Non-starch polysaccharide degradation in the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens fed commercial-type diets supplemented with either a single dose of xylanase, a double dose of xylanase, or a cocktail of non-starch polysaccharide-degrading enzymes.

The aim of this study was to examine non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) degradation in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens fed a range of commercial-type diets supplemented with a commercial dose of xylanase, a double dose of xylanase or a cocktail of NSP - degrading enzymes. Cobb 500 broilers (n = 1,080) were fed 12 dietary treatments; 4 diets with differing primary grain sources (barley, corn, sorghum, and wheat) and three different enzyme treatments (commercial recommended dose of xylanase (16,000 BXU/kg), a double dose of xylanase (32,000 BXU/kg) or an NSP-degrading enzyme cocktail (xylanase, ß-glucanase, cellulase, pectinase, mannanase, galactanase, and arabinofuranosidase at recommended commercial levels). There were 108 pens, approximately 10 birds per pen, 9 replicates per dietary treatment. The diets were fed as 3 phases, starter (d 0-12), grower (d 12-23), and finisher (d 23-35). On bird age d 12, 23, and 35, performance (total pen body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio corrected for mortality [cFCR]), litter and excreta dry matter content, and ileal and total tract soluble and insoluble NSP degradability and free oligosaccharide digestibility was determined. On d 35, the quantity of NSP in the gizzard, jejunum, ileum and excreta was determined. Results from this study showed that the double xylanase dose and NSP-ase cocktail had positive impacts on starter phase performance in birds fed the corn- and wheat-based diets. In the grower phase in birds fed the barley-based diet, these enzyme treatments improved cFCR and increased litter dry matter content. The NSP-ase cocktail had a negative impact on finisher phase cFCR in birds fed the sorghum-based diet. The double xylanase dose induced a positive impact on NSP degradability and free oligosaccharide digestibility. In conclusion, there appears to be advantages to feeding broilers a double xylanase dose, but lack of consistency when using an NSP-ase cocktail containing many enzymes.

Dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide level and composition influences grower and finisher phase performance, excreta moisture content and total tract nutrient digestibility in broilers.

1. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide (sNSP) level and composition on grower and finisher phase performance, total tract nutrient digestibility and excreta moisture content in broiler chickens.2. Cobb 500 broilers (n = 1080) were fed 12 dietary treatments; four diets with differing primary grain sources (barley, corn, sorghum and wheat) and three different sNSP levels (low, medium and high). Diets were formulated to have similar protein and energy levels but differing sNSP levels, induced by manipulating the quantity of the ingredients in the diet. The diets were fed in three phases, starter (d 0-12), grower (d 12-23) and finisher (d 23-31).3. For birds aged d 23 and 31, total pen body weight and feed intake were determined, and fresh excreta and litter samples were collected per pen. Dry matter (DM) content was measured in the excreta and litter samples. Total tract DM digestibility, apparent metabolisable energy corrected to nitrogen (AMEn), and soluble and insoluble NSP and free oligosaccharide degradability were evaluated.4. In birds fed the sorghum- and corn-based diets, feeding high sNSP resulted in a lower cFCR at d 0-23 compared to low sNSP (P = 0.004 and P = 0.044, respectively). In birds fed the corn-based diet, feeding low sNSP resulted in the lowest litter DM but highest DM digestibility at d 23 (P = 0.045 and P < 0.001) and d 31 (P = 0.022 and P = 0.008). For all diets, degradability of sNSP was higher and insoluble NSP was lower when feeding low compared to high sNSP (P < 0.001). In birds fed the barley- and sorghum-based diets, AMEn was lower when feeding the low compared to high sNSP level (P < 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively).6. Results from this study showed that level of dietary sNSP impacts broiler productive performance and nutrient utilisation.

Contribution of individual broilers to variation in amino acid digestibility in soybean meal and the efficacy of an exogenous monocomponent protease.

