Dietary contribution of iron from limestone and dicalcium phosphate for broiler chickens.

Iron is routinely supplemented in broiler feeds aiming to prevent dietary deficiencies. Limestone and phosphates are very rich in Fe; however, its contribution from these sources have not been thoroughly investigated with chickens. The present research was conducted to evaluate live performance and blood parameters of broilers when using limestone and dicalcium phosphate as sources of Fe. A total of 576 one-day-old male Cobb x Cobb 500 were allocated into a total of 72 battery cages, 6 treatments with 12 replication cages of 8 chicks at placement. Chicks were fed diets formulated with corn, soybean meal (SBM) with laboratory grade calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid (having traces of Fe). All chicks were fed a common prestarter without Fe supplementation (analyzed total 58.2 ± 2.4 mg/kg Fe) from placement to 7 d. Allocation of birds to dietary treatments was completely randomized on day 8. Treatments had increasing Fe derived from commercial limestone and dicalcium phosphate (analyzed Fe 7,218 and 4,783 mg/kg, respectively) progressively replacing calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid to provide graded increases in total Fe (analyzed Fe in the feeds were 57.6 ± 2.1, 92.0 ± 2.3, 124.1 ± 2.7, 159.3 ± 3.1, 187.2 ± 3.2, 223.7 ± 3.6 mg/kg, respectively). There were no effects of dietary Fe on live performance, hematocrit, and hemoglobin the end of the study on day 28 (P > 0.05). Increasing dietary Fe from commercial limestone and dicalcium phosphate led to a linear reduction in the percent ileal digestible Fe. However, linear increments in Fe retention, serum ferritin and liver Fe occurred when compared to feeds without Fe derived from limestone and phosphate dicalcium. It is concluded that Fe from limestone and dicalcium phosphate can be partially utilized by broiler chickens. It was estimated that the Fe retained from limestone and dicalcium phosphate is of 1.9%. Broilers fed corn-soy feeds (58.2 mg/kg Fe) do not require supplemental Fe.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus radiata essential oil against Escherichia coli strains isolated from meat products.

The present study sought to evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-adherent potential of Eucalyptus radiata essential oil against food-borne strains of Escherichia coli. The study was performed using the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). In addition, the disk diffusion technique was used to evaluate the association of Eucalyptus radiata essential oil with synthetic antimicrobials. The Minimum Inhibitory Adherence Concentration (MIC) was also performed. The results revealed that E. radiata showed antimicrobial activity against the E. coli strains tested, with MIC values ranging from 500 µg/mL to 1000 µg/mL and MBC values ranging from 500 µg/mL to 1,024 µg/mL. As for the associations, it was observed that E. radiata oil exhibited a synergistic effect for some antibiotics, especially Ceftriaxone, with greater interference from the essential oil. Furthermore, it was effective in inhibiting the adherence of bacterial strains of E. coli, showing a more significant antibiofilm effect than the antibacterial agent 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate. In summary, the essential oil of E. radiata showed antimicrobial potential against strains of E. coli of food origin, and can therefore, through in-depth studies, be used alone or in association with synthetic antimicrobials to combat infections caused by this pathogen.

Case study: Boomslang envenomation in North-Eastern South Africa.

Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) bites are rare in South Africa. This snake's venom is known to be potently haemotoxic, producing a consumptive coagulopathy through the activation of clotting factors II, X, and possibly IX. Monovalent Boomslang antivenom, produced by the South African Vaccine Producers, is highly effective in treating patients who present with haemotoxic envenomation. The majority of health care centres in South Africa do not stock this antivenom due to cost concerns and because envenomation from this snake is so infrequent; this may have lethal consequences for a patient presenting to any such a centre. The usual antivenom dose for effective treatment of a Boomslang bite is two 10 ml vials. We present a case of severe Boomslang envenomation, secondary to a man being bitten on bilateral upper limbs while inside his house, which required three vials of antivenom to treat effectively.

Chemical constituents and antifungal potential of Attalea geraensis Barb. Rodr. (Arecaceae) palm leaves, a species native to the Cerrado of Brazil.

Fungal diseases, especially those that affect the root systems of plants, caused by Rhizoctonia and Macrophomina are limiting factors for achieving high crop yields. Alternatives to controlling fungi with chemical products drive the search for new options for bioactive compounds from plants. Attalea geraensis, a palm tree from the Brazilian Cerrado, is rich in flavonoids with antifungal actions. The objective of this work is to identify the chemical classes present in the ethanolic extract of green leaves of A. geraensis and determine the antifungal potential of the extract against isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. and Rhizoctonia solani JG Kühn. Phytochemical prospection, flavonoid dereplication, and antifungal activity were carried out of the ethanolic extract of the green leaves of A. geraensis harvested in the Cerrado area of Brazil. Steroids, triterpenes, saponins, and anthraquinones are described here for the first time for the leaves of A. geraensis. The flavonoids quercetin, isorhamnetin, 3,7-dimethylquercetin, quercetin 3-galactoside, 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-{[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy}-4H-chromen-4-one, rhamnazin 3-galactoside, keioside, and rhamnazin 3-rutinoside were identified. Of these, only quercetin and isorhamnetin had already been identified in the leaves of A. geraensis. The results show a fungistatic potential for the species. The diversity of flavonoids present in the leaves of A. geraensis may be the result of a synergistic action between fungus and plant or there could be an antagonistic effect between flavonoids and the other identified chemical classes.

Antibacterial activity improvement of dental glass-ceramic by incorporation of AgVO3 nanoparticles.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the role of the incorporation of an antibacterial nanoceramic (AgVO3) on the properties of a restorative dental glass-ceramic. METHOD: A commercially available restorative glass-ceramic, commonly designated as porcelain (IPS d.SIGN) was functionalized with an antibacterial agent (nanostructured ß-AgVO3), synthesized by a hydrothermal route. Both functionalized and pristine samples were processed according to the manufacturer's instructions. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, particle size distribution, Scanning Electron Microscopy, chemical solubility, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy. Their antibacterial potential (Mueller-Hinton test) was analyzed against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). RESULTS: The commercial glass-ceramic showed leucite (KAlSi2O6) as the only detectable crystalline phase, and, for both strains, no antibacterial activity could be detected in the Mueller-Hinton agar plates test. A monophasic, needle-shaped, and nanometric ß-AgVO3 powder was successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route. After thermal treatment, glass-ceramic samples containing different percentages of ß-AgVO3 showed a second crystalline phase of microline [K0.95(AlSi3O8)]. For modified samples, inhibition halos were easily visible on the Mueller-Hinton test, which ranged from 11.1 ± 0.5 mm to 16.6 ± 0.5 mm and 12.7 ± 0.3 mm to 15.5 ± 0.3 mm in the S. aureus and E.coli cultures, respectively, showing that the halos formed were dose-dependent. Also, increasing the percentage of ß-AgVO3 promoted a significant increase in chemical solubility, from 72 µg/cm2 (samples with 1 wt% of ß-AgVO3) to 136 µg/cm2 (samples with 2 wt% of ß-AgVO3), which was associated with the silver and vanadium ions released from the glass matrix. SIGNIFICANCE: Our in vitro results indicate that IPS d.SIGN, as most of the dental glass-ceramics, do not exhibit antibacterial activity per se. Nonetheless, in this concept test, we demonstrated that it is possible to modify dental veneering materials giving them antibacterial properties by adding at least 2 wt% of ß-AgVO3, a nanomaterial easily synthesized by a simple route.

Insights on sperm assays and cryopreservation in six Neotropical pit vipers.

Breeding snakes in captivity has become more and more relevant due not only to the growing interest on their venoms but also to the increasing number of endangered species worldwide. Unfortunately, studies on the formation of germplasm banks for these reptiles do not follow the same pace, and literature on sperm cryopreservation remains in its infancy when compared to other taxa. Herein, we first validated a sperm-egg binding assay (using chicken egg perivitelline membrane - EPM) and some nonfluorescent staining techniques for semen analysis of two pit viper genera (Bothrops and Crotalus), and then we investigated the protective effects of dimethylacetamide (DMA), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at different concentrations (3, 6 and 12%) throughout the freezing process in five species of lancehead and one of rattlesnake. Our validation process showed high correlations among sperm functional tests (including sperm-binding to EPM) and motion parameters. A total of 166 fresh ejaculates were acquired from 233 collection attempts, and 63.9% of these samples exhibited minimal motility for freezing (≥20%). During cryopreservation we observed that post-thaw motility and quality was improved by higher levels of cryoprotectants (CPA), regardless the CPA type. Lower concentrations of CPA were less harmful to sperm motility and progressive motility following the equilibrium phase, but were ineffective in protecting these cells from the freeze-thaw cycle. Likewise, higher CPA concentrations increased post-thaw integrity of the acrosome and plasma membrane for most species, except for rattlesnakes in which only 12% DMSO produced better outcomes.

