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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Factors influencing intake of high urea-containing rations by lactating dairy cows.

In a series of experiments we investigated effects of several factors on intake of urea by lactating dairy cows. Cows given an unfamiliar ingredient or altered moisture in the ration reduced their intake, and this effect was attributed to a newness factor. Addition of urea to a ration may have a similar effect. An experimental design providing both no-choice and two-choice data was devised to minimize the effect of newness. When urea was isolated physically by pellets coated with ground corn, cows selected against urea-containing pellets on a two-choice basis and reduced intake on a no-choice basis. When the choice was between two urea-containing rations, cows preferred the pellets in which urea flavor and odor should have been most evident. Urea odor in the feedbox or urea in the drinking water did not reduce feed intake. Eating rate of a 2.5% urea-containing ration over two daily 30-min feeding periods was about one-half that of a non-urea ration. This effect was evident during the first 5-min eating interval. Administration of urea solution into the rumen prior to feeding a nonurea ration markedly reduced subsequent intake. Reticulum pH and ammonia indicated possible sublethal ammonia toxicity. Intake and eating rate were depressed and reticulum pH was elevated when cows were fed a ration with 2.5% urea versus 1% urea or nonurea rations. Elevated reticulum ammonia occurred on both 1 and 2.5% urea-containing rations. Cows not previously exposed to urea-containing rations reduced intake and eating rate when fed rations with 2.0 and 2.5% urea. Intake reduction was not comparable to that by cows preconditioned to urea rations. Upon third exposure to 2.5% urea in the ration, cows reduced and ceased intake but readily consumed a nonurea ration. Cows require preconditioning to develop a negative aversion to rations containing high urea, perhaps through a mechanism of sublethal ammonia toxicity.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1996

Rationing health care: views from general practice.

General practitioners (GPs) in the United Kingdom are central to the commissioning of health care services. A qualitative study of their views was therefore designed, which incorporated an in-depth (open) interview technique carried out on a 20% sample of all GPs (n = 100) in one United Kingdom Health District. The data from these interviews indicated that GPs were aware of, but had mixed feelings about the need for rationing. They expressed disquiet about the dilemma faced in rationing health care at the time of the consultation and readily associated issues of cost in their practice with rationing. Some of the currently adopted methods of rationing (waiting lists, co-payments and ability to pay) were commented upon. The respondents also made suggestions on how rationing could be carried out, which included: maximizing efficiency to reduce the need for rationing; using a third party committee to make rationing decisions, with a membership of clinicians, managers, and possibly public representatives, and; being explicit about how rationing is done. Fundholding brought rationing decisions to the fore, and worried most who discussed it in the context of rationing. The conclusion of this paper is that current implicit rationing policies in the National Health Service are flawed as they assume that GPs will ration health care at the time of the consultation. The involvement of GPs in the rationing process is important (particularly given the present expansion of GP fundholding), so there is a need for an alternative to the present system.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence and determinants of physician bedside rationing: data from Europe.

BACKGROUND: Bedside rationing by physicians is controversial. The debate, however, is clouded by lack of information regarding the extent and character of bedside rationing. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We developed a survey instrument to examine the frequency, criteria, and strategies used for bedside rationing. Content validity was assessed through expert assessment and scales were tested for internal consistency. The questionnaire was translated and administered to General Internists in Norway, Switzerland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Logistic regression was used to identify the variables associated with reported rationing. RESULTS: Survey respondents (N=656, response rate 43%) ranged in age from 28 to 82, and averaged 25 years in practice. Most respondents (82.3%) showed some degree of agreement with rationing, and 56.3% reported that they did ration interventions. The most frequently mentioned criteria for rationing were a small expected benefit (82.3%), low chances of success (79.8%), an intervention intended to prolong life when quality of life is low (70.6%), and a patient over 85 years of age (70%). The frequency of rationing by clinicians was positively correlated with perceived scarcity of resources (odds ratio [OR]=1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 1.16), perceived pressure to ration (OR=2.14, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.01), and agreement with rationing (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.23). CONCLUSION: Bedside rationing is prevalent in all surveyed European countries and varies with physician attitudes and resource availability. The prevalence of physician bedside rationing, which presents physicians with difficult moral dilemmas, highlights the importance of discussions regarding how to ration care in the most ethically justifiable manner.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effect of T(3) treatment and food ration on hepatic deiodination and conjugation of thyroid hormones in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

We studied the 7-day effects of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)) hyperthyroidism (induced by 12 ppm T(3) in food) and food ration (0, 0.5, or 2% body weight/day) on in vitro hepatic glucuronidation, sulfation, and deiodination of thyroxine (T(4)), T(3), and 3,3', 5'-triiodothyronine (rT(3)). T(3) treatment doubled plasma T(3) with no change in plasma T(4), depressed hepatic low-K(m) (1 nM) outer-ring deiodination (ORD) of T(4), induced low-K(m) (1 nM) inner-ring deiodination (IRD) of both T(4) and T(3) but did not alter high-K(m) (1 microM) rT(3)ORD, glucuronidation, or sulfation of T(4), T(3), or rT(3). Plasma T(4) levels were greater for 0 and 2% rations than for a 0.5% ration. Fasting decreased low-K(m) T(4)ORD activity and increased high-K(m) rT(3)ORD activity but did not alter T(4)IRD or T(3)IRD activities. T(4), T(3), and rT(3) glucuronidation were greater for 0 and 0.5% rations than for a 2% ration. T(3) glucuronidation was greater for a 0.5% ration than for a 0% ration. T(3) and rT(3) sulfation were greater for a 2% ration than for a 0 or a 0.5% ration; ration did not change T(4) sulfation. We conclude that (i) modest experimental T(3) hyperthyroidism induces T(3) autoregulation by adjusting hepatic low-K(m) ORD and IRD activities but not high-K(m) rT(3)ORD or conjugation activities; (ii) in contrast, ration level changes both deiodination and conjugation pathways, suggesting that the response to ration does not solely reflect altered T(3) production; (iii) deiodination and conjugation appear complementary in regulating thyroidal status in response to ration; and (iv) high-K(m) rT(3)ORD in trout differs from rat type I deiodination in that it does not respond to T(3) hyperthyroidism and it increases, rather than decreases, its activity during fasting.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Sugar beet mash silage as a component of a total-mixed-ration for dairy cows--effects on parameters of digestion and animal performance.

Sugar beet mash silage (BMS) was offered in amounts up to 35% of DM to dairy cows as a component of a total-mixed-ration (TMR). Barley and molasses in the control ration were replaced by BMS half in ration BMS 1/2 and in total in ration BMS 1/1 on the basis of the calculated contents of net energy for lactation. Two trials were carried out. In trial I each ration was tested on parameters of rumen fermentation and digestibility of crude nutrients using 4 Holstein cows with rumen fistula. Chewing activity was tested on 2 Holstein cows for each ration. With the BMS rations the ruminal NH3 concentration was lower and the drop in pH was less than in the control ration. The pattern of volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid from the BMS groups tended towards more propionic and butyric acid. The feeding of BMS showed no negative impact on chewing and rumination. Energy digestibility raised significantly from 59.8% in the control ration to 72.6% in the BMS 1/1 ration. In trial II the same rations were fed in a change-overdesign to a herd of 24 Holstein cows to test feed intake and animal performance. The results showed no significant effects of BMS rations on DM intake and milk production. The results of both trials indicate that even high amounts of cereals can be replaced by BMS without negative effects on rumen fermentation, milk yield and milk composition with slight drop in fat content. For a better handling of BMS, it is of advantage to include it in a TMR.

Ammonia↗
PubMed1997

Should informed consent be based on rational beliefs?

