Age-dependent development in protein digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs fed different protein sources.

Today, weaner diets are optimised using digestibility coefficients obtained from grower-finisher pigs, which may overestimate the digestibility in weaners. The aim of this study was to evaluate the standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and amino acids (AAs), and the intestinal morphology in pigs 0-4 weeks postweaning when fed different protein sources. The experiment included 128 pigs weaned at day 28 and the protein sources were wheat, soybean meal (SBM), enzyme-treated soybean meal (ESBM), hydrothermally treated rapeseed meal (HRSM) and casein. The experiment was conducted as a difference method study including wheat in all diets. Eight pigs were slaughtered on the day of weaning (day 0) and six pigs/treatment were slaughtered at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 postweaning. The SID of CP and AA, as average over the four weeks, was lowest for ESBM and highest for wheat and casein, with SBM and HRSM being intermediate. The SID of CP and AA increased (both linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) over time after weaning. The average SID of CP for all protein sources postweaning was 0.38, 0.59, 0.76, and 0.71 on days 7, 14, 21, and 28, respectively. These differences were significant (P < 0.05) between days 7 and 21, and between days 7 and 28 (P < 0.05), whereas there tended to be a difference between days 7 and 14 (P = 0.06). Protein source did not affect the small intestinal morphology response parameters, whereas time after weaning did. Villous height and villous height to crypt depth ratio differed (P < 0.05) between the days 0 and 7, with shorter villi and a higher ratio at day 7. Crypt depth was not altered between days 0 and 7, or between days 7 and 14. For villi density, crypt density and small intestinal length, a significant increase from days 7 to 14 was observed, but there was no further increase to or difference between days 21 and 28. In conclusion, the low SID of CP in casein on day 7 (0.50) illustrates the challenges related to protein digestion in weanling pigs. The SID of CP and AA is very low during the first two weeks postweaning and time after weaning is more important for protein digestibility, than the source of protein. Fewer mature epithelial cells and less absorptive area in the small intestine in the early postweaning period may partly explain the poor protein digestibility.

COVID-19 with severe acute respiratory distress in a pregnant woman leading to preterm caesarean section: A case report.

We report the case of a 25-year-old pregnant woman, parity one, at 34 + 2 weeks of gestation, with a body mass index of 41 kg/m2 but no other comorbidities. There was a family history of COVID-19 among her one-year-old son, husband, brother, father and mother. She was admitted with chest pain and a nasopharyngeal swap positive for COVID-19. Due to the severity of the infection, a multidisciplinary team of anaesthesiologists, intensivists, obstetricians, neonatologists, and infectious disease specialists recommended delivery by caesarean section at 35 + 0 weeks of gestation, with combined spinal and epidural anaesthesia. Three days after delivery, the patient developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and was intubated for 25 days. The neonate was observed in the neonatal intensive care unit and no vertical transmission occurred. This case highlights the importance of the timing of delivery, the need for extended postpartum observation and a beneficial effect of inhaled nitric oxide after delivery for women with COVID-19.

Time trends in surgery for non-traumatic shoulder disorders and postoperative risk of permanent work disability: a nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Three previous randomized controlled trials found no overall difference in the effect of surgery compared with non-surgical treatment including exercise for patients with non-traumatic shoulder disorders. We assessed Danish temporal trends in the incidence of surgery for rotator cuff-related shoulder disorders, frozen shoulder, and osteoarthritis (OA) of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, and the subsequent risk of permanent work disability. METHODS: Based on registers, we calculated annual incidence rates for the Danish population aged 18-63 years between 1996 and 2008. For a cohort of 19 264 first-time shoulder-operated patients who were in the labour market on admission, we used Cox proportional hazards models to assess risk of permanent work disability within 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: The annual incidence increased from 3.5 to 14.8 per 10 000, and 9.8% of the patients became permanently work disabled. No time trend was observed in this percentage. Formal education level was an important prognostic factor. Using 'higher or medium-level education' as a reference, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-1.8] for 'vocational education and training' and 2.0 (95% CI 1.8-2.3) for 'low education level'. For 'missing information on education', the HR was 0.7 (95% CI 0.6-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: We found a fourfold increase in surgery rates and a substantial risk of postoperative permanent work disability that remained constant over time. The risk was related to education level. These findings suggest that indications for surgery may need to be revisited and that attention should be given to supporting return to work, especially for blue-collar workers.

In vivo angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis models.

Angiogenesis research has become one of the most important areas in biomedical research. At the time of writing this review, there were approximately 3536 articles published in the year of 2008 alone on the topic of angiogenesis. The fast expansion of this research field demands development of rigorous, reliable, stable, convenient, and clinically relevant assay systems for disease diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic evaluation, drug discovery, and mechanistic studies at the molecular level. Here, we discuss several commonly used in vivo angiogenesis models by systematically analyzing and pointing out pitfalls of each assay. Owing to existence of numerous assays and the limitation of text, it is impossible to discuss all these assays in this article. Here we select several most commonly used angiogenesis assays performed in various species including mice, chicks and zebrafish for further in-depth discussion. We hope this information will be valuable for improving current angiogenesis research.

Do psychosocial strain and physical exertion predict onset of low-back pain among nursing aides?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate psychosocial factors and physical exertion at work in relation to the onset of low-back pain. METHODS: The study was carried out as a case-crossover investigation of nursing aides caring for the elderly. Cases were identified among 157 nursing aides over a period of 2 years. Psychosocial factors, physical exertion, and low-back pain were reported daily in diary questionnaires over three consecutive days at work, repeated in six periods of 3 days. For each subject, case observations were identified as pain onset from one day to the next and matched with reference observations with no pain onset from the same person. Prospective data collection allowed analyses to be conducted with and without a lag in time between exposure and pain onset. RESULTS: The results of the analyses with time lag (longitudinal) did not support the hypothesis that psychosocial and physical strain from 1 day of work predicts pain onset the following day. However, physical exertion, stress, and, to some extent, time pressure were associated with pain on the day of onset. CONCLUSION: The effect period, if any, of exposure to physical exertion, stress, and time pressure on the onset of acute low-back pain is considered to be less than 24 hours.

[Pregnancy and the work place. Risk assessment during a 5-year period at an occupational medicine clinic]. / Graviditet og arbejdsmiljø. Risikovurdering gennem 5 år på en arbejdsmedicinsk klinik.

If the occupational environment of a pregnant women is considered to present the risk for injurious effects on the foetus, there has been a possibility in Denmark since 1981 in the Maintenance Allowance legislation for absence from work on account of the particular occupation during the entire duration of the ascertained pregnancy. Assessment of the risk for foetal damage in the occupational environment is undertaken primarily by the general practitioner with advice and the possibility for more detailed assessment of the risk from Workers' Supervision Authorities and the Clinic for Occupational Medicine. The principles for assessing the risk in the Clinic for Occupational Medicine are reviewed on the basis of 144 cases from the period 1983-1987 and these are illustrated by three case histories. In addition, the main principles in assessing the risk are reviewed. At present, risks are considered to be in occupations involving work with chemicals, heavy lifting and EDB screens.

Vertical steps in isopters at hemiopic border - in normal and glaucomatous eyes.

Careful perimetry disclosed small steps in peripheral isopters corresponding to the vertical meridan in about 50% of normal eyes as well as eyes with glaucomatous field defects. Most steps were found inferiorly. The contraction of the isopter was always found on the nasal side of the field apart from a few of the glaucomatous eyes, all of which also showed central field defects. The findings suggest that no significance with regard to pathology can be attached to small peripheral steps at the vertical meridan provided that the temporal hemifield is the greater. Steps showing preponderance of the nasal half of the field, however, should arouse suspicion of an existing pathology. The reported observation as well as findings in the literature concerning function, anatomy and pathology suggest that the nasal hemiretina is dominant over the temporal one.