ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE STRESSORS AND OUTCOMES: MODERATING ROLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIAL SUPPORT

Employees in the health sector perform their roles in highly stressful conditions. Multiple stressors at job influence their personal and professional life. The present research examined the moderating effect of social support between role stressors and outcomes. Sample consisted of 300 paramedics from 20 districts of Khyber Puhktoonkhwa (KPK) collected through stratified random sampling design. Organizational Role Stressor Scale Social Support Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Job Satisfaction Scale and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire were used. Moderating Regression analysis revealed significant effect of organization stressors on outcomes among paramedics. The current investigation has applied value for the paramedics working in health institutions

Effect of once-a-day milk feeding on behavior and growth performance of pre-weaning calves

Objective The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of once-a-day milk feeding on growth performance and routine behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Methods At 22nd day of age, twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 12/treatment) based on milk feeding frequency (MF): i) 3 L of milk feeding two times a day; ii) 6 L of milk feeding once a day. The milk feeding amount was reduced to half for all calves between 56 and 60 days of age and weaning was done at 60 days of age. To determine the increase in weight and structural measurements, each calf was weighed and measured at 3 weeks of age and then at weaning. The daily behavioral activity of each calf was assessed from the 22nd day of age till weaning (60th day of age) through Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek (NEDAP) software providing real-time data through a logger fitted on the calf’s foot. Results There was no interaction (p≥0.17) between MF and sex of the calves for routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. Similarly, there was no effect of MF on routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. However, the sex of the calves affected body weight gain in calves. Male calves had 27% greater total body weight and average daily gain than female calves. There was no effect of the sex of the calves on behavioral measurements. Collectively, in the current study, no negative effects of a once-a-day milk feeding regimen were found on routine behavioral and growth parameters of preweaning calves in group housing. Conclusion Once-a-day milk feeding can be safely adopted in preweaning calves from 22nd day of age

A novel insertion mutation in the cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-1 (CDMP1) gene underlies Grebe-type chondrodysplasia in a consanguineous Pakistani family

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Grebe-type chondrodysplasia (GCD) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by severe acromesomelic limb shortness with non-functional knob like fingers resembling toes. Mutations in the cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein 1 (<it>CDMP1</it>) gene cause Grebe-type chondrodysplasia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Genotyping of six members of a Pakistani family with Grebe-type chondrodysplasia, including two affected and four unaffected individuals, was carried out by using polymorphic microsatellite markers, which are closely linked to <it>CDMP1 </it>locus on chromosome 20q11.22. To screen for a mutation in <it>CDMP1 </it>gene, all of its coding exons and splice junction sites were PCR amplified from genomic DNA of affected and unaffected individuals of the family and sequenced directly in an ABI Prism 310 automated DNA sequencer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genotyping results showed linkage of the family to <it>CDMP1 </it>locus. Sequence analysis of the <it>CDMP1 </it>gene identified a novel four bases insertion mutation (1114insGAGT) in exon 2 of the gene causing frameshift and premature termination of the polypeptide.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We describe a 4 bp novel insertion mutation in <it>CDMP1 </it>gene in a Pakistani family with Grebe-type chondrodysplasia. Our findings extend the body of evidence that supports the importance of <it>CDMP1 </it>in the development of limbs.</p

Milk protein responses in dairy cows to changes in postruminal supplies of arginine, isoleucine, and valine

An ideal profile of essential AA (EAA) can improve the efficiency of metabolizable protein (or PDIE, the equivalent in the INRA feeding system) utilization in dairy cows. Compared with other EAA, existing recommendations for the requirements of Arg, Ile, and Val are few and inconsistent. Four multiparous Holstein dairy cows at 22 +/- 6 wk of lactation received 4 treatments (duodenal infusions of 445 +/- 22.4 g/d of an EAA mixture complementing a low-protein diet in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with a period length of 1 wk). The control treatment provided a balanced supply (in % of PDIE) of 5.1% Arg, 5.2% Ile, and 5.9% Val, whereas in the 3 subsequent treatments of -Arg, -Ile, and -Val, the concentrations of these 3 EAA were reduced to 3.5, 4.1, and 4.5%, respectively. All treatments were made isonitrogenous and were balanced to provide 7 other EAA (Lys, Met, His, Len, Phe, Thr, and Trp), according to the recommendations described in the literature. Combined, the diet and the infusions provided 14.3 +/- 0.1% crude protein on a dry matter basis, and 66.0 +/- 1.2 g of PDIE/Mcal of net energy for lactation. Neither dry matter intake (19.2 kg/d) nor milk yield (30.4 +/- 0.4 kg/d) was affected by treatments. The -Arg and -Ile treatments did not modify milk protein synthesis or the efficiency of N utilization. However, the -Val treatment decreased milk protein content by 4.9% and milk crude protein content by 4.3%, and tended to decrease the efficiency of N use for milk protein yield by 3.7% (compared with the control). These effects of Val were related to a decrease in the plasma concentration of Val as well as a trend toward decreasing plasma concentrations of Met, His, and the sum of all EAA and nonessential AA in the -Val treatment, which indicates a different utilization of all AA in response to the Val deficit. The deletion of Ile, compared with the deletion of Val, tended to decrease the milk protein-to-fat ratio by 3.8%. In conclusion, the supply of Arg at 3.5% of PDIE was not limiting for milk protein synthesis. The slight effect on the milk protein-to-fat ratio caused by decreasing the supply of Ile suggests a need to reevaluate the Ile requirement more precisely. A low Val supply could be limiting for milk protein synthesis, provided that the requirements of Lys, Met, and His are met

Effect of increasing dietary metabolizable protein on nitrogen efficiency in Holstein dairy cows

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the effects of increasing levels of metabolizable protein (MP) on lactation performance and nitrogen (N) efficiencies in lactating dairy cows. Methods Nine multiparous cows in mid lactation [113±25 days in milk] received three treatments in a 3×3 Latin square design with a period length of 21 days. The treatments were three diets, designed to provide similar energy and increasing supply of MP (g/d) (2,371 [low], 2,561 [medium], and 2,711 [high] with corresponding crude protein levels [%]) 15.2, 18.4, and 20.9, respectively. Results Increasing MP supplies did not modify dry matter intake, however, it increased milk protein, fat, and lactose yield linearly. Similarly, fat corrected milk increased linearly (9.3%) due to an increase in both milk yield (5.2%) and milk fat content (7.8%). No effects were observed on milk protein and lactose contents across the treatments. Milk nitrogen efficiency (MNE) decreased from 0.26 to 0.20; whereas, the metabolic efficiency of MP decreased from 0.70 to 0.60 in low to high MP supplies, respectively. The concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increased linearly in response to increasing MP supplies. Conclusion Increasing MP supplies resulted in increased milk protein yield; however, a higher BUN and low MNE indicated an efficient utilization of dietary protein at low MP supplies

Publications in paediatric critical care medicine: Trends from Pakistan

Objective: To analyse the characteristics of research published from Pakistan on paediatric critical care medicine.Methods: The exploratory study was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi from July 2021 to March 2022, and comprised a comprehensive search on MedLine, Google Scholar and PakMediNet databases for literature from Pakistan pertaining to paediatric critical care medicine published between January 2010 and December 2021. The search was done using appropriate key words. Conference abstracts and papers authored by paediatric intensivists with unrelated topics were excluded. Data was extracted on a structured spreadsheet, and was subjected to bibliometric analysis. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.Results: Of the 7,514 studies identified, 146(1.94%) were analysed. These were published in 51 journals with a frequency of 13.3 per year. There were 107(73.3%) original articles, 96(65.8%) were published in PubMed-indexed journals, and 35(24%) were published in locally indexed journals. Further, 100(69.4%) papers were published from 5 paediatric intensive care units in Karachi, and 81(56%) were contributed by a single private-sector hospital. The total citation count was 1072, with 2(1.4%) papers receiving \u3e50 citations. There was a linear trend with some skewing and an annual growth rate of \u3e15%.Conclusion: Publications from Pakistan related to paediatric critical care medicine showed positive linear growth. There was a paucity of multicentre studies, randomised controlled trials, and high-impact publications

