102,198 research outputs found
Production and economic traits of purebreed and crossbred animals in diary herds of mountain areas
No full textBeef production from dairy herds represents an alternative source to improve the farm profitability. The use of beef semen to mate cattle not destined to breed replacement represent an interesting source of income for dairy farmers particularly due to the greater price and value of crossbreed calves respect purebred calves at sale. Unfortunately this practice has been decreasing in the last years in the more specialized herds of the Po valley mainly due to fertility and longevity problems of the high productivity dairy cattle. However, on the mountain area, were farms are characterized by less productivity but high longevity and fertility of their cattle, the low replacement rate permitted each year the use of beef sire to mate a considerable number of cattle not destined to breed replacement.
In the Trentino area (North of Italy) every week the breeding federation collected calves from associated dairy herds and the best of these for beef traits, following weaning at specialized farms, were fattened at local associated fattening farms. After fattening, young bulls and heifers are slaughtered at the same abattoir and the meat are sold at the central butchers and to the entire cooperative wire markets of the Province. This meat is sold with a certified mark that guarantee birth, fattening and slaughtering of the animals in the same area. Moreover, weekly, the breeding Federation of Trento province collected cull cows from associated dairy herds too and these cattle are sold to an associated abattoir.
The aim of the present thesis were to study production and economic traits from the whole beef output from dairy herds in mountain area; the first contribute of the thesis analyzed production and economic traits of slaughtered cull cows while the second and the third contributes analyzed production and selling traits of calves at sale (average 24 days of age). Finally the last contribute studied production and economic traits of young bulls and heifers at slaughter respect the purchase beginning value of calf.
Results of first contribute evidenced that the value of cull cows at slaughter represents a significant source of income for the dairy farm and the large differences among different breeds for cull cow value suggests its possible inclusion in the selection objectives of these breeds. Holstein-Friesian cows were younger at slaughter, yielded lighter carcasses and received a lower price and total value than Brown Swiss cows while dual purpose breeds were older, heavier and received a greater price and value at slaughter than both dairy breeds.
Results from the study that analyzed calves traits had evidenced that the dual-purpose purebred calves received, on average, greater price and value at sale than purebred dairy calves. Furthermore, among crossbreed calves, the progeny from Belgian Blue sire and Simmental dam evidenced the greatest live weight and selling values. Moreover, results evidenced that the majority of purebred calves from dairy dams were most likely destined for veal production while many dual-purpose calves were most likely destined for beef production as well as the vast majority of beef crossbreed calves.
Results from the final contribute evidenced that crossbred young bulls and beef heifers from Belgian Blue sires and Simmental dam achieved the highest carcass weight and the best daily gain and carcass value. The best economic revenue was achieved by Simmental bulls among purebred animals, and by Belgian Blue sire x Holstein Friesian dams, among crossbreed animals. This is mainly related to less purchase value of calves at the beginning of the fattening period.
