Results: Compared to female WT mice, OPN-null mice did not develop cSCCs. UVB irradiation stimulated OPN protein expression in the dorsal skin by 11 h and remains high at 24-48 h. OPN did not mediate UVB-induced epidermal hyperplasia; instead, it protected basal keratinocytes from undergoing apoptosis upon UVB exposure. Likewise, the addition of OPN suppressed UVB-induced OPN-null cSCC cell apoptosis, the activation of caspase-9 activity, and increased phosphorylation of FAK at Y397. Furthermore, the expression of CD44 and FAK in WT mice epidermis was greater than that of

OPN-null mice prior to and during early acute UVB exposure. Conclusion: These data support the hypothesis that chronic UVB-induced OPN expression protects the survival of initiated basal keratinocytes and, consequently, facilitates cSCC develop. (C) 2014 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published PCI-32765 by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The objective of this study was to investigate how joint Small molecule library mouse specific biomechanical loading influences the functional development and phenotypic stability of cartilage grafts engineered in vitro using stem/progenitor cells isolated from different source tissues. Porcine bone marrow derived multipotent stromal cells (BMSCs) and infrapatellar fat pad derived multipotent stromal cells (FPSCs) were seeded in agarose hydrogels and cultured

in chondrogenic medium, while simultaneously subjected to 10 MPa of cyclic hydrostatic pressure (HP). To mimic the endochondral phenotype observed in vivo with cartilaginous tissues engineered using BMSCs, the culture media was additionally supplemented with hypertrophic factors, while the loss of phenotype observed in vivo with FPSCs was induced by withdrawing transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta Cyclopamine molecular weight 3 from the media. The application of HP was found to enhance the functional development of cartilaginous

tissues engineered using both BMSCs and FPSCs. In addition, HP was found to suppress calcification of tissues engineered using BMSCs cultured in chondrogenic conditions and acted to maintain a chondrogenic phenotype in cartilaginous grafts engineered using FPSCs. The results of this study point to the importance of in vivo specific mechanical cues for determining the terminal phenotype of chondrogenically primed multipotent stromal cells. Furthermore, demonstrating that stem or progenitor cells will appropriately differentiate in response to such biophysical cues might also be considered as an additional functional assay for evaluating their therapeutic potential. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The prevalent challenge facing tissue engineering today is the lack of adequate vascularization to support the growth, function, and viability of tissue substitutes that require blood vessel supply. Researchers rely on the increasing knowledge of angiogenic and vasculogenic processes to stimulate vascular network formation within three-dimensional tissue constructs.

Consequently, the results from this study suggest that low larkspur does not Selleckchem ASP2215 affect the toxicity of death camas in sheep. The results from this study increase knowledge and understanding regarding the acute toxicity of death camas and low larkspur in sheep. As combined intoxications are most likely common, this information will be useful in further developing management recommendations for ranchers and in designing additional experiments to study the toxicity of death camas to other livestock species. Published by Elsevier Ltd.”
“Calcium-sensing receptors (CaSRs) are class

C G protein-coupled receptors that respond to physiological activators, including extracellular Ca2+ (Cao(2+)) and L-amino acids as well as the pharmaceutical calcimimetic, cinacalcet. Unlike Ca-o(2+), which is

an orthosteric agonist, L-amino acids and cinacalcet are positive allosteric modulators. CaSR expression levels vary considerably between tissues, but the physiological significance of these differences in expression for the effects of its activators is unknown. To investigate the impact of receptor expression on CaSR-mediated signaling we used a tetracycline-inducible expression system and focused on intracellular Ca2+ (Ca-i(2+)) responses in single cells and considered both population and single-cell behavior. Increased receptor expression positively modulated CaSR-mediated Ca-i(2+) mobilization in response to elevated Ca-o(2+), AL3818 mouse the amino acid L-phenylalanine, or the calcimimetic cinacalcet. It lowered threshold concentrations

for the initiation of Ca-i(2+) oscillations and for their transformation to sustained Ca-i(2+) elevations, and it increased the proportions of responding cells. It also positively modulated the frequency of Ca-i(2+) oscillations with the order of effectiveness: cinacalcet equal to or greater than Ca-o(2+) greater than L-phenylalanine. The results indicate that receptor expression modulates key characteristics of the Ca-i(2+) response at the single-cell level Small molecule library clinical trial as well as the amplitude of whole-tissue CaSR-mediated responses by recruiting quiescent cells into the active pool of responding cells. By lowering the threshold concentrations for Ca-o(2+)- and L-amino acid-induced responses below the physiological levels of these nutrients in plasma, mechanisms that up-regulate receptor expression can control tissue function in the absence of dynamic changes in ligand concentration.”
“Background: Malfunction in the energy homeostasis system is a major cause of developing obesity. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays a crucial role in this system as a key receptor. Although MC4R gene as an obesity candidate gene is associated with higher BMI only few attempts have been carried out to understand the mechanism underlying body-weight regulation.

We investigated the relationship between adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation and

the long-term outcomes of AF-related IS. We studied 249 patients who were exclusively treated with anticoagulation therapy after they had experienced AF-related IS. We evaluated their platelet function 5 days after admission to the hospital by using an optic platelet aggregometer test. We also assessed the prognoses of patients 90 days after the AF-related IS. Our results showed that ADP-induced platelet aggregation was positively correlated with CHA2DS2-VASc scores (r = .285, P smaller than .01). Totally, 107 (43.0%) patients had a poor outcome PRIMA-1MET at 90 days after IS. Univariate analysis showed that the following factors significantly contribute to a poor outcome: older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.10, P smaller than .01), a history of stroke (OR = 3.24, CI 1.61-6.53, P smaller

than .01), high scores on the National Institutes EPZ-6438 of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS; OR = 1.25, CI 1.18-1.32, P smaller than .01), increased white blood cell counts (OR = 1.12, CI 1.02-1.24, P smaller than .01), high CHA2DS2-VASc scores ( bigger than = 5, OR = 7.31, CI 3.36-15.93, P = .025), and the highest tertile of ADP-induced platelet aggregation ( bigger than = 72%, OR = 3.17, CI 1.67-5.99, P smaller than .01). Of these check details factors, high NIHSS scores (OR = 1.27, CI 1.20-1.36, P smaller than .01), high

CHA2DS2-VASc scores (OR = 4.69, CI 1.21-18.14, P = .03), and the highest tertile of ADP-induced platelet aggregation (OR = 2.49, CI 1.17-5.27, P = .02) were independently associated with a poor outcome at 90 days after IS. Therefore, our results suggest that platelet activation might affect the outcome of AF-related IS.”
“Fumonisin B-1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin, mainly produced by Fusarium fungi and present in food and feed. It causes harmful effects on human and animal health. Therefore, it is necessary to develop sensitive and reliable screening methods. In this study, a highly sensitive monoclonal antibody (MAb) against FB1, clone 2D7, was produced, and the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of the MAb was 2.2 ng/mL in buffer. The MAb showed high cross-reactivity with fumonisin B-2 (FB2), and negligible cross-reactivity with other mycotoxins. A sensitive indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) based on this MAb was developed for the determination of FB1 in maize. In spiked samples (100, 200 and 500 mu g/kg), the average recoveries ranged from 78 +/- 11 to 107 +/- 4%, and the coefficient of variation ranged from 3 to 15%. The limit of detection of the icELISA was 5.4 mu g/kg. This method was compared to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using naturally contaminated samples, and the correlation coefficient was above 0.82.