Effects of peripartal glucose precursor supplementation on lactation performance and metabolic health of primiparous and multiparous dairy cows

Objective Hyperketonemia remains a major metabolic issue of serious milk production and a major health concern in early lactation cows. Oral supplementation of glucose precursors (GP) can be used to prevent hyperketonemia in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to compare the beneficial effects of orally supplementing a mixture of GP on metabolic health indicators and milk production status of primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) dairy cows. Methods Twenty-eight Holstein cows were blocked by expected date of parturition, previous lactation yield, and parity. The cows were randomly allocated to one of the four treatment groups (n = 7 cows/group) based on their parity and GP supplementation: i) PP cows fed basal diet only (PP-CON), ii) PP cows with oral supplementation of GP (PP-GP), iii) MP cows fed basal diet only (MP-CON), and iv) MP cows with oral supplementation of GP (MP-GP). Glucose precursor (glycoline liquid) was orally drenched (300 mL/d) in GP cows from 7 days prepartum through 7 days postpartum. Other than GP supplementation, all cows were fed similar pre- and postpartum basal diets. Results In both pre- and postpartum periods, serum glucose concentration was increased, whereas β-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acids were decreased in GP cows compared with the CON cows. Milk yield and milk components were statistically not different between GP and CON cows over the first 9 week of lactation. The yield of actual milk, energy-corrected milk, 63-days cumulative milk, colostrum yield, and calf birth weight remained higher in MP cows compared with PP cows. Conclusion Oral drenching of GP around calving can be recommended to successfully improve the metabolic health and reduce the negative effects of hyperketonemia not only in MP but also in PP dairy cows

Effect of Prepartum Dietary Energy Level on Production and Reproduction in Nili Ravi Buffaloes

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prepartum dietary energy level on postpartum production and reproduction in Nili Ravi buffaloes (n = 21). The buffaloes were offered low energy (LE: 1.31 Mcal/kg DM NEL (net energy for lactation)), medium energy (ME: 1.42 Mcal/kg DM NEL) or high energy (HE: 1.54 Mcal/kg DM NEL) diet for 63 days prepartum, and received the same lactation diet (LD: 1.22 Mcal/kg DM NEL) during 14 weeks postpartum. The effects of dietary energy level and week were analyzed with Proc GLIMMIX model. Dry matter intake (DMI) was lower in buffaloes fed the LE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or HE diet. Calf birth weight (CBW) was higher in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. Milk production was similar in buffaloes fed the HE, ME or LE diet within 14 weeks postpartum and throughout the lactation. Milk fat was higher in buffaloes fed the LE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or HE diet. Milk protein and lactose yields was high in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. Body condition score was high in HE and was affected by diet × week interactions during pre and postpartum period. The concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and triglycerides in serum was lowest in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with the buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. The buffaloes fed the HE diet had early uterine involution (UI), first estrus, short dry days, and calving interval (CI) compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. None of buffaloes fed the LE diet exhibited estrus during the first 14 weeks postpartum compared with buffaloes fed the ME or HE diet. In conclusion, prepartum feeding of high energy diet can be helpful in improving the postpartum productive and reproductive performance in Nili Ravi buffaloes

Effect of FO replacement with SFO on serum lipid profile and plasma cortisol levels in <i>L</i>. <i>rohita</i>.

Effect of FO replacement with SFO on serum lipid profile and plasma cortisol levels in L. rohita.</p