The effects of mineral adsorbents added to broilers diet on breast meat quality

The aim of these investigations was to determine the influence of mineral adsorbents Minazel and Minazel Plus added into broiler diet, on the carcass quality and nutritional, technological and sensory properties of breast meat. The examination was done on Cobb 500 provenience divided into 4 groups: control group C (fed without addition of mineral adsorbent), experimental group E I (0.5% of Minazel), experimental group E II (0.2% of Minazel Plus), experimental group E III (0.3% of Minazel Plus). The results showed that the broilers fed with the addition of mineral adsorbents, had a higher (P < 0.01) mass of chilled carcass ready to grill and breast mass, than the broilers of the control group. Based on the parameters and criteria for defining the quality of chicken breast meat (pHu and L*) it can be concluded that meat of all groups had in average normal quality. According to the results of sensory analyzed roasted breast meat, meat of experimental groups had preferable smell and tenderness

Cobalt-chromium toxic retinopathy case study

Purpose: To report the clinical case of a 65-year-old male who developed retinal dysfunction following cobalt-chromium toxicity. Methods: A review of the clinical, haematological, radiological and electrophysiological investigations into a single patient was performed in order to form a case report. Results: A 65-year-old male presented to his ophthalmologist with a 1-year history of worsening vision on the background of a multisystem illness including motor axonopathy, pericardiomyopathy and bulbar palsy. His medical history included hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and a metallic hip prosthesis. Ocular examination revealed significantly reduced visual acuity bilaterally along with very poor colour vision. Cornea, fundi and optic discs all appeared normal. Bilateral moderate nuclear sclerosis was noted. Basic investigations including mitochondrial studies, auto-immune screen and MRI of brain were unremarkable. Further investigations showed significantly elevated plasma cobalt and chromium levels. Electrophysiological studies revealed an abnormality in all phases of the ERG including a negative b-waveform, suggestive of inner retinal pathology. Following subsequent revision of the hip, cobalt and chromium levels decreased and the patient's vision improved. Further electrophysiological testing indicates a persistent ERG abnormality despite a significant improvement in both the patient's visual acuity and colour vision. Conclusions: These results suggest that cobalt-chromium toxicity can cause inner retinal dysfunction

Bioenergetic state regulates innate inflammatory responses through the transcriptional co-repressor CtBP

Several metabolic factors affect cellular glucose metabolism as well as the innate inflammatory response. Here, the authors show that glucose metabolism regulates pro-inflammatory responses through effects on the cytosolic NADH:NAD+ ratio and the NAD(H)-sensitive transcription co-repressor CtBP