Short communication: Preweaning socialization and environmental enrichment affect short-term performance after regrouping in commercially reared pigs.

On-farm practices like premature weaning and frequent regrouping induce stress to pigs. Early socialization or environmental enrichment in piglets reduce weaning stress, as suggested in previous studies. Little research with both effects and in commercial settings was found. The aim was to investigate the effects of preweaning socialization and environmental enrichment on life-long performance in 661 Danbred pigs. Two treatments were distinguished during the suckling period: control (CON, 24 litters) and enriched (ENR, 24 litters). Control piglets were raised in barren farrowing pens; ENR piglets were provided with six enrichment objects from birth, and two neighboring litters were socialized from Day (D) 14. Pigs were regrouped on D25 (weaning) and D71 (fattening), while keeping the same treatment. Individual body weight was recorded on D1, 14, 23, 27, 31, 38, 69, 79, and after slaughter (carcass weight, CW). Pigs were slaughtered in six batches. Estimated slaughter weight (ESW) was calculated by CW × 1.25. Body weight, CW, and average daily gain (ADG) were analyzed by linear mixed models. Slaughter age was analyzed by Wilcox Rank-Sum test. Body weight and ESW were adjusted to non-linear models to obtain the predicted growth curves of CON and ENR, from birth to the targeted market weight (TMW, 105 kg). Average daily gain during the suckling, nursery, and fattening periods, and from birth to slaughter, did not differ between treatments. However, ADG of ENR when moving pigs from farrowing to nursery (4-day period) and from nursery to fattening (10-day period), revealed a better performance than CON (+20.6 g/day, P = 0.02; +53 g/day, P = 0.03, respectively). Enriched pigs tended to be slaughtered 2.8 days earlier than CON (P = 0.08). On the other hand, the predicted growth curves showed a non-significant 2-day window of reaching TMW between treatments (P = 0.23). Results suggested that enriching the neonatal environment improved the short-term performance after regrouping, and may benefit the life-long performance by reducing time to reach TMW.

Dietary practices in propionic acidemia: A European survey.

BACKGROUND: The definitive dietary management of propionic acidaemia (PA) is unknown although natural protein restriction with adequate energy provision is of key importance. AIM: To describe European dietary practices in the management of patients with PA prior to the publication of the European PA guidelines. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey consisting of 27 questions about the dietary practices in PA patients circulated to European IMD dietitians and health professionals in 2014. RESULTS: Information on protein restricted diets of 186 PA patients from 47 centres, representing 14 European countries was collected. Total protein intake [PA precursor-free L-amino acid supplements (PFAA) and natural protein] met WHO/FAO/UNU (2007) safe protein requirements for age in 36 centres (77%). PFAA were used to supplement natural protein intake in 81% (n = 38) of centres, providing a median of 44% (14-83%) of total protein requirement. Seventy-four per cent of patients were prescribed natural protein intakes below WHO/FAO/UNU (2007) safe levels in one or more of the following age groups: 0-6 m, 7-12 m, 1-10 y, 11-16 y and > 16 y. Sixty-three per cent (n = 117) of patients were tube fed (74% gastrostomy), but only 22% received nocturnal feeds. CONCLUSIONS: There was high use of PFAA with intakes of natural protein commonly below WHO/FAO/UNU (2007) safe levels. Optimal dietary management can only be determined by longitudinal, multi-centre, prospective case controlled studies. The metabolic instability of PA and small patient cohorts in each centre ensure that this is a challenging undertaking.

Dietary practices in isovaleric acidemia: A European survey.

BACKGROUND: In Europe, dietary management of isovaleric acidemia (IVA) may vary widely. There is limited collective information about dietetic management. AIM: To describe European practice regarding the dietary management of IVA, prior to the availability of the E-IMD IVA guidelines (E-IMD 2014). METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was sent to all European dietitians who were either members of the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism Dietitians Group (SSIEM-DG) or whom had responded to previous questionnaires on dietetic practice (n = 53). The questionnaire comprised 27 questions about the dietary management of IVA. RESULTS: Information on 140 patients with IVA from 39 centres was reported. 133 patients (38 centres) were given a protein restricted diet. Leucine-free amino acid supplements (LFAA) were routinely used to supplement protein intake in 58% of centres. The median total protein intake prescribed achieved the WHO/FAO/UNU [2007] safe levels of protein intake in all age groups. Centres that prescribed LFAA had lower natural protein intakes in most age groups except 1 to 10 y. In contrast, when centres were not using LFAA, the median natural protein intake met WHO/FAO/UNU [2007] safe levels of protein intake in all age groups. Enteral tube feeding was rarely prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrates wide differences in dietary practice in the management of IVA across European centres. It provides unique dietary data collectively representing European practices in IVA which can be used as a foundation to compare dietary management changes as a consequence of the first E-IMD IVA guidelines availability.

