Behaviour regulation and the role of mental health in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease in wealthy societies, and is responsible for a significant rise in liver morbidity and mortality. Current treatments prioritise lifestyle interventions, predominantly diet and exercise management, but patients frequently fail to make the necessary behavioural adjustments. The current study seeks to identify those factors which influence patients' behaviour with respect to adherence to treatment regimes. METHODS: Novel areas of interest were investigated; locus of control, behavioural regulation and a range of mental health measures, due to their links to either poor lifestyle choices or abnormal eating as identified in previous literature. Data was gathered using self-report questionnaires, from 96 participants, who were split into three groups, NAFLD patients, non-NAFLD liver disease patients and healthy controls RESULTS: Data was analysed using a MANOVA, and followed up with a Tukey post-hoc test. Three factors were found to be significant by group; cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and SAPAS score (a measure of personality disorders). An association between personality disorders and NAFLD was identified. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that NAFLD patients are screened for personality disorders and, if identified, treated prior to the commencement of diet and exercise management.

A comparison of stress levels, coping styles and psychological morbidity between graduate-entry and traditional undergraduate medical students during the first 2 years at a UK medical school.

BACKGROUND: Stress levels and psychological morbidity are high among undergraduate medical students (UGs), but there is a lack of research into the psychological health of UK graduate-entry medical students (GEs). GEs are likely to experience different (perhaps more severe) stressors and to cope with stress differently. We compared stress levels, psychological morbidity and coping styles in GE versus UG medical students studying at the same UK medical school in the same academic year. A cross-sectional self-rated questionnaire study of all first- and second-year GE and UG medical students was conducted. Perceived stress, psychological morbidity, recent adverse life events, stress-related personality traits and coping styles were assessed using standard questionnaires. RESULTS: 75% GEs and 46% UGs responded to the questionnaire. Both groups reported equally high levels, and similar profiles of, perceived stress and psychological morbidity. Levels of recent adverse life events and stress-related personality traits were similar in both groups. Compared to UGs, GEs were more likely to use active coping (p = 0.02) and positive reframing (p = 0.03), but were also more likely to use substances (alcohol and other drugs; p < 0.001) to help them cope. Unlike UGs, second-year GEs showed less perceived stress (p = 0.007) and psychological morbidity (p = 0.006) than first-year GEs although levels of both were still high. CONCLUSION: Our results show that both GE students and their younger UG counterparts on a traditional medical course have similar profiles of stress symptoms. They do, however, cope with stress differently. GEs are more likely to use active problem-focused coping strategies, and they are also more likely to cope by using substances (alcohol or other drugs). GE students need interventions to prevent maladaptive coping styles and encourage adaptive coping that are tailored to their needs. Such interventions should be targeted at first-year students. It is vital that these students develop positive coping skills to benefit them during training and in a future career that is inherently stressful.

The effect of added complex carbohydrates or added dietary fiber on necrotic enteritis lesions in broiler chickens.

Two trials utilizing two corn diets and four wheat diets were conducted. In Trial 2, all chicks were crop-infused at 9 d of age with Eimeria acervulina. In both trials, a broth culture of Clostridium perfringens was mixed with the diets for 3 consecutive d. Necrotic enteritis lesion scores were lowest in chickens consuming the corn diet with no C. perfringens and highest in chickens fed the wheat diets with C. perfringens. Chickens consuming a wheat diet with no added complex carbohydrates or added fiber exhibited the highest lesion score. Chickens on wheat diets with 4% new, ground, pine shavings had intestinal lesion scores intermediate to those of chickens that consumed the wheat or corn diets. Chickens consuming corn diets yielded the lowest lesion scores. Chickens provided diets containing either guar gum or pectin were not fully consumed and thus probably reduced the number of challenge organisms ingested.

The effects of nonautoclaved and autoclaved water-soluble wheat extracts on the growth of Clostridium perfringens.

Clostridium perfringens is the causative agent of necrotic enteritis, a commonly diagnosed disease in chickens that is also observed in turkeys and geese. Two trials were conducted to determine the in vitro effect of filter-sterilized, water-soluble wheat extracts on the growth of C. perfringens. The extracts were either nonautoclaved or autoclaved at 121 C for 40 min and were used to reconstitute thioglycolate broth media. Results of this study suggest that growth of C. perfringens is suppressed in vitro by inclusion of either extract. Glycosyl composition analysis revealed no significant differences in arabinose, xylose, or mannose content between the nonautoclaved and autoclaved extracts. Galactose, glucose, and total glycosyl content were significantly higher in the nonautoclaved extract.

Fatty liver-hemorrhagic syndrome observed in commercial layers fed diets containing chelated minerals.

This study was originally conducted to determine the effect of various chloride levels and consumption of chelated versus non-chelated minerals on egg production and eggshell breaking strength. However, the focus of this report changed after fatty liver-hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) was observed in hens that consumed diets containing chelated minerals. No FLHS was observed in hens that consumed a diet that contained non-chelated minerals. Four hundred thirty-two 35-week-old commercial laying hens were housed in individual cages in groups of nine hens each. The treatments were factorially arranged (3 x 2) such that six experimental diets differing in chloride levels and in source of minerals were fed for six 28-day laying periods. A significantly higher mortality attributed to FLHS was observed in hens that consumed the diets having chelated minerals as compared with hens that consumed the diets with non-chelated minerals. No difference in mortality was observed among the hens fed the various chloride diets.

