A randomized study of nutritional supplementation in patients with unilateral wet age-related macular degeneration

The purpose of this study is evaluate the efficacy and safety of medicinal products con-taining the original Age-Related Eye Disease group (AREDS) formulation at doses approved in Europe (EU, control group; n = 59) with a product that adds DHA, lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol and hydroxytyrosol to the formula (intervention group; n = 50). This was a multicenter, random-ized, observer-blinded trial conducted in patients aged 50 years or older diagnosed with unilateral exudative Age related Macular Degeneration AMD. At month 12, the intervention did not have a significant differential effect on visual acuity compared with the control group, with an estimated treatment difference in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) of -1.63 (95% CI -0.83 to 4.09; p = 0.192). The intervention exhibited a significant and, in most cases, relevant effect in terms of a reduction in some inflammatory cytokines and a greater improvement in the fatty acid profile and serum lutein and zeaxantin concentration. In patients with unilateral wet AMD, the addition of lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, hydroxytyrosol and DHA to the AREDS EU recommended doses in the short-term did not have a differential effect on visual acuity compared to a standard AREDS EU formula but, in addition to improving the fatty acid profile and increasing carotenoid serum levels, may provide a beneficial effect in improving the proinflammatory and proangiogenic profile of patients with AMD. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Age influence on effectiveness of a novel 3-phytase in barley-wheat based diets for pigs from 12 to 108 kg under commercial conditions

