Clinical and Technical Outcomes of patients undergoing EUS-Guided Gastroenterostomy using 20 mm vs 15 mm LAMS

Background/Aims: The majority of studies on EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) have utilized a 15mm lumen apposing metal stent (LAMS). More recently, a 20mm LAMS has become available. The aim of this study was to compare rates of technical and clinical success, and adverse events (AEs) in patients undergoing EUS-GE using a 20mm vs 15mm LAMS. Methods: Patients who underwent EUS-GE with 15mm or 20mm LAMS for malignant GOO during the period of 1/2018-10/2020 were included. The primary outcome was clinical success, defined as an increase in the gastric outlet obstruction score (GOOS) by at least 1 point during follow-up. Secondary outcomes were technical success, maximum tolerated diet, rate of reintervention, and the rate/severity of AEs. Results: A total of 267 patients (mean age 67yr, F 43%) with malignant GOO from 19 centers underwent EUS-GE. The rate of clinical success was similar between the 15mm and 20mm stents (89.2% [95% CI 84.2-94.2] vs 84.1% [95%CI 77.4-90.6]). However, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the 20mm group tolerated a soft solid/complete diet at the end of follow-up (91.2% [95%CI 84.4-95.7] vs 81.2% [95%CI 73.9-87.2] p=0.04). Overall, AEs occurred in 33 (12.4% [95%CI 8.4-16.3]) patients, with rates being similar between 15mm and 20mm stents (12.8% [95%CI 7.5-18.2] vs 11.8% [95%CI 6-17.6]), including incidence of severe/fatal AEs (2% [95%CI 0.4-5.8] vs 3.4% [95%CI 0.9-8.4]). Conclusions: The 20mm LAMS is similar to the 15mm LAMS in terms of safety and efficacy for patients undergoing EUS-GE for malignant GOO. The 20 mm LAMS allows a more advanced diet and is, thus, the preferred LAMS during EUS-GE.

Effects on Brood Development in the Carpenter Ant Camponotus vicinus Mayr after Exposure to the Yeast Associate Schwanniomyces polymorphus Kloecker

The yeast Schwanniomyces polymorphus is associated with the infrabuccal pocket in the carpenter ant Camponotus vicinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), but its role in ant development is poorly defined. The potential effects of this yeast on brood development were examined on sets of larval groups and workers over a 12 week period. Worker–larval sets were fed variations of a completely artificial, holidic diet and exposed or not exposed to live S. polymorphus. Worker–larval sets in half of the experiment were defaunated using a two-step heat and chemical process. Brood development and number of adult ants produced were significantly affected by the heat/chemical defaunation process. Compared to worker–larval groups fed a basal, complete diet, all treatments resulted in no or deleterious larval development. Brood weights and number of worker ants produced from the original larval sets at initiation were significantly higher in non-defaunated ant groups fed a diet lacking both B vitamins and cholesterol and exposed to live S. polymorphus. We propose that this yeast may help ants to more efficiently assimilate nutrients when fed nutrient-deficient diets, particularly those deficient in sterols.

The effect of balanced feeding on the fertility of animals

Positive results have been obtained in the implementation of our research at the Livestock and Equestrian Training Center of ADAU on the basis of the recipes we have envisaged, along with the strong feed component, the feed norm and the share of feed in the required norm. The introduction of fully balanced feedings based on recipes has affected the milk yield of animals, as well as the fertility of cows, in addition to strengthening the dynamics of growth and development of young. One of the most widely used premixes on our farm is Ruminant-5322 Ekomix BKB, which has a high efficiency with the following saturation. A premix is a complementary feed mixture that is necessary for its composition and body and is essential to create a fully balanced feed portion. Depending on the abundance of feed available on the farm, it is possible to maintain a complete diet depending on the physiological state of the animals. On the basis of this nutrition, the dynamics of the growth of young animals, the normal development of the child in the womb during the drying period and the formation of the mother's reproductive cycle on demand are determined. Fertility activation is associated not only with the formation of 65 to 80 days in cows, but also with the stabilization of the follicles and the achievement of a form of superovulation. In our research, we found this not only in healthy cows, but also in cows that had difficult labor. Of the 18 cows on the farm, three gave birth to twins, which means that 16.7% of the cows gave birth to twins. Key words: Balanced feed, genotype, male, offspring, growth, variability, productivity

