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BackgroundObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionPositional plagiocephaly or brachycephaly (PPB), linked to developmental delays and asymmetrical features, often prompts parental concern and medical consultation.This qualitative study explores factors influencing parental adherence to PPB prevention strategies.Fifteen parents of newborns participated in semi–structured interviews.Employing deductive and inductive thematic analysis, three key factors were identified: characteristics of prevention messaging, environmental optimization, and parental priorities, shaped by evolving parenting competencies and the baby’s developmental progress.Our findings highlight solutions endorsed by parents themselves, offering valuable insights to enhance adherence to prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore the acceptability of a telerehabilitation intervention provided to parents of children with motor difficulties. Sixteen parents of children were purposefully recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews aimed at assessing the acceptability of the telerehabilitation intervention. Interviews were analyzed thematically. All participants described evolving acceptability associated with their interactions with the web platform. The opportunities generated, suitability in relation to families' values and perceived effects positively impacted acceptability. The understanding and consistency of intervention delivery, the child's level of involvement, the associated parental burden of the intervention and the therapeutic alliances created also affected acceptability. Our study findings support the acceptability of a telerehabilitation intervention for families of children with motor difficulties. Telerehabilitation seems to be more acceptable to families with children without suspected or confirmed diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To define dietary indispensable amino acid (IAA) needs for milk synthesis by the mammary glands (MG), 16 lactating sows were fed 1 of 4 isocaloric diets varying in protein concentrations (from 78 to 235 g/kg) with an ideal amino acid (AA) pattern. On d 9, 13, 17, and 21 of lactation, blood samples were obtained simultaneously from a carotid artery and the main mammary vein every 30 min over 6 h. A quadratic regression model of the log mammary arteriovenous difference (AVD) of plasma IAA (y) against daily intake of dietary IAA (X) was established. First, the reverse log intercept, defined as the mammary AVD at zero dietary AA supply, was used to quantify the contribution of endogenous IAA. The quantification was validated by body N balance coupled with AA composition analysis. Then, the estimated vertex ([y.sub.max], [X.sub.i]) was used in 2 aspects: 1) The maximal mammary uptake of plasma IAA, quantified by multiplying the maximal mammary AVD and plasma flow rate, was considered the physiological IAA need for milk synthesis. 2) Corresponding to the [y.sub.max], dietary IAA intake ([X.sub.i]) would represent the total dietary IAA requirement, i.e., the sum of maintenance need and milk synthesis need after adjustment for body weight loss. Thus, dietary IAA needs for milk synthesis were derived. Moreover, the estimate of lysine need for milk synthesis in this study was identical to an estimate obtained from multiple regression analysis of feeding trial data. We conclude that dietary IAA needs for milk synthesis can be quantified by the maximal uptakes of plasma IAA by porcine MG. KEY WORDS: * amino acid requirement * mammary arteriovenous difference * amino acid uptake * pigs * lactation

A kinetic model was used to examine transmembrane flux kinetics of lysine, methionine and valine across the porcine mammary gland (MG) under dietary amino acid (AA) limiting, adequate and excess conditions. Lactating sows (3 per treatment) were offered three diets: lysine-deficient [LD, 4.9 lysine and 9.9 valine (g/kg diet)], adequate (Control, 9.7 and 10.2) and valine-excess (VE, 9.8 and 13.4). On d 18 of lactation, 2-[sup.15]N-lysine, 5-methyl-[sup.2]H[sub.3]-methionine and 1[sup.13]C-valine were infused into a jugular vein for 20.5 h. Milk and arterial and mammary venous blood samples were collected at 2- and 1-h intervals, respectively. Compared with Control, milk yield and litter growth rate decreased (P < 0.05) in sows fed the LD diet. Model estimates of mammary protein synthesis (PS), breakdown (PB) and net PS decreased (P < 0.05) in sows fed the LD diet. Net uptake of lysine decreased (P < 0.05) in sows fed the LD diet as a result of decreases in inward and outward transport of lysine. Inward transport of methionine tended to be reduced (P < 0.10) in sows fed the LD diet, resulting in a decrease in net methionine uptake. In sows fed the VE diet, PB was reduced (P < 0.05) and PS unchanged compared with Control. Outward transport of valine and net lysine uptake were reduced (P < 0.05), but net valine uptake was unchanged in sows fed the VE diet compared with Control. In conclusion, the kinetic model provided estimates of PS that were similar to empirical measurements of milk protein output and mammary protein accretion. Transport of lysine and methionine by the porcine MG is closely linked to regulation of mammary PS. Lysine availability has little effect on the transmembrane flux of valine. KEY WORDS: * amino acid uptake * protein turnover * lactation * compartmental kinetic model * mammary gland * pigs

