Influence of sorghum grain processing on performance and nutrient digestibilities in dairy cows fed varying concentrations of fat

Forty Holstein cows averaging 85 +/- 50 d in milk were assigned to five dietary treatments for 56 d to determine the effects of ruminal starch degradability and supplemental fat on milk yield and composition and nutrient digestibilities. Treatments were 1) dry-rolled sorghum, no added fat; 2) dry-rolled sorghum plus 2.5% prilled fatty acids; 3) steam-flaked sorghum, no added fat; 4) steam-flaked sorghum plus 2.5% prilled fatty acids; and 5) steam-flaked sorghum plus 5% prilled fatty acids. Fat supplementation at 2.5 and 5% increased the content of fatty acids in diets from 3.0 to 5.4 and 7.7%, respectively. Milk yield was increased 2.0 kg/d when steam-flaked sorghum plus 0 or 2.5% added fat was fed and was 2.4 kg/d higher when prilled fatty acids were fed at 2.5 versus 0%. Cows fed supplemental fat at 5% did not increase milk yield over that of cows fed no added fat. For cows fed 2.5% fat, steam-flaking decreased dry matter intake 12% and increased efficiency of conversion of feed to milk 11%. Milk composition was unaffected by treatments, except that lactose was depressed by fat supplementation. Milk protein yield and efficiency of conversion of dietary protein to milk protein were increased when steam-flaked sorghum was fed. Starch digestibilities were increased from 92.6 to 98.2% when sorghum was steam-flaked compared with dry-rolled and fat supplementation tended to decrease digestibility of neutral detergent fiber. Steam-flaking tended to improve, and the addition of 2.5% fat did improve, the lactational performances of the cows. These effects appeared additive, but 5% fat appeared to be excessive.     

Response of lactating dairy cows to various densities of sorghum grain

To examine the effects of various densities of sorghum grain resulting in graded levels of ruminally degradable starch on lactational performance, 32 lactating Holstein cows (90 d in milk [DIM]) were assigned to four treatments for 58 d. Diets contained 37% alfalfa hay, 3% cottonseed hulls, 10% whole cottonseed, 6% soybean meal, 5% of a molasses-mineral-vitamin supplement, and 39% sorghum grain. Treatments were dry-rolled sorghum (DRS) at 643 g/L or stream-flaked sorghum (SF) at 437, 360, and 283 g/L. Dry matter intake was highest for DRS followed by SF360, with the linear (P < .01) and cubic (P < .05) effects significant. The linear decrease in milk (P < .05) and 3.5% fat corrected milk (FCM, P < .025) with decreased density of sorghum was because of large decreases on SF283. Steam-flaking increased total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, starch, and ADF when compared with dry-rolling. Efficiency of conversion of feed DM to FCM and feed CP to milk protein were greater for sorghum flaked at 437 and 360 g/L than for DRS or the 283 g/L flake. The 283 g/L flake decreased DMI, milk yield, and milk fat percentage. Addition of buffer (1% NaHCO3) tended to ameliorate the decrease in DMI. These data show greater efficiency of feed utilization and conversion of feed CP to milk protein in cows fed sorghum grain flaked at 437 and 360 g/L compared with those fed dry-rolled sorghum or that flaked at 283 g/L.     

Intake and digestion by Holstein steers consuming diets based on litter harvested after different numbers of broiler growing periods or with molasses addition before deep-stacking

