Changes in physiological and immunological parameters during the peripartum period in Zwerasca sheep

The aim of this study was to provide the picture of the dynamics of some blood parameters in the native Zerasca sheep breed during the peripartum period. Blood samples were collected from peripheral blood of 14 ewes at different times: from 21 d before lambing to 42 d after. Physiological and immunological parameters were evaluated: aspartate-aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, total antioxidant capacity, free radicals, serum bactericidal activity and serum lysozyme. One-way repeated measures ANOVA test was performed. Results showed a significant influence of the peripartum and the deviation from the normal range on many parameters

Wearable Inertial Devices in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Scoping Review

In clinical practice and research, innovative digital technologies have been proposed for the characterization of neuromuscular and movement disorders through objective measures. Among these, wearable devices prove to be a suitable solution for tele-monitoring, tele-rehabilitation, and daily activities monitoring. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are low-cost, compact, and easy-to-use wearable devices that evaluate kinematics during different movements. Kinematic variables could support the clinical evaluation of the progression of some neuromuscular diseases and could be used as outcome measures. The current review describes the use of IMUs for the biomechanical assessment of meaningful outcome measures in individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The PRISMA methodology was used and the search was conducted in different databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed). A total of 23 articles were examined and classified according to year of publication, ambulatory/non-ambulatory subjects, and IMU positioning on human body. The analysis points out the recent regulatory identification of Stride Velocity 95th Centile as a new endpoint in therapeutic DMD trials when measured continuously from a wearable device, while only a few studies proposed the use of IMUs in non-ambulatory patients. Clinical recognition of reliable and accurate outcome measures for the upper body is still a challeng

Motor Outcome Measures in Pediatric Patients with Congenital Muscular Dystrophies: A Scoping Review

Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic neuromuscular disorders. They usually occur at birth or in early childhood, with delayed acquisition of motor milestones, and diffuse muscle weakness. A dystrophic pattern is evident on the muscle biopsy. They are highly variable both in terms of severity and clinical evolution and in terms of pathogenetic biochemical mechanisms. The aim of this review is to collect and summarize the current knowledge of motor function in pediatric patients with congenital muscular dystrophies and the instruments used to assess it. This scoping review was conducted using the methodology of PRISMA (extension for Scoping Reviews, PRISMA-ScR). Two databases were queried from January 2002 to November 2022. Articles were identified based on title and abstract. Full-text papers published in peer-reviewed English-language journals were selected. It emerged that motor functional aspects are still underinvestigated in CMD patients, probably due to the rarity of these conditions and the phenotypic variability. The scales used to assess motor function are heterogeneous, as are the age groups considered. Finally, the predominant type of research design is cross-sectional; few studies analyze the progression of motor function over time. All these factors make it difficult to correlate the results of different publications and stress the need for more accurate and shared protocols for assessing motor function in these patients

Buffalo behavioural response to machine milking in early lactation

Buffalo farming in Italy is traditionally oriented towards mozzarella cheese production. Over the last decade, it has rapidly increased. As a result, intensive techniques and mechanization of farm activities have been introduced. Those sudden changes in rearing techniques have aroused a general concern about buffalo welfare and its possible consequences on product quality. Human-animal interactions are recognized to have an impact on productivity, behaviour and welfare, particularly in dairy farms, where the milking process involves a close interaction with a human handler. Focusing on the first month of lactation, this preliminary study aimed at evidencing buffalo behavioural responses to machine milking. The relationship between behaviour and oxytocin administration, often performed to allow milk let down, was also investigated. The experiment included 8 multiparous and 6 primiparous buffaloes that calved in the same period. Starting from the first entrance in the milking parlour, the animals were followed 2 days/week during the morning milking for the first 5 weeks of lactation. Behaviour observation was performed following a focal animal sampling (continuous recording) technique. Proportional frequencies of the following behaviours were calculated: kicking; stepping; defaecating; urinating; vocalizing; and pulling the teat cup off the teats. The exogenous oxytocin administration at milking was recorded. Pearson chi-square test was used to verify the presence of differences between the primiparous and multiparous cow behaviour at milking. Cochran's Q test was used to assess the variability of behaviour over time, and a binomial regression was performed in order to verify the correlations between animal behaviour and the need to administer oxytocin. Considering the lactation number, every behavioural pattern in primiparous cows, except for stepping, resulted to be more frequently performed (36.67% vs. 24.36% for kicking; 5% vs. 2.56% for defaecating; 11.67% vs. 5.13% for pulling the teat cup off the teats). The behaviour of urinating (48.33% vs. 11.54%) proved to have a significantly higher mean frequency of occurrence compared to the multiparous one (P<0.001). The frequency of oxytocin administration showed a high variability over time (P<0.001) which decreased soon, whereas the selected behaviours proved to be more stable in time except for kicking and urinating (P<0.05). Some correlations between animal behaviour at milking and oxytocin administration were found. Kicking, stepping and urinating appeared to be significantly related to the requirement of exogenous molecule (P<0.001). The occurrence of behaviours considered as indicators of acute stress and their correlation with oxytocin administration were a clear proof of the machine milking impact on buffalo welfare and productivity

NEW FOOD FRAUDS IN SEAFOOD CHAIN: TUB GURNARD OR PANGASIUS?

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NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY IN IMPORTED FISHERY PRODUCTS

Considering the growing public concern over marine environmental quality, a program of monitoring radionuclids in imported fishery products has been established. The analyses have been performed by gamma spectrometry allowing the rapid detection of many artificial radionuclides such as 137Cs, 134Cs and 40K. The data obtained show Cs radionuclides levels within expected limits. The detection of natural radionuclide K showed different levels in the same fishery product as they came from different sea areas

Influence of post partum on some haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in Zerasca sheep

During lactation the ewe is subject to intense variations of the metabolic and immune status but the relative studies in sheep are limited, especially in meat-type breed. This investigation aimed at studying the changes of some haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in Zerasca ewes during this period. The study, that represent a first step of a larger project, was carried out on fifteen adult and clinically healthy Zerasca sheep, an indigenous meat-type breed. The farm was located in Zeri (MS) at an altitude of 900 meters a.s.l. Two blood samples were collected from the jugular vein using Vacutainer® test tubes; the first within four weeks from lambing and the second two months later. The blood samples were analysed for RBC, WBC, Hgb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PCV, ALT, AST, BUN, cholesterol, total proteins, glucose, triglycerides, creatinine, NEFA, BPI, cortisol, lysozyme, CD4+, and CD8+. ANOVA was performed to test the overall significance of the differences between mean values. The postpartum phase resulted in exerting a significant effect upon the following parameters: ALT, cholesterol, glucose, NEFA, creatinine, lymphocyte and lysozyme (P<0.001), BUN and CD8 (P<0.05). Among these parameters, some of them exceeded the normal range at the second sampling: ALT, lysozyme and CD8+. NEFA decreased below the normal range limit, probably in consequence of the lactation which evidently represents a state of excessive catabolism. Lysozyme level was higher in lactating ewes indicating a momentary enhancement of the innate immunity. It can be noticed that the haematological results showed no alteration and was not influenced by the physiological state. The few available data do not allow to make conclusive assessments but it is possible to assert that no considerable changes in blood count, metabolic and immune systems of Zerasca sheep at this stage were observed

NEW FOOD FRAUDS IN SEAFOOD CHAIN: TUB GURNARD OR PANGASIUS?

The present study reports a case of food fraud occurred in the Lazio region. Using the Isoelectrofocusing we revealed the substitution of tub-gurnard, with the less valuable commercial fish, pangasius