Maximum Weight Gain Research Articles

Accelerated environmental degradation and residual flexural analysis of carbon nanofiber reinforced composites

Hollow particle filled composites known as syntactic foams presently find numerous applications in structures exposed to high moisture and high temperature environments. Carbon nanofiber (CNF) reinforcement is attractive in these composites because of the possibility of increased strength with negligible density variation. In the present study, syntactic foams containing 15–50 vol% glass microballoons (GMB) and 1–5 wt% CNF reinforcement as well as CNF/epoxy composites containing 1–5 wt% CNF were exposed to accelerated weathering by immersion in 90 °C water for two weeks and characterized for their residual flexural properties. In the worst performing composites, a maximum weight gain of 3.5% and 10% was observed for CNF/epoxy and CNF/syntactic foam composites, respectively. The syntactic foams tested were observed to generally decrease in strength after weathering with the exception of the composites containing 5 wt% CNF and 15 vol% GMB, which were observed to increase in strength by 41–51% after weathering. The composite containing 5 wt% CNF was also shown to increase in strength by 27% after weathering. Strength retention is attributed to the presence of CNF, along with competing weathering effects on composite structure and morphology.

Feasibility and acceptability of regular weighing, setting weight gain limits and providing feedback by community midwives to prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy: randomised controlled trial and qualitative study

BackgroundRegular weighing in pregnant women is not currently recommended in many countries but has been suggested to prevent excessive gestational weight gain. This study aimed to establish the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating regular weighing, setting maximum weight gain targets and feedback by community midwives.MethodsLow risk pregnant women cared for by eight community midwives were randomised to usual care or usual care plus the intervention at 10–14 weeks of pregnancy. The intervention involved community midwives weighing and plotting weight on a weight gain chart, setting weight gain limit targets, giving brief feedback at each antenatal appointment and encouraging women to weigh themselves weekly between antenatal appointments. Women and midwives were interviewed about their views of the intervention. The focus of the study was on process evaluation.ResultsCommunity midwives referred 123 women and 115 were scheduled for their dating scan within the study period. Of these, 84/115 were approached at their dating scan and 76/84 (90.5 %) randomised. Data showed a modest difference favouring the intervention group in the percentage of women gaining excessive gestational weight (23.5 % versus 29.4 %). The intervention group consistently reported smaller increases in depression and anxiety scores throughout pregnancy compared with usual care. Most women commented the intervention was useful in encouraging them to think about their weight and believed it should be part of routine antenatal care. Community midwives felt the intervention could be implemented within routine care without adding substantially to consultation length, thus not perceived as adding substantially to their workload.ConclusionsThe intervention was feasible and acceptable to pregnant women and community midwives and was readily implemented in routine care.Trial registrationISRCTN81605162

A highly efficient in vitro propagation protocol for elephant tusk cactus: Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem.

BackgroundElephant tusk cactus Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem. is an important attractive ornamental cactus. The plant produces offshoots from tubercles very rarely, and the seedlings exhibit slow growth and susceptibility to damping off. Slow growth and high demand in the cactus industry lead to finding an alternate fast propagation method.ResultsAn innovative in vitro technique based on axillary bud proliferation has been developed for an ornamental cactus C. elephantidens (Lem.) Lem. Four different explant types formed multiple shoots on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Of the two cytokinins, 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (KN), BAP proved to be more effective for multiple shoot induction and shoot growth from different explant types. Longitudinally cut stem explants, when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6.6 μM BAP give maximum axillary shoot proliferation (12.4 shoots). Type of explant significantly influenced the micropropagation rate. Type of carbon source used in the medium imparted a profound effect on shoot growth and dry weight. The maximum dry weight gain of the shoot was observed with 9% sucrose.ConclusionDevelopment of an efficient micropropagation protocol which can be used to produce more than 10,000 rooted plantlets in 150 days from a single longitudinally divided shoot explant.

CAN PHENOTYPING FOR WATER BALANCE IMPROVE BREEDING FOR VASE LIFE?

