Pasture as source of nutrition for horses during the summer

I Sverige går de allra flesta hästar på bete under sommarhalvåret. Näringsinnehållet i betet kan vara svårt att bedöma. Denna litteraturstudie är avsedd för att ge läsaren en uppfattning om hur olika hästars näringsbehov ser ut, hur näringsinnehållet på naturbete och åkermarksbete ser ut i Sverige och hur betet tillgodoser hästens behov. Studien visar att tävlingshästar i mycket hårt arbete, som trav- och galopphästar, samt digivande ston och unghästar upp till ett år behöver beta på åkermarksbete då det innehåller mer energi och protein. Hobbyhästar, hästar i lätt till medelhårt arbete och dräktiga ston uppfyller sitt energi- och proteinbehov på naturbete, men kan behöva mineraltillskott.In Sweden most of the horses are kept on pasture during summer. The nutritional value of pasture grass can be difficult to evaluate. In this literature study the nutritional value of different kinds of pasture is evaluated and the possibility of pasture to satisfy the nutritional needs of different kinds of horses is analysed. For the horse in light to moderate exercise and the pregnant mare, a natural pasture with lower nutritional value is enough to satisfy the energy- and protein requirements, but additional mineral supplement feed could be needed. Lactating mares, young horses up to one year of age and horses in very hard work, such as racehorses, needs more energy- and protein-rich pasture, and may need mineral supplements

Arabiska fullblodshästar i Sverige - utfodring, hälsa och hästhållare

Rätt utfodring och skötsel är viktiga faktorer för att undvika sjukdomar som kolik, magsår, och utveckling av stereotypier etc. Det finns dock forskning som indikerar att även ras kan påverka risken för att drabbas av dessa sjukdomar, och att raser som t.ex. det arabiska fullblodet är mer predisponerat för olika utfodrings- och skötselrelaterade sjukdomar jämfört med andra hästraser. Målet med föreliggande studie var därför att kartlägga utfodring, skötsel och förekomsten av utfodringsrelaterade sjukdomar hos arabiska fullblodshästar i Sverige i dagsläget, samt att beräkna riskincidenser för dessa hälsoproblem och jämföra dessa med litteraturuppgifter från studier avseende andra raser. En enkät med 82 frågor fanns tillgänglig och gjordes reklam för på olika internetsidor och forum där ägare till arabiska fullblodshästar kunde tänkas se den. Enkäten riktade sig enbart till de hästägare som hade arabhäst för tillfället och varje enkät gällde en häst. Efter att ha exkluderat ägare som bodde utomlands eller som inte hade någon arabhäst just nu återstod 454 kompletta enkätsvar som användes i analyserna. Fyrtiofyra procent av hästarna i undersökningen var mellan 6-15 år gamla, 47 % var ston, 43 % var valacker och 10 % var hingstar. Störst andel av hästarna, 45 % var mellan 151-155 cm i mankhöjd och 87 % av hästarna bedömdes av respondenten vara i gott hull (hullbedömningspoäng två eller tre på en sex-gradig skala). De vanligaste disciplinerna arabhästarna användes till var hobby/promenad/skogsridning (59 %), dressyr (34 %), distans (22 %), western (21 %) och hoppning (20 %). Störst andel, 37 %, tränade sin häst i lätt arbete och gjorde det 3-5 gånger i veckan (59 %). Sjuttiotvå procent av hästarna hölls på stall på natten och i hage på dagen, medan 25 % hölls på lösdrift. Av de som hölls i hage på dagen var de flesta hästar, 84 %, ute mellan 8-16 timmar/dygn. Största andelen, 60 %, av hästarna i studien hade inte en beräknad foderstat till sin häst. Av de som hade beräknad foderstat till sin häst, 40 %, var det 14 % som inte hade någon analys på det grovfoder de baserade foderstaten på. Det vanligast förekommande grovfodret var hösilage (61 %), följt av hö (56 %). Sjuttiofyra procent använde något kraftfoder till sin häst, och det populäraste kraftfodret var någon typ av kommersiell kraftfoderblandning (62 %). Nittionio procent använde någon typ av tillskottsfoder och där var saltsten det som användes i störst utsträckning (86 %). Riskincidenser per 100 häst och år var i denna studie 5,7 % för kolik, 4,4 % för problem i luftvägar, 5,9 % för diarré, 0,7 % för fång, 0,9 % för foderstrupsförstoppning, 1,3 % för IR, 1,1 % för EMS, 0,7 % för korsförlamning, 0 % för magsår och 0,2 % för PPID.Proper feeding and management of horses is important in order to avoid health- and management related disorders such as colic, gastric ulcers, development of stereotypic behaviour etc. Some research has however suggested that breed differences exist and that some breeds, including the Arabian horse, may be more susceptible for different feed- and management related diseases. The current study was performed in order to map how Arabian horses in Sweden were fed and cared for, and which related diseases that occurred in that population. From this data, risk incidences for the different diseases were calculated and compared to literature data of risk incidences for the same diseases in other breeds. Correlations among the selected diseases and feeding and management factors were calculated in the investigated population. A questionnaire with 82 questions was constructed and made available on Internet. Advertises for the study was placed at different homepages and Internet forums where owners of Arabian horses in Sweden could find it. The questionnaire was designed to be valid for one horse (one horse/answered questionnaire), and was directed towards people who currently owned one or more Arabian horses and were situated in Sweden. In total, 454 complete answers were received. The largest proportion of the horses in the study was 6-15 years of age (44 per cent, 47 per cent were mares, 43 per cent were geldings and 10 per cent were stallions. Forty-five percent of the horses were 151-155 cm high at withers and 87 per cent was assessed by the respondent as being in a body condition score of two or three on a six-grade scale. The most common disciplines the horses were used for was hobby riding (59 per cent), dressage (34 per cent), endurance (22 per cent), western (21 per cent) and show jumping (20 per cent). Fifty-nine per cent exercised their horse 3-5 times /week and for 37 per cent of all horses the exercise was light. The most common housing conditions were stable at night and paddock during daytime (72 per cent), while 25 per cent of the horses were kept outdoors in loose housing systems during both day and night. Most of the horses that were stabled at night were turned out in grass paddocks for 8-16 hours/day (84 per cent). Sixty per cent of the horses did not have a calculated feed ration. Of the 40 per cent that had a calculated feed ration, 14 per cent based their ration on forage with unknown nutritive values (not analysed). The most commonly used forage was haylage (61 per cent) followed by hay (56 per cent). Seventy-four percent used some type of concentrates to their horses and the most common was commercial feeds (62 per cent). Ninety-nine percent used some type of supplement and the most common was salt block (86 per cent). Risk incidences for diseases related to feeding and management were calculated, and were found to be 21 per cent for colic, 17 per cent for stereotypies, 7 per cent for recurrent airway obstruction, 7 per cent for diarrhoea, 4 per cent for laminitis, 2 per cent for oesophageal obstruction, 1 per cent for insulin resistance, 1 per cent for rhabdomyolysis, 1 per cent for equine metabolic syndrome, 1 per cent for gastric ulcers and 0.2 per cent for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, in the current population of Arabian horses in Sweden on a yearly basis. In comparison with literature data for other breeds, the results of this study did not support the hypothesis that the Arabian horse breed had a higher susceptibility to the diseases mentioned above

European Code against Cancer 4th Edition:Obesity, body fatness and cancer

AbstractIt is estimated that over half the population of the European Union (EU) is overweight or obese due to an imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake; this is related to an obesogenic environment of sociocultural, economic and marketing challenges to the control of body weight. Excess body fat is associated with nine cancer sites – oesophagus, colorectum, gall bladder, pancreas, postmenopausal breast, endometrium, ovary, kidney and prostate (advanced) – and 4–38% of these cancers (depending on site and gender) can be attributed to overweight/obesity status. Metabolic alterations which accompany excess body weight are accompanied by increased levels of inflammation, insulin, oestrogens and other hormonal factors. There are some indications that intentional weight loss is associated with reduced cancer incidence (notably in postmenopausal breast and endometrial cancers). Excess body weight is also a risk factor for several other diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, and is related to higher risk of premature death.In reviewing the current evidence related to excess body fat and cancer, the European Code against Cancer Nutrition Working Group has developed the following recommendation: ‘Take action to be a healthy body weight’

The αGal Epitope of the Histo-Blood Group Antigen Family Is a Ligand for Bovine Norovirus Newbury2 Expected to Prevent Cross-Species Transmission

Among Caliciviridae, the norovirus genus encompasses enteric viruses that infect humans as well as several animal species, causing gastroenteritis. Porcine strains are classified together with human strains within genogroup II, whilst bovine norovirus strains represent genogroup III. Various GI and GII human strains bind to carbohydrates of the histo-blood group family which may be shared among mammalian species. Genetic relatedness of human and animal strains as well as the presence of potentially shared ligands raises the possibility of norovirus cross-species transmission. In the present study, we identified a carbohydrate ligand for the prototype bovine norovirus strain Bo/Newbury2/76/UK (NB2). Attachment of virus-like particles (VLPs) of the NB2 strain to bovine gut tissue sections showed a complete match with the staining by reagents recognizing the Galα1,3 motif. Alpha-galactosidase treatment confirmed involvement of a terminal alpha-linked galactose. Specific binding of VLPs to the αGal epitope (Galα3Galβ4GlcNAcβ-R) was observed. The binding of Galα3GalαOMe to rNB2 VLPs was characterized at atomic resolution employing saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR experiments. Transfection of human cells with an α1,3galactosyltransferase cDNA allowed binding of NB2 VLPs, whilst inversely, attachment to porcine vascular endothelial cells was lost when the cells originated from an α1,3galactosyltransferase KO animal. The αGal epitope is expressed in all mammalian species with the exception of the Hominidaea family due to the inactivation of the α1,3galactosyltransferase gene (GGTA1). Accordingly, the NB2 carbohydrate ligand is absent from human tissues. Although expressed on porcine vascular endothelial cells, we observed that unlike in cows, it is not present on gut epithelial cells, suggesting that neither man nor pig could be infected by the NB2 bovine strain

