High frequency body mass measurement,feedback, and health behaviors

We analyze weight and fat percentage measurements of respondents in an online general population panel in the Netherlands, collected using wireless scales, with an average frequency of 1.6 measurements per week. First, we document the existence of a weekly cycle; body mass is lowest on Fridays and highest on Mondays, showing significant (p < 0.01) differences of, on average, 0.2 kilogram in weight, 0.06 in BMI value, and 0.03 in fat percentage. Second, we find that in the general population fat-based measures of obesity point at a three times larger prevalence of obesity (53%) than BMI-based measures (17%). Third, we find that feedback that includes a recommended weight range increases the temporal variation in individual body mass by almost ten percent (sd for weight increases from 1.13 to 1.22; sd for BMI increases from 0.37 to 0.41; sd for fat percentage increases from 0.55 to 0.61.     

Weekday Affects Attendance Rate for Medical Appointments: Large-Scale Data Analysis and Implications

The financial cost of missed appointments is so great that even a small percentage reduction in Did Not Attend (DNA) rate could save significant sums of money. Previous studies have identified many factors that predict DNA rate, including patient age, gender, and transport options. However, it is not obvious how healthcare providers can use this information to improve attendance, as such factors are not under their control. One factor that is under administrative control is appointment scheduling. Here we asked whether DNA rate could be reduced by altering scheduling policy. In Study 1, we examined attendance records for 4,538,294 outpatient hospital appointments across Scotland between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2010. DNA rate was highest for Mondays (11%), lowest for Fridays (9.7%), and decreased monotonically over the week (Monday-Friday comparison [χ²(1, N  = 1,585,545)  = 722.33, p<0.0001]; Relative Risk Reduction 11.8%). This weekly decline was present for male and female patient groups of all ages, but was steeper for younger age groups. In Study 2, we examined attendance records for 10,895 appointments at a single GP clinic in Glasgow. Here again, DNA rate was highest for Mondays (6.2%), lowest for Fridays (4.2%), and decreased monotonically over the week (Monday-Friday comparison [χ²(1, N  = 4767)  = 9.20, p<0.01]; Relative Risk Reduction 32.3%). In two very different settings, appointments at the beginning of the week were more likely to be missed than appointments at the end of the week. We suggest that DNA rate could be significantly reduced by preferentially loading appointments onto high-attendance days.     

Tasty straw pellets – Exploration of flavoured rooting material by pigs

Tail biting is a common problem in pigs kept in conventional fully slatted pens. Suitable enrichment materials can help to prevent the occurrence of this behavioural disorder by encouraging pigs to increase exploration behaviour. We investigated whether additional flavours can increase exploration behaviour in undocked pigs. Therefore, we offered straw pellets flavoured with either fried onion (FO), strawberry (SB), ginger, almond (AL), vanilla or without flavour (control) during rearing (eight groups in total) and fattening (16 groups in total). Flavoured pellets were offered in an altering order during intervals of 1 week in material dispensers. Exploration duration at the material dispensers was continuously recorded via an ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification system. Pigs were weighed weekly and their tail lengths and tail injuries were scored in four categories. For analysis, changes in tail length scores compared to the previous week were calculated as Δ-tail length. The different flavours affected pigs’ exploration durations in both rearing (factor flavour, P < 0.0001) and fattening (factor flavour, P < 0.0001). Highest exploration durations during rearing were recorded when straw pellets were flavoured with FO and AL compared to all others. During fattening, exploration duration was highest towards controls without significant difference to SB. Exploration durations additionally were affected by temporal effects, i.e. week and day during rearing (both factors: P < 0.0001) and fattening (both factors: P < 0.0001). During rearing, highest exploration durations were recorded in the first week and on the first day within week after changing the flavour of the straw pellets. During fattening, exploration durations varied between weeks and within weeks. The highest durations were recorded at the end of weeks, i.e. on the fifth and seventh days after material change. During rearing, tail injuries were affected by week (P < 0.0001). From the fourth week of rearing, the prevalence of tail injuries significantly increased. During the fattening period, tail injuries were affected by flavour (P < 0.05). Fattening pigs had fewest tail injuries after straw pellets flavoured with AL were offered. Altogether, based on the exploration durations, rearing pigs showed different preferences for the flavoured straw pellets but highly explored flavours differed between rearing and fattening pigs. Despite a weekly change of the flavour of straw pellets, exploration durations decreased during rearing but increased again in the transition between rearing and fattening. Thus, straw pellets with alternating flavours are a suitable possibility to provide environmental enrichment to pigs but will not prevent tail biting.     

