Inclusion of fat in the diet of primiparous sows: effect on the reproduction and litter performance

Inclusión de grasa en dieta decerdas primíparas: efecto sobre la reproducción y performance de la camada. Rev. Vet. 31:1, 61-65, 2020. La incorporación de grasa en la dieta podría mejorar la performance reproductivade cerdos en producción, principalmente durante las épocas más calurosas. Para comprobaresta hipótesis se evaluó el efecto de la inclusión de grasa a diferentes niveles sobrevariables reproductivas de cerdas primíparas en condiciones de subtrópico. Se utilizaron 3grupos de 6 animales (n=18) a los cuales se les suministraron 3 dietas con diferentes nivelesde inclusión de grasa (0%, 3,5% y 7%) desde el día 90 de gestación y durante la lactación(21 días). Las variables medidas fueron el número de lechones nacidos totales, nacidos vivos,muertos y peso de la camada al nacimiento y al destete, mientras que sobre las hembras seregistró el intervalo de retorno al celo. Se empleó un diseño completamente aleatorizadoy los datos fueron analizados mediante ANOVA con el software estadístico Infostat®. Nose encontraron diferencias al incorporar grasa, en relación al número de lechones nacidosvivos, muertos, totales, peso al nacimiento e intervalo-destete celo (p>0,05) mientras que elnúmero y peso de lechones al destete se vio influenciado de manera significativa (p0.05), whereas number and weight of pigs at weaning were increased by the addition of fat (p<0.05). In conclusion, fat inclusion resulted in an improved number and weight of piglets at weaning; however, weaning-to-estrus and variables at birth, were not affected.Fil: Rivas, F. R.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Chaco-Formosa. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Las Breñas; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, M. A.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Chaco-Formosa. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Las Breñas; ArgentinaFil: Matiller, Valentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Wiliams S.I.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

A decision tree to assess short-term mortality after an emergency department visit for an exacerbation of COPD: A cohort study

Background: Creating an easy-to-use instrument to identify predictors of short-term (30/60-day) mortality after an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (eCOPD) could help clinicians choose specific measures of medical care to decrease mortality in these patients. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a classification and regression tree (CART) to predict short term mortality among patients evaluated in an emergency department (ED) for an eCOPD. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study including participants from 16 hospitals in Spain. COPD patients with an exacerbation attending the emergency department (ED) of any of the hospitals between June 2008 and September 2010 were recruited. Patients were randomly divided into derivation (50 %) and validation samples (50 %). A CART based on a recursive partitioning algorithm was created in the derivation sample and applied to the validation sample. Results: Two thousand four hundred eighty-seven patients, 1252 patients in the derivation sample and 1235 in the validation sample, were enrolled in the study. Based on the results of the univariate analysis, five variables (baseline dyspnea, cardiac disease, the presence of paradoxical breathing or use of accessory inspiratory muscles, age, and Glasgow Coma Scale score) were used to build the CART. Mortality rates 30 days after discharge ranged from 0 % to 55 % in the five CART classes. The lowest mortality rate was for the branch composed of low baseline dyspnea and lack of cardiac disease. The highest mortality rate was in the branch with the highest baseline dyspnea level, use of accessory inspiratory muscles or paradoxical breathing upon ED arrival, and Glasgow score <15. The area under the receiver-operating curve (AUC) in the derivation sample was 0.835 (95 % CI: 0.783, 0.888) and 0.794 (95 % CI: 0.723, 0.865) in the validation sample. CART was improved to predict 60-days mortality risk by adding the Charlson Comorbidity Index, reaching an AUC in the derivation sample of 0.817 (95 % CI: 0.776, 0.859) and 0.770 (95 % CI: 0.716, 0.823) in the validation sample. Conclusions: We identified several easy-to-determine variables that allow clinicians to classify eCOPD patients by short term mortality risk, which can provide useful information for establishing appropriate clinical care. Trial registration: NCT02434536

