Digestibility and nutritional parameters of maize ethanol coproducts and xylanase for broiler diets.

1. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional and energy values of four maize distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and one maize high protein distiller's dried grains (HP-DDG) from ethanol production plants in Brazil; to evaluate the digestibility, performance, nitrogen balance and energy values for broiler chickens fed diets containing these coproducts (Experiment I); and to evaluate the effects of xylanase inclusion in diets containing maize DDGS for broilers on energy availability, digestibility, nitrogen balance and gastrointestinal morphometry (Experiment II).2. For each experiment, 180 broiler chickens aged 17 and 30 days with initial weights of 450 ± 18 g and 1228 ± 33 g, respectively, were used; the chickens were distributed into 36 metabolism cages. The experimental design consisted of complete randomised blocks, with six replications per treatment and five birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of a basal diet (BD) and five test diets containing maize ethanol coproducts (Experiment I) one BD and five test diets containing DDGS with inclusions of 0, 8,000, 16,000, 24,000 and 32,000 BXU/kg xylanase (Experiment II). In Experiment I, HP-DDG and DDGS2 presented higher AME and AMEn values (14.1 and 13.9 MJ/kg and 13.4 and 13.3 MJ/kg, respectively), than did the other coproducts (p < 0.05). Compared with DDGS1 and DDGS3, DDGS4 and HP-DDG had higher digestible CP values (p < 0.05). In Experiment II, the inclusion of the enzyme quadratically affected the values of digestible CP and digestible EE (p < 0.05), with the maximum values occurring with the inclusion of 18 750 and 22,170 BXU/kg of xylanase, respectively.3. The digestible NDF and digestible MM values linearly increased with the inclusion of xylanase (p < 0.05). The addition of xylanase had no effect on gastrointestinal morphometry (p > 0.05). It was concluded that the inclusion of between 18,000 and 22,000 BXU/kg of xylanase resulted in better digestible CP and digestible EE values.

[Feline sarcoid in a 1-year-old domestic short-haired cat caused by bovine papillomavirus type 14 in Switzerland]. / Felines Sarcoid bei einer 1-jährigen europäischen Hauskatze ausgelöst durch bovines Papillomavirus Typ 14 in der Schweiz.

INTRODUCTION: A 1-year- old domestic short haired cat, living on a farm in Switzerland, was presented to the veterinarian with a 5 cm in diameter mass, bulging from her left nostril. The mass was only incompletely removed because of its unfavourable location. Histologically, the lesion consisted of an infiltrative growing spindeloid proliferation in close approximation to the epidermis and was diagnosed as a feline sarcoid tumour. The presence of Bovine Papillomavirus type 14 (BPV-14) specific DNA could be identified in the tissue by using two PCR assays. The amplified sequences of 194 and 549 base pairs (bp) were 99% and 100% identical with a virus isolated after autopsy, from a cat with feline sarcoid in the USA. The cat recovered completely after an even incomplete surgical excision and no recurrence could be observed 10 months later.

Divergence of annual and perennial species in the Brassicaceae and the contribution of cis-acting variation at FLC orthologues.

Variation in life history contributes to reproductive success in different environments. Divergence of annual and perennial angiosperm species is an extreme example that has occurred frequently. Perennials survive for several years and restrict the duration of reproduction by cycling between vegetative growth and flowering, whereas annuals live for 1 year and flower once. We used the tribe Arabideae (Brassicaceae) to study the divergence of seasonal flowering behaviour among annual and perennial species. In perennial Brassicaceae, orthologues of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a floral inhibitor in Arabidopsis thaliana, are repressed by winter cold and reactivated in spring conferring seasonal flowering patterns, whereas in annuals, they are stably repressed by cold. We isolated FLC orthologues from three annual and two perennial Arabis species and found that the duplicated structure of the A. alpina locus is not required for perenniality. The expression patterns of the genes differed between annuals and perennials, as observed among Arabidopsis species, suggesting a broad relevance of these patterns within the Brassicaceae. Also analysis of plants derived from an interspecies cross of A. alpina and annual A. montbretiana demonstrated that cis-regulatory changes in FLC orthologues contribute to their different transcriptional patterns. Sequence comparisons of FLC orthologues from annuals and perennials in the tribes Arabideae and Camelineae identified two regulatory regions in the first intron whose sequence variation correlates with divergence of the annual and perennial expression patterns. Thus, we propose that related cis-acting changes in FLC orthologues occur independently in different tribes of the Brassicaceae during life history evolution.

Minerais orgânicos e licopeno na alimentação de poedeiras: desempenho zootécnico e qualidade dos ovos / Organic minerals and lycopene in the diet of laying hens: production performance and egg quality

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização de minerais orgânicos e do licopeno em rações para poedeiras sobre o desempenho zootécnico e a qualidade dos ovos. Utilizaram-se 288 poedeiras, distribuídas em DIC em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 (fontes de minerais x níveis de licopeno), com seis tratamentos, seis repetições e oito aves por unidade experimental. As rações experimentais foram: minerais inorgânicos (MI) sem a adição de licopeno; MI com a adição de licopeno (400mg/kg); MI com a adição de licopeno (800mg/kg); minerais orgânicos (MOR) sem a adição de licopeno; MOR com a adição de licopeno (400mg/kg); MOR com a adição de licopeno (800mg/kg). Foram avaliados: consumo de ração, porcentagem de postura, massa dos ovos, conversão alimentar (kg/kg e kg/dz), peso do ovo, porcentagens de casca, albúmen e gema, espessura da casca, gravidade específica, unidade Haugh, índice e coloração de gema, pH do albúmen e da gema. Os minerais orgânicos aumentam o consumo de ração quando associados a níveis de 0 e 800mg de licopeno. A associação de 400mg de licopeno com minerais inorgânicos aumenta o consumo de ração. A adição de minerais orgânicos ou de 400mg de licopeno às rações melhora a porcentagem de postura e massa dos ovos de poedeiras com 58 semanas de idade. A coloração de gema é mais acentuada para as fontes inorgânicas em relação às orgânicas e mais acentuada em rações com 800mg de licopeno. A unidade Haugh é maior em rações sem licopeno e com minerais inorgânicos e em rações com 400mg de licopeno e com minerais orgânicos. Rações com fonte orgânica associada a 800mg de licopeno proporcionam maior unidade Haugh em relação a fonte orgânica sem licopeno.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of organic minerals and lycopene in the diet of laying hens on performance and egg quality. 288 hens were used, distributed in DIC in a factorial 2 x 3 (mineral sources x lycopene levels) with six treatments and six replicates of eight birds per experimental unit. The experimental diets were: inorganic minerals (MI) without the addition of lycopene; MI with the addition of lycopene (400mg/kg); MI with the addition of lycopene (800mg/kg); minerals organic (MOR) without addition lycopene; MOR with the addition of lycopene (400mg/kg); MOR with the addition of lycopene (800mg/kg). The following parameters were evaluated: feed intake, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion (kg/kg and kg/dz), egg weight, percentage shell, albumen and yolk, shell thickness specific gravity, unit Haugh, index and yolk color, pH of albumen and yolk. The organic minerals increase the feed intake when combined at levels of 0 and 800mg of lycopene. The combination of 400mg of lycopene with inorganic minerals increases feed intake. The addition of organic or mineral 400mg lycopene in diets improves egg production and egg weight of hens at 58 weeks of age. The yolk color is more pronounced for inorganic sources in relation to organic and more pronounced in diets with 800mg of lycopene. The Haugh unit is higher in lycopene free diets and diets with inorganic mineral and 400mg of lycopene and organic minerals. Diets with organic source associated with 800mg of lycopene provide higher Haugh units for organic source without lycopene.

Mananoligossacarídeo e ß-glucano em dietas de leitões desmamados / Mannan Oligosaccharides and ß-glucan in diets for weaned piglets

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação de mananoligossacarídeo, ß-glucano e antibiótico em dietas de leitões machos castrados, durante a fase de creche (21 aos 54 dias de idade), sobre o desempenho, características morfo-histológicas da mucosa intestinal e ocorrência de diarreia. Foram utilizados 368 leitões de mesma linhagem, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos (1: 330g de mananoligossacarídeo t/ração (oriundos do núcleo), 2: 1.830g de mananoligossacarídeo t/ração (330g oriundos do núcleo + 1.550g da suplementação), 3: 330g de mananoligossacarídeo (oriundos do núcleo) + 500g de ß-glucano t/ração e 4: 330g de mananoligossacarídeo (oriundos do núcleo) + 250g de Colistina t/ração) e quatro repetições com 23 animais por unidade experimental. O desempenho foi avaliado pelo ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. As características morfo-histológicas da mucosa intestinal estudadas foram altura de vilosidade, profundidade das criptas intestinais, perímetro de vilosidade e a relação altura de vilosidade:profundidade de cripta do duodeno, jejuno e íleo. A ocorrência de diarreia foi observada diariamente pela avaliação de escore fecal. A suplementação de mananoligossacarídeo, ß-glucano e antibiótico na dieta de leitões machos castrados, na fase de creche, não influenciaram o desempenho e a ocorrência de diarreia. Maior altura de vilosidade e maior profundidade de criptas no duodeno e íleo foram verificadas nos animais suplementados com ß-glucano. No jejuno foi observado maior perímetro de vilosidade nos animais suplementados com ß-glucano e nos animais que não receberam suplemento adicional na dieta.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with mannan oligosaccharides, ß-glucan and antibiotic in diets for castrated male piglets during the nursery phase (21 to 54 days of age) on performance, morpho-histological characteristics of the intestinal mucosa and occurrence of diarrhea. A total of 368 piglets of the same strain, distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments (1- 330 g mannan oligosaccharides/t of diet (derived of nucleus); 2 - 1,830 g mannan oligosaccharides/t of diet (330g derived of nucleus + 1550g of supplementation); 3 - 330g mannan oligosaccharides (derived of nucleus) + 500g ß-glucan/t of diet; and 4 - 330g mannan oligosaccharides (derived of nucleus) + 250g colistin/t of diet) and four replications with 23 animals per experimental unit. Performance was assessed through weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. The morpho-histological characteristics of the intestinal mucosa studied were villus height, intestinal crypt depth, villus circumference and villus height:crypt depth of duodenum, jejunum and ileum ratio. The occurrence of diarrhea was observed daily by the evaluation of fecal score. Supplementation of mannan oligosaccharides, ß-glucan and antibiotic in the diet of castrated male piglets in the nursery phase did not affect performance and occurrence of diarrhea. Greater villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and ileum were verified in the animals supplemented with ß-glucan. In the jejunum, greater villus circumference was observed in the animals supplemented with ß-glucan and in the animals that did not receive additional supplemented diet.(AU)

Lisina digestível em dietas de baixa proteína para frangos de corte tipo caipira de um aos 28 dias / Digestible lysine in diets containing low protein concentrations for broiler type redneck from 1 to 28 days

Avaliou-se a inclusão de diferentes porcentagens de lisina digestível em dietas de baixa proteína para frangos de corte tipo caipira, machos e fêmeas, com idade entre um e 28 dias. Utilizaram-se 792 machos e 792 fêmeas de linhagem comercial, de um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2x6 (sexo x porcentagem de lisina digestível: 0,85; 0,90; 0,95; 1,00; 1,05 e 1,10%) com seis repetições de 22 aves. Não foi constatada interação (P>0,05) de sexo versus inclusão de lisina. Observou-se superioridade (P<0,05) dos machos em relação às fêmeas para todas as variáveis avaliadas. O ganho de peso dos frangos diminuiu linearmente (P<0,05) em função do aumento da porcentagem de lisina digestível na dieta e observou-se redução linear (P<0,01) nos consumos de ração e de proteína. O consumo de lisina digestível aumentou linearmente (P<0,01) em função do aumento de sua concentração na dieta. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para conversão alimentar. Da composição centesimal da carcaça, apenas o percentual de matéria mineral foi influenciada (P<0,05) pela porcentagem de lisina digestível. Conclui-se que 0,85% de lisina para frangos tipo caipira de pescoço pelado atende à exigência nutricional de lisina digestível em dietas com baixa concentração proteica.

