Kim McDonough & Alison Mackey (eds). 2013. Second language Interaction in Diverse Educational Contexts: A Review. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 332.

DOI: 10.1400/22969

Impact of Dietary Supplementation with Sodium Butyrate Protected by Medium-Chain Fatty Acid Salts on Gut Health of Broiler Chickens

This research was co-funded by the European Fund of Regional Development of the European Union within the framework of the FEDER operating program of Catalunya 2014-2020 (project COMRDI16-1-0033) and managed by ACCIÓ.Nutritional strategies to improve gut health of broilers are under research. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with sodium butyrate protected by sodium salts of medium-chain fatty acids as a feed additive on broiler gut health. The first experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing at 0.5, 1, and 2 kg/t in broilers housed under optimal conditions. Supplementation at 0.5 and 1 kg/t maintained goblet cell counts at 10 days of age (p ≤ 0.05), and supplementation at 1 kg/t decreased intraepithelial lymphocyte counts compared to 2 kg/t at 39 days (p ≤ 0.10). Abdominal fat pad levels of lauric and myristic acids were gradually increased by supplement dose (p ≤ 0.05). In the second experiment, the feed additive at 1 kg/t was evaluated in coccidiosis-challenged broilers. Experimental treatments were as follows: non-challenged, control-challenged, and supplemented-challenged treatments. Coccidiosis negatively impact performance and modify histomorphometry and microbiota (p ≤ 0.05). The feed additive increased crypt depth at 7 days post-inoculation and goblet cell count at 14 days post-inoculation (p ≤ 0.05). Further, supplementation interacted with the microbiota modification led by the coccidiosis (p ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that this feed additive could be a useful strategy to reinforce the gut barrier, especially for birds under coccidiosis-challenge treatments

Efficacy of medium-chain fatty acid salts distilled from coconut oil against two enteric pathogen challenges in weanling piglets

Background: The search for alternatives to antibiotics in pig production has increased the interest in natural resources with antimicrobial properties, such as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) as in-feed additives. This study evaluated the potential of a novel blend of MCFA salts (DIC) from distilled coconut oil with a lauric acid content to reduce enteropathogens and control intestinal diseases around weaning. Two experimental disease models were implemented in early-weaned piglets, consisting of two oral challenges: Salmonella Typhimurium (1.2 × 10 CFU) or enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 (1.5 × 10 CFU). The parameters assessed were: animal performance, clinical signs, pathogen excretion, intestinal fermentation, immune-inflammatory response, and intestinal morphology. Results: The Salmonella challenge promoted an acute course of diarrhea, with most of the parameters responding to the challenge, whereas the ETEC F4 challenge promoted a mild clinical course. A consistent antipathogenic effect of DIC was observed in both trials in the hindgut, with reductions in Salmonella spp. plate counts in the cecum (P = 0.03) on d 8 post-inoculation (PI) (Salmonella trial), and of enterobacteria and total coliform counts in the ileum and colon (P < 0.10) on d 8 PI (ETEC F4 trial). When analyzing the entire colonic microbiota (16S rRNA gene sequencing), this additive tended (P = 0.13) to reduce the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enriched Fibrobacteres after the Salmonella challenge. In the ETEC F4 challenge, DIC prompted structural changes in the ecosystem with increases in Dialister, and a trend (P = 0.14) to increase the Veillonellaceae family. Other parameters such as the intestinal fermentation products or serum pro-inflammatory mediators were not modified by DIC supplementation, nor were the histological parameters. Only the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) counts were lowered by DIC in animals challenged with Salmonella (P = 0.07). With ETEC F4, the IEL counts were higher with DIC on d 8 PI (P = 0.08). Conclusions: This study confirms the potential activity of this MCFA salts mixture to reduce intestinal colonization by opportunistic pathogens such as Salmonella or E. coli and its ability to modulate colonic microbiota. These changes could explain to some extent the local immune cell response at the ileal level

Seasonal variations of carcass characteristics, meat quality and nutrition value in iberian wild red deer

Aim of study: The effects of hunting season (autumn vs. winter) on carcass characteristics and meat quality of Iberian wild red deer were assessed. Area of study: A total of 100 males of wild red deer of Iberian genetic line (Cervus elaphus) were hunted on Ciudad Real (south central Spain). Material and methods: Yields for shoulder (with bone), neck, backbone, loin, tenderloin, leg (with bone), short plate and flank were determined. In addition, samples of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum and Rectus abdominis muscles were collected. Then, pH48, colour measurements, chemical composition, cooking loss, Warner Bratzler shear blade, fatty acid and amino acid profiles and mineral content were analyzed. Main results: Deer hunted in autumn (n=50) had higher (p&lt;0.01) yields of shoulder, backbone and short plate and higher contents of intramuscular fat (IMF), cholesterol and K, Fe and Mn but lower (p&lt;0.001) pH48 and Na, Mg, Zn and Cu contents than deer hunted in winter (n=50). Shear force tended (p=0.05) to be lower for meat collected in autumn than for meat collected in winter. However, loin yield was 59.2% higher (p&lt;0.001) for winter than for autumn carcasses. Deer hunted in winter had higher α-linoleic acid (p&lt;0.05) and long chain n-3 polyunsaturated (p&lt;0.001) percentages than deer hunted in autumn Research highlights: Autumn hunting is recommended to obtain carcasses with higher yields of shoulder, backbone and short plate and meat with higher IMF. Conversely, winter hunting is advisable for higher loin yield and for a profile richer in polyunsaturated fatty acids

Dependence of Avidity on Linker Length for a Bivalent Ligand–Bivalent Receptor Model System

This paper describes a synthetic dimer of carbonic anhydrase, and a series of bivalent sulfonamide ligands with different lengths (25 to 69 Å between the ends of the fully extended ligands), as a model system to use in examining the binding of bivalent antibodies to antigens. Assays based on analytical ultracentrifugation and fluorescence binding indicate that this system forms cyclic, noncovalent complexes with a stoichiometry of one bivalent ligand to one dimer. This dimer binds the series of bivalent ligands with low picomolar avidities (Kdavidity = 3–40 pM). A structurally analogous monovalent ligand binds to one active site of the dimer with Kdmono = 16 nM. The bivalent association is thus significantly stronger (Kdmono/Kdavidity ranging from 500 to 5000 unitless) than the monovalent association. We infer from these results, and by comparison of these results to previous studies, that bivalency in antibodies can lead to associations much tighter than monovalent associations (although the observed bivalent association is much weaker than predicted from the simplest level of theory: predicted Kdavidity of 0.002 pM and Kdmono/Kdavidity 8 × 106 unitless).Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

What do rates of deposition of dental cementum tell us? Functional and evolutionary hypotheses in red deer.

Cementum is a bone connective tissue that provides a flexible attachment for the tooth to the alveolar bone in many mammalian species. It does not undergo continuous remodelling, unlike non-dental bone, which combined with its growth pattern of seasonal layering makes this tissue uniquely suitable as a proxy for tracking changes in body repair investment throughout an animal´s life. We tested functional and sexual selection hypotheses on the rate of cementum deposition related to the highly polygynous mating strategy of red deer. We used a sample of 156 first lower molars from wild Scottish red deer of known age between 1 and 17 years old, approximately balanced by sex and age class. Cementum deposition on the inter-radicular pad increased with age at a constant average rate of 0.26 mm per year, with no significant differences between sexes. Cementum deposition was independent of (i) tooth wear, other than that associated with age, and (ii) enamel and dentine micro-hardness. The results partially supported the hypothesis that the main function of cementum is the repositioning of the tooth to maintain opposing teeth in occlusion. However, teeth that had more wear or males´ teeth that had faster rates of tooth wear than those of females did not present the expected higher rates of cementum deposition

Resultados oncológicos en enfermedad N1 posterior a la prostatectomía radical

ResumenAntecedentesLa prostatectomía radical+linfadenectomía pélvica puede mejorar la supervivencia libre de progresión y supervivencia cáncer-específica en la enfermedad ganglionar.ObjetivoAnalizar las características de los pacientes con enfermedad ganglionar en el análisis histopatológico de la prostatectomía radical.Material y métodosEstudio retrospectivo de pacientes sometidos a prostatectomía radical con enfermedad ganglionar metastásica de 1988 a 2015.ResultadosSe incluyeron 25 pacientes, de 66.5 años (DE±6.5); antígeno prostático específico medio de 20.17ng/dL (RIC: 18); con una mediana de seguimiento en 63 meses (RIC: 86). Clasificación de riesgo por D’Amico, 15 (60%) pacientes de alto, 8 (32%) intermedio y 2 (8%) de riesgo bajo. Se encontraron márgenes positivos en 15 casos (60%); estadio tumoral T2 en 4 (16%), T3A en 3 (12%), T3B en 17 (68%) y T4 en 1 (4%); cantidad de ganglios positivos, uno en 14 (56%), 2 en 3 (12%) y más de 2 en 8 (32%) casos. Recibieron radioterapia 3 pacientes (16%) y bloqueo hormonal 24 (96%). La supervivencia libre de progresión fue de 105 meses y la supervivencia cáncer-específica fue del 86 y 45% a 5 y 10 años respectivamente. El HR para progresión bioquímica fue significativo en márgenes positivos (HR: 9.5, IC95%: 0.99-91.5, p=0.50) y ≥2 ganglios positivos (HR: 8.5, IC95%: 1.1-61.9, p=0.34). La afectación≥2 ganglios predijo progresión con una OR de 7.2 (IC95% 1.06-48.6, p=0.043).ConclusionesLa supervivencia media a 5 años es superior al 80%. El número de ganglios positivos podría ser un factor predictor de progresión bioquímica.AbstractBackgroundRadical prostatectomy+pelvic lymph node dissection can improve progression-free survival and cancer-specific survival in lymph node disease.AimTo analyze the characteristics of patients with lymph node disease in the histopathologic findings of the radical prostatectomy and lymph node dissection.Material and methodsA retrospective study was carried out on patients that underwent radical prostatectomy with metastatic lymph node disease within the time frame of 1988 to 2015.ResultsThe study included 25 patients with a mean 66.5 years of age (SD±6.5), a mean prostate-specific antigen of 20.17ng/dl (IQR: 18), and a median follow-up period of 63 months (IQR: 86). According to the D’Amico classification, 15 (60%) patients were high-risk, 8 (32%) were intermediate-risk, and 2 (8%) were low-risk. Positive margins were found in 15 cases (60%); 4 (16%) patients had T2 tumor stage, 3 (12%) had T3A, 17 (68%) had T3B, and one patient (4%) had T4. Fourteen (56%) patients had one positive lymph node, 3 (12%) patients had 2 positive lymph nodes, and 8 (32%) patients had more than 2 positive lymph nodes. Three (16%) patients received radiotherapy and 24 (96%) underwent hormone blockade. Progression-free survival was 105 months and cancer-specific survival was 86% at 5 years and 45% at ten years. The HR for biochemical progression was significant in positive margins (HR: 9.5, 95% CI: 0.99-91.5, P=.50) and when there were≥2 positive lymph nodes (HR: 8.5, 95% CI: 1.1-61.9, P=0.34). Involvement of≥2 lymph nodes predicted progression with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI: 1.06-48.6, P=.043).ConclusionsThe average 5-year survival was above 80%. The number of positive lymph nodes could be a predictive factor for biochemical progression

Effects of Bifidobacterium longum Subsp. infantis CECT 7210 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Combined or Not With Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin, on Weaned Pigs Orally Challenged With Salmonella Typhimurium

Salmonella is a common causative agent of enteric disease and is developing mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials. Probiotics, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and prebiotic fibers are a potential alternative to counteract this pathogen as they have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing its adhesion, reducing intestinal damage, and enhancing the host immune system. Furthermore, the benefits are expected to be potentiated when these compounds are administered together. A trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of two probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 (Laboratorios Ordesa S.L.) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, combined or not with a prebiotic containing oligofructose-enriched inulin, against Salmonella Typhimurium. Ninety-six piglets (28 days old) were distributed into 32 pens assigned to 5 treatments: one non-challenged (control diet, CTR+) and four challenged: control diet (CTR−) or supplemented with probiotics (>3 × 10 10 cfu/kg each strain, PRO), prebiotic (5%, PRE), or their combination (SYN). After 1 week of adaptation, animals were orally challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Feed intake, weight, and clinical signs were recorded. On days 4 and 8 post-inoculation (PI), one animal per pen was euthanized, and samples from blood, digestive content, and ileal tissues were collected to determine Salmonella counts, fermentation products, ileal histomorphology, and serum TNF-α and Pig-MAP concentrations. The effect of the oral challenge was evidenced by animal performance, fecal consistency, and intestinal architecture. Regarding the experimental treatments, animals belonging to the PRO group experienced a faster clearance of the pathogen, with more pigs being negative to its excretion at the end of the study and recovering the impaired ileal villi/crypt ratio more rapidly. Animals receiving the PRE diet showed a lower intestinal colonization by Salmonella, with no countable levels (<3 cfu/g) in any of the analyzed samples, and an augmented immune response suggested by serum Pig-MAP concentrations. Treatments including the prebiotic (PRE and SYN) showed similar changes in the fermentation pattern, with an increase in the molar percentage of valeric acid concentration in the colon. The SYN group, however, did not show any of the outcomes registered for PRO and PRE in Salmonella colonization or in immunity markers, suggesting the lack of synbiotic action in this animal model. Further research is needed to better understand the complex mechanisms behind these effects