Mitigation of methane production from cattle by feeding cashew nut shell liquid

The effects of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) feeding on methane production and rumen fermentation were investigated by repeatedly using 3 Holstein nonlactating cows with rumen fistulas. The cows were fed a concentrate and hay diet (6:4 ratio) for 4 wk (control period) followed by the same diet with a CNSL-containing pellet for the next 3 wk (CNSL period). Two trials were conducted using CNSL pellets blended with only silica (trial 1) or with several other ingredients (trial 2). Each pellet type was fed to cows to allow CNSL intake at 4 g/100 kg of body weight per day. Methane production was measured in a respiration chamber system, and energy balance, nutrient digestibility, and rumen microbial changes were monitored. Methane production per unit of dry matter intake decreased by 38.3 and 19.3% in CNSL feeding trials 1 and 2, respectively. Energy loss as methane emission decreased from 9.7 to 6.1% (trial 1) and from 8.4 to 7.0% (trial 2) with CNSL feeding, whereas the loss to feces (trial 1) and heat production (trial 2) increased. Retained energy did not differ between the control and CNSL periods. Digestibility of dry matter and gross energy decreased with CNSL feeding in trial 1, but did not differ in trial 2. Feeding CNSL caused a decrease in acetate and total short-chain fatty acid levels and an increase in propionate proportion in both trials. Relative copy number of methyl coenzyme-M reductase subunit A gene and its expression decreased with CNSL feeding. The relative abundance of fibrolytic or formate-producing species such as Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and Treponema bryantii decreased, but species related to propionate production, including Prevotella ruminicolla, Selenomonas ruminantium, Anaerovibrio lipolytica, and Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, increased. If used in a suitable formulation, CNSL acts as a potent methane-inhibiting and propionate-enhancing agent through the alteration of rumen microbiota without adversely affecting feed digestibility.

Massive pneumatic expansion of lymphatic vessel resulting in cystic lesions in the pulmonary parenchyma: a rare case of persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema in a non-ventilated infant

We report the case of 2-week-old female infant with cystic lung disease who presented with mild tachypnea and had no history of mechanical ventilation. Chest CT demonstrated multiple air-filled cystic lesions in right upper lobe, and the patient subsequently underwent a right upper lobectomy. Histology revealed cystic lesions located in the pulmonary parenchyma and showed that the lesions were lined by lymphatic endothelium and were communicating with dilated lymphatic vessels in the interstitium. Additionally, multinucleated foreign body giant cells were attached to the lumen of the cyst. On the basis of these findings, we considered this a case of persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema (PIPE) with massive pneumatic expansion of the lymphatic vessels, resulting in cystic lesions with lymphatic endothelium in the pulmonary parenchyma. While PIPE is extremely rare in term non-ventilated infants, our case demonstrated that this disease should be added to the differential diagnosis of cystic lung diseases with lymphatic endothelium even in infants without mechanical ventilation. When cystic lesions and symptoms persist despite conservative treatment, open or thoracoscopic resection is an appropriate option for diagnosis and treatment.

Possible association of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene (CHRNA4 and CHRNB2) polymorphisms with nicotine dependence in Japanese males: an exploratory study

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is a leading global cause of avoidable mortality. It has been reported that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA4 and CHRNB2) genes might be associated with smoking behavior in several ethnic populations. However, no study between the 2 genes and nicotine dependence (ND) using a Japanese population has been reported.

METHODS

We examined the association between ND and 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the CHRNA4 and 3 SNPs within the CHRNB2 using a well characterized sample of 558 Japanese healthy male workers with a relatively homogeneous background. The Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) was used to quantify the degree of ND. Additionally, we explored the effect of gene-gene interactions of the 2 genes on ND.

RESULTS

We found CHRNB2 rs4845652 genotypes to be associated with FTND scores under an additive genetic model: rs4845652 T-allele carriers had lower ND levels (p=0.038; when adjusted for smoking duration: p=0.052). Furthermore, we demonstrated a possible gene-gene interaction of CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 on ND in a dose-dependent manner: those smokers with CHRNA4 rs1044397 GG or GA genotypes along with CHRNB2 rs4845652 CC genotype are likely to demonstrate higher ND scores.

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest that CHRNB2 rs4845652 T-allele carriers may be associated with lower levels of ND, and that certain allelic combinations of CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 might be correlated with higher ND levels. This preliminary study has certain limitations (issues such as sample size/power and multiple testing) that need to be taken into account, and the present work thus has an experimental nature.

Bile duct duplication as a cause of distal bowel gas in neonatal duodenal obstruction

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of cases of duodenal atresia (DA) which present with bowel gas distal to a typical double-bubble sign through an anomalous bile duct conduit.

METHODS

Medical records of 57 neonates with duodenal obstruction (atresia or stenosis), presenting with a double-bubble sign and treated at our institute from 1978 to 2010, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Thirteen (23%) of 57 neonates presented with bowel gas distal to the double-bubble sign. Passage of gas through the duodenal stenosis may have occurred in 3 cases, whereas in 9 cases, gas may have bypassed the atresia through an anomalous bifurcated bile duct termination and through the pancreatic duct from the accessory to the main pancreatic duct in one case. A preoperative upper gastrointestinal series was performed in 9 cases, and an anomalous bifurcated bile duct conduit was demonstrated in 5 cases. Severe and prolonged cholestasis necessitating evaluation for biliary atresia was found in 2 patients with anomalous bile duct anatomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal DA presenting with distal bowel gas via an anomalous bifurcated bile duct conduit is more common than initially thought and occurs more frequently than duodenal stenosis. These patients might be at risk for cholestasis, possibly owing to duodeno-biliary reflux through the ampulla.

Clinical characteristics of liver fibrosis in patients with choledochal cysts

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to identify the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with liver fibrosis in choledochal cyst (CC).

METHODS

Forty patients with CC who underwent liver biopsy were included. Liver fibrosis was classified as follows: grade 0, no fibrosis; grade 1, mild fibrosis localized in the portal area; grade 2, moderate fibrosis with occasional bridging; and grade 3, severe fibrosis with diffuse bridging.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (35%) had liver fibrosis. Patients in the fibrosis group were significantly younger (1.2 vs 2.7 years) and had higher total bilirubin (5.3 vs 2.6 mg/dL). Severity of liver fibrosis was inversely correlated with age (P = .044). Amylase and lipase in bile were significantly lower in the fibrosis group (amylase, 531 vs 15,000 U/L; lipase, 783 vs 23,100 U/L). Postoperative serum analysis demonstrated no differences between the two groups. Most patients in both groups had normal aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase regardless of severity of fibrosis. Postoperative biliary complication or cholangiocarcinoma was not found in the fibrosis group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that liver fibrosis is mainly influenced by obstructive cholangiopathy rather than refluxed pancreatic secretion. Prognosis of patients with CC and liver fibrosis was as good as that of patients without fibrosis.

Phylogenetic diversity of gene sequences isolated from the rumen as analysed using a self-organizing map (SOM)

AIMS

To determine the origins of DNA sequences isolated from the rumen microbial ecosystem using a self-organizing map (SOM).

METHODS AND RESULTS

DNA sequences other than 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences that were detected from the rumen were analysed by the SOM method reported by Abe et al. [2000, Self-Organizing Map (SOM) unveils and visualizes hidden sequence characteristics of a wide range of eukaryote genomes. Gene 365, 27-34]. Because query sequences positioned by SOM were scattered on the master drawing of SOM, it was suggested that many DNA sequences isolated from the rumen were collected from a broad range of micro-organisms. Although the results obtained by SOM were similar to those obtained by the neighbour-joining (NJ) method, SOM was able to presume the phylotypes of the query sequences without information about the 16S SSU rRNA gene sequences and homology searches, and to reveal existence of novel micro-organisms deduced to be cellulolytic bacteria, archaea and methanotrophic bacterium.

CONCLUSIONS

As the SOM method defined phylotypes of unreported rumen micro-organisms, it is presumed that these phylotypes would be involved in rumen fermentation in cooperation with known rumen micro-organisms. Moreover, it is demonstrated that SOM is a useful tool for affiliating DNA sequences, which have no matches in databases.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

Through SOM analysis, a better means of identifying rumen micro-organisms and estimating their roles in rumen function was provided.

Results of 27 years of phase III trials for patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer

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Background: Few studies have formally assessed whether treatment outcomes for patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) enrolled in Phase III trials have improved substantially over the years. This investigation determined the trends in the outcomes for the patients in those trials. Methods: We analyzed trials that were reported between January 1991 and August 2008. Phase III randomized controlled trials were eligible if they compared first-line, systemic chemotherapy for ED-SCLC. Data were evaluated using linear regression analysis. Results: We identified 55 trials initiated between 1980 and 2006, involving 10,407 patients with 116 chemotherapy arms. The number of randomized patients and the proportions of patients with good performance status (PS) increased with the passage of time. In the 1990s, increasing numbers of studies examined cisplatin-based regimens, especially cisplatin and etoposide (PE) regimens, while decreasing numbers examined cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine-based regimens. A scattergram of the parameters ‘year of trial initiation’ and ‘median survival time’ (MST) indicated that MST increased 0.024 months (0.71 days) per year (P = 0.198). The multiple regression analysis showed no significant survival improvement over the years (regression coefficient for the year of trial initiation = 0.004, P = 0.980). In addition, the use of PE regimens did not prolong survival, whilst the proportion of good PS patients and the assignment of prophylactic cranial irradiation were significantly associated with favorable outcomes. Conclusions: The survival of patients with ED-SCLC enrolled in phase III trials has not improved significantly over the years, suggesting the need for a breakthrough, such as the discovery of novel molecular targets.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.