Effect of catechins on fattening performance, meat quality, some antioxidant and blood parameters and fattening costs in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of green tea (Camellia sinensis) catechins in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Quail were fed with a basal diet, and the treatment groups were fed on the basal diet with 1.25 or 2.50 g/kg catechin supplementation for 30 d. Fattening performance and meat quality of the quail were estimated. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and some serum biochemical parameters were measured. The results showed that catechin supplementation did not affect live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass dressing or the nutrient composition of breast and thigh meats. The water holding capacity (WHC) of breast meat was increased in the 2.50 g/kg catechin treatment. Catechin supplementation increased the serum TAS, but decreased plasma MDA and liver MDA concentration as well as serum glucose and total cholesterol levels. Serum triglyceride and total protein levels were not affected by catechin supplementation. In conclusion, catechins have effective antioxidant hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic properties, as well as having the potential to increase meat quality in fattening quail. On the other hand, catechin supplementation did not have any negative effect on the fattening performance, meat nutrient composition and fattening costs in fattening quail.

Assessment of left atrial functions in cardiac syndrome X.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) affects left ventricular functions due to myocardial ischaemia. In this study our aim was to determine the changes in left atrial functions in patients with CSX. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One-hundred patients (M/F; 57/43) diagnosed with CSX in whom ischaemia was detected at exercise test and myocardial perfusion scintigrapghy with normal coronary angiogram and control group of 80 subjects (M/F; 40/40) were recruited into the study. In transthoracic echocardiography and tissue doppler echocardiography, left ventricular and atrial functions were recorded. RESULTS: As compared to control group,left ventricular diastolic functions were impaired (E/A; 0.95 ± 0.18 vs 1.11 ± 0.29 p < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic pressures were increased (E/Em; 8.1 ± 1.85 vs 6.9 ± 1.74 p < 0.05), and left atrial maximum volume, left atrial pre-A volume,left atrial minimum volume were increased in patients with CSX. Left atrial conduit volume was significantly decreased in patients with cardiac syndrome. Left atrial passive emptying volume (LAPEV), left atrial active emptying volume (LAAEV) and left atrial total emptying volume (LATEV) were significantly increased in patients with cardiac syndrome X. Left atrial passive ejection fration (LAPEF) was found similar between the study groups.Left atrial active ejection fraction (LAAEF) was found significantly increased (37.85 ± 11.89 vs 33.60 ± 9.21; p = 0.009) in patients with CSX. Left atrial total ejection fraction (LATEF) was increased in the group with cardiac syndrome X but it didn't reach statistical significance (60.85 ± 8.73 vs 58.36 ± 8.29; p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: Left atrial active contractile pump function increase in response to impaired left ventricular diastolic functions in CSX. Increased left atrial pump function represents a compensatory mechanism in patients with CSX. These results point out the importance of maintaining sinus rythm in patients with CSX.