Integration of Metabolomics and Transcriptomics to Comprehensively Evaluate the Metabolic Effects of Gelsemium eleganson Pigs

Some naturalphytogenic feed additives, which contain several active compounds, have been shown to be effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is a whole grass in the family Loganiaceae. It is a known toxic plant widely distributed in China and has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for many years to treat neuropathic pain, rheumatoid pain, inflammation, skin ulcers, and cancer. However, G. elegans not only is nontoxic to animals such as pigs and sheep but also has an obvious growth-promoting effect. To our knowledge, the internal mechanism of the influence of G. elegans on the animal body is still unclear. The goal of this work is to evaluate the metabolic consequences of feeding piglets G. elegans for 45 days based on the combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics.According to growth measurement and evaluation, compared with piglets fed a complete diet, adding 20g/kg G. elegans powder to the basal diet of piglets significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio. Results of the liver transcriptome suggest that glycine and cysteine-related regulatory pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and the mTOR signaling pathway, were extensively altered in G. elegans-induced piglets. Plasma metabolomics identified 21 and 18 differential metabolites (p < 0.05) in the plasma of piglets in the positive and negative ion modes, respectively, between G. elegansexposure and complete diet groups. The concentrations of glycine and its derivatives and N-acetylcysteine were higher in theG. elegans exposure group than in the complete diet group. This study demonstrated that G. elegans could be an alternative to antibiotics that improves the immune function of piglets, and the latent mechanism of G. elegans may be related to various signaling pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and the PPAR signaling pathway.

Determining the effects of manganese source and level on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Mn source and level on finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of Mn source (MnSO4; Eurochem, Veracruz, Mexico, or Mn hydroxychloride (IBM); Micronutrients, Indianapolis, IN), and increasing added Mn (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg of complete diet). The trace mineral premix was formulated without added Mn. Copper was added to all diets at 10 and 150 mg/kg in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. In both experiments 1,994 pigs (PIC; 337 × 1050; initially 34.5 × 0.50 and 40.0 ±0.77 kg) were used with 27 pigs per pen and 12 replicates per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-distillers dried grains with solubles-based and were fed in 4 phases. In Exp. 1, there was a marginal Mn source × level interaction (quadratic, P = 0.057) for overall G:F, with a decrease then increase in pigs fed IBM, but G:F increased with increasing Mn from MnSO4. There was no evidence for Mn source differences for ADG, ADFI or BW, but pigs fed 16 mg/kg Mn, regardless of source, tended to have decreased (quadratic, P &lt; 0.05) ADG and final BW compared to other levels. For carcass yield, there was a tendency for Mn source × level interaction (quadratic, P = 0.075) where carcass yield did not change by increasing MnSO4 but was greatest for 16 mg/kg Mn from IBM. Loin depth increased (source × level, P = 0.041) for pigs fed increasing Mn from MnSO4 but decreased when Mn was increased from IBM. Pigs fed the intermediate level of Mn tended to have the lightest HCW (quadratic, P = 0.071) and decreased loin depth (quadratic, P = 0.044). Liver Mn concentration increased (linear, P = 0.015) as added Mn increased and tended to be greater (P = 0.075) when supplied by MnSO4 compared to IBM. In Exp. 2, there was no (P &gt; 0.10) Mn source × level interaction observed for ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Pigs fed IBM had increased (P &lt; 0.05) final BW, ADG, and ADFI compared to pigs fed MnSO4. Pigs fed 16 mg/kg of Mn tended (P = 0.088) to have reduced ADFI when compared pigs fed 8 and 32 mg/kg of Mn. In conclusion, there appears to be little benefit in growth performance by feeding more than 8 mg/kg of added Mn. When high levels of Cu were fed in Exp. 2, pigs fed IBM had improved growth performance compared with those fed MnSO4. Further research is needed to understand the potential benefits of Mn hydroxychloride fed in conjunction with high levels of Cu on pig growth performance.

