Bone Ash Research Articles

Phosphorus digestibility and bioavailability in soybean meal, spray-dried plasma protein, and meat and bone meal determined using different methods

Three experiments were conducted to determine phosphorus (P) digestibility and bioavailability using different methods. The objective of the first experiment was to determine ileal P digestibility of soybean meal (SBM), meat and bone meal (MBM), and spray-dried plasma protein (SDPP) using a precision-fed broiler chick assay. This assay involved feeding 8 g of SBM, MBM, or SDPP to broiler chicks at 21 D of age. At 6 h after feeding, ileal digesta were collected. Ileal P digestibility of SBM, MBM, and SDPP was 64, 42, and 94%, respectively. In the second experiment, ileal P digestibility and excreta P retention of SBM, SDPP, and MBM were determined using an ad libitum fed chick assay. On day 17 of age, chicks were placed on 1 of 12 dietary treatments that consisted of diets containing increasing levels of SBM, SDPP, or MBM. On day 21, ileal digesta and excreta were collected. True ileal P digestibility and true excreta P retention estimated using regression of ileal P or excreta P output on dietary P content yielded true ileal P digestibility values for SBM, SDPP, and MBM (2 diet methods for MBM) to be 83, 98, 61, and 23%, respectively. True excreta P retention values for SBM, SDPP, and MBM (2 methods) were determined to be 51, 99, 32, and 53%, respectively. The third experiment determined bioavailability of P in SBM, SDPP, and MBM relative to KH2PO4 using a chick bone ash bioassay. Dietary treatments included a P-deficient cornstarch–dextrose–SBM diet supplemented with 2 increasing levels of P from KH2PO4, SBM, SDPP, or MBM. Bioavailability of P based on tibia ash estimated using the multiple regression slope ratio method was 36, 125, and 76% for SBM, SDPP, and MBM, respectively, relative to KH2PO4. The results of this study indicated the digestibility/relative bioavailability of the P in SDPP was very high for all 3 methods, but values for SBM and MBM varied greatly among different methods.

Effect of supplementing phytase on piglet performance, nutrient digestibility and bone mineralisation

Incremental levels of the phytase, OptiPhos® Plus, were fed to 150 weaned piglets (five treatments of 30 pigs) to determine the effect on piglet performance, nutrient digestibility and bone mineralisation. Piglets were fed a basal diet from four to six weeks and a pre-starter diet from six to ten weeks of age. The basal diets contained reduced digestible phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) (1.5 g/kg digestible P, and Ca 5.5 g/kg and 5.6 g/kg for weaner and pre-starter, respectively) to provide a negative control. Phytase was added at 0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 phytase units (FTU)/kg feed. Faecal samples were collected at nine weeks of age and analysed for P, Ca and crude protein (CP) content to calculated digestibility. Metacarpal bone IV mineralisation was assessed by ash content and the weight and length of the bone. Incremental increases of phytase improved final body weight (BW) (P<0.001), average daily gain (ADG) (P<0.001) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P<0.01). The statistical model predicted a linear increase for daily feed intake (DFI), ADG and BW with increased phytase increments. BW at the end of the trial increased by 824 g per increase of 250 FTU/kg (P<0.001). ADG and DFI increased by 19 g/day (P<0.001) and 18 g/day (P<0.05) respectively, per increase of 250 FTU/kg. As the effect on ADG and final BW was higher at lowest doses, a quadratic effect for these parameters was observed, within the measured range of phytase levels (P=0.029 and 0.028, respectively). A reduction of 0.03 in FCR was observed for each 250 FTU/kg increase (P<0.01). For each increase in 250 FTU/kg, bone dry weight increased by 131 g (P<0.05) and bone ash concentration by 1.9% of fat free dry matter (P<0.001). The results showed that the addition of phytase to piglet diets low in P led to better utilisation of phytate-P and consequently better piglet performance.