A total of 72 male Ross 308 broilers were reared to day 34 on a standard wheat and soy-based diet and then offered one of the four semisynthetic experimental diets, comprising two different soybean meal sources either without or with exogenous protease (treatments therefore offered in a 2*2 factorial arrangement). Each experimental diet was fed to 18 individually housed birds from 34 to 37 D after which ileal digesta were collected and digestibility coefficients were calculated. The two soybean meal sources were found to be nutritionally divergent (P < 0.01), with one having the apparent ileal amino acid digestibility coefficient of 0.80 and the other 0.71. Exogenous protease increased (P < 0.01) apparent ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients from 0.74 to 0.77. There were no interactions between soybean meal origin and protease effect. On an individual bird level, there were substantial differences in the capacity to digest amino acids with the mean total amino acid digestibility coefficients from 0.54 to 0.80 for one of the soybean meal samples. Exogenous protease addition reduced the coefficient of variation for total amino acids from 11.4 to 9.1% in one soybean meal and from 7.7 to 6.3% in the other. It can be concluded that soybean meal digestibility varies and that some of this variance is associated with heterogeneity in the digestive capacity of broilers.

Safety and affordability of an elective Saturday list at Pietersburg Hospital, Limpopo, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The backlog of patients waiting for operations continues to be a problem in many public hospitals in South Africa (SA), with elective surgery procedures being postponed for up to 2 years. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of death in hospital or out of hospital within 30 days of an elective procedure performed on a Saturday, and to determine the cost incurred by paying staff members who perform these operations. METHOD: A prospective, observational descriptive cohort study of all patients undergoing inpatient general surgery operations during weekdays and weekends between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 (1 year) at Pietersburg Hospital (PBH), Limpopo, SA. Microsoft Excel 2010 (Microsoft, USA) was used to analyse and derive descriptive statistics. The finance department at the hospital calculated the overtime pay for theatre staff who operated on Saturdays. RESULTS: The study included 1 352 operations (607 elective and 745 emergency procedures). Saturday elective operations contributed 133/607 (22%), and the rate of death for these operations was 1.5%. The most common procedures performed on a Saturday were hernia repair and amputation. The cost for 8 hours of work on a Saturday was ZAR13 900, amounting to a total of ZAR333 600 for 24 Saturdays. CONCLUSION: Performing minor surgery on a Saturday had a mortality rate of 1.5%, and a theatre staff cost of ~ZAR2 317 per patient, excluding surgeons' fees. If surgeons were to be paid the costs would be ZAR3 450 per patient.

Provision of an emergency theatre in tertiary hospitals is cost-effective: Audit and cost of cancelled planned elective general surgical operations at Pietersburg Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Cancellations of planned elective surgical operations increase financial cost to the patient and the hospital. OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate and reasons for cancellations, estimate the cost incurred by such cancellations and recommend possible solutions. METHODS: We did a prospective descriptive study of cancellations of elective general surgical operations over the 1-year period January - December 2014 in the main theatre at Pietersburg (PTB) Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa. All patients listed on the theatre booking slate for elective general surgical operations before the cut-off time of 13h00 on the day before the anticipated operation were included. Epi Infoversion 7 was used to analyse the data and derive the descriptive statistics. RESULTS: There were 537 booked patients (median age 47 years, range 1 - 94); a total of 298 operations were performed, and 239 were cancelled (cancellation rate 44.5%). Reasons for cancellation were as follows: theatre needed for an emergency n=154 (64.4%), theatre equipment failure and lack of consumables n=17 (7.1%), non-theatre equipment failure n=10 (4.2%), prolonged time of operations n=13 (5.4%), abnormal blood results n=8 (3.3%), patient comorbidity and poor general condition n=9 (3.8%), patients absent from the ward n=8 (3.3%), patients not starved n=2 (0.8%), patients' condition improved significantly n=3 (1.3%), nurses' strike n=5 (2.1%), rebooking of cases for senior surgeons or other specialty n=2 (0.8%), and other reasons n=8 (3.3%). The cost per inpatient per day was estimated at ZAR4 890 at PTB Hospital and ZAR2 100 at district hospitals, and the total cost per cancelled operation was ZAR25 860. CONCLUSIONS: Over the 1-year period 44.5% of elective operations at PTB Hospital were cancelled, 64.4% because the theatre was needed for an emergency operation. We recommend that a theatre dedicated to emergencies be opened at PTB Hospital. The cost incurred due to cancellations was about ZAR6 million for the hospital, with additional cost and emotional trauma for the patients.

