Potential benefits of diagnosis and treatment on health outcomes among elderly people with symptoms of overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined potential benefits of diagnosing and treating elderly adults with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. METHODS: Data were analysed from the OAB Re-Contact Study (N = 2750), a cross-sectional, self-reported Internet survey. Elderly respondents (65+ years old) with OAB were identified according to current medication use to control OAB symptoms or by scores > 14 (men) or > 16 (women) on the OAB Awareness Tool. Treated were those currently using prescription medication and never treated were those who never used prescription medication for OAB. Outcome measures included health-related quality of life, activity impairment, OAB-related severity and symptoms, and healthcare resource use (e.g. hospitalisations). Generalised linear models predicted health outcomes as a function of diagnosis or treatment, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Diagnosed vs. not diagnosed elderly respondents had higher mental component summary (MCS) scores and SF-6D health utilities, and less activity impairment. Treated vs. never treated elderly respondents had higher MCS and SF-6D health utilities, less activity impairment, fewer OAB symptoms, lower OAB Awareness Tool scores, and lower odds of having bladder problems or incontinence. There were no significant differences in healthcare resource use. Further analysis by age group (middle-aged vs. elderly respondents) revealed significantly greater diagnosis- and treatment-related benefits on MCS (2.93 and 4.49 points more, respectively) and activity impairment (1.24 and 1.37 times as much, respectively) among elderly respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and treatment were each associated with a lower health burden for elderly adults with OAB symptoms. These findings highlighted the importance of diagnosis and treatment in alleviating OAB symptoms and their impact on health outcomes.

Prevalence, management and outcomes of medically complex vulnerable elderly patients with urinary incontinence in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, patient-physician communication, treatment and health outcomes associated with urinary incontinence (UI) among the medically complex vulnerable elderly (MCVE) in the United States (US). METHODS: Data from the 2006 to 2012 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) were used. MCVE patients were aged 65+ years with a HOS VE score ≥ 3. UI was reported as a small, big or no problem. Descriptive statistics were used to assess patient-physician communication and treatment. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the association of small or big UI problems with various outcomes. RESULTS: The annual UI prevalence increased among MCVE [from 35.8% (2006) to 38.6% (2012)]. MCVE with big UI problems communicated with their physicians more often than those with small UI problems (77.9% and 49.6%, respectively); however, treatment of UI remained low (48.5% and 29.1%, respectively). Physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were lower among MCVE with small or big UI problems compared with those with no UI problems, respectively. The decrements in PCS and MCS scores associated with big UI problems were greater than the decrements associated with any of the other assessed conditions. MCVE with small or big UI problems, respectively, were more likely to report past falls, depression and activity daily living limitations vs. those without UI. The odds of having experienced these outcomes were greater for those with big UI vs. small UI problems. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence prevalence in the USA increased among MCVE from 2006 to 2012, although treatment of UI remained low. UI problems, particularly big UI problems, adversely impact health outcomes. Efforts to better identify and manage UI among the MCVE are needed.

Gene expression, serum amino acid levels, and growth performance of pigs fed dietary leucine and lysine at different ratios.

We examined 96 pigs (28.1 ± 0.83 kg) to analyze the effect of Leu:Lys ratios on expression of the cationic amino acid transporters b(0,+) and CAT-1 in the jejunum and liver as well as myosin expression in 2 muscles to estimate the optimum standardized ileal digestible (SID) Leu:Lys ratio for growth rate and efficiency. A wheat-and wheat bran-based diets were formulated to meet the requirements of SID amino acids other than Leu (0.70%) and Lys (0.80%). L-Leu was added to the basal diet in 5 SID Leu:Lys ratios (88, 100, 120, 140, and 160% in diets 1-5). Tissue samples were collected from 8 pigs with ratios of 88, 120, and 160%. Relative expression of b(0,+), CAT-1, and myosin was analyzed. b(0,+) expression in the jejunum was higher but lower in the liver of pigs with the 120% ratio compared to those with the 88 or 160% ratio; myosin expression in longissimus dorsi was also higher in pigs with the 120% ratio (P < 0.05). CAT-1 was lower in the jejunum and longissimus dorsi of pigs with 120 or 160% ratios than in pigs with 88%. Serum concentration of nearly all amino acids decreased with excess dietary Leu (P < 0.05). The SID Leu:Lys of 104 and 109% optimized average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, respectively. Thus, the dietary Leu:Lys ratio affects the expression of genes coding for amino acid transporters and myosin, the availability of Lys, and the growth rate and efficiency in pigs.

