Azolla leaf meal at 5% of the diet improves growth performance, intestinal morphology and p70S6K1 activation, and affects cecal microbiota in broiler chicken.

With growing concern about including unconventional dietary protein sources in poultry diets to substitute the protein sources that are essential for human consumption such as soybean meal, Azolla leaf meal (ALM) has grown in popularity. In our prior experiment, ALM was used at inclusion rates of 5 and 10%. Five per cent inclusion of ALM increased broiler chicken growth performance, the concentration of cecal propionic acid, and activation of skeletal muscle p70S6 Kinase1 (p70S6K1) without having detrimental effects on the meat quality. Those results prompted us to further evaluate the effect of the same inclusion rates of ALM on phase feeding and intestine and liver health of the broiler chicks. The current study hypothesis is that dietary ALM positively affects phase feeding, intestinal morphology and p70S6K1 activation, cecal microbial gene expression, and improves the liver energy status. For this, we enrolled 135 one-day-old broiler chicks and collected growth performance data (starter, grower, and finisher stages) and samples of the gastrointestinal tract to analyse the morphology of the villi, immune-related organs, mucin, and abundance of intestinal p70S6K1. Cecal bacterial species were analysed using qPCR and liver samples were collected to analyse adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and ATP content and selected oxidative stress biomarkers. ALM increased BW and feed intake during the starter and grower phases but did not affect the feed conversion ratio. Liver oxidative stress and AMP: ATP ratio increased in chickens fed on a diet containing 10% ALM (AZ10; P < 0.05). Jejunum villi length and abundance of duodenal neutral mucin increased but villi of the ileum decreased in chickens fed on a diet containing 5% ALM (AZ5), while lymphoid follicle areas of the cecal tonsils decreased with both doses of ALM. Activation of p70S6K1 increased with AZ10 in the duodenum and AZ5 in the jejunum. In the gut, the family of Enterobacteriaceae decreased with both ALM doses. In conclusion, our results indicate an overall positive effect of dietary inclusion of ALM in the broiler chicken diet via its positive effect on intestinal morphology and function; however, a negative effect on the liver was observed with 10% ALM.

Influence of level of inclusion of Azolla leaf meal on growth performance, meat quality and skeletal muscle p70S6 kinase α abundance in broiler chickens.

The interest in biodiesel production from oil-bearing seeds rather than soybean necessitates the scientific validation of other good quality protein sources that could substitute soybean meal in animal diets, particularly, broiler chickens where soybean meal constitutes a large portion of their diet. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of sun-dried Azolla leaf meal (ALM) as an unconventional dietary protein source in broiler chicken diet on growth performance, meat quality, skeletal muscle cell growth and protein synthesis through regulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6 kinase α). A total of 120 male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments. Each treatment had four cages (i.e. replicates) with 10 birds/cage. The control group was fed with a corn-soy-based diet, the AZ5 group was supplemented with 5% ALM and the AZ10 group was supplemented with 10% ALM for 37 days. A 5-day trial was also conducted to measure the apparent nutrient digestibility. Growth performance parameters were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, 12 birds from each group (3/cage) were euthanized and used for samplings. Inclusion of ALM tended to improve BW gain (P = 0.06) and increased feed intake (P < 0.01). Additionally, ALM decreased the percentage of breast meat cooking loss linearly (P < 0.01). In addition, ALM at a dose of 5% increased the production of propionate in the cecum (P = 0.01). Activation of breast muscle p70S6 kinase was higher when ALM was included in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). The inclusion of ALM increased breast meat redness (P < 0.01); however, the lightness was within the normal range in all groups. Findings from our study suggest that ALM could be included in a broiler chicken diet up to 5% without any major negative effect on meat quality or performance, and it regulates muscle protein synthesis through activation of mammalian target of rapamycin/6S kinase signaling.

Fractal Behavior of the Pancreatic ß-Cell Near the Percolation Threshold: Effect of the KATP Channel On the Electrical Response.

The molecular system built with true chemical bonds or strong molecular interaction can be described using conceptual mathematical tools. Modeling of the natural generated ionic currents on the human pancreatic ß-cell activity had been already studied using complicated analytical models. In our present contribution, we prove the same using our simple electrical model. The ionic currents are associated with different proteins membrane channels (K-Ca, K(v), K(ATP), Ca(v)-L) and Na/Ca Exchanger (NCX). The proteins are Ohmic conductors and are modeled by conductance randomly distributed. Switches are placed in series with conductances in order to highlight the channel activity. However, the KATP channel activity is stimulated by glucose, and the NCX's conductance change according to the intracellular calcium concentration. The percolation threshold of the system is calculated by the fractal nature of the infinite cluster using the Tarjan's depth-first-search algorithm. It is shown that the behavior of the internal concentration of Ca(2+) and the membrane potential are modulated by glucose. The results confirm that the inhibition of KATP channels depolarizes the membrane and increases the influx of [Ca(2+)]i through NCX and Ca(v)-L channel for high glucose concentrations.