Physico-chemical properties of late-incubation egg amniotic fluid and a potential in ovo feed supplement.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the physico-chemical properties of late-incubation egg amniotic fluid and a potential in ovo feed (IOF) supplement. METHODS: Amniotic fluid was collected from broiler breeders (Ross 308, 51 weeks and Cobb 500, 35 weeks) on day 17 after incubation. A mixture of high-quality soy protein supplement - Hamlet Protein AviStart (HPA) was serially diluted in MilliQ water to obtain solutions ranging from 150 to 9.375 mg/mL. The mixtures were heat-treated (0, 30, 60 minutes) in a waterbath (80°C) and then centrifuged to obtain supernatants. The amniotic fluid and HPA supernatants were analysed for their physico-chemical properties. RESULTS: Only viscosity and K+ were significantly (p<0.05) different in both strains. Of all essential amino acids, leucine and lysine were in the highest concentration in both strains. The osmolality, viscosity and pCO2 of the supernatants decreased (p<0.05) with decreasing HPA concentration. Heat treatment significantly (p<0.05) affected osmolality, pH, and pCO2, of the supernatants. The interactions between HPA concentration and heat treatment were significant with regards to osmolality (p<0.01), pH (p<0.01), pCO2 (p<0.05), glucose (p<0.05), lactate (p<0.01) and acid-base status (p<0.01) of HPA solutions. The Ca2+, K+, glucose, and lactate increased with increasing concentration of HPA solution. The protein content of HPA solutions decreased (p<0.05) with reduced HPA solution concentrations. The supernatant from 150 mg/mL HPA solution was richest in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine and lysine. Amino acids concentrations were reduced (p<0.05) with each serial dilution but increased with longer heating. CONCLUSION: The values obtained in the primary solution (highest concentration) are close to the profiles of high-protein ingredients. This supplement, as a solution, hence, may be suitable for use as an IOF supplement and should be tested for this potential.

Provision of an emergency theatre in tertiary hospitals is cost-effective: Audit and cost of cancelled planned elective general surgical operations at Pietersburg Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Background. Cancellations of planned elective surgical operations increase financial cost to the patient and the hospital.Objectives. To determine the rate and reasons for cancellations, estimate the cost incurred by such cancellations and recommend possible solutions.Methods. We did a prospective descriptive study of cancellations of elective general surgical operations over the 1-year period January - December 2014 in the main theatre at Pietersburg (PTB) Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa. All patients listed on the theatre booking slate for elective general surgical operations before the cut-off time of 13h00 on the day before the anticipated operation were included. Epi Infoversion 7 was used to analyse the data and derive the descriptive statistics.Results. There were 537 booked patients (median age 47 years, range 1 - 94); a total of 298 operations were performed, and 239 were cancelled (cancellation rate 44.5%). Reasons for cancellation were as follows: theatre needed for an emergency n=154 (64.4%), theatre equipment failure and lack of consumables n=17 (7.1%), non-theatre equipment failure n=10 (4.2%), prolonged time of operations n=13 (5.4%), abnormal blood results n=8 (3.3%), patient comorbidity and poor general condition n=9 (3.8%), patients absent from the ward n=8 (3.3%), patients not starved n=2 (0.8%), patients' condition improved significantly n=3 (1.3%), nurses' strike n=5 (2.1%), rebooking of cases for senior surgeons or other specialty n=2 (0.8%), and other reasons n=8 (3.3%). The cost per inpatient per day was estimated at ZAR4 890 at PTB Hospital and ZAR2 100 at district hospitals, and the total cost per cancelled operation was ZAR25 860.Conclusions. Over the 1-year period 44.5% of elective operations at PTB Hospital were cancelled, 64.4% because the theatre was needed for an emergency operation. We recommend that a theatre dedicated to emergencies be opened at PTB Hospital. The cost incurred due to cancellations was about ZAR6 million for the hospital, with additional cost and emotional trauma for the patients