The inclusion of different percentages of digestible lysine in low-protein diets was evaluated for male and female free-range broiler chickens, from 1 to 28 days. We used 792 female and 792 male naked neck chickens a day in a completely randomized 2x6 factorial scheme (sex x percentages of digestible lysine: 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, 1.00, 1.05 and1.10%) with six replicates of 22 broilers. No interaction of sex versus lysine was found. Superiority was observed (P<0.05) in males compared to females for all variables.Weight gainof chickens decreased linearly(P<0.05) with increasing levels of digestible lysine in the diet. There was a linear reduction (P<0.01) in feed intake, protein and metabolizable energy. On the other hand, the consumption of digestible lysine increased linearly (P<0.01) with the increase of its concentration in the diet. There was nodifference (P>0.05) in food conversion.In the chemical composition of the carcass, only thepercentage of mineral matter was influenced (P<0.05) bydigestible lysine levels.It was concluded that the level of 0.85% for type redneck broiler meets the nutritional requirement of digestible lysine in diets containing lower protein concentrations.

Classification of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease using model-based MR and magnetization transfer imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early stratification of degenerative processes is a prerequisite to warrant therapeutic options in prodromal Alzheimer disease. Our aim was to investigate differences in cerebral macromolecular tissue composition between patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment, and age- and sex-matched healthy controls by using model-based magnetization transfer with a binary spin-bath magnetization transfer model and magnetization transfer ratio at 1.5 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated patients with de novo AD (n=18), MCI (n=18), and CTRLs (n=18). A region-of-interest analysis of the entorhinal cortex, hippocampal head and body, insula, and temporal neocortex was performed with fuzzy clustering to associate every subregion to a cluster representative for each group. RESULTS: Cluster analysis achieved a concordance of 0.92 (50 of 54 subjects) between a combination of the calculated mMT parameters (kf,kr,T2r,F,T2f) in the entorhinal cortex and the neuropsychological diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity for the discrimination of AD from MCI reached 1 and 0.94, with a positive predictive value of 0.95 and a negative predictive value of 1. Compared with mMT, the concordance for MTR was 0.83 (45 of 54 subjects) with a lower specificity of 0.5 and positive predictive value of 0.67 to discriminate patients with AD and MCI. CONCLUSIONS: mMT imaging detects macromolecule-related alterations and allows an improved classification of patients with early AD and MCI compared with MTR.

Susceptibility-weighted MR imaging for diagnosis of capillary telangiectasia of the brain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: BCT is a benign entity, whose appearance on conventional MR imaging makes its differentiation from neoplastic, inflammatory, or subacute ischemic disease challenging. SWI is sensitive to susceptibility effects from deoxyhemoglobin with excellent spatial resolution. Only scarce case reports have described the utility of SWI in cases of BCT. Our aim was to show the diagnostic value of SWI applied to a larger series of cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational retrospective study of 33 BCTs in 27 consecutive patients examined from August 2009 to January 2011 with MR imaging, including SWI. Morphology, signal intensity characteristics, and additional vascular malformations were analyzed. Preceding or follow-up examinations were available in 18 patients with a median time interval of 14.5 months (range, 2-115 months). RESULTS: Twenty-five pontine and 8 supratentorial BCTs demonstrated distinct signal-intensity loss on SWI in combination with postcontrast enhancement. Mean lesion diameter was 4.9 mm (range, 1.5-17 mm). Thirty-nine percent showed slight signal-intensity changes on T1 and/or T2; the remainder were isointense to normal brain. In 30%, a prominent draining vessel was observed. Additional cerebral vascular malformations were found in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: SWI represents a valuable tool for confirmation of presumed BCT. Demonstration of signal-intensity loss on SWI in an enhancing focal brain lesion, otherwise unremarkable on conventional MR images, is highly specific for BCT, thus excluding serious pathology and reassuring the patient and referring physician. This is particularly helpful for BCT in less typical locations.

Simulação técnico-econômica da inclusão de ractopamina em dietas de suínos em terminação / Technical-economic simulation of ractopamine inclusion in diets for finishing pigs

Foi realizada simulação técnico-econômica a partir de resultados de publicações para avaliar a inclusão de ractopamina em dietas de suínos em terminação. Foram utilizados 18 artigos, que avaliaram níveis de 0, 5, 10 e/ou 20ppm de ractopamina na dieta, totalizando 2.991 animais. A partir dos resultados técnicos das publicações avaliadas, foram geradas equações que foram utilizadas na simulação do desempenho técnico-econômico. Verificou-se que os custos independem do sistema de receitas do produtor e oscilam de 3 a 6ppm de ractopamina adicionada à dieta. O lucro máximo foi obtido com os níveis de 10 e 12ppm de ractopamina, respectivamente, para os sistemas de receita por peso vivo e por bonificação. Os resultados evidenciam melhor desempenho econômico da utilização de ractopamina, na dieta dos suínos em terminação, pelo sistema de receita por bonificação. As análises de sensibilidade para a variação na receita dos produtores apresentam valores ótimos de 9 a 12ppm de ractopamina, com oscilação de até R$ 49,00/cabeça entre os cenários testados.

A technical-economic simulation was performed based on results from publications for assessing the inclusion of ractopamine in the diet of finishing pigs. Eighteen articles were used, which assessed levels of 0, 5, 10, and/or 20ppm of ractopamine in the diet, totalizing 2,991 animals. Based on the results obtained in these technical publications, equations were used for the simulation of the technical-economic performance. From this study, it was established that the costs are independent of the system of revenue of the producer and range from 3 to 6ppm of ractopamine added in the diet. The maximum profit was obtained with the levels of 10 and 12ppm of ractopamine, respectively, for the systems of revenue per body weight and per bonus. The results show a better economic performance with the use of ractopamine in the diet of finishing pigs, by the system of revenue per bonus. Analyses of sensitivity of changes in the revenue of producers presented optimal values of 9 to 12ppm of ractopamine, with a range of up to R$ 49.00 per capita between the tested scenarios.

Plastidic trnFUUC pseudogenes in North American genus Boechera (Brassicaceae): mechanistic aspects of evolution.

The origin and maintenance of a plastidic tandem repeat next to the TRNF (UUC) gene were analyzed in the genus BOECHERA in a phylogenetic context and were compared to published analogous examples that emerged in parallel in the Asteraceae and Juncaceae, respectively. Although we identified some features common to these taxonomic groups with respect to structure and origin of the region, obvious differences were encountered, which argue against a specific mechanism or evolutionary principle underlying the parallel origin and maintenance of the TRNF-tandem repeats in those families. In contrast to the situation in the Asteraceae, no reciprocal recombinant repeat types have been observed in the Brassicaceae. Forty copy types, classified into three groups, were isolated from 103 chloroplast haplotypes of BOECHERA and it was demonstrated that they are composed of four subregions of various origins. We discuss various mutation mechanisms such as DNA replication slippage, and inter- and intrachromosomal recombination which were reported to mediate variation in copy numbers and other types of observed sequence length polymorphism. It is shown that the observed molecular structure of the tandem repeat region did not fully fit the particular patterns expected under a scenario of evolution including any of the known mechanisms. Nevertheless, it appeared that intermolecular unequal crossing-over is most likely the driving force in the evolution of this tandem repeat. However, it remains to be explained, why no reciprocal recombinant copy types have been observed. The reconstructed phylogenetic relationships among copies reflected different evolutionary scenarios as follows: (1) A single and ancient origin of copies pre-dates the radiation of BOECHERA. (2) Parallel expansion and shortening of the tandem repeat within different BOECHERA lineages. (3) Conservation of the first copy, as it was the only one present in all chloroplast haplotypes.