The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effect of piglet nursing location on weaning weight, and its dependence on essential oil supplementation on sow and piglet performances. Piglets that nursed anterior teat pairs had heavier weaning weights and higher gain for the lactation period. Additionally, piglet birthweight did not impact their overall teat selection and nursing location. These results provide some insight into the biological aspects of sow milk production, and implied that milk yield may vary between teat pairs along the udder line. Supplementation of essential oils (EO) during late gestation and lactation had no effect on sow fecal dry matter (DM), immunoglobulin content of colostrum and milk, but it did increase the lactose content in milk from sows supplemented with EO, with an increase from 5.84% to 5. 97% (P = 0.04). There was an increase in sow weight loss during lactation (P = 0.002), and there was a significant effect on piglet birthweight, with sows supplemented with EO producing heavier piglets at birth, 1.56 kg in EO sows, compared to 1.49 kg in the control (CON) sows (P = 0.03). Overall, piglet weaning weight is impacted by their selected nursing location along the udder line. Supplementation of EO may have limited effects on sow performance, such as fecal dry matter (DM) but may positively impact piglet birthweight. Furthermore, including EO into sow diets during late gestation and lactation can potentially impact the nutrient levels of sow milk.

<p>Forty barrows were used in a 35d experiment to evaluate the effects of supplemental soluble fiber (dextrin) pre- and post-weaning on growth performance, intestinal microbiome, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, intestinal morphology, and gene expression. Pigs were blocked by litter and BW, and randomly allotted to treatments in a 2x2 factorial design with or without fiber pre-weaning and with or without fiber post-weaning. Dextrin was administered orally through a syringe, after being suspended in chocolate milk from 14d prior to weaning through 3d post-weaning, after which it was included in the diet at 1%. At weaning, pigs were group housed by treatment and allowed ad libitum access to a common starter diet. On d4 post-weaning, pigs were moved to individual pens and fed diets with or without 1% fiber. Weights and feed intake were recorded 14 and 3d prior to weaning, and on d0, 4, 11, and 21 post-weaning. On d0 and d21 post-weaning, pigs were euthanized for collection of tissues and intestinal contents. Ileal, cecal, and colon contents were taken for microbiome analysis, distal large intestine contents were collected for VFA analysis, ileal cross sections were collected for histology, and ileal and cecal mucosal scrapings were collected for intestinal gene expression. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS with pig as the experimental unit for growth performance, VFA production, intestinal morphology, and gene expression. Microbiome data were analyzed using Metastats, to find statistical significance between treatments, and then run through R, using the false discovery rate method, to find a multiple test corrections q-value. Growth performance in general was not affected (<i>P</i>> 0.10) by treatment with the exception of d11-21 feed efficiency was improved (<i>P</i>= 0.018) for pigs receiving supplemental fiber prior to weaning. Pigs that received fiber at any point had increased short chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacteria (<i>q </i>< 0.05) compared to pigs never receiving fiber. Pigs never receiving fiber had increased bacteria associated with intestinal inflammation (<i>q </i>< 0.05) compared to all other treatment groups. A trend for an interaction (<i>P </i>= 0.054) of pre- and post-weaning fiber supplementation<b></b>was observed for total volatile fatty acid concentration in large intestine contents. An interaction (<i>P </i>= 0.007) of pre- and post-weaning treatments was observed on butyrate, with pigs fed fiber only during pre-weaning having the greatest butyrate concentrations. Pigs fed fiber pre-weaning had decreased isobutyrate concentrations (<i>P </i>= 0.050) and percentages (<i>P</i>=0.040) and a trend for decreased isovalerate as a concentration (<i>P</i>= 0.058) and percent of total VFAs (<i>P </i>= 0.051). Pigs fed fiber post-weaning had increased acetate (<i>P </i>= 0.047). An interaction for butyrate percentages was observed with pigs receiving supplemental fiber only prior to weaning having the highest percent of butyrate (<i>P</i>= 0.029). An interaction for valerate concentrations (<i>P </i>= 0.045) occurred with pigs receiving fiber only prior to weaning having the highest amount of valerate. Valerate as a proportion of total VFAs (<i>P </i>= 