Ghrelin secretion is more closely aligned to energy balance than with feeding behaviour in the grower pig.

Secretory characteristics of the ghrelin profile for the pig are still unknown. Our objective was to clarify the mechanisms that influence ghrelin secretion during differing feeding patterns. Pigs were initially fed a commercial pelleted diet offered ad libitum and blood samples collected for 24 h at intervals of 1 h. The pigs were then entrained for 17 days to a twice daily interval feeding regimen (0900-1000 and 1600-1700 h) and blood samples were collected for 12 h (0800-2000 h). This was followed by a similar interval feeding and blood sampling regimen with the 0900-1000 h feeding period being replaced by a sham feed where pigs were shown their usual feed but none offered. During the ad libitum feeding regimen, there was no preprandial rise or postprandial fall in circulating plasma total ghrelin concentration, which remained constant throughout the sampling period. In addition, no preprandial rise or postprandial fall in ghrelin concentrations was observed when pigs were fed either twice or once daily; however, plasma ghrelin concentration rose gradually over the 12-h sampling period during the twice daily feeding regimen and increased further when pigs were fed once per day. This increase in ghrelin levels coincided with an increase in plasma GH and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations and was not associated with either plasma glucose or insulin concentrations. These results suggest that circulating total plasma ghrelin concentrations in the pig appear to be influenced by chronic changes in energy balance rather than the feeding pattern per se.

Dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids alter avian glucose metabolism.

(1) This investigation studied the effects of dietary saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from the n-3 and n-6 series on insulin action and glucose uptake in broiler chickens. (2) One-day-old male chicks were fed on a commercial starter diet for 3 weeks, randomly divided into three groups (n = 6) and fed ad libitum on isonitrogenous experimental diets of equal energy density for a further 6 weeks. The diets contained 20.8 g/100 g protein and 80 g/kg of either edible tallow, fish oil or sunflower oil, giving diets high in saturated fatty acids, n-S PUFAs or n-6 PUFAs, respectively. (3) Jugular catheterisation was performed under general anaesthesia during week 4 of the dietary treatments and the birds given 7 d post-surgery to recover. To estimate insulin action, a bolus glucose infusion (1 g/kg) was given to each chicken and sequential blood samples taken over a one-hour period. To estimate the disappearance rate of glucose from the plasma and its incorporation into tissues, 2-deoxy-D-3H glucose (2DG-3H glucose) was infused into each chicken (50 microCi) 2 d later. (4) Although there were no significant differences in glucose clearance rate following the glucose infusion, the maximal insulin release in response to the glucose infusion was higher in the tallow group than in either the n-3 or n-6 PUFA dietary groups. There were no significant differences in the clearance rate of 2DG-3H glucose. Labelled glucose incorporation into the breast muscle was greater in birds given fish oil than in birds given tallow and significantly greater than in birds given sunflower oil. (5) The data suggest that the type of dietary fat can influence glucose metabolism and that this change in glucose utilisation may alter the energy metabolism of the broiler.

Dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids alter avian pituitary sensitivity.

The effects of dietary saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the n-3 and n-6 series on avian pituitary sensitivity were investigated by infusing human growth hormone (GH) releasing hormone--fragment 1-29--and chicken luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) into catheterized broiler chickens. At 3 weeks of age three groups (n = 18; six birds per group) were fed for 6 weeks isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets containing 80 g/kg of edible tallow (saturated fatty acids), fish oil (n-3 PUFAs) or sunflower oil (n-6 PUFAs). Jugular catheterisation was performed under general anaesthesia during week four of the dietary treatments and the birds allowed 7 days post surgery to recover. A bolus of LHRH (20 microg/bird) and a GH releasing hormone (12.5 microg/kg) infusion was given on different days to each chicken and serial blood samples taken over a 1 h period. Plasma luteinising hormone and GH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Pre-infusion GH concentrations were similar for the tallow, fish and sunflower oil dietary groups (5.2 +/- 3.9, 5.2 +/- 1.0 and 6.1 +/- 3.1 ng/ml, respectively), however, GH concentration in response to the GH releasing hormone infusion was elevated in the sunflower oil group (44.7 +/- 5.7 ng/ml) when compared to chicken fed tallow (33.7 +/- 9.7ng/ml) or fish oil (21.3 +/- 5.0 ng/ml). There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the clearance rate of plasma GH for the birds fed the fish oil compared with those fed sunflower oil with an intermediate value being observed in the tallow fed group. Pre-infusion plasma luteinising hormone concentrations for the birds fed tallow (3.2 +/- 0.7 ng/ml) were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) when compared to birds fed either the sunflower oil (0.84 +/- 0.25 ng.ml) or fish oil (0.93 +/- 0.22 ng/ml) diets. There were no significant differences between the dietary groups in either the maximal plasma luteinising concentration or its disappearance rate following the LHRH infusion. The data demonstrate that dietary fatty acids alter avian pituitary sensitivity and this modulation is determined by the nature of the dietary fat rather than the degree of saturation per se. In addition, this study also shows that dietary fats have a differential effect on pituitary cell activity and are specific to certain pituitary cell types.

Bloodborne exposures at a United States Army Medical Center.

With the ultimate goal of minimizing exposures, we conducted a hazard analysis on bloodborne disease transmission at our hospital to identify appropriate control interventions. We utilized basic principles of occupational epidemiology to gather information on the severity and extent of exposures. Because we suspected inadequate reporting of needlestick injuries, we collected 339 reported exposures of health care workers; we conducted a survey of all workers requiring universal precautions training for bloodborne pathogens. The annual incidence of exposures reported was 93.7 per 1000 workers who required this training. Sharps accounted for 83.5 percent of these exposures. Exposure sources demonstrated 4.3 percent positive for HIV, 4.4 percent positive for hepatitis B, and 7.1 percent positive for hepatitis C. The survey indicated that blood/body fluid exposures were underreported by at least fourfold. House officers were most at risk. At-risk behaviors were identified by the significant differences in knowledge of HIV transmission and work practices between groups reporting no or single exposures versus groups reporting multiple exposures. Increased emphasis should be placed on education, reporting exposures, and training house officers in procedures requiring the use of hollow bore needles. This study shows how the use of occupational epidemiology principles and methods were utilized in conducting a thorough hazard analysis and in identifying appropriate control methods.

Identification of a seasonal elevation in daytime melatonin levels associated with the rut in fallow bucks (Dama dama): the effect of day length and exogenous melatonin.

The timing of the seasonal reduction in voluntary food intake and hormonal changes associated with the rut were investigated in mature fallow bucks subjected to artificial long-day exposure with and without superimposed melatonin-releasing implants. Circulating testosterone profiles and the period of inappetence, signalling the onset of the period of reproductive activity in untreated bucks under natural photoperiod, were phase-advanced in both treatment groups. In the long-day treated group, these profiles were phase-advanced by 1 week, while in the long-day + melatonin group, the phase advance was 6 weeks compared to the controls. Circulating daytime melatonin, elevated in all three groups, corresponds with seasonal changes in circulating testosterone levels associated with the rut. Prolactin profiles followed ambient photoperiod, being high during natural or artificial long days and low during natural short days. Exogenous melatonin administered during long-day exposure initiated a rapid and reversible decrease in circulating prolactin levels. The elevation in plasma melatonin could not be separated temporally from the seasonal testosterone peak by exposure to long days or to exogenous melatonin. However, this daytime melatonin profile was abolished by the ablation of circulating testosterone following immunization against luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). The presence of this endogenous melatonin during daylight was observed only during the rut, as measured in two radioimmunoassays and confirmed by mass spectrometry. It is likely that both testosterone and melatonin influence the onset of the seasonal rut in fallow bucks.