Assessment of Selected University Students\u27 Knowledge of Blood Donation and the Relationship with Intent to Donate Blood

The lack of blood donors in the United States is a problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between blood donation knowledge and blood donation intentions among students at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU), and examine blood donation attitude and confidence levels among the respondents. A researcher-constructed electronic survey was sent to 3, 944 MNSU students, with a total of 376 responses (n = 364; adjusted response rate = 9.23%). Analyses included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, frequency counts, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient tests. The mean intention scores of current blood donors were higher than non-blood donors. The respondents\u27 mean knowledge score was moderately low (4.26), scoring just below the 50% mark on the knowledge assessment. The portion of respondents who had reported donating blood in the past was 56.5%. The blood donation attitudes among the respondents were reported as positive, with a mean attitudinal score of 6.48 out of 7. The confidence level of the respondents with respect to feeling capable of donating blood was moderately high, with a mean score of 5.30 out of 7. A significant relationship was identified between knowledge and blood donation intentions. A significant difference between men and women and their blood donation knowledge and attitudes was also identified. Finally, 60.6% of the respondents\u27 preferred to receive blood donation educational materials through email services

Vaccination of influenza a virus decreases transmission rates in pigs

Limited information is available on the transmission and spread of influenza virus in pig populations with differing immune statuses. In this study we assessed differences in transmission patterns and quantified the spread of a triple reassortant H1N1 influenza virus in naïve and vaccinated pig populations by estimating the reproduction ratio (R) of infection (i.e. the number of secondary infections caused by an infectious individual) using a deterministic Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model, fitted on experimental data. One hundred and ten pigs were distributed in ten isolated rooms as follows: (i) non-vaccinated (NV), (ii) vaccinated with a heterologous vaccine (HE), and (iii) vaccinated with a homologous inactivated vaccine (HO). The study was run with multiple replicates and for each replicate, an infected non-vaccinated pig was placed with 10 contact pigs for two weeks and transmission of influenza evaluated daily by analyzing individual nasal swabs by RT-PCR. A statistically significant difference between R estimates was observed between vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs (p < 0.05). A statistically significant reduction in transmission was observed in the vaccinated groups where R (95%CI) was 1 (0.39-2.09) and 0 for the HE and the HO groups respectively, compared to an Ro value of 10.66 (6.57-16.46) in NV pigs (p < 0.05). Transmission in the HE group was delayed and variable when compared to the NV group and transmission could not be detected in the HO group. Results from this study indicate that influenza vaccines can be used to decrease susceptibility to influenza infection and decrease influenza transmission

Evaluating Pellet and Meal Feeding Regimens on Finishing Pig Performance, Stomach Morphology, Carcass Characteristics, and Economics

A total of 2,100 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 68.8 lb) were used in a 118-d trial to determine the effects of pellet feeding regimens on finishing pig growth performance, stomach morphology, and carcass characteristics. Pens of pigs were balanced by initial BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (14 pens/treatment with 25 pigs/pen). Pens were sorted by gender allowing for 7 barrow and 7 gilt pens/treatment. The same corn-soybean meal–based diets containing 15% dried distillers grains with solubles were used for all treatments and fed in 5 phases. The 6 treatments included a meal or pelleted diet fed from d 0 to 118, a meal diet fed from d 0 to 70 and then pellets from d 70 to 118, a pelleted diet fed from d 0 to 70 and then meal from d 70 to 118, or pellets and meal rotated every two weeks starting with meal or pellets. On d 110, 4 pigs from each pen were harvested with the stomachs collected and a combined ulcer and keratinization score determined for each pig. Overall, there were no differences (P \u3e 0.956) for ADG across feeding regimens. Pigs fed meal throughout had the greatest (P \u3c 0.05) ADFI, while pigs fed pellets throughout had the lowest (P \u3c 0.05), with all other treatments intermediate (P \u3c 0.05). Pigs fed pelleted diets throughout had the most improved (P \u3c 0.05) F/G, while pigs fed meal throughout had the worst F/G (P \u3c0.05), with all other treatments intermediate (P \u3c0.05). When pelleted diets were fed for the last 48 d, or for the entire trial, the incidence of ulceration and keratinization increased (P \u3c0.05), while pigs fed meal for the last 48 d had lower incidence (P \u3c0.05), with all other treatments intermediate (P \u3c0.05). Feeding pellets throughout increased (P \u3c 0.05) the number of pigs removed per pen compared to all other treatments. Removals were determined by an onsite farm manager as animals unable to remain in the general population due to health or welfare problems. There were no differences (P \u3e 0.10) for any carcass characteristics measured. For economics, feeding a meal diet throughout the experiment increased (P \u3c 0.05) feed cost/lb gain compared to all other treatments. There were no significant differences (P \u3e 0.10) for IOFC; however, numerical differences showed that rotating between a pellet and a meal diet improved IOFC by $1 to$2 above feeding a meal diet throughout the finishing period. In conclusion, feeding pelleted diets improved F/G but increased stomach ulceration and removals; however, rotating pellets and meal diets provided an intermediate F/G response without increasing in stomach ulceration and subsequent removals compared to only feeding pelleted diets

