Welfare Assessment on Pasture: A Review on Animal-Based Measures for Ruminants

Outdoor and extensive farming systems allow animals to behave in a natural way and are often perceived as welfare friendly. Nonetheless, the natural environment poses multiple challenges to the welfare of animals, sometimes hampering their capacity to cope. Welfare assessment in outdoor and extensive systems has been rarely investigated, and little is known about the most appropriate indicators. The aim of this review was to identify animal-based measures of welfare to apply in extensive and pasture-based systems in domestic ruminants. Through the use of a dedicated software for systematic reviews, 810 papers were screened and a total of 52 papers were retained for in-depth analysis. ABM resulting from these papers were initially divided according to the species (cattle and small ruminants, including sheep and goats) and then to four principles: comfort, behavior, feeding and health. The results showed that welfare data were collected applying different methodologies, with an increasing use of sensors in recent years. The need to herd and restrain animals for individual data collection is one of the major constraints to data collection in extensive farming systems. It is suggested that welfare assessment in outdoor/extensive farming systems is carried out by following shared procedures in order to provide evidence of the higher animal welfare claims that these products often imply compared to indoor systems

Ruolo della colon-TC nel paziente anziano con colonscopia controindicata o incompleta

Scopo: Valutare accuratezza, efficacia diagnostica e sicurezza della colon-TC (CTC) in pazienti anziani con sospetta patologia non candidabili alla colonscopia o nei quali quest\u2019ultima fosse risultata incompleta e non dirimente per la diagnosi. Materiali e metodi: Sono state eseguite 83 CTC in pazienti con et\ue0 >= 75 anni (media 86 \ub1 5,52; range 75-97) per completamento diagnostico in caso di colonscopia controindicata o incompleta, come da linee guida ESGE/ESGAR 2015. Gli esami si sono svolti previa preparazione intestinale, fecaltagging, insufflazione rettale di CO2 e iniezione endovenosa di spasmolitico, salvo controindicazioni. Sono state effettuate scansioni dirette a paziente prono e supino, ricostruzioni multiplanari e navigazione 3D. Ogni studio \ue8 stato esaminato da 2 radiologi. Risultati: La preparazione intestinale \ue8 stata valutata soddisfacente nel 80,7% dei casi. La quantit\ue0 media di CO2 insufflata \ue8 stata di 3,6 litri. La valutazione dei segmenti colici dopo distensione, compresa la navigazione 3D, \ue8 stata completa nel 91,6% dei pazienti, con un picco del 96,1% nei 55 pazienti di et\ue0 compresa tra 75 e 85 anni. 62 esami (74,7%) sono risultati positivi: 19 per polipi di dimensioni > 6 mm (5 sessili e 14 peduncolati), 12 per ispessimenti parietali di tipo neoplastico, 45 per patologia diverticolare; in 14 casi si \ue8 avuta la concomitante presenza di pi\uf9 reperti. Nessuna complicanza procedurale. Conclusioni: La CTC, nei pazienti ultrasettantacinquenni con sufficienti preparazione intestinale ed insufflazione rettale di CO2, completa in gran parte dei casi la diagnosi di una sospetta patologia colica in modo sicuro, relativamente poco invasivo e ben tollerato, consentendo una pronta prosecuzione delle cure

Costos de producción de Lilium en Argentina

El lilium (lilium spp.) es una flor muy apreciada por el consumidor. En los relevamientos realizados a florerías de Rosario (2010 y 2013) ocupa el segundo lugar dentro de las especies más demandadas. El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar los costos del cultivo de Lilium en Argentina, ante diferentes escenarios de producción. Se realiza el cálculo del margen bruto (MBD), período 2014-2015, considerando el modelo tecnológico utilizado en la región metropolitana y en experiencias del área rosarina. Los resultados muestran que para una plantación de otoño (37 bulbos m-2) el costo de los bulbos (0,5 u$s ud-1 - cal.16/18) es de 263$ m-2, representando el 87% de los costos de producción. Considerando un precio promedio ponderado de 50$paquete-1, el MBD es de 30$ m-2. Si se utilizan bulbos nacionales (80% del costo de los importados) y se supone igual producción, el MBD es de 76$m-2, incrementándose un 157$ m-2 y con bulbos nacionales el incremento es de 174%. Se observa la gran incidencia del costo del bulbo en los costos de producción de lilium. A su vez se destaca la diferencia de costos de acuerdo a su origen. Los grandes productores los importan, pagando en dólares y a su vez son proveedores de los productores más pequeños, lo que les brinda mayor poder de negociación en el mercado. Se sugiere incentivar la producción de bulbos a nivel nacional, pero teniendo especial cuidado en la calidad, dado que Argentina presenta condiciones edafoclimáticas adecuadas para su producción comercial.Fil: Zuliani, Susana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Questa, Teresa Monica. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Casella, E.. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Marinangeli, Pablo Alejandro. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaXXXVIII Congreso Argentino de HorticulturaBahía BlancaArgentinaAsociación Argentina de Horticultur

Multidisciplinary expertise in the diagnosis of cecal lymphoma

This particular case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary team expertise in the differential diagnostic process of acute abdominal pain. The case involves a 10-year old Chinese boy who presented with intermittent abdominal pain; the clinical and radiologic picture narrowed the differential diagnosis between an acute appendicitis and an intestinal lymphoma. Diagnosis of a high grade - B lymphoma was made by performing a colonoscopy; this procedure was deemed the best option to obtain a quick diagnosis with low invasiveness

Rapporto 2007 su consumo e dipendenze da sostanze in Emilia-Romagna.