Erythrocyte-derived liposomes for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Effective and safe therapies to counteract persistent inflammation are necessary. We developed erythrocyte-derived liposomes (EDLs) with intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity. The EDLs were prepared using lipids extracted from erythrocyte membranes, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids with several health benefits. Diclofenac, a widely used anti-inflammatory drug, was incorporated into EDLs in relevant therapeutic concentrations. The EDLs were also functionalised with folic acid to allow their active targeting of M1 macrophages, which are key players in inflammatory processes. In the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, empty EDLs and EDLs incorporating diclofenac were able to reduce the levels of important pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-6 (IL-6; ≈85% and 77%, respectively) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α; ≈64% and 72%, respectively). Strikingly, cytocompatible concentrations of EDLs presented similar effects to dexamethasone, a potent anti-inflammatory drug, in reducing IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations, demonstrating the EDLs potential to be used as bioactive carriers in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Chicken liver morphology as affected by feed withdrawal time and dietary aflatoxins.

1. An investigation was conducted on the effects of aflatoxin (AFL)-contaminated diets and feed withdrawal periods from 0 to 12 h in broiler chickens at 28 d of age. Both factors can potentially affect liver colour and can cause failure at veterinary inspection in the slaughterhouse.2. A total of 240, one-d-old female Cobb 500 broiler chickens were fed a common corn-soy pre-starters (d 1-7) and then either a non-contaminated control (CON) or feed with 1 ppm AFL (AFL) from d 8 to 28. The inoculum of AFL had 792 ppb of aflatoxin B1, 35 ppb of aflatoxin B2 and 219 ppb of aflatoxin G1. On d 28, all broilers were weighed and euthanised for necropsy following three different feed withdrawal time periods (0, 6 or 12 h), in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement.3. Body weight gain, liver weight and liver fat content decreased as feed withdrawal lengthened, whereas FCR and gallbladder weight increased (P ≤ 0.05). AFL-fed birds had reduced body weight and proportion of liver fat and increased FCR, liver and gallbladder weights (P ≤ 0.05).4. Livers from fed broilers (0 h withdrawal) showed more lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) than livers of broilers from 6 or 12 h withdrawal (P ≤ 0.05). The L* and redness (a*) values of livers from broilers fed diets COB were lower than those from AFL fed broilers (P ≤ 0.05).5. Prolonging pre-slaughter feed withdrawal decreased liver L*, whereas feeding AFL increased liver b*. These findings can be used to support veterinary assessment in slaughterhouses as shackled birds move on line through the inspection site. Since chicken liver is a valuable organ and an indicator of animal health, attention must be paid to these differences to ensure consumer safety.

Progressive in vivo detection of wooden breast in broilers as affected by dietary energy and protein.

Wooden breast (WB) myopathy was investigated in broilers fed varying energy and protein at early ages. Correlation analyses were conducted between echogenicity of ultrasound images (US) of breast muscle from live birds and WB after slaughter. A total of 1,000 Cobb 500 one-day-old male chicks were fed on five dietary programs with eight replicates of 25 birds each, in a completely randomized design. Control feeds (commercially used ME and ideally balanced amino acids) or low-density feeds (low EP, with reductions of 50 kcal/kg ME and 0.20% dig. Lys compared to the control) were formulated. Feeds were provided in different periods: 1 to 7 d, 8 to 14 d, 15 to 21 d or 22 to 28 d. All broilers were fed a common basal diet thereafter until 49 d. Images using US were obtained once a week from all individuals and WB scored from one slaughtered bird per replication (0, normal; 1, mild hardening in the upper breast muscle; 2; moderate hardening in the upper and/or lower breast muscle; 3, severe hardening; 4, severe hardening with hemorrhagic lesions and yellow fluid). Blood was collected for enzyme investigation from the weekly slaughtered bird. Broilers had lower BWG and higher FCR when fed low EP feeds, regardless of the period fed when compared to the control (P < 0.001). Growth compensation, however, occurred afterwards such that all birds presented similar performance at the end. At 14, 21, and 28 d, broilers previously fed low EP feeds had lower WB scores (P < 0.001) compared to birds fed the control; however, both groups presented increased WB scores after 28 d. Wooden breast was positively correlated with breast echogenicity at 21 d (r = 0.31), 28 d (r = 0.43), 35 d (r = 0.21) and 42 d (r = 0.39). In conclusion, dietary energy and protein affected the development of WB scores in broilers and breast US images can be used as an early predictor of WB.

