Content of plasmatic glycerol and activity of hepatic glycerol kinase in broiler chickens fed diets containing different sources and concentrations of glycerine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three sources of glycerine (crude glycerine from soya bean oil - CGSO, mixed crude glycerine from frying oil and lard--MCG, and a semipurified glycerine from soya bean oil--SPGSO) in four concentrations in the diet (17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 g of each type of glycerine per kg of feed) on the levels of plasmatic glycerol and the activity of the hepatic enzyme glycerol kinase in broilers of 22-35 days old (experiment I) and 33-42 days old (experiment II). The highest (p < 0.05) plasmatic glycerol level was detected in broilers fed diet containing CGSO. Independent of the source, increasing the concentration of glycerine led to a linear increase (p < 0.05) in the plasmatic glycerol concentration. In experiment I, all the diets containing glycerine resulted in increased concentrations of plasmatic glycerol, in relation to the control diet without glycerine. However, in experiment II, only the diet containing 17.5 g of CGSO per kg of feed and the diets formulated with any of the three types of glycerine in the inclusion concentrations of 35, 52.5 and 70 g/kg of feed resulted in higher plasmatic glycerol levels than those observed in the control broilers. The source of glycerine influenced the glycerol kinase activity only in experiment II, where the use of CGSO in the diet increased the enzyme activity. For both experiments, the glycerol kinase activity increased with the inclusion of glycerine in the diet. In conclusion, based on the absence of saturation of the glycerol kinase activity for the three glycerine sources and for both rearing periods evaluated, the broilers can metabolize the glycerol (at the level of the phosphorylation of the glycerol to glycerol-3-phosphate in the liver) present in the glycerine when the diet is supplemented with up to 70 g of glycerine per kg of feed.

Activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and protein content in the breast of broilers fed diets containing different sources and levels of glycerine.

According to scientific literature, glycerol in the diet can spare glucogenic amino acids by inhibiting the activity of enzymes, such as glutamate dehydrogenase, thereby promoting protein deposition in muscle tissues. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three sources of glycerine (crude glycerine from soybean oil--CGSO, mixed crude glycerine from frying oil and lard--MCG and a semipurified glycerine from soybean oil--SPGSO) in four concentrations in the diet (17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 g of each type of glycerine/kg of feed) on the activity of hepatic glutamate dehydrogenase, performance and protein content in the breast of broilers, during 22-35 days of age (experiment I) and 33-43 days of age (experiment II). In both experiments, an increase in MCG induced a linear decline in glutamate dehydrogenase activity (p < 0.05). In contrast, increasing the concentration of SPGSO in the diet caused a linear increase in enzyme activity (p < 0.05). There was no (p > 0.05) isolated effect of glycerine on the enzyme activity in either evaluated phase; however, during 33-42 days of age, MCG inhibited (p < 0.05) the glutamate dehydrogenase activity by up to 34.43%. During 22-35 days of age, the diet containing SPGSO induced a higher protein content (p < 0.05) in the breast, and regardless of the source utilized, the maximum protein deposition was estimated (p < 0.05) when broilers were fed with 55.08 g glycerine/kg of diet. There was no (p > 0.05) interaction or isolated effects of the sources and levels of glycerine on the protein content in the breast of broilers at 33-42 days of age, and moreover, all diets containing glycerine promoted a similar protein deposition in the breast compared with birds that received the diet without glycerine. The bird age also showed to influence the feed intake and weight gain of broilers fed diet containing glycerine. It is concluded that for both rearing phases, an increase in glycerine in the diet did not necessarily reduce the glutamate dehydrogenase activity, and the protein deposition in the breast of broilers may not be strictly correlated with the activity of this enzyme.

The energy value of biodiesel glycerine products fed to broilers at different ages.

The objective of this study was to determine the apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of some products containing glycerine from soybean oil (GOIL), a mixture of frying oil and lard (GMIX) and a semi-purified process (GSP) in broilers of different ages (10, 20, 30 and 40 days post-hatching), using two methodologies. In trial 1, the basal diets were replaced with 100 g/kg of each studied glycerine product and the diets were supplied ad libitum. Three hundred broilers were used in five replicates, with five, four, three and three animals per cage in each age group, respectively. The AMEn was calculated for each experimental unit. In trial 2, dietary treatments included the addition of glycerine at 0, 40, 80 or 120 g/kg for each crude glycerine product, with 900 broilers in six replicates, using the same number of animals per cage as described in trial 1. Depending on the experimental unit, the feeding was restricted in 88%, 92%, 96% and 100% of estimated intake according to the Cobb guide. The AMEn was determined using linear regression between the feed intake and the AMEn of each diet. In both trials, the total excreta collection method was used. Because of the chemical composition, GMIX was not considered crude glycerine. The mean AMEn values of the products were 20.55 MJ/kg, 15.80 MJ/kg and 15.05 MJ/kg for GMIX, GSP and GOIL, respectively. There was a linear decrease (p < 0.01) in the AMEn values with the increasing age of the broilers. Numerically, it was observed that the AMEn values decreased until 28-30 day post-hatching and then remained constant until the finishing phase. It is concluded that products containing glycerine can be used as an energy source for broilers, but that AMEn values can vary according to age. Younger broilers have a higher capacity of energy utilisation from these feedstuffs.

Validation of prediction equations to estimate the energy values of feedstuffs for broilers: performance and carcass yield.

The objective was to evaluate the use of prediction equations based on the chemical composition of feedstuffs to estimate the values of apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of corn and soybean meal for broilers. For performance and carcass characteristics, 1,200 one-d-old birds (male and female) were allotted to a completely randomised factorial 2×8 (two genders and eight experimental diets) with three replicates of each sex with 25 birds. In the metabolism trial, 240 eight-d-old birds were distributed in the same design, but with a split plot in time (age of evaluation) with five, four and three birds per plot, respectively, in stages 8 to 21, 22 to 35, and 36 to 42 d of age. The treatments consisted of the use of six equations systems to predict the AMEn content of feedstuffs, tables of food composition and AMEn values obtained by in vivo assay, totalling eight treatments. Means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability and a confidence interval of 95% was used to check the fit of the energy values of the diets to the requirements of the birds. As a result of this study, the use of prediction equations resulted in better adjustment to the broiler requirements, resulting in better performance and carcass characteristics compared to the use of tables, however, the use of energy values of feedstuffs obtained by in vivo assay is still the most effective. The best equations were: AMEn = 4,021.8-227.55 Ash (for corn) combined with AMEn = -822.33+69.54 CP-45.26 ADF+90.81 EE (for soybean meal); AMEn = 36.21 CP+85.44 EE+37.26 NFE (nitrogen-free extract) (for corn) combined with AMEn = 37.5 CP+46.39 EE+14.9 NFE (for soybean); and AMEn = 4,164.187+51.006 EE-197.663 Ash-35.689 CF-20.593 NDF (for corn and soybean meal).

2011: the scurvy Odyssey.

The authors report the case of a 50-year-old alcoholic man with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, who presented to the emergency department with fever and exuberant ecchymoses and petechiae on both legs. After a careful examination and laboratory assessment, the not-so-obvious hypothesis of scurvy was disclosed. Simply with vitamin C replacement and nutritional advice, a dramatic improvement in his condition was observed. In modern societies, a generalised access to food renders scurvy as a rare disease, often misdiagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach is emphasised as the key to a more simple differential diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary exams and preventing serious complications, or even death, if left untreated.

Synthesis and biological activity of peptidyl aldehyde urokinase inhibitors.

Solid- and solution-phase synthesis of peptidomimetic inhibitors of urokinase-type plasminogen activator based on the sequence dSerAlaArg-al are described. The biological activities of these unique inhibitors are reported herein. Carbonate prodrugs were prepared and tested as potential drug delivery systems.

