Effects of Essential Oils Combination on Sporulation of Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Eimeria Oocysts.

Avian coccidiosis is the most important parasitic disease in poultry production, which inflicts numerous losses to the industry. The extensive use of anticoccidial drugs leads to parasite resistance and drug residue in poultry products. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of three famous essential oils (EOs) and their combination on inactivation of mixed oocysts of Eimeria adenoides, Eimeria dispersa, Eimeria meleagrimitis, and Eimeria meleagridis. The EOs of Thymus vulgaris, Artemisia sieberi, and Mentha pulegium were prepared. After inoculation of each turkey with 7×105 sporulated oocysts, fresh unsporulated oocysts were harvested from their feces. To evaluate the sporulation inhibition effect, 5×104 oocysts were used in each treatment. Each EO was used in increasing concentrations. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined for each EO and they were blended in pairs based on IC50 line. Our results showed that the IC50 values for mentha, artemisia, and thyme were 22.92, 40.5, and 53.42 mg/ml, respectively. According to our results, artemisia and thyme combination has a synergistic effect, whereas the combination of a high concentration of mentha with a low concentration of thyme had an antagonistic effect. During this study, no interactions were observed between mentha and artemisia.

Purification, characterisation, and molecular cloning of a chicken erythroblast mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase.

We have purified an arginine-specific mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase from chicken erythrocytes. The purified transferase was free from poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activity. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 27.5 kDa by gel filtration through Sephadex G-75 in a non-denaturing solvent. Activity gel experiments indicate that the active enzyme has an apparent molecular weight in SDS gels of about 28 kDa. The optimum pH of the reaction is about 8.0. The K(m) value for NAD+ of the purified enzyme is about 130 microM. Small molecular weight inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase have no significant effect on the mono ADP-ribosyl transferase enzyme activity. A number of inhibitors of the arginine-specific mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase activity have been identified. Among the more effective inhibitors are 1,4 naphthoquinone, 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 4-amino-1-naphthol and 1,2-naphthoquinone. We have also cloned a mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase from chicken erythroblasts. This gene has been expressed in E. coli and ADP-ribosylation activity has been demonstrated using histones as substrate. The activity is shown to be arginine-specific by the use of poly-L-arginine as substrate. Use of a specific inhibitor has shown that this enzyme is indeed a mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase and not a NAD glycohydrolase activity. The sequence of this gene is very similar to several other mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase genes. There are thus at least three different chicken mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase genes in the blood system alone; this suggests that there is a quite large family of mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase genes in animals. We have also isolated the promoter region of this chicken gene and are able to identify several standard motifs in this promoter.

Hereditary and environmental risk factors; clinical and laboratory risk matters for head and neck, especially oral, cancer and precancer.

The continuing high incidence and mortality of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract in South Asia, parts of France and central Europe, together with a rising incidence and mortality from a lower base elsewhere in the Western world, stimulates continuing research on risk factors and risk markers. Tobaccos (smoked and smokeless), heavy alcohol consumption, and areca nut remain the dominant risk factors, with confirmation of the protective effects of diets rich in antioxidants. There is emerging evidence of a small, but real, risk associated with occupational and other air pollution, and with family, part of which may be hereditary. Markers in peripheral blood and saliva are underexploited. Clinical staging and histological grading methods continue to be refined, with improved prognostic value, much aided by newer and simpler methods for estimating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Data on the significance of viral genes are still inadequate, but there is good progress describing the epidemiology of chromosomal abnormalities and abberations of a growing list of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Unfortunately, as yet, these have only limited longitudinal or prognostic data.