Expression of cationic amino acid transporters, carcass traits, and performance of growing pigs fed low-protein amino acid-supplemented versus high protein diets.

Free amino acids (AA) appear to be absorbed faster than protein-bound AA (PB-AA). We conducted an experiment to assess the effect of feeding pigs with a partially free (F-AA) or totally PB-AA diet on expression of selected genes and performance of pigs. The expression of cationic AA transporters b(0,+) and CAT-1 in intestinal mucosa, liver, and longissimus (LM) and semitendinosus (SM) muscles, as well as that of myosin in LM and SM, was analyzed. Twelve pigs (31.7 ± 2.7 kg) were used. The F-AA diet was based on wheat, supplemented with 0.59% L-Lys, 0.33% L-Thr, and 0.10% DL-Met. The PB-AA diet was formulated with wheat-soybean meal. Average daily feed intake was 1.53 kg per pig. The expression of b(0,+) and CAT-1 was analyzed in jejunal and ileal mucosa, liver, LM, and SM; myosin expression was also analyzed in both muscles. Pigs fed the PB-AA diet tended to have higher weight gain and feed efficiency (P < 0.10), and had thinner back fat (P = 0.02). The expression of b(0,+) was higher (P < 0.01) in jejunum but lower (P < 0.01) in the liver of pigs fed the F-AA diet; CAT-1 tended to be lower in liver but higher in LM of PB-AA pigs. Myosin expression was not affected. Intestinal AA absorption was faster in pigs fed the F-AA diet, but AA uptake by the liver seemed to be faster in pigs fed the PB-AA. Performance and expression of AA transporters and myosin suggest that the dietary content of free or protein-bound AA does not affect their availability for protein synthesis in pigs.

Effect of excess levels of lysine and leucine in wheat-based, amino acid-fortified diets on the mRNA expression of two selected cationic amino acid transporters in pigs.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of excess levels of Leu and Lys on the expression of b(0,+) and CAT-1 mRNA in jejunum, liver and the muscles Longissimus dorsi (LDM) and Semitendinosus (STM). Twenty pigs with an average initial BW of 16.4 ± 1.7 kg were used in a Randomized Complete Block. Dietary treatments (T) were as follows: T1, basal diet; T2, basal plus 3.5 g l-Lys/kg diet; T3, basal plus 1.5 g l-Leu/kg diet; T4, basal plus 3.5 g l-Lys plus 1.5 g l-Leu/kg diet. Diets in T1 and T3 met 100% the requirement of Lys for pigs within the 10 to 20 kg body weight range; diets in T2 and T4 contained 35% excess of Lys. Also, diets in T1 and T2 supplied 104%, whereas diets in T3 and T4 supplied 116% the requirement of Leu. The expression of b(0,+) in jejunum was reduced (p = 0.002) because of the supplementation of l-Leu, but l-Lys supplementation had no effect (p = 0.738). In contrast, the expression of b(0,+) in STM (p = 0.012) and liver (p = 0.095) was reduced by the high level of Lys, but Leu had no effect (p > 0.100). CAT-1 expression in STM increased by high Lys (p = 0.023) and Leu (p = 0.007) levels. In liver, the expression of CAT-1 substantially increased (p = 0.001) because of Lys. In conclusion, excess levels of dietary Lys and Leu affect the expression of cationic amino acid transporters, and this effect varies depending on the studied tissue.

Effect of L-valine supplementation to a wheat-based diet with leucine excess on performance, gene expression, and serum concentration of amino acids.

