Effect of cereal type and plant extract addition on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, caecal microflora, and gut barriers gene expression of broiler chickens.

Feeding broiler chickens on diets based on cereal grains of high non-starch polysaccharides content such as wheat and barley can negatively impact their performance and gut health. Plant extracts can be used as a potential tool to alleviate these negative effects. The present study assessed the effects of dietary cereal type and the inclusion of a plant extract blend (PEB) on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, caecal microflora, and gene expression of selected biomarkers for gut integrity in broiler chickens in a 42-d experiment. Ross-308 male broilers were assigned into different dietary treatments and fed on two cereal types (corn- vs. wheat/barley-based) with/without added graded concentrations of a PEB (0, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg diet). There were no significant differences in the growth performance parameters, intestinal histomorphology, and caecal microflora due to the impact of dietary cereal type. However, lactobacilli count in the caecal microflora was increased in the group fed on a corn-based diet. The PEB supplementation especially at a level of 500 to 1000 mg/kg diet significantly increased the average BW and decreased the feed conversion ratio. It also increased the villi length of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, decreased the duodenal crypt depth, and increased the villi length to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Supplementation of the PEB decreased the total bacterial and coliform count and increased the lactobacilli count in a linear pattern. Gene expression of Occludin and Junction Adhesion Molecule was significantly increased in the PEB supplemented diets, whereby no influence was observed on mucin expression. In conclusion, supplementation of a PEB at levels of 500-1000 mg/kg can be used as a tool to improve broiler performance and gut health.

Effect of dietary supplementation of grape seed extract on the growth performance, lipid profile, antioxidant status and immune response of broiler chickens.

Grape seed extracts (GSE) contain several beneficial bioactive constituents; therefore, can be utilized as a potential feed additive in broiler chickens. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation of broiler chicken diets with GSE as a natural antioxidant at levels of 125, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm on the growth performance, serum lipid profile, liver glutathione-reduced, thigh muscle malondialdehyde and humoral immune response against Newcastle disease virus vaccines. This experiment was performed during the life-span of chickens from 0 to 42 days of age. The results of broilers fed on diet supplemented by GSE were compared with those fed on the basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented by butylated hydroxytoluene as a synthetic antioxidant (BHT, 125 ppm). No significant differences were observed in the growth performance, percent livability, total lipid, high and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterols when the use of GSE or BHT were compared with the control. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly decreased after intake of GSE compared with BHT in the feed diet. The glutathione-reduced level in liver tissues was significantly increased by inclusion of GSE, but not by BHT. Inclusion of GSE or BHT decreased significantly the malondialdehyde level found in meat tissue. The antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus vaccines was significantly elevated in 28 and 35-day-old broiler chickens fed with a diet supplemented with GSE or BHT, the former providing a higher response. It can be concluded that GSE can be used as an effective natural antioxidant and immunostimulant agent in broiler chicken diets, and that 125 to 250 ppm can be considered as the optimum dosage.

Effect of supplementing broiler chicken diets with green tea extract on the growth performance, lipid profile, antioxidant status and immune response.

A trial was conducted to explore the effect of feeding graded concentrations of green tea extract (GTE; 125, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) on the growth performance, serum lipid profile, liver glutathione-reduced, thigh muscle malondialdehyde and humoral immune response against Newcastle disease virus vaccines of broiler chickens from hatching to 42 d of age. The results of broilers fed on GTE were contrasted to those fed on butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT; 125 mg/kg) or unsupplemented controls. The obtained results revealed no significant difference among treatments in the measured growth performance parameters (body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio), per cent liveability and serum lipid profile (total lipid, total cholesterol, high-density, low-density and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterols). Dietary intake of GTE resulted in a significant increase in the liver glutathione-reduced level compared to the control. The glutathione-reduced level of broilers fed on the BHT diet was not significantly different from that of broilers fed on GTE or control diets. Feeding GTE or BHT resulted in a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde level of meat tissue. The specific antibody titre against Newcastle disease virus vaccines was significantly increased at 28 and 35 d of age in broilers fed on diets supplemented with GTE but not with BHT. In conclusion, GTE was found to possess antioxidant and immunostimulant characteristics for broilers when supplemented to their diets, and its optimum inclusion level ranged from 125 to 500 mg/kg.

Estudio del impacto económico de las fracturas de cadera en nuestro medio / Economic burden of hip fracture in our community (North of Gran Canaria)

Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia de la fractura de cadera osteoporótica en nuestro medio y el consumo total de recursos económicos directos e indirectos durante 12 meses. Material y método: Estudio longitudinal prospectivo no intervencionista de una cohorte de pacientes mayores de 65 años del área norte de Gran Canaria afectos de una fractura de cadera osteoporótica, entre septiembre de 2006 y agosto de 2007. Análisis descriptivo del coste de los procesos diagnósticos y terapéuticos y el coste por hora de la atención domiciliaria, de las residencias privadas y de los centros de crónicos concertados con la Consejería, los costes de las reformas domiciliarias precisadas a partir de la fractura y los derivados de la adquisición de mobiliario adaptado y de material ortopédico. Resultados: La incidencia acumulada fue de 437,5 casos/100.000 habitantes/año. El coste por hospitalización fue de 2.444.556,4 € y representó el 39% del gasto total. El coste total, 6.253.177,9 €, se obtuvo sumando el coste directo, 5.392.452,8 € (86,3%), y el indirecto, 860.725,1 € (13,7%). Las aportaciones pública y privada constituyeron respectivamente el 78% y el 22% del coste directo. El coste indirecto se estimó en 860.725,1 €. Conclusiones: La incidencia está por debajo de la media nacional. El traslado a los centros de crónicos incrementa considerablemente el gasto, por lo que deben ser adecuadamente controlados, y los servicios sociales destinados a la ayuda a las familias de los pacientes con problemas económicos, potenciados (AU)

Objective: Fix the incidence of hip fracture and set it’s burden (direct and indirect costs associated) in 12 months. Population and methodology: A one year (Sept 2006-Aug 2007), longitudinal, prospective, observational, cohort study of 65 y.o and older people with a hip fracture in the north of Gran Canaria. Descriptive analysis of the direct cost in terms of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, professional home care attention, private and public nursing home, orthopaedic devices adquired and reforms at home addresses have been considered as well as the indirect cost, the so called «ceased profit», that is to say, the lost of productivity of those remunerated who have to abandon their occupations to take care of the patient. Results: The incidence was 437,5 cases per 100.000 people/year. Hospital cost was 2.444.556,4 €. Total economic burden was 6.253.177,9 €, as a result of the sum of direct and indirect costs, 5.392.452,8 (86,3%) and 860.725,1 € (13,7%) respectively. Private and public financing represented 78% and 22% of the direct cost (5.400.000 €) respectively. Indirect cost represented 860.000 €. Conclusion: Our incidence is lower than the national rate. Traslation to public nurse homes should be limited as necessary due to its high cost. Social support should be encouraged to help the families of these patients with limited economic resources (AU)

Microcalcifications in breast cancer: novel insights into the molecular mechanism and functional consequence of mammary mineralisation.

BACKGROUND: Mammographic microcalcifications represent one of the most reliable features of nonpalpable breast cancer yet remain largely unexplored and poorly understood. METHODS: We report a novel model to investigate the in vitro mineralisation potential of a panel of mammary cell lines. Primary mammary tumours were produced by implanting tumourigenic cells into the mammary fat pads of female BALB/c mice. RESULTS: Hydroxyapatite (HA) was deposited only by the tumourigenic cell lines, indicating mineralisation potential may be associated with cell phenotype in this in vitro model. We propose a mechanism for mammary mineralisation, which suggests that the balance between enhancers and inhibitors of physiological mineralisation are disrupted. Inhibition of alkaline phosphatase and phosphate transport prevented mineralisation, demonstrating that mineralisation is an active cell-mediated process. Hydroxyapatite was found to enhance in vitro tumour cell migration, while calcium oxalate had no effect, highlighting potential consequences of calcium deposition. In addition, HA was also deposited in primary mammary tumours produced by implanting the tumourigenic cells into the mammary fat pads of female BALB/c mice. CONCLUSION: This work indicates that formation of mammary HA is a cell-specific regulated process, which creates an osteomimetic niche potentially enhancing breast tumour progression. Our findings point to the cells mineralisation potential and the microenvironment regulating it, as a significant feature of breast tumour development.

Recuperación funcional tras fractura de cadera en una población anciana, medida con el índice de Barthel / Use of the Barthel Index to measure functional recovery in an elderly population after hip fracture

Objetivo. Analizar el grado de recuperación funcional de una serie de pacientes afectados de una fractura de cadera (FC),a los 6 y 12 meses tras la fractura, usando el índice de Barthel (IB) como instrumento de medida. Material y métodos. Estudio longitudinal prospectivo no intervencionista sobre 246 pacientes mayores de 65 años que acudieron a nuestro centro tras sufrir una FC por un traumatismo de baja energía. Se determinó su edad, sexo, nivel socioeconómico, grado de independencia funcional (IB) tanto previo como a los 6 y 12 meses, y su destino al alta (domicilio, residencia privada o un hospital de crónicos concertado con la consejería) y su mortalidad a los 6 y 12 meses. Resultados. Las mujeres constituyeron el 71,5% de los casos con una edad media de 81 años. El IB medio previo a la FC fue de 77 puntos. El 70% de los pacientes deambulaban antes de la fractura. De éstos, sólo el 48% que sufrió una FC intracapsular y el 39% de los que sufrieron una FC extracapsular volvieron a caminar a la finalización del estudio (12 meses). En 35 pacientes se desestimó el tratamiento quirúrgico por causas médicas o negativa familiar. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con edad extrema, demencia, bajos niveles de formación académica, institucionalizados en centros de crónicos y no operados presentaron peor IB a los 6 y 12 meses. El estado neurológico aceptable, acudir a control en la consulta externa, el cuidado familiar y unos niveles altos de hemoglobina preoperatoria se han relacionado con una mejor la recuperación funcional en estos pacientes (AU)

Purpose. To determine how many patients were able to return to their previous independence status after a hip fracture, using the Barthel Index Scale to measure it. Materials and methods. An observational, prospective longitudinal study of 246 patients over 65 diagnosed with hip fracture. We determined age, sex, type of fracture and treatment, cultural, and economical status, independence level before and after the fracture, and mortality over 12 months. Results. Of the 246 patients studied, 71.5% were women, and the mean age was 81 years. The Barthel Index Scale before the fracture was 77. Seventy per cent of the patients were capable of walking before the fracture, but only 48% with intracapsular, and 39% with extracapsular hip fracture, reached their previous walking capability. Thirty five patients underwent nonsurgical treatment. Conclusions. We found that advanced age, dementia, lower education levels, residence-dependent patients, and those who did not have surgical treatment, had lower levels on the Barthel Index Scale at 6 and 12 months. On the other hand, the absence of neurological diseases, attending follow-up clinics, good family care, and high haemoglobin levels prior to the fracture seemed to lead to a better functional recovery (AU)