We determined the effects on feed intake and digestibility by Holstein steers of 1) the number of broiler growing periods before litter harvest and dietary level of broiler litter and 2) level of molasses added to broiler litter before deep-stacking. In Exp. 1, eight steers (179+/-7.4 kg average BW) were used in two simultaneous 4 x 4 Latin squares (2 x 4 factorial) with 21-d periods. Broiler litter harvested after one, three, or six 6-wk growing periods (1P, 3P, and 6P, respectively) mixed with .5 or 1.5% BW of ground corn (.5C and 1.5C, respectively) was consumed ad libitum. Bermudagrass hay was fed to 1P, 3P, and 6P steers at .5% BW and was ingested ad libitum by Control steers, along with feeding of .5 or 1.5% BW of corn (DM basis). Broiler litter was 63, 43, and 35% NDF, 2.2, 3.5, and 4.1% N, and 18, 30, and 27% ash for 1P, 3P, and 6P, respectively. Total tract digestibility of NDF was 53.7, 29.4, 50.4, 58.1, 31.3, 30.8, 34.1, and 49.5% (SE 3.50), and digestible OM intake was 2.21, 1.70, 2.27, 2.39, 2.26, 3.18, 2.93, and 3.34 kg/d (SE .160) for .5C-Control, .5C-1P, .5C-3P, .5C-6P, 1.5C-Control, 1.5C-1P, 1.5C-3P, and 1.5C-6P, respectively. In Exp. 2, five steers (228+/-6.0 kg average BW) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square with 21-d periods. Offered diets were 15% bermudagrass hay and 60% broiler litter (6P of Exp. 1; DM). Molasses was offered at 0, 3.2, or 6.7% of total DM, with the balance of the diet composed of corn. Molasses for two treatments was mixed with litter at meals, whereas for two other treatments molasses and litter were mixed before deep-stacking. Only a few minor treatment effects on intakes and digestibilities occurred. In conclusion, digestible OM intake by growing steers was less for litter harvested after one broiler growing period than after three or six when fed with only .5% BW of corn, although the effect of the number of periods was negligible with corn given at 1.5% BW. Molasses addition before deep-stacking or at meals did not enhance feeding value of litter harvested after six broiler growing periods.     

Monoclonal antibodies to mammalian heat shock proteins impair mouse embryo development in vitro

Two-cell mouse embryos (B6D2F1) were cultured in the presence or absence of 100 microg/ml monoclonal antibodies specific for the mammalian 60 kDa (HSP60), 70 kDa (HSP70) and 90 kDa (HSP90) heat shock proteins. Embryo development was evaluated after 3, 5 and 7 days in culture by determining the number of blastocysts, hatched blastocysts and outgrown trophoblasts at the successive time points. At day 3, only 29% (22/75) of the embryos cultured with anti-HSP60 antibody developed to the blastocyst stage (P < 0.0001) as compared to 67% (31/46) of the embryos cultured with anti-HSP70, 72% (43/60) cultured with anti-HSP90, and 79% (49/62) in medium plus mouse IgG1. By day 5, hatched embryos were present in 28% (13/ 46) of the cultures containing anti-HSP70 (P < 0.0001), as opposed to 57% (34/60) containing anti-HSP90 and 73% (45/62) containing IgG1. At day 7, outgrown trophoblasts were observed in 9% (4/46) of cultures containing anti-HSP70 (P < 0.0001), 45% (27/60) containing anti-HSP90 (P < 0.01) and 66% (41/62) cultured in medium plus IgG1. Antibodies to different heat shock proteins exerted a detrimental effect on mouse embryo development at unique development stages. Immune sensitization to heat shock proteins may be a cause of reproductive failure.     

Influence of fat source and sorghum grain treatment on performance and digestibilities of high yielding dairy cows

Forty-eight lactating Holstein cows averaging 81 d in milk were allotted to eight blocks based on milk yield during the 14-d pretreatment period and randomly assigned to six treatment groups in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments for 64 d. Factors were type of sorghum grain processing [dry-rolled vs. steam-flaked; fed at 34% of dry matter (DM) in a total mixed ration (TMR) based on alfalfa] and type of supplemental fat (2.5% of DM as cottonseed oil, tallow, or prilled fatty acids). Compared with dry-rolled sorghum, steam-flaked sorghum did not affect milk yield, fat percentage, or fat yield but did increase milk protein percentage, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation (22%). Fat source did not affect lactational response, but, compared with tallow, prilled fatty acids tended to decrease DM intake. Steam-flaked sorghum, compared with dry-rolled sorghum, increased digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and starch, regardless of fat source. The TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of DM and organic matter than did TMR containing cottonseed oil or tallow; and TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of crude protein and total fatty acids than did TMR containing tallow. This study showed that steam-flaking of sorghum grain increased milk protein content, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation, regardless of dietary fat source.     