Determining the phosphorus release of Smizyme TS G5 2,500 phytase in diets for nursery pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the available P (aP) release of Smizyme TS G5 2,500 (Origination, LLC., Maplewood, MN) phytase. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21-d of age, randomly allotted to pens based on initial body weight (BW) and fed a common diet. On d 21 post-weaning, pens were blocked by BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 8 (experiment 1) or 7 (experiment 2) dietary treatments with five pigs per pen and eight pens per treatment. Treatments were formulated to include increasing aP from either inorganic P (0.12%, 0.18%, or 0.24% in experiment 1 and 0.11%, 0.19%, or 0.27% in experiment 2 from monocalcium P) or increasing phytase (150, 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 FTU/kg in experiment 1 and 250, 500, 1,000, or 1,500 FTU/kg in experiment 2). Prior to beginning the 21-d studies, all pigs were fed the lowest inorganic P diet for a 3-d period. At the conclusion of each experiment, the pig closest to the pen mean BW was euthanized and fibulas were collected to determine bone ash weight and percentage bone ash. Fibulas were processed using defatted bone mineral procedures. In both experiments, pigs fed increasing aP from inorganic P had increased (linear, P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG), G:F, and final BW. Additionally, pigs fed diets with increasing phytase had increased (experiment 1 linear, P < 0.01; experiment 2 linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) performance across all growth response criteria. For bone composition, pigs fed increasing aP from inorganic P had increased bone ash weights (linear, P < 0.01) and percentage bone ash (experiment 1 quadratic, P < 0.01; experiment 2 linear, P < 0.01). Similarly, pigs fed increasing phytase had increased bone ash weights (linear, P < 0.01) and percentage bone ash (experiment 1 linear, P < 0.01; experiment 2 linear and quadratic, P < 0.05). The percentage aP released from Smizyme TS G5 2,500 for both experiments varied depending on the response criteria used. As the amount of phytase in the diet increased, the calculated aP release increased when ADG (experiment 1 linear, P < 0.01; experiment 2 linear and quadratic, P < 0.01), G:F (linear, P < 0.01), or percentage bone ash (experiment 1 linear and quadratic, P < 0.05; experiment 2 linear, P < 0.01) were used the predictor variable. When combining the data from experiment 1 and 2, the aP release prediction equations for Smizyme TS G5 2,500 are aP = (0.197 × FTU)/(584.956 + FTU), aP = (0.175 × FTU)/(248.348 + FTU), and aP = (0.165 × FTU)/(178.146 + FTU) when using ADG, G:F, and percentage bone ash, respectively as the predictor variable.

Design and numerical investigation of an adaptive intramedullary nail with a novel interlocking mechanism

Abstract Malalignment is a common complication in the treatment of distal fractures of the tibia. Numerous efforts have been made to reduce the malalignment ratio. However, the reported cases with this disorder are still high. This study aimed at investigating an adaptive design of an intramedullary nail with a novel interlocking mechanism (AINIM), as an alternative for the customary nailing, in reducing malalignment ratio. A verified finite element model was employed to compare the performance of AINIM with the customary nail. The finite element model of the tibia follows the exact shape of the medullary canal, and nonhomogeneous material properties were assigned to the bone from bone ash density. It was assumed that the nails were implanted and interlocked in the tibia according to surgical protocols, and physiological-like loading was applied to finite element models. The results of this study showed that AINIM reduces the mean shear interfragmentary strains by about 30%, and the axial interfragmentary strain by 55%, also it increases the uniformity in the interfragmentary movements, compared to the customary nail. It was also found that AINIM caused a reduction of the stress on the nail by 60%, and an increase of 25% on the bone, compared to the customary nail. Moreover, average compressive principal strains in the tibia fixed by AINIM increased by 40% from 485 to 678 με, compared to the tibia fixed by the customary nailing method. The results of this work also showed that AINIM causes an increase in the contact area with the intramedullary canal, particularly at the fracture site, and it also escalates the magnitude of contact pressure. Results of this work indicate that, from the biomechanical standpoint, the adaptive nail, i.e. AINIM, with an innovative interlocking mechanism, compared to the customary nailing, can lessen intra- and post-operative malalignment occurrence, and it also mitigates the side effects of stress shielding, and thus better conserves neighboring bone density in a long period.

