Effects of dietary supplementation of chromium methionine chelate on growth performance, oxidative stress, hematological indices, and carcass traits of broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the dietary effects of chromium methionine (Cr-Meth) chelate on growth performance, oxidative stress parameters, blood biochemistry, and carcass traits of broiler chickens. An experiment was conducted on 34,000 1-day-old straight-run broiler chicks (Indian River; 42.0 ± 0.03) at a commercial farm. The chicks were divided randomly into 3 groups; the first group contained 17,000 birds, which used as a control, whereas the second and third groups consisted of 7000 and 10,000 birds, respectively, with 5 replicates per group. A completely randomized design was used. The birds were fed the experimental diets containing graded levels of Cr-Meth chelate: 0 (control), 50, and 100 g/ton. This compound consisted of chromium (0.4%) chelated with methionine, and it supply the diets with 200 and 400 ppb Cr for the used levels of 50 and 100 g/ton feed, respectively. Growth performance indices (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) were measured throughout the experiment. At the end of experiment, 10 birds per treatment were slaughtered, and the carcass yield with relative weight of the internal organs was determined. Also, blood samples were taken and analyzed for glutathione peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde, ALT, AST, total protein, albumin, glucose, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. It was found that Cr-Meth improved the body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of broilers. Moreover, it reduced the mortality rate of birds. The chelated chromium can alleviate the oxidative status of birds by increasing the plasma glutathione peroxidase activity and reducing the serum malondialdehyde level. It was observed that the effects of 100 g/ton Cr-Meth chelate on performance indices, mortality rate, and oxidative stress parameters were better than that of 50 g/ton inclusion rate. Supplementation of Cr-Meth increased the total protein level, but reduced the glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations in the blood serum. In addition, it increased the carcass yield and reduced the abdominal fat percentage of the birds' carcass. Therefore, chromium can be included in diets of broilers at a rate of 200 to 400 ppb, and the higher concentration was more effective than the lower one. So, it can be recommended to use Cr-Meth chelate in broiler diets at 100 g/ton to improve the productive performance and reduce the oxidative stress of birds.

Chitosan nanoparticles effectively combat salinity stress by enhancing antioxidant activity and alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don.

Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) are non-toxic and biodegradable stimulants of growth and secondary metabolite production, which offer new routes to combat plant stress. Salinity is a common and significant abiotic stress that adversely affects plant growth and development. The possible benefits of CSNPs in salt stress mitigation have not yet been reported in Catharanthus roseus, an important source of anticancer alkaloids. Plants were exposed to 150 mM NaCl as a salt stress treatment, while CSNPs were applied as a foliar spray at 1% concentration. Plant growth was considerably impaired under salt stress conditions; however, CSNPs treatment significantly reversed this effect. Specifically, CSNPs retarded chlorophyll reduction and induced activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. Thus, CSNPs alleviated the oxidative stress, indicated by lower levels of malondialdehyde and H2O2, thereby enabling membrane function retention and enhancing salt tolerance. Higher alkaloid accumulation was observed in salt-stressed plants following CSNP spraying than in controls. Interestingly, the expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK3), geissoschizine synthase (GS), and octadecanoid-derivative responsive AP2-domain (ORCA3) genes were significantly elevated in salt-stressed plants sprayed with CSNPs. Overall, CSNP treatment overcame the deleterious effects of salinity in C. roseus by activating the antioxidant defense system, which helps to scavenge reactive oxygen species, and inducing expression of MAPK3, GS, and ORCA3 genes, thus, leading to higher alkaloid accumulation and better protection against salinity stress.

A vital role of chitosan nanoparticles in improvisation the drought stress tolerance in Catharanthus roseus (L.) through biochemical and gene expression modulation.

Drought is a main abiotic stress that restricts plant growth and development. The increased global demand of anti-cancer alkaloids extracted from periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is mainly related to plant growth and development, which are severely affected by drought. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) have been used to boost plant growth and defense mechanism, however their impact to alleviate drought stress of C. roseus has not been investigated yet. In this study, control and stressed plants (100 and 50% of field capacity [FC], respectively) were subjected to CSNPs application at 1%. Drought stress considerably reduced plant growth, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance and total chlorophyll; however, CSNPs mitigated these effects. They enhanced proline accumulation and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) with possible mitigation of drought-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, they reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and eventually preserved membrane integrity. Drought stress increased alkaloid accumulation, and further increase was observed with the application of CSNPs. High alkaloid content was associated with induced gene expression of strictosidine synthase (STR), deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT), peroxidase 1 (PRX1) and geissoschizine synthase (GS) up to 5.6 folds under drought stress, but more accumulation was noticed with the application of CSNPs. Overall, this study is the first on using CSNPs to mitigate drought stress of C. roseus by inducing the antioxidant potential and gene expression of alkaloid biosynthesis.

