Impact of dietary changes on hepatic homocysteine metabolism in young broilers

Information regarding the impact of sulfur amino acids (SAA) on hepatic homocysteine (Hcy) flux through the various metabolic pathways competing for Hcy in young broilers is lacking. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of varying levels of dietary methionine (Met), choline, and betaine on hepatic Hcy flux in young broiler chickens. A standard starter basal diet was fed to chicks until 8 d of age; 12 experimental diets were given from 8-22 d. The experimental basal diet contained deficient levels of Met and cysteine (Cys); supplemental Met (0, 0.08, 0.16, and 0.24%) was added to the basal diet in combination with isomethyl levels of choline (0 or 0.25%) or betaine (0 or 0.28%). The 12 dietary treatments were replicated with three pens containing five chicks each (15 birds per treatment). Weight gain and feed efficiency increased (P \u3c 0.05) with Met addition and were maximized with the addition of 0.16% digestible Met. No significant interactions (P \u3e 0.05) with choline or betaine addition were noted for weight gain, feed intake, or feed efficiency, but numerical improvements for these variables were observed with the addition of choline and betaine to the Met-deficient basal diet. Analysis of liver tissue indicated that folate-dependent remethylation of Hcy predominated over betaine-dependent remethylation. Further, folate-dependent remethylation of Hcy appeared to be impacted by dietary choline and betaine levels, whereas betaine-dependent remethylation appeared to be more impacted by dietary SAA levels

Phase-feeding affects crude protein intake, excretion, and retention of broilers from 21 to 63 days

An experiment was conducted to assess effects of phase-feeding (PF) on crude protein (CP) intake, excretion, and retention of broilers. Six birds were housed individually and were fed diets formulated using recommendations from National Research Council (NRC) or linear regression equations. Two PF treatments were prepared: standard (PF) and low (PF10), in which predicted lysine, sulfur amino acids, and threonine recommendations were reduced by 10%. For PF and PF10, two diets (high-nutrient and low-nutrient density) were blended in variable quantities to produce rations matching predicted amino acid requirements over two intervals. Birds were fed a single NRC grower and finisher diet or a series of PF and PF10 diets that were switched every other day. With the exception of weight gain, which was lower for PF than for birds fed the NRC and PF10 diets, no differences in growth performance were observed. Both PF diets reduced CP intake numerically from 21-43 d and 21-63 d, and significantly from 43-63 d (P \u3c 0.055). Retention of CP was not impacted by diet although there was a tendency toward increased CP retention in birds fed the PF10 diet from 43-63 d (P = 0.071). Excretion of CP during the finisher period was reduced (P \u3c 0.05) for birds fed PF and PF10 diets, and total CP excretion was numerically reduced (4.0% and 8.6%, respectively). These data indicate that in addition to economic benefits, PF may result in environmental benefits

Narrativising a Department of English

The Department of English in a country like India too often witnesses contestations of varied kinds. Debates range from Macaulay's prod to the madness of the method and beyond. Identity crisis - that of the department and that of its members - is one such problematic context. Sidestepping desires to sing notes of self-congratulation, this paper attempts to self-reflexively critique the values, aspirations, practices and its resultant consequences in the Department of English, Christ University, Bangalore. Such a critique will look at specific issues, concerns of, and about English Studies at Christ, based on three experience-enabled narratives. The first narrative aims at exploring 1. complexities of a fresh “pocopomo” (postcolonial-postmodern) English Studies teacher in such a reputed, metropolitan institution, 2. complexities of locating Cultural Studies within an English Studies framework in the institution, and 3. complexities of studentship in such a context. The personal is always treated with a sense of suspicion and accompanied by a supposition that it may not be authentic. Humanities - despite the growing disrespect it faces - is one of the last bastions where the personal is not looked downupon. However, when it comes to research, even Humanities expects the shedding of the experiential and the personal, assuming that critical rigour is likely to get compromised. As the authors of this article, it is our firm belief that listening to personal experience will open doors to unexplored critical insights. We are deeply aware of the dangerous terrain we are treading in and hence we have titled it as "narrativising...", signifying the subjective takes involved. Further, the idea of giving multiple accounts coming from different standpoints (that of a new faculty, a moderately experienced faculty and a student) is to highlight the plural nature of experiences and perspectives

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

PREVALENCE OF WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS IN SOUTHERN KARNATAKA DISTRICT

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are common amongst dental personnel including dental students when they are still in educational programs due to their work in a static posture. The objective of the study is to identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders in terms of perception of pain and stiffness experienced by the dental students and interns and to find the association between pain, stiffness and selected socio demographic variables. Methods: A total of 236 subjects were selected from Yenepoya Dental College, Manipal Institute of Dental Sciences and A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. The subjects were selected by using convenience method and were given closed-ended questionnaire to find perception of pain and stiffness experienced. Results: The study revealed that 51.3% of dental students sometimes had pain in lower back and 44.4% in neck. 20.3% of subjects complained of having sometimes stiffness in neck and 19.9% of them had in lower back. It was observed that number of workdays per week had significant association (p=0.01) with increase in frequency of pain. Frequency of stiffness was significantly associated with height (p= 0.02) and weight (p= 0.02). There was also significant association between intensity of pain and average number of work days per week (p= 0.017) and average number of patients treated per day (p= 0.012). Conclusion: The study revealed that WMSDs are prevalent in dental students and interns. A significant association was found between musculoskeletal symptoms and socio-demographic variables like gender, height, weight, number of workdays per week and number of patients treated per day

Occurrence of shoulder disorders among postcoronary artery bypass surgery patients in India

Background: The range of motion and function of the shoulder girdle and upper back are believed to be impaired following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) through median sternotomy. Until date, there is no study published in India, which determines the occurrence of shoulder disorders in CABG patients. Objective: To determine the occurrence of shoulder disorders among post-CABG patients and to explore the associated factors. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 45 postoperative CABG patients were recruited. Details regarding demographic data, operative data, pre-and post-operative physiotherapy management and the occurrence of shoulder disorders were collected by face-to-face interview method using a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. Results: The occurrence of shoulder disorders among post-CABG patients was 36%. Predominance of shoulder disorders was found at the time point 3-4 months after CABG. No significant association was found between age, gender and performance of upper limb exercises and the occurrence of shoulder disorders. Conclusion: Given the high occurrence of shoulder disorder, it is crucial that rehabilitation professionals take essential steps to assess and treat these complications in the immediate postoperative period and continue the same following discharge from the hospital. The paper concludes by calling for further research to explore and develop a more directed prophylactic exercise regimen for the musculoskeletal complications following CABG

Psychometric Properties of the Athens Insomnia Scale in Occupational Computer Users

Background: Various studies have shown that insomnia is associated with computer use. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) is an 8-item tool that has been widely used for screening insomnia. No studies have investigated the psychometric validity of AIS in occupational computer users. Objective: the current research aimed to test the psychometric properties of the AIS among occupational computer users. Materials and Methods: a sample of four hundred and twenty-four occupational computer users (age: 20–65 years and body mass index: 21.6 ± 3.5 kg/m2) completed an AIS and a socio-demographic questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. Results: a confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the three-factor model had an adequate fit (the goodness of fit index (0.95), incremental fit index (0.90) and χ2/df (2.61)). Evidence was found for configural, scalar and metric invariance of the 3-factor model across gender groups. A moderate level of internal consistency was implied by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.66. Conclusion: the findings of the present research support the validity of AIS for screening insomnia, as demonstrated by the scale’s psychometric properties; its internal consistency, internal homogeneity, item discrimination, and factorial validity

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease