Supplementation of different zinc sources to low-CP diets and its effect on performance, carcass traits, liver and kidney functions, immunological, and antioxidant parameters of quail chicks.

The present study was performed to evaluate the influence of low crude protein (CP) levels, zinc sources (organic as zinc methionine-Zn-Met and inorganic as zinc oxide-ZnO) and their interactions on growth performance, carcass traits, and blood components of growing Japanese quail. A total of 450 one-wk-old Japanese quail with the same body weights were randomly distributed into 9 groups of 50 birds. The 9-diet treatments comprised 3 levels of CP (20, 22, and 24%) and 3 Zn source (0 g of Zn/kg diet, 0.1 g ZnO/kg diet, and 0.1 g Zn-Met/kg diet). The results obtained from this study showed that there were no significant differences among the groups, except for differences in body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) at 3 to 5 - and 1 to 5 wk of age for quail supplemented with 24% and 20% CP. All the studied biochemical parameters were significantly influenced by different levels of CP and Zn, except urea and creatinine, which were affected by CP levels only. In conclusion, dietary protein level for growing Japanese quails could be reduced to 20% without negative effects on their performance, carcass traits, and blood metabolites.

Neurobehavioral, physiological and inflammatory impairments in response to bifenthrin intoxication in Oreochromis niloticus fish: Role of dietary supplementation with Petroselinum crispum essential oil.

This study was conceptualized in order to assess the 96-h LC50 of bifenthrin (BF) in O. niloticus and also to measure the biochemical, behavioral, and molecular responses of the fish suchronically exposed to a sub-lethal concentration of the insecticide. The role of Petroselinum crispum essential oil (PEO) supplementation in mitigating the resulted neurotoxic insult was also investigated. The acute toxicity study revealed that the 96-h LC50 of BF is 6.81 µg/L, and varying degrees of behavioral changes were recorded in a dose-dependent manner. The subchronic study revealed reduction of dissolved oxygen and increased ammonia in aquaria of BF-exposed fish. Clinical signs revealed high degree of discomfort and aggressiveness together with reductions in survival rate and body weight gain. The levels of monoamines in brain, and GABA and amino acids in serum were reduced, together with decreased activities of Na+/K+-ATPase and acetylcholine esterases (AchE). The activities of antioxidant enzymes were also diminshed in the brain while oxdative damage and DNA breaks were elevated. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in serum increased with overexpression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain tissue. BF also upregulated the expression of brain-stress related genes HSP70, Caspase-3 and P53. Supplemention of PEO to BF markedly abrogated the toxic impacts of the insecticide, specially at the high level. These findings demonstrate neuroprotective, antioxidant, genoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptic effects of PEO in BF-intoxicated fish. Based on these mechanistic insights of PEO, we recommend its use as an invaluable supplement in the fish feed.

Effects of the dietary inclusion of a probiotic or prebiotic on florfenicol pharmacokinetic profile in broiler chicken.

We evaluated the effect of prebiotic or probiotic as feed additives on florfenicol kinetic in broilers feed. Unsexed two hundred, thirty-five-day-old broiler chickens, were put in four equal groups (n = 50). The first group was administrated florfenicol intravenous at 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) only once dosage without pre- or probiotic administration to determine the bioavailability. While, the second group was administrated florfenicol (intracrop routes; a dosage of 30 mg/kg BW for five progressive days) without pre- or probiotic co-administration. The third and the fourth groups were administrated the same dose of florfenicol (intracrop route) for five successive days, followed by 10 days of prebiotic or probiotic treatment respectively. The plasma florfenicol % was identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) after the first florfenicol administration (intravenous or intracrop routes) in all groups. Then, the residual levels of florfenicol were determined in liver, kidney and muscle tissues from the second, third and fourth groups which were exposed to florfenicol orally. Our results demonstrated that broilers pre-treated with prebiotic or probiotic significantly increased Cmax , AUC0- t , AUC0-inf as well as AUMC values, while significant drop was recorded in V/F and CL/F. Prebiotic or probiotic influenced the cumulative effect of florfenicol in liver and kidney tissues of treated birds.

