Effects of cerium oxide supplementation to laying hen diets on performance, egg quality, some antioxidant enzymes in serum and lipid oxidation in egg yolk.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary cerium oxide levels (0, 100, 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg) on the laying performance, egg quality, some blood serum parameters and egg lipid peroxidation of laying hen. In total, one hundred and twenty 22-week-old brown Lohman LSL laying hens were randomly assigned to five groups equally (n = 24). Each treatment was replicated six times. Dietary supplementation of cerium oxide had no significant effect on feed intake and egg weight. The addition of cerium oxide to the laying hens' feed improved feed conversion ratio and increased (p < 0.05) egg production. Quality criteria of egg for except shell breaking strength were not affected by supplementing cerium oxide. In particular, supplementation of 200 and 300 mg/kg cerium oxide to the laying hens feed led to a significant (p < 0. 01) increase in egg shell breaking strength. Calcium and phosphorus concentration of serum increased significantly (p < 0.05) with supplementation of 100 mg/kg cerium oxide to laying hen diets. It was also observed that serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased significantly with supplementation of cerium oxide in diets. Inclusion of cerium oxide resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values in egg yolk in this study. It can be concluded that the addition of cerium oxide had positive effects on egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg shelf life. Based on the results of this study, it could be advised to supplement laying hens feed with cerium oxide as feed additives.

Persistent abdominal pain after exercise: an unexpected diagnosis.

Painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system are encountered quite frequently and are generally benign. However, clinicians should be careful to exclude rare malignant disorders and soft tissue sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcoma, which have no specific symptoms or findings. This paper presents a case that was initially consistent with a hematoma but was then diagnosed as a rhabdomyosarcoma upon clinical examination and ultrasonography at follow-up shortly after.

The ankle-foot orthosis improves balance and reduces fall risk of chronic spastic hemiparetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Ankle foot orthoses (AFO) are commonly used orthotic device in order to restore the ankle foot function and to improve the balance and gait in post-stroke hemiparetic patients. However, there remain some discussions about their effectiveness on long term hemiparetic patients who had mild to moderate spasticity. AIM: To investigate the relative effect of prefabricated thermoplastic posterior leaf spring AFO (PLS-AFO) on balance and fall risk. DESIGN: A cross-over interventional study SETTING: The Department of PMR of a tertiary hospital. POPULATION: Twenty-five chronic post-stroke long duration hemiparetic patients who had Ashworth grade 1-2 spasticity at affected calf muscles and lower limb Brunnstrom stage 2-3 and also able to walk independently without an assistive device. METHODS: Berg Balance Scale (BERG), and the postural stability test (PST) and the fall risk test (FRT) of Biodex balance systems were used for the assessments. All of the patients were assessed with AFO and without AFO. All assessments were made with footwear. RESULTS: The mean post-stroke duration was 20,32±7,46 months. The BERG scores were 42,12±9,05 without AFO and 47,52±7,77 with AFO; the overall stability scores of FRT were 3,35±1,97 without AFO and 2,69±1,65 with AFO (P<0,001). CONCLUSION: It was found that the prefabricated thermoplastic PLS-AFO improve balance and provide fall risk reduction in chronic post-stroke ambulatory hemiparetic patients who had mild to moderate spasticity on their affected lower limb. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: These results encourage the usage of AFO on long duration hemiparetic patients in order to provide better balance and lesser fall risk.

Jumping combined exercise programs reduce fall risk and improve balance and life quality of elderly people who live in a long-term care facility.

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine whether regular combined exercise program, which consists strength, stretching and aerobic exercises and additional jumping training, improve balance, fall risk, quality of life and depression status of older people living in a residential care. METHODS: A total of 168 residents who live in a long term care facility were screened. The trial began with 78 eligible participants and they were randomly grouped as combined exercises program (COM) group that includes stretching, strength and aerobic exercises, and COM plus jumping (COMpJ) group. 66 of the participants finished the trial. The groups were convened three times a week for six weeks. Each group had a warm-up, effective training and a cooling down periods. The total exercising time was no longer than 45 minutes in each group. Berg balance test and Biodex Balance System for the assessment of the dynamic balance and fall risk, short form 36 (SF 36) for the health related quality of life and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for evaluation of the depression status were used. RESULTS: The balance improvement and fall risk reduction were observed in both of the groups at the end of the trial; however, the improvements were statistically better in jumping combined group. Also health related quality of life improved in both groups. CONCLUSION: Regular group exercise in a long term care facility have several beneficial effects on the elderly residents in regard to balance improvement, fall risk reduction and quality of life. The addition of jumping to strength, stretching and aerobic exercises provides important contributions to balance improvement and fall risk reduction.

Performance of emergency medicine residents in the interpretation of radiographs in patients with trauma.

