Dietary vitamin E in White Leghorn layer breeder hens: a strategy to combat aflatoxin B1-induced damage.

Mycotoxins are unavoidable contaminants of animal and human feed and food respectively. This study was designed to investigate the protective activity of vitamin E (Vit E) in White Leghorn breeder hens and their progeny against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced damage. The results indicated a significant decrease in egg production and quality in the groups exposed to dietary AFB1. A detectable amount of AFB1 residue appeared in the eggs during the first week of mycotoxin exposure at levels ≥ 2.5 mg kg(-1), which reached its peak (0.403 ± 0.04 ng/g [mean ± standard deviation]) during the second week of the experiment (in the group fed 10 mg kg(-1)). Feeding Vit E + AFB1 resulted in higher AFB1 residues (0.467 ± 0.03) when compared with the hens fed AFB1 alone. The resistance of red blood cells to oxidative damage was decreased, while embryonic mortalities and deformities were increased in the AFB1-fed groups. The protective effect of Vit E on these parameters was noted in the groups fed lower doses of AFB1. After the withdrawal of mycotoxin-contaminated feed, most of the parameters returned towards normal within 2 weeks, except AFB1 residues that were still detectable. From the findings of this study one can conclude that the addition of Vit E in the diet of hens provided only partial protection against AFB1-induced damage.

Synthesis of Enantioenriched Pyrrolidines via Gold-Catalyzed Tandem Cycloisomerization/Hydrogenation of Chiral Homopropargyl Sulfonamides.

A novel gold-catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization/hydrogenation of chiral homopropargyl sulfonamides has been developed. Various enantioenriched pyrrolidines can be obtained in excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities by combination of chiral tert-butylsulfinimine chemistry with gold catalysis. Importantly, this represents the first example of a pyrrolidine synthesis from homopropargyl sulfonamide.

Age-related in-hospital mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in-hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction among different age groups. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Coronary Care Unit and Cardiology Ward of Nishtar Hospital, Multan from 1st of September 2002 till 10th of April 2003. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 460 admitted patients of acute myocardial infarction who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into four age groups. Group-I included patients in 20-40 years, group-II (41-50 years), group-III (51-60 years) and group-IV (>60 years). Mortality was compared between different age groups by Chi-square and linear-regression models. RESULTS: The total in-hospital mortality was 16.7%. It gradually increased from 5.6% in group-I (20-40 years) patients to 21% in group-IV (>60 years) patients. While mortality in groups group-II (41-50 years) and group-III (51-60 years) patients was 16.7% and 18.6% respectively. A marked increase in mortality was noted with increase in age. Group-IV (>60 years) patients presented 2 hours late to the hospital than the group-I (20-40 years) patients. There was no statistical difference in site of infarction in different age groups. Old age (group-IV i.e. >60 years old) was more associated with heart failure (higher Killip class) on presentation. Lesser number of patients in group-IV received thrombolytic therapy than group-I. Only 31.09% patients in group-IV and 62.5% patients in group-I received streptokinase therapy respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute myocardial infarction age was a powerful independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and complications.