Impact of numerous larval diets on the biology of pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella(Saunders)(Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)under laboratory conditions

Background Pink bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella(Saunders)(Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)has become a poten-tial pest of cotton by causing substantial yield losses around the world including Pakistan.Keeping in view the facts like limited research investigations,unavailability,and high cost of artificial diet’s constituents and their premixes,the present research investigations on the dietary aspect of P.gossypiella were conducted.The larvae of P.gossypiella were reared on different diets that were prepared using indigenous elements.The standard/laboratory diet com-prised of wheat germ meal 34.5 g,casein 30.0 g,agar–agar 20.0 g,sucrose 10.0 g,brewer’s yeast 5.0 g,α-cellulose 1.0 g,potassium-sorbate1.5 g,niplagin 0.5 g,decavitamin 0.01 g,choline-chloride 0.06 g,maize-oil 3.30 g,honey 2.0 g,and water 730.0 mL.Alternatives to cotton bolls and wheat germ meal were okra seed sprouts,okra fruit,cottonseed meal,and okra seed meals,which were included in the study to introduce an efficient and economic mass-rearing system.Results The larval development completed in 19.68d±0.05 d with a weight of 20.18mg±0.20 mg at the fourth instar fed on the cottonseed meal-based diet instead of wheat germ meal based diet.On the same diet,84.00%±4.00%,17.24 mg±0.03 mg,and 7.76d±0.06 d were recorded as pupae formation,pupal weight,and pupal duration,respectively.Adult emergence,76.00%±1.00%was recorded from pupae collected from larvae raised on cottonseed meal-based diet.These male and female moths lived for 40.25d±0.10 d,and 44.34d±0.11 d,respectively.Females deposited 21.28±0.04 eggs per day with the viability of 65.78%±0.14%.The larval mortal-ity at the fourth instar was 37.20%±1.36%and malformed pupation of 12.00%±1.41%was recorded.Replacement of wheat germ meal with that of local meals(cottonseed and okra seed)in the standard laboratory diet has saved 463.80 to 467.10 PKR with 1.62 to 1.63 cost economic returns,respectively.Conclusion This research is of novel nature as it provides a concise and workable system for the economic and suc-cessful rearing of P.gossypiella under laboratory conditions.

Pro and anti-inflammatory diets as strong epigenetic factors in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is the consequence of a complex interplay between environmental factors,like dietary habits,that alter intestinal microbiota in response to luminal antigens in genetically susceptible individuals.Epigenetics represents an auspicious area for the discovery of how environmental factors influence the pathogenesis of inflammation,prognosis,and response to therapy.Consequently,it relates to gene expression control in response to environmental influences.The increasing number of patients with IBD globally is indicative of the negative effects of a food supply rich in trans and saturated fats,refined su-gars,starches and additives,as well as other environmental factors like seden-tarism and excess bodyweight,influencing the promotion of gene expression and increasing DNA hypomethylation in IBD.As many genetic variants are now associated with Crohn's disease(CD),new therapeutic strategies targeting modi-fiable environmental triggers,such as the implementation of an anti-inflammatory diet that involves the removal of potential food antigens,are of growing interest in the current literature.Diet,as a strong epigenetic factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders like IBD,provides novel insights into the pathophysio-logy of intestinal and extraintestinal inflammatory disorders.

Debaryomyces hansenii supplementation in low fish meal diets promotes growth,modulates microbiota and enhances intestinal condition in juvenile marine fish