[EN] The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of pig's age on the effectiveness of a new microbial 3-phytase, produced by Komagataella phaffii, under commercial conditions in barley-wheat based diets. Two experiments were conducted in weaned, growing and finishing pigs; firstly, to determine phytase efficacy on dry matter, organic matter, energy, protein and mineral (phosphorus, P and calcium, Ca) digestibility (n = 48; Experiment 1), and secondly, to evaluate the effect of phytase on growth performance and bone mineralization (n = 312; Experiment 2). In each experiment, three barley-wheat based diets were formulated following the recommendations for each animal age, of which two versions were manufactured, including 0 and 1000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of feed of the new 3-phytase to be tested. Results showed the new phytase had the potential to increase the digestibility of Ca and P (on av. + 0.05 and +0.06, respectively; P < 0.01), especially P digestibility in growing pigs (+0.10; P < 0.001), consequently decreasing P and Ca excretion. Digestible energy (DE) of the diet increased with the addition of phytase in weaned pigs (+0.69 MJ/kg of dry matter (DM); P < 0.001). Dietary inclusion of new 3-phytase enhanced average daily gain from 46 to 94 days of age (+0.07 kg/d; P < 0.05) and decreased feed conversion ratio from 46 to 154 days of age (on av. -0.13; P < 0.05), although no significant effect was observed from 154 to 185 days of age. Addition of the new 3-phytase also promoted bone mineralization, increasing the weight of the bones (+3.99 and +3.64 g of tibia at 95 days and metacarpus at 100 days of age, respectively; P < 0.05) and the ash, Ca and P content in these bones (e.g. + 0.46 and +0.33 g of P in tibia at 95 days and metacarpus at 100 days of age, respectively; P < 0.001). In conclusion, pig age affected the efficacy of a new 3-phytase on P and Ca digestibility both in weaned and growing diets and DE content of the weaned diets, which also resulted in improvements in growth, feed conversion and bone development until 154 days of age. These effects seem to be reduced during the finishing period, although the advantages of the new 3-phytase on bone mineralization were maintained until 185 days of age.We thank the technical staff at the experimental farms of the Research and Technology Animal Centre (CITA-IVIA), the Institute of Animal Science and Technology (Universitat Politècnica de Valencia) and Javier Gómez (Crianzas Campovivo) for expert technical assistance and experimental support.Cambra López, M.; Cerisuelo, A.; Ferrer, P.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Aligué, R.; Moset, V.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2020). Age influence on effectiveness of a novel 3-phytase in barley-wheat based diets for pigs from 12 to 108 kg under commercial conditions. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 267:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114549S113267Adeola, O., & Cowieson, A. J. (2011). BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: Opportunities and challenges in using exogenous enzymes to improve nonruminant animal production. Journal of Animal Science, 89(10), 3189-3218. doi:10.2527/jas.2010-3715Almeida, F. N., Sulabo, R. C., & Stein, H. H. (2013). Effects of a novel bacterial phytase expressed in Aspergillus Oryzae on digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in diets fed to weanling or growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 4(1). doi:10.1186/2049-1891-4-8Arredondo, M. A., Casas, G. A., & Stein, H. H. (2019). Increasing levels of microbial phytase increases the digestibility of energy and minerals in diets fed to pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 248, 27-36. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.01.001Atakora, J. K. A., Moehn, S., Sands, J. S., & Ball, R. O. (2011). Effects of dietary crude protein and phytase–xylanase supplementation of wheat grain based diets on energy metabolism and enteric methane in growing finishing pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 166-167, 422-429. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.04.030Blaabjerg, K., Nørgaard, J. V., & Poulsen, H. D. (2012). Effect of microbial phytase on phosphorus digestibility in non-heat-treated and heat-treated wheat–barley pig diets1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(suppl_4), 206-208. doi:10.2527/jas.53920Brady, S., Callan, J., Cowan, D., McGrane, M., & O’Doherty, J. (2002). Effect of phytase inclusion and calcium/phosphorus ratio on the performance and nutrient retention of grower-finisher pigs fed barley/wheat/soya bean meal-based diets. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 82(15), 1780-1790. doi:10.1002/jsfa.1262Braña, D. V., Ellis, M., Castañeda, E. O., Sands, J. S., & Baker, D. H. (2006). Effect of a novel phytase on growth performance, bone ash, and mineral digestibility in nursery and grower-finisher pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 84(7), 1839-1849. doi:10.2527/jas.2005-565Dersjant‐Li, Y., Awati, A., Schulze, H., & Partridge, G. (2014). Phytase in non‐ruminant animal nutrition: a critical review on phytase activities in the gastrointestinal tract and influencing factors. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 95(5), 878-896. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6998Eeckhout, W., & De Paepe, M. (1994). Total phosphorus, phytate-phosphorus and phytase activity in plant feedstuffs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 47(1-2), 19-29. doi:10.1016/0377-8401(94)90156-2EMIOLA, A., AKINREMI, O., SLOMINSKI, B., & NYACHOTI, C. M. (2009). Nutrient utilization and manure P excretion in growing pigs fed corn-barley-soybean based diets supplemented with microbial phytase. Animal Science Journal, 80(1), 19-26. doi:10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00590.xGonzález-Vega, J. C., Walk, C. L., & Stein, H. H. (2015). Effects of microbial phytase on apparent and standardized total tract digestibility of calcium in calcium supplements fed to growing pigs1. Journal of Animal Science, 93(5), 2255-2264. doi:10.2527/jas.2014-8215Harper, A. F., Kornegay, E. T., & Schell, T. C. (1997). Phytase supplementation of low-phosphorus growing-finishing pig diets improves performance, phosphorus digestibility, and bone mineralization and reduces phosphorus excretion. Journal of Animal Science, 75(12), 3174. doi:10.2527/1997.75123174xHaug, W., & Lantzsch, H.-J. (1983). Sensitive method for the rapid determination of phytate in cereals and cereal products. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 34(12), 1423-1426. doi:10.1002/jsfa.2740341217Heaney, R. P., Abrams, S., Dawson-Hughes, B., Looker, A., Looker, A., Marcus, R., … Weaver, C. (2001). Peak Bone Mass. Osteoporosis International, 11(12), 985-1009. doi:10.1007/s001980070020Jørgensen, B. (1995). Effect of different energy and protein levels on leg weakness and osteochondrosis in pigs. Livestock Production Science, 41(2), 171-181. doi:10.1016/0301-6226(94)00048-cKemme, P. A., Jongbloed, A. W., Mroz, Z., & Beynen, A. C. (1997). The efficacy of Aspergillus niger phytase in rendering phytate phosphorus available for absorption in pigs is influenced by pig physiological status. Journal of Animal Science, 75(8), 2129. doi:10.2527/1997.7582129xKiela, P. R., & Ghishan, F. K. (2016). Physiology of Intestinal Absorption and Secretion. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology, 30(2), 145-159. doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2016.02.007Kim, J. C., Simmins, P. H., Mullan, B. P., & Pluske, J. R. (2005). The effect of wheat phosphorus content and supplemental enzymes on digestibility and growth performance of weaner pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 118(1-2), 139-152. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.08.016Koch, M. E., & Mahan, D. C. (1985). Biological Characteristics for Assessing Low Phosphorus Intake in Growing Swine. Journal of Animal Science, 60(3), 699-708. doi:10.2527/jas1985.603699xKonietzny, U., & Greiner, R. (2002). Molecular and catalytic properties of phytate-degrading enzymes (phytases). International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 37(7), 791-812. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2621.2002.00617.xLittell, R. C., Henry, P. R., & Ammerman, C. B. (1998). Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science, 76(4), 1216. doi:10.2527/1998.7641216xMahan, D. C. (1982). Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Levels for Weanling Swine. Journal of Animal Science, 54(3), 559-564. doi:10.2527/jas1982.543559xMavromichalis, I., Hancock, J. D., Kim, I. H., Senne, B. W., Kropf, D. H., Kennedy, G. A., … Behnke, K. C. (1999). Effects of omitting vitamin and trace mineral premixes and(or) reducing inorganic phosphorus additions on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and muscle quality in finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 77(10), 2700. doi:10.2527/1999.77102700xMoehn, S., Atakora, J. K. A., Sands, J., & Ball, R. O. (2007). Effect of phytase-xylanase supplementation to wheat-based diets on energy metabolism in growing–finishing pigs fed ad libitum. Livestock Science, 109(1-3), 271-274. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.01.118Oryschak, M. A., Simmins, P. H., & Zijlstra, R. T. (2002). Effect of dietary particle size and carbohydrase and/or phytase supplementation on nitrogen and phosphorus excretion of grower pigs. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 82(4), 533-540. doi:10.4141/a02-016Peter, C. ., Parr, T. ., Parr, E. ., Webel, D. ., & Baker, D. . (2001). The effects of phytase on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and bone mineralization of late-finishing pigs fed maize–soyabean meal diets containing no supplemental phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 94(3-4), 199-205. doi:10.1016/s0377-8401(01)00300-5Rodehutscord, M., Faust, M., & Lorenz, H. (1996). Digestibility of phosphorus contained in soybean meal, barley, and different varieties of wheat, without and with supplemental phytase fed to pigs and additivity of digestibility in a wheatsoybean-meal diet. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 75(1-5), 40-48. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0396.1996.tb00466.xSelle, P. H., & Ravindran, V. (2008). Phytate-degrading enzymes in pig nutrition. Livestock Science, 113(2-3), 99-122. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.05.014Selle, P. H., Cadogan, D. J., & Bryden, W. L. (2003). Effects of phytase supplementation of phosphorus-adequate, lysine-deficient, wheat-based diets on growth performance of weaner pigs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 54(3), 323. doi:10.1071/ar02121She, Y., Su, Y., Liu, L., Huang, C., Li, J., Li, P., … Piao, X. (2015). Effects of microbial phytase on coefficient of standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in growing pigs fed corn and corn co-products, wheat and wheat co-products and oilseed meals. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 208, 132-144. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.07.011Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for Dietary Fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Nonstarch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78551-2Varley, P. F., Callan, J. J., & O’Doherty, J. V. (2011). Effect of dietary phosphorus and calcium level and phytase addition on performance, bone parameters, apparent nutrient digestibility, mineral and nitrogen utilization of weaner pigs and the subsequent effect on finisher pig bone parameters. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 165(3-4), 201-209. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.02.017Varley, P. F., Flynn, B., Callan, J. J., & O’Doherty, J. V. (2011). Effect of phytase level in a low phosphorus diet on performance and bone development in weaner pigs and the subsequent effect on finisher pig bone development. 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Effects of protein and lipids on growth performance, feed efficiency and survival rate in fingerlings of bay snook (petenia splendida)

A 120-days trial with three dietary protein levels (30, 40 and 50%, respectively) and two dietary lipid concentrations (6 and 12%, respectively) was conducted to investigate the optimum dietary protein and lipid level for the growth, feed efficiency and survival rate of bay snook fingerlings, P. splendida (0.18±0.05 g initial body weight). A 2x3 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replicates was used. Whole body amino acids and fatty acids analyses were carried out for each diet and calculated growth performance, fed efficiency and survival rate. The results showed a higher survival rate. Final Body Weight (FBW), Feed Efficiency (FE), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and condition factor (K) was significantly affected by dietary protein level (p<0.05) and FBW, SGR, PER and K were significantly affected by dietary lipids levels (p<0.05). The amino acid composition in diets and whole body was similar and Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) showed a similar trend; the Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) indicated that 30/12 and 50/12 diets presented high values in whole body, whereas monoenes presented a dissimilar pattern. The best growth was observed with 50/12 diets where the lipid source was corn oil.Se realizó un ensayo de 120 días con tres niveles de proteína en la dieta (30, 40 y 50%, respectivamente) y dos concentraciones de lípidos en la dieta (6 y 12%, respectivamente) para investigar el nivel óptimo de proteínas y lípidos en la dieta para el crecimiento, Y la tasa de supervivencia de alevines de bahía, P. splendida (0.18 ± 0.05 g de peso corporal inicial). Se utilizó un experimento factorial 2x3 en un diseño completamente al azar con tres repeticiones. Se realizaron análisis de aminoácidos y ácidos grasos de todo el cuerpo para cada dieta y se calculó el rendimiento de crecimiento, la eficiencia alimentada y la tasa de supervivencia. Los resultados mostraron una mayor tasa de supervivencia. El peso corporal final (FBW), la eficiencia de la alimentación (FE), la relación de eficiencia proteica (PER), la proporción de conversión de alimento (FCR) y el factor de condición (K) fueron significativamente afectados por el nivel de proteína en la dieta (p <0,05) y FBW, SGR, PER Y K fueron significativamente afectados por los niveles de lípidos en la dieta (p <0,05). La composición de aminoácidos en las dietas y el cuerpo entero fue similar y los ácidos grasos saturados (SFA) mostraron una tendencia similar; Los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGPI) indicaron que las dietas 30/12 y 50/12 presentaron valores altos en todo el cuerpo, mientras que los monoenos presentaron un patrón diferente. El mejor crecimiento se observó con 50/12 dietas donde la fuente lipídica fue aceite de maíz

