Influence of Perch-Provision Timing on Anxiety and Fearfulness in Laying Hens.

Perches can enhance laying hen welfare, but their effectiveness might be age-dependent. We investigated early and late perch access effects on anxiety and fear in pullets through attention bias (AB) and tonic immobility (TI) tests. Pullets (n = 728) were raised with or without multi-level perches: CP (continuous perch access: 0-37 weeks), EP (early perch access: 0-17 weeks), LP (late perch access: 17-37 weeks), and NP (no perch access). AB was conducted in weeks 21 and 37 (n = 84/week), and TI was performed in weeks 20, 25, and 37 (n = 112/week). CP hens fed quicker than EP, LP, and NP in AB at weeks 21 and 37 (p ≤ 0.05). CP and NP feeding latencies were stable, while EP and LP fed faster at week 37 (p ≤ 0.05). CP had the shortest TI at week 20 (p < 0.05). CP and LP had the shortest TI in weeks 25 and 37 (all p ≤ 0.05). Unlike NP, CP reduced anxiety and fear. Adding perches during laying (LP) raised anxiety at week 21, adapting by week 37, and removing pre-laying perches (EP) worsened fear at weeks 20 and 25 and anxiety at week 21, recovering by week 37. Adding or removing perches prior to the lay phase increased fear and anxiety, an effect that disappeared by week 37 of age. Our study indicates that continuous perch access benefits animal welfare compared to no perch access at all.

In ovo nano-silver and nutrient supplementation improves immunity and resistance against Newcastle disease virus challenge in broiler chickens.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) interact with the microbes and host immune system to protect against diseases. Fertile broiler eggs (n = 900) were allotted to six groups: un-injected control, sham (sterile water), AgNPs (50 µg), AgNPs+Amino acids (Methionine-10 mg + Arginine-25 mg), AgNPs+Vitamins (Vit B1-72µg + Vit B6-140µg), and AgNPs+Trace Elements (Zn-80 µg and Se-0.3 µg) and incubated for 18 days. On 18th embryonic day, 0.6 ml test solution was injected at the broad end of egg using 25 mm needle and transferred to hatcher. Post-hatch, half of the chicks from each group were vaccinated with Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine, and the other half were kept as unvaccinated unit and reared for 42 d with standard management practices. Hatchability, 1st and 42nd d body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were similar between treatment groups in both vaccinated and unvaccinated units. The relative weight of bursa Fabricius and thymus was similar, but spleen weight was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in AgNPs, AgNPs+Vits, and AgNPs+TEs chicks than control group. Cellular immune response (against mitogen phytohemagglutinin-P) was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in AgNPs+TEs chicks, whereas HA titer against sheep red blood cells antigen, serum IgG, IgM, and HI titer against ND vaccine was apparently higher in AgNPs+Vits group chicks than control. No clinical symptoms were observed in the vaccinated groups except for a few control birds 6 days postchallenge (PC). Three days PC, unvaccinated birds show depression, off feed, greenish diarrhea, and nasal discharge and the control group started dying. The highest cumulative infection (CI) was observed in sham (79.17%) and un-injected control (75%), but lowest in AgNPs+AAs birds (58.33%) on 3rd dpi. The CI reached 100% on 5th dpi in control groups and AgNPs, and 91.67% and 93.75% in AgNPs+TEs and AgNPs+AAs group, respectively. The AgNPs+TEs and AgNPs+AAs group birds lived for more than 90 h compared to 75 h in control groups and also had higher IL-6 and IL-2 gene expressions at 24 h PC. It was concluded that 50 µg/egg AgNPs with vitamins (B1 and B6) and trace elements (Zn and Se) improved performance, but AgNPs with trace elements and amino acids enhanced immune response and resistance against vND virus challenge in broilers.

Determination of Therapeutic and Safety Effects of Zygophyllum coccineum Extract in Induced Inflammation in Rats.

Background: Z. coccineum is a facultative plant with many medicinal applications. This study examined the anti-inflammatory activity of Zygophyllum coccineum (Z. coccineum) in an arthritis animal model. Materials and Methods: Seventy-Six Wistar Albino rats of either sex randomly divided into six groups (12/each). The inflammation model was done using Complete Freund's Adjuvant in albino rats. The anti-inflammatory activities of the extract were estimated at different dose levels (15.6, 31, and 60 mg/kg) as well as upon using methotrexate (MTX) as a standard drug (0.3 mg/kg). Paw volume and arthritis index scores have been tested in all examined animals' treatments. Histological examination of joints was also performed. Flow cytometric studies were done to isolated osteoclasts. Cytokines assay as well as biochemical testing was done in the examined samples. Results. In vitro studies reported an IC50 of 15.6 µg/ml for Z. coccineum extract in lipoxygenase inhibition assay (L.O.X.). Moreover, it could be noticed that isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, tribuloside, and 7-acetoxy-4-methyl coumarin were the most common compounds in Z. coccineum extract separated using L.C.-ESI-TOF-M.S. (liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion-trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry). Microscopic examinations of synovial tissue and hind limb muscles revealed the effect of different doses of Z. coccineum extract on restoring chondrocytes and muscles structures. Osteoclast size and apoptotic rate examinations revealed the protective effect of Z. coccineum extract on osteoclast. The results upon induction of animals and upon treatment using of MTX significantly increased apoptotic rate of osteoclast compared to control, while using of 15.6 µg/ml. for Z. coccineum extract lead to recover regular apoptotic rate demonstrating the protective effect of the extract. Z. coccineum extract regulated the secretion of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Biochemical tests indicated the safety of Z. coccineum extract on kidney and liver functions. Conclusion. Z. coccineum extract has efficient and safe anti-inflammatory potential in an induced rat model.

Maternal age and miscarriage: A unique association curve in Sudan

This study's aim was to estimate the prevalence and maternal age and other risk factors of miscarriage among Sudanese women. Across-sectional study was conducted at the Saad Abuelela Tertiary Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan, from February to December 2019. Sociodemographic, obstetric and clinical data were collected. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Four hundred thirteen (20.5%) women reported experiencing a miscarriage. Risk factors included older age, high parity, histories of caesarean delivery, and obesity. Logistic regression showed that the lowest risk for women aged less than 20 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.33) or 20 to 24 years (AOR, 0.57), primiparas (AOR, 0.42) and women educated below the secondary level (AOR, 0.78). Unlike the global age-associated risk of miscarriage, the risk of miscarriage among Sudanese women follows a unique curve in relation to maternal age. Interestingly, the curve showed a lower risk for women less than 20 years and at 40 years. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26 [7]: 15-21).

Dust bathing in laying hens: strain, proximity to, and number of conspecifics matter.

As housing laying hens in aviaries becomes more common, understanding relationships between social context and performance of key behaviors, such as dust bathing (DB), is important. Expression of behaviors may be increased or repressed by the presence of conspecifics, and degree of behavioral synchrony can affect per hen resource allocation. We investigated relationships between number of hens on litter, number of hens simultaneously DB, and interbird distances (IBD) on space used to DB and duration of DB bouts across 4 laying hen strains (Hy-Line Brown [HB], Bovan Brown [BB], DeKalb White [DW], and Hy-Line [W36]) at 28 wk of age. Brown hens needed more space to DB than white hens (HB 1125.26; BB 1146.51 vs. DW 962.65; W36 943.39 cm2; P < 0.01). More white hens occupied litter at once (43 DW, 41 W36 vs. 28 HB, 31 BB; P < 0.01), and more white hens DB simultaneously than brown hens (11 DW, 19 W36 vs. 4 HB, 4 BB; P < 0.01). Brown hens had larger average IBD (HB 13.99, BB 15.11 vs. DW 8.39, W36 7.85 cm; P < 0.01) and larger minimum IBD (HB 6.76, BB 7.35 vs. DW 1.63, W36 1.79 cm; P < 0.01) but shorter DB durations than white hens (HB 7.37, BB 9.00 vs. DW 13.91, W36 15.16 min; P < 0.01). White hens' DB area decreased if number of hens on litter increased (DW 0.85; W36 0.79 cm; P < 0.05) or minimum IBD decreased (DW 3.66, W36 2.98 cm; P < 0.01). Brown hens' DB bout duration decreased as number of hens on litter increased (HB 0.87, BB 0.95 min; P < 0.01), number of other hens DB increased (HB 0.75, BB 0.69 min; P ≤ 0.02), or minimum IBD decreased (HB 2.39, BB 2.31 min; P < 0.01). In response to smaller IBD and more hens on litter simultaneously, DW and W36 hens minimize DB area while BB and HB hens shorten DB bouts, potentially terminating bouts before fulfilling their needs. Variations in DB behavior among strains should be considered when planning and stocking laying hen aviaries.

A risk assessment of health, production, and resource occupancy for 4 laying hen strains across the lay cycle in a commercial-style aviary system.