Genetic predisposition scores for dyslipidaemia influence plasma lipid concentrations at baseline,but not the changes after controlled intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Inconsistent effects of fish oil supplementation on plasma lipids may be influenced by genetic variation. We investigated 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with dyslipidaemia in genome-wide association studies, in 310 participants randomised to treatment with placebo or 0.45, 0.9 and 1.8 g/day eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) (1.51:1) in a 12-month parallel controlled trial. Effects of risk alleles were assessed as trait-specific genetic predisposition scores (GPS) and singly. GPS were positively associated with baseline concentrations of plasma total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) and negatively with high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. The TG-GPS was associated with 0.210 mmol/L higher TG per risk allele (P < 0.0001), but no effects of single TG SNPs were significant at baseline. After treatment with EPA and DHA, TG-GPS was associated with 0.023 mmol/L lower TG per risk allele (P = 0.72). No interactions between GPS and treatment were significant; however, FADS1 SNP rs174546 C/T interaction with treatment was a significant determinant of plasma TG concentration (P = 0.047, n = 267). Concentration differed between genotype groups after the 1.8 g/day dose (P = 0.026), decreasing by 3.5 (95 % CI −15.1 to 8.2) % in non-carriers of the risk T-allele (n = 30) and by 21.6 (95 % CI −32.1 to −11.2) % in carriers (n = 37), who showed a highly significant difference between treatments (P = 0.007). Carriers of the FADS1 rs174546 risk allele could benefit from a high intake of EPA and DHA in normalising plasma TG.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-014-0412-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Associations between insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 and lipoprotein kinetics in men

Low circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) have been associated with dyslipidemia, notably with high triglyceride (TG) levels. However, the determinants by which IGFBP-2 influences lipoprotein metabolism, especially that of TG-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to assess the relationships between IGFBP-2 levels and lipoprotein production and catabolism in human subjects. Fasting IGFBP-2 concentrations were measured in the plasma of 219 men pooled from previous lipoprotein kinetics studies. We analyzed production rate and fractional catabolic rates of TRLapoB-48, and LDL-, IDL-, and VLDLapoB-100 by multicompartmental modeling of l-[5,5,5-D3] leucine enrichment data after a 12 h primed constant infusion in individuals kept in a constant nutritional steady state. Subjects had an average BMI of 30 kg/m², plasma IGFBP-2 levels of 157 ng/ml, and TG of 2.2 mmol/l. After adjustments for age and BMI, IGFBP-2 levels were negatively associated with plasma TG (r = ?0.29; P < 0.0001) and positively associated with HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.26; P < 0.0001). In addition, IGFBP-2 levels were positively associated with the fractional catabolic rate of VLDLapoB-100 (r = 0.20; P < 0.01) and IDLapoB-100 (r = 0.19; P < 0.05) and inversely with the production rate of TRLapoB-48 (r = ?0.28; P < 0.001). These correlations remained statistically significant after adjustments for age, BMI, and the amount of fat given during the tracer infusion. These findings show that the association between low plasma IGFBP-2 and high TG concentrations could be due to both an impaired clearance of apoB-100-containing VLDL and IDL particles and an increased production of apoB-48-containing chylomicrons. Additional studies are necessary to investigate whether and how IGFBP-2 directly impacts the kinetics of TRL.     