BACKGROUND: Radiographs are vital diagnostic tools that complement physical examination in trauma patients. A study was undertaken to assess the performance of residents in emergency medicine in the interpretation of trauma radiographs. METHODS: 348 radiographs of 100 trauma patients admitted between 1 March and 1 May 2007 were evaluated prospectively. These consisted of 93 cervical spine (C-spine) radiographs, 98 chest radiographs, 94 radiographs of the pelvis and 63 computed tomographic (CT) scans. All radiological material was evaluated separately by five emergency medicine residents and a radiology resident who had completed the first 3 years of training. The same radiographs were then evaluated by a radiologist whose opinion was considered to be the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. RESULTS: The mean (SE) age of the patients was 29 (2) years (range 2-79). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of pathology detection between the emergency medicine residents and the radiologist. The agreement between the emergency medicine residents and the radiology resident was excellent for radiographs of the pelvis and the lung (kappa (kappa) = 0.928 and 0.863, respectively; p<0.001) and good for C-spine radiographs and CT scans (kappa = 0.789 and 0.773, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Accurate interpretation of radiographs by emergency medicine residents who perform the initial radiological and therapeutic interventions on trauma patients is of vital importance. The performance of our residents was found to be satisfactory in this regard.

Leptin does not play a major role in platelet aggregation in obesity and leptin deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: A recent study suggested that high concentrations of leptin enhance platelet aggregations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether platelet aggregation is altered in patients with leptin gene mutations compared with obese subjects or controls. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Four men (one homozygous man and his three heterozygous brothers) carrying a leptin gene mutation; 20 age-matched, healthy, unrelated men; and 18 age-matched obese men were enrolled in the study. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, collagen-, and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation were evaluated in all individuals. RESULTS: Our results show that patients with the leptin gene mutation (both the homozygous and heterozygous patients) had significantly higher ADP-induced (78.3 +/- 3.4% vs. 57.9 +/- 9.3%, p = 0.001), collagen-induced (78.1 +/- 2.9% vs. 56.7 +/- 9.3%, p = 0.007), and epinephrine-induced (76.5 +/- 9.2% vs. 59.5 +/- 7.70%, p = 0.003) platelet aggregation compared with controls. However, ADP-, collagen-, or epinephrine-induced platelet aggregations were similar to those in obese patients. Platelet aggregation responses to a combination of pretreatment with leptin at concentrations of 20, 50, 100, or 500 ng/mL for 5 minutes and ADP at concentrations of 2 micromol/liter also were evaluated. However, we did not find significant increases in platelet aggregation even at high concentrations of leptin (100 or 500 ng/mL) in leptin-deficient patients, obese subjects, or controls. DISCUSSION: Our data show that similar to findings in obese humans, homozygous or heterozygous leptin deficiency is associated with increased platelet aggregation compared with controls, and that higher concentrations of leptin do not increase platelet aggregation.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia developed 2 years after the onset of immune thrombocytopenic purpura like syndrome.

An 80-year old man was diagnosed as having immune thrombocytopenic purpura based on epistaxis, purpura and by the platelet count 8 x 10(9)/l. Prednisolone and gamma globulin were administered and the platelet count had been kept around 50 x 10(9)/l during his follow up. Two years from the onset of immune thrombocytopenic purpura he was admitted because of leukocytosis (79 x 10(9)/l with 79% monocytes), anemia and thrombocytopenia. Hypercellular bone marrow with dysplasia of three lineages was observed. In the bone marrow cytogenic analysis, a -6, clonal cytogenic abnormality was observed. 45XY, der(6), t(6;6)(q16;q23). He was diagnosed as having chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. This is a difficult case in which it was diagnosed as refractory thrombocytopenia as a subgroup of myelodysplastic syndrome, rather than immune thrombocytopenic purpura. which might have preceded the development of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

An alternative parameter for monitoring the therapeutic benefits of allopurinol simultaneously in renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury: MDA/ATP Ratio.

The therapeutic benefits of allopurinol pretreatment in renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury were investigated by monitoring renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and ATP levels together with calculated MDA/ATP ratio in ischaemic (45 min) and reperfused (15 min) rat kidneys. MDA levels remained unchanged during ischaemia, but increased after the subsequent reperfusion. ATP content of the ischaemic kidney was decreased significantly and the recovery of ATP was incomplete after the reperfusion, whereas the MDA/ATP ratio increased at both periods. Allopurinol pretreatment (40 mg kg(-1) iv) maintained higher ATP levels during the ischaemia and inhibited the MDA formation during the reperfusion and decreased the MDA/ATP ratio at both periods. Our findings demonstrate that allopurinol exerts a biphasic protective action by preserving tissue ATP and by inhibiting lipid peroxidation during ischaemia and the reperfusion period, respectively. These findings suggest the selective involvement of two protective mechanisms in the different periods of renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. The MDA/ATP ratio could be a useful parameter for monitoring these protective actions of allopurinol simultaneously.

