Regulation of protein synthesis in mammary glands of lactating dairy cows by starch and amino acids

The objective of this study was to evaluate local molecular adaptations proposed to regulate protein synthesis in the mammary glands. It was hypothesized that AA and energy-yielding substrates independently regulate AA metabolism and protein synthesis in mammary glands by a combination of systemic and local mechanisms. Six primiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows with ruminal cannulas were randomly assigned to 4 treatment sequences in a replicated incomplete 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment. Treatments were abomasal infusions of casein and starch in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. All animals received the same basal diet (17.6% crude protein and 6.61 MJ of net energy for lactation/kg of DM) throughout the study. Cows were restricted to 70% of ad libitum intake and abomasally infused for 36 h with water, casein (0.86 kg/d), starch (2 kg/d), or a combination (2 kg/d starch + 0.86 kg/d casein) using peristaltic pumps. Milk yields and composition were assessed throughout the study. Arterial and venous plasma samples were collected every 20 min during the last 8 h of infusion to assess mammary uptake. Mammary biopsy samples were collected at the end of each infusion and assessed for the phosphorylation state of selected intracellular signaling molecules that regulate protein synthesis. Animals infused with casein had increased arterial concentrations of AA, increased mammary extraction of AA from plasma, either no change or a trend for reduced mammary AA clearance rates, and no change in milk protein yield. Animals infused with starch had increased milk and milk protein yields, increased mammary plasma flow, reduced arterial concentrations of AA, and increased mammary clearance rates and net uptake of some AA. Infusions of starch increased plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-I. Starch infusions increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, consistent with changes in milk protein yields and plasma flow, respectively. Phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin was increased in response to starch only when casein was also infused. Thus, cell signaling molecules involved in the regulation of protein synthesis differentially responded to these nutritional stimuli. The hypothesized independent effects of casein and starch on animal metabolism and cell signaling were not observed, presumably because of the lack of a milk protein response to infused casein

Nutritional and economic aspects of feed utilization by dairy cows

x+287hlm.;23c

Knowledge about cancer screening programmes in Sardinia

Background. High level of attendance by population is considered a proof of the efficacy in the screening programmes. Public health aims to increase people's attendance to cancer screening. The study aimed at assessing the level of knowledge and awareness about screening of citizens in Cagliari, from June to July 2016. Methods. Recruitment took place near the atrium of the two main shopping centres of the city. The sample included 270 adults (138 men), 18-75 years old (mean age 46 years old). The information gathered from interviews were categorized by dichotomizing answers according to the knowledge and understanding of the discussed topics. Descriptive analysis was performed. The Chi-square test was used to assess gender and educational differences. Results. Results show that population's knowledge of screening is limited. Although the word "screening" is known, only half of the people who declared to have heard of this word know about the aim of screening. Colorectal cancer screening is the least known. Men and people with lower education are less informed than women and those with high education level. Conclusion. In order to raise knowledge and awareness about cancer screening, special attention should be paid to communication and to the use of plain language. Future action should highlight the benefit of the screening procedure and thus contributing to spread the cancer prevention culture. Gender and socioeconomic inequalities must be taken into account when planning screening communication campaigns. General practitioner are highly trusted by people. They could play a decisive role to promote screening attendance

The trophic fingerprint of marine fisheries

Biodiversity indicators provide a vital window on the state of the planet, guiding policy development and management. The most widely adopted marine indicator is mean trophic level (MTL) from catches, intended to detect shifts from high-trophic-level predators to low-trophic-level invertebrates and plankton-feeders. This indicator underpins reported trends in human impacts, declining when predators collapse ("fishing down marine food webs") and when low-trophic-level fisheries expand ("fishing through marine food webs"). The assumption is that catch MTL measures changes in ecosystem MTL and biodiversity. Here we combine model predictions with global assessments of MTL from catches, trawl surveys and fisheries stock assessments and find that catch MTL does not reliably predict changes in marine ecosystems. Instead, catch MTL trends often diverge from ecosystem MTL trends obtained from surveys and assessments. In contrast to previous findings of rapid declines in catch MTL, we observe recent increases in catch, survey and assessment MTL. However, catches from most trophic levels are rising, which can intensify fishery collapses even when MTL trends are stable or increasing. To detect fishing impacts on marine biodiversity, we recommend greater efforts to measure true abundance trends for marine species, especially those most vulnerable to fishing