SNP discovery and association study for growth, fatness and meat quality traits in Iberian crossbred pigs

Iberian pigs and its crosses are produced to obtain high-quality meat products. The objective of this work was to evaluate a wide panel of DNA markers, selected by biological and functional criteria, for association with traits related to muscle growth, fatness, meat quality and metabolism. We used 18 crossbred Iberian pigs with divergent postnatal growth patterns for whole genome sequencing and SNP discovery, with over 13 million variants being detected. We selected 1023 missense SNPs located on annotated genes and showing different allele frequencies between pigs with makerdly different growth patterns. We complemented this panel with 192 candidate SNPs obtained from literature mining and from muscle RNAseq data. The selected markers were genotyped in 480 Iberian × Duroc pigs from a commercial population, in which phenotypes were obtained, and an association study was performed for the 1005 successfully genotyped SNPs showing segregation. The results confirmed the effects of several known SNPs in candidate genes (such as LEPR, ACACA, FTO, LIPE or SCD on fatness, growth and fatty acid composition) and also disclosed interesting effects of new SNPs in less known genes such as LRIG3, DENND1B, SOWAHB, EPHX1 or NFE2L2 affecting body weight, average daily gain and adiposity at different ages, or KRT10, NLE1, KCNH2 or AHNAK affecting fatness and FA composition. The results provide a valuable basis for future implementation of marker-assisted selection strategies in swine and contribute to a better understanding of the genetic architecture of relevant traits.

Removal and toxicity evaluation of a diverse group of drugs from water by a cyclodextrin polymer/pulsed light system

The presence of pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) in the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is an ecological concern. The issue could be alleviated by trapping those substances by cyclodextrin (CD) polymers or photolyzing them by pulsed light (PL). Consequently, a sequential CD polymer/PL system was tested for the removal of PhCs. Firstly, a survey detected the presence of recurrent PhCs in the effluents of local WWTPs. Then, pure water was spiked with 21 PhCs, 100 μg/L each one. The three-dimensional network provides amphiphilic features to the CD polymer that reduced the pollutant concentration by 77 %. Sorption involves a plead of physical and chemical mechanisms hindering the establishment of a general removal model for all compounds. The performed simulations hint that the retention capacity mainly correlates with the computed binding energies, so that theoretical models are revealed as valuable tools for further improvements. The complementary action of PL rose the elimination to 91 %. The polymer can be reused at least 10 times for ibuprofen (model compound) removal, and was able to eliminate the ecotoxicity of an ibuprofen solution. Therefore, this novel sequential CD polymer/PL process seems to be an efficient alternative to eliminate PhCs from wastewater.

High intensity interval training exercise-induced physiological changes and their potential influence on metabolic syndrome clinical biomarkers: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the current debate about the effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT), HIIT elicits big morpho-physiological benefit on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) treatment. However, no review or meta-analysis has compared the effects of HIIT to non-exercising controls in MetS variables. The aim of this study was to determine through a systematic review, the effectiveness of HIIT on MetS clinical variables in adults.

METHODS

Studies had to be randomised controlled trials, lasting at least 3 weeks, and compare the effects of HIIT on at least one of the MetS clinical variables [fasting blood glucose (BG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) triglyceride (TG), systolic (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and waist circumference (WC)] compared to a control group. The methodological quality of the studies selected was evaluated using the PEDro scale.

RESULTS

Ten articles fulfilled the selection criteria, with a mean quality score on the PEDro scale of 6.7. Compared with controls, HIIT groups showed significant and relevant reductions in BG (- 0.11 mmol/L), SBP (- 4.44 mmHg), DBP (- 3.60 mmHg), and WC (- 2.26 cm). Otherwise, a slight increase was observed in HDL-C (+ 0.02 mmol/L). HIIT did not produce any significant changes in TG (- 1.29 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS

HIIT improves certain clinical aspects in people with MetS (BG, SBP, DBP and WC) compared to people with MetS who do not perform physical exercise. Plausible physiological changes of HIIT interventions might be related with large skeletal muscle mass implication, improvements in the vasomotor control, better baroreflex control, reduction of the total peripheral resistance, increases in excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, and changes in appetite and satiety mechanisms.

Implicaciones de la programación prenatal en la producción de cerdo ibérico

El presente artículo revisa diversos aspectos de la programación prenatal en el cerdo ibérico. La investigación sobre los factores que condicionan el fenotipo adulto y la homeorresis en diferentes especies ha abordado tanto la predisposición genética como el papel determinante de la nutrición durante el período prenatal. Tanto la sobrenutrición como la subnutrición en la etapa fetal (la segunda por subnutrición materna o por insuficiencia placentaria) pueden alterar la expresión del genoma y los componentes y funciones de los diferentes sistemas en la descendencia, lo que da lugar a alteraciones en el desarrollo y composición corporal, aparición de trastornos metabólicos y un mayor riesgo para la salud. En los cerdos, y específicamente en la raza ibérica, la exposición de los fetos a la sub/desnutrición, comúnmente por desnutrición materna o insuficiencia placentaria, tiene una alta incidencia en fases avanzadas de gestación. Los lechones expuestos a desnutrición materna durante los dos últimos tercios de la gestación son más pequeños al nacer, ya que se ven afectados por un proceso denominado ‘retraso del crecimiento intrauterino’ o IUGR por sus siglas en inglés. En razas magras, tanto los machos como las hembras ven comprometido su crecimiento postnatal y se produce un aumento de la acumulación de grasa y aparición de trastornos metabólicos durante los períodos de engorde. En la raza ibérica, el crecimiento postnatal en el caso de la exposición prenatal a dietas de baja energía depende del sexo. Así, el crecimiento postnatal en los machos se ve afectado de forma similar a las razas magras, mientras que sus hermanas muestran un crecimiento compensatorio muy temprano, durante el período de lactación, antes del destete. Posteriormente, en respuesta a las dietas con alto contenido energético que se utilizan durante el período de engorde, tanto los machos como las hembras presentan aumento de adiposidad a nivel subcutáneo, visceral e intramuscular, presentan una mayor incidencia de trastornos metabólicos y presentan cambios significativos en la composición intramuscular de ácidos grasos, con respecto a los lechones que no habían sufrido subnutrición durante su vida intrauterina.

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in swine: implications for animal production and biomedical research

The concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) addresses, from a large set of epidemiological evidences in human beings and translational studies in animal models, both the importance of genetic predisposition and the determinant role of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on adult morphomics and homeostasis. Compelling evidences suggest that both overnutrition and undernutrition may modify the intrauterine environment of the conceptus and may alter the expression of its genome and therefore its phenotype during prenatal and postnatal life. In fact, the DOHaD concept is an extreme shift in the vision of the factors conditioning adult phenotype and supposes a drastic change from a gene-centric perspective, only modified by lifestyle and nutritional strategies during juvenile development and adulthood, to a more holistic approach in which environmental, parental, and prenatal conditions are strongly determining postnatal development and homeostasis. The implications of DOHaD are profound in all the mammalian species and the present review summarizes current knowledge on causes and consequences of DOHaD in pigs, both for meat production and as a well-recognized model for biomedicine research.

HaNDL syndrome: Correlation between focal deficits topography and EEG or SPECT abnormalities in a series of 5 new cases

INTRODUCTION

Transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL) is characterised by migraine-like headache episodes accompanied by neurological deficits consisting of motor, sensory, or aphasic symptoms. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may show focal abnormalities that correspond to the neurological deficits. We aim to evaluate the correlation between focal deficit topography and EEG or SPECT abnormalities in 5 new cases.

PATIENTS

We retrospectively reviewed patients attended in a tertiary hospital (January 2010-May 2014) and identified 5 patients (3 men, 2 women) with a mean age of 30.6 ± 7.7 (21-39) years. They presented 3.4 ± 2.6 episodes of headache (range, 2-8) of moderate to severe intensity and transient neurological deficits over a maximum of 5 weeks. Pleocytosis was detected in CSF in all cases (70 to 312 cells/mm3, 96.5-100% lymphocytes) with negative results from aetiological studies.

RESULTS

At least one EEG was performed in 4 patients and SPECT in 3 patients. Patient 1: 8 episodes; 4 left hemisphere, 3 right hemisphere, and 1 brainstem; 2 EEGs showing left temporal and bilateral temporal slowing; normal SPECT. Patient 2: 2 episodes, left hemisphere and right hemisphere; SPECT showed decreased left temporal blood flow. Patient 3: 3 left hemisphere deficits; EEG with bilateral frontal and temporal slowing. Patient 4: 2 episodes with right parieto-occipital topography and right frontal slowing in EEG. Patient 5: 2 episodes, right hemisphere and left hemisphere, EEG with right temporal slowing; normal SPECT.

CONCLUSION

The neurological deficits accompanying headache in HaNDL demonstrate marked clinical heterogeneity. SPECT abnormalities and most of all EEG abnormalities were not uncommon in our series and they did not always correlate to the topography of focal déficits.

Dietary vitamin A restriction affects adipocyte differentiation and fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat in Iberian pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary vitamin A level is associated with differences in adipocyte differentiation or lipid accumulation in Iberian pigs at early growing (35.8kg live weight) and at finishing (158kg live weight). Iberian pigs of 16.3kg live weight were allocated to two feeding groups, one group received 10,000IU of vitamin A/kg diet (control); the other group received a diet with 0IU of vitamin A (var) for the whole experimental period. The dietary vitamin A level had no effect on growth performance and carcass traits. The early suppression of vitamin A increased the preadipocyte number in Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle in the early growth period (P<0.001) and the neutral lipid content and composition (higher MUFA and lower SFA content) at the end of the finishing period (P<0.05). Vitamin A restriction in young pigs increases their lipogenic potential without affecting carcass traits.

