Cardiac Output and Stroke Volume Assessments by Transthoracic Echocardiography and Pulse index Continuous Cardiac Output Monitor in Critically ill Adult Patients: A Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: Bedside transthoracic echocardiography (TTEcho) is a noninvasive cardiac output (CO) monitoring method that has grown recently. However, there are questions regarding its accuracy compared to invasive methods. We aimed to evaluate the agreement and correlation of TTEcho and pulse index continuous CO (PiCCO) monitor measurements for CO and systolic volume (SV) in critically ill patients. METHODS: This prospective experimental study included consecutive adult patients who required invasive hemodynamic monitoring admitted at an intensive care unit in the Federal District, Brazil, from January/2019 to January/2021. Correlation and agreement between SV and CO measurements by PiCCO and TTEcho were performed using the Spearman correlation and the Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: The study enrolled 29 patients, with adequate TTEcho evaluations in all patients. There were very strong correlations between CO-TTEcho and CO-PiCCO (r = 0.845, P < .001) and SV-TTEcho and SV-PiCCO (r = 0.800, P < .001). TTEcho estimations for CO and SV were feasible within the limits of agreement in 96.6% (28/29) compared to PiCCO. The mean difference between CO-PiCCO and CO-TTEcho was 0.250 L/min (limits of agreement: -1.083 to 1.583 L/min, percentage error: 21.0%), and between SV-PiCCO and SV-TTEcho was 2.000 mL (limits of agreement: -16.960 to 20.960, percentage error: 24.3%). The reduced cardiac index (CI) measurements by TTEcho showed an accuracy of 89.7% (95% IC: 72.6%-97.8%) and an F1 score of 92.7% (95% IC: 75.0%-98.0%), considering the CI-PiCCO as the gold standard. CONCLUSION: Echocardiographic measurements of CO and SV are comparable to measurements by PiCCO. These results reinforce echocardiography as a reliable tool to evaluate hemodynamics in critically ill patients.

Rationale for Adsorption in Extracorporeal Blood Purification.

A strong rationale supports the development of adsorption-based extracorporeal blood purification in conditions such as sepsis, acute kidney disease, uremia, and acute liver failure. The retention of compounds as a consequence of acute or chronic organ dysfunction might have detrimental effects. When a causative effect of an accumulated compound in a pathogenic condition is demonstrated, a rationale for the removal of this solute is also established. Adsorption is a mass transfer mechanism in which a solute chemically interacts with the surface of a solid structure (sorbent) and is removed from its solvent (i.e., blood or plasma). Traditional extracorporeal blood purification techniques utilize semipermeable membranes and depend mainly on diffusion and convection as mechanisms of mass transfer. Protein-bound solutes and water-soluble compounds with molecular weight above 25 kDa are scantly removed by either diffusive or convective clearances. In contrast, recently developed resins have demonstrated safety aligned with notable adsorptive capability, which enables the extraction of endotoxins, inflammatory mediators, and uremic toxins. The understanding of the kinetics of these elements and the improvement in patient selection are key factors to propel exploratory and confirmatory trials that ultimately will lead to the expected changes in clinical practice.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and clinical outcomes in 19,697 patients with atrial fibrillation: Analyses from ENGAGE AF- TIMI 48 trial.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is the ratio between neutrophil and lymphocyte counts measured in peripheral blood. NLR is easily calculable based on a routine blood test available worldwide and may reflect systemic inflammation. However, the relationship between NLR and clinical outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is not well-described. METHODS: We calculated NLR at baseline in ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48, a randomized trial comparing edoxaban versus warfarin in patients with AF followed for 2.8 years (median). The association of baseline NLR with major bleeding events, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), cardiovascular death, stroke/systemic embolism, and all-cause mortality were calculated. RESULTS: The median baseline NLR in 19,697 patients was 2.53 (interquartile range 1.89-3.41). NLR was associated with major bleeding events (HR 1.60; 95% CI 1.41-1.80), stroke/systemic embolism (HR 1.25; 95% CI, 1.09-1.44), MI (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.41-2.12), MACE (HR 1.70; 95% CI 1.56-1.84), CV (HR 1.93; 95% CI 1.74-2.13) and all-cause mortality (HR 2.00; 95% CI 1.83-2.18). The relationships between NLR and outcomes remained significant after adjustment for risk factors. Edoxaban consistently reduced major bleeding. MACE, and CV death across NLR groups vs. warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: NLR represents a widely available, simple, arithmetic calculation that could be immediately and automatically reported during a white blood cell differential measurement to identify patients with AF at increased risk of bleeding, CV events, and mortality.

Biomarker Prediction of Complex Coronary Revascularization Procedures in the FOURIER Trial.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers are known to predict major adverse cardiovascular events. However, the association of biomarkers with complex coronary revascularization procedures or high-risk coronary anatomy at the time of revascularization is not understood. OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations between baseline biomarkers and major coronary events (MCE) and complex revascularization procedures. METHODS: FOURIER was a randomized trial of the proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 inhibitor evolocumab vs placebo in 27,564 patients with stable atherosclerosis. We analyzed adjusted associations among the biomarkers, MCE (coronary death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization), and complex revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft or complex percutaneous coronary intervention) using a multimarker score with 1 point assigned for each elevated biomarker (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L; N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide ≥450 pg/mL; high-sensitivity troponin I ≥6 ng/L; growth-differentiation factor-15 ≥1,800 pg/mL). RESULTS: When patients were grouped by the number of elevated biomarkers (0 biomarkers, n = 6,444; 1-2 biomarkers, n = 12,439; ≥3 biomarkers, n = 2,761), there was a significant graded association between biomarker score and the risk of MCE (intermediate score: HRadj: 1.57 [95% CI: 1.38-1.78]; high score: HRadj: 2.90 [95% CI: 2.47-3.40]), and for complex revascularization (intermediate: HRadj: 1.33 [95% CI: 1.06-1.67]; high score: HRadj: 2.07 [95% CI: 1.52-2.83]) and its components (Ptrend <0.05 for each). The number of elevated biomarkers also correlated with the presence of left main disease, multivessel disease, or chronic total occlusion at the time of revascularization (P < 0.05 for each). CONCLUSIONS: A biomarker-based strategy identifies stable patients at risk for coronary events, including coronary artery bypass graft surgery and complex percutaneous coronary intervention, and predicts high-risk coronary anatomy at the time of revascularization. These findings provide insight into the relationships between cardiovascular biomarkers, coronary anatomical complexity, and incident clinical events. (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research With PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects With Elevated Risk [FOURIER]; NCT01764633).

Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Admitted to Contemporary Cardiac Intensive Care Units: Insights From the CCCTN Registry.

BACKGROUND: With the improvement in outcomes for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the practice of routine admission to cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) is evolving. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of patients with ACS admitted to contemporary CICUs. METHODS: Using the CCCTN (Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network) Registry for consecutive medical CICU admissions across 26 advanced CICUs in North America between 2017 and 2020, we identified patients with a primary diagnosis of ACS at CICU admission and compared patient characteristics, resource utilization, and outcomes to patients admitted with a non-ACS diagnosis and across sub-populations of patients with ACS, including by indication for CICU admission. RESULTS: Of 10 118 CICU admissions, 29.4% (n=2978) were for a primary diagnosis of ACS, with significant interhospital variability (range, 13.4%-56.6%). Compared with patients admitted with a diagnosis other than ACS, patients with ACS had fewer comorbidities, lower acute severity of illness with less utilization of advanced CICU therapies (41.3% versus 66.1%, P<0.0001), and lower CICU mortality (5.4% versus 9.9%, P<0.0001). Monitoring alone, without another CICU indication at the time of admission, was the most frequent admission indication in patients with ACS (53.8%); less common indications in patients with ACS included respiratory insufficiency, shock, or the need for vasoactive therapy. Of patients with ACS admitted for monitoring alone, 94.8% did not subsequently require advanced intensive care unit therapies and had a low CICU length of stay (1.5 days [0.9-2.4] versus 2.6 [1.4-5.1], P<0.0001) and CICU mortality (0.6% versus 11.0%, P<0.0001), compared with patients with ACS with an admission indication beyond monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: In a registry of tertiary care CICUs, ACS represent ≈1/3 of all admissions with significant variability across hospitals. More than half of the ACS admissions to the CICU were for routine monitoring alone, with a low rate of complications and mortality. This observation highlights an opportunity for prospective studies to refine triage strategies for lower risk patients with ACS.

Effect of Evolocumab in Patients With Prior Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at high residual risk for multiple types of coronary events within and beyond the stented lesion. This risk might be mitigated by more intensive LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol)-lowering beyond just with statin therapy. METHODS: FOURIER (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research With PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects With Elevated Risk) randomized 27 564 patients with stable atherosclerotic disease on statin to the PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9) inhibitor evolocumab or placebo with a median follow-up of 2.2 years. The end points of interest were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina or coronary revascularization), and major coronary events (a composite of coronary heart death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization). We compared the risk of MACE and the magnitude of relative and absolute risk reductions with evolocumab in patients with and without prior PCI. RESULTS: Seventeen thousand seventy-three patients had prior PCI. In the placebo arm, those with prior PCI had higher rates of MACE (13.2% versus 8.3%; hazard ratio [HR]adj 1.61 [95% CI, 1.42-1.84]; P<0.0001) and major coronary events (11.5% versus 6.0%; HRadj, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.49-1.99]; P<0.0001). Relative risk reductions with evolocumab were similar in patients with and without prior PCI (MACE: HR, 0.84 [0.77-0.91] versus HR, 0.88 [0.77-1.01]; Pinteraction 0.51; major coronary events: HR, 0.82 [0.75-0.90] versus HR, 0.88 [0.75-1.04]; Pinteraction 0.42). Absolute risk reductions for MACE were 2.0% versus 0.9% (Pinteraction 0.14) and for major coronary events 2.0% versus 0.7% (Pinteraction 0.045). In those with prior PCI, the effect of evolocumab on coronary revascularization (HR, 0.76 [0.69-0.85]) was directionally consistent across types of revascularization procedures: coronary artery bypass grafting (HR, 0.71 [0.54-0.94]); any PCI (HR, 0.77 [0.69-0.86]); PCI for de novo lesions (HR, 0.76 [0.66-0.88]); and PCI for stent failure or graft lesions (HR, 0.76 [0.63-0.91]). CONCLUSIONS: Evolocumab reduces the risk of MACE in patients with prior PCI including the risk of coronary revascularization, with directionally consistent effects across several types of revascularization procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting and PCI for stent or graft failure. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT01764633.

End-of-life care in the cardiac intensive care unit: a contemporary view from the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) Registry.

AIMS: Increases in life expectancy, comorbidities, and survival with complex cardiovascular conditions have changed the clinical profile of the patients in cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). In this environment, palliative care (PC) services are increasingly important. However, scarce information is available about the delivery of PC in CICUs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network (CCCTN) Registry is a network of tertiary care CICUs in North America. Between 2017 and 2020, up to 26 centres contributed an annual 2-month snapshot of all consecutive medical CICU admissions. We captured code status at admission and the decision for comfort measures only (CMO) before all deaths in the CICU. Of 13 422 patients, 10% died in the CICU and 2.6% were discharged to palliative hospice. Of patients who died in the CICU, 68% were CMO at death. In the CMO group, only 13% were do not resuscitate/do not intubate at admission. The median time from CICU admission to CMO decision was 3.4 days (25th-75th percentiles: 1.2-7.7) and ≥7 days in 27%. Time from CMO decision to death was <24 h in 88%, with a median of 3.8 h (25th-75th 1.0-10.3). Before a CMO decision, 78% received mechanical ventilation and 26% mechanical circulatory support. A PC provider team participated in the care of 41% of patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary CICU registry, comfort measures preceded death in two-thirds of cases, frequently without PC involvement. The high utilization of advanced intensive care unit therapies and lengthy times to a CMO decision highlight a potential opportunity for early engagement of PC teams in CICU.

Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19: An Analysis From the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network.

BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure (HF) is an important complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has been hypothesized to relate to inflammatory activation. METHODS: We evaluated consecutive intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for COVID-19 across 6 centers in the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network, identifying patients with vs without acute HF. Acute HF was subclassified as de novo vs acute-on-chronic, based on the absence or presence of prior HF. Clinical features, biomarker profiles and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Of 901 admissions to an ICU due to COVID-19, 80 (8.9%) had acute HF, including 18 (2.0%) with classic cardiogenic shock (CS) and 37 (4.1%) with vasodilatory CS. The majority (n = 45) were de novo HF presentations. Compared to patients without acute HF, those with acute HF had higher cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptide levels and similar inflammatory biomarkers; patients with de novo HF had the highest cardiac troponin levels. Notably, among patients critically ill with COVID-19, illness severity (median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, 8 [IQR, 5-10] vs 6 [4-9]; P = 0.025) and mortality rates (43.8% vs 32.4%; P = 0.040) were modestly higher in patients with vs those without acute HF. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients critically ill with COVID-19, acute HF is distinguished more by biomarkers of myocardial injury and hemodynamic stress than by biomarkers of inflammation.

Effect of Evolocumab on Complex Coronary Disease Requiring Revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the ability of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor evolocumab to reduce the risk of complex coronary atherosclerosis requiring revascularization. BACKGROUND: PCSK9 inhibitors induce plaque regression and reduce the risk of coronary revascularization overall. METHODS: FOURIER (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research with PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects with Elevated Risk) was a randomized trial of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab versus placebo in 27,564 patients with stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease on statin therapy followed for a median of 2.2 years. Clinical documentation of revascularization events was blindly reviewed to assess coronary anatomy and procedural characteristics. Complex revascularization was the composite of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (as per previous analyses, ≥1 of: multivessel PCI, ≥3 stents, ≥3 lesions treated, bifurcation PCI, or total stent length >60 mm) or coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). RESULTS: In this study, 1,724 patients underwent coronary revascularization, including 1,482 who underwent PCI, 296 who underwent CABG, and 54 who underwent both. Complex revascularization was performed in 632 (37%) patients. Evolocumab reduced the risk of any coronary revascularization by 22% (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.86; p < 0.001), simple PCI by 22% (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.88; p < 0.001), complex PCI by 33% (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54 to 0.84; p < 0.001), CABG by 24% (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.96; p = 0.019), and complex revascularization by 29% (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.84; p < 0.001). The magnitude of the risk reduction with evolocumab in complex revascularization tended to increase over time (20%, 36%, and 41% risk reductions in the first, second, and beyond second years). CONCLUSIONS: Adding evolocumab to statin therapy significantly reduced the risk of developing complex coronary disease requiring revascularization, including complex PCI and CABG individually. (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research with PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects with Elevated Risk (FOURIER); NCT01764633.).

Clevidipine for hypertensive emergency. / O uso de clevidipina em emergência hipertensiva.

Hypertensive emergency, is the most severe presentation of arterial hypertension, having high morbidity-mortality. Clevidipine is a calcium channel blocker. Its pharmacokinetics is favorable to use for hypertensive emergencies, rendering this drug a promising alternative to the restricted therapeutic armamentarium available both in the emergency room and intensive care unit. In this review we describe the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and clinical trials evaluating Clevidipine in emergency situations, comparing this drug to other traditionally used drugs in this condition.

A organização da Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional no Sistema Único de Saúde: histórico e desafios atuais / Organization of Food and Nutritional Surveillance within the Brazilian National Health System: history and current challenges

A Política Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição ressalta a importância do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional - SISVAN, que se destina à identificação do diagnóstico descritivo e analítico da situação alimentar e nutricional da população brasileira, contribuindo para que se conheça a natureza e a magnitude dos problemas nutricionais do país. Este artigo visa apresentar o histórico das ações da Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional no Brasil, desde sua idealização até a prática atual, destacando a superação das limitações encontradas ao longo dos anos, o fortalecimento obtido por meio dos marcos legais e os desafios enfrentados neste momento. Entende-se hoje que o SISVAN só pode ser conduzido utilizando-se uma combinação de estratégias, sendo as principais: o sistema informatizado do SISVAN, os inquéritos populacionais, as Chamadas Nutricionais, a análise das bases de dados nacionais da saúde, o acesso à produção científica e o financiamento de pesquisas sobre o tema.

A organização da Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional no Sistema Único de Saúde: histórico e desafios atuais / Organization of Food and Nutritional Surveillance within the Brazilian National Health System: history and current challenges

A Política Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição ressalta a importância do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional - SISVAN, que se destina à identificação do diagnóstico descritivo e analítico da situação alimentar e nutricional da população brasileira, contribuindo para que se conheça a natureza e a magnitude dos problemas nutricionais do país. Este artigo visa apresentar o histórico das ações da Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional no Brasil, desde sua idealização até a prática atual, destacando a superação das limitações encontradas ao longo dos anos, o fortalecimento obtido por meio dos marcos legais e os desafios enfrentados neste momento. Entende-se hoje que o SISVAN só pode ser conduzido utilizando-se uma combinação de estratégias, sendo as principais: o sistema informatizado do SISVAN, os inquéritos populacionais, as Chamadas Nutricionais, a análise das bases de dados nacionais da saúde, o acesso à produção científica e o financiamento de pesquisas sobre o tema.(AU)

Influence of environmental temperature, dietary energy level and sex on performance and carcass characteristics of pigs

Pigs are quite sensitive to high environmental temperatures and the thermoregulation mechanisms represent great expenses in energy for heating loss, reducing animal well-being and production performance,and altering carcass quality. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of sex and dietary energy level in growing-finishing pigs submitted to characteristic seasonal variation of temperature in sub tropical humid climate, and to propose a mathematical model to predict growth performance and carcass characteristics. Twenty-eight crossbred growing-finishing pigs were randomly allotted to twelve treatments, in a 2x2x3 factorial trial (2 sex; 2 environmental conditions,and 3 energy levels). Heat stress condition (climatic chamber) showed temperatures of 31 ºC at 7:00 and 22ºC at 17:00 (maximum of 33 °C) and thermal comfort condition (stall) showed temperatures of 18 °Cat 7:00 and 24 °C (maximum of 27 °C). Pigs were fed ad libitum with diets containing 12.2 (low), 13.6 (medium) and 15.0 (high) MJ ME/kg DM. Voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weigh twere higher (P<0.01) at thermal comfort condition and were influenced by sex (P<0.01) in growing pigs. Feed to gain ratio decreasedas the energy level increased (P<0.01), with values of 2.67, 2.59, and2.32 (12.2, 13.6, and 15.0 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively). There was energy level and sex interaction only for daily weight gain. Regarding finishing pigs, environmental conditions also showed effects (P<0.01)on voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight. Performance of pigs was better at thermal comfort condition. Feed togain ratio values were 3.55, 3.42, and 2.95 for low, medium, and high energy level, respectively. Interactions between energy level and sex were observed for voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight (P<0.05). Carcass yield and quality were affected...

Suínos são sensíveis a altas temperaturas e os mecanismos de termorregulação representam custos energéticos direcionados à perda de calor corporal, reduzindo o bem-estar e o desempenho produtivo,e alterando a qualidade de carcaça. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliados efeitos do sexo e do nível energético da dieta em suínos em crescimento-terminação submetidos às variações sazonais de temperatura características de clima subtropical úmido e propor um modelo matemático que prediga o desempenho dos animais e características de carcaça. Vinte e oito leitões mestiços foram distribuídos aleatoriamente a 12 tratamentos em arranjo fatorial 2x2x3 (2 sexos, 2 condições ambientais e 3 níveis de energia na dieta). A condição de estresse calórico (câmara climática) apresentou temperaturas de 31 °Càs 7:00 e 22 °C às 17:00 (com máxima de 33 °C) e a condição de conforto térmico (galpão) apresentou temperaturas de 18 °C às 7:00 e24 °C às 17:00 (com máxima de 27 °C). Os animais foram alimentados ad libitum com dietas contendo 12,2 (baixo), 13,6 (médio) e 15,0 (alto)MJ EM/kg MS. O consumo voluntário de ração, ganho de peso diário e peso corporal final foram maiores (P<0,01) na condição de conforto térmico e sofreram influências do sexo (P<0,01) para os suínos em crescimento. A conversão alimentar decresceu conforme aumentou a energia da dieta (P<0,01), com valores de 2,67, 2,59 e2,32 (para 12,2, 13,6 e 15,0 MJ EM / kg MS, respectivamente). Houve interação entre nível dietético de energia e sexo somente para ganho diário de peso. Para os suínos em terminação, também se observou efeito da condição ambiental (P<0,01) sobre o consumo voluntário de ração, ganho diário de peso e peso corporal final, com o desempenho dos animais sendo melhor na condição de conforto térmico. Os valores de conversão alimentar foram 3,55:1, 3,42:1 e 2,95:1 para níveis deenergia baixo, médio e alto, respectivamente. Foram observadas interações entre nível ...

Environmental temperature and serum cortisol levels In growing-finishing pigs / Temperatura ambiente e concentrações séricas de cortisol em suínos em crescimento-terminação

Thirty-six castrated males and females Landrace x Large-White pigs(74 to 149 days of age) were randomly allotted to two environmental conditions: high temperature in a climatic chamber (HT; 22.2 to 32.8ºC) and comfort temperature in a conventional shed (CT; 17.6 to 26.6ºC), with night-and-day variations. Blood samples were weekly collected from animals of both HT and CT conditions for determination of serum cortisol levels. Cortisol levels of both sexes were not different, and there was no interaction with environmental temperature. Pigs of HT showed significantly higher average cortisol level (P<0.01) than the CT ones (7.06 and 4.82 mg/dL, respectively).Increasing in serum cortisol was continuous and linear (P<0.05) during the experimental period, suggesting the cortisol as a possible indicator of the heat stress in growing-finishing pigs.

Trinta e seis suínos Landrace x Large-White machos castrados e fêmeas(74 a 149 dias de idade) foram distribuídos em duas condições de temperatura ambiente: temperatura alta em câmara climática (HT;22,2-32,8 ºC) e temperatura de conforto em galpão convencional (CT;17,6-26,6 ºC), em variação diuturna. Semanalmente foram obtidas amostras de sangue dos animais de ambos os tratamentos para determinação das concentrações séricas de cortisol. Os níveis de cortisol não foram significativamente diferentes entre os sexos, assim como não se observou interação entre sexo e temperatura ambiente. Os suínos do grupo HT apresentaram concentrações médias de cortisol significativamente mais altos (P<0,01) que os do grupo CT (7,06 e4,82 mg/dL, respectivamente). Este aumento foi contínuo e linear(P<0,05) durante o período experimental, sugerindo que, para suíno sem crescimento-terminação, o cortisol pode ser um indicador da condição de estresse calórico.

Efeitos do incremento de fibra dietética sobre a digestibilidade, desempenho e características de carcaça: I. suínos em crescimento e terminação1 / Effects of increasing dietary fiber on digestibility, performance andcarcass characteristics: I. growing and finishing gilts

Objetivando avaliar os efeitos de ração fibrosa sobre parâmetros de digestibilidade dos nutrientes, dedesempenho produtivo e de características de carcaça, realizou-se o presente experimento, utilizando 24suínos mestiços, durante as fases de crescimento e terminação, em delineamento blocos inteiramentecasualizados. Os animais foram alimentados à vontade com rações isonutrientes contendo incrementosde 0 ou 8% de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), obtidas através da inclusão de 0 ou 10% de feno de“coast-cross” (Cynodon dactylon). Na fase de crescimento, os tratamentos diferiram para a digestibilidadeda matéria seca, energia bruta, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente ácido com piora nos valores para aração com 8% de FDN. Na fase de terminação, houve diferença na digestibilidade para matéria seca,energia bruta, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido com redução nosíndices para a ração com 8% de FDN. A inclusão de 8% de FDN não alterou o peso corporal final, ganhode peso, conversão alimentar, rendimentos de carcaças quente e fria, rendimento de carne magra e áreade olho de lombo. Os resultados indicaram que o contínuo oferecimento de relativamente baixo teor deFDN alterou a digestibilidade dos componentes dietéticos da ração. Entretanto, como os parâmetrosreferentes ao desempenho animal e às características de carcaça não foram comprometidos, vislumbrasereal possibilidade de emprego de moderadas quantidades de materiais fibrosos na alimentação desuínos, nas fases de crescimento e terminação.

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of fibrous ration on parameters of nutrient digestibility, animal performance and carcass characteristics, using 24 crossbred gilts during growing and finishing phases in a completely randomized design experiment. The animals were fed ad libitum with isonutrients rations containing increments of 0 or 8% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), obtained through the inclusion of 0 or 10% coast cross grass hay (Cynodon dactylon). In the growing phase, treatments were different for dry matter, energy, crude protein and acid detergent fiber digestibilities with worsening in the valuesfor ration with 8% NDF. In the finishing phase, differences were detected on digestibility of dry matter, energy, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber with reduction on the rate for the ration with 8% of NDF. The inclusion of 8% NDF had no effect upon final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, yield of hot and chilled carcass, yield of lean meat and loin eye area. The results pointed out that continuous feeding of relatively low content of NDF altered the digestibility of dietary components of the meal. However, as animal performance and carcass characteristics were not compromised, it can be foreseen that moderate quantities of fibrous feedstuff can actually be used for feeding of gilts during the growing and finishing phases.

Efeito de diferentes densidades populacionais e do sexo sobre o desempenho e uniformidade em frangos de corte / Effect of different stocking rates and sex on the performance and uniformity of broilers

O experimento teve a finalidade de comparar o desempenho e uniformidade de frangos de corte separados por sexo e criados em diferentes densidades populacionais. Para tanto foram utilizados 1800 pintos de 01 dia da linhagem Ross, distribuídos em 36 parcelas experimentais (Boxes), de acordo com um delineamento experimental tipo blocos ao acaso, obedecendo um modelo fatorial 3x2 com 3 sexos (Machos, Fêmeas e Misto) e duas densidades populacionais (10 e 15 aves/m²), com 6 repetições por tratamento, sendo 40 ou 60 aves por repetição. As rações experimentais foram formuladas à base de milho e farelo de soja. Foram efetuadas medidas semanais de consumo de ração e peso dos animais, e ao final de 45 dias os animais foram abatidos. Ao final do período experimental, os resultados mostraram que os maiores valores de peso, consumo, Conversão Alimentar e Ganho Médio Diário foram verificados na menor taxa de lotação empregada, havendo significância estatística (p<0,05) para os itens: consumo (todos os períodos) e Conversão Alimentar (1-21 e 22-45 dias). Todavia, o incremento na taxa de lotação apresentou maiores viabilidade e uniformidade.Quanto aos sexos empregados, foram observados melhores valores para os machos, havendo diferença significativa (p<0,05) para peso corporal (21 e 45 dias), consumo (22-45 e 1-45 dias), Conversão Alimentar (1-45 dias) e Ganho Médio Diário.

This experiment was developed to compare the performance and uniformity of broilers chickens as related to sex and different stocking rates. 1800 one day Ross breed chicks were distributed in 36 boxes, on a completely randomized block design, 3x2 factorial, with 3 sex (male, female and mixed) and 2 stocking (10 and 15 birds/m²). There were six replications per treatment, with 40 or 60 birds per replication. The experimental ration was formulated with corn and soy bean meal. The results were taken weekly, and after 45 days the animals were slaughtered. The results showed an increase in weight, consumption food, food conversion and daily weight gain in the smaller stocking, with statistical significance (p<0,05) for: food consumption (all period) and food conversion (1-21 and 22-45 days). However, the increase in stocking showed better values in viability and uniformity. With regard the sex, better values were seen for males, with statistical significance (p<0,05) for weight (21 and 45 days), food consumption(22-45 and 1-45 days), food conversion (1-45 days) and daily weight gain.