Assessment of body size and breeding performance in old European pig breeds

The study aimed an evaluation of body size and growth performance in the Mangalita breed which were compared with results obtained in different old pig breeds in Europe. The experimental group included 30 individuals, divided into 2 groups of 15 individuals, castrated males and females. The following characteristics were determined: body length, height at withers, live weight, age at slaughter weight, average daily gain, carcass weight and yield at slaughter. The results were compared with literature data from the East-Balkan Pigs, Iberic Pigs and Nero Siciliano breeds. The highest average weight and the largest body lengthwas recorded in Mangalita males with 141.2 kg respectively (115.2 cm). The highest carcass weight was recorded at Iberic pigs (108.1kg).Although the production performances are not very high, the very good organic resistance, the great adaptability to various growing conditions and the excellent qualities of the meat are arguments in favor of the further growth of these two breeds

Regenerative Medicine: Advances from Developmental to Degenerative Diseases

Chronic tissue and organ failure caused by an injury, disease, ageing or congenital defects represents some of the most complex therapeutic challenges and poses a significant financial healthcare burden. Regenerative medicine strategies aim to fulfil the unmet clinical need by restoring the normal tissue function either through stimulating the endogenous tissue repair or by using transplantation strategies to replace the missing or defective cells. Stem cells represent an essential pillar of regenerative medicine efforts as they provide a source of progenitors or differentiated cells for use in cell replacement therapies. Whilst significant leaps have been made in controlling the stem cell fates and differentiating them to cell types of interest, transitioning bespoke cellular products from an academic environment to off-the-shelf clinical treatments brings about a whole new set of challenges which encompass manufacturing, regulatory and funding issues. Notwithstanding the need to resolve such issues before cell replacement therapies can benefit global healthcare, mounting progress in the field has highlighted regenerative medicine as a realistic prospect for treating some of the previously incurable conditions