Retinoblastoma as a cause for enucleation in Filipino children

Retinoblastoma accounted for more than 50% of the 86 enucleations in this series and was the most frequent cause for enucleation in children below 15 years old. There were 6 other eyeballs removed because of a mistaken clinical diagnosis of retinoblastoma. In contrast, there was only one case of clinically, unsuspected retinoblastoma. The majority of cases erroneously diagnosed as retinoblastoma presented as leukocoria or as a retrolental mass. (Author)

Cyclic GMP but not cyclic AMP prevents renal platelet accumulation after ischemia-reperfusion in anesthetized rats.

Platelets have been implicated in the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this study, antiplatelet effects of cyclic GMP (cGMP)- and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated agents were evaluated in renal ischemia in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Renal ischemia was induced by unilateral occlusion of the left renal artery (40 min) followed by reperfusion (30 min) with the contralateral kidney serving as control. 111Indium-labeled platelets, drugs or vehicle were administered 30 min before induction of renal ischemia. Occlusion of the left renal artery for 20, 40 or 60 min resulted in a 100, 300 and 600% increase (over contralateral right kidney) in the platelet-associated 111indium activity in the ischemic kidney. In all subsequent studies the kidney was occluded for 40 min to test the antiplatelet activity of individual agents. 8-Br-cGMP (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg/min i.v.), zaprinast (0.1 mg/kg/min i.v.) and sodium nitroprusside (0.003 and 0.01 mg/kg/min i.v.) significantly attenuated platelet accumulation in renal ischemia, whereas 8-Br-cAMP (0.3 mg/kg/min i.v.) or milrinone (0.1 mg/kg i.v. bolus, plus 0.01 mg/kg/min) did not. Minoxidil (0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg/min i.v.), a vasodilator which produced equihypotensive effects as the cGMP-mediated agents, and milrinone failed to prevent platelet accumulation. These results demonstrate that modulation of the platelet function by cGMP agents can be dissociated from their blood pressure lowering effects. cGMP is known to inhibit both platelet adhesion and aggregation, whereas cAMP is only active against aggregation. The present findings provide further evidence that cGMP-mediated drugs may afford effective antiplatelet action in an in vivo model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Attenuation of ischemic acute renal failure by phosphoramidon in rats.

The protective effects of phosphoramidon, a dual inhibitor of endothelin-converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase (E.C. 24.11), on renal function in ischemic acute renal failure were investigated in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of phosphoramidon (0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg per min) significantly suppressed tubular sodium wasting (measured by fractional excretion of sodium) and proteinuria in the postischemic kidney without modifying functional parameters in the contralateral normal kidney. Phosphoramidon (0.1 mg/kg/min) was associated with increased glomerular filtration in the ischemic kidney. In comparison, SCH 42354, a highly selective inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase at 0.3 mg/kg/min, did not inhibit endothelin-converting enzyme or afford renal protection. The data suggest that the protective action of phosphoramidon against ischemic acute renal failure is most likely mediated by inhibition of endothelin formation.

Disparate effects of phosphoramidon on blood pressure in SHR and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.