Cytochrome P450 and dependent activities in unexposed and PAH-exposed terrestrial annelids

The cytochrome P450 system of the oligochaetes Eisenia f. fetida (tiger worm) and Enchytraeus crypticus (pot worm) was analysed using ethoxy-, pentoxy- and benzoxyresorufin as substrates for monooxygenase activity. Whole body microsomes of the earthworm E.f. fetida displayed PentROD activity in the range from 0.26 to 1.05 pmol mg protein-1 min-1 and BenzROD activity in the range from 0.14 to 0.30 pmol mg protein-1 min-1. Exposure of the animals for up to four weeks to 100 mg fluoranthene or benzo[a]pyrene kg-1 soil (dry weight) did not induce significant changes in the activity of these monooxygenases. In E. crypticus EROD activity was in the range from 2.10 to 6.18 pmol mg protein-1 min-1 and PentROD activity in the range from 1.75 to 4.78 pmol mg protein-1 min-1. Short-term exposure to BaP by feeding reduced the EROD activity significantly by 45%, but did not effect PentROD activity. After long-term (8 weeks) exposure to BaP in the agar-agar medium EROD activity was not changed but PentROD had decreased to zero. In both species cytochrome P420 and NADPH-cytochrome C reductase activity were present. In E.f. fetida microsomes are associated with the giant haemoglobin. Both can be separated by gel filtration on a Sepharose B2 column or by hydrophobic interaction chromatography after solubilisation with cholate. NADPH-cytochrome C reductase elutes together with haemoglobin. Cytochrome P420 is eluted with Emulgen 911 and can be further purified by ion exchange chromatography using HA-Ultrogel. By SDS-PAGE of the purified microsomal proteins three protein bands are visualised in the range of cytochrome P450 displaying an apparent molecular mass of 54, 56 and 58 kDa. Only the 54-kDa protein interacts weakly with perch (Perca fluviatilis) CYP1A antibodies, while two proteins with an apparent molecular mass of 65 and 71 kDa give a strong antibody signal.     

Omeprazole 10 milligrams once daily, omeprazole 20 milligrams once daily, or ranitidine 150 milligrams twice daily, evaluated as initial therapy for the relief of symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in general practice

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of omeprazole, 20 mg once daily, in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis and the therapeutic advantages over the histamine H2 receptor antagonists are well documented. This study assessed 20 mg omeprazole daily (OM20), 10 mg omeprazole daily (OM10), and 150 mg ranitidine (RAN) twice daily for symptom relief in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). METHODS: Patients (n = 994) presenting with heartburn to their general practitioner underwent endoscopy to exclude peptic ulcer disease and were randomized into a UK, multicentre, parallel-group, double-blind comparison of the three treatments for 4 weeks. Symptoms were assessed at clinic visits after 2 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: Symptom relief after 4 weeks was achieved by 61% (OM20), 49% (OM10), and 40% (RAN) patients (OM20 versus OM10, P < 0.0167; OM20 versus RAN, P < 0.0001; OM10 versus RAN, P < 0.01). Among the patients (32%) with erosive reflux oesophagitis, symptom relief was achieved in 79% (OM20), 48% (OM10), and 33% (RAN) (OM20 versus OM10, P < 0.0001; OM20 versus RAN, P < 0.0001; OM1O versus RAN, NS). CONCLUSION: Omeprazole, 20 mg, is the most effective initial therapy for relief of GORD symptoms.     

Limiting amino acids in meat and bone and poultry by-product meals

In situ, digestion, and growth studies were conducted to evaluate four meat and bone meals and six poultry by-product meals as sources of escape protein and to predict the first-limiting amino acid for growing calves. Escape protein values, determined by 12-h in situ incubation, ranged from 41.7 to 51.0% of CP for meat and bone meals; poultry by-product meals ranged from 32.0 to 39.8%. True protein digestion in the gastrointestinal tract of lambs differed among protein sources (P < .05), ranging from 79 to 95%. In each of three growth trials, 60 steers (258 +/- 24, 241 +/- 23, and 230 +/- 16 kg for Trials 1, 2, and 3, respectively) were supplemented with 4 of the 10 protein sources along with a urea supplement. Protein sources were fed at 30, 40, 50, and 60% of the supplemental CP, with urea supplying the remainder. Protein efficiency differed among treatments ( P < .10), ranging from .61 to 1.55. Amino acid composition was determined for each protein source, and the individual metabolizable amino acids were regressed on the protein efficiency values. Escape protein values were correlated (R2 = .75) with protein efficiency but had a negative slope. Metabolizable methionine was the only amino acid moderately correlated (R2 = .40, slope = 1.9) to protein efficiency, whereas other amino acids either correlated poorly or had negative slopes. These data indicate that the protein value of meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal is limited by the amount of metabolizable methionine they contain.     

