Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a trichothecene mycotoxin commonly contaminating swine diets and is known to impair nursery pig performance through anorectic effects. The objective of this study was to characterize the dose-response effects of increasing dietary DON concentrations (0.2 to 5.1 mg/kg) that were naturally added through increasing levels of DON-contaminated corn on growth performance in modern nursery pigs using a seven-point titration design. A total of 112 pigs (9.1 ± 0.37 kg BW) were assigned to one of seven dietary treatments (n = 8 pens/treatment; 2 pigs/pen) and fed experimental diets for 24 d (Phase 1: d 0-14; Phase 2: d 14-24). Growth performance declined linearly during both Phase 1 and Phase 2 (P < 0.001). Across the 24-d period, increasing DON reduced overall BW, ADG, and ADFI in a linear manner (P < 0.001), with no quadratic responses detected (P > 0.100) DON concentration explained 39%, 48%, and 58% of the variation in final BW, ADG, and ADFI, respectively. Each 1 mg/kg increase in DON was associated with a 1.13 kg reduction in final BW, a 0.04 kg/d reduction in ADG, and a 0.07 kg/d reduction in ADFI. Overall Gain:Feed was not linearly related to DON concentration (P = 0.214). Two-segmented and linear-plateau regression analysis provided minimal improvement over linear models, indicating limited to no evidence for a biological breakpoint within the evaluated range. These findings demonstrate a clear, linear, dose-dependent suppression of voluntary feed intake and growth performance in nursery pigs exposed to 0.2 to 5.1 mg/kg DON, without evidence of a discrete intake threshold.

People with tuberculosis (TB) have a suicide risk up to 25 times higher than the general population. It may be due to stigma, isolation, prolonged treatment, and psychological distress from the disease. Hence, empowering healthcare workers (HCWs) who are involved in TB care with suicide prevention skills is essential.

BACKGROUND Although muscle energy technique (MET) and joint mobilization (JM) are individually used in shoulder rehabilitation, evidence for their combined application following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) remains limited. This study evaluated whether adding MET to JM yields superior outcomes compared with JM in patients after ARCR. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty patients who underwent ARCR were enrolled in this observational cohort study and assigned to either a control group (n=20) receiving JM or an experimental group (n=20) receiving MET in addition to the same JM. Shoulder function was assessed using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale, pain using the visual analog scale (VAS), and joint range of motion using active range of motion (AROM). Assessments were performed at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups (all P>0.05). Both groups improved significantly after the 4-week intervention (all P<0.001). However, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater gains: lower VAS scores (1.45±0.69 vs 2.35±0.81, P<0.001), greater AROM in all directions (flexion P=0.021; abduction and external rotation both P=0.003; internal rotation P = 0.006), and higher UCLA shoulder rating scale scores (23.15±2.03 vs 19.05±2.26, P 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Combined MET and JM significantly improved shoulder AROM, reduced pain, and enhanced shoulder motor function compared with JM in patients after ARCR.