In NASH livers, an oval cell reaction was observed pointing to massive tissue damage coinciding with the gross impairment of hepatocyte proliferation. In the liver

parenchyma, metabolic functions are distributed heterogeneously. For example, the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and E-cadherin overlapped Rigosertib concentration in periportal hepatocytes. Thus, during liver regeneration after acute damage, the intact periportal parenchyma might sustain essential metabolic support like glucose supply or ammonia detoxification. However, disruption of epithelial integrity during chronic challenges may increase susceptibility to metabolic liver diseases such as NASH or vice versa. This might suggest the regulatory integration of tissue cohesion and metabolic functions in the liver.”
“This review summarizes the impact of biofilms

in oral candidosis with special emphasis on medically compromised patients. The concept of oral candidosis as a mixed candidal-bacterial biofilm infection has changed our understanding of its epidemiology and diagnosis as well as approach to its treatment. Candida albicans is the most common causative agent of oral candidosis although Candida species other than C. albicans check details are often seen in medically compromised patients with a history of multiple courses of azole antifungals. Although C. albicans is usually susceptible to all commonly used antifungals when tested in vitro, their biofilm form are highly resistant to most antifungals. Therefore, treatment consists of mechanical destruction of the biofilm in combination with topical drugs. Azole antifungals should be avoided for patients

suffering from recurrent oral yeast infections due to a risk of selection and enrichment of resistant strains within the biofilm. Oral candidosis can also Selleckchem Rigosertib be a symptom of an undiagnosed or poorly controlled systemic disease such as HIV infection or diabetes. If the response to appropriate treatment is poor, other causes of oral mucositis should be excluded. Oral candidosis arises from the patient’s mixed candidal-bacterial biofilm, i.e., dental plaque, whereby good self-care is important for successful therapy.”
“The P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R) is a purinoceptor expressed predominantly by cells of immune origin, including microglial cells. P2X(7)R has a role in the release of biologically active proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF alpha. Here we demonstrate that when incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), glial cells cultured from brain of P2X(7)R(-/-) mice produce less IL-1 beta compared to glial cells from brains of wild-type mice. This is not the case for TNF alpha and IL-6. Our results indicate a selective effect of the P2X7R gene deletion on release of IL-1 beta release but not of IL-6 and TNF alpha.

Topical therapies include mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard), carmustine (BCNU), steroids, bexarotene gel (Targretin Gel), psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and either localized or total skin Chk inhibitor electron radiotherapy. Systemic therapies include interferon,

retinoids, oral bexarotene (Targretin), denileukin diftitox (Ontak), vorinostat (Zolinza), extracorporeal photochemotherapy (photopheresis), and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Herein, we outline clinically relevant aspects of MF, including clinical presentation, pathology, diagnosis, and staging. We describe in detail existing and emerging therapeutics and offer specific recommendations for management of each stage of MF.”
“To evaluate whether combined use of multiple central nervous system (CNS) medications over time is associated with cognitive change.\n\nLongitudinal cohort study.\n\nPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee.\n\nTwo selleckchem thousand seven hundred thirty-seven healthy adults (aged >= 65) enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study without

baseline cognitive impairment (modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) score >= 80).\n\nCNS medication (benzodiazepine- and opioid-receptor agonists, antipsychotics, antidepressants) use, duration, and dose were determined at baseline (Year 1) and Years 3 and 5. Cognitive function was measured using the 3MS at baseline and Years 3 and 5. The outcome variables were incident cognitive impairment (3MS score < 80) and cognitive decline (>= 5-point decline on 3MS). Multivariable interval-censored survival analyses were conducted.\n\nBy Year 5, 7.7% of subjects had incident cognitive impairment; 25.2% demonstrated cognitive decline. CNS medication use increased from 13.9% at baseline to 15.3% and 17.1% at Years 3 and 5, respectively. It was not associated with incident cognitive impairment (adjusted hazard ratio (adj HR)=1.11,

95% confidence interval (CI)=0.73-1.69) but was associated with cognitive decline (adj HR 1.37, 95% CI=1.11-1.70). Longer duration (adj HR=1.39, CI=1.08-1.79) and higher doses (> 3 standardized daily doses) (adj HR=1.87, 95% CI=1.25-2.79) QNZ supplier of CNS medications suggested greater risk of cognitive decline than with nonuse.\n\nCombined use of CNS medications, especially at higher doses, appears to be associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Future studies must explore the effect of combined CNS medication use on vulnerable older adults.”
“The Metastasis and the Tumor Microenvironment Conference, held in Philadelphia, included topics covering new research developments in the field of metastasis and tumor microenvironment. This conference report highlights selected presentations on angiogenesis biomarkers, vessel stabilization, genetic determinants of site-specific metastasis and metastasis suppressor genes, including nm23 and KiSS1.

