Classic and Non-Classic Effects of the Duration of Supplementation of 25-Hydroxicholecalciferol in Broiler Chicken Diets.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of different times of supplementation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3) in broiler chickens on the performance, carcass and cuts yield, bone resistance, plasma concentration of 25(OH)D3, and expression of the mTOR gene. The treatments were a control diet (CD) supplemented with 3000 IU vitamin D3/kg of feed from 1 to 46 d, or the CD + 2760 IU (69 mcg) of 25(OH)D3/kg of feed from 1 to 21 d, from 1 to 35 d, or from 1 to 46 d. The period of supplementation of 25(OH)D3 did not affect the growth performance of broilers, but the breast meat yield was linearly increased in response to increasing days of supplementation (p < 0.05). Birds supplemented with 25(OH)D3 at the time of the analysis showed an increase (p < 0.05) in the plasma concentration of 25(OH)D3 when compared to non-supplemented birds. The mTOR gene expression (p < 0.05), and breast protein deposition (p < 0.05) presented a quadratic response related to the supplementation period of 25(OH)D3. The fat content of the breast linearly decreased (p < 0.05) as the period of supplementation was extended. The results also showed a positive linear correlation between mTOR expression and 25(OH)D3 plasma levels (r = 0.593; p < 0.05).

Different enzymatic associations in diets of broiler chickens formulated with corn dried at various temperatures.

The effect of supplementation of different enzymatic associations in the feed of broiler chickens formulated with corn dried at 80°C or 110°C on growth performance and carcass yield was evaluated. In addition, the influence of the different enzymatic associations on the cecal microbiota was studied. One-day-old male broiler chicks (1,320) were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement (6 replicates; 22 birds/replicate). The treatments were 2 corn drying temperatures (80°C and 110°C) and 5 diets. The diets consisted of a positive control (PC), a negative control (NC) with a reduction of 100 kcal/kg of apparent metabolizable energy, and 3 enzyme combinations added to the NC diet: amylase, amylase + xylanase, and amylase + xylanase + protease. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 1 to 7 d of chickens fed diets formulated with corn dried at 80°C was better (P = 0.045) than that of chickens fed diets dried at 110°C. Regardless of the enzymatic association, the supplementation improved body weight gain (P = 0.01) of the NC group to the same level as the PC group. The FCR of the NC was similar to that of the PC only when the 3 enzymes were included from 1 to 21 d (P = 0.001) and regardless of the enzymatic association for the period from 1 to 42 d (P = 0.007). Regarding cecal microbiota, the alpha diversity was similar among the groups (P > 0.05). The beta-diversity analysis showed that the microbiota of the birds receiving the combination of the 3 enzymes was similar to that of birds fed the PC diet (P = 0.18; R = 0.074), with a similar effect observed for the predicted metabolic functions (Linear discriminant analysis effect size). In conclusion, chickens fed diets formulated with corn dried at 80°C had better FCR during the prestarter phase. The enzymatic supplementation improved the FCR of the birds, which may partially be explained by the modulation of the cecal microbiota.

