Author Correction: Feasibility, safety and accuracy of a CT-guided robotic assistance for percutaneous needle placement in a swine liver model

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Feasibility, safety and accuracy of a CT-guided robotic assistance for percutaneous needle placement in a swine liver model

Evaluate the feasibility, safety and accuracy of a CT-guided robotic assistance for percutaneous needle placement in the liver. Sixty-six fiducials were surgically inserted into the liver of ten swine and used as targets for needle insertions. All CT-scan acquisitions and robotically-assisted needle insertions were coordinated with breath motion using respiratory monitoring. Skin entry and target points were defined on planning CT-scan. Then, robotically-assisted insertions of 17G needles were performed either by experienced interventional radiologists or by a novice. Post-needle insertion CT-scans were acquired to assess accuracy (3D deviation, ie. distance from needle tip to predefined target) and safety. All needle insertions (43/43; median trajectory length = 83 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 72–105 mm) could be performed in one (n = 36) or two (n = 7) attempts (100% feasibility). Blinded evaluation showed an accuracy of 3.5 ± 1.3 mm. Accuracy did not differ between novice and experienced operators (3.7 ± 1.3 versus 3.4 ± 1.2 mm, P = 0.44). Neither trajectory angulation nor trajectory length significantly impacted accuracy. No complications were encountered. Needle insertion using the robotic device was shown feasible, safe and accurate in a swine liver model. Accuracy was influenced neither by the trajectory length nor by trajectory angulations nor by operator’s experience. A prospective human clinical trial is recruiting.

PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE OF POULTRY BY-PRODUCT AND SWINE LIVER IN THE DIET OF PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP

This study aimed to evaluate the use of protein hydrolysate of poultry by-product and swine liver in the diet of Litopenaeus vannamei and its effect on the intestinal microbiota and on the enzymatic activity of the hepatopancreas. Shrimp (10.94 ± 0.90 g) were fed with diets containing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of replacement of salmon by-product meal by protein hydrolysate, in triplicate. The hepatopancreas enzymatic activity and composition of intestinal microbiota was studied. It was observed that the protein hydrolysate in the diet changed the enzymatic activity of the shrimp when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Amylase activity increases directly with the percent of protein replacement in the diet. Metagenomic analysis revealed change in the gut biome of the shrimps. The increasing levels of protein replacement provided greater richness in the 75% and 100% treatments, were mainly related to changes in the abundances in the families Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae. A reduction in the abundance of the Vibrionaceae family was observed with the inclusion of protein hydrolysate in the diet. These results indicate that the protein hydrolysate demonstrated beneficial changes when added at concentrations of 25% in the diet of L. vannamei.

Poultry byproducts and swine liver used in diets for Nile tilapia juveniles

This study aimed at evaluating diets containing protein hydrolysate from poultry byproducts and swine liver (PHPPL), at different inclusion levels, for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles. Seven diets were evaluated, being a negative control (free of both hydrolysate and fishmeal) and positive control (free of hydrolysate but containing fishmeal), besides five diets with 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5% inclusion of the mixed protein hydrolysate. Significant effects were observed regarding the animals' final length, with higher values with the 1% inclusion level than the negative control. The liver's quantitative evaluation revealed that inclusions above 3% might lead to severe alterations in the organ's morphology. The use of PHPPL in the diets that did not contain fishmeal has shown to be effective in maintaining the performance parameters of Nile tilapia. Thus, its use is recommended considering an inclusion level of 3%.