Research Note: Bone ash from immature broilers correlates to bone mineral content calculated from quantitative computed tomography scans

Owing to selection for rapid growth and heavy muscle, bone deformities and injuries in broiler chickens are common and present a welfare concern. Recently, clinical quantitative computed tomography scans (QCTs) have been used for laying hens with significant, strong correlations between QCT-generated bone mineral content (BMC), bone ash, and analytical calcium. The objectives of this study were to determine if QCT-generated bone mineral density of tibias and femurs correlated to fat-free ash and if analytical Ca could be correlated to bone ash and digitally calculated density in immature broilers. Male broilers (Ross 708, n = 125) were raised from day 1 after hatching, and at 42 D, right leg quarters were collected from 50 randomly selected birds and frozen at −20°C until analysis. Leg quarters were scanned with muscle and feathers intact and arranged in rows on plexiglass, and each QCT included a solid Ca hydroxyapatite phantom. Tibias and femurs were removed from leg quarters after autoclaving, ashed, and weighed. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to understand the association between analytical bone ash and QCT BMC while paired t tests determined the amount of difference between QCT BMC and ash. Ash weight was strongly correlated to QCT BMC in both the femur (R = 0.86, P < 0.001) and the tibia (R = 0.91, P < 0.001). The average difference between the amount of actual ash weighed and BMC calculated from the QCT was 0.03 ± 0.22 g (P = 0.3) for the femur and 0.04 ± 0.22 g (P = 0.2) for the tibia. This study confirms that this technique can supply invaluable skeletal health information without sacrificing birds.

Biomimetic Composite Scaffold Based on Naturally Derived Biomaterials.

This paper proposes the development of a biomimetic composite based on naturally derived biomaterials. This freeze-dried scaffold contains a microwave-synthesized form of biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HAp), using the interwoven hierarchical structure of eggshell membrane (ESM) as bio-template. The bone regeneration capacity of the scaffold is enhanced with the help of added tricalcium phosphate from bovine Bone ash (BA). With the addition of Gelatin (Gel) and Chitosan (CS) as organic matrix, the obtained composite is characterized by the ability to stimulate the cellular response and might accelerate the bone healing process. Structural characterization of the synthesized HAp (ESM) confirms the presence of both hydroxyapatite and monetite phases, in accordance with the spectroscopy results on the ESM before and after the microwave thermal treatment (the presence of phosphate group). Morphology studies on all individual components and final scaffold, highlight their morphology and porous structure, characteristics that influence the biocompatibility of the scaffold. Porosity, swelling rate and the in vitro cytotoxicity assays performed on amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC), demonstrate the effective biocompatibility of the obtained materials. The experimental results presented in this paper highlight an original biocomposite scaffold obtained from naturally derived materials, in a nontoxic manner.

Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Amounts Affect Development and Tissue-Specific Stem Cell Characteristics in Neonatal Pigs

Dietary calcium and phosphorus are required for bone and muscle development. Deficiencies of these macrominerals reduce bone mineral and muscle accretion potentially via alterations of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and satellite cell (SC) activities. With increasing interest in the role of early-life events on lifetime health outcomes, we aimed to elucidate the impact of dietary calcium and phosphorus, from deficiency through excess, on MSC and SC characteristics during neonatal development. Neonatal pigs [30 females, 1-d-old, 1.46±0.04kg body weight (BW)] were fed milk replacers for 16 d that were isonitrogenous and isocaloric with a consistent ratio of calcium to phosphorus, but either 25% deficient (calcium: 0.78%; phosphorus: 0.60%; CaPD), adequate (calcium: 1.08%; phosphorus: 0.84%; CaPA), or 25% in excess (calcium: 1.38%; phosphorus: 1.08%; CaPE) of calcium and phosphorus requirements based on sow-milk composition and extrapolation from NRC requirements for older pigs. BW and feed intake were recorded daily. Blood was collected for serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) determination. Humeri were collected for MSC isolation and radii/ulnae bone were collected for analysis. Longissimus dorsi muscle was collected for SC isolation and analysis. There was 4.6% increase in bone ash percentage in CaPE- versus CaPD-fed pigs (P<0.05). In vivo proliferation indicated a 41.3% increase in MSCs in CaPA compared with CaPD and a 19% increase in SCs in CaPA compared with both CaPE and CaPD. MSCs from CaPD had 2- to 5-fold greater expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) but lower osteocalcin (BGLAP) and fibronectin (FN1) expression than CaPA (P<0.05). SCs from CaPD-fed pigs had 19% lower in vivo proliferation than in CaPA-fed pigs. These findings demonstrated that feeding a diet marginally deficient in calcium and phosphorus to neonatal pigs had a great impact on bone development, MSC, and SC characteristics. These dietary deficiencies may program future bone health and muscle development by altering MSC and SC activities.