Different strains of commercial laying hens have been molded by varying selection pressures, impacting their production, health, and behavior. Therefore, assumptions that all laying hen strains use the given resources within aviary systems similarly and maintain equal health and performance may be false. We investigated interactions among patterns of aviary resource use by 2 strains of white and 2 strains of brown laying hens (4 units per strain, 144 hens per unit) with daily egg production, location of egg laying, keel fractures, and footpad damage across the lay cycle. Hens' distribution among resources (litter, nest, wire floor, ledge, and perch) was recorded during light and dark periods at 28, 54, and 72 wk of age. Daily egg production and location were recorded, and 20% of hens per unit were randomly selected and assessed for keel bone damage, foot health, and plumage quality. Production and health risks associated with hens' resource use were assessed using multivariable regression. During the day, more brown hens occupied wire floors, while larger numbers of white hens were on perches and litter. More brown hens were on lower-tier wire floors in the dark, while more white hens occupied top tiers. Brown hens laid more eggs outside nests, showed lower incidence of keel fractures, and had better plumage quality than white hens. White hens had higher odds of keel fractures (4.2) than brown hens. Odds of keel fractures were 3.7 and 5.7 times higher at 54 and 72 wk than at 28 wk in all strains (P ≤ 0.05). Occupying the upper tier at night increased odds of keel fractures by 5.4 times. Occupying perches was associated with lower odds of foot lesions and poor plumage quality in all strains across the lay cycle (P ≤ 0.05). Finally, white hens were associated with lower odds of non-nest laying (0.76), whereas higher nest use by brown hens resulted in higher odds of non-nest egg laying (1.56) across the lay cycle (P ≤ 0.05). Distinct strain differences in resource use in an aviary were associated with different risks to hens' production, health, and welfare.

Major extremity amputations: Indications and post surgery challenges in a Nigeria tertiary institution

Amputation is an ancient procedure which has been practiced for centuries for a variety of indications. The goal of the procedure is to eliminate potential threat to the patient while producing a viable stump for easy rehabilitation.Objective: To identify the indications, postoperative complications and peculiarities of patients with amputation in a native African population.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study carried out on all consenting patients who had extremity amputation at Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, from June 2015 to May 2016. Results: During the study period, there were 47 amputations in 47 patients (34 males and 13 females). The mean age of the patients was 35.73 ± 19.43 years. The most common indication for amputation was traditional bone setter's (TBS) gangrene accounting for 44.7% of cases, followed by diabetic foot syndrome at 25.5%. Camel bites accounted for 6.4% of the amputations. The most common type of amputation was below­knee amputation (46.8%), followed by above­knee amputation (25.5%). Five (10.7%) patients had surgical site infection and only 2.1% of the patients developed phantom limb sensation. None of these patients was fitted with a prosthesis due to the high cost or nonavailability of the prosthesis.Conclusion: Complications of TBS intervention were the leading cause of amputation in this study. Gangrene following camel bites was also found to be a peculiar cause for amputation in this environment. Appropriate public health interventions are necessary to reduce the incidence of preventable gangrene. Provision of prosthesis with adequate technical support is essential to proper rehabilitation of the amputees

Space use by 4 strains of laying hens to perch, wing flap, dust bathe, stand and lie down.

The laying hen industry is implementing aviary systems intended to improve welfare by providing hens with more space and resources to perform species-specific behaviors. To date, limited research has examined spatial requirements of various strains of laying hens for performing key behaviors and none has been conducted within an alternative housing system. This study investigated the amount of space used by 4 strains of laying hens (Hy-Line Brown [HB], Bovans Brown [BB], DeKalb White [DW], and Hy-Line W36) to perform 5 different behaviors in the litter area of a commercial-style aviary. Hens were recorded standing [S], lying [L], perching [P], wing flapping [WF], and dust bathing [DB] on an open-litter area with an outer perch between 12:00 and 15:00 at peak lay (28 wk of age). Still images of each behavior were analyzed using ImageJ software for 16 hens per strain, and maximum hen length and width were used to calculate total area occupied per hen for each behavior. Brown hens required, on average, 89.6cm2 more space for S (P≤0.021) and 81.5cm2 more space for L (P≤0.013) than white hens. White hens used, on average, 572cm2 more space to perform WF than brown hens (P≤0.024) while brown hens used 170.3cm2 more space for DB than white hens (P≤0.022). On average, hens of all strains were wider while perching than the 15cm commonly recommended per hen (e.g., DW: 18.03; HB: 21.89cm), and brown hens required, on average, 3.38cm more space while perching than white hens (P≤0.01). Brown and white hens occupy different amounts of space when performing key behaviors. These differences, along with factors such as behavioral synchrony, clustering, and preferred inter-bird distances associated with these behaviors, should be considered when creating industry guidelines, crafting legislation and designing and stocking laying hen facilities to ensure hens can fulfill their behavioral needs.

