Effects of Heat-Killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 Supplementation on Growth Performance, Blood Profiles, Intestinal Morphology, and Immune Gene Expression in Pigs.

In the present study, the effects of dietary heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137) on the productive performance, intestinal morphology, and cytokine gene expression of suckling-to-fattening pigs were investigated. A total of 100 suckling pigs [(Large White × Landrace) × Duroc; 4.5 ± 0.54 kg initial body weight (BW)] were used and assigned to each of the four dietary treatments as follows: (1) a control diet with antibiotics as a growth promoter (AGP) from the suckling phase to the grower phase and no supplement in the finisher phases; (2) a control diet without antibiotics as a growth promoter (NAGP); (3) a control diet with HK L-137 at 20 mg/kg from the suckling phase to the starter phase and no supplement from the grower phase to the finisher phases (HKL1); and (4) a control diet with HK L-137 at 20 mg/kg from the suckling phase to the weaner phase, at 4 mg/kg from the starter phase to the finisher 1 phase, and no supplement in the finisher 2 phase (HKL2). During the weaner-starter period, the pigs fed on the AGP and HKL2 diets showed significantly higher weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) than those in the NAGP group (p < 0.05). The pigs in the AGP, HKL1, and HKL2 groups showed greater ADG than those in the NAGP groups (p < 0.05) throughout the grower-finisher period. The suckling pigs in the HKL1 and HKL2 groups showed a higher platelet count (484,500 and 575,750) than in the others (p < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences in the other hematological parameters among the treatment groups. The relative mRNA expression level of IFN- ß of the suckling and starter pigs were significantly higher in the HKL1 and HKL2 groups than in the others (p < 0.05), while the IFN-γ showed the highest level in the HKL2 suckling pigs (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that a HK L-137 supplementation could stimulate the immune response in suckling and starter pigs and promote the growth performance in finishing pigs.

Therapeutic effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 on the gut health and growth of broilers.

Although some studies on the effects of para-probiotics on the immune system and intestinal health have been conducted independently of research on antibiotics ass growth promoters. This study investigated the effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarumL-137 (L-137) and antibiotics as preventive and/or therapeutic substances for broilers against subclinical necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens (CP). In total, 300 1-day-old broilers (46.13 ± 1.38 g) were randomly stocked at 10 birds pen-1 in five replicates and divided into six groups, namely T1 and T2, positive and negative control of CP challenge; T3 and T4, prevention with basal diet plus 10 and 50 mg/kg L-137; T5 and T6, prevention and treatment with basal diet plus 50 mg/kg of L-137 and bacitracin at 50 ppm, respectively. Broilers administered L-137 in T4, T5 and bacitracin in T6 showed an improved (p < 0.05) villus height/crypt depth ratio than control groups, suggesting that it might significantly boost growth performance. In contrast to bacitracin, a high dosage of L-137 significantly increased (p < 0.05) the spleen index value and the cytokine levels, as well as the expression of intestinal ß-defensin genes on day 28. During the 42-day production period, broilers in T4 and T5 showed a significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) expression of cytokines, AvBD-1 and AvBD-7 on day 42 compared to the control and bacitracin groups. In particular, broilers given the L-137 diets demonstrated no cumulative mortality following CP exposure, compared to a 2% mortality in T6. Our findings provide insight into eco-friendly alternatives to antibiotics for maximizing growth performance, feed efficiency and long-term disease protection in chickens; however, this has to be proven in larger-scale commercial experiments.

Evaluation of the clinical cutoff level of serum (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan in patients with connective tissue diseases complicated by deep fungal infections.

Serum (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan levels and clinical findings were evaluated in 229 inpatients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) during the period between June and October 2004. The mean serum (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan level was 129.7 +/- 207.6 pg/mL in patients with a definitive diagnosis of fungal infections and 10.5 +/- 8.6 pg/mL in patients without fungal infections. Analysis of the diagnostic sensitivity/specificity for various (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan cutoff levels gave the best results for a cutoff level of 15 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 81.3%. This level was therefore determined to be the optimal cutoff in patients with CTDs.

Effects of three different highly purified n-3 series highly unsaturated fatty acids on lipid metabolism in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice.

Triglycerides (TG) consisting of highly purified (>97%) n-3 series highly unsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were administered to C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice for 4 weeks by pair-feeding to compare their effects on lipid metabolism and to evaluate the effects of DPA on lipid metabolism. The hepatic TG level and total amount was decreased by treatment with DHA and DPA compared to the control. The efficacy of DPA was greater than that of EPA, but less than that of DHA. In contrast, EPA had the greatest serum TG reducing effect. The hepatic cytosol fraction of the DHA-treated group contained the lowest fatty acid synthase (FAS) and malic enzyme (ME) activity levels. Furthermore, the DHA-treated group contained the highest serum adiponectin concentrations. These findings indicate that the strong hepatic TG-lowering effect of DHA is due to the suppression of TG synthesis. The same tendencies were observed in DPA-treated mice, and the effect was stronger than that observed in EPA-treated mice, but equivalent to that observed in DHA-treated mice. Based on these results, DPA possesses lipid metabolism-improving effects. The beneficial effects of DPA for lipid metabolism were not superior to those of EPA and DHA, and the effect was always intermediate between those of EPA and DHA.

Initial and long-term outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stents for calcified lesions compared with bare-metal stents.

The aim of this study was to compare the initial and long-term outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with calcified lesions without performing rotational atherectomy. The subjects were 79 consecutive lesions (38 in the SES group and 41 in the BMS group) which were confirmed to have superficially calcified lesions by intravascular ultrasound. In all lesions, the stent was implanted after predilatation with a balloon. The patient characteristics were not different between the 2 groups. All procedures were successfully performed in both groups. Vessel area was significantly smaller in the SES group than in the BMS group (11.01 +/- 3.88 mm(2) versus 13.08 +/- 3.49 mm(2), P < 0.005), as was the lumen area (5.41 +/- 2.31mm(2) versus 6.48 +/- 2.04 mm(2), P < 0.005). Minimum stent area was significantly smaller in the SES group than in the BMS group (5.61 +/- 1.54 mm(2) versus 6.69 +/- 1.74 mm(2), P < 0.01). In cases in whom angiographic follow-ups were performed, the late loss was significantly smaller in the SES group than in the BMS group (0.19 +/- 0.49 mm versus 0.76 +/- 0.48 mm, P < 0.001). The restenosis rate was significantly lower in the SES group than in the BMS group (8.8% versus 33.3%, P < 0.05) and the TLR rate tended to be lower in the SES group (7.9% versus 19.5%). Stent thrombosis was not observed in either group. The results suggest that SES are more effective than BMS and can be used safely when treating calcified lesions if predilatation with a balloon is possible.

Facilitation of rotablator-stenting by measuring angiographic lesion length with the navicath (type-MUTO), a new measuring microcatheter.

In the present study, the usefulness and feasibility of a new measuring microcatheter, the Navicath (Type-MUTO) microcatheter, for facilitating the stenting procedure subsequent to ablation using a rotablator (rota-stenting) is described. A method for measuring the length of the targeted lesion (lesion length) angiographically with the Navicath when exchanging the guide wires is presented using 2 representative cases of rota-stenting. In addition, the validity of the selected stent according to the measurement of lesion length with the Navicath was evaluated by comparing the length of the selected stent with lesion length before PCI measured by quantitative coronary angiography. Based on the results obtained, we believe the Navicath is useful for facilitating rota-stenting, and may even be applicable to PCI in general.

[Survivor of cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction with Churg-Strauss syndrome: first angiographic documention of coronary recanalization of infarct-related arteries: a case report].

A 42-year-old man was treated under a diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome with predonisolone pulse therapy. Three days later, he developed cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed total occlusions in three peripheral coronary vessels. Intraaortic balloon pumping was used to maintain hemodynamics and predonisolone pulse therapy was repeated. However, he developed cardiogenic shock again after the second pulse therapy and needed percutaneous cardiopulmonary support and intraaortic balloon pumping. Accordingly, combination therapy of predonisolone and cyclophosphamide was given. He then recovered. Follow-up angiography showed recanalization of the infarct-related arteries.

Usefulness of a 6 fr right judkins catheter for mechanically extracting a massive intracoronary thrombus from an ectasic right coronary artery: a report on two different cases of thrombectomy.

In order to bail out the slow-flow phenomenon (slow flow) created by a massive thrombus in an ectasic right coronary artery, a thrombus was mechanically extracted with a 6 Fr right Judkins (JR) catheter, which proved to be more useful than a usual thrombectomy using a Rescue PT system catheter (Rescue). In case 1, the Rescue was used in combination with thrombolysis but failed to alleviate the slow flow that was implicated in a large infarction. On the other hand, in case 2, aggressive thrombectomy with a 6 Fr JR catheter with an 8 Fr Amplatz guiding catheter successfully extracted the massive intracoronary thrombus, restoring good coronary flow. Therefore, mechanical extraction with a 6 Fr JR catheter is safe and useful in cases of massive thrombus when diffuse coronary artery ectasia complicates an acute myocardial infarction. In addition, this method should be applicable to cases of acute coronary syndrome with massive thrombus.