Efficacy of Nanofertilizers on Spinach Growth Performance in Medially Polluted Soils

Purpose Food security has been a global problem with the sporadic growing population especially in the developing world, Kenya included. Many crop growth enhancers have been used such as conventional fertilizers, biofertilizers to boost food productivity. However, use excessive commercial fertilizer with the notion that some will be eroded and leached eventually causes eutrophication and alters soil pH that increases heavy metal uptake in crops threatening food safety and it has also minimal plant nutrient utilization. Nanoparticles have been used to give slower and timely release of nutrients to plants due to their versatile desirable characteristics. Methods Pot study in green house for contaminated soils were conducted with eight treatments in triplicate; DAP added, NPK added, NPK-DAP added, DAP nanofertilizer, NPK nanofertilizer, NPK-DAP nanofertilizer and non-treated control (ck) treatments, for spinach in the greenhouse study done in Nyakoe, Kisii county. Nine pots were set for each treatment with one seedling each. Nanofertilizers were applied at normal application rates during planting. Spinach plants were left grown for 30 days to 90 days until they matured as the growth performance parameters were being recorded. Results The results shows that there was a significant difference in plant growth performance in pots where nanofertilizers were used, with spinach amended with synthetic ash (nHA) increasing the growth parameters as follows; height (64.29%), dry matter weight (17.55%), leaf diameter (34.54%) and number of leaves (32.39%) while bone ash treatment increased height by (65.34%), dry matter weight (17.52%), leaf diameter (44.34%) and number of leaves (37.24%) when compared to NPK-DAP fertilizer added control. Conclusion Nanofertilizers enhances the growth performance of cropseven when grown in medially polluted sandy-loamy soils of lower fertility, especially in peri-urban farming to boost food productivity to feed ever growing population.

Impact of a plant-based diet supplemented with phytase on growth, tissue energy and bone mineral status of juvenile pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

ABSTRACT The effects of fishmeal free plant-based diets and dietary phytase supplementation on growth, hematology, plasma, muscle, and liver composition, and bone mineral status of juvenile fish Piaractus mesopotamicus were studied. Two hundred and ten fish (13.70 ± 0.61 g) were maintained in a recirculating system (22 ± 1°C) and fed with two diets: plant-based experimental diet (ED) and plant-based experimental diet added with microbial phytase (EDP) for 120 days. Both treatments were replicated three times. Fish were fed twice a day at a readjusted-restricted rate (5% biomass weight per day). Growth performance measurements were carried out every 21 days. The activity of phytase after extrusion was 4001.1 ± 160.0 PU/kg diet. No significant differences in growth, morphometrical and hematological biomarkers, and tissue energy composition were detected. Lipid content of muscle decreased in EDP-fed fish. There was a higher content of zinc in EDP-fed fish, but there were no differences in bone weight, ash, calcium, and phosphorous content.

Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing and finishing pigs fed multienzyme-supplemented low-energy and -amino acid diets.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing corn–soybean meal-based diets with a multienzyme on growth performance, bone mineralization, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients of growing pigs. A total of 276 pigs (body weight [BW] = 33.99 ± 4.3 kg) were housed by sex in 45 pens of 6 or 7 pigs and fed 5 diets (9 pens/diet) in a randomized complete block design. Diets were positive control (PC); and negative control 1 (NC1) or negative control 2 (NC2) without or with multienzyme. The multienzyme used supplied at least 1,800, 1,244, 6,600, and 1,000 units of xylanase, β-glucanase, arabinofuranosidase, and phytase per kilogram of diet, respectively. The PC diet was adequate in all nutrients according to NRC recommendations and had greater digestible P content than NC1 or NC2 diet by 0.134 percentage points. The PC diet had greater net energy (NE) and standardized ileal digestible amino acids (AA) content than NC1 diet by 3%, and than NC2 diet by 5%. The diets were fed in 4 phases based on BW: Phase 1: 34–50 kg; Phase 2: 50–75 kg; Phase 3: 75–100 kg; and Phase 4: 100–120 kg. Nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization were determined at the end of Phase 1. Overall (34–120 kg BW), pigs fed the PC and NC1 diets did not differ in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake. Pigs fed NC2 diet had lower (P < 0.05) ADG and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) than those fed PC diet. Pigs fed PC diet had greater (P < 0.05) bone ash content and ATTD of P than those fed NC1 diet. The ATTD of GE for PC diet was greater (P < 0.05) than that for NC2 diet, and tended to be greater (P < 0.10) than that for NC1 diet. Multienzyme interacted (P < 0.05) with negative control diet type on overall ADG and AID of GE such that multienzyme did not affect overall ADG and AID of GE for the NC1 diet, but increased (P < 0.05) overall ADG and AID of GE for NC2 diet by 5.09 and 8.74%, respectively. Multienzyme did not interact with negative control diet type on overall G:F, bone ash content, AID of AA, and ATTD of nutrients. Multienzyme increased (P < 0.05) overall G:F, AID of methionine, ATTD of GE and P, and tended to increase (P = 0.056) bone ash content. The ADG, bone ash content, and ATTD of GE and P for the multienzyme-supplemented diets were similar to (P > 0.10) PC diet. Thus, NE and digestible AA and P can be lowered by ≤5% in multienzyme-supplemented diets without effects on growth performance and bone ash of pigs.

The effects of downhill running on bone ash, calcium concentration, and total calcium in mice

Exercise is essential for reducing age‐related bone mineral loss by providing mechanical loading. Due to greater shear strain forces generated, downhill walking or running at slower speeds may provide similar stimuli to faster running, sprinting, or jumping on flat surfaces. Results from previous studies are mixed when comparing changes in morphological and mechanical properties from slower, downhill running to level or uphill running and sedentary controls. The purpose of this study was to determine if downhill running (DHR) could improve bone mineral content, calcium concentration, and total calcium in the limbs of mice. This study was approved by the MSU IACUC and FVB mice (Charles River) were housed according the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Forty‐five days after birth (PN45), mice were allocated to either a sedentary or exercised group. Exercised mice began running on a treadmill set at a −16% gradient five times per week for 12 weeks in 30 minute bouts. After a two‐minute warm‐up speeds were increased from 10 m·min−1 to 17 m·min−1 for the remaining 28 minutes. At PN129, mice were euthanized, and fore‐ and hindlimbs were collected as these were the bones most likely to respond to exercise. Bones were cleaned, ether‐extracted, and ashed as a measure of bone mineral content. Ash was recorded and then microwave digested in nitric acid for calcium concentration analysis via atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total calcium was calculated from multiplying calcium concentration by amount of ash for each sample. Due to the quantity of ash needed for digestion and the small size of mice, bones were pooled. Sedentary (n=7) and exercised (n=6) mouse data were found to be normally distributed and analyzed using the mixed model procedure in SAS 9.4 for effects of sex, exercise, and their interaction on ash, calcium concentration, and total calcium. There was no interaction between sex and exercise as well as no effect of sex nor exercise (P &gt; 0.10) on any of the parameters measured (Table 1). Surprisingly, DHR in this study did not produce greater bone ash or total calcium when compared to sedentary controls. Though DHR can produce compressive strain and high shear strain rates, the slower speed may not be enough for bone to respond as it does to higher speeds or larger impacts. Additionally, these mice were analogous to human adults when they began training, and since younger bone responds to exercise better, this age may have limited the mice’s ability to accrue greater bone mineral. In this study, DHR failed to stimulate bone to accrue or even maintain mineral above sedentary values and therefore may not be an appropriate exercise recommendation to reduce age‐related mineral loss. Ash as a measure of bone mineral content, calcium concentration, and total calcium from the limbs of either downhill running (DHR) or sedentary (Sed) mice. Neither sex nor exercise had an effect on any of the values (P &gt; 0.10). Sex Exercise Ash (mg) Calcium Concentration (μg·ml−1) Total Calcium (mg) Female DHR 445 ± 26 360 ± 6 160 ± 11 Sed 441 ± 26 352 ± 6 155 ± 11 Male DHR 442 ± 26 345 ± 6 152 ± 11 Sed 423 ± 23 352 ± 5 150 ± 9