Quantitative Evaluation of the Impact of Bather Density on Levels of Human-Virulent Microsporidian Spores in Recreational Water

Microsporidial gastroenteritis, a serious disease of immunocompromised people, can have a waterborne etiology. During summer months, samples of recreational bathing waters were tested weekly for human-virulent microsporidian spores and water quality parameters in association with high and low bather numbers during weekends and weekdays, respectively. Enterocytozoon bieneusi spores were detected in 59% of weekend (n = 27) and 30% of weekday (n = 33) samples, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis spores were concomitant in a single weekend sample; the overall prevalence was 43%. The numbers of bathers, water turbidity levels, prevalences of spore-positive samples, and concentrations of spores were significantly higher for weekend than for weekday samples; P values were <0.001, <0.04, <0.03, and <0.04, respectively. Water turbidity and the concentration of waterborne spores were significantly correlated with bather density, with P values of <0.001 and <0.01, respectively. As all water samples were collected on days deemed acceptable for bathing by fecal bacterial standards, this study reinforces the scientific doubt about the reliability of bacterial indicators in predicting human waterborne pathogens. The study provides evidence that bathing in public waters can result in exposure to potentially viable microsporidian spores and that body contact recreation in potable water can play a role in the epidemiology of microsporidiosis. The study indicates that resuspension of bottom sediments by bathers resulted in elevated turbidity values and implies that the microbial load from both sediments and bathers can act as nonpoint sources for the contamination of recreational waters with Enterocytozoon bieneusi spores. Both these mechanisms can be considered for implementation in predictive models for contamination with microsporidian spores.     

Metabolic differences in hepatocytes of obese and lean pigs

There are important differences in terms of metabolic activity, energy utilization and capacity of protein and fat deposition when Iberian and modern pigs are compared. Primary culture of hepatocytes was used to evaluate hepatic function and sensitivity to hormones between breeds without the interference of circulating blood factors. Hepatocytes were isolated from pure Iberian (n=10) and Landrace (n=8) pigs of similar BW (24.5±12.1 and 32.9±6.1 kg BW, respectively), by collagenase perfusion. Monolayers were established in medium containing fetal bovine serum for 1 day and switched to serum-free medium for the remainder of the culture period. Hepatocytes were maintained in William’s E supplemented with β-mercaptoethanol (0.1 mM), glutamine (2 mM), antibiotics (gentamicin, penicillin, streptomycin and amphotericin B), dimethyl sulfoxide (1 µg/ml), dexamethasone (10⁻⁸ M), insulin (0.173 and 17.3 nM) and glucagon (0.287, 2.87 and 28.7 nM) for 24 to 48 h. Gluconeogenesis (GNG), glycogen degradation, triglycerides (TG) content and esterification, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) synthesis, IGF-1 synthesis, albumin and urea synthesis were determined. Iberian pigs had greater capacity of GNG than Landrace (24%, P<0.05), although no difference in glycogen degradation was found (P>0.10). TG content and esterification tended to be lower in hepatocytes from Iberian compared with Landrace pigs (12% and 31%, respectively; 0.10<P<0.05). Furthermore, addition of free fatty acids (CLA or linoleic acid, 0.2 mM) increased TG content (64%, P<0.001) although no difference between fatty acids was found. When free fatty acids were compared, a trend toward increased esterification (41%, P=0.078) was found for CLA. Although glucagon stimulated and insulin inhibited BHB synthesis, no difference between breeds was found (P>0.10). IGF-1 synthesis was diminished in hepatocytes from Iberian compared with Landrace pigs (16%, P<0.05). On the contrary, rate of albumin synthesis was greater in Iberian compared with Landrace pigs (58%, P<0.05). Finally, the capacity of urea synthesis was lower in hepatocytes of Iberian compared with Landrace pigs (37%, P<0.05). When ammonia was added to the media, urea concentration increased (648%, 1108% and 2791% when 0 mM was compared with 2.5, 5 and 10 mM, respectively). Urea synthesis increased on increasing ammonia content (55% and 325% when 0 mM was compared with 5 and 10 mM, respectively; P<0.0001). In conclusion, the genetic background accounts for important differences in protein and energy metabolism pathways found in primary culture of hepatocytes from lean and obese pigs.     

The effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour and faecal cortisol of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)

The effect of zoo visitors on the behaviour and physiological responses of the Mexican wolf has not been documented but is worthy of investigation since it is a critically endangered native species and most of the population live in zoos. The effect of the number of visitors was assessed in 12 wolves (five males and seven females) in three zoos of central Mexico. Each wolf was observed for a total of 72 h on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays (6 h/day) during a three-week period. Scan sampling was used to obtain individual time budgets. A faecal sample was collected on the following morning of each observation day from 10 wolves to determine cortisol level (RIA). A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that there was an effect of day on the proportion of time lying (P < 0.01), eating (P < 0.01) and in locomotion (P < 0.01). Wolves spent less time lying on Saturdays and Sundays (0.2980 ± 0.012 and 0.3266 ± 0.012, respectively) than on Mondays and Tuesdays (0.3821 ± 0.012 and 0.4075 ± 0.012, respectively), as well as less time eating on weekend days (Saturdays 0.1214 ± 0.015, Sundays 0.0556 ± 0.015) than in the other 2 days (Mondays 0.816 ± 0.015 and Tuesdays 0.0915 ± 0.015). Mean faecal cortisol was 203.7 ng/g of DM and ranged from 113.10 to 314.48 ng/g. There was an effect of day on the faecal cortisol response (P < 0.01) with wolves having higher cortisol response on Sundays (242.50 ng/g ± 8.48) compared to the other 3 days (Saturdays 192.71 ± 8.48, Mondays 170.73 ng/g ± 7.80, Tuesdays 183.82 ng/g ± 8.48). This is the first study that measures faecal cortisol of Mexican wolves. These results indicate that the amount of visitors in zoos influence the behaviour and adrenal activity of these animals which could be undesirable for ex situ conservation efforts of this endangered species.     

The effects of long-term low intensity aerobic training and detraining on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in elderly men and women

The effects of long-term low intensity aerobic training and detraining on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were examined in 30 elderly men and women. These subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The training group [n=15; 7 men and 8 women; mean age 75.5 (SD 5.6) years] agreed to take part in physical training using a treadmill with an exercise intensity at the blood lactate concentration threshold for 30 min 3–6 times a week for 9 months. The other group [n=15; 7 men and 8 women; mean age 73.7 (SD 4.4) years] did not perform any particular physical training and was followed as the control. Following this training period the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) had increased significantly (P<0.01) while the total cholesterol (TC) : HDL-C ratio had decreased significantly (P<0.01) in the training group after 9 months but had not changed in the control group. The TC, triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) had not changed significantly in either group. No significant difference was seen between the groups throughout the period for TC, LDLC or TG. There was, however, a significant correlation between the initial TC:HDL-C ratio and the change in the TC:HDL-C ratio following 3 months of training (P <0.05). After 1 month of detraining in 5 patients, the HDL-C had decreased significantly (P < 0.05) while the TC:HDL-C had increased significantly in the training group (P<0.01). These results suggested that long-term low intensity aerobic training improved the profile of serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, while detraining returned the profile to that of the pretraining levels in elderly persons.     

Conjugated linoleic acid and betaine affect lipolysis in pig adipose tissue explants

Consumers’ demand of leaner meat products is a challenge. Although betaine and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) have the potential to decrease porcine adipose tissue, their mode of action is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to determine the lipolytic effect of betaine and CLA in the adipose tissue of Iberian pigs. Adipose tissue explants from five pigs (38 kg BW) were prepared from dorsal subcutaneous adipose tissue samples and cultivated for 2 h (acute experiments) or 72 h (chronic experiments). Treatments included 100 µM linoleic acid (control), 100 µM trans-10, cis-12 CLA, 100 µM linoleic acid + 1 mM betaine and 100 µM trans-10, cis-12 CLA + 1 mM betaine (CLABET). To examine the ability of betaine or CLA to inhibit insulin’s suppression of isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis, test medium was amended with 1 µM isoproterenol ±10 nM insulin. Media glycerol was measured at the end of the incubations. Acute lipolysis (2 h) was increased by CLA and CLABET (85% to 121%; P < 0.05) under basal conditions. When lipolysis was stimulated with isoproterenol (1090%), acute exposure to betaine tended to increase (13%; P = 0.071), while CLA and CLABET increased (14% to 18%; P < 0.05) isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis compared with control. When insulin was added to isoproterenol-stimulated explants, lipolytic rate was decreased by 50% (P < 0.001). However, supplementation of betaine to the insulin + isoproterenol-containing medium tended to increase (P = 0.07), while CLABET increased (45%; P < 0.05) lipolysis, partly counteracting insulin inhibition. When culture was extended for 72 h, CLA decreased lipolysis under basal conditions (18%; P < 0.05) with no effect of betaine and CLABET (P > 0.10). When lipolysis was stimulated by isoproterenol (125% increase in rate compared with basal), CLA and CLABET decreased glycerol release (27%; P < 0.001) compared with control (isoproterenol alone). When insulin was added to isoproterenol-stimulated explants, isoproterenol stimulation of lipolysis was completely blunted and neither betaine nor CLA altered the inhibitory effect of insulin on lipolysis. Isoproterenol, and especially isoproterenol + insulin, stimulated leptin secretion compared with basal conditions (68% and 464%, respectively; P < 0.001), with no effect of CLA or betaine (P > 0.10). CLA decreased leptin release (25%; P < 0.001) when insulin was present in the media, partially inhibiting insulin stimulation of leptin release. In conclusion, betaine and CLA produced a biphasic response regarding lipolysis so that glycerol release was increased in acute conditions, while CLA decreased glycerol release and betaine had no effect in chronic conditions. Furthermore, CLA and CLABET indirectly increased lipolysis by reducing insulin-mediated inhibition of lipolysis during acute conditions.     

