The effects of delivery type and gender on intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness in newborns

ABSTRACT Purpose: To analyze intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in newborns during the first 12 h of life. Methods: Forty-three newborns born by vaginal delivery (VD) and 30 newborns born by cesarean section (CS) were evaluated. IOP and CCT were measured using Tono-Pen and handheld pachymeter, respectively, at both the 5th minute after delivery and at the 12th h of life. Results: The mean IOP for the VD group was significantly higher than that of the CS group at both the 5th minute and 12th h (p =0.042 and p =0.018, respectively). In both groups, the IOP decreased by the 12th h, but the decrease was only significant for the CS group (p =0.020). The decrease in CCT over the 12 h was significant for both groups (p <0.001). In the VD and CS groups, the IOP values of the males were significantly higher than those of the females at the fifth minute only (p =0.024 and p =0.043, respectively). No other values were significantly different between the genders. Conclusions: Newborn IOP is affected by the mode of delivery and gender. A higher IOP was found in vaginally delivered newborns than in CS newborns for at least 12 h postpartum. CCT showed a significant decline within 12 h. Male newborns have significantly higher IOP values in the first minutes of life

Caesarean Section with Spinal Anesthesia and Postspinal Headache

Purpose: To find out ‘what is the leading cause of postpartum headache in patients undergoing caesarean section with spinal anesthesia under elective conditions?’Methods: Our study was conducted with retrospective, controlled assessment of 304 patients who underwent caesarean section with spinal anesthesia under elective conditions at our institution between 1 June 2012 and 1 November 2012. The patients were assessed in terms of postpartum headache. They were divided into 2 groups: the group with headache versus the group without headache (the latter was the control group). Both groups were compared with respect to age, body mass index (BMI), number of previous pregnancies, indications for caesarean section, the spinal needle used during spinal anesthesia, preoperative and postoperative amount of fluid administration, and mobilization time.Results: None of the factors that are effective in development of headache, i.e. age, multiparity, the indication for caesarean section, BMI, and needle type, was statistically significant in logistic regression analysis. Only the needle type was significantly related to headache in Chi-Square test. All headache episodes were mild and improved with conservative therapy. We did not find any difference between groups with respect to age, BMI, number of previous pregnancies, indications for caesarean section, preoperative and postoperative amount of fluid administration, and mobilization time.Conclusion: In patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia under elective conditions the main cause of headache is the type of the spinal needle used

The effects of Yucca schidigera extract added to quail rations on egg production, egg quality and some blood parameters

This study was carried out to determine the effects of rations containing 0, 30, 60 and 90 ppm Yucca schidigera extract on egg production, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg quality and some blood parameters of quail. Two hundred and forty, eight-week-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divided into one control group and three treatment groups of similar mean weight and egg production levels, comprising 60 quail each. A basal diet containing 18% crude protein and 2800 kcal/kg metabolic energy was supplemented with 0, 30, 60 and 90 ppm Yucca schidigera extract. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks. Yucca schidigera extract supplemented to the diet did not affect feed intake, egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight, white and yolk index, Hough unit or egg shell thickness, but reduced live weight (p < 0.05) and egg specific gravity (p < 0.01). At the end of the experiment, there were no statistically significant differences among the groups in serum total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol and inorganic phosphorus levels. Serum calcium levels were found to be significantly higher in the group fed rations containing 90 ppm Yucca schidigera extract (p < 0.01)

Effects of probiotic and prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) supplementation on performance, egg quality and hatchability in quail breeders

This study was performed to investigate the effects of probiotic and prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) supplementation on performance, egg quality and hatchability in quail breeders. Four hundred and eighty, 18 wk old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were evenly distributed to 5 groups with four replicates containing 24 (18 female, 6 male) quail in each. Quail were fed either basal diet (control group) or 0.5 and 1 kg/ton probiotic and prebiotic supplemented basal diets (treatment groups) for 12 weeks. The live weight of animals, egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded, and feed efficiency was calculated. Egg quality, fertility and hatchability were also determined. Supplementation of 0.5 and 1 kg/ton prebiotic to diet increased the live weight (p <= 0.001) and egg production (p <= 0.01) respectively while 0.5 kg/ton probiotic increased egg production (p <= 0.01). Egg shell thickness was improved by both supplements (p <= 0.05). Neither probiotic nor prebiotic supplementation to the diets had significant effects on feed consumption, feed efficiency and egg weight, egg specific gravity, albumen index, yolk index, and Haugh unit. Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation slightly but not significantly increased percentage of fertile egg and hatchability. In conclusion, supplementation of probiotic and prebiotic (MOS) to the diet of quail breeders positively affected egg production and egg shell thickness

The effect of mannanoligosaccharides on fattening performance of quails

Complex carbohydrates such as mannanoligosaccharide (Bio-mos) can be used to control intestinal pathogens for improved performance in birds

The effects of triticale used in different amounts in laying quail rations on egg production and egg quality

