On-farm factors relating to mycotoxin occurrence and other chemical compositional traits in grass silages in Ireland

Many pre- and post-mowing on-farm traits influence mycotoxin occurrence and conventional chemical compositionin grass silages. The objective of this study was to determine if observed on-farm pre- or post-mowing factors can be used to indicate mycotoxin occurrence or conventional chemical composition traits in grass silages. Over a two year period (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) 290 grass silages were sampled on 145 farms and these consisted of baled (n=115) and pit (n=175) silages. On each farm in each year, a questionnaire was completed and pre- and post-mowingfactors recorded. The preservation quality was better in pit compared to baled silages in both years and in silages made in Year 2 compared with Year 1. On-farm pre- and post-mowing factors were generally not secure indicators of silage conventional chemical characteristics. In contrast, the occurrence of enniatins and beauvericin generally increased with harvesting month (May-October) for grass silages. Visible mould on baled grass silages and a rottedtop layer with pit grass silages were associated with andrastin A, mycophenolic acid and roquefortine C occurrence.

Variation associated with sampling bale or pit silage for mycotoxins and conventional chemical characteristics

Mycotoxins are heterogeneously distributed analytes such that obtaining a representative sample of silage for analysis can be highly challenging. The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify the variability in mycotoxin concentrations, nutritional value characteristics and fermentation characteristics when 20 cores were taken from individual next-to-be-fed silage bales and five cores were taken from the next-to-be-fed section of the feed face of pit silages, (2) compare the values obtained from intensive sampling of the silage after simulated feed-out to values obtained by the above mentioned core sampling, and (3) describe the impact of reducing the number of core samples taken from the baled and pit silages. Round baled silages (n=10) or sections (2 m wide × 1 m height) of pit silages (n=10) were core sampled at twenty and five positions, respectively. After coring, baled silages were chopped, mixed and placed along a simulated feed trough. Silage in the simulated feed trough was then grab sampled (n=20) to produce an aggregate sample, and this was undertaken in triplicate. For pits, silage was mixed and placed along a simulated feed trough before being sampled, as per baled silage. Variation within or among either baled or pit silages, and for core or feed trough samples, was generally much higher for mycotoxins than for conventional chemical composition traits. Within silage (bale or pit) and among silages, variation was generally reduced when samples were collected from the feed trough, except for mycotoxins in pit silages which had higher variation in the feed trough compared with core samples. Increasing the number of core samples increased the likelihood of detecting a positive sample if present and precise estimates of the true chemical composition of the population. Representatively sampling a next-to-be-fed section or bale of silage for conventional chemical characteristics was achieved with 2-4 core samples or 1-2 feed trough samples. However, in contrast, when sampling silages for mycotoxins, collecting a representative sample using core or feed trough sampling methods sometimes required over 100 and over 20 samples, respectively.

Significant enhancement of gastric mucin content after rabeprazole administration: its potential clinical significance in acid-related disorders

Rabeprazole is the only proton pump inhibitor that enhances the content of gastric mucin in experimental animals. We have studied, therefore, the effect of rabeprazole on the content of gastric mucin, mucus, and its viscosity in 21 asymptomatic volunteers in a double-blind study. The mucus content during rabeprazole administration significantly increased both in pentagastrin-stimulated (3.36 +/- 0.39 vs 1.50 +/- 0.32 mg/ml, P < 0.001) and basal (3.31 +/- 0.38 vs 2.28 +/- 0.36 mg/ml, P < 0.01) conditions. The content of mucin during rabeprazole was 2.6-fold (0.96 +/- 0.08 vs 0.36 +/- 0.06 mg/ml, P < 0.0001) and 41% (0.82 +/- 0.09 vs 0.58 +/- 0.09 mg/ml, P < 0.05) higher in stimulated and basal conditions, respectively. The viscosity of gastric juice during rabeprazole administration was also significantly higher both in stimulated (P < 0.01) and basal (P < 0.05) conditions. In conclusion, the unique pharmacological property of rabeprazole, significantly augmenting production of gastric mucus and mucin, may translate to additional clinical benefits in protecting the upper alimentary tract mucosa during the acid-related challenge.

Acute cholecystitis treated urgently by nonselective laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Beginning in 1990, all patients encountered by the author requiring cholecystectomy were attempted by laparoscopy. This study reports the results of 83 patients with acute cholecystitis who were urgently treated, nonselectively, by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Acute cholecystitis was diagnosed clinically by the presence of right upper quadrant peritoneal pain, gallbladder phlegmon and fever, and/or increased white blood cell count. In addition, a confirming pathology report and/or elevated white blood cell count was present in all 83 patients. Age ranged from 18 to 82 years with an average of 39.4 years. Fifteen patients were male and 68 female. Insufflation was obtained in all patients without a complication. Discharge occurred by postoperative Day one for 24 patients, Day two for 66 and by Day three for 75 patients (range 19-300 hours). No patient had common duct stones. Most patients had stones impacted in the cystic duct, including one patient who had Mirizzi's syndrome. Operative time ranged from 28 to 300 minutes, with an average of 106.3 minutes. No conversion to open cholecystectomy was required. Complications included bile spillage in five patients, stone spillage in ten, and ileus in three patients. One patient with Mirizzi's syndrome required a postoperative radiological procedure for removal of a cystic duct stone remnant that was not completely removed at the time of operation. The high complication rate initially associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy probably resulted from violating cardinal principles of surgery, not from the inappropriateness of laparoscopy. In conclusion, it is recommended that urgent laparoscopy is an appropriate initial approach for patients with acute cholecystitis.