Effect of low- or high-CP diet with cold-pressed oil supplementation on growth, immunity and antioxidant indices of growing quail.

This study was to investigate the effect of dietary protein levels and supplementation with two cold-pressed oils on the performance, immunity and antioxidant indices of growing Japanese quails. A 3 × 4 factorial experiment, using 3 dietary crude protein (CP) levels (22%, 24% and 26%) and 4 supplemental herbal oils levels: control without additives, 250 mg marjoram (Mar), 250 mg thyme (Thy) and 125 mg Mar + 125 mg Thy per kg diet. A total of 720 unsexed, 7-day-old quail chicks were randomly distributed into twelve treatment groups (4 replicates per group of 15 chicks in each). The live body weight (LBW) on 42 days and body weight gain (BWG) from 7 to 42 days were significantly improved (p < 0.01 and 0.05) in chicks fed 24% or 26% CP compared with those of the 22% CP group. The groups fed diets supplemented with Mar or in combination with Thy oil exhibited significantly better LBW, BWG and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control at all periods except BWG from 21 to 42 days and FCR from 7 to 21 days were not significant. Feed intake was gradually decreased with increasing dietary CP level or adding herbal oils during the periods 21-42 and 7-42 days of age. Plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, total lipids and malondialdehyde were decreased by cold-pressed oils supplementation, but the activity of reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase was increased (p < 0.01) compared with the control. In conclusion, quails fed a diet containing 24% or 26% CP or diets supplemented with Mar or Thy oils or both exhibited improvement in the performance, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant capacity without any detrimental impacts on the other studied parameters.

Use of acetylsalicylic acid as an allostatic modulator in the diets of growing Japanese quails exposed to heat stress.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) supplementation on performance, carcasses and some blood metabolites of growing quails exposed to heat stress. Three hundred sixty mix sexed Japanese quail chicks at 2 wk of age with average initial body weight of 77.4 g were randomly allotted to six dietary groups in a 3 × 2 factorial design with three dietary ASA doses (0, 0.5 and 1 g ASA/kg diet) and two ambient temperatures (one normal at 23 ± 2 °C and other high at 33 ± 2 °C). Body weight, daily body weight gain and feed consumption reduced in quails exposed to heat stress (33 °C) during 2-4 wk of age, but not during 4-6 wk of age and during total period (2-6 wk of age). Growth rate and feed utilization were not influenced by ASA supplementation or interaction between ASA supplementation and house temperature at all ages (P > 0.05). All carcass parameters were not affected (P > 0.05) by temperature or dietary ASA or their interactions except dressing percent was decreased (P = 0.025) by ASA. Plasma cholesterol and total lipid were affected by the interaction effect, which were elevated in birds exposed to high ambient temperature (P = 0.004 or 0.022) and ASA supplementation (P = 0.041 or P = 0.003). Glucose concentrations were also influenced by interaction effect, which increased due to ASA supplementation at normal temperature, but were not affected at high temperature. The effect of high ambient temperature or its interaction with ASA did not affect hepatic enzymes and thyroid hormones of growing quails. Diets supplemented with ASA (1000 mg/kg) decreased plasma contents of aspartate transaminase, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4) compared with the control. It is concluded that applications of ASA in quail diets are not suitable in mitigating the disturbances induced by heat stress in the most studied parameters.

Yucca schidigera extract modulates the lead-induced oxidative damage, nephropathy and altered inflammatory response and glucose homeostasis in Japanese quails.

The present study was conducted to explore the toxic effects of lead (Pb) on the physiological responses of Japanese quails and to investigate the potential modulatory role of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) against these effects. 360 mature Japanese quails (at 2 months of age) were used and the experiment was lasted for 8 weeks. The birds were divided into six equal groups as follow: control (basal diet, BD), BD+Pb (100 mg/kg diet), BD+YSE (100 mg/kg diet), BD+YSE (200 mg/kg diet), BD+Pb (100 mg/kg diet) +YSE (100 mg/kg diet) and BD+ Pb (100 mg/kg diet) + YSE (200 mg/kg diet). Pb induced a significant reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) level. While, increased protein carbonyl (PC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in tissues of exposed birds. Pb increased level of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in serum. YSE significantly reduced the Pb -induced oxidative stress in co-treated groups especially at 200 mg/kg diet. YSE could modulate the Pb -induced decreased urea, creatinine and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) levels. YSE200 was found to be better than the YSE100 in decreasing levels of inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, YSE significantly regulates glucose homeostasis in co-exposed quails. Pb residues were found to be significantly higher in kidney and pancreas tissues of Pb group compared to other groups. YES decreased the expression of metallothionein-1 in the renal and pancreatic tissues, while elevated insulin expression in the pancreatic cells by immunostaining in co-exposed groups. In conclusion, the present results conclusively demonstrate the potential modulatory effect of YSE against the Pb-induced toxic effects in different organs of Japanese quails.

Glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 gene polymorphism in Egyptian patients with idiopathic male infertility.

The aim of this study was to examine whether an association exists between glutathione S-transferase Mu-1 (GSTM1) gene polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility. Sixty men with primary idiopathic infertility and 60 fertile men, serving as controls, were recruited for the study. The polymorphism was analysed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The frequency of GSTM1 null genotype was observed to be higher in infertile men 40% in comparison with 33.3% in the fertile men, but this difference was not statistically significant. There was statistically significant difference between cases and controls as regards GSTM1 genotype distribution ((MC) P = 0.006*) in GSTM1-positive men. Patients with the GSTM1 null genotype had significantly lower sperm concentrations and total sperm count when compared with patients with GSTM1-positive genotype. In the control group, men with GSTM1 null genotype had significantly lower sperm concentrations but not total sperm count when compared with men with GSTM1-positive genotype. The results of this study suggest a possible negative effect of GSTM1 null genotype on the spermatogenic potential of the testis.

Is serum cystatin C an accurate endogenous marker of glomerular filteration rate for detection of early renal impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

BACKGROUND: Researches have recently reported that serum cystatin C is a more sensitive marker of changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than serum creatinine. We conducted this study to evaluate the significance of serum cystatin C as a more sensitive marker of GFR for early detection of renal impairment in special groups of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The present study included 40 patients with type 2 DM divided into four equal groups based on their urinary albumin excretion and renal function: group 1 was normoalbuminuric, group 2 was microalbuminuric, group 3 was macroalbuminuric, and group 4 was macroalbuminuric with renal dysfunction. All patients underwent a thorough history, full clinical examination, fasting, and renal function tests. Post-prandial blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), proteins, albumin in 24 hr urine, and serum cystatin C were collected. RESULTS: Serum cystatin C and creatinine were significantly higher in macrolbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients with renal dysfunction (group 4: 2.26 +/- 1.28, 4.21 +/- 2.38 mg/dl, respectively; p < 0.001) than macrolbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients with normal renal function (group 3: 1.04 +/- 0.24, 0.96 +/- 0.20 mg/dl, respectively), the microalbuminuric group (0.87 +/- 0.28, 0.71 +/- 0.12 mg/dl, respectively), as well as the normoalbuminuric group (0.55 +/- 0.41, 0.60 +/- 0.18 mg/dl, respectively). ROC plots demonstrated that area under the curve (AUC) of cystatin C (0.74) was greater than that for creatinine clearance (cr.cl) (0.67) and serum creatinine (s-cr) (0.74); therefore, the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of cystatin c was better than cr. cl., and both were better than s-cr. Serum cystatin C showed significant correlation in groups 2-4 with s-cr, cr.cl, and 24 hr urine albumin, but no correlation was found in group 1. CONCLUSION: Serum cystatin C is a reliable and easily performed marker for GFR to detect renal impairment in patients with type 2 DM.

