Nutritional and microbiological evaluation of meat and bone meal produced in the state of Minas Gerais

The present study investigated the chemical composition and metabolizable energy levels of ten meat and bone meals (MBM) produced in Minas Gerais state (Experiment I) and evaluated the growth performance of broilers fed with diets containing those MBM (Experiment II). In the first experiment, energy values (apparent metabolizable energy [AME] and corrected apparent metabolizable energy [AMEn]) of ten different MBM were determined using the traditional method with total collection of excreta. Four hundred forty 21 day-old Hubbard broilers were used. A reference corn and soybean meal-based diet was replaced in 20% by the feed containing MBM to be tested. A completely randomized experimental design was used with eleven treatments (one reference diet and ten MBM), four repetitions per treatment and 10 birds per repetition (5 males and 5 females). In the second experiment, five MBMs from the ten analyzed in Experiment 1 were used as phosphorus source and compared to a diet containing bicalcium phosphate. The growth performance of the broilers fed with these diets was analyzed, considering two ages of the onset of MBM inclusion in the diet (1 or 7 days of age). One-day-old Hubbard broilers (1,320 birds) were housed in 44 plots with 30 birds per experimental unit. The experiment consisted of 11 treatments in a 5x2 factorial arrangement, with five sources of MBM, two ages for the onset of inclusion, and a reference treatment without addition of MBM. The results obtained showed a great variation in the chemical composition and apparent metabolizable energy of the evaluated meals. No significant differences were found on the performance of broilers fed diets with different MBM or the diet with bicalcium phosphate as phosphorus source. The performance of broilers was not significantly influenced by the onset of MBM inclusion in the diets

Cochlear Implant Electrode Choice in Challenging Surgical Cases: Malformation, Residual Hearing, Ossification, or Reimplantation

The limits of cochlear implantation candidacy have been expanding over the last decade and recent studies show that patients with inner ear anomalies, significant residual hearing, ossified cochlea, or far advanced otosclerosis can benefit from implant. The cochlear implant companies are coming up with various electrode designs. The purpose of this study is to review the factors that can affect the choice of electrode array in the expanding indications of cochlear implantation and suggest some surgical tips.A comprehensive preoperative evaluation is crucial. Detailed audiologic examination and radiologic assessment of inner ear structures with high-resolution computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging is necessary. The choice of electrode array should be made regarding the type of cochlea in the presence of inner ear anomalies. If the patient has residual hearing in low-frequencies, electrode array and surgical insertion technique should be as atraumatic as possible to protect apical part of the cochlea. Appropriate selection of electrodes and surgical techniques are necessary if the cochlea is obstructed by fibrosis or ossified. The surgeon also should consider the possibility of reimplantation in the future and select the initial electrode after comprehensive evaluation.There is a diversity of electrode arrays for different indications. The selection of the most accurate electrode depends on the audiological tests, etiology of hearing loss, and cochlear anatomy. Surgeon must be prepared preoperatively for various clinical situations and unexpected surgical circumstances. One should keep in mind that making the right electrode choice will impact the outcomes of unusual or challenging cases

Factors Affecting Auditory Performance of Postlinguistically Deaf Adults Using Cochlear Implants:An Update with 2251 Patients

<p>Objective: To update a 15-year-old study of 800 postlinguistically deaf adult patients showing how duration of severe to profound hearing loss, age at cochlear implantation (CI), age at onset of severe to profound hearing loss, etiology and CI experience affected CI outcome. Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study. Methods: Data from 2251 adult patients implanted since 2003 in 15 international centers were collected and speech scores in quiet were converted to percentile ranks to remove differences between centers. Results: The negative effect of long duration of severe to profound hearing loss was less important in the new data than in 1996; the effects of age at CI and age at onset of severe to profound hearing loss were delayed until older ages; etiology had a smaller effect, and the effect of CI experience was greater with a steeper learning curve. Patients with longer durations of severe to profound hearing loss were less likely to improve with CI experience than patients with shorter duration of severe to profound hearing loss. Conclusions: The factors that were relevant in 1996 were still relevant in 2011, although their relative importance had changed. Relaxed patient selection criteria, improved clinical management of hearing loss, modifications of surgical practice, and improved devices may explain the differences. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel</p>