Background The development of a sustainable business model with social acceptance,makes necessary to develop new strategies to guarantee the growth,health,and well-being of farmed animals.Debaryomyces hansenii is a yeast species that can be used as a probiotic in aquaculture due to its capacity to i)promote cell proliferation and differen-tiation,ii)have immunostimulatory effects,iii)modulate gut microbiota,and/or iv)enhance the digestive function.To provide inside into the effects of D.hansenii on juveniles of gilthead seabream(Sparus aurata)condition,we inte-grated the evaluation of the main key performance indicators coupled with the integrative analysis of the intestine condition,through histological and microbiota state,and its transcriptomic profiling.Results After 70 days of a nutritional trial in which a diet with low levels of fishmeal(7%)was supplemented with 1.1%of D.hansenii(17.2×10^(5) CFU),an increase of ca.12%in somatic growth was observed together with an improve-ment in feed conversion in fish fed a yeast-supplemented diet.In terms of intestinal condition,this probiotic modu-lated gut microbiota without affecting the intestine cell organization,whereas an increase in the staining intensity of mucins rich in carboxylated and weakly sulphated glycoconjugates coupled with changes in the affinity for certain lectins were noted in goblet cells.Changes in microbiota were characterized by the reduction in abundance of several groups of Proteobacteria,especially those characterized as opportunistic groups.The microarrays-based transcrip-tomic analysis found 232 differential expressed genes in the anterior-mid intestine of S.aurata,that were mostly related to metabolic,antioxidant,immune,and symbiotic processes.Conclusions Dietary administration of D.hansenii enhanced somatic growth and improved feed efficiency param-eters,results that were coupled to an improvement of intestinal condition as histochemical and transcriptomic tools indicated.This probiotic yeast stimulated host-microbiota interactions without altering the intestinal cell organization nor generating dysbiosis,which demonstrated its safety as a feed additive.At the transcriptomic level,D.hansenii pro-moted metabolic pathways,mainly protein-related,sphingolipid,and thymidylate pathways,in addition to enhance antioxidant-related intestinal mechanisms,and to regulate sentinel immune processes,potentiating the defensive capacity meanwhile maintaining the homeostatic status of the intestine.

Evaluating the Feasibility of Road Diets for Advancing Urban Mobility in Newark, DE

Road Diets are far from a new technique for designers to apply to roadways. Yet after over 50 years of implementation and countless studies into their effectiveness, it is only relatively recently that the process is gaining widespread recognition and implementation. Each year, more states and countries are examining potential road diets and putting them into place. Still, there remains great skepticism and opposition in many corners. In addition, cities and states may be drawing from many of the same sources in how to go about the process of a road diet and evaluate them, yet their methodology, goals, and even terminology can vary from region to region. This study analyzes the implementation of a road diet along a one-way arterial road, in Newark, Delaware. The primary aim of this analysis is to evaluate the feasibility of introducing a dedicated bicycle infrastructure to enhance local accessibility and to quantify its potential impacts on traffic flow, parking availability, and loading logistics within the vicinity. While the reduction of one lane could be perceived as a constraint on traffic management, the investigation revealed that E Main Street, the roadway analyzed, for the most part, can adequately accommodate its traffic load with a single lane. Detailed findings underscore the notable enhancement in level of service and subsequent reduction in delay times across most surveyed approaches.

The emerging role of fasting-mimicking diets in cancer treatment

Cancer is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.The high demand for specific nutrients and the sensitivity to nutritional deficiencies are newly recognized features of cancer cells.Dietary interventions can suppress tumor demand for particular nutrients and alter certain nutrients to target a tumor's metabolic vulnerability.Cyclic fasting or fasting-mimicking diets(FMDs)are popular approaches that can reduce nutrient intake over a specific period.Accumulating evidence suggests that FMDs attenuate tumor growth by altering the energy metabolism of cancer cells.Furthermore,FMDs potentiate the sensitivity of tumors to conventional cancer treatments and limit adverse events.Recent findings also highlight the potential value of FMDs in boosting antitumor immune surveillance.However,clinical trials regarding the impact of FMDs on cancer patients remain limited and controversial.Here,we provide the latest information on the effects of FMDs on cancer progression and treatment,focusing on future clinical applications.

Association of plant-based diets with the risk of upper gastrointestinal tract cancers:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Diets rich in red or processed meat have been linked to an increased risk of cancers within the digestive system.It has been suggested that a plant-based diet may have protective effects against digestive system cancers.This study aimed to determine the association between plant-based diets and upper gastrointestinal tract cancers(UGTC).Methods:We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.We searched the PubMed,Medline,Embase,and Web of Science databases for articles published up to September 30,2023.We pooled the risk ratios(RR)with the corresponding 95%confi-dence intervals(CI)using fixed or random-effects models.Results:Our meta-analysis included 16 studies(30 results).The data revealed a strong inverse association between a high intake of plant-based diets and UGTC(RR=0.60,95%CI=0.49-0.72),specifically gastric cancer(GC,RR=0.53,95%CI=0.42-0.67)and esophageal can-cer(EC,RR=0.63,95%CI=0.42-0.96).This relationship was not significant for gastric cardia cancer(GCA)or esophagogastric junctional cancer(EGJC,RR=0.76,95%CI=0.47-1.22).A subgroup analysis showed the association was significant in studies from Asia and Europe,as well as in studies utilizing indices such as a vegetarian diet,Mediterranean diet,the plant-based diet index,and principal component analy-sis(PCA)dietary patterns.There was no indication of publication bias among the analyzed studies.Conclusions:This meta-analysis highlights the potential health benefits of plant-based diets in preventing UGTC,particularly regarding esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)and GC.Nevertheless,additional research is required to validate these results and explore the un-derlying mechanisms.

