Serological and virological surveys of the influenza A viruses in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins

To evaluate the avian influenza virus (AIV) circulation in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins we carried out a serosurvey on six species from Livingston, Marion and Gough islands. Seropositivity against AIV was performed on serum samples using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and haemagglutination and neuraminidase inhibition assays. Some oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were also assayed to detect influenza virus genomes by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Overall, 12.1% (n = 140) penguins were seropositive to AIV. By species, we detected 5% (n = 19) and 11% (n = 18) seroprevalence in sub-Antarctic rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes spp.) from Gough and Marion islands, respectively, 42% (n = 33) seroprevalence in macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chysolophus Brandt), but no positives in the three other species, gentoo (Pygoscelis papua Forster; n = 25) and chinstrap penguins (P. antarctica Forster; n = 16), from Livingston Island and king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus Miller; n = 27) from Marion Island. While seropositivity reflected previous exposure to the AIV, the influenza genome was not detected. Our results indicate that AIV strains have circulated in penguin species in the sub-Antarctic region, but further studies are necessary to determine the precise role that such penguin species play in AIV epidemiology and if this circulation is species (or genus) specific.

Effect of diet composition and ration size on key enzyme activities of glycolysis-gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway and amino acid metabolism in liver of Sparus aurata

The effects of diet composition and ration size on the activities of key enzymes involved in intermediary metabolism were studied in the liver of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Highcarbohydrate, low-protein diets stimulated 6-phosphofructo 1-kinase (EC 2.7.1.11), pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44) enzyme activities, while they decreased alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) activity. A high degree of correlation was found between food ration size and the activity of the enzymes 6-phosphofructo 1-kinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (positive correlations) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) (negative correlation). These correlations matched well with the high correlation also found between ration size and growth rate in starved fish refed for 22 d. Limited feeding (5 g/kg body weight) for 22 d decreased the activities of the key enzymes for glycolysis and lipogenesis, and alanine aminotransferase activity. The findings presented here indicate a high level of metabolic adaptation to both diet type and ration size. In particular, adaptation of enzyme activities to the consumption of a diet with a high carbohydrate level suggests that a carnivorous fish like Sparus aurata can tolerate partial replacement of protein by carbohydrate in the commercial diets supplied in culture. The relationship between enzyme activities, ration size and fish growth indicates that the enzymes quickly respond to dietary manipulations of cultured fish.

Effect of diet composition and ration size on key enzyme activities of glycolysis-gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway and amino acid metabolism in liver of Sparus aurata

The effects of diet composition and ration size on the activities of key enzymes involved in intermediary metabolism were studied in the liver of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Highcarbohydrate, low-protein diets stimulated 6-phosphofructo 1-kinase (EC 2.7.1.11), pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.44) enzyme activities, while they decreased alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) activity. A high degree of correlation was found between food ration size and the activity of the enzymes 6-phosphofructo 1-kinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (positive correlations) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) (negative correlation). These correlations matched well with the high correlation also found between ration size and growth rate in starved fish refed for 22 d. Limited feeding (5 g/kg body weight) for 22 d decreased the activities of the key enzymes for glycolysis and lipogenesis, and alanine aminotransferase activity. The findings presented here indicate a high level of metabolic adaptation to both diet type and ration size. In particular, adaptation of enzyme activities to the consumption of a diet with a high carbohydrate level suggests that a carnivorous fish like Sparus aurata can tolerate partial replacement of protein by carbohydrate in the commercial diets supplied in culture. The relationship between enzyme activities, ration size and fish growth indicates that the enzymes quickly respond to dietary manipulations of cultured fish.

Calculation of the variance in surveys of the economic climate

Public opinion surveys have become progressively incorporated into systems of official statistics. Surveys of the economic climate are usually qualitative because they collect opinions of businesspeople and/or experts about the long-term indicators described by a number of variables. In such cases the responses are expressed in ordinal numbers, that is, the respondents verbally report, for example, whether during a given trimester the sales or the new orders have increased, decreased or remained the same as in the previous trimester. These data allow to calculate the percent of respondents in the total population (results are extrapolated), who select every one of the three options. Data are often presented in the form of an index calculated as the difference between the percent of those who claim that a given variable has improved in value and of those who claim that it has deteriorated.

