Rearing system effects on live weight gain of large white turkeys

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of three production systems on live weight gain (LWG) of white turkeys by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and profile analysis. A total of 81 turkey poults were assigned to intensive (7 male and 19 female), semi-intensive (9 male and 19 female) and extensive groups (11 male and 16 female) at one day old. The poults were wing-banded at day 1 after hatching and weighed individually each week through 16 weeks old. The birds were managed similarly through eight weeks old. After that time, the intensive group was fed concentrated feed indoors. The birds of the semi-intensive group had access to pasture for eight hours a day, and received 50% of the concentrated feed that was consumed by the intensive group. The birds in the extensive group were kept outdoors with shade and grazed on pasture, but did not receive concentrated feed. The bi-weekly LWG of the extensive, intensive and semi-intensive groups were 1191.4 g, 990.6 g and 872.1 g, respectively. Through the 16 weeks of the trial, the effects on LWG of production system, age, and interaction of age and production system were highly significant (P <0.01) in the repeated measures ANOVA. The profile analysis also showed highly significant (P <0.01) production system effects and interaction of production system and age on LWG. Scheffe’s test indicated that the intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive treatments differed (P <0.05).

Link between aortic valve sclerosis and myocardial no-reflow in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

The"no-reflow" phenomenon is associated with a worse prognosis at follow-up for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Predicting and preventing no-reflow is therefore a crucial step in improving the prognosis of STEMI patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and myocardial no-reflow in patients with STEMI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with a first-time diagnosis of STEMI were enrolled consecutively. No-reflow was defined as a final TIMI 3 flow with a myocardial blush of grade < 2, temporary epicardial coronary no-reflow, and distal coronary occlusion. AVS was defined by echocardiography as thickening and calcification of the normal trileaflet aortic valve without obstruction to the left ventricular outflow.

RESULTS

No-reflow developed in 41 patients. In univariate analysis, age, male gender, smoking, culprit lesion Syntax score (SX score), and hypertension were significantly associated with no-reflow. Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated age [95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.024-1.096; p=0.001), AVS (95 % CI, 1.002-1.100; p=0.039], culprit lesion SX score (95 % CI, 1.08-1.021 p=0.008), and symptom-to-balloon time (95 % CI, 1.020-1.097; p=0.002) as independent determinants of myocardial no-reflow.

CONCLUSION

AVS was significantly and independently associated with myocardial no-reflow in STEMI patients.