The Effect of Jordanian Herbs on Gut Microflora, and Immunity of Broiler Chickens

The study aimed to examine and compare the influence of adding synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), with two herbal medical plants (Oregano germander) on broiler gut microflora, and its immunity. One hundred and forty broilers were raised for three weeks and were distributed into five treatment groups. The prepared dietary treatments were included (w/w):1). Control (without supplement) 2). Germander (GER; inclusion level 1.5 %) 3). Oregano (ORE; inclusion level 2.5 %) 4). Combination of GER and ORE (CM; inclusion levels 1.5 and 2.5 %, respectively)5). BHA (0.02 %). The highest total number of ileal lactobacilli counts was found in broilers fed CM dietary treatment. On the other hand, their disgust samples (i.e. in CM) showed the lowest total count of Escherichia coli compared to other treatments. Among different dietary treatments, CM treatment showed the best positive effect on broiler immune system response, where it showed the highest Bursa Fabricius relative weight, and IgG values. Overall, the results showed that such dietary treatment (i.e. Combination of GER and ORE)positively enhanced gut microflora, and bird's immunity response

Kinetics of Tannin Reduction in Soaked and Unsoaked Velvet Beans Treated by Microwave Treatment

The effect of microwave treatment on the kinetics of tannin reduction in black and white colored velvet bean (soaked and unsoaked) was evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the association level and the kinetics of tannin reduction in velvet beans after being treated with microwave treatment in order to find the appropriate time treatment useful for poultry health. Tannin content reduction rate was nicely fitted by linear regression analysis with association value (r) ranging from 0.96-0.98. Linear regression analysis suggests a zero-ordered kinetics which means that the decline rate of tannins after exposure to microwave treatment is independent of the initial tannin concentration.  In both colored velvet bean (black and white), the tannin reduction rate of unsoaked seeds was lower than that of soaked seeds. According to literature findings regarding the positive role of tannins level in poultry, it can be concluded from this study that the exposure of velvet bean to microwave treatment for more than 12 minutes may eliminate the positive effect of tannin on poultry

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Effects of Sucrose-based High-lysine Diet on Blood Chemistry, Growth Performance, and Gastrointestinal Morphology of Broiler Chickens During the Growing Stage

This study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing fat in broiler grower diet with sucrose combined with supplementation of the synthetic amino acid lysine on growth performance, gastrointestinal morphology, and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chickens. Broilers were raised for 21 days and then divided into two treatment groups (n=24 in each group). Two dietary treatments were used: corn-soy–based diet with oil (control) and corn-soy–based diet formulated with sucrose (3.30%) and lysine hydrochloride (3.36%). The experimental period was 21 days (from 21 to 42 days of age). At the end of week 6, all the birds in each treatment were slaughtered via neck slit, defeathered, and eviscerated for carcass and intestinal morphological characterization. Blood samples were collected to measure blood lipoprotein, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. The results showed that supplementation of sucrose and lysine hydrochloride to broiler ration significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed intake by half and reduced average daily gain during the study period compared to those observed in broilers fed control diet. Further, this supplementation significantly altered gastrointestinal morphology and blood lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) and total cholesterol levels. In conclusion, corn-soy–based diet fortified with sucrose (3.30%) and lysine hydrochloride (3.36%) within current nutrient specifications has a negative effect on broiler growth performance

Worldwide Disparities in Recovery of Cardiac Testing 1 Year Into COVID-19

BACKGROUND The extent to which health care systems have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide necessary cardiac diagnostic services is unknown.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on cardiac testing practices, volumes and types of diagnostic services, and perceived psychological stress to health care providers worldwide.METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations from baseline in cardiovascular diagnostic care at the pandemic's onset and 1 year later. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with procedure volume recovery.RESULTS Surveys were submitted from 669 centers in 107 countries. Worldwide reduction in cardiac procedure volumes of 64% from March 2019 to April 2020 recovered by April 2021 in high- and upper middle-income countries (recovery rates of 108% and 99%) but remained depressed in lower middle- and low-income countries (46% and 30% recovery). Although stress testing was used 12% less frequently in 2021 than in 2019, coronary computed tomographic angiography was used 14% more, a trend also seen for other advanced cardiac imaging modalities (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance; 22%-25% increases). Pandemic-related psychological stress was estimated to have affected nearly 40% of staff, impacting patient care at 78% of sites. In multivariable regression, only lower-income status and physicians' psychological stress were significant in predicting recovery of cardiac testing.CONCLUSIONS Cardiac diagnostic testing has yet to recover to prepandemic levels in lower-income countries. Worldwide, the decrease in standard stress testing is offset by greater use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities. Pandemic-related psychological stress among providers is widespread and associated with poor recovery of cardiac testing. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation