Tolerance of ruminant animals to high dose in-feed administration of a selenium-enriched yeast

The objective of the study was to determine if there were adverse effects on animal health and performance when a range of ruminant animals species were fed at least 10 times the maximum permitted European Union (EU) selenium (Se) dietary inclusion rate (0.568 mg Se/kg DM) in the form of selenium enriched yeast (SY) derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060. In a series of studies, dairy cows, beef cattle, calves and lambs were offered either a control diet which contained no Se supplement or a treatment diet which contained the same basal feed ingredients plus a SY supplement which increased total dietary Se from 0.15 to 6.25, 0.20 to 6.74, 0.15 to 5.86 and 0.14 to 6.63 mg Se/kg DM, respectively. The inclusion of the SY supplement (P < 0.001) increased whole blood Se concentrations, reaching maximum mean values of 716, 1,505, 1,377, and 724 ng Se/mL for dairy cattle, beef cattle, calves and lambs, respectively. Selenomethionine accounted for 10% of total whole blood Se in control animals whereas the proportion in SY animals ranged between 40 and 75%. Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) activity was higher (P < 0.05) in SY animals when compared with controls. A range of other biochemical and hematological parameters were assessed, but few differences of biological significance were established between treatments groups. There were no differences between treatment groups within each species with regard to animal physical performance or overall animal health. It was concluded that there were no adverse effects on animal health, performance and voluntary feed intake to the administration of at least ten times the EU maximum, or approximately twenty times the US FDA permitted concentration of dietary Se in the form of SY derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060.

Effect of acute administration of recombinant human leptin during the neonatal period on body temperature and endocrine profile of the piglet

Background: Leptin is produced predominantly by white adipocytes; in adults it regulates appetite and energy expenditure but its role in the neonate remains to be fully established. Objectives: To examine the effects of acute administration of recombinant human leptin on the endocrine profile and thermoregulation of neonatal pigs. Methods: 24 pairs of siblings (n = 48) were administered with either a single dose (4 mu g ml(-1) kg(-1) body weight) of leptin (L: n = 24) or a placebo (P: n = 24) on day 6 of neonatal life. Rectal temperature was recorded, and tissue samples were taken at 1 (n = 12), 2 (n = 12), 4 (n = 12) or 6 (n = 12) hours post-administration. Plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites were determined in conjunction with messenger RNA (mRNA) for leptin and uncoupling protein-2. Results: Plasma leptin increased following leptin administration, and differences in concentrations of insulin, thyroxine and non-esterified fatty acids were observed between the two groups. Initially, rectal temperature decreased in L pigs but returned to start values by 1.5 h. This decline in rectal temperature was delayed in placebo animals, resulting in differences between treatments at 1.5 and 2 h. Conclusions: Acute leptin administration alters the endocrine profile of pigs and influences the thermoregulatory ability of the neonate. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

In search of the aim of the free movement of persons provisions: has the Court of Justice missed the point?

The Court of Justice has, over the years, often been vilified for exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction by interpreting the provisions of Community legislation in a way not seem originally envisaged by its drafters. A recent example of this approach was a cluster of cases in the context of the free movement of workers and the freedom of establishment (Ritter-Coulais and its progeny), where the Court included within the scope of those provisions situations which, arguably, did not present a sufficient link with their (economic) aim. In particular, in that case law the Court accepted that the mere exercise of free movement for the purpose of taking up residence in the territory of another Member State whilst continuing to exercise an economic activity in the State of origin, suffices for bringing a Member State national within the scope of Articles 39 and 43 EC. It is argued that the most plausible explanation for this approach is that the Court now wishes to re-read the economic fundamental freedoms in such a way as to include within their scope all economically active Union citizens, irrespective of whether their situation presents a sufficient link with the exercise of an economic activity in a cross-border context. It is suggested that this approach is problematic for a number of reasons. It is, therefore, concluded that the Court should revert to its orthodox approach, according to which only situations that involve Union citizens who have moved between Member States for the purpose of taking up an economic activity should be included within the scope of the market freedoms.