Is there a role for endothelin-1 in the hemodynamic changes during hemodialysis?

BACKGROUND: The etiology of hemodialysis (HD)-induced hypotension and hypertension remains speculative. There is mounting evidence that endothelin-1 (ET-1) may play a vital role in these hemodynamic changes. We examined the possible role of intradialytic changes of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of hypotension and rebound hypertension during HD. METHODS: The present study included 45 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on regular HD. They were divided according to their hemodynamic status during HD into three groups (group I had stable intradialytic hemodynamics, group II had dialysis-induced hypotension, and group III had rebound hypertension during HD). In addition, 15 healthy volunteers were included as a control group. Pulse and blood pressure were monitored before, during (every half hour), and after HD session. ET-1 level was measured at the beginning, middle, and end of HD. ET-1 was measured in the control group for comparison. RESULTS: Pre-dialysis levels of ET-1 were significantly higher in dialysis patients compared to the controls (P < 0.001); however, they were comparable in the three HD groups. The post-dialysis ET-1 level was not changed significantly in group I compared with predialysis values (14.49 +/- 2.04 vs. 14.33 +/- 2.23 pg/ml; P = NS), while the ET-1 concentration decreased significantly in group II and increased in group III in comparison to predialysis values (8.56 +/- 1.44 vs. 11.75 +/- 2.51; 16.39 +/- 3.12 vs. 11.93 +/- 2.11 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Altered ET-1 levels may be involved in the pathogenesis of rebound hypertension and hypotension during HD.

Pairing of Schistosoma mansoni males in infected Syrian hamsters.

Pairing of male schistosomes in the liver of infected hamsters was recorded with Egyptians S. mansoni strain. The homospecific male pairs never carried each other in the gynaecophoric duct, but they being closed in either central or hepatic veins. Other perfused males and females en copula showed normal mating behaviour. The paired males were more or less in the same size. The random sexed miracidia used resulted in obtaining 1:2.1 female/male ratio. It is concluded that the random increase of male schistosomes may create the male pairing behaviour. Also, the migration of female against the blood stream to the mesenteric plexus of the host and the failure of male to catch them may lead to this homosexual pairing. The black haemozoin-like substance seen in mature females was also observed in the pairing males and this probably reflects the effect of scarcity or migration of females to the mesenteric plexus.

The histopathological effect of metacercariae of the genus Brachylaima on the land snail, Monacha obstructa.

The histopathological changes in the kidney of the land snail Monacha obstructa and the histochemistry of the body wall of the parasite were studied. The histological pictures of the infected kidney showed extensive degree of degeneration in the renal tissue with multiple necrotic foci. Due to the mechanical and feeding effects of the parasite, the renal lamellae were disintegrated. Also, suckers increased the renal damage. In some levels of the kidney, the renal tissue was completely disappeared except the connective tissue of kidney capsule. Also, it was observed that there was a clear space between the parasites and renal tissue probably as a trial of evasion from the Host's reaction. The histochemical study on the metacercarial body wall revealed that it is consisting of three layers arranged as outer, middle and inner layers. Staining with Periodic Acid Schiff proved that the body wall is rich in mucopolysaccharide content. The idea that this parasite can be used as a biocontrol agent is also discussed.

Profile of portal hypertension in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Intrasplenic pressure changes versus ova count in stool of schistosomal portal hypertension in cases of bilharzial hepatic fibrosis were studied before and after 40 mg/kg body weight praziquantel therapy. Praziquantel acts on the vascular level in which it decreases the portal hypertension caused by bilharziasis as detected by decreased size of portal and splenic veins diameter as well as a significant decrease of portal pressure by the decrease of intrasplenic pressure (P less than 0.05). On the other hand, praziquantel decrease bilharzial stool egg count after 3 months of therapy (P less than 0.05).

Study of C-reactive protein in bilharziasis and malignancy as causes of ascites.

