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Simple Summary: Creep feeding is a common management tool on pig farms designed to encourage dry feed intake and supply piglets with essential nutrients by providing a highly palatable and easily digestible diet. Currently, research results on the efficacy of creep feeding vary, possibly because numerous factors may influence its benefits during lactation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain a deeper insight into the consequences of creep feeding on short- and long-term growth, carcass quality, meat characteristics, and microbiome composition as a function of piglet birth weight. During the study, we did not observe any long-term effects of creep feeding on these parameters. The short-term impacts of this nutritional management technique were mainly concentrated on lactation and potentially in the early postweaning stages. These short-term effects were influenced by birth weight, as piglets with higher birth weights seemed to benefit more from creep-feeding practices. Fifty-eight litters (16 from primiparous gilts and 42 from multiparous sows) were used, with a total number of 750 piglets involved in the study. Birth weight was stratified into three groups: low (<1.02 kg; LBW), normal (1.02–1.62 kg; NBW), and high (>1.62 kg; HBW). A creep feeding diet was offered to piglets in a creep feeder in 29 litters from day 7 until their weaning. Piglet mortality was recorded daily. Traceability was ensured up to the point of carcass splitting and subsequent meat analysis. Each carcass was eviscerated and weighed individually. Sixty-nine piglets were selected for the microbiome analysis (35 from the control group and 34 from the creep feeding group). Feces samples from the rectum were obtained at three time points (three days prior weaning, a week after weaning, and before the slaughtering of the pigs). Mortality during lactation was influenced by birth weight, with LBW piglets exhibiting a six-fold higher mortality rate than HBW. Creep feeding did not impact piglet mortality. Heavier piglets demonstrated greater weight gain when subjected to creep feeding, while the growth potential of lighter piglets was reduced. Variation in creep feeding consumption based on birth weight also affected microbiome composition, with high-birth-weight piglets displaying higher alpha diversity than low- and normal-birth-weight piglets seven days after lactation. Alpha diversity is indicative of gut health, with higher values suggesting greater stability and adaptability to different feed sources. In conclusion, the immediate impacts of creep feeding appear to be most prominent during lactation and potentially early postweaning. These short-term effects are modulated by birth weight, with HBW piglets demonstrating the greatest benefits from the implementation of creep-feeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota of the pig is being increasingly studied due to its implications for host homeostasis and the importance of the pig as a meat source and biomedical model of human diseases. However, most studies comparing the microbiome between different breeds do not consider the influence of maternal environment during the colonization of the microbiota. The aim of the present study was to compare the gut microbiota during postnatal growth between two pig genotypes (purebred Iberian vs. crossbreds Iberian x Large White pigs), gestated in a single maternal environment (pure Iberian mothers) inseminated with heterospermic semen. Postnatally, piglets were maintained in the same environmental conditions, and their microbiota was studied at 60 and 210 days old. Results showed that age had the greatest influence on alpha and beta diversity, and genotype also affected beta diversity at both ages. There were differences in the microbiome profile between genotypes at the ASV and genus levels when jointly analyzing the total number of samples, which may help to explain phenotypical differences. When each time-point was analyzed individually, there were more differences at 210 days-old than 60 days-old. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were also affected by age, but not by genotype. These results may be a basis for further research on host genotype interactions with the gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pigs lack functional sweat glands, hence being very susceptible to heat stress. The optimum temperature in which pigs would thrive is around 20 °C, depending on age and weight. Pigs could achieve higher heat dissemination, e.g., by increasing body contact with the cooler ground and panting, but also through an undesirable reduction in feed intake. In addition, under conditions of severe heat stress, animals may become more susceptible even to immune challenges due to damage to the structure of the intestinal wall. Thus, heat stress can affect the proper functioning of metabolism, which, in addition to having implications on animal welfare, also affects the quality of meat and meat products. Cooling systems are not yet commonly seen on farms. Sprinkler systems are the most used cooling system, followed by water pads and fogging systems, for finishing pigs. As our climate continues to warm, monitoring daily feed intake and water consumption levels, along with the implementation of cooling systems, must become tools to minimize the adverse effects of hot weather. Heat stress is a significant environmental problem that has a detrimental impact on animal welfare and production efficiency in swine farms. The current study was conducted to assess the effect of low-intensity showers, provided during critical high-temperature hours daily, on body external temperature, feeding pattern, and carcass and meat quality characteristics in fattening pigs. A total of 400 animals (200 barrows and 200 gilts) were randomly allotted in 40 pens. A shower nozzle was installed over 20 pens (half barrows and half gilts) where pigs received a low-intensity shower for 2 min in 30 min intervals from 12 to 19 h (SHO group). Another group without showers was also considered (CON). Feeder occupancy measurement, thermographic measures, and carcass and meat quality parameters were studied. In the periods with higher environmental temperatures, SHO animals showed an increase in the feeder occupancy rate compared to the CON group. A decrease in temperature was observed after the shower, regardless of the anatomical location (p < 0.005). The treatment with showers led to higher values than in the CON group of 4.72%, 3.87%, 11.8%, and 15.1% for hot carcass weight, lean meat yield, and fat thickness in Longissimus Dorsi (LD) and Gluteus Medius muscles, respectively (p < 0.01). Pork from CON showed a 14.9% higher value of drip loss, and 18.9% higher malondialdehyde concentration than SHO (p < 0.01); meanwhile, intramuscular fat content was 22.8% higher in SHO than in CON (p < 0.01). On the other hand, the CON group exhibited higher L* (2.13%) and lower a* and b* values (15.8% and 8.97%) compared to the SHO group. However, the pH20h of the CON group was significantly lower than that of the SHO group (p < 0.001), indicating a softer pH decrease. Related to fatty acids in subcutaneous outer and inner layers and intramuscular fat, the CON group showed higher ΣSFA and lower ΣMUFA and Δ9-desaturase indexes than SHO (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the amelioration of heat stress through showers at critical times should be considered an interesting tool that improves both carcass and meat quality, as well as animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While tuberculosis remains a significant global health concern, prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex are exceptionally rare. Our objective is to perform a retrospective search of new cases of this disease and analyze all cases available in the literature of tuberculous PJIs, aiming to detect factors that may influence patient outcomes. Methods: The ESGIAI and ESGMYC study groups were used to collect information on non-published cases of tuberculous prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Additionally, a literature review of all published cases of tuberculous PJIs was conducted. All identified cases in the retrospective study and in the literature review were merged and included in the statistical analysis, involving both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Fifteen previously unreported cases of tuberculous prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) from four countries were detailed. Among them, ten patients were female, with a median age of 76 years. The hip was affected in 13 cases. Seven patients experienced co-infection with another microorganism. Treatment approaches varied, with 13 patients undergoing implant removal, one treated with DAIR (debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention), and one case was treated with an unknown treatment method. All patients received antibiotic therapy and achieved a cure. The literature review that was conducted detected 155 published cases. Univariate analysis revealed a statistical significance for previous tuberculosis, joint, and no importance of surgery for cure. Conclusions: Tuberculous prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare condition, typically presenting as a localized chronic infection. Antibiotic treatment is essential for the management of these patients, but neither surgical treatment nor duration of treatment seems to have importance in the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nebulized liposomal amphotericin B (NLAB) is being used in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) prophylaxis, no clinical trial has shown its efficacy as a therapeutic strategy. NAIFI is the inaugural randomized, controlled clinical trial designed to examine the safety and effectiveness of NLAB (dosage: 25 mg in 6 mL, three times per week for 6 weeks) against a placebo, in the auxiliary treatment of IPA. Throughout the three-year clinical trial, thirteen patients (six NLAB, seven placebo) were included, with 61% being onco-hematological with less than 100 neutrophils/μL. There were no significant differences noted in their pre- and post-nebulization results of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and oxygen saturation between the groups. Neither bronchospasm nor serum amphotericin B levels were reported in any patients given NLAB. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET-TC) was carried out at the baseline and after 6 weeks. A notable decrease in median SUV (standardized uptake value) was observed in NLAB patients after 6 weeks (−3.6 vs. −0.95, p: 0.039, one tail). Furthermore, a reduction in serum substance galactomannan and beta-D-Glucan was identified within NLAB recipients. NLAB is well tolerated and safe for patients with IPA. Encouraging indirect efficacy data have been derived from image monitoring or biomarkers. However, further studies involving more patients are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Increasing prolificity in swine reduces the opportunities of pigs to obtain enough amount of colostrum, which may lead to negative short- and long-term consequences. This is especially important for piglets with a low birth weight. Removing the heaviest piglets from the litter for a short period during suckling (split-suckling) may allow the smallest and less viable piglets to have access to the udder during the critical initial hours after farrowing. This experiment has shown that mortality is not altered by split-suckling. Moreover, estimation of colostrum intake suggests that the heaviest piglets subjected to split-suckling ingest a lower amount and show a lower weight gain during lactation than their litter mates. We have not observed differences in final weight, but split-suckling increases carcass leanness, especially in piglets of low birth weight. Differences in the fatty acid composition of intramuscular lipids because of split-suckling were also observed. Long-term response to split-suckling, particularly in low-birth-weight piglets, suggests an alteration in adiposity and metabolic regulation which may be related to higher colostrum intake. Forty-eight litters were used, with a total number of 645 piglets involved in the study. The split-suckling technique was applied to half of the litters at the end of farrowing by removing the heaviest piglets over three periods of 1 h. The piglets were individually weighed at 0, 1 d, and at weaning. Piglet losses were recorded daily. Traceability was maintained until the carcass splitting and meat analysis took place. Carcasses were eviscerated and weighed individually. Total mortality at weaning was affected by body weight, where the low-body-weight piglets showed a mortality rate almost four times higher than that of the normal-weight piglets. Mortality was highest in the first days of life, especially in the low-body-weight piglets. At weaning, split-suckling treatment caused a slight increase in mortality compared to the control group piglets (25% vs. 17.1%). Split-suckling had a positive effect on weight gain during the first 24 h of life (p = 0.014), and there was an interaction between treatment and parity (p = 0.007), with split-suckling being more effective in the primiparous sows compared to the multiparous sows. The piglets from litters receiving the split-suckling treatment had a lower average daily gain during the lactation period (p < 0.001) than the piglets from the control group. Weight gain during the first 24 h of life of the piglets subjected to split-suckling was higher than those of the control group. A lower IgG and α-tocopherol in plasma in the heavier piglets subjected to split-suckling treatment was observed in comparison to their respective control. The piglets from litters receiving the treatment showed a lower average daily gain during the lactation period (p < 0.001) than the piglets from the control group. No difference in slaughter weight was observed according to treatment. The pigs which received split-suckling treatment showed lower subcutaneous fat thickness (p < 0.0013) and higher lean meat yield (p < 0.0027), this effect being more marked in pigs from primiparous sows. Intramuscular fat concentration was higher in the Longissimus Dorsi muscle of the low-body-weight piglets. In the pigs that received split-suckling treatment, a higher concentration of C18:3n-3 (p = 0.036) and a tendency towards a higher concentration of C18:2n-6 (p = 0.107) and unsaturation index (p = 0.113) was observed in intramuscular fatty acids at slaughter, together with a lower concentration of C16:0 (p = 0.053) and SFA (p = 0.064). In conclusion, long-term response to split-suckling, particularly in low-birth-weight piglets, suggests an alteration in adiposity and metabolic regulation in these piglets that receive high levels of colostrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesis of this experiment was that a liquid rich in hydroxytyrosol (HT) obtained from "alperujo", an olive oil by-product, could replace part of the added vitamin E (VE) as an antioxidant in poultry diets. There were five diets that differed exclusively in the substitution of supplemental VE (0 to 40 mg/kg, with differences of 10 mg/kg) by HT (30 to 0 mg/kg, with differences of 7.5 mg/kg). The basal diet was based on corn and soybean meal and provided 10 mg VE/kg. From 0 to 39 d of age, the growth performance of the birds was not affected by diet. The birds were slaughtered at 39 d of age to evaluate the quality of the breast, and malonaldehyde concentration, pH, color, and drip loss were measured. In terms of meat lipid oxidation, the combination of 22.5 mg HT/kg and 10 mg of added VE/kg equalized to a diet supplemented with 40 mg VE/kg. Meat color improved in broilers fed 7.5 mg HT/kg and 30 mg VE/kg. It is concluded that once the nutritional requirements of the birds in VE are satisfied, the dietary supplementation with the olive oil by-product rich in HT can be used as a strategy to spare VE in broiler diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate intestinal environment before weaning may contribute to diarrhea predisposition and piglet development. This study evaluates how the dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VE) (100 mg/kg), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) (1.5 mg/kg) or the combined administration (VE + HXT) given to Iberian sows from gestation affects the piglet's faecal characteristics, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), fatty acid profile or intestinal morphology as indicators of gut health; and quantify the contribution of the oxidative status and colostrum/milk composition to the piglet's SCFAs content and intestinal health. Dietary VE increased isobutyric acid (iC4), butyric acid (C4), isovaleric acid (iC5), and ∑SCFAs, whereas HXT increased iC4 and tended to decrease ∑SCFAs of faeces. Piglets from HXT-supplemented sows also tended to have higher faecal C20:4n-6/C20:2 ratio C22:6 proportion and showed lower occludin gene expression in the duodenum. The combination of both antioxidants had a positive effect on iC4 and iC5 levels. Correlation analyses and regression equations indicate that faecal SCFAs were related to oxidative status (mainly plasma VE) and colostrum and milk composition (mainly C20:2, C20:3, C20:4 n-6). This study would confirm the superiority of VE over HXT supplementation to improve intestinal homeostasis, gut health, and, consequently piglet growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different feeding strategies are being applied to sows in order to obtain homogeneous piglets' weights and improved health status. This study evaluated how the dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VE) (100 mg/kg), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) (1.5 mg/kg) or the combined administration (VE + HXT) given to Iberian sows from day 85 of gestation affected the growth pattern of the piglets and their oxidative status; and quantified what these effects were due to. Dietary VE and HXT improved the oxidative status of sows and piglets. Both VE and HXT modified the growth pattern at birth and performances of the piglets in a different way according to the growing period. Piglets' performances were positively correlated with plasma VE and negatively with plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) of the sow. However, the highest variation in growth patterns was explained by the colostrum composition. Significant linear equations were observed between piglets' performances and colostrum saturated (SAT), n-7 monounsaturated fatty acids (C16:1n-7 and C18:1n-7) and different desaturases indices. This study would confirm that VE supplementation to the sow diet could be more adequate than HXT for the improved development during the first weeks of a piglet's life. The combined administration of both antioxidants would not produce additional positive effects compared to the individual supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modifying the composition of a sow's milk could be a strategy to improve the intestinal health and growth of her piglet during the first weeks of life. This study evaluated how dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VE), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) or VE+HXT given to Iberian sows from late gestation affected the colostrum and milk composition, lipid stability and their relationship with the piglet's oxidative status. Colostrum from VE-supplemented sows had greater C18:1n−7 than non-supplemented sows, whereas HXT increased polyunsaturated (∑PUFAs), ∑n−6 and ∑n−3 fatty acids. In 7-day milk, the main effects were induced by VE supplementation that decreased ∑PUFAs, ∑n−6 and ∑n−3 and increased the Δ-6-desaturase activity. The VE+HXT supplementation resulted in lower desaturase capacity in 20-day milk. Positive correlations were observed between the estimated mean milk energy output and the desaturation capacity of sows. The lowest concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in milk was observed in VE-supplemented groups, whereas HXT supplementation increased oxidation. Milk lipid oxidation was negatively correlated with the sow's plasma oxidative status and to a great extent with the oxidative status of piglets after weaning. Maternal VE supplementation produced a more beneficial milk composition to improve the oxidative status of piglets, which could promote gut health and piglet growth during the first weeks, but more research is needed to clarify this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Food-responsive enteropathy (FRE) has the greatest prevalence among the different groups of chronic enteropathies. However, information is lacking on the specific amino acid profile for FRE in dogs and its diagnostic utility. This study evaluated differences in the plasma and faecal amino acid profile between control and FRE in dogs as possible indicators of disease. We also searched for correlations between amino acids and parameter indicators of gut health, including body condition score (BCS), and indices, such as canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI), to evaluate whether the amino acid profile could serve as an indicator of disease severity. Several alterations were observed in plasma and faecal amino acid profiles in sick dogs, and high correlations were found between amino acids and disease activity index or faecal characteristics. More information on the amino acid profile in dogs with FRE could help with diagnoses and lead to more precise and specific amino acid formulation, dietary interventions, better response to diet, and recovery of animals. Dogs suffering from food-responsive enteropathy (FRE) respond to an elimination diet based on hydrolysed protein or novel protein; however, studies regarding the amino acid profile in FRE dogs are lacking. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether the plasma and faecal amino acid profiles differed between control and FRE dogs and whether these could serve as indicators of severity of illness. Blood, faecal samples, body condition score, and severity of clinical signs based on the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index were collected before starting the elimination diet. FRE dogs had lower proportions of plasma Asparagine, Histidine, Glycine, Cystine, Leucine, and branched-chain/aromatic amino acids; however, Phenylalanine increased. In faecal samples, Cystine was greater whereas Phenylalanine was lesser in sick dogs compared to control. Leucine correlated negatively with faecal humidity (r = −0.66), and Leucine and Phenylalanine with faecal fat (r = −0.57 and r = −0.62, respectively). Faecal Phenylalanine (r = 0.80), Isoleucine (r = 0.75), and Leucine (r = 0.92) also correlated positively with total short-chain fatty acids, whereas a negative correlation was found with Glycine (r = −0.85) and Cystine (r = −0.61). This study demonstrates the importance of Leucine and Phenylalanine amino acids as indicators of the disease severity in FRE dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Neonatal piglet viability is decreasing as a consequence of the selection for increasing numbers of piglets born per sow per year. Several strategies have been proposed to reduce neonatal mortality, which involve all aspects of swine production. Early management intervention has proven effective to reduce piglet mortality particularly in low-birth-weight piglets, although this practice, in some cases, increases production costs. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of body weight at birth and individual neonatal care provided to piglets on preweaning mortality, and the long-term effects on growth and carcass and meat characteristics. The results of this research showed that early neonatal care may be a useful practice to reduce mortality, especially in low-birth-weight piglets. Moreover, neonatal care could affect meat quality, fat content, and fatty acid profile, thus suggesting long-term effects on metabolism. Swine industries worldwide face a loss in profit due to high piglet mortality, particularly as a consequence of the marked increase in prolificity and low birth weight (BW) of piglets. This research studied the effect of BW and individual neonatal care provided to piglets on preweaning mortality, and the long-term effects on growth and carcass and meat characteristics. Litters from seventy-one crossbred sows (PIC 34) were included in the trial. Half of each litter did not receive any further management, and the remaining half received the pre-established management protocol of early assistance of neonatal care (NC). Along lactation, the low-BW piglets (weight equal to or less than 1.1 kg) showed a threefold higher mortality rate than piglets of higher weights (32 vs. 10%; p = 0.001), with mortality particularly concentrated within the first week after birth. No effect of NC treatment was observed on mortality ratio caused by crushing, but a significant effect was observed in low-BW piglets who died of starvation (p < 0.01). The effect of NC on growth is dependent on BW, and heavier piglets at birth benefit from NC treatment to a higher extent than low-BW piglets. Low-BW piglets showed a higher fatness (p = 0.003), lower lean cut yield (p = 0.002) in carcasses, and higher intramuscular fat (IMF) content (2.29% vs. 1.91%; p = 0.01) in meat. NC treatment increased the lean content in carcasses from low-BW piglets (p < 0.01). The monounsaturated fatty acids concentration was higher in lower-than-normal-BW piglets (48.1% vs. 47.1%; p = 0.002) and the opposite effect was observed for polyunsaturated fatty acids (13.6% vs. 15.7%; p = 0.002). NC treatment induced a higher concentration of n-7 fatty acids. In conclusion, NC treatment may be a useful practice to reduce mortality in low-BW piglets. Moreover, NC could affect carcass fatness and meat quality, thus suggesting a long-term effect on metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present study aimed to determine the effects of maternal dietary supplementation combining hydroxytyrosol and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) from day 35 to day 100 of gestation on the fatty acid (FA) composition of the offspring tissues of the Iberian pig. No effects were found in the plasma FA composition of the dams but higher levels of n3-PUFA were found in the plasma and different tissues (muscle, liver, and brain) of the supplemented fetuses. These findings may have important implications for piglets' health and may offer guidance for achieving human dietary n3-PUFA recommendations. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is a major problem in pig production and different strategies, mainly maternal supplementation with different agents, are currently being studied. The combination of hydroxytyrosol and n3-PUFA seems to be a promising treatment to counteract IUGR, since the combination may help improve n3-PUFA composition and lower the inflammatory status of IUGR piglets. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of a maternal supplementation, from day 35 to day 100 of pregnancy, with linseed oil and hydroxytyrosol on the fetal FA composition. The results showed higher n3 levels, including eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic FA in the offspring from treated gilts, which showed lower n6-PUFA/n3-PUFA (n6/n3) ratios. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were also affected by treatment, especially in the muscle and brain. Thus, a maternal supplementation with linseed oil and hydroxytyrosol affected the fetal FA tissue composition, which could have implications in pig production due to the improvement of the piglets' health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterobacteria species are common causes of hospital-acquired infections, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Immunocompromised patients such as solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are especially at risk because they are frequently exposed to antibiotics in the course of their treatments. In this work, we used a collection of 106 Escherichia coli , 78 Klebsiella pneumoniae , 25 Enterobacter spp., and 24 Citrobacter spp. multidrug resistant strains isolated from transplant patients (hepatic, renal or renal/pancreatic) in order to examine their ability to adhere in vitro to HT-29 human colon cells, and to determine if some adhesive characteristics are associated with prevalence and persistence of these strains. A total of 33 E. coli (31%), 21 K. pneumoniae (27%), 7 Enterobacter spp. (28%), and 5 Citrobacter spp. (21%), adhered to the colon epithelial cells. Two main adherence patterns were observed in the four species analyzed, diffuse adherence, and aggregative adherence. Under transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), most bacteria lacked visible fimbria on their surface, despite their strong adherence to epithelial cells. None of the strains studied was able to induce any cytotoxic effect on HT-29 cells although some of them strongly colonizing both cells and glass coverslips at high density. Some of the strains failed to adhere to the epithelial cells but adhered strongly to the cover-slide, which shows that microscopy studies are mandatory to elucidate the adherence of bacteria to epithelial cells in vitro , and that quantitative assays using colony forming unit (CFUs) counting need to be supplemented with pictures to determine definitively if a bacterial strain adheres or not to animal cells in vitro. We report here, for the first time, the aggregative adherence pattern of two multidrug resistant (MDR) Citrobacter freundii strains isolated from human patients; importantly, biofilm formation in Citrobacter is totally dependent on the temperature; strong biofilms were formed at room temperature (RT) but not at 37°C, which can play an important role in the colonization of hospital surfaces. In conclusion, our results show that there is a great variety of adhesion phenotypes in multidrug-resistant strains that colonize transplanted patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • New data on the use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) are reported. • Only one native ESR signal was found in all types of cheese. • In irradiated cheeses, a new ESR signal is detected. • The storage time effect in free radicals accumulation and decay are studied by ESR. • ESR could be a suitable technique to detect irradiation treatments on cheese. Abstract The generation, accumulation and decay of free radicals in six varieties of cheese, irradiated (0–4 kGy) in an electron accelerator, have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Remarkably, the ESR spectra of all untreated cheeses showed only one singlet signal with a g-factor of 2.0064 ± 0.0005. Surprisingly, the ESR spectra of irradiated samples presented a new signal with g - factor of 2.0037 ± 0.0003 which was independent of the type of cheese, and which might be due to free radicals from the radiolysis of proteins. Surface regression models (P < 0.0001) established the relationship among signal intensity, absorbed dose (0, 1, 2 and 4 kGy) and storage time (0–180 days) for the different types of cheese. Results suggested that the analysis by ESR (or electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR) is suitable to evaluate, either qualitatively or quantitatively, the irradiation treatment of different types of cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The breaking strength (σ) and stress–strain relation of several muscles [biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST) and semimembranosus (SM)] and the subcutaneous fat (SF) from a Spanish dry cured ham (Protected Designation of Origin of white ham from “Teruel”) have been analysed by the uniaxial tensile test in order to predict the mechanical behaviour of this meat product. Thirty pieces were analysed and the stress–strain curves were obtained. A great dispersion of the σ values was observed. This leads to the necessity of employing statistical analyses to illustrate the extent to which strength values may vary. The Weibull analysis was applied to estimate the fracture probability. SM and SF showed the highest characteristic strength. The low values of the Weibull modulus indicate that dry-cured ham tissues behave as brittle materials. The stress–strain curves present characteristic forms for BF, ST and SM, which may be associated with their composition and the extent to which they are affected by the curing process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The generation, accumulation and decay of free radicals in muscle and fat fractions from three varieties of Spanish dry-cured ham treated (0–4kGy) in an electron accelerator have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. In the ESR spectra from fat fractions, a well-resolved triplet signal corresponding to an alkyl radical was found only in treated samples. Linear regression models (P <0.05) were obtained for ESR signal intensity estimation using the absorbed dose and storage time at 4°C (from 0 to 28days). Several ESR signals were observed in the spectra from muscle fractions related to the presence of metalloprotein complexes. However, no significant (P >0.05) differences were found between ESR spectra from untreated (0kGy) and treated (0–4kGy) samples. Results suggest that the analysis of ESR spectrum in fat samples can be used to evaluate the E-beam treatment of dry-cured ham. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new procedure for the synthesis of macrocyclic embedded bis-α-amino acids and their use as cation-ligands is described. These compounds are able to form stable Cu(ii), Zn(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes as long as they have a flexible tether between the two nitrogen atoms. For a given macrocycle, the X-ray diffraction studies revealed diastereomerically pure complexes having different geometries depending on the metal ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-Lingua is a programming language for membrane computing. It was first presented in Edinburgh, during the Ninth Workshop on Membrane Computing (WMC9). In this paper, the models, simulators and formats included in P-Lingua in version 2.0 are explained. We focus on the stochastic model, associated simulators and updated features. Finally, we present one of the first applications based on P-Lingua: a tool for describing and simulating ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Food-responsive enteropathy is the most common diagnosis given for dogs with chronic enteropathy, and there are no tests that can replace treatment trials. Furthermore, there is a lack of information on the specific nutritional status of these patients regarding the lipid profile that could relate them to the state of health/disease. This study evaluated differences in short-chain fatty acids and the total fatty acid profile of faeces and plasma as possible indicators of food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), as well as its relationship with body condition and the chronic enteropathy activity index. Changes in the long-chain fatty acid of plasma, and short-chain, branched and odd-chain fatty acids of faeces were detected in sick dogs, and high correlations were observed between some of these compounds and the existing calculated indices. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the total fatty acid profile of faeces or plasma as possible indicators of FRE in comparison with healthy dogs. FRE dogs had a lower concentration (p = 0.026) of plasma α-tocopherol as an indicator of the oxidative status of the animal, and lower C20:5n-3 (p = 0.033), C22:5n-3 (p = 0.005), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (p = 0.021) and n-6 (p = 0.041) when compared with the control dogs; furthermore, sick dogs had higher proportions of plasma C20:3n-6 (p = 0.0056). The dogs with FRE showed a decrease in the production of faecal levels of SCFAs, mainly propionic acid (C3) (p = 0.0001) and isovaleric acid (iC5) (p = 0.014). FRE dogs also had a lower proportion of C15:0 (p = 0.0003), C16:1n-9 (p = 0.0095), C16:1n-7 (p = 0.0001), C20:5n-3 (p = 0.0034) and monounsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.0315), and tended to have lower n-3 (p = 0.058) and a reduced desaturase activity index in the stool when compared with the control group. However, the dogs with chronic enteropathy tended to have greater C20:4n-6 (p = 0.065) in their faeces as signs of damage at the intestinal level. The faecal parameters were better predictors than plasma. The highest correlations between faecal odd-chain, medium- or long-chain fatty acids and SCFAs were observed for C15:0 that correlated positively with faecal acetic acid (C2) (r = 0.72, p = 0.004), propionic acid (r = 0.95, p = 0.0001), isobutyric acid (iC4) (r = 0.59, p = 0.027) and isovaleric acid (r = 0.64, p = 0.0136), as well as with total SCFAs (r = 0.61, p = 0.02). Conversely, faecal C20:4n-6 showed a high inverse correlation (r = −0.83, p = 0.0002) with C2 and C3 (r = −0.59, p = 0.027). Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity (CIBDAI) index correlated negatively mainly with faecal measurements, such as C3 (r = −0.869, p = 0.0005) and C15:0 (r = −0.825, p = 0.0018), followed by C16:1/C16:0 (r = −0.66, p= 0.0374) and iC5 (r = −0.648, p = 0.0310), which would indicate that these fatty acids could be good non-invasive indicators of the chronic inflammatory status, specifically FRE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is widely used in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disorders. Our objective is to evaluate its possible protective role, not only in mortality but also in other aspects such as inflammation, symptomatic thrombosis, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We realized an observational retrospective cohort study of 20,641 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia collected and followed-up from Mar 1st, 2020 to May 1st, 2021, from the nationwide Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to determine whether treatment with ASA affected outcomes in COVID-19 patients. On hospital admission, 3291 (15.9%) patients were receiving ASA. After PSM, 3291 patients exposed to ASA and 2885 not-exposed patients were analyzed. In-hospital mortality was higher in the ASA group (30.4 vs. 16.9%, p < 0.001) in the global sample. After PSM, no differences were found between groups (30.4 vs. 30.3%, p = 0.938). There were no differences in inflammation, symptomatic thrombosis, or ICU admission. In conclusion, ASA intake is not associated with in-hospital mortality or any other health outcome evaluated after applying PSM analysis in a real-world large sample of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the framework of Membrane Computing, several tools to tackle the P versus NP problems by means of frontiers of the efficiency expressed in terms of syntactic or semantic ingredients, have been developed. In this paper, an overview of the results in computational complexity theory concerning to membrane systems (tissue-like and cell-like approach) with symport/antiport rules (where objects are transported without evolving), is given. The frontiers are formulated regarding the length of communication rules, the kind of rules implementing the production of an exponential number of cells/membranes in polynomial time, and the role of the environment. An interesting remark of the obtained results refers that the underlying structure to membrane systems (directed graph versus rooted tree) does not matter in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay focuses on the treatment of urban space in the comic Manuel by Rodrigo Muñoz Ballester, first published in serialized form in the Spanish monthly arts magazine La Luna de Madrid in 1983-1984 and re-published in book format in 2005. My analysis suggests that within Manuel the urban, the creative, and the erotic-experiential become entangled and confused: the city of Madrid is not just a setting for the comic, but a site that allows for the transferences between lived experience (the love story between an unnamed protagonist and the eponymous Manuel) and creative activity (the protagonist's creation of a statue of Manuel) that structure and articulate the comic. Additionally, the comic's focus on urban heterotopic spaces such as parks, clubs, and Madrid's metro, as well as its destabilization of well-known landmarks (Gran Vía, Plaza Dos de Mayo, the Metrópolis building), suggest a view of the city constantly in the process of making and unmaking itself, rather than as a stable, graspable physical entity. Finally, this notion of urban space as dynamic flux can be seen to infiltrate the comic, as its narrative and structural coherence become undermined by frequent discontinuities and the collapse of different spatial and temporal planes within one single frame - features that invite a reading of the comic itself as a heterotopic site. Este artículo considera el tratamiento del espacio urbano en el cómic de Rodrigo Muñoz Ballester, Manuel, publicado inicialmente de forma serializada en la revista La Luna de Madrid durante los años 1983 y 1984 y publicado en formato libro en 2005. Mi análisis sugiere que, en Manuel, lo urbano se mezcla y se confunde con lo erótico y lo creativo. La ciudad de Madrid no sólo aparece como lugar de la acción, sino que se convierte en una presencia que permite las transferencias entre lo erótico-vivido (la historia de amor entre el protagonista anónimo y el epónimo Manuel) y lo creado y creativo (la creación, por parte del protagonista, de una estatua de Manuel) - transferencias que estructuran y articulan el cómic. Además, el énfasis del cómic en espacios urbanos heterotópicos, como parques, clubes, o el metro de Madrid, entre otros, así como la desestabilización de estampas emblemáticas de la ciudad (Gran Vía, Plaza Dos de Mayo, Edificio Metrópolis) apuntan a una visión de la ciudad como organismo en constante proceso de cambio, y no como una realidad física estable y aprehensible. Esta noción del espacio urbano como flujo dinámico infiltra el cómic, cuya coherencia estructural y narrativa se ve minada por frecuentes discontinuidades, así como por el colapso de distintos planos espaciales y temporales dentro de una misma viñeta - rasgos que invitan una lectura del cómic mismo como espacio heterotópico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa ( RDEB) is caused by deficiency of type VII collagen due to COL7A1 mutations such as c.6527insC, recurrently found in the Spanish RDEB population. Assessment of clonal correction-based therapeutic approaches for RDEB requires large expansions of cells, exceeding the replication capacity of human primary keratinocytes. Thus, immortalized RDEB cells with enhanced proliferative abilities would be valuable. Using either the SV40 large T antigen or papillomavirus HPV16-derived E6-E7 proteins, we immortalized and cloned RDEB keratinocytes carrying the c.6527insC mutation. Clones exhibited high proliferative and colony-forming features. Cytogenetic analysis revealed important differences between T antigen-driven and E6- E7-driven immortalization. Immortalized cells responded to differentiation stimuli and were competent for epidermal regeneration and recapitulation of the blistering RDEB phenotype in vivo. These features make these cell lines useful to test novel therapeutic approaches including those aimed at editing mutant COL7A1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between bone mineral density and insertion/deletion (I/D) angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism (ACE) in hypertensive postmenopausal women.: MethodsBlood and urine samples from the study subjects were analyzed for calcium metabolism related parameters. Densitometry studies were conducted in the lumbar spine (L2 to L4). The ACE polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction.: ResultsWomen with II genotype showed a higher intact parathyroid hormone (76 ± 33 v 55 ± 27 pg/mL and 52 ± 26 pg/mL, P = .034) without a decrease in calciuria, and higher bone mineral density than women with ID and homozygotus deletion genotype (1.138 ± 0.08 v 1.051 ± 0.16 pg/mL and 1.053 ± 0.16 pg/mL).: ConclusionThe ACE polymorphism could be one of the factors causing bone mass variations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]