This experiment was to evaluate the effect of different inclusion levels and adaptation periods on digestible energy (DE) and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of chemical constituents in diets supplemented with wheat bran. Thirty-six crossbred barrows with an initial body weight of 85.0±2.1 kg were allotted to 6 diets in a completely randomized block design with 6 pigs per diet. Diets included a corn-soybean basal diet and 5 additional diets which were formulated by replacing corn and soybean meal in control diet with 15%, 25%, 35%, 45%, or 55% wheat bran. The experiment lasted for 34 d, and feces were collected from d 8 to 13, 15 to 20, 22 to 27, and 29 to 34 respectively. The results showed no interaction effects between inclusion level and adaptation period on the concentration of DE and the ATTD of gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) in wheat bran. The DE value and ATTD of GE in wheat bran decreased (p<0.05) significantly as the inclusion level of wheat bran increased, but no difference in the ATTD of CP was observed. The ATTD of CP in wheat bran increased (p<0.10) significantly as the adaptation period for pigs was prolonged. In addition, the concentration of DE and the ATTD of GE in wheat bran decreased linearly (p<0.05) when pigs were fed either an increased level of wheat bran or given an increased adaptation period to the diets. Wheat bran showed a negative effect on the concentration of DE and ATTD of GE and CP as the inclusion level increased. A longer adaptation period can gradually increase the DE value and ATTD of GE and CP in wheat bran, and at least 14 to 21 d of adaptation might be recommended for growing-finishing pigs fed the high-fiber diets with wheat bran.

Background Acupuncture may improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with various disorders, but its efficacy in diabetic gastroparesis is unclear. Objective To evaluate the short-term effects of acupuncture on gastric emptying and gastroparesis symptoms in patients with diabetic gastroparesis. Methods In a single-blind controlled crossover trial, 25 patients with diabetic gastroparesis were randomly assigned to undergo 1 week of real acupuncture (RA) treatment followed by 1 week of sham acupuncture (SA) treatment, or vice versa, with a washout of 1 month in between. Before and after each intervention, gastric retention, the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c levels were measured. Results 21 patients completed the study. Compared with SA treatment, RA treatment was associated with significantly greater reductions in gastric retention at 2 h (−11.1±7.0%; 95% CI −13.6% to −6.2%; p<0.01) and at 4 h (−5.0±2.8%; 95% CI −6.0% to −0.2%; p=0.04) and in GCSI score (−8.0±3.4; 95% CI −8.4 to −2.8; p<0.01). There were no significant differences in FBG and HbA1c levels between RA and SA treatments. Conclusions In patients with diabetic gastroparesis, 1 week of short-term manual acupuncture reduces gastric retention and improves gastroparesis symptoms.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming a prevalent disease in developing countries with no effective therapy. Isoflavones such as genistein have been shown to prevent NASH in a rat model, but the effects of neonatal exposure to genistein on lipid metabolism have been rarely studied. In the present study, three doses of genistein (30, 300 or 1200 μg/rat per d) were injected (subcutaneously) into neonatal male Sprague–Dawley rats at postnatal days 1–5. After weaning, these rats were allowed free access to a high-fat diet for 6 weeks. The results demonstrate that NASH was induced by high fat feeding in the control rats, whereas genistein-treated rats displayed smaller body weight, and lower hepatic inflammation and steatosis. The mid dose of genistein was most effective. Neonatal exposure to genistein also resulted in a lower incidence of apoptotic cells in the liver. Additionally, neonatal genistein-treated rats showed lower hepatic expression of fatty acid synthase and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, but higher expression of PPARα, indicative of lower rates of lipid synthesis and higher rates of β-oxidation. These results indicate that neonatal treatment with genistein has a prolonged effect on hepatic lipid metabolism that is maintained post-weaning, offering a potential approach for the prevention of hepatic steatosis and NASH.

This study was conducted to determine and compare available energy and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and AA in 9 samples of defatted rice bran (DFRB) fed to growing pigs and to generate prediction equations for DE and ME based on chemical analysis. In Exp. 1, 60 crossbred growing pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; 40.7 ± 3.5 kg BW) were fed 1 of 10 diets in a completely randomized design to determine the available energy of DFRB. The diets included a corn-soybean meal–basal diet and 9 experimental diets formulated by replacing the corn and soybean meal with 29.16% DFRB. In Exp. 2, 6 growing pigs (initial BW = 28.5 ± 2.8 kg) were surgically equipped with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and arranged in a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 diets and 6 periods. The diets included an N-free diet based on cornstarch and sucrose and 5 experimental diets containing 60% DFRB as the sole source of AA. Chromic oxide (0.3%) was used as an indigestible marker. Among the 9 samples, the concentrations of ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), NDF, ADF, starch, Ca, and P averaged 1.33 (0.50% to 4.14%), 14.54 (9.78% to 23.85%), 28.62 (20.19% to 38.85%), 14.22 (9.32% to 23.99%), 38.80% (30.62% to 47.55%), 0.16% (0.09% to 0.24%), and 1.96% (1.11% to 2.28%), respectively. The average DE and ME were 2,643 and 2,476 kcal/kg DM, respectively, and ranged from 2,039 to 3,157 kcal/kg DM and 1,931 to 2,978 kcal/kg DM, respectively. In Exp. 2, there were significant differences in the AID and SID of CP and most AA except for His, Tyr, and Met (P < 0.05). The AID and SID of CP averaged 67.75% and 76.37%, respectively. The digestibility of Met was the greatest, averaging 86.15% and 90.08% for AID and SID, respectively. The AID and SID of Lys ranged from 51.88% to 71.43% (mean = 63.27%) and from 61.93% to 79.98% (mean = 72.97%), respectively. These results indicated that there is significant variability in chemical composition, energy content, and the SID and AID of CP and most AA among the selected DFRB. The DE and ME of DFRB are primarily related to their NDF and starch concentrations.