IlluminApp: Educational support tool for sustainable indoor illumination system reconversion for household applications

The illumination household represents an important percentage of electricity consumption in developing countries. The electricity consumption derived from residential illumination is strongly reduced by assuming cleaner and more efficient technologies. One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) considers responsible consumption and production of goods and services, in which the authors have focused this study on lighting loads on households. For this matter, IlluminApp has been developed. It is an educational tool, which allows to identify the benefits of the illumination technology conversion to residential users, as well as, an estimation on energy savings and the retrofit cost reduction by using different light bulbs technologies. The application uses a simple cost and energetic model to estimate: payback time, CO2emissions reduction, money, and energetic savings. This software is available in English and Spanish. The objective of this paper is to discuss in detail the interfaces of this application and its main functionalities. © 2019 AISTI

Internet of things electromechanical method and device for new or installed gas stoves: Making home safier

Electronic devices have been dabbled into houses to perform automatic tasks and fulfill different needs such as illumination, cooking, air conditioning, surveillance, among others. Furthermore, those elements can collect data from the environment in order to be processed and give better products and services, so, Internet of Things capabilities arises to home, highly cohesive with domotics. However, for developing countries, smart appliances are expensive, and old fridges, washing machines, etc., are still operative, so they must not to be discarded. Other very used appliances are stoves, which work with heating methods like electrical resistances, electrical induction or natural gas. The last one is the most used in a plenty of countries, due to its advantages regarding cost, for instance. Nonetheless, bad manipulation can cause gas leakages, and furthermore, injuries to people and conflagrations, affecting human lives and assets. Thus, a need has been identified regarding gas safety of gas stoves, conserving the installed base. This work shows the results of the main research and design considerations of a new cutting-edge technology that protects people of bad manipulation of already installed or new gas stoves, including the Internet of Things in order to monitor in real-time possible gas leakages and take actions. © 2019 AISTI

Impact of Perineural and Lymphovascular Invasion on Oncological Outcomes in Rectal Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery

Background The prognostic significance of perineural and/or lymphovascular invasion (PLVI) and its relationship with tumor regression grade (TRG) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery. Methods A total of 324 patients with LARC were treated with CRT and operated on between January 1992 and June 2007. Tumors were graded using a quantitative 5-grade TRG classification and the presence of PLVI was histologically studied. Results At a median follow-up of 79.0 months (range 3–250 months), a total of 80 patients (24.7 %) relapsed. The observed 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) was 83.2 and 74.9 %, respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 75.1 and 71.4 %, respectively. A significant correlation was found between the TRG and survival (log rank, p < 0.001). The 10-year OS was 32.7 % for grade 1, 63.8 % for grade 2, 75.0 % for grade 3, 90.4 % for grade 3+, and 96.0 %,for grade 4. The 10-year DFS was 31.8 % for grade 1, 58.6 % for grade 2, 70.4 % for grade 3, 88.4 % for grade 3+, and 97.1 % for grade 4. In patients with PLVI, the TRG had no impact on survival. When excluding patients with PLVI, the TRG was an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS. Conclusions The presence of PLVI is a more powerful prognostic factor than TRG in LARC patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery. PLVI denotes an aggressive phenotype, suggesting that these patients may benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy

Mid-term oncologic outcome of a novel approach for locally advanced colon cancer with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery

Purpose Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being actively tested as an emerging alternative for the treatment of locally advanced colon cancer (LACC) patients, resembling its use in other gastrointestinal tumors. This study assesses the mid-term oncologic outcome of LACC patients treated with oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidines-based preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery. Methods and patients Patients with radiologically resectable LACC treated with neoadjuvant therapy between 2009 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Radiological, metabolic, and pathological tumor response was assessed. Both postoperative complications, relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were studied. Results Sixty-five LACC patients who received treatment were included. Planned treatment was completed by 93.8 % of patients. All patients underwent surgery without delay. The median time between the start of chemotherapy and surgery was 71 days (65–82). No progressive disease was observed during preoperative treatment. A statistically significant tumor volume reduction of 62.5 % was achieved by CT scan (39.8–79.8) (p < 0.001). It was also observed a median reduction of 40.5 % (24.2–63.7 %) (p < 0.005) of SUVmax (Standard Uptake Value) by PET-CT scan. Complete pathologic response was achieved in 4.6 % of patients. Postoperative complications were observed in 15.4 % of patients, with no cases of mortality. After a median follow-up of 40.1 months, (p 25–p 75: 27.3–57.8) 3–5 year actuarial RFS was 88.9–85.6 %, respectively. Five-year actuarial OS was 95.3 %. Conclusion Preoperative chemotherapy in LACC patients is safe and able to induce major tumor regression. Survival times are encouraging, and further research seems warranted

Promoting Multicultural Competencies in Early Career Rehabilitation Counsellor Supervisors

This article discusses multicultural competency education options for early career rehabilitation counsellor supervisors. It specifically addresses the importance of the cultural awareness and competencies in supervised supervision. Multicultural counsellor competencies in clinical supervision are considered in the context of rehabilitation counsellor professional preparation programs in the United States. Diversity considerations are important to operationalising the construct of the working alliance in the context of clinical supervision training for early career rehabilitation counsellor supervisors. Acquiring, retaining and cultivating multicultural clinical supervision competencies in self and others is a lifelong process

How oomycete and fungal effectors enter plant and animal cells

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