Nutritive Value of Wheat Bran Diets Supplemented With Fresh Carrots and Wet Brewers' Grains in Yellow Mealworm.

We evaluated the effect of supplementation of a wheat bran (WB) diet with fresh carrots (FC) or wet brewer's grains (WBG) on the growth performance and chemical composition of Tenebrio molitor larvae. Additionally, a digestibility trial was performed to determine the nutritional value of the raw materials used. The control diet was based on WB-only. Two other diets were formulated in which WB was supplemented with FC (FC diet) or with WBG (WBG diet). The experiment was conducted in trays (12 per treatment) and lasted 90 d. Larval weight, feed intake, and excreted feces were controlled in each tray the experiment. The digestibility trial was performed from 48 to 62 d post-hatch. Results showed digestibility coefficients of ashes, crude protein, and gross energy were significantly higher in FC diet compared with the other diets. Consequently, both digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) contents of FC were also significantly higher than those obtained for WB and WBG diets (on av. +1.12 megajoule [MJ] DE and +9.15 g DP per kg dry matter [DM]; P < 0.003). Mealworms fed FC diet showed significantly higher final weight and average daily gain than those fed the WBG diet (+12.4%), being higher in WBG than in WB diet (+3.5%). Dietary treatment did not affect DM, ashes, ether extract, and crude protein content of mealworms obtained. Some dietary effects on amino acid and fatty acid composition were observed. This study provides novel data and a unique experimental approach to assess the nutritional value of raw materials in mealworms.

Reproductive performance of rabbit females from three paternal lines with a different potential for growth rate and resilience.

A total of 197 nulliparous rabbits (from three paternal lines) were used to test potential strategies to overcome the consequences on reproduction associated with the selection for high growth rate. The R line was selected for growth rate during the growing period for 37 generations, the RF line was founded through a high selection intensity of elite animals of the R line, and the RFLP line, which was obtained by backcrossing RF animals with the LP line (a long-lived productive maternal line, characterised by high resilience). BW, perirenal fat thickness, fertility, daily feed intake, milk yield and blood metabolites of females were controlled from 1st artificial insemination to 3rd parturition. Litter size, litter weight, individual weight and feed ingestion of kits were controlled from birth to weaning. Our results show that RF females were significantly lighter than R and RFLP females throughout the trial (-5.0%; P < 0.05). Furthermore, RF animals had a higher fertility rate than RFLP females, at first cycle (+10.5 percentage points; P < 0.05). However, RFLP had a higher fertility rate than RF females at second cycle (+21.5 percentage points; P < 0.01). On average, RFLP females had higher perirenal fat thickness than R females at parturition (+3.0%; P < 0.05) and higher daily feed intake than of R and RF females during gestation and late lactation (+9.7 and +8.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). RFLP females produced more milk than R and RF females in the two first lactations (+18.5%; P < 0.001). In the first three parturitions, R females delivered fewer kits born alive (-1.7 kits than RF and RFLP; P < 0.05). In addition, R females' blood had a higher concentration of glutamine and glutamate than RFLP (+24 and +22.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). RFLP litters were heavier than both R and RF litters throughout lactation. However, R kits were heavier at birth than RF and RFLP (+7.9%). Results suggest that the foundation of a paternal line using elite animals could generate females with better early reproductive performance. In addition, backcrossing the RF line with a maternal LP line resulted in a genetic line whose females had a different resource allocation strategy to foster reproduction during the studied period.

Home blood pressure self-measurement: "Current situation and new perspectives".

The method typically used to diagnose and monitor hypertensive patients has been to measure blood pressure in the physician's surgery; however, it is a well-known fact that this approach poses certain drawbacks, such as observer bias, failure to detect an alert reaction in the clinic, etc., difficulties that affect its accuracy as a diagnostic method. In recent years, the varying international scientific societies have persistently recommended the use of blood pressure measurements outside the clinic (at home or in the outpatient setting), using validated automatic devices. Data from some studies suggest that if we rely solely on in-office measurements, approximately 15-20% of the time we may be wrong when making decisions, both in terms of diagnosis and patient follow-up. Home blood pressure measurements are a simple and very affordable method that has a similar reproducibility and prognostic value as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the availability of which is currently very limited. Moreover, ambulatory self-measurements have the significant benefit of being able to improve control of hypertensive individuals. Healthcare professionals and patients should be aware of the methodology of home blood pressure measurement, its usefulness and limitations.

Effect of early development on semen parameters and lifespan of rabbit males selected by high growth rate.

Life history theory suggests that different body development dynamics may influence survival and future reproductive performance of organisms. The present work studied how these dynamics could influence seminal traits and lifespan of rabbit males selected for growth rate and intended for AI. To achieve this goal, a total of 550 rabbit males were controlled from birth, evaluated both during the testing phase (four consecutive weeks after reaching 147 days of life) and the productive phase (377 of them from the end of the testing phase until 2 years of life). In order to obtain individuals with different body development dynamics, we pre-selected males based on their live weight (LW) at 0, 28, 63 and 147 days and on their average daily gain (ADG) between each period (0-28, 28-63 and 63-147 days). Libido and main seminal traits (semen volume, motility, concentration, and production, as well as normal apical ridge and abnormalities of spermatozoa) were controlled during the testing phase. Semen volume, motility and concentration were subsequently controlled during the productive phase, as well as the length of the male life, calculated as the number of days a rabbit was present at the farm between age 147 and day of death, culling or censoring; set to 2 years of life). The birth weight, the ADG between 0 and 28 days and between 28 and 63 days were positively related to some seminal parameters measured during the testing phase (semen volume, concentration, production and motility; P < 0.05), while the ADG between 63 and 147 days was negatively related to the seminal productivity throughout the productive life of the males (an increment of 10 g per day on ADG reduced the number of profitable ejaculates by 4.9%; P < 0.05). In addition, a higher growth between 0 and 28 and between 63 and 147 days increased the risk of death or culling of males during the productive phase (P < 0.05). In conclusion, an adequate body development early in life seems to have a positive effect on the degree of sexual maturity with which male rabbits begin their reproductive life, but reaching the reproduction onset with excessive weight can reduce their reproductive performance and lifespan.

Consequences of rearing feeding programme on the performance of rabbit females from 1st to 2nd parturition.

To evaluate how rearing programmes could affect resources allocation and reproductive performance of primiparous rabbit females, a total of 118 rabbit females were used to evaluate the effects of five rearing feeding programmes on their performance from 1st to 2nd parturition: CAL, fed ad libitum C diet (11.0 MJ digestible energy (DE), 114 g digestible protein (DP) and 358 g NDF/kg dry matter (DM) until 1st parturition; CR, fed ad libitum with C diet until 12 weeks of age and then C diet restricted (140 g/day) until 1st parturition; F, fed ad libitum with F diet (8.7 MJ DE, 88 g DP and 476 NDF/kg DM) until 1st parturition; FC, fed with F diet ad libitum until 16 weeks of age, and C diet ad libitum until 1st parturition; FCF, fed with F diet ad libitum until 16 weeks of age, then C diet ad libitum until 20 weeks and then F diet ad libitum until 1st parturition. From 1st parturition, C diet was ad libitum offered to all the experimental groups until 2nd parturition. CAL females presented lower feed intake than females of F, FC and FCF groups in the 1st week of lactation (on av. -16.6%; P<0.05). During 1st lactation, the perirenal fat thickness change in CAL females was not different from 0 (+0.02 mm), while in the other four groups it increased (on av. +0.44 mm; P<0.05). Plasma of females fed with F diet during rearing (F, FC and FCF) had lower non-esterified fatty acids content than those exclusively fed with C diet (-0.088 and -0.072 mmol/l compared to CAL and CR, respectively; P<0.05). FCF litters had higher weight than F litters at day 21 of lactation (+247 g; P<0.05), but FCF litter had significantly lower weight than FC litters at weaning (+170 g; P<0.05). CR females had the shortest average interval between the 1st and 2nd parturition (49 days) and FCF females the longest (+ 9 days compared to CR; P<0.05). At 2nd parturition, liveborn litters of F females were larger and heavier than litters of FCF females (+2.22 kits and +138 g; P<0.05), probably due to the lower mortality at birth of F litters (-16.5 percentage points; P<0.05). In conclusion, rearing females on fibrous diets seems to increase the ability of primiparous rabbit females to obtain resources, especially at the onset of lactation.

Early development and reproductive lifespan of rabbit females: implications of growth rate, rearing diet and body condition at first mating.

Factors influencing early development such as birth weight, nest competition, and the diet received during rearing have been proposed as elements conditioning the future reproductive performance of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) females. To evaluate their effects, we followed the life of 1513 females from birth to time of death, culling or censoring (animals alive at a fixed date). Between 0 and 63 days of age 353 females died. From the remaining 1160 females, 864 were chosen based on their birth weight to be transferred from the selection to the production farm. At this farm, 431 females received the control diet (184 g of CP, 381 g of NDF and 11.8 MJ of DE per kg DM), while the other 433 received the fibrous diet (134 g of CP, 436 g of NDF and 10.0 MJ of DE per kg DM). Throughout the rearing period, we checked for the individual live weight and body condition (perirenal fat thickness) at first artificial insemination. Reproductive lifespan was defined as the number of days between the first parturition and the time of death, culling or censoring. Birth weight affected the survival of newborn females during lactation and the presence of a milk spot at birth (related to nest competition) increased the survivability of newborns weighing <45 g (P<0.001). Rearing diet altered the growth curve of females and their body condition at first insemination. The diet also altered the relative risk of death during the rearing period, which was lower among females fed on the fibrous diet (-12.5%; P<0.001). Therefore, a higher number of females fed with this diet reached their reproductive life, directly affecting the productivity measured per housed female. Fatter females at first insemination had smaller litter sizes and a higher risk of being culled than lean ones (P<0.05). In general, the fibrous diet reduced the risk of leaving the herd at early rearing, and both birth weight and perirenal fat thickness affected female's reproductive lifespan. An excess of fat (positive change in one unit of perirenal fat) at their first insemination represented an increased the risk of death or elimination of 13%.

Long-term implications of feed energy source in different genetic types of reproductive rabbit females: I. Resource acquisition and allocation.

To achieve functional but also productive females, we hypothesised that it is possible to modulate acquisition and allocation of animals from different genetic types by varying the main energy source of the diet. To test this hypothesis, we used 203 rabbit females belonging to three genetic types: H (n=66), a maternal line characterised by hyper-prolificacy; LP (n=67), a maternal line characterised by functional hyper-longevity; R (n=79), a paternal line characterised by growth rate. Females were fed with two isoenergetic and isoprotein diets differing in energy source: animal fat (AF) enhancing milk yield; cereal starch (CS) promoting body reserves recovery. Feed intake, weight, perirenal fat thickness (PFT), milk yield and blood traits were controlled during five consecutive reproductive cycles (RCs). Females fed with CS presented higher PFT (+0.2 mm, P0.05), particularly for those fed with AF. Moreover, LP females fed with AF progressively increased PFT across the RC, whereas those fed with CS increased PFT during early lactation (+7.3%; P<0.05), but partially mobilised it during late lactation (-2.8%; P<0.05). Independently of the diet offered, LP females reached weaning with similar PFT. H females fed with either of the two diets followed a similar trajectory throughout the RC. For milk yield, the effect of energy source was almost constant during the whole experiment, except for the first RC of females from the maternal lines (H and LP). These females yielded +34.1% (P<0.05) when fed with CS during this period. Results from this work indicate that the resource acquisition capacity and allocation pattern of rabbit females is different for each genetic type. Moreover, it seems that by varying the main energy source of the diet it is possible to modulate acquisition and allocation of resources of the different genetic types. However, the response of each one depends on its priorities over time.

[Characteristics and cardiovascular events in a general population included in the RICARTO (RIesgo CARdiovascular TOledo) study: Data from the first 1,500 individuals included in the study]. / Características de la población general incluida en el estudio RICARTO (RIesgo CARdiovascular y eventos cardiovasculares en la población general del área sanitaria de TOledo): resultados con los primeros 1.500 individuos incluidos en el estudio.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular risk (CVR) by investigating the prevalence of CVR factors (CVRF), target organ damage (TOD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in general population of the health area of Toledo, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological and observational study that analysed a sample from the general population aged 18years or older, randomly selected from a database of health cards stratified by age and gender. Clinical history, physical examination, and complementary tests were performed. Total blood and serum samples were frozen at -85°C to evaluate genetic studies in the future. Standard statistical analysis was performed. CVR was assessed by the SCORE scale calibrated for the Spanish population, and the Framingham Heart Study scale. RESULTS: A total of 1,500 individuals (mean age 49.1±15.8years, 55.6% women) were included. Prevalences: dyslipidaemia 56.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 54.3-59.4), hypertension 33.0% (95%CI: 30.6-35.4), diabetes mellitus 8.6% (95%CI: 7.17-10.1), smoking 24.2% (95%CI; 122.0-26.4), obesity 25.3% (95%CI; 23.1-27.5), and sedentary life-style 39.4% (95%CI; 36.9-41.8). No CVRF was reported in 21.1% of cases, and 18.6% had 3-5 CVRF. TOD: electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, 4.3%, peripheral artery disease, 10.1% (Doppler ultrasound), and 15.3% (oscillometric device), microalbuminuria, 4.3%, sub-clinical renal disease, 3.2%, and nephropathy in 3.8% (CKD-EPI). At least one CVD was reported in 9.2% of cases. A low CVR (SCORE) was present in 44.6% of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipidaemia was found in 60% of individuals, 40% had a sedentary life-style, 30% with hypertension, 20% smoked, 20% obesity, and almost 10% with diabetes. More than a half of individuals have a moderate-high-very high risk. The prevalence of TOD and CVD are significant.

[Cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events in the general population of the sanitary area of Toledo. RICARTO Study]. / Justificación, objetivos y diseño metodológico del estudio RICARTO (RIesgo CARdiovascular y eventos cardiovasculares en la población general del área sanitaria de TOledo).

INTRODUCTION: The main aim of this study is to ascertain the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), target organ damage (TOD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as life habits (physical exercise, alcohol consumption, and Mediterranean diet) in the population of a Health Area in Toledo, Spain, to assess cardiovascular risk (CVR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological and observational study that will analyse a sample from the general population aged 18 years or older, randomly selected from a database of health cards, and stratified by age and gender. Clinical history, physical examination, and complementary tests will be performed. Aliquots of whole blood and serum samples will be stored at a temperature of-85°C to evaluate future genetic studies. CVR will be estimated by using SCORE project scales calibrated for Spanish population and the Framingham Heart Study scale. When the estimated sample size has been achieved and after a minimum follow-up of 5 years, a final visit will performed in which CVRF, TOD, CVD, CVRF control, and fatal and non-fatal outcomes will be evaluated. DISCUSSION: The RICARTO study is aimed to assess the prevalence of the main CVRF, TOD and CVD in order to determine the CVR in the general population of a health area of Toledo. An analysis will be repeated on the final sample after at least 5 years of follow-up to ascertain the incidence of CV outcomes and the temporal trends of life style, as well as the prevalence of CVRF, TOD, and CVD.

[Comparison of anesthetic maintenance and recovery with propofol versus sevoflurane combined with remifentanil in craniotomy for supratentorial neoplasm]. / Estudio comparativo de remifentanilo combinado con propofol o sevofluorano para el mantenimiento y recuperación de la anestesia en craneotomía por neoplasia supratentorial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of propofol versus sevoflurane associated with remifentanil on the maintenance of anesthesia and on recovery in patients undergoing elective supratentorial craniotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized trial enrolling 90 patients scheduled for excision of a brain neoplasm. All received an infusion of remifentanil at a dose of 0.5 microg x Kg(-1) x min(-1) until tracheal intubation and then 0.25 microg x Kg(-1) x min(-1) during surgery. Induction was achieved with propofol and anesthesia was maintained with either sevoflurane at a maximum alveolar concentration of 0.4 (45 patients) or propofol by target controlled infusion at a concentration of 2.5 microg x mL(-1) (45 patients, group P). Variables assessed were hemodynamic stability during anesthesia and times and quality of recovery from anesthesia (eye opening, initiation of spontaneous ventilation, extubation, cough reflex, and temporal and spacial orientation 3 minutes after extubation. During the first 24 hours after surgery, pain intensity was evaluated on a verbal visual analog scale (VAS) and the incidence of nausea and vomiting was recorded. RESULTS: Times until eye opening upon request and until extubation were significantly shorter in the sevoflurane group than in the propofol group: 3.7 (SD, 1.2) minutes vs 5 (3.1) minutes, respectively, for eye opening and 6.6 (1.2) minutes vs 8.1 (3.3) minutes for extubation (P<0.01). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly higher in the sevoflurane group (40% vs 13%, respectively, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Combining remifentanil with propofol or with sevoflurane provides satisfactory anesthesia during elective supratentorial craniotomy to remove a brain neoplasm. Hemodynamic stability is appropriate and recovery from anesthesia is rapid.

Feeding programs promoting daily feed intake stability in rabbit males reduce sperm abnormalities and improve fertility.

Feeding programs promoting daily feed intake (DFI) stability in rabbit males could be useful to ensure successful coverage of their nutritional requirements and for continued production of quality semen. To evaluate two feeding systems designed to reduce DFI variability, 115 rabbit males at age 1.2 years were randomly assigned to three different treatments for 294 days: CS, animals fed ad libitum with a control diet (127-g starch and 281-g total soluble fiber [hemicellulose + soluble fiber] kg(-1) dry matter); SF, males fed ad libitum with diet enriched in soluble fiber (86-g starch and 330-g total soluble fiber kg(-1) dry matter); and R, animals fed with CS diet but daily restricted to maintenance requirements. Feed intake, body weight, body condition, and variability of DFI were controlled every 42 days, and individual semen volume and sperm motility, concentration, acrosome status, and abnormalities every 15 days. In six commercial farms, the number of females inseminated, pregnant and kindling, as well as the number of kits born alive, was registered for 15,893 inseminations with pooled semen from each treatment. DFI was significantly lower for R males than for the other treatments (on average, -12 ± 4 g/day; P < 0.001). Daily weight gain of R males was close to zero and significantly lower than in the other groups (-1.42 g/day; P < 0.001). Variability of DFI was significantly (P < 0.01) lower for R males (7%) than for males of dietary treatments CS (13%), with SF males showing intermediate values (11%). Semen from R males presented lower sperm abnormalities (-5.9%; P < 0.05) and higher percentages of normal and motile spermatozoa (-3.4% than SF males; P < 0.05). Dietary treatments formulated to reduce DFI variability (SF and R) led to an improvement of kindling to pregnant and kindling to insemination ratio (+0.039 and + 0.060 ± 0.015, respectively; P < 0.05) compared with CS treatment. In conclusion, a moderate restriction of rabbit males may be useful to fit their needs and provide a constant daily supply of nutrients, with some sperm morphologic characteristics being improved, as well as the fertility of their pooled semen.

Surface properties of various powdered hydroxyapatites.

Electrophoretic mobilities of various synthetic and semisynthetic hydroxyapatites (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HAP) suspended in aqueous solutions have been measured as a function of pH and calcium concentration. The studied powders differ in particle size, crystallinity degree and surface contamination (carbonate). When equilibrated in mineral acids or bases, a large plateau of negative mobility is observed in the pH range 5-8, with increasing negative values at higher pH. Only in the case of the sample composed of nanoparticles, positive mobility obtains at pH < 8.9. When Ca2+ is added, positive mobility values are observed for all samples, and a bell-shaped profile results as a function of pH. Two possible models are explored to describe the results: the Nernstian approach, which assumes solubility equilibrium and surface potentials determined by the three potential-determining ions (Ca2+, PO3-4, and OH-), and the surface complexation approach, based on the idea of negligible phase transfer of structural phosphate. The Nernstian model is inadequate, whereas a very simple surface complexation model based on the equations Ca5(PO4)+3 = Ca4(PO4)-3 + Ca2+,Ca4(PO4)-3 + H+ = Ca4(PO4)2(PO4H),Ca5(PO4)+3 + OH- = Ca5(PO4)3(OH),coupled with a very simple electrical double layer, model suffices to reproduce the bell-shaped profile of the mobility as a function of pH in the presence of added calcium salts. The results also show that the sample composed of nanoparticles exchanges ions more easily with the solution, without reaching the solubility equilibrium in the explored timespans. In the presence of soluble phosphate salts, it is postulated that the same surface ensembles define the surface charge, with participation of phosphate as described by the equation Ca5(PO4)+3 + PO3-4 = Ca4(PO4)-3.HAP is just one member of a family of calcium phosphates with different (Ca)/(P) ratios. Electrophoretic mobilities of another member, tricalcium diphosphate, Ca3(PO4)2, were also measured and shown to be described by the same basic model. Comparison with previous literature data shows that the negative plateau in the mobility is a general feature of many HAP samples at low Ca2+, again in agreement with the surface complexation model. FTIR data demonstrates that surface phosphate indeed undergoes protonation, as postulated in the model.

[Intraoperative anaphylaxis in a patient with undiagnosed latex sensitivity]. / Anafilaxia intraoperatoria en un paciente con sensibilización al látex desconocida.

Latex allergy is a cause of anaphylactic reactions during general anesthesia. It is currently the second most common cause of anaphylaxis during anesthesia and should be considered in all cases in which signs develop during surgery. Clinical manifestations are highly variable and depend on the type and amount of exposure to the allergen as well as on individual sensitivity. Cardiovascular collapse is the most common presentation in anesthetized patients, and the second most common manifestations are skin rash and bronchospasm. Latex gloves are implicated in most allergic reactions triggered by latex. Individuals allergic to latex are also sensitive to certain fruits (latex-fruit syndrome) because the presence of specific proteins common in both causes a phenomenon known as cross reactivity. A 34-year-old man with acute abdomen underwent emergency exploratory laparoscopy, which was converted to laparotomy based on findings in the surgical field. Coinciding with surgical manipulation, the patient developed severe hypotension, tachycardia, bronchospasm, and arterial desaturation, which responded favorably to intravenous fluids and medication. After all other possible causes of the events were ruled out, intraoperative anaphylactic reaction was suspected and later confirmed by tests, including allergy tests. When the patient was stable and the surgical environment was latex-free, the procedure was carried out with no complications and the postoperative course was uneventful.

[Infant boy with propionic acidemia: anesthetic implications]. / Implicaciones anestésicas en un niño afecto de acidemia propiónica.

A 12-month-old boy diagnosed with propionic acidemia underwent gastrostomy. The patient's general state was good and he was alert, but with reduced muscular tone (unstable when seated with support, floppy head) and with dystonic movements in all extremities. An electroencephalogram showed slightly slowed brain activity. The patient was being treated with a low protein diet, phenobarbital, L-carnitine, L-isoleucine, and biotin. Surgery was carried out in satisfactory conditions with general anesthesia without opioids combined with infiltration of the surgical wound with local anesthetic. Recovery from anesthesia was rapid and free of complications. Propionic acidemia is caused by mitochondrial propionyl coenzyme carboxylase deficiency. Most patients have episodes of severe metabolic ketoacidosis as a result of excessive protein intake, delayed development, vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, lethargy, hypotonia, and convulsions. The anesthetic approach involves avoiding triggers of metabolic acidosis (such as fasting, dehydration, hypoxemia, and hypotension) and preventing airway complications. Agents that metabolize propionic acid (such as succinylcholine, benzylisoquinoline neuromuscular blocking agents, and propofol) are not used, as they can exacerbate acidemia. We also believe that using local or regional anesthesia in combination with general anesthesia without opiates is safe and effective for controlling pain during surgery and postoperative recovery, as that combination avoids respiratory depression in these patients, who are highly sensitive to opiates.

Hydrolysis of gadolinium(III) in light and heavy water.

The hydrolysis constants of Gd(3+) and the solubility products of Gd(OH)(3) and Gd(OD)(3) in nitrate solutions at 25 and 70 degrees in H(2)O and D(2)O have been determined because of their importance in nuclear technology. The constants are defined (charges omitted for clarity) as *K(11) = a(GdOH)a(H)/a(Gd), *K(21) = a(Gd(OH)(2))a(2)(H)/a(Gd), *K(SO) = a(Gd)/a(3)(H). The values for the H(2)O system were p*K(11) = 7.87 +/- 0.02, p*K(21) = 15.I6 +/- 0.09, p*K(SO) = -19.32 +/- 0.03 at 25 degrees and p*K(11) = 7.55 +/- 0.03, p*K(21) = 13.04 +/- 0.03, p*K(SO) = -16.16 +/- 0.04 at 70 degrees . For the D(2)O system they were p*K(D)(11) = 8.17 +/- 0.01, p*K(D)(21) = 16.00 +/- 0.09, p*K(D)(SO) = -21.18 +/- 0.04 at 25 degrees and p*K(D)(11) = 7.84 +/- 0.02, p*K(D)(21) = 13.95 +/- 0.02, p*K(D)(SO) = -17.34 +/- 0.04 at 70 degrees . The mean enthalpy changes of the reactions were also calculated.

A robust rabbit line increases leucocyte counts at weaning and reduces mortality by digestive disorder during fattening.

The present work evaluates how a rabbit line selected for robustness and two other lines selected for productive criteria, could have affected the physiological maturity and blood leukocytes counts of young rabbits at weaning, as well as their possible effect on the subsequent performance and health status during the growing period. The study was conducted on a total of 2904 young rabbits weaned at 30 days, belonging to three different genetic types (line H, founded for litter size at birth and selected for litter size at weaning during 17 generations; line LP, characterised by robustness founded for reproductive longevity criteria and selected for litter size at weaning for 7 generations; and line R, founded and selected during 25 generations for average daily gain from the 4th to the 9th week of life). Two different diets were used during lactation. The two diets were both isoenergetic and isoprotein but their main energy source differed, being either animal fat (AF) or cereal starch (CS). Leucocyte subsets were characterised at weaning, and growing performance was studied until 58 days of age (feed intake, live weight, mortality by digestive disorders and morbidity) for both medicated and non-medicated dietary versions. At weaning, young rabbits fed an AF lactating diet evidenced greater B lymphocyte count (on av. +8.6 ± 3.5 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05) than those fed a CS diet. With respect to H and R rabbits, blood from LP ones had higher counts for total (on av. 591 ± 167 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05), B (on av. +11.05 ± 4.3 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05), T CD5(+) (on av. +266 ± 83 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05) and CD8(+) lymphocytes (on av. +72.5 ± 28 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05), and with respect to R, higher counts of CD4(+) (on av. +121 ± 47 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05) lymphocytes (on av. +12.3 ± 4.1 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05), monocytes (on av. +66 ± 32 × 10(6)/L; P < 0.05) and granulocytes (on av. +567 ± 182 × 10(6)/L; P<0.05) at weaning. LP line rabbits also showed lower mortality by digestive disorders (on av. -8 points of percentage) and morbidity (on av. -4 points) than those from H and R lines during the growing period (P < 0.05). R animals presented higher feed intake and daily weight gain, and a lower feed conversion ratio than H and LP animals (on av. +16.7 ± 2.7 g dry matter/day, +10.3 ± 0.4 g/day and -0.22 ± 0.04 g dry matter/g, respectively). In conclusion, the foundation of a line for reproductive longevity, which has been previously reported to give greater robustness (low environmental sensitivity) to their reproductive stock, could have conferred higher leukocytes counts at weaning to their offspring, as well as a better ability to confront digestive disorders as compared to other lines founded or selected exclusively for productive criteria.

Different resource allocation strategies result from selection for litter size at weaning in rabbit does.

This study examined the effect of long-term selection of a maternal rabbit line, solely for a reproductive criterion, on the ability of female rabbits to deal with constrained environmental conditions. Female rabbits from generations 16 and 36 (n=72 and 79, respectively) of a line founded and selected to increase litter size at weaning were compared simultaneously. Female rabbits were subjected to normal (NC), nutritional (NF) or heat (HC) challenging conditions from 1st to 3rd parturition. Animals in NC and NF were housed at normal room temperatures (18°C to 25°C) and respectively fed with control (11.6 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg dry matter (DM), 126 g digestible protein (DP)/kg DM, and 168 g of ADF/kg DM) or low-energy fibrous diets (9.1 MJ DE/kg DM, 104 g DP/kg DM and 266 g ADF/kg DM), whereas those housed in HC were subjected to high room temperatures (25°C to 35°C) and the control diet. The litter size was lower for female rabbits housed in both NF and HC environments, but the extent and timing where this reduction took place differed between generations. In challenging conditions (NF and HC), the average reduction in the reproductive performance of female rabbits from generation 16, compared with NC, was -2.26 (P<0.05) and -0.51 kits born alive at 2nd and 3rd parturition, respectively. However, under these challenging conditions, the reproductive performance of female rabbits from generation 36 was less affected at 2nd parturition (-1.25 kits born alive), but showed a greater reduction at the 3rd parturition (-3.53 kits born alive; P<0.05) compared with NC. The results also showed differences between generations in digestible energy intake, milk yield and accretion, and use of body reserves throughout lactation in NC, HC and NF, which together indicate that there were different resource allocation strategies in the animals from the different generations. Selection to increase litter size at weaning led to increased reproductive robustness at the onset of an environmental constraint, but failure to sustain the reproductive liability when the challenge was maintained in the long term. This response could be directly related to the short-term environmental fluctuations (less severe) that frequently occur in the environment where this line has been selected.

[Lipid profile in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome in Spain: data from Toledo health care area between 2005 and 2008]. / Perfil lipídico en pacientes ingresados por síndrome coronario agudo en España: datos del área sanitaria de Toledo entre los años 2005 y 2008.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the lipid profile of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome in Toledo (Spain) between 2005 and 2008. METHODS: Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were evaluated. Descriptive analyses and means comparison were performed. RESULTS: 1,381 patients of 3,986 admitted with acute coronary syndrome had a complete lipid profile. The mean age was 67.8±12.9 years (72.4% men). A first event was present in 76.3%. The mean total cholesterol (±SD) was 180.0±43.4, LDL-cholesterol 115±38.0, HDL-cholesterol 44.1±12.3, and triglyceride 145.3±92.4mg/dL, with statistically significant differences between men and women in LDL-cholesterol (116.3±37.8 vs 111.6±38.5mg/dL; p=0.04) and HDL-cholesterol (42.3±11.6 vs 48.4±13.2mg/dL; p=0.0001). In first or recurrent events were found, respectively, total cholesterol 179.1±43.1 and 174.5±44.1 (p<0.05), LDL-cholesterol 116.5±38.4 and 110±36.5 (p=0.007), HDL-cholesterol 44.1±12.2 and 44.2±12.9 (p<0.05), and triglyceride 141.2±81.7 and 158.5±119.7 (p=0.03). Optimal levels of LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were found in 14.1 and 11.6% of patients with recurrent episodes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While most patients admitted with first episode of acute coronary syndrome to the Toledo Health Area have a lipid profile according to current guidelines, only 10% of those with recurrent acute coronary syndrome presented optimal LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels, which suggest the need to be more aggressive in the lipids control.

Effects of feeding programme on the performance and energy balance of nulliparous rabbit does.

A total of 190 rabbit females were used to evaluate five feeding programmes from 9 weeks of age to the first parturition: CAL, fed ad libitum with a control diet (C: 11.0 MJ digestible energy (DE) and 114 g digestible protein (DP)/kg dry matter (DM)) until first parturition; CR, fed ad libitum with C diet until 12 weeks of age and then C diet restricted (140 g/day) until first parturition; F, fed ad libitum with a low-energy, high-fibre diet (F: 8.7 MJ DE and 88 g DP/kg DM) until first parturition; FC, fed with F diet ad libitum until 16 weeks of age, and C diet ad libitum until first parturition; FCF, fed with F diet ad libitum until 16 weeks of age, then C diet ad libitum until 20 weeks and then F diet ad libitum until first parturition. The rabbits were artificially inseminated at 18 weeks of age. CAL group had a higher mortality rate compared with the other groups between 9 and 12 weeks of age (34% v. 3%; P < 0.05) and during the last 3 weeks of first pregnancy (14% v. 3%; P < 0.05). The CAL and FC females presented higher BW and perirenal fat thickness (PFT) than CR females at 11 days of pregnancy (+0.41 kg and +0.6 mm; P < 0.05), with F females showing medium values. The type of feeding procedure did not affect the fertility rate of young females at first artificial insemination. Differences in BW disappeared at parturition, when only CAL females presented a greater PFT than CR and FC females (+0.3 mm; P < 0.05). In comparison with FCF, CAL females had smaller and thinner live born litters (-2.5 kits and -139 g, respectively; P < 0.05), with CR, F and FC females showing medium values. The low number of kits born alive for CAL females was because of their lesser total number of kits born (-1.7 kits; P < 0.05) and the greater mortality of their litters at birth (+13.9%; P < 0.05) compared with FCF females. Non-esterified fatty acid was higher in the blood of females fed C diet (CAL and CR) than in others at partum day (on average +0.15 mmol/l; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the ad libitum use of diets for lactating rabbit does throughout the rearing period could lead young rabbit females to present a higher risk of early death and smaller litter size at first parturition. Feed restriction or earlier use of suitably fibrous diets led females to achieve the critical BW and fat mass at first mating to ensure reproduction.