Evaluation of Phosphorus Storage and Performance of Broilers Using Phytase Synthetic Enzyme.

Phytic acid is a stored form of phosphorus in cereals, 65 to 70% of phosphorus in plant sources is phytate, and broilers are only able to use part of the phosphorus in plant sources. To meet the needs of chickens, it is necessary to use other artificial resources, which not only impose part of the cost of the breeding period because of its presence in the manure but is one of the factors polluting the environment. This study aimed to use different levels of phytase enzyme to reduce dietary phosphorus levels. 600 Ross 308 broilers were used in this experiment with five treatments and six replications, and in each replication, 20 chickens were used in a completely randomized design (CRD). Experimental treatments include 1) basal diet (control) 2) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus 3) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 1250 (FTU) phytase enzyme 4) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 2500 (FTU) phytase enzyme 5) basal diet with 15% less phosphorus + 5000 (FTU) phytase enzyme. The evaluated traits included weekly feed intake, weekly weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, ash, calcium, and bone phosphorus. The use of phytase enzyme in different diets had no significant effect on food intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). However, the use of phytase in different diets significantly affected the percentage of Gizzard, Heart, Liver, Proventriculus, and Spleen (P<0.05). The most changes were the increase in the ratio of feed intake and weight gain in the fourth week compared to the third week so that the changes in the ratio of feed intake ranged from 1.85 to 1.91, and this ratio for weight gain also ranged from 3.12 to 3.86 was recorded, and the lowest feed conversion ratio was obtained at the same age. The percentage of raw ash in broiler chickens was significantly increased by adding dietary phytase. The lowest amount of ash, calcium, and phosphorus belonged to the second group (diets with low phosphorus and no enzyme). The difference between the other groups and the control was not significant. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio with the addition of phytase enzyme were not affected by phosphorus reduction and had no significant effect on carcass characteristics. Environmental pollution can be prevented by reducing the level of dietary phosphorus and reducing excreted phosphorus.

Effect of Licorice Essential Oil (Glycyrrhizaglabraglabra) on Performance and Some Biochemical Parameters of Broiler Chickens.

Due to its beneficial components, such as glycyrrhizin, licorice is regarded a medicinal and fragrant plant. This research was designed to investigate the efficacy of licorice essential oil as an alternative to chemical antibiotics on broiler production, carcass features, cellular and humoral safety, and numerous biochemical variables in broiler blood serum. A total of 160 day-old broiler chicks were assigned to four treatment groups using a totally randomized approach. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates, with 10 chicks in each replication. The experimental treatments included a control group, a group receiving an elemental diet containing 0.1% licorice essential oil, a group receiving an elemental diet containing 0.2% licorice essential oil, and a group receiving an elemental diet containing 0.3% licorice essential oil. Broilers had ad libitum access to feed and water in accordance with a three-phase feeding schedule consisting of a starter, grower, and finisher diet. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in body weight, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio between birds given the control or essential oil licorice at various stages of the experiment. However, birds receiving 0.1% licorice essential oil had a lower gallbladder relative weight and 0.3% licorice essential oil had less abdominal fat than the control group (P<0.05). Blood glucose, cholesterol, and LDL concentrations all fell considerably in licorice essential oil-treated birds relative to controls (P<0.05). The cellular immune response of birds fed licorice-containing diets did not differ from that of control birds (P>0.05), however there was a significant difference in the humoral immune response at 0.1% licorice essential oil compared to the control group (P<0.05). In overall, the results of this experiment demonstrated that incorporating licorice essential oil into a bird's diet improves its health and safety.

Evaluation of the Effect of Peppermint Extract and Probiotics on Biochemical Factors in the Blood of Ascites-Induced Chickens.

