Effect of varying ratios of fat and protein in fiber-free semisynthetic diets on fecal output of pig-tailed monkeys (Macaca nemestrina).

The effect of varying the ratios of dietary fat, protein and carbohydrate on the amount and composition of fecal output was studied in adult, male pig-tailed monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) fed liquid, fiber-free semisynthetic diets. The dietary nitrogen was supplied as an enzymatic protein hydrolyzate (biological value = 86%), the fat as corn oil, and the carbohydrate as corn syrup solids. Vitamins and minerals were added to meet the nutritional requirements of this monkey. Nine diets were fed for 2 weeks, and fecal excreta collected daily after 4-day adaptation to a new diet. The levels of protein/day were 40, 80, and 160 kcal/animal and the levels of fat/day were 4.5, 22.5, and 112.5 kcal/animal. Carbohydrates were adjusted to maintain the diets isocaloric (700 kcal/day per monkey). The assumption was made that a) there was no time trend, and b) that the preceding diet had no carry-over effect on the next diet being tested. Results suggest that total fecal output was greater on the high protein diets, especially when fat levels were either 4.5 or 112.5 kcal. The 22.5 kcal fat and 160 kcal protein did not show an increase in fecal output. These fecal output differences were related to changes in fecal moisture but not in dry fecal matter. Increased nitrogen loss in the feces was noted for all 160 kcal protein diets, and especially so when the fat level was 4.5 kcal. The 112.5 kcal fat diet produced feces higher in total lipids. If a fiber-free formula diet is designed to induce a minimum of fecal bulk, the most satisfactory formulation appears to be one with a moderate amount of dietary fat, and a protein content in the general range of the recommended daily allowance.

Methyl 5(6)-phenylsulfinyl-2-benzimidazolecarbamate, a new, potent anthelmintic.

1. Human hepatic "acid" beta-galactosidase preparations, which had been purified approximately 250-fold, were examined for activities toward 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-galactosylceramide, lactosylceramide, galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-glucosylceramide(GM1-ganglioside) and galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-galactosyl-glucosylceramide (asialo GM1-ganglioside). 2. The enzyme was active toward the synthetic substrate, GM1-ganglioside and asialo GM1-ganglioside but was inactive toward galactosylceramide. Under our assay conditions, optimized for lactosylceramidase II, the preparations were as active toward lactosylceramide as toward GM1-ganglioside or its asialo derivative. The apparent Km values for the three natural substrates were similar. When determined by the assay system of Wehger, D.A., Sattler, M., Clark, C. and McKelvey, H. (1974) Clin. Chim Acta 56, 199-206, lactosylceramide-cleaving activity was 0.2% of that determined by our assay system. This confirmed our previous suggestion that the Wenger assay system determines exclusively the activity of lactosylceramidase I, which is probably identical with galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase. 3. Crude sodium taurocholate was far more effective than pure taurocholate in stimulating hydrolysis of the three glycosphingolipids by the beta-galactosidase. However, crude taurocholate could largely be replaced by smaller amounts of sodium taurodeoxycholate, suggesting that the unique activating capacity of the crude taurocholate might be due to taurodeoxycholate present as the major impurity. 4. Cl- was generally stimulatory for hydrolysis of the natural glycosphingolipids by our enzyme preparation. Effects of additional oleic acid and Triton X-100 were generally minor in either direction. 5. When the enzyme preparation was diluted with water, activity toward the synthetic substrate declined rapidly while those toward the natural substrates were essentially stable. Activity toward the synthetic substrate remained much more stable when the enzyme was diluted with 0.1 M sodium citrate/phosphate buffer, pH 5.0. 6. These observations provide insight into the complex relationship among the human hepatic beta-galactosidases.

Efficacy of oxfendazole against inhibited Ostertagia ostertagi in naturally infected cattle.

Oxfendazole was administered to pregnant cows at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg body weight to determine the anthelmintic efficacy against naturally acquired larvae which became inhibited at the early 4th stage. The experimental design included three groups of orally-treated cows, that is, 10 placebo treated control cows, 11 cows treated with 2.5 mg/kg of oxfendazole and 10 cows treated with 5.0 mg/kg of oxfendazole. Oxfendazole at 2.5 mg/kg body weight was 82 and 94% effective against EL-4 and adult O. ostertagi, respectively. At 5 mg/kg, Oxfendazole was 95 and 99% effective against EL-4 And adult O. ostertagi, respectively. The results suggested the use of a field dosage level of 5 mg/kg body weight oxfendazole where inhibited larvae may be encountered.