Performance evaluation of two slow-medium growing chicken strains maintained under organic production system during different seasons

A total of 160 1-day-old medium-growing male chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) were raised for 120 days in a certified organic farming system. A total of two strains were studied (Coloryield, CY; RedBro, RB). Overall, two weather periods were considered based on the outdoor temperature, being S1 colder than S2. In total, 40 chicks per strain were assigned to each period (n = 80). Chickens were fed ad libitum with the same organic feeds. In the first month, chickens were kept indoors and, from day 30, they had access to the pasture. Slaughter live weight (LW), average daily gains, (ADG), the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality rates did not differ between the two strains. LW was (p < 0.05) higher in the S1 and a trend (p = 0.084) was observed for ADG, which was higher in S1. No differences were found for feed intake, FCR, and mortality rates between weather periods. There were no differences for coefficient of variation (CV) between the strains studied, nevertheless, CV for LW in S2 was increased. Differences in the productive performance between these strains raised in organic production systems were slight. However, chickens raised in S1 had a better performance. It would be preferable to raise chickens in these weather conditions whenever possible. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Performance and meat quality characteristics of male quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed diets supplemented with pomegranate seed oil

Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) is a nutritive, antioxidant-rich by-product, and it has been tested as a feed ingredient for livestock. However, studies on quails are scarce. The current study investigated that the effect of PSO on the performance and meat instrumental quality of quails. Area of study: Türkiye. Material and methods: A total of 60 seventy-day-old male quails were equally subjected to 3 dietary treatments con-sisting of 20 birds (5 replicates with 4 birds each). The quails were fed a diet supplemented with 0, 100, and 200 mg kg-1 pomegranate seed oil (PSO). After 10 weeks, two birds per subgroup were randomly selected and slaughtered. Main results: Supplementation of PSO reduced (p<0.05) feed intake and body weight gain linearly. However, there was no significant effect of PSO on carcass traits. For color parameters, the L* and b* values of breast and thigh meat increased with the addition of PSO to the diet (p<0.05). Cooking losses were highest in the thigh of quails fed 200 mg kg-1 PSO. On the other hand, in the breast, the lowest values for this parameter were observed in the groups that had received 100 mg kg-1 of PSO. Research highlights: Including 100 mg kg-1 of PSO can improve some meat quality characteristics without affecting performance parameters. There is a possibility that meat quality could be negatively affected by values higher than this. Nevertheless, further research is needed to determine the optimal dose of PSO to improve quail meat quality and its performance

Olaparib in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer regardless of BRCA status: a GEICO phase II trial (ROLANDO study)

Inhibidor de PARP; Olaparib; Càncer d'ovari recurrent resistent al platíInhibidor de PARP; Olaparib; Cáncer de ovario recurrente resistente al platinoPARP inhibitor; Olaparib; Platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancerBackground There is limited evidence for the benefit of olaparib in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) patients with BRCA wild-type tumors. This study investigated whether this combination of a DNA-damaging chemotherapy plus olaparib is effective in PROC regardless BRCA status. Patients and methods Patients with high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian carcinoma and one previous PROC recurrence were enrolled regardless of BRCA status. Patients with ≤4 previous lines (up to 5 in BRCA-mut) with at least one previous platinum-sensitive relapse were included; primary PROC was allowed only in case of BRCA-mut. Patients initially received six cycles of olaparib 300 mg b.i.d. (biduum) + intravenous pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) 40 mg/m2 (PLD40) every 28 days, followed by maintenance with olaparib 300 mg b.i.d. until progression or toxicity. The PLD dose was reduced to 30 mg/m2 (PLD30) due to toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months (6m-PFS) by RECIST version 1.1. A proportion of 40% 6m-PFS or more was considered of clinical interest. Results From 2017 to 2020, 31 PROC patients were included. BRCA mutations were present in 16%. The median of previous lines was 2 (range 1-5). The overall disease control rate was 77% (partial response rate of 29% and stable disease rate of 48%). After a median follow-up of 10 months, the 6m-PFS and median PFS were 47% and 5.8 months, respectively. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 74% of patients, with neutropenia/anemia being the most frequent. With PLD30 serious AEs were less frequent than with PLD40 (21% versus 47%, respectively); moreover, PLD30 was associated with less PLD delays (32% versus 38%) and reductions (16% versus 22%). Conclusions The PLD–olaparib combination has shown significant activity in PROC regardless of BRCA status. PLD at 30 mg/m2 is better tolerated in the combination.This work was supported by Grupo Español de Investigación en Cáncer de Ovario (GEICO) (no grant number). AstraZeneca provided olaparib and awarded a grant to GEICO (no grant number) to pay the costs of the study but did not take part in the conduct of the current clinical trial or in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Pegylated ribosomal doxorubicin was provided by the sites according to local standard procedures

