Growth Performance of Male NZW Rabbits Fed Diets Supplemented with Beneficial Bacteria or Live Yeast

 Sixty male growing NZW rabbits aged eight weeks old, weighed in average 837.0±50.0g were randomly ranked in four equal groups to feed on four experimental diets for 10 weeks. All groups were fed a uniform rabbits pelleted diet, where R1 diet was without supplement ( control ), R2 supplemented with 0.1% Bacillus subtilis , R3 with 0.1% live Saccharomyces cerevisiae and R4 with 0.05% Bacillus s. + 0.05% Sacchromyces c. mixture. The results indicated that the voluntary feed intake did not influenced by bacteria or yeast supplementations, meanwhile body  weight gain and feed  efficiency  were obviously improved ( P < 0.05 )  with  diets supplemented with yeast, bacteria or their mixture than control. Nutrients digestion coefficients and dietary nitrogen utilization were (P< 0.05) higher with yeast or bacteria supplemented diets than those of R1 and R4. The lower values concerning weight gain, nutrients digestibility and dietary nitrogen utilization with feeding Yeast + bacteria mixture (R4) than other supplemented diets, reveals that there was an antagonistic effect between the two microbial types on feed utilization of rabbits. Carcass characteristics, dressing % calculated relative to pre-slaughter or empty body weight, meat: bone ratio and body chemical composition were not statistically different among groups

Prevalence of diabetes in the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Over the past two decades a number of severe acute respiratory infection outbreaks such as the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have emerged and presented a considerable global public health threat. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that diabetic subjects are more susceptible to these conditions. However, the prevalence of diabetes in H1N1 and MERS-CoV has not been systematically described. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of published reports documenting the prevalence of diabetes in H1N1 and MERS-CoV and compare its frequency in the two viral conditions. Meta-analysis for the proportions of subjects with diabetes was carried out in 29 studies for H1N1 (n=92,948) and 9 for MERS-CoV (n=308). Average age of H1N1 patients (36.2±6.0 years) was significantly younger than that of subjects with MERS-CoV (54.3±7.4 years, P<0.05). Compared to MERS-CoV patients, subjects with H1N1 exhibited 3-fold lower frequency of cardiovascular diseases and 2- and 4-fold higher prevalence of obesity and immunosuppression, respectively. The overall prevalence of diabetes in H1N1 was 14.6% (95% CI: 12.3- 17.0%; P<0.001), a 3.6-fold lower than in MERS-CoV (54.4%; 95% CI: 29.4-79.5; P<0.001). The prevalence of diabetes among H1N1 cases from Asia and North America was ~two-fold higher than those from South America and Europe. The prevalence of diabetes in MERS-CoV cases is higher than in H1N1. Regional comparisons suggest that an etiologic role of diabetes in MERS-CoV may exist distinctive from that in H1N1

Intrapreneurship at the Individual- Level: Does Psychological Empowerment Matter?

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between psychological empowerment and intrapreneurship at the Individual- Level.   Theoretical framework: This study proposes a model that integrates psychological empowerment and its dimensions (meaning, competence, self -determination, and impact) with intrapreneurship at the Individual- Level.   Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach was adopted to test the research hypotheses. The data were collected by administrating a questionnaire to a sample of (450) employees in the private sector in Saudi Arabia.   Findings: The regression analysis results confirm that psychological empowerment and its attributes (meaning, competence, self -determination, and impact) are correlated positively with intrapreneurship at the Individual- Level.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Examining psychological empowerment and its dimensions as determinants of intrapreneurship can provide a better insight to understand the underlying mechanism of stimulating intrapreneurship at the individual- level. This would contribute significantly in creating a supportive work environment that stimulates intrapreneurship, and reinforces creativity and innovative thinking among employees.   Originality/value: This study can be considered the first to be conducted in the context of Saudi Arabia to test the relationship between psychological empowerment and intrapreneurship at the Individual- Level. Additionally, this study aim to enrich the knowledge on intrapreneurial behavior by investigating intrapreneurship at the individual level using the psychological perspective

