were divided into three groups by impact type and magnitude. A drop tower was used to strike the femoral condyle with a flat impactor, or with a custom contoured impactor. Gross and histological grades were given depending on the depth and number of fissures and cracks in the impacted condyle. RESULTS: The degree of damage correlated best with the type of impactor used and with the impact force; correlation between damage and impact stress was less significant. Contoured impactors tended to produce superficial fibrillation, while flat impactors tended to produce deep cracks. Impact forces above 500 N tended to create more severe damage than impact forces below 500 N. Subchondral bone remained intact in all cases and deep cartilage damage did not occur without disruption of more superficial layers. Poor correlation was found between damage as graded by gross examination versus damage graded histologically. CONCLUSIONS: Acute damage corresponds best with type of impactor and impact force, and not as well with impact stress. Micro structural injuries may be present in the absence of gross findings. RELEVANCE: Post-traumatic arthritis is a disabling disease thought to occur when a blow of stress above a given threshold is delivered to articular cartilage. Current animal models of post-traumatic arthritis are unable to characterize the impact stress applied to an articular surface. This study examines grossly and histologically the structural damage occurring as a result of impacts of given stress and force.

Method to impact in vivo rabbit femoral cartilage with blows of quantifiable stress.

The purpose of this study was to develop a technique by which a known stress could be applied uniformly across the femoral cartilage of a rabbit as a model for the development of post-traumatic arthritis. A system to impact the cartilage was designed that consisted of an apparatus to deliver a blow of quantifiable force, a method to apply the stress uniformly over the impact area, and a way to accurately measure the impact area. The knee joints of cadaveric New Zealand White rabbits were surgically exposed with the knee flexed so that the distal femoral articular surface was perpendicular to an impactor. With the knee fixed in position, a cup containing polymethylmethacrylate bone cement was applied to create an exact contour of the femoral surface, and the cement was allowed to cure. The form was then rested on the rabbit knee, and a drop tower released a weight of known mass from a known height onto an impactor (instrumented with strain gauges to measure the compressive force) that was attached to the cup. The area of the impacted surface was determined and, with the measured force, was used to calculate an accurate estimate of the impact stress. This method can be performed under sterile conditions, and therefore it is well suited for survival experiments in which the long-term effects of impact to cartilage will be studied.

[Gluten-sensitive enteropathy with intestinal T-cell lymphoma: an unusual cause of in disabling osteomalacia]. / Glutensensitive Enteropathie mit intestinalem T-Zell-Lymphom: eine seltene Ursache der invalidisierenden Osteomalazie.

We describe a 64-year-old woman with a malignant intestinal T-cell lymphoma who presented four years later with disabling osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism due to malabsorption. Only two years later, when the patient had developed fatty stools, flatulence and weight loss, diagnosis of gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE) was confirmed by small-intestine biopsy. This case report illustrates that in adults GSE can be oligosymptomatic for long periods. In cases of osteomalacia or rare intestinal T-cell lymphoma a detailed history of bowel movements, inspection of stools, quantification of fat excretion in stools and laboratory tests for malabsorption are recommended. Positive antibodies against gliadin, endomysium and reticulin may support the diagnosis of GSE. However, intestinal biopsy is necessary to verify the presence of GSE. In view of the unspecific histological changes, a follow-up biopsy is recommended in oligosymptomatic cases. Serial measurements of antibodies allow supervision of compliance for a diet strictly free of gluten. In addition, lactose containing milk products need to be restricted initially because of secondary lactase deficiency.

Ischemic optic neuropathy and high-level anticardiolipin antibodies in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

A 39-year-old woman with recurrent severe anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in the setting of Sjögren's syndrome was found to have high-titer IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) that were enhanced by the phospholipid-binding glycoprotein beta 2GP1. The recognition of IgM aCL-associated vasculopathy as a possible etiologic factor in the optic neuropathy in Sjögren's syndrome may be relevant in deciding appropriate therapy.

Coexistence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and systemic lupus erythematosus.

A variety of rheumatic disorders has been reported during the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; however, its association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is extremely rare. The effect of HIV infection on CD4 lymphocytes may ameliorate SLE activity and spur remission. We observed 2 patients with SLE who later developed HIV infection. Both patients' lupus went into remission, and their course was complicated by aseptic necrosis of the bone. These findings suggest that HIV infection may have an important effect on the natural course of SLE and may also have a pathogenic role in avascular necrosis.