Group II phospholipase A2 as an autocrine growth factor mediating interleukin-1 action on mesangial cells

The effects of intravenous (3 mg/kg i.v.) and intraplantar (50 micrograms/50 microliters i.pl.) morphine were investigated on spinal c-Fos expression induced 2 h after intraplantar carrageenin (6 mg/150 microliters of saline) and on carrageenin (2 mg/150 microliters of saline) induced mechanical hyperalgesia, at day 4, in both naive and chronic morphine treated (80 mg/kg/day s.c. on days 1, 2 and 3) rats. In naive rats, i.v. and i.pl. morphine significantly decreased spinal c-Fos expression (64 +/- 4% and 44 +/- 4% reduction of control carrageenin c-Fos expression, P < 0.0001 for both, respectively) and mechanical hyperalgesia (maximal increase: 326 +/- 29%, P < 0.0001 and 87 +/- 5%, P < 0.005 of control carrageenin paw pressure vocalisation threshold (VTPP), respectively), which only developed in the carrageenin injected paw. Both treatments were ineffective in chronic morphine treated rats (92 +/- 9% and 106 +/- 6% of control carrageenin c-Fos expression; 33 +/- 17% and 30 +/- 15% increase of control carrageenin VTPP, respectively). Furthermore, only i.v. morphine increased the VTPP in the contralateral paw, in naive rats (maximal increase: 90 +/- 8%, P < 0.0001 of control carrageenin VTPP), its effects being significantly less pronounced than for the inflamed paw (P < 0.0001). These studies based on spinal c-Fos expression as an indirect marker of spinal nociceptive processes and on behavioural experiments clearly revealed that chronic treatment with systemic morphine induced tolerance to both its systemic and peripheral effects.     

Lactic acid production from molasses by Sporolactobacillus cellulosolvens

Sporolactobacillus cellulosolvens (NCIMB 12173) isolated from an anaerobic digester and characterised biochemically is being reported for homofermentative lactic acid production from molasses in a batch culture. The effect of various process parameters on lactic acid production were optimized. A maximum lactic acid (24.2 g/l) and yield coefficient (0.79) was achieved using 3% (v/v) inoculum of 36 h old culture in molasses medium containing sugars (5%; w/v) supplemented with peptone (2.5 g/l) and (NH4)2SO4 (7.5 g/l), pH 6.5 at 40 degrees C after 72 h of fermentation.     

铁锂废料回收制备电池级碳酸锂和磷酸铁工艺研究

采用HCl+H_2O_2体系对铁锂废料选择性提锂,浸出液除杂沉Li_2CO_3;浸出渣盐酸酸溶后,采用Na_2CO_3控制pH制备FePO_4·2H_2O。主要研究盐酸用量、H_2O_2用量和液固比对锂浸出率的影响;反应pH、反应温度、反应物Fe/P比对FePO_4·2H_2O产品质量的影响。两工序后液混合可获得Li_3PO_4副产物。工艺中无铁的废渣产生,锂回收率达到97%,铁回收率达到98%。     

Comparison of two ammoniation procedures to reduce the toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed fed to rats

To determine the effect of extending the duration of ammonia (2% dry matter basis) treatment ti'om 1 to 5 wk on the toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed, 60 male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following six treatments during a 28-d trial: endophyte-free (E-), endophyte-infected (E+), 1 wk ammoniated endophyte-fee (1AE-), 1 wk ammoniated endophyte-infected (1AE+), 5 wk ammoniated endophyte-free (5AE-), and 5 wk ammoniated endophyte-infected (5AE+) tall fescue seed. The concentration of total pyrrolizidine alkaloids (N-acetyl and N-formyl loline) or E+ rescue was reduced from 4203 12 g/g to 3009 and 2533 I-tg/g by the 1AE+ and 5AE+ treatments, respectively. Ergovaline was lowered from 3.77 to 1.57 12 g/g by 1AE+ and eliminated by 5AE+. Endophyte-infected treatment groups had depressed (P < 0.0001) dally feed intakes (DFI), daily weight gains (DWG), feed efficiencies (G/F), primary antibody responses, and T cell and B cell mitogenic responses than endophyte-free treatment groups. Ammoniation of endophyte-infected rescue seed improved DFI and DWG (P < 0.0001) and G/F (P < 0.05); however, there was no difference in performance criteria between the 1-wk and 5-wk ammoniation treatments. Endophyte-induced depressions in immune function were not alleviated by ammoniation.     

Evidence for coupled electron and proton transfer in the [8Fe-7S] cluster of nitrogenase

Substrate reduction by nitrogenase requires electron transfer from a [4Fe-4S] cluster in the iron (Fe) protein component to an FeMo cofactor in the molybdenum-iron (MoFe) protein component in a reaction that is coupled to MgATP hydrolysis and component protein association and dissociation. An [8Fe-7S] (or P-) cluster in the MoFe protein has been proposed as an intermediate electron-transfer site, although how this cluster functions in electron-transfer remains unclear. In the present work, it is demonstrated that one redox couple of the P-cluster (P2+/1+) undergoes coupled electron and proton transfer, whereas a more reduced couple (P1+/N) does not involve a coupled proton transfer. Redox titrations of the MoFe protein P-cluster were performed, and the midpoint potential of the P2+/1+ couple (Em2) was found to be pH dependent, ranging from -224 mV at pH 6.0 to -348 mV at pH 8.5. A plot of Em2 versus the pH for this redox couple was linear and revealed a change of -53 mV/pH unit, indicating a single protonation event associated with reduction. From this plot, it was concluded that p is <6.0 and p is >8.5 in a proton-modified Nernst equation. In contrast, the midpoint potential for the P1+/N couple (Em1) was found to be -290 mV and was invariant over the pH range 6.0-8.5. These results indicate that the protonated species does not influence either the P1+ or the PN oxidation states. In addition, at physiological pH values, electron transfer is coupled to proton transfer for the P2+/1+ couple. The P-clusters are unique among [Fe-S] clusters in that they appear to be ligated to the protein through a serinate-gammaO ligand (betaSer188) and a peptide bond amide-N ligand (alphaCys88), in addition to cysteinate-S ligands. Elimination of the serinate ligand by replacement with a glycine was found to shift the Em values for both P-cluster couples by greater than +60 mV, however the pH dependence of Em2 was unchanged. These results rule out Ser188 as the protonated ligand responsible for the pH dependence of Em2. The implications of these results in understanding the nitrogenase electron-transfer mechanism are discussed.     

Implant and prosthetic principles according to the desired prosthesis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prolonged infusions of H2-antagonists are commonly used in intensive care units, although little is known about their antisecretory efficacy beyond the initial 24 hours of dosing. The aim of this study was to assess the antisecretory effects of infusions of ranitidine and omeprazole for a period of 72 hours. METHODS: Twelve healthy volunteers received individually titrated 72-hour intravenous infusions of omeprazole, ranitidine, or placebo in a double-blind, crossover study. Gastric pH and dosing requirements were compared. RESULTS: The median percentage of time with pH > 4 (interquartile range) was 93% (88%-95%) on day 1 and 96% (94%-99%) on day 3 with omeprazole and 67% (56%-78%) and 43% (31%-51%), respectively, with ranitidine (both P < 0.001 vs. omeprazole). The mean doses (+/- SD) required on days 1 and 3 for omeprazole were 235.8 +/- 44 mg and 134.0 +/- 37 mg (P < 0.0001), and ranitidine doses were 502.5 +/- 76 mg and 541.8 +/- 25 mg, respectively (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole infusions consistently maintained gastric pH above 4 over a period of 72 hours with progressively lower doses. Significant tolerance to the antisecretory effect of ranitidine infusion developed in 72 hours, which was not overcome despite individually titrated doses of more than 500 mg/24 hours. Consequently, application of pharmacodynamic results of single-day H2-blocker and proton-pump inhibitor studies to prolonged infusion trials for stress ulcer-related bleeding is inappropriate.     