Phosphoramidon inhibits both endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) and neutral metalloendopeptidase (NEP). The contribution of ECE and NEP inhibition to the antihypertensive effects of phosphoramidon was investigated in SHR and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. SCH 32615, an active acid of the potent and selective NEP inhibitor prodrug SCH 34826 was used as a reference compound. Intravenous infusion of SCH 32615 (1.0 mg/kg/min x 2 hr) or phosphoramidon (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg/min x 2 hr) did not reduce blood pressure (BP) in conscious SHR. The combination of SCH 32615 (100 mg/kg + 1.0 mg/kg/min) and phosphoramidon (0.3 mg/kg/min) also did not alter BP in SHR. In comparison, the BP of conscious DOCA-salt rats was significantly reduced by phosphoramidon (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg/min x 2 hr) (-28 +/- 6, -51 +/- 5 and -85 +/- 6 mmHg, respectively). SCH 32615 (100 mg/kg, i.v.) over 5 min followed by a sustained infusion of 1.0 mg/kg/min for 2 hr also reduced BP by 49 +/- 7 mmHg (P < .05) in DOCA-salt rats. However, phosphoramidon (0.1 mg/kg/min x 2 hr) failed to cause a further reduction in BP in DOCA-salt rats concurrently receiving SCH 32615. In contrast, a higher dose of phosphoramidon (0.3 mg/kg/min) in combination with SCH 32615 caused a greater reduction in BP in DOCA-salt rats than SCH 32615 alone. In anesthetized normotensive rats, phosphoramidon (0.01-1.0 mg/kg/min x 30 min) dose-dependently inhibited the BP responses to big endothelin-1 (BET-1) without blocking the pressor responses to ET-1. SCH 32615 failed to attenuate the pressor responses to either BET-1 or ET-1. The results indicate that SCH 32615 lacks in vivo ECE inhibitory activity. It is concluded that the antihypertensive action of SCH 32615 and low doses of phosphoramidon can be attributed to the inhibition of NEP which may presumably cause an accumulation of ANF. In comparison, at higher doses phosphoramidon causes a further reduction of BP in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats by inhibition of endothelin bioconversion.

Sympathoadrenal stimulation, not endothelin, plays a role in acute pressor response to cyclosporine in anesthetized rats.

The possible role of sympathoadrenal stimulation and endothelin release in cyclosporine (CS)-induced hypertension was ascertained in intact and pithed rats. CS (20 and 40 mg/kg), administered by i.v. infusion over 10 min, produced a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure: 19 +/- 5 and 31 +/- 2 mm Hg in intact rats and 13 +/- 4 and 18 +/- 2 mm Hg in pithed rats. In intact rats, pretreatment with reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or hexamethonium (10 mg/kg, i.v.) greatly blunted the pressor responses to CS (40 mg/kg) (7 +/- 3 and 11 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively). In pithed rats, the blood pressure responses to CS (40 mg/kg) were significantly impaired, but were not further modified by phenoxybenzamine (3 mg/kg, i.v.), whereas adrenalectomy completely abolished the CS-induced pressor responses (0 +/- 1 mm Hg). CS (40 mg/kg) did not potentiate pressor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation (0.1 and 0.3 Hz) or vasoconstrictors, including angiotensin II (0.03 microgram/kg, i.v.), phenylephrine (1 microgram/kg, i.v.) and arginine vasopressin (0.075 microgram/kg) in pithed rats. In addition, CS (40 mg/kg, i.v.) did not cause elevation of plasma immunoreactive endothelin-1 and -3. Furthermore, phosphoramidon (0.25 mg/kg/min x 30) abolished pressor response to big endothelin-1 (5 micrograms/kg, i.v.) but failed to affect CS-induced hypertension. It is concluded that the acute blood pressure response to CS manifests great dependence on sympathetic nervous system but appears independent of endothelin release.

Benign conjunctival melanocytic lesions. Clinicopathologic features.

The common acquired conjunctival nevus usually undergoes progressive maturation and only exceptionally gives rise to conjunctival melanoma. Pure junctional nevi are rare except in childhood. Histologically, however, a junctional nevus may be indistinguishable from primary acquired melanosis (PAM) with atypia, a condition of middle-aged and elderly individuals that has a tendency to evolve into melanoma. Nevi in adolescents may attract a vigorous lymphocytic response and may cause clinical and histologic confusion with other entities, particularly a regressing nodule of melanoma that occurs predominantly in adults. Rarely, congenital conjunctival nevi are identified, sometimes in patients with adjacent congenital nevi of the eyelid. A variety of unusual nevi, including balloon-cell nevi, Spitz nevi, epithelioid cell nevi, dysplastic nevi, recurrent nevi, episcleral melanosis and the nevus of Ota, blue and cellular blue nevi, melanocytoma, and composite or mixed nevi all may be identified in the conjunctiva. Concepts of histogenesis as well as the clinical, light microscopic, and ultrastructural features of these and other benign pigmentary conditions of the conjunctiva are described.

