Dietary contribution of iron from limestone and dicalcium phosphate for broiler chickens

Iron is routinely supplemented in broiler feeds aiming to prevent dietary deficiencies. Limestone and phosphates are very rich in Fe; however, its contribution from these sources have not been thoroughly investigated with chickens. The present research was conducted to evaluate live performance and blood parameters of broilers when using limestone and dicalcium phosphate as sources of Fe. A total of 576 one-day-old male Cobb x Cobb 500 were allocated into a total of 72 battery cages, 6 treatments with 12 replication cages of 8 chicks at placement. Chicks were fed diets formulated with corn, soybean meal (SBM) with laboratory grade calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid (having traces of Fe). All chicks were fed a common prestarter without Fe supplementation (analyzed total 58.2 ± 2.4 mg/kg Fe) from placement to 7 d. Allocation of birds to dietary treatments was completely randomized on day 8. Treatments had increasing Fe derived from commercial limestone and dicalcium phosphate (analyzed Fe 7,218 and 4,783 mg/kg, respectively) progressively replacing calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid to provide graded increases in total Fe (analyzed Fe in the feeds were 57.6 ± 2.1, 92.0 ± 2.3, 124.1 ± 2.7, 159.3 ± 3.1, 187.2 ± 3.2, 223.7 ± 3.6 mg/kg, respectively). There were no effects of dietary Fe on live performance, hematocrit, and hemoglobin the end of the study on day 28 (P > 0.05). Increasing dietary Fe from commercial limestone and dicalcium phosphate led to a linear reduction in the percent ileal digestible Fe. However, linear increments in Fe retention, serum ferritin and liver Fe occurred when compared to feeds without Fe derived from limestone and phosphate dicalcium. It is concluded that Fe from limestone and dicalcium phosphate can be partially utilized by broiler chickens. It was estimated that the Fe retained from limestone and dicalcium phosphate is of 1.9%. Broilers fed corn-soy feeds (58.2 mg/kg Fe) do not require supplemental Fe.

Permanent health education actions in pandemic times: priorities in state and national contingency plans

OBJECTIVE

to assess permanent health education actions regarding the national and state contingency plans to face the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

METHOD

documentary research, using 54 plans in the initial and final versions, published between January 2020 and May 2021. The content analysis included the identification and systematization of proposals aimed at training and reorganizing the work process, as well as physical and mental health care of health workers.

RESULTS

the actions were focused on training workers with an emphasis on flu syndrome, infection risk control measures and knowledge about biosafety. Few plans addressed the teams' working hours and work process, promotion and assistance to the workers' mental health, mainly in the hospital environment.

CONCLUSION

the superficiality regarding the approach to permanent education actions in contingency plans need to include actions in the strategic agenda of the Ministry of Health and State and Municipal Health Secretariats, with the qualification of workers to face this and other epidemics. They propose the adoption of health protection and promotion measures in daily health work management within the scope of the SUS.

Interaction between Work and Metabolic Syndrome: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clinical condition and a relevant risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases; it occurs as a result of lifestyle factors, e.g., work. The aim of this research was to estimate the interaction between work and MS among primary health care (PHC) nursing professionals in the state of Bahia, Brazil. A sectional multicentered study carried out in 43 municipalities in Bahia, whose study population consisted of nursing professionals. The exposure variables were occupation, professional exhaustion, and working time, and the outcome variable was MS. Interaction measures based on the additivity criteria were verified by calculating the excess risks due to the interactions and according to the proportion of cases attributed to the interactions and the synergy index. The global MS prevalence is 24.4%. There was a greater magnitude in the exposure group regarding the three investigated factors (average level occupation, professional exhaustion, and working time in PHC for more than 5 years), reaching an occurrence of 44.9% when compared to the prevalence of 13.1% in the non-exposure group (academic education, without professional burnout, and working time in PHC for up to 5 years). The study’s findings showed a synergistic interaction of work aspects for MS occurrence among PHC nursing professionals.

National Patient Safety Program in Brazil: Incidents Reported Between 2014 and 2017

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to analyze the patient safety incidents reported to the Brazilian National Health Surveillance System from March 2014 to March 2017.

METHOD

A documentary study that used the records of the incidents published in the Reports of Adverse Events (AE) in Brazil. The following variables were selected: number of incidents by type, type of health service, hospital unit, and degree of harm. To find whether there was a significant difference across the Brazilian regions by notifications related to general incidents, AE, and deaths, the analysis of variance and the Tukey tests were used.

RESULTS

A total of 109,082 incidents were reported, of which 75,088 were AE, with 649 deaths. In relation to the types of incidents reported, there was a higher frequency in the categories other (30.04%) and failures during health care (26.72%). A total of 93.90% of the incidents occurred in hospitals, with 54,950 cases registered in hospitalization units and 30,141 cases in intensive care units. Statistically significant differences across the Brazilian regions were observed in the number of incidents (P = 0.004), AE (P = 0.004), and deaths (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

A significant underreporting of incidents was found in Brazil, demonstrating only the tip of a giant iceberg. More than half of the incidents were reported as AE and were registered in hospitals, reiterating the importance of establishing public health policies at national, state, and municipal levels, with adequate supervision of the health service regarding the implementation of the Patient Safety Nuclei and the preparation of new protocols based on the most prevalent incidents.

Training-professional profile of nurses teaching at the Technical Schools of the Unified Health System

OBJECTIVE

to describe the training-professional profile of nursing professors in the vocational course in nursing at the Technical Schools of the Unified Health System.

METHODS

a quantitative descriptive research, carried out with 61 nurses who are professors of technical courses in nursing at five technical schools in three Brazilian regions. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and submitted to descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

only 36% of teaching nurses were licensed and 80% had a specialization in nursing or health. Although 95.1% of participants considered training for teaching necessary, 44.2% did not have qualifications for this job. The average length of work in care was 8 years, focusing on the hospital network.

CONCLUSION

the need for professor training and investment in it is evidenced, as the training of essential workers for nursing care and consolidation of the Unified Health System is on the agenda.

Progressive in vivo detection of wooden breast in broilers as affected by dietary energy and protein

Wooden breast (WB) myopathy was investigated in broilers fed varying energy and protein at early ages. Correlation analyses were conducted between echogenicity of ultrasound images (US) of breast muscle from live birds and WB after slaughter. A total of 1,000 Cobb 500 one-day-old male chicks were fed on five dietary programs with eight replicates of 25 birds each, in a completely randomized design. Control feeds (commercially used ME and ideally balanced amino acids) or low-density feeds (low EP, with reductions of 50 kcal/kg ME and 0.20% dig. Lys compared to the control) were formulated. Feeds were provided in different periods: 1 to 7 d, 8 to 14 d, 15 to 21 d or 22 to 28 d. All broilers were fed a common basal diet thereafter until 49 d. Images using US were obtained once a week from all individuals and WB scored from one slaughtered bird per replication (0, normal; 1, mild hardening in the upper breast muscle; 2; moderate hardening in the upper and/or lower breast muscle; 3, severe hardening; 4, severe hardening with hemorrhagic lesions and yellow fluid). Blood was collected for enzyme investigation from the weekly slaughtered bird. Broilers had lower BWG and higher FCR when fed low EP feeds, regardless of the period fed when compared to the control (P < 0.001). Growth compensation, however, occurred afterwards such that all birds presented similar performance at the end. At 14, 21, and 28 d, broilers previously fed low EP feeds had lower WB scores (P < 0.001) compared to birds fed the control; however, both groups presented increased WB scores after 28 d. Wooden breast was positively correlated with breast echogenicity at 21 d (r = 0.31), 28 d (r = 0.43), 35 d (r = 0.21) and 42 d (r = 0.39). In conclusion, dietary energy and protein affected the development of WB scores in broilers and breast US images can be used as an early predictor of WB.

Organizational and pedagogical characterization of vocational courses in nursing at SUS Schools

OBJECTIVES

to know the organizational and pedagogical characteristics of vocational courses in nursing of Unified Health System Vocational Schools in northeastern Brazil.

METHODS

this is a qualitative, descriptive study, developed in six schools that offer this course. As a data source, Pedagogical Political Project and Teaching Plans were used to search for information on courses' organizational and pedagogical characteristics through indirect documentation, using three structured scripts.

RESULTS

most of the characteristics of the courses are convergent between schools, but pedagogical characterization items do not exist, presenting themselves as fragility regarding the outline of such normative characteristics.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

the characterization of the courses demonstrates the schools' commitment to training professionals aiming at quality of healthcare/nursing in/for the Unified Health System. However, the weakness found in the documents emerged as a challenge to be overcome, in order to better subsidize teaching and learning and qualify training.

Hospital contingency in coping with COVID-19 in Brazil: governmental problems and alternatives

This paper analyzes the government's strategic agenda for coping with COVID-19 in Brazil, focusing on hospital care. Twenty-eight Contingency Plans were analyzed in full, one national, 26 at state level, and one from the Federal District. The Public Policy Cycle's theoretical framework was used, specifically governmental pre-decision and decision to face the pandemic. The evidence revealed convergences between the national and state levels concerning proposals for reorienting care flow, detecting cases, and indicating referral hospitals. However, the state agendas revealed weaknesses in acquiring mechanical ventilation devices, sizing human resources, and regionalizing hospital care. Moreover, few states have established a method for calculating back-end beds, mainly regarding the outlook of opening hospitals of reference or contracting additional ICU beds. We can conclude that the heterogeneous actions explained in the plans show the complex process of coping with COVID-19 in Brazil with its regional inequalities, weaknesses in the state health systems, and reduced coordination by the Ministry of Health.

Manganese requirements of broiler breeder hens

The present research was conducted to assess Mn requirements of broiler breeder hens. One hundred and twenty Cobb 500 hens, 22 wk of age, were individually allocated in cages. After fed a Mn-deficient diet (22.2 ppm), hens were randomly placed in treatments having 6 increments of 30-ppm Mn. All trace minerals were from laboratory grade sources being Mn from Mn sulfate (MnSO₄H₂O). Treatments were fed for 4 periods of 28 d. There were no interactions between dietary Mn and period for any evaluated response (P > 0.05). Requirements of Mn for hen day egg production and settable egg production were 115.8 and 56.6 ppm and 122.1 and 63.6 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively, using quadratic polynomial (QP) and broken line quadratic (BLQ) models, whereas total eggs and total settable eggs per hen had Mn requirements estimated at 115.7 and 56.6 and 121.8 and 61.7 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively. Number of cracked, defective, and contaminated eggs decreased, whereas hatchability, hatchability of fertile eggs, eggshell percentage, and eggshell palisade layer increased when hens were fed diets having 48.5 to 168.2-ppm Mn (P < 0.05). Maximum responses for egg weight and eggshell percentage were 117.7 and 63.6 ppm as well as 131.6 and 71.0 ppm (P < 0.05), respectively, using QP and BLQ models. Breaking strength and egg specific gravity had Mn requirements estimated at 140.2 and 112.7 ppm as well as 131.3 68.5 ppm (P < 0.05), whereas eggshell palisade layer and eggshell thickness were maximized with 128.8 and 68.8 ppm and 140.2 134.2 ppm, respectively, for QP and BLQ models (P < 0.05). Maximum yolk Mn content values were obtained using 118.0- and 118.4-ppm Mn by QP and BLQ models, respectively. The average Mn requirements estimated for QP and BLQ models is 128.4 and 92.3 ppm Mn (18.7 and 13.5 mg/hen/d), respectively, which is much lower than what has been currently recommended in commercial production.

An in vivo evaluation of the effects of feed restriction regimens on wooden breast using ultrasound images as a predictive tool

1. Gradual feed restriction was applied to broilers in order to reduce growth rate and, as a consequence, gradually impacts wooden breast myopathy occurrence. Ultrasound (US) images of breast muscle in live birds were correlated with breast fillets presenting wooden breast characteristics (WB). 2. A total of 1800 Cobb × Cobb 500 slow-feathering male chicks were fed one of the six feed restriction treatments with 12 replicates of 25 birds each, in a completely randomised design. Birds were fed ad libitum or were pair-fed to 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% of normal ad libitum intakes from 8 to 49 d to provide a gradual reduction in growth rate. Ultrasound images were obtained weekly from all birds and, in parallel, one bird per pen was weekly slaughtered and the major breast muscle was weighed and WB graded as 0 (normal), 1 (mild hardening in the upper), 2 (moderate hardening in the upper and/or lower), 3 (severe hardening) and 4 (severe hardening with haemorrhagic lesions and yellow fluid). Blood was taken for analysis of enzymes related to muscle cell breakdown. 3. Feed restriction applied at 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of the ad libitum feed intake (FI) resulted in decreased body weight gain (BWG; P ≤ 0.05). 4. From 21 to 49 d, the increasing feed restriction led to linear increases (P ≤ 0.05) in WB scores, fibre density as well as breast depth and breast echogenicity. Creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase concentration decreased linearly when broilers were feed restricted (P ≤ 0.05). 5. Wooden breast was positively correlated with echogenicity at 21 d (r = 0.510), 28 (r = 0.531), 35 (r = 0.470), 42 (r = 0.430) and 49 d (r = 0.548) (P ≤ 0.001). The use of breast echogenicity can be an additional tool to early detect alterations related to wooden breast.

Utilization of corn-based diets supplemented with an exogenous α-amylase for broilers

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a supplemental α-amylase on energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed diets with variable amounts of corn. A total of 480 slow feathering Cobb × Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly distributed into 10 treatments with 8 replicates of 6 birds each. Birds were fed a common starter to 14 D post-hatch. The experimental diets were provided subsequently until 25 D, which were a conventional corn-soy basal diet (CS) and a corn-soy diet displaced with 40% of corn (CN). These were fed as-is or supplemented with 40, 80, 120, or 160 kilo-Novo α-amylase units (KNU)/kg. Dietary treatments were distributed factorially as a 2 × 5 arrangement (diet type vs. amylase). Samples of feed, excreta, and ileal digesta were analyzed for determination of ileal digestible energy (IDE), ME, total tract retention, and digestibility of dry matter, protein, and fat. No interactions between diet type and amylase were observed. The CN diet had lower (P < 0.05) energy utilization and nutrient digestibility when compared to the CS diet. AMEn and IDE increased (P < 0.05) by 110 and 207 kcal/kg, respectively, when CS and CN diets were supplemented with 80 KNU/kg. The amylase added to the CS diet led to quadratic increases (P < 0.05) on growth performance, IDE, AME, and AMEn, as well as in dry matter, protein, and fat digestibility. Energy utilization and crude protein digestibility were linearly increased (P < 0.05) when amylase was added to the CN diet or the extrapolated 100% of corn. In conclusion, energy utilization, digestibility of crude protein, fat, and dry matter increased with amylase supplementation in corn-soy-based diets. When amylase was tested in a complete diet having 53.6% corn, 100 and 105 KNU/kg maximized AMEn and IDE, respectively; however, the maximum energy response in the CN diet or 100% of corn was not achieved until 160 KNU/kg, suggesting an association between amylase dose optimization and dietary starch concentration.

DIÁLOGO E ENSINO-APRENDIZAGEM NA FORMAÇÃO TÉCNICA EM SAÚDE

Resumo O objetivo foi analisar o diálogo no agir-aprendente do educando e no agir-educativo das educadoras no movimento ensino-aprendizagem em um curso técnico de nível médio em enfermagem promovido pela Escola de Formação Técnica em Saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde, para comunidade em contexto de vulnerabilidade social. Estudo qualitativo, do tipo estudo de caso, ancorado no referencial de Paulo Freire. Participaram doze educandos e cinco educadoras, com os dados coletados entre dezembro de 2014 e setembro de 2015 por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, observações registradas em diário de campo e análise documental. O diálogo no uso de metodologias inovadoras e problematizadoras proporcionou a construção e estreitamento de vínculos, contextualização do conteúdo teórico com base no território e na leitura de mundo dos educandos em busca de uma relação dialógica. O potencial formativo embasado no pensamento freireano orientou a reflexão e prática fundamentada no diálogo que contribuiu para o processo educativo emancipatório e plural. Concluímos que o diálogo proporcionou uma relação de proximidade entre educadores e educandos, revelando-se como ideia/força, favorecendo a dinâmica sensível e crítica que permeou e constituiu o movimento ensino-aprendizagem para educandos em contexto de vulnerabilidade social.

Zinc requirements of broiler breeder hens

One hundred and twenty Cobb 500 hens, 20 wk of age, were randomly allocated into individual cages with the objective of estimating their Zn requirements. The study was composed of 3 phases: adaptation to cages (basal diet), depletion (deficient diet containing 18.7 ± 0.47 ppm Zn) for 7 wk, and experimental phases. Hens were fed diets with graded increments of Zn sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O), totaling 18.7 ± 0.47, 50.3 ± 10.6, 77.3.0 ± 11.0, 110.2 ± 12.8, 140 ± 12.2, and 170.6 ± 13.2 ppm analyzed Zn in feeds for 12 wk (experimental phase). Requirements of Zn were done using quadratic polynomial (QP), broken line quadratic (BLQ), and exponential asymptotic (EA) models. In general, the non-linear statistical models were the ones that best fit the results in this study. Requirements obtained for hen day egg production and settable egg production were 83.3, 78.6 ppm and 61.4, 65.4 ppm for period of 33 to 36 wk, and 63.3, 53.1 and 60.4, 46.1 ppm for period of 37 to 40 wk, and 62.8, 52.8, and 67.7, 62.1 ppm for period of 41 to 44 wk, respectively, using BLQ and EA models. Total eggs and total settable eggs produced per hen had Zn requirements estimated as 75.7, 64.7 ppm, and 56.5, 41.5 ppm, respectively, for BLQ and EA models, whereas for alkaline phosphatase and eggshell percentage were 161.8, 124.9 ppm and 126.1, 122.4 ppm, using QP and BLQ models. Maximum responses for Zn in yolk for periods of 37 to 40 and 41 to 44 wk were 71.0, 78.1 and 64.5, 59.6 ppm, respectively, using BLQ and EA models. Breaking strength had Zn requirements estimated at 68.0 and 96.7 ppm, whereas eggshell palisade layer and eggshell thickness were maximized with 67.9, 67.9 ppm, and 67.7, 64.4 ppm, respectively, for BLQ and EA models. The average of all Zn requirement estimates obtained by EA and BLQ models in the present study was 72.28 ppm or 11.1 mg/hen/d.

