Growth parameters and meat quality of pigs fed diets containing high oleic sunflower oil

The aim of the trial was to evaluate the effects of the dietary addition of a 3% sunflower oil containing high-oleic and low-linoleic acid levels (HOSO), supplemented or not with vitamin E, on heavy pig production parameters (growth, meat quality and fatty acid composition of ham subcutaneous fat). 64 Duroc x Large White pigs were allotted to four group (Control, Control plus vitamin E, 3% HOSO and 3% HOSO plus vitamin E). Regardless of vitamin E supplementation, our results indicate that a 3% addition of HOSO has no effect both on growth parameters and carcass and fresh meat quality. HOSO dietary addition resulted in a higher (P<0.001) level of oleic acid and in lower levels of palmitic and stearic acids in the subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, fat deriving from pigs on HOSO diets showed a higher (P<0.001) iodine value. Nevertheless, linoleic acid level and iodine value did not exceed the maximum allowed for long-curing PDO hams

Comparison of populations of helianthus Argophyllus and H. debilis SSP. cucumerifolius and their hybrids from the African coast of the Indian Ocean and the Usa using molecular markers

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Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and bullous lung disease in cannabis and tobacco smokers. A case-control study.

Background The notion that smoking cannabis may damage the respiratory tract has been introduced in recent years but there is still a paucity of studies on this subject. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cannabis smoking, pneumothorax and bullous lung disease in a population of operated patients. Methods and findings We performed a retrospective study on patients operated on for spontaneous pneumothorax. Patients were divided into three groups according to their smoking habit: cannabis smokers, only-tobacco smokers and nonsmokers. Cannabis lifetime exposure was expressed in dose-years (1d/y = 1 gram of cannabis/week for one year). Clinical, radiological and perioperative variables were collected. The variables were analyzed to find associations with smoking habit. The impact of the amount of cannabis consumption was also investigated by ROC curves analysis. Of 112 patients, 39 smoked cannabis, 23 smoked only tobacco and 50 were nonsmokers. Median cannabis consumption was 28 dose/years, median tobacco consumption was 6 pack/years. Cannabis smokers presented with more severe chronic respiratory symptoms and bullous lung disease and with a higher incidence of tension pneumothorax than both tobacco smokers and nonsmokers. Cannabis smokers also developed a larger pneumothorax, experienced prolonged postoperative stay and demonstrated a higher incidence of pneumothorax recurrence after the operation than nonsmokers did. The risk of occurrence of chronic respiratory symptoms and bullous lung disease in cannabis smokers was dose-related. Conclusions Cannabis smoking seems to increase the risk of suffering from respiratory complaints and can have detrimental effects on lung parenchyma, in a dose-dependent manner. Cannabis smoking also negatively affected the outcome of patients operated for spontaneous pneumothorax. A history of cannabis abuse should always be taken in patients with pneumothorax. There may be need for a specific treatment for pneumothorax in cannabis smokers

Crohn's-like ileo-colitis in patients affected by glycogen storage disease Ib: Two years' follow-up of patients with a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal signs

Aim: To investigate the presence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to evaluate the progression of bowel involvement after two years' follow-up in seven patients affected by glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSDIb). Methods: Seven patients (5F, 2M, aged 4.5-20.6 y) entered the study. Bowel involvement was evaluated by ileocolonoscopy and specific IBD serologic markers. To evaluate disease activity, Paediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), terminal ileum wall thickness detected at ultrasonography (US), 99mTechnetium labelled autologous White Cell Scan (Tc-WCS) and barium meal with follow-through were investigated. Results: Ileocolonoscopy and histology examination revealed variable degrees of bowel involvement in all patients. The results of serologic markers were indicative of a Crohn's-like ileocolitis. US and Tc-WCS, could clearly define patients with severe inflammatory involvement, but failed to identify all patients with mild to moderate disease. For the most severely affected patients, anti-inflammatory agents and steroids were prescribed, whereas nutritional therapy with polymeric formula and antibiotics were assumed by two other patients and antibiotics only by one patient. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was prescribed to all patients. Ileocolonoscopy and histology data improved in all patients. The assumption of G-CSF and/or gastric drip feeding (g.d.f.) was inversely associated with the PCDAI results (p < 0.05). Conclusion: IBD is common in patients affected by GSDIb independently of the severity of gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Different therapeutic approaches can be used according to the severity of IBD. G-CSF treatment and g.d.f. can be protective factors for IBD

