L-carnitine supplementation decreases lipid peroxidation and improves cardiopulmonary function in broiler chickens reared at high altitude

An experiment was carried out to examine the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance and cardiopulmonary function of broiler chickens reared at high altitude (2100 m above sea level). A total of 96 day-old male chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned into two dietary treatments containing 0 (control group) and 200 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental diets were fed for a period of 42 days consisting of the starting (days 1 to 21) and growing periods (days 21 to 42). Nutrient requirements of chickens met the NRC (1994) recommendations. The results showed that dietary L-carnitine had no significant influence on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. L-carnitine reduced plasma concentration of malondialdehyde, packed cell volume (PCV) and abdominal fat deposition compared to the control (P < 0.05). A significant (P < 0.05) decrease was observed in the right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV) in birds receiving L-carnitine when compared to the control. Supplementation of L-carnitine increased plasma nitric oxide and immune responsiveness, which manifested in an increased toe-web thickness index measured at 24 h following the injection of phytohaemagglutinin P. In conclusion, supplementation of L-carnitine had beneficial effects on preventing lipid peroxidation and pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens raised at high altitude

Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf - A promising medicinal herb to prevent pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens reared at high altitude

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf, formerly Apium odoratissima, is a plant locally called ``Karafs'', found in central Zagros region of Iran. Leaves and stems of the plant are traditionally used in the treatment of hypertension and inflammation. Lowering blood pressure effects of Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (wild celery) was evaluated in preventing pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens reared at high altitude (2100 m). Materials and methods: A total number of 208 day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatments including different levels of Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) in a 42-day trial. Results: Body weight gain and feed:gain responses significantly (P < 0.05) improved when Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf was included in broiler diets at 0.75% in the growing stage and throughout the trial. Over-expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase in the heart was observed in chickens fed Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf. Birds received Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf at 0.5% and 0.75% had significantly (P <0.05) higher circulatory concentrations of NO though significantly (P < 0.05) lower serum malondialdehyde concentration, hematocrit and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio when compared to the birds fed the control diet. Feeding Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf at 0.5% and 0.75% prevented from right ventricular hypertrophy and led to a significant decline in mortality from PHS. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf is a promising medicinal herb to prevent PHS in broiler chickens by improving blood pressure and antioxidant responses. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Dislodged Interatrial Septum Occluder was Found in an Incredible Place: A Case Report

Secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common type of interatrial septum defects. Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD has replaced traditional surgical ASD closure in most cases. Embolization of device is relatively uncommon (0.3%), but it can be a life-threatening situation that needs emergency open heart surgery. We presented a 44-year-old woman who underwent a successful ASD device closure, but the day after procedure, she presented with dyspnea and frequent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with absence of device in interatrial septum (IAS) position. Further investigation by transesophageal revealed atrial septal occluder in the right pulmonary artery that extracted by surgery successfully

Pulmonary hypertensive response of broiler chickens to arginine and guanidinoacetic acid under high-altitude hypoxia

This study assessed the preventive effects of arginine (ARG) and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on the incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens. Four isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were prepared, including: (i) the control, (ii) the control supplemented with 1 g/kg ARG, (iii) the control supplemented with 1 g/kg GAA, and (iv) the control supplemented with 1.5 g/kg GAA. These diets were fed to broilers (Ross 308) from day 1 to 42 post-hatch. Criteria evaluated in the experiment were growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum and blood variables, lead-II electrocardiogram, and ET-1 and iNOS gene expression in heart and lungs. Mortality from PHS was recorded daily. The results showed that ARG and GAA supplements improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control (P < 0.05). Supplementation of ARG and GAA significantly (P < 0.05) increased serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration. ARG and GAA supplementation significantly reduced the haematocrit value and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in the blood. A significant (P < 0.05) decline in S-wave amplitude of the lead-II electrocardiogram, right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV) and ascites mortality was observed by supplementing ARG or 1.5 g/kg GAA. Addition of ARG and GAA supplements did not significantly change ET-1 and iNOS gene expression in the heart and lung relative to the control. In conclusion, GAA supplementation at 1.5 g/kg had a potential to improve growth performance and could prevent PHS

Effect of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance and Gut Morpholog yin Broiler Chickens

This study evaluates the effects of different levels of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplement on growth performance and gut morphology in broilers (Ross 308 strain) raised at high altitude (2100 m). A total of 300 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308 strain) were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicate pens of 15 birds in each. Five dietary treatments were prepared by supplementing GAA at 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g/kg to corn-soy based diet and fed to broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. Results indicated that weight gain and feed:gain ratio was significantly improved in the chickens when GAA was supplemented to control diet. Carcass and breast yields were significantly increased by GAA supplementation at 1 g/kg relative to the control. On the other hand, dietary inclusion of GAA significantly (P< 0.05)reduced the proportions of liver, heart and abdominal fat when compared to the control. The villus height, width and absorptive surface area in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum sections were significantly improved at GAA supplementation above 0.5 g/kg. However, the crypt depth showed a significant decrease in all parts of the small intestine compared to the control (P< 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing broiler diets with GAA could be an effective strategy to improve growth performance and gut function

Does the Type of Cereal Grain in Broiler Diets Affect the Susceptibility to Ascites Syndrome?

An experiment was conducted to address the relationship between the types of cereal grain and ascites syndrome in broiler chickens raised in a high-altitude region. A number of 252 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500 strain) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments including a corn-soybean diet (corn diet), a wheat-soybean diet (wheat diet), and a barley-soybean diet (barley diet). Chicks were kept on experimental diets for 42 days, during which growth performance and carcass traits were assessed, and blood samples collected. Results indicated that corn substitution with wheat and barley significantly suppressed feed intake, growth rate, and lipogenesis as reflected in lower serum cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and abdominal fat deposition (P = 0.0001). Feeding barley resulted in down-regulation of TLR2 and GLUT2 genes but caused an up-regulation of FABP2 gene in jejunum as compared to the corn control. Feeding wheat and barley did not significantly affect the relative weights of the heart, and the right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV/TV). Mortality from ascites was not significant among treatment groups. In conclusion, substituting corn for wheat or barley could impair broiler performance, but under the conditions of this experiment had no significant impact on susceptibility to ascites

Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae: A literature review

Coronary artery fistulae (CAFs) are anomalous connections that bypass the myocardial capillary bed between 1 or more coronary arteries and other cardiac chambers or other vessels. These fistulae are usually asymptomatic and are, thus, diagnosed incidentally. However, larger CAFs can cause various symptoms such as angina, exertional dyspnea, syncope, palpitation, and even sudden cardiac death. Treatment options include surgical closure and percutaneous transcatheter closure (TCC) with comparable safety and efficacy. The choice of device in TCC depends on the anatomic characteristics of the CAF, the age and size of the patient, the size of the occluded vessel, the appropriate size of the catheter to be used, and the tortuosity of the catheter course to reach the intended point. Herein, we present 4 cases treated via TCC and then offer an in-depth discussion regarding this coronary artery anomaly. © 2020, Tech Science Press. All rights reserved

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in a patient with aneurysmal atrial septum and multifenestrated atrial septal defect

Introduction: Treatment of patients with concomitant Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), Atrial Septal Aneurysm (ASA), and multi fenestrated Atrial Septal Defects (mfASDs) is accompanied by many challenges. There may be even a need for different devices in the atrial septum, which is more challenging and costly. Case Presentation: This study aimed to report a case of PFO closure, which turned out to have ASAs and multiple small holes. A Uni occlutech device was used to close the PFO and fenestrations, which was done successfully and without complications. Conclusions: It is important to have a thorough evaluation of the atrial septum to rule in or out the possibility of multiple defects. This is done by accurate interrogation of the atrial septum by color Doppler echocardiography, preferably by transesophageal or three-dimensional echocardiography at the time of catheterization. Multiple small defects or fenestrations nearby may be closed by a single device, which may cover several defects or fenestrations. © 2020, Iranian Cardiovascular Research Journal. All rights reserved

Effects of rapeseed variety and oil extraction method on the content and ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acids in rapeseed cake and softly processed rapeseed meal fed to broiler chickens

We examined the effects of rapeseed variety and oil extraction method on crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA) content in rapeseed co-products, and determined their coefficient of apparent (AID) and standardised ileal digestibility (SID) in broiler chickens. Sixteen rapeseed samples were de-oiled; four were cold-pressed producing rapeseed cake (RSC) and twelve were mild processed and hexane-extracted producing soft rapeseed meal (SRSM). One batch of the variety Compass, grown on the same farm, was processed using both methods obtaining Compass RSC and Compass SRSM. DK Cabernet rapeseed variety, grown on three different farms, was used to produce two SRSM batches and one RSC batch. All rapeseed co-products were ground through a 4 mm screen and mixed into semi-synthetic diets at a level of 500 g/kg. Day-old Ross 308 male broilers were fed a commercial diet for 14 days. A total of 96 pairs of birds were then allotted to 1 of 16 dietary treatments (n = 6) and fed a test diet for 8 days. Birds were then culled allowing removal of ileal digesta from Meckel’s diverticulum to the ileal-caecal junction. Digestibility of CP and AA was determined using titanium dioxide as an inert marker. The SRSM samples had an increased content of CP (419–560 g/kg DM) compared to RSC samples (293–340 g/kg DM). Both AID and SID of lysine, and SID of arginine, histidine and threonine were greater in Compass RSC compared to its SRSM counterpart (P 0.05). The SID of lysine was on average 0.03 units greater (P < 0.001) in RSC than in SRSM. The SRSM produced from variety PR46W21 showed similar or greater AID and SID of individual AA than the RSC from four other rapeseed varieties. It is concluded that selection of rapeseed varieties, and extraction method have a potential to deliver high-protein dietary ingredients with a good digestibility value