The effect of temperature, dietary energy level, and corn particle size on broiler performance.

Experiments were conducted to study the effect on broiler performance of grinding corn with different hammer mill screen openings (HMSO). Corn for Trials 1 and 2 was ground through HMSO of 3.18 or 9.59 mm and broilers were grown at 15.5 and 26.6 C in Trial 1 and at 26.6 C in Trial 2. Dietary energy levels used from 22 to 42 days were 3,050 and 3,230 kcal ME/kg for Trial 1 and 3,230 and 3,330 kcal ME/kg in Trial 2. In all starter and finisher diets, lysine and sulphur amino acid concentrations were similar on a megacalorie basis. In Trials 3 and 4, HMSO were 3.18, 4.76, 6.35, and 7.94 mm. Corn ground through a HMSO of 9.59 mm significantly reduced body weight and feed:gain ratio in Trials 1 and 2 at 21 days as compared with corn ground through an HMSO of 3.18 mm. At 42 days, body weights were reduced when corn was ground through 9.59- and 3.18-mm HMSO for the starter and finisher diets, respectively, as compared with those fed with the corn ground through a 3.18-mm HMSO in the starter diet. In Trials 3 and 4, significant differences in body weight and feed:gain ratios at 21 days were not noted for feed containing corn ground through an HMSO of 3.18, 4.76, 6.35, or 7.94 mm.

Effect of varying levels of phosphorus and live yeast culture in caged layer diets.

Dietary levels of .31, .36, .41, .46, .51, .56, and .61% total phosphorus (TP) were incorporated into seven corn-soy diets to determine the minimum TP requirement of caged laying hens. Each diet was fed to six lots of 20 hens each for a test period of 308 days. Egg production, feed efficiency, feed consumption, egg weight, and egg breaking strength were the performance criteria. Egg breaking strength was significantly higher while the other performance measures were significantly inferior for hens receiving the .31 TP diet as compared to those hens receiving the other diets. Performance measures of hens receiving diets with TP levels ranging from .41 to .61% were not significantly different. Although hens receiving the .36% TP diet performed significantly better than those receiving diets containing .31% TP, their performance was not satisfactory when compared with performance of hens fed diets containing higher levels of phosphorus. In a second experiment, dietary levels of 0, .25, and .50% live yeast culture (LYC) were fed in combination with TP levels of .40 and .60% to individually caged hens for nine test periods of 28 days each. Each of the test diets was fed to three lots of 12 hens each. Performance criteria in this experiment were the same as those used in the first experiment. Hen responses to the six test diets did not differ significantly for any performance criterion, except for egg breaking strength, which was significantly higher for eggs produced by hens fed diets containing .40% TP level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Toxicity of jimson weed seed and cocoa shell meal to broilers.

Jimson weed seed meal, which contains alkaloids toxic to animals, and cocoa shell meal, which contains theobromine, also toxic to animals, were used in two experiments with broilers to determine relative toxicity. Pure theobromine was added to diets to furnish the same levels as furnished by 1, 2, 4, and 6% dietary cocoa shell meal, which contained, by analysis, 1.3% theobromine. Approximately 1% jimson meal is the upper dietary limit that can be safely incorporated into the diet of young broilers. Dietary levels of 3 and 6% from 1 to 21 days of age drastically depressed performance. Cocoa shell meal that contained 1.3% theobromine was somewhat less toxic to chicks than jimson meal. However, performance tended to be depressed with dietary levels above 1%. Pure theobromine was a little more toxic than that furnished by cocoa shell meal.

Calorie-protein deficiencies and the immune response of the chicken. II. Cell-mediated immunity.

Calorie-protein deficiency affects humoral immunity in the chicken. Secondary responses to sheep-red blood cells, a T-dependent antigen, were lower in birds fed diets two-thirds deficient in calories (C), amino acids (AA), or both (C/AA). These results led us to question what effects might be found in cell-mediated immunity after nutritional deficiency. Birds fed the same diets as in our previous study showed no reduction in total white blood cells, absolute lymphocytes, or absolute heterophils. Splenic lymphocytes from 3- or 7-week-old nutritionally deficient chickens with the exception of the AA group at 7 weeks, produced a nonsignificant increase in graft-versus-host (GvH) response of 12-day-old embryos. Thymic cells from 3-week-old nutritionally deficient birds were not deficient in the GvH potential. Thymic histology revealed reduced cellularity in AA-deficient birds. The reduced cellularity may not have been in response to stress since the mean corticosterone levels were not significantly different. Birds fed the deficient diets for 10 weeks had a significantly reduced delayed hypersensitivity response to human gamma globulin. The results indicate that the chickens' ability to produce a GvH response was not compromised and that T-cell subpopulations may have differential sensitivities to nutritional deficiencies.

Calorie-protein deficiencies and the immune response of the chicken I. Humoral immunity.

How dependent is the chicken on the calorie (C) and amino acid (AA) levels of the diet? This question was addressed by formulating diets that were two-thirds deficient in C and AA. Feeding the one-third C-one-third AA, one-third C and one-third AA diets for 5 weeks, in general reduced the primary response to 5% sheep red blood cells (SRBC) but not to .5% SRBC. The C/AA deficient birds were returned to a basal diet at 5 weeks and three weeks later reimmunized with SRBC. The secondary response, immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer, of the latter birds after 3 weeks on a basal diet was significantly lower than controls. Total serum protein was significantly depressed during the feeding of one-third AA diet. Transferrin, IgG, and IgM were not affected while albumin was significantly reduced. Gain in body weight was reduced in all groups receiving the C/AA deficient diets. Three weeks after repletion, all groups gained equally.

The effects of a megalevel of vitamin C on the immune response of the chicken.

Birds fed diets supplemented with 1% vitamin C experienced significant increases in serum levels of vitamin C. Cell-mediated immunity and antibody response to sheep red blood cells, a T-cell dependent antigen, were not influenced by feeding megalevels of vitamin C. However, the antibody response to a T-independent antigen, Brucella abortus, was lower in neonates and higher in adults in the presence of increased levels of vitamin C.

Effect of dietary Fe to Cu ratios on hematological and growth responses of broiler chickens.

A total of 2,640 broiler strain cockerels were used in three experiments to determine the interrelationships between Fe and Cu requirements of 1- to 21-day old broiler chicks. In each experiment, a starch non-fat milk basal diet was fed to chicks maintained in battery brooders beginning at 1 day of age. Maximum hemoglobin levels and packed cell volumes (PCV) of 21-day old chicks were found by feeding 80 parts per million (ppm) of dietary Fe and 8 ppm of dietary Cu from 1 to 21 days of age. The heaviest 21-day old chicks were found by feeding 80 ppm dietary Fe. Variations were found among experiments in the copper requirement based on body weight. The Cu requirement ranged from 8 to 16 ppm as indicated by 21-day old chick weights. A 10:1 dietary Fe to Cu ratio with an Fe requirement of 80 ppm appeared to maximize hemoglobin levels and PCV's of 21-day old broiler chicks; whereas, a 5:1 dietary Fe to Cu ratio, rather than a 10:1, 15:1, or 20:1 ratio, maximized 21-day old chick weights. Iron requirements for hematological and growth responses are essentially the same; however, the copper requirement may be slightly different for the two criteria.

Splenic artery aneurysm rupture in pregnancy. A review and case report.

The fourth case of fetal and maternal survival following rupture of a splenic artery aneurysm is presented among 90 reported cases occurring during pregnancy. The previously reported cases are reviewed. A high level of awareness and careful review of history and physical findings in the absence of evidence of the more common causes of concealed hemorrhage may lead to the diagnosis. Ligation of the aneurysm and splenectomy is the indicated therapy.

Microbiological quality of frozen fried chicekn product obtained from a retail store.

Two brands of frozen fried chicken products were purchased monthly from a local supermarket for six months. Microbiological qualities of these samples were studied. The log number of mesophilic counts ranged from 2.90/g. to 4.78/g; log psychrophilic counts varied from 2.74/g. to 4.66/g.; and log Staphylococcus- 110 medium counts ranged from 2.84/g. to 4.54/g. Mean log microbial counts were higher in brand A samples than in brand B samples. No yeast or mold was detected and all samples were Salmonella negative. Most samples were negative in coliform test, except five samples had coliform MPN ranging from 0.5/g to 0.8/g. A total of 144 isolates of psychrophiles from 12 samples was tentatively identified to be members of Staphylococcus species. About 82.2% of the isolates belong to the Subgroup VI Staphylococcus according to Baird-Parker's classification. Another 17.8% of the isolates resembled Subgroup vi Staphylococcus except in phosphatase test.

A comparison of iron bioassay diets.

Two broiler chick experiments wer conducted to evaluate four basal diets for iron bioassay suitability. The test basal diets, identified according to their principal ingredients and iron content, were: (1) starch-skim milk - 15 p.p.m., (2) degerminated corn-skin milk - 18 p.p.m. (3) degermianted corn-fish meal-isolated soy - 45 p.p.m., and (4) degermianted corn-fish meal-dehulled soy - 59p.p.m. Significant differences between an iron source with known low availability (ferric oxide) and a highly available iron source (ferrous sulfate) were not detected with the degerminated corn-fish meal-isolated soy or the degerminated corn-fish meal-dehulled soy diets. Likewise, there were no significant differences found between supplemental iron levels, 10 and 20 p.p.m. The corn-skim milk and starch-skim milk diets were both found to be satisfactory for iron bioassays. However, the sample size needed to estimate the population mean was almost twice as great for the starch-skim milk fed groups, than was needed for the corn-skim milk fed groups which indicates the corn-skim milk diet obtained greater sensitivity in testing iron sources and levels. Mortality was excessively high in the starch-skim milk fed group. Ferrous sulfate was superior to ferric oxide as a source of iron.