Water deficit is a main cause for early wilting of cut flowers during vase life. To prevent water deficit, water uptake from the vase should compensate transpiration. Our goal is to identify parameters characterizing water balance that explain genotypic differences in vase life. This allows more precise phenotyping of vase life related traits. In two independent experiments 19 chrysanthemum genotypes were characterized for three water balance parameters during their vase life: the maximum weight gain (MWG; maximum weight increase after placement in water) and weight loss rate (WLR; % of weight loss per time unit after MWG is reached), which together explain time to negative water balance (tWB

Effect of dietary cholesterol content on growth and its accumulation in liver and muscle tissues of juvenile yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi)

A feed trial conducted with juvenile yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) was designed to address the effect of dietary cholesterol content on growth performance and the cholesterol concentration in liver and muscle. For 60 days fish were fed four diets based on defatted fish meal, soy protein concentrate, cholesterol-free fish oil, canola oil, and olive oil, with four different concentrations of cholesterol (treatments Ch0.0, Ch0.05, Ch0.12, and Ch0.19 containing 530, 2880, 4120, and 6170 mg kg–1 of crude fat, respectively). After 60 days, maximum weight gain was obtained with diet Ch0.05, and it was significantly higher than that obtained with diets Ch0.0 and Ch0.19, but not different from that obtained with Ch0.12. Cholesterol concentration in liver and muscle tissues was not affected by the diet, showing no significant differences among dietary treatments with levels reported as normal. Though cholesterol biosynthesis could not be measured in the present work, we discuss the possibility that fish are able to synthesize cholesterol when fed diets containing no or less cholesterol than required, but at the expense of energy consumption, limiting fish growth. We conclude that cholesterol content in aquafeeds affects fish growth when diets are formulated with vegetable ingredients, and the optimal content should be between 2880 and 4120 mg kg–1 of crude fat to avoid consequent cholesterol accumulation in liver or muscle tissues.

Accuracy of Nonlinear Formulation of Broiler Diets: Maximizing Profits

Nutritionists need to make commercial decisions about the optimal nutrient content broiler feeds. In order to demonstrate that broiler prices may influence dietary nutrient density, this study developed quadratic feed intake and weight gain equations, according to broiler sex and feeding phase, to be applied in a nonlinear feed formulation model. Four hundred and eighty Cobb broilers were allotted to a completely randomized experimental with six treatments, each with four replicates of 10 birds each, from 1 to 56 days old. Treatments consisted of diets containing 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, or 3300 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg and constant nutrient to ME ratio. A nonlinear version of the PPFR feed formulation software (http://www.fmva.unesp.br/ppfr) was developed with the objective of optimizing energy density and bird performance. According to the results, when the models are applied in the PPFR nonlinear spreadsheet, the most favorable nutrient density content is defined by mathematical models, as optimized by the Excel Solver tool by means of cost/benefit comparisons and as a function of rearing phase (starter, grower, and finisher) and sex. This contradicts the recommendations of genetic company manuals and published requirement tables, whose goal is to maximize weight gain and do not necessarily guarantee maximum economic efficiency.

Dietary Arginine Requirements are Dependent on the Rate of Citrulline Production in Mice

In many species, including humans, arginine (Arg) is considered a semi‐essential amino acid because under certain conditions endogenous synthesis cannot meet its demand. The requirements of Arg for growth in mice are ill defined and seem to vary depending on the genetic background of the animals. For this reason, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and C57BL/6J (BL6) mice were fed diets with increasing Arg content between 24 and 42d of life to determine the Arg requirements for growth. 'De novo' Arg synthesis and the production of its precursor, citrulline (Cit), were measured using stable isotopes. ICR mice were heavier than BL6 mice (12.1±0.20 vs. 8.7±0.11 g, P < 0.001) at weaning (d21) and displayed a greater growth rate (0.66±0.04 g/d and 0.46±0.03 g/d, P < 0.001). Whereas ICR mice grew at the same rate regardless of the Arg content of the diet (P = 0.80), BL6 mice showed a reduction in growth rate when fed the diet devoid of Arg (Arg sufficient diet 0.46±0.03 vs. Arg free diet 0.25±0.02 g/d, P < 0.001). Breakpoint analysis showed that on average, BL6 mice require 2.32±0.39 g Arg/kg diet to maximize weight gain. A reduced expression of ornithine transcarbamylase in the small intestine of BL6 mice (0.15±0.0 vs ICR 1±0.2 arbitrary units, P < 0.001) was responsible for the lower rate of Cit production observed in BL6 mice (96±5 vs ICR 123±9 µmol•kg‐1•h‐1, P < 0.002), which translated into a reduced 'de novo' Arg synthesis (P < 0.001) and explains why this strain has a requirement for Arg. Our data indicates that variability in the production of Cit and endogenous synthesis of Arg determined the need for dietary Arg to meet the requirements for growth. This indicates that in mice Arg is an essential amino acid for growth, at least for some genetic backgrounds.

