The Feeding Behaviour Habits of Growing-Finishing Pigs and Its Effects on Growth Performance and Carcass Quality: A Review

Based on the available data of feeding behaviour habits (FBHs), this work aimed to discuss which type of pig, according to its FBHs, performs better and is more efficient. As pigs grow, average daily feed intake, meal size, and feeding rate increase, whereas small variations or even decreases in time spent eating and daily feeder visits have been reported. Moreover, the sex, breed, space allowance, feeder design, feed form, diet composition, and environmental conditions modify FBHs. On the other hand, the literature indicates the existence of four types of pigs: pigs that eat their daily feed intake in many short meals (nibblers) or in few large meals (meal eaters) combined with eating fast (faster eaters) or slow (slow eaters). The available scientific literature about ad libitum fed pigs suggests that pigs eating faster with bigger meals eat more, gain more weight, and are fatter than pigs eating less, slower, and with smaller meals. However, the feeding rate and the meal size do not influence feed efficiency. In conclusion, studies comparing growing-finishing pigs with similar feed intake, but different feeding rate and meal size are needed to better understand the influence of FBHs on feed efficiency

Analysis of circulating microRNAs and their post-transcriptional modifications in cancer serum by on-line solid-phase extraction-capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry

In this paper, an on-line solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (SPE-CE-MS) method is described for the purification, preconcentration, separation, and characterization of endogenous microRNA (miRNA) and their post-transcriptional modifications in serum. First, analysis by CE-MS was optimized using a standard mixture of hsa-miR-21-5p (miR-21-5p) and hsa-let-7g-5p (let-7g-5p). For SPE-CE-MS, a commercial silicon carbide (SiC) resin was used to prepare the microcartridges. Under the optimized conditions with standards, the microcartridge lifetime (>25 analyses) and repeatability (2.8% RSD for the migration times; 4.4 and 6.4% RSD for the miR-21-5p and let-7g-5p peak areas, respectively) were good, the method was linear between 25 and 100 nmol·L-1, and the limit of detection (LOD) was around 10 nmol·L-1 (50 times lower than by CE-MS). In order to analyze human serum samples, an off-line sample pretreatment based on phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (PCA) extraction was necessary prior to SPE-CE-MS. The potential of the SPE-CE-MS method to screen for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was demonstrated by an analysis of serum samples from healthy controls and patients. MicroRNAs, specifically miR-21-5p and a 23 nucleotide long 5'-phosphorylated miRNA with 3'-uridylation (iso-miR-16-5p), were only detected in the CLL patients

Regulation of pancreatic cancer aggressiveness by stromal stiffening

No abstract available

O415 Efficacy and safety of 48-week maintenance with QD ATV vs ATV/r (both + 2NRTIs) in patients with VL <50 c/mL after induction with ATV/r + 2NRTIs: study AI424136

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Lung metastases share common immune features regardless of primary tumor origin

BACKGROUND: Only certain disseminated cells are able to grow in secondary organs to create a metastatic tumor. Under the hypothesis that the immune microenvironment of the host tissue may play an important role in this process, we have categorized metastatic samples based on their immune features. METHODS: Gene expression data of metastatic samples (n=374) from four secondary sites (brain, bone, liver and lung) were used to characterize samples based on their immune and stromal infiltration using gene signatures and cell quantification tools. A clustering analysis was done that separated metastatic samples into three different immune categories: high, medium and low. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the immune profiles of samples metastasizing in distinct organs. Metastases in lung showed a higher immunogenic score than metastases in brain, liver or bone, regardless of their primary site of origin. Also, they preferentially clustered in the high immune group. Samples in this cluster exhibited a clear inflammatory phenotype, higher levels of immune infiltrate, overexpression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) pathways and upregulation of genes predicting clinical response to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade (T-cell inflammatory signature). A decision tree algorithm was used to select CD74 as a biomarker that identify samples belonging to this high-immune subtype of metastases, having specificity of 0.96 and sensitivity of 1. CONCLUSIONS: We have found a group of lung-enriched metastases showing an inflammatory phenotype susceptible to be treated with immunotherapy

Percepción de los residentes sobre el legado de la America’s Cup

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las percepciones de los residentes sobre el legado de un gran evento deportivo como es la America’s Cup (AC) celebrada en Valencia en 2007 y 2010. Se utilizó una encuesta compuesta por una escala de 41 ítems que contemplaban diversos legados positivos y negativos agrupados en seis dimensiones: legado socioeconómico; legado en el desarrollo urbano e infraestructuras; legado en la imagen,política y conocimiento; legado deportivo; legado sociocultural; y legado negativo. Se recogió una muestra de 735 residentes con un error de muestreo ±3.6. Los resultados permitieron identificar tres grupos de residentes con percepciones diferentes hacia el legado de la AC: pesimistas (46.9%), indiferentes (38.4%) y optimistas (14.7%). La mayoría de los ciudadanos entrevistados no se mostraba de acuerdo en que este evento deportivo hayagenerado legados positivos a nivel socioeconómico, en el desarrollo urbano y las infraestructuras, en el deporte y a nivel sociocultural, mientras que se observaba cierta tendencia al acuerdo en algunos legados negativos. Sólo el legado en la imagen, política y conocimiento adquirido por los residentes mostraba una tendencia positiva para la mayoría de los ciudadanos encuestados

In Vivo Detection of Perinatal Brain Metabolite Changes in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

Background Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a risk factor for abnormal neurodevelopment.We studied a rabbit model of IUGR by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS), to assess in vivo brain structural and metabolic consequences, and identify potential metabolic biomarkers for clinical translation. Methods IUGR was induced in 3 pregnant rabbits at gestational day 25, by 40-50% uteroplacental vessel ligation in one horn; the contralateral horn was used as control. Fetuses were delivered at day 30 and weighted. A total of 6 controls and 5 IUGR pups underwent T2-w MRI and localized proton MRS within the first 8 hours of life, at 7T. Changes in brain tissue volumes and respective contributions to each MRS voxel were estimated by semi-automated registration of MRI images with a digital atlas of the rabbit brain. MRS data were used for: (i) absolute metabolite quantifications, using linear fitting; (ii) local temperature estimations, based on the water chemical shift; and (iii) classification, using spectral pattern analysis. Results Lower birth weight was associated with (i) smaller brain sizes, (ii) slightly lower brain temperatures, and (iii) differential metabolite profile changes in specific regions of the brain parenchyma. Specifically, we found estimated lower levels of aspartate and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (suggesting neuronal impairment), and higher glycine levels in the striatum (possible marker of brain injury). Our results also suggest that the metabolic changes in cortical regions are more prevalent than those detected in hippocampus and striatum. Conclusions IUGR was associated with brain metabolic changes in vivo, which correlate well with the neurostructural changes and neurodevelopment problems described in IUGR. Metabolic parameters could constitute non invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and abnormal neurodevelopment of perinatal origin

Podoplanin drives dedifferentiation and amoeboid invasion of melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer developing from melanocytes, frequently resulting in metastatic disease. Melanoma cells utilize amoeboid migration as mode of local invasion. Amoeboid invasion is characterized by rounded cell morphology and high actomyosin contractility driven by Rho GTPase signalling. Migrastatic drugs targeting actin polymerization and contractility are therefore a promising treatment option for metastatic melanoma. To predict amoeboid invasion and metastatic potential, biomarkers functionally linked to contractility pathways are needed. The glycoprotein podoplanin drives actomyosin contractility in lymphoid fibroblasts and is overexpressed in many cancers. We show that podoplanin enhances amoeboid invasion in melanoma. Podoplanin expression in murine melanoma drives rounded cell morphology, increasing motility, and invasion in vivo. Podoplanin expression is increased in a subset of dedifferentiated human melanoma, and in vitro is sufficient to upregulate melanoma-associated marker Pou3f2/Brn2. Together, our data define podoplanin as a functional biomarker for dedifferentiated invasive melanoma and a promising migrastatic therapeutic target