Whole-plant flint corn silage inclusion in total mixed rations for pre- and postweaning dairy calves.

Assuming that acetic acid plays a minor role in the development of ruminal epithelium of preweaning dairy calves, the fiber supply for growing calves has been neglected. More research has been done on including starch and nonfibrous carbohydrates in solid feed for preweaning calves. Accordingly, the fiber requirement of these calves is not well known, as diet recommendations vary greatly. Hence, elucidating the effects of including fiber from long particle sizes in the diet may be essential for helping calves overcome the transition challenge during weaning. Forty-five Holstein calves were used in a randomized block design, considering sex, birth date, and weight at 28 d of age, when the supply of the total mixed ration (TMR) with the inclusion of corn silage started. Three TMR with increasing whole-plant flint corn silage content (0, 10, or 20% on a dry matter basis) were compared: 0CS, 10CS, or 20CS, respectively. During the first 28 d of life, the calves were managed homogeneously and were fed 6 L/d of whole milk, a commercial calf starter pelleted, and water ad libitum. Next, the solid diet was changed to the respective solid feed treatment. Calves were gradually weaned from 52 to 56 d of age but were evaluated for an additional 14 d postweaning. Feed intake was measured daily, while body weight and metabolic indicators of intermediate metabolism were evaluated weekly. Ruminal fluid was collected at 6, 8, and 10 wk of age. Behavioral analysis was conducted on wk 7 (preweaning) and 10 (postweaning). There was a quadratic effect for dry matter intake from wk 7 to 10, with higher intake for the 10CS diet than the 0CS and 20CS diets. Consequently, the 10CS diet also promoted greater average daily gain at wk 8 and 9 compared with the 0CS and 20CS diets. However, the final body weight was not affected by the different solid diets. Silage inclusion in calves' diet positively affected time spent ruminating and chewing pre- and postweaning. Including 10% of whole-plant flint corn silage in the diets of young dairy calves is a strategy to increase total solid intake and decrease acidosis risk by increasing pH and ruminating activity around weaning.

[Abnormal electroencephalography results and specific language impairment: towards a theoretical neurodevelopmental model?]. / Anomalies électroencéphalographiques paroxystiques et troubles spécifiques du langage de l'enfant : vers un modèle neurodéveloppemental ?

BACKGROUND: Specific language impairment (SLI) is a primary developmental disorder in which language is significantly more impaired than other developmental domains. Abnormal electroencephalographic recordings without clinical seizures are often observed. The aim of this retrospective study was to characterize the frequency of these abnormalities, to describe them and to analyze their association with anamnestic, clinical, paraclinical and evolution characteristics. METHODS: The cases of 35 children with a diagnosis of SLI, who also underwent electroencephalography and MRI, were systematically reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In this population, aged between 4 and 7 years, 49% (n=17) of patients exhibited a specific expressive language disorder and 51% (n=18) a specific receptive disorder. Forty-nine percent of the children featured abnormal electroencephalography results. Abnormalities were essentially localized on the left side of the brain and in two specific regions: the temporo-occipital (60%) and the frontorolandic (30%) regions. The groups with and without abnormalities were compared statistically with each other in terms of clinical, paraclinical and evolution characteristics. Evolution data were available for 24 patients through a telephone interview and for nine patients through a new complete language evaluation. The comparison of the two groups showed significant differences in terms of severity of the phonological disorder, a higher number of delayed acquisition of walking and cleanliness and a higher range of non specific psychomotor difficulties. DISCUSSION: A large proportion of children suffering from SLI present abnormal electroencephalography recordings with no clinical seizures. This rate is much higher than in the general population and the abnormalities are essentially localized on the left side of the brain in regions known for their specific role in language development. These abnormalities are more frequent in children with a severe phonological disorder, suggesting that they may share common pathophysiological features with SLI. CONCLUSION: The presence of EEG abnormalities in a large group of patients suffering from SLI associated with minor neurological abnormalities suggests a possible theoretical neurodevelopmental model. Minor neurodevelopmental abnormalities, genetically transmitted or acquired during the pre- or perinatal period, may create vulnerability towards SLI. This vulnerability, in conjunction with environmental influences such as family environment, linguistic stimuli, exposure to multiple languages, or transitory hearing loss, might take the form of SLI. This hypothesis underlines the importance of prevention and early detection of SLI when identifying vulnerable subjects. Monitoring the family early through parental guidance and early school support would facilitate the acquisition of language.

Nerve conduction in leprosy: in vivo and in vitro study.

Sensory and mixed nerve conduction studies were performed on the distal segments of the radial, sural, median and ulnar nerves of leprosy patients from the entire spectrum of the disease. The values obtained were compared with those of age matched normal controls. All the clinically involved nerves, and about 30% of the clinically normal patient nerves showed a delayed conduction velocity. The conduction velocity difference was most significant (P less than 0.001) for the cutaneous branch of the radial, and sural nerves as compared to the ulnar and median. Five patients nerves that were clinically normal and showed a normal conduction velocity when tested in vivo, were biopsies and studied in vitro to determine the type of early nerve damage. C and A delta fibre involvement was found in all these nerves. It is concluded that leprosy is a diffuse neuropathy and there is early detectable nerve involvement even in clinically normal nerves of leprosy patients.

[Diet therapy with correction of the fat component in the treatment of children with chronic cholecystocholangitis]. / Lechebnoe pitanie s korrektsiei zhirovogo komponenta v terapii detei s khronicheskimi kholetsistokholangitami.

The children suffering from chronic affections of the biliary system showed disturbances of the exocrine and esterifying function of the liver. They also had impaired concentration and disordered motor function of the gall bladder. This reverberates on the lipid spectrum of blood, bile and ion permeability of erythrocyte membranes. Comprehensive therapy in the presence of oil-enriched diet (up to 40% of the total fat amount) exerted a favourable action on the clinical course of the disease, promoted normalization of the lipid spectrum of blood and bile, and stabilization of the structural composition of the membranes. This allows recommending such a therapeutic diet as one of the components of comprehensive pathogenetically validated therapy of children with chronic cholecystocholangitis.