Copper requirements of broiler breeder hens

One-hundred-twenty Cobb 500 hens, 20 wk of age, were randomly allocated into individual cages with the objective of estimating Cu requirements. After being fed a Cu deficient diet for 4 wk, hens were fed diets with graded increments of supplemental Cu (0.0; 3.5; 7.0; 10.5; 14; and 17.5 ppm) from Cu sulfate (CuSO4 5H2O), totaling 2.67; 5.82; 9.38; 12.92; 16.83; and 20.19 ppm analyzed Cu in feeds for 20 weeks. Estimations of Cu requirements were done using exponential asymptotic (EA), broken line quadratic (BLQ), and quadratic polynomial (QP) models. Obtained Cu requirements for hen d egg production and total settable eggs per hen were 6.2, 7.3, and 12.9 ppm and 8.1, 9.0, and 13.4 ppm, respectively, using EA, BLQ, and QP models. The QP model was the only one having a fit for total eggs per hen with 13.1 ppm Cu as a requirement. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum Cu from hens had requirements estimated as 13.9, 11.3, and 18.5, ppm; 14.6, 13.0, and 19.0 ppm; and 16.2, 14.6, and 14.2 ppm, respectively, for EA, BLQ, and QP models. Hatching chick hemoglobin was not affected by dietary Cu, whereas requirements estimated for hatching chick hematocrit and body weight and length were 10.2, 12.3, and 13.3 ppm using EA, BLQ, and QP models; and 6.8 and 7.1 ppm, and 12.9 and 13.9 ppm Cu using EA and BLQ models, respectively. Maximum responses for egg weight, yolk Cu content, and eggshell membrane thickness were 14.9, 12.7, and 15.1 ppm; 15.0, 16.3, and 15.7 ppm; and 7.3, 7.8, and 14.0 ppm Cu, respectively, for EA, BLQ, and QP models. Yolk and albumen percentage were adjusted only with the QP model and had requirements estimated at 11.0 ppm and 11.3 ppm, respectively, whereas eggshell mammillary layer was maximized with 10.6, 10.1, and 14.4 ppm Cu using EA, BLQ, and QP models, respectively. The average of all Cu requirement estimates obtained in the present study was 12.5 ppm Cu.

Histomorphometric study of the anterior latissimus dorsi muscle and evaluation of enzymatic markers of broilers affected with dorsal cranial myopathy

Dorsal cranial myopathy (DCM), which affects the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscles of commercial broilers, is of unknown etiology, and it represents up to 6% of the partial condemnations in Brazilian slaughterhouses. This study was performed to achieve histomorphometric characterizations of the ALD muscles from male Cobb 500 broilers slaughtered at either 35 d or 42 d and to evaluate the effects of DCM on the enzymatic markers aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and on uric acid and creatinine metabolites. Blood samples (1.5 to 3 mL) and ALD muscle fragments were collected from each carcass, all of which were processed in a commercial inline processing system. For each age, twelve macroscopically normal animals and twelve animals found to exhibit DCM were randomly selected for histomorphometric evaluation and analysis of serologic profiles. Microscopic evaluations demonstrated that the muscle fibers of those with DCM exhibited a strong presence of multifocal regenerative myodegeneration as well as a substitution of muscle tissue with connective tissue (P < 0.001) through fibrosis, thus characterizing the chronicity and hardness of the affected muscle. It is suggested that DCM is a localized muscle lesion because the detected serum levels of CK (P < 0.001), AST (P < 0.001), ALT (P = 0.01), and LDH (P < 0.001) enzymes were strongly associated with the group affected by DCM. Additional studies are needed to gain an understanding of this myopathy because it is an emerging problem in the poultry industry. In addition, it is related to DCM lesions in fast-growing broilers with the greatest slaughter weights.

Estimation of broiler responses to increased dietary methionine hydroxy analogue [DL-2-hydroxy-(4-methylthio) butanoic acid] using linear and nonlinear regression models

As the first limiting amino acid in corn-soy broiler diets, methionine (Met) is supplemented using commercial synthetic sources as demanded to obtain economic feed formulations. The Met analogue DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMTBA) is largely utilized with that objective. This study intended to obtain responses of broilers fed with increasing levels of HMTBA, from 28 to 42 d, such that economic returns can be calculated. A total of 2,106 Cobb × Cobb 500 one-day-old male broilers was randomly placed in 81 floor pens (2.7 m2 each). Birds were fed conventional starter (zero to 14 d) and grower (14 to 28 d) diets. Starting at 28 d of age, pens of 26 birds were randomly allocated into 9 feed treatments with 9 replications having increasing supplementations with HMTBA (0.00, 0.07, 0.14, 0.21, 0.28, 0.35, 0.42, 0.49 and 0.56%). These were prepared by mixing different proportions of corn-soy dilution and summit diets, which had the same formulated concentration of nutrients and energy [19.7% CP, 0.90% Ca, 0.45% Av. P, 0.95% digestible Lys, and 3,150 kcal/kg AMEn], with the exception of HMTBA [0.56% in the summit but not supplemented in the corn-soy dilution diet (0.52% digestible TSAA)]]. Growth performance was evaluated until 42 d when carcass yield and commercial cuts were evaluated using 6 birds randomly taken from each pen. Body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), proportion of breast fillets, and abdominal fat were adjusted using linear broken-line, exponential asymptotic and quadratic polynomial regression models (P < 0.05). Estimations of maximum responses for supplemented HMTBA by the linear broken-line model were 0.17% for BWG, 0.14% for FCR, and 0.29% for breast fillets. Using exponential and quadratic regressions, optimized HMTBA supplementations were obtained at 0.34 and 0.35% for BWG, 0.20 and 0.33% for FCR, and 0.31 and 0.36% for breast fillets, respectively. Supplemental levels of HMTBA that optimize growth performance and breast meat in male broilers from 28 to 42 d, using different regression models, varied from 0.14 to 0.36%.

Occurrence of white striping and wooden breast in broilers fed grower and finisher diets with increasing lysine levels

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the prevalence and severity of white striping (WS) and wooden breast (WB) in breast fillets from broilers fed diets with increasing digestible Lysine (dLys) from 12 to 28 d (Exp. 1) and from 28 to 42 d (Exp. 2). Trials were sequentially conducted using one-d-old male, slow-feathering Cobb 500 × Cobb broilers, both with 6 treatments and 8 replicates. Increasing dLys levels were equally spaced from 0.77 to 1.17% in Exp. 1 and from 0.68 to 1.07% in Exp. 2. The lowest dLys diet was not supplemented with L-Lysine (L-Lys) in either one of the studies and all other essential amino acid (AA) met or exceeded current commercial recommendations such that their dietary concentrations did not limit broiler growth. Four birds per pen were randomly selected from each replication and processed at 35 and 42 d in Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, respectively. Deboned breast fillets (Pectoralis major) were submitted to a 3 subject panel evaluation to detect the presence of WS and WB, as well as to provide scores of WS (0-normal, 1-moderate, 2-severe) and WB (0-normal, 1-moderate light, 2-moderate, 3-severe). Increasing the level of dLys had a positive effect on BW, carcass, and breast weight, as well as breast yield. White striping and WB prevalences were 32.3 and 85.9% in Exp. 1 and 87.1 and 89.2% in Exp. 2. Birds fed diets not supplemented with L-Lys had the lowest average WS and WB scores (0.22 and 0.78 in Exp. 1 and 0.61 and 0.68 in Exp. 2). White striping and WB presented linear responses to performance variables in Exp. 1, whereas quadratic responses were observed for all variables in Exp. 2. In conclusion, increasing the level of dLys improved growth performance and carcass traits as well as induced the occurrence and severity of WS and WB lesions.

Energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal and corn-based diets supplemented with xylanase

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of increased levels of a β-xylanase on energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed corn-soy diets. A total of 480 slow feathering Cobb × Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly distributed to 10 treatments having 8 replicates of 6 birds each. Birds were fed a common starter diet to d 14 post hatch (3,050 kcal/kg AMEn, 21.7% CP, 1.05% Ca, and 0.53% nPP). The experimental diets were provided afterwards until 25 d. Two experimental diets, a conventional corn/soy-based basal diet (CS) and the basal diet in which 40% of the diet was displaced by corn (CN), were fed as-is or supplemented with 50, 100, 150, or 200 fungal β-xylanase units (FXU)/kg. Dietary treatments were distributed factorially as a 2 × 5 arrangement. Samples of feed, excreta, and ileal digesta were analyzed for determination of ileal digestible energy (IDE), metabolizable energy, and total tract retention of protein and lipid. No interactions between diet and xylanase were observed. The CS diets had higher (P < 0.05) energy utilization and nutrient digestibility when compared to the CN diets. AMEn and IDE were improved (P < 0.05) by 192 and 145 kcal/kg, respectively, when diets were supplemented with 100 FXU/kg xylanase. The xylanase added to the CN diet led to quadratic increases (P < 0.05) in IDE (Y = - 0.014x(2) + 2.570x + 3,155; r(2) = 0.60) and in AMEn (Y = - 0.016x(2) + 3.982x + 3,155; r(2) = 0.68). Crude protein digestibility and AMEn were linearly increased (P < 0.05) when xylanase was added to the CN diet. In conclusion, energy utilization and digestibility of crude protein and dry matter increased with xylanase supplementation in corn/soy-based diets. When xylanase was tested in the CS diet, 92 and 124 FXU/kg maximized the energy release effect; however, the maximum energy response in the CN diet or corn was not achieved until 200 FXU/kg.

Starch digestibility, energy utilization, and growth performance of broilers fed corn-soybean basal diets supplemented with enzymes

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary α-amylase and β-xylanase supplementation of corn-soy diets, formulated with or without supplemental phytase, on growth performance, energy utilization, and starch digestibility in broiler chickens. A total of 336 slow-feathering, Cobb × Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly distributed to 6 treatments having 8 replicates of 7 birds each. Birds were fed a common starter diet to d 14 post-hatch (3,050 kcal/kg AMEn, 21.7% CP, 1.05% Ca, and 0.53% nPP). The experimental diets were provided afterwards until d 25. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of 2 control diets (basal = corn-soy diet without added phytase or PHY = corn-soy diet formulated with 1,000 phytase units/kg) and 3 carbohydrase supplementations (0, 80 kilo-Novo α-amylase units/kg, or 80 kilo-Novo α-amylase units/kg + 100 fungal β-xylanase units/kg) was used from d 14 to 25. Excreta were collected from 21 to 24 d and all birds were euthanized at 25 d for jejunum and ileum content collection. Samples of feed, excreta, and jejunal and ileal digesta were analyzed for determination of total tract retention and ileal apparent digestibility. No interactions between diet and carbohydrase were observed. Broilers fed diets formulated with phytase or supplemented with amylase + xylanase had higher BW gain (BWG) and lower FCR (P < 0.05) when compared with birds fed diets without carbohydrases. Relative to the basal diet, AMEn was increased (P < 0.01) by 70 kcal/kg and 99 kcal/kg when birds were fed the diet supplemented with amylase and amylase + xylanase, respectively. Starch digestibility in the jejunum and ileum was increased (P < 0.05) by 3.5% and 2.4%, respectively, when birds were fed the diet supplemented with amylase + xylanase. Results from this experiment show that corn-soy diets having phytase and supplemented with amylase and xylanase led to increased growth performance, AMEn, and starch digestibility in broilers. Furthermore, the efficacy of exogenous amylase and xylanase was independent of the presence of microbial phytase.

