Effect of type of suckling and polyunsaturated fatty acid use on lamb production. 2. Chemical and fatty acid composition of raw and cooked meat

This study was carried out in order to examine the chemical and fatty acid composition of raw and cooked meat obtained fromlambs raised under mothers or reared by artificial suckling with acidified milk replacers with or without polyunsaturated fattyacid (PUFA) supplementation. Meat samples were taken from twenty Gentile di Puglia male lambs subjected to the followingfeeding treatments: the control group received only maternal milk (MM, n.=6) while two groups were reared by artificial sucklingwith an acidified milk replacer (MR, n.=7) or with an acidified milk replacer supplemented with 10 ml/l of a PUFA enrichedoil (MR+PUFA, n.=7). Lambs were slaughtered at 45 days of age. After 24 hours of refrigeration at 4 °C, the lumbar regionwas dissected from each right half-carcass and split into pieces, one of which was used raw while the other was cooked in aventilated electric oven at 180 °C until an internal temperature of 75 °C was reached. Chemical and fatty acid analysis wereperformed on raw and cooked meat, while only raw meat was assessed for cholesterol. Cooking losses were also evaluated.Meat obtained from MR+PUFA fed lambs contained more fat (P<0.01) and less protein (P<0.05) than MM lambs. Nursingunder mothers increased the total amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), compared with both the MR group (P<0.05) and tothe MR+PUFA one (P<0.01). In MM meat samples, fewer PUFAs (P<0.01) and omega-6 fatty acids (P<0.01) were found incomparison with both MR diets. The highest PUFA/SFA ratio of meat was recorded for the MR+PUFA group (0.27), with statisticaldifferences respect to the MR group (0.21; P<0.05) and to the MM one (0.14; P<0.01). Lambs raised with maternalmilk produced meat containing more cholesterol than the MR+PUFA group (85.89 vs 76.26 mg/100 g; P<0.05). The atherogenicityindex of meat was higher following natural rearing in comparison with the MR+PUFA treatment (1.34 vs 1.05;P<0.05), while the PCL/PCE ratio was significantly higher in MR+PUFA samples than in both MM and MR ones (0.93 vs 0.77and 0.76, respectively; P<0.05). Cooking cancelled the differences between treatments with regard to the all the dieteticparameters evaluated. In conclusion, artificial suckling with acidified milk replacers improves some meat quality features.Supplementation of milk replacers with PUFAs, although in a limited way, may improve the dietetic properties of lamb meat

Cashmere production from Scottish Cashmere kids and crossbreed Scottish Cashmere x Jonica kids

This study is part of a much wider research programme to evaluate the possibility of producing valuable textile fibres, such as cashmere, from goat breeds reared in Italy. In order to achieve this, we have used crossbreeding. The first stage of the programme consisted of evaluating cashmere production in F1 kids obtained by crossing white-haired Jonica does, which have no secondary fibres, with Scottish Cashmere bucks. The trial lasted one year starting in March 2007, and took place in the Department of Animal Production of the University of Bari (Italy). We used 14 male kids: 7 Scottish Cashmere (SC group), and 7 F1 (SC x J group) derived from crossing Scottish Cashmere bucks with does of the Jonica breed, commonly reared in southern Italy. All the parameters considered (live weight, number and active percentage of primary and secondary follicles, S/P ratio, patch weight, growth and length of guard hair and down, yield, down production and diameter, blood protein and T3 and T4) were significantly influenced (P<0.01) by age. Genotype also had a significant effect (P<0.01) on all parameters except for the active percentage of primary follicles and the blood protein level. The factors which influence down production showed the heterosis effect to a varying extent in F1, but they still produced significantly less than the SC group kids (38.5±4.04 vs 68.5±9.16 g; P<0.01). These results are largely due to both their low number of secondary follicles (30.0±1.46 vs 39.3±1.02; P<0.01), which also have a lower percentage of activity (64.7±2.47 vs 90.0±1.53; P<0.01), and also to the down length which was 28% shorter than in SC group. This genetic combination is clearly unsatisfactory so others must be sought, probably by using more rustic local breeds, as well as more productive breeds for crossbreeding