Contact lens-related deep stromal neovascularization.

We observed five eyes (five patients) with deep stromal neovascularization and scarring in patients wearing soft contact lenses during a six-month period. There was no evidence suggestive of other causes of interstitial keratitis. Two patients were aphakic and required a penetrating keratoplasty. Deep stromal vascularization must be added to the growing list of visually significant soft contact lens complications, and soft lens wear should be considered in the differential diagnosis of deep stromal neovascularization.

Space-occupying orbital masses in children. A review of 250 consecutive biopsies.

A review was done of 250 consecutive biopsies for orbital space-occupying lesions in children. Benign cystic lesions were by far the most common, accounting for 52% of the lesions. Inflammatory lesions, usually biopsied to exclude the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, accounted for 16%. Among the 250 biopsies there were 14 primary malignant tumors (6%), ten of which were rhabdomyosarcoma. Although rhabdomyosarcoma is not the most common space-occupying orbital lesion in children, clinicians should be familiar with its clinical features and proceed with immediate biopsy followed by appropriate irradiation and chemotherapy if the diagnosis is established. However, biopsy should only be undertaken if there is reasonable suspicion that the lesion could be rhabdomyosarcoma or other childhood orbital malignancy.

Hepatic metastasis and orbital recurrence of uveal melanoma after 42 years.

A 70-year-old woman who had undergone enucleation of the left eye at the age of 28 years because of complications from an injury to the globe, and in whom a previously unsuspected posterior uveal melanoma was detected after enucleation, had no further problems until 42 years later, when she was discovered to have a liver malignancy of undetermined origin. After six months of chemotherapy, the patient developed a mass in the anophthalmic left orbit. Biopsy of the orbital mass disclosed malignant melanoma, and reexamination of the liver biopsy specimen disclosed similar malignant melanoma cells. The patient had no clinical evidence of a primary melanoma other than the one involving the eye. It is possible that the patient had subclinical melanoma cells in the liver for 40 years. However, another possibility is that the patient had residual melanoma cells in the orbit which eventually metastasized to the liver.

Blue nevi of the conjunctiva.

Two examples of conjunctival blue nevi are presented. The clinical and histologic features of these lesions are not in accord with descriptions of blue nevi in the ophthalmic literature. In both cases, the nevi's clinical appearance was brown instead of blue; the nevi could be moved with the conjunctiva over the sclera; and they were not present at birth. Histologically, they demonstrated subepithelial, spindle-shaped melanocytes. The location of the cells was no deeper than that of common acquired compound or subepithelial conjunctival nevi.

Quantitated trauma following radial keratotomy in rabbits.

Radial keratotomy was performed in 33 rabbits using an eight-incision technique. At various postoperative intervals up to 90 days, these eyes were enucleated and subjected to increasing quantitated trauma until ocular rupture occurred. Control animals (13 eyes) were subjected to similar trauma. The eyes that had surgery required approximately 50% of the control energy to rupture over the 90-day period (P less than 0.001). Corneal microperforations at surgery greatly increased the trauma risk (P = 0.02). Consistent rupture patterns resulted, both grossly and microscopically.

Ocular involvement in lupus erythematosus profundus (panniculitis).

Lupus erythematosus profundus (panniculitis) is a rare clinical variant of lupus erythematosus. It has not been implicated previously as a cause of lid edema or proptosis. In this report, three patients who had eyelid edema as the initial manifestation of lupus erythematosus profundus are presented. The ocular manifestations improved with antimalarial therapy.

Iridectomy in the surgical management of eight-ball hyphema.

The complete absorption of blood in patients with eight-ball hyphema and medically uncontrollable intraocular pressure occurred after iridectomy. No intra-operative complications were noted. Six of the seven patients maintained normal IOPs without medical therapy for at least six months postoperatively. Pupillary block by the clotted blood and the tamponade effect exerted by the total hyphema on the outflow pathway are possible mechanisms of the secondary glaucoma.