To minimize the production cost of poultry and poultry products, it is important to formulate low cost balanced ration utilizing unconventional feed resources. Therefore, the experiment was carried out to measure the effect of substituting soybean meal (SBM) by different levels of shrimp head meal (SHM) to the ration of growing layer pullets. A control corn-soybean layer grower (pullet) diet and four different levels of SHM included diets as substitution of SBMwere fed to five groups of Hisex White pullets from 5th to 18th weeks of age. All groups of pullets fed isocaloric feeds (2765 Kcal kg-1). The control group T0 (0 % SHM+20 % SBM) received grower ration formulated with traditional feed ingredients with no substitution of SBM. The SBM contents of other treatment groups were substituted at the rate of 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % by the SHM and were adjusted as 5 % SHM+15 % SBM (T1), 10 % SHM+10 % SBM (T2), 15 % SHM+5 % SBM (T3) and 20 % SHM+0 % SBM (T4) keeping other ingredients constant as of control. Cumulative feed intake increased with the increasing level of SHM of diets. Feed cost and mortality rate decreased with the increasing level of SHM in the ration. Significantly lowest FCR at most of the age categories, highest cumulative body weight (p<0.05) at 18 weeks and highest weight at maturity (p<0.05) were found in treatment group fed 5 % SHM. Therefore, it can be concluded that substitution of 25 % SBM of the ration by SHM is suitable for the better performance of growing layer pullets. SAARC J. Agri., 18(2): 125-137 (2020)

and an individualised approach was favoured.Most frequently used OV interfaces were full face mask (FFM) (59%), nasal mask/pillows (NM) (29%), hybrid mask (6%).Maximum IPAP pressures were 22-25 cmH 2 O (18%), 33-38 cmH 2 O (29%) with 53% having no set limit.Comments suggested IPAP was individualised in line with radiology.Three centres commented on use of AVAPs mode suggesting this may be preferred when delivering higher pressure.52% reported using EPAP pressures of 4-6 cmH 2 O for OV with 24% reporting they may use up to 10 cmH 2 O.Most frequently used interfaces for ACT were mouthpiece (63%), NM (22%) or FFM (18%).If using for ACT 87% reported they would make some change to parameters.IPAP, EPAP, Ti and target volume were most frequently increased, with less consensus around rise time and expiratory trigger.Inspiratory trigger was often decreased and back up rate was frequently reduced.Respondents were not questioned if NIV was used with a recognised ACT which may have influenced responses.During exercise with NIV there was less manipulation of settings.Parameters that were altered included IPAP, rise time, Ti and target volume. Conclusion:This survey provides insight into NIV use for CF in the UK.There are areas of consensus but also variation in practice around IPAP limits.NIV use with ACT and exercise is typically individualised explaining the variability in report of parameter manipulation.

La goutte est un facteur de risque bien connu de pathologie cardiovasculaire. L'une des hypothèses reliant ces maladies est le dépôt de cristaux d'urate monosodique (UMS) au sein des parois vasculaires. Le scanner double-énergie thoracique a été rapporté comme étant capable d'identifier ces dépôts au sein des artères coronaires et de l'aorte. Aucune étude n'a été réalisée à ce jour pour déterminer si de tels dépôts de cristaux d'UMS pourraient être mis en évidence au sein des artères périphériques par DECT réalisés en routine aux membres inférieurs. L'objectif de l'étude VASCURATE était de caractériser les plaques vasculaires codées par le DECT comme des dépôts de cristaux d'UMS et leur association aux stocks de cristaux d'UMS contenus dans les tissus mous. Il s'agit d'une étude transversale de patients issus d'une cohorte de cas suspects de rhumatismes microcristallins ayant eu un DECT des genoux et des pieds, avec étude prospective d'un sous-groupe de patients ayant des DECT de suivi aux mois 6 et 12 après initiation d'un traitement hypouricémiant. La fréquence de détection de plaque codée UMS a été comparée entre patients et contrôle, et corrélée au volume de cristaux d'UMS des tissus mous mesurés par DECT. Les grades de calcifications artérielles étaient estimés. Les caractéristiques biochimiques (numéro atomique effectif Zeff, densité éléctronique Rho, et index de double-énergie DEI) des plaques codées UMS ont été comparées aux plaques calcifiés et à la paroi vasculaire contrôle sans plaque. Dans le sous-groupe suivi sur 12 mois, l'évolution du statut présence/absence de plaque codée UMS a été corrélée à l'évolution de l'uricémie et du volume de cristaux d'UMS déposés dans les tissus mous. Au total, 152 patients ont été inclus dans l'étude transversal entre avril 2016 et juillet 2019, parmi lesquels 126 ont été classes goutteux et 26 témoins. 17 patients goutteux ont été inclus dans l'étude de suivi. Des plaques codées UMS ont été retrouvées chez 31/126 (24,6 %) patients goutteux et 6/26 (23,1 %) témoins. La présence de plaques d'UMS était corrélée au grade de calcification artérielle (p < 0,0001). La significativité de l'association entre plaque codée UMS et le volume de cristaux d'UMS des tissus mous (p = 0,003) disparaissaient après ajustement sur le grade de calcification (coefficient du modèle log-linéaire 0,63 [−0,48 ;1,74]). La signature biochimique des plaques codées UMS différait des de celles des dépôts habituels de cristaux d'UMS et se rapprochait de celle du calcium. Dans l'étude de suivi, seul 1/8 patient montrait une disparition de plaque codée UMS se transformant en plaque calcifiée, malgré l'obtention d'une uricémie cible et une déplétion significative des cristaux d'UMS dans les tissus mous au mois 12 (−68 % (± 27 %) du volume initial). La présence de plaques vasculaires codées UMS est directement liée au grade de médiacalcose. Nos résultats suggèrent que ces plaques codées à tort UMS sont en fait des plaques fibreuses ou faiblement calcifiées. L'étude VASCURATE suggère que les plaques vasculaires codées UMS en DECT sont des artefacts et que le DECT n'est pas capable d'identifier dans la goutte les dépôts vasculaires de cristaux d'UMS dans les artères périphériques.

Taxol is a common chemotherapy (CTX) drug that is associated with the development of neuropathy. Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is the dose limiting toxicity of this CTX drug. Paclitaxel exerts its therapeutic effect by binding to β-tubulin, which interferes with microtubule dynamics and results in microtubule stabilization, mitotic arrest, and apoptosis of cancer cells. However, microtubules are critical for axonal function and for the transport of essential organelles to distal nerve endings. Disruption of axonal transport (AT) can lead to axonal degeneration and neuropathy. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate for differential expression (DE) and perturbations in AT related genes and pathways between breast cancer (BC) survivors who did (n=25) and did not (n=25) develop PIPN. Gene expression in peripheral blood was assayed using RNA-seq. BC survivors with PIPN were significantly older; more likely to be unemployed; reported lower alcohol use; had a higher BMI and a poorer functional status; and had a higher number of lower extremity sites with loss of light touch, cold, and pain sensations, and higher vibration thresholds. No between group differences were found in the cumulative dose of paclitaxel received or in the percentage of patients who had a dose reduction or delay due to PIPN. Three candidate paclitaxel metabolizing genes were DE (i.e., TUBB4B, TUBB2A, RFX2) and two pathways associated with AT were significantly perturbed (i.e., axon guidance, regulation of actin cytoskeleton). This study is the first to provide molecular evidence that a number of axonal transport mechanisms identified in preclinical models of various types of neuropathic pain including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy are found in breast cancer survivors with persistent PIPN and suggest genes for validation and as potential therapeutic targets. Taxol is a common chemotherapy (CTX) drug that is associated with the development of neuropathy. Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is the dose limiting toxicity of this CTX drug. Paclitaxel exerts its therapeutic effect by binding to β-tubulin, which interferes with microtubule dynamics and results in microtubule stabilization, mitotic arrest, and apoptosis of cancer cells. However, microtubules are critical for axonal function and for the transport of essential organelles to distal nerve endings. Disruption of axonal transport (AT) can lead to axonal degeneration and neuropathy. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate for differential expression (DE) and perturbations in AT related genes and pathways between breast cancer (BC) survivors who did (n=25) and did not (n=25) develop PIPN. Gene expression in peripheral blood was assayed using RNA-seq. BC survivors with PIPN were significantly older; more likely to be unemployed; reported lower alcohol use; had a higher BMI and a poorer functional status; and had a higher number of lower extremity sites with loss of light touch, cold, and pain sensations, and higher vibration thresholds. No between group differences were found in the cumulative dose of paclitaxel received or in the percentage of patients who had a dose reduction or delay due to PIPN. Three candidate paclitaxel metabolizing genes were DE (i.e., TUBB4B, TUBB2A, RFX2) and two pathways associated with AT were significantly perturbed (i.e., axon guidance, regulation of actin cytoskeleton). This study is the first to provide molecular evidence that a number of axonal transport mechanisms identified in preclinical models of various types of neuropathic pain including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy are found in breast cancer survivors with persistent PIPN and suggest genes for validation and as potential therapeutic targets.