Clinical outcomes after open locked intramedullary nailing of closed femoral shaft fractures for adult patients in a Nigerian Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Femoral shaft fractures are common injuries in adults. Closed locked intramedullary nailing is the recommended treatment for femoral shaft fractures due to its high union rate. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the outcome of management of closed femoral shaft fractures in adult patients, using open locked intramedullary nailing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study which was carried out on all adult patients aged 16 years and above who presented within 2 weeks of sustaining closed femoral shaft fractures to the accident and emergency unit of a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria from January 2013 to December 2013. Pathological fractures were excluded from the study. The procedure was carried out using standard techniques, and each patient was followed up for a minimum of 1 year. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were recruited into the study. They had a mean age of 36.9 ± 11.7 years, with a male to female ratio of 2.9:1. The most common cause of closed femoral shaft fractures was road traffic crashes (95.3%), with motorcycle-related injuries found to be the highest type (56.1%). The rate of union in the study was 95.3%. The average time to radiological union was 14.0 ± 1.2 weeks while the mean time to painless full weight bearing was 14.2 ± 1.2 weeks. Among the complications encountered were broken nails (4.7%), infection, loosening of the distal screw, and limb length discrepancy (2.3% each). Using Thoresen's criteria, excellent results were obtained in 93% and poor results in 4.7% of patients. CONCLUSION: Open locked intramedullary nailing gives excellent clinical outcomes with high union and low complication rates in the management of closed femoral shaft fractures in adult patients.

Comparative Study of Proximal Tibia and Iliac Crest Bone Graft Donor Sites in Treatment of Orthopaedic Pathologies.

Introduction: Bone graft is harvested from bone and used to stimulate bone healing due to its properties. The aims of the study were to compare the quantity of graft harvested from proximal tibia and iliac crest, and the complications at these donor sites. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study carried out on all consecutive patients who had orthopaedic procedures that required bone grafting at the study centre, from April, 2015 to March, 2016. Results: During the study period, 86 patients were recruited; 43 of these patients had bone graft harvested from the proximal tibia, while the other 43 patients had graft harvested from the iliac crest. There were 53 males, and 33 females. Mean age of patients was 41.2 ± 11 years and 40.8 ± 16 years, for proximal tibia and iliac crest group respectively. Average compressed volume of graft harvested from proximal tibia and iliac crest were 7cm3 and 5.5cm3 respectively. Non-unions were the commonest indications for bone grafting, femur was the commonest bone requiring bone grafting. Complications such as primary haemorrhage, pain and surgical site infection were commoner with iliac crest than proximal tibia donor sites, however bone graft harvested from both proximal tibia and iliac crest provided adequate bone union of the indicated procedure. Conclusion: Larger quantity of graft can be harvested from proximal tibia than the iliac crest. Though graft harvested from both the proximal tibia and the iliac crest have good healing properties, the proximal tibia donor site gave less complication than the iliac crest.

In-situ pinning for Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in blacks: experience in a regional orthopaedic centre.

BACKGROUND: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is the commonest pathology affecting the adolescent hip with an incidence of approximately 2 per 100,000 population. Blacks are more commonly affected than Caucasians. Of many treatment options available, in-situ-pinning appears to be the most widely employed. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the epidemiological pattern and the outcome of in-situ pinning for slipped capital femoral epiphysis in Nigerian adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a six-year retrospective review of all the cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated by in-situ pinning between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 2003 at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Nigeria. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with 35 affected hips were managed with in-situ pinning during the period of review. Twenty-one females (67.7%) and 10 males (32.3%) with a F:M ratio of 2.1:1 were affected. The mean age for all the patients was 12.45 years (range 6 - 16; SD ± 1.79). The most common presenting complaint was hip pain seen in 48.4% of cases. Satisfactory results were obtained in 13 hips (37%) while the results in the remaining 22 hips were unsatisfactory. The most common complication was limb length discrepancy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that SCFE is not an uncommon condition in orthopaedic practice in Nigeria. The high rate of unsatisfactory results is associated with the severity of the slips and the unavailability of image intensifier at the time of surgery.

Plasma serotonin levels and the platelet serotonin transporter.

