Effect of a barley breakfast cereal on blood glucose and insulin response in normal and diabetic patients.

Prowashonupana (Prowash) is a shrunken-endosperm, short awn, waxy starch, hulless barley with low starch, high fiber, high protein, and a relatively high concentration of free sugars. The study was designed to compare equivalent breakfast meals (w/w) of Prowash and oatmeal for glycemic response in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. A commercial liquid meal replacer (LMR) was included as a reference standard. A substantial reduction of the post-prandial glycemic peak following ingestion of Prowash was observed as compared to LMR or oatmeal. In the non-diabetic subjects, the maximal rise in glucose from baseline was 26.3 +/- 3.9 mg/dL after LMR, 41.3 +/- 3.9 mg/dL after oatmeal and 6.4 +/- 2.7 mg/dL after Prowash (p < 0.01). The maximal increase in glucose in the diabetic patients was 69.9 +/- 4.5 mg/dL after LMR, 80.8 +/- 8.8 mg/dL after oatmeal and 28.4 +/- 3.5 mg/dL after Prowash (p < 0.01). The maximal increase in insulin post-LMR was 33.9 +/- 3.6 mIU/ml in the diabetic patients and 54.0 +/- 9.8 mIU/ml in the non-diabetic controls. Oatmeal elicited a maximal insulin increase of 29.9 +/- 4.2 mIU/ml in the control subjects and 21.4 +/- 2.5 mIU/ml in the diabetic patients. In contrast, the maximal insulin increase after Prowash was 8.6 +/- 1.5 mIU/ml in the non-diabetic controls and 6.8 +/- 1.2 mIU/ml in the diabetic patients (p < 0.01).

Effect of soaking, germination, and enzyme treatment of whole barley on nutritional value and digestive tract parameters of broiler chickens.

1. An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of soaking at 0 degrees C, soaking at room temperature, germination, or enzyme treatment of whole barley on feeding value and digestive tract parameters of 2- to 4-week old broiler chickens given diets with 700g/kg whole barley. 2. Soaking or germination decreased the soluble and total beta-glucan content (P < 0.05) and, except for soaking at 0 degrees C, the acid extract viscosity of the grain also decreased (P < 0.05). Germination and soaking in the presence of enzymes produced the lowest beta-glucan content and viscosity. 3. Except for soaking in cold water, the soaking, germination and enzyme treatments increased weight gain and decreased food:gain ratio (P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the digestibility of protein, fat, and ash, and the digestible energy content, increased (P < 0.05) after enzyme treatment or germination. 4. Chickens fed on enzyme-treated or germinated barley diets had intestinal contents with a greater proportion of dry matter and lower viscosity than chickens fed on untreated barley (P < 0.05). Consequently, the cages and chickens were cleaner (P < 0.05) and the weight of digestive organs as proportion of live weight was lower. 5. Particle size analysis of excreta revealed that whole barley was efficiently ground by the gizzards of 16-d-old chickens, and very few whole kernels were found.

Comparison of performance and intestinal characteristics of broiler chickens fed on diets containing whole, rolled or ground barley.

1. In two experiments, no consistent differences in weight gain or food intake appeared between broiler chickens given diets based on whole or rolled barley, but food: gain ratio and gizzard weight as a percentage of live weight were reduced (P < 0.05) when barley was rolled. Grit addition did not affect performance or intestinal characteristics. 2. In a third experiment, whole barley diets gave significantly higher weight gain than ground barley diets; this was attributable to the significantly higher food consumption. Gizzard weight as a percentage of live weight increased (P < 0.05) when whole barley was fed, while food: gain ratio was not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the form of barley. 3. The number of particles in the intestinal contents with sizes larger than 2.4 mm was not significantly (P < 0.05) different between broiler chickens fed on whole barley and those fed ground barley, but the number of particles with sizes between 2.4 and 0.7 mm was lower P < 0.05) when diets with whole barley were fed. 4. Enzyme addition increased (P < 0.05) weight gain and the DM of intestinal contents, and decreased (P < 0.05) intestinal viscosity, food: gain ratio and pancreas weight as a percentage of live weight regardless of form of the barley.

Oat beta-glucan-amylodextrins: preliminary preparations and biological properties.