Weekly Pattern of Stroke Onset in an Asian Country: A Nationwide Population‐Based Study

This study used a nationwide population‐based dataset to explore the variation among the days of week of stroke onset within population subgroups defined by age, sex, and stroke type. We used ambulatory care data from the 2002 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, focusing on 42,779 emergency room (ER) visits for stroke that year. All analyses were stratified by sex, age (<60 and ≥60 yrs), and type of stroke. Auto‐Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) was performed to investigate the relationship between daily number of stroke events and holidays and days of the week after adjusting for the effects of seasonality and trends. One‐way ANOVA revealed significant differences in stroke ER admissions according to day of week according to age <60 (p<0.01), age ≥60 (p<0.001), male (p<0.001), female (p<0.001), ischemic stroke (IS) (p<0.001), and unspecified stroke (UNSP) (p<0.001). However, the analysis by type—subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage—did not show significant relationships between daily emergency room stroke admissions, holidays, or day of the week. The ARIMA regression analyses also showed that Mondays had the highest rate of emergency room admissions for stroke regardless of sex, age, or IS and UNSP types of stroke, after adjusting for seasonality and trends. We conclude that stroke occurs more frequently on Mondays than on the other days of the week, which might be associated with short‐term changes in lifestyle or due to the sudden return of stress on the first working day of the week, and on holidays.     

Eggs distinctly modulate plasma carotenoid and lipoprotein subclasses in adult men following a carbohydrate-restricted diet

We previously reported that carbohydrate restriction (CR) (10–15% en) during a weight loss intervention lowered plasma triglycerides (TG) by 45% in male subjects (P<.001). However, those subjects with a higher intake of cholesterol provided by eggs (640 mg additional cholesterol, EGG group) had higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P<.0001) than the individuals consuming lower amounts (0 mg of additional cholesterol, SUB group). The objectives of the present study were to evaluate whether CR and egg intake (1) modulate circulating carotenoids and (2) affect the concentrations of plasma apolipoproteins (apo), lipoprotein size and subfraction distribution. CR decreased the number of large and medium very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol subclasses (P<.001), while small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were reduced (P<.001). In agreement with these observations, a decrease in apo B (P<.01) was observed. In addition, CR resulted in a 133% increase in apo C-II and a 65% decrease in apo C-III (P<.0001). Although an increase of the larger LDL subclass was observed for all subjects, the EGG group had a greater increase (P<.05). The EGG group also presented a higher number of large HDL particles (P<.01) compared to the SUB group. Regarding carotenoids, CR resulted in no changes in dietary or plasma α- or β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin, while there was a significant reduction in both dietary and plasma lycopene (P<.001). In contrast, dietary lutein and zeaxanthin were increased during the intervention (P<.05). However, only those subjects from the EGG group presented higher concentrations of these two carotenoids in plasma, which were correlated with the higher concentrations of large LDL observed in the EGG group. These results indicate that CR favorably alters VLDL metabolism and apolipoprotein concentrations, while the components of the egg yolk favor the formation of larger LDL and HDL leading to an increase in plasma lutein and zeaxanthin.     

