Acorns for fattening free-range pigs (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract)

- The fattening performance is very much influenced by the age of pigs and their compensatory growth; hence, pigs should be as old as possible (≥1 year) and adapted to grazing. - Grass is necessary as a source of protein to compensate for the low protein levels in acorns. - The food conversion rate is 10.5 kg of whole acorns of Q. i. rotundifolia to gain 1 kg, besides the contribution of grass; to establish the stocking rate, consider that an adult evergreen oak produces ≈11 kg of acorns/year). - Iberian pigs peel acorns to avoid the high content of tannins in the shell. However, during peeling, approxi-mately 20% of the kernel can be wasted

Preliminary feasibility of near-infrared spectroscopy to authenticate grazing in dairy goats through milk and faeces analysis

Nowadays, society demands certification and authentication methodologies that are able to clarify the origin of different livestock products. This is considered of paramount importance in order to not only provide accurate information to consumers, but also to protect producers against fraudulent practices. In this context, the aim of this study is to establish a methodology to authenticate the grazing activity of dairy goats. To achieve this, milk and faeces samples were analysed using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. The good results obtained in discriminant models demonstrated differences in both types of matrices when the two feeding regimes were compared. The development of this methodology could extend its use not only in dairy systems of goats but also in other animal species and systems

Los resultados de aprendizaje en la mejora de la formación de los alumnos. Profundización a partir de la concreción y formulación inicial para el Máster en Educación Especial de la Facultad de Educación

El proyecto, a partir de la formación del profesorado, durante el curso anterior, en la formulación y concreción de resultados de aprendizaje, tiene el objetivo de analizar las posibles lagunas de resultados de aprendizaje del Máster en Educación Especial de la UCM en relación con las competencias del título, así como estudiar la valoración por parte de los alumnos del Máster del fomento de los resultados de aprendizaje propuestos para cada asignatura, así como profundizar en las posibles mejoras en la metodología que podrían favorecer una mejora de la formación en términos de los citados resultados de aprendizaje

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Clinicopathological and molecular analysis of endometrial carcinoma associated with tamoxifen

Use of tamoxifen for treatment and prevention of breast cancer is becoming increasingly common. Tamoxifen has been associated with increased risk of endometrial carcinoma, although the exact mechanism of action is unknown. The aim of our study was to seek a possible correlation between endometrial carcinoma, tamoxifen exposure and MSI, PTEN, β-catenin and K-ras abnormalities. A group of 18 patients with endometrial carcinoma following treatment with tamoxifen were selected. A control group included 15 patients with endometrial carcinoma and associated ovarian hyperthecosis and one patient with endometrial carcinoma and adult granulosa cell tumor of the ovary, chosen because both conditions are associated with increased production of estrogen and increased risk of endometrial carcinoma development. The second control group included 27 randomly selected consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma without identifiable associated conditions. Immunostaining for β-catenin was performed on all cases; DNA was extracted and amplified by PCR with primers for β-catenin, K-ras and PTEN genes. BAT-25 and BAT-26 were analyzed to assess for MSI. There were 16 endometrioid endometrial carcinomas, one mixed carcinoma and one clear cell carcinoma among patients in the tamoxifen group. All patients with ovarian hyperthecosis and adult granulosa cell tumor had endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. In the random control group, there were 26 endometrioid endometrial carcinomas and one carcinosarcoma. Immunohistochemical and mutational analysis for β-catenin showed abnormalities in 4/11 (36%) and 3/10 (30%) informative cases in the tamoxifen group; 7/16 (44%) and 4/15 (27%) informative cases, respectively in the ovarian hyperthecosis group and 1/27 random control cases (4%) (P<0.05). Patients with tamoxifen exposure had more K-ras mutations and fewer PTEN mutations and MSI as opposed to controls, but the results were not statistically significant. In conclusion, there was a direct relationship between tamoxifen exposure and overexpression of β-catenin oncoprotein, which is known to play a major role in the pathogenesis of estrogen-driven, type I endometrial adenocarcinoma. © 2008 USCAP, Inc All rights reserved.This work was partially supported by research Grants RETICS RD06/0020/0015, Department of Health, Spain and Fundació La Marató de TV3-Proyecto: 050432. GM is a junior investigator of the ‘Ramón y Cajal Program’ of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (2004).Peer Reviewe

Whey for fattening organic pigs (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract)

Benefits • Whey is a natural ingredient derived from fresh milk and is characterized by its high nutritive value, palatability, and digestibility. • It promotes feed intake in the post-weaning period. • Whey fosters animal performance and gut health. • Whey contains high-quality protein. It can supply one-third of the protein needs for fattening pigs. Practical recommendation • Whey is a quite seasonal product; hence, this determines the period when it can be used and the number of pigs that can be fattened. • Whey can deteriorate very easily; two storage tanks are needed for hygiene reasons. • Do not feed whey stored over 2 days. • Sweet whey is the by-product remaining after the production of soft cheeses, while acid whey comes from hard cheeses and has a lower pH. It is important to consider that salt is added to the cheese before pressing; hence, the remaining liquid whey can contain as much as 10 % dry matter of salt. • Pigs should be provided with water access ad libitum to avoid salt toxicity. Additionally, reduction or elimination of supplemental salt in the diet formulation should be considered. • Salt and lactose contents should be considered to determine the daily intake rate. Fresh whey contains approximately 5% lactose, and growing pigs tolerate feeds containing up to 20-30% lactose (less for the older ones). Hence, whey should be analysed to determine the threshold for its inclusion before formulating pig diets

Pathogenetic pathways in ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma: A molecular study of 29 cases

It has been recently suggested that ovarian serous carcinoma follows a dualistic pathway with low-grade carcinomas arising from borderline tumors and high-grade carcinomas originating de novo. Similarly, our group has shown that based on their molecular profile endometrioid borderline tumors could predate low-grade endometrioid ovarian carcinomas (EOC). It is not clearly understood if low-grade EOC is in turn related to high-grade EOC, or if high-grade EOC may also arise de novo. The aim of our study was to compare the molecular profile of grade 1, 2, and 3 EOCs. Twenty-nine EOCs were selected including 10 grade 1 (G1), 11 grade 2 (G2), and 8 grade 3 (G3). Selected blocks were immunostained with β-catenin and p53, and also microdissected, DNA extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction with primers for exon 3 of the β-catenin gene, codons 12 and 13 of KRAS and codons 1 to 9 of PTEN. The length of BAT-26 and BAT-25 was analyzed to determine microsatellite instability (MSI). Patients with G1 EOC ranged from 21 to 71 (mean 52) years, those with G2 tumors ranged from 43 to 66 (mean 56) years, and patients with G3 EOC ranged from 41 to 67 (mean 57) years. Immunohistochemical analysis for β-catenin showed nuclear staining in 14 cases (7 G1, 5 G2, and 2 G3 tumors), whereas the rest showed membranous staining. Beta-catenin mutations were found in only 3 G1 tumors. KRAS mutations were seen in 5 EOCs (2 G1 and 3 G2). MSI and mutations of PTEN were both detected in 1 G1 and 1 G2 tumor, respectively. There was no overlapping expression of MSI, β-catenin, PTEN, or KRAS mutations. Finally, p53 overexpression was present in 6 EOCs (5 G3 and 1 G2), all G3 p53 positive tumors being negative for all other markers, whereas the G2 tumor also showed a KRAS mutation. In conclusion, β-catenin and KRAS mutations, and MSI were strongly associated with low-grade EOC. In contrast, p53 overexpression characterized high-grade EOC, with no other molecular alterations present in the vast majority of these tumors. On the basis of these results, we suggest that there may also be a dual pathogenetic pathway for EOC. © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.Peer Reviewe

Inhibition of paclitaxel-induced proteasome activation influences paclitaxel cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells in a sequence-dependent manner

This article is an Open Access.Although the anti-tumor effects of paclitaxel result mainly from mitotic arrest, recent evidences suggest alternative mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Cell cycle, cell death and gene expression assays were used to understand the molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells. G 2/M cell cycle arrest and cell death coincided with the regulation of genes involved in cell death, cell cycle control, microtubule-based processes, oxidative stress, and ubiquitin-proteasome system. Induction of proteasome genes was also correlated with an accumulation of protein for proteasome subunits. Furthermore, a schedule-dependent regulation of paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity was observed after combining paclitaxel and the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Proteasome inhibition after paclitaxel exposure induced the highest rate of growth inhibition and apoptosis, with no effect on mitotic arrest. These findings give support to clinical combinations of taxanes with proteasome inhibitors, outlining the importance of considering the sequence when designing such regimens. ©2007 Landes Bioscience.This work was supported by Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Grant Reference PTR1995-0753-OP and Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología SAF2001-0065 and SAF2004-08258-C02-01.Peer Reviewe

Traditional raw materials, alternative products and by-products for organic pig feeding

This tool reviews raw materials, produce and by-products traditionally used to feed pigs. It explains facts about alternative feed sources and shows a wide range of possibilities, from natural resources like fruits (acorns, chestnuts, olives, carobs, etc.) and weeds to local crops (cabbages, turnips, etc.) and fodders (i.e. lucerne). Silage is shown as an option to conserve and handle raw materials. It includes many references and links for further and complementary information