Energy value of unfermented dried grape pomace as substitute of alfalfa hay in diets for growing lambs

The energy value of unfermented dried grape pomace (DGP) was evaluated in an 84 d feeding trial on 16 Pelibuey×Dorper lambs (17.8 ± 2.0 kg). The control diet contained 90% mature alfalfa hay and 10% concentrates. Treatments consisted in the replacement (DM basis) of alfalfa hay by DGP at 0, 10, 20 or 30%. Lambs were blocked by weight and assigned individually to pens. Increasing DGP level in diet tended (P=0.06) to decrease daily gain and linearly increased (P=0.04) dry matter intake (DMI); thus, feed efficiency, dietary energy, and observed-to-expected diet NE were linearly decreased (P<0.01), increasing linearly (P<0.01) observed-to-expected DMI coefficient as DGP level was increased in the diet. There were no effects of treatments on carcass characteristics. Using the replacement technique, the energy value of DGP were 0.80, 0.75 and 0.67 Mcal ENm/kg DM, for 10, 20 and 30% of inclusion, respectively. It is concluded that the estimated NE of DGP at 10% inclusion level in the diet is very similar to the NE value assigned by the NRC (2007) for the fermented DGP. Increasing the inclusion of DGP levels beyond 10% decreases its energy value, maybe due to the negative associative effects of chemical compounds (such as phenols) naturally contained in DGP

Guía de Práctica Clínica para el Diagnóstico y Tratamiento de Esclerosis Múltiple en Adultos.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, for which there is still no definitive cure; but there is a diverse variety of therapies with the objective of modifying the course of the disease, which promotes the constant inclusion of new therapeutic strategies. Objective: The Peruvian Society of Neurology, as requested by the Peruvian Health Ministry, convened a committee of experts with the purpose of elaborating a clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of MS. Method: Clinical practice guidelines were searched and evaluated according to the AGREE II methodology, choosing the Catalan Clinical Practice Guide as a model. The clinical questions not related to treatment were solved through a systematic review. The clinical treatment questions were assessed under the PICO format and were solved with a meta-analysis of clinical trials available until August 2017, considering the therapies approved by DIGEMID until January 2017. The final recommendations were elaborated using the modified Delphi method with a consensus of at least 80% of the members of its committee. Finally, an external revision of the manuscript was made by international experts in MS. Results: Eighteen clinical questions and twenty-one recommendations for management were developed, including therapeutic algorithms.La Esclerosis Múltiple (EM) es una enfermedad crónica del sistema nervioso central, para la cual aún no hay una cura definitiva; sin embargo, existe una diversa variedad de terapias con el objetivo de modificar el curso natural de la enfermedad, que promueve la inclusión constante de nuevas estrategias terapéuticas. Objetivo: La Sociedad Peruana de Neurología, por encargo del Ministerio de Salud, convocó a un comité de expertos con el objetivo de elaborar una guía de práctica clínica para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de EM. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda y evaluación de guías de práctica clínica bajo la metodología AGREE II, escogiendo como modelo la Guía de Práctica Clínica Catalana. Las preguntas clínicas no concernientes al tratamiento fueron resueltas a través de revisión sistemática. Las preguntas clínicas de tratamiento se diseñaron bajo el formato PICO y se resolvieron con un meta-análisis de ensayos clínicos disponibles hasta agosto del 2017, tomando en consideración las terapias aprobadas por DIGEMID hasta enero del 2017. Las recomendaciones finales fueron elaboradas mediante el método Delphi modificado con un consenso de al menos 80% de los miembros de su comité. Finalmente se realizó una revisión externa del manuscrito por expertos internacionales en EM.   Resultados: Se formularon 18 preguntas clínicas y 21 recomendaciones para el manejo, incluyendo algoritmos terapéuticos

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Comparative effects of grain source on digestion characteristics of finishing diets for feedlot cattle: steam-flaked corn, barley, wheat and oats

Twelve Holstein steers (454 ± 32 kg) with cannulas in rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a generalized randomized block design to compare steam-flaked corn (SFC), barley (SFB), wheat (SFW), and oats (SFO) as grain sources (74% of diet dry matter, flake density = 0.31 kg L−1) on characteristics of digestion. Ruminal organic matter (OM) digestion was similar for SFC-, SFB-, and SFW-based diets, but lower for SFO. Ruminal microbial efficiency was greater for SFW and SFO. Given that the undegradable intake protein (UIP) value of SFC is 57%, the comparative UIP values for SFB, SFW, and SFO were 39.8%, 36.1%, and 47.3%, respectively. Ruminal starch digestion was lower for SFC than the other flaked grains. Total-tract OM digestion and digestible energy were greatest for SFC, intermediate for SFB and SFW, and lowest for SFO. Given the net energy maintenance (NEm) value of SFC is 2.40 Mcal kg−1, the comparative NEm value for SFB, SFW, and SFO were 2.25, 2.36, and 2.17 Mcal kg−1, respectively. Steam flaking results in important modifications of small grains that appreciably affect their comparative feeding value. Current standards underestimates the NE value of SFB, SFW, and SFO, and overestimates the UIP values for SFB and SFO.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effect of magnesium oxide (mgo) addition in diets for lactating holstein cows

Se evaluó el efecto de adición de óxido de magnesio (MgO) en dietas para vacas Holstein sobre la producción y calidad de la leche. Diecinueve vacas Holstein en el segundo tercio de lactancia fueron asignadas a dos tratamientos (T), con 9 y 10 animales. Ambos tratamientos fueron similares para días de lactancia y producción de leche. Las vacas fueron asignadas al azar a dos grupos o tratamientos (T): T1 recibió 0,2%, y T2 recibió 0,4% de MgO. El MgO (agente alcalinizante) se mezcló con un concentrado comercial y se ofreció en el comedero junto con la dieta total, la cual consistió de 9 kg/d del concentrado mas heno de alfalfa ad libitum. La dieta total se ofreció 3 veces al día (06000, 1200 and 1700 h). El periodo experimental fue de 30 d, con otros 30 d de adaptación. Se evaluó la producción de leche (kg/d) y la calidad de la leche (grasa, proteína, y sólidos totales). Los datos se analizaron por medio del paquete estadístico SAS en un diseño de bloques al azar. Los animales en T2 (0,4% MgO) produjeron más leche (2,5 kg/d; P<0,05) que aquellos en T1 (0,20% MgO). El contenido de grasa, proteína, y sólidos totales en leche fue más alto (P<0,05) en T1 que en T2. Se concluye que la adición de 0,40% de MgO en dietas para vacas lactantes incrementa la producción de leche, sin embargo puede haber una pequeña reducción en la calidad de la leche, comparado con la suplementación de 0,20% de [email protected] was evaluated the effect of magnesium oxide (MgO) addition in diets for Holstein cows on milk production and quality. Nineteen Holstein cows in second third of lactation were assigned to two treatments (T), with 9 and 10 animals. Both treatments were similar for days in lactation and milk yield. Cows were assigned at random to two treatments (T) groups: T1 received 0.2% and T2 received 0.4% of MgO. The MgO (alkalinizing agent) was mixed with a commercial concentrate and offered in feed bunk with total diet, which consisted of 9 kg/d of concentrate plus alfalfa hay fed ad libitum. Total diet was offered three times a day (0600; 1200 and 1700 h). The experimental period was of 30 d, with other 30 for adaptation. Milk production (kg/d) and milk quality (fat, protein, and total solids) were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the statistical package SAS through of a randomized block design. Animals on T2 (0.40% MgO) produced 2.85 kg/d more milk (P<0.50) than those on T1 (0.20% MgO). The fat, protein and total solids content in milk were higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in T2. It is concluded that the addition of 0.4% MgO in diets for lactating dairy cows resulted in milk production increased, although there was a small reduction in milk quality, compared with 0.2% MgO supplementation

Genome-Wide SNP Signal Intensity Scanning Revealed Genes Differentiating Cows with Ovarian Pathologies from Healthy Cows

Hypoplasia and ovarian cysts are the most common ovarian pathologies in cattle. In this genome-wide study we analyzed the signal intensity of 648,315 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and identified 1338 genes differentiating cows with ovarian pathologies from healthy cows. The sample consisted of six cows presenting an ovarian pathology and six healthy cows. SNP signal intensities were measured with a genotyping process using the Axiom Genome-Wide BOS 1 SNPchip. Statistical tests for equality of variance and mean were applied to SNP intensities, and significance p-values were obtained. A Benjamini-Hochberg multiple testing correction reveled significant SNPs. Corresponding genes were identified using the Bovine Genome UMD 3.1 annotation. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) confirmed differentiation. An analysis of Copy Number Variations (CNVs), obtained from signal intensities, revealed no evidence of association between ovarian pathologies and CNVs. In addition, a haplotype frequency analysis showed no association with ovarian pathologies. Results show that SNP signal intensity, which captures not only information for base-pair genotypes elucidation, but the amount of fluorescence nucleotide synthetization produced in an enzymatic reaction, is a rich source of information that, by itself or in combination with base-pair genotypes, might be used to implement differentiation, prediction and diagnostic procedures, increasing the scope of applications for Genotyping Microarrays

INFLUENCE OF TIME BETWEEN RUMINAL GLUCOSE CHALLENGES ON RUMEN FUNCTION

Ruminal lactic acidosis is one of the most important metabolic problems in feedlot cattle. Gradually transitioning cattle to finishing-feedlot diets may reduce the risk for ruminal acidosis by providing sufficient time for adaptation. This adaptation of feedlot cattle to high-concentrate diets may causes marked changes in the ruminal environment, and time is required to establish stable ruminal conditions.   However, few studies have evaluated the ruminal adaptation in steers. A metabolism trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of two consecutive glucose challenges on rumen function in steers fed a high-energy finishing diet. Four Holstein steers (320 kg LW) with cannula in the rumen were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Four treatments were used and consisted of the time elapsed between both challenges of glucose (2, 4, 6 or 8 d). Ruminal fluid samples were taken at 0700 h (just prior the first glucose challenge), and from the second challenge (d 2, 4, 6, or 8) at 1 h before and 2, 4, 6, 8, 28, 52, 124, 196 and 268 h. As the time between fluctuation of energy intake increased, ruminal fluid pH (P 0.10). During the first 6 h following the second glucose challenge ruminal fluid pH decreased. No effects of treatments on ruminal pH were observed (P >0.10) among treatments from 3 days after the second challenge. Ruminal fluid osmotic pressure increased (P <0.10) after dosed glucose with all treatments. Ruminal osmolality increased (P <0.10) as the time between challenges were 2 or 4 days. After dosed glucose, total volatile fatty acids increased, except by treatment 1 after second challenge. Total volatile fatty acid and pH were related positively (R2 =0.69). As the time increased, a tendency on increment of concentrations of protozoa was observed. Ruminal glucose concentration decreased linearly (P <0.10) 2 h after the second fluctuation of energy intake. We conclude that ruminal alterations are magnified as the time between glucose challenge decreases