Silexan does not affect driving performance after single and multiple dose applications: Results from a double-blind, placebo and reference-controlled study in healthy volunteers

Anxiolytic drugs often have sedative effects that impair the ability to drive. Our double-blind, randomized crossover trial investigated the effect of Silexan, a non-sedating, anxiolytic herbal medicinal product, on driving performance in healthy volunteers. Part 1 aimed at demonstrating equivalence between 80 mg/d Silexan and placebo. Part 2 was performed to demonstrate superiority of 160 and 320 mg Silexan over 1 mg lorazepam and included a placebo arm for assay sensitivity. Driving performance was assessed in a validated, alcohol-calibrated simulator test. The primary outcome was the standard deviation of the lane position (SDLP). Secondary outcomes included driving errors and sleepiness. Fifty and 25 subjects were randomized in Parts 1 and 2, respectively. In Part 1, Silexan 80 mg was confirmed to be equivalent to placebo after single administration (equivalence range: δ = ±2 cm). The 95% confidence interval (CI) for the SDLP marginal mean value difference Silexan-placebo for single administration was -1.43; +1.38 and thus similar to the 95% CI of -1.45; +0.79 cm for 7 days' multiple dosing. In Part 2, 95% CIs for SDLP marginal mean value differences to lorazepam were -8.58; -5.42 cm for Silexan 160 mg and -8.65; -5.45 cm for 320 mg (p < 0.001). Confirmatory results were supported by secondary outcomes, where results for Silexan were comparable to placebo and more favorable than for lorazepam. The study demonstrates that single doses of up to 320 mg Silexan and multiple doses of 80 mg/d have no adverse effect on driving performance

Relationship between the fatty acid profile of hair and energy availability of lactating primiparous cows

We hypothesised that a relationship would exist between hair fatty acids, especially C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0, and parameters of energy metabolism such as energy intake, energy mobilisation, and energy requirement for maintenance and milk performance. For this study, 11 primiparous German Holstein cows were available from which hair samples at weeks 6 and 8 of lactation were analysed. The average body weight of these animals was 558 ± 27 kg at calving and milk yield at 100-days in milk was 3,537 ± 529 kg. Feed intake and milk yield were measured daily. Body weight and back fat thickness were measured at calving and in weeks 2, 4, and 8 of lactation. Energy balance and energy utilisation were calculated until week 6 of lactation. Spearman's correlation coefficients were found to be significantly positive for the relationship between the percentage of C12:0 and C14:0 fatty acids in the hair in lactation week 8 and energy intake in weeks 5 and 6 (0.62 < r < 0.65, P < 0.05). If the animals are grouped according to their energy utilisation between weeks 1 and 6 into two groups higher (n = 6) or lower (n = 5) than the median, animals of the high energy utilising group had a higher energy intake. These animals had also higher percentages of the C12:0 fatty acid in their hair fat (week 6: 4.9% vs. 3.1%, P < 0.05; week 8: 4.3% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.05). Our hypothesis is supported, and this study justifies further investigation of the content of medium-chain fatty acids in hair samples as biomarkers for the metabolic status of a cow during early lactation.Peer Reviewe

Fatty Acid Composition in Blubber, Liver, and Muscle of Marine Mammals in the Southern Baltic Sea

Marine mammals play an important role in marine ecosystems. However, as they are less accessible for research, relatively little is known about their physiology compared to terrestrial mammals. The stranding scheme of the Deutsches Meeresmuseum (Stralsund, Germany) continuously collects strandings and by-catches of marine mammals in the Baltic Sea in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In this project, the fatty acid composition of the liver, skeletal muscles, and blubber of harbour porpoises and grey seals from the southern Baltic Sea was investigated for the first time. In the liver and blubber tissue, the values and concentrations measured for both species are consistent with studies on other marine mammals. In a direct comparison of the focus species, the skeletal muscles of harbour porpoises exhibit higher concentrations of fatty acids than those of grey seals. In the future, these studies will be extended to the entire Baltic Sea, as we suspect that fatty acid composition can be used to determine the nutritional status of the animals and thus will allow for an objective assessment of the body condition.Peer Reviewe

A Method for Analyzing Fatty Acids in Cattle Hair, with Special Emphasis on Lauric Acid and Myristic Acid

This study is aimed at improving a protocol for measuring fatty acids in cattle hair with respect to sensitivity, repeatability, and speed to increase its applicability as a biomarker. For the investigation, 14 hair samples from German Holstein cows are used. Alternative methods for grinding the hair (mortar vs mill), lipid extraction (modified Folch vs kit extraction), and solvent evaporation before injection on a gas chromatograph (evaporated vs unevaporated extracts) are tested. Hair ground with a mill compared to that with a mortar has smaller particles and a higher concentration of total lipids after extraction (p < 0.02). The kit used for lipid extraction is faster, and the amount of extracted total lipids and individual fatty acids, especially C12:0, is increased (p = 0.001). The analysis of unevaporated methyl ester extracts using gas chromatography (GC) analysis yields 5.8 and 1.3 higher amounts of C10:0 and C12:0, respectively, than those of evaporated extracts (p < 0.001). According to the results, the protocol for determining fatty acids in cattle hair can be improved by grinding the hair with a mill, extraction of lipids with a kit, and direct loading of methyl ester extracts in a gas chromatograph. Practical Applications: The fatty acid profile of hair reflects the metabolic status of an animal for the previous 1–3 weeks, as these fatty acids are not influenced by diurnal and short‐term fluctuations. An improved protocol is developed that increases the throughput of fatty acid analysis and improves its applicability for practical use. For breeding and animal welfare, the analysis of cattle hair is possible for more efficient evaluation of the hair fatty acid profile as a robust biomarker in a larger animal population.Peer Reviewe

Faustzahlen für den Ökologischen Landbau

Die Faustzahlen bieten einen kompakten Überblick über den Ökologischen Landbau. Ob pflanzliche oder tierische Erzeugung, Lagerung und Vermarktung, Betriebsfüh-rung oder Biodiversität – die Faustzahlen liefern auf fast alle Fragen der Praxis eine Antwort. Dieses Buch gewährt Einblick in die besonderen Bedingungen des Ökolandbaus, vor allem in seine Kosten- und Leistungsstrukturen, aber auch in seine Möglichkeiten mit Herausforderungen umzugehen, wie z. B. Nährstoffversorgung oder Unkrautdruck. Ob es um Überschlagsrechnungen oder Vorplanungen geht, dieses Nachschlage-werk schließt Lücken, wenn eigene Daten und Erfahrungen fehlen. Die Inhalte sind in Tabellen strukturiert, in Grafiken veranschaulicht und in kurzen Texten erläutert. Die „Faustzahlen für den Ökologischen Landbau“ sind unentbehrlich für alle, die es genau wissen wollen. Die 760-seitige Schrift ist als Printversion für 30 € und als digitale Version für 27 € beim Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft (KTBL) e.V. er-hältlich. In der digitalen Version lassen sich Zahlen und Fakten online recherchieren und Verlinkungen direkt aufrufen