Effect of feeding maltodextrins and dextrose on rearing and slaughtering performance of immunocastrated male pigs

This study aimed to verify previous research findings showing that feeding maltodextrins (M) and dextrose (D) leads to a reduction of voluntary feed intake in the Italian heavy pig. This may be interesting for immunocastrated pigs fed ad libitum (ad lib.), whose feed intake skyrockets after the 2nd vaccination, causing too fatty carcasses at slaughtering. Thirty-six male pigs (Italian Duroc x Italian Large White crossbred) received a double immunocastrating injection at 90 and 162 days of age. At 120 days, weighing 51.84+4.38 kg, the subjects were evenly housed in 9 boxes, fed ad lib. till the 2nd injection and then given, until slaughtering (197 days of age; 144.51±9.70 kg), one of the experimental diets: control diet, ad lib. (CL); control diet, restricted at 7.5% l.w.0.75 (CR); with MD (3.5 + 3.5%; adjusted for energy and protein), ad lib. (MD). The CR diet was introduced as the alternative choice to avoid too fatty carcasses. Compared to the restricted ones, pigs fed ad lib. (with or without MD) showed statistically higher (P&lt;.01) ADG (1325 and 1325 vs 905 g/d), ADFI (4630 and 4637 vs 2760 g/d), feed:gain ratio (3.53 and 3.52 vs 3.11), and heavier carcasses (125.1 and 124.4 vs 113.2 kg; P&lt;.01) with lower lean meat content (52.21 and 52.09 vs 55.83 %; P&lt;.01). The results point out how immunocastrated pigs fed ad lib. showed similar rearing and slaughtering performance regardless of the inclusion of M and D in the diet

Steroid therapy in an alpha-dystroglycanopathy due to GMPPB gene mutations : A case report

Alpha-dystroglycanopathies are a group of progressive and untreatable neuromuscular disorders, due to aberrant alpha-dystroglycan glycosylation. We describe the effects of a short-term cycle of corticosteroid therapy in a 9-year-old boy, affected by an alpha-dystroglycanopathy due to GMPPB gene mutations. The patient was affected by a congenital progressive muscular dystrophy since the first month of life, associated with psychomotor delay, seizures, and congenital bilateral cataracts. Despite physical therapy he had a progressive motor impairment. At the age of 9 years, he was treated with 0.75 mg/kg/day of prednisone for 3 months and showed improvements in muscle strength and function scores and creatine kinase reduction. When steroid therapy was discontinued he showed again clinical and biochemical deterioration. These data suggest that corticosteroid may be considered as a treatment for patients with alpha-dystroglycanopathies due to GMPPB mutations. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A methodological approach to assess nutrient requirements of heavy pigs in Italy

This paper reports the results of the work of the "Nutrient requirements of heavy pigs" ASPA Commission. The Commission work was mainly focused on the problem of identifying a good and flexible methodology for establishing nutrient requirements of heavy pigs in Italy, in a situation where the major part of the pigs are used for ham and other typical products. Nutrient allowance was considered to be a variable open to manipulation, since its optimal definition depends on the specific circumstances of each single production unit. It appeared that the most logical way to account for the many interactions involved was to integrate available information using computer simulation techniques. A methodology based on the following steps was proposed and analyzed: i) selection of a mathematical model to describe the chemical growth of pigs over time as result of the interactions of genotype, feed and climate; ii) developing suitable equations to predict the quality parameters of the carcass and, if possible, of the single cuts from the body's chemical status and implementation of these equations in the model; iii) identification of production targets and use of the model as a tool to simulate the effect of different genotypes, feed and climate on the productive and the economic results. A model strongly rooted in a theoretical framework, simple enough to be applied in practice and requiring a limited number inputs was selected from literature. From a preliminary evaluation, performed by using experimental calorimetric data, it was concluded that the model was potentially able to accurately predict the chemical growth of pigs under different conditions of feeding and climate. The major lack of knowledge regarded the values of genotypic descriptors of the national pig populations, the evaluation for which some simple experimental protocols are described in literature. Other lack of knowledge involved relationships to predict the anatomical growth and the evolution of quality parameters of carcass and cuts from the chemical composition of the body. If a correlation between the chemical composition of the pig's body and production targets is confirmed, then a link between the farmer and the industry can be established and the model could be used to identify more convenient feeding strategies. The conceptual basis and the way to assess nutrient requirements of heavy pigs have been clearly identified