Use of homeopathic products in pigs feed improves the percentage, quality and marbling of meat

Abstract Studies and innovations on alternative feed additives, especially on homeopathic remedies have been highlighted in order to replace or reduce the use of antibiotics in pig production. This paper aimed to assess the addition of homeopathic products in pig diet and their effects on the growth performance, serum metabolites, nutrient and energy digestibility, carcass traits and meat quality. A total of 60 immunocastrated male pigs, weighing on average 30.91 ± 0.95 kg, were distributed in two treatments, 10 replicates and three animals/experimental unit. There was no effect (P≥0.05) of treatment on the growth performance and serum metabolites. The percentage of acid-insoluble ash recovered in the diet was greater (P≤0.01) in diets containing homeopathic products. The apparent digestible energy of diets containing homeopathic products was reduced (P≤0.01) in the growing phase and reduced (P≤0.01) the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, soluble neutral and acid detergent fibers, and gross energy in the growing and finishing phases. Pig that received diets with homeopathic products had higher (P≤0.05) amount of meat, percentage of meat and marbling. The use of homeopathic products in diets improves the percentage and quality of meat, as well as the marbling of the pig carcass, maintaining the performance

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Highlights in the solid-phase organic synthesis of natural products and analogues

In this manuscript, we disclose solid-phase organic syntheses (SPOS) of small-molecules of some secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, polyamines, steroids, terpenes, and flavonoids, described in the literature since 2000. A number of elegant, efficient and challenging syntheses on solid support will be presented

Transplant referral patterns for patients (pts) with newly diagnosed (ND) higher-risk (HR) myelodysplastic dyndromes (MDS), and European leukemianet (ELN) 2010 intermediate-tisk (IR) or adverse-risk (AR) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the Connect® MDS/AML registry

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is often indicated and formal transplant referral guidelines exist for pts with AML and HR MDS. However, the proportion of transplant-eligible pts not referred is largely unknown. We therefore assessed HSCT referral patterns, including potential barriers to referral, in pts with ND MDS and AML enrolled in the Connect® MDS/AML Disease Registry (NCT01688011), a large, US, multicenter, prospective observational cohort study of pts with ND AML (aged ≥ 55 years) or MDS (aged ≥ 18 years). We evaluated pt data, including transplant referral decisions collected at enrollment and every 3 months, from pts enrolled from Dec 2013 to Jul 2019. HR MDS and AML pts were included; AML pts were grouped by ELN 2010 risk groups into IR AML (Int-1 and Int-2 risk), or AR AML (adverse risk). Differences in transplant referral rates were assessed using a chi-square t-test (significance P < 0.05) in pts with HR MDS. Baseline characteristics of 720 pts with IR AML, AR AML, and HR MDS enrolled at 22 academic (AC) and 119 community/government (CO/GOV) sites are shown (Table). Median time in the Registry was 8.1 (range 0.1–62.9) months. Pts at CO/GOV sites were less likely to be considered for transplant by the treating physician than pts at AC sites (28% vs 43%; P < 0.001); of those considered, there was no difference in the transplant rates between the 2 site types (43% vs 36%; P = 0.290). For 358 pts deemed transplant ineligible, the most common reasons were comorbidities at AC sites and age at CO/GOV sites (Fig. A). Median age of ineligible pts was 77 (range 56–94) years. 7 pts were ineligible because of favorable cytogenetics; however, all had HR MDS, IR AML, or AR AML. In a subset of 262 pts (AC = 79; CO/GOV = 183) identified by investigators as likely potential transplant candidates based on age, comorbidity grade, frailty score, and ECOG PS, pts at AC sites were more likely to be considered for transplant than pts at CO/GOV sites (58% vs 43%; P = 0.020) with age the most common reason for transplant ineligibility (Fig. B) at both sites. Rates of consideration for transplant were lower at CO/GOV sites than AC sites. Among pts identified as potential transplant candidates, rates of consideration were lower at CO/GOV sites suggesting that further education may be needed to ensure referral of all pts who would benefit from transplant

Teores de ácidos graxos em ovos comerciais convencionais e modificados com ômega-3 Fatty acids levels in conventional and designer omega-3 commercial eggs

Objetivou-se comparar os teores de ácidos graxos em ovos comerciais convencionais e em ovos modificados com ômega-3. Foram utilizadas 864 poedeiras da linhagem Isa Brown aleatoriamente distribuídas em dois grupos, de modo que cada gaiola com quatro aves foi considerada uma repetição, totalizando 216 repetições. No grupo para produção de ovos convencionais, as aves foram alimentadas durante toda a vida produtiva com ração à base de milho e farelo de soja, enquanto, no grupo para produção de ovos modificados, foram alimentadas, a partir da 22ª semana de idade, com ração contendo 1,5% de substrato de algas marinhas e 1,8% de óleo de peixe. Foram coletados, aleatoriamente, 180 ovos de cada grupo de poedeira (totalizando 360 ovos), que foram distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, considerando cada ovo uma repetição. Os ovos modificados com ômega-3 apresentaram menores de índice de gema, mas não diferiram dos ovos convencionais quanto aos demais parâmetros de qualidade. As médias de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados ômega-3 e de ácidos graxos monoinsaturados foram mais altas nos ovos modificados. As relações entre ácidos graxos poliinsaturados e saturados e entre ômega-6 e ômega-3 nos ovos modificados foram próximas ao ideal estimado para alimentação humana. As médias de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados da série ômega-6 e de ácidos graxos saturados nos ovos convencionais foram significativamente maiores que dos ovos modificados com ômega-3.<br>The objective of this work was to compare the levels of fatty acids between conventional commercial eggs and designer omega-3 eggs. It was used 864 Isa Brown line laying hens randomly distributed in two groups, so each cage with four birds was considered a replicate, totalizing 216 repetitions. In the group for production of conventional eggs, birds were fed corn- and soybean-based rations during the entire productive life while in the group for production of designer eggs, they were fed, from the 22nd week of age, rations with 1.5% of marine algae substrate and 1.8% fish oil. A total of 180 eggs was randomly collected from each group of the laying hens (totalizing 360 eggs), which were distributed in a randomized block design, considering each egg a replicate. Designer omega-3 eggs showed the lowest yolk index, but they did not differ from the conventional eggs regarded to the other parameters of quality. Means of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids were higher for designer eggs. The relationships between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids and among omega-6 and omega-3 in designer eggs were close to the ideal estimated for human consumption. Means of the polyunsaturated fatty acids from the omega-6 series and of saturated fatty acids were significantly higher than omega-3 designer eggs