Effects of bamboo charcoal and bamboo vinegar as antibiotic alternatives on growth performance, immune responses and fecal microflora population in fattening pigs.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of bamboo charcoal and bamboo vinegar as alternatives of antibiotics in the diet of fattening pigs and their influence on growth performance, immune responses and fecal microflora populations. Crossed pigs (n = 144, 79 kg body weight) were divided into 12 heads per pen, four diets and three replications. The basal diet (negative control: NC) was supplemented with 0.3% antibiotics (positive control: PC), 0.3% bamboo charcoal (BC) and 0.3% bamboo vinegar (BV). Average daily weight gain and feed efficiency were higher (P < 0.05) in PC, BC and BV. The concentration of lactate dehydrogenase and cortisol were lower (P < 0.05), but the concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA were higher (P < 0.05) in PC, BC and BV. Counts of coliform bacteria and Salmonella spp. were lower (P < 0.05), while the counts of fecal anaerobic total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria were higher (P < 0.05) in PC, BC and BV. A reasonable inclusion of bamboo charcoal or bamboo vinegar as antibiotics in the diet of fattening pigs leads to a better growth performance, immune responses and fecal microflora populations. The results of the present study suggest that bamboo charcoal or bamboo vinegar could be a potential additives in animal production as an alternative to antibiotics.

Low molecular weight (1 kDa) polyethylene glycol conjugation markedly enhances the hypoglycemic effects of intranasally administered exendin-4 in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

An intranasally active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) formulation would have great advantages over conventional injectable therapies for the treatment of diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological potentials of PEGylated exendin-4 (PEG-Ex4) analogs administered intranasally and the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular weight (1, 2, 5 kDa) on nasal absorption. Initially, PEGEx4 analogs were site-specifically PEGylated to Lys²7-amine, and their bioactivities and stabilities were studied in vitro. The hypoglycemic effects and pharmacokinetics of these analogs after nasal administration were evaluated in type 2 diabetic animal models. PEG-Ex4 analogs had 3.1-, 3.8-, and 5.9-fold increased stabilities in rat nasal homogenates than Ex4. However, Lys²7-PEG(1k)-Ex4 was found to have well-preserved bioactivities (83.3% potency vs. Ex4), and other analogs were found to have much lower bioactivities than Lys²7-PEG(1k)-Ex4. In particular, the in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters of Lys²7-PEG(1k)-Ex4 in intranasally administered rats were significantly improved by PEGylation. Area under the curve (AUC) values of Lys²7-PEG(1k)-Ex4 were 33.6-fold higher and circulating t(1/2) values was 27.1-fold higher than Ex4. But, other analogs were not effectively absorbed via the intranasal route, because the higher molecular weight PEG (over 2 kDa) limited intranasal absorption. Finally, in vivo hypoglycemic experiment showed that Lys²7-PEG(2k)-, Lys²7-PEG(5k)-Ex4 had significantly lower hypoglycemic efficacies than Lys²7-PEG(1k)-Ex4, probably because of their lower intrinsic bioactivities and intranasal absorptions. Taken together, our findings suggest that the site-specific conjugation of appropriately sized PEG (1 kDa) substitution onto peptides like Ex4 offers two advantages for deliveryvia the intranasal route, namely, increased stability and extended circulating half-life.

Effects of fermented mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) by-product diets on growth performance and carcass traits in growing-fattening Berkshire pigs.

This study was conducted to investigate effects of fermented mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) by-product diets on the growth performance and carcass traits in growing-fattening Berkshire pigs. The fermented diets mainly contained 40.0% mushroom by-product, 20.0% formula feed, 26.0% rice bran and supplemental 0.1% probiotics. The mixed ingredients were fermented for 5days at room temperature. Berkshire pigs (n=225) were divided into five groups and three replications. The basal diets (C) were substituted by 10% (T1), 30% (T2), 50% (T3) and 70% (T4) fermented mushroom by-product diets. Crude protein concentration and total calorie in fermented diets were significantly increased (P<0.05) at the end of fermentation days compared with initial fermentation day. Body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass weight were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the T2, T3 and T4 groups than in the control group. Carcass grade was significantly better (P<0.05) in the pigs fed fermented diets than in the pigs fed control diet and the ratio of high grade (1 plus 2 grades) was higher in the fermented diet groups compared with the control group. Therefore, although a diet of fermented mushroom by-product decreased growth performance and feed efficiency, it improved the carcass grade in Berkshire pigs.

The effect of Eucommia ulmoides leaf supplementation on the growth performance, blood and meat quality parameters in growing and finishing pigs.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Eucommia ulmoides leaf (EUL) supplementation on the growth performance, blood and meat quality parameters in growing and finishing pigs. Ninety gilts (L x LW x D, 20 kg initialBW) were housed 10 per pen in a front-open building with three replicate pens per treatment. Experimental treatment was started from the beginning of the growing stage (20 +/- 3 kg) by supplementing EUL at 0(C), 3(T1) and 5% (T2) to the growing and finishing diet. Pigs were slaughtered by electrical stunning at 105 +/- 3 kg live weight. Average daily feed intake (ADFI, kg/day) decreased (P < 0.05) by addition of EUL in growth performance, average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) was lower (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. In hematology, leukocytes (WBC, 10(3)/mm(3)) decreased (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. Erythrocytes (RBC, 10(6)/mm(3)), hemoglobin (HGB, g/dL) and hematocrit (HCT, %) increased (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. Platelet (PLT, 10(3)/mm(3)) was lower (P < 0.05) in T2 than in C and T1. In biochemical composition of serum, total protein (g/dL), r-GTP (micro/L), total cholesterol (mg/dL) and triglycerides (mg/dL) were lower (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. On longissimus dorsi muscle, crude protein was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 than in C. Crude ash was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. Yellow to blue color scale (CIE b*) in meat color was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in C. CIE b* in back fat color was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 than in the other treatments. In sensory evaluation scores for fresh meat, the values of meat color, fat color, drip loss and marbling were not significantly affected by addition of EUL. In cooked meat, the values of chewiness and overall acceptability were higher (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 than in C. The results indicate that the addition of EUL affected growth performance, blood parameters and meat quality parameters in growing and finishing pigs.

The effect of fermented apple diet supplementation on the growth performance and meat quality in finishing pigs.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of fermented apple diet (FAD) supplementation on the growth performance and meat quality in finishing Berkshires. The FAD was made from dropped apple mixed with rice bran and barley bran. Until 81 +/- 1 kg live weight at 133 +/- 1 days, the animals were fed a growing diet, after which experimental samples were fixed at 0, 2, 4 and 6% FAD as C, T1, T2 and T3 in the finishing diets. Growth performance, ADG, ADFI and feed efficiency were improved in T1 than other groups. In carcass parameters, carcass weight was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 than in other groups. In meat quality, moisture and crude protein contents decreased (P < 0.05) by addition of FAD. pH(24) and WHC were higher (P < 0.05) in T1 than other groups. In sensory evaluation, marbling of fresh meat and tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall acceptability of cooked meat were improved by the addition of FAD. According to the results of our experiment, FAD can be used for improvement of meat quality parameters.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of meloxicam and its metabolite 5-carboxymeloxicam in human plasma.

BACKGROUND: To develop and validate a rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric method for the determination of meloxicam and its metabolite 5-carboxymeloxicam in human plasma. RESULTS: A liquid extraction method was chosen for sample clean-up. Meloxicam, 5-carboxymeloxicam and isoxicam (internal standard) were analyzed on an XBridge™ C18 column with 65% methanol in 10 mM ammonium formate (pH 3.0) and detected in selected reaction monitoring mode. The standard curves were linear over the concentration range 10-2500 ng/ml for meloxicam and 2-100 ng/ml for 5-carboxymeloxicam. Matrix effects were practically absent. CONCLUSIONS: This method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of meloxicam and 5-carboxymeloxicam after oral administration of meloxicam (15 mg) to 30 volunteers.