Digestibility marker and ileal amino acid digestibility in phytase-supplemented soybean or canola meals for growing pigs

Two experiments using soybean meal (SBM) or canola meal (CM) were conducted to investigate whether the choice of digestibility marker influenced the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) or standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of N and AA in diets supplemented with phytase. In each experiment, 18 barrows fitted with T-cannulas at the ileocecal junction were assigned to 3 diets consisting of a N-free diet to determine endogenous losses of N and AA, a semipurified diet (SBM in Exp. 1 or CM in Exp. 2), and the semipurified diet supplemented with phytase at 1,000 phytase units/kg. Three digestibility markers including acid-insoluble ash (AIA), chromic oxide (Cr2O3), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) were added to each diet at 3 g/kg. Each diet was fed for 7 d, consisting of a 5-d adjustment and a 2-d collection of ileal digesta. In both studies, basal ileal endogenous losses determined with Cr2O3 as a digestibility marker were lower (P<0.01) than with those determined with AIA or TiO2 digestibility markers. Using SBM as the protein source in Exp. 1, there was no interaction between phytase and digestibility marker on AID or SID of AA. The AID of N and AA in SBM using AIA as a digestibility marker tended to be lower (P<0.1) compared with Cr2O3 or TiO2 digestibility markers. Phytase supplementation increased (P<0.001) the AID of Ca and P. The use of AIA or Cr2O3 digestibility marker tended to be associated with lower (P<0.1) SID values compared with TiO2. Phytase did not affect the SID of N or any AA in SBM except for Met, for which there was an increase (P<0.05) with phytase supplementation. Using CM as the protein source in Exp. 2, there were significant interactions between digestibility marker and phytase. Phytase supplementation had effects (P<0.01) on AID or SID when Cr2O3 or TiO2 was used as the digestibility marker. With Cr2O3 or TiO2 as the digestibility marker in the CM diets, phytase supplementation increased (P<0.05) the SID of N and all AA (except Trp). There was no SID of N or AA response to phytase supplementation of CM when AIA was used as a digestibility marker. In contrast, there were no clear improvements in AA digestibility from phytase supplementation for SBM. Phytase effects on AID or SID of AA were dependent on the digestibility marker used in diets when CM was used as the protein source but not when SBM was used as the protein source. Therefore, AA digestibility response to phytase supplementation may depend on the protein being evaluated as well as the choice of digestibility marker.

Formulating poultry diets based on their indigestible components

Since it started as an organized economic activity, poultry production has been undergoing an evolution toward the optimization of its feed formulation features. Notably, advances in the knowledge of birds' nutrient requirements have allowed recommendations that are increasingly closer to the needs of the birds. Over time, availability of nutrients and energy has been incorporated into those recommendations, especially to compensate for the variability in the digestibility of nutrients originating from variable feed ingredient sources. Instead of using the total energy and nutrient content, current tables of nutrient recommendations provide an estimate of the digestible fractions of the nutrients in ingredients. For instance, nonphytate P is preferred instead of total P to account for the unavailable phytate P, and digestible amino acids to account for the differences in digestibility of amino acids in different ingredients, whereas energy is usually expressed as a proportion that has been digested and metabolized (AME). With the increasing interest in the use of exogenous enzymes in poultry feeds, special attention is directed to the feed substrates such that an added enzyme can match it, forming an enzyme-substrate complex that will be followed by a chemical reaction within the gastrointestinal tract. As a consequence of a degradation reaction, nutrients released can be absorbed and metabolized. In general, nutritional data banks used in linear feed formulation software have limited data on the proportions of fractions of ingredients that are indigestible. Therefore, estimations of the presence of many substrates in the feeds, and therefore the benefits of adding exogenous enzymes, are frequently limited because of the scarcity of adequate information. The objective of this review paper is to provide insights into the use of expanded nutrient databanks to include all the molecules considered potentially indigestible for poultry such that the inclusion of exogenous enzymes allows the estimation of the values of the product originated by their hydrolysis.

[Des-interest in professional educating in the production of the National Seminar on Guidelines for Nursing Education]

Documentary, retrospective, quali-quantitative research, which aimed to examine the approaches of scientific productions through summaries of the 12 and 13 national seminar on guidelines for the education in nursing, which raised the medium-level technical professional education in nursing.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

quantify and discuss the scientific production of events regarding the geographical distribution of authors, objectives and methodology of the studies. As a criterion for inclusion the abstracts should contain at least one of the following descriptors in the title and/or objectives: education in nursing, technical education in nursing, vocational education. Reviewed 637 abstracts, 23 met the inclusion criteria. The production was concentrated in the Southeast region in Brazil and the objectives featured mainly teaching practices of the nurses. There was little expressiveness of vocational at the event, signaling the need for more studies, considering the relevance of the technical level professionals for the Nursing profession and the health system.

Ensino médio profissionalizante: caracterização da produção científica na área da pós-graduação

OBJETIVO: Este estudo objetivou identificar e caracterizar a produção científica gerada pelos programas de pós-graduação stricto senso no Brasil, no período de 1994 a 2011. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, de caráter exploratório e natureza quantiqualitativa, analisou os processos quantitativos da produção, da disseminação e uso da informação, identificando comportamentos da literatura e sua evolução e época determinados e da análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardin, como técnica de análise sistemática e objetiva de descrição dos conteúdos das mensagens para caracterizar a produção científica. RESULTADOS: Identificaram-se 74 estudos, sendo 85,14% (63) dissertações acadêmicas, 8,1% (6) dissertações profissionalizantes e 6,76% (5) teses. A produção mais significativa ocorreu nos anos de 2005 e 2009, com 10,80% (8) e 12,15% (9). Evidenciou-se predomínio de produções nas Regiões Sul e Sudeste e ausência na Região Norte. Os estudos resultaram em 78,38% (58) processos ensino-aprendizagem, 12,16% (9) diretrizes curriculares e 9,46% (7) aspectos administrativo-gerenciais das escolas. CONCLUSÃO: A produção científica no período foi identificada e a maioria das teses foi caracterizada como processos de ensino-aprendizagem.

Evaluation of different plate media for direct cultivation of Campylobacter species from live broilers

Accurate identification and optimal culturing procedures for Campylobacter spp. from live broilers are needed for epidemiological studies. Because there is no standardized protocol, we designed and conducted studies to evaluate different selective media for the culturing and isolation of Campylobacter spp. from cecal and fecal samples obtained from battery-reared and commercial broilers. Five media selective for Campylobacter were evaluated: Campylobacter agar base, Campylobacter, Campy-Line, modified Campy-Cefex, and modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar. With contaminated broilers reared in battery cages, Campylobacter agar base, Campylobacter, modified Campy-Cefex, and modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar revealed similar isolation rates (P > 0.05), whereas Campy-Line showed a lower efficacy (P < 0.05). With commercial live broilers, modified Campy-Cefex agar was more consistent for the isolation of Campylobacter from feces, whereas modified Campy-Cefex and modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar showed similar isolation rates from cecal samples. Campy-Line agar showed a lower identification rate (P < 0.05) for both fecal and cecal samples. A multiplex PCR assay used for identification showed that Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli DNA was present in the samples. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis restriction profiles differed among samples collected from different commercial farms but were similar for isolates from the same farm, suggesting clonal differences. No variation was seen in pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns among isolates cultured on different media. Our data suggest that the choice of plate medium may influence the efficiency of isolating Campylobacter spp. from broiler chickens by direct plating from fecal or cecal samples.

Responses of growing broilers to diets with increased sulfur amino acids to lysine ratios at two dietary protein levels

An experiment with 1,440 male Cobb 500 and 1,440 male Ross 308 broilers (14 to 35 d of age) was conducted to investigate the effects of diets having 4 levels of digestible methionine plus cysteine (SAA) on various performance criteria at 2 dietary protein levels (20.5 and 26.0%). Two corn-soybean meal/poultry by-product basal diets were formulated to contain 3,060 kcal/kg MEn and either 20.5 or 26.0% balanced protein, and 1.12 and 1.46% digestible (according to table values) lysine, respectively. Except for SAA, the ratios between essential amino acids were kept identical in both diets according to the ideal protein concept. The ratio between digestible SAA and digestible Lys was 50%. All remaining nutrients met or exceeded NRC (1994) recommendations. Graded levels of SAA were supplemented to obtain digestible SAA to Lys ratios of 62, 69, and 77%, with 77% representing an optimized amino acid balance. Increasing the protein level clearly improved weight gain, feed conversion, breast meat yield, and abdominal fat content. Increasing SAA levels resulted in strong nonlinear or linear dose responses at both protein levels and for both strains. Regression analysis suggested that reducing digestible SAA in a balanced protein (diets with SAA:Lys of 77%) impairs performance, and that optimum SAA:Lys ratio for growing broilers might be higher than 77%, although ANOVA revealed no significant improvement with an SAA:Lys ratio higher than 69%. Responses provide evidence that optimum dietary SAA level depends on dietary protein level and should therefore be related to the protein content.

Utilização da Energia de Dietas para Frangos de Corte Formuladas com Óleo Ácido de Soja

O produto comercialmente chamado "óleo ácido de soja", resulta da acidificação da borra residual do processo de refino do óleo de soja. Este tem sido muito utilizado na indústria de rações animais, ainda que com vários questinamentos a cerca de sua eficiência, tais como a adulteração com outros ácidos graxos de baixo valor nutricional, nível de peroxidação, presença de impurezas, e valores energéticos não confiáveis. Neste estudo, foi avaliado o desempenho de frangos de corte consumindo dietas contendo óleo de soja ou óleo ácido de soja nos níveis de 4 e 8% ou a mistura das duas fontes em partes iguais de 2 e 4% cada. Essas dietas foram fornecidas para frangos de corte alojados em baterias climatizadas a partir dos 7 dias de idade. As aves que receberam misturas equivalentes de óleo ácido de soja e óleo de soja apresentaram menor peso corporal no final do experimento (aos 42 dias) quando comparadas com aquelas que consumiram apenas óleo ou óleo ácido de soja, independentemente do nível adicionado. O nível de inclusão de óleo de soja ou óleo ácido de soja não influenciou o peso final das aves. Foi verificado maior consumo de ração pelos animais que receberam dietas de menor nível de inclusão, o que contribuiu para piorar a conversão alimentar dos mesmos. O óleo ácido de soja demonstrou ser uma fonte energética alternativa de alto potencial econômico para uso em dietas comerciais para frangos de corte, apresentando valor energético de 8.114 kcal EMAn/kg de MS, valor 5% inferior ao determinado para o óleo de soja degomado.