The Modern Transformation of Bone Ashes and Its Cause

The Modern Transformation of Bone Ashes and Its Cause

A research on the gamma ray attenuation characteristics for real bone and manganese substituted artificial bone dust

This research focalized on the gamma ray attenuation charesteristics of real bone and manganese substituted Nano hydroxyapatite artificial bone dusts. The current samples were excited with using 59.5 keV photons emitted from an 241Am annular radioisotope source with 50 mCi activity by using a narrow beam transmission geometry and detected with using Ultra Low Energy Germanium detector with a resolution 150 eV at 5,95 keV experimentally. The gamma-ray attenuation parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient, half value layer, tenth value layer and mean free path are also calculated experimentally and theoretically. The present results points out that the attenuation values of the manganese substituted hydroxyapatite artificial bone dust is very close to the value of the real bone.

Effects of phytase supplementation on eggshell and bone quality, and phosphorus and calcium digestibility in laying hens from 25 to 37 wk of age

Effects of dietary available phosphorus (aP) and Ca levels and an Escherichia coli 6-phytase supplementation were studied in Lohmann LSL-Lite hens from 25 to 37 wk of age. Eighty-four hens were used in a completely randomized design with 7 treatments. The treatments were a positive control (PC) diet with 0.45% aP, 3.70% Ca, and 0.16% Na from 25 to 28 wk and 0.38% aP, 3.73% Ca, and 0.15% Na from 29 to 37 wk; a negative control (NC) diet, similar to the PC diet, with 0.22% aP, 3.00% Ca, and 0.13% Na from 25 to 28 wk and 0.19% aP, 3.02% Ca, and 0.13% Na from 29 to 37 wk; the NC diets supplemented with phytase at 150 (NC + 150), 300 (NC + 300), 600 (NC + 600), or 1,200 (NC + 1,200) phytase unit (FTU)/kg; and the PC diet supplemented with phytase at 1,200 (PC + 1,200) FTU/kg. Hen performance, eggshell, and bone quality were measured on a 4-wk basis. Bone breaking strength and ash and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of P and Ca were determined at 37 wk. One- and 2-way ANOVA were conducted, and Tukey's range test was used to compare multiple means where P ≤ 0.05. No differences in hen performance, eggshell quality, bone breaking strength, bone ash, and P digestibility were observed between the PC and the NC treatments. The NC hens had lower cortical (P < 0.001) and trabecular + medullary bone mineral density (P = 0.004) and total bone mineral content (P < 0.001) than the PC hens. The PC + 1,200 increased cortical bone mineral density (P < 0.001). The reductions of aP and Ca in the NC diet were not deficient for performance but had a minor impact on bone mineralization. The NC + 600 and NC + 1,200 increased AID of P (P = 0.024), and all phytase treatments except the NC + 150 increased AID of Ca (P = 0.010) compared with the NC diet.

Effect of constant 2:1 calcium to non-phytate phosphorus ratio over a range of concentrations during starter-grower and finisher phases on performance of broiler chicken

