Influence of lipase and/or emulsifier addition on the ileal and faecal nutrient digestibility in growing pigs fed diets containing 4% animal fat

Information on the addition of lipase and/or emulsifiers to less digestible or saturated fat sources, such as tallow or other animal fats, used in swine feeding is very limited. Therefore, in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, the effects of adding lipase (0.05% L5, microbial source) and/or an emulsifier (0.3% Lysoforte) on the apparent ileal (AID) and faecal (AFD) digestibility of the main nutrients and fatty acids in particular were studied with four ileal‐cannulated growing pigs (female, initial live weight 20 kg) fed diets containing barley/soybean meal supplemented with 4% animal fat. The fat source contained 35% saturated (S) and 65% unsaturated (U) fatty acids. All diets were free of antibacterial substances (antibiotics, copper sulphate or zinc oxide beyond requirements), in order to avoid interactions between the parameters studied and the gut flora. Lipase addition did not affect the AID or AFD of fat. However, the digestibility of minor fatty acids (C6:0, C14:0) was significantly improved by lipase at both ileal and faecal level. On the other hand, lipase supplementation (P < 0.05) improved the AID of dry matter (DM) and energy as well as the AFD of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ash and energy. Addition of an emulsifier did not have any significant influence on the AID or AFD of fat, while the AID values of DM, OM, CP and energy as well as the AFD values of DM, OM, CP and ash were significantly (P < 0.05) improved. Adding lipase in combination with an emulsifier to the diets decreased (P < 0.05) the AID and AFD of fat, with minor effects on the AID and AFD of the non‐fat components of the diet. The lack of improvement in the digestion of fat by exogenous lipase and/or emulsifier may be related to the rather high U/S ratio (0.65:0.35) of the animal fat source used and to the mode of incorporation of the emulsifier (no pre‐dispersion in the fat source). Furthermore, during the trial the diets, stored at room temperature, showed a steady increase in their content of free fatty acids (to more than 700 g kg^?1 fat), due to endogenous lipase activity, leaving less room for upgrading the digestion of animal fat by exogenous lipase and/or emulsifier. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Elevated carbon dioxide affects fruit flavor in field‐grown strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch)

The effect of elevated carbon dioxide on fruit quality and aroma volatile composition in field‐grown strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) was studied. Elevating the ambient CO₂ concentration (ambient + 300, and ambient +600 µmol mol^?1 CO₂) resulted in high fruit dry matter, fructose, glucose and total sugar contents and low citric and malic acid contents. High CO₂ growing conditions significantly enhanced the fruit content of ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butanoate, methyl hexanoate, methyl butanonate, hexyl acetate, hexyl hexanoate, furaneol, linalool and methyl octanoate. Thus, the total amounts of these compounds were higher in berries grown in CO₂‐enriched conditions than those grown in ambient conditions. The highest CO₂ enrichment (600 µmol mol^?1) condition yielded fruit with the highest levels of these aroma compounds. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Currently available hypolipidaemic drugs and future therapeutic developments

Dyslipidaemia may be treated with a number of safe and effective pharmacological agents that target specific lipid disorders through a variety of mechanisms. The bile-acid sequestrants--cholestyramine and colestipol--primarily decrease LDL cholesterol by binding bile acids, thereby decreasing intrahepatic cholesterol, and by increasing the activity of LDL receptors. Nicotinic acid lowers LDL cholesterol and triglyceride by decreasing VLDL synthesis and by decreasing free fatty acid mobilization from peripheral adipocytes. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors--fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin--lower LDL cholesterol by partially inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase (the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis) and by increasing the activity of LDL receptors. The fibric-acid derivatives--bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, clofibrate, fenofibrate and gemfibrozil--primarily decrease triglyceride by increasing lipoprotein lipase activity and by decreasing the release of free fatty acids from peripheral adipose tissue. Probucol decreases LDL cholesterol by increasing non-receptor-mediated LDL clearance; as an anti-oxidant, probucol also decreases LDL oxidation; oxidized LDL which is thought to lead to atherogenesis. Although these agents have been proven safe in clinical trials, like any drug, they carry the risk for adverse effects. The bile-acid sequestrants may cause constipation, reflux oesophagitis, and dyspepsia, and may bind coadministered medications such as digitalis glycosides, beta blockers, warfarin, and exogenous thyroid hormone. Nicotinic acid use is commonly associated with flushing and pruritus and may also cause non-specific gastrointestinal complaints, hepatotoxicity (hepatic necrosis, hepatitis, or elevated liver enzymes), gout, myolysis, decreased glucose tolerance and increased fasting glucose levels, and ophthalmological complications including decreased visual acuity, toxic amblyopia, and cystic maculopathy. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may produce liver enzyme elevations, creatine kinase elevations and rhabdomyolysis. The combination of a reductase inhibitor and a fibrate increases the risk for rhabdomyolysis. Possible adverse effects of the fibric-acid derivatives include abdominal discomfort, nausea, flatulence, increased lithogenicity of bile, liver enzyme elevations and creatine kinase elevations. Probucol may increase the QTc interval and may cause non-specific gastrointestinal complaints.     

Intracellular location of inapparently infecting Chlamydia in synovial tissue from patients with Reiter's syndrome

Culture of Chlamydia trachomatis from synovial tissues/fluids from Reiter's syndrome (RS) patients frequently yields negative results. However, we have identified chlamydial RNA at that site in such patients, suggesting that viable organisms may be present. Here we define the cellular location of chlamydia within the synovium via in situ hybridization. Using a chlamydial ribosomal RNA-directed probe, we show that synovial tissue from culture-negative RS patients gives strong hybridization which is often localized to a subsynovial cell layer, rather than to the synovial lining; in some cases, hybridizing cells are dispersed through the synovium. All hybridization signal is located within host cells, indicating that infectious extracellular elementary bodies are rare or absent. These data confirm the extensive intracellular presence of inapparent chlamydia in the synovia of RS patients and provide some insight into the usual culture negativity of synovial tissues for the organism.     

Variation in the survival of women with breast cancer in Scotland. The Scottish Breast Cancer Focus Group and The Scottish Cancer Therapy Network

We have investigated factors influencing the survival of women with early breast cancer in Scotland. In a retrospective study, clinical, treatment and 'service' factors, e.g. surgical case load, deprivation and geographical area (health board of first treatment) were recorded from hospital records. A total of 2148 women with invasive breast cancer diagnosed in 1987 were identified from the Scottish Cancer Registry, of whom 1619 without metastases at diagnosis underwent surgery as part of their primary treatment. In a multivariate analysis, clinical factors (age, clinical stage, pathological tumour size, node status and oestrogen receptor status) all influenced survival. After allowing for these clinical factors, surgical case load and deprivation did not have statistically significant effects on survival. By contrast, health board did affect survival. This was explained in part by the selection of patients for surgery. There appeared, however, to be a residual effect that may be related to differences in the use of adjuvant systemic treatment among the different health boards. We conclude that, in Scotland, geographical variation in both surgical and non-surgical treatment has a greater effect on variability in survival for women with breast cancer than surgical case load and deprivation.