Production and Evaluation of Encapsulated Zinc Oxide on Performance, Ileal Digestibility and Zinc Transporter Gene Expression in Broiler Chicken

The present study was undertaken for the production of encapsulated zinc and its evaluation in broiler chicken diet. The process of microencapsulation involved the use of polymers, gum arabic and maltodextrin with a maximum encapsulation of efficiency of 66%. Encapsulated material contained about 20% zinc oxide (ZnO) as core material following the freeze-drying process. One hundred and ninety-two-day-old broiler chicks were distributed in four groups in six replications having eight birds in each. The four groups comprised control (inorganic source of zinc), En-Zn-100 (encapsulated zinc at 100% of control), En-Zn-50 (encapsulated zinc at 50% of control), and Org-Zn-50 (Zn-methionine at 50% of control). The experiment was carried out for 35 days following standard management practices. The live weight gain, feed intake and FCR were comparable among groups. Plasma and muscle zinc (ppm) content was unaffected by the level or source of zinc supplementation. The zinc apparent ileal digestibility coefficient was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in En-Zn-50 fed groups, while crude protein digestibility was not affected by the level or form of Zn supplementation. Bone weight, length, and zinc content were comparable, and bone ash content was significantly different among the groups. Relative expression of ZnT2 was significantly upregulated in encapsulated zinc-fed groups. From the study, it could be concluded that supplementation of zinc either as encapsulated or organic form at 50% of inorganic source (ZnO) could be sufficient to maintain the growth performance, serum, tissue and bone mineral content in broiler chicken.

Urbanisation threats to dairy cattle health: Insights from Greater Bengaluru, India

Complex urbanisation dynamics, on the one hand, create a high demand for animal products, and on the other hand put enormous pressure on arable land with negative consequences for animal feed production. To explore the impact of accelerated urbanisation on dairy cattle health in urban farming systems, 151 farmers from different parts of the Greater Bengaluru metropolitan area in India were individually interviewed on aspects addressing cattle management and cattle health. In addition, 97 samples of forages from the shores of 10 different lakes, and vegetable leftovers used in cattle feeding were collected for nutritional analysis. Along with the use of cultivated forages, crop residues, and concentrate feed, 47% and 77% of the farmers occasionally or frequently used lake fodder and food leftovers, respectively. Nutritionally, lake fodder corresponded to high-quality pasture vegetation, but 43% of the samples contained toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead above official critical threshold levels. Therefore, lake fodder may affect cows' health if consumed regularly; however, heavy metal concentrations varied between lakes (P < 0.05), but not between fodder types (P > 0.05). Although 60% of the interviewed farmers believed that their cows were in good health, logit model applications revealed that insufficient drinking water supply and the use of lake fodder negatively impacted cattle health (P < 0.05). While it remains unknown if regular feeding of lake fodder results in heavy metal accumulation in animal products, farmers and farm advisors must address this and other urbanization-related challenges to protect cattle health.

In vitro production of desired sex ovine embryos modulating polarity of oocytes for sex-specific sperm binding during fertilization

The present study aimed to modulate the oxidative status-mediated polarity of the oocytes for sex-specific sperm fertilization to generate desired sex embryos. In vitro embryos were produced at different oxidative status, varying O₂ concentrations, and without/with l-carnitine in maturation and culture media. The majority of the embryos produced at high oxidative stress were males whereas; low oxidative status favoured female embryos production. Low O₂ doubled the proportion of female embryos (10.59 vs 21.95%); however, l-carnitine supplementation in media increased approximately seven-folds of the female embryos (12.26 vs. 77.62%) production. Oocytes matured at high oxidative status were in the repolarized state favouring positively charged Y sperm fertilization to produce significantly more male embryos. Low oxidative status favoured negatively charged X sperm fertilization to the oocytes in the depolarized state to produce more female embryos. Intracellular ROS was significantly low in female embryos than in males; however, female embryos were more stressful than males. The study concluded that the oxidative status-mediated alteration in pH of the medium to modulate the intracellular positive ions is the main critical factor to influence the sex of embryos through sex-specific sperms fertilization to the oocytes as per their polarity.