Vitamin D and inflammation in the prevention of type 2 diabetes: public health relevance

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. To reduce the disease risk and burden at the population level, preventative strategies should be developed with minimal cost and effort and with no side-effects. Low-grade inflammation resulting from imbalances in the innate immune system has been associated with an array of chronic disorders that predispose to the later development of T2DM (e.g., obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance). As a result, inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of T2DM. Therefore, attenuation of this inflammatory response via modulating the innate immune system could lead to improved insulin sensitivity and delayed disease onset. Dietary supplementation with vitamin D may represent a novel strategy toward the prevention and control of T2DM at the population level due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This review examines current knowledge linking T2DM to chronic low-grade inflammation and the role of vitamin D in modulating this relationship. The concept that vitamin D, via attenuating inflammation, could be employed as a novel preventive measure for T2DM is evaluated in the context of its relevance to health care and public health practices

Artificial neural network to predict the effect of obesity on the risk of tuberculosis infection

Background: Body weight has been implicated as a risk factor for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the active disease.Design and Methods: This study aimed to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models for predicting LTBI from body weight and other host-related disease risk factors. We used datasets from participants of the US-National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2012; n=5,156; 514 with LTBI and 4,642 controls) to develop three ANNs employing body mass index (BMI, Network I), BMI and HbA1C (as a proxy for diabetes; Network II) and BMI, HbA1C and education (as a proxy for socioeconomic status; Network III). The models were trained on n=1018 age- and sex-matched subjects equally distributed between the control and LTBI groups. The endpoint was the prediction of LTBI.Results: When data was adjusted for age, sex, diabetes and level of education, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of LTBI with increased BMI was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.77 – 0.96, p=0.01). The three ANNs had a predictive accuracy varied from 75 to 80% with sensitivities ranged from 85% to 94% and specificities of approximately 70%. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were between 0.82 and 0.87. Optimal ANN performance was noted using BMI as a risk indicator.Conclusion: Body weight can be employed in developing artificial intelligence-based tool to predict LTBI. This can be useful in precise decision making in clinical and public health practices aiming to curb the burden of tuberculosis, e.g., in the management and monitoring of the tuberculosis prevention programs and to evaluate the impact of healthy weight on tuberculosis risk and burden

Effect of dietary moringa (Moringa oleifera) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves or their mixture on productive performance, carcass characteristics and antioxidant enzymes of rabbits reared under heat stress conditions

Sixty growing New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits aged six weeks, weighed 750.0±5g were used in a feeding experiment lasted 9 weeks. Rabbits were housed in controlled-climatic conditions at a mean ambient temperature 33.1°C and relative humidity 43% to keep rabbits under heat stress conditions. The rabbits were randomly distributed to four equal groups (five replicates each). The 1st group fed the control diet (R1), R2 group fed diet supplemented with 1% moringa leaves, R3 group fed diet supplemented with 1% rosemary leaves, while R4 group fed diet supplemented with a mixture of moringa and rosemary leaves of 0.5% each. Diets and water were provided ad-libitum over nine weeks. The results revealed that live body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved with R4 and R2 diets, while daily feed intake was not affected among groups. Apparent digestibility of crude fiber and ether extract were increased (p≤0.05) with R2 diet. Nitrogen balance was positive for all groups, however improvement (p≤0.05) was detected with R2 than control. Carcass characteristics were not affected among experimental groups. Hemo-lysatic catalase, glutathione peroxidase and super-oxide dismutase levels were increased (p≤0.01) with supplemented diets, while malondialdehyde was obviously decreased in the experimental groups compared with the control. It could be concluded that, supplementing diets with 1% moringa dry leaves or mixture of moringa leaves and rosemary leaves by 0.5+0.5% can be used to improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility and antioxidant status of rabbits reared under heat stress conditions