Amylodextrins with soluble beta-glucan contents from 1 to 10% were prepared from oats and the hypocholesterolemic properties of the latter were evaluated. The products are called OATRIM and can lower blood cholesterol by replacing animal fats rich in cholesterol in food products and, possibly, by the action of beta-glucan in the body after consumption. In the chick model, decreased total blood cholesterol also resulted in increases of HDL cholesterol and decreases of LDL cholesterol. Processing conditions were found that gave the maximum amount of beta-glucan and desirable fat-replacement qualities with the least amount of color and flavor.

Tocotrienol and fatty acid composition of barley oil and their effects on lipid metabolism.

Barley oil was extracted with hexane from the grain of a high oil waxy hull-less barley. Twelve male broiler chicks were fed corn-based diets with either 10% barley oil, 10% corn oil or 10% margarine ad libitum for ten days. Total plasma cholesterol concentration of the chicks fed barley oil was 34% lower (p < 0.05) than that of the chicks fed margarine. Plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration of chicks fed barley oil was 53% and 59% lower (p < 0.05) than those of chicks fed corn oil and margarine, respectively. Plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentration of the barley oil group were similar to those of the margarine but higher (p < 0.05) than those of the corn oil group. Chicks fed the barley oil gained more (p < 0.05) body weight than those fed the corn oil and margarine. Barley oil had an effect in suppression of TC and LDLC in chicks compared to margarine. Barley oil suppressed LDLC but not HDLC in chicks compared to corn oil. A greater weight gain of the chicks fed barley oil suggested that these chicks had normally functioning digestion and absorption. alpha-Tocotrienol and gamma-tocotrienol content of the barley oil were 24 and 17 times greater, respectively, than those observed in the corn oil, while the same fractions were not detectable in the margarine. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the barley oil was more than threefold that of margarine. These data suggest that alpha-tocotrienol and polyunsaturated fatty acids are hypocholesterolemic components in barley oil.

Barley beta-glucans alter intestinal viscosity and reduce plasma cholesterol concentrations in chicks.

Ninety-six 14-d-old male broiler chicks were divided into three dietary groups and fed a corn-soybean meal diet, a barley diet with beta-glucanase and that diet without beta-glucanase. All diets contained 4 g cholesterol/kg. Average daily body weight gain, plasma total cholesterol concentration, LDL cholesterol concentration and digestibility of lipids and protein were lowest (P < 0.05) in the chicks fed the barley diet without beta-glucanase and highest (P < 0.05) in the chicks fed corn-soybean meal diet. Supplementation of the barley diet with beta-glucanase resulted in greater (P < 0.05) average daily weight gain, plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations and digestibility of lipids. Viscosity of small intestinal digesta was greatest in chicks fed barley, lowest in those fed the corn-soybean diet and intermediate in chicks fed enzyme-treated barley. Significant (P < 0.01) negative correlations occurred between viscosity of the small intestinal contents and average daily weight gain, plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations, and digestibility of lipids and protein. A lower concentration of insoluble beta-glucans in small intestinal digesta of the chicks fed barley supplemented with beta-glucanase compared with the chicks fed the unsupplemented barley diet reflects hydrolytic activity of the supplemental beta-glucanase in the diet.

Barley diets with different fat sources have hypocholesterolemic effects in chicks.

Saturated fat is known to elevate serum cholesterol, whereas soluble dietary fiber has a hypocholesterolemic effect. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of barley and wheat diets supplemented with five fat sources on lipid metabolism in chicks. In two separate experiments, broiler chicks were fed isonitrogenous diets containing 23% protein, 11.4% dietary fiber and 10% dietary fat for 17 d. Diets contained 60% either hull-less barley or red spring wheat, with either palm oil, dehydrated egg yolk, butter, tallow or corn oil. Growth, feed efficiency, plasma lipids, liver cholesterol, and fecal fat and dry matter were measured. All chicks fed wheat grew faster and had greater food efficiency than those fed barley. All barley-fed chicks had lower (P less than 0.0001) total plasma cholesterol concentration (3.1 to 4.0 mmol/L) than those fed wheat (6.0 to 11.3 mmol/L). Chicks fed palm oil with wheat had the highest total cholesterol, 11.3 mmol/L. Liver cholesterol concentration was higher (P less than 0.0001) for all wheat-fed chicks (22.8-86.4 mmol/g) compared with those fed barley (6.7 to 12.2 mmol/g). Fecal crude fat was higher (P less than 0.05) for chicks fed barley, and excreta dry matter was lower for barley-fed chicks. Results indicate that the high soluble fiber content of this barley exerts a hypocholesterolemic effect in chicks regardless of dietary fat source, possibly mediated through lowered fat absorption.