Desenvolvimento de Órgãos da Digestão e Rendimento de Carcaça de Frangos de Corte de Diversas Origens Genéticas Criados com Bebedouros Pendular e Nipple

O uso de linhas genéticas de diferentes fontes comerciais em programas de reprodução de frangos de corte permite produzir gerações comerciais mais bem adaptadas a realidades diversas e otimizar os potenciais de desempenho do frango de corte com os da reprodutora. Entretanto, a prática predominante no Brasil é o uso de pais e mães de mesma origem. O uso de bebedouros tipo "nipple" vem sendo difundido com a perspectiva de gerar benefícios ainda não comprovados inteiramente na prática. Esse estudo avaliou a evolução dos órgãos da digestão, o desempenho vivo e o rendimento de carcaça e das partes de frangos de corte de diferentes cruzamentos entre reprodutores machos de diversos cruzamentos entre linhagens comerciais (R, I, S, e H) com fêmeas também de origem variável (R, I, e H) em sistemas de produção com bebedouros pendular ou nipple. As aves dos diferentes cruzamentos apresentaram curvas de crescimento com diferentes intensidades em momentos distintos, determinando desempenhos em peso vivo sempre superiores para o cruzamento RR. O rendimento de peito, entretanto, foi maior para o cruzamento IH. O cruzamento SH, de mais baixo peso corporal, evidenciou rendimentos de carcaça inferiores a todos os demais. O tipo de bebedouro não influenciou nenhum resultado de desempenho vivo ou de rendimento de carcaça, independentemente da linhagem. Os órgãos da digestão apresentaram proporções do peso vivo decrescentes com a idade, mas não evidenciaram efeito de cruzamento entre linhagens ou tipo de bebedouro.

Bioequivalence of two lamivudine tablet formulations

The present study describes the determination of the bioavailability of a new commercial tablet formulation of lamivudine (CAS 134678-17-4) compared with a reference formulation. The comparative bioequivalence of the test and a reference formulation (each 3 x 150 mg) was assessed in 24 healthy volunteers by means of a randomized two-way crossover design. Prior to the study both the test and reference formulations were examined for conformation to chromatographic purity and drug content. Each volunteer received the test (T) and the reference formulation (R) with a one-week drug-free interval between administrations. The plasma concentrations of T were monitored over a period of 12 h after drug administration using a sensitive HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters for T were determined from plasma concentration-time data. Statistical tests were carried out at 90% confidence intervals using a parametric method (three-way ANOVA) for AUC and Cmax, and non-parametric method for Tmax. The present study showed that both formulations were bioequivalent for the geometric mean of AUC(0-12), AUC0-infinity), Cmax, and Tmax at the 90% confidence interval. The bioavailability of the test (%) was 96.7, 93.3, 99.7, 100.3, respectively. The T:R ratio was, in each case, well within the acceptable range of 100 +/- 20%.

Nutrição Pós-Eclosão de Frangos de Corte

A emergência da casca marca o final do período de incubação das aves. Esse período pode ter extremos que vão de 480 a 510 horas em galinhas domésticas. As aves precociais nascem com reservas nutricionais provenientes do albúmen e gema residuais contidos no saco vitelino, que são importantes nas primeiras horas de vida enquanto ocorre a adaptação à alimentação independente, com recursos obtidos no meio ambiente. Aparentemente, os pintainhos de corte não apresentam restrições significativas com relação à utilização dos nutrientes obtidos externamente. Uma exceção, de importância questionável, pode ser a possível redução na capacidade de emulsificação das gorduras devido a uma menor concentração de sais biliares momentaneamente disponíveis. Entretanto, o imediato alojamento com disponibilização de alimento e água acelera a adaptação das aves à vida independente e tem reflexos positivos no desempenho posterior. Atrasos no alojamento, seja ainda na câmara de eclosão, transporte ou manejo dos pintinhos, reduzem o potencial de síntese protéica muscular, especialmente na musculatura do peito. Por muitos anos, os produtores de frangos de corte têm usado programas nutricionais que incluem uma mesma dieta da eclosão até as 3 semanas de idade. Recentemente, tem havido um aumento no interesse comercial por uma dieta especializada que contemple as diferenças de adaptação dos primeiros dias de vida das aves. A existência de diferenças entre exigências nutricionais das aves nessa situação com relação a animais mais maduros é ainda uma incógnita, tendo em vista o volume pequeno de informações disponíveis.

[Assessment of the efficacy of antivenom injection at the site of the intramuscular inoculation of Bothrops jararaca venom: experimental study in mice]

The 50% effective intraperitoneal (ip) dose of Bothrops jararaca antivenom (ED50) was assessed in mice immediately (ED50 Oh) and thirty minutes (ED50 30') after the intramuscular (im) injection of two 50% lethal dose (LD50) of Bothrops jararaca venom. The efficacy of the antivenom injected at the venom inoculation site was assessed by the inoculation of two LD50 of the venom by im route, followed immediately (ED50 Oh) and 30 minutes later (ED50 30') by administration of the ED50 of the antivenom either entirely by the ip route or 50 percent ip plus 50 percent im, at the same inoculation site. It was shown that the ED50 30' was 3 times greater, than the ED50 Oh and that the antivenom was more protective to mice (lower death rate in 48 hours) when given entirely ip. It was concluded that, in this experimental model, a higher dose of bothropic antivenom is needed when the treatment is started lately, and that there is no benefit in its administration at the venom inoculation site.

[Evaluation in mice of the efficacy of antivenins administered at the site of the intramuscular inoculation of the Crotalus durissus terrificus venom]

The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) injection at the same place of the im inoculation, of the C. d. terrificus venom was evaluated in mice. In three experiments two DL50 of the venom were inoculated and the antivenom was administered in three different ways: half of the ED50 by intraperitoneal (ip) administration and half by injection, at the same place, immediately after the venom inoculation and thirty minutes after the im venom inoculation; four fifth of ED50 by ip administration and one fifth by injection, at the same place and thirty minutes after the venom inoculation. The antivenom that was administered by intraperitoneal route provided a higher protection to mice (a lower death rate in a 48 hours period) than when it was administered in parts, by intramuscular injection, at the same place of the venom inoculation (p < 0.05). Therefore, it is concluded that this should not be used in human beings bitten by snakes.