Transfusion transmissible pathogens are prevalent in healthy cats eligible to become blood donors.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prevalence of subclinical infectious agents considered core pathogens for worldwide screening in healthy, client-owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors in Spain and Portugal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples of healthy, indoor, domestic cats selected to be potential blood donors were tested for feline leukaemia virus antigens, feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies and polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, Leishmania spp. and Bartonella spp. Not all donors were tested for all agents. RESULTS: Overall, 5105 healthy indoor cats were tested and 8.1% (414/5105) had at least one subclinical infectious agent that is transmissible through blood product transfusion. 1.5% (77/5105) were positive for feline leukaemia virus antigens and 2.9% (148/5105) were positive for feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, therefore they were excluded as donors. The overall prevalence of haemoplasmas in feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus SNAP-negative feline blood donors was 3.7% (181/4880) [1.3% (63/4880) were positive for Mycoplasma haemofelis; 2.3% (112/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 0.12% (6/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis]. The prevalence of feline leukaemia provirus was 5.2% (9/173) and of Bartonella spp. was 0.2% (2/1122). None of the 173 cats were positive for Leishmania spp. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of many transfusion transmissible pathogens was relatively high in this healthy, client-owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors. Performing an extended screening panel that includes at least polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, and Bartonella spp., in addition to feline leukaemia virus antigens and feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, is recommended in pet blood banks from analogous regions.

Potência e desafios: clínica psicanalítica online na saúde pública em pandemia / Potency and challenges: online psychoanalytic work in pandemic public health / Potencia y desafios: clínica psicoanalítica en línea en salud pública en pandemia / Puissance et défis: pandémie dans la santé publique et des réflexions concernant la clinique en ligne

RESUMO Pretendemos aqui discutir as peculiaridades da clínica em saúde pública junto a crianças e suas famílias durante a pandemia, considerando os impasses impostos pelo isolamento social e o acolhimento oferecido, mostrando a potência dos atendimentos online. Em contexto público já precário antes da covid-19, enfatizamos a valorização do trabalho clínico e da discussão psicanalítica para colaborar para a saúde institucional no oferecimento de nossos serviços à comunidade. Apresentam-se vinhetas clínicas ilustrativas.

ABSTRACT We intend here to discuss the peculiarities of the community health clinical services with children and their families during the pandemic, considering the impasses imposed by social isolation and the containment offered, showing the power of online sessions. In a public context already precarious before covid-19, we emphasize the relevance of clinical work and psychoanalytic discussion to collaborate for institutional health in offering our services to the community. Clinical vignettes are presented.

RESUMEN Aquí tenemos la intención de discutir las peculiaridades de la clínica de salud pública con los niños y sus familias durante la pandemia, teniendo en cuenta los interrogantes impuestos por el aislamiento social y la recepción ofrecida, mostrando el poder del trabajo en línea. En un contexto público ya precario antes de covid-19, enfatizamos la valorización del trabajo clínico y la discusión psicoanalítica para colaborar por la salud institucional en la oferta de nuestros servicios a la comunidad. Se presentan viñetas clínicas ilustrativas.

RESUMÉ On a l'intention de discuter ici les singularités de la clinique en santé clinique auprès des enfants et leurs familles pendant la pandémie, toute en considérant les impasses imposées par la distanciation sociale et les accueils offerts, et en démontrant la puissance des soins en ligne. Dans un contexte public déjà précaire avant le covid-19, nous soulignons la mise en valeur du travail clinique et de la discussion psychanalytique pour contribuer à la santé institutionnelle en offrant nos services à la communauté. On présente des vignettes cliniques pour illustrer.

Manganese requirements of broiler breeder hens.

