Physiological response of WAD sheep fed different combinations of Guinea grass and ensiled Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) O. Kuntze based diets: Intake, haematology and serum biochemical indices.

Animal feed shortages characterize the long dry season in most Sub-Saharan African countries. Studies exploring alternative feedstuffs with similar or complementary nutritional efficacy to the conventional ones are seriously canvassed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep with different combinations of guinea grass and ensiled A. brasiliana based diets on their intake, haematology, and biochemical indices. A total of 30 growing female WAD sheep (BW =10.5 ± 0.92 kg; mean  ± SD), 12-18 months of age were allocated to five dietary treatments containing different inclusion levels of ensiled A. brasiliana (0%, 30%, 45%, 60% and 90%) in a trial that lasted for 90 days. Intakes were estimated daily and body weight changes taken weekly. Blood concentrations of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, white blood cells, differential white blood counts (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils), red blood cells, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine and cholesterol were also determined. The total dry matter intake (DMI) increased (P < 0.05) with increasing inclusion levels of A. brasiliana. While the feed conversion ratio decreased (P < 0.05), the final weight and average daily gain significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing levels ensiled A. brasiliana. The red blood cell, creatinine, globulin, cholesterol, white blood cell and its differentials were not affected (P > 0.05) by the inclusion levels of A. brasiliana. However, the total protein and albumin were influenced (P < 0.05) by inclusion levels of A. brasiliana. The inclusion levels of A. brasiliana up to 90% promote growth and were not harmful to the ewes.

New generation of hydraulic pedotransfer functions for Europe.

A range of continental-scale soil datasets exists in Europe with different spatial representation and based on different principles. We developed comprehensive pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for applications principally on spatial datasets with continental coverage. The PTF development included the prediction of soil water retention at various matric potentials and prediction of parameters to characterize soil moisture retention and the hydraulic conductivity curve (MRC and HCC) of European soils. We developed PTFs with a hierarchical approach, determined by the input requirements. The PTFs were derived by using three statistical methods: (i) linear regression where there were quantitative input variables, (ii) a regression tree for qualitative, quantitative and mixed types of information and (iii) mean statistics of developer-defined soil groups (class PTF) when only qualitative input parameters were available. Data of the recently established European Hydropedological Data Inventory (EU-HYDI), which holds the most comprehensive geographical and thematic coverage of hydro-pedological data in Europe, were used to train and test the PTFs. The applied modelling techniques and the EU-HYDI allowed the development of hydraulic PTFs that are more reliable and applicable for a greater variety of input parameters than those previously available for Europe. Therefore the new set of PTFs offers tailored advanced tools for a wide range of applications in the continent.

Intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: long-term treatment results.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Reconstruction of the glycosaminoglycan layer plays a role in the successful treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Intravesical instillations of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) have given results in the short term. We hypothesise that these benefits continue in the longer term. METHODS: With the aim of evaluating this therapy over a longer period we treated 12 BPS/IC patients refractory to other treatments with a combination of HA 1.6 % and CS 2.0 % over a period of 3 years assessing symptoms and quality of life using a visual analogue scale, 3-day voiding diaries and validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Improvements in bladder function were sustained for 3 years (mean number of daily voids decreased from 17.8 at baseline to 15.5 at 9 months and 11.9 at 3 years, and mean volume per void from 136.8 ml at baseline to 143.9 ml at 9 months and 180.9 ml at 3 years). Quality of life assessments confirmed these improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Intravesical instillations of HA and CS produced a sustained improvement of the symptomatology, up to 3 years, in patients with BPS/IC refractory to previous treatments. Further confirmation would be expected from larger controlled trials.

New formulation of in situ gelling Metolose-based liquid suppository.

