Energy utilization in pigs selected for high and low residual feed intake

Genetic selection on residual feed intake (RFI) can be used as an alternative method to G:F to improve feed efficiency in pigs. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of selection for RFI on digestive and metabolic utilization of energy in 2 lines of purebred French Large White castrated male pigs obtained from a divergent selection experiment over 6 generations. The RFI(+) (high RFI) line consumed more feed than predicted from performance compared with the RFI(-) (low RFI) line. Digestibility of energy and nutrients, total heat production (HP), HP related to physical activity, and energy and N balance were measured in respiration chambers for a 6-d period in pigs offered feed ad libitum. Pigs remained in the chamber for an additional day and did not receive any feed to estimate the fasting HP and calculate the thermic effect of feeding. Five pairs of 2 littermates from the same farrowing batch were used in each line. Because 2 respiration chambers were available for the trial, pigs were measured regularly during the 25- to 95-kg growing period. Two pigs per chamber were used until pigs reached 45 kg of BW, and 1 pig per chamber was used thereafter. Individual feed intake and BW gain were measured continuously from weaning to the end of the trial. Pigs were fed 3 diets with decreasing CP contents during the 25 to 45 (period 1), 45 to 65 (period 2), and 65 to 95 (period 3) kg of BW periods. Average daily feed intake was greater in RFI(+) pigs than in RFI(-) pigs between 25 and 65 kg of BW (2,128 vs. 1,891 g/d; P < 0.01) and G:F was 8% greater in RFI(-) pigs compared with RFI(+) pigs (P < 0.01). There was no line effect on digestibility coefficients or N retention, irrespective of the experimental period studied. Nitrogen retention was 31.2, 28.7, and 20.8 g/d at periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.001). The HP was greater in RFI(+) pigs than in RFI(-) pigs (1,497 vs. 1,383 kJ.kg of BW(-0.60).d(-1); P < 0.01), with no subsequent line effect on energy retention. The activity-related HP tended to be greater in RFI(+) pigs than in RFI(-) pigs (250 vs. 218 kJ.kg of BW(-0.60).d(-1); P = 0.09), and the fasting HP was 10% greater (P = 0.04) in RFI(+) pigs than in RFI(-) pigs (846 vs. 771 kJ.kg of BW(-0.60).d(-1)). The thermic effect of feeding, expressed as a percentage of ME intake, was the same for both lines of pigs (average, 14.7%). In conclusion, the RFI(+) pigs are energetically less efficient because of their greater HP related to physical activity and basal metabolic rate.

Genetic parameters for residual feed intake in growing pigs, with emphasis on genetic relationships with carcass and meat quality traits

Data were collected over the first 4 generations of a divergent selection experiment for residual feed intake of Large White pigs having ad libitum access to feed. This data set was used to obtain estimates of heritability for residual feed intake and genetic correlations (r(a)) between this trait and growth, carcass, and meat quality traits. Individual feed intake of group-housed animals was measured by single-space electronic feeders. Upward and downward selection lines were maintained contemporarily, with 6 boars and 35 to 40 sows per line and generation. Numbers of records were 793 for residual feed intake (RFI1) of boar candidates for selection issued from first-parity (P1) litters and tested over a fixed BW range (35 to 95 kg) and 657 for residual feed intake (RFI2) and growth, carcass, and meat quality traits of castrated males and females issued from second-parity (P2) litters and tested from 28 to 107 kg of BW. Variance and covariance components were estimated using REML methodology applied to a series of multitrait animal models, which always included the criterion for selection as 1 of the traits. Estimates of heritability for RFI1 and RFI2 were 0.14 +/- 0.03 and 0.24 +/- 0.03, respectively, whereas the estimate of r(a) between the 2 traits was 0.91 +/- 0.08. Estimates of r(a) indicated that selection for low residual feed intake has the potential to improve feed conversion ratio and reduce daily feed intake, with minimal correlated effect for ADG of P2 animals. Estimates of r(a) between RFI2 and body composition traits of P2 animals were positive for traits related to the amount of fat depots (r(a) = 0.44 +/- 0.16 for carcass backfat thickness) and negative for carcass lean meat content (r(a) = -0.55 +/- 0.14). There was a tendency for a negative genetic correlation between RFI2 and carcass dressing percent (r(a) = -0.36 +/- 0.21). Moreover, selection for low residual feed intake is expected, through lower ultimate pH and lighter color, to decrease pork quality (r(a) = 0.77 +/- 0.14 between RFI2 and a meat quality index intended to predict the ratio of the weight of ham after curing and cooking to the weight of defatted and boneless fresh ham).

Impact of Newly Available Drugs on Clinical Progression in Patients with Virological Failure after Exposure to Three Classes of Antiretrovirals

Objective

To study the prognosis of HIV-infected patients with virological failure after exposure to three classes of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

Design

Cohort study. Setting: French Hospital Database on HIV.

Patients

Patients previously exposed to at least two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), two protease inhibitors and one non-NRTI, with viral load (VL) values of >5000 copies/ml after the exposure criteria were met and a new treatment initiated between 1998 and 2001 with VL >5000 copies/ml.

Main outcome measures

Risk of new AIDS-defining-events (ADEs) or death from first introduction of a drug never used before occurring between 1998 and 2001 defined as baseline.

Results

The main baseline characteristics of the 1092 patients were: previous ADE in 49% of cases, median CD4 cell count 181 μl, median VL 4.9 log10 copies/ml, median duration of ARV therapy 5.0 years and previous exposure to a median of nine ARVs. The crude progression rates were 20.1/100 patient-years among patients included in 1998, 15.1 in 1999, 11.1 in 2000 and 8.6 in 2001. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, the calendar year of inclusion was associated with the risk of clinical progression ( P<0.001). When the types of newly available drugs used at baseline or during follow-up were introduced into the model, year of inclusion was no longer associated with the risk of clinical progression ( P=0.42), while exposure to amprenavir/r, lopinavir/r, abacavir or tenofovir was associated with a lower risk.

Conclusions

The clinical prognosis of heavily pretreated patients experiencing virological failure improved between 1998 and 2001, mainly thanks to the use of newly available drugs with more favourable resistance profiles.

Comparison between the three porcine RN genotypes for growth, carcass composition and meat quality traits

A three-step experimental design has been carried out to add evidence about the existence of the RN gene, with two segregating alleles RN- and rn+, having major effects on meat quality in pigs, to estimate its effects on production traits and to map the RN locus. In the present article, the experimental population and sampling procedures are described and discussed, and effects of the three RN genotypes on growth and carcass traits are presented. The RN genotype had no major effect on growth performance and killing out percentage. Variables pertaining to carcass tissue composition showed that the RN- allele is associated with leaner carcasses (about 1 s.d. effect without dominance for back fat thickness, 0.5 s.d. effect with dominance for weights of joints). Muscle glycolytic potential (GP) was considerably higher in RN- carriers, with a maximum of a 6.85 s.d. effect for the live longissimus muscle GP. Physico-chemical characteristics of meat were also influenced by the RN genotype in a dominant way, ultimate pH differing by about 2 s.d. between homozygous genotypes and meat colour by about 1 s.d. Technological quality was also affected, with a 1 s.d. decrease in technological yield for RN- carriers. The RN genotype had a more limited effect on eating quality. On the whole, the identity between the acid meat condition and the RN- allele effect is clearly demonstrated (higher muscle GP, lower ultimate pH, paler meat and lower protein content), and the unfavourable relationship between GP and carcass lean to fat ratio is confirmed.

Protein nutrition for ruminants in European countries, in the light of animal feeding regulations linked to bovine spongiform encephalopathy

The outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the discovery of the central role played by meat-and-bone meal (MBM) as the vehicle of infection resulted, from the late 1980s onwards, in the implementation of new regulations on the incorporation of animal proteins, and then of most fats of animal origin, into diets fed to ruminants and other farmed animals. The BSE-related feed ban, which has gradually been reinforced over time, has led to the investigation of cost-effective routes for adequately replacing MBM and tallow by new sources of dietary proteins, minerals and lipids in the formulation of manufactured concentrates. As far as the technical fulfilment of the nutritive requirements of growing and lactating ruminants is concerned, efficient alternative solutions, based principally on recourse to food materials from vegetals already exist or hopefully will soon be available in most of the situations prevailing in Europe. However, related aspects, such as animal feed-processing, availability and traceability of certain food materials, quality of animal products, environmental constraints or disposal of animal waste from the meat industry give cause for concern. The expected consequences of the BSE-related feeding regulations on the organisational and economic framework of animal and crop production sectors throughout Europe and at world level must also be evaluated.

[Cardiac rehabilitation in the Ile-de-France region. Current organization and suggestions for reorganization]

The Ile-de-France Regional Hospital Agency wished to complete the Regional Health Organisation Plan for Cardiology from 1999-2004 with a specific report on cardiac rehabilitation. A working group was set up and, after 8 meetings, its conclusions were submitted. They were adopted after presentation to the regional technical committee for cardiology. The requirements for cardiac rehabilitation were defined according to acknowledged indications in the medical literature: about 18,000 patients per year are candidates for cardiac rehabilitation in the Ile de France region. The existing equipment (1999-2000) was reviewed: 435 hospital beds allowing treatment of 5,780 patients per year; 45 day hospital places (only 20 of which were operational in 2000), in addition to a large fee for act activity allowing a total ambulatory management of a further 1,265 patients per year. The following proposals were made: more uniform distribution of hospital beds in the region; develop ambulatory rehabilitation especially on a day hospital basis; create a third possibility of rehabilitation associating home exercise rehabilitation and a program of education, prevention, reinsertion, psychotherapy within a network of extra-hospital care.

Transient decrease of water diffusion in Wernicke's encephalopathy

We report water diffusion abnormalities in periventricular areas in a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy. The reduction in diffusion disappeared after 2 weeks of treatment with intravenous thiamine. We suggest that the restricted mobility of cerebral water is related to inflammatory lesions.

A randomized double-blind trial of intravenous trimetazidine as adjunctive therapy to primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Despite high patency rates, primary angioplasty for myocardial infarction does not necessarily result in optimal myocardial reperfusion and limitation of infarct size. Experimentally, trimetazidine limits infarct size, decreases platelet aggregation, and reduces leukocyte influx into the infarct zone. To assess trimetazidine as adjunctive therapy to primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was performed.

METHODS

94 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to receive trimetazidine (40 mg bolus followed by 60 mg/day intravenously for 48 h) (n=44) or placebo (n=50), starting before recanalization of the infarct vessel by primary angioplasty. Patients underwent continuous ST-segment monitoring to assess return of ST-segment deviation to baseline and presence of ST-segment exacerbation at the time of vessel recanalization. Infarct size was measured enzymatically from serial myoglobin measurements. Left ventricular angiography was performed before treatment and repeated at day 14.

RESULTS

Blinded ST segment analysis showed that despite higher initial ST deviation from baseline in the trimetazidine group (355 (32) vs. 278 (29) microV, P=0.07), there was an earlier and more marked return towards baseline within the first 6 h than in the placebo group (P=0.014) (change: 245 (30) vs. 156 (31) microV respectively, P=0.044). There was a trend towards less frequent exacerbation of ST deviation at the time of recanalization in the trimetazidine group (23.3 vs. 42.2%, P=0.11). There was no difference in left ventricular wall motion at day 14, or in enzymatic infarct size. There was no side effect from treatment. Clinical outcomes were similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

Trimetazidine was safe and led to earlier resolution of ST-segment elevation in patients treated by primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

[Prognosis and risk evaluation of postoperative coronary patients (PERISCOP). Methodology and study population characteristics]

The aim of the PERISCOP study was to evaluate the predictive value of cardiological investigations performed after recent coronary bypass surgery with regards to cardiac event and mortality at one year. The treatment of lipid abnormalities was also analysed. This first article describes the methodology and patient characteristics at inclusion. This prospective national multicenter trial included 2065 patients (86% men) with an average age of 63.1 +/- 9.9 years. The number of diseased vessels was 2.6 +/- 0.6. Preoperative left ventricular function was normal (ejection fraction 60 +/- 13%). Revascularisation was complete in 73% of cases (22% of arterial grafts). The cardiological investigations were performed at Day 20 +/- 10 after surgery. The duration of exercise on stress testing was 429 +/- 170 seconds. It was positive or doubtful in 9% of cases. Ventricular arrhythmias were observed in 6.5% of cases. The blood pressure response was abnormal in 6% of cases. Holter monitoring showed a median number of ventricular extrasystoles over 24 hours of 44. Three per cent of patients had one episode of ventricular tachycardia and 7% had ischaemic episodes. The echocardiographic index of segmental contractility was on average 1.75 (ejection fraction: 52.6%). The lipid analysis performed at one month, under lipid therapy in 34% of cases, showed a total cholesterol level at 1.91 +/- 0.10 g/l, an LDL-cholesterol of 1.27 +/- 0.08 g/l. The therapeutic target (LDL-cholesterol < 1 g/l) was attained in 46% of cases with treatment and in 18% of cases without treatment.

Genetically caused retarded growth in animals

Growth process of animals is regulated by a multitude of physiological pathways among which components of the somatotropic axis play a key role. A number of severe, simply inherited growth disturbances have been identified in humans, laboratory and farm animals. These disorders are controlled by defective alleles at major loci referring to hormones or hormone receptors, e.g. growth hormone receptor for the recessive sex-linked dwarfism (dw) in chickens and the recessive autosomal Laron-type dwarfism in man, and growth hormone releasing hormone receptor for the recessive "little" mutation (lit) in mice. Apart from these particular cases, growth rate is a quantitative polygenic trait which has a moderate heritability (close to 0.30) and is influenced by prenatal and postnatal maternal effects. Increase in the average coefficient of inbreeding in a population is also known to result in lower growth rate. Divergent selection experiments have shown that upward or downward selection on growth is effective, sometimes with asymmetrical responses, but patterns of changes in underlying physiological traits appear to differ among experiments.

Recurrent subcutaneous infection due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in a liver transplant recipient

We describe a case of recurrent Scopulariopsis brevicaulis subcutaneous infection, which occurred 6 years after the patient underwent liver transplantation. Combined surgery and long-term oral therapy with terbinafine resulted in a favorable outcome, although this is not the rule in the previously reported S. brevicaulis infections in immunocompromised patients.