Effect of full-fat or defatted rice bran on serum cholesterol.

Rice bran has been shown to lower serum cholesterol in hamsters. Leghorn cockerel chicks were fed 60% full-fat rice bran (FFRB) and corn/soy (CS) diets with 0.5% added cholesterol. Both diets contained 18% protein. All reported parameters are on blood serum. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL and LDL). In a second study, chicks were fed FFRB, defatted rice bran (DFRB), and CS diets balanced for 18% protein, 14.47% total dietary fiber and 10.78% lipid with 0.5% added cholesterol. Both TC and TG were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in chicks fed FFRB and CS diets. Significant differences were found in HDL values for all diets with FFRB exhibiting the highest mean value (155 mg/dl) and CS exhibiting the lowest mean value (114 mg/dl). All diets were significantly different (p less than 0.05) in LDL, with mean values of 249, 318 and 275 mg/dl for FFRB, DFRB and CS, respectively. FFRB appears to increase HDL and to lower LDL in chicks, but does not always affect TC, whereas DFRB may increase all three serum lipid components.

Growth and lipid metabolism as affected by feeding of hull-less barleys with and without supplemental beta-glucanase.

Three hull-less barleys, Washonupana (WSNP), Waxbar (WXB), and Bangsa (BGS), were fed to broiler chicks in 21% protein diets containing 0.5% cholesterol in replicate trials. A corn-based diet, with added cholesterol, served as a control. Alternate diets were supplemented with beta-glucanase (ENZ). beta-glucan content ranged from 4.9% to 6.1% and soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from 3.6% to 7.5% in the barleys. Data from the two trials were pooled for statistical analysis by the SAS General Linear Models procedure. In body weight gain, chicks fed WSNP-ENZ were lower (P less than 0.05) than all other treatments. The beta-glucanase supplement to the WXB and BGS barley tended to improve gains, but the differences were not significant for either barley. Feed to gain ratios were lowest (P less than 0.0001) for corn fed chicks and lower (P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.0001) for those fed the barley + ENZ diets compared to barley -ENZ. Chicks fed barley diets had lower (P less than 0.05) total serum cholesterol (TSC) and LDL-cholesterol than those fed corn diets, regardless of ENZ supplementation. For chicks on barley -ENZ diets, TSC levels for WSNP, WXB, and BGS were 146, 152, and 142 mg/dl respectively and for chicks on barley + ENZ diets, 218, 200, and 178 mg/dl. LDL-cholesterol levels followed the same trend and there was little difference in serum triglycerides. The BGS + ENZ lowered TSC 30% from the corn control compared to 10.7% and 18% for WSNP + ENZ and WXB + ENZ, suggesting additional hypocholesterolemic factors, possibly tocotrienol and SDF other than 1----3, 1----4 beta-D-glucans.

Effect of pelleting and beta-glucanase supplementation on the ileal and fecal digestibility of a barley-based diet in the pig.

The influences of pelleting and beta-glucanase supplementation on the digestibility of dietary components in a barley-based diet were investigated in pigs fitted with cannulas in the terminal ileum. The diet contained 49.0% starch, 18.9% crude protein and 14.8% dietary fiber, with arabinoxylans (4.9%), mixed-linked beta-glucans (3.4%) and cellulose (3.3%) as the main fiber components. Pelleting increased mixed-linked beta-glucan solubility from 45 to 62%. Neither treatment influenced the ileal or fecal apparent digestibilities of dry matter (64 and 80%, respectively), energy (62 and 79%), crude protein (53 and 75%), crude fat (26 and 27%) or dietary fiber (58 and 72%). However, pelleting increased (P less than .01) the pre-ileal apparent digestibility of starch from 91.5 to 95.3% and decreased (P less than .03) that of ash from -10 to -23%, while increasing (P less than .005) the fecal apparent digestibility of starch from 98.6 to 99.7%. The solubility of mixed-linked beta-glucans in ileal digesta was lower (P less than .001) in pelleted (26%) than in unpelleted (58%) diets. beta-glucanase supplementation also increased (P less than .05) the ileal apparent digestibility of starch, from 92.6 to 94.3%, and of mixed-linked beta-glucans, from 95.7 to 97.1%. Significant between-pig differences in the apparent digestibility of dietary components were observed. In conclusion, treatments that disrupt the endosperm cell walls in barley can increase the proportion of the diet digested prior to the large intestine.