FP846EARLY CMV-SPECIFIC T CELL RESPONSE AND EGFR IDENTIFY PATIENTS AT HIGH RISK OF INFECTION AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

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Clinical Aggressiveness and Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Circulating Anti-Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies

Objective: The association between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis is widely recognized, but less is known about the possible link between circulating anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) titers and PTC aggressiveness. To shed light on this issue, we retrospectively examined a large series of PTC patients with and without positive TgAb. Methods: Data on 220 TgAb-positive PTC patients (study cohort) were retrospectively collected in 10 hospital-based referral centers. All the patients had undergone near-total thyroidectomy with or without radioiodine remnant ablation. Tumor characteristics and long-term outcomes (follow-up range: 2.5-24.8 years) were compared with those recently reported in 1020 TgAb-negative PTC patients with similar demographic characteristics. We also assessed the impact on clinical outcome of early titer disappearance in the TgAb-positive group. Results: At baseline, the study cohort (mean age 45.9 years, range 12.5-84.1 years; 85% female) had a significantly higher prevalence of high-risk patients (6.9% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.05) and extrathyroidal tumor extension (28.2% vs. 24%; p < 0.0001) than TgAb-negative controls. Study cohort patients were also more likely than controls to have persistent disease at the 1-year visit (13.6% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.001) or recurrence during subsequent follow-up (5.8% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.0001). At the final follow-up visit, the percentage of patients with either persistent or recurrent disease in the two cohorts was significantly different (6.4% of TgAb-positive patients vs. 1.7% in the TgAb-negative group, p < 0.0001). At the 1-year visit, titer normalization was observed in 85 of the 220 TgAb-positive individuals. These patients had a significantly lower rate of persistent disease than those who were still TgAb positive (8.2% vs. 17.3%. p = 0.05), and no relapses were observed among patients with no evidence of disease during subsequent follow-up. Conclusions: PTC patients with positive serum TgAb titer during the first year after primary treatment were more likely to have persistent/recurrent disease than those who were consistently TgAb-negative. Negative titers at 1 year may be associated with more favorable outcomes

Effect of type of suckling and polyunsaturated fatty acid use on lamb production. 1. Productive performances and quanti-qualitative characteristics of the carcass

The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of artificial rearing and of the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) to an acidified milk replacer on the productive performances and on the quanti-qualitative characteristics of thecarcass. Fifty one twin-born Gentile di Puglia lambs were subdivided into three homogenous groups (9 females and 8males) assigned the following feeding treatments: maternal milk (MM); acidified milk replacer (MR); acidified milk replacer+ 10 ml/l of a mixture of linseed and fish oil rich in PUFA (MR+PUFA).Milk consumptions and live weights were recorded weekly. Seven males from each group were slaughtered at 45 days ofage and the net warm dressing percentage, the composition of the carcass and the colorimetric characteristics of theLongissimus lumborum muscle were estimated. Artificial rearing improved the daily weight gain (0.182-0.172 vs 0.128Kg; PThe addition of omega-3 fatty acids to the diet did not influence the weight gain, the feed conversion index, the net warmdressing percentage and the incidence of the different meat cuts of the half carcass. However, it significantly increasedthe half carcass length (37.86 vs 35.0 cm; Pto the MR group reduced the proportion of lean (63.21 vs 53.98 %; PP<0.01) in the lumbar region

Use of alternative protein sources for finishing lambs. 2. Effects on chemical and physical characteristics and fatty acid composition of meat.