Ascites syndrome occurs in growing broiler chickens in all parts of the world, which is one of the important causes of losses in many flocks, and its prevalence has been seen mostly in meat herds. The most important factor in the occurrence of ascites syndrome is the lack of oxygen in body tissues (hypoxia). Increasing the growth rate requires increasing the volume of blood flowing in the body to deliver nutrients to the organs and expel gases and metabolic products. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to compare the effect of peppermint extract and probiotics on the biochemical factors of the blood of chickens caused by ascites. The treatments were divided into 8 groups of 7 male chickens with 3 repetitions in each group at 21 days. The experimental treatments included control and treatments of peppermint, probiotic, peppermint and probiotic, induced ascites, induced ascites and peppermint, induced ascites and probiotics, induced ascites and peppermint and probiotics. At the end of 42 days, the blood factors of uric acid, triglyceride, glucose, cholesterol, ALT, ALP, and AST were measured by blood sampling. The experimental treatments significantly affected the investigated traits (P<0.05). Considering that in the treatment of induced ascites+ peppermint compared to the treatment of induced ascites, weight gain was significant, and in the blood factors of cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, glucose, and functional liver enzymes including ALT, AST, ALP recorded a significant decrease. Therefore, the effectiveness of peppermint extract in improving induced ascites in chickens was determined. Peppermint extract had a positive effect on induced ascites and improved the performance indicators of broiler chickens, and this extract can be used as a preventive of ascites.

Vitamin D status and abdominal aortic calcification in postmenopausal women.

Vitamin D has an important role in bone metabolism and may be involved in the process of vascular calcification. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D status on the presence of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). We enrolled, in a cross-sectional study, 429 postmenopausal women [mean age, weight, and BMI of 59.5 ± 8.3 (50-83) years, 75.8 ± 13.3 (35-165) kg, and 29.9 ± 5.2 (14.6-50.8) kg/m2, respectively]. Lateral vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) images and scans of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were obtained using a Lunar Prodigy densitometer. Vertebral fractures (VFs) were defined using the Genant semiquantitative (SQ) approach. We used the Kauppila score to assess AAC extension. Clinical risk factors of osteoporosis were collected, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D was measured using electrochemiluminescence (Roche). Prevalence of osteoporosis and hypovitaminosis D (<20 ng/ml) was 21.0% and 78.1%, respectively. VFs grade 2/3 were identified in 76 patients (17.7%). Two thirds of the evaluable participants did not have any detectable AAC. The prevalence of significant atherosclerotic burden, defined as a radiographic 24-point AAC score of 5 or higher, was 7.9%. The group of women with extended AAC were older and had a statistically significant higher menopause duration and more prevalent grade 2/3 VFs. Compared to women with normal values of vitamin D, women with vitamin D insufficiency (<20 ng/ml) and deficiency (<10 ng/ml) had a lower BMD and more prevalent VFs. No difference was noted with regard to AAC among the three groups. Multiple stepwise conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of AAC was associated significantly with age and the presence of VFs. Extended aortic calcifications are independently associated with prevalent VFA-identified VFs but not with serum vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women. VFA imaging using DXA may detect at the same time prevalent VFs and AAC, an important cardiovascular disease risk factor.

Knowledge and Attitude of Teenagers Towards Electronic Cigarettes in Karachi, Pakistan.