Excess Leu in the diet reduces the expression of the cationic AA transporter b(0,+), absorption of Lys and Arg, feed intake, and ADG of pigs. Because Val competes with Leu for absorption, surplus Val may correct some of these effects. An experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of surplus Val in a basal wheat (Triticum aestivum) diet fortified with free Lys, Thr, and Met and containing excess Leu and Ile on performance, expression of genes encoding b(0,+), and serum concentrations of AA. Sixteen pigs (30.3 ± 2.1 kg BW) were used. Treatments were wheat based with excess Leu and Ile (T1) and T1 plus 0.44% L-Val (T2). At the end of the 21-d study, 12 pigs were euthanized; jugular blood was collected to analyze serum AA and jejunal mucosa to measure expression of b(0,+). Surplus Val increased (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F and serum Val, Lys, and Arg but did not affect (P > 0.10) b(0,+) expression. Although analyzed Val content in the basal diet was lower than calculated, the increased serum Lys and improved pig performance may suggest that excess Leu limits Val availability and that surplus Val could correct some of the negative effects of excess Leu.

A rapid protocol for purification of total RNA for tissues collected from pigs at a slaughterhouse.

Since RNA extraction is a crucial step in many molecular techniques, the protocols for sample collection and RNA purification need to be adapted to optimize their performance when samples are collected from animals at commercial facilities. Here we provide an RNA purification protocol for animal tissues collected from slaughterhouses. This protocol, modified from other techniques, uses TRIzol Reagent. Sample collection was performed wearing sterile gloves and facemasks, using sterile surgical instruments, and no longer than 8 min spent for each sample. A 0.9% sterile sodium chloride solution was used to wash the tissue before each sample collection. The whole process of RNA extraction was performed under cold environment and sterile conditions. This protocol produced good RNA yields (50 µg RNA per 100 mg tissue), good integrity and purity (Abs(260/280) from 1.8 to 2.0), from tissues such as liver, muscle, hypophysis, adipose tissue, and intestinal mucosa, in less than 2 h.

Ileal amino acid digestibility and performance of growing pigs fed wheat-based diets supplemented with xylanase.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of xylanase to a wheat-based diet on the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA and the performance of growing pigs fed diets limiting in AA. In Exp. 1, eight pigs (average initial BW = 20.5+/-1.2 kg) fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were fed four diets according to a repeated 4 x 4 Latin square design. Diet 1 was a basal diet that contained 97.6% wheat. Diets 2, 3, and 4 were the basal diet supplemented with xylanase at rates of 5,500, 11,000, and 16,500 units of xylanase activity (XU), respectively (as-fed basis). There were linear and quadratic effects (0.062 < P < 0.001) of xylanase supplementation on the AID of CP and most of the AA. The largest increases in AID of CP and AA were obtained when xylanase was supplemented at a rate of 11,000 XU; no further increases were observed with xylanase supplementation at a rate of 16,500 XU. In Exp. 2, 30 pigs (average initial BW 21.4+/-1.8 kg) were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments. Diets 1 to 4 were similar to those used in Exp. 1. Diet 5 was the same as Diet 1, but supplemented with 0.53% lysine, 0.12% threonine, and 0.05% methionine. Diet 6 (positive control diet) was a wheat-soybean meal diet that contained 18.2% CP (as-fed basis). The total contents of lysine, threonine, and methionine were similar for Diets 5 and 6. There was a linear effect of xylanase supplementation on ADG (P = 0.093) and feed:gain ratio (P = 0.089), and a quadratic effect on ADG (P = 0.067) and feed:gain ratio (P = 0.074). But, the greatest response was obtained with the supplementation of 11,000 XU. The supplementation of lysine, threonine, and methionine to Diet 1 increased (P = 0.001) ADG and ADFI and improved (P = 0.01) feed:gain ratio. There was no difference (P = 0.508) in the performance of pigs fed the AA-supplemented or control diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of xylanase to a diet in which wheat provided the sole source of protein and energy improved the AID of AA, ADG, and feed:gain ratio; however, this improvement was very small compared with that obtained with the supplementation of synthetic amino acids.