Our aim is to expand the regulative ideal governing consent. We argue that consent should not only be informed but also based on rational beliefs. We argue that holding true beliefs promotes autonomy. Information is important insofar as it helps a person to hold the relevant true beliefs. But in order to hold the relevant true beliefs, competent people must also think rationally. Insofar as information is important, rational deliberation is important. Just as physicians should aim to provide relevant information regarding the medical procedures prior to patients consenting to have those procedures, they should also assist patients to think more rationally. We distinguish between rational choice/action and rational belief. While autonomous choice need not necessarily be rational, it should be based on rational belief. The implication for the doctrine of informed consent and the practice of medicine is that, if physicians are to respect patient autonomy and help patients to choose and act more rationally, not only must they provide information, but they should care more about the theoretical rationality of their patients. They should not abandon their patients to irrationality. They should help their patients to deliberate more effectively and to care more about thinking rationally. We illustrate these arguments in the context of Jehovah's Witnesses refusing life-saving blood transfusions. Insofar as Jehovah's Witnesses should be informed of the consequences of their actions, they should also deliberate rationally about these consequences.

Christianity↗
PubMed1995

Retention and distribution of aflatoxin in tissues of chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated poultry rations amended with soil.

The effects of silty clay loam on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) retention and distribution were investigated when added to diets of chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated rations. One hundred 14-d-old White Leghorn chicks were fed a control ration (clean corn), a low aflatoxin-contaminated ration (120 ng AFB1/g), a high aflatoxin-contaminated ration (700 ng AFB1/g), or a high aflatoxin-contaminated ration (700 ng AFB1/g) + 10% or 25% soil. Livers, crops and breast muscles in each group were pooled and analyzed for AFB1 and metabolites. The addition of soil significantly reduced the AFB1 levels in the livers, although the reduction was less when 10% soil was fed compared with the 25% soil feeding. AFB1 concentrations in the crops of chicks fed high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil was statistically indistinguishable from the chicks in the other groups. AFB1 concentrations were significantly reduced in the breast muscles of chicks fed 10% or 25% soil compared to chicks fed the high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil. Aflatoxin B2 was detected only in livers, crops and breast muscles from chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was detected only in livers and crops of chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil and only in breast muscles of chicks fed the low aflatoxin-contaminated ration and high aflatoxin-contaminated ration + 25% soil. AFM1 concentration was significantly higher in the crops of chicks fed high aflatoxin-contaminated ration without soil.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed2002

"If there were a war tomorrow, we'd find the money": contrasting perspectives on the rationing of health care.

In spite of the substantial academic effort being devoted to the subject of health care rationing, there is little clarity about the views of those working in health care who have to implement rationing nor about the views of citizens who are (potentially) affected by the rationing of care. This paper reports the findings of a study conducted using focus groups and semi-structured interviews to explore and compare beliefs about rationing among citizens and those with a role in the health service (service informants) within the context of health care provision in the UK. Citizen and service informants both identified external pressures on the resources available for health care including technological improvement, the ageing population and increasing public expectations. Citizens, however, also identified such factors as the political choice to provide insufficient funds to the health service and the wasteful use of resources that are available. The predominant view was that these latter factors were amenable to change and thus that there are alternatives to the rationing of care. Some citizens accepted that some health care rationing might be necessary. Service informants, on the other hand, were cynical about prospects of increased funding and viewed further reductions in management as untenable. For them, rationing was an inevitability to be managed. A number of these informants felt that rationing should become more explicit, suggesting that openness made rationing both more democratic and more practical. Others, however, believed that explicit rationing would have a number of uncomfortable implications. The paper concludes by suggesting that if rationing is to become more explicit, its inevitability, as perceived by those working within health care, will have to be communicated to citizens.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1975

[Effect of different types of rations on various characteristics of ruminal and intermediary metabolism in sheep. 1. Formation of volatile fatty acids].

Studies on Ruminal Physiology were made with 15 growing female Merino sheep to investigate the influence of different types of rations on the fermentation of volatile fatty acids. The rations were constructed of green feed, straw and concentrates (type 1) or chemically treated straw pellets + concentrates (type 2). One ration (type 3) consisted of concentrates only. With regard to the total concentration of acids ration 3 was significantly superior to the 2 other types of rations. Moreover, ration 3 produced a specific fermentation pattern of the volatile fatty acids. This was characterized by a significant reduction in the molar proportion of acetate compared with ration 1 and 2 and a significant increase in the level of propionic and valeric acid relative to ration 1. Differences in the fermentation pattern between rations 1 and 2 were mainly limited to differences in the absolute and molar proportions of propionate where the straw pellet rations in each case produced the significant higher values. The acetate to propionate ratio was narrowed in the order of ration 1-3 (4.1 :1, 3.1:1, 2.6-2.9 :1). Statistically wellestablished negative correlations were found to exist between the concentrations of volatile fatty acids and the pH values which were established simultaneously.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1984

[Nutritive physiological effects of dietary fats in rations of growing swine. 6. Effect of soya oil and lard on growth performance and carcass characteristics and various blood parameters in fattening swine].