The present research was conducted to assess Mn requirements of broiler breeder hens. One hundred and twenty Cobb 500 hens, 22 wk of age, were individually allocated in cages. After fed a Mn-deficient diet (22.2 ppm), hens were randomly placed in treatments having 6 increments of 30-ppm Mn. All trace minerals were from laboratory grade sources being Mn from Mn sulfate (MnSO4H2O). Treatments were fed for 4 periods of 28 d. There were no interactions between dietary Mn and period for any evaluated response (P > 0.05). Requirements of Mn for hen day egg production and settable egg production were 115.8 and 56.6 ppm and 122.1 and 63.6 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively, using quadratic polynomial (QP) and broken line quadratic (BLQ) models, whereas total eggs and total settable eggs per hen had Mn requirements estimated at 115.7 and 56.6 and 121.8 and 61.7 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively. Number of cracked, defective, and contaminated eggs decreased, whereas hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, eggshell percentage, and eggshell palisade layer increased when hens were fed diets having 48.5 to 168.2-ppm Mn (P < 0.05). Maximum responses for egg weight and eggshell percentage were 117.7 and 63.6 ppm as well as 131.6 and 71.0 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively, using QP and BLQ models. Breaking strength and egg specific gravity had Mn requirements estimated at 140.2 and 112.7 ppm as well as 131.3 68.5 ppm (P < 0.05), whereas eggshell palisade layer and eggshell thickness were maximized with 128.8 and 68.8 ppm and 140.2 134.2 ppm, respectively, for QP and BLQ models (P < 0.05). Maximum yolk Mn content values were obtained using 118.0- and 118.4-ppm Mn by QP and BLQ models, respectively. The average Mn requirements estimated for QP and BLQ models is 128.4 and 92.3 ppm Mn (18.7 and 13.5 mg/hen/d), respectively, which is much lower than what has been currently recommended in commercial production.

Intervenção nas relações iniciais em tempos de pandemia: relato de experiência diante das possibilidades da clínica online / Precocious intervention in a time of pandemic: experience report on the possibilities of online clinic / Intervención temprana en tiempos de pandemia: relato de una experiencia frente a las posibilidades de la clínica online / Intervention dans les relations initiales en temps de pandémie: récit d'expérience face aux possibilités de la clinique en ligne

RESUMO Diante de um cenário em que o distanciamento social se tornou imperativo de ordem e saúde, as atividades virtuais passaram a ser priorizadas. O cuidado passa a ocupar os discursos e ações, tornando assim essencial que conheçamos novos dispositivos capazes de oferecer continência e sustentação, para dar continuidade a nossa clínica. Em especial na clínica com bebês e crianças pequenas, essa questão se amplifica por seu caráter preventivo e constitutivo. Ela deve ser um direito garantido que não pode esperar. Trata-se de um relato de experiência de intervenção nas relações iniciais da primeiríssima infância, realizada durante a pandemia de covid-19, à luz da psicanálise. Serão apresentadas vinhetas de um atendimento presencial e sua continuidade online, a fim de elucidar as possibilidades clínicas desse trabalho não presencial, mas nem por isso remoto.

ABSTRACT Facing a scenario in which social distance became imperative for discipline and health, virtual activities started to be prioritized. Care started to occupy discourses and actions, thus making it essential that we know new devices capable of offering continence and support, to continue our clinic. Especially the clinic with babies and young children, this issue is amplified by its preventive and constitutive aspect. It must be a right to be guaranteed and it cannot wait. This is an account of the experience of intervention in the early relationships of very early childhood, carried out during the pandemic of covid-19, in the light of psychoanalysis. Vignettes of face-to-face assistance and their online continuity will be presented in order to elucidate the clinical possibilities of this non-face-to-face, but not so remote work.

RESUMEN Frente a un escenario donde el distanciamiento social se tornó un imperativo de orden y salud, pasaron a ser prioridad las actividades virtuales. El cuidado pasa a ocupar los discursos y guiar las acciones, haciendo, de esta forma, esencial, que conozcamos nuevos dispositivos capaces de ofrecer fortaleza y sustentabilidad para dar continuidad a nuestra clínica. Esta cuestión se amplifica especialmente en la clínica con bebés y niños, dado su carácter preventivo y constitutivo. La misma es un derecho que debe ser garantizado y no puede esperar. Se trata de un relato de una experiencia de intervención en el vínculo temprano en la primerísima infancia, realizada durante la pandemia de la covid-19, a la luz del psicoanálisis. Serán presentadas viñetas de una sesión presencial y su continuidad online, con el objetivo de dilucidar las posibilidades clínicas de este trabajo no presencial, pero, no por eso, remoto.

RÉSUMÉ Face à un scénario où la distanciation sociale est devenue un impératif d'ordre et de santé, les activités virtuelles sont désormais priorisées. Les soins commencent à occuper les discours et les actions, rendant ainsi essentiel la connaissance de nouveaux dispositifs capables d'offrir continence et soutien, pour assurer la continuité de notre clinique. Dans la clinique des bébés et des jeunes enfants, en particulier, cette question s'amplifie en raison de son caractère préventif et constitutif. Cela doit être un droit à garantir qui ne peut pas attendre. Il s'agit ici d'un compte rendu d'une expérience d'intervention dans les relations initiales de la plus petite enfance, menée pendant la pandémie du covid-19, à la lumière de la psychanalyse. On présentera des vignettes d'un service en face-à-face et de sa continuité en ligne, afin d'élucider les possibilités cliniques de ce travail non pas en présence, mais ni pour autant distant.

An in vivo evaluation of the effects of feed restriction regimens on wooden breast using ultrasound images as a predictive tool.

1. Gradual feed restriction was applied to broilers in order to reduce growth rate and, as a consequence, gradually impacts wooden breast myopathy occurrence. Ultrasound (US) images of breast muscle in live birds were correlated with breast fillets presenting wooden breast characteristics (WB). 2. A total of 1800 Cobb × Cobb 500 slow-feathering male chicks were fed one of the six feed restriction treatments with 12 replicates of 25 birds each, in a completely randomised design. Birds were fed ad libitum or were pair-fed to 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% of normal ad libitum intakes from 8 to 49 d to provide a gradual reduction in growth rate. Ultrasound images were obtained weekly from all birds and, in parallel, one bird per pen was weekly slaughtered and the major breast muscle was weighed and WB graded as 0 (normal), 1 (mild hardening in the upper), 2 (moderate hardening in the upper and/or lower), 3 (severe hardening) and 4 (severe hardening with haemorrhagic lesions and yellow fluid). Blood was taken for analysis of enzymes related to muscle cell breakdown. 3. Feed restriction applied at 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of the ad libitum feed intake (FI) resulted in decreased body weight gain (BWG; P ≤ 0.05). 4. From 21 to 49 d, the increasing feed restriction led to linear increases (P ≤ 0.05) in WB scores, fibre density as well as breast depth and breast echogenicity. Creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase concentration decreased linearly when broilers were feed restricted (P ≤ 0.05). 5. Wooden breast was positively correlated with echogenicity at 21 d (r = 0.510), 28 (r = 0.531), 35 (r = 0.470), 42 (r = 0.430) and 49 d (r = 0.548) (P ≤ 0.001). The use of breast echogenicity can be an additional tool to early detect alterations related to wooden breast.

Translating research findings into clinical practice: a systematic and critical review of neuroimaging-based clinical tools for brain disorders.

A pivotal aim of psychiatric and neurological research is to promote the translation of the findings into clinical practice to improve diagnostic and prognostic assessment of individual patients. Structural neuroimaging holds much promise, with neuroanatomical measures accounting for up to 40% of the variance in clinical outcome. Building on these findings, a number of imaging-based clinical tools have been developed to make diagnostic and prognostic inferences about individual patients from their structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans. This systematic review describes and compares the technical characteristics of the available tools, with the aim to assess their translational potential into real-world clinical settings. The results reveal that a total of eight tools. All of these were specifically developed for neurological disorders, and as such are not suitable for application to psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, most of the tools were trained and validated in a single dataset, which can result in poor generalizability, or using a small number of individuals, which can cause overoptimistic results. In addition, all of the tools rely on two strategies to detect brain abnormalities in single individuals, one based on univariate comparison, and the other based on multivariate machine-learning algorithms. We discuss current barriers to the adoption of these tools in clinical practice and propose a checklist of pivotal characteristics that should be included in an "ideal" neuroimaging-based clinical tool for brain disorders.

Genetic causes of PD: A pathway to disease modification.