High doses of phytase on growth performance, bone mineralization, diet utilization, and plasmatic myo-inositol of turkey poults.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, bone mineral composition, diet utilization, and plasmatic concentration of myo-inositol (MYO) in turkeys fed different phytase doses from 1 to 28 d. A total of three hundred and twenty 1-day-old turkeys were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 8 replicates of 10 birds each. Treatments included a basal diet without phytase; reduced diet (reduced -0.15% available P and -0.18% Ca) without phytase; reduced diet + 2,000 units of phytase (FYT)/kg; and reduced diet + 4,000 FYT/kg. From day 26 to 28, partial excreta collection was conducted, and on day 28, 7 birds per replicate were euthanized for collection of ileal content and left tibia bones were removed from 2 of the same euthanized birds. Feed, excreta, and ileal digesta samples were analyzed to determine nutrient digestibility and metabolizability, ileal digestible energy, and AME. Tibia bones were analyzed for ash, Ca, and P content, and calculation of Seedor index. On day 28, blood samples were collected from 2 turkeys per replicate to analyze plasmatic MYO concentration. Feed conversion ratio was not affected, but phytase supplementation resulted in higher feed intake and body weight gain compared to turkeys fed the reduced diet (P < 0.05), and both doses were similar to the basal diet. Increasing the phytase dose had a linear effect (P < 0.05) on ileal digestibility of P and metabolizability of DM, CP, Ca, and Na, and also on AME. P content in the tibia bone increased linearly (P < 0.05) with phytase supplementation, and the same linear increase (P < 0.05) was observed for plasmatic MYO. In conclusion, the supplementation of turkey poult's diets with high levels of phytase up to 4,000 FYT/kg improves diet utilization by increasing P digestibility and dietary metabolizability, leading to higher P content in the bone and enhancing MYO provision and absorption.

Effect of different doses of phytase and protein content of soybean meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and bone characteristics of broilers.

This study evaluated the effects of high phytase doses and soybean meal (SBM) with different CP content on growth performance, ileal nutrient digestibility, digestible energy, plasmatic myo-inositol, phosphate release in vitro, and bone composition of broiler chickens. One thousand two hundred 1-day-old broilers were distributed in a 2 × 2 completely randomized factorial arrangement, with 2 phytase doses (1,000 and 2,500 phytase units [FYT]/kg of feed) and 2 SBM with different CP concentrations (45 and 47%), totaling 4 treatments with 12 replicates of 25 birds each. The chickens received feed and water ad libitum. Diets were based on corn and SBM, with different inclusions of soybean hull used to dilute the CP content of SBM according to each treatment. The inclusion of 2,500 FYT increased weight gain from 0 to 21 d (P < 0.05), whereas growth performance from 22 to 42 d was not affected, and SBM had no effect on growth performance. At day 21, ileal digestibility of dry matter, ash, and P, and digestible energy were greater in diets with 2,500 FYT/kg (P < 0.05), as well as phosphate in vitro release (P < 0.01) compared to the lower dose. At day 42, diets with SBM 47% CP and 2,500 FYT/kg promoted greater digestibility of dry matter, ash, CP, Ca, P, and digestible energy (P < 0.001), and greater phosphate release (P < 0.05) in comparison to other treatments. myo-inositol level in the plasma at 21 and 42 d was higher with the use of 2,500 FYT compared to 1,000 FYT (P < 0.05). The higher phytase dose increased tibia ash, toe ash, and Seedor Index (P < 0.05) at day 21, and the Ca content in tibia was higher with 2,500 FYT and SBM 47% CP at day 42. In conclusion, higher phytase doses for broilers improve weight gain, myo-inositol provision, and bone mineral composition. Nutrient ileal digestibility can be enhanced by higher phytase doses when in combination with SBM of greater nutritional quality.

Process water treatment at the Ranger uranium mine, Northern Australia.

The conceptual development and piloting of an innovative water treatment system for process water produced by a uranium mine mill is described. The process incorporates lime/CO2 softening (Stage 1), reverse osmosis (Stage 2) and biopolishing (Stage 3) to produce water of quality suitable for release to the receiving environment. Comprehensive performance data are presented for each stage. The unique features of the proposed process are: recycling of the lime/CO2 softening sludge to the uranium mill as a neutralant, the use of power station off-gas for carbonation, the use of residual ammonia as the pH buffer in carbonation; and the recovery and recycling of ammonia from the RO reject stream.

Protective steering: a grounded theory study of the processes by which midwives facilitate informed choices during pregnancy.