The beneficial effect of 2'-deoxycoformycin in renal ischemia-reperfusion is mediated both by preservation of tissue ATP and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Renal ischemia injures the renal tubular cell by disrupting the vital cellular metabolic machinery. Further cell damage is caused when the blood flow is restored by oxygen free radicals that are generated from xanthine oxidase. Oxygen radicals cause lipid peroxidation of cell and organelle membranes, disrupting the structural integrity and capacity for cell transport and energy metabolism. In the present study, the possible therapeutic usefulness of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'-deoxycoformycin (DCF), during renal ischemia and reperfusion injury was investigated. The effects of DCF on renal malondialdehyde (MDA) and ATP levels were studied after 45 min ischemia and 15 min subsequent reperfusion in rat kidneys. MDA levels remained unchanged during ischemia, but increased after the subsequent reperfusion. DCF pretreatment (2.0 mg/kg i.m.) decreased MDA and increased ATP levels during the ischemia-reperfusion period. DCF exerts a dual protective action by facilitating purine salvage for ATP synthesis and inhibiting oxygen radical-induced lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that DCF therapy could be beneficial in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion renal injuries.

The effect of allopurinol on the liver ultrastructure, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxide levels during liver ischemia in guinea pigs.

1. The preventive effect of allopurinol on reduced glutathione and lipid peroxide levels of the liver and the accompanying ultrastructural changes during liver ischemia was investigated in guinea pigs. 2. Liver glutathione levels decreased significantly while lipid peroxide levels increased slightly in the ischemic group. 3. Allopurinol administered before ischemia resulted in a reverse significant increase in liver glutathione levels and a significant decrease in lipid peroxide levels indicating a protective effect upon cell membrane during ischemia. 4. On the other hand, electron microscopic changes in the liver associated with ischemia could not be altered by allopurinol.

The effect of allopurinol on Na+K+ATPase related lipid peroxidation in ischemic and reperfused rabbit kidney.

1. Na+K+ATPase is a membrane bound enzyme whose activity is essential for maintenance of cell viability. Lipid peroxidation changes membrane fluidity and enzyme activity. 2. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of allopurinol (free radical scavenger) on Na+K+ATPase activity in rabbit kidney cortex membrane. In this in vivo study we created ischemia and reperfusion in rabbit kidneys. 3. Enzyme activity were low in ischemic and reperfused kidneys, compared to the controls. In allopurinol treated ischemic and reperfused groups, the levels of Na+K+ATPase activity were high compared to the untreated group. 4. It has been concluded that allopurinol may protect this enzyme activity.

Biochemical investigation of leukocyte functions during lithium therapy.

1. The effect of lithium on phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) has been investigated by measurements of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), NADPH oxidase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) both in lithium treated rats and lithium treated infected rats. 2. The results have been compared with two control groups, one of which was without lithium treatment and the other was only infected. 3. In the first experimental group increased activities of these enzymes have been observed, while in lithium-treated infected rats there was a decrease in the activities of the same three enzymes. 4. It is proposed that defense mechanisms against infection fail during the lithium treatment.

The effect of epidermal growth factor on liver lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels in lobectomized rats.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a growth-promoting polypeptide which is found in highest levels in male mice in the submaxillary gland. It may also be a key factor in regeneration of the liver. We performed experiments with 18 male Wistar rats, divided into three groups. Hepatic left lobectomy (%30) was performed on the first group of rats. This group received an intraperitoneal injection of EGF for 7 days. The second group was the control group into which normal saline was injected for 7 days. The third group was sham-operated. On days 5 and 7 tomographic studies of liver were performed. On day 7 EGF levels, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione in liver were measured in all of the rats. While serum EGF levels did not show any significant change, the levels of lipid peroxide were decreased and glutathione was increased. Tomographic measurements indicated that administration of EGF increased the amount of regeneration.

The differences in myeloperoxidase activity and consumption of thyroid hormones by bactericidal systems in guinea pigs with peritoneal contamination.

In this experiment, the utilization of thyroid hormones and the alterations in myeloperoxidase activity were determined during contamination of the peritoneum after both 10(6) and and 10(9) E. Coli injection, intraperitoneally. During contamination with 10(9) E. Coli thyroid hormones decreased and myeloperoxidase activity increased significantly.

Acute appendicitis associated with pneumoperitoneum.

Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum is infrequently encountered as a radiographic finding in association with a perforated appendicitis. This may lead to diagnostic errors, of which every radiologist and surgeon should be aware. We report a case of perforated appendicitis associated with free intraperitoneal gas.