Production performance of pigs reared in different systems and fed increased energy content diets with or without green alfalfa

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various feeding and housing systems on fattening performance, slaughter value and biochemical serum parameters in growing-finishing pigs. The experimental material comprised 90 growing-finishing pigs, divided into six groups of 15 animals that were diverse in terms of rearing (with or without free access to outdoor runs) and feeding systems (fed increased metabolizable energy (ME) content diets with or without green alfalfa). Different feeding regimes and rearing systems had no significant effects on most fattening results and the carcass traits of the pigs except for daily water and diet intake and feed/gain ratio. Daily water intake was lower in pigs fed complete diets plus green alfalfa forage. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were statistically lower in the blood serum of Groups 3 and 6 than in Groups 2 and 4. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the serum of Group 6, compared with other groups. Group 3 had significantly higher triglycerides levels compared with Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Taking into consideration all these dependencies, it could be assumed that feeding regime and rearing with access to outdoor runs might improve not only blood lipid profile, but also the dietetic value of pork. It seems that feeding a complete diet with increased ME, plus green alfalfa forage and rearing indoors with free access to outdoor runs, gave the best results. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Sepsis at ICU admission does not decrease 30-day survival in very old patients: a post-hoc analysis of the VIP1 multinational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The number of intensive care patients aged ≥ 80 years (Very old Intensive Care Patients; VIPs) is growing. VIPs have high mortality and morbidity and the benefits of ICU admission are frequently questioned. Sepsis incidence has risen in recent years and identification of outcomes is of considerable public importance. We aimed to determine whether VIPs admitted for sepsis had different outcomes than those admitted for other acute reasons and identify potential prognostic factors for 30-day survival. RESULTS: This prospective study included VIPs with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores ≥ 2 acutely admitted to 307 ICUs in 21 European countries. Of 3869 acutely admitted VIPs, 493 (12.7%) [53.8% male, median age 83 (81-86) years] were admitted for sepsis. Sepsis was defined according to clinical criteria; suspected or demonstrated focus of infection and SOFA score ≥ 2 points. Compared to VIPs admitted for other acute reasons, VIPs admitted for sepsis were younger, had a higher SOFA score (9 vs. 7, p < 0.0001), required more vasoactive drugs [82.2% vs. 55.1%, p < 0.0001] and renal replacement therapies [17.4% vs. 9.9%; p < 0.0001], and had more life-sustaining treatment limitations [37.3% vs. 32.1%; p = 0.02]. Frailty was similar in both groups. Unadjusted 30-day survival was not significantly different between the two groups. After adjustment for age, gender, frailty, and SOFA score, sepsis had no impact on 30-day survival [HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.86-1.15), p = 0.917]. Inverse-probability weight (IPW)-adjusted survival curves for the first 30 days after ICU admission were similar for acute septic and non-septic patients [HR: 1.00 (95% CI 0.87-1.17), p = 0.95]. A matched-pair analysis in which patients with sepsis were matched with two control patients of the same gender with the same age, SOFA score, and level of frailty was also performed. A Cox proportional hazard regression model stratified on the matched pairs showed that 30-day survival was similar in both groups [57.2% (95% CI 52.7-60.7) vs. 57.1% (95% CI 53.7-60.1), p = 0.85]. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for organ dysfunction, sepsis at admission was not independently associated with decreased 30-day survival in this multinational study of 3869 VIPs. Age, frailty, and SOFA score were independently associated with survival

