This study evaluated effects of feeding low-bush wild blueberry (LBP) and organic American cranberry (CRP) pomaces without or with multienzyme supplement (ENZ) on growth performance, organ weight and ...plasma metabolites in broiler chickens. Nonenzyme-fed (no-ENZ: n = 1,575) and enzyme-fed (ENZ: n = 1,575) day-old male Cobb500 broilers were placed in floor pens (45 chicks/pen) and allocated to five corn-soybean meal-based diets: a basal diet supplemented with either bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD, 55 mg/kg), 0.5 or 1% of CRP or LBP in a 2 × 5 factorial design for 35-day experiment. Body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and mortality were recorded whereas BW gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. Birds were sampled at days 21 and 35 for organ weights and plasma metabolites. There were no interactions between diet and ENZ on any parameter (P > 0.05) and no effect of ENZ on overall (d 0–35) growth performance and organ weights (P > 0.05). Birds fed BMD were heavier (P < 0.05) at d 35 and had better overall FCR than berry-supplemented birds. Birds fed 1% LBP had poor FCR than birds fed 0.5% CRP. Birds fed LBP exhibited heavier liver (P < 0.05) than birds fed BMD or 1% CRP. The highest plasma concentrations of aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) at d 28 and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) at d 35 were found in ENZ-fed birds (P < 0.05). At d 28, birds fed 0.5% LBP showed higher plasma AST and CK concentrations (P < 0.05). However, CRP feeding resulted in a lower plasma CK level compared with BMD feeding (P < 0.05). The lowest cholesterol level was detected in 1% CRP-fed birds. In conclusion, this study showed no ENZ effects to potentiate berry pomaces on the overall growth performance of broilers (P < 0.05. However, plasma profiles revealed the potential of ENZ to modulate the metabolism of pomace-fed broilers. LBP increased BW during the starter phase, while CRP increased BW during the grower phase.
Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thyme, ginger, and their nano-particles, as alternatives to antibiotic growth promotors (AGP), on productive performance, carcass traits, ...meat quality and gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 270 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 6 groups, each consisting of 3 replicates ( n = 15 chicks/replicate). The birds in group 1 were fed the control diet which contained neither antibiotic growth promotors nor phytogenic feed additives (PFA). Birds in group 2 were fed diets containing 0.05% of AGP (Bacitracin methylene disalicylate). Chicks in group 3 and 4 were fed diets supplemented with 1.0% of thyme and ginger, respectively, whereas birds in group 5 and 6 were offered diets including 0.10% of nano-thyme and nano-ginger, respectively. The experiment lasted for 35 days. It was found that thyme and ginger with their nano-products, like the antibiotic, improved the body weight, weight gain and feed conversion rate of birds. The effect of ginger and nano-ginger on body weight and weight gain was greater than other treatments. During the overall feeding period, the feed cost of production was the highest in antibiotic group, but was the lowest in ginger and nano-ginger treatments. There was no effect of dietary treatments on carcass yield or organs weight except bursa of Fabricius and abdominal fat. Thyme, ginger and their nano-composites increased the weight of bursa and reduced the abdominal fat amount. The phytogenic additives and their nano-particles improved the colour, water holding capacity, and flavor of meat. Moreover, these additives reduced the total intestinal bacterial count as well as the total aerobic mesophilic count of meat. The effect of PFA and their nano-particles on the bacterial count was similar to that of antibiotic. In conclusion, thyme and ginger with their nano- particles can be considered as promising agents in feeding of broilers to improve the growth performance, gut health and meat quality. Moreover, these additives can be used as alternatives to AGP to overcome its health hazards and the high cost. The nanotechnology of herbal plants enables them to be added in smaller amounts in poultry diets with producing the same effect of raw ingredients, and this could be due to the higher bioavailability.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic with and without feed restriction on broilers performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and ...feed cost of production from 1 to 56 days of age.
Two hundred and forty unsexed one day-old chicks of Arbor Acres breed were used. Two trials, I and II, were conducted, with 120 birds in both. Each trial was divided into 4 equal groups. The birds in trial I were fed
throughout the experiment, while the chicks in trial II were fed
during the first week of age, then subjected to 5 hours/d of feed restriction from the beginning of the second week up to the end of the experiment. In both trials, the birds in group 1 were fed on a control diet while the other groups were given the same control diet supplemented either with a probiotic in group 2, prebiotic in group 3, or synbiotic in group 4.
It was found that chicks fed diets supplemented with probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic (with and without feed restriction) exhibited higher body weight and feed efficiency than chicks fed the control diets. The feed additives in both trials did not affect hemoglobin, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, and total cholesterol, except the packed cell volume which was increased in the additive treatments with restriction at the end of the experiment. Moreover, the dietary treatments did not influence the carcass yield. However, the relative weights of liver, gizzard and proventriculus, small intestine and bursa of fabricius were found to be increased. The additives decreased the visible fat in the carcass, with more decreasing effect in the additive groups with restriction. The lowest feed cost per kg of weight gain was observed in the birds fed diets supplemented with synbiotic, probiotic and prebiotic. Feed restriction improved the feed conversion ratio, economic return, but decreased the feed intake, serum total cholesterol and visible fat in comparison with non-restricted groups.