Serotonin (5HT) is a platelet-stored vasoconstrictor. Altered concentrations of circulating 5HT are implicated in several pathologic conditions, including hypertension. The actions of 5HT are mediated by different types of receptors and terminated by a single 5HT transporter (SERT). Therefore, SERT is a major mechanism that regulates plasma 5HT levels to prevent vasoconstriction and thereby secure a stable blood flow. In this study, the response of platelet SERT to the plasma 5HT levels was examined within two models: (i) in subjects with chronic hypertension or normotension; (ii) on platelets isolated from normotensive subjects and pretreated with 5HT at various concentrations. The platelet 5HT uptake rates were lower during hypertension due to a decrease in Vmax with a similar Km; also, the decrease in Vmax was primarily due to a decrease in the density of SERT on the platelet membrane, with no change in whole cell expression. Additionally, while the platelet 5HT content decreased 33%, the plasma 5HT content increased 33%. Furthermore, exogenous 5HT altered the 5HT uptake rates by changing the density of SERT molecules on the plasma membrane in a biphasic manner. Therefore, we hypothesize that in a hypertensive state, the elevated plasma 5HT levels induces a loss in 5HT uptake function in platelets via a decrease in the density of SERT molecules on the plasma membrane. Through the feedback effect of this proposed mechanism, plasma 5HT controls its own concentration levels by modulating the uptake properties of platelet SERT.

At diabetes-like concentration, glucose down-regulates the placental serotonin transport system in a cell-cycle-dependent manner.

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)] is a vasoconstrictor that also acts as a developmental signal early in embryogenesis. The 5HT transporter (SERT) on the membranes of the placental trophoblast cells controls 5HT levels in the maternal bloodstream to maintain stable transplacental blood flow and simultaneously provide 5HT to the embryo. The 5HT uptake rate of placental SERT is important for both the mother and the developing embryo. The impact of glucose on the placental SERT system during diabetic pregnancy is not known. The present in vitro study investigated this important issue in human placental choriocarcinoma (JAR) cells that were cultured for 24-96 h in a medium containing either 5.5 (physiologic concentration) or 25 mmol/L D-glucose (diabetic-like concentration). The 5HT uptake rates of the cultured cells were not altered at exogenous D-glucose concentrations in the range of 5.5-15 mmol/L, but were decreased significantly at a diabetic-like concentration (>or=25 mmol/L). To understand better the role of glucose on the placental 5HT system, we first characterized SERT in JAR cells at different cell-cycle phases and then determined the expression levels of SERT on the plasma membrane and in the intracellular pools of JAR cells at the late-S and G2 phases, where the uptake rates were decreased 73% under diabetic-like glucose concentrations. Finally, the importance of self-association of SERT molecules was examined. In JAR cells co-expressing Flag- and myc-tagged SERT, myc-antibody precipitated 70% of Flag-SERT, indicating that a large percentage of SERT proteins exist as oligomers in situ. Under diabetic conditions, myc-antibody no longer precipitated Flag-SERT, suggesting a disruption in the aggregation of SERT molecules. Therefore, we propose that under uncontrolled diabetic conditions, glucose down-regulates 5HT uptake rates of placental SERT by interfering with its functional expression in a cell-cycle-dependent manner.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of 6-p-ethylphenyl-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyridine-5,7-dione.

The synthesis of 6-(p-ethylphenyl)-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyridine-5,7-dione is described. The compound has been studied for its in vitro activity on RNA-containing influenza viruses types A and B. The preliminary results indicate that the compound has a significant antiviral activity against influenza viruses types A and B at concentrations at which no cytotoxic effects on MRC-5 cells in tissue culture are present.

Relationship of toxoplasma infections to other diseases in dogs.

Toxoplasma infection as detected by the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test was found in 13.2% of 448 dogs examined at the Purdue University Small Animal Clinic. Only titres of 1/64 and above were considered positive, but lesser titers were encountered more frequently. The highest titer observed was 1/1024 in 2 dogs one of which had idiopathic epilepsy and the other had dirofilariasis as well as hip dysplasia. The incidence of positive sera from male and female dogs were 11.7 and 14.5%, respectively. The highest frequency of infection occurred in young dogs up to 4 years of age and the lowest was in older animals. The presence of the high toxoplasmosis IFA titers in the sera of dogs seems to be associated with other disease conditions. Stress such as joint dislocations, fractures, helminth parasitism, and concomitant bacterial and viral infections, etc., was observed in 62.7% of the positive cases. Presence of tumors and renal disease conditions were associated with 28.8 and 5.2%, respectively, of the positive sera.