This study was performed to determine the effects of using 40% and 60% triticale with or without enzyme instead of maize on egg production, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg quality and hatchability in laying quail diets. In this study, a total of 160, 12-week-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used; birds with similar live weight and production levels were divided into five groups of 32 quails. Although using triticale at the rate of 40% and 60% in the diet of laying quails did not affect egg production, hatchability, fertility, egg specific gravity, egg shell thickness, the egg white and yolk index or the Hough unit, it did decrease egg weight (P < 0,05) and improve feed efficiency (P < 0,05). In the study, the addition of 40% triticale with enzyme increased the feed efficiency (P < 0,05) and egg production (P < 0,001) over that of the group without enzyme supplementation, but the addition of 60% triticale with enzyme had no effect on egg production. The highest values for egg production, egg weight, feed efficiency, hatchability and fertility were obtained by using 40% triticale with I g/kg avizaym

Probiotic and Mannan oligosaccharide on growth and biochemical parameters in Turkey

Studies on the addition of probiotics and man nanoligosaccharids to poultry diets have been inconsistent (Parks et al., 2001; Fritts and Warddroup., 2003). Therefore this study was performed to determine the effects of mannan oligosacharide (Biomos) and probiotic (Primalac) supplementation on performance, carcass yield and serum parameters in turkey poults

Comparison of fermentative digestion levels of processed different starch sources by Labrador Retrievers at different ages

Extruded commercial dog foods contain high levels of carbohydrates. The limited starch digestive capacity of dogs can change with age. The effectiveness of the extrusion (heat-steam pressure) process applied to raw/by-product feedstuffs (different starch sources in terms of starch digestion) may also differ. Therefore, in this study we determined the effects of age and the heat-steam pressure process on the in vitro digestion of different starch sources in dogs. The in vitro digestion was done in faecal inoculums from Labrador Retrievers of different ages (puppy; six months, mature; two years, and geriatric; eight years). The substrates (barley, corn, wheat, rice, oat and potato flours) were studied for in vitro digestion after both extrusion processes (processed; 2.4 bar and 134 degrees C for 14 min) and a non-extrusion (unprocessed). The extrusion process generally increased the in vitro total gas production and true organic matter disappearance (T-OMd) (at 6-48 h) of barley, corn, wheat, rice, and oat flours (P 0.05). The T-OMd at 6-12 h of barley flour by faecal inoculums of >= two-year-old dogs was higher than that of six-month-old dogs. The T-OMd and gas production of starch sources cumulatively increased with incubation time (P = six months of age. We advise that food meant for medium-size breed dogs that are six months and older should be made with more potato, oat and wheat flours rather than other sources

Effects of dietary oil sources on egg quality, fatty acid composition of eggs and blood lipids in laying quail

This study was performed to investigate the effects of different oils in the diets of laying quail on their performance, egg quality, serum lipids and fatty acid composition of egg yolk. One hundred and ninety two 12-wk old Japanese quail were allocated to eight groups with two replicates containing 12 quail each. They were fed for 10 weeks on diets containing 4% oil from different sources, viz. either sunflower, sesame, cottonseed, olive, hazelnut, maize, soyabean or fish oil. The dietary oils affected egg weight and its specific gravity, the egg yolk index and the Haugh unit but had no effect oil live weight of the birds, eggshell thickness and albumen index. The highest egg weights were recorded in the groups fed olive and sunflower oil. Eggs from the soyabean oil group had the highest specific gravity. Serum triglyceride concentrations were lower in the birds receiving diets containing sunflower and hazelnut Oil than in the other treatments. Serum total cholesterol levels were higher in the groups fed hazelnut and cottonseed oil than in those receiving the other oils. Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were lower in the groups fed soyabean and olive oil than the other oil sources. The results of tills study demonstrated that olive oil unproved egg weight and egg shell quality compared to the other oils tested; fish and soyabean oil increased the omega-3 fatty acid level of egg yolk, and soyabean oil had positive effects on serum lipid concentrations. Incorporation of these oils into the diets of Japanese quail may have practical value In manipulating egg yolk quality

Technical and economic evaluation of stocking density, dietary energy level and carnitine supplementation on laying hens

This study was performed to investigate the effects of stocking density, dietary energy level and carnitine supplementation on performance, total costs, egg sale prices and profit of laying liens. One hundred seventy six, 32 weeks of age, Bovans white laying liens were used in the study. At the beginning of the study, hens were distributed to 8 groups with 4 replicates, liens in 4 groups were placed at the density of 500 cm(2)/hen and in the remaining 4 groups were placed at the density of 287.5 cm(2)/hen. Hens were fed either basal diet (low; 2650 kcal/kg ME or high; 2850 kcal/kg ME) or basal diet supplemented with 200 ppm carnitine. Treatments were not effected the live weight, egg production and egg weight (p > 0.05). Feed intake was significantly decreased and feed efficiency was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the groups fled high dietary energy. Minimum total cost and maximum profit were determined on high dietary energy, placed at a stocking density of 500 cm(2)/hen and carnitine free group. There was not significant interaction between treatments. In conclusion, the increased energy level of the diet improves the profit, but the impact of the carnitine on profit changes depending on the energy level of the diet and stocking density