Effects of heat-treated hempseed supplementation on performance, egg quality, sensory evaluation and antioxidant activity of laying hens.

1. This study was conducted to determine the effects of raw and heat-treated hempseed (HHS, Cannabis sativa L.) on performance, egg quality and antioxidant activity in laying hens. 2. A total of 108 laying hens, aged 36 weeks, were divided into three treatment groups with 12 replicates and each replicate contained three laying hens. The treatments were as follows: (1) Control (no hempseed), (2) 15% raw hempseed (RHS) in diet and (3) 15% HHS in the diet. Experiments lasted for 12 weeks. 3. Feed intake of the RHS group was lower than those of the control and HHS groups. Egg weight, egg mass, shell weight, shell surface area and shell thickness of the HHS group were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of the RHS group. Roche (DSM) colour fan values of the RHS group were higher than that of the HHS group (P < 0.01). 4. Palmitic, palmitoleic and oleic acids of egg yolk were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the RHS and HHS groups; however, linoleic, α-linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) of egg yolk increased (P < 0.05) for both treatment diets compared to the control group. 5. Both RHS and HHS supplementation to layer diets did not influence malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and blood lipid profile. 6. It was concluded that HHS was superior in improving the egg quality of laying hens as compared to the RHS.

Brooke-Spiegler syndrome: focus on reflectance confocal microscopy findings of trichoepithelioma and flat cylindroma.

Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (BSS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple adnexal tumours, especially trichoepitheliomas, cylindromas and occasionally spiradenomas. These lesions usually begin to appear in the second or third decade of life. Malignant transformation of pre-existing tumours may occur. In vivo reflectance-mode confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive method that can be used to visualize the epidermis and the upper dermis at almost histological resolution. It has been used to evaluate several skin conditions, especially malignant lesions, and has been reported to be useful for differentiating between malignant and benign skin tumours. Only a few studies have reported on the use of confocal microscopy to characterize the features of benign adnexal neoplasms. We present a patient with BSS who presented to our clinic with multiple skin tumours. The possible utility of RCM for identifying adnexal neoplasms is emphasized in this report, which also describes the observed microscopic features.

Development of Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology characterized by non-caseified granulomas in many different organs and systems. The disease most frequently manifests with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and infiltrations in the lungs and skin, as well as with eye lesions. It may mimic a number of systemic diseases and/or accompany them. The development of lymphoma in patients with sarcoidosis or the co-occurrence of both diseases is rarely reported in the literature. In this paper we report a female patient followed up with sarcoidosis for three years who developed Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the results of the investigations and biopsy results.

Endogenous ochronosis.

Endogenous ochronosis or alkaptonuria is a rare, autosomal recessive disease of tyrosine metabolism that is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme homogentisic acid oxidase. The disease results in the accumulation and deposition of homogentisic acid in the cartilage, eyelids, forehead, cheeks, axillae, genital region, buccal mucosa, larynx, tympanic membranes, and tendons. The disease generally presents in adults with arthritis and skin abnormalities; occasionally, involvement of other organs may be seen. A 49-year-old man was referred to our clinic with verrucous lesions on his hands. On physical examination, caviar-like ochronotic papules were found around his eyes and the helix cartilage of his ears, and on the dorsa of both hands. There were brown macules on the sclera (Osler's sign). The patient had arthritis and nephrolithiasis, and a sample of his urine darkened upon standing. Histopathological examination showed deposition of ochronotic pigment. High-dose ascorbic acid was given, and the patient showed improvement on follow-up examination 6 months later.

Effect of chromium on insulin secretion and glucose removal rate in the newborn.

The effect of chromium on glucose removal rate (GRR) was investigated in the first 48 hr of life in 22 full-term newborns. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed in all babies in the first 24 hr. GRR was found 1.22 +/- 0.17% min. Sixteen of 22 babies received orally 250 micrograms CrCl3 6 H2O and the other six served as controls (no chromium). Intravenous glucose tolerance test was repeated on the 2nd day in all subjects. In the chromium administered group GRR increased from 1.34 +/- 0.19 to 2.58 +/- 0.45% min (P less than 0.01). In the controls, GRR on 2 consecutive days were found 0.90 +/- 0.36 and 2.04 +/- 0.32% min, respectively (P less than 0.05). The ratio of the difference between two GRR values to initial GRR showed no significant difference between the chromium-administered group and the controls. Chromium did not cause a significant change in plasma insulin. The low GRR observed in the newborn irrespective of administered chromium may be taken as evidence that similar to the relative delay in insulin release, the active role of chromium in plasma as glucose tolerance factor may also be inadequate in the early newborn period.