Evaluation of anti-diabetic attributes of Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5957, Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5897 and Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC: 5898 in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Interest in probiotics has grown significantly in the last decades due to their reported nutritional and health promoting effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of probiotic fermented milk (PFM) prepared using three different probiotic strains i.e. Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5957, Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5897 and Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC: 5898; independently or in combination, for treating streptozotocin induced type-1 diabetes in male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were fed with PFM preparations for 6 weeks and then analyzed for the various biochemical parameters associated. The results indicated that feeding of PFM significantly improved glucose metabolism (fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum insulin), serum inflammation status (tumor necrosis factor-α, and serum interleukin-6), oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in liver and kidney), serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides) in diabetic rats. In addition, feeding of PFM has significantly reduced mRNA expression of pepck and g6pase genes that code the key enzymes of gluconeogenesis pathway. The results of this study showed that daily consumption of PFM can be effective in combating of type -1 diabetes and its complications.

A unified modeling framework for metabonomic profile development and covariate selection for acute trauma subjects

Acute trauma is often associated with progressive deterioration of multiple organ systems in humans and is the leading cause of death in trauma care units. Identification of specific organ failure in a non-invasive manner and the contribution of different demographic factors on the casual progression of acute trauma are of supreme interests for successful diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring of trauma status. Recently, electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry have been used to identify biomarkers in both proteomics and metabonomics studies. Data sets generated from mass spectrometers in such studies are generally very large in size and thus require the use of sophisticated statistical techniques to glean useful information. In a recent development, Ghosh et al. (BMC Bioinformatics 2008; 9:38) suggested a unified semiparametric approach to distinguish urinary metabolic profiles in a group of traumatic subjects from those of a control group consisting of normal individuals. In this study we have extended their approach by combining available covariate information in the development of metabonomic profile of acute trauma. We have shown that age is a statistically significant covariate across trauma and control group, thus pointing out the fact that prognosis of trauma may be acutely linked with subjects' age.

Obesity in 70-year-old Swedes: secular changes over 30 years

OBJECTIVE

Secular increases in obesity have been widely reported in middle-aged adults, but less is known about such trends among the elderly. The primary purpose of this paper is to document the most recent wave of the obesity epidemic in population-based samples of 70-y-old men and women from Göteborg. Additionally, we will investigate the influences of physical activity, smoking and education on these secular trends.

POPULATIONS AND METHODS

Five population-based samples of 3702 70-y-olds (1669 men and 2033 women) in Göteborg, Sweden, born between 1901 and 1930, were examined in the Gerontological and Geriatric Population Studies (H70) between 1971 and 2000. Cohort differences in anthropometric measures were the main outcomes studied. Physical activity, smoking habits and education were assessed by comparable methods in all cohorts. Subsamples of the women in the latest two cohorts (birth years 1922 and 1930) were also part of the Prospective Population Study of Women in Göteborg. In these women, it was possible to examine body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) longitudinally since 1968.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Significant upward trends were found for height, weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), WHR, prevalence of overweight (BMI> or =25 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)) across cohorts in both sexes. In 2000, 20% of the 70-y-old men born in 1930 were obese, and the largest increment (almost doubling) had occurred between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. In 70-y-old women the prevalence of obesity was 24% in 2000, a 50% increase compared to the cohort born 8 y earlier. BMI increased over time in all physical activity, smoking and education groups, with the exception of never-smoking men. Although 70-y-old women in 2000 were heavier than cohorts examined 8 y previously, data from the women studied longitudinally revealed that these differences were already present in earlier adulthood. In conclusion, the elderly population is very much part of the obesity epidemic, although secular trends in BMI were detected slightly earlier in men than in women. The health implications of these secular trends should be focused on in future gerontological research.

Relationship between MNA and SF-36 in a free-living elderly population aged 70 to 75

BACKGROUND

Within a larger study of social network and nutrition, we investigated measurements of nutritional status and health related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To relate a well-established questionnaire of nutritional status (MNA) to a likewise well-established questionnaire of health related quality of life (SF-36) in community dwelling, free-living and, healthy 70-75 years old persons.

DESIGN

Before an interview, the MNA and SF-36 questionnaires were filled in by 128 participants from a sample of 262 subjects.

RESULTS

The MNA worked well as a measurement in this sample. Many MNA aspects correlated with the SF-36 scales. The correlations between MNA total score and the eight SF-36 scales varied from .27 to .62.

DISCUSSION

This correlation was partly due to the fact that MNA has questions of health but also to the fact that there is an empirical relation between nutrition and health.

CONCLUSION

The MNA measurement is applicable to a healthy, free-living elderly population and parts of the MNA can be interpreted as measurements of health related quality of life. Low values of SF-36 could also be used as predictors of risk of malnutrition, although further studies are required to confirm this result.