The effects of chromium picolinate on glucose and lipid metabolism in running rats

BackgroundChromium picolinate (CrPic) is commonly used to reduce muscle fatigue after exercise. We aimed to elucidate the effects of CrPic on glucose and lipid metabolism and the expression of glucose transporters in exercised rats.MethodsForty-two male Wistar rats (8-week-old) were distributed into six groups (n = 7) as follows: Control, CrPic, Chronic Exercise (CEx), CEx + CrPic, Acute Exercise (AEx), and AEx + CrPic. CEx consists of 30 m/min, 30 min/day, and 5 days/week for 6 weeks. CrPic was supplemented at 400 μg elemental Cr/kg of diet for 6 weeks. In the AEx groups, animals were run on the treadmill at 30 m/min until exhaustion.ResultsCEx significantly lowered blood glucose (BG), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, but elevated insulin concentration (IC), compared with control (P < 0.05). CEx significantly decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum, liver, and muscle while AEx elevated it (P < 0.001 for all). CrPic significantly decreased BG, TC, TG levels, and increased IC with a remarkable effect in CEx rats (P < 0.01). CrPic also significantly reduced serum, liver, and muscle MDA levels (P < 0.001). Both AEx and CEx increased the expression of liver glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2) and muscle GLUT-4 with the highest level in CEx rats (P < 0.05). Moreover, CrPic supplementation significantly elevated GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 expressions in the liver and muscle of sedentary and exercise-treated rats (P < 0.05).ConclusionCrPic improves various metabolic parameters and reduces oxidative stress in CEx and AEx rats by decreasing BG, TC, TG, MDA levels in serum and elevating GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 expression in the liver and muscle samples. The efficacy of CrPic was more pronounced in CEx rats.     

Dietary supplementation with a nucleotide-rich yeast extract modulates gut immune response and microflora in weaned pigs in response to a sanitary challenge

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the short-term effect of supplementing a nucleotide-rich yeast extract (NRYE) on growth performance, gut structure, immunity and microflora of piglets raised under sanitary and unsanitary conditions. A total of 84, 21-day old piglets were used in this study; 42 piglets were raised in a room designated as the clean room that was washed once per week, whereas the other 42 piglets were raised in a room designated as the unclean room in which 7 kg of manure from the sow herd was spread on each pen floor on day 1 and 7 and the room was not washed throughout the experiment. The pigs were fed a corn–soybean meal-based diet without or with 0.1% NRYE. Each treatment had 7 replicate pens in each room, and each pen housed 3 pigs. Feed disappearance and BW were recorded on day 1 and 14. On day 14, one pig per pen was euthanized to collect ileum, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen tissues, and cecum and colon digesta. Overall, NRYE supplementation did not affect growth performance in both clean and unclean conditions, improved kidney weight in both clean (P=0.0002) and unclean room (P<0.0001) and tended to improve the villus height/crypt depth ratio in the clean room (P=0.073). Supplementing NRYE was associated with upregulation of Ileal programmed cell death gene-1 (P=0.0003), interleukin (IL)-1β (P<0.0001), IL-6 (P=0.0003), IL-10 (P<0.0001) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P<0.0001) in pigs raised in the unclean room. Supplementing the NRYE in pigs raised in the clean room suppressed growth of cecal Enterobacteriacea (P<0.0001) members and colonic Enterococcus spp. (P<0.019), improved proliferation of cecal Lactobacillus spp. (P<0.002) and colonic Clostridium cluster IV (P<0.011) and XVIa members (P<0.0002). Supplementing the NRYE in the unclean room improved proliferation of cecal Clostridium cluster IV (P<0.026) and suppressed proliferation of colonic Enterococcus spp. (P<0.037). In conclusion, supplementing the NRYE to piglets under unsanitary conditions improved ileal immune response by upregulating inflammatory cytokines, and positively modulated proliferation of beneficial gut bacteria and suppression of harmful ones in both clean and unclean rooms.     

Effects of replacing grass silage with either maize silage or concentrates during late pregnancy on the performance of breeding ewes fed isonitrogenous diets

A study was undertaken to investigate the performance of breeding ewes fed a range of forage and concentrate-based diets in late pregnancy, balanced for supply of metabolizable protein (MP). For the final 6 weeks before lambing, 104 twin-bearing multiparous ewes were offered one of four diets: ad libitum precision-chop grass silage + 0.55 kg/day concentrates (GS); ad libitum maize silage + 0.55 kg/day concentrates (MS); a 1 : 1 mixture (on a dry matter (DM) basis) of grass silage and maize silage fed ad libitum + 0.55 kg/day (GSMS); or 1.55 kg/day concentrates + 50 g/day chopped barley straw (C). The CP content of the concentrates was varied between treatments (157 to 296 g/kg DM) with the aim of achieving a daily intake of 130 g/day MP across all treatments. Compared with ewes fed GS, forage DM intake was higher (P < 0.05) in ewes fed MS (+0.21 kg/day) and GSMS (+0.16 kg/day), resulting in higher (P < 0.001) total DM intakes with these treatments. C ewes had the lowest total DM intake of all the treatments examined (P < 0.001). C ewes lost more live weight (LW; P < 0.001) and body condition score (BCS; P < 0.05) during the first 3 weeks of the study but there were no dietary effects on ewe LW or BCS thereafter. The incidence of dystocia was lower (P < 0.01) in C ewes compared with those offered silage-based diets (7.5% v. 37.4% ewes), and was higher (P < 0.01) in ewes fed MS compared with GS or GSMS (50.7%, 34.7% and 26.9%, respectively). There were no significant dietary effects on the plasma metabolite concentrations of ewes in late pregnancy, pre-weaning lamb mortality, weaned lamb output per ewe or on lamb growth rate. The results of this study demonstrate that both maize silage and all-concentrate diets can replace grass silage in pregnant ewe rations without impacting on performance, provided the supply of MP is non-limiting. The higher incidence of dystocia in ewes fed maize silage as the sole forage is a concern.     

Antihyperlipidemic activity of high sulfate content derivative of polysaccharide extracted from Ulva pertusa (Chlorophyta)

In this study, high sulfate content ulvan (HU) was prepared with sulfur trioxide/N,N-dimethylformamide (SO₃-DMF) in formamide, and the antihyperlipidemic activity of ulvan and HU in mice was determined. Obvious differences in antihyperlipidemic activity between natural ulvan and HU were observed, moreover, the antihyperlipidemic activity of HU-fed 250 mg/kg was the strongest, compared to natural ulvan fed group, triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were significantly decreased 28.1% (P < 0.05) and 28.4% (P < 0.01), respectively. It was likely that the sulfate content had significant effect on the antihyperlipidemic activity. On the other hand, the results proved that the antihyperlipidemic activity was not concentration dependent for HU-fed mice.     

Effects of management practices on the timing of captive chimpanzee births

Most wild and captive nonhuman primates give birth nocturnally. Circadian rhythm mechanisms are a principal determinant of the nonrandom initiation of labor, but it has been suggested that the decreased human activity and increased seclusion over the weekend in laboratory primate colonies may result in an effect whereby births are confined mainly to the quiet periods. This study tests for such an effect in the timing of 153 live, term births in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) housed in three institutions with various management practices. Eighty-four percent of births occurred nocturnally, and peak delivery time was between 2400 and 0700 hours. When the total number of births was examined, significantly fewer births occurred on Wednesdays and Thursdays, during the mid-week peak in colony activity, and significantly more births occurred on Sundays and Mondays. In facilities having marked alterations between weekday and weekend activity, significantly more births occurred Sunday and Monday. In the colonies where weekend and weekday surveillance and activity were similar, births were more evenly distributed throughout the week. These data suggest that parturition may be inhibited by routine colony activities that are perceived as stressful by some animals, and that the decreased activity and increased privacy on weekends may allow relaxation of parturient females, resulting in delivery during or immediately following the weekend. Colony managers should minimize colony activities that are potentially stressful to prepartal females in order to reduce risks to the fetus that may occur with delay or disruption of normal parturition. © 1992 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with freshwater microalgae on growth performance,nutrient digestibility and gut health in weaned piglets

In pigs, digestive disorders associated with weaning lead to antibiotic use to maintain intestinal health. Microalgae have been studied in humans and rodents for their beneficial effects on health. The nutritional value of microalgae in animal diets has been assessed, but results were not conclusive. Dietary supplementation with microalgae as an alternative to antibiotic use was studied in two trials (72 piglets with initial BW=9.1±1.1 kg in trial 1 and 24 piglets with initial BW=9.1±0.9 kg in trial 2). All piglets were weaned at 28 days of age and then housed in individual cages. Piglets were randomly allocated to one of the four diets during 2 weeks after weaning: a standard diet with no supplementation (NC) or the standard diet supplemented with 1% Spirulina (SP), with 1% Chlorella (CV), or with 0.2% of colistin as positive control (PC). Trial 1 was performed to determine the effect of microalgae supplementation from 28 to 42 days on performance and incidence of diarrhoea. Animals received then a standard diet from 42 to 56 days of age. Trial 2 was performed from 28 to 42 days of age to assess nutrient digestibility of the experimental diets and to determine inflammatory status and intestinal morphology at 42 days of age. In trial 1, 94% of the pigs had diarrhoea in the 1st week after weaning with no beneficial effect of colistin on diarrhoea incidence, average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain : feed (G : F) ratio. This suggests that the diarrhoea was due to digestive disorders that did not result from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection. Supplementation with either Spirulina or Chlorella did not affect ADFI, ADG and G : F in trials 1 and 2 (P>0.10). Diarrhoea incidence was reduced in CV pigs compared with NC, SP and PC pigs (P<0.05). Total tract digestibility in pig receiving microalgae was greater for gross energy (P<0.05), and tended to be greater for dry matter, organic matter and NDF (P<0.10) compared with NC and PC pigs. Villus height at the jejunum was greater in SP and CV pigs compared with NC and PC pigs (P<0.05). This study shows a potential effect of both Spirulina and Chlorella supplementation on intestinal development and a potential of Chlorella supplementation to manage mild digestive disorders. Further investigation is necessary to determine the mechanism action of Spirulina and Chlorella on gut health and physiology.     

Nitric oxide concentrations in mammary quarters during heifer mastitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NOx) concentration in infected and non-infected mammary quarters of dairy heifers before and after calving. The relationship between bacterial species and NOx concentrations, as well as correlation between NOx concentrations and postpartum somatic cell count (SCC), was assessed. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the bacteria commonly isolated during the pre- and postpartum period. Infected quarters had greater NOx concentrations than non-infected quarters before (30.81 v. 22.83 μM/ml, P < 0.05) and after (9.56 v. 5.77 μM/ml, P < 0.0001) calving. It was determined that the interaction between sampling period and infectious status had no effect on NOx concentration (P < 0.16). Infected quarters had greater SCC (log₁₀) than healthy quarters (4.95 v. 4.39; P < 0.0001). NOx concentrations, however, did not correlate with SCC (r = 0.02). In summary, changes in NOx concentration were mainly dependent on the infectious status of the quarters with variations among the bacterial species (P < 0.05).     

Sleep and Sleepiness among Working and Non‐Working High School Evening Students

The aim of this study was to evaluate patterns of sleepiness, comparing working and non‐working students. The study was conducted on high school students attending evening classes (19:00–22:30 h) at a public school in São Paulo, Brazil. The study group consisted of working (n=51) and non‐working (n=41) students, aged 14–21 yrs. The students answered a questionnaire about working and living conditions and reported health symptoms and diseases. For seven consecutive days, actigraphy measurements were recorded, and the students also filled in a sleep diary. Sleepiness ratings were given six times per day, including upon waking and at bedtime, using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Statistical analyses included three‐way ANOVA and t‐test. The mean sleep duration during weekdays was shorter among workers (7.2 h) than non‐workers (8.8 h) (t=4.34; p<.01). The mean duration of night awakenings was longer among workers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (28.2 min) and shorter on Mondays (24.2 min) (t=2.57; p=.03). Among workers, mean napping duration was longer on Mondays and Tuesdays (89.9 min) (t=2.27; p=.03) but shorter on Fridays and Sundays (31.4 min) (t=3.13; p=.03). Sleep efficiency was lower on Fridays among non‐workers. Working students were moderately sleepier than non‐workers during the week and also during class on specific days: Mondays (13:00–15:00 h), Wednesdays (19:00–22:00 h), and Fridays (22:00–00:59 h). The study found that daytime sleepiness of workers is moderately higher in the evening. This might be due to a work effect, reducing the available time for sleep and shortening the sleep duration. Sleepiness and shorter sleep duration can have a negative impact on the quality of life and school development of high school students.