Shelf-life extension of sweet basil leaves by edible coating with thyme volatile oil encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles.

Edible coatings have potential to decrease the postharvest losses of several horticultural commodities however; there is no systematic investigation focusing on fresh herbaceous aromatic plants such as basil. Herein, the effects of chitosan (CS), chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and thyme volatile oil (TVO) loaded CSNPs (TVO-CSNPs) as edible coatings on preserving the quality of sweet basil leaves were investigated. All CS coatings considerably extended the shelf life and decreased the weight loss of basil leaves relative to the control. Using TVO-CSNPs showed 2.4-fold higher shelf life than the control. The loss in photosynthetic pigments and volatile oil content were significantly retarded by CS applications more so with TVO-CSNPs treatment. Contrary, treated leaves produced lower malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 and therefore retained the membrane functions compared to the control. All CS applications particularly with TVO-CSNPs considerably motivated the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and reduced the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxyganase (LOX) activities relative to uncoated leaves. Overall, using TVO-CSNPs as an edible coating has a great potential in shelf life extension of basil leaves with satisfactory exterior and interior quality. Thus, it can be a promising approach to preserve the quality of fresh cut aromatic herbs.

Assessment of carvacrol for control of avian aspergillosis in intratracheally challenged chickens in comparison to voriconazole with a reference on economic impact.

AIM: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of essential oils as an alternative prophylaxis and treatment for avian aspergillosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The in vitro susceptibility of Aspergillus fumigatus strains to antifungal drugs and carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, thymoquinone and cinnamon was determined using the macrodiffusion and microdilution methods. Carvacrol has antifungal activity in comparison to voriconazole (VCZ) (MIC 0·5, 0·25 µg ml-1 respectively). While cinnamon, euganol, thymol and thymoquinone displayed moderate to weak inhibitory activity. For the efficacy study, five groups of 10-day-old chicks (n = 48) were infected intratracheally either with A. fumigatus conidia or saline (negative control). Chicks in carvacrol prophylactic and treatment (CRPT) group were fed for 10 days beginning from hatch with carvacrol (200 mg kg-1 per diet) supplemented diets. VCZ (VCZT:20 mg kg-1 body weight (BW)), carvacrol treatment (CRT, CRPT) was started upon appearance of the first clinical signs and continued for 10 days. Birds were monitored for an additional 15 days following treatment. Fungal burden and therapeutic efficacy were assessed by survival, BW, quantitative (q) culture (CFU), quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and histopathological changes at several time points. Serum biochemical changes were also assessed. VCZT, CRPT, CRT in comparison to the sham-treated (SHAM) group have prolonged survival (87·5, 83·4, 79·2, 41·7% respectively). In VCZT and CRPT, a significant reduction in clinical signs, lesions, CFU and qPCR counts to the limit of detection were observed. CRPT has the lowest BW reduction, economic losses and significant low total cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Carvacrol has a promising potential to be used as a prophylactic and treatment against A. fumigatus. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Prognosis of avian aspergillosis is often poor due to delayed diagnosis and treatment failure. However, the widespread uses of azole prophylaxis in birds are thought to be the major driver of azole resistance. These findings create a possibility to develop an effective drug-free alternative strategy for control of avian aspergillosis.

Molecular screening of CFTR gene in Egyptian patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens: a preliminary study.

In the current study, we enrolled 14 Egyptian infertile males with isolated congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD). Screening for the most commonly reported 36 CFTR mutations, and the intron 8 (T)n splice variant was performed by multiplex PCR followed by reversed hybridisation. Samples with the 5T variant were picked for DNA sequencing of intron 8/exon 9 region to identify the number of adjacent TG repeats. The p.Phe508del and the p.Ser1251Asn mutations were detected in heterozygous state in three patients (10.7% of alleles) and in one patient (3.6% of alleles), respectively, while the 5T variant was detected in five patients (28.6% of alleles). Among those five patients, four had TG12 repeats and one had TG13 repeats confirming the pathogenic penetrance of all 5T alleles in Egyptian CBAVD patients. The allelic frequencies of the mutations p.Phe508del, p.Ser1251Asn and the 5T variant in 60 Egyptian cystic fibrosis patients were 24.2%, 3.3% and 2.5% respectively. The mutation p.Ser1251Asn was detected for the first time in isolated CBAVD patient in our study. Due to the high prevalence of p.Phe508del mutation and 5T variant in Egyptian CBAVD patients, we recommend their screening initially, ideally followed by full CFTR gene sequencing in unidentified patients.

Effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on lipid profile and histopathological changes in hypercholesterolaemic rats.

The present study investigated the effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on lipid profile, liver and kidney function, and body fat in hypercholesterolaemic rats. 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups. The negative control group received a standard diet. The positive control group received a cholesterol-enriched diet, whereas the intervention groups received a cholesterol-enriched diet supplemented with B. longum BB536 alone or in combination with inulin or Mangifera pajang fibrous polysaccharides. After 8 weeks, plasma lipids, and liver and kidney function were tested. Intake of the cholesterol-enriched diet increased total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatinine, urea, liver weight, adipose tissue weight, liver lipid deposition and adipocyte size. B. longum BB536 supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol, liver lipid deposition and adipocyte size, and positively affected liver and kidney function. These effects were significantly increased in the presence of inulin and M. pajang fibrous polysaccharides.

Production of the first cloned camel by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

In this study, we demonstrate the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce the first cloned camelid, a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) belonging to the family Camelidae. Donor karyoplasts were obtained from adult skin fibroblasts, cumulus cells, or fetal fibroblasts, and in vivo-matured oocytes, obtained from preovulatory follicles of superstimulated female camels by transvaginal ultrasound guided ovum pick-up, were used as cytoplasts. Reconstructed embryos were cultured in vitro for 7 days up to the hatching/hatched blastocyst stage before they were transferred to synchronized recipients on Day 6 after ovulation. Pregnancies were achieved from the embryos reconstructed from all cell types, and a healthy calf, named Injaz, was born from the pregnancy by an embryo reconstructed with cumulus cells. Genotype analyses, using 25 dromedary camel microsatellite markers, confirmed that the cloned calf was derived from the donor cell line and the ovarian tissue. In conclusion, the present study reports, for the first time, establishment of pregnancies and birth of the first cloned camelid, a dromedary camel (C. dromedarius), by use of somatic cell nuclear transfer. This has opened doors for the amelioration and preservation of genetically valuable animals like high milk producers, racing champions, and males of high genetic merit in camelids. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that adult and fetal fibroblasts can be cultured, expanded, and frozen without losing their ability to support the development of nuclear transfer embryos, a technology that may potentially be used to modify fibroblast genome by homologous recombination so as to generate genetically altered cloned animals.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 with peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Peginterferon plus ribavirin is the treatment of choice for chronic hepatitis C (HCV). HCV genotype 4 is considered difficult to treat and data regarding the efficacy of antiviral therapy for this genotype are scanty. The aim of the study was to asses the efficacy and tolerability of fixed dose peginterferon alpha 2a plus ribavirin for the treatment of HCV genotype 4. METHODOLOGY: A prospective open label study was done on 30 middle eastern treatment naive chronic hepatitis C patients. They were treated with 180 mcg of peginterferon alpha 2a subcutaneous weekly plus oral ribavirin of 1200 mg daily if body weight > 75 kg. The treatment was continued for 48 weeks and patients were followed up for 24 weeks post-treatment. The early and sustained virological responses were were defined as the absence of HCV RNA from serum at 12 weeks and 72 weeks respectively. The data was analyzed on an intention to treat basis. RESULTS: The early and sustained virological responses were 83.3% and 63.3% respectively. The EVR in patients with minimal or absent fibrosis (96.6%). The SVR in patients with BMI =/> 25 (81.8%) were not significantly different from those of patients with BMI < 25 (87.5%) even with the fixed dose peginterferon. CONCLUSION: Peginterferon alpha 2a in combination with ribavirin is effective in the treatment of HCV genotype 4 and treatment response is intermediate between that of genotype 1 and genotype 2 or 3.

Historical nile floods and their implications for climatic change.

Analysis of Nile flood stages from A.D. 640 to 1921 reveals major episodes of low Nile discharge during the years 930 to 1070 and 1180 to 1350 and major episodes of high Nile floods during 1070 to 1180 and 1350 to 1470. Examination of Nile flood maxima and minima and comparison with water levels in Lake Chad reveal a correlation between high Nile discharge and greater rainfall in equatorial East Africa. There is also apparently a correlation between low Nile discharge and cold climate in Europe.