Somatic Fat Research Articles

Smartphone-Based Digital Peer Support for a Walking Intervention Among Public Officers in Kanagawa Prefecture: Single-Arm Pre- and Postintervention Evaluation.

Digital peer support, defined as peer support delivered through technology such as smartphone apps, may be promising to promote activity in the form of step counts. Interactions among users have a positive impact on retention rates, and apps with social elements show significant improvements in daily step count. However, the feasibility of digital peer support in promoting physical activity (PA) is unknown; therefore, its effectiveness on step count and the clinical implications remain unconfirmed. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of digital peer support over a 3-month intervention period using the retention rate as the outcome. Moreover, changes in daily step count and physical measurements were compared between pre- and postintervention. The study design was a 3-month 1-arm intervention with participants from local government offices in Kanagawa, Japan. We used an available smartphone app, Minchalle, as the tool for the group intervention. Participants were required to report their daily step count to a maximum of 5 members composed exclusively of study participants. The primary outcome was the retention rate. Secondary outcomes included daily step count, the rate of achieving daily step goals, physical measurements, and lifestyle characteristics. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson coefficient were used to examine the relationship between goal achievement and step count, as well as changes in step count and various variables including physical measurements. Of the 63 participants, 62 completed the intervention. The retention rate was 98% (62/63). The average daily step count during the intervention was 6993 (SD 2328) steps, an 1182-step increase compared with the count observed 1 week before the intervention began. The rate of achieving the daily step count during the intervention was 53.5% (SD 26.2%). There was a significant correlation (r=0.27, P=.05) between achieving daily step goals and increasing daily step count. Comparative analyses showed that changes in weight (68.56, SD 16.97 kg vs 67.30, SD 16.86 kg; P<.001), BMI (24.82, SD 4.80 kg/m2 vs 24.35, SD 4.73 kg/m2; P<.001), somatic fat rate (28.50%, SD 7.44% vs 26.58%, SD 7.90%; P=.005), systolic blood pressure (130.42, SD 17.92 mm Hg vs 122.00, SD 15.06 mm Hg; P<.001), and diastolic blood pressure (83.24, SD 13.27 mm Hg vs 77.92, SD 11.71 mm Hg; P=.002) were significantly different before and after the intervention. Similarly, the daily amount of PA significantly improved from 5.77 (SD 3.81) metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours per day to 9.85 (SD 7.84) MET-hours per day (P<.001). This study demonstrated that digital peer support is feasible for maintaining a high retention rate and can, therefore, effectively promote PA. It can be a promising tool to improve daily step count, subjective PA, and clinical outcomes, such as weight and somatic fat rate. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000042520; https://tinyurl.com/46c4nm8z.

Reproductive Biology of Female Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the Gulf of Alaska

Developing a robust understanding of Pacific halibut reproductive biology is essential to understanding the different components (e.g. maturity) that determine the reproductive output of the species and, therefore, for estimating the relative female spawning biomass. With these, effective and proactive management strategies can be designed and implemented to face the large-scale environmental changes to which high-latitude spawning fish are particularly vulnerable. To date, reproductive studies of Pacific halibut have mainly focused on population or regional scales, leaving the specific details of organism-level reproductive development unexamined. The work described here aimed to address information gaps in Pacific halibut reproductive biology by conducting a detailed histological examination of temporal changes in ovarian development over an annual reproductive cycle with special attention to the use of biological indicators (e.g. oocyte diameter, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, Fulton’s condition factor, somatic fat) in characterizing female developmental stages and reproductive phases. Our results provide a foundation for future studies directed at improving current maturity estimations by histological assessment and explore models that test the utility of biological indicators to predict maturity in this important fish species.

Somatic aging pathways regulate reproductive plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

In animals, early-life stress can result in programmed changes in gene expression that can affect their adult phenotype. In C. elegans nematodes, starvation during the first larval stage promotes entry into a stress-resistant dauer stage until environmental conditions improve. Adults that have experienced dauer (postdauers) retain a memory of early-life starvation that results in gene expression changes and reduced fecundity. Here, we show that the endocrine pathways attributed to the regulation of somatic aging in C. elegans adults lacking a functional germline also regulate the reproductive phenotypes of postdauer adults that experienced early-life starvation. We demonstrate that postdauer adults reallocate fat to benefit progeny at the expense of the parental somatic fat reservoir and exhibit increased longevity compared to controls. Our results also show that the modification of somatic fat stores due to parental starvation memory is inherited in the F1 generation and may be the result of crosstalk between somatic and reproductive tissues mediated by the germline nuclear RNAi pathway.

Simultaneous determination of ochratoxin A and enterotoxin A in milk by magnetic nanoparticles based fluorescent immunoassay

ABSTRACT Ochratoxin A (OTA) and staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) are highly toxic contaminants and have induced human health problems. They commonly occur in milk and milk products. A competitive fluorescent immunoassay was developed for rapid and simultaneous determination of these toxins in milk samples. The procedure was based on the competitive immunoreactions between antigens in sample and antigen-fluorescent dye conjugates with immobilised antibodies on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Each monoclonal antibody specifically recognises its corresponding toxin (antigen), and there is no cross-reactivity in the assay. First, monoclonal antibodies against OTA and SEA were produced. The activity of the obtained antibodies was determined by fluorescent-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, the monoclonal antibodies were immobilised on MNPs. The amounts of immobilised anti-OTA antibody and anti-SEA antibody were determined to be 20 and 22 μg mL−1, respectively. The antigen-fluorescent dye conjugates OTA–OVA–ATTO620 and SEA-FITC were prepared. The optimal amount of immobilised antibodies for competitive immunoassay was determined. It was found that the linear range of OTA in buffer was larger (0.001–100 ng mL−1) than the linear range of SEA (0.001–20 ng mL−1). The results for simultaneous determination of OTA and SEA in sixfold diluted milk were almost the same in buffer; the linear range for OTA was from 0.005 to 100 ng mL−1 and for SEA from 0.005 to 20 ng mL−1. The detection limit for both OTA and SEA in milk was 0.004 ng mL−1. The developed method took half the time of the individual assays (20 min). The assay was evaluated using spiked milk samples. The influences of somatic cell count, fat, pH and protein concentration in milk on immunoassay were studied. In summary, this developed immunoassay could provide an effective and rapid approach for detecting multi-toxins in milk samples.

Respiratory Muscle Weakness as a Risk Factor for Pneumonia in Older People

Introduction: The respiratory muscle strength regulates the effectiveness of coughing, which clears the airways and protects people from pneumonia. Sarcopenia is an aging-related loss of muscle mass and function, the worsening of which is associated with malnutrition. The loss of respiratory and swallowing muscle strength occurs with aging, but its effect on pneumonia is unclear. This study aimed to determine the risks of respiratory muscle weakness on the onset and relapse of pneumonia in older people in conjunction with other muscle-related factors such as malnutrition. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study with 47 pneumonia inpatients and 35 non-pneumonia controls aged 70 years and older. We evaluated the strength of respiratory and swallowing muscles, muscle mass, and malnutrition (assessed by serum albumin levels and somatic fat) during admission and confirmed pneumonia relapse within 6 months. The maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures determined the respiratory muscle strength. Swallowing muscle strength was evaluated by tongue pressure. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to evaluate the muscle and fat mass. Results: The respiratory muscle strength, body trunk muscle mass, serum albumin level, somatic fat mass, and tongue pressure were significantly lower in pneumonia patients than in controls. Risk factors for the onset of pneumonia were low inspiratory respiratory muscle strength (odds ratio [OR], 6.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56–30.11), low body trunk muscle mass divided by height2 (OR, 6.86; 95% CI, 1.49–31.65), and low serum albumin level (OR, 5.46; 95% CI, 1.51–19.79). For the relapse of pneumonia, low somatic fat mass divided by height2 was a risk factor (OR, 20.10; 95% CI, 2.10–192.42). Discussion/Conclusions: Respiratory muscle weakness, lower body trunk muscle mass, and malnutrition were risk factors for the onset of pneumonia in older people. For the relapse of pneumonia, malnutrition was a risk factor.

Redirection of SKN-1 abates the negative metabolic outcomes of a perceived pathogen infection

Early host responses toward pathogens are essential for defense against infection. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the transcription factor, SKN-1, regulates cellular defenses during xenobiotic intoxication and bacterial infection. However, constitutive activation of SKN-1 results in pleiotropic outcomes, including a redistribution of somatic lipids to the germline, which impairs health and shortens lifespan. Here, we show that exposing C. elegans to Pseudomonas aeruginosa similarly drives the rapid depletion of somatic, but not germline, lipid stores. Modulating the epigenetic landscape refines SKN-1 activity away from innate immunity targets, which alleviates negative metabolic outcomes. Similarly, exposure to oxidative stress redirects SKN-1 activity away from pathogen response genes while restoring somatic lipid distribution. In addition, activating p38/MAPK signaling in the absence of pathogens, is sufficient to drive SKN-1-dependent loss of somatic fat. These data define a SKN-1- and p38-dependent axis for coordinating pathogen responses, lipid homeostasis, and survival and identify transcriptional redirection, rather than inactivation, as a mechanism for counteracting the pleiotropic consequences of aberrant transcriptional activity.

INCLUSÃO DE Aspergillus niger EM RAÇÕES COMERCIAIS EXTRUSADAS PARA JUVENIS DE TILÁPIAS DO NILO (Oreochromis niloticus)

A produção de pescado vem crescendo significativamente, no Brasil a principal espécie cultivada é a tilápia, mas diversos fatores ainda impedem um maior crescimento desta atividade; um deles é o alto custo das rações. A utilização de fungos na alimentação animal tem ganhado atenção especial visto que o Brasil é um grande produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar e frutas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a inclusão da Aspergillus niger, em rações comerciais extrusadas para tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). O experimento teve duração de 42 dias e foram avaliados os parâmetros de desempenho zootécnico e índices organo-somáticos. Não houve efeito significativo para o comprimento, consumo de ração, sobrevivência, fator de condição, índice esplenosomático e índice gonadossomático. No entanto, houve efeito quadrático para peso final, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça, taxa de crescimento específico, índice hepato somático e índice de gordura visceral onde os níveis ótimos ficaram entre 3,7 % a 4,1%. Houve também efeito linear para o índice digestivo somático. Recomenda-se o uso de 4% de biomassa de Aspergillus niger em rações comerciais extrusadas para tilápias, sem perdas no desempenho produtivo.

119 Genetic Highlights for Reproduction and Health Traits in Russian Black-and-White and Holstein Animals Selected for Production of High-Quality Embryos

The aim of genetic improvement in cattle breeding is to create animals, which are characterised by high economic efficiency while maintaining the high breeding values for health and reproduction traits. In Russia dairy cattle industry the integrated approaches based on application of genomic methods for cows’ fertility and health traits along with milk production are being developed. However, their efficiency depends largely on the ability for multiple replicating outstanding individuals by embryo transfer. Therefore, the target of our research was to develop a strategy for the integrated genetic improvements of fertility and udder health traits towards the production of embryos with high estimated breeding values (EBV). We analysed the culling factors of more than 23,400 Black-and-White and Holstein cows of the Moscow region cattle population. Using the genotyping procedure by Illumina Bovine SNP50 BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), the regional training group consisted of 401 proven bulls and 60 pre-selected cows was formed. After the quality check based on Plink 1.90, we selected 39,631 single nucleotide polymorphisms for the analysis. The GBLUP methodology was used to calculate genomic EBV (GEBV). The cows were additionally tested by PCR or PCR-RFLP (restricted fragment length polymorphism) for LoF mutations in the genes FANCI, APAF1, SMC2, GART, ITGB2, SLC35A3, and APOB, associated with fertility haplotypes HH0, HH1, HH34, HH4, HHB, HHC, and HCD, respectively. The evaluation of genetic variances and EBV for days open (DO), breeding per conception (BC), calving ease (CE), somatic cell score (SCS), milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), and protein yield (PY) was carried out using the BLUPF90 family of programs. Cows’ culling rate for reproductive traits was 21% and for udder diseases was 8%. The genetic correlations, rg, between SCS and cows’ fertility traits were rg = 0.132 for BC, rg = 0.067 for DO, and rg = –0.056 for CE that can be used as an indicator for the monitoring reproductive disorders at the different stages of lactation. The frequencies of fertility haplotypes’ carriers among the potential donor dams were 6.6, 1.1, 8.8, 0.0, 1.1, 0.0, and 4.4% for HH0, HH1, HH3, HH4, HHB, HHC, and HCD, respectively. Based on EBV and carrier status for LoF mutations, we selected 46 dams and 28 sires to produce embryos with high GEBV for MY (+633, ..., +884 kg), FY (+26 kg), PY (+18 kg), and SCS (106 points) and higher as population average GEBV for fertility and udder health traits. Genome-wide association study analysis by the reliability of Bonferroni correction test (P &lt; 1.2 × 10−6) showed the presence of quantitative trait loci on BTA1, BTA5, BTA9, BTA11, BTA12, BTA27, and BTX. Our results will be used to construct Russian fitness index for dairy cattle and for implementing embryo production technology into the Russian breeding system. Research supported by the Russian Science Foundation within Project no. 15-16-00020.

Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk by a Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescent Immunoassay

ABSTRACTA sensitive and rapid magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay for the determination of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk was developed. Aflatoxin M1 was converted to aflatoxin M1-o-carboxymethyl oxime. The aflatoxin M1-oxime was used for the preparation of aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate through the carbodiimide reaction. The aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate was characterized by ultraviolet–visible and infrared spectroscopy. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were synthesized and modified by 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The size of initial (139 nm) and functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (147 nm) was determined by particle analysis. The optimal mass of immobilized antibody (25 µg) and optimal concentration of aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate (15 µg mL−1) for magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay were determined. The developed immunoassay provided a linear aflatoxin M1 concentration range from 3.0 to 100 pg mL−1 in bovine milk. The detection limit was 2.9 pg mL−1. The results of aflatoxin M1 magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay in heat-treated milk and phosphate-buffered saline at pH 6.6 were compared. The influence of the somatic cell count, pH, and fat concentration in bovine milk on the aflatoxin M1 immunoassay was investigated. The influence of the milk species on the immunoassay was also characterized. The high fat concentration ovine milk depressed the sensitivity of the aflatoxin M1 immunoassay.

English

Some species of fish and other aquatic organism are important sources of protein and fatty acids that are beneficial to human health and can be industrially processed. The fatty acid profile of Caiman crocodilus and Melanosuchus niger (native to the Brazilian Amazon flooded forest) was determined in samples of a commercial cut (tail fillet) and fat (fat body and somatic fat) of these two species. There were no statistically significant differences in the total lipid content between them (p &ge; 0.05) and both had higher levels of palmitic, stearic (saturated), and oleic (unsaturated) acids. However, omega 3 (&omega;-3) and omega 6 (&omega;-6) were not detected in the samples of the commercial cut; they were present only in the fats evaluated. Clinical studies are necessary to assess the influence of fatty acids from Amazon Caimans on human diet and the feasibility of obtaining new products such as nutraceuticals. &nbsp; Key words: Black caiman, spectacled caiman, omega 3, omega 6.

Variation in Milk Yield, Contents and Incomes According to Somatic Cell Count in a Large Dairy Goat Population

Between 2009 and 2014, 758,382 monthly test-day records were obtained from 65,056 Murciano-Granadina goats in 132 Spanish dairy flocks. Variables measured were somatic cell count (SCC), milk yield and fat and protein percentages; means were 5.78log10 cells/ml, 2.04 L/day, 5.37% and 3.67%, respectively. Significant effects of year, herd test date, season, parity, month of lactation, litter size and covariables milk yield, fat and protein contents were evidenced on SCC. The regression slopes were negative for milk yield an d positive for fat and protein content, thus pointing out that high SCC in milk were associated with low milk yield and high contents. A second ANOVA was built to evaluate the evolution of test-day variables as SCC level increased within lactation. The percentages estimated in losses of milk yield for SCC levels 1 million cells/ml, 2 million cells/ml, 3 million cells/ml and >7 million cells/ml were 11.4%, 19.5%, 24.2% and 35.7%, respectively. Milk contents gains were also quantified. Milk incomes per goat and day (according to current payment system) revealed important economic losses (from 9.5% to 31.6%) for abovementioned SCC levels. Results emphasize the importance of SCC as a limiting factor for milk incomes in dairy goats.

Nutritional Status by Somatic Sub, Fat and Protein-Visceral at Entry in an Intensive Care Unit

The high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitals remains a problem of special importance in Spain at present due to the negative impact on the clinical course of hospitalized patients. Numerous studies show hospital malnutrition rates close to 33-50% of the hospitalized population. This impact is much more important and of greater importance when it comes to critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Nutritional and metabolic deficit States have a direct impact on the patient, hindering the clinical evolution of the patient and increasing morbidity and mortality rates and hospital complications and healthcare costs arising. Develop an appropriate nutritional approach through nutritional media is a fundamental goal and a basic pillar for optimal management of the critically ill patient, being able I see hampered in many cases, especially in patients who present with hypercatabolism and hypermetabolism with significant energy consumption secondary to the disease process leading to admission. To this must be added the great difficulty of a comprehensive and complete assessment of nutritional status where many of these parameters, nutritional surveys and functional tests can be complicated to perform, unreliable, or may provide incorrect, incomplete or impossible data its realization.

Nutritional Status by Somatic Sub, Fat and Protein-Visceral at Entry in an Intensive Care Unit

The high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitals remains a problem of special importance in Spain at present due to the negative impact on the clinical course of hospitalized patients. Numerous studies show hospital malnutrition rates close to 33-50% of the hospitalized population. This impact is much more important and of greater importance when it comes to critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Nutritional and metabolic deficit States have a direct impact on the patient, hindering the clinical evolution of the patient and increasing morbidity and mortality rates and hospital complications and healthcare costs arising. Develop an appropriate nutritional approach through nutritional media is a fundamental goal and a basic pillar for optimal management of the critically ill patient, being able I see hampered in many cases, especially in patients who present with hypercatabolism and hypermetabolism with significant energy consumption secondary to the disease process leading to admission. To this must be added the great difficulty of a comprehensive and complete assessment of nutritional status where many of these parameters, nutritional surveys and functional tests can be complicated to perform, unreliable, or may provide incorrect, incomplete or impossible data its realization.

Modern diet and metabolic variance--a recipe for disaster?

ObjectiveRecently, a positive correlation between alanine transaminase activity and body mass was established among healthy young individuals of normal weight. Here we explore further this relationship and propose a physiological rationale for this link.DesignCross-sectional statistical analysis of adiposity across large samples of adults differing by age, diet and lifestyle.Subjects46,684 19–20 years old Swiss male conscripts and published data on 1000 Eskimos, 518 Toronto residents and 97,000 North American Adventists.MeasurementsSerum concentrations of the alanine transaminase, post-prandial glucose levels, cholesterol, body height and weight, blood pressure and routine blood analysis (thrombocytes and leukocytes) for Swiss conscripts. Adiposity measures and dietary information for other groups were also obtained.ResultsStepwise multiple regression after correction for random errors of physiological tests showed that 28% of the total variance in body mass is associated with ALT concentrations. This relationship remained significant when only metabolically healthy (as defined by the American Heart Association) Swiss conscripts were selected. The data indicated that high protein only or high carbohydrate only diets are associated with lower levels of obesity than a diet combining proteins and carbohydrates.ConclusionElevated levels of alanine transaminase, and likely other transaminases, may result in overactivity of the alanine cycle that produces pyruvate from protein. When a mixed meal of protein, carbohydrate and fat is consumed, carbohydrates and fats are digested faster and metabolised to satisfy body’s energetic needs while slower digested protein is ultimately converted to malonyl CoA and stored as fat. Chronicity of this sequence is proposed to cause accumulation of somatic fat stores and thus obesity.

PANSTEATITIS OF UNKNOWN ETIOLOGY ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE-SCALE NILE CROCODILE (CROCODYLUS NILOTICUS) MORTALITY IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA: PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS

Annual mortality events in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in the Olifants River Gorge in Kruger National Park, South Africa, were experienced between 2008 and 2012, during which at least 216 crocodiles died. Live crocodiles were lethargic. Necropsy examination of 56 affected crocodiles showed dark yellow-brown firm nodules in both somatic fat and the abdominal fat body. In all of the 11 crocodiles submitted for histology, degenerative, necrotic, and inflammatory changes supported a diagnosis of steatitis in both fat types. Crocodiles are apex predators in this anthropogenically changed aquatic ecosystem that is used by humans upstream and downstream from the park for domestic, agricultural, fishing, and recreational purposes. This pathologic review of pansteatitis in crocodiles in the Olifants River system was part of a broad multidisciplinary research program. To date, no definitive causative agent has been identified. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that this event may have been a one-time event with long-standing repercussions on the health of the crocodiles. Pathologic findings are rarely documented in wild crocodilians. This study also reports on other conditions, including the presence of coccidian oocysts, capillarid and filaroid nematodes, digenetic trematodes, and pentastomes.

Influence of the year and calving season on production, composition and mozzarella cheese yield of water buffalo in the State of Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil

This research was carried out to evaluate the influence of the year and calving season on the production, composition and mozzarella cheese yield index (PKM) of Murrah water buffalos. We analyzed a data set of 514 lactations collected from 2004 to 2008, recorded and archived in software of a farm located in Taipu, in the eastern region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. To assess the effects of calving season, the year was divided into a rainy season (from March to August) and a dry season (from September to February). Results showed that the year influenced daily production and PKM (P<0.05). However, no effects were observed on logarithm somatic cell count (LSCC), fat, protein and total dry extract (TDE). The season had no influence on the variables analyzed and no interaction was observed between the year and the season. The season and its interactions had no effect on water buffalo performance in relation to dairy production and PKM index of mozzarella efficiency.

Correlations between the number of somatic cells and qualitative and quantitative parameters of milk depending on the stage of lactation of cows from the Bulgarian black and White breed

The study was conducted to establish correlations between the number of somatic cells and quantitative and qualitative parameters in the milk of cows from the Bulgarian Black and White breed. 819 numbers of individual milk samples were tested. The controls were conducted in spring-summer period (April - September) of 2009. The controlled parameters were milk fat (%), total protein (%), somatic cell count (number / ml), milk fat (kg) and milk protein (kg). Distribution in groups: depending on the stage of lactation - up to the 120th day of the lactation (n = 292) and after the 120th day (n = 527) and according to the level of somatic cells in milk- up to 400000 somatic cells / ml, from 400000 to 500000 somatic cells/ml and more than 500000 somatic cells/ml. Relationship between the studied parameters is represented by the values of linear correlation. The results show that there are from moderate to high positive correlations between the amount of milk yield per day of quantitative parameters milk fat and milk protein per day for the three levels of somatic cells. Correlation coefficients between the amount of milk yield per day and quality parameters - % milk fat and % of total protein per day for the three levels of somatic cells were negative and moderate. The relationship between the number of somatic cells in milk and quantitative and qualitative parameters is low.

Impact of policy-induced structural change on milk quality: evidence from the Flemish dairy sector

This paper uses a Markov chain model to analyse the dynamics in farm-size distribution among the Flemish dairy sector and the impact of quota policy regulation on such changes. The model predicts a decline of 24% in number of farms in 2014 compared with the current situation with a more liberal exchange policy and a decline of 18% with a restricted quota exchange policy. From these Markov chain model results, we analysed the impact of farm-size distribution on eight different milk quality parameters (total bacterial count, somatic cell count, coliform count, freezing point, urea-N, fat content and protein content and penalty-points). In general, larger farms produce higher quality milk than smaller farms, especially with respect to the microbiological parameters (total bacterial count, somatic cell count and coliform count). The change in farm-size distribution from a liberal quota exchange policy would decrease the average total bacterial count by 18.0%, the somatic cell count by 2.1% and the coliform count by 11.0%. The aggregate performance of the other parameters are smaller with improvements in all cases of <1%.

Somatik Hücre Sayısının Süt Üre Nitrojen İle Süt Kompozisyonuna Olan Etkisi

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of somatic cell count on milk urea nitrogen and milk composition. According to their somatic cell count, the Holstein cows (n=30) were divided into two groups. In the experiment, somatic cell count (1. Group: x 268.000 cell/ml) were affected milk fat, milk lactose, solids-non-fat, density significantly (P 0.05). A significant correlation (r =0.209, P=0.026) was recorded between somatic cell count and milk fat; a significant correlation (r =-0.183, P=0.050) was recorded between somatic cell count and solids non fat; a significant correlation (r =-0.196, P=0.037) was recorded between somatic cell count and lactose and a significant correlation (r =-0.281, P=0.002) was recorded between somatic cell count and density.

Serum leptin levels in Ache Amerindian females with normal adiposity are not significantly different from American anorexia nervosa patients

Serum leptin, a polypeptide hormone secreted primarily by adipocytes, is a reflection of somatic fat availability in humans and other vertebrates. Among Ache Amerindians, leptin levels are very low in contrast to other populations, despite comparable adiposity with individuals exhibiting much higher leptin levels. In order to gain a greater understanding of these differences, leptin levels were compared between Ache Amerindian females (n = 12, mean age = 32.2 +/- 14.0 SD), American females diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (n = 22, mean age = 23.0 +/- 4.0), and non-anorectic American controls (n = 23, mean age = 23.0 +/- 4.0). Ache leptin (5.6 +/- 3.2 ng/ml) was not significantly different from anorectic patients (5.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml; P > 0.98) despite greater adiposity (Ache 33.3% +/- 4.4% vs. anorectic 7.0% +/- 2.0%; P < 0.0001). Ache adiposity was also higher than American controls (leptin 19.1 +/- 8.1 ng/ml; fat 28% +/- 5.0%; P < 0.004) underscoring the uniqueness of Ache leptin profiles. This suggests a greater range of population variation in leptin physiology than previously suspected and intimates the potential role of chronic environmental conditions.