A major constraint in breeding for resistance to soybean rust has been the virulence diversity in Phakopsora pachyrhizi populations. In greenhouse experiments, reactions of 18 soybean genotypes to 24 U.S. isolates from 2007 and 2008 and 4 foreign isolates were compared. Reactions of four differentials (Rpp1 to Rpp4) to these U.S. isolates were also compared with reactions to nine foreign isolates and three U.S. isolates from 2004. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the reaction types grouped the U.S. isolates into a single virulence group, whereas each of the foreign isolates had a unique virulence pattern. In another experiment, reactions of 11 differentials to the 24 U.S. isolates were compared and significant interactions (P < 0.001) were found between the isolates and host genotypes for rust severity and uredinia densities. PCA of these two measures of disease placed the 24 isolates into seven or six aggressiveness groups, respectively. In a third experiment, evaluation of 20 soybean genotypes for resistance to the previously established aggressive groups identified 10 genotypes resistant to isolates representing most of the groups. This study confirmed the pathogenic diversity in P. pachyrhizi populations and identified soybean germplasm with resistance to representative U.S. isolates that can be used in breeding.

Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that works intracellularly to regulate inflammatory mediators, has been tested in the Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of Apremilast in Psoriasis (ESTEEM) program, which consists of 2 trials: ESTEEM 1 [NCT01194219] and ESTEEM 2 [NCT01232283]. This article presents the 52-week results of the ESTEEM 2 trial.

Soybean rust, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is an economically important disease of soybean with potential to cause severe epidemics resulting in significant yield losses. Host resistance is one of the management tools to control this disease. This study compared soybean genotypes exhibiting immunity, complete and incomplete resistance, and susceptibility to an isolate of P. pachyrhizi based on visual assessment of reaction type, other visual traits such as sporulation, quantitative measurements of the amount of fungal DNA (FDNA) present in leaf tissues, and data on infection and colonization levels. Soybean genotype UG5 (immune), and plant introduction (PI) 567102B and PI 567104B (complete resistance) had lower quantities of uredinia and FDNA than four other genotypes with incomplete resistance. Based on microscopic observations, early events of spore germination, appressorium formation, and fungal penetration of the epidermis occurred within 24 h postinoculation and were similar among the tested soybean genotypes. Differences in infection among the genotypes were evident once the hyphae penetrated into the intercellular spaces between the mesophyll cells. At 2 days after inoculation (dai), soybean genotype Williams 82 had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher percentage of hyphae in the mesophyll tissue than other soybean genotypes, with UG5 having significantly (P < 0.05) lower percentages than all of the other soybean genotypes at 3, 4, and 5 dai. The percentage of interaction sites with mesophyll cell death was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in UG5 than other genotypes at 3, 4, and 5 dai. There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.30, P < 0.001) between quantities of hyphae in the mesophyll cells and FDNA. These results demonstrated that incompatible soybean-P. pachyrhizi interaction results in restricted hyphal development in mesophyll cell tissue, likely due to hypersensitive apoptosis.