Effects of a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens.

A study was undertaken to examine the effects of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) containing essential oils of thyme and star anise as lead active components on the growth performance and apparent ileal nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. In total, 528 one-day-old Cobb male broilers were randomly divided into 4 dietary treatment groups with 6 replicate pens per treatment group (22 birds each). The dietary treatments were a control starter and grower basal diet without PFA or 150, 750, or 1,500 mg/kg of PFA. Body weight, weight gain, and feed intake were not significantly influenced by the feed additive, but the feed conversion ratio during the grower (22-42 d) and overall (1-42 d) periods improved linearly (P < 0.05) by the administration of PFA compared with that of the control diet. The average weights of the liver, heart, kidneys, and spleen were not significantly affected by the PFA. The results of the apparent ileal digestibility of crude ash, CP, crude fat, calcium, and phosphorus showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) related to the increase of PFA dose in the diet. Therefore, the means of digestibility of these nutrients were significantly higher in birds fed the PFA for all categories of age compared with the digestibility of these nutrients in the controls. In conclusion, the mode of action of the tested PFA can be explained by an improvement in the nutrient digestibility in the small intestine. The underlying physiological mechanisms, however, need to be characterized further.

Investigations on the effects of dietary essential oils and different husbandry conditions on the gut ecology in piglets after weaning.

Essential oils (EO) are being considered as possible alternatives to in-feed antibiotic growth promoters in pig nutrition. The effects of an EO mixture consisting of limonene, eugenol and pinene (10.0, 2.0, and 4.8 mg/kg diet, resp.) on gut physiology and ecology were studied in piglets. The experiment was conducted at low (commercial farm) and high hygienic conditions (experimental farm), to elucidate interactions between EO supplementation and husbandry methods. Piglets were weaned at 28 days of age, when they were offered either a control diet (C) or C with EO. Four piglets were sacrificed in each group on day 29, 30, 33 and 39. Digesta from the third distal part of the small intestine and from the colon were sampled and analysed for pH, dry matter, lactic acid, short chain fatty acids and ammonia concentrations. Enterobacteria, enterococci, lactobacilli and yeast counts were obtained by plating. Genomic DNA was extracted from digesta and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was performed. Individual microbial communities were identified at each farm. Age affected the intestinal parameters. No effects of the EO with exception for a significant reduction in colon bacterial diversity at 39 days of age could be recorded at experimental farm.

Development of a flow-through system for the fish embryo toxicity test (FET) with the zebrafish (Danio rerio).

The acute fish test is still a mandatory component in chemical hazard and risk assessment. However, one of the objectives of the new European chemicals policy (REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is to promote non-animal testing. For whole effluent testing in Germany, the fish embryo toxicity test (FET) with the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been an accepted and mandatory replacement of the fish test since January 2005. For chemical testing, however, further optimization of the FET is required to improve the correlation between the acute fish test and the alternative FET. Since adsorption of the test chemical to surfaces may reduce available exposure concentrations, a flow-through system for the FET using modified commercially available polystyrene 24-well microtiter plates was developed, thus combining the advantages of the standard FET with those of continuous delivery of test substances. The advantages of the design presented include: small test footprint, availability of adequate volumes of test solution for subsequent chemical analysis, and sufficient flow to compensate for effects of non-specific adsorption within 24h. The flow-through test system can also be utilized to conduct longer-term embryo larval fish tests, thus offering the possibility for teratogenicity testing.

Is the fish embryo toxicity test (FET) with the zebrafish (Danio rerio) a potential alternative for the fish acute toxicity test?

The fish acute toxicity test is a mandatory component in the base set of data requirements for ecotoxicity testing. The fish acute toxicity test is not compatible with most current animal welfare legislation because mortality is the primary endpoint and it is often hypothesized that fish suffer distress and perhaps pain. Animal alternative considerations have also been incorporated into new European REACH regulations through strong advocacy for the reduction of testing with live animals. One of the most promising alternative approaches to classical acute fish toxicity testing with live fish is the fish embryo toxicity (FET) test. The FET has been a mandatory component in routine whole effluent testing in Germany since 2005 and has already been standardized at the international level. In order to analyze the applicability of the FET also in chemical testing, a comparative re-evaluation of both fish and fish embryo toxicity data was carried out for a total of 143 substances, and statistical approaches were developed to evaluate the correlation between fish and fish embryo toxicity data. Results confirm that fish embryo tests are neither better nor worse than acute fish toxicity tests and provide strong scientific support for the FET as a surrogate for the acute fish toxicity test.

An evaluation of clinical predictors to determine need for rectal temperature measurement in the emergency department.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban emergency department to determine if predictive variables existed that would identify a patient who would be afebrile by oral temperature measurement and febrile by rectal temperature measurement. This study included 366 patients. Five variables studied achieved statistical significance by univariant analysis: mouth breathing (P = .002), respiratory rate (P = .001), supplemental oxygen (P = .009), pulse (P = .0001), and supplemental oxygen via mask (P = .01). Placing these variables in a logistic regression model left two variables that significantly explained the variance of the model: pulse (odds-risk ratio, 1.032/increase in pulse of 1 from 0; 95% confidence interval, 1.020 to 1.039) and mouth breathing (odds-risk ratio, 2.113; 95% confidence interval, 1.41 to 3.43). There was poor linear correlation between oral and rectal temperatures (r = 0.2). If a patient has an unexplained tachycardia and/or is breathing by mouth and is afebrile orally, a rectal temperature measurement should be obtained to determine if fever exists. The results of this study suggest that good linear correlation does not exist between oral and rectal temperature measurements.

Ministry to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a spiritual challenge.

Notes some of the psychosocial aspects of AID patients and offers general guidelines for caregivers in dealing with the factors of impact, regression, acknowledgment, and reconstruction. Identifies the main tools of ministry as those of presence, affirmation, and listening. Challenges the church to go beyond society's negativism regarding AIDS and to offer the sort of reconciliation made manifest in the scripture.