Helping women to make informed choices during pregnancy is an important and complex part of a midwife's role that does not appear as yet to have been investigated in depth. The purpose of this study was to use a grounded theory approach to investigate the processes involved when midwives engage in facilitating the making of informed choices for women in the United Kingdom. Interactions between midwives and pregnant women were observed and recorded and focused interviews were conducted with the midwives. Data were analysed according to the grounded theory method. The core category was identified as protective steering, whereby midwives were concerned to protect the women in their care, as well as themselves, when choices were made. Substantive categories were orienting, protective gatekeeping and raising awareness.

Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions and hearing threshold in sensorineural hearing loss.

The influence of hearing loss on the click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) were studied in 931 ears. The EOAEs were never found when hearing loss on the best hearing frequency was above 40 dB HL. The presence of EOAEs reflects the hearing threshold at the best hearing frequency, not only at the middle frequencies.

[Acute hepatitis caused by wild germander. Hepatotoxicity of herbal remedies. Two cases]. / Hépatite aiguë à la Germandrée petit-chêne. Hépatotoxicité d'une plante médicinale. Deux observations.

While interest in herbal therapy is clearly increasing in Western countries, there are few available data about hepatotoxicity of herbal remedies. We report on two women who had severe acute hepatocellular liver injury occurring within one to two months of treatment with Wild Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys L.), a herbal medicine for losing weight. Clinical course was favorable after the treatment was discontinued. Involuntary rechallenge in one case resulted in reappearance of symptoms of liver injury. When a patient presents with unexplained hepatic abnormalities, it may be worthwhile to consider non-orthodox self-treatment with herbal remedy as a potential cause. Only systematic observation will provide a clear picture of the incidence of liver injury caused by herbal medicines.

[Treatment of alcoholic hepatitis with silymarin. A double-blind comparative study in 116 patients]. / Traitement de l'hépatite alcoolique par la silymarine. Une étude comparative en double insu chez 116 malades.

A randomized double-blind trial of silymarin versus placebo was carried out in 116 patients with histologically proven alcoholic hepatitis, 58 of them with cirrhosis. Patients were not included in case of hepatic encephalopathy, contraindication to percutaneous liver biopsy, hepatocellular carcinoma, evident lack of discipline or refusal to enter the trial. Fifty-seven patients received silymarin orally 420 mg/day and 59 received placebo during 3 months. Biologic parameters were assessed in the serum, and a percutaneous liver biopsy was obtained at the start of the trial and 3 months later. Histologic scores of alcoholic hepatitis and fibrosis were established on each biopsy specimen by two independent pathologists. The 2 groups were comparable at inclusion; 26 p. 100 of patients were lost to follow-up at 3 months, abstinence was obtained in 46 p. 100 of patients at the end of the trial. These percentages were similar in the two groups. Four patients died of hepatic failure during the trial, 3 in the placebo group. Significant improvement in the score of alcoholic hepatitis and serum amino transferase activity, was noted in both groups during the trial, irrespective of treatment with silymarin or placebo. No side-effects were noted. Our results suggest that silymarin 420 mg/d is not clinically relevant in the treatment of moderate alcoholic hepatitis.

[Involvement of the peripheral and pyramidal nervous system in Crohn disease. Determining role of folic acid deficiency]. / Atteinte des systèmes nerveux périphérique et pyramidal au cours d'une maladie de Crohn. Rôle déterminant d'une carence folique.

We report on the case of a 16-year-old male patient who presented with a peripheral neuropathy remarkable by the severity of pain, the proximal involvement and the association with an underlying myelopathy. All these symptoms coincided with an acute exacerbation of Crohn disease (regional enteritis) involving mainly the duodenojejunal segment, and were ascribed to a major folic acid deficiency, with total recovery following supplementation. In this connection we recall the various neurological symptoms induced by folic acid deficiency. We point out how difficult it is to prove the responsibility of such deficiencies in the production of neurologic diseases, mainly because of the possible intrication with other pathogenic factors: combined deficiencies or direct action of the factor responsible for the deficiency on the nervous system. Guidelines for solving these difficulties are suggested.