The underline neuropathology of Parkinson disease is pleiomorphic and its genetic background diverse. Possibly because of this heterogeneity, no effective disease modifying therapy is available. In this paper we give an overview of the genetics of Parkinson disease and explain how this is relevant for the development of new therapies. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'The Quest for Disease-Modifying Therapies for Neurodegenerative Disorders'.

Multiresidue analysis and evaluation of the matrix effect on 20 pesticides in Brazilian maize (Zea mays L.) flour.

Maize consists of a cereal widely used in the preparation of different food products. Brazil is one of the world's largest maize producers. Several types of pesticides have been applied in maize crop, which can lead to the contamination of the derived products. The present work aims at the validation of multiresidue method to analyze the matrix effect and level of pesticides in maize flour. Twenty residues were investigated in samples commercialized in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The method was satisfactorily validated, according to parameters recommended by European Union. About 55% of the pesticides had an intense negative matrix effect. Multiresidue analyzes showed the presence of traces of fenitrotion in 20% of maize flour samples. Detected levels were below maximum residue limits recommended for maize. The results indicate that maize products need continuous monitoring to ensure food security.

Utilization of corn-based diets supplemented with an exogenous α-amylase for broilers.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a supplemental α-amylase on energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed diets with variable amounts of corn. A total of 480 slow feathering Cobb × Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly distributed into 10 treatments with 8 replicates of 6 birds each. Birds were fed a common starter to 14 D post-hatch. The experimental diets were provided subsequently until 25 D, which were a conventional corn-soy basal diet (CS) and a corn-soy diet displaced with 40% of corn (CN). These were fed as-is or supplemented with 40, 80, 120, or 160 kilo-Novo α-amylase units (KNU)/kg. Dietary treatments were distributed factorially as a 2 × 5 arrangement (diet type vs. amylase). Samples of feed, excreta, and ileal digesta were analyzed for determination of ileal digestible energy (IDE), ME, total tract retention, and digestibility of dry matter, protein, and fat. No interactions between diet type and amylase were observed. The CN diet had lower (P < 0.05) energy utilization and nutrient digestibility when compared to the CS diet. AMEn and IDE increased (P < 0.05) by 110 and 207 kcal/kg, respectively, when CS and CN diets were supplemented with 80 KNU/kg. The amylase added to the CS diet led to quadratic increases (P < 0.05) on growth performance, IDE, AME, and AMEn, as well as in dry matter, protein, and fat digestibility. Energy utilization and crude protein digestibility were linearly increased (P < 0.05) when amylase was added to the CN diet or the extrapolated 100% of corn. In conclusion, energy utilization, digestibility of crude protein, fat, and dry matter increased with amylase supplementation in corn-soy-based diets. When amylase was tested in a complete diet having 53.6% corn, 100 and 105 KNU/kg maximized AMEn and IDE, respectively; however, the maximum energy response in the CN diet or 100% of corn was not achieved until 160 KNU/kg, suggesting an association between amylase dose optimization and dietary starch concentration.

[Profile of first year secondary school children involved in the anti-smoking prevention trial "PEPITES"]. / Les collégiens de 6e participant à l'essai de prévention du tabagisme en milieu scolaire en Essonne : « PEPITES ¼.

BACKGROUND: Many programs which aim to reduce tobacco consumption in young people are carried out in the school environment, addressing a "captive audience" and monitoring the actions over a period of several years. The approaches identified as promising involve putting in place a tobacco prevention program throughout the entire school years incorporated in the school program. Several studies showed that early initiation to psychoactive substances is a strong predictor of addiction. Considering the above points, an intervention trial on tobacco prevention covering the four years of secondary school (±11-15 years old) was implemented in the Essonne area, in France. METHOD: This study was based on a cluster randomized trial comparing three groups: two intervention groups and a control group. The present paper describes the school children (1st year in six secondary schools) included in the trial. It studies the national representativity of this population, the comparability between the control and intervention groups and the items link to tobacco initiation. RESULTS: When considering tobacco behavior in 2014, the included population was representative of the school children in 1st year of secondary school in France with 11.5% of tobacco initiation and 2.5% of regular smokers. The groups were comparable except for four items (family and friends smoking, only child, sensitive urban areas). With this knowledge on factors linked to smoking behaviors this population can be included in the trial analysis. CONCLUSION: The study of the included population will help to perform the trial analysis and authorize the transferability of the trial results if positive.