Protozoal parasites in tick species infesting camels in Sinai Peninsula

The objectives of this study were to determine whether treatment of forage with heat would reduce proteolysis during subsequent fermentation. In Experiment 1, direct-cut barley forage and alfalfa were untreated, microwaved, or steamed and then ensiled in laboratory silos as wilted forages. Silages of microwaved or steamed forage showed a marked increase in N bound to neutral detergent fiber and in the recovery of protein; however, alfalfa silages also had high pH values and concentrations of butyric acid. In Experiment 2, steam heating was compared with formic acid and NH3 treatments for the prevention of proteolysis in alfalfa silages. Silage of steamed alfalfa had a greater amount of N bound to neutral detergent fiber and greater recovery of protein than did control silage or silages of forage treated with formic acid or NH3. Silage of steamed forage had lower pH values than did silages of wilted, direct-cut, or control forage. Microbial innoculant added to steamed forage increased the recovery of protein. Silage of steamed forage had less aerobic stability than did silage of direct-cut forage. Ruminal degradability of crude protein (CP) and organic matter of silage from both experiments was evaluated. Degradability of CP was 8 to 26 percentage units lower in silages of microwaved or steamed forage in Experiment 1 than in silage of unheated forage because of slower degradation rates, but all had similar undegraded CP after incubation for 72 h. In Experiment 2, wilting, steam, formic acid, and NH3 treatments affected CP degradability similarly, but CP degradability was decreased when compared with silage of direct-cut forage without treatment.     

Ascorbic acid reduces the endotoxin-induced lung injury in awake sheep

Our aim was to investigate whether ascorbic acid can reduce reactive oxygen metabolite-mediated acute lung injury. The effects of intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin were studied, with and without ascorbic acid infusion, on haemodynamics, lung lymph flow, cardio-respiratory and neutrophil function in chronically instrumented sheep. Paired experiments were performed on eight sheep in which they received either endotoxin alone (0.5 micrograms kg-1 b.w.) (ET group) or in combination with an ascorbic acid infusion (1 g kg-1 b.w. bolus injection followed by 0.2 g kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion) ET + ASC group) in random order. Four of the animals also received ascorbic acid alone (ASC group). As a result, for the ET + ASC group a general and mostly significant improvement (P < 0.05) in the early hypertensive phase (0-60 min, P values) and in the late permeability phase (2-4 h, *P values) of cardiorespiratory function (mean artery pressure: P/*P = 0.283/0.049; mean pulmonary artery pressure: P/*P = 0.0001/0.0001; mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure: P/*P = 0.012/0.001; right ventricular stroke work index: P/*P = 0.02/0.0001; cardiac index: P/*P = 0.797/0.755; arterial oxygen saturation: P/*P = 0.0059/0.01; arterial-venous difference of oxygen tension: P/*P = 0.011/0.0005), oxygen consumption: P/*P = 0.013/0.035, lung lymph flow: P/*P = 0.562/0.012, lymph/plasma protein ratio: P/*P = 0.304/0.008 and protein clearance: P/*P = 0.56/0.05 was observed in comparison with the ET group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

P204从高铝粉煤灰硫酸浸液中萃取除铁

主要针对高铝粉煤灰酸浸液中铁铝萃取分离性能进行研究,通过模拟高铝粉煤灰酸浸液(C(Al3+)=37.1 g/L,C(Fe3+)=5.1 g/L),采用P204+260#溶剂油萃取体系,对组成液中铁铝进行萃取分离,系统研究了P204体积分数、温度、反应时间、溶液初始pH值、相比V(O):V(A)等因素对萃取和反萃的影响,...     

On the synthesis of platelet-activating factor via acetylation of 1-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Formation of structural isomer of PAF in the presence of bases

Duodenal motor activity is incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to define the contractile patterns of the duodenum that occur in response to rate controlled injection of various solutions. In nine healthy volunteers we placed a six channel perfused catheter, and recorded pressure activity in the antrum, pylorus and duodenum. Volumes of 10 and 20 mL of 0.9% NaCl, 100 mM HCl (pH 1), 5% NaCl (1711 mOsm/kg), human bile and iso-osmolar sodium oleate were randomly injected into the duodenum at 20 ml/min, starting 15 min after phase III migratory motor complex (MMC). A 20 mL bolus of each solution caused more activity (P < 0.05) than a 10 mL bolus, but the motor pattern was similar. The control, 0.9% NaCl, produced occasional pressure waves, whereas bile and sodium oleate induced more (P < 0.05) activity which consisted of low amplitude, isolated or clusters (2-4 cycle/min) of non-propagating pressure waves that occurred at random sites. In three subjects, oleate produced isolated pyloric phasic contractions. In contrast, HCl and 5% NaCl induced high amplitude pressure waves that were seen either at a single channel or at multiple channels, occurring simultaneously. The motility index was also greater (P < 0.05) than that induced by other solutions. Additionally, within 2 min of infusion, a phase III MMC like pattern was observed in five of the nine subjects who received HCl and three of the nine who received 5% NaCl. A non-nutrient iso-osmolar solution induced occasional motor activity. HCl and hyperosmolar solutions induced more frequent and large amplitude, segmental contractions whereas lipid and bile induced fewer and smaller amplitude contractions. The volume, the pH, the osmolar and the nutrient make up of the infusate may each influence the duodenal motor responses.     