Results might be useful for the farmers as guideline to quantify an alternative source of income and to improve the farm profitability obtained from beef production in dairy herds
Epigenetic silencing of Notch signaling in gastrointestinal cancers
No full textThe Notch signaling pathway drives proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, cell fate choices and maintenance of stem cells during embryogenesis and in self-renewing tissues of the adult. In addition, aberrant Notch signaling has been implicated in several tumors, where Notch can function both as an oncogene or a tumor-suppressor gene, depending on the context. This Extra View aims to review what is currently known about Notch signaling, in particular in gastrointestinal tumors, providing a summary of our data on Notch1 signaling in gastric cancer with results obtained in colorectal cancer (CRC). We have already reported that the epigenetic regulation of the Notch ligand DLL1 controls Notch1 signaling activation in gastric cancer, and that Notch1 inhibition is associated with the diffuse type of gastric cancer. Here, we describe additional data showing that in CRC cell lines, unlike gastric cancer, DLL1 expression is not regulated by promoter methylation. Moreover, in CRC, Notch1 receptor is not affected by any mutation. These data suggest a different regulation of Notch1 signaling between gastric cancer and CRC
Comparison of 1 and 2 weeks of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication : the HYPER Study
No full textBACKGROUND: Triple therapy is recommended for Helicobacter pylori eradication, yet consensus on the duration of treatment is lacking. AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of 1- and 2-week regimens of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin in a large, multicentre, double-blind and randomised study. METHODS: A total of 909 H pylori-positive patients with duodenal ulcer, enrolled in 81 endoscopy units in Italy, were randomised to receive omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for either 1 week (OAC1W) or 2 weeks (OAC2W) or omeprazole and amoxicillin for 2 weeks. H pylori eradication was assessed by histological examination and carbon-13 urea breath test 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Both the intention-to-treat (ITT; n = 907) and per protocol (PP; n = 661) analyses showed no significant differences between the eradication rates of OAC1W (ITT 79.7%; PP 83.6%) and OAC2W (ITT 81.7%; PP 84.9%; ITT p = 0.53; PP p = 0.71). Both triple omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin regimens gave significantly higher eradication rates compared with omeprazole and amoxicillin treatment (ITT 44.6%; PP 42.8%; p<0.001). Poor compliance was reported in 18.6%, 17.3% and 15.1% (p = 0.51) of patients for OAC2W, OAC1W and omeprazole and amoxicillin, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 9.9% and 9.6% (p = 0.88) of patients for OAC2W and OAC1W, respectively, and in 5.9% for omeprazole and amoxicillin (p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: 1-week and 2-week triple treatments for H pylori eradication are similar in terms of efficacy, safety and patient compliance
Barrett's esophagus
No full textBarrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition associated with an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. A diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus may cause psychological stress with a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. In line with the increasing prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease, the incidence of Barrett’s esophagus has raised dramatically over the last decades, particularly in Europe. Several international guidelines and experts consensus on the diagnosis and management of Barrett’s esophagus have been published over the last years. There are still areas of controversy surrounding the diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus, in particular concerning the histological type of metaplastic epithelium, and treatment modalities, including medical therapy for chemoprevention and endoscopic techniques. The purpose of this review is to examine the current guidelines and recommendations, and report recent evidence from systematic reviews and clinical trials on epidemiology, diagnosis, surveillance and treatment of Barrett’s esophagus
Unveiling tablet structural changes: A micro computed tomography analysis of aqueous coating effects
No full textTablet coating with aqueous solvents represents a well-established environmentally sustainable alternative to coatings based on organic solvents. However, this practice requires a careful evaluation of potential quality issues, such as increased porosity and crack formation stemming from possible tablet components interaction with water. In this work, a preliminary study on the compression of quaternary mixtures of one model drug and three common excipients was performed to investigate the behaviour of the mixtures and the relevant components during compression. Obtained tablets were coated with a hypromellose aqueous solution followed by an enteric coating with a poly(methyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) dispersion. At each step, tablet porosity was measured by X-Ray microcomputed tomography (X mu CT). X mu CT evidenced significant changes in the structure of some tablets upon coating. The mechanical characteristics of the mixture components play a crucial role in the observed porosity increase (up to 12%) after the coating. Materials with remarkable plastic densification upon compression afforded higher structural changes with swelling and cracking formation. X mu CT has proven to be an essential technique for identifying morphological changes that could compromise the quality of the tablets
Drinking Water Quality in the Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy. An appraisal on the basis of the study of water rock interaction
No full textThe supply of drinking water of adequate quality in southern Tuscany is scarce. The water quality assessment study, discussed in this paper, was carried out as part of a research contract between the ARPAT Agency and the University of Rome "La Sapienza". The findings from the study point out that the waters of the investigated area do not always meet the drinking water quality standards recently proposed by the international scientific community. The investigated waters sometimes have high contents of major ions (e.g. sulphate and chlorine) and of toxic trace elements (e.g. As, B and Hg) deriving from hydrogeochemical anomalies of natural origin. This critical situation is worsened by anthropogenic alterations. The results from the study suggest the need for designing and implementing a regional research project. The project should assess the supply and quality of natural waters in the Grosseto Province, by relying on a new, interactive, hydrogeochemical and environmental database
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