Effects of tropical high tannin non legume and low tannin legume browse mixtures on fermentation parameters and methanogenesis using gas production technique.

In vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the suitability of several mixtures of high tanniniferous non legumes with low tanniniferous legumes on in vitro gas production (IVGP), dry matter degradation, Ammonia-N, methane production and microbial population. Eight treatments were examined in a randomized complete block design using four non-legumes and two legumes (Carallia integerrima×Leucaena leucocephala (LL) (Trt 1), C. integerrima×Gliricidia sepium (GS) (Trt 2), Aporosa lindeliyana×LL (Trt 3), A. lindeliyana×GS (Trt 4), Ceiba perntandra×LL (Trt 5), C. perntandra×GS (Trt 6), Artocarpus heterophyllus×LL (Trt 7), A. heterophyllus×GS (Trt 8). The condensed tannin (CT) content of non legumes ranged from 6.2% (Carallia integerrima) to 4.9% (Ceiba perntandra) while the CT of legumes were 1.58% (Leucaena leucocephala) and 0.78% (Gliricidia sepium). Forage mixtures contained more than 14% of crude protein (CP) while the CT content ranged from 2.8% to 4.0% respectively. Differences (p<0.05) were observed in in vitro gas production (IGVP) within treatments over a 48 h period dominated by C. perntandra×G. sepium (Trt 6). The net gas production (p<0.05) was also high with Trt6 followed by A. heterophyllus×L. leucocephala (Trt 7) and A. heterophyllus×G. sepium (Trt 8). Highest (p>0.05) NH3-N (ml/200 mg DM) production was observed with the A. heterophyllus×G. sepium (Trt 8) mixture which may be attributed with it's highest CP content. The correlation between IVGP and CT was 0.675 while IVGP and CP was 0.610. In vitro dry matter degradation (IVDMD) was highest in Trt 8 as well. Methane production ranged from 2.57 to 4.79 (ml/200 mg DM) to be synonimous with IVGP. A higher bacteria population (p<0.05) was found in C. perntandra×G. sepium (Trt 6) followed by Artocarpus heterophyllus+G. sepium (Trt 8) and the same trend was observed with the protozoa population as well. The results show that supplementing high tannin non leguminous forages by incremental substitution of legume forage increased gas production parameters, NH3-N, IVDMD and microbial population in the fermentation liquid. Methane production was not significantly affected by the presence of CT or different levels of CP in forage mixtures. Among non legumes, Ceiba perntandra and Artocarpus heterophyllus performed better in mixture with L. leucocephala and G. sepium.

Is cross-femoral bypass grafting a disadvantage of aortomonoiliac endovascular aortic aneurysm repair?

PURPOSE: The need for cross-femoral bypass grafting (CFBG) is considered by some to be a major disadvantage of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with the aortomonoiliac technique. To determine the durability of CFBG in this setting, we examined data from 148 consecutive high-risk patients in a clinical trial of EVAR with a custom-made aortomonoiliac endovascular stent graft. METHODS: All data were collected prospectively. After hospital discharge, patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months and annually thereafter. All CFBG was constructed of expandable polytetrafluoroethylene. RESULTS: During follow-up averaging 23.6 +/- 16.2 months, nine CFBG complications developed in 8 patients (5.4%), including disruption (n = 2), infection (n = 3), thrombosis (n = 2), and pseudoaneurysm (n = 3). Four patients with CFBG complications died, of consequences of infection (n = 2), intracranial hemorrhage during attempted CFBG thrombolysis (n = 1), and intracranial hemorrhage during anticoagulation (n = 1). There were no amputations. At life table analysis, freedom from CFBG complication was 96.3% +/- 1.6% at 12 months, 94.1% +/- 2.2% at 24, 36, and 48 months, and 86.2% +/- 7.8% at 60 months. Overall survival for this high-risk patient group was 83.4% +/- 3.1% at 12 months, 70.4% +/- 4.1% at 24 months, 56.5% +/- 5.3% at 36 months, and 44.8% +/- 6.4% at 48 months. CONCLUSION: CFBG is durable, with a low rate of complications in patients undergoing aortomonoiliac EVAR. Need for CFBG should not discourage use of aortomonoiliac devices in patients with anatomy unfavorable for other EVAR approaches.

People'S participation in mental health planning the kerala initiative.

Kerala state branch of IPS sought suggestions from the public regarding the state policy on mental health. The letters received from the people were analysed and most suggestions were found to be useful. Suggestions made by the people and the psychiatrists were similar in content. This observation highlights the usefulness of 'user-provider collaboration' in mental health planning. Both user as well as the 'providers' need to be consulted in order to establish user-friendly mental health services.