Effects of metabolizable energy intake on post weaning lamb growth performance, carcass tissue composition and internal fat depend on animal characteristics: A meta-analysis.

This study aimed to establish the quantitative relationship between metabolisable energy intake (MEI) and growth performance, carcass tissue composition and internal fat, taking into consideration animal precocity, maturity and tail nature. Data from 67 publications were used in the meta-analysis. Diets were characterized and three classes were identified (low medium and high energy density diets).

Contribution of nutrient fluxes to the evolution of the net energy systems, example of the INRA feeding system for beef cattle.

Energy feeding systems define energy as a whole, but progress made to define metabolizable energy (ME) as the sum of the metabolizable nutrients produced by digestion and available for tissue metabolism in a wide range of nutritional situations opens the way to quantitatively model and predict nutrient fluxes between and within tissues and organs and improve predictions of energy use. This review addresses the contribution of nutrient flux concepts and data to the evolution of the Institut de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) energy feeding system for growing and fattening cattle and evaluates the outcomes on the net energy (NE) requirements. It summarizes recent progress made to quantitatively predict nutrient fluxes both at digestive and visceral levels.

Net hepatic release of glucose from precursor supply in ruminants: a meta-analysis.

For their glucose supply, ruminants are highly dependent on the endogenous synthesis in the liver, but despite the numerous studies that evaluated hepatic glucose production, very few simultaneously measured hepatic glucose production and uptake of all precursors. As a result, the variability of precursor conversion into glucose in the liver is not known. The present study aimed at investigating by meta-analysis the relationships between hepatic glucose net release and uptake of precursors.

Gas filaments of the cosmic web located around active galaxies in a protocluster.

Cosmological simulations predict that the Universe contains a network of intergalactic gas filaments, within which galaxies form and evolve. However, the faintness of any emission from these filaments has limited tests of this prediction. We report the detection of rest-frame ultraviolet Lyman-α radiation from multiple filaments extending more than one megaparsec between galaxies within the SSA22 protocluster at a redshift of 3.

Plasma Streamwise Vortex Generators for Flow Separation Control on Trucks: A Proof-of-concept Experiment.

An experimental study of the effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma actuators on the flow separation on the A-pillar of a modern truck under cross-wind conditions has been carried out. The experiments were done in a wind tunnel with a 1:6 scale model of a tractor-trailer combination. The actuators were used as vortex generators positioned on the A-pillar on the leeward side of the tractor and the drag force was measured with a wind-tunnel balance.

Molecular gas in the halo fuels the growth of a massive cluster galaxy at high redshift.

The largest galaxies in the universe reside in galaxy clusters. Using sensitive observations of carbon monoxide, we show that the Spiderweb galaxy-a massive galaxy in a distant protocluster-is forming from a large reservoir of molecular gas. Most of this molecular gas lies between the protocluster galaxies and has low velocity dispersion, indicating that it is part of an enriched intergalactic medium.

The chemical composition of carcasses can be predicted from proxy traits in finishing male beef cattle: A meta-analysis.

Management practices can contribute to improving carcass quality if carcass quality could be simply evaluated under a wide range of conditions. The objective of this study was to derive quantitative relationships between the most accurate (but laborious) measurements of carcass chemical composition and proxy traits easily obtainable at slaughter (yield grade, subcutaneous fat thickness, marbling, ribeye area and hot carcass weight) by meta-analysis. Data from 34 publications using male beef cattle were used to develop and validate the models.

Empirical prediction of net splanchnic release of ketogenic nutrients, acetate, butyrate and β-hydroxybutyrate in ruminants: a meta-analysis.

For energy feeding systems for ruminants to evolve towards a nutrient-based system, dietary energy supply has to be determined in terms of amount and nature of nutrients. The objective of this study was to establish response equations of the net hepatic flux and net splanchnic release of acetate, butyrate and β-hydroxybutyrate to changes in diet and animal profiles. A meta-analysis was applied on published data compiled from the FLuxes of nutrients across Organs and tissues in Ruminant Animals database, which pools the results from international publications on net splanchnic nutrient fluxes measured in multi-catheterized ruminants.

Relation of net portal flux of nitrogen compounds with dietary characteristics in ruminants: a meta-analysis approach.