10).\n\nCONCLUSION: The results of the current randomized clinical trial suggest that cervical and thoracic thrust

manipulation induce similar changes in PPT, neck pain intensity, and CROM in individuals with bilateral chronic mechanical neck pain. However, changes in PPT and CROM were small and did not surpass their respective minimal detectable change values. Further, because we did not include a control group, we cannot rule out a placebo effect of the thrust interventions on the outcomes.\n\nLEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(9):806-814, Epub 18 June 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.4151″
“OBJECTIVE. Cost accounting is the branch of managerial accounting that deals with the analysis of the costs of a product or service. This article reviews methods of classifying and allocating costs and Liproxstatin-1 concentration relationships among costs, volume, and revenues. CONCLUSION. Radiology practices need to know the cost of a procedure or service to determine the selling price of a product, bid on contracts, analyze this website profitability, and facilitate cost control and cost reduction.”
“Unlike typical inorganic semiconductors with a crystal structure, the charge dynamics of pi-conjugated polymers (pi-CPs)

are severely limited by the presence of amorphous portions between the ordered crystalline regions. Thus, the formation of interconnected pathways along crystallites of pi-CPs is desired to ensure highly efficient charge transport in printable electronics. Here we report the formation of nano-crystallite networks in pi-CP films by employing novel template-mediated crystallization (TMC) via polaron formation and electrostatic interaction. The lateral and vertical charge transport of TMC-treated films increased by two orders of magnitude compared with pristine pi-CPs. In particular, because of the unprecedented room temperature and solution-processing advantages of our TMC method, we achieve a field-effect mobility of 0.25 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) using a plastic substrate, which corresponds to the highest value reported thus far. Because

selleck compound our findings can be applied to various pi-conjugated semiconductors, our approach is universal and is expected to yield high-performance printable electronics.”
“Background: States of depression are associated with increased sensitivity to negative events. For this novel study, we have assessed the relationship between the number of depressive episodes and the dysfunctional processing of emotional facial expressions. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used a visual emotional oddball paradigm to manipulate the processing of emotional information while event-related brain potentials were recorded in 45 patients with first episode major depression (F-MD), 40 patients with recurrent major depression (R-MD), and 46 healthy controls (HC).

nov., and D. makirum sp. nov.), the D. prionilix group (D. prionilix sp. nov., and D. crusilix sp. nov.), and the D. trochanteratum group (D. trochanteratum, D. melachrosatum sp. nov., D. petiolatum sp. nov., D. nivatum sp. nov., D. curtuvenatum sp. nov., D. labeculatum sp. nov., and D. xanthochrosatum sp. nov.). Debilos frater sp. nov. and D. indistinctum sp. nov. are also described but not included in these groups. All species are illustrated and their distributions are mapped.”
“BACKGROUND

AND OBJECTIVES: Peer teaching engages students as teachers and is widely used in K-12 education, many universities, and increasingly in medical schools. It draws on the social and cognitive congruence between learner and teacher and can selleck inhibitor be attractive to medical schools faced with a growing number of learners but a static faculty size. Peer teachers can give lectures on assigned topics, lead problem-based learning sessions, and provide one on one support to classmates in the form of tutoring. METHODS: We undertook a narrative review of research on peer Selleckchem GDC 973 teachers in medical school, specifically investigating how medical students are impacted by being peer teachers and how having a peer teacher impacts learners. RESULTS: Studies have shown that peer teaching has a primarily positive impact on both the peer teacher and the learners. In the setting of problem-based learning courses or clinical skills instruction,

medical students’ performance on tests of knowledge or skills is similar whether they have faculty instructors 5-Fluoracil ic50 or peer teachers. There is also strong evidence that being a peer teacher enhances the learning of the peer teacher relative to the content being taught. It is common for peer teachers to lack confidence in their abilities to successfully teach, and they appreciate receiving training related to their teaching role. CONCLUSIONS: We find evidence