Nutritional and Metabolic Consequences of Feeding High-Fiber Diets to Swine： A Review

At present, substantial amounts of low-cost, fibrous co-products are incorporated into pig diets to reduce the cost of raising swine. However, diets that are rich in fiber are of low nutritive value because pigs cannot degrade dietary fiber. In addition, high-fiber diets have been associated with reduced nutrient utilization and pig performance. However, recent reports are often contradictory and the negative effects of high-fiber diets are influenced by the fiber source, type, and inclusion level. In addition, the effects of dietary fiber on pig growth and physiological responses are often confounded by the many analytical methods that are used to measure dietary fiber and its components. Several strategies have been employed to ameliorate the negative effects associated with the ingestion of high-fiber diets in pigs and to improve the nutritive value of such diets. Exogenous fiber-degrading enzymes are widely used to improve nutrient utilization and pig performance. However, the results of research reports have not been consistent and there is a need to elucidate the mode of action of exogenous enzymes on the metabolic and physiological responses in pigs that are fed high-fiber diets. On the other hand, dietary fiber is increasingly used as a means of promoting pig gut health and gestating sow welfare. In this review, dietary fiber and its effects on pig nutrition, gut physiology, and sow welfare are discussed. In addition, areas that need further research are suggested to gain more insight into dietary fiber and into the use of exogenous enzymes to improve the utilization of high-fiber diets by oils.

Studies on Reducing Nitrogen Excretion: Ⅰ. Net Energy Requirement of Finishing Pigs Maximizing Performance and Carcass Quality Fed Low Crude Protein Diets Supplemented with Crystalline Amino Acids

Two experiments were conducted to in- vestigate the effects of net energy （NE） level on the performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs fed low crude protein （CP） diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids （CAA）. A total of 216 （Exp. 1） and 360 （Exp. 2 ） barrows （ Yorkshire × Landrace× Duroc ） were allotted to one of six treatments （n =6）. The experimental diets were based on corn and soybean meal, and consisted of a high-CP diet that contained approximately 16% CP and 2.50 Mcal/kg of NE as well as five low-CP diets in which the CP level of the diet was reduced by approximately four percentage units but was supplemented with crystalline lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan. The low CP diets provided 2.64, 2.58, 2.50, 2.42, or 2.36 Mcal/kg in Exp. 1 as well as 2.45, 2.40, 2.35, 2.30, or 2.25 Mcai/kg in Exp.2. In Exp. 1, a linear （P=0.03） increase in weight gain was observed with decreasing NE level while the ratio of gain to feed was unaffect- ed （P 〉 0.05） by NE level. There was a linear in-crease （P = 0.01 ） in the percentage of fat-free lean and a linear decrease （ P = 0.03 ） in the percentage of total fat with decreasing NE levels. In Exp. 2, a sig- nificant quadratic （ P = 0.03 ） effect of NE level was observed for weight gain. The ratio of gain to feed demonstrated a significant （P 〈0.01 ） quadratic effect with pigs fed 2.35 and 2.40 Mcal/kg of NE, Pigs fed the diet containing 2.40 Mcal/kg of NE had the lowest percentage of total fat （36. 95% ） and the highest percentage of fat-free lean （49.36%）. The overall results of these experiments indicate that feed- ing either a surplus or a deficiency of NE is detrimen- tal to both pig performance and carcass composition when low CP diets supplemented with CAA are fed. Our results indicate that when the CP content of the diet is reduced by four percentage units and the diet is properly supplemented with CAA, maximum per- formance and carcass quality will be obtained if the diet provides approximately 2.42 Mcal/kg of NE.