The biological feed additives could be routinely added to broiler diets, especially when a feed restriction program is followed. Finally, it can be recommended to restrict feed, and add probiotic or synbiotic to increase weight, improve feed conversion rate and reduce feed cost of production.
A local performance of the SIR model on actual data is introduced. A good approximation of the SIR model parameters in Saudi Arabia during a period of 275 days (the first of April 2020 to the end of ...December 2020) is determined. The parameters are estimated from the recorded data and used to predict the values in the next subsequent period. The performance of the standard fourth order Runge–Kutta method is considered for the classical SIR models over different periods. A comparison of the recorded data and the predicted values during the considered period illustrated the effectiveness of the treatment. The mathematical properties and initial conditions are considered within the estimated parameter values. It is shown that lockdown and social distance attitudes effectively controlled the spread of the disease. The maximum number of daily active infected cases is 63,026, and occurs in July and this agrees with the calculated values. To make the graphs representable, we considered a fixed closed population, the effective sample during the considered period of size N = 400,000 only (represents only 1% of the overall population susceptible, this must be associated, with great thanks, to the authorities in KSA).
This study was carried out to evaluate the potential effects of 90 days-long dietary supple- mentation of probiotic and yeast culture on immunity condition of lambs. Fifteen Rahmani growing male ...lambs (about 5 months old and 23.21±2.75 kg body weight) were randomly allo- cated to three equal groups consisting of 5 animals each. The animals in the first group, served as a control (group C), were fed a basal diet without any supplementation. The lambs in the second and third group were fed the basal diet supplemented with probiotic (group Y) or yeast culture (group YC), respectively. The probiotic consisted of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) alone, while the yeast culture was composed of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the media on which it was grown. In group Y and YC, each lamb was supplemented daily with 0.5 g and 7.0 g of live yeast and yeast culture, respectively. Blood samples were collected before feeding the supplements and then every 15 days until the day 90th. Total and differential leucocytic counts, total protein, albumin, IgA, IgG and IgM levels were measured in blood. There were insignificant (p>0.05) variations in the levels of total and differential leucocytic counts and total protein among the groups throughout the experiment. However, significant differences (p⟨0.05) were found in globulin, IgA, IgG and IgM in both (Y) and (YC) groups, but the effect of yeast culture seems to be better than that of the probiotic. In conclusions, the obtained results indicate that the tested probiotic and yeast culture improve the immunological status of lambs.
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most dangerous complication of chronic liver disease. It is a multifactorial complicated disease. Hepatitis C and hepatitis B viruses (HCV and HBV, ...respectively) represent the main causes of HCC in Egypt. Early diagnosis is very important to aid in early intervention. Objectives: The goal of this research is to evaluate the metabolic role of different amino acids as non-invasive biomarkers over the course of HCC. Methods: This study included 302 participants with 97 diagnosed, untreated HCC patients, 81 chronic HCV patients, 56 chronic HBV patients, 18 co-infected patients, and a control group of 50 normal age and gender-matched individuals. All participants provided complete medical histories and underwent complete clinical examinations, abdominal ultrasonography and/or computed tomography, routine laboratory investigations, estimation of serum alpha-fetoprotein, and determination of amino acid levels using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC MS/MS). Results: This work revealed a decline in branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and increase in aromatic amino acids (AAA) among infected groups (HCC, HBV, HCV, and co-infected patients) compared to control subjects and a marked change in Fisher's and the BCAAs/tyrosine molar concentration ratios (BTR) between controls and infected groups. Conclusion: Different amino acids could be used as non-invasive markers to discriminate and follow chronic hepatitis patients to predict the course of HCC.
There seem to currently be no therapeutic medications found for the severe coronavirus infection in 2019 (COVID-19). In light of this, it has been hypothesized that the immunomodulatory treatment ...known as tocilizumab can lessen the inflammatory response that occurs in the respiratory system, speed up the process of clinical benefit, lower the risk of death, and avert the need for ventilators. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) studied patients with a proven infection of SARS-CoV-2 and hyperinflammatory reactions. The inclusion criteria included fever (body temperature > 38 °C), pulmonary infiltrates, or supplemental oxygen. The patients received either conventional treatment with one dose of either tocilizumab (8 mg per kilogram of body weight) or conventional treatment only. The subjects were randomized to receive either treatment with a 1:1 ratio. A time-to-event test was conducted to determine the time to intubation or death. There was an insignificant difference between the investigated groups regarding the time to death, time to mechanical ventilation, and percentage of deaths. The conventional group's median (IQR) hospital length of stay was 4 (3-6) days, whereas the tocilizumab therapy group was 7 (4.75-10) days. There was a substantial difference in the mechanical ventilation rates in both groups, which were 17 (34%) and 28 (56%), respectively. In hospitalized patients with severe illness and COVID-19, tocilizumab was ineffective in preventing intubation or death. Trials must be larger, however, in order to exclude the potential benefits or harms.
Biological mechanisms contribute to the relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and infertility in males by altering semen quality.
The aim of the present study was to ...evaluate the impact of PAHs on male infertility using the sperm chromatin dispersion test (Halo sperm assay).
Sixty-six (66) infertile males under 45 years of age were examined for the determination of urinary metabolite and oxidative stress by measuring lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity of glutathione and glutathione-s-transferase, as well as hormonal activity of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and prolactin and semen quality.
There was an increased level of urinary metabolite of 1-hydroxy pyrene, 1-hydroxy naphthalene and 2-hydroxy naphthalene in the urine of the infertile group. In addition, elevated concentrations of malondialdehyde coincided with a decreased level of antioxidants, leading to oxidative stress in the infertile group. Semen samples showed 30% sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation.
The data provide strong evidence of a statistical threshold for semen samples containing 30% sperm DNA fragmentation resulting in a reduced level of pregnancy success.
Obtained.
Study approval was given by the ethics committee of Alexandria University (United States Department of Health and Human Services, institutional review board registration (IRB), IORG0008812 Medical Research Institute, expires 4/8/2019, OMB No: 0990-0279).
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
This study was conducted to evaluate the dietary effects of chromium methionine (Cr-Meth) chelate on growth performance, oxidative stress parameters, blood biochemistry, and carcass traits of broiler ...chickens. An experiment was conducted on 34,000 1-day-old straight-run broiler chicks (Indian River; 42.0 ± 0.03) at a commercial farm. The chicks were divided randomly into 3 groups; the first group contained 17,000 birds, which used as a control, whereas the second and third groups consisted of 7000 and 10,000 birds, respectively, with 5 replicates per group. A completely randomized design was used. The birds were fed the experimental diets containing graded levels of Cr-Meth chelate: 0 (control), 50, and 100 g/ton. This compound consisted of chromium (0.4%) chelated with methionine, and it supply the diets with 200 and 400 ppb Cr for the used levels of 50 and 100 g/ton feed, respectively. Growth performance indices (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) were measured throughout the experiment. At the end of experiment, 10 birds per treatment were slaughtered, and the carcass yield with relative weight of the internal organs was determined. Also, blood samples were taken and analyzed for glutathione peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde, ALT, AST, total protein, albumin, glucose, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. It was found that Cr-Meth improved the body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of broilers. Moreover, it reduced the mortality rate of birds. The chelated chromium can alleviate the oxidative status of birds by increasing the plasma glutathione peroxidase activity and reducing the serum malondialdehyde level. It was observed that the effects of 100 g/ton Cr-Meth chelate on performance indices, mortality rate, and oxidative stress parameters were better than that of 50 g/ton inclusion rate. Supplementation of Cr-Meth increased the total protein level, but reduced the glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations in the blood serum. In addition, it increased the carcass yield and reduced the abdominal fat percentage of the birds’ carcass. Therefore, chromium can be included in diets of broilers at a rate of 200 to 400 ppb, and the higher concentration was more effective than the lower one. So, it can be recommended to use Cr-Meth chelate in broiler diets at 100 g/ton to improve the productive performance and reduce the oxidative stress of birds.
This sudy was conducted to evaluate the effects of sugar beet pulp and potato peels, as agro-industrial byproducts, with and without enzyme supplementation on nutrient digestibility, gut morphology, ...and meat quality of broiler chickens. Broiler chicks (n= 150) were randomly divided into five groups, each with 30 birds. Chicks in the first group were fed on the control diet. Birds in second and third groups were given diets containing potato peels and sugar beet pulp at a level of 15.0% and 7.5%, respectively, while those in the fourth and fifth groups were offered the same diets but with adding an enzyme mixture. Diets containing potato peels or sugar beet pulp did not (P > 0.05) affect the digestibility of ether extract, crude fiber, or crude protein. Feeding of potato peels did not (P > 0.05) affect the intestinal morphology during the starter or grower period. However, sugar beet pulp reduced (P < 0.05) the villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio during the starter period, but without any effect at the grower period. Generally, feeding of potato peels or sugar beet pulp did not (P > 0.05) affect the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the breast or thigh muscles. Supplementation of the enzyme to the diets increased (P < 0.05) digestibility of nutrients and improve the development of the small intestine. Also, the dietary enzyme inclusion increased (P < 0.05) the crude protein content and reducing the ether extract of the meat as well as increasing its water holding capacity with a reduction of the cooking loss rate. In conclusion, adding the enzyme to the diets containing potato peels or sugar beet pulp can enhance the digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as improve the meat quality of the broilers’ carcass. Also, the tested byproducts can help in solving the problem of low availability and rising costs of traditional poultry feeds.
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