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, body composition and flesh quality of juvenile topmouth culter,Culter alburnusBasilewsky

Nine experimental diets at three protein (35%, 40% and 45% crude protein) and lipid (5%, 8% and 11% crude lipid) levels with variable digestible protein to digestible energy (DP/DE) ratios ranged from 21.9 to 27.8 g protein MJ−1 were fed to topmouth culter (Culter alburnus Basilewsky) fingerlings (initial weight 6.5 ± 0.9 g) in triplicated groups (30 fish per replicated) for a period of 10 week to assess the optimum dietary DP/DE ratio and the protein sparing effect by utilizing dietary lipid. 27 cages of 1.5 m3 capacity placed in a lake located in Wuhan were used for rearing the fish. At the end of the experiment, maximum weight gain and thermal-unit growth coefficient was found in fish fed diet D4 with 45% protein, 8% lipid and P/E ratio of 26.2 g protein MJ−1, but without a significant difference compared to fish fed diet D5 with 40% protein, 8% lipid and DP/DE ratio of 25.3 g protein MJ−1. The best flesh quality evaluated by muscle collagen content was found in fish fed D5. High fat accumulation with increasing dietary lipid levels was observed in whole body but not in muscle tissue. Hence, it may be concluded that the optimum formulation for maximum growth and quality of topmouth culter is a diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid with a resultant DP/DE ratio of 25.3 g protein MJ−1. In addition, the protein sparing effect by inclusion lipid was observed but limited.

Effect of Different Doses of Poultry Manure and Cow Dung on the Growth of Indian Major Carp,Catla catla

In view of the beneficial and some harmful impacts of use of livestock manure in fish farming, the present experiment was designed to assess the growth of Catla catla under the influence of low, medium and high doses of cow dung and poultry manure. Experimental water in tubs were treated with low (TC1)@ 10, 000kg/ha, medium (TC2) @ 15, 000kg/ha and high (TC3) @ 20, 000 kg/ha doses of cow dung and also with low (TP1) @ 8, 000kg/ha, medium (TP2) @ 10, 000kg/ha and high (TP3) @ 12, 000 kg/ha doses of poultry litter, respectively along with control (T0). The control were maintained on conventional feed without nutrient input. Recording of length and weight to know specific growth rate (SGR) and condition factor (CF) was done initially and after 60 days at the end of the experiment. Fish were also observed for mortality throughout the experiment to calculate the survival rate. The treatment with poultry manure and cow dung caused significant change (P<0.05) in length when compared to T0 Maximum increase in length of fish was observed in TC1 and TP2 throughout the experiment period. While in TC3, no growth was recorded till the end of experiment. Maximum weight gain was also observed in TC1. Highest values of SGR% and CF were seen in TC1. Maximum survival rate (%) was recorded in T0 and TC2 followed by TC1.

Influence of Feeding Frequency on Growth performance and Body Indices of Goldfish (Carrassius auratus)

A total of forty goldfish (Carrassius auratus) with an average weight of 20 g per fish were stocked in individual glass aquaria having 50-L water holding capacity. There were 4 experimental feeding regimens A, B, C, and D having once twice, thrice and four times per day, respectively. All the groups received Nova Aquarium Fish Food @ 2% bodyweight which was equally spaced in treatment groups. The body weight, body and caudal lengths, and girth were recorded at the start of the experiment. The trial continued for 8 weeks. Group B yielded the maximum weight gain whereas group D yielded lowest weight (P<0.05). Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was better in Feed A and depreciated with increasing frequency (P<0.05). Caudal fin showed significant correlation with weight (+ 0.548; P<0.001) and length (- 0.792; P<0.0001). A positive correlation of dissolved oxygen (DO; P<0.001) and salinity (P<0.0001) showed with temperature. Salinity showed positive significant correlation with temperature (P<0.05). Consequently, feeding frequency twice per day is better for maximum body weight gain however better feed efficiency can be obtained at feed frequency once per day. However goldfish require genetic improvement for its rearing at commercial scale.

Comparative Effect of Different Organic Acids (Benzoic, Acetic and Formic) on Growth Performance, Immune Response and Carcass Traits of Broilers

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of benzoic, acetic and formic acid supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers. One hundred fifty, a day-old broiler chicks were procured from a local commercial hatchery and randomly divided into four treatment groups. Each group having thirty chicks was further sub divided into three replicates, ten chicks each. Group A, B, C were supplemented with 0.5% benzoic, acetic and formic acid, respectively, while group D was control. Data on growth performance in terms of body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio was noted on weekly basis. Blood sample were collected (2 birds/replicate) at 28 and 35 day of experiment to check the antibody titer against Newcastle disease and Infectious Bursal disease, respectively. Comparison by LSD test among different treatments showed that maximum weight gain was found in treatment C (formic acid) and minimum in D (control group). Significantly best feed conversion ratio was found in treatment C (formic acid) and poorer was found in treatment D (control group). The maximum significant value of IBD antibody titer (96.00GMT) was found in treatment C (formic acid) and minimum (41.67GMT) in treatment A (benzoic acid). However, the best result against ND antibody titer (104.67GMT) was found in treatment D (control group). Statistical analysis of the data on dressing percentage, breast meat, thigh meat and giblet organs weight e.g. liver, heart and gizzard revealed non-significant effect among the dietary treatment group. It was concluded that addition of organic acids (benzoic, acetic and formic) is helpful to improve weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of the birds, these factors are specifically related to efficient and economical broiler production.

Effects of Long-term Graded L-arginine Supply on Growth Development, Egg Laying and Egg Quality in Four Genetically Diverse Purebred Layer Lines.

The present study was conducted to examine effects of long-term graded L-arginine supply on growth development, egg laying and egg quality in four genetically diverse purebred layer lines. The study comprised a rearing trial from hatch to week 16 and a following laying performance trial from week 17 to 41. After hatch 150 one-day-old female chicks of each genotype were distributed to three diets. The experimental diets were equivalent to 70, 100 and 200% L-arginine of age-specific recommended level (National Research Council, 1994) and were offered ad libitum to chicks (hatch to week 7), pullets (week 8 to 16) and hens (week 17 to 41). However, hens’ diets were quite low in crude protein. After a pre-laying period from week 17 to 21 thirty-six pullets of each group were used further in the laying performance trial. Independent of chicken's genetic background, insufficient L-arginine supply caused lower body weight, daily weight gain and daily feed intake during the rearing (p<0.001) and induced lower laying intensity and daily egg mass production in the laying period (p<0.05). Parameters fitted to Gompertz function suggested higher adult body weight in L-arginine supplemented birds compared to insufficient supplied ones (p<0.01). Groups fed with insufficient L-arginine reached age of maximum daily weight gain later and showed lowest maximum daily weight gain (p<0.001). As a consequence of limitations in dietary L-arginine and crude protein, high performing genotypes decreased strongly in body weight, daily feed intake and performance compared to the low performing genotypes. In conclusion, L-arginine modified the amount of weight gain and feed intake, especially in growing chicks and pullets independent of genetic background. The high performing hens were more nutritionally stressed than the low performing ones, because concentrations of dietary crude protein were relatively low.

Evaluation of a method estimating real-time individual lysine requirements in two lines of growing–finishing pigs

The implementation of precision feeding in growing–finishing facilities requires accurate estimates of the animals’ nutrient requirements. The objectives of the current study was to validate a method for estimating the real-time individual standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) requirements of growing–finishing pigs and the ability of this method to estimate the Lys requirements of pigs with different feed intake and growth patterns. Seventy-five pigs from a terminal cross and 72 pigs from a maternal cross were used in two 28-day experimental phases beginning at 25.8 (±2.5) and 73.3 (±5.2) kg BW, respectively. Treatments were randomly assigned to pigs within each experimental phase according to a 2×4 factorial design in which the two genetic lines and four dietary SID Lys levels (70%, 85%, 100% and 115% of the requirements estimated by the factorial method developed for precision feeding) were the main factors. Individual pigs’ Lys requirements were estimated daily using a factorial approach based on their feed intake, BW and weight gain patterns. From 25 to 50 kg BW, this method slightly underestimated the pigs’ SID Lys requirements, given that maximum protein deposition and weight gain were achieved at 115% of SID Lys requirements. However, the best gain-to-feed ratio (G : F) was obtained at a level of 85% or more of the estimated Lys requirement. From 70 to 100 kg, the method adequately estimated the pigs’ individual requirements, given that maximum performance was achieved at 100% of Lys requirements. Terminal line pigs ate more (P=0.04) during the first experimental phase and tended to eat more (P=0.10) during the second phase than the maternal line pigs but both genetic lines had similar ADG and protein deposition rates during the two phases. The factorial method used in this study to estimate individual daily SID Lys requirements was able to accommodate the small genetic differences in feed intake, and it was concluded that this method can be used in precision feeding systems without adjustments. However, the method’s ability to accommodate large genetic differences in feed intake and protein deposition patterns needs to be studied further.

