Marco contextual: La cirugía abdominal alta se asocia con una elevada incidencia de complicaciones pulmonares. La técnica de breath stacking (BS) se considera un recurso con potencial terapéutico para la enfermería de rehabilitación. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la técnica de BS para mejorar la función respiratoria. Metodología: Estudio cuasi-experimental con 36 mujeres sometidas a cirugía bariátrica, distribuidas entre el grupo de control (GC) y el de intervención (GI). Las mediciones de la capacidad vital forzada (CVF), el volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (VEF1), la presión inspiratoria máxima (PIm), la presión espiratoria máxima (PEm), la saturación periférica de oxigeno (SpO2) y la frecuencia respiratoria (FR) se evaluaron GI que en el GC antes y después de la cirugía. La técnica BS se aplicó en el GI antes y después de la cirugía. Se utilizó un análisis estadístico descriptivo e inferencial. Resultados: Se observaron diferencias posoperatorias estadísticamente significativas entre el GC y el GI en la CVF (-20,29 frente a -13,60), VEF1 (-23,05 frente a -13,38), PIm (-22,96 frente a -14,93), PEm (-14,10 frente a -10,32) y FR (12,29 frente a 6,45). Conclusión: La técnica BS permitió mejorar la función respiratoria del GI y revertir los cambios predecibles en el posoperatorio de cirugía bariátrica.

Enquadramento: A cirurgia abdominal alta está associada a alta incidência de complicações pulmonares. A técnica breath stacking (BS) perspetiva-se como recurso com potencial terapêutico para a enfermagem de reabilitação. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia da técnica BS na melhoria da função respiratória. Metodologia: Estudo quasi-experimental com 36 mulheres submetidas a cirurgia bariátrica, distribuídas pelos grupos de controlo (GC) e intervenção (GI). Foram avaliadas no pré e pós-operatório as medidas capacidade vital forçada (CVF), volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1), pressão inspiratória máxima (PIm), pressão expiratória máxima (PEm), saturação periférica de oxigénio (SpO2) e frequência respiratória (FR). Foi aplicada a técnica BS no GI no pré e pós-operatório. Recorreu-se à análise estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: Observaram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas pós-operatórias, entre o GC e o GI, na CVF ( -20,29 vs. -13,60), VEF1 (-23,05 vs. -13,38), PIm (-22,96 vs. -14,93), PEm (-14,10 vs -10,32) e FR (12,29 vs 6,45). Conclusão: A técnica de BS permitiu melhorar a função respiratória do GI e reverter as alterações previsíveis no pós-operatório de cirurgia bariátrica.

Background: Upper abdominal surgery is associated with a high incidence of pulmonary complications. The breath-stacking (BS) technique is considered a resource with therapeutic potential for rehabilitation nursing. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the BS technique in improving the respiratory function. Methodology: Quasi-experimental study with 36 women undergoing bariatric surgery, distributed into a control group (CG) and an intervention group (IG). The forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), the peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and the respiratory rate (RR) were evaluated in the pre and postoperative periods. The BS technique was applied to the IG in the pre and postoperative periods. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Results: Statistically significant postoperative differences were observed between the CG and the IG in FVC (-20.29 vs. -13.60), FEV1 (-23.05 vs. -13.38), MIP (-22.96 vs. -14.93), MEP (-14.10 vs. -10.32), and RF (12.29 vs. 6.45). Conclusion: The BS technique improved the respiratory function of the IG and reversed the predictable changes in the postoperative period of bariatric surgery.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to analyse the reproductive performance of hybrid (Yorkshire x Landrace) gilts/ sows in relation to temperature-humidity index (THI) at artificial insemination (AI), season of AI, occurrence of estrus >8 d post- weaning, repeated estrus, insemination technique (cervical, CAI or post-cervical, PCAI) and parity. Data included 8851 reproductive records (1771 for gilts and 7080 for sows) from a pig farm in a sub-tropical zone (THI ranged from 72.9 in January to 81.8 in June). A decrease in pregnancy rate (PR, 89.8 vs 93.0%; P<0.01) and a tendency to decline farrowing rate (FR, 87.9 vs 90.3%; P=0.07) following AI during high THI (>82), compared to AI at <74 THI were observed. The spring and summer season were associated with decreased (P<0.01) PR compared with fall and winter (90.0% vs 93.0%). Likewise, FR decreased in spring and summer compared to fall and winter (88.5% vs. 90.9%). FR was higher (P<0.01) in non-repeat breeders compared with that of repeat-breeders (90.3% vs 76.2%). Litter size increased (P<0.01) from 10.8 ± 3.2 to 11.1 ± 3.1 pigs when the interval from weaning to estrus was >8 d. The insemination technique did not affect PR and FR but the litter size decreased (P<0.05) from 11.3 ± 3.0 to 11.1 ± 2.9 pigs when PCAI was used compared to CAI. This study reaffirms the negative effects of the hot season on reproductive performance of gilts/sows, although thermal stress at AI did not cause foetal losses. Also, there is no advantage in using the PCAI as compared to the CAI in gilts/sows with high numbers of sperm cells per AI.

