High HCV subtype heterogeneity in a chronically infected general population revealed by high-resolution hepatitis C virus subtyping.

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the chronically infected general hepatitis C virus (HCV) population in Barcelona using a highly sensitive subtyping method that can identify the 67 recognized HCV subtypes and diagnose mixed infection by various genotypes/subtypes in a single individual. The resulting information has implications for selecting optimal direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for each patient and establishing public healthcare policies in our setting.

Methods: Consecutive HCV patients (treatment-naïve or interferon-based failures) attending Vall d'Hebron Hospital outpatient clinics from February 2015 to May 2016 (N=1473) were included in the study.

Short- and long-term effects of forage supplementation of calves during the preweaning period on performance, reproduction, and milk yield at first lactation.

Sixty female Holstein calves [body weight (BW)=39.5±3.76kg] were fed a ground starter concentrate [19% crude protein, 19% neutral detergent fiber (NDF)] during the preweaning period.

Analysis of adult 20-year survivors after liver transplantation.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for chronic and acute liver failure; however, the status of long-term survivors and allograft function is not well known.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical outcome and allograft function of survivors 20 years post-LT, cause of death during the same period and risk factors of mortality.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from prospective, longitudinal data collected at a single center of adult LT recipients surviving 20 years.

Interaction between the physical form of the starter feed and straw provision on growth performance of Holstein calves.

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of physical form of a starter feed with or without straw supplementation on growth performance of Holstein calves. In experiment 1, a total of 32 calves were randomly assigned at 7 d of age to texturized starter feed (containing rolled barley, corn, and oats) without straw, texturized starter feed with chopped straw, and pelleted starter feed with chopped straw. All calves were offered 4 L of pasteurized whole milk twice daily from 7 to 35 d of age, 2 L of milk twice daily from 36 to 42 d of age, and 2 L of milk from 43 to 49 d of age.

Effects of particle size and moisture levels in mixed rations on the feeding behavior of dairy heifers.

Two experiments on replacement heifers (175±12 days of age) assessed the effects of forage particle length and moisture on feeding behavior. Both experiments used a replicated 3×3 Latin square design, with nine heifers per replication and three periods of 9 days each. Each group of nine heifers was housed in one pen with access to three electronic feed bins.

Effect of different forage sources on performance and feeding behavior of Holstein calves.

One hundred seventy-nine Holstein male calves [44.7 kg of body weight (BW) and 8.3 d of age] participated in a series of 3 experiments to evaluate the effect of different forage sources on performance, apparent digestibility, and feeding behavior.