Incidence of Hyperglycemia during Induction of Remission Phase of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Hyperglycemia is frequently associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy. It has long been recognized as a consequence of corticosteroids and asparaginase. These medications are usually administrated concurrently in high doses during the initial induction phase of chemotherapy. As a result, hyperglycemia frequently develops during this phase, with resolution after the steroids and asparaginase have been discontinued or reduced in dose. Various recent studies have evaluated the incidence of hyperglycemia in this particular group of patients and its relationship with chemotherapy. However the incidence of hyperglycemia during induction of remission therapy in children with ALL is not known, and is the subject of this study. To determine the incidence as well as identification of day of onset and duration of hyperglycemia and other complications during induction of remission therapy. This prospective cross-sectional study included 50 newly diagnosed patients aged 1-15 years and was done from December 2010 to May 2011 in the department of Pediatric Haemato Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh. Hyperglycemia was defined as ≥2 random glucose determinations of ≥200mg/dl during the first 28 days of induction chemotherapy. Out of 50 patients, 4(8%) patients developed hyperglycemia during remission induction therapy. No significant difference was found between two groups regarding age distribution (p>0.05) and body weight (p>0.05). Among patients who developed hyperglycemia 3 patients (75%) and 1 patient (25%) experienced hyperglycemia during second week and third week of induction therapy respectively. Hyperglycemia persists <7 days in case of 3(75%) patients and >7 days in case of 1(25%) patients. The incidence of chemotherapy induced hyperglycemia in this present study is 8%. Most patients who develop therapy induced hyperglycemia recover when L-asparaginase and corticosteroids are discontinued and they suffer no long term adverse effects.

Nodular thyroid disease and thyroid malignancy: Experience at Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Nodular thyroid disease is common throughout the world. Numbers of patients with goitre are increasing worldwide, as also noted in Limpopo Province, South Africa (SA). Globally, thyroid nodules have been reported in 4-7% of the population on neck palpation and in 30-50% by ultrasonography. OBJECTIVES: To review the profile of thyroid disease in patients with goitre presenting to the Department of Surgery at Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex (PMHC), Limpopo, SA, to characterise the pattern of malignancy in patients with goitre, and to determine the most common thyroid cancer. METHOD: A 6-year retrospective study (2003-2008) of all patients with thyroid nodules who underwent thyroid surgery at PMHC. RESULTS: The study group included 90 patients (mean age 45 years, range 4-80). The male-to-female ratio was 1:17 (5 men, 85 women). Of these patients, 80 (89.9%) had benign lesions, of which 52 (57.8% of the total) were adenomas, 25 (27.8%) multinodular goitres (MNGs), 2 (2.2%) hyperplastic nodules and 1 (1.1%) Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Ten patients (11.1%) had malignant lesions (7 follicular carcinomas and 3 papillary carcinomas), of which 2 were found in MNGs. CONCLUSIONS: Adenoma and MNG were the predominant non-malignant conditions (85.6%). The prevalence of thyroid cancer in our study was 11.1%, and of all 90 patients, 7.8% had follicular carcinoma. The risk of malignancy in MNG was 8.9%. Rates of thyroid nodules and carcinoma were highest in women aged 41-60 years. We advocate that total thyroidectomy be considered for MNG, because MNG can harbour incidental carcinoma.

Energy Value of Cassava Products in Broiler Chicken Diets with or without Enzyme Supplementation.

This study investigated the metabolizable energy (ME) intake, net energy of production (NEp), heat production (HP), efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention as well as the performance of broiler chickens fed diets based on cassava chips or pellets with or without supplementation with an enzyme product containing xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase. The two products, cassava chips and pellets, were analysed for nutrient composition prior to feed formulation. The cassava chips and pellets contained 2.2% and 2.1% crude protein; 1.2% and 1.5% crude fat; and 75.1% and 67.8% starch, respectively. Lysine and methionine were 0.077%, 0.075%, and 0.017%, 0.020% protein material, respectively, while calculated ME was 12.6 and 11.7 MJ/kg, respectively. Feed intake to day 21 was lower (p<0.01) on the diet containing cassava chips compared to diets with cassava pellets. Enzyme supplementation increased (p<0.01) feed intake on all diets. Live weight at day 21 was significantly (p<0.01) reduced on the diet based on cassava chips compared to pellets, but an improvement (p<0.01) was noticed with the enzyme supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake was reduced (p<0.01) by both cassava chips and pellets, but was increased (p<0.01) on all diets by enzyme supplementation. The NEp was higher (p<0.01) in the maize-based diets than the diets containing cassava. Enzyme supplementation improved (p<0.01) NEp in all the diets. Heat production was highest (p<0.01) on diets containing cassava pellets than on cassava chips. It is possible to use cassava pellets in diets for broiler chickens at a level close to 50% of the diet to reduce cost of production, and the nutritive value of such diets can be improved through supplementation of enzyme products containing carbohydrases, protease, and phytase.

Evaluation of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in Bangladeshi patients.