Report on the state of legal and illegal substances use in the territory of Emilia-Romagna Region.Il report analizza il fenomeno delle dipendenze nel territorio della Regione Emilia-Romagna. La descrizione del fenomeno si sviluppa intorno all\u27analisi degli indicatori individuati dall\u27Osservatorio Europeo delle Dipendenze di Lisbona (OEDT): 1-uso di sostanze nella popolazione generale (questo indicatore va a rilevare i comportamenti nei confronti di alcol e sostanze psicoattive da parte della popolazione generale); 2-prevalenza d\u27uso problematico delle sostanze psicoattive; 3-domanda di trattamento degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 4-mortalit? degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 5-malattie infettive. Altri due importanti indicatori che si stanno sviluppando, e che vengono qui illustrati, sono l\u27analisi delle Schede di Dimissione Ospedaliera (SDO) e gli indicatori relativi alle conseguenza sociali dell\u27uso di droghe (criminalit? droga correlata). Inoltre sono state applicate diverse metodologie standard di stima sia per quantificare la quota parte sconosciuta di utilizzatori di sostanze che non afferiscono ai servizi, sia per identificarne alcune caratteristiche

Barriers and levers of enhancing animal welfare in organic and low-input outdoor production: Insights from a supply chain survey

Animal welfare is an essential part of the sustainability of animal production. While low-input farming, such as organic animal production, is often considered animal-friendly, several ways to enhance animal welfare in low-input animal production exist. However, currently there is little information on how farmers and other supply chain actors view different innovations and tools which may influence animal welfare in low-input outdoor and organic production systems. The aim of this study was to examine farmers’ and experts’ reactions to new approaches to pig and poultry production, with special attention to their animal welfare-related measures. The reactions were tested formally in by using a quantitative survey instrument in nine European countries (Finland, UK, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Romania). In the survey, respondents’ views on production practices and novel measures were asked. These included aspects such as applicability and advantages and disadvantages of various measures such as avoiding mutilations, using dual-purpose or local breeds, or in-ovo sexing. The data included altogether 218 responses from nine countries. Differences between countries were tested and groups of respondents were identified. The results suggest that supply side stakeholders foresee the welfare benefits and some disadvantages of welfare improving measures proposed to them. However, they also indicate that several measures were considered inapplicable despite their benefits. Inadequate financial provisions to adopt a measure was considered as one of the most important reasons for inapplicability of a measure. This may imply either high costs of implementing measures of low market incentives or perceived low demand for animal-friendly products. Other barriers for adopting welfare-friendly measures included farm-specific factors such as limitations imposed by housing. The respondents indicated a high relative preference for feeding, breeding, shelter from predators and the use of vaccines and anti-parasitic treatments to the provision of enrichments and nesting material to pigs, and to mutilations. Farmers agreed that environmental enrichments are important welfare-improving levers and preferred their use in low-input pig and poultry production. Animal breeding-related measures in pig production were perceived quite favorably by supply side stakeholders. Despite their welfare benefits, farmers in some countries had quite high preference towards maintaining castration and tail docking in pig and beak trimming in broiler production as part of their production method

COVID-19 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis: Putting Data Into Context

Background and objectives: It is unclear how multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the severity of COVID-19. The aim of this study is to compare COVID-19-related outcomes collected in an Italian cohort of patients with MS with the outcomes expected in the age- and sex-matched Italian population. Methods: Hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death after COVID-19 diagnosis of 1,362 patients with MS were compared with the age- and sex-matched Italian population in a retrospective observational case-cohort study with population-based control. The observed vs the expected events were compared in the whole MS cohort and in different subgroups (higher risk: Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score > 3 or at least 1 comorbidity, lower risk: EDSS score ≤ 3 and no comorbidities) by the χ2 test, and the risk excess was quantified by risk ratios (RRs). Results: The risk of severe events was about twice the risk in the age- and sex-matched Italian population: RR = 2.12 for hospitalization (p < 0.001), RR = 2.19 for ICU admission (p < 0.001), and RR = 2.43 for death (p < 0.001). The excess of risk was confined to the higher-risk group (n = 553). In lower-risk patients (n = 809), the rate of events was close to that of the Italian age- and sex-matched population (RR = 1.12 for hospitalization, RR = 1.52 for ICU admission, and RR = 1.19 for death). In the lower-risk group, an increased hospitalization risk was detected in patients on anti-CD20 (RR = 3.03, p = 0.005), whereas a decrease was detected in patients on interferon (0 observed vs 4 expected events, p = 0.04). Discussion: Overall, the MS cohort had a risk of severe events that is twice the risk than the age- and sex-matched Italian population. This excess of risk is mainly explained by the EDSS score and comorbidities, whereas a residual increase of hospitalization risk was observed in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and a decrease in people on interferon

DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.39–3.02, p < 0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.18–0.99, p = 0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon