Eicosapentaenoic acid- and docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil in sow and piglet diets modifies blood oxylipins and immune indicators in both, sows and suckling piglets.

Over the last decades, genetic selection has increased sows' litter size. Consequently, there is a high proportion of piglets born with low weight which are vulnerable. Their viability may potentially be enhanced through early nutrition. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether including a fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the diets of the sow and piglets was able to increase concentrations of anti-inflammatory molecules in their blood. Thirty-six sows, in four consecutive batches, were randomly assigned to either a control diet with animal fat (15 g/kg in gestation and 30 g/kg in lactation) or an n-3 long-chain fatty acid (n-3 LCFA) diet from insemination until the end of lactation. From day 11 of lactation, piglets were also offered a diet containing 30 g/kg of animal fat or n-3 LCFA. To prepare the n-3 LCFA diet, 15 g/kg or 30 g/kg of animal fat in the control diet were replaced by an equivalent amount of solid fish oil for sows and piglets, respectively. All the sows were sampled for serum and plasma at day 108 of gestation and at weaning. Additionally, only for the first batch of sows, blood samples were also obtained at weaning from the two lightest (>800 g) and the two heaviest birth weight piglets in each litter. Serum fatty acids (FAs) were quantified by gas chromatography, plasma oxylipins by ultra-HPLC-MS and plasma immunoglobulins (Ig) and cytokines by ELISA. The n-3 LCFA diet increased the concentrations of n-3 FAs in gestating and lactating sows and in piglets (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively), particularly EPA (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and DHA (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and also their oxygenated derivatives. In addition, fish oil increased plasma IgM in gestating and lactating sows (P = 0.014 and P = 0.008, respectively), interleukin (IL) 6 in sows at weaning (P = 0.012), and IL1ß in piglets (P = 0.018). Birth BW of piglets, regardless of diet, slightly influenced some of the n-6-derived oxylipins. In conclusion, fish oil addition in diets increased the blood concentrations of n-3 FAs and their oxygenated derivatives, some of which have anti-inflammatory activity, in gestating and lactating sows and piglets, IgM in gestating and lactating sows, IL6 in lactating sows and IL1ß in piglets.

Fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in sow diets modifies oxylipins and immune indicators in colostrum and milk.

Colostrum and milk are the first nutrient sources for newborn piglets. In addition, n-3 fatty acids (FAs) and their oxygenated derivatives (oxylipins) have the capacity to modulate immune components. The aim of the current study was to include a fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in sow diets to promote an increase of anti-inflammatory molecules in colostrum and milk to benefit piglets. Thirty-six sows were randomly assigned from insemination to the end of lactation to either a control diet with animal fat (15 g/kg in gestation and 30 g/kg in lactation) or an n-3 diet in which animal fat was totally (gestation) or half (lactation) replaced by an equivalent amount of solid fish oil. Performance of sows and piglets was monitored during the study. Colostrum and milk samples were obtained after the birth of the first piglet and at weaning, respectively. From all samples (n = 18 per treatment), FAs were quantified by gas chromatography and immunoglobulins and cytokines by ELISA. Three samples per treatment were randomly selected to analyse oxylipin composition by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In colostrum and in milk, the n-3 FA (P = 0.020 and P < 0.001), particularly EPA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) and DHA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and also their oxygenated derivatives were increased in samples from sows fed n-3 diet. Fish oil had no effect on immunoglobulin concentrations, but reduced tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) (P = 0.011) and a tendency to reduce interleukin 10 (IL10) (P = 0.059) were observed in milk. In conclusion, fish oil in sow diets increased n-3 FA, particularly EPA and DHA, and their oxygenated derivatives in colostrum and milk, reducing TNFα and IL10 in milk.

shinyCurves, a shiny web application to analyse multisource qPCR amplification data: a COVID-19 case study.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative, reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is currently the gold-standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection and it is also used for detection of other virus. Manual data analysis of a small number of qRT-PCR plates per day is a relatively simple task, but automated, integrative strategies are needed if a laboratory is dealing with hundreds of plates per day, as is being the case in the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Here we present shinyCurves, an online shiny-based, free software to analyze qRT-PCR amplification data from multi-plate and multi-platform formats. Our shiny application does not require any programming experience and is able to call samples Positive, Negative or Undetermined for viral infection according to a number of user-defined settings, apart from providing a complete set of melting and amplification curve plots for the visual inspection of results. CONCLUSIONS: shinyCurves is a flexible, integrative and user-friendly software that speeds-up the analysis of massive qRT-PCR data from different sources, with the possibility of automatically producing and evaluating melting and amplification curve plots.

Is There Such a Thing as a Genuine Cancer Stem Cell Marker? Perspectives from the Gut, the Brain and the Dental Pulp.

The conversion of healthy stem cells into cancer stem cells (CSCs) is believed to underlie tumor relapse after surgical removal and fuel tumor growth and invasiveness. CSCs often arise from the malignant transformation of resident multipotent stem cells, which are present in most human tissues. Some organs, such as the gut and the brain, can give rise to very aggressive types of cancers, contrary to the dental pulp, which is a tissue with a very remarkable resistance to oncogenesis. In this review, we focus on the similarities and differences between gut, brain and dental pulp stem cells and their related CSCs, placing a particular emphasis on both their shared and distinctive cell markers, including the expression of pluripotency core factors. We discuss some of their similarities and differences with regard to oncogenic signaling, telomerase activity and their intrinsic propensity to degenerate to CSCs. We also explore the characteristics of the events and mutations leading to malignant transformation in each case. Importantly, healthy dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) share a great deal of features with many of the so far reported CSC phenotypes found in malignant neoplasms. However, there exist literally no reports about the contribution of DPSCs to malignant tumors. This raises the question about the particularities of the dental pulp and what specific barriers to malignancy might be present in the case of this tissue. These notable differences warrant further research to decipher the singular properties of DPSCs that make them resistant to transformation, and to unravel new therapeutic targets to treat deadly tumors.

A prospective randomized open-label study of single injection versus continuous adductor canal block for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty.

AIMS: Adductor canal block (ACB) has emerged as an alternative to femoral nerve block (FNB) for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The optimal duration of maintenance of the ACB is still questionable. The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic benefits and physiotherapy (PT) outcomes of single-shot ACB to two different regimens of infusion of the continuous ACB, 24-hour and 48-hour infusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, unblinded study. A total of 159 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I to III patients scheduled for primary TKA were randomized to one of three study groups. Three patients did not complete the study, leaving 156 patients for final analysis. Group A (n = 53) was the single-shot group (16 female patients and 37 male patients with a mean age of 63.9 years (sd 9.6)), group B (n = 51) was the 24-hour infusion group (22 female patients and 29 male patients with a mean age of 66.5 years (sd 8.5)), and group C (n = 52) was the 48-hour infusion group (18 female patients and 34 male patients with a mean age of 62.2 years (sd 8.7)). Pain scores, opioid requirements, PT test results, and patient-reported outcome instruments were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: The proportion of patients reporting severe pain, defined as a pain score of between 7 and 10, on postoperative day number 2 (POD 2) were 21% for the single-shot group, 14% for the 24-hour block group, and 12% for the 48-hour block group (p = 0.05). Cumulative opioid requirements after 48 hours were similar between the groups. Functional outcomes were similar in all three groups in POD 1 and POD 2. CONCLUSION: There was no clear benefit of the 24-hour or 48-hour infusions over the single-shot ACB for the primary endpoint of the study. Otherwise, there were marginal benefits for keeping the indwelling catheter for 48 hours in terms of reducing the number of patients with moderate pain and improving the quality of pain management. However, all three groups had similar opioid usage, length of hospital stay, and functional outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:340-347.

Actualización en politrauma pediátrico / Update on Pediatric Polytrauma

El trauma pediátrico es la principal causa de mortalidad en el paciente pediátrico, pero a pesar de esto sigue siendo mucho menor su incidencia respecto al trauma adulto. en el pasado la atención se limitaba a extrapolar los conocimientos adquiridos en el adulto para atender a los niños, pero gracias a importantes campañas de concienciación y prevención se han desarrollado sistemas protocolizados de atención al paciente pediátrico específicos. El objetivo de esta revisión es dar una visión global sobre el estado actual de la atención al paciente politraumatizado, haciendo especial hincapié en las actualizaciones y particularidades de este grupo de edad

Pediatric trauma is the leading cause of mortality in children, but it comprises a almost insignificant part of the overall politraumatic events in the hole population. pediatric attention used to be a copy of the well-developed adult trauma protocols, but, thanks to a great concienciation campaigns carry on for the governments specific pediatric trauma scores and protocols has been developed. the aim of this review is to provide a global overview of the current-state in this issue as well as to emphasize on pediatric particularities and actualizations

Xanthan gum-functionalised span nanoparticles for gene targeting to endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells play a critical role in many physiological processes; therefore, there is increasing evidence that the future of many treatments for pathologies depends on the development of endothelium-targeting systems. Thus, we have incorporated the natural polysaccharide xanthan gum (XG) into sorbitan monooleate nanoparticles to provide them with a hydrophilic and negatively charged surface shell with stabilising properties and an inherent ability to target endothelial cells. Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein plasmid (pEGFP) was incorporated into the nanosystem, and the protection ability and stability of this system was confirmed. Nanoparticle cytotoxicity and transfection capacity were successfully tested in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) before confirming their biocompatibility in vivo. Finally, biodistribution studies after pEGFP-XG nanoparticle systemic administration to mice evidenced GFP expression in the vascular endothelium of lung, liver and kidney, thus confirming the potential of xanthan gum-functionalised span nanoparticles for gene targeting to endothelial cells.

Development and characterisation of chondroitin sulfate- and hyaluronic acid-incorporated sorbitan ester nanoparticles as gene delivery systems.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are natural polymers that are broadly used in gene delivery systems to increase stability as well as decrease toxicity and nonspecific interactions, thereby increasing transfection efficiency. In this work, we propose sorbitan ester-based lipid nanoparticles (SENS) functionalised with the GAGs chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as gene delivery systems. For this purpose, we describe the design and evaluation of these nanosystems loaded with plasmid DNA, including an evaluation of their physicochemical characteristics, stability properties, ability to protect and efficiently transfect cells with Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein plasmid (pEGFP) in vitro, and biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. We confirm that molecules with high biological value and targeting potential, such as HA and CS, can be successfully incorporated into our recently developed sorbitan ester-based nanoparticles (SENS) and that this incorporation leads to effective stabilisation of both nanosystems as well as protects plasmid DNA. We demonstrated that the aforementioned incorporation of HA and CS enables long-term stability of the nanosystems in both liquid and lyophilised states, which is a remarkable property that can aid in their transfer to industry. The ability of these functionalised nanosystems to transfect the A549 cell line without compromising cell viability was also shown, as well as their innocuous safety profile in vivo. Thus, we provide valuable evidence of the suitable properties and potential of these hybrid nanoparticles as gene delivery systems.

Patología quirúrgica de la vía aérea pediátrica / Surgical pathology of the pediatric airways

Las anomalías de la vía respiratoria en la edad pediátrica abarcan un amplio espectro de patologías, de origen congénito o adquirido, poco frecuentes en la practica clínica. el manejo adecuado de esta patología requiere de un equipo multidisciplinar, que incluye a los departamentos de pediatría (neonatólogos, pediatría general, cuidados intensivos, neumología, gastroenterología y cardiología), especialidades quirúrgicas (pediátrica, otorrinolaringología, cardiotorácica), anestesia, radiología, fisioterapeutas respiratorios y enfermería, entre otros. Habitualmente plantean un desafío para estos profesionales, dada su complejidad y la necesidad frecuente de una actuación urgente. Mediante este trabajo abordaremos los principales trastornos de las vías respiratorias pediátricas. Nos centraremos en aquélla localizada en laringe y tráquea, dejando de lado la patología de vía aérea distal

Airway anomalies in the pediatric population includes a broad spectrum of pathologies, congenital or acquired, rare in clinical practice. proper management of this pathology requires a multidisciplinary team, which includes the departments of pediatrics (neonatologists, general pediatrics, intensive care, pneumology, gastroenterology and cardiology), surgery (pediatric, otorhinolaryngology, cardiothoracic), anesthesia, radiology, respiratory physiotherapists, and nurses among others. these patients usually pose a challenge for professionals, due to their complexity and the prevalent need for urgent treatment. the goal of this paper is to present the most common pediatric airway disorders. We will focus on the larynx and trachea pathology and we will omit diseases concerning distal airway

Anomalías del tracto intestinal alto / Upper gastrointestinal tract anomalies

Las anomalías intestinales en el niño son congénitas en la mayor parte de los casos y suelen producir clínica durante la época neonatal. es por ello que tanto pediatras como cirujanos pediátricos debemos conocer su presentación clínica y su tratamiento. en esta revisión enumeraremos las principales entidades que afectan al tracto intestinal alto enfatizando una perspectiva práctica proyectada hacia el diagnóstico y tratamiento de cada patología

Intestinal anomalies in children are mostly congenital and usually present with clinical manifestations during neonatal period. Both pediatricians and pediatric surgeons must be awared of their clinical presentation and management. in this review, we will name the main conditions that affect the upper intestinal tract, highlighting a pragmatic perspective projected towards the diagnosis and treatment of each disorder

Nanocarriers for microRNA delivery in cancer medicine.

The number of deaths caused by cancer is expected to increase partly due to the lack of selectivity and undesirable systemic effects of current treatments. Advances in the understanding of microRNA (miRNA) functions and the ideal properties of nanosystems have brought increasing attention to the application of nanomedicine to cancer therapy. This review covers the different miRNA therapeutic strategies and delivery challenges for its application in cancer medicine. Current trends in inorganic, polymeric and lipid nanocarrier development for miRNA replacement or inhibition are summarized. To achieve clinical success, in-depth knowledge of the effects of the promotion or inhibition of specific miRNAs is required. To establish the dose and the length of treatment, it will be necessary to study the duration of gene silencing. Additionally, efforts should be made to develop specifically targeted delivery systems to cancer cells to reduce doses and unwanted effects. In the near future, the combination of miRNAs with other therapeutic approaches is likely to play an important role in addressing the heterogeneity of cancer.

Colecistectomía laparoscópica en niños y adultos: lo que podemos aprender / Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: what we can learn about

Objetivos. La colecistectomía laparoscópica (CL) es un procedimiento muy habitual en adultos, pero no es tan frecuente en la edad pediátrica. Nos preguntamos si existen diferencias entre ambas poblaciones en cuanto a morbilidad y evolución postoperatoria. Material y métodos. Revisión retrospectiva de 39 casos consecutivos que precisaron CL en nuestro Servicio entre 2003-2013 y de una muestra similar de casos intervenidos en el Servicio de Cirugía General del mismo centro en pacientes entre 18 y 40 años. Resultados. 39 niños y 40 adultos cumplieron criterios para incluirse en el estudio. La indicación más frecuente fue la colelitiasis en ambos grupos. El tiempo quirúrgico medio fue significativamente mayor en los niños (niños: 127 min, adultos: 70 min, p< 0,01) pero no encontramos diferencias significativas en la tasa de reconversión o la incidencia de complicaciones (niños: 7.7%, adultos 15%). En cuanto a los factores preoperatorios, solo el sexo masculino se relacionó con mayor incidencia de complicaciones (p 0,037). Por otra parte descubrimos que, en ausencia de complicaciones, la estancia postoperatoria (niños: 2,1 días, adultos: 0,5 días), y el tiempo hasta tolerancia oral (niños: 21 h, adultos: 8 h) fueron significativamente mayores en niños (p< 0,01). Conclusiones. 1) La CL en niños es un procedimiento seguro que no presenta más morbimortalidad que en adultos, a pesar de un mayor tiempo quirúrgico. 2) Creemos que el tiempo de ingreso más prolongado se debe en parte a una falta de confianza con la técnica y que la tendencia en el futuro debe encaminarse a fomentar un inicio temprano de la tolerancia y un alta precoz (AU)

Background. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a very usual procedure within adult population, but not as frequent in childhood. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of LC in children compared with those performed in adulthood. Materials and methods. We reviewed 39 consecutive patients who underwent LC between 2003 and 2013 at our Department and a similar sample of patients from 18 to 40 years of age from the General Surgery Department. Results. 39 children and 40 adults fulfilled criteria to be included in the study. The most frequent indication was cholelithiasis in both groups. The mean operating time was significantly higher among children (127 min, adults 71 min, p< 0.01) but we didn’t find differences neither in conversion nor in complication rates (children 5% and 7.7%, adults 2.5% and 15% respectively). In regard to preoperative factors, only male gender was correlated to a higher complication rate (p 0.037). On the other hand we found out that, in absence of complications, both the average length of stay (children 2.1 days, adults 0.5 days) and mean time to first feeding (children 21 hours, adults 8 hours) were significantly higher among children (p< 0.01). Conclusions. 1) LC in childhood is a safe procedure that does not imply more morbidity than the same intervention in adults, even though a more prolonged operating time. 2) We believe that our longer hospital stay is due to certain lack of confidence with the technique and, in the future, the trend should be bent on encouraging a shorter time to first feeding and an earlier discharge (AU)

Utilidad de la cirugía radioguiada en la esplenosis / Utility of radioguided surgery in splenosis

La esplenosis es un hallazgo frecuente tras las la rotura traumática del bazo o esplenectomía terapéutica, definiéndose como un autotrasplante heterotópico del bazo por la superficie y cavidad peritoneal. En pacientes esplenectomizados por enfermedad hematológica, la esplenosis puede llevar a recidiva de la enfermedad. Presentamos un caso de esplenosis en un paciente con púrpura trombocitopénica idiopática (PTI) que presentó una recidiva tras esplenectomía. Para su localización se realizaron pruebas de imagen convencional y gammagrafía con hematíes desnaturalizados marcados con 99mTc, donde se apreciaron al menos 5 focos esplénicos. Dada la difícil localización intraoperatoria de dichos nódulos, se practicó cirugía radioguiada, con excelente localización y extirpación de los nódulos conocidos y de múltiples implantes peritoneales de tamaño milimétrico no visualizados previamente. Concluimos que la cirugía radioguiada es una excelente herramienta para la localización de focos de esplenosis peritoneal de difícil acceso y visualización, evitando así una recurrencia precoz de la enfermedad (AU)

Splenosis is a common finding after traumatic rupture of the spleen or therapeutic splenectomy, defined as a heterotopic autotransplantation of the spleen in peritoneal cavity and surface. In splenectomized patients due to hematologic disease, splenosis can lead to disease recurrence. We present a case of splenosis in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who relapsed after splenectomy. For its localization, conventional imaging and scintigraphy with 99mTc-denatured red cells was performed, and at least five splenic foci were observed. Given the difficult intraoperative localization of these nodules, radioguided surgery was performed, with excellent localization and removal of all known nodules and multiple peritoneal implants of millimeter size that were not previously observed. We conclude that radioguided surgery is an excellent tool for locating foci of peritoneal splenosis, which have difficult access, thus avoiding early recurrence of the disease (AU)

[Utility of radioguided surgery in splenosis]. / Utilidad de la cirugía radioguiada en la esplenosis.

Splenosis is a common finding after traumatic rupture of the spleen or therapeutic splenectomy, defined as a heterotopic autotransplantation of the spleen in peritoneal cavity and surface. In splenectomized patients due to hematologic disease, splenosis can lead to disease recurrence. We present a case of splenosis in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who relapsed after splenectomy. For its localization, conventional imaging and scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-denatured red cells was performed, and at least five splenic foci were observed. Given the difficult intraoperative localization of these nodules, radioguided surgery was performed, with excellent localization and removal of all known nodules and multiple peritoneal implants of millimeter size that were not previously observed. We conclude that radioguided surgery is an excellent tool for locating foci of peritoneal splenosis, which have difficult access, thus avoiding early recurrence of the disease.

Bacillus cereus var. toyoi promotes growth, affects the histological organization and microbiota of the intestinal mucosa in rainbow trout fingerlings.

In this preliminary study, we evaluated the effects of a gram-positive soil bacteria Bacillus cereus var. toyoi on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology, and microbiota in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fingerlings. Trout were maintained in a recirculation system and fed 2 diets: 1) a commercial trout feed deprived of the probiotic and 2) the same diet but with the spores of the probiotic bacteria dissolved in fish oil during the manufacturing of the feed (final concentration = 2 × 10(4) cfu/g). Each diet was tested in three 400-L cylindroconical tanks (125 fish per tank; initial density = 1.3 kg/m(3); 13.2°C) for a period of 93 d. The probiotic-supplemented diet promoted growth, and the final mean BW and standard length in fish fed the probiotic were 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively, which was greater than the control group (P < 0.05). Fish fed the probiotic showed a more homogeneous distribution in the final BW, with a greater frequency of individuals around the modal of the normal distribution of the population. This result is of practical importance because homogenous production lots can improve rearing practices, reducing hierarchical dominance situations arising from individuals of larger sizes. In addition, the probiotic-supplemented diet increased the level of leukocyte infiltration in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa, the number of goblet cells (P < 0.010), and villi height (P < 0.001) but did not affect villi width. The administration of the probiotic changed the intestinal microbiota as indicated by 16S rDNA PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. In this sense, fish fed the probiotic formed a well-defined cluster composed of 1 super clade, whereas compared control fish had a greater degree of diversity in their gut microbiota. These changes in gut microbiota did not affect the specific activity of selected pancreatic and intestinal digestive enzymes. These results indicate that the inclusion of the probiotic bacteria in trout feeds could be beneficial for the host by enhancing its intestinal innate immune function and promoting growth.

Wheat-barley-rye- or corn-fed growing pigs respond differently to dietary supplementation with a carbohydrase complex.

Thirty-six pigs (22 kg of BW) were used to evaluate a carbohydrase preparation, with xylanase and ß-glucanase as main activities, added to either wheat-barley-rye- (WBR) or corn-based diets on performance, intestinal environment, and nutrient digestibility. Pigs were offered 1 of 4 different dietary treatments for 27 d according to a factorial arrangement of treatments (a 2 × 2) with 2 cereal types (WBR or corn) and 2 levels of supplemental carbohydrase (0 or 0.01%). Pig growth and feed intake were individually measured every week until the end of the experiment when pigs were slaughtered to obtain samples of digesta and tissues. Cereal type affected performance only during wk 1, in which WBR improved ADG (590 vs. 440 g/d; P = 0.008) and G:F (0.61 vs. 0.43; P = 0.045) compared with corn. The WBR also increased the viscosity of the digestive contents in stomach (1.95 vs. 1.23 mPa·s; P = 0.001) and ileum (6.53 vs. 2.80 mPa·s; P = 0.001) and resulted in greater cecal starch digestibility (95.7 vs. 93.9%; P = 0.012). However, trends for a reduction in digestibility were observed for glucose in the nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) fraction in the ileum (64.4 vs. 75.8%; P = 0.074) and galactose in the NSP fraction in the cecum (1.4 vs. 1.8%; P = 0.055). The use of the enzyme preparation increased ADFI during wk 2 (1,328 vs. 1,215 g/d; P = 0.028), and increased villus height (423 vs. 390 µm; P = 0.045) and tended to reduce relative pancreas weight (0.16 vs. 0.17% BW; P = 0.079) at d 27. The enzyme also improved cecal starch digestibility (95.5 vs. 94.1%; P = 0.043) and tended to improve ileal energy digestibility (61.3 vs. 53.7%; P = 0.090) and cecal glucose digestibility in the NSP fraction (76.0 vs. 54.5%; P = 0.055). However, it reduced the cecal digestibility of mannose in the NSP fraction (27.0 vs. 50.5%; P = 0.016). Interactions (P < 0.05) between cereal type and enzyme supplementation were observed for ADG and G:F during wk 2, BW and ADG during wk 3, and BW and ADFI over the whole trial; and also for villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio and for cecal DM digestibility. In all instances, whereas the added enzyme had no effect in the case of the corn diet, improvements were observed with WBR. In conclusion, the multi-enzyme tested had different effects depending on the type of cereal present in the diet.

Effect of feeding piglets with different extruded and nonextruded cereals on the gut mucosa and microbiota during the first postweaning week.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of different cereals in piglet diets on the jejunal mucosa and the ileal and cecal microbiota during the first postweaning days. In Trial 1, 48 newly weaned pigs (7.95 kg BW; 26 d of age) were individually housed and distributed among 3 experimental diets containing white rice (Oryza sativa), naked oats (Avena sativa), or barley (Hordeum vulgare) as the cereal source. At the start of the trial (weaning; day 0), 12 piglets were slaughtered and sampled to obtain initial reference values for histology and microbiology determinations. Additionally, 4 pigs per treatment per day were slaughtered and sampled at days 1, 2, and 6 postweaning. Villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in jejunal mucosa were measured, and microbiota in ileal and cecal digesta were evaluated by RFLP. The Manhattan distances between RFLP profiles were calculated and, for each treatment and sampling day, intragroup similarities (IGS) were estimated. In Trial 2, an additional 48 piglets were used (7.56 kg BW; 26 d of age), and the same experimental procedures were performed except that the 3 experimental diets contained extruded white rice, extruded naked oats, or extruded barley as the cereal source. A reduction in VH was observed in both trials from day 0 to 6 (P < 0.05). In Trial 1 (raw cereals), more IEL and deeper crypts were observed for the barley than for the naked oats based diets (P < 0.05). In Trial 2, no differences among extruded cereals were observed for the histological parameters. In Trial 1, feeding naked oats resulted in lower IGS (increased heterogeneity) of the microbiota in the ileum and in the cecum compared to rice and barley (P < 0.05). In Trial 2, the pigs fed extruded barley had lower IGS in the ileum than those fed extruded naked oats and extruded rice whereas in the cecum, both extruded barley and extruded rice resulted in lower IGS than extruded naked oats (P < 0.05). It is concluded that cereal nature affects the composition of the microbiota and the morphology of the gut mucosa in newly weaned pigs.

Effect of feeding different cereal-based diets on the performance and gut health of weaned piglets with or without previous access to creep feed during lactation.

A trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of different cereals on the performance, gut mucosa, and microbiota of weanling pigs with or without previous access to creep feed during lactation. A total of 108 newly weaned pigs (7.4 kg BW; 26 d of age; half with and half without creep feed) were used. Piglets were distributed by BW into 36 pens according to a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of treatments with previous access to creep feed (with or without) and cereal source in the experimental diet [barley (Hordeum vulgare), rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) bran, corn (Zea mays), naked oats (Avena sativa), oats, or rice] as main factors. Pigs were offered the experimental diets for 21 d and performance was monitored. At day 21, 4 piglets from each treatment were killed and sampled for the histological evaluation of jejunal mucosa and the study of ileal and cecal microbiota by RFLP. The Manhattan distances between RFLP profiles were calculated and intragroup similarities (IGS) were estimated for each treatment. An interaction between cereal source and previous creep feeding was observed for ADFI (P < 0.05), indicating that whereas creep feeding increased ADFI for the rice-wheat bran diet it reduced it for naked oats. No differences in mucosal morphology were observed except for deeper crypts in pigs that did not have previous access to creep feed (P < 0.05). Cereal source had a significant effect on IGS of ileal and cecal microbiota (P < 0.01). In the ileum oats and corn had the highest IGS (i.e., lowest heterogeneity of the microbiota) followed by rice, naked oats, barley, and rice-wheat bran whereas in the cecum, IGS was highest for rice and oats followed by corn, barley, rice-wheat bran, and naked oats. An interaction between creep feeding and cereal was also observed for the IGS of the cecal microbiota at day 21 (P < 0.05). Access to creep feed reduced IGS in the piglets fed oats or barley but no differences were observed for the other cereal sources. It is concluded that the effect of creep feeding during lactation on the performance and the microbiota of piglets after weaning is dependent on the nature of the cereal in the postweaning diet.

The influence of dietary locust bean gum and live yeast on some digestive immunological parameters of piglets experimentally challenged with Escherichia coli.

Gums and yeast cells are natural mannose-rich products that can be used as subtracts for adhesion of gram-negative bacteria. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of dietary locust bean gum (LBG; Salmosan, ITPSA, Spain) or live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sc47; Actisaf, Lesaffre, France) as immunological enhancers of the intestinal function of piglets. Treatments included a noninfected group fed with a control diet and 4 other groups orally challenged with 1x10(8) cfu of Escherichia coli K88. The challenged groups were fed the control or the control diet supplemented with colistin, LBG, or yeast. Twenty-five Landrace × Duroc piglets weaned at 4 wk were used. The animals were group housed, challenged on day 14, and euthanized 2 d later. Blood, bile, ileum, and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) samples were obtained for analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4). Challenge increased the level of CRP of piglets fed the control diet, but this did not happen in the piglets fed the supplemented diets (P < 0.001). Challenge upregulated TLR2 in MLN and TLR4 in ileum and MLN (P < 0.05). This was prevented by yeast supplementation for the TLR2 in MLN and TLR4 in ileum. Pigs fed colistin and LBG diets showed intermediate but nonsignificant responses. In conclusion, the results suggest that colistin, live yeast, and LBG reduce the levels of CRP in blood of piglets challenged with E. coli, and yeast reduces the expression of Toll-like receptors in the intestine.

[Squamous cell carcinoma arising on an epidermal inclusion cyst: a case presentation and review of the literature]. / Carcinoma epidermoide desarrollado sobre quiste de inclusión epidérmica cutáneo. Presentación de un nuevo caso y revisión de la literatura.

Epidermal inclusion cysts are very common lesions that very rarely undergo malignant transformation-in the English-language literature we have only found 18 adequately documented cases. We present the case of a man with a 2-month history of a retroauricular skin lesion in which histological study revealed squamous cell carcinoma arising on an epidermal inclusion cyst. Cysts that grow rapidly, reach a large size, ulcerate, develop a fistula, or that do not respond to medical treatment, and those that recur should be excised completely and histological study performed of the whole lesion.