Effects of Feeding Fermented Fish on Egg Cholesterol Content in Hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding fermented fish (FF) to layers on laying performance, and polyunsaturated fatty acid and cholesterol levels in eggs and plasma. A total of 96, 13-week-old Babcock B380 pullets were used in this study. They were randomly assigned to four numerically equal groups with eight replicates per treatment, three birds per replicate. All the birds were housed in individual cages. The dietary treatments were: Control diet, without FF; FF3 diet containing 3% (w/w) FF, FF6 diet containing 6% (w/w) FF and FF9 diet containing 9% (w/w) FF. The study was carried out for 16 weeks inclusive of two weeks of adjustment. Weekly feed intake and egg production were recorded. Blood plasma cholesterol and fatty acid profiles were assayed at the end of the experiment. FF did not enhance (P > 0.05) egg mass but (P < 0.05) decreased egg weight slightly. However, egg yolk cholesterol and plasma cholesterol concentrations were reduced (P < 0.05) by FF. The n-6:n-3 fatty acids ratio in the egg yolk (Control = 7.9, FF9 = 6.2) and plasma (Control = 10.6, FF9 = 6.2) were decreased by feeding FF. Moreover, FF was able to increase (P < 0.05) the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in egg yolk and plasma. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that FF increased DHA and reduced egg yolk cholesterol in poultry eggs

The Loss of Heterozygosity of FHIT Gene in Sporadic Breast Cancer

The loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is a genetic event that can change gene function. FHIT is a potential tumor suppressor gene.  Although the precise FHIT molecular mechanism of action is not well understood, evidences suggest that Fhit protein reduced levels are involved in mammary carcinogenesis.  The aim of this study was to investigate if FHIT LOH could influence on sporadic breast cancer (BC) biological behavior, through its association with prognostic factors for sporadic BC.Tumor tissue and peripheral blood samples were analyzed using the microsatellite marker D3S1300. The findings were associated with clinicopathological parameters including overall survival. LOH was detected in 31.1%(52/167) of the informative BC’ cases. Considering clinical and pathological characteristics we have found no significant association with FHIT LOH status. The mean follow-up time was 80 months. After the Cox regression analysis two parameters remained associated with BC’s risk of death: TNM stage III and IV - HR = 3.74(95% CI, 1.16-12.1) P=0.027 and disease relapse HR = 3.14(CI 95% 1.26-7.80) P =0.014. This study shows that FHIT LOH by itself is not a prognostic factor for sporadic BC.  Further researches are required to elucidate the functional role of FHIT LOH concerning to BC.

Counselling for people with sight loss in the UK: The need for provision and the need for evidence

This is an open access article - Copyright @ 2010 BMJ Publishing Group.The Department of Ophthalmology at UCSF is supported by a core grant from the National Eye Institute, EY02162, That Man May See and the South Asia Research Fund. In addition, this work was supported in part by a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to UCSF to fund Clinical Research Fellow Allison Loh

The structure of EAS at E 0.1 EeV

The ratio of extensive air showers (EAS) total shower energy in the electromagnetic channel (E em) to the size of the shower at maximum development (N max) from a direct measurement of shower longitudinal development using the air fluorescence technique was calculated. The values are not inconsistent with values based upon track length integrals of the Gaisser-Hillas formula for shower development or the known relation between shower energy and size at maximum for pure electromagnetic cascades. Using Linsley's estimates for undetected shower energy based on an analysis of a wide variety of cosmic ray data, the following relation for total shower energy E vs N max is obtained. The Gaisser Hillas implied undetected shower energy fractions

Nickel-base alloy containing Mo-W-Al-Cr- Ta-Zr-C-Nb-B Patent

Nickel base alloy with resistance to oxidation at high temperatures and superior stress-rupture propertie