C-reactive protein titre was estimated in serum and ascitic fluid in 23 patients, 12 with cancer stomach accompanied by liver metastatases and 11 with bilharzial liver fibrosis. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the titre in serum and ascitic fluid in the group of cancer with mean of serum/ascitic level ratio 1.3, while in bilharzial group there was significant difference with ratio mean 6.3.

Causes of lymphadenopathy in Egyptian children other than malignancy.

Fifty children aged 3 to 12 years presented with cervical or inguinal lymph nodes enlargement were selected from Zagazig University Hospitals. They were subjected to routine laboratory examination as well as histopathological & immunopathological studies. The results revealed eosinophilia and intestinal parasites in 80 percent. Besides, pediculosis and flea dermatitis were also demonstrated in 30 and 12 percent respectively. Histopathological studies of the nodal tissues revealed sinus hyperplasia (ten cases), reactive paracortical hyperplasia (30 cases) and necrosis and caseition (ten cases). Infiltration with eosinophils was demonstrated in the nodal tissues of 40 cases. Immunopathologyical studies revealed cytotoxic T-cells in all the cases, and helper T lymphocytes in only 15 cases. It is concluded that this may give an explanation of some causes of lymphadenopathy in Egyptian children other than malignancy.

Treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis by oral androgen mesterolone. A clinical and cystometric study.

A double-blind clinical study of 30 boys, six to ten years of age, with primary nocturnal enuresis was undertaken to assess the role of androgens in treating enuresis. The oral synthetic androgen mesterolone was selected because of its minimal potential toxic effects. Twenty boys were treated with mesterolone and 10 received placebo. Fourteen boys (70%) became dry during treatment (20 mg daily for 14 days), and 5 (25%) remained dry for a follow-up period of four months. Increased cystometric bladder capacity and disappearance of uninhibited detrusor contractions were noticed in a significant number of cases after treatment. No side effects were recorded. Mesterolone has probably modulated the autonomic innervation of the vesical musculature with correction of the defective neural mechanism which is believed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of nocturnal enuresis.

Urinary calculi and pattern of fertility among women. A retrospective study.

The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between urolithiasis and pattern of fertility among women as indicated by the age at first pregnancy, the number of pregnancies and the use of contraceptive pills as well as to determine the lateralization of stone. The study was conducted on 250 female patients suffering from urinary stones and a similar number of control randomly selected from the same hospital. Data were obtained by an interviewing questionnaire. The study demonstrated that the mean number of pregnancies of cases is significantly higher than that of control (t = 3.5797). However, history of pregnancy, the age at first pregnancy and the duration of use of contraceptive pills are not significantly related to urolithiasis (X2 = 0.3415, 0.7688 and 1.5120 respectively). Right side stone are more encountered in cases with history of pregnancy than those who have never been pregnant.

Mechanism of continence after transpubic urethroplasty.

Urethral profilmetry was performed in seven continent patients with transpubic urethroplasty. The studies were repeated in the supine and upright positions, both at rest and under the stresses of cough, bearing down, and hold maneuvers. The urethral pressure tracing of these patients is characteristically bihumped in shape. The proximal hump with a mean height of 18 cm water at rest corresponds to the prostatic plateau of normal subjects. The distal hump with a mean height of 32 cm water represents the pressure inside that segment of the bulbar urethra which had been brought into the abdomen by the transpubic operation. The average functional urethral length is 4.6 cm and on standing increased to 6.7 cm, mainly due to elongation of the distal hump. Changes in intra-abdominal pressure by cough or bearing down are transmitted along the whole functional urethral length with augmented urethral closure pressure of 57 to 61 cm water in the proximal hump and 44 to 48 cm water in the distal hump. However, contraction of the perineal musculature by hold maneuvers has no effect on the urethra of these patients. We conclude that after transpubic urethroplasty, although the distal urethral mechanism is destroyed and excluded, the new intra-abdominal position of the transposed bulbar urethra provides a new factor that supplements the bladder neck in maintaining urinary continence.