Non-fiber Carbohydrates in Forages and Their Influence on Beef Production Systems

Forages can provide a complete diet for ruminant animals, increasing the sustainability of beef production systems worldwide while reducing competition with humans for agricultural land or grain crops. Much of the emphasis on the nutritional characteristics of forages has been on the fiber, sugars, starch, and protein they supply to the rumen, despite the fact that other less-explored constituents, i.e., neutral detergent soluble fiber (NDSF) and other non-structural or non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) also play a key role in the nutrition of ruminants. This paper explores the less investigated potential of temperate legumes to accumulate levels of NFC comparable to corn silage or beet pulp in cool, dry environments under irrigation, and its implications for forage-based beef production systems. We conclude that genetic or managerial interventions (i.e., breeding programs, defoliation frequency) or ecological conditions (i.e., climate, elevation) that increase concentrations of NFC in legumes can enhance beef production, meat quality, and the efficiency of nitrogen utilization by ruminants while reducing environmental impacts.

Manipulating Phosphorus, Calcium, and Magnesium Utilization by Growing Lambs Using Natural Zeolite (Clinoptilolite)

A total of 24 three-month-old lambs with an average weight of 23 ± 1.5 kg were used in this study and fed a complete diet supplemented with natural zeolite at 1% and 2% of feed weight to evaluate the effect of zeolite on calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) concentration in tissues (kidney, liver, and muscle), rumen fluid, and blood. Adding zeolite at 2% to the diet resulted in an increase (p < 0.05) in body weight but a depressed feed conversion ratio. Phosphorus digestibility was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the addition of zeolite while the digestibility of Ca and Mg remained unaffected (p > 0.05). The concentration of Ca, Mg, and P in the liver remained unchanged (p > 0.05) with the addition of zeolite. The addition of zeolite led to a decrease (p < 0.05) in the Ca concentration in the kidney and muscle, whereas the Ca concentration in lambs receiving diets supplemented with 2% zeolite (123.13 and 48.49 µg/g) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than supplementation at 1% (120.13 and 45.66 µg/g, respectively, for kidney and muscle). Furthermore, serum and rumen fluid concentrations of P, Ca, and Mg exhibited no significant differences upon the addition of zeolite to the diet. Conclusively, diet supplementation by zeolite at 2% improves performance and especially P digestibility, which may result in the reduction in minerals in lambs’ waste and consequently a reduction in environmental pollution.

The Utilization Of Complete Diets Containing Soyabean Haulms By Goats

Sixteen Yearling Red Sokoto goats were used to determine the effect of complete diet feeding on intake and nutrient utilization of diets based on soyabean haulm. Three diets in which soyabean haulm constituted 40, 50 and 60% of the mixture were compared with a control diet in which soyabean haulm was offered separately but supplemented with a concentrate mixture. Total feed intake, liveweight gain and feed efficiency were significantly (PO.05) better in goats fed complete diets particularly at the 40 and 50 levels of soyabean haulm inclusion. The results of the study showed that the utilization of soyabean haulın can be further enhanced by mixing it with other concentrate feeds.

Effect of supplementing wheat offal with varied graded levels of sugarcane scrapping on utilisation of sorghum panicle fed Red Sokoto buck Keyw

Four Red Sokoto bucks of averageweight 17. 40±2kg were fed sugarcane scrappingmeal in a complete diet to evaluate the nutrients intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance. In a 4×4 Latin Square Design four dietary treatments containing sugarcane scrapping at 0, 10, 20, and 30% levels of inclusion supplementing wheat offal in a complete diet were used The proximate composition of the sugarcane scrapping showed that the scrapping had, 10.01, 2.98%and 3114 Kcal/Kg of CF, CP andME respectively. The results of the trial showed that significant high dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility of some and the nitrogen balance values were recorded in the bucks fed 30%. It was concluded that DM intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization of bucks can be enhanced by including 30% of sugar cane scrapping in their diets.