CONTEXT: An in situ gelling liquid suppository is liquid at room temperature but forms a gel at body temperature. In our work, Metolose® SM-4000 (methylcellulose) is studied that basically shows thermal gelation at 68°C (2%, w/w). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the potency of different factors (concentration, pH, additives) to change the value of thermal gelation temperature (T (t)) for Metolose® to form an in situ gelling liquid suppository. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the effect of Metolose® concentration, pH, and salts (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, and sodium monohydrogen phosphate) on T (t) by viscosimetry. To choose the appropriate compound, in vitro drug release was examined. Rectal safety test was performed on rats in vivo after 12-hour application. RESULTS: Increasing the Metolose® concentrations (0.5-4%, w/w), T (t) can be decreased, but it also altered the consistency of gel. pH does not affect the T (t). The water-soluble salts allowed reducing the gelation temperature to 37°C. Sodium monohydrogen phosphate in 4.5% concentration was found to be the most appropriate. The impact of examined factors on in vitro drug release of piroxicam from the in situ-formed gel was characterized according to Fickian diffusion. Metolose® and the chosen salt did not cause any morphological damage on the rectal tissues. DISCUSSION: According to our study, Metolose® has the physical and chemical potential to be used as base for liquid suppositories.

Formulation of thermoresponsive and bioadhesive gel for treatment of oesophageal pain and inflammation.

The aim of this study was the formulation and examination of a novel thermoresponsive and bioadhesive, in situ gelling drug delivery system, which can be used in the treatment of oesophageal pain and inflammation. A bioadhesive cellulose derivative (Metolose) 60SH) was used as a thermoresponsive material, because Metolose has thermal gelation properties at certain temperature. The thermal gelation temperature (T(2)) of Metolose 60SH 2 w/w% solution is above body temperature (65-66 degrees C), but by using different methods (Metolose 60SH concentration, auxiliary materials), it can be shifted near to body temperature. The pH alteration between pH=2-10 and the application of different alcohols did not influence the gelation temperature, but using water-soluble salts and changing the concentration of Metolose 60SH solution between 2 and 3 w/w% the thermal gelation point could be decreased. Different NSAIDs were used as model drugs and which had not influence on thermal gelation temperature, but difference in in vitro liberation and penetration can be observed. In vitro adhesion test pointed out that the condition of investigated membrane can change the adhesion. Morphological test of oesophageal tissue showed that investigated materials had no irritative or tissue-damaging effect on the oesophageal mucosa even after 12h.

Transvaginal cystocele repair with polypropylene mesh using a tension-free technique.

This study describes an original surgical technique for the correction of medium/high-degree cystocele using a tension-free way to apply a polypropylene mesh: the "tension-free cystocele repair" (TCR). About 218 patients were available with a mean follow-up of 38 months. This technique showed an elevated rate of anatomic correction (75.7%), a statistically significant correction of storage symptoms (48.6 vs 32.5%, p < 0.05), voiding symptoms (40.3 vs 8.3%, p < 0.05), and symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse (POP; 55.9 vs 11.4%, p < 0.0001), with no negative impact on ano-rectal function and, in particular, on constipation. The percentage of erosions was 12.3%, but in the group where hysterectomy was not performed, we had erosions in only 2.5%. With the exception of the Personal Relationship domain, all of the categories examined by the Prolapse Quality of Life Questionnaire showed a statistically significant improvement, which confirms the positive impact of this surgery as perceived by patients.

Potential application of Metolose in a thermoresponsive transdermal therapeutic system.

The purpose of the present study was to formulate a novel thermoresponsive membrane controlled therapeutic system from Metolose for possible transdermal application. Metolose gel shows thermal gelation property, which can be characterized by two (T(1), T(2)) temperatures. A sharp decrease of viscosity can be measured at T(1), but gelation can be observed at T(2). Different types of Metolose polymers were compared considering their thermoresponsive behaviour. Only thermal gelation was observed in the case of Metolose SM, while Metolose SH showed a sudden decrease of viscosity at T(1). Since this temperature is above the body temperature, so it should be shifted to the skin temperature in case of possible transdermal application. Modulation of thermoresponsibility was followed by rheological method, and the thermoresponsive drug release from Metolose gel was studied by static liberation test. Our results demonstrated that the effect of different salts (NaCl, NaHCO(3), KCl) of various concentrations in Metolose SH gel reduced T(1) to the skin temperature, which enabled enhanced drug release.