The effects of superoxide dismutase-rich melon pulp concentrate on inflammation, antioxidant status and growth performance of challenged post-weaning piglets.

Piglets can often suffer impaired antioxidant status and poor immune response during post-weaning, especially when chronic inflammation takes place, leading to lower growth rates than expected. Oral administration of dietary antioxidant compounds during this period could be a feasible way to balance oxidation processes and increase health and growth performance. The aim of the trial was to study the effects of an antioxidant feed supplement (melon pulp concentrate) that contains high concentration of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) on inflammation, antioxidant status and growth performance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged weaned piglets. In total, 48 weaned piglets were individually allocated to four experimental groups in a 2×2 factorial design for 29 days. Two different dietary treatments were adopted: (a) control (CTR), fed a basal diet, (b) treatment (MPC), fed the basal diet plus 30 g/ton of melon pulp concentrate. On days 19, 21, 23 and 25 half of the animals within CTR and MPC groups were subjected to a challenge with intramuscular injections of an increasing dosage of LPS from Escherichia coli (serotype 0.55:B5) (+) or were injected with an equal amount of PBS solution (-). Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the trial and under the challenge period for interleukin 1ß, interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor α, haptoglobin, plasma SOD activity, total antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species, red blood cells and plasma resistance to haemolysis, and 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine. Growth performance was evaluated weekly. A positive effect of melon pulp concentrate was evidenced on total antioxidant capacity, half-haemolysis time of red blood cells, average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake, while LPS challenge increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and haptoglobin serum concentrations, with a reduced feed intake and gain : feed (G : F). The obtained results show that oral SOD supplementation with melon pulp concentrate ameliorates the total antioxidant capacity and the half-haemolysis time in red blood cell of post-weaning piglets, with positive results on growing performance.

Monola oil versus canola oil as a fish oil replacer in rainbow trout feeds: effects on growth, fatty acid metabolism and final eating quality.

Monola oil, a high oleic acid canola cultivar, and canola oil were evaluated as replacers of fish oil at three levels of inclusion (60%, 75% and 90%) in rainbow trout diets. After a 27-week grow-out cycle, the diet-induced effects on growth, fatty acid metabolism and final eating quality were assessed. Overall, no effects were noted for growth, feed utilisation or fish biometry, and the fatty acid composition of fish fillets mirrored that of the diets. Dietary treatments affected fillet lipid oxidation (free malondialdehyde), pigmentation and flavour volatile compounds, but only minor effects on sensorial attributes were detected. Ultimately, both oils were demonstrated to possess, to differing extents, suitable qualities to adequately replace fish oil from the perspective of fish performance and final product quality. However, further research is required to alleviate on-going issues associated with the loss of health promoting attributes (n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) of final farmed products.

Determination of astaxanthin stereoisomers and colour attributes in flesh of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as a tool to distinguish the dietary pigmentation source.

The presence of carotenoids in animal tissue reflects their sources along the food chain. Astaxanthin, the main carotenoid used for salmonid pigmentation, is usually included in the feed as a synthetic product. However, other dietary sources of astaxanthin such as shrimp or krill wastes, algae meal or yeasts are also available on the market. Astaxanthin possesses two identical asymmetric atoms at C-3 and C-3' making possible three optical isomers with all-trans configuration of the chain: 3S,3'S, 3R,3'S, and 3R,3'R. The distribution of the isomers in natural astaxanthin differs from that of the synthetic product. This latter is a racemic mixture, with a typical ratio of 1:2:1 (3S,3'S:3R,3'S:3R,3'R), while astaxanthin from natural sources has a variable distribution of the isomers deriving from the different biological organism that synthesized it. The high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of all-trans isomers of astaxanthin was performed in different pigment sources, such as red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma, alga meal Haematococcus pluvialis, krill meal and oil, and shrimp meal. With the aim to investigate astaxanthin isomer ratios in flesh of fish fed different carotenoid sources, three groups of rainbow trout were fed for 60 days diets containing astaxanthin from synthetic source, H. pluvialis algae meal and P. rhodozyma red yeast. Moreover, the distribution of optical isomers of astaxanthin in trout purchased on the Italian market was investigated. A characteristic distribution of astaxanthin stereoisomers was detected for each pigment sources and such distribution was reproduced in the flesh of trout fed with that source. Colour values measured in different sites of fillet of rainbow trout fed with different pigment sources showed no significant differences. Similarly, different sources of pigment (natural or synthetic) produced colour values of fresh fillet with no relevant or significant differences. The coefficient of distance computed amongst the feed ingredient and the trout fillet astaxanthin stereoisomers was a useful tool to identify the origin of the pigment used on farm.

Identification of species in animal feedstuffs by polymerase chain reaction--restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of mitochondrial DNA.

