Although the omasal sampling technique (OST) has been successfully used to estimate ruminal fermentation and nutrient flow, alternatives to invasive animal trials should be pursued and evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate carbohydrate and N metabolisms using a meta-analytical approach to compare 2 methods: dual-flow continuous culture system (DFCCS) and OST. To be included, studies needed to report diet chemical composition and report at least 1 of the dependent variables of interest. A total of 155 articles were included, in which 97 used the DFCCS and 58 used the OST. The independent variables used were dietary nonfiber carbohydrate concentration, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability, true crude protein (CP) degradability, and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS). In addition, 12 dependent variables were used. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). A random coefficients model was used considering study as a random effect and including the possibility of covariance between the slope and the intercept. The effect of method (DFCCS or OST) was included and tested in the estimates of the intercept, linear, and quadratic effects of the independent variable. There was no method effect when NDF degradability was regressed with total volatile fatty acids concentration, true CP degradability, and EMPS. Molar proportions of acetate and propionate were quadratically associated with NDF degradability. When NDF degradability was regressed with acetate and propionate there was a method effect, differing only in the intercept (β

Comparison of microbial fermentation data from dual-flow continuous culture system and omasal sampling technique: A meta-analytical approach.

Sexual dysfunction is a common condition in the opioid substitution therapy (OST) population. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of treatment for sexual dysfunction in the OST population. We searched for interventional studies from Medline, PubMed, and Scopus. Three independent authors conducted a risk-of-bias assessment (RoB 2). A total of seven studies (five randomized-controlled trials, two quasi-experimental), including 473 patients with sexual dysfunction, were identified. Among these, three bupropion (n=207), one trazodone (n=75), two rosa Damascena (n=100), and one ginseng (n=91) studies had reported significantly improve various sexual functioning domains in both genders. In a meta-analysis, bupropion significantly increased male sexual function with standardized mean difference of 0.53; 95% confidence interval of 0.19-0.88; P < 0.01; I

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