Vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in pork and their relationship to vitamin D status in pigs

The content of vitamin D in pork produced in conventional systems depends on the vitamin D concentration in the pig feed. Both vitamin D(3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25(OH)D(3)) are essential sources of dietary vitamin D; however, bioavailability assessed by serum 25(OH)D(3) concentration is reported to be different between the two sources. Furthermore, the relationship between serum 25(OH)D(3) level and the tissue content of vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D(3) is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of increasing the content of vitamin D in different pig tissues by increasing the levels of vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D(3) in the pig feed for 49 d before slaughter. Concurrently, the 25(OH)D(3) level in serum was investigated as a biomarker to assess the content of vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D(3) in pig tissues. Adipose tissue, white and red muscle, the liver and serum were sampled from pigs fed feed containing either vitamin D(3) or 25(OH)D(3) at 5, 20, 35 or 50 µg/kg feed for 7 weeks before slaughter. The tissue 25(OH)D(3) level was significantly higher in the pigs fed 25(OH)D(3) compared with those fed vitamin D(3), while the tissue vitamin D(3) level was higher in the pigs fed vitamin D(3) compared with those fed 25(OH)D(3). The content of 25(OH)D(3) in the different tissues fully correlated with the serum 25(OH)D(3) level, whereas the correlation between the tissue content of vitamin D(3) and serum 25(OH)D(3) was dependent on the source of the ingested vitamin D(3)

Draft Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa B3 Strains Isolated from a Cystic Fibrosis Patient Undergoing Antibiotic Chemotherapy

At treatment of wastewater of viscose rayon’s spinning produces the sediment – zinc-bearing sludge, a humidity content of 66 to 95 %. To date, it is deposited up to 2.5 million cubic meters of zinc-bearing sludge in the ponds of plants in Russia. In the paper chemical composition and particle size distribution of sludge of viscose rayon manufacturing (OJSC “Balakovskoye khimvolokno”, OJSC “Ryazanskoye khimvolokno”, OJSC “Sibvolokno”) are presented. The percentage of zinc in sludge is of 6 to 23 %. Investigations by methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are shown, that zinc is present in form of hydroxides, carbonates and silicates. Thermodynamic analysis of zinc dissolution of compounds, found in product of sludge roasting at a temperature of 850∘C, was conducted

Draft Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas aeruginosa B3 Strains Isolated from a Cystic Fibrosis Patient Undergoing Antibiotic Chemotherapy

Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently establishes chronic infections in the airways of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). Here, we report the draft genome sequences of four P. aeruginosa B3 strains isolated from a chronically infected CF patient undergoing antibiotic chemotherapy

Non-invasive estimation of QLV from the standard 12-lead ECG in patients with left bundle branch block

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment for patients with heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony, i.e., left bundle branch block (LBBB) ECG pattern. CRT resynchronizes ventricular contraction with a right ventricle (RV) and a left ventricle (LV) pacemaker lead. Positioning the LV lead in the latest electrically activated region (measured from Q wave onset in the ECG to LV sensing by the left pacemaker electrode [QLV]) is associated with favorable outcome. However, optimal LV lead placement is limited by coronary venous anatomy and the inability to measure QLV non-invasively before implantation. We propose a novel non-invasive method for estimating QLV in sinus-rhythm from the standard 12-lead ECG. Methods: We obtained 12-lead ECG, LV electrograms and LV lead position in a standard LV 17-segment model from procedural recordings from 135 standard CRT recipients. QLV duration was measured post-operatively. Using a generic heart geometry and corresponding forward model for ECG computation, the electrical activation pattern of the heart was fitted to best match the 12-lead ECG in an iterative optimization procedure. This procedure initialized six activation sites associated with the His-Purkinje system. The initial timing of each site was based on the directions of the vectorcardiogram (VCG). Timing and position of the sites were then changed iteratively to improve the match between simulated and measured ECG. Noninvasive estimation of QLV was done by calculating the time difference between Q-onset on the computed ECG and the activation time corresponding to centroidal epicardial activation time of the segment where the LV electrode is positioned. The estimated QLV was compared to the measured QLV. Further, the distance between the actual LV position and the estimated LV position was computed from the generic ventricular model. Results: On average there was no difference between QLV measured from procedural recordings and non-invasive estimation of QLV ( [Formula: see text] ). Median distance between actual LV pacing site and the estimated pacing site was 18.6 mm (IQR 17.3 mm). Conclusion: Using the standard 12-lead ECG and a generic heart model it is possible to accurately estimate QLV. This method may potentially be used to support patient selection, optimize implant procedures, and to simulate optimal stimulation parameters prior to pacemaker implantation