Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler diets on performance and intestinal mucosa integrity.

The effect of replacing corn with low-tannin sorghum on broiler performance, carcass yield, integrity of mucosa of small intestine segments, and activity of membrane enzymes of the jejunum is investigated. A total of 594 male Cobb-500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments: 100% corn (control), 50% corn replacement with low-tannin sorghum (low sorghum), and 100% corn replacement with low-tannin sorghum (high sorghum). Body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion, and carcass yield were determined at 7, 21, and 42 d, and segments of the small intestine were collected. Feed conversion and weight gain were impaired at d 42 in broilers fed the high-sorghum diet, but no differences were observed for carcass yield among the treatments (P > 0.05). Crypt cell mitotic index of the jejunum and ileum at d 21 and 42 was lower in broilers fed the control diet than in those fed low- and high-sorghum diets (P < 0.05). Aminopeptidase activity was higher in broilers fed the control diet than in those fed low- and high-sorghum diets irrespective of age (P < 0.05). Conversely, intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity in the small intestine did not differ among the dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Our results indicate that 50% corn replacement with low-tannin sorghum is suitable for broiler diets, whereas 100% corn replacement with low-tannin sorghum had negative effects on the intestinal mucosa and performance of broilers at 42 d.

Interferon-γ +874 polymorphism in the first intron of the human interferon-γ gene and kidney allograft outcome.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in immunosuppressive therapy in the past decade, allograft rejection remains an important cause of kidney graft failure. Cytokines play a major role in the inflammatory and immune responses that mediate allograft outcomes. Several studies have shown that the production of cytokines varies among individuals. These variations are determined by genetic polymorphisms, most commonly within the regulatory region of cytokine genes. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of allelic variation on acute rejection episodes (ARE) or chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) after kidney transplantation. METHODS: To determine a possible correlation between the interferon (INF)-γ +874 polymorphism and kidney allograft outcome, we isolated genomic DNA from 74 patients who underwent isolated kidney allografts and were classified into 2 groups--a rejection and a nonrejection group--for comparison with a control group of 163 healthy subjects. RESULTS: We genotyped INF-γ +874 polymorphisms in all groups. The transplant group showed a significantly increased homozygous genotype T/T (P = .0118) compared with healthy controls. Similarly, considering only patients with CAN, the homozygous genotype T/T (P = .0067) was significantly increased compared with the healthy controls. The rejection group indicated a significant increased homozygous genotype T/T compared with the control group (P = .0061). CONCLUSION: Homozygous genotype T/T was associated with increased levels of INF-γ and greater numbers among the rejection and CAN cohorts.