This experiment investigated the effect of 2:1 ratio of calcium (Ca) to non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) over a range of their concentrations on performance of broilers in phase 1 (1–24 days), phase 2 (25–38 days) and the whole period. A total of 900 male broilers were allocated into 60 pens. In phase 1, dietary treatments were high (H, 9.6 g/kg Ca and 4.8 g/kg NPP), moderate (M, 7.6 g/kg Ca and 3.8 g/kg NPP), low (L, 5.6 g/kg Ca and 2.8 g/kg NPP) and very low (VL, 3.6 g/kg Ca and 1.8 g/kg) level of Ca and NPP. H and M diets showed higher average daily feed intake (ADFI) and serum Ca than those of L and VL diets. There was a linear decrease in tibia Ca and serum P and a linear increase in relative expression of SLC20A1 and CALB1 and retention of Ca and P when concentration of Ca and NPP was reduced. H diet resulted in the highest tarsometatarsus strength and feed conversion ratio (FCR). M and L diets showed higher average daily gain (ADG) than those of H and VL diets. VL diet demonstrated the lowest tibia ash. On day 25, treatments H, M, L and VL received, respectively, 4, 3, 2 and 1 types of finisher diets (H, M, L and VL) during phase 2, resulting in a total of 10 treatments; HH, HM, HL, HVL, MM, ML, MVL, LL, LVL and VLVL. HH vs. HM vs. HL vs. HVL showed a linear decrease of ADFI, ADG, serum P, tibia ash, tarsometatarsus strength and a linear increase of FCR. HH vs. MM vs. LL vs. VLVL demonstrated a linear increase of relative expression of CALB1 and SLC20A1 and a linear decrease of serum P, and in terms of growth performance, MM showed the best results generally. MM vs. ML vs. MVL showed a linear decrease of ADFI and ADG and a linear increase of FCR. HM vs. ML vs. LVL demonstrated a linear decrease of ADG, serum Ca and P and relative expression of CALB1 and a linear increase of FCR (during phase 2). In conclusion, reducing Ca and NPP level over finisher phase, similarly for all combinations of treatments, resulted in poorer performance either in finisher phase or the whole period. Generally, 7.6 g/kg Ca and 3.8 g/kg NPP over the whole period maximized broiler’s performance without negative effects on bone ash and strength.

Bone chemical composition changes in bird bones from laboratory exposure to saline lake conditions

The abundance of bird bones in archeological contexts of high salt is potentially impacted by salinization, which can affect bone preservation. We exposed wing elements (humeri, ulnae, and radii) of domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) to laboratory conditions simulating a saline lake substrate with overlaying saltwater for up to 32 weeks. Our analyses based on bone ashing and elemental concentration using ICP-OES are reported. The data provide useful taphonomic information regarding changes in bone mineral content, element concentrations, and element to phosphorus ratios of bird bones exposed to saline environments. Results showed that all exposed wing bones increased significantly in bone mineral content, which indicated that wing bones most likely became stronger. Overall, ionic concentrations of Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Na+, P5+, Sr2+, and Si4+, except Fe3+, changed significantly among all wing bones with saline exposure. These changes in ion concentration took place in as little as 4 weeks. Element to phosphorus ratios provided insight into potential ionic substitutions between the bone and the saline substrate and solution exposure. The results from our study provide direct evidence that the chemical composition of bird bones deposited along saline lake shorelines quickly become altered.

Rapid, non-destructive analysis of calcium and strontium in eggshells by WD-XRF

We developed a simple method of analyzing the strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) content of intact eggshell samples in support of a broader study of how dietary Sr uptake impacts waterfowl eggshell quality. We used wavelength dispersive - x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF) to analyze eggshell pieces ranging in size from ∼6-mm2 fragments to intact half-shells. We verified this approach on a subset of reference shells by subjecting the same region and volume of shell material from which x-ray signals were measured to analysis by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). An analysis of the sources of analytical uncertainty yielded total internal error estimates of ±0.3 and 5% relative for Ca and Sr, respectively, on the basis of which the chemistry of intact shell material analyzed by WD-XRF in this study is compared. The total external errors associated with the WD-XRF results of this study in relation to certified reference material (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] 1400 [a bone ash]) are ±9 and 13.5% relative for Ca and Sr, respectfully (95% CL). Our results demonstrate this method is acceptably accurate and precise for many wildlife management applications. WD-XRF analysis is a quick and inexpensive alternative to traditional methods for determining eggshell Sr and Ca that require acid digestion, allowing for generation of larger datasets that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive, while preserving sample material intact.

Thoracic Ossification of Ligamentum Flavum Caused By Skeletal Fluorosis: Breaking the Etiopathological Barrier -Answer to the Crippling Disease of the Society