0.038) was decreased in pigs receiving supplemental fiber post-weaning. Pigs fed fiber prior to weaning tended to have decreased crypt depths (<i>P </i>= 0.097) compared to pigs that did not receive fiber prior to weaning. In the ileum there was an interaction (<i>P </i>= 0.002) for GLP-2 expression, with pigs receiving supplemental fiber solely before or after weaning having the greatest expression. Occludin expression in the ileum tended to increase with fiber supplementation prior to weaning (<i>P</i>= 0.086) but then tended to decrease with fiber supplementation post-weaning (<i>P</i>= 0.053) In the cecum, there was an interaction (<i>P </i>= 0.049) of pre- and post-weaning fiber supplementation<b></b>on GLP-2 expression. Pigs fed supplemental fiber at any point had increased GLP-2 expression, but pigs that had fiber only after weaning had the greatest GLP-2 expression. Cecal HSP-70 expression also increased with fiber supplementation in pigs fed fiber post-weaning (<i>P </i>= 0.012). Soluble fiber supplementation caused alterations in the intestinal microbiome, VFA concentrations, the intestinal morphology, and in the expression of different intestinal genes.</p>

A dieta pode regular a proliferação e diferenciação no epitélio gástrico de ratos durante o período pós-natal. Avaliamos o efeito tardio do desmame precoce na massa corpórea, proliferação (imunomarcação para Ki-67) e diferenciação celular (immunoblot de Mist 1 e pepsinogênio C) aos 15, 18, 30 e 60 dias. Ratos Wistar foram divididos nos grupos: desmame precoce (DP) aos 15 dias e desmamados aos 21 dias (A). Os resultados mostraram: massa corpórea aos 18 (p<0,01) e 21 (p<0,05) dias no grupo DP menor do que no A. Aos 60 dias, os valores se equiparam, porém há diferença entre machos e fêmeas. O índice de proliferação, a espessura da mucosa e profundidade da glândula foram superiores aos 18 dias no grupo DP (p<0,05), havendo resultado oposto aos 30 dias e nenhuma resposta aos 60 dias; houve variação no conteúdo de Mist 1 (p<0,05) e pepsinogênio C (p<0,01) nos animais DP aos 18 dias. Assim, O DP alterou o ganho de peso corporal e crescimento do estômago logo após o início da ingesta de ração, e tal reposta foi compensada na idade adulta. / Diet can regulate proliferation and differentiation in gastric epithelium of rats during the postnatal period. We evaluated the late effects of early weaning on body mass, cell proliferation (Ki-67 immunolabeling) and differentiation (Mist 1 and pepsinogen C by immunoblot) at 15, 18, 30 and 60 days. Wistar rats were divided into groups: early-weaned (EW) at 15 days, and suckling and weaned at 21 days (S). The results showed that: at 18 (p<0,01) and 21 (p<0,05) days, body mass was lower in EW than in S. At 60 days, values were similar between S and EW, however we registered a difference between males and females. The proliferation index, mucosal thickness and gland depth were higher in EW (vs. S) at 18 days (p<0,05), being reversed at 30 days, whereas no change detected at 60 days. We found a variation in Mist 1 (p<0,05) and pepsinogen C (p<0,01) at 18 days. Thus, EW altered body weight gain and stomach growth soon after its onset, and part of responses were compensated in adulthood.

Anguilla australis glass eels proved to be resilient and present strong aquaculture potential. General husbandry techniques, anaesthesia and prophylactic treatments were established for glass eels between 0.1 g and 2.0 g and elvers between 2.0 g and 8.0 g, caught in rivers and estuaries along the South East Coast of Victoria. The protozoan parasites Ichthyobodo and Trichodina were found to be present on arrival to the hatchery developed during different rearing treatments, and were successfully eradicated. A. australis glass eels accepted artificial food, but it was recommended first be fed a preweaning diet of minced fish flesh. A weaning regime from minced fish flesh to commercially available eel grower mash, over 15 days was established. Growth rate proved to be highly variable, both between and within groups. The highest growth rate of 2.71%/day was found when the natural diet of minced fish and Artemia was fed. The maximum growth rate when reared on an artificial diet of 1.63%/day was observed at 25°C. Growth was affected by the presence or absence of a preweaning diet, weaning diet, weaning period, temperature, but not by size or density. Once weaned, glass eels were found to perform better on commercially available grower mash than on the minced fish flesh, which was used to aid in weaning them to artificial diets. Of the water quality parameters measured stocking density was found to affect pH, Total Ammonia Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, and Dissolved Oxygen, through not to an extent which affected growth.

<p><strong><p>Sammanfattning</p><p>Syftet med studien var att belysa vilka faktorer expertsjuksköterskor vid intensivvårdsavdelningar ansåg vara viktiga att ta hänsyn till vid lyckad urträning av patienter vid ventilatorvård. En beskrivande kvalitativ ansats valdes för denna studie. Datainsamlingen genomfördes med semistrukturerade intervjuer och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Tolv expertsjuksköterskor inom intensivvård valdes ut av sina avdelningschefer på tre intensivvårdavdelningar i Mellansverige under hösten 2008. I resultatet från intervjuerna framkom åtta kategorier som bildade två teman. Första temat var, sjuksköterskan driver processen framåt genom erfarenhet och beslutsamhet. Det bildades ur kategorierna, helhetsbild av urträningsprocessen, patientens förutsättningar, beslutsprocessen, tvärprofessionellt samarbete och sjuksköterskornas egna upplevelser. Det beskrev hur urträningsprocessen drevs framåt av intensivvårdssjuksköterskornas beslutsamhet och erfarenhet, men visade också hur viktigt teamarbetet var. Det andra temat var, sjuksköterskan använder sig själv som verktyg. Det framkom ur kategorierna, en trygg patient, samarbete med patienten och anhörigas roll. Temat visade att sjuksköterskornas intuition och fingertoppskänsla var viktig och att sjuksköterskrna hade ett stort personligt engagemang i patientens med- och motgångar. Studien visade att det inte finns någon enhetlig metod eller "guidelines" för att träna ur patienterna vid ventilator behandling. Mycket av framgången berodde på teamets förmåga till samarbete. Intensivvårdssjuksköterskor verkade ha en central roll i hela urträningsprocessen och använde sig själv som redskap.</p><p>Nyckelord: urträning, omvårdnad, intensivvård, teamarbete</p></strong></p> / <p><strong><p>Abstract</p><p>The aim of the study was to elucidate which factors expert nurses at intensive care units considered to be important with regard to successful weaning patients from ventilator treatment. A descriptive qualitative approach was chosen for this study. The data collection was conducted with semi-structured interviews. Twelve expert nurses in intensive care were chosen by their head nurses at three intensive care units in mid Sweden in autumn 2008. In the results based on interviews eight categories emerged that formed two themes. The first theme was, the nurse drives the process forward by experience and determination. It was formed from the categories: the overall picture of the weaning process, the patient’s condition, the decision process, interdisciplinary cooperation and the nurses own experiences. It described how the weaning process was driven forward by the intensive care nurses determination and experience, but also showed how important the teamwork was. The second theme was, the nurse uses herself as a tool. It was formed from the categories: a confident patient, cooperation with the patient and the role of the relatives. The theme showed that the nurses’ intuition and instinctive feeling were important and that the nurses really were engaged in the patients’ successes and setbacks. The study demonstrated there is no homogeneous method or guidelines how to perform weaning from the ventilator. The success was depending on the teamwork. Intensive care nurses seemed to have a central roll thru the entire weaning process and used them self as tools in the process.</p><p>Keywords: weaning, care, intensive care, teamwork</p></strong></p>

Sammanfattning Syftet med studien var att belysa vilka faktorer expertsjuksköterskor vid intensivvårdsavdelningar ansåg vara viktiga att ta hänsyn till vid lyckad urträning av patienter vid ventilatorvård. En beskrivande kvalitativ ansats valdes för denna studie. Datainsamlingen genomfördes med semistrukturerade intervjuer och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Tolv expertsjuksköterskor inom intensivvård valdes ut av sina avdelningschefer på tre intensivvårdavdelningar i Mellansverige under hösten 2008. I resultatet från intervjuerna framkom åtta kategorier som bildade två teman. Första temat var, sjuksköterskan driver processen framåt genom erfarenhet och beslutsamhet. Det bildades ur kategorierna, helhetsbild av urträningsprocessen, patientens förutsättningar, beslutsprocessen, tvärprofessionellt samarbete och sjuksköterskornas egna upplevelser. Det beskrev hur urträningsprocessen drevs framåt av intensivvårdssjuksköterskornas beslutsamhet och erfarenhet, men visade också hur viktigt teamarbetet var. Det andra temat var, sjuksköterskan använder sig själv som verktyg. Det framkom ur kategorierna, en trygg patient, samarbete med patienten och anhörigas roll. Temat visade att sjuksköterskornas intuition och fingertoppskänsla var viktig och att sjuksköterskrna hade ett stort personligt engagemang i patientens med- och motgångar. Studien visade att det inte finns någon enhetlig metod eller "guidelines" för att träna ur patienterna vid ventilator behandling. Mycket av framgången berodde på teamets förmåga till samarbete. Intensivvårdssjuksköterskor verkade ha en central roll i hela urträningsprocessen och använde sig själv som redskap. Nyckelord: urträning, omvårdnad, intensivvård, teamarbete / Abstract The aim of the study was to elucidate which factors expert nurses at intensive care units considered to be important with regard to successful weaning patients from ventilator treatment. A descriptive qualitative approach was chosen for this study. The data collection was conducted with semi-structured interviews. Twelve expert nurses in intensive care were chosen by their head nurses at three intensive care units in mid Sweden in autumn 2008. In the results based on interviews eight categories emerged that formed two themes. The first theme was, the nurse drives the process forward by experience and determination. It was formed from the categories: the overall picture of the weaning process, the patient’s condition, the decision process, interdisciplinary cooperation and the nurses own experiences. It described how the weaning process was driven forward by the intensive care nurses determination and experience, but also showed how important the teamwork was. The second theme was, the nurse uses herself as a tool. It was formed from the categories: a confident patient, cooperation with the patient and the role of the relatives. The theme showed that the nurses’ intuition and instinctive feeling were important and that the nurses really were engaged in the patients’ successes and setbacks. The study demonstrated there is no homogeneous method or guidelines how to perform weaning from the ventilator. The success was depending on the teamwork. Intensive care nurses seemed to have a central roll thru the entire weaning process and used them self as tools in the process. Keywords: weaning, care, intensive care, teamwork

Angus - Bos indicus (Brahman or Nellore) reciprocal backcross embryo transfer calves belonging to 28 full-sib families were evaluated for differences in birth weight (BW), gestation length (GL), weaning weight (WW), carcass weight (HCW), longissimus muscle area (REA), fat thickness (adjusted (ADJFAT) and actual(ACTFAT)), intramuscular fat (MARB), and Warner-Bratzler shear force tenderness (WBSF). Family types with a greater proportion of Bos indicus in the sire in relation to the amount in the dam (F1 x A and B x F1) averaged longer GL and heavier BW than their respective reciprocal crosses (A x F1 and F1 x B). Calves had longer GL when the F1 parent was BA as opposed to AB. Small differences (statistically insignificant) were detected for BW, but no consistent difference was found between offspring of AB and BA parental types, with the exception of male F1-sired calves. F1 x A and B x F1 crosses also showed a large BW difference between males and females (about 5.0 kg), while A x F1 and F1 x B crosses showed no BW difference between males and females. Further examination within each sex showed a difference between male reciprocals that was two times that of females. Calves with a higher percentage of Bos indicus in the sire compared to the proportion in the dam showed the same trend, as they were still heavier at weaning, and produced heavier carcasses than the reciprocal crosses, though these differences were not significant. As a whole, A backcross calves had more ACTFAT, more ADJFAT, larger REA, more MARB, and lower WBSF than B backcross calves, though no significant differences were detected between reciprocal crosses for any of these traits. These results suggest that for weight related traits, especially BW, both the breed constitution of the calf and the cross that produces the calf play an important role in its ultimate performance for Bos indicus crossbred calves. For carcass and meat related traits, it appears that the breed make-up of the calf itself is more significant in influencing performance than the cross used to produce the calf.