Reduction of carcass fat in swine with dietary addition of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate.

Swine weighing 80 to 85 kg were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet plus a mixture of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate (3:1) (triose) or Polycose (control), a glucose polymer, as 3.85% of calories (4% of the diet). Twenty-four pigs were pair-fed the triose mixture or control diet for 28 d in litter-mate pairs of the same sex. Weight gain and feed consumption were recorded and carcasses were evaluated for fat and muscle accretion. The right rear leg and rear one-third of the right loin were skinned, deboned, ground and analyzed for protein, fat, moisture and ash content. Average backfat depth and backfat depth at the first, last and 10th rib were reduced by 12, 15, 14 and 12% (P less than .01), respectively, in triose-fed pigs. Loin eye area and untrimmed lean cuts were not altered by diet, but percentage trimmed lean cuts was higher (P less than .02) in triose-fed pigs (57.6 vs 55.3%). Leg and loin tissue samples from pigs fed the triose mixture had a lower (P less than .01) percentage of fat and a corresponding increased (P less than .01) percentage of protein. Organ weights and the blood biochemical profile were not altered by triose feeding. Liver function tests were not altered in animals consuming the trioses, except for an 18% decrease (P less than .05) in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Ingestion of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate will reduce body fat in limit-fed swine without reducing muscle protein deposition.

Effects of baking hulless barley on the digestibility of dietary components as measured at the ileum and in the feces in pigs.

The effects of different baking conditions on the apparent digestibility of dietary components were examined in pigs with an ileal cannula. The pigs were fed a hulless barley-based diet that was 1) uncooked, 2) baked for 4 h using high moisture, low temperature (37% dry matter, 121 degrees C) conditions (HMLT), or 3) baked for 1 h using lower moisture, high temperature (48% dry matter, 204 degrees C) conditions (LMHT). Ileal digesta and fecal dry matter were not different between the three diets. Pigs fed the HMLT and LMHT diets had 4% and 2% higher starch digestibility at the ileum, respectively, than did pigs fed the uncooked diet (P less than 0.05). Total Klason lignin recovered at the terminal ileum was similar for all diets even though initial Klason lignin values for the LMHT diet were twice that of the uncooked or HMLT diet. Digestibility of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) as measured at the ileum and in the feces of pigs fed the baked diets was about 10% higher than in pigs fed the uncooked diet (P less than 0.1). The ratio of NSP ileal digestion:NSP digestion as measured in the feces was over 0.75 for all diets. Baking increased digestibility in the barley-based diet by increasing the digestibility of starch and dietary fiber. Increasing the severity of baking (LMHT) tended to decrease digestibility compared to the mild baking (HMLT), but not significantly.

Nutritive value of a new hull-less barley cultivar in broiler chick diets.

The hull-less barley mutant Franubet, derived from Betzes (CI 6398), has an unusual starch type, with granules that appear fractured when viewed with an electron microscope. Hull-less Franubet barley from three crops and a hulled barley, Ershabet (CI 15722) were used in a series of 21-day broiler chick feeding studies using 21% protein diets supplemented with 44% protein soybean meal, DL-methionine, minerals, vitamins, and an antibiotic. Barley-containing diets were compared with corn diets in varying proportions as basal grains. Supplemental beta-glucanase added to Franubet diets resulted in improvement in chick growth over that of birds fed diets unsupplemented with beta-glucanase. In some cases, chicks fed Franubet barley with or without the supplemental enzyme had weight gains equal to those fed corn. Feed:gain ratios corresponded to weight gain results. In one trial, Ershabet barley, a hulled cultivar, was compared with Franubet barley, with and without beta-glucanase, and corn as basal grains. Results from feeding both barleys were equal to those of feeding corn when supplemented with enzyme, although performance of the hull-less cultivar tended to be superior with respect to chick body weight gain and feed:gain ratio. Franubet barley appears to have high nutrient digestibility for poultry compared with other barleys.