This is a retrospective study of 200 cases of Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) and this study was conducted from January 2010 to July 2011 at Sheheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital and TB clinic, Bogra, Bangladesh. Data were collected from the Hospital records on demographics, clinical, laboratory and treatment out come status. The incidence of EPTB was high in 16-45 years age group (55%), mean age was 35.67±14.6 years and predominated in Female patients (60%). Extra pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) still constitutes an important clinical problem in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to evaluate the demography and features of patients with EPTB in our high burden tuberculosis country. Lymph nodes are the most common site of involvement (50%) followed by tubercular pleural effusion (15%) and virtually every site of the body can be affected by tuberculosis. Since the clinical presentation of EPTB is atypical, tissue samples for the confirmation of diagnosis can sometimes be difficult procedure and conventional diagnostic method have a poor yield, so the diagnosis is often delayed. EPTB constitutes about 15-20% of all cases of TB patients and it is more common in low socio-economic group (60%) Biopsy and/ or surgery, FNAC is required to procure tissue samples and pus and/or aspirated fluids are required for diagnosis and for managing complications. The EPTB usually responds to standard anti tubercular drug regimen.

Urinary microalbumin as a risk factor for ischaemic stroke.

Microalbuminuria (MA), a microvascular irregularity of the blood - urine interface within kidney glomeruli, may reflect the renal sign of global endothelial dysfunction, and has been associated with an elevated risk of serious cardiovascular events including stroke. This case-control study was carried out in the Department of Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2008 to December 2009. This relationship appears graded with higher levels of microalbuminuria being independently associated with a greater magnitude of vascular risk over time. We studied 60 patients of ischemic stroke with in 4 weeks of onset of symptoms and performed a case control study for MA by spot urinalysis. The incidence of microalbuminuria was 31.7% of the patients compared with 8.3% of the controls. Of all the traditional risk factors for stroke - age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking showed a positive correlation with the presence of MA (p<0.05). The effect of microalbuminuria and subtypes of ischemic stroke was observed that small vessels stroke (lacunar infract) were more (70%) than large vessels stroke (30%) and effect of microalbuminuria 21.67% higher in small vessels stroke than large vessels stroke. The presence of microalbuminuria appears to independently predict proper clinical outcome following acute stroke.

Impact of 20-day strike in Polokwane Hospital (18 August - 6 September 2010).

BACKGROUND: Doctors' strikes have a negative effect on hospital performance indicators. Hospital mortality during such strikes is the most important indicator. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the 2010 strike on Polokwane Hospital. METHODS: Information was collected from the Hospital Information System, Polokwane Hospital Casualty Department, wards and theatres. RESULTS: During the 20-day strike, a total of 262 patients were admitted to Polokwane Hospital, with 40 patients to the surgical department; 96 operations were performed in the hospital and 40 in the surgical department; and 50 deaths were reported in the hospital (8 deaths in the surgical department). During 20 days of a non-striking period in May 2010, there were 975 admissions to the hospital, with 125 to the surgical department. In the entire hospital, 340 operations were performed, and 79 in the surgical department. For this period, 61 deaths were reported in the hospital and 12 in the surgical department. CONCLUSIONS: The total number of patients admitted to the hospital and the surgical department during the strike was significantly lower than during a non-striking situation. Total mortality during the strike in Polokwane Hospital decreased, compared with the normal situation, but it increased when judged against emergency cases. However, when mortality was qualified by the number of admissions, it showed a significant increase. Strikes seriously and significantly affect service delivery.

Trimetazidine in the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy after coronary angiogram.

This prospective randomized, controlled trial was done to evaluate the efficacy of trimetazidine in the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy in patients with raised serum creatinine levels undergoing coronary angiogram. This study was performed in the Department of Cardiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from April 2009 to March 2010. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication of coronary angiography that is associated with considerably increased mortality and morbidity, including the need for short-term haemodialysis, extended hospitalisation and permanent impairment of renal function. Trimetazidine (TMZ) has been described as a cellular anti-ischaemic agent. This study was trial with 400 patients. Among them 200 patients treated with trimetazidine plus hydration with normal saline and 200 patients (control) given hydration by normal saline only. It was found that the incidence of CIN was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by trimetazidine administration with saline in comparison with saline alone in patients undergoing coronary angiogram (4% vs. 14%).