Percent body fat estimation from skin fold thickness in the elderly. Development of a population-based prediction equation and comparison with published equations in 75-year-olds

OBJECTIVE

To develop a prediction equation for percent body fat (BF%) from skin fold thickness in a random sample of free-living 75-year-olds and to compare with published equations for the elderly.

SETTING

Goteborg part of the Nordic Research on Aging (NORA) study in 1991/92.

SUBJECTS & METHODS

Anthropometric measurements were performed in 286 participants (125 males,161 females) and body composition was estimated by four compartment model (4C) from total body water (TBW) and total body potassium (TBK) in every alternative subjects. BF % predicted from skin fold thickness (BFSF) was validated against BF % estimated from 4C model (BF4C) and was compared with BFSF and BF % predicted from equations by Durnin and Womersley, 1974 (BFDW), Deurenberg et al.,1989 (BFPD) and, Visseretal.,1994(BFMV), respectively.

RESULTS

The BFSF correlated well with BF4C (r = 0.86, SEE = 4.05). Compared to BF4C, both BFPD and BFMV over estimated BF % by 3.26 and 3.63 in males and 9.56 and 9.23 in females, respectively. BFDW underestimated BF % in females by 1.06 and overestimated by 3.12 in males. BFSF showed best agreement with BF4C, where the 95 % of differences lie between +/- 7.4 in males and +/- 8.7 in females, respectively.

CONCLUSION

BF % predicted from skin fold thickness correlated well with estimated BF % in 75-year-olds. Different prediction equations gave different values for BF % and population-specific prediction equations seem preferable in the elderly population.

Effects of a natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss

AIM

The efficacy of optimal doses of highly bioavailable (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) alone and in combination with niacin-bound chromium (NBC) and a standardized Gymnema sylvestre extract (GSE) on weight loss in moderately obese subjects was evaluated by monitoring changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), appetite, lipid profiles, serum leptin and excretion of urinary fat metabolites. HCA-SX has been shown to reduce appetite, inhibit fat synthesis and decrease body weight without stimulating the central nervous system. NBC has demonstrated its ability to maintain healthy insulin levels, while GSE has been shown to regulate weight loss and blood sugar levels.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study was conducted in Elluru, India for 8 weeks in 60 moderately obese subjects (ages 21-50, BMI >26 kg/m(2)). Subjects were randomly divided into three groups. Group A was administered HCA-SX 4667 mg, group B was administered a combination of HCA-SX 4667 mg, NBC 4 mg and GSE 400 mg, while group C was given placebo daily in three equally divided doses 30-60 min before meals. All subjects received a 2000 kcal diet/day and participated in supervised walking.

RESULTS

At the end of 8 weeks, body weight and BMI decreased by 5-6% in both groups A and B. Food intake, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides and serum leptin levels were significantly reduced in both groups, while high-density lipoprotein levels and excretion of urinary fat metabolites increased in both groups. A marginal or non-significant effect was observed in all parameters in group C.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that optimal doses of HCA-SX and, to a greater degree, the combination of HCA-SX, NBC and GSE can serve as an effective and safe weight-loss formula that can facilitate a reduction in excess body weight and BMI, while promoting healthy blood lipid levels.

Body composition estimated by bioelectrical impedance in the Swedish elderly. Development of population-based prediction equation and reference values of fat-free mass and body fat for 70- and 75-y olds

OBJECTIVE

To develop a bioelectrical impedance (BIA) prediction equation for fat-free mass (FFM(BIA)) and present reference values of FFM and body fat (BF) for healthy Swedish elderly from population-based representative samples.

SUBJECTS

This study is based on 823 (344 males, 479 females) participants from two systematic samples of birth cohorts in Göteborg aged 70 (cohort H70V, 201 males and 299 females) and 75 (cohort NORA75, 143 males and 180 females).

METHODS

Body composition was measured with BIA (BIA-101, RJL system, Detroit) in both cohorts and was estimated by a four-compartment (4C) model from total body water (TBW) and total body potassium (TBK) in a sub-sample of the NORA75 cohort. The FFM(BIA) was validated against the FFM from the 4C model (FFM(4C)).

RESULTS

The FFM(BIA) correlated well with FFM(4C) (r=0.95, SEE=2.64 kg). The FFM(BIA) (kg) in 70-y-old males and females were 58.5+/-5.4 and 43.4+/-4.4, and for 75-y-old males and females were 56.1+/-4.7 and 42.5+/-4, respectively. The body fat in kg (FM) among 70-y-old males and females were 25.2+/-8.1 and 25.7+/-8.4, and for 75-y-old males and females were 21.7+/-7.1 and 22.8+7.2, respectively. The percent body fat (BF%) among 70-y-old males and females were 29.5+/-5.8 and 36.3+/-6.4, and for 75-y-old males and females were 27.3+/-6 and 34.1+/-6.1, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The FFM, FM and BF% from this study might be used as reference values for Swedish elderly aged 70 and 75 y.

Height and body weight in elderly adults: a 21-year population study on secular trends and related factors in 70-year-olds

BACKGROUND

Body size in elderly adults is partly due to aging and partly to secular trends. This study describes secular trends in three anthropometric measures (i.e., height, body weight [BW], and body mass index [BMI]) of 70-year-olds over a period of 21 years and their relation to social and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

A total of 3128 70-year-olds from four birth cohorts born between 1901 and 1922 in Gothenburg, Sweden, were examined between 1971 and 1992 in the Geriatric Medicine Department, Göteborg University. Trends in anthropometric measures were examined by permutation test. Influence of the subjects' birth year, physical activity, smoking habits, and education on anthropometric measures were investigated by multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Individuals in later-born cohorts were found to be 1 to 2 cm taller and 1.5 to 6.3 kg heavier than earlier-born cohorts. For BMI, a positive trend was significant only in 70-year-old male participants. "Year of birth" was a positive predictor for BW (p <.001) and BMI (p <.001) in male participants and for height (p <.05) and BW (p <.01) in female participants. Physical inactivity was a positive (p <.01) and "current smoking" a negative (p <.001) predictor for BMI in both sexes. "More than basic education" was a positive predictor for height (p <.001) in both sexes and a negative predictor for body weight (p <.01) and BMI (p <.001) in female participants only.

CONCLUSIONS

Trends of increasing height, BW, and BMI were found among the Swedish elderly participants. This may be partly due to differences in smoking habits, physical activity, education, food habits, childhood nutrition, and living conditions between the cohorts.

Body mass index, weight change and mortality in the elderly. A 15 y longitudinal population study of 70 y olds

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) at age 70, weight change between age 70 and 75, and 15 y mortality.

DESIGN

Cohort study of 70-y-olds.

SETTING

Geriatric Medicine Department, Göteborg University, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

A total of 2628 (1225 males and 1403 females) 70-y-olds examined in 1971--1981 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

RESULTS

The relative risks (RRs) for 15 y mortality were highest in the lowest BMI quintiles of males 1.20 (95% CI 0.96--1.51) and females 1.49 (95% CI 1.14--1.96). In non-smoking males, no significant differences were observed across the quintiles for 5, 10 and 15 y mortality. In non-smoking females, the highest RR (1.58, 95% CI 1.15--2.16) for 15 y mortality was in the lowest quintile. After exclusion of first 5 y death, no excess risks were found in males for following 5 and 10 y mortality across the quintiles. In females, a U-shaped relation was observed after such exclusions. BMI ranges with lowest 15 y mortality were 27--29 and 25--27 kg/m(2) in non-smoking males and females, respectively. A weight loss of > or = 10% between age 70 and 75 meant a significantly higher risk for subsequent 5 and 10 y mortality in both sexes relative to individuals with 'stable' weights.

CONCLUSION

Low BMI and weight loss are risk factors for mortality in the elderly and smoking habits did not significantly modify that relationship. The BMI ranges with lowest risks for 15 y mortality are relatively higher in elderly. Exclusion of early deaths from the analysis modified the weight-mortality relationship in elderly males but not in females.

A comparison of frailty and other models for bivariate survival data

Multivariate survival data arise when each study subject may experience multiple events or when study subjects are clustered into groups. Statistical analyses of such data need to account for the intra-cluster dependence through appropriate modeling. Frailty models are the most popular for such failure time data. However, there are other approaches which model the dependence structure directly. In this article, we compare the frailty models for bivariate data with the models based on bivariate exponential and Weibull distributions. Bayesian methods provide a convenient paradigm for comparing the two sets of models we consider. Our techniques are illustrated using two examples. One simulated example demonstrates model choice methods developed in this paper and the other example, based on a practical data set of onset of blindness among patients with diabetic Retinopathy, considers Bayesian inference using different models.

Height and body weight in the elderly. I. A 25-year longitudinal study of a population aged 70 to 95 years

OBJECTIVE

To describe longitudinal changes in height and body weight between the ages of 70 and 95 y.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study with representative sample of 70-y-olds.

SETTING

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Göteborg University, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

449 males and 524 females, aged 70 y, living in Göteborg were examined in 1971-72 and this study population participated on 11 occasions during a 25-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Mean height decreased 4 and 4.9 cm in males and females respectively and the trend was significant between the ages of 70 and 95 y in both sexes. Between 70 and 75 y of age, a significant difference was found between quintiles of body height where in the highest quintile height was lowered by 0.4 and 0. 3 cm/y, in males and females respectively, and in the lowest quintile by 0.1 cm/y in both sexes. Mean body weight decreased 3.2 and 5.1 kg in males and females respectively, from age 70 to 95 y. The trend was significant over 22 and 20 y for males and females, respectively. Between the ages of 70 and 80 y, individuals in highest quintile of body weight decreased at a rate of 0.8 and 0.6 kg/y, three times higher than those in lowest quintile. Due to the decrease in both height and weight over time, body mass index (BMI) was less affected.

CONCLUSION

Height, body weight and BMI decreased significantly in both sexes after age 70 y, and there was a gender difference in the trend. The results can be used as reference data for Swedish elderly and might be of importance to the understanding of anthropometry with the ageing process.

SPONSORSHIP

See acknowledgements.

Multivariate survival analysis with positive stable frailties

In this paper, we describe Bayesian modeling of dependent multivariate survival data using positive stable frailty distributions. A flexible baseline hazard formulation using a piecewise exponential model with a correlated prior process is used. The estimation of the stable law parameter together with the parameters of the (conditional) proportional hazards model is facilitated by a modified Gibbs sampling procedure. The methodology is illustrated on kidney infection data (McGilchrist and Aisbett, 1991).

Grouped random effects models for Bayesian meta-analysis

Meta-analysis refers to quantitative methods to combine results from independent studies so as to draw overall conclusions. Frequently, results from dissimilar studies are inappropriately combined, resulting in suspect inferential synthesis. We present a straightforward method to identify and address this problem through the development of grouped random effect models for meta-analysis. We examine 15 comparative studies that investigate the efficacy of a new anti-epileptic drug, progabide. The flexibility of this modelling scheme is exemplified by the result that the open studies support the efficacy of progabide while the closed studies support the reverse hypothesis. Bayesian approaches for meta-analysis are preferable because of the small number of studies prevalent in meta-analysis. We specify diffuse proper prior and hyperprior distributions to assure posterior propriety. We investigate sensitivity of the posterior to choice of prior. We use Gibbs sampling and the Metropolis algorithm to generate samples from the relevant posteriors. We analyse posterior summaries and plots of model parameters to suggest solutions to questions of interest.

A Weibull regression model with gamma frailties for multivariate survival data

Frequently in the analysis of survival data, survival times within the same group are correlated due to unobserved co-variates. One way these co-variates can be included in the model is as frailties. These frailty random block effects generate dependency between the survival times of the individuals which are conditionally independent given the frailty. Using a conditional proportional hazards model, in conjunction with the frailty, a whole new family of models is introduced. By considering a gamma frailty model, often the issue is to find an appropriate model for the baseline hazard function. In this paper a flexible baseline hazard model based on a correlated prior process is proposed and is compared with a standard Weibull model. Several model diagnostics methods are developed and model comparison is made using recently developed Bayesian model selection criteria. The above methodologies are applied to the McGilchrist and Aisbett (1991) kidney infection data and the analysis is performed using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.

Mutagenicity of 4-nitrodiphenyl ether and its metabolites

The mutagenic potential of 4-nitrodiphenyl ether (NDE) an intermediate of herbicides and an anthelmintic drug, and its reduced products (-NO, -NHOH) were investigated in the Ames test. All the three compounds were potent direct-acting base-pair and frameshift mutagens with activity order -NHOH greater than -NO greater than -NO2. The -NHOH compound has been considered to be the penultimate/ultimate mutagen.

Structure-mutagenicity relationships within a series of para-alkoxynitrosobenzenes

The mutagenic potential of para-alkoxynitrosobenzenes (para substituents, -OCH3, -OC2H5, n-OC4H9, n-OC5H11 and n-OC12H25) and p-phenoxynitrosobenzene was investigated in the Ames test. The order of mutagenic activity within a series of p-alkoxynitrosobenzenes was as follows: p-ethoxy greater than p-methoxy greater than p-butoxy (n) greater than p-pentyloxy (n) greater than p-dodecyloxy (n), the last being inactive. A relationship between mutagenic activity and electronic property of different substituents indicated in the alkoxy series, that as the Hammett constant decreased or bulk of the substituent (except methoxy) increased, the activity was found to decrease.