Restriction site analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) products of cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA was applied to identify species in meat meal and animal feedstuffs. PCR was used to amplify a variable region of cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA gene. Species differentiation was determined by digestion of the obtained 359 bp amplicon with restriction enzymes, which generated species-specific electrophoresis patterns; the sequencing of PCR products was used as confirming analysis. PCR-RFLP analysis revealed the presence of meat meal in animal feedstuffs and distinguished species of interest. The results supported the application of the method in control measures which should be adopted for meat-meal-based animal feed, as suggested by EU law. As a technical improvement, to simplify the analysis, the number of enzymes presented in this study for the detection of different species was smaller than others described in the literature; discrimination between ruminant and nonruminant species and between mammalian and poultry species was possible with few digestions.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of polyamines in milk as their 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl derivatives using a column-switching technique.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of polyamines in milk is milk is described. Polyamines were extracted in perchloric acid and derivatized with 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC-Cl). The excess of reagent was reacted with aspartic acid before the analysis on a column-switching system. Linearity of derivatization was calculated for each amine and the coefficient of regression ranged from 0.994 to 0.999. Chromatographic separation of FMOC-polyamines was achieved with a gradient elution programme of water-acetonitrile. The correlation coefficients of the standard curves in the concentration range from 0.5 to 5 nmol ml-1 were higher than 0.991. The repeatability of the method, expressed as R.S.D. for each polyamines ranged from 3.0 to 8.6%. The percent mean recoveries at 1 nmol ml-1 spiking level were 49 +/- 3, 58 +/- 5, 61 +/- 5 and 48 +/- 4 for putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine, respectively. The limit of detection, calculated on the basis of three times signal-to-noise ratio, was 50 pmol ml-1 for each polyamine.

Effect of restricted and ad libitum feeding on semen production and fertility in broiler breeder males.

1. The effect of food restriction on the quality of semen production and fertility in broiler breeder males was studied. 2. Seventy-two Ross broiler breeder males, from 20 to 54 weeks of age, were divided into 4 groups and fed as follows: group 1 = 110 g/bird/d; group 2 = 120 g/bird/d; group 3 = 130 g/bird/d; group 4 = ad libitum. 3. Body weight, sperm quality (volume, concentration, % motility and % live cells) and fertility were measured. The birds were slaughtered at 55 weeks of age; the abdominal fat pad and testicles were weighted. 4. Groups 2 and 3 produced the highest volume of semen. The quality of semen was very similar in all the restricted groups. 5. Males fed ad libitum produced semen with the best motility and percentage of live cells. Groups 3 and 4 showed the best fertility percentage (79%) against group 1 and 2 (59 and 72% respectively).

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of oxytetracycline in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) muscle tissue.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of oxytetracycline in channel catfish muscle tissue is presented. Oxytetracycline is extracted three times from muscle tissue with an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt-McIlvaine buffer (pH 4.0) by using an Ultra Turrax. Analysis is carried out by using high-performance liquid chromatography and an acetonitrile-oxalic acid (0.05 mol 1(-1), pH 2.2) mixture (14 + 86, v/v) is used as mobile phase. Oxytetracycline is separated on a Lichrosorb RP-8 125 x 4.0 mm i.d. column and ultraviolet detection at 355 nm is used. The limit of quantification is 10 ng g-1 and the linearity, tested in the spiking range 20-500 ng g-1, is 0.9997. Recovery from muscle spiked at 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 ng g-1 levels is in the range 70-80%. Precision, expressed as percentage relative standard deviation, is below 7%. The method is applied to muscle tissue from channel catfish fed on a medicated diet.

Evaluation of pheasant semen production during the reproductive season.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality and quantity of semen production of pheasants during the reproductive season. Fifty-five male pheasants (Phasianus colchicus mongolicus) were used from 37-59 weeks of age. Semen samples were collected manually on a biweekly basis. At 45 weeks of age, pheasants which had never produced (n = 22) or only produced occasionally (n = 7) were discarded from the study. The volume of the ejaculate from each male was measured upon each semen collection. Sperm concentration and motility were measured for every semen collection from the 41st week of age. Body weight was recorded at 38 and 39 weeks and then every 2 weeks. The largest percentage (55%) of males producing semen was reached at 44 weeks of age. Semen variables showed the following mean values during the reproductive season: volume = 105 mg, concentration = 5.86 x 10(9)/ml, and motility scale = 2.45 (modest-good). Semen variables were significantly influenced by bird and age but not by day of collection.

[Mechanical resistance of endodontically treated upper first premolar crowns]. / Resistenza meccanica della corona dei primi premolari superiori trattati endodonticamente.

This work shows the results of mechanical strength tests effected over first superior bicuspids before endodontically treated. The Authors show the strength differences, in connection to the access-cavity, between endodontically treated and non-treated teeth. Finally it was found that the demolition of only one marginal ridge reduces the tooth strength to withstand the occlusal forces.

[Mucogingival aspects of orthodontic patients]. / Aspetti mucogengivali nel paziente ortodontico.

During the last twenty years the opinions about the necessity of an adequate gingival band for dental health are developing. Modern tendencies, nowadays, provide gingival increase only in few cases: 1. difficulties in plaque removing; 2. frenum connection in marginal gingiva; 3. gingival absence around prosthetic crown; 4. gingival recessions. The Authors, according to literature, data consider the indications to gingival increment and affirm the importance of a correct pre-orthodontic and periodontal evaluation in order to avoid periodontal attachment-loss using an easy surgery.