Developmental competence of porcine oocytes selected by brilliant cresyl blue and matured individually in a chemically defined culture medium.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oocyte selection using brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and culture density during individual in vitro maturation (IVM) on porcine oocyte maturity and subsequent embryo development using a chemically defined medium. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were classified as BCB-positive or BCB-negative after exposure to a BCB solution for 90 min. The classified COCs were matured in a group (15 COCs per 100-microL droplet) or individually (1 COC per 1-, 2.5-, 5-, or 10-microL droplet). Meiotic competence, intraoocyte glutathione concentration, and developmental competence after intracytoplasmic sperm injection were monitored. The BCB selected oocytes competent for nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Furthermore, meiotic competence for oocytes matured individually in a 5-microL droplet was superior (P<0.05) to that of oocytes matured in a 1-microL droplet. Also, the culture density in a 5-microL droplet during IVM resulted in a higher (P<0.05) rate of cleaved embryos than that in a 1-microL droplet and produced a similar rate of blastocysts compared with that of a group culture system. Conversely, BCB selection did not improve cleavage and blastocyst formation. In conclusion, it was possible to predict porcine oocytes competent for maturation using oocyte selection with BCB. Moreover, a 5-microL droplet during the individual IVM culture was most suitable for oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development, although every culture density used in this study supported development up to the blastocyst stage.

Attempts at in vitro fertilization and culture of in vitro matured oocytes in sei ( Balaenoptera borealis) and Bryde's ( B. edeni) whales.

The cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) recovery rates with respect to reproductive status per sei (Balaenoptera borealis) and Bryde's (B. edeni) whales were determined in Experiment 1. The number of COCs recovered ranged from 16.0 to 30.6 and from 6.7 to 26.8 per sei and Bryde's whales, respectively. The effects of COCs grades and protein supplementation in embryo culture medium on development of in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos were evaluated in sei and Bryde's whales in Experiment 2. The COCs were classified into either Grade A (COCs with five or more layers of compact cumulus cells) or Grade B (COCs with less than five layers of compact or expanded cumulus cells) before being cultured for IVM. The cleavage (12.0 to 19.5%), 4-cell (8.0 to 12.0%) and 8-cell (4.0 to 8.0%) formation rates in sei whales did not vary significantly between embryos derived from either grade A or B oocytes and between embryos cultured in either fetal whale serum (FWS)- or bovine serum albumin (BSA)-supplemented medium. The cleavage (4.0 to 14.8%), 4-cell (0.0 to 7.5%) and 8-cell (0.0 to 2.6%) formation rates in Bryde's whales did not vary significantly between embryos derived from either grade A or B oocytes and between embryos cultured in either FWS- or BSA-supplemented medium. The grade B oocytes cultured in FWS-supplemented medium developed to morula stage (1.1%) in sei whales. In conclusion, the present study indicates that IVF in sei whales is possible to achieve cleaved embryos developing to morula stage. This is the first in vitro embryo production attempt in sei and Bryde's whales.

Supplementation of fructose in chemically defined protein-free medium enhances the in vitro development of bovine transgenic cloned embryos.

The present study evaluated the possible embryotrophic role of fructose supplementation in chemically defined protein-free KSOM on in vitro development of bovine transgenic cloned embryos. Bovine fetal fibroblasts transfected with expression plasmids for bovine prion protein (PrP) mutant gene with GFP marker gene were used as donor nuclei for reconstruction of slaughterhouse-derived in vitro matured oocytes. The reconstructed oocytes were cultured in KSOM supplemented with 0.01% PVA (KSOM-PVA) at 39 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2 for 192 h. In Experiment 1, when reconstructed oocytes were cultured in KSOM-PVA supplemented with glucose (0.2 mM), fructose (1.5 mM) or combined glucose and fructose (0.2 and 1.5 mM, respectively), significantly (p < 0.05) higher blastocyst (19.2%) and hatching/hatched blastocyst (13.1%) formation rates were obtained in combined fructose and glucose supplemented medium than glucose supplemented counterpart (10.0% and 5.7%, respectively). In Experiment 2, when reconstructed oocytes were cultured in KSOM-PVA supplemented with 0.0, 0.2, 1.5, 3.0 and 5.6 mM fructose in combination with 0.2 mM glucose, the blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher (17.6%) in 1.5 mM fructose supplemented group than that of no fructose supplemented counterpart (9.7%; p > 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of combined fructose (1.5 mM) and glucose (0.2 mM) in chemically defined protein-free KSOM enhances the in vitro development of bovine transgenic cloned embryos.

