THE INFLUENCE OF INDUCING EARLY REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY IN YOUNG HENS AND ROOSTERS OF EGG-LAYING TYPE BREED

A Fsample of young 60 hens and 40 roosters of Rhode Island breed were divided in groups L1, L2 and L3. Individuals in group L1 were transferred at the age of 16 weeks from 8 h light/ day to 16 h light/ day and fed with a normal adult poultry feed. The same switch was performed with groups L2 and L3 at the age of 18 and respectively 20 weeks. Modifications of the sexual traits were recorded including: phenotype, weight and length of the genital tract, laying intensity, average egg weight and semen parameters. Furthermore, blood samples were analysed for FSH and LH. From photo stimulated roosters -kept under an 8 h light/ day programme at the age of 18, 22 and 24 weeks- histology samples from testis and deferens ducts were analysed. In young hens reproductive parameters are influenced both by light length and the age when this photo stimulation occur. All data shows that starting photo stimulation at 18 weeks has positive effects on the egg production in the analysed population. In young roosters inducing sexual stimulation before the age of 20 weeks will prolong the time length to typical reproductive activity and also will affect the semen quality. Thus, it seems that age is more important for young roosters in achieving reproductive maturity than in young hens. Therefore, inducing early sexual development is rather detrimental for males

The fusion subunit vaccine L-DBF protects aged mice against heterologous lethal Shigella challenge after prior exposure

Shigellosis is among the top causes of bacterial diarrhea with significantly high morbidity and mortality for children under five years of age in low- and middle-income countries. Unfortunately, there are currently no licensed vaccines to prevent shigellosis. Our laboratory has developed the protein-based subunit vaccine candidate L-DBF by fusing the type III secretion system proteins IpaB and IpaD with the mucosal adjuvant LTA1, the active moiety of the heat-labile toxin from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. L-DBF delivered intranasally has been shown to protect against multiple serotypes of Shigella using the lethal pulmonary mice model. In recent work, we showed that even following prior infection with two sublethal doses of S. flexneri 2a in adult mice, L-DBF effectively cross-protects mice from a potentially lethal challenge with S. sonnei in addition to S. flexneri. We therefore wanted to know whether a prior sublethal infection by S. flexneri or S. sonnei would impact the protective immune response elicited by L-DBF against heterologous lethal infections in an aged mouse model. Elderly mice were subjected to a single sublethal dose of S. flexneri or S. sonnei prior to vaccination with L-DBF. We found that pre-exposed mice receiving L-DBF developed heterologous cross-protection against both S. flexneri and S. sonnei lethal challenge doses. This contrasts with unvaccinated mice that succumbed to the lethal challenge, despite a single homologous or heterologous pre-exposure to Shigella spp. Thus, L-DBF is a strong candidate for a protective shigellosis vaccine in all age groups to protect against commonly encountered Shigella serotypes in both naïve hosts and those pre-exposed with homologous or heterologous Shigella serotypes

Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins in mice

BACKGROUND: Bee honey is a functional food which has a unique composition, antimicrobial properties and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess whether honey can inhibit the toxic effect of mycotoxins, the present study was undertaken. METHODS: Production of biomass and toxins by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus ochraceus were followed in media without and with honey. Although aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. were administrated to male Swiss albino mice up to 1 μg and 10 ng/kg body weight/day respectively. The experimental animals were fed diets without our with 10% honey for two months. The changes in colonic probiotic bacteria, determintal colon enzyme glucuronidases, and genotoxicity were followed. RESULTS: Addition of 32% in its media increased the biomass of A parasiticus, while the biomass of A. ochraceus decreased and Ochratoxin A. was not produced. When the honey was added at the ratio of 32 and 48% in the medium. No relationship was found between mycelium weight and production of mycotoxins. Oral administration of aflatoxins (mixture of B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2)) and Ochratoxin A. induced structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow and germ cells of male mice, whereas, honey treatment reduced the genotoxicity of mycotoxins. Also both toxins induced histopathological changes in liver and kidney. Feeding on diet supplemented with honey improved the histopathological changes in case of aflatoxin group, but not in the case of ochratoxin A. group (except of kidney in two cases). No significant differences were found in the activity of colon β-glucuronidase between group fed diet with or without honey. On the other hand, the colon bifido bacteria and lactobacilli counts were increased markedly in group receiving diet supplemented with honey. CONCLUSION: Substituting sugars with honey in processed food can inhibit the harmful and genotoxic effects of mycotoxins, and improve the gut microflora

Spatial visualization provides insight into immune modulation by an L-DBF vaccine formulation against Shigella