Diets, functional foods, and nutraceuticals as alternative therapies for inflammatory bowel disease: Present status and future trends

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is a serious health concern among western societies. The disease is also on the rise in some East Asian countries and in Australia. Health professionals and dietitians around the world are facing an unprecedented challenge to prevent and control the increasing prevalence of IBD. The current therapeutic strategy that includes drugs and biological treatments is inefficient and are associated with adverse health consequences. In this context, the use of natural products is gaining worldwide attention. In vivo studies and clinical evidence suggest that wellplanned dietary regimens with specific nutrients can alleviate gastrointestinal inflammation by modulating inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin 1(IL-1), IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10. Alternatively, the avoidance of high-fat and highcarbohydrate diets is regarded as an effective tool to eliminate the causes of IBD. Many functional foods and bioactive components have received attention for showing strong therapeutic effects against IBD. Both animal and human studies suggest that bioactive functional foods can ameliorate IBD by downregulating the pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor κB, STAT1, STAT6, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, COX-2, TNF-α, and interferon γ. Therefore, functional foods and diets have the potential to alleviate IBD by modulating the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Future comprehensive studies are needed to corroborate the potential roles of functional foods and diets in the prevention and control of IBD.

Challenges Brought about by Rapid Changes in Chinese Diets: Comparison with Developed Countries and Implications for Further Improvement

Given developments in urbanization, agricultural, and technological practices, the diet and lifestyle of developed countries has changed dramatically over the course of the last century[1].

Effects of Low Protein Diets Supplemented with Ami-no Acids on Production Performance,Carcass Qual-ity and Input-output Ratio of Pigs

[ Objectives ] To study the effects of low-protein diets supplemented with amino acids on the production performance, carcass quality and input-output ratio of fattening pigs and growing-finishing pigs. [ Methods] Two studies were conducted on fattening pigs and growing pigs respectively. Pigs in two experimental groupswere fed with low-protein diets supplemented with amino acids and normal diets respectively, and the initial weight, final weight, feed consumption and car- cass index of the tested pigs were measured. [ Results] The average final weight of fattening pigs in test group was 2.4 kg lower than that in control group, while the difference was not significant （P 〉 0.05 ）. The average daily gain of fattening pigs in test group was 60 g lower than that in control group, indicating that low protein diets had a tendency to decrease the growth rate （P 〉 0.05 ）, and reduction of daily weight gain in low protein diet pigs reached 7.6%. The development of pigs in low protein diet group was poor, however, the difference was not significant. Carcass backfat thickness in low-protein diet group was slightly higher than that in control group, the difference was significant （ P 〈 0.05 ）. There was no significant difference in input-output ratio between low-protein diet group and control group. Finalweight of growing-finishing pigs in low-protein diet group was 3.22 % lower than that in control group, the average daily weight gainwas 6.91% lower than that in control group, feed intake in test group was 5.48% lower than that in control group, and difference between the two treatments was significant （P 〈 0.05 ）. Feed meat ratio in low-protein diet group improved, however, the difference was not significant（P 〉0.05）. [ Conclusions] Production performance of the pigs would be decreasedand the input-output ratio could not be improvedwhen the adding contents of crude protein in diets was reduced 3% -4%. Therefore, it is recommended that the crude protein level should be enough when pigs were fed with low-protein diets.

Comparative Study of the Growth and Gonad Development of Clarias gariepinus （Burchell 1822） Fed Diets with Plant and Animal-based Ingredients in Concrete Tanks

A twelve week experiment was conducted to compare the effects of diets with plant-based and animal-based ingredients on growth and gonad development of Clarias gariepinus. One hundred and 12 sub-adult C. gariepinus with an average weight of 205 ×5.09 g, were stocked in six concrete tanks （9 × 4 × 2 m3） containing 20 fish each. Experiment had 3 replicates and animals fed daily at 5% body weights. There was no significant difference （P 〈 0.05） in proximate compositions of the two experimental feeds and controls. Fecundity, gonad weight and gonasomatic index were higher in fish fed diet 13 than A and C. Similarly, growth indices were higher in fish fed diet B than in A and C. Histology of gonads showed a faster development of oocytes of eggs in fish fed animal-based ingredients than plant-based and combined plant and animal diets. Although there were slight differences in growth parameters and gonad development in favor of feed with animal-based ingredients, plant-based feed compared favorably in the growth and gonad development of C. gariepinus. Plant-based ingredients are recommended on the basis of affordability and availability as substitute for animal-based ingredients in C. gariepinus feed.

Substitution of Silkworm Pupae （Bombyx mori） for Fish Meal in Broodstock Diets for Snakeskin Gourami （ Trichogaster pectoralis）

Substitution of silkworm pupae （Bombyx mori） for fish meal in broodstock diets for snakeskin gourami （Trichogaster pectoralis） was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of silkworm pupae on feed digestibility and broodstock performance. Snakeskin gourami broodfish were fed with isocaloric diets （DE 3,000 a： 50 Kcal/kg） contained 32% crude protein. The levels of substitution were 0%, 50%, 75% and 100% of protein from fish meal （equal to 0%, 14.57%, 21.75% and 29.03% silk worm by weight）. The study was assigned in CRD with 4 treatments and 3 replications. Six hundred of snakeskin gourami with five-month old and average weight of 78.67 ± 2.15 g in female and average weight of 73.00 ± 2.49 g in male were stocked in 12 cages. Fifty fishes of 25 females and 25 males were reared in each cage and fed experimental diet for five months. The result indicated that protein digestibility of test diets were significantly decrease （P 〈 0.05） according to the level of silkworm pupae in diets where as the dry matter digestibility showed no significantly different （P 〉 0.05）. The growth performance and egg fecundity were significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05） according to the levels of silkworm pupae. In contrast, egg quality in term of fry number on first spawned, fingering number on first spawned were not significantly different （P 〉 0.05）. The survival rate of one month nursing fish on first spawned were significantly different （P 〈 0.05）. Hence, silkworm pupae could substitution for 50% of protein from fish meal （14.57% by weight） in snakeskin gourami broodstock diets without any adverse effect on egg quality.

Trace Element Concentrations in Some Traditional Diets Consumed in Selected Parts of Eastern Province of Kenya

Dietary quality is vital in maintaining sound nutritional status. The ecological conditions thus influence the type of diets and their nutritional quality. The purpose of this study was to determine the trace element/mineral content of some of the commonly consumed diets in Machakos, Kitui, Makueni and Mwingi districts. Decorticated maize, beans and finger millet flour samples were purchased from the local markets. For each category, a total of ten samples were collected from each district. The samples were put in plastic bags, sealed and transported to the laboratory in the Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology, University of Nairobi for preparation and analysis. The cooking of the samples was carried out according to local traditional methods. In the decorticated samples, mean copper concentrations were observed to be below 20 μg·g-1;mean zinc concentrations ranged from 34 to 63 μg·g-1 and mean manganese concentrations were in a similar range of 34 to 78 μg·g-1. The mean iron concentrations were significantly high with a range of 161 μg·g-1 to 287 μg·g-1. A similar trend was observed in the beans where the mean copper concentrations varied from 11 to 33 μg·g-1, mean zinc concentrations ranged from a low value of 24 μg·g-1 to a high value of 35 μg·g-1, mean manganese concentrations varied from 33 μg·g-1 to 98 μg·g-1 and the mean iron concentrations ranged from 227 μg·g-1 to 647 μg·g-1. The cooked Muthokoi samples from Machakos district had relatively high mean trace element concentrations: manganese—109 μg·g-1;iron—280 μg·g-1;copper—19 μg·g-1;and zinc—41 μg·g-1. The only exception was mean iron concentrations which were extremely high in samples from Mwingi District where the concentrations varied from 73 μg·g-1 to 1597 μg·g-1. In finger millet flour, the mean manganese concentrations varied from 95 to 290 μg·g-1, whereas the mean iron concentrations ranged from 127 μg·g-1 to 259 μg·g-1. In contrast, the mean copper and zinc concentrations were low in comparison to the manganese and iron concentrations. As a whole, the mean copper concentrations in the diets are significantly low compared to the other three trace elements. However, the total content is not necessarily a reflection of the amount assimilated in the body. Finger millet was found to be an excellent source of manganese and iron whereas beans were observed to be good sources of iron. All the food crops were observed to poor sources of copper.

