Micronized fibres affect in vitro fermentation under normal buffered and osmotic stress conditions using porcine inocula.

In this in vitro study, the modified Hohenheim gas test was used to determine fermentation activity and bacterial composition of pig's faecal microbial inoculum, when fermenting a standard pig diet with varying levels of crude protein (CP; 20, 24 and 28% CP), and supplemented with one of three fibre sources manufactured by micronization treatment. These were wheat envelopes (MWE), pea fibre (MPF) and lupine fibre (MLF). For comparison, inulin was used. As intestinal bacteria have to cope with varying osmotic conditions in their ecosystem, fermentation was performed under normal buffered and osmotic stress conditions. After 24 h of fermentation, total gas production and ammonia production were measured. In addition, the effect of MWE and inulin on short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and numbers of total eubacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium cluster XIVa and Clostridium cluster IV, were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Under normal buffered conditions, supplementation of MWE resulted in increased (p < 0.05) SCFA, acetic, propionic and valerianic acid production at CP levels of 20 and 28%. There was an increase (p < 0.05) in ammonia production for the micronized supplements, and for MWE an increased (p < 0.05) branched-chain proportion was observed, possibly due to higher availability of protein for fermentation which was released during the micronization process. Osmotic stress conditions reduced (p < 0.05) total gas as well as total SCFA, acetic and propionic acid production for all treatments, while cell counts were increased (p < 0.05) for Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. and Lactobacillus spp. Under normal buffered conditions in combination with 24 and 28% CP levels, lactobacilli were increased for MWE, compared to inulin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, micronized supplements such as MWE may beneficially modulate pigs' intestinal microbiota by increasing SCFA production in addition to a selective proliferation of lactobacilli.

Short-term effect of dietary yeast nucleotide supplementation on small intestinal enzyme activities, bacterial populations and metabolites and ileal nutrient digestibilities in newly weaned pigs.

In previous studies, dietary nucleotides have been shown to improve performance in single-stomached animals by promoting the renewal of small intestine epithelial cells and by influencing the activity and composition of the microbial community in the digestive tract. The present experiment was carried out with 12 barrows weaned at the age of 18 days and fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. To determine short-term effects of dietary yeast nucleotides, the piglets received a grain-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without supplementation of 1 g/kg of a dried yeast product containing free nucleotides. Dietary supplementation with yeast did not affect bacterial numbers in the ileum as well as ileal concentrations of individual short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), total SCFA and total lactic acid (p > 0.05). Moreover, there was no effect of supplemental yeast nucleotides on ileal α-amylase, leucine amino peptidase, maltase and lactase activities (p > 0.05), as well as on ileal dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre digestibilities (p > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term supplementation with dietary yeast nucleotides did not affect microbial metabolite concentrations, bacterial numbers and enzyme activities in the ileal digesta as well as ileal nutrient digestibilities of newly weaned pigs.

Effect of soybean meal origin on standardized ileal amino acid digestibility in piglets.

The present study with piglets was conducted to estimate standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in European Union soybean (Glycine max) meal (SBM) imports sourced from Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. Twelve piglets with an average initial BW of 9 kg (47 d of age) were fitted with a simple ileal T-cannula to determine SID of AA in 4 batches of SBM originating either from Argentina (n = 1), Brazil (n = 1), or the United States (n = 2; US1 and US2). A semisynthetic diet based on corn (Zea mays) starch and casein (125 g casein/kg as-fed) was supplemented with 1 of 4 batches SBM at an inclusion rate of 235 g SBM/kg (as-fed) each. The chemical composition did not differ largely, with CP contents ranging from 458 in Argentinean to 461 g/kg (as-fed) in US1 SBM. The SID of indispensable AA ranged from 80% in US2 SBM to 83% in Argentinean SBM and from 74% for Trp in US2 and Brazilian SBM to 91% for Arg in US2, Brazilian, and Argentinean SBM. Most SID values did not differ among the SBM batches (P > 0.05). In conclusion, European SBM imports from Brazil, Argentina, or the United Sates were similar in their chemical composition. For most AA, high and uniform SID values were obtained independent from their source of origin.

A study of reflux in patients with an ileal orthotopic bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is vesico-ureteric reflux during voiding in patients who had undergone an ileal bladder substitution after cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 15 patients (13 men and two women) who had undergone radical cystectomy and construction of a Studer ileal neobladder. At 1-24 months (median 4) after the operation indirect radionuclide cystography (IRC) was performed after isotopic renography (using 99m-technetium mercapto-acetyltriglycine) and voiding cysto-urethrography (VCUG). RESULTS: None of the patients had reflux during voiding, either on IRC or on VCUG. Renal function and morphology remained stable in all patients. Despite bacteriuria occurring in four patients, no episode of pyelonephritis was reported. CONCLUSION: There was no vesico-ureteric reflux during voiding in patients with a Studer ileal bladder substitution. However, long-term follow-up is needed to finally determine whether an antirefluxive ureteric implantation is required to protect the upper urinary tract in patients with ileal low-pressure bladder substitutions.