THE EFFECTS OF SOME PREBIOTIC PRODUCTS (ACTIGEN, BIOTRONIC TOP3) ON THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION INDICES IN BROILER CHICKENS

The prebiotics are natural or synthetic organic substances that favour the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the gastro-intestinal tract, thus maintaining the animals healthy and productive and subsequently increasing the production performances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prebiotic products (Actigen and Biotronic Top3) on the main production and consumption indices of broilers. The study was conducted on a 75 broiler chicken Ross-308 hybrids divided in three groups, over a period of 42 days. Group 1(E) received combined feeds with the Actigen prebiotic for 42 days as follows: 0.08% in the starter phase (1-14 days), 0.04% in the grower phase (14-35 days) and 0.02% in the finisher phase (35-42 days). The broilers in group 2(E) were administered feeds containing prebiotic Biotronic Top3 (0.1%) for the whole duration of the study. The broilers in the control group were fed the base feed only. The broilers from all groups were weighed at the beginning and every following week; their average body weight, daily weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined. The use of the Actigen in experimental group 1(E) led to a body mass increase of 11.26%, to an 11.54% higher daily weight gain and to the reduction of the FCR by 2.31% compared to the control group. In Group 2(E) receiving Biotronic Top3, an increase was recorded for the body mass (9.25%) and daily weight gain (9.49%), the FCR being the same as the one recorded in the control group. These results confirm the favourable influence of prebiotics on the production performances of broiler chickens

Dropout and compliance to physical exercise in menopausal osteopenic women: the European “happy bones” project

IntroductionDecline in muscle mass and bone density seem to be two of the most disabling side effects of menopause that negatively affect women's quality of life. Promoting physical activity protocols in the workplace can represent a focal point in the prevention and management of several diseases. The study aims to evaluate the compliance and drop-out of menopausal osteopenic women engaged in combined training performed inside and outside the workplace. Strength and balance were analyzed to evaluate the effect of this protocol on osteoporosis prevention and the risk of falling.Methods73 menopausal women were enrolled in 5 European countries. They performed 72 lessons of a combined training proposed in the working place (IW) or sport center (SC).ResultsOut of the total 39 women enrolled in the IW, 12.8% had to leave the program, while out of the 34 women enrolled in SC, 41.2% did not complete the training. According to the compliance results, 47% of women that completed the trained IW and 85% in the SC recorded high compliance (p = 0.019). Moreover, the strength of the lower limbs (p < 0.001) and static balance (p = 0.001) significantly improved in the whole group.DiscussionIn conclusion, proposing well-structured training in the workplace for menopausal women seems to reduce drop-out. Strength and balance results suggest its positive impact on bone health and risk of falls, despite where it is performed

Risk Factors Associated with Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants

Background and Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness in preterm infants. We studied the relationship between different perinatal characteristics, i.e., sex; gestational age (GA); birth weight (BW); C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations; ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and surfactant administration; and the incidence of Stage 1–3 ROP. Materials and Methods: This study included 247 preterm infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks that were successfully screened for ROP. Univariate and multivariate binary analyses were performed to find the most significant risk factors for ROP (Stage 1–3), while multivariate multinomial analysis was used to find the most significant risk factors for specific ROP stages, i.e., Stage 1, 2, and 3. Results: The incidence of ROP (Stage 1–3) was 66.40% (164 infants), while that of Stage 1, 2, and 3 ROP was 15.38% (38 infants), 27.53% (68 infants), and 23.48% (58 infants), respectively. Following univariate analysis, multiple perinatal characteristics, i.e., GA; BW; and ventilation, CPAP, and surfactant administration, were found to be statistically significant risk factors for ROP (p < 0.001). However, in a multivariate model using the same characteristics, only BW and ventilation were significant ROP predictors (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Multivariate multinomial analysis revealed that BW was only significantly correlated with Stage 2 and 3 ROP (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), while ventilation was only significantly correlated with Stage 2 ROP (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that GA; BW; and the use of ventilation, CPAP, and surfactant were all significant risk factors for ROP (Stage 1–3), but only BW and ventilation were significantly correlated with ROP and specific stages of the disease, namely Stage 2 and 3 ROP and Stage 2 ROP, respectively, in multivariate models

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE USE OF INNOVATIVE DEVICES FOR STRENGTH BUILDING IN THE PERIOD OF RECOVERY FOLLOWING LUMBAR CONDITIONS

In this research, we started from the premise that for developing a strength building routine, adapted to patients with lumbar conditions, we can use innovative devices that combine elastic resistance with the resistance provided by weights. Such devices include a concentric barbell-extensor system and an extensor pulley bar. By using these devices, we demonstrated – on a sample of even healthy young people with a mean age of 22.5 – that three weeks of exercising on these devices, without significantly soliciting the spine, increase the strength more than the classical weight training. It is worth mentioning that the manner of performing the exercises and the muscle groups solicited in classical exercises versus when using innovative equipments were highly similar

THE EFFECTS OF SOME PREBIOTIC PRODUCTS (ACTIGEN, BIOTRONIC TOP3) ADMINISTRATED IN THE FOOD OF BROILER CHICKENS ON THE MEAT QUALITY

Following the 2006 EU ban of antibiotic-based growth promoters, the use of alternative products, such as prebiotics, became a necessity. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of prebiotic products (Actigen şi Biotronic Top3) on meat quality in broiler chickens. The research has been conducted on a number of 75 Ross-308 hybrid broilers, assigned in three groups (25 individuals/group), over a period of 42 days. Group 1(E) was fed with the base diet supplemented with the Actigen prebiotic in a proportion of 0.08% in the first growth phase (days 1-14), 0.04% in the second phase (days 14-35) and 0.02% in the third phase (days 35-42). Group 2(E) received the base feed supplemented with the Biotronic Top3 prebiotic (0.1%) throughout the whole growth period. At the end of the study period, five broilers from every group have been sacrificed to determine meat quality and meat chemical composition. The usage of prebiotics led to an increase of the carcass weight gain of 16.29% in group 1(E) receiving Actigen and 13.49% in group 2(E), fed with Biotronic Top3, compared to the control group. The percentage of superior quality meat (quality I and II) in the carcass was higher by 4.4% in group 2(E) Biotronic Top3 and by 1.67% in group 1(E) Actigen compared to the control group. Following the administration of Actigen and Biotronic Top3 prebiotics, in groups 1(E) and 2(E) the meat quality was improved in groups 1(E) and 2(E), due to an increase in the protein content and a reduction of the fat content. These results confirm that prebiotics administered in the feeds for broiler chickens have favourable effects on the meat production and meat quality

Shear-Wave Elastography Variability Analysis and Relation with Kidney Allograft Dysfunction: A Single-Center Study

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) showed the absence or presence of significant differences among stable kidney allograft function and allograft dysfunction. We evaluated the variability of kidney allograft stiffness in relation to allograft dysfunction, respectively, in terms of a correlation of stiffness with patients’ characteristics. A single-center prospective study on patients who had undergone renal transplantation was conducted between October 2017 and November 2018. Patients were clinically classified as having a stable allograft function or allograft dysfunction. SWE examinations performed by the same radiologist with a LOGIQ E9 were evaluated. Ten measurements were done for Young’s modulus (kPa) at the level of allograft cortex and another ten at the level of medulla. Eighty-three SWE examinations from 63 patients, 69 stable allografts, and 14 allografts with dysfunction were included in the analysis. The intra-examinations stiffness showed high variability, with the quantile covariation coefficient ranging from 2.21% to 45.04%. The inter-examinations stiffness showed heterogeneity (from 28.66% to 42.38%). The kidney allograft cortex stiffness showed significantly higher values in cases with dysfunction (median = 28.70 kPa, interquartile range (IQR) = (25.68–31.98) kPa) as compared to those with stable function (median = 20.99 kPa, interquartile range = (16.08–27.68) kPa; p-value = 0.0142). Allograft tissue stiffness (both cortex and medulla) was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index (−0.44, p-value < 0.0001 for allograft cortex and −0.42, p-value = 0.0001 for allograft medulla), and positively correlated with Proteinuria/Creatinuria ratio (0.33, p-value = 0.0021 for allograft cortex and 0.28, p-value = 0.0105 for allograft medulla) but remained statistically significant only in cases with stable function. The cortical tissue stiffness proved significantly higher values for patients with allograft dysfunction as compared to patients with stable function, but to evolve as an additional tool for the evaluation of patients with a kidney transplant and to change the clinical practice, more extensive studies are needed

Diagnostic Approach and Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Anemia in Chronic Liver Disease—An Overview

Hematological abnormalities are frequently linked to chronic liver disease of any etiology. About 75% of patients with advanced chronic liver disease experience anemia. The causes of anemia are complex and multifactorial, particularly in cirrhotic patients. Acute and long-term blood loss from the upper gastrointestinal tract, malnutrition, an enlarged spleen brought on by portal hypertension, hemolysis, and coagulation issues are the main causes of anemia. Alcohol, a common cause of chronic liver disease, determines anemia through direct toxicity on the bone marrow, with the suppression of hematopoiesis, through vitamin B6, B12, and folate deficiency due to low intake and malabsorption. In patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, antiviral drugs such as pegylated interferon and ribavirin can also cause significant anemia. The use of interferon has been linked to bone marrow toxicity, and hemolytic anemia brought on by ribavirin is a well-known dose-dependent side effect. Within six months of the infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and Epstein–Barr viruses, aplastic anemia associated with hepatitis is seen. This anemia is characterized by pancytopenia brought on by hypocellular bone marrow. Esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and gastric antral vascular ectasia can all cause acute and chronic blood loss. These conditions can progress to iron deficiency anemia, microcytic anemia, and hypochromic anemia. Another common hematologic abnormality in liver cirrhosis is macrocytosis, with multifactorial causes. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency are frequent in liver cirrhosis, especially of alcoholic etiology, due to increased intestinal permeability, dysbiosis, and malnutrition. Many chronic liver diseases, like viral and autoimmune hepatitis, have a chronic inflammatory substrate. Proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1, 6, and 10, are the main factors that diminish iron availability in progenitor erythrocytes and subsequent erythropoiesis, leading to the development of chronic inflammatory, normochromic, normocytic anemia

Surgeons’ practice and preferences for the anal fissure treatment: results from an international survey

The best nonoperative or operative anal fissure (AF) treatment is not yet established, and several options have been proposed. Aim is to report the surgeons' practice for the AF treatment. Thirty-four multiple-choice questions were developed. Seven questions were about to participants' demographics and, 27 questions about their clinical practice. Based on the specialty (general surgeon and colorectal surgeon), obtained data were divided and compared between two groups. Five-hundred surgeons were included (321 general and 179 colorectal surgeons). For both groups, duration of symptoms for at least 6 weeks is the most important factor for AF diagnosis (30.6%). Type of AF (acute vs chronic) is the most important factor which guide the therapeutic plan (44.4%). The first treatment of choice for acute AF is ointment application for both groups (59.6%). For the treatment of chronic AF, this data is confirmed by colorectal surgeons (57%), but not by the general surgeons who prefer the lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) (31.8%) (p = 0.0001). Botulin toxin injection is most performed by colorectal surgeons (58.7%) in comparison to general surgeons (20.9%) (p = 0.0001). Anal flap is mostly performed by colorectal surgeons (37.4%) in comparison to general surgeons (28.3%) (p = 0.0001). Fissurectomy alone is statistically significantly most performed by general surgeons in comparison to colorectal surgeons (57.9% and 43.6%, respectively) (p = 0.0020). This analysis provides useful information about the clinical practice for the management of a debated topic such as AF treatment. Shared guidelines and consensus especially focused on operative management are required to standardize the treatment and to improve postoperative results