Early-life adversity (ELA) is linked with the increased risk for inflammatory and metabolic diseases in later life, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Intestinal epithelial glucose transporters sodium-glucose-linked transporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) are the major route for intestinal glucose uptake but have also received increased attention as modulators of inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Here, we tested the hypothesis that early weaning (EW) in pigs, an established model of ELA, alters the development of epithelial glucose transporters and coincides with elevated markers of metabolic inflammation. The jejunum and ileum of 90-day-old pigs previously exposed to EW (16 days wean age), exhibited reduced SGLT1 activity (by ~ 30%, P < 0.05) than late weaned (LW, 28 days wean age) controls. In contrast, GLUT2-mediated glucose transport was increased (P = 0.003) in EW pigs than in LW pigs. Reciprocal changes in SGLT1- and GLUT2-mediated transport coincided with transporter protein expression in the intestinal brush-border membranes (BBMs) that were observed at 90 days and 150 days of age. Ileal SGLT1-mediated glucose transport and BBM expression were inhibited by the β-adrenergic receptor (bAR) blocker propranolol in EW and LW pigs. In contrast, propranolol enhanced ileal GLUT2-mediated glucose transport (P = 0.015) and brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) abundance (P = 0.035) in LW pigs, but not in EW pigs. Early-weaned pigs exhibited chronically elevated blood glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and adipocyte hypertrophy and upregulated adipogenesis-related gene expression in visceral adipose tissue. Altered development of intestinal glucose transporters by EW could underlie the increased risk for later life inflammatory and metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy-six gravid gilts of different genotypes, Yorkshire x Duroc (YD) and Pig Improvement Company (PIC), were used in two trials to test the effect of decreasing the dietary ratio of tryptophan: branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on feed intake, plasma metabolites, and body weight change during a 4-wk lactation period. The dietary ratio of tryptophan: BCAA was .063 in the Control and .041 in the experimental diet (BC), Gilts were fed 1.8 kg/d from d 107 of gestation until farrowing and given ad libitum access to feed during lactation. Feed consumption was measured daily. Body weights and preprandial blood samples were taken on d 107 of gestation and on d 1, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum. Plasma glucose, NEFA, urea nitrogen, ammonia, [N.sup.[Tau]]-methylhistidine, and [Alpha]-amino nitrogen were measured. The plasma tryptophan:BCAA ratio was higher (P [less than] .05) on d 1 postpartum than on d 107 of gestation and d 7 postpartum in the Control group. Dietary addition of BCAA (BC) reduced (P [less than! .06) the plasma tryptophan: BCAA ratio during the early postpartum period compared with the Control group but did not affect the other plasma metabolites measured. Feed intake was lower (P [less than] .08) between d 6 and 12 of lactation in sows fed the BC diet. Regression of d-1 plasma NEFA concentration on d-1 postpartum feed intake was significant ([r.sup.2] = .41; P [less than] .05). The PIC sows showed a tendency for positive lactation body weight response to the BC diet (P = .2), whereas the response of YD sows was not significant (P [less than] .8). Exposure to a low plasma tryptophan:BCAA ratio during the early postpartum period, through dietary addition of BCAA, resulted in a significant decrease in feed intake. Key Words: Sows, Lactation, Feed Intake, Branched-Chain Amino Acids, Tryptophan, Non-Esterified Fatty Acids

Fifty-four lactating multiparous Yorkshire sows were used to test the hypothesis that feeding a reduced protein diet with a near ideal AA (NIAA) profile increases the biological utilization efficiency of N and essential AA (EAA) for milk production in part as a result of reduced dietary Leu concentration. Sows were fed 1 of 3 isocaloric diets containing the following concentration of CP (% as-fed, analyzed): 18.74 (Control: CON), 13.78 (Optimal: OPT), and 14.25 (Optimal + Leu: OPTLEU). The OPT and OPTLEU diets contained the same concentration of crystalline AA (CAA) to meet requirements of the limiting AA. Crystalline Leu was added to OPTLEU to contain the same SID Leu concentration as that of CON. Sows were weighed on days 1 and 21 of lactation and piglets on days 1, 4, 8, 14, 18, and 21 of lactation. Nitrogen retention was measured for 48 or 72 h between days 4 and 8 (early) and days 14 and 18 (peak) of lactation. Sow BW change and ADFI did not differ between diets. Litter growth rate (LGR) during early lactation did not differ between diets. At peak lactation, LGR was higher in sows fed OPT compared with CON (P < 0.05) and lower in sows fed OPTLEU compared with OPT (P < 0.05). In early and peak lactation, total N retention, and milk N output efficiency were greater in OPT (P < 0.01) and OPTLEU (P < 0.05) than CON. Compared with CON, overall biological efficiency of N, Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Phe, and Trp were greater (P < 0.05), whereas those of Lys, Met, Thr, and Val did not differ in sows fed OPT and OPTLEU, except for Leu which did not differ between OPTLEU and CON. Compared with OPT, only Leu and Met efficiency were lower (P < 0.01) and tended to be lower (P = 0.10), respectively, in