Introduction Studies have shown that electronic cigarettes have gained immense popularity and their use has increased dramatically all over the world. However, little is known about the knowledge and attitudes towards e-cigarettes in third world countries such as Pakistan. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of teenagers in Karachi regarding e-cigarettes and whether the differences in said perceptions were affected by gender and level of education. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in January 2017 using convenience sampling and interviewed 441 young individuals, aged 13 to 19 years, to determine their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding e-cigarettes. The participants were questioned about their knowledge and its source. Attitudes were judged using four and five-point Likert scales while questions regarding practices focused on single and current use. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were applied to compare the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of teenagers with gender and level of schooling. Results The majority of participants knew what e-cigarettes were (n=277, 68.7%) but did not know about their contents (n=225, 55.8%) and had learned about them from either friends or the internet (n=245, 60.%). Almost half of them (n=190, 47.2%) believed that the reason for e-cigarette use was either peer pressure or to quit smoking conventional cigarettes. An overwhelming majority also stated that; it was either easy or very easy to obtain e-cigarettes (n=277, 68.7%), they would not try smoking e-cigarettes even if a good friend of theirs recommended them (n=287, 71.2%), they were not current e-cigarette smokers (n=370, 91.8%) and they would never promote e-cigarette use (n=371, 92.1%). Statistically significant differences were found with males knowing more about e-cigarettes (p=0.006) and being more common to either have smoked (p <0.001) or be current e-cigarette smokers (p <0.001). Furthermore, middle school students were more likely to have negative attitudes towards e-cigarettes believing they were more harmful (p=0.003) and more addictive (p <0.001) than conventional cigarettes. Conclusion Many people were aware of what electronic cigarettes are but still, it was evident that there was the lack of proper knowledge along with negative attitudes towards e-cigarette use among teenagers in Pakistan due to cultural and social stigmas and lack of advertising. Males and females had considerable differences in their opinions regarding e-cigarette use owing to such social practices being considered taboo by females and males having greater freedom due to patriarchal, familial and cultural systems.

[Oral health conditions in women with or without occupation--results from a regional examination and survey]. / Mundgesundheit von berufstätigen und nicht berufstätigen Frauen--Ergebnisse einer regionalen Untersuchung und Umfrage.

AIM: In the present study oral health conditions and oral hygiene measures of women with and without occupation were examined and compared. In addition to a dental assessment, oral hygiene measures and socio-demographic data were collected by means of a questionnaire. METHOD: A total of 415 subjects (210 women with and 205 women without occupation) with an age range of 25-65 years were enrolled in this study. All women underwent a dental assessment, including a radiographic examination (orthopanthomogram). The dental assessment comprised the number of teeth, caries frequency (DMFT index), type and frequency of restorations, quality of oral hygiene (API), degree of gingival inflammation (SBI), probing depths and the presence of recessions. In addition, a questionnaire, concerning anamnestic data and information about the familial situation, level of education and occupation, was filled in. The study was approved by the ethics commission (Rhineland-Palatinate). RESULTS: Of the women without occupation (mean age: 38.1±9.7 years) 90% were married, only 3% were heavy smokers, and only 2% had a university degree. Of the working women (mean age: 43.2 ±11 years) 73% were married, 17% were heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes/day), and 10% had a university degree. Oral hygiene of the working women was slightly better than that in women without occupation; however, severe periodontal disease was seen more frequently in working women (15% vs. 3.3%; p<0.027). With respect to the periodontal situation, the probability of developing an aggressive periodontitis was with an odds ratio of 4.23 (95% CI: 0.77-23.17) considerably higher for the group of working women. CONCLUSION: The oral health of women with or without occupation differed slightly. These findings suggest that occupation, level of education and life style of the women have an influence on oral hygiene measures and on oral health.

Intra-cellular Staphylococcus aureus alone causes infection in vivo.

Chronic and recurrent bone infections occur frequently but have not been explained. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is often found among chronic and recurrent infections and may be responsible for such infections. One possible reason is that S. aureus can internalize and survive within host cells and by doing so, S. aureus can evade both host defense mechanisms and most conventional antibiotic treatments. In this study, we hypothesized that intra-cellular S. aureus could induce infections in vivo. Osteoblasts were infected with S. aureus and, after eliminating extra-cellular S. aureus, inoculated into an open fracture rat model. Bacterial cultures and radiographic observations at post-operative day 21 confirmed local bone infections in animals inoculated with intra-cellular S. aureus within osteoblasts alone. We present direct in vivo evidence that intra-cellular S. aureus could be sufficient to induce bone infection in animals; we found that intra-cellular S. aureus inoculation of as low as 102 colony forming units could induce severe bone infections. Our data may suggest that intra-cellular S. aureus can "hide" in host cells during symptom-free periods and, under certain conditions, they may escape and lead to infection recurrence. Intra-cellular S. aureus therefore could play an important role in the pathogenesis of S. aureus infections, especially those chronic and recurrent infections in which disease episodes may be separated by weeks, months, or even years.

A genetic basis for the variable effect of smoking/nicotine on Parkinson's disease.

Prior studies have established an inverse association between cigarette smoking and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD), and currently, the disease-modifying potential of the nicotine patch is being tested in clinical trials. To identify genes that interact with the effect of smoking/nicotine, we conducted genome-wide interaction studies in humans and in Drosophila. We identified SV2C, which encodes a synaptic-vesicle protein in PD-vulnerable substantia nigra (P=1 × 10(-7) for gene-smoking interaction on PD risk), and CG14691, which is predicted to encode a synaptic-vesicle protein in Drosophila (P=2 × 10(-11) for nicotine-paraquat interaction on gene expression). SV2C is biologically plausible because nicotine enhances the release of dopamine through synaptic vesicles, and PD is caused by the depletion of dopamine. Effect of smoking on PD varied by SV2C genotype from protective to neutral to harmful (P=5 × 10(-10)). Taken together, cross-validating evidence from humans and Drosophila suggests SV2C is involved in PD pathogenesis and it might be a useful marker for pharmacogenomics studies involving nicotine.

A comprehensive analysis of deletions, multiplications, and copy number variations in PARK2.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a comprehensive population genetic study of PARK2. PARK2 mutations are associated with juvenile parkinsonism, Alzheimer disease, cancer, leprosy, and diabetes mellitus, yet ironically, there has been no comprehensive study of PARK2 in control subjects; and to resolve controversial association of PARK2 heterozygous mutations with Parkinson disease (PD) in a well-powered study. METHODS: We studied 1,686 control subjects (mean age 66.1 ± 13.1 years) and 2,091 patients with PD (mean onset age 58.3 ± 12.1 years). We tested for PARK2 deletions/multiplications/copy number variations (CNV) using semiquantitative PCR and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and validated the mutations by real-time quantitative PCR. Subjects were tested for point mutations previously. Association with PD was tested as PARK2 main effect, and in combination with known PD risk factors: SNCA, MAPT, APOE, smoking, and coffee intake. RESULTS: A total of 0.95% of control subjects and 0.86% of patients carried a heterozygous CNV mutation. CNV mutations found in 16 control subjects were all in exons 1-4, sparing exons that encode functionally critical protein domains. Thirteen patients had 2 CNV mutations, 5 had 1 CNV and 1 point mutation, and 18 had 1 CNV mutation. Mutations found in patients spanned exons 2-9. In whites, having 1 CNV was not associated with increased risk (odds ratio 1.05, p = 0.89) or earlier onset of PD (64.7 ± 8.6 heterozygous vs 58.5 ± 11.8 normal). CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive population genetic study in control subjects fills the void for a PARK2 reference dataset. There is no compelling evidence for association of heterozygous PARK2 mutations, by themselves or in combination with known risk factors, with PD.

Bivariate random effects meta-analysis of ROC curves.

Meta-analysis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curve data is often done with fixed-effects models, which suffer many shortcomings. Some random-effects models have been proposed to execute a meta-analysis of ROC-curve data, but these models are not often used in practice. Straightforward modeling techniques for multivariate random-effects meta-analysis of ROC-curve data are needed. The 1st aim of this article is to present a practical method that addresses the drawbacks of the fixed-effects summary ROC (SROC) method of Littenberg and Moses. Sensitivities and specificities are analyzed simultaneously using a bivariate random-effects model. The 2nd aim is to show that other SROC curves can also be derived from the bivariate model through different characterizations of the estimated bivariate normal distribution. Thereby the authors show that the bivariate random-effects approach not only extends the SROC approach but also provides a unifying framework for other approaches. The authors bring the statistical meta-analysis of ROC-curve data back into a framework of relatively standard multivariate meta-analysis with random effects. The analyses were carried out using the software package SAS (Proc NLMIXED).

Anthropometric correlates of blood pressure in normotensive Pakistani subjects.

Obesity and hypertension are two major inter-related cardiovascular risk factors. Decrease in adiposity is one of the most effective preventive measures not only in decreasing the overall cardiovascular risk but also the blood pressure. This cross-sectional study measured the effect of various measures of adiposity on blood pressure in normal healthy subjects of Pakistani origin. 400 normotensive subjects (247 males and 153 females) were included in this study. Along with data on co-morbid conditions, two blood pressure readings and several anthropometric measurements were recorded. Age and gender specific analysis was done. Following the WHO cutoffs for Asians, about 52% of our sample population was found to be overweight or obese. Age was not associated with blood pressure indices in males; however it was strongly associated with all blood pressure indices in females. Greater Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist to Height Ratio (WHTR) were associated with higher Systolic and Diastolic Blood pressure. Increasing age was also associated with higher levels of BMI, WC and WHTR. Anthropometric variables however, were more strongly associated with blood pressure indices than age in this sample population. In conclusion, we found WC and WHTR to be strongly associated with blood pressure indices in normotensive Pakistani males.

[Medical treatment of venous priapism apropos of 46 cases: puncture, pharmacologic detumescence or penile cooling?]. / Traitement médical du priapisme veineux à propos de 46 cas: ponction, détumescence pharmacologique ou réfrigération pénienne?

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the efficacy of three nonspecific medical approaches to the first-line treatment of priapism : a) intracavernous injection (ICI) of alpha-adrenergic agonists, b) cavernous puncture, c) penile cutaneous cooling. METHODS: 46 cases of venous priapism, due to various aetiologies, were initially treated by ICI of alpha-adrenergic agonists (23 cases), puncture (14 cases) or cooling (9 cases). These 3 methods were combined only in the case of failure and not uniformly, based on our experience. The results were analysed in terms of successful detumescence and preservation of erectile function. RESULTS: Detumescence was obtained and erectile function was preserved in almost 80% of cases, with conservative treatment alone. ICI (83%) and cooling (78%) were more effective as first-line treatment than puncture (57%). The delay to treatment was a more important parameter than the aetiology. Cooling was no longer effective after the 8th hour, puncture was no longer effective after the 9th hour and ICI was no longer effective after the 34th hour. Failures of conservative treatment and erectile sequelae were only observed in cases of priapism treated after the 24th hour. CONCLUSION: The 3 methods have a similar degree of efficacy, provided they are performed early. Their indication depends on : 1) the duration of priapism, 2) the presence or absence of cavernosal anoxia. Schematically (and in parallel with aetiological treatment when possible) : a) in the case of painless priapism < 12 hours, cooling can be tried first, b) in the case of failure or painless priapism > 12, but < 24 hours, ICI of alpha-adrenergic agonists associated with puncture is indicated (except in the case of contraindications to ICI), c) in the case of painful priapism or > 24 hours, puncture must be the first treatment. In the case of failure, cavernosal blood gases should be performed to evaluate cavernosal anoxia and to guide management.

[Cholelithiasis and ileo-ceco-cystoplasty (study of 39 patients)]. / Lithiase vésiculaire et iléo-caeco-cystoplastie (etude à propos de 39 patients).

Limited data have been reported concerning the gallstone complications of ileocaecocystoplasty. A retrospective study of gallbladder ultrasonography looking for gallstones was performed in 35 of 39 patients undergoing ileocaecocystoplasty between July 1987 and July 1991. The surgical technique used in 33 men and 2 women with a mean age of 64.5 years was that described by Thuroff (Mainz Pouch). Gallbladder ultrasonography was performed a fortnight before the operation and then regularly during follow-up, with a mean follow-up of 24 months. Eight patients, an average of 13 months after ileocaecocystoplasty, developed ultrasonographically detectable gallstones, whose prevalence in the male study population was four times higher than that of the general male population. This study raises the question of whether cholecystectomy should be performed routinely during ileocaecocystoplasty and further studies should be conducted to clarify this problem.