The small intestinal mucosal apical hydrolases are essential to the terminal digestion of enteral nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and phosphates, and non-immune defense. Weaning results in the complete replacement of fetal enterocytes with mature adult-type enterocytes and is typified by mucosal atrophy, crypt hyperplasia and compromised digestive and defensive functions. Given these severe physiological changes, we hypothesize that the major apical small intestinal hydrolases will be differentially expressed, allowing for reprogramming and adaptation, in the early-weaned piglet. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine changes in the digestive capacity, the catalytic kinetics, and abundances of protein and mRNA of the small intestinal hydrolases, including alkaline phosphatase (IAP), lactase phlorizin hydrolase (LPH), sucrase-isomaltase (SI), maltase-glucoamylase (MGA) and aminopeptidase N (APN), in the early-weaned pigs in comparison with suckling pigs. A total of 20 Yorkshire piglets, 10 suckling (SU) and 10 early-weaned (WN) with an average initial body weight of about 3 kg at the age of 10 d, were used in this study. Weanling piglets were fed a corn and soybean meal-based diet for 12 d. Proximal jejunal samples from both groups were collected. Hydrolase kinetic experiments were conducted using the substrates of lactose (0-75 mM), sucrose (0-75 mM), maltose (0-75 mM), amylose (0-100 mM), p-nitrophenyl phosphate (0-10 mM), and L-alanine-p-nitroanilide hydrochloride (0-16 mM). Abundances of the target gene hydrolase protein and mRNA were analyzed by Western blotting and quantitative real time reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively, using ß-actin as a control. Results from this study demonstrate that early weaning down-regulated (P < 0.05) the digestive capacity and expression of LPH while simultaneously increasing (P < 0.05) the digestive capacity and expression of SI and MGA. Furthermore, weaning decreased (P < 0.05) the digestive capacity and expression of APN and IAP by 35 and 50%, respectively. Thus, the early-weaning process differentially affected the expression of the apical membrane-bound hydrolases of the small intestine. The down-regulation of IAP highlights the reduced microbial detoxifying capacity of the newly weaned piglet and provides some insight into the cascade of immune related events that occur during the post-weaning transition period. The reduced expression of LPH and the simultaneous up-regulation of SI, maltase, and MGA indicate the unique nature of the small intestinal reprogramming that occurs during weaning. These results imply that the early weaning events help the small intestine adapt to the transition to starch digestion. Meanwhile, the down-regulation of the APN expression may be partially responsible for the reduced efficiency of whole body protein utilization, and the pervasive localized immune responses observed in the small intestine of early-weaned piglets. / Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Discovery Program, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)-the University of Guelph Partnership Research Program.

Introduction: Weaning from mechanical ventilation is defined as the gradual reduction of mechanical support, and replacing this support with spontaneous ventilation. It is a complex process involving assessing the patient's readiness to wean, optimising factors that can impede the process, selecting the most appropriate weaning mode and continually assessing the patient's progress. In paediatric intensive care the clinician must also account for the unique physiological and psychosocial needs of the child. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the need for, and impact, of guidelines for weaning children from mechanical ventilation on patient outcomes and staff practice. Method: The study was multi-dimensional using the Model for Improvement as the conceptual framework and decided into four phases. Phase one: A survey of Australian PICUs in 2000 revealed that over 2500 children were ventilated over a 12 month-period, with a potential population of 625 children experiencing difficulties with weaning from mechanical ventilation. No guidelines for weaning children from mechanical ventilation were identified at the time. Standardising the approach to weaning had proven successful with the adult population. Phase two: Collaborative guidelines for weaning, based on available evidence and expert opinion, were drawn up, validated by a panel of experts and safely piloted. Phase three: The guidelines were then tested using a time series design over two years on a PICU at a tertiary referral children's facility. Results demonstrated that total ventilation time, weaning duration and length of stay were not significantly improved in the experimental group. However, quality indicators were slightly improved and a survival analysis also showed a slightly reduced probability of long term ventilated patients remaining ventilated. Results also demonstrated a reduction in the fluctuation of outcome variables over time indicating improved consistency in weaning due to the guidelines Phase four: A qualitative analysis of focus group interviews with staff about the impact of guidelines on their practice generated themes, centred on practice development, framework, relationships and challenges. Few previous studies have investigated the perceptions of staff regarding use of practice guidelines. This study identified that staff viewed the use of weaning guidelines favourably and perceived that their implementation improved patient outcomes. Weaning is a relatively neglected area of intensive care because much of the initial focus of management is resuscitation and stabilisation. This study has demonstrated the positive impact that standardised and collaborative practice can have on patient outcome and clinical practice.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 5 uppsater.