Effects of poppy seed meal on egg production and hatching results in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

This study was carried out to determine the effects of poppy seed meal (PSM) on the egg production and hatching of quail. Two experiments were undertaken. In the first experiment, 240 quail, reared under the same conditions, were divided into four groups of 60 birds each (which were, in turn, subdivided into four subgroups of 15 each for experimental replicates). The first, second, and third experimental groups were fed ratios containing 5%, 15%, and 25% PSM, respectively, over 12 weeks. The control group received no PSM. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and artificial light was provided for 16 h a day. During the first experiment, egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. In the second experiment, 240 female and 48 male quail were divided into four groups, as in the preceding experiment, and the birds were housed in cages at a ratio of one male to five females. The diets and their presentation to the quails were the same as in the preceding experiment. The results of the two experiments showed that the addition of PSM to the feed ratios increased egg production, feed consumption, and feed conversion per kg of eggs and per dozen eggs. However, PSM addition at all percentages significantly reduced (P<0.001) hatchability, mainly because of increased infertility and embryonic deaths.

Socioeconomically advantaged infants attending a university well-child clinic in Ankara: are they breast-feeding optimally?

This longitudinal observational study aimed to determine the rates of initiation, duration and correlates of breast-feeding by mothers living in a socioeconomically advantaged urban environment in Turkey. Healthy, term infants born at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Hospital who would be brought to the well-child clinic regularly for at least 12 months were enrolled. Data on feeding practices were obtained at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th and 12th month well child care visits. Breast-feeding outcome was categorized based on recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of the 295 participating mothers were older than 20 years, high school graduates, and lived in apartment housing, and 54.6% were employed. The rates of breast-feeding were 97.9%, 90.1%, 76.9% and 36.9% at 1, 4, 6 and 12 months, respectively, and rates of exclusive breast-feeding were 89.8%, 59.3% and 2.0% at 1, 4 and 6 months, respectively. At 6 months 69.8% of infants were receiving cow's milk and by 12 months only 23.4% of the infants had been breast-fed according to WHO recommendations. Neither gender; birth weight of infant; age, education, parity, previous breast-feeding experience of mother; nor the status of living as extended versus nuclear family were related to breast-feeding outcome. Mothers who were working (RR: 3.89, 95% CI: 1.42-10.65) and those who had less than 4 months postpartum leave from work (RR: 4.20, 95% CI: 2.16-8.17) were more likely to not breast-feed optimally. The results of this study indicate that even where breast-feeding is normative behavior, it may not be optimally practiced, leading to potentially detrimental nutrition for infants. Promotion of breast-feeding even in advantaged urban populations is needed.

Hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome: neurologic features.

Hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (HSES) is a severe disease that affects previously healthy infants of less than 1 year of age and is associated with significant mortality and neurologic morbidity. It is characterized by sudden onset of shock, convulsions and coma, bleeding due to severe coagulopathy, fever, diarrhea, metabolic acidosis, and hepatorenal dysfunction. Central nervous system involvement with recurrent seizures and brain edema is the most common cause of high mortality and neurological morbidity. In this report, we describe four patients of HSES and review the initial and follow-up neurological features, electroencephalography findings, and the results of neuroradiological examinations of this catastrophic illness.

Factors affecting the shape of lactation curves of Holstein cows from the Balikesir Province of Turkey.

The shape of the lactation curve for 475 Turkish Holsteins was estimated by fitting a gamma function to daily milk yields from monthly recording of 754 lactations. Lactation curve traits that were analyzed included a scaling factor associated with yield at the beginning of lactation, the inclining and declining slopes before and after peak yield, DIM at peak yield, and peak and lactation yields. Persistency of lactation yield was measured from 1) the gamma function, 2) the coefficient of variation for monthly test-day yields, and 3) the ratio of lactation yield to peak yield. The log-transformed gamma function explained 71% of variation in daily yield. Effects of farm operation, calving year, calving season, parity, and service period were significant for the various lactation curve traits. Peak and lactation yields were higher for cows that calved in fall and winter, and persistency was higher for cows that calved in summer and fall. Peak and lactation yields were lower, but persistency was higher during first lactation. Repeatability estimates were moderate for peak (0.26) and lactation (0.34) yields and lower (0.06 to 0.20) for other lactation curve traits.

Intravaginal naproxen in preterm labour: a preliminary study.

In a preliminary study, the possibility that local inhibition of postaglandin formation may inhibit preterm labour was examined. An intravaginal cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, naproxen sodium, 500 mg was used in cases of preterm labour. The gestational ages of the patients were between 27 and 34 weeks, and they included a triplet pregnancy unresponsive to beta-sympathomimetic therapy. Treatment with intravaginal naproxen sodium was associated with prolongation of pregnancy for more than 6 days in five out of seven patients. No untoward fetal or maternal side-effects were detected.