Types of antiseptics, presentations and rules of use. / Tipos de antisépticos, presentaciones y normas de uso.

Antiseptics are chemical substances that when applied topically onto intact skin, mucous membranes or wounds partially or completely reduces the population of living microorganisms in those tissues. Different types of antiseptics are available - those most commonly used in clinical practice being alcohols, iodinated compounds and chlorhexidine. When using an antiseptic, consideration is required of its spectrum of antimicrobial activity, latency, residual effects, possible interferences of the presence of organic material with the activity of the antiseptic, its side effects, compatibility with other antiseptics, and cost. This article is part of a supplement entitled "Antisepsis in the critical patient", which is sponsored by Becton Dickinson.

Grape pomace in ewes diet: Effects on meat quality and the fatty acid profile of their suckling lambs.

Grape pomace (GP) is an inexpensive natural antioxidant promising as animal feed supplement due to its high content of phenolic compounds. In order to evaluate its effect in lactating ewe rations on meat quality and fat composition of their suckling lambs, 48 Churra ewes were divided into 4 treatments. All animals were fed a ration containing linseed oil (Control) supplemented with Vitamin E or two levels of GP. Lambs were nourished exclusively by suckling until they were slaughtered. Dietary GP did not generate adverse effects on carcasses or lambs meat quality when compared with Control or Vit-E diets. GP improved the water holding capacity of the meat. In addition, lambs meat FA profile was not nutritionally affected with the diets assayed. Hence, the use of GP as a dietary supplement in ewe rations would not have negative effects on meat from suckling lambs.

Effects of dietary concentrate composition and linseed oil supplementation on the milk fatty acid profile of goats.

Milk fat composition can be modulated by the inclusion of lipid supplements in ruminant diets. An interaction between the lipid supplement and the forage to concentrate ratio or the type of forage in the rations may affect milk fat composition. However, little is known about the effects of the starch-to-non-forage NDF ratio in the concentrate and lipid supplementation of goat diets. The aim of this work was to determine the role of dietary carbohydrates in goats rations supplemented with linseed oil on animal performance and milk fatty acid (FA) profile. A total of 16 dairy goats were allocated to two simultaneous experiments (two treatments each), in a crossover design with four animals per treatment and two experimental periods of 25 days. In both experiments alfalfa hay was the sole forage and the forage to concentrate ratio (33:67) remained constant. The concentrate in experiment 1 consisted of barley, maize and soybean meal (concentrate rich in starch), whereas it included soybean hulls replacing 25% of barley and 25% maize in experiment 2 (concentrate rich in NDF). As a result, the starch-to-non-forage NDF ratio was 3.1 in experiment 1 and it decreased to 0.8 in experiment 2. Both concentrates were administered either alone or in combination with 30 g/day of linseed oil. Animal performance parameters were not affected by experimental treatments. In contrast, major changes were observed in milk FA profile due to lipid supplementation and the type of concentrate. Linseed oil significantly raised vaccenic and rumenic acids as well as α-linolenic acid and its biohydrogenation intermediates while decreased medium-chain saturated FA (12:0 to 16:0) in milk fat. Milk fat contents of odd and branched-chain FA and trans-10 18:1 responded differently to linseed oil supplementation according to the concentrate fed.

Dietary linseed oil increases trans-10,cis-15 18:2 in caprine milk fat.

Trans-10,cis-15 18:2 has been recently detected and characterized in digestive contents and meat and adipose tissue of ruminants, but its presence in milk and dairy products is hardly known. The aim of this study was to quantify trans-10,cis-15 18:2 in milk fat, better understand its metabolic origin, and help to elucidate the mechanisms of rumen biohydrogenation when the diet composition might affect ruminal environment. To address these objectives, 16 dairy goats were allocated to 2 simultaneous experiments (2 groups of goats and 2 treatments in each experiment). Experimental treatments consisted of basal diets with the same forage-to-concentrate ratio (33/67) and 2 starch-to-nonforage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios (0.8 and 3.1), which were supplemented or not with 30 g/d of linseed oil for 25 d in a crossover design. Trans-10,cis-15 18:2 contents in milk fat were determined by gas chromatography fitted with an extremely polar capillary column (SLB-IL111). Levels of trans-10,cis-15 18:2 in individual milk fat samples ranged from 0 to 0.2% of total fatty acids, and its content in milk fat increased 8 fold due to linseed oil supplementation, substantiating the predominant role of α-linolenic acid in its formation. The trans-10,cis-15 18:2 levels in milk fat were similar in both experiments, despite the fact starch-to-nonforage NDF ratio of their respective basal diets greatly differed. In conclusion, trans-10,cis-15 18:2 was clearly related to linseed oil supplementation, and its increase in milk fat was comparable when the basal diets were rich in either nonforage NDF or starch.

Novel characterisation of minor α-linolenic acid isomers in linseed oil by gas chromatography and covalent adduct chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometry.

Discrimination between polyunsaturated fatty acid isomers with three double bonds is a great challenge, due to structural similarities and similar polarities. In this study, we report the identification of four minor geometrical isomers of α-linolenic acid (ALA) present in linseed oil samples: (9E,12Z,15E)-, (9Z,12Z,15E)-, (9Z,12E,15Z)- and (9E,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acids, chromatographically resolved by gas chromatography (GC) using a new and highly polar ionic phase column (SLB-IL111). Gas chromatography-electron ionisation mass spectrometry (GC-EIMS) determined that the four unknown compounds were C18:3 n-3 isomers. The positional 9-12-15 C18:3 configuration was achieved by covalent adduct chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (CACI-MS/MS) while geometrical configuration was established with analytical standards based on relative retention. We hypothesised that these isomers are formed during linseed oil deodorisation and postulate preferred and unfavoured isomerisation pathways of ALA.

Alternative to decrease cholesterol in sheep milk cheeses.

The presence of cholesterol in foods is of nutritional interest because high levels of this molecule in human plasma are associated with an increasing risk of cardiovascular disease and nowadays consumers are demanding healthier products. The goal of this experiment was to diminish the cholesterol content of Manchego, the most popular Spanish cheese manufactured from ewes milk. For this purpose three bulk milks coming from dairy ewe fed with 0 (Control), 3 and 6% of linseed supplement on their diet were used. Nine cheeses (3 per bulk milk) were manufactured and ripened for 3 months. Cholesterol of ewes milk cheese from 6% to 12% linseed supplemented diets decreased by 9.6% and 16.1% respectively, therefore supplying a healthier profile. In a second experiment, different sources of unsaturated fatty acids (rich in oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids) were supplemented to dairy ewes and no significant differences were found on cheese cholesterol levels.

Effects of olive and fish oil Ca soaps in ewe diets on milk fat and muscle and subcutaneous tissue fatty-acid profiles of suckling lambs.

Enhancing healthy fatty acids (FAs) in ewe milk fat and suckling lamb tissues is an important objective in terms of improving the nutritional value of these foods for the consumer. The present study examined the effects of feeding-protected lipid supplements rich in unsaturated FAs on the lipid composition of ewe milk, and subsequently in the muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissues of lambs suckling such milk. Thirty-six pregnant Churra ewes with their new-born lambs were assigned to one of three experimental diets (forage/concentrate ratio 50 : 50), each supplemented with either 3% Ca soap FAs of palm (Control), olive (OLI) or fish (FO) oil. The lambs were nourished exclusively by suckling for the whole experimental period. When the lambs reached 11 kg BW, they were slaughtered and samples were taken from the Longissimus dorsi and subcutaneous fat depots. Although milk production was not affected by lipid supplementation, the FO diet decreased fat content (P0.05) and other trans-FAs between Control and FO treatments would indicate that FO treatment does not alter rumen biohydrogenation pathways under the assayed conditions. Changes in dam milk FA composition induced differences in the FA profiles of meat and fat depots of lambs, preferentially incorporated polyunsaturated FAs into the muscle rather than storing them in the adipose tissue. In the intramuscular fat of the FO treatment, all the n-3 FAs reached their highest concentrations: 0.97 (18:3 n-3), 2.72 (20:5 n-3), 2.21 (22:5 n-3) and 1.53% (22:6 n-3). In addition, not only did FO intramuscular fat have the most cis-9, trans-11 18:2 (1.66%) and trans-11 18:1 (3.75%), but also the lowest n-6/n-3 ratio (1.80) and saturated FA content were not affected. Therefore, FO exhibited the best FA profile from a nutritional point of view.