Visceral fat area and cardiometabolic risk: The Kardiovize study

BACKGROUND: Visceral fat is associated with adiposity-based complications. Bioimpedance measurement allows estimation of visceral fat area (VFA) in an easy manner. However, a validated cut-off value for VFA by bioimpedance associated with cardiometabolic risk is lacking in European population. AIM: To determine cut-off values of VFA measured via bioimpedance associated with cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: Random cross-sectional Czech population-based sample of 25-64 years old subjects. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. The Cardiometabolic Disease Staging System (CMDS) was used to classify cardiometabolic risk: Stage 1 - 1 or 2 metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, without impaired fasting glucose (IFG); Stage 2 - MetS or IFG; Stage 3 - MetS with IFG; Stage 4 - type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: 2052 participants (54.5% females, median age 49 years) were included. Median VFA (inter-quartile range) were 82.2 cm2 (54.8) in men and 89.8 cm2 (55.6) in women. The best VFA cut-offs associated with Stage 1 in men and women were 71 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.654; specificity = 0.427) and 83 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.705; specificity = 0.556) ; Stage 2: 84 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.673; specificity = 0.551) and 98 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.702; specificity = 0.628) ; Stage 3: 90 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.886; specificity = 0.605) and 109 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.755; specificity = 0.704); Stage 4: 91 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.625; specificity = 0.611) and 81 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.695; specificity = 0.448), respectively. CONCLUSION: A cut-off value of VFA of 71 cm2 in men and 83 cm2 in women exhibited the earliest stage of cardiometabolic risk, and 90 cm2 in men and 109 cm2 in women showed the best performance to detect risk

T-cell epitopes of the major peach allergen, Pru p 3: Identification and differential T-cell response of peach-allergic and non-allergic subjects

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs), particularly peach Pru p 3, are the most relevant plant food allergens in the South of Europe, and, therefore, their allergic properties have been extensively studied. However, neither T-cell epitopes nor their effect on the patients’ T-cell response has been investigated in any member of the LTP panallergen family. The objective of the present study was to map the major T-cell epitopes of Pru p 3, as well as to evaluate their induced T-cell response in peach-allergic versus control subjects. Thus, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 18 peach-allergic patients and Pru p 3-specific T-cell lines (TCLs) from 9 of them were cultured with Pru p 3 and with a panel of 17 derived peptides (10-mer overlapping in 5 amino acids representing the full sequence of Pru p 3). Proliferation in 5-day assays was carried out via tritiated-thymidine incorporation, while IL4 and IFNγ production was assessed via sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent tests (ELISA) of TCL culture supernatants. The results were compared to those obtained from 10 non-peach allergic control volunteers. Two consecutive peptides showed the highest activation capacity. About 74% of PBMCs and TCLs recognized them, forming a single T-epitope: Pru p 365–80. Additionally, other specific T-cell epitopes were observed. Pru p 325–35 was detected by more than 60% of TCLs from peach-allergic patients, and Pru p 345–55 only activated PBMCs from control subjects. Interestingly, TCLs from patients were associated with a Th2-type, whereas control TCLs presented a Th1-type cytokine response. The major immunogenic T-cell epitope identified in Pru p 3, Pru p 365–80, is a good candidate to develop new vaccines for hypersensitivity reactions associated with LTP allergens from Rosaceae fruits

Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma Genomic Profile Is Characterized by Alterations in Genes Regulating NF-κB and Immune Checkpoints.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is an uncommon lymphoma with an aggressive clinical course characterized by selective growth of tumor cells within the vessels. Its pathogenesis is still uncertain and there is little information on the underlying genomic alterations. In this study, we performed a clinicopathologic and next-generation sequencing analysis of 15 cases of IVLBCL using a custom panel for the detection of alterations in 68 recurrently mutated genes in B-cell lymphomagenesis. Six patients had evidence of hemophagocytic syndrome. Four patients presented concomitantly a solid malignancy. Tumor cells outside the vessels were observed in 7 cases, 2 with an overt diffuse large B-cell cell lymphoma. In 4 samples, tumor cells infiltrated lymphatic vessel in addition to blood capillaries. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was positive in tumor cells in 4 of 11 evaluable samples and in macrophages intermingled with tumor cells in 8. PD-L1 copy number gains were identified in a higher proportion of cases expressing PD-L1 than in negative tumors. The most frequently mutated gene was PIM1 (9/15, 60%), followed by MYD88L265P and CD79B (8/15, 53% each). In 6 cases, MYD88L265P and CD79B mutations were detected concomitantly. We also identified recurrent mutations in IRF4 , TMEM30A , BTG2 , and ETV6 loci (4/15, 27% each) and novel driver mutations in NOTCH2 , CCND3 , and GNA13 , and an IRF4 translocation in 1 case each. The mutational profile was similar in patients with and without evidence of hemophagocytic syndrome and in cases with or without dissemination of tumor cells outside the vessels. Our results confirm the relevance of mutations in B-cell receptor/nuclear factor-κB signaling and immune escape pathways in IVLBCL and identify novel driver alterations. The similar mutational profile in tumors with extravascular dissemination suggests that these cases may also be considered in the spectrum of IVLBCL

Optimizing DDRADseq in non-model species: A Case Study in Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden

Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and its derived protocols, such as double digest RADseq (ddRADseq), offer a flexible and highly cost-effective strategy for efficient plant genome sampling. This has become one of the most popular genotyping approaches for breeding, conservation, and evolution studies in model and non-model plant species. However, universal protocols do not always adapt well to non-model species. Herein, this study reports the development of an optimized and detailed ddRADseq protocol in Eucalyptus dunnii, a non-model species, which combines different aspects of published methodologies. The initial protocol was established using only two samples by selecting the best combination of enzymes and through optimal size selection and simplifying lab procedures. Both single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were determined with high accuracy after applying stringent bioinformatics settings and quality filters, with and without a reference genome. To scale it up to 24 samples, we added barcoded adapters. We also applied automatic size selection, and therefore obtained an optimal number of loci, the expected SNP locus density, and genome-wide distribution. Reliability and cross-sequencing platform compatibility were verified through dissimilarity coefficients of 0.05 between replicates. To our knowledge, this optimized ddRADseq protocol will allow users to go from the DNA sample to genotyping data in a highly accessible and reproducible way.Instituto de BiotecnologíaFil: Aguirre, Natalia Cristina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Filippi, Carla Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zaina, Giusi. University of Udine. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences; ItaliaFil: Rivas, Juan Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Cintia Vanesa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Villalba, Pamela Victoria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Martin Nahuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Sergio Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rivarola, Maximo Lisandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Puebla, Andrea Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Morgante, Michele. University of Udine. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences; ItaliaFil: Hopp, Horacio Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Paniego, Norma Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marcucci Poltri, Susana Noemi. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Abattoir Factors Influencing the Incidence of Dark Cutting in Australian Grain-Fed Beef

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carcass traits, lairage time and weather conditions during lairage and abattoir factors that impact the incidence of dark cutting in 142,228 grain-fed carcasses, as defined by Meat Standards Australia (MSA) guidelines. This study was conducted over a 12-month period analysing data from cattle that were supplied from seven feedlots and processed at three abattoirs. Abattoir data indicated that the average incidence of dark cutting within the study was 2.8%. Increased wind speeds (WSs) and rain during lairage at the abattoir was associated with an increased risk of dark cutting, whereas variation in ambient temperature and/or relative humidity did not influence dark cutting. Heavier carcasses with whiter fat, larger hump heights, more rib fat, higher marble scores and lower ossification had lower incidences of dark cutting. The factors abattoir, time in lairage, time to grading and grader within Abattoir had significant effects on the incidence of dark cutting. The results from this study suggest that reducing the time in lairage and increasing the time between slaughter and grading are the two major ways to reduce dark cutting in MSA carcasses

Parametric Investigations of the Induced Shear Stress by a Laser-Generated Bubble

The present paper focuses on the simulation of the growth and collapse of a bubble in the vicinity of a wall. Both liquid and gas phases are assumed compressible, and their interaction is handled with the volume-of-fluid method. The main interest is to quantify the influence of the induced shear stress and pressure pulse in the vicinity of the wall for a variety of bubble sizes and bubble–wall distances. The results are validated against prior experimental results, such as the measurements of the bubble size, induced pressure field, and shear stress on the wall. The simulation predictions indicate that the wall in the vicinity of the bubble is subjected both to high shear stresses and large pressure pulses because of the growth and collapse of the bubble. In fact, pressure levels of 100 bar or more and shear stresses up to 25 kPa have been found at localized spots on the wall surface, at the region around the bubble. Moreover, the simulations are capable of providing additional insight to the experimental investigation, as the inherent limitations of the latter are avoided. The present work may be considered as a preliminary investigation in optimizing bubble energy and wall generation distance for ultrasound cleaning applications

Prognosis of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis Without Heart Failure Symptoms.

BACKGROUND Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is increasingly recognized as a treatable cause of heart failure (HF). Advances in diagnosis and therapy have increased the number of patients diagnosed at early stages, but prognostic data on patients without HF symptoms are lacking. Moreover, it is unknown whether asymptomatic patients benefit from early initiation of transthyretin (TTR) stabilizers. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the natural history and prognosis of ATTR-CM in patients without HF symptoms. METHODS Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ATTR-CM without HF symptoms were retrospectively collected at 6 international amyloidosis centers. RESULTS A total of 118 patients (78.8% men, median age 66 years [IQR: 53.8-75 years], 68 [57.6%] with variant transthyretin amyloidosis, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 60.5% ± 9.9%, mean left ventricular wall thickness 15.4 ± 3.1 mm, and 53 [45%] treated with TTR stabilizers at baseline or during follow-up) were included. During a median follow-up period of 3.7 years (IQR: 1-6 years), 38 patients developed HF symptoms (23 New York Heart Association functional class II and 14 functional class III or IV), 32 died, and 2 required cardiac transplantation. Additionally, 20 patients received pacemakers, 13 developed AF, and 1 had a stroke. Overall survival was 96.5% (95% CI: 91%-99%), 90.4% (95% CI: 82%-95%), and 82% (95% CI: 71%-89%) at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Treatment with TTR stabilizers was associated with improved survival (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12-0.82; P = 0.019) and remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, ATTR-CM type, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.55; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS After a median follow-up period of 3.7 years, 1 in 3 patients with asymptomatic ATTR-CM developed HF symptoms, and nearly as many died or required cardiac transplantation. Treatment with TTR stabilizers was associated with improved prognosis.This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI18/0765 and PI20/01379). Dr Gonzalez-Lopez has received speaker fees from Pfizer and Alnylam; has received consulting fees from Pfizer and Proclara; and has received research and educational support to her institution from Pfizer, BridgeBio, and Alnylam. Dr Obici has received speaker and consulting fees from Pfizer, Alnylam, and Akcea. Dr AbouEzzeddine has received research grant support from Pfizer. Dr Mussinelli has received speaker fees from Pfizer and Akcea. Dr Dispenzieri has received consulting fees from Janssen and Akcea; and has received research support from Pfizer, Alnylam, Celgene, and Takeda. Dr Perlini has received speaker and consulting fees from Pfizer, Alnylam, and Akcea. Dr Palladini has received speaker fees from Janssen-Cilag, Pfizer, and Siemens; and has participated on an advisory board for Janssen Cilag. Dr Damy has received research grants or consulting fees from Alnylam, Akcea, Pfizer, and Prothena. Dr Grogan has received research grant support and consulting fees to her institution from Alnylam, Eidos, Pfizer, and Prothena. Dr Maurer has received grant support from National Institutes of Health (R01HL139671-01, R21AG058348, and K24AG036778); has received consulting income from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Eidos, Prothena, Akcea, and Alnylam; and has received clinical trial funding to his institution from Pfizer, Prothena, Eidos, and Alnylam. Dr Garcia-Pavia has received speaker fees from Pfizer, BridgeBio, Alnylam, and Ionis; has received consulting fees from Pfizer, BridgeBio, AstraZeneca, NovoNordisk, Neuroimmune, Alnylam, Alexion, and Attralus; and has received research and educational support to his institution from Pfizer, BridgeBio, and Alnylam. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.S