Evaluating pellet and meal feeding regimens on finishing pig performance, stomach morphology, and carcass characteristics

Citation: De Jong, J. A., DeRouchey, J. M., Tokach, M. D., Dritz, S. S., Goodband, R. D., Woodworth, J. C., & Allerson, M. W. (2016). Evaluating pellet and meal feeding regimens on finishing pig performance, stomach morphology, and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science, 94(11), 4781-4788. doi:10.2527/jas2016-0461A total of 2,100 pigs (PIC 327 x 1050; initially 31.2 kg BW) were used in a 118-d trial to determine the effects of pellet or meal feeding regimens on finishing pig growth performance, stomach morphology, and carcass characteristics. Pens of pigs were balanced by initial BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (14 pens/treatment with 25 pigs/pen). Pens were sorted by gender allowing for 7 barrow pens and 7 gilt pens per treatment. The same corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 15% dried distillers' grains with solubles were used for all treatments and fed in 5 phases. Phases were fed from d 0 to 28, 28 to 56, 56 to 84, 84 to 98, and 98 to 118. The 6 treatments included a meal or pelleted diet fed from d 0 to 118, a meal diet fed from d 0 to 70 followed by pellets from d 70 to 118, a pelleted diet fed from d 0 to 70 followed by a meal diet from d 70 to 118, or pellets and meal rotated every 2 wk starting with meal or pellets. On d 110, 4 pigs from each pen were harvested and stomachs collected, from which a combined ulcer and keratinization score was determined for each pig. Overall, there were no differences in ADG across feeding regimens. Pigs fed meal throughout had the greatest (P < 0.05) ADFI, whereas pigs fed pellets throughout had the lowest (P < 0.05), with all other treatments intermediate (P < 0.05). Pigs fed pelleted diets throughout had the greatest (P < 0.05) G: F, whereas pigs fed meal throughout had the worst G: F (P < 0.05), with all other treatments intermediate (P < 0.05). When pelleted diets were fed for the last 58 d or for the entire trial, the incidence of ulceration and keratinization increased (P < 0.05), whereas pigs fed meal for the last 58 d had a lower incidence (P < 0.05), with all other treatments intermediate (P < 0.05). Feeding pellets throughout increased (P < 0.05) the number of pigs removed per pen compared with all other treatments. Pig removals were determined by an on-site farm manager when pigs were at risk due to weight loss, health, or animal welfare concerns and needed to be separated from the general population. There were no differences for any carcass characteristics measured including HCW, carcass yield, backfat depth, loin depth, and percentage lean. In conclusion, feeding pelleted diets improved G: F but increased stomach ulceration and pig removals; however, rotating pellets and meal diets provided an intermediate G: F response and moderated stomach ulcerations compared with feeding only pellets

Competition for RISC binding predicts in vitro potency of siRNA

Short interfering RNAs (siRNA) guide degradation of target RNA by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). The use of siRNA in animals is limited partially due to the short half-life of siRNAs in tissues. Chemically modified siRNAs are necessary that maintain mRNA degradation activity, but are more stable to nucleases. In this study, we utilized alternating 2′-O-methyl and 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro (OMe/F) chemically modified siRNA targeting PTEN and Eg5. OMe/F-modified siRNA consistently reduced mRNA and protein levels with equal or greater potency and efficacy than unmodified siRNA. We showed that modified siRNAs use the RISC mechanism and lead to cleavage of target mRNA at the same position as unmodified siRNA. We further demonstrated that siRNAs can compete with each other, where highly potent siRNAs can compete with less potent siRNAs, thus limiting the ability of siRNAs with lower potency to mediate mRNA degradation. In contrast, a siRNA with low potency cannot compete with a highly efficient siRNA. We established a correlation between siRNA potency and ability to compete with other siRNAs. Thus, siRNAs that are more potent inhibitors for mRNA destruction have the potential to out-compete less potent siRNAs indicating that the amount of a cellular component, perhaps RISC, limits siRNA activity

Methicillin resistantS. au reus in market hogs, retail pork, and swine veterinarians in the USA

Cross-sectional studies were conducted to obtain preliminary data on the prevalence of MRSA in swine veterinarians and market hogs, and S. aureus in retail pork in the USA. Convenience sampling was employed, but samples were broadly sourced across the country. Nasal swabs were collected from 111 swine veterinarians at a national swine veterinary meeting, and from 539 market hogs slaughtered at large US packing plants. Fresh pork products (chops or ground pork) were obtained from retail stores in 15 states. Samples were cultured using double enrichment methods and selective plating

Solution-state structure of a fully alternately 2′-F/2′-OMe modified 42-nt dimeric siRNA construct

A high-resolution solution structure of a stable 42-nt RNA dimeric construct has been derived based on a high number of NMR observables including nuclear overhauser effects (NOEs), J-coupling constants and residual dipolar couplings (RDCs), which were all obtained with isotopically unlabeled molecules. Two 21-nt siRNA that efficiently hybridize consist of ribose units that were alternately substituted by 2′-fluoro or 2′-methoxy groups. Structure calculations utilized a set of H-F RDC values for all 21 2′-fluoro modified nucleotides under conditions of weak alignment achieved by Pf1 phages. A completely 2′-F/2′-OMe modified dimeric RNA construct adopts an antiparallel double-helical structure consisting of 19 Watson–Crick base pairs with additional 3′ UU overhangs and a 5′ phosphate group on the antisense strand. NMR data suggest that the stability of individual base pairs is not uniform throughout the construct. While most of the double helical segment exhibits well dispersed imino resonances, the last three base pairs either display uncharacteristic chemical shifts of imino protons or absence of imino resonances even at lower temperatures. Accessibility of imino protons to solvent exchange suggests a difference in stability of duplex ends, which might be of importance for incorporation of the guide siRNA strand into a RISC

Effects of Weaning Age and Antibiotic Use on Pig Performance in a Commercial System

A total of 2,184 barrows and gilts (DNA 600 × PIC L42) were used in a study from weaning to market to evaluate the effect of increasing weaning age and antibiotic use on pig performance in a commercial production system. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement was used. The treatments included weaning age (18.5, 21.5, or 24.5 days of age) and the use of antibiotic (AB) or antibiotic free (ABF). There were 14 replicate pens per treatment and 26 pigs per pen (13 barrows and 13 gilts). Pigs were weaned from a 4,000-sow farm and placed in pens by weaning age with pens randomly assigned to AB or ABF. Pigs assigned to AB had access to a diet containing 400 ppm of chlortetracycline (CTC) from d 8 to 21 post-weaning, and after a porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS) outbreak at week 7 post-weaning, they were medicated via drinking water for five consecutive days with CTC (10 mg/lb of body weight (BW) per day). For the first 42 days post-weaning, increasing weaning age reduced the number of pigs treated with injectable antibiotic (quadratic, P = 0.004), but AB use did not influence this variable (P = 0.626). Each additional day of weaning age resulted in greater BW at weaning and at 197 days of age with slopes of 0.484 lb and 1.485 lb, respectively (linear, P \u3c 0.001). From weaning to 197 days of age, increasing weaning age increased average daily gain (0.02 lb/day of weaning age; linear, P \u3c 0.001) and the same effect was found for AB (0.03 lb/d; P = 0.009). Weaning age and AB also affected average daily feed intake (0.03 lb/day of increase in weaning age; linear, P \u3c 0.001 and 0.08 lb/d; P = 0.031, respectively). An interaction (linear, P = 0.005) was found for feed efficiency. When AB were fed, pigs weaned at 21.5 and 24.5 d were less efficient. However, AB improved feed efficiency of pigs weaned at 18.5 d. Pigs with access to AB in feed and water had lower total losses (2.7% less mortality + removal; P \u3c 0.001). Increasing weaning age also marginally decreased total losses (-0.21% per day increase in weaning age; linear, P = 0.097). The weight sold (at 197 d of age) per pig weaned was increased by increasing weaning age (an additional 1.55 lb for each day increase in weaning age; linear, P = 0.050) and by using AB in feed and water (an addition of 10.1 lb/pig; P = 0.019). In summary, increasing weaning age linearly improved pig performance and relatively short-term use of antibiotics reduced mortality and removals. In addition, both factors contributed to maximizing the weight sold per pig weaned

