SummaryThe aim of this study was to improve an in vitro system in order to gather optimized information on the digestion of different forages in the horse 0 s upper gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, foregut digestion of several forages was simulated in vitro (Part 1). The effect of different pH values on in vitro fructan degradation of two selected grasses (Part 2) was tested subsequently. Part 1: We hypothesized that our system produces representative results simulating digestive processes in the upper alimentary tract, but neglects microbial fermentation. In vitro digestion of six forages (grass mixture for horses, grass mixture for cows (GMC), tall fescue, English perennial ryegrass (ER), white clover, lucerne) was performed in two phases with pepsin and pancreatin. The results are consistent with current data from in vivo studies, including a degradation of crude protein and monosaccharides as well as a relative increase in fibres. Interestingly, a loss of fructan was measured in two feedstuffs (ER/GMC: 4.1/4.4% DM fructan before and 0.59/0.00% DM after simulated foregut digestion). Part 2: As fructans are thought not to be fragmented by digestive enzymes, another hypothesis was developed: acidic hydrolysis leads to a degradation of fructans. To evaluate the influence of gastric pH on the digestion of fructan and protein, different pH values (2, 3 and 4) were adjusted in a second series of in vitro foregut digestion trials with ER and GMC. As expected, the highest degradation of protein was seen at the lowest pH (protein in ER/GMC at pH 2: 6.11/8.28% DM and at pH 4: 7.73/10.64% DM), whereas fructan degradation was highest at pH 4 (fructan in ER/GMC at pH 2: 1.63/1.95% DM and at pH 4: 1.31/0.91% DM). We presume that not only acidic hydrolysis but also plant enzymes cause the loss of fructans in an acidic environment.
Therapy drop-outs in adolescence remain a prevalent and complex problem with inconsistent research findings: Although a number of possible predictors have been identified, such as difficult family situations and development-related autonomy efforts, the underlying mechanisms and processes are hardly explained. In this qualitative study, 24 interviews were conducted with resident child and youth psychotherapists. The therapists reported a self-chosen drop-out case from their practice. Additionally, they were asked about their views on what they consider typical for adolescent dropouts. The content analysis yielded factors relating to three topics as reasons for dropouts from the therapist's perspective. The area of therapy included themes such as setting variables or disagreement about therapy goals. The family and environment area included reasons concerning the family, e. g., lack of parental support or parents opposing therapy. Finally, reasons such as therapy being too demanding, lack of motivation or loyalty conflicts were assigned to the adolescents. To conclude, a sensitive handling seems to be necessary when trying to balance the adolescent's striving for autonomy and their therapeutic needs as well as finding the right dosage of parental involvement with parents who are often in need of treatment themselves.
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