Tuberculosis vaccine candidates based on mycobacterial cell envelope components

Even after decades searching for a new and more effective vaccine against tuberculosis, the scientific community is still pursuing this goal due to the complexity of its causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Mtb is a microorganism with a robust variety of survival mechanisms that allow it to remain in the host for years. The structure and nature of the Mtb envelope play a leading role in its resistance and survival. Mtb has a perfect machinery that allows it to modulate the immune response in its favor and to adapt to the host's environmental conditions in order to remain alive until the moment to reactivate its normal growing state. Mtb cell envelope protein, carbohydrate and lipid components have been the subject of interest for developing new vaccines because most of them are responsible for the pathogenicity and virulence of the bacteria. Many indirect evidences, mainly derived from the use of monoclonal antibodies, support the potential protective role of Mtb envelope components. Subunit and DNA vaccines, lipid extracts, liposomes and membrane vesicle formulations are some examples of technologies used, with encouraging results, to evaluate the potential of these antigens in the protective response against Mtb.Fil: Sarmiento, M.E.. Universiti Sains Malaysia; MalasiaFil: Alvarez, N.. Public Health Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Chin, K.L.. Universiti Sains Malaysia; MalasiaFil: Bigi, Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Tirado, Y.. No especifíca;Fil: García, M.A.. No especifíca;Fil: Anis, F.Z.. Universiti Sains Malaysia; MalasiaFil: Norazmi, M.N.. Universiti Sains Malaysia; MalasiaFil: Acosta, A.. Universiti Sains Malaysia; Malasi

Validity and reliability of the new Basic Functional Assessment protocol (BFA)

The global evaluation of motion patterns can examine the synchrony of neuromuscular control, range of motion, strength, resistance, balance and coordination needed to complete the movement. Visual assessments are commonly used to detect risk factors. However, it is essential to define standardized field-based tests that can evaluate with accuracy. The aims of the study were to design a protocol to evaluate fundamental motor patterns (FMP), and to analyze the validity and reliability of an instrument created to provide information about the quality of movement in FMP. Five tasks were selected: Overhead Squat (OHS); Hurdle Step (HS); Forward Step Down (FSD); Shoulder Mobility (SM); Active Stretching Leg Raise (ASLR). A list of variables was created for the evaluation of each task. Ten qualified judges assessed the validity of the instrument, while six external observers performed inter-intra reliability. The results show that the instrument is valid according to the experts’ opinion; however, the reliability shows values below those established. Thus, the instrument was considered unreliable, so it is recommended to repeat the reliability process by performing more training sessions for the external observers. The present study creates the basic functional assessment (BFA), a new protocol which comprises five tasks and an instrument to evaluate FMP

Methodology to determine operating times for the implantation of Prosopis alba in Santiago del Estero

La necesidad de calcular los costos en las actividades de plantación llevadas a cabo en el Programa Forestal Santiagueño (PFS) exige disponer previamente de datos técnicos de tiempos operativos de dichas actividades. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la metodología que se siguió para calcular los tiempos de las labores manuales y mecanizadas que efectivamente se realizaron en el marco del PFS para lograr plantaciones forestales. Para conformar la muestra de estudio se seleccionaron seis pequeños productores que forestaro con algarrobo blanco (Prosopis alba) en la zona de riego de Santiago del Estero. Si bien las unidades de muestreo son escasas, representan el 40 % de productores que alcanzó el Programa durante el período 2017-2018 y el 34 % de las hectáreas forestadas. El trabajo de campo permitió registrar la forma de ejecutar las labores de implantación y medir el rendimiento de las mismas.The need for estimating costs in the forest activities carried out in the Santiagueño Forest Programme (SFP) requires the prior availability of technical data concerning the operating times involved. The aim of this work is to describe the methodology used to calculate the times of both manual and mechanized tasks effectively performed within the SFP frame to achieve forest plantations. In order to define the study sample, six small producers who forested with white carob (Prosopis alba) in the irrigation area of Santiago del Estero were selected. Although scarce, the sampling units represent 40 % of the producers reached by the Programme during the 2017-2018 period and 34 % of the forested hectares. From this work it was possible to record how implantation tasks should be carried out and determine how their performance should be measured.Fil: García, Jorge Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez Ugalde, Rocio. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; ArgentinaFil: García, J.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Veliz, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Vega, C.. No especifíca;Fil: Sarmiento, M.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentin

The burden of mild cognitive impairment attributable to physical inactivity in Colombia

BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment often precedes dementia. The purpose of this analysis was to estimate the population attributable fraction for physical activity in Colombia, which is the reduction in cases that would occur if all participants were physically active. METHODS: The sample included 20,174 men and women aged 70.04 +/- 7.68 years (mean +/- SD) from the National Survey of Health, Wellbeing and Ageing. Trained interviewers administered a shorter version of the mini-mental state examination and mild cognitive impairment was defined as a score of 12 or less out of 19. Logistic regression models were fitted and population attributable fractions for physical activity were calculated. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, height, education, income, civil status, smoking, and alcohol drinking. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical activity was approximately 50% when defined as walking between 9 and 20 blocks at least three times per week. Theoretically, 19% of cases of mild cognitive impairment would be eliminated if all adults were to walk (95% confidence interval: 16%, 22%). The prevalence was approximately 20% when defined as taking part in vigorous sport or exercise at least three times per week. Theoretically, 23% of cases of mild cognitive impairment would be eliminated if all adults were to take part in vigorous sport or exercise (16%, 30%). Similar results were observed after removing those who reported mental health problems. CONCLUSION: Physical activity, whether walking or vigorous sport and exercise, has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of mild cognitive impairment in Colombia

Integrated analysis of mismatch repair system in malignant astrocytomas

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.Malignant astrocytomas are the most aggressive primary brain tumors with a poor prognosis despite optimal treatment. Dysfunction of mismatch repair (MMR) system accelerates the accumulation of mutations throughout the genome causing uncontrolled cell growth. The aim of this study was to characterize the MMR system defects that could be involved in malignant astrocytoma pathogenesis. We analyzed protein expression and promoter methylation of MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 as well as microsatellite instability (MSI) and MMR gene mutations in a set of 96 low- and high-grade astrocytomas. Forty-one astrocytomas failed to express at least one MMR protein. Loss of MSH2 expression was more frequent in low-grade astrocytomas. Loss of MLH1 expression was associated with MLH1 promoter hypermethylation and MLH1 -93G>A promoter polymorphism. However, MSI was not related with MMR protein expression and only 5% of tumors were MSI-High. Furthermore, the incidence of tumors carrying germline mutations in MMR genes was low and only one glioblastoma was associated with Lynch syndrome. Interestingly, survival analysis identified that tumors lacking MSH6 expression presented longer overall survival in high-grade astrocytoma patients treated only with radiotherapy while MSH6 expression did not modify the prognosis of those patients treated with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Our findings suggest that MMR system alterations are a frequent event in malignant astrocytomas and might help to define a subgroup of patients with different outcome.This work was supported by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS PI 10/00219), Instituto de Estudios de Ciencias de la Salud de Castilla y León IECSCYL and Junta de Castilla y León y Fondo Social Europeo (Orden EDU/330/2008).Peer Reviewe

Proyecciones poblacionales y económicas bajo diferentes escenarios para México [Population and economic projections under different scenarios for Mexico]

Los escenarios existentes que incluyen proyecciones poblacionales y económicas no permiten ser utilizados a niveles sub-nacionales. En países en desarrollo la información a nivel sub-nacional y la contextualización de escenarios es escasa. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar cómo pueden superarse estas limitaciones desarrollando: 1) proyecciones demográficas (probabilísticas y determinísticas) y económicas (probabilísticas) bajo diferentes escenarios y escalas temporales y espaciales, y 2) espacializar la distribución de la población a una resolución de un km2. Los resultados indican que para el 2050, la población mexicana podría ser entre 22 a 55 por ciento más grande que en el 2010 y tener un crecimiento del PIB entre 0.54 y 2.5 por ciento. Este estudio muestra cómo los escenarios socioeconómicos sub-nacionales son necesarios para la evaluación de la vulnerabilidad de los sistemas socio-ecológicos