This study investigated the use of different protein sources (soybean, faba bean, sweet lupin and pea) in lamb feed and their influence on the chemical and physical characteristics of the meat and on the acid composition of intramuscular fat. The meat of lambs fed on faba bean contained a greater percentage of fat than those fed on lupin (P < 0.05) and soybean (P < 0.01). The meat of lambs fed on faba bean had a greater (P < 0.01) proportion of PUFA and a higher PUFA/SFA ratio than the meat of all other groups. The thrombogenicity index and nutritive value of meat fat were higher for lambs fed with faba bean and pea. The use of lupin in feed determined the highest (P < 0.01) SFA percentage, the lowest PUFA incidence and the worst thrombogenicity index. In conclusion, the protein sources studied did not influence the physical characteristics of the meat. However, the acid composition improved with the use of pea, and especially of faba bean

Autonomous functioning thyroid nodules and 131I in diagnosis and therapy after 50 years of experience: What is still open to debate?

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: Autonomous functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN), defined as "hot nodules" at thyroid scan, are often cured by radioiodine treatment. The aim of our study was to investigate the long-term outcome in patients treated with an I calculated dose, to identify a possible "size-tailored" dose, and to simplify follow-up procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was carried out on 1402 cases, covering a period of 50 years, of AFTN treated with an I calculated dose. Our study focused on nodular size and mean administered dose. Concordance between thyroid scan and serum TSH levels at 3-6 months from treatment was considered. RESULTS: A single I dose was effective for the vast majority of patients (93%). The outcome was influenced by nodular size. On the basis of the Italian dose limit for outpatient treatment, our population was divided into subgroups according to administered doses (more or less than 16 mCi) and nodular dimensions: no differences in outcome were observed for each class of nodule size. A dose ≤10 mCi was effective on the smaller nodules (50.1% of our population). The agreement between TSH and scan after treatment was 90.3% at 3 months and 94.5% at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: I therapy with a calculated dose is an effective treatment of AFTN. If a fixed dose is chosen, 16 mCi is often resolutive and for nodules 5 cm are eligible for surgery. TSH is the only parameter required to evaluate the outcome. © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Clinical aggressiveness and long-term outcome in patients with papillary thyroid cancer and circulating anti-thyroglobulin autoantibodies

Objective: The association between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis is widely recognized, but less is known about the possible link between circulating anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) titers and PTC aggressiveness. To shed light on this issue, we retrospectively examined a large series of PTC patients with and without positive TgAb. Methods: Data on 220 TgAb-positive PTC patients (study cohort) were retrospectively collected in 10 hospital-based referral centers. All the patients had undergone near-total thyroidectomy with or without radioiodine remnant ablation. Tumor characteristics and long-term outcomes (follow-up range: 2.5-24.8 years) were compared with those recently reported in 1020 TgAb-negative PTC patients with similar demographic characteristics. We also assessed the impact on clinical outcome of early titer disappearance in the TgAb-positive group. Results: At baseline, the study cohort (mean age 45.9 years, range 12.5-84.1 years; 85% female) had a significantly higher prevalence of high-risk patients (6.9% vs. 3.2%, p<0.05) and extrathyroidal tumor extension (28.2% vs. 24%; p<0.0001) than TgAb-negative controls. Study cohort patients were also more likely than controls to have persistent disease at the 1-year visit (13.6% vs. 7.0%, p=0.001) or recurrence during subsequent follow-up (5.8% vs. 1.4%, p=0.0001). At the final follow-up visit, the percentage of patients with either persistent or recurrent disease in the two cohorts was significantly different (6.4% of TgAb-positive patients vs. 1.7% in the TgAb-negative group, p<0.0001). At the 1-year visit, titer normalization was observed in 85 of the 220 TgAb-positive individuals. These patients had a significantly lower rate of persistent disease than those who were still TgAb positive (8.2% vs. 17.3%. p=0.05), and no relapses were observed among patients with no evidence of disease during subsequent follow-up. Conclusions: PTC patients with positive serum TgAb titer during the first year after primary treatment were more likely to have persistent/recurrent disease than those who were consistently TgAb-negative. Negative titers at 1 year may be associated with more favorable outcomes. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc