Effect on growth performance, carcass traits, and myostatin gene expression in Aseel chicken fed varied levels of dietary protein in isocaloric energy diets.

A study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding different crude protein (CP) levels with isocaloric metabolizable energy (ME) diets on growth performance, carcass traits, and myostatin (MSTN) gene expression of Aseel chicken during 0 to 16 weeks of age. A total of two hundred and ten day-old Aseel chickens were randomly allotted to seven dietary treatment groups. Each group had thirty chicks distributed into three replicates of ten chicks in each. Experimental diets were formulated to have varying levels of CP, viz. 18.5, 19.0, 19.5, 20.0, 20.5, 21.0, and 21.5%, with isocaloric energy of 2800 kcal ME/kg diets of mash feed fed to birds in a completely randomized design. Different CP levels had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the body weight gain (BWG) of Aseel chicken. At the end of 16 weeks of age, the group fed 21% CP gained 223.53 g more than the lowest CP (18.5%)-fed group. The different CP levels did not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced the feed intake of all treatment groups, but numerically highest feed intake was observed in the lowest CP (18.5%)-fed group. However, significant differences in feed efficiency (FE) appeared from the 13th week only with the 21.0% CP-fed group showing the best FE until the 16th week (3.86 to 4.06). The maximum dressing % (70.61) was observed by the 21% CP-fed group. The CP 21% diet down-regulated the MSTN gene expression in breast muscle tissue to 0.07 folds when compared to the diet of CP 20%. The best economical coordinates for maximum performance for Aseel chicken appeared to be CP of 21% and ME of 2800 kcal/kg to achieve the best FE of 3.86 at the earliest age of 13 weeks. In conclusion, 21% CP in an isocaloric diet of 2800 kcal ME/kg, in Aseel chickens, would be optimum to improve the growth performance at maximum in terms of BWG and FE up to 16 weeks of age.

Dietary encapsulated probiotic effect on broiler serum biochemical parameters.

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of encapsulated probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus lactis and Bifidobacterium bifidum) on broiler serum biochemical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Encapsulation protects the probiotics and increases their livability on exposure to unfavorable processing and storage temperatures and gastrointestinal pH. Hence, an in vitro study was undertaken to encapsulate the probiotic bacteria L. lactis and B. bifidum with sodium alginate and chitosan and evaluate the encapsulation efficiency. This experiment was conducted with 288-day-old broiler chicken; they were distributed randomly into eight treatments and six replicates in each treatment (six birds in each replicate) and given with standard feed. RESULTS: Supplementation of the encapsulated bacteria either alone or in combination (T4, T6, and T8) significantly (p<0.05) increased mean total serum protein, albumin, and globulin as compared to the birds that were not supplemented with any probiotic (T1 and T2) or supplemented with non-encapsulated bacteria (T3, T5, and T7). Supplementation of the encapsulated bacteria either alone or in combination (T4, T6, and T8) significantly (p<0.05) lowered mean total serum cholesterol, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and serum triglycerides, as compared to the birds that were not supplemented with any probiotic (T1 and T2) or supplemented with non-encapsulated bacteria (T3, T5, and T7). CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that supplementation of the encapsulated probiotic bacteria either alone or in combination significantly increased total serum protein, albumin, and globulin and significantly lowered mean total serum cholesterol, serum LDL cholesterol, and serum triglycerides as compared to the birds that were not supplemented with any probiotic or supplemented with non-encapsulated bacteria.

Anthropometric analysis of palpebral fissure dimensions and its position in South Indian ethnic adults.

OBJECTIVES: The morphology and anatomical relationship of periorbital features vary according to age, sex and ethnicity. Standard database regarding periorbital region is available for other ethnic groups. Since there is no data available in the literature, specifically for south Indian ethnic adults, the present study was carried out to determine the normal average values for South Indian ethnic population related to gender. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements of both eyes were done on standardized frontal view photograph of 200 South Indian ethnic adults aged 18 to 26 years. Parameters included were palpebral fissure width (PFW), palpebral fissure height (PFH), palpebral fissure inclination (PFI), outercanthal distance (OCD), interpupillary distance (IPD), intercanthal distance (ICD) and comparisons were made between the genders using the independent t test. RESULTS: Significant sexual dimorphism was noted in the given parameters. Palpebral fissure width (male: 31.08 mm; female: 29.90 mm), palpebral fissure inclination (male: 5.053°; female: 6.102°), outercanthal distance (male: 95.55 mm; female: 92.44 mm) and interpupillary distance (male: 66.72 mm; female: 62.59 mm). The palpebral fissure height (male: 11.30 mm; female: 11.58 mm) and intercanthal distance (male: 34.27 mm; female: 33.41 mm) showed no significant sexual differences. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant differences were found between South Indian ethnic males and female in certain key parameters. The present study suggests that ethnicity and gender should be considered in orbital surgery. To individualize the treatment planning and diagnosis, it is important for the surgeons to have knowledge of these local norms.

5'-Amino-5'-deoxyaristeromycin and its antiviral properties.

An efficient, three-step synthesis of 5'-amino-5'-deoxyaristeromycin (5), from a protected form of aristeromycin (6), is described. Compound 5 was evaluated against a large number of viruses. It showed weak activity towards vaccinia, herpes simplex virus 2, and cytomegalovirus. No other activity was observed. Compound 5 displayed some cytotoxicity towards the host cell lines human foreskin fibroblast, Daudi, and human T-lymphocyte (CEM).