Effect of Feeding Rate on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, and Blood-Chemistry Indicators of Nutritional Status in Juvenile Gift Strain Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.)

This study investigated the effect of feeding rates (2-10% of body weight), on the growth performance, feed utilization, and blood-chemistry indicators of nutritional status in juvenile GIFT strain tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus) initial weight 72.73±0.15g. The 56 day trial conducted in cages tested five groups, with three replicates each. Fish were fed twice a day. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA. Results showed that final body weight, food conversion rate (FCR), weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), protein retention efficiency (PRE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed intake, and condition factor (CF) were significantly affected by the feeding rates (P&lt;0.05). The broken line method of linear regression analysis, y=17638x-217.9, R²=0.945; y=280x+860.6, R2=1, indicated that maximum weight gain occurred at 6.21% feeding rate. Insulin growth factor-one (IGF-I) level, hepatosomatic index (HSI), white blood cell (Wbc), red blood cell (Rbc), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Ht) parameters were not significantly affected by the feeding rates (P&gt;0.05). Serum indicative parameters of liver-enzyme functions and food metabolism, including blood glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), total protein (TP) levels, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activities were assayed. Blood glucose level of the fish was significantly affected by the feeding rates (P&lt;0.05). TG and TP levels; AST, ALT and ALP activities were not significantly affected by the feeding rates (P&gt;0.05). Feed provided at a rate of 2%-10% of body weight may meet physiological wellbeing of GIFT strain tilapia, however growth performance and other endocrine functions (IGF-I) are affected by lower and higher feeding rates. Our findings could be very useful to tilapia farmers.

Dietary Methionine Requirements of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, of Three Different Sizes

Three feeding trials were conducted to determine the dietary methionine requirements for Litopenaeus vannamei of three different sizes, small (0.55±0.01g), medium (4.18±0.05g), and large (9.77±0.08g). Seven diets were formulated with seven different levels of methionine (0, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, or 0.6%). The greatest weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of small and large shrimp were observed when dietary methionine levels were 0.8%, and 0.71%, respectively (P&lt;0.05). The highest survival rate of small and large shrimp was observed when dietary methionine levels were 0.97%, and 1.07%, respectively (P&lt;0.05). For small and medium shrimp, the optimal dietary methionine level for maximum weight gain estimated by quadratic regression analysis was 0.91% and 0.67% of dry diet, respectively. For large shrimp, the optimal dietary methionine requirement estimated by broken-line model based on weight gain was 0.66% of dry diet.

Dietary protein requirement of zebra sea bream (Diplodus cervinus, Lowe 1838) juveniles

A 14 weeks growth trial was performed to estimate the protein requirement for growth and maintenance of zebra sea bream (Diplodus cervinus) juveniles. For that purpose, nine isolipidic diets were formulated to contain increasing protein levels (from 50 to 550 g kg−1) at the expense of carbohydrate. Each diet was assigned to duplicate groups of 20 fish, with an average body weight of 7.7 g. Feed efficiency improved with dietary protein up to 400 g kg−1, no further differences being noticed at higher protein levels. Fish fed the 50 g kg−1 protein diet lost weight during the trial. In the other groups, weight gain improved as dietary protein increased up to 350–400 g kg−1. Fish fed diets with 250 g kg−1 protein or lower had lower whole-body protein content than the other groups. A curvilinear-plateau model was used to adjust weight gain and protein gain (g kg ABW−1 day−1) to dietary protein levels. Based on that model, the optimum dietary protein requirement for maximum weight gain was estimated to be 437.6 g kg−1 and for maximum protein gain 461.9 g kg−1, corresponding to a protein intake of 7.63 g kg ABW−1 day−1. Protein requirement for maintenance was estimated to be 1.01 g kg ABW−1 day−1.

