A nano-enabled cancer-specific ITCH RNAi chemotherapy booster for pancreatic cancer

Gemcitabine is currently the standard therapy for pancreatic cancer. However, growing concerns over gemcitabine resistance mean that new combinatory therapies are required to prevent loss of efficacy with prolonged treatment. Here, we suggest that this could be achieved through co-administration of RNA interference agents targeting the ubiquitin ligase ITCH. Stable anti-ITCH siRNA and shRNA dendriplexes with a desirable safety profile were prepared using generation 3 poly(propylenimine) dendrimers (DAB-Am16). The complexes were efficiently taken up by human pancreatic cancer cells and produced a 40-60% decrease in ITCH RNA and protein expression in vitro (si/shRNA) and in a xenograft model of pancreatic cancer (shRNA). When co-administered with gemcitabine (100 mg/kg/week) at a subtherapeutic dose, treatment with ITCH-shRNA (3x 50 mg/week) was able to fully suppress tumour growth for 17 days, suggesting that downregulation of ITCH mediated by DABAm16/shRNA sensitizes pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine in an efficient and specific manner

Maize/Sorghum - Based Dried Brewers' Grains In Broiler Finisher Diets

A 40 - day feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal substitution level of maize/sorghum-based dried brewers' grains (MSDBG) for maize in broiler finisher diets. Six experimental broiler finisher diets were formulated such that 25%, 50% and 75% of the maize in diet 1 (the control) were replaced with MSDBG in diets 2, 3, and 4, respectively while diets 5 and 6 were like 3 and 4, respectively but fortified with 4% palm oil. Each diet was fed to a group of 48 broiler chicks for 40 days (week 4 to week 10 of age). There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among the groups in growth rate (43.95, 45.52, 45.11, 43.01, 45.80 and 43.92 g/day, respectively). At replacement levels or 50% and 75% with or without palm oil, the birds consumed significantly (P< 0.05) more feed than the group on the control diet (140.0, 151.4, 177.3, 174.6, 174.2 and 167.1 g/day, respectively). Feed conversion ratio of the MSDBG groups was consequently significantly(P < 0.05) inferior to the control. Addition of palm oil did not produce any noticeable effect on the performance of the birds. Feed cost for production of a kilogram or brioler was markedly reduced at the 75% replacement level.Keywords: Maize/sorghum-based dried brewers' grains (MSDBG), maize, broiler diet

Deaths among pigs fed sole fresh cassava by-products in humid southeastern Nigeria

No Abstract.Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 4 (2) 2008: pp. 152-15

A study of some diseases affecting the livers of cattle slaughtered in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

A retrospective study of diseases affecting the livers of cattle slaughtered in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria was carried out from 1999 to 2002. A total of 5.369 animals were slaughtered within the study period and out of this, 943 (17.6%) livers were condemned. Fascioliasis the reason for 817 (86.6%), of these condemnations and represent. 15.2% of the cattle slaughtered. This was followed by liver necrosis (8.6%) representing 1.5% of the population, while cysts (4.1%), abscesses (0.4%) and tuberculosis (0.2%) respectively represented 0.7%, 0.7% and 0.04% of the animals slaughtered in the abattoirs. Overall annual prevalence of the diseases gave 82.4% the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, with fascioliasis accounting for over 80% of the reasons for condemnations. There was a clear seasonal pattern of fascioliasis from early dry to the rainy seasons. The late dry season and beginning of the rains positively influenced the activities of Fasciola. Incidence of cysts on the livers equally increased from the early dry season to the late rainy season, while liver abscesses were positively influenced by dry season. The cases of tuberculosis occurred mostly during the dry season and this equally exacerbated the incidence of liver necrosis. It was concluded that fascioliasis and the migrating river flukes were the major reasons for liver condemnation in Akwa-Ibom state. The 0.04% prevalence rate of tuberculosis observed in the state should be of public health concern. Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 1(1) 2005: 59-6

The Effects of Partial Replacement of Maize with Plantain Peels in Broiler Diets

A 28-day feeding trial involving one hundred and twenty (120) 1-week-old Anak starter broilers was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of maize with unripe plantain peel meals at 0, 4, 8 and 12% dietary levels on the performance of broilers. Data were collected on feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Feed intakes of the birds on 0, 8, and 12% unripe plantain peel meals were similar (p>0.05) and lower than the feed intake of the birds on 4% unripe plantain peel meals. The growth rate of 0, 4 and 8% dietary groups were superior to that of the group on 12% unripe plantain peel meals inclusion. The feed conversion ratio of 0 and 4% dietary groups were similar and better than the groups on 8 and 12% dried plantain peel meals inclusion. The results suggest that up to 8% unripe plantain peel meals can replace maize without any deleterious effect on starter broilers. Keywords: Broilers, poultry, feed, plantain peel, maiz

