Evaluation of Diet Supplementation with Wheat Grass Juice on Growth Performance, Body Composition and Blood Biochemical Profile of Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

Wheat grass juice (WGJ) is an extract of young wheat plantlets (Triticum aetivum L.) used worldwide for its health related properties. In this study, the following feeds containing WGJ were tested on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Control (C), WGJ1% (V1), WGJ2% (V2) and WGJ4% (V3) w/w. Fish with an average initial weight of 102 g/individual were grown in a recirculating aquaculture system. The results showed that WGJ had stimulatory effects on growth performance. Accordingly, final body weight increased by 11% at V1, 39% at V2 and 23% at V3, while other indices (feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, relative growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and condition factor) were unaffected. Body composition analyses revealed a significant decrease in fat content at V2 and a significant increase in collagen and ash at the same variant, while the protein content was unmodified. Regarding the blood profile, significant increases in the content of albumin, globulin, total protein, and calcium were recorded in the variants with WGJ. The positive results of WGJ on carp can be attributed to its biochemical composition, which is rich in chlorophyll (4.71 mg mL-1), total phenols (164 µg mL-1 gallic acid equivalents), and high antioxidant activity (67% inhibition of DPPH 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The results suggest WGJ can be used as a promising feed additive for common carp.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Children - a Practical Approach.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is mean pulmonary arterial pressure above 25 mmHg at rest. Although considered a rare disease, the prevalence of PH in certain risk groups is higher, from 0.5% in patients with HIV infection to 30% in congenital heart disease (CHD) associating PH. In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with CHD, early changes of the vascular bed are reversible after correction of the defect, but there is a point from where the disease becomes irreversible or progression continues despite correction. Among patients with "operable" and "inoperable" CHD, there is a "gray area" group in between, which is defined by pulmonary vascular resistance equal to 4-8 WU/m and ratio of pulmonary vascular resistance to systemic vascular resistance of 0.3-0.5, measured by cardiac catheterization. In this situation a pulmonary vasoreactivity test is indicated. Pulmonary hypertension is a severe disease with increased morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary hypertension can result in death by decreased cardiac output, and heart failure.