The Effects of dietary soybean isoflavones on growth, innate immune responses, hepatic antioxidant abilities and disease resistance of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary soybean isoflavones (SI) supplementation on growth performance, innate immune responses, hepatic antioxidant abilities, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression and resistance to the pathogen Vibrio harveyi in Trachinotus ovatus. A basal diet was supplemented with SI at 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 mg kg−1 feed for 8 weeks. Significantly maximum weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were observed in treatment with 40 mg kg−1 SI supplement (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR), feeding rate (FR) and survival rate were not significantly different among treatments. Fish fed a diet with 40 mg kg−1 SI showed significant increase in plasma total protein content, complement 3 content, lysozyme activity as well as respiratory burst activity, but decrease in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities (P < 0.05). Increased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, hepatic total antioxidative capacity, catalase activity and superoxide dismutase activity were also noticed in fish fed SI at 40 or 60 mg kg−1 (P < 0.05). On the contrary, the lowest hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content was observed in fish fed SI at 40 mg kg−1 (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, the relative level of HSP70 mRNA in fish fed SI at 40–80 mg kg−1 were significantly increased, respectively (P < 0.05). After challenge with V. harveyi, significant higher post-challenge survival was observed in fish fed diets with 40–80 mg kg−1 SI supplement than that in control group (P < 0.05). These results indicated that dietary intake containing SI could enhance the immune ability of fish and improve its resistance to infection by V. harveyi. Especially supplementation with 40 mg kg−1 SI to the fish for 8 weeks showed remarkable improvement in the growth, non-specific immune responses, hepatic antioxidant abilities and HSP70 gene expression.

Dietary niacin levels in practical diets for Litopenaeus vannamei to support maximum growth

This study investigated the effects of dietary niacin on growth performance, feed utilization and non-specific immune response in juvenile Pacific white shrimp. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic practical diets were formulated with graded niacin levels of 10.9, 65.8, 121.2, 203.4, 387.5 and 769.3 mg kg−1 of dry diet, respectively. Results indicated that per cent weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein productive value (PPV) were significantly influenced by the dietary niacin levels. The maximum WG and SGR occurred at 121.2 mg kg−1 niacin diet. However, survival and proximate composition of whole body were not significantly affected by the dietary niacin levels. Dietary niacin levels had no significant effects on the total protein, glucose, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents in the haemolymph. The activity of catalase and lysozyme in the haemolymph was significantly affected by dietary niacin levels. Based on a two-slope regression analysis of SGR against dietary niacin level, the dietary niacin requirement of juvenile Pacific white shrimp was 109.6 mg kg−1.

Optimum feeding frequency of juvenile blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala

Abstract An 8-week experiment was conducted to determine the optimal feeding frequency of juvenile blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala. Fish (8.87 ± 0.03 g) were randomly assigned to one of six feeding frequencies (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 times daily) and hand-fed at 8% of the biomass per day for the first 4 weeks and 6% for the remaining 4 weeks. The results showed that maximum final weight (29.75 ± 0.73 g) and weight gain (20.86 ± 0.77 g) was observed in fish fed 3 times daily. Whole-body lipid content increased significantly (P

Abstract 18848: Weight Gain is Not a Significant Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease Severity

Background: Obesity, along with hypertension and diabetes, is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent studies have proposed that obese individuals may actually experience less adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality compared to non-obese individuals, a phenomenon known as the “obesity paradox”. We sought to determine if weight gain is associated with overall CAD severity measured by coronary angiography. Methods: Suspected CAD patients (n=418) were enrolled in the Multi-Analyte, Thrombogenic, and Genetic Markers of Atherosclerosis (MAGMA) study prior to elective cardiac catheterization. Demographics and weight information were obtained, and maximum weight gain (MWG) was defined as the percent increase in weight from year of high school graduation to year of heaviest weight. Subjects were divided into the following quartiles based on MWG: none (≤30%), minor (31%-47%), major (48%-69%), and extreme (≥70%). Detailed lipid profiling was determined by vertical density gradient ultracentrifugation, thrombin-induced platelet fibrin clot strength (TIP-FCS) by thromboelastography, and urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dhTxB2) by ELISA. Severity of CAD was defined as none/minimal (&lt;20%), moderate (20-75%), and severe (75%) luminal diameter obstruction of any major coronary vessel. Results: The average MWG in the study population was 53 ± 33%. Patients in the extreme MWG group had the highest incidence of DM (47.5%), hypertension (80.8%), and depression (25.3%), and were most often female (59.6%). There was an inverse relationship between MWG and CAD severity (p=0.005)(figure). TIP-FCS increased in a stepwise fashion with MWG (p=0.001). 11-dTxB2 and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the extreme MWG group, regardless of cholesterol lowering therapy (p&lt;0.05 for all). Conclusion: Our data suggest that weight gain is associated with heightened thrombotic risk but not an increased risk for CAD.