Groups of each 10 boars, weight range 20-60 kg, were fed ad libitum the following 4 rations of similar protein: energy ratio: Ration I (control), Ration II (+ 2% soyaoil ), Ration III (+ 2% soyaoil + 5% lard), Ration IV (+ 7% lard). When the animals reached 60 kg body weight each group was halved. One half had free access to the above rations, while the other half were fed ad libitum on the control ration. At body weights of 50 and 100 kg the concentrations of urea, insulin, glucose and cholesterol were measured, in addition the fatty acid composition of the backfat. At the end of the experiment (100 kg) the content of fat in the carcass was calculated by determining the specific gravidity of the carcass. There was little difference in the intake of metabolizable energy (ME) of the different groups of animals at both body weight ranges as a result of the reduction in feed intake of the fat supplemented diets on account of the higher ME-content. There were little differences in the glucose and urea concentrations in the blood of the animals fed the different rations. The highest cholesterol and the lowest insulin levels were measured in groups III and IV, when 5 and 7% lard was added, respectively. The animals, continuously fed Rations III and IV over the whole period of experiment, had a significantly higher fat content (p less than 0,05) than the control animals. There was a very marked influence of the fatty acid intake on the fatty acid pattern of the backfat. Following the change of feed to the control ration at 60 kg body weight, the linoleic acid content of the animals in Groups III and IV was significantly reduced (p less than 0,001) from 15.7 to 11.2%. However this was higher than the 7.3% linoleic acid measured on the animals continuously fed the control ration.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

[Nutritional-physiological effects of dietary fats in rations for growing pigs. 4. Effects of sunflower oil and coconut oil on protein and fat retention, fatty acid pattern of back fat and blood parameters in piglets].

Rations containing 12% sunflower oil (Ration II) and 12% coconut fat (Ration III) were compared with a control ration (Ration I) in a 34 day experiment with growing boars of the German Landrace breed (12-30 kg body weight). The relationships between DP and ME were held constant for all 3 rations, and because of the higher ME contents of the two fat rations, this was achieved by reducing the feed intake, relative to that of the control ration. Parameters measured were growth, composition at slaughter, the apparent digestibility of the crude nutrients and energy, the N-balance and the concentrations of urea, insulin, glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol in the blood. In comparison to Ration I, the apparent digestibilities of crude protein in Rations II and III were 5 and 4% (p less than 0,05) higher, respectively. There was little difference in the apparent digestibility of crude fat between the Rations II and III. However, large differences in the values were determined depending upon method of extraction. There were little differences in the productive performance of the animals fed the fat diets. The control animals had, however, a 13% lower growth rate (p less than 0,05) when compared at similar ME-intakes. As the energy concentration and the growth rate were higher in groups II and III, the feed conversion efficiency and the ME required per kg growth were approximately 30 and 13% lower than that of the control animals. The efficiency of protein utilization of the animals in group III was 4% higher (p greater than 0.05) and the blood urea concentration 20% lower (p less than 0.05) than that in group II. The values for the control animals were intermediate. A similar result was obtained concerning the fat content of the animals. The fat content of the animals in group III was 15.9% and this was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than that of 21.1% measured in group II. That of the control animals, 18.6%, was not significantly different from the above values. The differences in feeding over the relatively short period of 34 days lead to marked differences in the fatty acid pattern of the backfat. The contents of myristic acid and linoleic acid were significantly different between group II and III; for the former values of 0.8% and 16.9% were determined, respectively, with corresponding values of 48.7 and 11.3% for the latter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