Effects of exogenous glutathione on the quality of chilled bull semen.

Glutathione (GSH) at concentrations of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM was added to chilled bull semen to determine its effects on the keeping quality of semen used for artificial insemination (AI). The semen was preserved with egg yolk citrate extender. All samples were stored at 4-8 degrees C for 5 days. Sperm motility and proportion of abnormal acrosome were assessed daily. Sperm motility was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the semen treated with 0.5 mM glutathione than in untreated semen on each day. The optimum sperm motility (>or=50%) for AI was retained significantly (p < 0.01) for 3 days in 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM glutathione treated semen, whereas in 0.3 mM glutathione-treated semen, sperm motility was 46.8% for 3 days. Acrosomal damage was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced after addition of 0.5 mM GSH in the preserved semen. Bull semen can be preserved in chilled condition for 5 days with 0.5 mM GSH with sperm motility above 40% and 12% acrosome abnormality.

Effects of fructose supplementation in chemically defined protein-free medium on development of bovine in vitro fertilized embryos.

The present study evaluated the possible embryotrophic role of fructose supplementation in potassium simplex optimization medium (KSOM) on preimplantation development of bovine in vitro matured and fertilized (IVF) embryos under chemically defined conditions. In Experiment 1, the rates of cleavage (74.0-75.5%) and blastocyst formation (21.0-24.5%) were not affected by the supplementation of fructose in KSOM in absence or presence of glucose. In Experiment 2, the rates of cleavage (71.7-77.3%) and blastocyst formation (19.9-26.3%) did not differ significantly among the concentrations (0.0, 0.2, 1.5, 3.0, 5.6mM) of fructose supplementations in KSOM in presence of glucose. Moreover, the number of total ICM and TE cells, and percentage of ICM to total cell in blastocysts did not differ significantly among the concentrations of fructose supplementations in presence of glucose. In Experiment 3, the rates of cleavage (67.3-74.7%) and blastocyst formation (14.4-19.3%) did not differ significantly among the concentrations (0.0, 0.2, 1.5, 3.0, 5.6mM) of fructose supplementations in KSOM in absence of glucose. Although the number of total and ICM cells, and percentage of ICM to total cells in blastocysts did not differ significantly among the concentrations of fructose supplementations, 1.5mM fructose supplementation in absence of glucose had significantly (P<0.05) higher number of TE cells (106.2) than that of 5.6mM (84.0) supplementation. The study indicates that, fructose up to 5.6mM concentration can be used as an alternative for energy substrate in culture media without any detrimental effect on pre-implantation development in bovine IVF embryos.

Comparative study of endoscopic band ligation and sclerotherapy for treatment of oesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.

A prospective randomized study was done comparing endoscopic band ligation and sclerotherapy for the treatment of oesophageal varices. Hundred fifty cirrhotic patients with history of bleeding from varices were included in the study. Seventy-five patients got sclerotherapy and 75 got band ligation of varices. Both sclerotherapy and band ligation were continued till obliteration of varices. Clinical as well as the biochemical parameters of the two groups of patients and the severity of the liver diseases were similar in both groups. The mean period of follow up was 337 days for sclerotherapy group and 376 days for band ligation group. The mean time to eradicate the varices was significantly shorter with banding (35+/-4.1 vs 75+/-6.5, p<0.001). The mean number of treatment sessions was significantly less with banding (2.3+/-3.1 vs 5.2+/-2.1, p<.001). Rebleeding was significantly more with sclerotherapy (20 vs. 8 with p<0.01). The variables significantly associated with rebleeding were hypoalbuminaemia (p<.01), and active bleeding at index endoscopy (p<0.001). Different complications like oesophageal ulcer, bleeding from ulcer and the symptoms of oesophageal stricture were more in the sclerotherapy group. There was no significant difference in survival between the two groups. Number of blood transfusions and duration of hospitalization were less in band ligation group. There was no difference in terms of recurrence between the two groups. From the study we suggest that band ligation has less local complications and causes earlier eradication of varices than sclerotherapy. Therefore, band ligation may be the first choice of therapy for oesophageal varices.