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of different fasting periods and water spray during lairage on the quality of chicken meat. A number of 300 male Ross broilers were reared up to 42 days of age, and submitted to four pre-slaughter fasting periods (4, 8, 12, and 16 hours) and sprayed with water or not during lairage. Deboned breast meat was submitted to the following analysis: pH, color, drip loss, water retention capacity, cooking loss, and shear force. There was a significant effect (p < 0.05) of fasting period on meat luminosity was significantly different, with the highest value obtained for 4-hour fasting, whereas no difference was found among the other fasting periods. Meat pH values were different among fasting periods when birds received water spray, with birds fasted for 4, 8, and 12 hours of fasting presenting lower meat pH values (5.87, 5.87, and 6.04, respectively). The interaction between fasting period and water spray influenced meat drip loss and cooking loss, with birds fasted for 16h and not receiving water spray presenting higher drip loss (4.88) and higher cooking loss (28.24) as compared to the other birds. Fasting period affects meat quality, and very short periods (4h) impair meat quality.

The effects of vitamin E supplementation (300 mg/kg diet) in the diet of broiler chickens for different periods during rearing on the performance and qualitative traits of breast and leg muscles were evaluated. Seven hundred and twenty day-old chicks were distributed into six treatments: basal diet (25 mg vitamin E/kg diet), and diet supplemented with vitamin E from 1 to 15, 1 to 30, 1 to 45, 14 to 45 and 30 to 45 days of age. Vitamin E content, lipid percentage, TBARS (0 and 3 days of storage), color (*L, *a, *b), and pH were evaluated. There were no differences (p>0.05) among treatments in performance, carcass yield, and cut yields. Qualitative parameters (pH and color) presented no differences, although vitamin E positively affected TBARS values at 3 days of storage, mainly in leg muscles. Vitamin E levels in both muscles were higher in the birds supplemented throughout the experiment.

The present study evaluated the effect of different deboning times on the quality of broiler breast meat. Seventy-two broiler breasts were evaluated. They were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design, with six treatments, six repetitions and two birds per parcel. The treatments were denominated as follows: A - deboning immediately after chilling, B - deboning 1 h after chilling, C - deboning 2 h after chilling, D - deboning 3 h after chilling, E - deboning 4 h after chilling, and F - deboning 24 hours after chilling. Lowest pH values (p<0.05) were seen when deboning was performed 24 h after carcass chilling (pH=6.00) in comparison to deboning at 0 h (6.69) and 1 h (6.42) after chilling. R values were inversely proportional to pH values, i.e., R values were lower (p<0.05) in treatments A (1.05) and B (1.07) when compared to treatment F (1.44). No differences were seen in cooking loss during thermal treatment (broiling) of the muscle P. major. Higher shear forces (p<0.05) were seen in broiled muscles from carcasses with shorter storage times (A - 11.78 kgf and B - 10.75 kgf) before deboning, when compared to treatments E (6.11 kgf) and F (5.64 kgf). Higher L* values were observed in the treatment in which carcass deboning was performed 24 hours after chilling (49.26) in comparison to deboning immediately after chilling (44.68). Therefore, it was concluded that an interval of at least 4 hours is needed between chilling and deboning to obtain broiled breast fillets with tender texture. Furthermore, paler meat color (L* value) was produced with longer carcass storage before deboning.

This study evaluated the effect of different probiotics and prebiotics on the performance of broilers. One-day-old male broiler chicks from the Cobb strain (n=1,260) were randomly distributed in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, considering 3 probiotics and 3 prebiotics sources. Nine treatments with 4 repetitions and 35 birds per parcel were used. The results showed that there was no influence of treatment on feed intake at the different rearing phases. Better weight gain (p<0.05) was seen when diet was supplemented with the phosphorylated mannanoligosaccharide-based prebiotic (MOS) compared to diets without prebiotics. Feed conversion of birds fed diets with probiotics and prebiotics was better than feed conversion of birds not receiving such additives. Such better results were seen in the initial period (1 to 21 days), but not in the following period (1 to 35 days) or in the total period (1 to 42 days). Better rearing viability was seen when MOS was used together with organic acidifier when compared to the diets without prebiotic. Viability was worst when no prebiotics or probiotics were used. It was concluded that beneficial effects were seen in performance of birds at 21 days when the growth promoters were used, but not at 42 days of age. Nevertheless, there was better growth viability at 42 days of age when growth promoters were added.