Background: Thoracic ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) caused by skeletal fluorosis is rare [1]. Only six patients had been reported in the English literature. This study is the second study to the best of our knowledge in literature. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the causation of ossification of ligamentum flavum due to fluorosis in accordance with reports from the first clinical series of this disease. Exact etiopathogenesis of thoracic ossification of yellow ligament is not known and causation due to fluorosis is rare, so this study was hypothesized [2]. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of patients with thoracic OLF due to skeletal fluorosis who underwent surgical management at the NIMS hospital between 2017 and 2018. A total of 16 cases were enrolled, (56.25%), 9 males and 7 (43.75%) females, age ranging from 37 to 62 years (mean 50.5 years). Imaging showed OLF together with ossification of interosseous membranes, including interosseous membranes of the forearm (14/16 patients 87.5%).Urinalysis showed a markedly high urinary fluoride level in 15 of 16 patients (93.75%).Ossified ligamentum flavum sent for estimation of fluoride levels in 16 patients showed high fluoride level in the bone ash prepared from the oyl in 15 patients and other structures sent as control were ,spinous process ,interspinous ligaments didn’t show any fluoride deposition. Results: Out of 16 patient 15 patient had fluoride levels more than 6000mg/kg, 7 patient had values between 6,000 – 7,000 mg/kg, 5 patient had values between 7,500 – 9,000 mg/kg and 3 patients had values &gt; 8400 mg/kg. Controls were sent as spinous processes had normal fluoride level between 500-1000 mg/kg and interspinous ligaments sent showed no fluoride levels. Out of 16 patients 9 patients had multiple level dorsal OYL both contiguous and non-contiguous, contiguous in 4 patients and non – contiguous in 5 patients.7 patients had single level dorsal OYL. Most common segment involved in OYL is T9 and D10 level in 14 patients. Sato classification 6 were Type A, 5 were Type B, 3 were Type C, 2 were Type D Conclusion: This is the largest series of ossification of dorsal yellow ligament due to fluorosis. And consideration of fluorosis as one of the important etiological cause for OYL to be kept in mind and all patients with OYL to be screened for Fluorosis and this would also help as a preventive measure for the people around the surroundings of the affected person and would help the society from a crippling disability.

Local mineral formulas for supplementation of kacang goat’s feed based on wild forages, rice bran and sago stalk

Supplementation is required to satisfy mineral requirement of traditional grazing kacang goat. The present research was aimed to design of mineral supplement for better nutrition of kacang goat fed based on wild forages, rice bran and sago stalk. Crude nutrient and mineral composition of feed which are normally consumed or fed to kacang goat were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), and minerals (Ca, P). Samples of forages were collected from three areas, i.e. coconut plantations, banana plantations and idle lands. Mineral feed was then formulated by using locally available materials: Bukit Kamang’s stone powder, roasted fresh water mussel shell meal and bone ash. The local minerals were prepared in loose and block forms and offered to 12 young kacang goat males for 14 weeks in three treatments: P0: no supplementation (control), P1: supplemented with loose local mineral, and P2: supplemented with block local mineral. Each treatment consisted of 4 goats as replication. Parameters measured included: body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), blood minerals (Ca, P), blood hematology (hemoglobin [HGB], mean corpuscular Hb concentration [MCHC], total red blood cell [RBC], white blood cell [WBC], hematocrit concentration [HCT]) and total protein. Results showed that there were seven kinds of wild forages consumed by grazing goat. The average crude nutrient and mineral content of the forages were as follows: DM: 17.2%, CP: 16.5%, CF: 18.20%; Ca and P: 4.5 dan 2.1g/kg DM, respectively. The average daily body weight gain was 35.4, 31.7 and 41.2 g/head, and FCR was 22.8, 26.0 and 21.3 for P0, P1 and P2, respectively. The mineral concentration, total protein and hematological values of blood of P2 ranged in normal values, except WBC. It was concluded that mineral supplementation in block lick form gave positive effect on growth performance and feed utilization efficiency.

Foliar application of micro cattle bone ash in increasing growth and yield of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.)

Cattle bone ash contains high calcium and phosphor that can be used as foliar fertilizer. The foliar application requires particles whose size must be smaller than the stomatal size. The study is expected to increase the growth and the production of sweet corn by applying cattle bone ash to sweet corn through foliar application. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized design with five treatments; without cattle bone ash application, 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.3%, and 0.4% of cattle bone ash concentration. Cattle bone ash dominated with particles smaller than stomatal size and contained high calcium, oxygen and phosphor with little of sodium and magnesium. The result showed that 0.3% application of micro cattle bone ash could enhance leaves area, root dry weight, net assimilation rate, ear weight, and 100 kernels weight of sweet corn.