Effects of different sources of fat (calcium soap of palm oil vs. extruded linseed) in lactating ewes' diet on the fatty acid profile of their suckling lambs.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing lactating ewe diets with extruded linseed on the fatty acid (FA) composition of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat depots of suckling lambs. Twenty-four pregnant Churra ewes were divided into two groups based on the milk production, age, body weight and parity, and assigned to one of two treatments. Each ewe of the Control treatment was supplemented with 70 g/day of FAs from a calcium soap of palm oil, while the other treatment group (Lin) was supplemented with 128 g/day of extruded linseed. All lambs were reared exclusively on milk and were slaughtered when they reached 11 kg live weight. FA profiles of ewe milk, lamb meat and subcutaneous adipose tissue were determined by GC. Lamb performance was not affected by the treatments. Muscle fat and adipose tissue from the Lin treatment showed higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The percentages of α-linolenic (C18:3 n-3), docosahexaenoic (C22:6 n-3), vaccenic (trans-11 C18:1) and rumenic (cis-9, trans-11 C18:2) acids in both fat depots were higher in Lin than in Control suckling lambs. Furthermore, meat fat from Lin carcasses displayed a lower n-6/n-3 ratio than Control samples. Intramuscular depots clearly showed a greater content of PUFA, including cis-9, trans-11 C18:2, and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio than subcutaneous fat. The results from this study demonstrate that dietary extruded linseed supplementation of lactating ewes enhances the nutritional quality of suckling lamb fat depots such as intramuscular and subcutaneous fats.

Short communication: Feeding linseed oil to dairy goats with competent reticular groove reflex greatly increases n-3 fatty acids in milk fat.

A crossover experiment was designed to compare the effects of 2 ways of feeding linseed oil on milk fat fatty acid (FA) composition. Ten lactating goats, trained to keep competent their inborn reticular groove reflex, received a daily dose of linseed oil (38 g/d) either with their solid (concentrate) feed (CON) or emulsified in skim milk and bottle-fed (BOT). Two groups of 5 goats received alternative and successively each of the treatments in two 15-d periods. α-Linolenic acid in milk fat rose up to 13.7% in the BOT versus 1.34% in the CON treatment. The n-6 to n-3 FA ratio was significantly reduced in goats receiving bottle-fed linseed oil (1.49 vs. 0.49). Contents of rumen biohydrogenation intermediates of dietary unsaturated FA were high in milk fat of goats under the CON treatment but low in those in the BOT treatment. These results point to a clear rumen bypass of the bottle-fed linseed oil. This strategy allows obtaining milk fat naturally very rich in n-3 FA and very low in trans FA. Translating this approach into practical farm conditions could enable farmers to produce milk enriched in specific FA.

Time-dependent variations in milk fatty acid content of goats fed 3 different plant oils.

The effect of sampling time on milk fatty acid (FA) composition after separately adding 3 plant oils to an oil-free control diet (67% cereal-soybean-based concentrate and 33% alfalfa hay) was studied in 12 Malagueña goats. Individual animals were randomly allocated to 1 of the 4 treatments: control, 48 g/d of added high oleic (OSO) or regular (RSO) sunflower oil, or linseed oil (LO). Individual milk samples were taken at 0 (covariate), 1, 12, 24, 72, 120, 192, 312, and 504 h after the beginning of the experiment. Milk FA contents (g/100g of total FA methyl esters) were analyzed in a completely randomized design with repeated measures using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Comparing results of 15 chosen FA (for example, medium-chain saturated FA trans-11 C18:1, cis-9,trans-11 C18:2, trans-10 C18:1, and C18:3n-3) indicated that throughout the duration of the experiment, feeding the control diet had little influence on the concentrations of most FA in milk. Most changes in milk FA composition due to oil supplementation had occurred within 192 h since the beginning of the experiment. However, the concentrations of 2 FA (trans-10 C18:1 in RSO and C18:3n-3 in LO treatments) continued to change until 504 h. By comparing FA values in milk fat from oil treatments with those of the control at the same sampling times, typical value differences for the 3 supplementary oils found at 504 h (21 d) were also observed at 312 h from the beginning of the experiment (13 d) and even earlier in some FA, such as medium-chain saturated FA at 120 h in RSO and LO and at 72 h in OSO, cis-9,trans-11 C18:2 and trans-10 C18:1 at 24h in RSO, trans-11 C18:1 at 12h in RSO and LO, and C18:3n-3 at 1h in LO. In the conditions assayed in these experiments, reliable results of milk FA changes were obtained at sampling times shorter than 21 d. Monitoring early changes in milk FA after the addition of plant oils to diets could help in the study of rumen and mammary metabolism of dietary FA.

Short communication: Linear discriminant analysis and type of oil added to dairy goat diets.

Gas chromatography fatty acid (FA) analysis of 112 milk fat samples from dairy goats fed a basal diet with no added oil or the same diet with 1 of 3 vegetable oils added [high oleic sunflower oil (HOSFO), regular sunflower oil (RSFO), or linseed oil (LO)] was used to identify the type of diet consumed through linear discriminant analysis. Twenty variables (19 FA and 1 FA ratio) were selected as valid predictors out of 84 variables tested. The Mahalanobis squared distance was minimal between HOSFO and RSFO groups and maximal between control and LO groups. Cross-validation showed that only one observation from RSFO group was misclassified into the HOSFO group. We concluded that linear discriminant analysis is a useful method to classify milk fat samples from dairy goats according to the particular vegetable oil (of the 3 oils tested here) added to the basal diet.

Effects of feeding increasing dietary levels of high oleic or regular sunflower or linseed oil on fatty acid profile of goat milk.

In this work, the effects of increasing amounts of 3 plant oils in diets on the fatty acid (FA) profile of goat milk were studied. The study consisted of 3 experiments, one per oil tested (linseed oil, LO; high oleic sunflower oil, HOSFO; and regular sunflower oil, RSFO). The 3 experiments were conducted successively on 12 Malagueña goats, which were assigned at random to 1 of 4 treatments: 0, 30, 48, and 66 (H) g of added oil/d. A basal diet made of alfalfa hay and pelleted concentrate (33:67) was used in all of the experiments. For each animal, milk samples collected after 15 d on treatments were analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, and FA composition, whereas individual milk yield was measured the last 3 d of each experiment. Oil supplementation affected neither dry matter intake nor milk production traits. Increasing the oil supplementation decreased the content of saturated FA (especially 16:0) in milk fat and increased mono- and polyunsaturated FA in a linear manner. Vaccenic acid content linearly increased with the oil supplementation by 370, 217, and 634% to 5.32, 2.66, and 5.09 g/100 g of total FA methyl esters with the H diet in LO, HOSFO, and RSFO experiments, respectively. Rumenic acid content linearly increased with LO and RSFO supplementation by 298 and 354% from 0.53 and 0.41 g/100 g of total FA methyl esters with the 0 g of added oil/d diet. The content of trans-10-18:1 was not affected by LO supplementation but showed an increasing linear trend with HOSFO supplementation and linearly increased with RSFO supplementation. The ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated FA in milk fat was decreased by about 70% with the H diet in the LO experiment and it was increased by 54 and 82% with the H diet in the HOSFO and RSFO experiments. In conclusion, LO supplementation in this work seemed to be the most favorable alternative compared with HOSFO or RSFO supplementation.

Animal performance and milk fatty acid profile of dairy goats fed diets with different unsaturated plant oils.

The effect of supplementing a basal diet with 1 of 3 plant oils on productive efficiency and milk fatty acid composition was studied in dairy goats. Sixteen Malagueña goats were used in a 4×4 Latin square experiment with 21-d periods and 4 goats per treatment. The basal diet comprised 30% alfalfa hay and 70% pelleted concentrate. Experimental treatments were control (basal diet without added oil) and the basal diet supplemented with 48g/d of high oleic sunflower oil (HOSFO), regular sunflower oil (RSFO), or linseed oil (LO). Dry matter intake and body weight were not affected by treatments. Milk production was higher in HOSFO treatment and milk fat content was higher in RSFO and LO treatments, although no differences in milk energy production or milk renneting properties were found. The RSFO and LO treatments increased the proportion of vaccenic acid in milk fat more so than the HOSFO diet, and rumenic acid followed the same pattern. The content of trans10-18:1 remained low in all experimental diets (<0.7% of total fatty acid methyl esters) although HOSFO and RSFO diets increased it. The variations in the fatty acid profiles observed with the 4 diets, mainly the unsaturated fatty acid isomer contents, are extensively discussed. Compared with that in the control diet, the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio in milk fat substantially decreased with the LO, increased with RSFO, and did not change with HOSFO. The addition of moderate amounts of LO to the diets of dairy goats has favorable effects on milk fatty acid composition from the point of view of the human consumer, without negative effects on animal performance.

Effects of different forage:concentrate ratios in dairy ewe diets supplemented with sunflower oil on animal performance and milk fatty acid profile.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different forage:concentrate (FC) ratios in dairy ewe diets supplemented with sunflower oil (SO) on animal performance and milk fatty acid (FA) profile, particularly focusing on trans C18:1 FA and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Sixty lactating Assaf ewes were randomly assigned to 6 treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement: 3 FC ratios (30:70, 50:50, and 70:30) and 2 levels of SO addition (0 and 20 g/kg of dry matter). Both the diet FC ratio and SO supplementation affected milk yield, but differences between treatments were small. Although the proportion of concentrate induced limited changes in milk FA profile, dietary SO significantly decreased saturated FA and enhanced total CLA. Furthermore, the incorporation of SO in ewe diets decreased the atherogenicity index value by about 25% and doubled the contents of potentially healthy FA such as trans-11 C18:1 and cis-9,trans-11 CLA. However, the inclusion of SO in a high-concentrate diet (30:70) could switch linoleic acid biohydrogenation pathways, resulting in a significant increase in trans-10 C18:1, trans-9,cis-11 C18:2, and trans-10,cis-12 C18:2 milk fat percentages.

Changes in milk fatty acid profile and animal performance in response to fish oil supplementation, alone or in combination with sunflower oil, in dairy ewes.

Ruminant diet supplementation with sunflower oil (SO) and fish oil (FO) has been reported as a good strategy for enhancing some milk fat compounds such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dairy cows, but no information is available regarding dairy sheep. In this work, ewe diet was supplemented with FO, alone or in combination with SO, with the aim of improving milk nutritional value and evaluating its effect on animal performance. Sixty-four Assaf ewes in mid lactation, fed a high-concentrate diet, were distributed in 8 lots of 8 animals each and assigned to 4 treatments (2 lots/treatment): no lipid supplementation (control) or supplementation with 20 g of SO/kg (SO), 10 g of FO/kg (FO), or 20 g of SO plus 10 g of FO/kg (SOFO). Milk production and composition, including a complete fatty acid profile, were analyzed on d 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of treatments. Supplementation with FO tended to reduce dry matter intake compared with the control treatment (-15%), and its use in combination with SO (SOFO) resulted in a significant decrease in milk yield as well (-13%). All lipid supplements reduced milk protein content, and FO also reduced milk fat content by up to 21% alone (FO) and 27% in combination with SO (SOFO). Although the mechanisms involved in FO-induced milk fat depression are not yet well established, the observed increase in some milk trans-FA that are putative inhibitors of milk fat synthesis, such as trans-9,cis-11 CLA, and the 63% decrease in C18:0 (consistent with the theory of reduced milk fat fluidity) may be involved. When compared with the control, lipid supplementation remarkably improved the milk content of rumenic acid (cis-9,trans-11 CLA; up to 4-fold increases with SO and SOFO diets), whereas FO-containing diets also increased milk n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly docosahexaenoic acid (with mean contents of 0.29 and 0.38% of total fatty acids for SOFO and FO, respectively), and reduced the n-6:n-3 FA ratio to approximately half the control value. All lipid supplements resulted in high levels of some trans-FA, mainly trans-11 C18:1 (vaccenic acid) but also trans-10 C18:1.

Milk fatty acid profile and dairy sheep performance in response to diet supplementation with sunflower oil plus incremental levels of marine algae.

In an attempt to develop strategies for enhancing the nutritional value of sheep milk fat, dairy ewe diet was supplemented with 3 incremental levels of marine algae (MA), in combination with sunflower oil, to evaluate the effects of these marine lipids on milk fatty acid (FA) profile and animal performance. Fifty Assaf ewes in mid lactation were distributed in 10 lots of 5 animals each and allocated to 5 treatments (2 lots per treatment): no lipid supplementation (control) or supplementation with 25 g of sunflower oil/kg of DM plus 0 (SO), 8 (SOMA(1)), 16 (SOMA(2)), or 24 (SOMA(3)) g of MA (56.7% ether extract)/kg of DM. Milk production and composition, including FA profile, were analyzed on d 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of treatment. Neither intake nor milk yield were significantly affected by lipid addition, but all MA supplements decreased milk fat content from d 14 onward, reaching a 30% reduction after 28 d on SOMA(3). This milk fat depression might be related not only to the joint action of some putative fat synthesis inhibitors, such as trans-9,cis-11 C18:2 and probably trans-10 C18:1, but also to the limited ability of the mammary gland to maintain a desirable milk fat fluidity, that would have been caused by the noticeable increase in trans-C18:1 together with the lowered availability of stearic acid for oleic acid synthesis through Delta(9)-desaturase. Furthermore, all lipid supplements, and mainly MA, reduced the secretion of de novo FA (C6:0-C14:0) without increasing the yield of preformed FA (>C16). Supplementation with sunflower oil plus MA resulted in larger increases in cis-9,trans-11 C18:2 than those observed with sunflower oil alone, achieving a mean content as high as 3.22% of total FA and representing a more than 7-fold increase compared with the control. Vaccenic acid (trans-11 C18:1) was also significantly enhanced (on average +794% in SOMA treatments), as was C22:6 n-3 (DHA) content, although the transfer efficiency of the latter, from the diets to the milk, was very low (5%). However, the highest levels of MA inclusion (SOMA(2) and SOMA(3)) reduced the milk n-6:n-3 ratio, but MA supplements caused an important increase in trans-10 C18:1, which would rule out the possibility that this milk has a healthier fat profile before determining the specific role of each individual FA and ensuring that this trans-FA is at least innocuous in relation to cardiovascular disease risk.

Hiperbilirrubinemia en apendicitis: es un factor predictivo de perforación / Hyperbilirubinemia in appendicitis: is a predictive factor of perforation

Background: An elevated total bilirubin level can be a marker for perforated appendicitis. Aim: To assess and compare the predictive value of total bilirubin, C-reactive protein (CRP), white-blood cell count, the lapse of symptoms evolution, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) for the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis. Material and Methods: Prospective study of 134 consecutive patients aged 33 +/- 16 years (63 males) operated for acute appendicitis of whom 49 had a perforated appendix. A preoperative blood sample was obtained to measure total bilirubin, C reactive protein and complete blood count. A systemic inflammatory response score was calculated. Results: The lapse of symptoms before operation was higher in patients with perforated appendicitis compared with their counterparts without perforation (105.2 +/- 79.3 and 38.6 +/- 17.5 hours respectively). C reactive protein values were 176 +/- 82.6 and 80 +/- 76 mg/1 respectively, (p = 0.01). Serum bilirubin values were 0.7 +/- 0.3 and 1.0 +/- 0.5 mg/dl, respectively (p = 0.05). Sixty five percent of patients with perforated appendicitis had a SIRS score between 3 and 4 points. A C reactive protein over 76.7 mg/1, a lapse of symptoms over 34.5 hours and a SIRS score of three or more had the best performance for the prediction of perforated appendicitis. Conclusions: The diagnosis of perforated appendicitis may be suspected based on CRP, SIRS, and the lapse of symptoms before operation. We do not recommend the use of total bilirubin to predict perforation in appendicitis.

Introducción: Se ha propuesto a la hiperbilirrubinemia como un marcador específico de apendicitis perforada. El objetivo del presente estudio es el de comparar el rendimiento para la predicción de perforación de la bilirrubina total (BT) y la proteína C reactiva (PCR), leucocitosis, el tiempo de evolución del cuadro clínico y el síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica (SIRS). Métodos: Se diseñó un estudio prospectivo y observacional, en el que se aplican curvas Receiver Operating Characteristics para comparar la sensibilidad y especificidad de las variables investigadas, se determinaron los mejores puntos de corte con la mejor sensibilidad y especificidad. Resultados: El período de tiempo de evolución del cuadro clínico se encontraba prolongado en los pacientes con apendicitis perforada (105,2 +/- 79,3 h y 38,6 +/- 17,5 h) y los niveles de PCR se encontraban muy elevados (176 +/- 82,6 mg/1 y 80 +/- 76 mg/1). La mayoría de los pacientes con apendicitis perforada tuvieron una puntuación SIRS entre 3 y 4 puntos. El valor de la PCR mayor a 76,7 mg/1, el tiempo de evolución de los síntomas mayor a 34,5 h y una puntuación SIRS de 3 puntos o más obtuvieron los mejores puntos de corte con el mejor rendimiento para la predicción de apendicitis perforada. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico de apendicitis perforada puede sospecharse cuando la PCR, SIRS y el período de tiempo de evolución del cuadro clínico están elevados. No recomendamos la medición de la BT como factor predictivo de perforación en pacientes con apendicitis.

Effects of extruded linseed supplementation on n-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid in milk and cheese from ewes.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of extruded linseed on animal performance and fatty acid (FA) profile of ewe milk for the production of n-3 FA- and conjugated linoleic acid-enriched cheeses. A Manchega ewe flock (300 animals) receiving a 60:40 forage:concentrate diet was divided into 3 groups supplemented with 0, 6, and 12 g of extruded linseed/100 g of dry matter for the control, low, and high extruded linseed diets, respectively. Bulk and individual milk samples from 5 dairy ewes per group were monitored at 7, 14, 28, 45, and 60 d following supplementation. Manchego cheeses were made with bulk milk from the 3 treatment groups. Milk yield increased in dairy ewes receiving extruded linseed. Milk protein, fat, and total solids contents were not affected by linseed supplementation. Milk contents of alpha-linolenic acid increased from 0.36 with the control diet to 1.91% total FA with the high extruded linseed diet. Similarly, cis-9 trans-11 C18:2 rose from 0.73 to 2.33% and its precursor in the mammary gland, trans-11 C18:1, increased from 1.55 to 5.76% of total FA. This pattern occurred with no significant modification of the levels of trans-10 C18:1 and trans-10 cis-12 C18:2 FA. Furthermore, the high extruded linseed diet reduced C12:0 (-30%), C14:0 (-15%) and C16:0 (-28%), thus significantly diminishing the atherogenicity index of milk. The response to linseed supplementation was persistently maintained during the entire study. Acceptability attributes of n-3-enriched versus control cheeses ripened for 3 mo were not affected. Therefore, extruded linseed supplementation seems a plausible strategy to improve animal performance and nutritional quality of dairy lipids in milk and cheese from ewes.

Effect of supplementation of grazing dairy ewes with a cereal concentrate on animal performance and milk fatty acid profile.

This work was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing grazing ewes on pasture with a cereal concentrate on the milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Ninety Assaf ewes in mid lactation were distributed in 9 lots of 10 animals each and allocated to 3 feeding regimens: 1) pasture--ewes were only allowed to graze pasture (an irrigated sward of Lolium perenne, Trifolium pratense, and Dactylis glomerata); 2) PS--grazing ewes were supplemented with oat grain (700 g/animal and day); and 3) TMR--ewes were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration (TMR; 80:20 concentrate/forage ratio). Milk yield and composition were recorded for 5 wk. The highest milk yield was observed in ewes receiving the TMR and the lowest in grazing ewes supplemented with oat grain. Productions of milk fat, protein, and total solids showed the lowest values in treatment PS. The atherogenicity index, which comprises C12:0, C14:0, and C16:0, in PS milk fat was no different from that observed in milk from animals on pasture (1.53 for pasture, 1.54 for PS, and 3.22 for TMR). Oat grain supplementation generated higher amounts of C18:0 and cis-9 C18:1 in milk fat than the pasture-only diet, but significantly decreased the levels of alpha-linolenic acid and most of intermediates of the process of biohydrogenation of this FA. Cis-9 trans-11 C18:2 and trans-11 C18:1, its precursor for endogenous synthesis in the mammary gland, were lower in PS (0.58 and 1.59 g/100 g of total FA) than in TMR (0.72 and 1.92 g/100 g of total FA) and very different from the results observed in grazing ewes receiving no supplement (1.21 and 3.88 g/100 g of total FA). Furthermore, the lowest levels of trans-10 C18:1 and trans-10 cis-12 C18:2 were detected in the milk fat of ewes fed pasture. It is concluded that, when pasture quality and availability do not limit dairy production, supplementation of grazing ewes with oat grain compromised the milk FA profile without any significant positive effect on milk production.

Addition of olive oil to dairy ewe diets: effect on milk fatty acid profile and animal performance.

The effects of ruminant diet supplementation with linoleic or different polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) have been well documented. Less abundant information, however, exists on the effects of incorporating monounsaturated FA, such as oleic acid, on lipid metabolism or animal performance. The purpose of this work was to assess the effects of feeding dairy ewes a diet supplemented with high levels of olive oil (OO) on milk yield and composition, paying particular attention to the FA profile. Twenty-four Assaf ewes were fed ad libitum with 2 diets, control or supplemented with 6% OO (2 lots of 6 animals per diet) for 4 wk. Milk yield and composition and dry matter intake were recorded weekly. Milk FA composition was determined by gas chromatography and conjugated linoleic acid profile by silver ion HPLC. Milk yield increased in ewes receiving OO, with no differences in dry matter intake. The OO diet decreased the milk protein percentage but increased the milk fat, protein, and total solids yield. Medium-chain saturated FA (C10:0 to C16:0) content was reduced with OO supplementation, whereas C18:0 and cis-9 C18:1 content increased. Leaving aside trans-11, most trans C18:1 isomers, mainly trans-10, increased in supplemented ewes. The main conjugated linoleic acid isomer (cis-9, trans-11 C18:2) decreased with OO supplementation, whereas trans-7, cis-9 and trans-9, cis-11 C18:2 exhibited a remarkable increase. These results support the argument that the supplementation of ewe diets with high levels of OO does not have any detrimental effects on animal performance but substantially modifies the FA profile.