Relationship between the Clinical Frailty Scale and short-term mortality in patients ≥ 80 years old acutely admitted to the ICU: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is frequently used to measure frailty in critically ill adults. There is wide variation in the approach to analysing the relationship between the CFS score and mortality after admission to the ICU. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of modelling approach on the association between the CFS score and short-term mortality and quantify the prognostic value of frailty in this context. METHODS: We analysed data from two multicentre prospective cohort studies which enrolled intensive care unit patients ≥ 80 years old in 26 countries. The primary outcome was mortality within 30-days from admission to the ICU. Logistic regression models for both ICU and 30-day mortality included the CFS score as either a categorical, continuous or dichotomous variable and were adjusted for patient's age, sex, reason for admission to the ICU, and admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. RESULTS: The median age in the sample of 7487 consecutive patients was 84 years (IQR 81-87). The highest fraction of new prognostic information from frailty in the context of 30-day mortality was observed when the CFS score was treated as either a categorical variable using all original levels of frailty or a nonlinear continuous variable and was equal to 9% using these modelling approaches (p < 0.001). The relationship between the CFS score and mortality was nonlinear (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about a patient's frailty status adds a substantial amount of new prognostic information at the moment of admission to the ICU. Arbitrary simplification of the CFS score into fewer groups than originally intended leads to a loss of information and should be avoided. Trial registration NCT03134807 (VIP1), NCT03370692 (VIP2)

Effect of rearing system conditions of fatteners on meat quality and profile of fatty acids in m. Longissimus dorsi

Badano jakość mięsa tuczników utrzymywanych alkierzowo lub na wolnym wybiegu, w kojcach ściołowych lub bezściołowych i żywionych w okresie tuczu mieszanką pełnoporcjową lub mieszanką pełnoporcjową i, dodatkowo, zielonką z lucerny. Tuczniki mieszańce [♀(♀polska biała zwisłoucha × ♂ wielka biała polska) × ♂ (♀ pietrain × ♂ duroc)] podzielono na 6 grup doświadczalnych po 15 sztuk w każdej. Z tusz tuczników pobrano próbki mięśnia najdłuższego grzbietu (m. Longissimus dorsi), w których oznaczono podstawowy skład chemiczny, właściwości fizykochemiczne, cechy sensoryczne i profil kwasów tłuszczowych. Najmniejszą zawartość tłuszczu surowego stwierdzono w mięsie pozyskanym z tuczników utrzymywanych na ściółce i żywionych paszą z dodatkiem zielonki z lucerny. Najwyższy poziom kwasów tłuszczowych jednonienasyconych (MUFA) stwierdzono w próbach mięsa pochodzących z tuczników utrzymywanych bezściołowo i z dostępem do wybiegu, niezależnie od zastosowanego żywienia. Najmniej pożądanym zapachem i największą soczystością charakteryzowało się mięso pozyskane ze świń utrzymywanych na ściółce, żywionych mieszanką pełnoporcjową i dodatkowo zielonką. W warunkach przeprowadzonego i opisanego doświadczenia nie można jednoznacznie stwierdzić, który sposób żywienia i utrzymania tuczników wpłynął na istotną poprawę jakości pochodzącego z nich mięsa.Analyzed was the meat quality of fatteners, which were reared indoor or outdoor, in bedded or nonbedded pens, and fed a complete feed mixture or a complete feed mixture and, additionally, a green forage of alfalfa. The crossbred fatteners [♀(♀ PL × ♂ PLW) × ♂ (♀ Pietrain × ♂ Duroc)] were divided into six experimental groups, 15 pigs in each group. Samples of m. Longissimus dorsi were collected from the fattener carcasses and in the samples determined were the basic chemical composition, physicochemical and sensory properties, and fatty acid profile. The lowest level of crude fat was found in the meat samples derived from the fatteners reared indoor in bedded pens and fed a fodder with green forage of alfalfa added. The highest level of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) was obtained in the meat samples derived from the fatteners kept outdoor, without bedding, regardless of the feeding type applied. The meat derived from the fatteners kept in bedded pens, fed a complete feed mixture and, additionally, green forage of alfalfa was characterized by the least desirable aroma and the best juiciness. Under the particular conditions of the experiment accomplished, it was impossible to clearly and precisely determine what methods of feeding and rearing the fatteners impacted the significant improvement of the quality of meat thereof