Feasibility of MRI and selection of adequate region of interest for longitudinal studies of growth and fatness in swine models of obesity

PURPOSES

To determine the feasibility of MRI for imaging subcutaneous and visceral adiposity in longitudinal studies in obese swine models (Iberian pig). To establish the anatomical regions of interest (ROIs) and measurement points (MPs) adequate for their evaluation through analyses on the inter-individual variability and over-time reproducibility and through the assessment of their reliability and validity by comparison with in vivo and ex vivo zoometric data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Five male and five female pigs were used from four (live weight around 48 kg and back-fat depth around 18 mm) to eight months old (live weight 134 kg and back-fat depth around 48 mm). MRI was carried out with a Panorama 0.23T scanner (Philips Medical Systems, Best, Netherlands), using a body/spine XL coil.

RESULTS

The ROIs of election for visualization of subcutaneous data are located from the cranial margin of left diaphragmatic crura to the lumbar vertebrae L3. Visceral adiposity may be equally evaluated from the vertebrae L1 to L3.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI allows the evaluation of subcutaneous and visceral fatness in a single acquisition, which improves animal welfare and time- and cost-efficiency and provides an accurate, consistent and repeatable procedure for sequential studies of adiposity in obese swine.

Archaeal community dynamics and abiotic characteristics in a mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion process treating fruit and vegetable processing waste sludge with chopped fresh artichoke waste

This study evaluated the feasibility of obtaining methane in anaerobic digestion (AD) from the waste products generated by the processing of fruit and vegetables. During the first phase (0-55 d) of the AD using sludge from fruit and vegetable processing, an average value of 244±88 L kg(-1) dry matter d(-1)of biogas production was obtained, and methane content reached 65% of the biogas. Co-digestion with chopped fresh artichoke wastes in a second phase (55-71 d) enhanced biogas production, and resulted in an average value of 354±68 L kg(-1) dry matter d(-1), with higher methane content (more than 70%). The archaeal community involved in methane production was studied using the ANAEROCHIP microarray and real-time PCR. Results indicated that species of Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina were important during the AD process. Methanosarcina numbers increased after the addition of chopped fresh artichoke, while Methanosaeta numbers decreased.

Gender-specific early postnatal catch-up growth after intrauterine growth retardation by food restriction in swine with obesity/leptin resistance

The effects of undernutrition during pregnancy on prenatal and postnatal development of the offspring were evaluated in sows with obesity/leptin resistance. Females were fed, from day 35 of pregnancy onwards, a diet fulfilling either 100% (group control,n=10) or 50% of the nutritional requirements (group underfed,n=10). In the control group, maternal body weight increased during pregnancy (P<0.05) while it decreased or remained steady in the underfed group. At days 75 and 100 of gestation, plasma triglycerides were lower but urea levels were higher in restricted than in control sows (P<0.05 for both). Assessment of the offspring indicated that the trunk diameter was always smaller in the restricted group (P<0.01 at day 50,P<0.005 at days 75 and 100 andP<0.0001 at birth) while head measurements were similar through pregnancy, although smaller in the restricted than in the control group at birth (P<0.05). Newborns from restricted sows were also lighter than offspring from control females (P<0.01) and had higher incidence of growth retardation (P<0.01). Afterwards, during lactation, early postnatal growth in restricted piglets was modulated by gender. At weaning, males from restricted sows were still lighter than their control counterparts (P<0.05), while females from control and underfed sows were similar. Thus, the current study indicates a gender-related differential effect in the growth patterns of the piglets, with females from restricted sows evidencing catch-up growth to neutralise prenatal retardation and reaching similar development than control counterparts.

[Anesthesia for procedures other than neurosurgery in the adult with epilepsy]

Epilepsy is a common disease affecting between 1% and 2% of the general population. The incidence increases with age. Given the complicated etiology and pathogenesis of this disease, epileptic patients of all ages may require anesthesia. The perioperative care of these patients involves a number of special considerations, although the main issues to deal with are pharmacologic. This review gives an overview of the etiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of epilepsy and describes the general characteristics of antiepileptic drug therapy. The anesthetic implications of chronic treatment with antiepileptic agents and the interactions between these drugs and common anesthetics are discussed in more detail.

Rupture of splenic artery aneurysm during pregnancy and posterior evolution of gestation

We present a case of splenic artery aneurysm rupture in a 26 weeks pregnant patient. Facing to the maternal collapse and after the ultrasonographical diagnosis of massive hemoperitoneum, the rapid intervention proved to be crucial in controlling the hemorrhage and allowed for the continuation of gestation and successful delivery.