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Not AvailableToll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in innate immune response of mammalian and avian species. The chicken TLR repertoire consists of ten genes. TLR15 is avian specific TLR with no mammalian homologue. The present study has characterized full-length coding sequence of TLR15 in Japanese quail and Indian indigenous chicken (Aseel and Kadaknath). Open reading frame of all three sequences were 2,607bp long encoding 868 amino acids similar to that of broiler chicken. Japanese quail, Aseel and Kadaknath sequences showed 95.1%, 99.7% and 99.8% similarity with broiler chicken TLR15 sequence at nucleotide level respectively. Domain architecture analysis revealed minor variations in number and position of leucine rich repeats (LRRs) in the ectodomain region of all three sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed TLR15 groups with high bootstrap support to avian TLR1 family members. TLR15 mRNA expression in a range of tissues as quantified by real time PCR was found significantly (P<0.01) higher in Aseel in comparison to Kadaknath and Japanese quail in most of the tissues investigated.Not Availabl

Increasing SARS-Cov2 Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths among the Vaccinated Populations during the Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant Surge in UK

Background: There were increased SARS-CoV2 hospitalizations and deaths noted during Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant surge in the UK despite decreased cases, and the reasons are unclear. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed reported SARS-CoV2 cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and variables that affect the outcomes (including ethnicity, deprivation score, vaccination disparities, and pre-existing conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. The vaccine effectiveness among those ≥ 18 years of age was also analyzed (August 16, 2021-March 27, 2022).Results: During the latter part of the Omicron variant surge (February 28-May 1, 2022 a significantly increased proportion of cases (23.7% vs 40.31.70 [1.70-1.71]; p\u3c0.001) and hospitalizations (39.3% vs 50.3%; RR 1.28 [1.27- 1.30]; p\u3c0.001) among ≥ 50 years of age, and deaths (67.89% vs 80.07%; RR 1.18 [1.16-1.20]; p\u3c0.001) among ≥ 75 years of age was observed compared to the earlier period (December 6, 2021-February 27, 2022). There was a significant decline in case fatality rate (all ages [0.21% vs 0.39%; RR 0.54 (0.52-0.55); p\u3c0.001], ≥ 18 years of age [0.25% vs 0.58%; RR 0.44 (0.43-0.45); p\u3c0.001], and ≥ 50 years of age [0.72% vs 1.57%; RR 0.46 (0.45-0.47); p\u3c0.001]) and the risk of hospitalizations (all ages [0.62% vs 0.99%; RR 0.63 (0.62-0.64); p\u3c0.001], ≥ 18 years of age [0.67% vs 1.38%; RR 0.484 (0.476-0.492); p\u3c0.001], and ≥ 50 years of age [1.45% vs 2.81%; RR 0.52 (0.51-0.53); p\u3c0.001] during the Omicron variant surge (December 27, 2021-March 20, 2022) compared to the Delta variant surge (August 16-December 5, 2021). Both the unvaccinated (0.41% vs 0.77%; RR 0.54 (0.51-0.57); p\u3c0.001) and vaccinated (0.25% vs 0.59%; RR 0.43 (0.42-0.44); p\u3c0.001) populations of ≥ 18 years of age showed a significant decline in the case fatality rate during the Omicron variant surge versus the Delta variant surge. In summary, a significant decline in the risk of hospitalizations was observed among both the unvaccinated (1.27% vs 2.92%; RR 0.44 (0.42-0.45); p\u3c0.001) and vaccinated (0.65% vs 1.19%; RR 0.54 (0.53-0.55); p\u3c0.001) populations of ≥ 18 years of age during the same period. We observed negative vaccine effectiveness for the third dose since December 20, 2021, with a significantly increased proportion of SARS-CoV2 cases hospitalizations, and deaths among the vaccinated; and a decreased proportion of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among the unvaccinated. The preexisting conditions were present in 95.6% of all COVID-19 deaths. We also observed various ethnicity, deprivation score, and vaccination rate disparities that can adversely affect hospitalizations and deaths among the compared groups based on the vaccination status. Conclusion: There is no discernable optimal vaccine effectiveness among ≥ 18 years of age and vaccinated third dose population since the beginning (December 20, 2021) of the Omicron variant surge. Other data including preexisting conditions, ethnicity, deprivation score, and vaccination rate disparities need to be adjusted by developing validated models for evaluating vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations and deaths. Both the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations showed favorable outcomes during the Omicron variant surge. The increased proportion of cases among the vaccinated population with suboptimal vaccine effectiveness was associated with a significantly increased proportion of hospitalizations and deaths during the Omicron variant surge. This underscores the need to prevent infections, especially in the elderly vaccinated population irrespective of vaccination status by employing uniform screening protocols and protective measures

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Not AvailableIn the present experiment, the expression profile of Toll-like receptor mRNA in indigenous and pure line chickens was studied. The expression of TLR3, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR7 were quantified in heterophils of Aseel, Kadaknath, Naked neck, Dwarf and White Leghorn lines by Quantitative Real-time PCR. White Leghorns expressed significantly (P < 0.01) higher levels of TLR3 mRNA compared to other lines. TLR4 and TLR5 mRNA were significantly highly expressed in Kadaknath line. Among the TLRs investigated TLR5 was more expressed in all lines studied. TLR7 was highly expressed in indigenous chicken Aseel and Kadaknath than other lines. Dwarf chicken expressed significantly (P < 0.01) lower levels of all TLRs investigated. On the basis of the present study we conclude that the differential expression of TLR mRNA in the heterophils of indigenous and other chicken breeds might contribute to their variable disease resistance/susceptibility.Not Availabl

Energy Restriction in Broiler Breeders during Rearing and Laying Periods and its Influence on Body Weight Gain, Conversion Efficiency of Nutrients, Egg Production and Hatchability

The effect of feeding measured energy (ME) allowances during rearing and laying periods on body weight (BW) gain, production performance and hatchability were evaluated in a female broiler parent line. In grower period (5-20wk), ME required for maintenance, activity and growth was calculated targeting 100g increases in BW/week in control (C) group. In another group, ME was quantitatively reduced by 20% (R) over C. Both groups were offered measured quantity of grower diet to satisfy the scheduled energy inputs. At 21 weeks, C and R groups were individually sub-grouped into four each, to either restrict energy severely (S-20%), moderately (M-10%) or increase (E-10%) over control. Thus, 8 sub-groups were formed: CS, CM, CC, CE and RS, RM, RC, RR. The CC and RC sub-groups were offered calculated ME for 50g increase in BW/week and anticipated egg production. Measured amount of breeder diet was offered to each sub-group following energy schedule. At 20 weeks, significant increase in BW was observed in C-group with better conversion efficiency of feed, energy and protein compared to R-group. The R-group had lesser abdominal fat and liver weights, higher muscle protein and lower fat than C-group. Breeders in R-group matured late by 7.7 days, but produced significantly more eggs with better-feed efficiency up to 64 weeks than C-group. In laying phase, breeders maintained on 20 and 10% less energy (RM) during rearing and production periods, respectively matured late, but produced significantly more eggs with higher persistency than CC. At 68 weeks, maximum fertility and hatchability on total eggs set was recorded in RM sub-group. These results showed complimentary influence of grower and breeder energy restriction on egg and chick production and saved feed substantially in RM sub-group. It appeared that the energy requirement under energy restriction was lesser than that calculated

Effect of Surfeit Concentrations of Vitamin D3 on Performance, Bone Mineralization and Mineral Retention in Commercial Broiler Chicks

An experiment was conducted to see the effect of higher concentrations of vitamin D3 in diets containing sub optimal levels of calcium (Ca) and non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) in broiler chickens. Maize-soybean meal based starter and finisher reference diets (RD) prepared to contain 1.0% and 0.9% Ca, 0.45 and 0.35% NPP, respectively. The RD contained 1200ICU D3/kg. Another basal diet (BD) was prepared to contain 0.4% Ca and 0.2% NPP. The BD was supplemented with D3 at 4 different concentrations such as 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600ICU/kg. Each diet was fed to 11 replicates of 5 chicks each during experimental period of 0 to 6 weeks of age. The body weight gain decreased significantly with reduction in levels of Ca and NPP in diet compared to those fed RD. Supplementation of vitamin D3 to the low Ca and NPP diet, though improved the weight gain significantly but not at per with RD. The feed efficiency was not affected by concentrations of Ca, NPP and D3 in diet at 36d of age. The relative weight of tibia, tibia breaking strength and tibia ash content decreased significantly with reduction in Ca and NPP levels in diet. Supplemental D3 replenished the tibia ash content and enhanced tibia weight and strength. Supplemental D3 non-linearly increased the serum Ca, P, acid and alkaline phosphatase contents in serum. Concentrations of Ca, P, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in excreta decrease non-linearly with increase vitamin D3 concentration in BD. It is concluded that higher levels of D3 supplementation to low Ca and NPP diet improved the performance partially but not at per with diet containing the recommended concentrations of Ca and NPP in broiler diet

Crystallization Engineering in Aza-Steroid: Application in the Development of Finasteride

Novel and robust crystallization approach based on solid solution formation was developed for the purification of finasteride. This is an unprecedented approach that describes the use of pure finasteride <b>1</b> to purify different lots of finasteride <b>1</b> (impure) contaminated with dihydrofinasteride <b>2</b>