Effect of different levels of calcium and phosphorus and their interaction on the performance of young broilers.

A study was conducted to evaluate the interaction among 3 levels of Ca and 4 levels of nonphytate phosphorus (NPP) on broiler performance, bone ash, and whole-body fractional retention of Ca and P. Ross male broiler-chicks (n=420) were sorted by BW at d 1 posthatch and assigned to 5 cages/diet with 7 birds/cage. Twelve diets were arranged in a 3×4 factorial of 3 levels Ca (at 0.5, 0.7, or 0.9%) and 4 levels NPP (at 0.25, 0.31, 0.38, or 0.45%) with a high dose of phytase (1,150 U/kg) in all diets. On d 14, chickens were euthanized and the right tibia was collected from 3 birds/replicate; the rest of the animals were used to measure whole-body Ca and P retention. An interaction was observed between the level of Ca and NPP on feed intake (FI), tibia weight, and bone-ash content (P<0.05). Increasing the level of NPP from 0.25 to 0.38% increased FI (P<0.05) on chickens fed the high-Ca diet (0.9%), but not with Ca at 0.5 or 0.7%. Broilers achieved their greatest weight gain (WG) and bone formation with 0.7% Ca and 0.38% NPP. Increasing the dietary Ca decreased its fractional retention from 74% with dietary Ca at 0.5 to 46% with Ca at 0.9%. The increase in the levels of dietary P steadily increased the fractional retention of Ca from 53 to 61%, and increased the whole-body Ca content (g/kg BW). It can be concluded that a dietary level of 0.38% NPP/kg in diets containing a high dose of phytase (1,150 U/kg) and 0.7% Ca are adequate to ensure broiler performance and bone ash of broilers from d 0 to d 14 posthatch.

Dietary management of urea cycle disorders: European practice.

BACKGROUND: There is no published data comparing dietary management of urea cycle disorders (UCD) in different countries. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 41 European Inherited Metabolic Disorder (IMD) centres (17 UK, 6 France, 5 Germany, 4 Belgium, 4 Portugal, 2 Netherlands, 1 Denmark, 1 Italy, 1 Sweden) was collected by questionnaire describing management of patients with UCD on prescribed protein restricted diets. RESULTS: Data for 464 patients: N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency, n=10; carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS1) deficiency, n=29; ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC) deficiency, n=214; citrullinaemia, n=108; argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA), n=80; arginase deficiency, n=23 was reported. The majority of patients (70%; n=327) were aged 0-16y and 30% (n=137) >16y. Prescribed median protein intake/kg body weight decreased with age with little variation between disorders. The UK tended to give more total protein than other European countries particularly in infancy. Supplements of essential amino acids (EAA) were prescribed for 38% [n=174] of the patients overall, but were given more commonly in arginase deficiency (74%), CPS (48%) and citrullinaemia (46%). Patients in Germany (64%), Portugal (67%) and Sweden (100%) were the most frequent users of EAA. Only 18% [n=84] of patients were prescribed tube feeds, most commonly for CPS (41%); and 21% [n=97] were prescribed oral energy supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary treatment for UCD varies significantly between different conditions, and between and within European IMD centres. Further studies examining the outcome of treatment compared with the type of dietary therapy and nutritional support received are required.

NMR and simulated annealing investigations of bradykinin in presence of polyphenols.

Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of some cardiovascular degenerative diseases appears to be lower in populations with regular but moderate drinking of red wine rich in polyphenols. One of the most important properties of polyphenols is to form complexes with proteins. The linear nonapeptide hormone bradykinin (H-Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-Pro7-Phe8-Arg9-OH) is involved in a variety of physiological processes such as the cardiovascular processes. Thus, the goal of this work was to study the effects of tannins on the peptide structure by NMR investigations and molecular modeling. The results of these investigations show that in the presence of catechin, the peptide conformation is not affected and is in a random coil structure. On the contrary, the peptide structure is modified by the addition of dimeric proanthocyanidin B3 (catechin 4alpha-->8 catechin). The dimer leads to the formation of a large flexible turn between the 6-9 residues. Thus, the biological activities of bradykinin in the presence of polyphenols could be affected.