sows fed OPTLEU. Reducing CP with a NIAA profile to attain the minimum Leu requirement maintained overall lactation performance, improved utilization efficiency of N, Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Phe + Tyr, and Trp for milk production, and maximized efficiency of Ile, Leu, Lys, Met + Cys, Phe + Tyr, Thr, Trp, and Val. Addition of Leu did not reduce N and EAA utilization efficiency. This study provides revised and novel maximum biological efficiency value (MBEV) for Ile (65.4), Leu (75.1), Lys (63.2), Met + Cys (78.2), Phe + Tyr (69.5), Thr (71.0), Trp (70.1), and Val (57.0). These MBEV can be used to more accurately predict the requirement for those AA during lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the study were 1) to quantify dietary N utilized for milk N and N loss in urine and feces, in sows fed increasing dietary CP with a constant amount of Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp to meet their standardized ileal digestible (SID) requirement and 2) to determine the optimal dietary CP concentration based on dietary N utilization for milk production. Seventy-two sows were fed 1 of 6 dietary treatments, formulated to increase the SID CP as followed: 11.8, 12.8, 13.4, 14.0, 14.7, and 15.6% and formulated to be isocaloric (9.8 MJ NE/kg). Diets were fed from day 2 after parturition until weaning at day 28 (± 3 d). Litters were equalized to 14 piglets and weighed within 48 h following parturition. Sows were weighed and back fat scanned, at day 18 (± 3 d) and day 28 (weaning; ± 3 d). Litter weight was recorded at day 11, 18 (± 3 d), and 28 (± 3 d). Nitrogen balances were conducted on approximately day 4, 11, and 18 (± 3 d). Daily milk yield was estimated from recorded litter gain and litter size. To calculate sows mobilization of fat and protein, body pools of fat and protein were estimated by D2O (deuterated water) enrichment on day 4 and 18 (± 3 d). No linear, quadratic, or cubic effects of increasing dietary CP was observed for sows total feed intake, sow BW, body pools of protein and fat, protein and fat mobilization, total milk yield, and piglet performance. The protein content in milk increased linearly with increasing dietary CP in week 1 (P < 0.05), week 2 (P < 0.05), and week 3 (P < 0.001). Urine production did not differ among treatments and N output in urine increased linearly with increasing dietary CP concentration in week 1 (P = 0.05), week 2 (P < 0.001), and week 3 (P < 0.001). Urine N excretion relative to N intake increased linearly with increasing dietary CP (P < 0.001). Milk N utilization relative to N intake decreased linearly from 77.8% to 63.1% from treatment 1 through 6 (P < 0.001). Corrected milk N utilization decreased from 68.6% to 64.2% from treatment 1 through 6 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a low dietary CP concentration for lactating sows with supplemented crystalline AA improved the efficiency of dietary N utilization and reduced the N output in urine without affecting lactation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to determine total heat production (THP) in individual sows and litters can be logistically difficult and often requires the use of multiple animals to generate data on a per room basis. Furthermore, these systems may be costly to construct, precluding their use by many researchers. Therefore, the objective was to develop a low-cost indirect calorimetry system to determine THP in individual lactating sows and litters. Six indirect calorimeters were constructed to house 1 sow and litter in a crate throughout farrowing and a 21-d lactation period. Farrowing crates were placed within a high-density polyethylene pan filled with water and then a polyvinyl chloride frame was constructed around the crate. The frame provided a structure to hold the inlet and outlet air pipes, feed and water inlets, air circulation fans, and a polyethylene plastic sheet that was secured at the bottom of the frame and submerged under water to maintain an air tight seal. Chamber accuracies for O2 and CO2 were evaluated by ethanol combustion. One week pre-farrowing, 6 pregnant multiparous sows (parity 2.9 ± 0.9; 218.3 ± 38.6 kg BW) were housed individually in each farrowing crate and the calorimeters were maintained at thermoneutral conditions (20.9 ± 2.6°C and 43.7 ± 18.6% relative humidity) throughout lactation. On lactation day 4, 8, 14, and 18, indirect calorimetry was performed on all sows and their litters, as well as 2 piglets from a sentinel litter to determine THP and the respiratory quotient (RQ). Sentinel piglet data were used to estimate THP and RQ for the sows independent of the litter. Sow + litter THP (kcal/h) increased (P = 0.01; 16.6%) on day 8 compared to day 4 and was greater (27.3%) on day 14 and day 18 compared to day 4 and day 8. Sow THP was greater (P = 0.01) on day 8 (401.19 ± 17.15 kcal/h) and day 14 (430.79 ± 12.42 kcal/h) compared to day 4 (346.16 ± 16.62 kcal/h), and was greater on day 14 compared to day 8, and on day 18 (386.16 ± 20.02 kcal/h) compared to day 14. No sow + litter RQ differences (P = 0.21; 1.02 ± 0.04) were detected by day of lactation. However, sow RQ was reduced (P = 0.01) on day 14 (0.98 ± 0.02) compared to day 4 (1.03 ± 0.03), day 8 (1.02 ± 0.02), and day 18 (1.04 ± 0.03). In summary, this cost-effective system (total cost: $1,892 USD) can allow researchers to accurately evaluate THP in individual lactating sows and their litters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]