Analysis of ten years production trends of a Nigerian University Piggery unit

The operations of a collapsing University of Nigeria, Nsukka piggery unit was studied over a period of 10 years with the objective of identifying the reasons for the deterioration of the unit as well as prescribe solutions. The piggery unit had in the past obtained regular funding from the university up to the 6th year of the period under review, after which it became irregular and finally stopped by the 9th year. This insufficiency of funds led to an erratic supply of feed and thus starvation, death of pigs and eventual almost total collapse of the unit. The average total stock population of the piggery unit increased from 42 in the first year of the study period to a peak of 232 in the 5th year and thereafter declined to an average of 45 in the 10th year. The annual feed allowances of the pigs were far below the annual feed requirements in quantitative and qualitative terms over the ten-year period. The highest feed consumption deficit was recorded in the 10th year and the least deficit in the first year. Because of continued increase in the cost of feeds coupled with stoppage of funding by the university, the unit resorted to feeding the pigs mainly with boiled cassava tubers, which is high in fiber and low in protein. Litter size at birth ranged from 4.3 to 6.8 and the average number of piglets weaned per litter per year ranged from 2.1 to 6.6. This accounted for the continued decline in the stock population. Piglet mortality attained its peak of 64.8% by the 10th year. The average piglet mortality, over the ten year period was however approximately 31%. The problem of the unit can be traced back to lack of adequate funding by the university. Keywords: piggery, diseases, feed requirement, university farm, NigeriaInternational Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 6 2005: 39-5

Evaluation of raw and cooked pigeon pea seed meal as feed ingredient for weaner pigs.

EVALUATION DE LA FARINE DE GRAINES DE POIS DE CAJAN CRUE ET CUITE COMME INGREDIENT DES ALIMENTS POUR DES PORCS AU SEVRAGE Résumé Une étude a été menée pendant 42 jours pour évaluer la performance des porcs au sevrage nourris de farine de graines de pois de cajan (Cajanus cajan) crue et cuite. Trois rations expérimentales pour les porcs à la croissance ont été formulées. La ration 1 (ration- témoin) ne contenait pas de farine de graines de pois de cajan (0% FGP), tandis que les rations 2 et 3 contenaient respectivement 20% de farine de graines de pois de cajan crue et cuite. Chacune de ces rations était servie à raison de 5% du poids vif pendant les trois premières semaines et à raison de 7% du poids vif durant les trois dernières semaines de l'étude, à huit porcs au sevrage âgés de dix semaines pesant entre 6,57 kg et 7,10 kg dans un dispositif expérimental complètement randomisé. Les résultats obtenus montraient une forte baisse (P0,05) à ceux soumis à la ration-témoin. Le coût alimentaire/kg de gain pondéral pour les porcs soumis à la ration-témoin était beaucoup (

Effect of total replacement of maize with brewer's spent grain and maize offal on performance of laying hens

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the possibility of total replacement of maize component in layer diets with combinations of maize/sorghum-based brewer's dried grains and maize offal using 96 Shika Brown layers, 15 weeks in lay. Four experimental layer diets were formulated to contain maize, brewer's spent grains and maize offal at 50, 0, 0; 0,12.5, 37.5; 0, 25, 25; and 0, 37.5, 12.5 levels for T1 (control) T2. T3 and T4 respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 24 layer hens already in their 15th week of lay for 56 days. There was no significant (p0.05) values but superior to T4. There was no significant difference observed in all groups in other egg quality characteristics – Haugh unit, albumen index and yolk index. Keywords: Maize; brewer's spent grain; maize offal; laying hens International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 268-27

Effect of Feeding Sun Dried Cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) Corm Meal on the Performance of Starter Broilers

The effects of different levels of cocoyam corm meal on performance of starter broilers were determined in a 28-day feeding trial. Five diets containing cocoyam corm meal at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels and labeled T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively were formulated and fed to one hundred and fifty (150) starter broilers (Hybro strain) in a completely randomized design experiment in which each treatment group was replicated thrice. Each replicate contained 10 birds. Birds fed T3, T4 and T5 diets had significantly (p<0.05) lower daily weight gain than the control group T1 and T2 group birds that were similar (p>0.05). Feed intake values of the birds on 5, 10 and 15% cocoyam corm meal were significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of T1 and T5 birds. Feed conversion ratio of birds on T1 and T2 were significantly lower and better than that of T3, T4 and T5 dietary group. Analysis of the results revealed that starter broilers could tolerate up to 20% level of inclusion of cocoyam corm meal without serious deleterious effects on their performance. The significance of this research finding is that sun drying alone can achieve the incorporation of cocoyam corm meal to the tone of 20% in broiler starter ration. Keywords: Broiler chicks, nutrition, cocoyam corm meal, maiz