Shigellosis remains a global public health problem, especially in regions with poor sanitation measures. Our prior work has demonstrated the protective efficacy of a three-dose regimen of L-DBF, a recombinant fusion of IpaD and IpaB from Shigella flexneri with the LTA1 moiety of enterotoxigenic E. coli labile toxin. Here, we investigate how a two-dose regimen (one prime and one booster) of L-DBF, formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion called ME, modulates immune responses in the lung using a spatial transcriptomics approach. Our findings show significant changes in the lung immune landscape following the vaccination, including increased expression of B cell markers, antigen presentation genes, and T cell-associated markers. Our analysis also revealed significant reprogramming of fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes, showing that fibroblasts are shifted from extracellular matrix production to immune modulation, while cardiomyocytes enhanced the signaling for immune cell recruitment and vascular stability. The communication between alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells and cardiomyocytes also increased, reflecting coordinated support for immune readiness and maintaining tissue integrity. These findings underscore the potential of L-DBF/ME vaccination to enhance both humoral and cellular immunity, as well as to reshape lung immune architecture while enhancing immune readiness, thereby offering a promising approach for effective protection against Shigella infections

PET-CT-guided versus CT-guided biopsy in suspected malignant pleural thickening: a randomised trial

Background Pleural biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of pleural malignancy but a significant proportion will have an inconclusive biopsy despite ongoing clinical suspicion of malignancy. We investigated whether positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) targeted pleural biopsy is superior to standard CT-guided pleural biopsy following an initial non-diagnostic biopsy. Methods The TARGET trial was a multicentre, parallel group randomised trial. Patients with a previous inconclusive pleural biopsy but an ongoing suspicion of pleural malignancy were randomised (1:1) to receive either CT-guided biopsy (standard care) or PET-CT followed by a targeted CT biopsy (intervention). The primary outcome was pleural malignancy correctly identified from the trial biopsy. Results Between September 2015 and September 2018, 59 participants were randomised from eight UK hospital sites: 29 to CT-only followed by targeted biopsy and 30 to PET-CT followed by targeted biopsy. The proportion of pleural malignancy correctly identified was similar between the groups (risk ratio 1.03 (95% CI 0.83–1.29); p=0.77). The sensitivity of the trial biopsy to identify pleural malignancy was 79% (95% CI 54–94%) in the CT-only group versus 81% (95% CI 54–96%) in the PET-CT group. Conclusions The results do not support the practice of PET-CT to guide pleural biopsies in patients with a previous non-diagnostic biopsy. The diagnostic sensitivity in the CT-only group was higher than anticipated and supports the practice of repeating a CT-guided biopsy following an inconclusive result if clinical suspicion of malignancy persists

On the typology and the worship status of sacred trees with a special reference to the Middle East

This article contains the reasons for the establishment of sacred trees in Israel based on a field study. It includes 97 interviews with Muslim and Druze informants. While Muslims (Arabs and Bedouins) consider sacred trees especially as an abode of righteous figures' (Wellis') souls or as having a connection to their graves, the Druze relate sacred trees especially to the events or deeds in the lives of prophets and religious leaders. A literary review shows the existence of 24 known reasons for the establishment of sacred trees worldwide, 11 of which are known in Israel one of these is reported here for the first time. We found different trends in monotheistic and polytheistic religions concerning their current worship of sacred trees

Outpatient Talc Administration by Indwelling Pleural Catheter for Malignant Effusion

Background Malignant pleural effusion affects more than 750,000 persons each year across Europe and the United States. Pleurodesis with the administration of talc in hospitalized patients is the most common treatment, but indwelling pleural catheters placed for drainage offer an ambulatory alternative. We examined whether talc administered through an indwelling pleural catheter was more effective at inducing pleurodesis than the use of an indwelling pleural catheter alone. Methods Over a period of 4 years, we recruited patients with malignant pleural effusion at 18 centers in the United Kingdom. After the insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter, patients underwent drainage regularly on an outpatient basis. If there was no evidence of substantial lung entrapment (nonexpandable lung, in which lung expansion and pleural apposition are not possible because of visceral fibrosis or bronchial obstruction) at 10 days, patients were randomly assigned to receive either 4 g of talc slurry or placebo through the indwelling pleural catheter on an outpatient basis. Talc or placebo was administered on a single-blind basis. Follow-up lasted for 70 days. The primary outcome was successful pleurodesis at day 35 after randomization. Results The target of 154 patients undergoing randomization was reached after 584 patients were approached. At day 35, a total of 30 of 69 patients (43%) in the talc group had successful pleurodesis, as compared with 16 of 70 (23%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.23 to 3.92; P = 0.008). No significant between- group differences in effusion size and complexity, number of inpatient days, mortality, or number of adverse events were identified. No significant excess of blockages of the indwelling pleural catheter was noted in the talc group. Conclusions Among patients without substantial lung entrapment, the outpatient administration of talc through an indwelling pleural catheter for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion resulted in a significantly higher chance of pleurodesis at 35 days than an indwelling catheter alone, with no deleterious effects.</p