Resumo: Pastagens são importantes fontes de nutrientes para produção de ruminantes com custo reduzido. Com a crescente demanda por alimentos, a maximização do rendimento dos pastos é necessária. Portanto o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as características morfogênicas e estruturais e a dinâmica de perfilhamento do capim-Marandu, manejado sob lotação contínua em diferentes alturas do dossel, além do impacto da suplementação com concentrados na dieta dos animais em pastejo. O experimento foi desenvolvido no setor de Forragicultura, pertencente ao Departamento de Zootecnia UNESP - Jaboticabal, durante os períodos de dezembro de 2007 a maio de 2008 e dezembro de 2008 a maio de 2009 em área de aproximadamente 20 hectares dividida em 18 piquetes. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso com dupla repetição no tempo (nos anos e meses) em esquema fatorial 3x2x2x4 (altura x suplementação x anos x meses). As três alturas estudadas foram 15, 25 e 35 cm com utilização de suplemento protéicoenergético e sal mineral. As taxas de senescência, alongamento de folhas e de colmo, filocrono, duração de vida da folha, comprimento final da lâmina, número de folhas vivas por perfilhos, e taxa de sobrevivência dos perfilhos do capim-Marandu apresentaram incremento com o aumento das alturas dos pastos. Verificou-se a maior média de número de folha vivas por pefilho (4,55 folhas vivas por perfilho), duração de vida das folhas (68 dias), taxa de alongamento de folhas (11,15 mm perfilho-1 dia-1), taxa de alongamento de colmo (0,58 mm perfilho-1 dia-1), comprimento final de folha (204,29 mm) e taxa de senescência (5,45 mm perfilho-1 dia-1), na altura de 35 cm. As características morfogênicas e estruturais, bem como da dinâmica populacional de perfilhos não foram influênciadas pelo uso do suplemento alimentar na dieta dos animais / Abstract: Pasture is an important resource of nutrients for ruminate production with low cost. With the increasing food necessity a grate pasture performance is a necessity. Therefore the objective of the present work was to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics and the tillering dynamics of Marandu grass, managed with continuous stocking in different heights, beyond supplementation with concentrated food in the animal diet. The experiment was carried out at Forragicultura sector in zootecnia department UNESP - Jaboticabal, during December of 2007 to May of 2008 and December of 2008 to May 2009, in an area of 20 hectares divided in 18 sub-areas. The experimental design used was complete randomized with double time repetition (years and moths) in factorial scheme 3x2x2x4 (height x supplementation x years x months). The three heights were 15, 25 e 35 cm with the use of supplementation and mineral salt. Senescence, leaves and stem elongation rate, filocrono, leave life time, leaf final length, number of leaves alive per tiller and surviving tiller rate of Marandu grass showed increase with the pasture heights increase. It was verified the biggest average of leaves alive per tillage (4.55 leaves alive per tillage), leave life time (68 days), leaves elongation rate (11.15 mm tillage-1 day-1), stem elongation rate (0.58 mm tillage-1 day-1), leaf final length (204,29 mm) and senescence rate (5.45 mm tillage-1 day-1) with 35 cm height. The morphogenic and structural characteristics, as the tillering dynamics were not influenced by the food supplementation in animal diet / Orientador: Ana Cláudia Ruggieri / Coorientador: Ricardo Andrade Reis / Banca: André Fischer Sbrissia / Banca: Pedro Luis da Costa Aguiar Alves / Mestre

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a leading cause of death worldwide. Previous research supports a relationship between vitamin D and TBI outcomes; however, they rely on animal studies. This review aimed to examine the neuroprotective role of vitamin D in humans with TBIs. A search was completed (PubMed and Scopus) following PRISMA guidelines to review publications investigating the relationship between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and TBI or the effect of vitamin D supplementation on TBI outcomes; 8 studies were identified. Patients had thefollowing ranges: 26-88% deficiency and 62-88% insufficiency compared to 24% and 49% of the general population. Supplementation reduced ventilation duration, improved the quality of consciousness, and significantly improved mini-mental status examination scores. Research showed high percentages VDD/insufficiency in TBI patients. Results remain consistent suggesting a neuroprotective effect of vitamin D. Further research is needed to understand the effect of vitamin D status and supplementation on TBIs.

This study examined the effects of carbohydrate supplementation on resistance exercise performance, cortisol levels, and creatine kinase levels in trained males undergoing energy restriction. Sixteen experimental subjects were randomly assigned to a carbohydrate (C, n=8) or placebo group (P, n=8). The remaining six subjects served as controls (N). Performance tests were done before (Trials 1 and 2) and after (Trial 3) energy restriction. Experimental subjects consumed a low calorie formula diet for three days (18 kcal-1 kg-1 d-1). They had blood drawn before and after T2 and T3. For T3, they consumed either a carbohydrate (1g kg-1) or a placebo beverage 30 minutes before exercise. There was a significant increase in resting cortisol levels following energy restriction. CK levels were significantly elevated after exercise, suggestion muscle damage. Carbohydrate supplementation had no effect on blood glucose, cortisol, creatine kinase, or RPE. The number of repetitions performed during the final set of bench press showed significant interaction between groups and time. P and N increased the number of repetitions performed from T2 to T3 (15.0 + 1.4 to 17.3 + 0.8 for P, 15.0 + 2.7 to 16.7 + 2.3 for N). C decreased the number of repetitions performed 17.6 + 0.7 to 17.3 + 1.0). The number of repetitions performed during the final set of leg extensions showed no interaction between groups and time (p=0.801). This study did not support a benefit of consuming carbohydrate prior to resistance exercise for dieting athletes but illustrates that energy restriction increases a catabolic hormone. / Master of Science

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No description available.

No description available.

<p>Methionine (Met) is an essential amino acid (EAA) and is often considered one of the first limiting amino acids (AA) for milk production in dairy cattle. In diets of lactating dairy cattle, in the United States (U.S.), Met is considered limiting due to its low abundance in commonly fed ingredients like soybean and corn and its high degradability in the rumen. To circumvent this problem, rumen-protected Met (RPM) products were produced and are currently supplemented to dairy cattle. Supplemental RPM products protect Met from degradation in the rumen and deliver Met to the intestine to be absorbed into circulation, increasing metabolizable Met supply. Due to Met important roles in protein synthesis and as a methyl donor, dairy producers have supplemented RPM for decades. The primary benefit for supplementing RPM is improved milk protein concentration, which is important as a majority of dairy farms in the U.S. are paid based on milk components. </p> <p>Research is focused on finding a more economically viable RPM product that provides similar or better bioavailability of Met compared to commercially available products. This has led to the development of a novel rumen-protected Met product (EMT 3.4) in which Met is added to the soluble portion of distillers and incorporated with distillers grains. The result is distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) with elevated Met concentration. Incorporating Met into the solubles portion of DDGS has shown to protect Met from degradation when analyzed in vitro but has not been assessed in vivo. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of EMT 3.4 via dilution of selenomethionine (SeMet) in milk protein and secondarily its impact on milk production and body composition. Dietary selenium (Se) yeast will deliver SeMet to the intestines and subsequently be absorbed. After adequate time feeding Se yeast, SeMet will label the different pools of Met similar to feeding radiolabeled nitrogen (N). Once pools of Met are labeled with SeMet, milk Se, a proxy for SeMet, can be measured in the milk. Concentrations of milk Se will fluctuate based on entry of Met, and as Met increases in the milk, the concentration of Se will decrease. To asses bioavailability milk Se is divided by milk N (Se:N) and the ratios of the treatments can be compared.</p> <p>The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of a novel rumen protected Met product and its effect on milk production and body composition compared to positive and negative controls. Dietary treatments consisted of a negative control treatment (NCT), not supplemented with RPM, a positive control treatment (PCT), supplemented Met via Smartamine M, and the experimental Met treatment (EMT), supplemented Met via EMT 3.4. Cattle fed PCT and EMT exhibited improved bioavailability indicated by a reduction in milk Se to milk N ratio when compared to NCT cows. Using milk Se concentration as an indicator of entry rate and amount of Met in the milk pool, PCT cows had a significantly lower milk Se concentration compared to NCT. Lower milk Se concentration of PCT cows indicates greater amount of Met in milk and subsequently a significantly greater milk protein yield was observed in PCT. Although EMT had similar bioavailability to PCT, the EMT cows had an intermediate response in milk Se but no production responses. The lack of production responses in EMT was observed alongside an elevated milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and a negative change in longissimus dorsi depth (LDD). A negative change in body weight (BW) was observed in NCT cows. Changes in body composition, as the ones observed in this study, are not usually observed unless cattle are energy or protein deficient. Given that diets of this study were formulated to meet requirements for producing 40 kg/day of milk and on average cattle were producing less, it is unlikely that cattle were energy or protein deficient. Results demonstrated that EMT provided similar Met bioavailability as Smartamine M in PCT demonstrated by responses in milk Se:N. The PCT tended to increase milk yield and increased milk protein, whereas EMT provided no observable production responses in this study.</p> <p><br></p>

Dairy cattle characteristically exhibit decreased milk yield and reproductive performance, as well as increased uterine infection rates during periods of high stress. Chromium supplementation has demonstrated efficacy as a feed additive capable of reducing the detrimental effects of stress. As such, its application in dairy production may help to alleviate economic losses associated with seasonal heat stress and the stress experienced during the early postpartum period. Therefore, the objective of the work described in this thesis was to evaluate the potential benefits of short-duration, high-dose chromium (Cr) supplementation in early postpartum dairy cows during the summer months. Multiparous, early postpartum cows (20.95 ± 0.21 DIM, 658.29 ± 13.61 kg) were assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1) normal TMR (Con; n=10) and 2) normal TMR + Cr propionate supplementation (CrPro; 12 mg/h/d Cr; n=12). Body weight (BW), milk yield, and feed intake were measured each day of the experiment. Ambient temperature and humidity were monitored, and the temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated for the duration of the study as an indicator of the severity of the heat stress experienced by the cows. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed every three days to assess ovarian follicular and luteal dynamics. Respiration rates (RR), rectal temperatures (RT), and blood glucose were recorded concurrently with ovarian ultrasonography. Plasma was collected and used for analysis of progesterone concentrations. Every six days in conjunction with ultrasonography, endometrial cytology samples were collected via cytobrush from each cow to determine the incidences of subclinical endometritis (SCE), as determined by polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) %. There were no treatment-based differences in RR, RT, blood glucose, feed intake, milk yield, or BW. However, the supplementation strategy did improve reproductive parameters. Within the Con group, there was an increase in PMNL % between samples five and six. Furthermore, at cytology sample six, the Con group had a greater percentage of PMNL than the CrPro group (P=0.01). Chromium consumption did not affect the counts or sizes of most follicles, with the exception being the 6-9 mm category where the CrPro group had a greater average diameter and tended to have more follicles in this category. While CL numbers or size did not differ between treatments, the ratio of progesterone (P4) to corpus luteum (CL) volume was greater in the CrPro group compared to the Con group (P=0.03). The results from this study indicate that the proposed supplementation strategy does not influence DMI or milk yield in cows experiencing stress. Nonetheless, short-duration, high-dose Cr supplementation strategy could benefit reproductive performance and thereby limit economic losses experienced by dairy producers during periods of stress. / Master of Science / Dairy producers continue to experience monetary losses due to the decrease in production performance by dairy cows resulting from physiological changes in response to stress. Elevated ambient temperature and humidity conditions can lead to heat stress, which has been found to decrease both milk and reproductive performance on dairy operations. The period after calving, known as the postpartum period, can also lead to metabolic changes in a cow due to the stress of giving birth and beginning to produce milk. Chromium is an essential trace mineral that can be supplemented with cattle feed to improve the impacts of such stressful periods on production parameters. This study evaluated the effect of a short-duration, high-dose chromium supplementation strategy on reproduction and lactation of early postpartum dairy cattle during summer months. Twenty-two cows were assigned to two treatment groups: control (standard feed only) and chromium supplement (standard feed plus chromium propionate supplementation). Cows receiving the chromium supplement did not experience any changes in respiration rate, rectal temperature, blood glucose levels, feed intake, milk yield, or body weight. Reproductive analyses determined that cows receiving the chromium supplementation had a lower number of immune cells present in the uterus by the end of the experiment, which may be indicative of a healthier uterine environment. Chromium supplemented cows also had a greater level of progesterone concentration to corpus luteum volume compared to cows in the control group. These results indicate that the short-duration, high-dose chromium supplementation strategy could benefit reproductive performance and limit losses experienced by dairy cows under stress conditions.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder commonly affecting women of reproductive age. Diagnostic criteria include abnormal menstrual cycles, elevated androgens, and cystic ovaries, although insulin resistance is also common. PCOS puts patients at an elevated risk for complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so proper management of this condition is essential. It has been found that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among the PCOS patient population, therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation as a treatment for PCOS. A meta-analysis was performed using six randomized, placebo-controlled trials that each examined the effects of vitamin D administration in PCOS women compared to a control group. Subgroups of low doses (50,000 IU of vitamin D every 14 – 21 days) and high doses (50,000 IU of vitamin D every 7 days) were employed when possible. Analysis revealed that vitamin D significantly improved fasting plasma glucose and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) when given in a low dose. Vitamin D also significantly improved insulin levels overall, although the low dose proved more effective. Insignificant yet marginal improvements were observed in total testosterone and insulin sensitivity (QUICKI). These results indicate that vitamin D can benefit some of the metabolic and endocrine parameters that are typically abnormal in PCOS. On this basis, health care providers are urged to test the vitamin D levels of their patients and encourage supplementation when deficiencies are present, as vitamin D may provide a low cost, low risk treatment to patients.

Title: Effect of protein (amino acid) ingestion on muscle protein synthesis following resistance exercise. Purpose: The main objective of this thesis is to verify the three basic factors of the amount, type and timing of protein intake based on scientific studies and literature, to provide the most objective and accurate information and procedure on the methodology of nutrition and supplementation associated with the intake of protein / amino acids after strength training and how it all affects muscle synthesis. Summery: The theoretical part of the thesis, discusses the factors affecting muscle protein synthesis, which stimulate growth and tissue regeneration, based on optimal stress response. Logically, it starts from general, i.e. the explanation of terms such as muscle tissue, the stimulation of muscle tissue and its manifestations and changes, nutrition factors and muscle stimulation, the mechanism of dietary factors (proteins/amino acids), specificity of protein/ amino acids in their application to answer the three key issues, which are summarized in the section named scientific studies, which focuses on the effect of intake of protein/ amino acids, in relationship to the efficiency of protein synthesis after strength training. The section summarizes, in detail, the questions of timing,...