Hyperferritinemia without iron overload in patients with bilateral cataracts: a case series

Hepatologists and internists often encounter patients with unexplained high serum ferritin concentration. After exclusion of hereditary hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis, rare disorders like hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis. This autosomal dominant syndrome, that typically presents with juvenile bilateral cataracts, was first described in 1995 and has an increasing number of recognized molecular defects within a regulatory region of the L-ferritin gene (FTL). CASE PRESENTATION: Two patients (32 and 49-year-old Caucasian men) from our ambulatory clinic were suspected as having this syndrome and a genetic analysis was performed. In both patients, sequencing of the FTL 5' region showed previously described mutations within the iron responsive element (FTL c.33 C > A and FTL c.32G > C). CONCLUSION: Hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome should be considered in all patients with unexplained hyperferritinemia without signs of iron overload, particularly those with juvenile bilateral cataracts. Liver biopsy and phlebotomy should be avoided in this disorder

Effects of Corn Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles Withdrawal on Finishing Pig Performance

A total of 860 finishing pigs [C48 or L42 × 327; initially 146 ± 11.1 lb body weight (BW)] were used in a 76-d experiment to evaluate the effects of removing corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) from diets at varying intervals before harvest. Pigs were fed diets containing 40% DDGS until the start of the trial. Diets contained 35% DDGS from approximately 146 to 180 lb and 30% until the completion of the trial. Pen served as the experimental unit, and there were 7 replicate pens per treatment with 23 to 25 pigs per pen. Pens were blocked by BW within the barn and allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments differentiated by the number of days before slaughter that diets containing DDGS were withdrawn and replaced with corn-soybean meal-based diets. Withdrawal times consisted of the following: 76 (no DDGS fed), 42, 27, 15, or 0 d (no withdrawal) before the time all pigs were marketed. At the time of harvest, all pigs were sent to a commercial processing facility for carcass data collection. For the overall period from d -76 to 0, as time of DDGS withdrawal increased, average daily gain (ADG) and final BW also increased (linear, P \u3c 0.018), while feed:gain ratio (F/G) improved (quadratic, P = 0.022). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) quadratically decreased (P = 0.030) with increasing withdrawal time. There was a linear increase (P = 0.009) in hot carcass weight (HCW), with a marginally significant increase in carcass yield (linear, P = 0.094) with increasing DDGS withdrawal time. Loin depth and lean percentage did not demonstrate any evidence for treatment differences (P \u3e 0.132). Backfat was linearly increased (P = 0.030) with a marginally significant (P = 0.084) quadratic response with increasing DDGS withdrawal time. Lastly, the iodine value of belly fat was increased (linear, P \u3c 0.034) with increased feeding duration of DDGS. Feed cost per pig and income over feed cost (IOFC) per all pigs that started on the experiment were increased (linear, P \u3c 0.048) with increasing withdrawal time. Feed cost per lb of gain did not demonstrate evidence for treatment differences (P \u3e 0.505). When based on the number of pigs marketed at the end of the experiment, feed cost per pig was increased (linear, P = 0.001) with increasing withdrawal time, though feed cost per lb of gain and IOFC did not have evidence for differences (P \u3e 0.186). Carcass gain value was increased (linear, P = 0.001) with increased DDGS withdrawal time. In conclusion, removing pigs from DDGS for longer periods before slaughter increased ADG and improved F/G, resulting in increased HCW. Belly fat iodine value was inversely related to the length of DDGS withdrawal, with the highest iodine value (IV) resulting from pigs that consumed DDGS for the entire finishing period. The advantages in final BW and HCW seen in the present data may encourage producers to remove DDGS from finishing diets earlier than commonly practiced