Evaluation of methylation pattern in promoter region of E-cadherin gene and its relation to tumor grade and stage in breast cancer

The epithelial cadherin gene (CDH1) has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene located within the 16q22.1 region. The CDH1 gene encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cell to cell adhesion and loss of CDH1 expression contributes to increased proliferation, invasion and metastasis in breast carcinoma. No mutation in CDH1 have been identified in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), suggesting that, other inactivation mechanisms are responsible for IDC oncogenesis. In order to analyze the role of promoter methylation in CDH1 gene inactivation in breast cancer, the CpG methylation status of Ecadherin promoter region by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was investigated. 10 CpG sites [nucleotide (nt) 863, 865, 873, 879, 887, 892, 901, 918, 920 and 940] in the promoter region were screened for methylation. The CDH1 methylation was detected in 94% (47 to 50) of breast tumors which was associated with higher tumor grade (p = 0.035), tumor stage (p = 0.000) and tumor metastasis (p = 0.000). There was also a significant correlation between tumor stage, grade and metastatic status with sites of methylation (p = 0.000). The data indicate that CDH1 promoter methylation might be a potential mechanism for epigenetic silencing of CDH1 in primary breast cancer suggesting a valuable molecular marker for detection of breast cancer progression.Key words: Breast cancer, E-cadherin, methylation pattern, tumor stage, tumor grade

The Performance and Incidence of Ascites in Broiler Chickens in Response to Feed Restriction and Meal Feeding Programs

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feed restriction (FR) and meal feeding (MF) on performance, carcass characteristics and related parameters to ascites in Ross 308 male broiler chickens. Five dietary treatments were 1) the control (ad libo. feeding), 2 )feed restriction from 7 to 14 days (FR14), 3) feed restriction from 7 to 21 days (FR21), 4) meal feeding from 7 to 14 days (MF14) and 5) meal feeding from 7 to 21days (MF21). All birds were fed adlibitum for the first week post hatch and after 21 days of age. Four replicate of 12 birds were allocated to each treatment. The results indicated FR and MF21 groups had significantly (

Effect of Different Levels of Mushroom Waste (Agaricus bisporus) with or without Probiotic on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Breast Meat Quality in Broiler Chickens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mushroom waste and probiotic levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two levels of probiotic supplementation (0 and recommended rate) and three levels of mushroom waste inclusion (0%, 3%, and 6%) was used in a completely randomized design using male broiler chickens (Ross 308 strain). Different levels of mushroom waste and probiotic had no significant effect on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in broiler chickens. Neither different levels of mushroom waste nor probiotic independently had any significant effect on carcass characteristics. However, the use of mushroom waste and probiotics significantly reduced the malondialdehyde content in chicken breast meat 30 days after storage (P). Breast meat pH value was significantly reduced by supplementation with probiotic 1 and 30 days after storage (P). In conclusion, under the conditions of this experiment, inclusion of mushroom waste, particularly at 6% level, numerically improved growth performance and was effective in preventing meat oxidation

Effect of Different Levels of Zinc on the Performance and Humoral Immunity Response in Broiler Chicken

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of zinc on the performance and humoral immunity response in broiler chickens with 250 Ross broiler chickens with five experimental treatments consisted of five replicates in a completely randomized design. Treatments were diets containing: basal diet (control) and basal diet plus 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg Zn/kg. Results of the experiment indicated that birds were fed on diets containing 120 mg Zn/kg and control showed the highest and the lowest weight gain, respectively (P0.05). In connection with feed conversion ratio, the highest and the lowest means belonged to the treatments containing 40 and 120 mg Zn/kg respectively (P0.05). Regarding Bronchitis antibody titer in 13th and 19th days, the lowest titer belonged to the birds on the control and 40 mg Zn/kg and the highest titer belonged to the birds fed with 160 mg Zn/kg. The difference between this treatment and the others was significant (P0.05). In secondary SRBC at 36 days of age the best and the lowest titer were shown by 40 mg Zn/kg and 160 mg Zn/kg of diet, respectively(P0.05). Finally, the results indicated that addition of 120 mg Zn/kg, of diet improved weight gain and feed conversion ration. The levels of 40 and 160 mg Zn/kg of diet showed the highest immunity response against SRBC and Bronchitis respectively

Effect of Chicory Plant (Cichorium intybus L.) Extract on Performance and Blood Parameters in Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress with Emphasis on Antibacterial Properties

The antimicrobial effectiveness of different extracts of Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) plant including methanolic, ethylic acetate, chloroformic, and aqueous extracts was evaluated by Disk Diffusion method. The ethylic acetate extract showed higher antibacterial activity against E. coli compared with others. Then, effects of different levels of ethylic acetate extract on growth performance and blood parameters of broilers subjected to high ambient temperature was investigated. The treatments were; a control diet, 3 levels of the Chicory ethylic acetate extract (150, 250, and 350 mg/kg feed) and one level of probiotic with 4 replicates of 20 broiler chicks in each. The temperature was increased to 35°C with 50% relative humidity for 5 h daily, starting from 11 d until 42 d of the experimental period. Results indicated that inclusion Chicory extract at 350 mg/kg and probiotic increased body weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio during 11-24 d and 0-42 d (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in feed intake of broilers treated with Chicory extract and probiotic compared with control. The serum concentrations of triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein significantly decreased in birds received Chicory extract at the levels of 250 and 350 mg/kg feed compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05).  No significant difference was observed between treated groups and control for serum high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein concentrations. It seems that dietary supplementation of Chicory ethylic acetate extract at levels higher than 250 mg/kg feed has growth promoting effect which can result in improving growth performance and decreasing blood lipids of broilers exposed to heat stress condition

Effect of Different Levels of Germinated Barley on Live Performance and Carcass Traits in Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of germinated barley (GB) on live performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks starting from 7 days of age and ending at 42 days of age. Chicks (Ross 308) were fed six dietary treatments including a corn–soy diet (corn diet), a barley–soy diet (barley diet), a barley diet plus enzymes (enzyme barley diet), and 3 other diets in which GB was replaced with barley at levels of 33%, 66%, and 100% in the barley diet (33% GB diet, 66% GB diet, and GB diet, respectively). Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that birds fed a barley diet had significantly lower performance than those fed other diets (P). Supplementing of the barley diet with β-glucanase enzyme as well as replacing GB with barley improved the performance of broilers. Birds fed a GB diet had a significantly higher carcass yield those fed other diets (P). The lowest abdominal fat percentage was observed in birds fed a barley diet or a corn diet. Thus, it is concluded that replacing GB with barley, especially at 33% level, is more effective than supplementing barley diets with β-glucanase enzyme in improving live performance of broiler chickens