The Level of Major Proteins and Minerals in the Blood Serum of Chickens Fed Diets with Pure Cellulose

BOGUS£AWSKA-TRYK M., SZYMECZKO R., PIOTROWSKA A. 2012. The level of major proteins and minerals in the blood serum of chickens fed diets with pure cellulose. Folia biologica (Kraków) 60: 65-70. The aim of the research was to determine the concentration of total protein and its fractions as well as the concentration of selected mineral components in the blood serum of male broiler chickens Cobb 500 fed diets with different cellulose content. Blood samples were collected for examination from the birds' pterygoid canal veins on their 42 day of age. There was no influence of cellulose preparation on the content of total protein and its fractions: albumins, alfa -, alfa -, beta-, gamma-globulins, albumin to globulin ratio, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride and iron concentrations in blood serum. The highest calcium concentration (P<0.05) was detected in the blood serum of males fed a diet with the highest cellulose content (0.75-0.95%). Simultaneously, a tendency of increased calcium content was observed along with an increased amount of pure cellulose in diets. The lowest magnesium level (P<0.05) was observed in the blood of birds fed diets with the lowest amount of cellulose (0.25-0.45%). The magnesium level in the blood of birds fed a diet with higher amounts of cellulose did not considerably differ from the control group. Results from the current study suggest that introduction of a limited amount of pure cellulose into the diet of broiler chickens does not affect total protein concentration and protein fractions but can influence the mineral content in the blood serum

Not all drugs are created equal: impaired future thinking in opiate, but not alcohol, users

Episodic future thinking refers to the ability to travel forward in time to pre-experience an event. Although future thinking has been intimately linked with self and identity, to our knowledge, no prior research has compared episodic future thinking in populations with different substance use disorders. This study investigates whether there are differences in episodic future thinking between these alcohol and opiate users. The study recruited participants who were on the opiate substitution program (n = 31) and individuals who had been diagnosed with alcohol dependence (n = 21) from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Drug and Health Services. Healthy controls (n = 23) were recruited via Royal Prince Alfred Hospital databases and the general community. Past and future thinking was measured using four cue words. After each cue word, participants rated their phenomenological experience (e.g. emotion, reliving experience). Results indicated that alcohol-dependent individuals performed significantly higher in episodic future thinking compared to opiate users. These findings indicate that not all substance use disorder groups share similar episodic thinking capabilities. Our results suggest that the self-projection component of rehabilitation programs may have to be tailored to the different episodic construction abilities found in substance use disorder groups.Scopu