Review of Nutrition Model for Gestation Sows

Optimal feeding of sows is a complex problem due to their very different needs and use of nutrients during certain phases of the reproductive cycle. In pregnancy the sows need for nutrients is relatively small and slightly higher than maintenance requirements. In the last few years, the recommendations for feeding pregnant sows have been revised in such a way that greater protein (amino acid) and energy intake have been proposed for late gestation, compared to early gestation. The U.S. National Research Council (NRC, 2012) published the Nutrition models for swine, combined into a Microsoft Excel workbook and stored in the file NRC swine 2012. The program also includes a database with nutrient profiles of ingredients and a means to formulate diets and generate feeding programs. In the current paper, we will show agreements and differences between models and empirical data and discuss the implications and relevance for pregnant sow nutrition

Presence of Aflatoxin in Complete Feeding Mixtures for Different Categories of Pigs in Serbia

A total of 106 samples of complete feeding mixtures for different categories of pigs were analyzed for presence of aflatoxin. Feeding mixtures were composed of feed materials harvested during 2012 harvest season in Serbia. These samples included complete feeding mixtures for fattening pigs (49), lactating sows (19), pregnant sows (10) and piglets (28). Analysis was performed using ELISA test kits. The presence of aflatoxin was the highest in complete feeding mixtures for fattening pigs (43%), somewhat lower in complete feeding mixtures for lactating sows (37%) while in complete feeding mixtures for piglets was 25% of positive samples. Incidences ranged from 4 µg/kg to 66 µg/kg, both in complete feeding mixtures for fattening pigs. Out of 10 samples of complete feeding mixtures for pregnant sows, aflatoxin was detected in only one sample in the concentration of 14 µg/kg. Contamination levels were above the maximum limit established by the European Union and Serbian regulation in 7 (14%) samples of complete feeding mixtures for fattening pigs, 4 (21%) samples of complete feeding mixtures for lactating sows and in 7 (25%) samples of complete feeding mixtures for piglets. None of the samples of complete feeding mixtures for pregnant sows contained aflatoxin above the maximum permitted level

Bacterial Sacroiliitis Probably Induced by Lumbar Epidural Analgesia

Background: Properly administered, lumbar epidural analgesia provides adequate pain relief during labor and delivery, and is considered to be a safe procedure with limited complications. The prevalence of infection after lumbar epidural analgesia is negligible. Introduction: Infection of the sacroiliac joint, although very close to the pucture area, has never been reported as a procedure complication. Case: In this report, we describe a patient who experienced bacterial sacroiliitis a few days after lumbar epidural analgesia for labor. No portal of entry was identified, and we evoked a new potential risk factor that has never been proposed before, namely lumbar epidural analgesia. Conclusion: Sacroiliitis must be considered as a rare but serious complication of lumbar epidural analgesia

Gastric Juvenile Polyposis with High-Grade Dysplasia in Pachydermoperiostosis

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is the primary form of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. It is a very rare disease consisting of pachydermia, digital clubbing and radiologic periostosis. Various digestive symptoms in PDP are seen in 11–49% of patients and juvenile polyps may be found at gastric endoscopy. We report here the history of a patient with PDP who was referred for assessment of severe anemia. Endoscopy of the upper digestive tract showed multiple polyps of the stomach with two huge lesions exhibiting foci of high-grade dysplasia. This observation suggests that PDP can be considered as a precancerous condition of the stomach and systematic screening using endoscopy should be considered in these patients