Emisi Metana dan Fermentasi Rumen in Vitro Ransum Hay yang Mengandung Tanin Murni pada Konsentrasi Rendah

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of addition of purified tannins at low concentration into hay diet on in vitro gas emission and rumen fermentation. Treatments consisted of: P0 (control hay), P1 (hay + 0.5 mg chestnut tannin/ml of incubation medium), P2 (hay + 0.5 mg/ml mimosa tannin), P3 (hay + 0.5 mg/ml quebracho tannin) and P4 (hay + 0.5 mg/ml sumach tannin). Variables measured were gas production kinetics, organic matter digestibility (OMD), methane production, expressed as percent methane in total gas and methane production per unit organic matter digested, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. The results showed that in most cases tannin addition at 0.5 mg/ml decreased significantly (P < 0.05) total and rate of gas production, OMD, total VFA and iso-VFA. Tannin addition also decreased methane production (P < 0.05). Hydrolysable tannins seemed to have better methane reduction effect than condensed tannins. The best tannin to decrease methane was chestnut tannin, which contained hydrolysable tannins. Present research should be shifted from evaluating only the effect of condensed tannins in reducing methane emission towards some potential hydrolysable tannins since the nature and the toxicity of hydrolysable tannins are quite diverse. Key words: methane, tannin, rumen, in vitro, ha

Annual Biomass Production, Chemical Composition and In- sacco Degradability of Different Cultivars of Moringa oleifera

Types of plant cultivars and seasons often affect production and productivity of fodder biomass and nutritional quality to animals. Selection of suitable cultivars and better understanding of year round biomass production are indispensable for improving quality feed supply to animals. Black Seed Moringa (BSM-L) and White Seed Moringa (WSM), the two local cultivars and Black Seed Moringa (BSM-T) cultivar of Thailand origin of Moringa oleifera were cultivated in the fodder research field of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) during the period of 19 August 2014 to 23 December 2015. An agronomical trial was conducted to determine the biomass yield of the three cultivars in different seasons of a year under common agronomical practices. The effect of the cultivars on the daily relative growth rate (RGR), chemical composition and in-sacco dry matter (DM) degradability were also evaluated. The cultivar response to biomass production performances, chemical composition and nutritional values were analyzed in an ANOVA of a Randomized Block Design (RBD), while the differences in the rate and extent of the DM degradability in-sacco determined using three rumen cannulated bulls were analyzed in an ANOVA of 3x3 Latin Square Design. The annual biomass yield of BSM-L tops (114.5 t/ha fresh; 22.7 t/ha DM) was significantly higher than that of WSM (29.0 t/ha fresh; 5.80 t/ha DM) or BSM-T (83.5 t/ha fresh; 16.0 t/ha DM). No significant difference in chemical composition (224.9, 222.4 & 223.8 g.kg-1 DM of crude protein (CP), respectively, and 450.9, 455.3 & 435.4 g.kg-1 DM of neutral detergent fiber, respectively) or nutritional value (47.4, 46.7 & 45.3% of potential, and 62.8, 64.2 and 63.6% of effective degradability of dry matter) was found for the cultivars. BSM-L had a significantly higher survivability (97.2%), prune number per plant (3.50) and RGR (15.6 mg DM/day) than WSM (25.0%, 2.30 & 4.20 mg DM/day) or BSM-T (55.6%, 3.10 & 10.8 mg DM/day) respectively. The hot and dry, and hot and humid climate having a Heat Index (HI) range of 25o to 35o F and monthly total rainfall of 130 mm to 332 mm were suitable for cultivation of all the Moringa cultivars. It was concluded that considering biomass production and its quality in terms of chemical composition and nutritional values, Black Seed Moringa (Moringa oleifera) may be cultivated as a plant fodder crop for the production of feed for ruminant animals

Acacia saligna as a supplementary feed for grazing desert sheep and goats

Acacia saligna, a leguminous tree, has a high crude protein content, remains green all year and can be grown in deserts using only runoff water. However, dry matter intake (DMI) by sheep and goats of A. saligna is low, presumably due to its high tannin content. It has been suggested that DMI could be increased by such methods as wilting of the forage and by neutralizing the negative effects of tannins by tannin-complexing agents. The purpose of this study was to determine DMI of supplementary A. saligna (phyllodes and small stems) by grazing sheep (∼ 50 kg) and goats (∼ 37 kg) when the animals were (1) offered wilted or fresh material (Expt 1); and (2) administered with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a tannin-binding agent (Expt 2). In this second experiment, there were three 14-day periods in which one group each of sheep and goats was on a regime of: No PEG–PEG–No PEG, whereas another group was on a regime of: No PEG–No PEG–PEG. In Expt 1, the DMI of A. saligna was statistically higher in goats than in sheep, but there was no difference in intake between fresh and wilted material. Average DMI of A. saligna, both fresh and wilted, was 124·1 g/day or 8·41 g/kg0·75 per day for goats and 94·1 g/day or 5·05 g/kg0·75 per day for sheep. Goats and sheep consuming fresh A. saligna gained more body mass than their respective controls; the difference was significantly greater in goats but not in sheep. In Expt 2, DMI of fresh A. saligna in the first period (before PEG) was 104·1 g/day or 7·16 g/kg0·75 per day for goats and 84·8 g/day or 4·51 g/kg0·75 per day for sheep. Administration of PEG during the second period resulted in an increase in DMI of 62% in goats and 83% in sheep. These animals maintained a high A. saligna intake in the third period when PEG was withdrawn. Goats and sheep that did not receive PEG in the second period had similar A. saligna intake as in the first period, but increased intake by 62% and 47%, respectively, with PEG in the third period. Overall, the two goat groups and two sheep groups consuming A. saligna lost less body mass than their respective controls; the difference was significantly less in sheep but not in goats. It was concluded that wilting A. saligna did not increase DMI. Administration of PEG increased A. saligna intake and the intake remained high after PEG was withdrawn. Offering A. saligna as a supplement had a positive effect on body mass change

Policymakers\u27 experience of a capacity-building intervention designed to increase their use of research: A realist process evaluation

Background: An intervention’s success depends on how participants interact with it in local settings. Process evaluation examines these interactions, indicating why an intervention was or was not effective, and how it (and similar interventions) can be improved for better contextual fit. This is particularly important for innovative trials like Supporting Policy In health with Research: an Intervention Trial (SPIRIT), where causal mechanisms are poorly understood. SPIRIT was testing a multi-component intervention designed to increase the capacity of health policymakers to use research. Methods: Our mixed-methods process evaluation sought to explain variation in observed process effects across the six agencies that participated in SPIRIT. Data collection included observations of intervention workshops (n = 59), purposively sampled interviews (n = 76) and participant feedback forms (n = 553). Using a realist approach, data was coded for context-mechanism-process effect configurations (retroductive analysis) by two authors. Results: Intervention workshops were very well received. There was greater variation of views regarding other aspects of SPIRIT such as data collection, communication and the intervention’s overall value. We identified nine inter-related mechanisms that were crucial for engaging participants in these policy settings: (1) Accepting the premise (agreeing with the study’s assumptions); (2) Self-determination (participative choice); (3) The Value Proposition (seeing potential gain); (4) ‘Getting good stuff’ (identifying useful ideas, resources or connections); (5) Self-efficacy (believing ‘we can do this!’); (6) Respect (feeling that SPIRIT understands and values one’s work); (7) Confidence (believing in the study’s integrity and validity); (8) Persuasive leadership (authentic and compelling advocacy from leaders); and (9) Strategic insider facilitation (local translation and mediation). These findings were used to develop tentative explanatory propositions and to revise the programme theory. Conclusion: This paper describes how SPIRIT functioned in six policy agencies, including why strategies that worked well in one site were less effective in others. Findings indicate a complex interaction between participants’ perception of the intervention, shifting contextual factors, and the form that the intervention took in each site. Our propositions provide transferable lessons about contextualised areas of strength and weakness that may be useful in the development and implementation of similar studies

Cardiosphere-derived cells suppress allogeneic lymphocytes by production of PGE2 acting via the EP4 receptor

derived cells (CDCs) are a cardiac progenitor cell population, which have been shown to possess cardiac regenerative properties and can improve heart function in a variety of cardiac diseases. Studies in large animal models have predominantly focussed on using autologous cells for safety, however allogeneic cell banks would allow for a practical, cost-effective and efficient use in a clinical setting. The aim of this work was to determine the immunomodulatory status of these cells using CDCs and lymphocytes from 5 dogs. CDCs expressed MHC I but not MHC II molecules and in mixed lymphocyte reactions demonstrated a lack of lymphocyte proliferation in response to MHC-mismatched CDCs. Furthermore, MHC-mismatched CDCs suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and activation in response to Concanavalin A. Transwell experiments demonstrated that this was predominantly due to direct cell-cell contact in addition to soluble mediators whereby CDCs produced high levels of PGE2 under inflammatory conditions. This led to down-regulation of CD25 expression on lymphocytes via the EP4 receptor. Blocking prostaglandin synthesis restored both, proliferation and activation (measured via CD25 expression) of stimulated lymphocytes. We demonstrated for the first time in a large animal model that CDCs inhibit proliferation in allo-reactive lymphocytes and have potent immunosuppressive activity mediated via PGE2

A systematic review of frameworks for the interrelationships of mental health evidence and policy in low- and middle-income countries

Background: The interrelationships between research evidence and policy-making are complex. Different theoretical frameworks exist to explain general evidence–policy interactions. One largely unexplored element of these interrelationships is how evidence interrelates with, and influences, policy/political agenda-setting. This review aims to identify the elements and processes of theories, frameworks and models on interrelationships of research evidence and health policy-making, with a focus on actionability and agenda-setting in the context of mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: A systematic review of theories was conducted based on the BeHeMOTh search method, using a tested and refined search strategy. Nine electronic databases and other relevant sources were searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature. Two reviewers screened the abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, extracted data and performed quality assessments. Analysis was based on a thematic analysis. The included papers had to present an actionable theoretical framework/model on evidence and policy interrelationships, such as knowledge translation or evidence-based policy, specifically target the agenda-setting process, focus on mental health, be from LMICs and published in English. Results: From 236 publications included in the full text analysis, no studies fully complied with our inclusion criteria. Widening the focus by leaving out ‘agenda-setting’, we included ten studies, four of which had unique conceptual frameworks focusing on mental health and LMICs but not agenda-setting. The four analysed frameworks confirmed research gaps from LMICs and mental health, and a lack of focus on agenda-setting. Frameworks and models from other health and policy areas provide interesting conceptual approaches and lessons with regards to agenda-setting. Conclusion: Our systematic review identified frameworks on evidence and policy interrelations that differ in their elements and processes. No framework fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Four actionable frameworks are applicable to mental health and LMICs, but none specifically target agenda-setting. We have identified agenda-setting as a research theory gap in the context of mental health knowledge translation in LMICs. Frameworks from other health/policy areas could offer lessons on agenda-setting and new approaches for creating policy impact for mental health and to tackle the translational gap in LMICs

Two-year outcomes after transcatheter or surgical aortic-valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trial showed that among high-risk patients with aortic stenosis, the 1-year survival rates are similar with transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical replacement. However, longer-term follow-up is necessary to determine whether TAVR has prolonged benefits. METHODS: At 25 centers, we randomly assigned 699 high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis to undergo either surgical aortic-valve replacement or TAVR. All patients were followed for at least 2 years, with assessment of clinical outcomes and echocardiographic evaluation. RESULTS: The rates of death from any cause were similar in the TAVR and surgery groups (hazard ratio with TAVR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 1.15; P=0.41) and at 2 years (Kaplan-Meier analysis) were 33.9% in the TAVR group and 35.0% in the surgery group (P=0.78). The frequency of all strokes during follow-up did not differ significantly between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.67 to 2.23; P=0.52). At 30 days, strokes were more frequent with TAVR than with surgical replacement (4.6% vs. 2.4%, P=0.12); subsequently, there were 8 additional strokes in the TAVR group and 12 in the surgery group. Improvement in valve areas was similar with TAVR and surgical replacement and was maintained for 2 years. Paravalvular regurgitation was more frequent after TAVR (P<0.001), and even mild paravalvular regurgitation was associated with increased late mortality (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A 2-year follow-up of patients in the PARTNER trial supports TAVR as an alternative to surgery in high-risk patients. The two treatments were similar with respect to mortality, reduction in symptoms, and improved valve hemodynamics, but paravalvular regurgitation was more frequent after TAVR and was associated with increased late mortality. (Funded by Edwards Lifesciences; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00530894.)