一项随机比较Atkins、Ornish、Weight Watchers和Zone Diets饮食对体重减低和心血管疾病危险降低作用的试验

Context: The scarcity of data addressing the health effects of popular diets is an important public health concern, especially since patients and physicians are interested in using popular diets as individualized eating strategies for disease prevention. Objective: To assess adherence rates and the effectiveness of 4 popular diets(Atkins, Zone, Weight Watchers, and Ornish)for weight loss and cardiac risk factor reduction. Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-center randomized trial at an academic medical center in Boston, Mass, of overweight or obese(body mass index: mean, 35; range, 27-42)-adults aged 22 to 72 years with known hypertension, dyslipidemia, or fasting hyperglycemia. Participants were enrolled starting July 18, 2000, and randomized to 4 popular diet groups until January 24, 2002. Intervention: A total of 160 participants were randomly assigned to either Atkins(carbohydrate restriction, n=40),Zone(macronutrient balance, n=40), Weight Watchers(calorie restriction, n=40), or Ornish(fat restriction, n=40)diet groups. After 2 months of maximum effort, participants selected their own levels of dietary adherence. Main Outcome Measures: One-year changes in baseline weight and cardiac risk factors, and self-selected dietary adherence rates per self-report. Results: Assuming no change from baseline for participants who discontinued the study, mean(SD)weight loss at 1 year was 2.1(4.8)kg for Atkins(21[53 %] of 40 participants completed, P=.009), 3.2(6.0)kg for Zone(26[65%] of 40 completed,P=.002), 3.0(4.9)kg for Weight Watchers(26[65%] of 40 completed, P< .001), and 3.3(7.3)kg for Ornish(20[50%] of 40 completed, P=.007). Greater effects were observed in study completers. Each diet significantly reduced the low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein(HDL)cholesterol ratio by approximately 10%(all P< .05), with no significant effects on blood pressure or glucose at 1 year. Amount of weight loss was associated with self-reported dietary adherence level(r=0.60; P< .001)but not with diet type(r=0.07; P=.40). For each diet, decreasing levels of total/HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and insulin were significantly associated with weight loss(mean r=0.36, 0.37, and 0.39, respectively)with no significant difference between diets(P=.48, P=.57, P=.31, respectively). Conclusions: Each popular diet modestly reduced body weight and several cardiac risk factors at 1 year. Overall dietary adherence rates were low, although increased adherence was associated with greater weight loss and cardiac risk factor reductions for each diet group.

Determination of the cut-off score of an endoscopic scoring method to predict whether elderly patients with dysphagia can eat pureed diets

AIM: To identify the cut-off value for predicting the ability of elderly patients with dysphagia to swallow pureed diets using a new endoscopy scoring method. METHODS: Endoscopic swallowing evaluation of pureed diets were done in patients ≥ 65 years with dysphagia. The Hyodo-Komagane score for endoscopic swallowing evaluation is expressed as the sum(0-12) of four degrees(0-3) with four parameters:(1) salivary pooling in the vallecula and piriform sinuses;(2) the response of glottal closure reflex induced by touching the epiglottis with the endoscope;(3) the location of the bolus at the time of swallow onset assessed by "white-out" following swallowing of test jelly; and(4) pharyngeal clearance after swallowing of test jelly. We used receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis to retrospectively analyze the association between the total score and successful oral intake of pureed diets. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were enrolled including 113 men(63%), mean age 83 years(range, 66-98). One hundred and twenty-six patients(71%) were able to eat pureed diets during the observation period(mean ± SD, 19 ± 14 d). In ROC analysis, the cut-off value of the score for eating the pureed diets was 7(sensitivity = 0.98; specificity = 0.91).CONCLUSION: The Hyodo-Komagane endoscopic score is useful to predict the ability to eat pureed diets in elderly patients with dysphagia.

Blood Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in overfed Aging Rats: Comparative Effects of Sunflower and Olive-Linseed Mixture Oil Rich Diets

Obesity, one of the most common health problems, is associated with glucose and lipid metabolism abnormalities, increased cardiovascular risk and oxidative stressI1}. Aging is also associated with an increase in oxidative stress[2]. Considering that older adults are already at risk for oxidant stress, the additional metabolic perturbations of obesity aggravated the susceptibility to oxidant stress. Modulating age-related oxidative stress via dietary interventions could reduce free radical production and significantly improve health in aging.

Productive evaluation of slow-growing Mexican turkeys with different diets in confinement

Were assessed the effect of five traditional diets backyard turkeys in confinement. The experiment lasted 36 weeks, the turkeys were randomized to one of five diets: kitchen waste + fresh forage (T1), kitchen waste (T2), commercial feed + fresh forage (T3), cracked corn + fresh forage (T4) and commercial feed (T5). Food and water were provided ad libitum. Each treatment with birds of both sexes had two repetitions with four birds and each bird was considered as an experimental unit. Were evaluated daily weight gain, total weight gain, final live weight, total length peak-tail, monthly gain peak-tail, total length, total length of wings, monthly gain wings length, and feed cost. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized arrangement with adjusted means and Tukey’s mean comparison, then an evaluation of treatment groups by analyzing clusters for semi quantitative data. The biggest daily gain, total weight gain and final live weight was obtained with treatment T3, while the highest increase in peak-length tail and wings was obtained with treatment T1 (P < 0.05). T2 treatment turned out to be most economical, but the treatment that best scores obtained was T1. We conclude that the use of kitchen waste + fresh forage is a feasible strategy to feed slow-growing turkeys.

Effects of Low Protein Diets on Nutrient Digestibility and Excretion in Finishing Pigs

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of low protein diets on nutrient digestibility and excretion of finishing pigs. For the 30-d trial,fortytwo duroc × landrace × yorkshire( DLY) finishing pigs with the initial weight of( 91. 13 ± 1. 64) kg were randomly divided into two groups,with three replicates in each group. The pigs in the two groups were fed with different crude protein( CP) levels( control groups: 15. 49% and low protein groups: 12. 59%). The results showed that:( 1) The digestibility of dry matter and crude fat( CF) in low protein groups were increased significantly( P < 0. 01),but there were no significant differences in digestibility among CP,calcium( Ca) and phosphorus( P);( 2) The digestibility of arginine( Arg) in low protein groups were 2. 02%( P <0. 05) lower than that in control groups. However,the digestibility of other amino acid were no difference between two groups;( 3) The nitrogen( N) excretion in low protein groups was 23. 96%( P < 0. 05) lower than that in control groups,but there were no significant differences in excretion among organic matter,P and Ca( P > 0. 05). The results showed that 2. 9% reduction of the CP in diets could improve nutrient digestibility and reduce the excretion of N,but reduced the digestibility of Arg.

Effect of Frying-Cooking on Nutritional and Bioactive Compounds of Innovative Ovo-Vegetarian Diets

Vegetarian diets are becoming increasingly popular as meat prices as well as health concerns rise. Many people are cutting down or cutting out meat in favor of a full vegetarian diet. In present study, the applicability of different vegetables for producing ready-to-use and ready-to-eat chickpea-based ovo-vegetarian diets (OVDs) was investigated. Herein, six different vegetables (cauliflower, taro, green zucchini, pea, bean and spinach) were formulated with 25% chickpea and additional edible ingredients to produce ready-to-use OVDs. Subsequently, chemical composition, minerals content, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of those OVDs were investigated. However, ready-to-eat OVDs were organoleptically evaluated after frying as common cooking method. Results of composite analysis indicated 67.73% to 73.17%, 23.20% to 37.12%, 1.86% to 2.63%, 7.63% to 9.53%, 9.06% to 9.82% and 39.24% to 55.28% for moisture, crude protein, lipids, ash, fiber, and carbohydrates contents in ready-to-use OVDs, respectively. After frying, lipid content was increased in fried diets which changed the chemical composition and caloric value. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between macro- and micro-nutrients content of ready- to-use and ready-to-eat OVDs. The ready-to-use OVDs exhibit appropriate content of ascorbic acid, chlorophylls, carotenoids, flavonoids, and flavonols which basically depends on their ingredients. Frying process dramatically affected the ascorbic acid, chlorophylls, flavonoids, flavonols, and carotenoids contents. High organoleptic acceptability of ready-to-eat OVDs was recorded to confirm theconsumer attractiveness further. In conclusion, the possibility of producing healthy ready-to-eatand ready-to-use OVDs incorporated with common consumed vegetables could provide a promising approach for improving human health and dietary pattern as well as for selecting the optimum processing conditions for innovative OVDs.