Loss of myocardial protection after preconditioning correlates with the time course of glycogen recovery within the preconditioned segment

BACKGROUND: Although previous investigators have demonstrated that myocardial preconditioning reduces infarct size, the mechanisms of cardioprotection associated with preconditioning are not completely understood. METHODS AND RESULTS: To test the hypothesis that preconditioning (four 5-minute episodes of ischemia each followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion) reduces infarct size by depleting cardiac glycogen stores and attenuating the degree of intracellular acidosis during subsequent prolonged left coronary artery occlusion, preconditioned and control rats were subjected to 45 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion and 120 minutes of reflow immediately after preconditioning (groups 1P and 1C, respectively) or after 30 minutes (groups 2P+30m and 2C), 1 hour (groups 3P+60m and 3C), or 6 hours (groups 4P+360m and 4C) of nonischemic recovery after preconditioning but before prolonged ischemia. In each group, cardiectomy was performed in selected rats immediately before prolonged ischemia for cardiac glycogen assay. In selected animals, 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed to monitor intracellular pH and measure high-energy phosphate levels during ischemia and reperfusion. Group 1P rats demonstrated marked glycogen depletion after preconditioning compared with controls (0.72 +/- 0.39 [n = 9] versus 5.67 +/- 1.73 [n = 12] mg glucose/g wet wt; p < 0.001 versus group 1C) that was associated with attenuation of intracellular acidosis during ischemia, as measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (6.8 +/- 0.3 [n = 11] versus 6.2 +/- 0.3 [n = 9] pH units; p < 0.01), and marked infarct size reduction (0.3 +/- 0.6% [n = 7] versus 38.1 +/- 11.3% [n = 7], infarct size divided by risk area; p < 0.0001). During ischemia, there were no differences in myocardial ATP or phosphocreatine levels or in any hemodynamic determinant of myocardial oxygen demand between groups 1P and 1C. In preconditioned rats that were allowed to recover before ischemia (groups 2P+30m, 3P+60m, and 4P+360m), the time course of glycogen repletion paralleled the loss of protection from ischemic injury. CONCLUSIONS: Glycogen depletion and the attenuation of intracellular acidosis during ischemia appear to be important factors in delaying irreversible injury and reducing infarct size in this animal model of myocardial preconditioning.     

Columnar alteration with prominent apical snouts and secretions: a spectrum of changes frequently present in breast biopsies performed for microcalcifications

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of treatment with an inactivated, gp120-depleted, HIV-1 immunogen (Remune) in 30 Thai subjects infected with HIV-1 subtype E. DESIGN: Sixty-week open-label study. METHODS: Thirty HIV-positive volunteers with CD4 cell counts > or = 300 x 10(6)/l were given intramuscular injections of Remune into the triceps muscle on day 1 and then at weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60. RESULTS: Treatment with Remune was well-tolerated and augmented HIV-1-specific immune responses. Furthermore, subjects had a significant increase in CD4 cell count (P < 0.0001), CD4 cell percentage (P < 0.0001), CD8 cell percentage (P < 0.0001), and body weight (P < 0.0001) compared with pretreatment levels. Fourteen subjects with detectable viral load at day 1 showed a decrease at week 60 (P=0.04). Retrospective Western blot analysis showed 23 subjects with increased intensity of antibody bands and 15 patients showed development of new reactivities to HIV proteins, especially towards p17 and p15. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that HIV-specific immune-based therapeutic approaches such as Remune should be further examined in countries with different clades of HIV-1 and where access to antiviral drug therapies is limited.