Altered nitrogen balance and decreased urea excretion in male rats fed cafeteria diet are related to arginine availability

Hyperlipidic diets limit glucose oxidation and favor amino acid preservation, hampering the elimination of excess dietary nitrogen and the catabolic utilization of amino acids.We analyzed whether reduced urea excretion was a consequence of higherNO ; (nitrite,nitrate, and other derivatives) availability caused by increased nitric oxide production in metabolic syndrome. Rats fed a cafeteria diet for 30 days had a higher intake and accumulation of amino acid nitrogen and lower urea excretion.There were no differences in plasma nitrate or nitrite. NO and creatinine excretion accounted for only a small part of total nitrogen excretion. Rats fed a cafeteria diet had higher plasma levels of glutamine, serine, threonine, glycine, and ornithinewhen comparedwith controls,whereas arginine was lower. Liver carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I activity was higher in cafeteria diet-fed rats, but arginase I was lower. The high carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase activity and ornithine levels suggest activation of the urea cycle in cafeteria diet-fed rats, but low arginine levels point to a block in the urea cycle between ornithine and arginine, thereby preventing the elimination of excess nitrogen as urea. The ultimate consequence of this paradoxical block in the urea cycle seems to be the limitation of arginine production and/or availability.

Comparison of Potassium and Sodium Content in Diet and Non-Diet Soft Drinks by Using Capillary Electrophoresis with Capacitively Coupled Contactless Conductivity Detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) was used for determination of sodium and potassium concentrations in diet and non-diet soft drinks. Higher sodium concentrations were found in the diet samples due to the utilization of sodium salts of cyclamate and saccharine as sweeteners. The CE-C4D method can be used by food industries and health regulatory agencies for monitoring sodium and potassium content, not only in soft drink but in many others food products.

The Influence of Diet and Microbes on Colonic Immune Regulation and their Implications on Type 1 Diabetes

Dietary and microbial factors are thought to contribute to the rapidly increasing prevalence of T1D in many countries worldwide. The impact of these factors on immune regulation and diabetes development in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice are investigated in this thesis. Diabetes can be prevented in NOD mice through dietary manipulation. Diet affects the composition of intestinal microbiota, which may subsequently influence intestinal immune homeostasis. However, the specific effects of anti-diabetogenic diets on gut immunity and the explicit associations between intestinal immune disruption and type 1 diabetes onset remain unclear. The research presented herein demonstrates that newly weaned NOD mice suffer from a mild level of colitis, which shifts the colonic immune cell balance towards a proinflammatory status. Several aberrations can also be observed in the peritoneal B cells of NOD mice; an increase in activation marker expression, increased trafficking to the pancreatic lymph nodes and significantly higher antigen presenting cell (APC) efficiency towards insulin-specific T cells. A shift towards inflammation is likewise observed in the colon of germ-free NOD mice, but signs of peritoneal B cell activation are lacking in these mice. Remarkably, most of the abnormalities in the colon, peritoneal macrophages and the peritoneal B cell APC activity of NOD mice are abrogated when NOD mice are maintained on a diabetes-preventive, soy-based diet (ProSobee) from the time of weaning. Dietary and microbial factors hence have a significant impact on colonic immune regulation and peritoneal B cell activation and it is suggested that these factors influence diabetes development in NOD mice.

Liver regeneration with l-glutamine supplemented diet: experimental study in rats

OBJECTIVE: To assess liver regeneration in rats after 60% hepatectomy with and without supplementation of L-glutamine through liver weight changes, laboratory parameters and histological study.METHODS: 36 male rats were divided into two groups: glutamine group and control group. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups, with death in 24h, 72h and seven days. The glutamine group received water and standard diet supplemented with L-glutamine, and the control recieved 0.9% saline. In all subgroups analysis of liver regeneration was made by the Kwon formula, study of liver function (AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, indirect and indirect bilirubin and albumin) and analysis of cell mitosis by hematoxylin-eosin.RESULTS: In both groups there was liver regeneration by weight gain. Gamma-GT increased significantly in the control group (p < 0.05); albumin increased in the glutamine group. The other indicators of liver function showed no significant differences. Histological analysis at 72h showed a higher number of mitoses in the glutamine group, with no differences in other subgroups.CONCLUSION: Diet supplementation with L glutamine is beneficial for liver regeneration.

Evaluation of liver regeneration diet supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids: experimental study in rats

Objective: to evaluate liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy of 60% with and without action diet supplemented with fatty acids through the study of the regenerated liver weight, laboratory parameters of liver function and histological study. Methods: thirty-six Wistar rats, males, adults were used, weighing between 195 and 330 g assigned to control and groups. The supplementation group received the diet by gavage and were killed after 24h, 72h and seven days. Evaluation of regeneration occurred through analysis of weight gain liver, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, and mitosis of the liver stained with H&E. Results: the diet supplemented group showed no statistical difference (p>0.05) on the evolution of weights. Administration of fatty acids post-hepatectomy had significant reduction in gamma glutamyltransferase levels and may reflect liver regeneration. Referring to mitotic index, it did not differ between period of times among the groups. Conclusion: supplementation with fatty acids in rats undergoing 60% hepatic resection showed no significant interference related to liver regeneration.

Kålrotens särställning i vår diet

14 x 21 cm

Family-based dietary intervention in the STRIP study – influences on diet and diet-related attitudes

The focus of this dissertation was to investigate the effects of family-based dietary intervention during childhood and adolescence. The participants comprised of children and parents who participated in a longitudinal, randomised atherosclerosis prevention trial (STRIP study). The intervention families (n=540) took part in a dietary intervention since the child’s age of 8- months. The control group (n=522) did not receive any tailored dietary intervention. The main focus of the intervention was to improve the quality of dietary fat. The diet of children and parents was evaluated by daily food records and dietrelated attitudes by a questionnaire. The dietary intervention influenced, favourably, the dietary fat quality in children and parents. Fat quality improved mainly by the decrease of saturated fat intake. Some minor effects of the intervention were also observed in children’s fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption although the F&V consumption was very low. The intervention increased parental interest in healthy eating, but there was no difference in interest in natural products or in attitudes towards hedonic eating attitudes between the intervention and control parents. Parents’ interest in healthy eating associated with parents’ and children’s high fruit and vegetable consumption but not with their fat quality ratio. On the other hand, dietary fat quality improved at every level of interest in healthy eating. It seems that the main target of the intervention, the dietary fat quality of the children, was promoted effectively. In the future, more emphasis should be given on increasing unsaturated fat intake and on elevating F&V consumption in children. Children’s diet, especially F&V consumption, associated with diet-related attitudes of the parents. Therefore, co-operation with parents and family-based premises for working should be capitalized upon when promoting healthy eating in children and adolescents.

Effects of starter diet supplementation with arginine on broiler production performance and on small intestine morphometry

The effects of starter diet (days 1 to 21) supplemented with arginine (Arg) on the production performance and duodenum and jejunum mucosa morphometry of broilers were studied. Male Cobb broiler chickens (990) were randomly assigned to one of five treatments in a complete random design. Measurements of 33 chicks per treatment were made in six repetitions. The treatments consisted of a basal diet with 1.390% digestible Arg (no supplementation) and four dietary levels (1.490%, 1.590%, 1.690%, and 1.790%), providing a relationship with lysine of 1.103; 1.183; 1.262; 1.341 and 1.421%, respectively. From the age of 22 days on, all birds received conventional grower diet. The data were submitted to regression analysis by polynomial decomposition of the degrees of freedom in relation to the levels of Arg. The Arg supplementation increased (P<0.05) the live weight and the feed conversion ratio without increasing the feed intake of the birds. However, no effect was observed (P>0.05) in the growth phase (days 22 to 42) in the absence of the Arg supplementation. The supplementation of Arg over of NRC recommendation during the starter phase may be necessary for the expression of the maximal weight gain potential in birds. No effect (P<0.05) of Arg dietary supplementation was observed either on small intestine weight and length at any age. However, the duodenum villus:crypt ratio increased and the crypt depth decreased in the first week in response to increasing dietary Arg. It is concluded that broiler Arg dietary supplementation in the starter diet improved production performance and small intestine morphometry, especially in the first week.