Decrease of N intake (NI) with the aim of increasing efficiency of N utilization and decreasing the negative environmental effects of animal production requires assessment of the forms in which N is absorbed. A meta-analysis was conducted on 68 publications (90 experiments and 215 treatments) to study the effect of NI on net portal appearance (NPA) of nitrogenous nutrients [amino acids (AA), ammonia, and urea] in ruminants. In addition, the effect of several dietary energy and protein factors on this relationship was investigated.

[Frequency and risk factors of biological adrenal insufficiency screened by the 250 microg Synacthene stimulation test after a prolonged course of systemic glucocorticoid therapy. A study of 100 patients].

Purpose: The frequency of adrenal insufficiency after a prolonged, continuous course of oral high-dose corticosteroids is poorly documented. We evaluated it retrospectively in our internal medicine department.

Methods: The patients were included between February 2000 and June 2007 and were administered a Synacthene 250 microg test (ST250) before tapering prednisone dose below 5mg per day.

[Pericarditis as the presenting manifestation of giant cell arteritis].

Introduction: Pericarditis is rarely the presenting manifestation of giant cell arteritis. We report two additional patients.

Case Reports: Two patients aged over 70 years presented with acute chest pain.

Responses of hepatic blood flows to changes in intake in sheep: a meta-analysis.

This work set out to establish the response equations for hepatic blood flows in sheep and the contribution of hepatic arterial flow to hepatic venous blood flow due to changes in intake levels at constant diet composition. The FLORA (FLuxes across Organs and tissues in Ruminant Animals) database was used, and meta-analysis performed. The meta-analysis involved selection of published papers, identification of studies, description and coding of the selected dataset and statistical analysis using a covariance model.

Technical note: correction of net portal absorption of nitrogen compounds for differences in methods: first step of a meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of correcting net portal absorption (NPA) of urea-N, ammonia, and AA-N for differences in methods before their inclusion into a meta-analysis. It was hypothesized that the difference, or portal-drained viscera (PDV) balance, between N inputs (apparently digested N plus urea-N) and outputs (ammonia plus AA-N) was 0 in the absence of measurement errors and based on the assumption that other sources of N inputs and outputs were relatively small and balanced each other. A database was built from 44 publications that reported data from 129 treatments (sheep, n = 71; beef cattle, n = 32; and dairy cows, n = 26).

Empirical prediction of net portal appearance of volatile fatty acids, glucose, and their secondary metabolites (beta-hydroxybutyrate, lactate) from dietary characteristics in ruminants: A meta-analysis approach.

The current trend in energy feeding systems for ruminants toward a nutrient-based system requires dietary energy supply to be determined in terms of amount and nature of absorbed energy-yielding nutrients. The objective of this study was to establish response equations on the net portal appearance (NPA) of VFA and glucose, and their secondary metabolites beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and lactate, to changes in intake level and chemical dietary characteristics based on the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique Feed Evaluation System for Ruminants. Meta-analyses were applied on published data compiled from the FLORA database, which pools the results on net splanchnic nutrient fluxes in multi-catheterized ruminants from international publications.

Conception and development of a bibliographic database of blood nutrient fluxes across organs and tissues in ruminants: data gathering and management prior to meta-analysis.

In the organism, nutrient exchanges among tissues and organs are subject to numerous sources of physiological or nutritional variation, and the contribution of individual factors needs to be quantified before establishing general response laws. To achieve this, meta-analysis of data from publications is a useful tool. The objective of this work was to develop a bibliographic database of nutrient fluxes across organs and tissues of ruminant animals (Flora) under Access using the Merise method.

[Organ donation in Switzerland].

Since 1985 Swisstransplant coordinates all allocations for organ transplantations in Switzerland. During these 20 years the number of deceased donors decreased, while the number of living donors increased. In the same period the number of patients on a waiting list for organ transplantation increased significantly, up to more than 1000 at the end of2004.

Energy value of a low-digestible carbohydrate, NUTRIOSE FB, and its impact on magnesium, calcium and zinc apparent absorption and retention in healthy young men.

Background: Long-term consumption of imbalanced diets, poor in dietary fibres, resulted in the prevalence of several nutritional pathologies. However, low digestible carbohydrates (LDC) have many beneficial effects, especially on energy intake, digestive physiology, and mineral absorption.

Aim Of The Study: To determine the digestive effects of a LDC, called NUTRIOSE FB, its metabolisable energy (ME) value, and its effects on mineral absorption in humans.

A weight reduction program preserves fat-free mass but not metabolic rate in obese adolescents.

Objective: To determine the effects of a multidisciplinary weight reduction program on body composition and energy expenditure (EE) in severely obese adolescents.

Research Methods And Procedures: Twenty-six severely obese adolescents, 12 to 16 years old [mean BMI: 33.9 kg/m(2); 41.

Whole body glucose turnover in growing and non-productive adult ruminants: meta-analysis and review.

The objectives of the present paper were to review and quantitatively determine the influence of the nutritional factors on whole body glucose turnover in growing and adult non-productive ruminants. A meta-analysis approach was used. The dietary grain: forage ratio significantly increased the slope of the relationship between glucose turnover and metabolisable energy intake.

[Endoscopic treatment of tracheo-esophageal fistulas: fact or fiction?].

Tracheo-esophageal fistulas as a sequelae of esophageal atresia surgery are usually a severe complication whose correction requires an important surgical aggression, often with uncertain results. The possibility of treating this problem through the use of non-aggressive endoscopic methods has been described in medical literature over the last years, applying several products for occlusion with conflicting results in different publications. We present three cases of tracheo-esophageal fistulas, describing the technique of trans-tracheal endoscopic approach based on the novelty of employing a laryngeal mask which facilitates ventilation during the procedure, as well as the possibility to use endoscopic material of greater diameter.

Assessment of energy expenditure associated with physical activities in free-living obese and nonobese adolescents.

Background: Information on activity patterns and the energy cost of activities is critically missing.

Objective: We measured the energy cost of and time devoted to various activities in obese and nonobese adolescents.

Design: Daily energy expenditure (DEE) and its main components were determined in 27 obese and 50 nonobese adolescents aged 12-16 y by using whole-body calorimetry with the same activity program and the heart rate-recording method in free-living conditions.

Results of a new technique in the treatment of severe esophageal stenosis in children: poliflex stents.

Objectives: The authors present their experience in treating cases of severe esophageal stenosis resistant to conventional dilatation through the placement of silicone stents, describe a precise placement technique, and establish a standard protocol for the use of these devices.

Methods: The authors detail the placement procedure and follow-up in a series of 10 patients (5 male, 5 female) between 1 and 23 years, in whom the technique was used. Nine patients had severe esophageal scarring caused by alkaline agents, and another had severe stenosis resulting from esophageal atresia; all were included in the dilatation program from the age of 6 months to 19 years.

The extent to which breakfast covers the morning energy expenditure of adolescents with varying levels of physical activity.

Background: Energy intake at breakfast affects the performance of creativity tests, memory recall and voluntary physical endurance in children before lunch, and food craving during the whole day.

Objectives: To assess the adequacy of breakfast energy supply (BES) and energy expenditure (EE) in adolescents during a schoolday without or with 2 h of physical education lesson (PEL) in the morning.

Design: Sixty adolescents (four groups of 14-16 boys and girls aged 12-16 y) participated in a cross-sectional study.

Daily energy expenditure, activity patterns, and energy costs of the various activities in French 12-16-y-old adolescents in free living conditions.

Background: Changes in lifestyle and increases in sedentary activities during recent decades have been shown to contribute to the prevalence of overweight in adolescents.

Objectives: To determine the inter-individual variability and the day-to-day variations in daily energy expenditure (DEE) and activity pattern, and the energy costs and EE of the various activities of adolescents in free-living conditions.

Design: Sixty adolescents (four groups of 14-16 boys or girls aged 12-16 y) participated in this cross-sectional study during spring or autumn.

Components and variations in daily energy expenditure of athletic and non-athletic adolescents in free-living conditions.

The objectives of the study were to determine: (1) daily energy expenditure (EE) of athletic and non-athletic adolescents of both sexes in free-living conditions; (2) day-to-day variations in daily EE during 1 week; (3) energy costs of the main activities; and (4) the effect of usual activity on EE during sleep, seated and miscellaneous activities. Fifty adolescents (four groups of eleven to fifteen boys or girls aged 16-19 years) participated in the study. Body composition was measured by the skinfold-thickness method, and VO2max and external mechanical power (EMP) by a direct method (respiratory gas exchanges) on a cycloergometer.