Ruminal Degradability Of Agro-industrial Fruit Residues

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and ruminal degradability of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of fruit residues. Three fistulated sheep were held collectively in a pen, and fed daily with the studied residues in a diet consisting of canarana grass (Echinochloa pyramidalis) and a concentrate of corn and soybeans. The animals were allowed an adjustment period of seven days. The residues were dried in the sun, crushed in a forage machine, sorted using a 4.0-mm sieve, and incubated for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h using nonwoven bags (weight 60g/m2, 14 ×12 cm2). Chemical analyses of the residues were performed using a randomized block experimental design with split plots. The cherimoya and tamarind residues showed the highest concentrations of CP (12.66% and 11.79%) the ether extract of cherimoya residue was the highest at 22.30%stands out the sour soup residue. The cashew and guava residues showed the highest levels of lignin (22.13 and 18.34%). The effective degradability of DM for the pineapple and tamarind residues to a passage rate of 5%/h were 53.04% and 42.61%, respectively. The guava, cherimoya, and cashew residues showed lower values at 19.16%, 26.86%, and 29.21%, respectively. The cherimoya, guava and pineapple residues showed the highest values of potential degradability for CP at 87%, 81%, 86.02% and 90.94%, respectively, with an average effective degradability of 50.0% at the rate of 5%/h. The pineapple (35.38%) and tamarind residues (34.49%) showed higher values of the effective degradability of NDF at a passage rate of 5%/h. Among the studied residues, the pineapple residue showed the greatest potential for use in animal feed based on chemical composition and rates of degradability.37127929

Comparison of the timed inspiratory effort index with the T-piece trial as a decision-making tool for extubation: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

The “timed inspiratory effort” (TIE) index, a new predictor of weaning outcome, normalizes the maximal inspiratory pressure with the time required to reach this value up to 60 s, incorporating the time domain into the assessment of inspiratory muscle function. The objective of this study was to determine whether the TIE predicts successful extubation at a similar rate as the T-piece trial with less time required. A non-inferiority randomized controlled trial was performed with ICU subjects eligible for weaning. The participants were allocated to the TIE or the T-piece groups. The primary outcome was successful weaning, and the main secondary outcome was ICU mortality. Eighty participants of each group were included in the final analysis. Time from the start of a successful test to effective extubation was significantly lower in the TIE group than in the T-piece group, 15 (10 to 24) vs 55 (40 to 75) min, P<0.001. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, no significant differences were found in successful weaning (79.5 vs 82.5%, P=0.268) or survival rate (62.9 vs 53.8%, P=0.210) between the TIE and T-piece groups at the 30th day. In this preliminary study, the TIE index was not inferior to the T-piece trial as a decision-making tool for extubation and allowed a reduction in the decision time

Resting spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and cardiac autonomic control in anabolic androgenic steroid users

OBJECTIVES: Misuse of anabolic androgenic steroids in athletes is a strategy used to enhance strength and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. However, its abuse leads to an imbalance in muscle sympathetic nerve activity, increased vascular resistance, and increased blood pressure. However, the mechanisms underlying these alterations are still unknown. Therefore, we tested whether anabolic androgenic steroids could impair resting baroreflex sensitivity and cardiac sympathovagal control. In addition, we evaluate pulse wave velocity to ascertain the arterial stiffness of large vessels. METHODS: Fourteen male anabolic androgenic steroid users and 12 nonusers were studied. Heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate were recorded. Baroreflex sensitivity was estimated by the sequence method, and cardiac autonomic control by analysis of the R-R interval. Pulse wave velocity was measured using a noninvasive automatic device. RESULTS: Mean spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity, baroreflex sensitivity to activation of the baroreceptors, and baroreflex sensitivity to deactivation of the baroreceptors were significantly lower in users than in nonusers. In the spectral analysis of heart rate variability, high frequency activity was lower, while low frequency activity was higher in users than in nonusers. Moreover, the sympathovagal balance was higher in users. Users showed higher pulse wave velocity than nonusers showing arterial stiffness of large vessels. Single linear regression analysis showed significant correlations between mean blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity and pulse wave velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for lower baroreflex sensitivity and sympathovagal imbalance in anabolic androgenic steroid users. Moreover, anabolic androgenic steroid users showed arterial stiffness. Together, these alterations might be the mechanisms triggering the increased blood pressure in this population

Invasive fungal diseases in haematopoietic cell transplant recipients and in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplasia in Brazil

AbstractInvasive fungal disease (IFD) shows distinct regional incidence patterns and epidemiological features depending on the geographic region. We conducted a prospective survey in eight centres in Brazil from May 2007 to July 2009. All haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients and patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or myelodysplasia (MDS) were followed from admission until 1 year (HCT) or end of consolidation therapy (AML/MDS). The 12-month cumulative incidence (CI) of proven or probable IFD was calculated, and curves were compared using the Grey test. Among 237 AML/MDS patients and 700 HCT recipients (378 allogeneic, 322 autologous), the 1-year CI of IFD in AML/MDS, allogeneic HCT and autologous HCT was 18.7%, 11.3% and 1.9% (p <0.001), respectively. Fusariosis (23 episodes), aspergillosis (20 episodes) and candidiasis (11 episodes) were the most frequent IFD. The 1-year CI of aspergillosis and fusariosis in AML/MDS, allogeneic HCT and autologous HCT were 13.4%, 2.3% and 0% (p <0.001), and 5.2%, 3.8% and 0.6% (p 0.01), respectively. The 6-week probability of survival was 53%, and was lower in cases of fusariosis (41%). We observed a high burden of IFD and a high incidence and mortality for fusariosis in this first multicentre epidemiological study of IFD in haematological patients in Brazil

Soil biochemistry and microbial activity in vineyards under conventional and organic management at Northeast Brazil.

The São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that orgThe São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO2). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO2. Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g-1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm-3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm-3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards increased mycorrhization and general soil microbial activity