Effects of dietary supplementation with inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance, haemato-biochemical parameters, liver fatty acids profile and intestinal microbiome of Nile tilapia.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three treatments, in quintuplicate, were established: a control group, fish fed a diet without additives; LP group, fish fed a diet supplemented with live probiotic; and IP group, fish fed a diet supplemented with inactivated probiotic. Final weights (49.40 ± 3.15 g) and weight gains (38.20 ± 3.23 g) were increased in tilapia in the IP group. Feed conversion (1.32 ± 0.04) decreased significantly in the IP group. Haemato-biochemical parameters were significantly influenced by dietary supplementation. Erythrocyte count (262.74 ± 69.28 × 106 µL-1) was significantly low, while albumin (1.79 ± 1.12 g dL-1) and cholesterol (254.14 ± 98.49 mg dL-1) were high in the control group. Dietary supplementation modified the tilapia microbiome. Rhodobacter was abundant in fish intestines from the control and IP groups. Phreatobacter was abundant in the IP and LP groups, while Aurantimicrobium and Bosea were abundant in the LP group. Oleic acid (C18:1n9) was significantly increased in the LP (3.25 ± 0.49%) and IP (3.02 ± 0.30%) groups. Hexadecatrienoic acid (C16:3n4) was significantly increased (0.04 ± 0.01%) in the IP group, while Cis 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n3) (0.31 ± 0.03%) and adrenic acid (C22:4n6) (0.11 ± 0.02%) were significantly decreased in the LP group. Additionally, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were significantly increased (4.83 ± 0.35%) in the LP group compared to that in the control group. Collectively, these results indicate the potential of inactivated L. plantarum for use in commercial feed, leading to the conclusion that both inactivated and live L. plantarum can improve the Nile tilapia metabolism, altering haematological and biochemical markers.

Perspectiva teórica del empoderamiento intersectorial por la salud pública en directivos y líderes comunitarios / Theoretical perspective of intersectoral empowerment by public health in community managers and leaders

Introducción: La salud pública es la expresión de un complejo conjunto de factores en los que concurren elementos de diferente índole en estrecho vínculo con las políticas, sectores y actores económicos y sociales. Por ello, la gestión de cualquier proceso de salud, bienestar y calidad de vida requiere la concurrencia y alianza de los sectores implicados con un propósito común, lo que se logra a través de la intersectorialidad. Sin embargo, la participación consciente de los directivos y líderes comunitarios estaría mediada por su empoderamiento intersectorial por la salud pública. Objetivo: Elaborar una perspectiva teórica operacional del empoderamiento intersectorial por la salud pública en directivos y líderes comunitarios. Métodos: Investigación de desarrollo tecnológico. Posterior a la consulta bibliográfica para el planteamiento teórico se establecieron diferentes conceptos y definiciones sobre el empoderamiento intersectorial por la salud pública y sus dimensiones, que fueron validadas en consulta a expertos, los criterios emitidos permitieron añadir, eliminar o modificar y llegar a la versión final. El procesamiento estadístico fue a través de la razón de validez e índice de validez de contenido, según el modelo de Lawshe modificado por Tristán. Resultados: Se lograron conceptos y definiciones claras, coherentes y relevantes cuyos índices de validez de contenido global y aceptable en cada aspecto coincidió en 0,84, 0,78 y 1,00, respectivamente. La perspectiva teórica global fue satisfactoria. Conclusiones: Se obtuvo una perspectiva teórica operacionalizada para el empoderamiento intersectorial como constructo integrado a partir de la cual se podrán delimitar elementos que posibiliten su diagnóstico en directivos y líderes de los sectores de la comunidad(AU)

Introduction: Public health is the expression of a complex set of factors in which elements of different kinds concur in close link with policies, sectors and economic and social actors. Therefore, the management of any process of health, well-being and quality of life requires the concurrence and alliance of the sectors involved with a common purpose, which is achieved through intersectorality. However, the conscious participation of community leaders and managers would be mediated by their intersectoral empowerment by public health. Objective: Develop an operational theoretical perspective of intersectoral empowerment by public health in community managers and leaders. Methods: Research of technological development. After the bibliographic consultation for the theoretical approach, different concepts and definitions were established on intersectoral empowerment by public health and its dimensions, which were validated in consultation with experts, the criteria issued allowed to add, eliminate or modify and reach the final version. Statistical processing was through the validity ratio and content validity index, according to the Lawshe model modified by Tristan. Results: Clear, coherent and relevant concepts and definitions were achieved, whose indexes of validity of global and acceptable content in each aspect coincided in 0.84, 0.78 and 1.00, respectively. The overall theoretical perspective was satisfactory. Conclusions: An operationalized theoretical perspective was obtained for intersectoral empowerment as an integrated construct from which elements that enable its diagnosis can be delimited in managers and leaders of the community sectors(AU)

Association of Body Condition Score and Score Change during the Late Dry Period on Temporal Patterns of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Concentration and Milk Yield and Composition in Early Lactation of Dairy Cows.

Monitoring the body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows is a management strategy that can assist dairy producers in decision-making. The BCS and its variations reflect the level of body fat reserves and fat mobilization throughout the different stages of lactation. Cows that mobilize excessive amounts of fat reserves in response to the increased energy requirements of the transition period are more likely to have higher beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood, leading to a higher incidence of hyperketonemia postpartum. In this study, our main objective was to evaluate how both BCS (at 21 d prior to the expected calving date, -21 BCS) and change in BCS during the late dry period (-21 d to calving, ∆BCS) are associated with temporal patterns of blood BHB concentrations during the first two weeks of lactation. Our secondary objective was to characterize the relationship between the change in BCS in the late dry period, and milk yield and milk composition in the first milk test postpartum. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed BCS at 21 (±3) days before the expected calving date and within three days after calving. Blood BHB concentration was measured at days 3 (±1), 7 (±1), and 14 (±1) postpartum. Hyperketonemia (HYK) was defined as blood BHB ≥ 1.2 mmol/L. To evaluate how -21 BCS and ∆BCS during the late dry period were associated with BHB in early lactation, linear mixed-effects regression models with an unstructured covariate matrix were performed. The association between ∆BCS and incidence of postpartum HYK were determined using a multivariable log-binomial model. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the association between ∆BCS and milk yield and milk composition in the first monthly test-day. Covariates used for model adjustment include parity, season, and baseline BCS. We observed that cows with BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d before their expected calving date had the highest BHB concentration postpartum, but no evidence that BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d was associated with fluctuations of BHB over time. Cows that experienced a large BCS loss (larger than 0.5 units) during the late dry period had a 61% (95% CI: 1.04, 2.50) higher risk of developing HYK in early lactation and had higher BHB concentrations during early lactation compared with cows with no ∆BCS prepartum. These associations were observed independently of the BCS at -21 d prepartum (baseline). In addition, cows that lost more than 0.5 BCS unit in the late dry period produced 3.3 kg less milk (95% CI: -7.06, 0.45) at the first milk test compared to cows that had no ∆BCS during the late dry period. No evidence of an association between -21 BCS and ∆BCS in the late dry period and milk composition was observed in our study. These results suggest that dynamic measures of BCS during the late dry period, such as ∆BCS, are better at evaluating blood BHB patterns in early lactation than BCS measured at a single time point. Cows with larger BCS loss during the late dry period and with greater parity are more likely to have higher concentrations of blood BHB postpartum, with the highest concentrations reported at 7 d post-calving.

On the Use of Buffy or Whole Blood for Obtaining DNA of High Quality and Functionality: What Is the Best Option?

Human biobanks are collections of biological samples and health information that allow the organization of biomedical research for upgrading the knowledge of human disorders from different diseases (cancer, allergies, rare diseases, etc.), and reach real answers for diagnosis and treatment. A wide range of samples can be stored in these biorepositories such as hair, nails, urine, tissue, whole blood, red blood cells, buffy coat, plasma, serum, DNA, and RNA. Among these, buffy coat and whole blood are widely used by researchers because they can obtain DNA and RNA from these matrices. Some preliminary studies have been performed on animals to evaluate the quality and functionality of the nucleic acids obtained from some of these matrices, although more in-depth studies are needed in this area. In this study, blood samples extracted by venipuncture from 30 healthy volunteers were used to obtain DNA from buffy coat and whole blood. The purity and integrity of the nucleic acids obtained were assessed by spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, and agarose electrophoresis, and functionality was assessed by PCR and real-time PCR. Another aspect tested in this study was based on the comparison between short-term and long-term storage at -80°C and fresh samples from both matrices to evaluate the storage conditions at the biobank. Results showed differences in the yield obtained from both matrices as a function of the storage time, although the functionality of all the obtained DNA remained intact.