Hemato-Biochemical studies on Egyptian Buffaloes and Calves naturally infected with Foot and Mouth Disease Virus serotype SAT 2

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of all cloven footed domestic and wild animals. This work was planned to study the different markers for diagnosis of FMDV serotype Sat2 in adult buffaloes and calves including clinical, hematological and biochemical examinations. A total number of sixty animals were divided into four groups. The first group was apparently healthy adult buffaloes, while the second was naturally infected adult buffaloes, a third group was apparently healthy suckling calves and finally the fourth group was naturally infected suckling calves. The recorded clinical signs were fever, salivation, loss of appetite, depression, lameness, blisters or vesicles, erosions and ulcers in the mucosa of the mouth, tongue, lips, gums, pharynx, palate and between the claws. Anemia, leucopenia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia were recorded in infected adult buffaloes and calves. Myocardial injury proved by presence of degenerated myocardial fibers and lymphocyte cell infiltration with a significant increase in cardiac markers like cardiac torponin I, CPK and LDH in addition to a significant hyperkalemia, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesemia in buffaloe calves. Moreover, electrophoresis showed hyoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypoglobulinemia in infected animals. It could be concluded that the elevation of cardiac markers emphasized that FMD is more severe in young calves than adult animals. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate the prognosis of FMD infection in calves by these markers

Učinak zamjene obroka od pšeničnih mekinja obrokom sa sjemenkama kima na nesenje, kvalitetu jaja i masnokiselinski profil u kokoši nesilica

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of substituting wheat bran (WB) with cumin seed meal (CSM) on laying performance, egg quality characteristics and egg-yolk fatty acids profile in laying hens. A total of 180 Bovans hens at 55 weeks of age were divided randomly into three treatments. The CSM was incorporated into a standard corn- and soybean meal-based diet by replacing 0, 50, and 100% of WB [i.e., 100% WB (control), 50% WB+50% CSM and 100% CSM] from 55 to 61 weeks of age. Body weight was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Feed intake, hen-day egg production and egg weight were recorded daily. At 61 weeks of age, 30 eggs were taken at random from each treatment group to determine the egg quality characteristics. Replacing 100% of WB by CSM did not affect body weight, however, hen-day egg production, egg weight and egg mass significantly increased, while feed conversion ratio significantly decreased (P<0.05). Haugh unit, shell thickness and yolk color significantly increased by CSM substitution in comparison with 100% WB. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) significantly decreased by replacing WB with CSM, while, plasma HDL-cholesterol significantly increased. Furthermore, the liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration significantly decreased, while vitamin E, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid significantly increased (P<0.05) due to CSM inclusion. Therefore, it could be concluded that substitution of WB with CSM could improve laying performance and egg quality characteristics, and reduce lipid peroxidation in laying hens.Cilj ovoga rada bio je istražiti učinak zamjene obroka s pšeničnim mekinjama (WB) obrokom sa sjemenkama kima (CSM) na nesenje, kvalitetu jaja te profil masnih kiselina u žumanjku jajeta kokoši nesilica. Ukupno je 180 Bovans kokoši u dobi od 55 tjedana slučajnim odabirom podijeljeno u tri pokusne skupine, u kojima su sjemenke kima dodane u standardni obrok s kukuruzom i sojom zamjenjujući 0, 50 i 100 % pšeničnih mekinja. Tako je kontrolna skupina hranjena obrocima sa 100 % pšeničnih mekinja, druga skupina s 50 % obroka s pšeničnim mekinjama i 50 % obroka sa sjemenkama kima, a treća skupina obrokom koji je sadržavao 100 % sjemenki kima. Pokusno razdoblje je trajalo od 55. do 61. tjedna starosti nesilica. Tjelesna je masa mjerena na početku i na kraju pokusa. Unos hrane, dnevna proizvodnja jaja i njihova masa bilježili su se svaki dan. U dobi od 61 tjedna iz svake je skupine slučajnim odabirom uzeto 30 jaja kako bi se odredila njihova kvaliteta. zamjenjujući 100 % obrok od pšeničnih mekinja sjemenke kima nisu utjecale na tjelesnu masu, no ipak su dnevna proizvodnja, težina i masa jaja znakovito porasle, dok se stopa konverzije hrane znakovito smanjila (P<0,05). Haugh-ova jedinica, debljina ljuske i boja žumanjka znakovito su porasle u skupinama u kojima su pšenične mekinje zamijenjene sjemenkama kima u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Ukupni kolesterol, trigliceridi, LDL-kolesterol i glutaminska oksalooctena transaminaza (GOT) znakovito su sniženi u skupinama u kojima su pšenične mekinje zamijenjene sjemenkama kima, dok je HDL-kolesterol znakovito povišen. nadalje, koncentracija malondialdehida (MDA) u jetri znakovito je snižena, dok su vitamin E, linolna i alfa-linolna kiselina znakovito porasli (P<0,05) uslijed dodanih sjemenki kima. Može se zaključiti da zamjena obroka s pšeničnim mekinjama obrokom sa sjemenkama kima može poboljšati nesenje i kvalitetu jaja te smanjiti lipidnu peroksidaciju u kokoši nesilica