Enophthalmos and upper eyelid retraction following osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy.

A 38-year-old man presented with hyperophthalmia, enophthalmos, and upper eyelid retraction 18 months following an osteoplastic flap and frontal sinus obliteration for mucocele. Computerized tomography confirmed the presence of frontal bone absorption in the roof of the orbit with traction and elevation of the orbital contents into the obliterated frontal sinus. A fracture of the orbital roof with penetration of periorbita at the time of original surgery was the suspected precipitating cause of the complication. Surgical management included lysis of the cicatrix between the orbit and frontal sinus and interposition of a silicone sheet between the orbit and sinus, which restored the appropriate anatomic relationships and prevented recurrence.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk head and neck surgery: one-day vs. five-day therapy.

Patients who undergo major contaminated surgery of the head and neck benefit from perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. This study was developed to determine if 5 days of antibiotic administration would be more effective than 1 day. A multi-institutional prospective randomized double-blind study was designed. Patients who were identified as requiring pedicled flap reconstruction were potential candidates for the study. Later, patients were randomly assigned to receive cefoperazone sodium for either 24 hours or 120 hours. In each case, the drug was administered intravenously, beginning 1 to 2 hours preoperatively and continued for the prescribed period. One hundred nine patients were evaluable. Fifty-three patients were assigned to 1 day of perioperative prophylaxis. Wound infection developed in ten patients (18.9%). Fifty-six patients were assigned to 5 days of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Wound infection developed in 14 (25%) of these patients (P greater than .05). These data suggest that no beneficial effect from administration of antibiotics for longer than 24 hours postoperatively can be achieved in patients who undergo myocutaneous flap reconstruction.

Metastatic melanoma to the ethmoid sinus.

Malignant melanomas comprise approximately 1.5% of all malignant tumors and one fifth of these will involve the head and neck. The surgeon who operates in this region should be familiar with all aspects of this disease. The most common site of metastasis to the nose and paranasal sinuses is via the maxillary sinus. Often these metastases are of renal origin, with pulmonary metastases being the second most common source. The most frequent presenting symptoms are epistaxis, a nasal mass, or nasal obstruction. Review of the English literature to date has not revealed any reports of isolated metastatic melanoma to the ethmoid sinus. Batson, in 1940, proposed a plausible mechanism of such hematogenous metastasis via a valveless vertebral venous bed.

Use of a nylon-bag technique for pig feed digestibility studies.

1. The use of a nylon-bag technique for pig feed digestibility determination was studied. Bags, measuring 25 x 40 mm and containing feed samples, were introduced into the pig gastrointestinal tract through a duodenal cannula, and recovered in the faeces between 23 and 69 h later. The disappearance of organic matter and crude protein (nitrogen x 6.25) from the bags was compared with in vivo apparent digestibility, determined by conventional faecal-collection methods, and neutral-detergent-fibre content for eleven feeds. The residues left in the bags after passage through the intestine from whole-crop-pea (Pisum sativum) and barley-grain samples were analysed for starch, non-starch polysaccharide residues, Klason lignin, crude protein and ash. 2. Dry matter disappearance of barley or whole-crop peas was not influenced by increasing bag pore size from 10 to 36 microns or sample weight from 250 to 1000 mg. Pepsin (EC 3.4.2.1) pretreatment had no effect on the degradation in the bags of the feeds investigated. 3. Organic matter and crude protein disappearance from the bags exceeded in vivo apparent digestibility by up to 0.10 and 0.42 units respectively. In vivo apparent organic matter digestibility could be predicted (P less than 0.001) by the organic matter disappearance from the bags and the neutral-detergent-fibre content of the feed, while in vivo apparent crude protein digestibility was highly correlated (P less than 0.001) to all these indices but poorly to crude protein disappearance from the bags. 4. Klason lignin was the least degraded component measured in the whole-crop-pea and barley residues from the bags, while starch was completely digested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A microbiological approach to nutrition.

Fermentation is known to modify nutritional value of foods positively. A new technique for supplementing traditional fermented foods with limiting amino acids is presented. Normal fermentative bacteria are induced to produce specific amino acids during the fermentation period. Acceptable food products have been prepared using fermented grain. The concept may be applicable to developing countries.