Pathology of gastric lesions in donkeys: A preliminary study.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Donkeys (Equus africanus asinus) are important working animals, particularly in countries where the majority of the population lives below the poverty line. Gastric ulceration has been shown to be common in British donkeys but donkeys from other parts of the world have not been as extensively researched. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed as a preliminary overview of the severity and distribution of gastric lesions in mature donkeys and to document which parasites were present. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study of pathological findings. METHODS: Stomachs of 35 mature draught donkeys were examined grossly and histopathology samples taken from 5 regions of the gastric mucosa. RESULTS: Gross examination revealed hyperaemia, oedema, erosions and ulcers in addition to parasitic lesions. Histopathological examination revealed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, vacuolar degeneration of stratified squamous cells, gastritis, erosions, ulcerations, scarring, hyperactivity of mucus glands, periglandular fibroplasia and parasitic granulomes with infestation by Gasterophilus spp. larvae, Habronema spp. and Draschia megastoma. CONCLUSIONS: In donkeys, ulceration of the nonglandular regions of the stomach is more prominent than the glandular regions and parasitic infestations were frequent.

[Myocardial infarction after conduction electrical weapon shock]. / Infarctus du myocarde suite à une électrisation par pistolet à impulsion électrique.

Controversy persists over the safety of conducted electrical weapons, which are increasingly used by law enforcement agencies around the world. We report a case of 33-year-old man who had an acute inferior myocardial infarction after he was shot in the chest with an electrical weapon.

[Atrial septum aneurysm. Report of 20 cases]. / L'anevrysme du septum interauriculaire. A propos de 20 cas.

Atrial septum aneurysm (ASA) is an uncommon congenital malformation, which is more frequently diagnosed since the introduction of transoesophageal echocardiography. ASA is often involved in the etiology of cerebral and systemic embolic events. The purpose of our study is to determine from our experience the frequency, the diagnostic aspect and therapeutic modalities of ASA. We report in this study 20 cases of ASA collected from the echocardiographic register. The prevalence of this malformation is 0.08%, with a high male predominance. The mean age was 51 years. ASA was detected after brain embolism in 55% of cases. The diagnosis was established in all cases by transesophageal echocardiography, however only 5 cases were diagnosed by Transthoracic echocardiography. The patients showed favorable evolutions after a of follow up of three years.

[Cardiac sarcoidosis revealed by ventricular tachycardia]. / Sarcoïdose cardiaque révélée par une tachycardie ventriculaire: a propos d'une observation.

Cardiac sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, that is more seen in younger adults. The prognosis of myocardial sarcoidosis is poor and depends on arrhythmia, conduction disorders. We report the case of 35 years old woman with cardiac sarcoidosis and pulmonary involvement who presented acutely with sustained ventricular tachycardia well tolerated. She made a good recovery after steroid therapy and administration of antiarrhythmic agent.

[Brugada syndrome]. / Le syndrome de Brugada.

The Brugada syndrome is a clinical-electrocardiographic diagnosis characterised by syncopal or sudden death episodes in patients with a structurally normal heart with a characteristic electrocardiographic pattern consisting of ST segment elevation in the precordial leads V1 to V3 and a morphology of the QRS complex resembling a right bundle branch block. In many patients with the Brugada syndrome, the electrocardiographic manifestations transiently normalize; leading to underdiagnosis of the syndrome. The administration of sodium channel blockers such as ajmaline, flecainide or procainamide accentuate the ST segment elevation and can be used to unmask concealed and intermittent forms of the disease. The incidence of sudden death in this syndrome is very high and can only be prevented by implanting a cardioverter-defibrillator. Because of high incidence of familial occurrence, the extension of the testing to family members is important.

[Congenital coronary aneurysm. Report of two cases]. / Anevrysmes coronaires congenitaux. A propos de deux observations.

Congenital coronary aneurysms are an unusual anatomical entity. Their prognosis appears to be particularly dependent on the presence or absence of aneurysm thrombosis. We report two cases of congenital coronary aneurysms, diagnosed in one case after myocardial infarction. The two patients were treated successfully by an exclusion of the aneurysm and coronary bypass. The aim of this study is to discuss the clinical features, prognosis and management of this disease.

[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and pregnancy]. / Cardiomyopathie hypertophique et grossesse.

We report the case of a 32 years old patient, with a known diagnostic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; who has presented at the first trimester of pregnancy a ventricular fibrillation treated by electric shock with a favorable outcome. The risks for the mother and the foetus are discussed; The recommendations for the conduct of the delivery are reviewed.

[Spontaneous contrast of the left atrium in mitral valve stenosis]. / Le contraste spontané de l'oreillette gauche dans le retrecissement mitral.

The left atrial spontaneous contrast is uncommon finding during transthoracic échocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography provides superior imaging of the left atrium and left spontaneous contrast has been detected more frequently by this technique in rheumatic mitral stenosis. In order to analyze the significance of spontaneous contrast, we have studied 100 patients with mitral stenosis. Trans thoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in all patients. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was detected in 60 patients (group A) and was absent in 40 patients (group B) The mean of mitral valvular area was 0.9 10.2 mm in group A and 48 9.5 mm in group B (p < 0.001). Ther was a high incidence of atrial fibrillation in group A; 63% VS 12% in group B (p < 0.001). A systemic embolization was noted in 20% of patients in group A; No one of group B has presented this complication (p < 0.001).