Plasma Elaidic Acid Level as Biomarker of Industrial Trans Fatty Acids and Risk of Weight Change: Report from the EPIC Study

Background Few epidemiological studies have examined the association between dietary trans fatty acids and weight gain, and the evidence remains inconsistent. The main objective of the study was to investigate the prospective association between biomarker of industrial trans fatty acids and change in weight within the large study European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods Baseline plasma fatty acid concentrations were determined in a representative EPIC sample from the 23 participating EPIC centers. A total of 1,945 individuals were followed for a median of 4.9 years to monitor weight change. The association between elaidic acid level and percent change of weight was investigated using a multinomial logistic regression model, adjusted by length of follow-up, age, energy, alcohol, smoking status, physical activity, and region. Results In women, doubling elaidic acid was associated with a decreased risk of weight loss (odds ratio (OR) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.55-0.88, p = 0.002) and a trend was observed with an increased risk of weight gain during the 5-year follow-up (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.97-1.56, p = 0.082) (p-trend<.0001). In men, a trend was observed for doubling elaidic acid level and risk of weight loss (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.66-1.01, p = 0.062) while no significant association was found with risk of weight gain during the 5-year follow-up (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.88-1.33, p = 0.454). No association was found for saturated and cis-monounsaturated fatty acids. Conclusions These data suggest that a high intake of industrial trans fatty acids may decrease the risk of weight loss, particularly in women. Prevention of obesity should consider limiting the consumption of highly processed foods, the main source of industrially-produced trans fatty acids

Genetic deficiency of aldose reductase counteracts the development of diabetic nephropathy in C57BL/6 mice

National Science Foundation of China [30770490]; 973 Program of China [2009CB941601]; Science Planning Program of Fujian Province [2009J1010]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province [2009J01180]; Fujian Provincial Department of Science and TechnoloThe aim of the study was to investigate the effects of genetic deficiency of aldose reductase in mice on the development of key endpoints of diabetic nephropathy. A line of Ar (also known as Akr1b3)-knockout (KO) mice, a line of Ar-bitransgenic mice and control C57BL/6 mice were used in the study. The KO and bitransgenic mice were deficient for Ar in the renal glomeruli and all other tissues, with the exception of, in the bitransgenic mice, a human AR cDNA knockin-transgene that directed collecting-tubule epithelial-cell-specific AR expression. Diabetes was induced in 8-week-old male mice with streptozotocin. Mice were further maintained for 17 weeks then killed. A number of serum and urinary variables were determined for these 25-week-old mice. Periodic acid-Schiff staining, western blots, immunohistochemistry and protein kinase C (PKC) activity assays were performed for histological analyses, and to determine the levels of collagen IV and TGF-beta 1 and PKC activities in renal cortical tissues. Diabetes-induced extracellular matrix accumulation and collagen IV overproduction were completely prevented in diabetic Ar-KO and bitransgenic mice. Ar deficiency also completely or partially prevented diabetes-induced activation of renal cortical PKC, TGF-beta 1 and glomerular hypertrophy. Loss of Ar results in a 43% reduction in urine albumin excretion in the diabetic Ar-KO mice and a 48% reduction in the diabetic bitransgenic mice (p < 0.01). Genetic deficiency of Ar significantly ameliorated development of key endpoints linked with early diabetic nephropathy in vivo. Robust and specific inhibition of aldose reductase might be an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10&nbsp;years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37&nbsp;years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Feasibility study of green wastes composting with digested and dewatering sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant in Iran

Background: Composting as a waste management technology is becoming more widespread. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and to find the most effective composting process for the ratio of green waste, digested and dewatered sludge from Chonibieh wastewater treatment plant in the west region of Ahvaz. Methods: The composting time was 23 days and the evaluated parameters in this period of the study were organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), moisture content and pH. The C/N ratio was maintained at 30 with weight:weight ratio of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 (digested and dewatered sludge to green waste). Results: It was observed that vessel R3 produced higher quality of compost with final total nitrogen (1.28%), final total phosphorus (0.71%), final total organic carbon (TOC) (25.78%) and C/N (20.65%) within the 23 days of composting. While vessel R1 produced higher final total nitrogen and total phosphorus with lower amount of total coliform indicating suitable quality of composting. Therefore, the results showed that the characteristics of dewatered sludge mixed with green waste proportion of green waste significantly influenced the compost quality and process dynamics. The results also showed that the quality of final products in all the conditions was in agreement with Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. However, the moisture content ratios were lower than the mentioned guidelines. With regards to microbial quality, all three ratios were in agreement with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Iranian guidelines. Conclusion: It is suggested that the final product of composting can be safely used in farmland and green space. Keywords: Composting, Septic sludge, Dewatered sludge, Green wast