European Code against Cancer 4th Edition:Diet and cancer

AbstractLifestyle factors, including diet, have long been recognised as potentially important determinants of cancer risk. In addition to the significant role diet plays in affecting body fatness, a risk factor for several cancers, experimental studies have indicated that diet may influence the cancer process in several ways. Prospective studies have shown that dietary patterns characterised by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods, and lower intakes of red and processed meats and salt, are related to reduced risks of death and cancer, and that a healthy diet can improve overall survival after diagnosis of breast and colorectal cancers. There is evidence that high intakes of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancers of the aerodigestive tract, and the evidence that dietary fibre protects against colorectal cancer is convincing. Red and processed meats increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Diets rich in high-calorie foods, such as fatty and sugary foods, may lead to increased calorie intake, thereby promoting obesity and leading to an increased risk of cancer. There is some evidence that sugary drinks are related to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.Taking this evidence into account, the 4th edition of the European Code against Cancer recommends that people have a healthy diet to reduce their risk of cancer: they should eat plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits; limit high-calorie foods (foods high in sugar or fat); avoid sugary drinks and processed meat; and limit red meat and foods high in salt

Measuring the availability of human resources for health and its relationship to universal health coverage for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Human resources for health (HRH) include a range of occupations that aim to promote or improve human health. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO Health Workforce 2030 strategy have drawn attention to the importance of HRH for achieving policy priorities such as universal health coverage (UHC). Although previous research has found substantial global disparities in HRH, the absence of comparable cross-national estimates of existing workforces has hindered efforts to quantify workforce requirements to meet health system goals. We aimed to use comparable and standardised data sources to estimate HRH densities globally, and to examine the relationship between a subset of HRH cadres and UHC effective coverage performance. Methods: Through the International Labour Organization and Global Health Data Exchange databases, we identified 1404 country-years of data from labour force surveys and 69 country-years of census data, with detailed microdata on health-related employment. From the WHO National Health Workforce Accounts, we identified 2950 country-years of data. We mapped data from all occupational coding systems to the International Standard Classification of Occupations 1988 (ISCO-88), allowing for standardised estimation of densities for 16 categories of health workers across the full time series. Using data from 1990 to 2019 for 196 of 204 countries and territories, covering seven Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) super-regions and 21 regions, we applied spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) to model HRH densities from 1990 to 2019 for all countries and territories. We used stochastic frontier meta-regression to model the relationship between the UHC effective coverage index and densities for the four categories of health workers enumerated in SDG indicator 3.c.1 pertaining to HRH: physicians, nurses and midwives, dentistry personnel, and pharmaceutical personnel. We identified minimum workforce density thresholds required to meet a specified target of 80 out of 100 on the UHC effective coverage index, and quantified national shortages with respect to those minimum thresholds. Findings: We estimated that, in 2019, the world had 104·0 million (95% uncertainty interval 83·5–128·0) health workers, including 12·8 million (9·7–16·6) physicians, 29·8 million (23·3–37·7) nurses and midwives, 4·6 million (3·6–6·0) dentistry personnel, and 5·2 million (4·0–6·7) pharmaceutical personnel. We calculated a global physician density of 16·7 (12·6–21·6) per 10 000 population, and a nurse and midwife density of 38·6 (30·1–48·8) per 10 000 population. We found the GBD super-regions of sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and north Africa and the Middle East had the lowest HRH densities. To reach 80 out of 100 on the UHC effective coverage index, we estimated that, per 10 000 population, at least 20·7 physicians, 70·6 nurses and midwives, 8·2 dentistry personnel, and 9·4 pharmaceutical personnel would be needed. In total, the 2019 national health workforces fell short of these minimum thresholds by 6·4 million physicians, 30·6 million nurses and midwives, 3·3 million dentistry personnel, and 2·9 million pharmaceutical personnel. Interpretation: Considerable expansion of the world's health workforce is needed to achieve high levels of UHC effective coverage. The largest shortages are in low-income settings, highlighting the need for increased financing and coordination to train, employ, and retain human resources in the health sector. Actual HRH shortages might be larger than estimated because minimum thresholds for each cadre of health workers are benchmarked on health systems that most efficiently translate human resources into UHC attainment

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations