Use of natural ingredients in the Japanese quail diet and their effect on carcass and meat quality. Review.

The present paper reviews the findings of different research studies on the effect of natural ingredients in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) diet on carcass characteristics and meat quality. The results show a relationship between the type and concentration of ingredients used in diets and carcass characteristics and meat quality. The inclusion of medicinal herbs (thyme, black seed, and mint), plants (canola), seeds (chickpea), spices (cinnamon and coriander), worms (earthworms), bee products (propolis), phytochemicals (lycopene), and edible fungi (common mushrooms) in the Japanese quail diet improved carcass quality characteristics compared to the control diets (basal diets). The inclusion of medicinal herbs (spearmint and green tea), spices (cinnamon), vegetables (tomato), plants (verbena and canola), seeds (marijuana), and edible fungi (oyster mushrooms) improved meat quality. In conclusion, the use of ingredients of natural origin in the Japanese quail diet improves carcass quality characteristics and meat quality.

Antiretroviral therapy as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease: Results from traditional regression modeling and causal approach in a large observational study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether patients receiving selected antiretroviral combinations had a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) using traditional regression modeling and a causal approach in a large prospective cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For the purpose of this study, we selected 6301 patients who (i) started their first antiretroviral regimen after 1st January 2004, (ii) had at least one serum creatinine measurement within 6 months before ART initiation (study entry), and (iii) had at least two measurements after study entry. Baseline eGFR was defined from the last serum creatinine measurement before study entry. All eGFR values were calculated using the Modification of Diet and Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Both traditional Cox proportional hazards model and Cox marginal structural models were applied. Distinct coding for antiretroviral therapy exposure were investigated as well as double robust estimators. RESULTS: Overall we showed that patients receiving tenofovir (TDF) with a ritonavir boosted protease inhibitor (rbPI) exhibited a higher risk of CKD compared with patients who received TDF with a non-nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Such an increased risk was observed considering both initial and current regimens. Our analysis revealed a clinician-driven switch away from TDF among persons experiencing a decline in renal function while receiving this drug. CONCLUSION: Our results show that combination of TDF and boosted protease inhibitor is associated with a higher CKD risk than TDF and a NNRTI.

Significant reductions in alcohol use after hepatitis C treatment: results from the ANRS CO13-HEPAVIH cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few data exist on changes to substance use patterns before and after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. We used longitudinal data of HIV-HCV co-infected individuals to examine whether receiving pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)-based therapy irrespective of HCV clearance could modify tobacco, cannabis and alcohol use. DESIGN: A prospective cohort of HIV-HCV co-infected individuals was enrolled from 2006. Participants' clinical data were retrieved from medical records and socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics were collected by yearly self-administered questionnaires. SETTING: Data were collected across 17 hospitals in France. PARTICIPANTS: All HIV-HCV co-infected patients who initiated HCV treatment during follow-up and answered items regarding substance use in at least one yearly questionnaire (258 patients, 671 visits). INTERVENTION: HCV treatment consisted of Peg-IFN-based regimens. MEASUREMENTS: Four time-varying outcomes: hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C > 3/4 for women/men), number of alcohol units/month, binge drinking, cannabis and tobacco use. Mixed models assessed the effect of HCV treatment status (not yet treated, treated and HCV-cleared, treated and HCV-chronic) on each outcome. FINDINGS: A significant decrease (more than 60% reduction) in both hazardous alcohol use and binge drinking and a reduction of 10 alcohol units/month was observed after HCV treatment (irrespective of HCV clearance). No significant effect of HCV treatment status was found on tobacco use and regular cannabis use, but HCV 'clearers' reported less non-regular use of cannabis. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment appears to help HIV-HCV co-infected patients reduce alcohol use.

Películas infantiles como alternativa a la sedación en el estudio ecocardiográfico de pacientes pediátricos

Introducción. La realización del ecocardiograma se dificulta si el niño no coopera, por lo que es necesario sedarlo. Para evitar los posibles efectos adversos de la sedación se ha propuesto utilizar la proyección de películas infantiles durante el estudio. Material y métodos. Se formaron 2 grupos de pacientes no cooperadores entre 1 y 3 años de edad de manera aleatoria: uno sometido a sedación (13 niños) y otro al que se proyectó una película infantil (15 niños). En ambos grupos se evaluaron escalas semicuantitativas de cooperación, calidad de imagen y el tiempo de realización del estudio. Resultados. No se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre ambos grupos en cuanto a las escalas de cooperación y calidad de imagen, así como en el tiempo de realización del estudio. Conclusiones. Este método evita la exposición a los riesgos de la sedación, obteniendo cooperación e información similares, y pudiera disminuir los recursos necesarios para la realización del estudio.

Introduction. It is often difficult to perform echocardiograms in small children because of lack of cooperation, hence the need for sedation. In order to avoid the possible adverse effects of sedation, the projection of age-appropriate films during the study has been proposed as an alternative. Material and methods. Pediatric non-cooperative patients, ages between 1 and 3 years old with an indication for elective echocardiography were randomly assigned to either 1 of 2 groups: the first one (13 patients) with intranasal midazolam sedation (300 mg/kg), and the other group (15 patients) with video-projection of movies. Cooperation and image quality scores differences were evaluated (Mann-Whitney), as well as the mean study performance time between the 2 groups. Results. Cooperation and image quality scores were similar between the 2 groups. There was a trend toward a shorter mean study performance time in the video group, not reaching statistical significance. Conclusions. Projection of age-appropriate movies during echocardiographic studies in pediatric non-cooperative patients is a good alternative to sedation, avoiding related risks and resource expenditure with similar cooperation and echocardiographic information.