from several different educational settings that peer teaching benefits both the peer teachers and the learners. This suggests that peer teaching is a valuable methodology for medical schools to engage learners as teachers.”
“BACKGROUND: To identify predisposing factors that can result in the onset of takotsubo syndrome, we performed an international, collaborative systematic review focusing on clinical characteristics and comorbidities of patients with takotsubo syndrome. METHODS: We searched and reviewed cited references up to August 2013 to identify relevant studies. Corresponding authors of selected studies were contacted and asked to provide additional quantitative details. Data from each study were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. The cumulative prevalence of presenting features and comorbidities was assessed. Nineteen studies whose authors sent the requested information were included in the systematic review, with a total of 1109 patients (951 women; mean age, 59-76 years).

All of the investigated production steps were shown to reduce significantly all different spike preparations,

resulting in an overall reduction of > 10 log(10). Moreover, the biochemical assays proved equally effective to the click here bioassay for the demonstration of prion elimination.\n\nFour of the manufacturing steps cover three different mechanisms of virus clearance. These are: i) virus inactivation; ii) virus filtration; and iii) partitioning. These mechanisms were assessed for their virus reduction capacity. Virus validation studies demonstrated overall reduction factors of >18 log(10) for enveloped and >7 log(10) for non-enveloped model viruses.\n\nIn conclusion, the IgPro(10)

manufacturing process has a very high reduction potential for prions and for a wide variety of viruses resulting in a state-of-the-art product concerning safety towards known and emerging pathogens. (C) 2008 The International Association for Biologicals. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“IMPORTANCE QNZ supplier Mood disorders and alcohol dependence frequently co-occur. Etiologic theories concerning the comorbidity often focus on drinking to self-medicate or cope with affective symptoms. However, there have been few, if any, prospective studies in population-based samples of alcohol self-medication of mood symptoms with the occurrence of alcohol dependence. Furthermore, it is not known whether these associations are affected by treatment or symptom severity.\n\nOBJECTIVE To evaluate the hypothesis that alcohol self-medication of mood symptoms increases the probability of subsequent onset and the persistence or chronicity of alcohol AMN-107 dependence.\n\nDESIGN Prospective study using face-to-face interviews-the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.\n\nSETTING Nationally representative survey of the US population.\n\nPARTICIPANTS Drinkers at risk for alcohol

dependence among the 43 093 adults surveyed in 2001 and 2002 (wave 1); 34 653 of whom were reinterviewed in 2004 and 2005 (wave 2).\n\nMAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Association of alcohol self-medication of mood symptoms with incident and persistent DSM-IV alcohol dependence using logistic regression and the propensity score method of inverse probability of treatment weighting.\n\nRESULTS The report of alcohol self-medication of mood symptoms was associated with an increased odds of incident alcohol dependence at follow-up (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.10; 95% CI, 1.55-6.19; P = .002) and persistence of dependence (AOR, 3.45; 95% CI, 2.35-5.08; P < .001). The population-attributable fraction was 11.9% (95% CI, 6.7%-16.9%) for incident dependence and 30.6%(95% CI, 24.8%-36.0%) for persistent dependence.

\n\nOur results suggest that low-intensity signal on T1-W images, but not on T2-W images, is correlated with a poor postoperative neurological outcome. SUVmax of

lesions showing increased signal intensity and SUVR measured on fusion MRI/PET scans are more sensitive parameters for predicting clinical outcome than signal intensity on the MRI scan.”
“Although putative horse embryonic stem (ES)-like cell lines have been obtained recently from in vivo-derived embryos, it is currently not known whether it is possible to obtain ES cell (ESC) lines from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and parthenogenetic (PA) embryos. Our aim is to establish culture conditions for the derivation of autologous ESC lines for cell therapy Selleckchem PLX3397 studies in an equine model. Our results indicate that

both the use of early-stage blastocysts with a clearly visible inner cell mass (ICM) and the use of pronase to dissect the ICM allow the derivation Selleckchem EPZ6438 of a higher proportion of primary ICM outgrowths from PA and SCNT embryos. Primary ICM outgrowths express the molecular markers of pluripotency POU class 5 homeobox 1 (POU5F1) and (sex determining region-Y)-box2 (SOX2), and in some cases, NANOG. Cells obtained after the passages of PA primary ICM outgrowths display alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and POU5F1, SOX2, caudal-related homeobox-2 (CDX2) and eomesodermin (EOMES) expression, but may lose NANOG. Cystic embryoid body-like structures expressing POU5F1, CDX2 and EOMES were produced from these cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of equine embryos reveals the presence of POU5F1 in trophectoderm,

primitive endoderm and ICM. These results suggest that cells obtained after passages of primary ICM outgrowths are positive for trophoblast stem cell markers while expressing POU5F1 and displaying AP activity. Therefore, these cells most likely represent trophoblast cells rather than true ESCs. This study represents an important first step towards the production of autologous equine ESCs for pre-clinical selleck chemical cell therapy studies on large animal models. Reproduction (2011) 141 321-332″
“A series of novel salicylamide derivatives containing neonicotinoid pharmacophore were designed and synthesized via multi-step reactions. These compounds were characterized by satisfied spectrum analyses mainly including H-1 NMR and ESI-MS. The preliminary bioassays indicated that some of target compounds exhibited excellent insecticidal activities against Heliothis armigera and Plutella xylostella at the dosage of 31.25 mu g/mL.”
“Introduction: Despite increasing use of tunneled pleural catheters (TPCs), their efficacy as a definitive procedure for achieving palliation or spontaneous pleurodesis (SP) in the management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) remains unclear. In the largest TPC series to date, we evaluate the efficacy for palliation and review the rate and predictors of SP.

On general wards, nurses caring for four or more patients will be unable to manage a high number of false alarms. Physiological data from a general ward population would help to guide alarm limit settings.\n\nMethods.\n\nA dataset of continuous heart rate and respiratory rate data from a general ward population, previously GM6001 mouse collected from July 2003-January 2006, was analyzed for adult patients with no severe adverse events. Dataset modeling was constructed to analyze alarm frequency at varying heart rate and respiratory rate alarm limits.\n\nResults.\n\nA

total of 317 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria, with 780 center dot 71 days of total monitoring. Sample alarm settings appeared to optimize false positive alarm rates for the following settings: heart rate high 130-135, low 40-45; respiratory rate high 30-35, low 7-8. Rates for each selected limit can be added to calculate the total alarm frequency, which can be used to judge the impact on nurse workflow.\n\nConclusion.\n\nAlarm frequency data will Acalabrutinib datasheet assist with evidence-based configuration of alarm limits for early warning systems.”
“Chemical looping reforming (CLR) is a new technology for syngas generation. The theoretical process design aspects of syngas generation using CLR of isooctane (gasoline) are studied in this paper to assess https://www.selleckchem.com/products/nepicastat-hydrochloride.html its ability for fuel processor

development for solid oxide fuel cells. The fuel processor operating conditions for maximum syngas generation at thermoneutral conditions are determined in this study using nickel oxide as oxygen carrier

for different inputs of oxygen carrier within the temperature range of 600-1,000 degrees C at 1bar pressure. The thermoneutral temperatures for the dual reactor fuel processor were calculated using the hot product gas stream and exothermic CLR process enthalpy to completely balance the endothermic process requirements. The thermoneutral point of 879.5 degrees C (NiO input of 7moles) delivered maximum syngas (13.92moles) using lowest amount of air (26.13moles) in the process was found to be the most suitable thermoneutral temperature for the fuel processor operation. The novel fuel processor design can also be used for other fuels and oxygen carriers.”
“We evaluated diets with different percentages of non-detoxified castor bean (TM) in the induction of molt, with 120 Lohman LSL hens at 81 weeks of age being used, randomly allotted to four treatments with five replicates of six birds each. One of the treatments consisted in the induction of changes by the method of fasting for 11 days, and the others used diet switches, composed by mixing posture and TM diet in the amounts of 20, 30 and 40% for up to 21 days or until when the birds reach 23% weight loss.