Feeding incremental amounts of ground flaxseed: effects on diversity and relative abundance of ruminal microbiota and enteric methane emissions in lactating dairy cows.

We evaluated the effects of incremental amounts of ground flaxseed (GFX) on diversity and relative abundance of ruminal microbiota taxa, enteric methane (CH4) emissions, and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) in lactating dairy cows in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Twenty mid-lactation Jersey cows were used in the study. Of these 20 cows, 12 were used for ruminal sampling, 16 for enteric CH4 measurements, and all for spot urine collection. Each period lasted 21 d with 14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for data and sample collection. Diets were formulated by replacing corn meal and soybean meal with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of GFX in the diet's dry matter. Ruminal fluid samples obtained via stomach tubing were used for DNA extraction. Enteric CH4 production was measured using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique. Diets had no effect on ruminal microbiota diversity. Similarly, the relative abundance of ruminal archaea genera was not affected by diets. In contrast, GFX decreased or increased linearly the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P < 0.01) and Bacteroidetes (P < 0.01), respectively. The relative abundance of the ruminal bacteria Ruminococcus (P < 0.01) and Clostridium (P < 0.01) decreased linearly, and that of Prevotella (P < 0.01) and Pseudobutyrivibrio (P < 0.01) increased linearly with feeding GFX. A tendency for a linear reduction (P = 0.055) in enteric CH4 production (from 304 to 256 g/d) was observed in cows fed increasing amounts of GFX. However, neither CH4 yield nor CH4 intensity was affected by treatments. Diets had no effect on the urinary excretion of uric acid, allantoin, and total PD. Overall, feeding GFX decreased linearly the relative abundance of the ruminal bacterial genera Ruminococcus and Clostridium and enteric CH4 production, but no change was seen for CH4 yield and CH4 intensity, or urinary excretion of total PD, suggesting no detrimental effect of GFX on microbial protein synthesis in the rumen.

Performance and meat quality traits of beef heifers fed with two levels of concentrate and ruminally undegradable protein.

The effects of two levels of concentrate and ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) on performance, intake, digestibility, carcass characteristics, meat quality traits, and commercial cuts yield were assessed. Twenty crossbred heifers (240 kg average body weight) were used. At the beginning of the trial, four animals were slaughtered as reference group and the 16 remaining animals were randomly assigned to four treatments, in a 2 × 2 factorial design: two levels of concentrate (40% and 80%, dry matter (DM) basis) and two levels of RUP (48.79% and 27.19% of CP). At the end of the trial, all the animals were slaughtered. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between concentrate and RUP levels. Dry matter intake and nutrients digestibility was not affected (P > 0.05) by RUP level. Heifers fed the highest RUP level had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG). Concentrate level did not affect (P > 0.05) DMI and ADG. Heifers fed diets with 80% concentrate had greater intake of TDN and EE, and lower intake of NDF (P < 0.05). The digestibilities of all nutrients, except the NDF, were greater (P < 0.05) for the 80% concentrate diets. The RUP levels did not affect (P > 0.05) the carcass characteristics and carcass gain composition. Heifers fed 80% concentrate diets had larger (P < 0.05) longissimus muscle area and lower gain of bones (P < 0.05). Concentrate level did not affect (P > 0.05) the composition of carcass gain. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of RUP and concentrate levels on meat quality traits and commercial cut yields.

Estudo anatômico da anastomose corona mortis e sua importância na pelve / Anatomic study of Corona Mortis anastomosis and its importance in the pelvis

Corona mortis é a denominação da anastomose entre os vasos obturadores e a ilíaca externa, que cruzam sobre o ramo ílio-púbico. O conhecimento da anastomose pode evitar complicações trans e pós-operatórias durante os tratamentos de lesões pélvicas com fixações internas. O presente estudo avalia a prevalência, o calibre, a distância da sínfise púbica e a presença de anastomose arterial e/ou venosa...

Distraçäo da placa epifisária: estudo experimental em coelhos / Distraction of the epiphyseal growth plate: experimental study in rabbits

Estudo experimental foi realizado na extremidade distal do fêmur em nove coelhos com doze semanas de vida, com o propósito de identificar o mecanismo básico envolvido na distraçao da fise, quando empregada taxa de distraçao de 1,0mm, numa única vez ao dia, e de avaliar a viabilidade do segmento alongado. Os animais foram divididos em três grupos, de acordo com a época em que forma mortos (final do alongamento, 30 e 60 dias após o alongamento). Os resultados radiográficos mostraram, em todos os espécimes, diástase da epífise da metáfise (GAP) entre o segundo e o quinto dias após o início do alongamento. Sessenta dias após o período distracional, ficou evidenciado radiograficamente que todo o segmento alongado estava ossificado. Os resultados histológicos obtidos mostraram que o mecanismo básico envolvido em alongamento foi epifisiólise distracional, produzida por fratura através da zona hipertrófica entre a camada degenerativa e a de calcificaçao provisória da placa epifisária. Após 60 dias do término do alongamento, a placa epifisária havia retornado à espessura normal e sua morfologia apresentava características semelhantes às da fise normal. O segmento alongado estava ocupado por tecido ósseo. A distraçao de 1,0mm, numa única vez ao dia (espifiólise distracional) da placa epifisária, provou ser eficaz na obtençao de alongamento ósseo em coelhos, pois levou à formaçao de um osso novo com características morfológicas e funcionalmente semelhantes ao osso normal. Portanto, esse método de alongamento é mais uma opçao para correçao de discrepâncias entre os membros.

Paralisia do trapézio por lesäo do nervo espinhal acessório / Paralysis of the trapezius caused by spinal accessory nerve fracture

O nervo espinhal acessório está localizado superficialmente no triângulo cervical posterior, logo após emergir do músculo esternocleidomastóideo, sendo facilmente lesado a esse nível. Sua lesäo nesse local causa a paralisia do músculo trapézio, que determina importante alteraçäo funcional da cintura escapular, dor e transtornos estéticos. Os autores apresentam sete casos de lesäo do nervo espinhal acessório com seguimento médio de quatro anos e três meses (mínimo de dois anos e dois meses), diagnosticados clínica e eletromiograficamente. Em seis casos, houve lesäo iatrogênica devido a procedimentos cirúrgicos na regiäo cervical (cinco deles foram biópsias de linfonodo cervical realizadas em regime ambulatorial). Houve recuperaçäo completa (M5 e M4) do quadro em apenas três pacientes (42 por cento), pois o tipo de lesäo nervosa foi neuropraxia. Deve-se considerar o risco de lesäo iatrogênica do nervo espinhal acessório durante os procedimentos cirúrgicos na regiäo do triângulo cervical posterior.