Nano Zinc Supplementation Affects Immunity, Hormonal Profile, Hepatic Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) Gene Expression and Vital Organ Histology in Wister Albino Rats.

The study was conducted to assess nano zinc (ZnN) as a feed supplement with an aim to compare the supplemental dose of inorganic zinc (ZnI). ZnN was synthesized from 0.45 molar (M) zinc nitrate [Zn(NO3)2.6H2O] and 0.9 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and was confirmed to be of ZnN by TEM-EDAX measurements. Wister albino rats (rats; 84, 53.6 ± 0.65 g) were divided into seven groups (4 replicate with 3 rats each) and given feed supplemented with zinc for 60 days with either of the following diets: (1) normal control (NC): basal diet (BD) + no supplemental Zn; (2) ZnI-25: BD + 25 mg/kg Zn from inorganic ZnO; (3) ZnN-25: BD + 25 mg/kg of ZnN; (4) ZnN-12.5: BD + 12.5 mg/kg of ZnN; (5) ZnN-6.25: BD + 6.25 mg/kg of ZnN; (6) ZnN-3.125: BD + 3.125 mg/kg of ZnN; (7) ZnN-50: BD + 50 mg/kg of ZnN. T3 and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) hormone levels were similar among groups (P > 0.05), whereas T4 and testosterone were significantly affected, based on supplemented dose. Zn supplementation improved both cell-mediated and humoral immunity. However, both cell-mediated immunity at 24 h and humoral immunity were statistically similar in ZnI-25 and ZnN-6.25 groups. Superoxide dismutase 1 gene expression was found to be similar in all experimental groups. The vascular degeneration were found in liver tissues moderately in NC, mildly in ZnN-6.25 and ZnN-3.125 groups, and no observable changes were noticed in kidney and spleen tissues. However, there was a mild damage in intestinal epithelium of ZnN-25 group rats, hyperplasia of goblet cells, and moderate damage in intestinal villi were observed in ZnN-50 group rats. From the study, it can be concluded that ZnN at half the dose of ZnI showed similar or better responses in terms of immunity, SOD-1 expression, hormonal profiles, and the tissue architecture of vital organs in rats, i.e., 25 mg/kg of Zn from ZnI and 12.5 mg/kg of ZnN impacted similar biological responses like immunity, SOD-1 expression, hormonal profiles, and the tissue architecture of vital organs in rats.

The Role of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Differentiating Benign From Malignant Thyroid Nodules: A Descriptive Observational Study.

Background Currently, no effective and reproducible imaging method can quantitatively differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. This study aimed to assess the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules. Methodology We conducted an observational study in the Department of Radiodiagnosis at R. L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Center, Kolar, India. The study was conducted from January 2020 to June 2021, among 43 patients with thyroid swelling or nodules. We recorded patient baseline data, pertinent clinical history, and relevant laboratory investigations. Patients underwent diffusion-weighted MRI of the neck. We used receiver operator curve analysis to determine the utility of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the thyroid nodule in predicting the histopathological diagnosis. Data were analyzed using coGuide (V1.0.3, BDSS Corp., India). Results A total of 43 patients were enrolled in the study (35 women, 81.4%; 8 men, 18.6%). The mean (SD) age was 49.8 (14.3) years. Nodular hyperplasia was the most common histopathologic diagnosis of the nodule (25.5%), followed by lymphocytic thyroiditis (16.2%). The MRI and histopathological findings matched: both found 35 (81.4%) nodules as benign and 8 (18.6%) as malignant. The ADC value of thyroid nodules had excellent predictive validity in predicting malignancy, as indicated by the area under the curve of 0.925 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.804-1.000; p < 0.001). The sensitivity was 87.50% (95% CI 47.35%-99.68%), specificity was 94.29% (95% CI 80.84%-99.30%), and the total diagnostic accuracy obtained was 93.02% (95% CI 80.94%-98.54%). Conclusions DWI with ADC measurement has the potential to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Modern Processing of Indian Millets: A Perspective on Changes in Nutritional Properties.

Globally, billions of people are experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition. The United Nations has set a global target to end hunger by 2030, but we are far from reaching it. Over the decade, climate change, population growth and economic slowdown have impacted food security. Many countries are facing the challenge of both undernutrition and over nutrition. Thus, there is a need to transform the food system to achieve food and nutrition security. One of the ways to reach closer to our goal is to provide an affordable healthy and nutritious diet to all. Millets, the nutri-cereals, have the potential to play a crucial role in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. Nutri-cereals are an abundant source of essential macro- and micronutrients, carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, lipids, and phytochemicals. The nutrient content and digestibility of millets are significantly influenced by the processing techniques. This review article highlights the nutritional characteristics and processing of Indian millets, viz. foxtail, kodo, proso, little, and pearl millets. It also envisages the effect of traditional and modern processing techniques on millet's nutritional properties. An extensive literature review was conducted using the research and review articles related to processing techniques of millets such as fermentation, germination, dehulling, extrusion, cooking, puffing, popping, malting, milling, etc. Germination and fermentation showed a positive improvement in the overall nutritional characteristics of millets, whereas excessive dehulling, polishing, and milling resulted in reduction of the dietary fiber and micronutrients. Understanding the changes happening in the nutrient value of millets due to processing can help the food industry, researchers, and consumers select a suitable processing technique to optimize the nutrient value, increase the bioavailability of nutrients, and help combat food and nutrition security.

Effect of boron supplementation on laying performance of White Leghorn hens fed diet with and without adequate level of calcium.

This study was conducted in White Leghorn layers to ascertain the effect of boron (B) supplementation to calcium (Ca) inadequate diet under standard managemental practices. A total of 80 commercial White Leghorn hens, 25 weeks old with a uniform body weight, were randomly assigned to one of the 4 groups of 20 hens/replicates in each dietary group viz., normal calcium (NC)/Ca adequate, low calcium (LC)/Ca-inadequate, normal calcium with 40 ppm B (NCB) and low calcium with 40 ppm B (LCB). Dietary level of Ca was maintained at two levels, 100 (normal) and 90% (inadequate) of the requirement. Supplementation of B at 40 ppm improved (P < 0.01) egg production of layers from third month of trial as compared to un-supplemented group. Feed conversion ratio of layers was positively (P < 0.05) influenced by B supplementation in Ca-inadequate diet. Egg shell thickness of layers was found to be higher (P < 0.001) in groups supplemented 40 ppm B, irrespective of the level of Ca in the diets. Cracked egg production was also significantly (P < 0.01) lower in B-supplemented groups compared to Ca-inadequate group. Boron supplementation improved Ca retention irrespective of dietary Ca level. Low-Ca diet without boron supplementation resulted in lower retention (P < 0.05) of magnesium and boron. It is concluded that supplementation of 40 ppm B to Ca-inadequate diet ameliorated the lower laying performance in layers and confirms the usefulness of B in such abiotic stress situations.

Elucidating the processes and pathways enriched in buffalo sperm proteome in regulating semen quality.

Sperm carries a reservoir of proteins regulating the molecular functions to attain functional competence. Semen samples collected from buffalo bulls were assessed for sperm functional attributes (n = 11) and proteome profiling (n = 6). Sperm proteins were extracted and profiled by employing LC-MS/MS. Overall, the buffalo sperm contained 1365 proteins, of which 458 were common between the groups. The unique proteins were 477 and 430 in good and poor quality semen, respectively. In the whole proteome of buffalo sperm, sexual reproduction with phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein1 (PEBP1), fetuin-B (FETUB) and acrosin (ACR) was the most enriched (p = 8.44E-19) biological process, also with thermogenesis (p = 0.003), oocyte meiosis (p = 0.007) and vascular smooth muscle contraction (p = 0.009) apart from metabolic pathways. In good quality semen, mesenchyme migration (p = 1.24E-07) and morphogenesis (p = 0.001) were abundant biological processes. In good quality semen, the fluid shear stress (p = 0.01) and, in poor quality semen, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation (p = 3.8E-05) pathways were enriched. In good quality semen, 7 proteins were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated and 33 proteins were significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated. On validating the abundantly expressed sperm proteins, serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 2-like (SPINK2; 2.17-fold) and neddylin (NEDD8; 1.13-fold) were upregulated and YBX2 was downregulated (0.41-fold) in good quality semen as compared with poor quality semen (1-fold). The present findings revealed the importance of sperm proteins in oocyte maturation, fertilization process and early embryonic development. The variations in the proteomic composition can be used as potential markers for the selection of breeding bulls.

Risk factors for Cesarean delivery in pregnancy with small-for-gestational-age fetus undergoing induction of labor.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for Cesarean delivery and non-reassuring fetal heart tracing (NRFHT) in pregnancies with a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus undergoing induction of labor and to design and validate a prediction model, combining antenatal and intrapartum variables known at the time of labor induction, to identify pregnancies at increased risk of Cesarean delivery. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of non-anomalous, singleton gestations with a SGA fetus that underwent induction of labor, delivered in a single tertiary referral center between January 2011 and December 2016. SGA was defined as estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 10th percentile. The primary outcome was to identify risk factors associated with Cesarean delivery. The secondary outcome was to identify risk factors associated with NRFHT. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine which clinical characteristics, available at the time of admission, had the strongest association with Cesarean delivery and NRFHT during labor induction. The predictive value of the final models was assessed by the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC). Sensitivity and specificity of the models were also assessed. Internal validation of the models was performed using 10 000 bootstrap replicates of the original cohort. The adequacy of the models was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. RESULTS: A total of 594 pregnancies were included. Cesarean delivery was performed in 243 (40.9%) pregnancies. Significant risk factors associated with Cesarean delivery, and included in the final model, were maternal age, gestational age at delivery and initial method of labor induction. The bootstrap estimate of the AUC of the final prediction model for Cesarean delivery was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78-0.86). The model had sensitivity of 64.2%, specificity of 86.9%, positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 4.9 and negative LR of 0.41. The model had good fit (P = 0.617). NRFHT complicated 117 (19.7%) pregnancies. Significant risk factors for NRFHT included EFW < 5th percentile, abnormal umbilical artery Doppler studies (pulsatility index > 95th percentile or absent/reversed end-diastolic flow) and gestational age at delivery. The final prediction model for NRFHT had an AUC of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63-0.75) and specificity of 97.0%. CONCLUSION: We identified several significant risk factors for Cesarean delivery and NRFHT among SGA pregnancies undergoing induction of labor. Clinicians may use these risk factors to guide patient counseling and to help anticipate the potential need for operative delivery. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

ROC study and SUV threshold using quantitative multi-modal SPECT for bone imaging.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the clinical performance of a quantitative multi-modal SPECT/CT reconstruction platform for yielding radioactivity concentrations of bone imaging with 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) or 99mTc-dicarboxypropane diphosphonate (DPD). The novel reconstruction incorporates CT-derived tissue information while preserving the delineation of tissue boundaries. We assessed image-based reader concordance and confidence, and determined lesion classification and SUV thresholds from ROC analysis. METHODS: Seventy-two cancer patients were scanned at three US and two German clinical sites, each contributing two experienced board-certified nuclear medicine physicians as readers. We compared four variants of the reconstructed data resulting from the Flash3D (F3D) and the xSPECT Bone™ (xB) iterative reconstruction methods and presented images to the readers with and without a fused CT, resulting in four combinations. We used an all-or-none approach for inclusion, compiling results only when a reader completed all reads in a subset. After the final read, we conducted a "surrogate truth" reading, presenting all data to each reader. For any remaining discordant lesions, we conducted a consensus read. We next undertook ROC analysis to determine SUV thresholds for differentiating benign and lesional uptake. RESULTS: On a five-point rating scale of image quality, xB was deemed better by almost two points in resolution and one point better in overall acceptance compared to F3D. The absolute agreement of the rendered decision between the nine readers was significantly higher with CT information either inside the reconstruction (xB, xBCT) or simply through image fusion (F3DCT): 0.70 (xBCT), 0.67 (F3DCT), 0.64 (xB), and 0.46 (F3D). The confidence level to characterize the lesion was significantly higher (3.03x w/o CT, 1.32x w/CT) for xB than for F3D. There was high correlation between xB and F3D scores for lesion detection and classification, but lesion detection confidence was 41% higher w/o CT, and 21% higher w/CT for xB compared to F3D. Without CT, xB had 6.6% higher sensitivity, 7.1% higher specificity, and 6.9% greater AUC compared to F3D, and similarly with CT-fusion. The overall SUV-criterion (SUVc) of xB (12) exceeded that for xSPECT Quant™ (xQ; 9), an approach not using the tissue delineation of xB. SUV critical numbers depended on lesion volume and location. For non-joint lesions > 6 ml, the AUC for xQ and xB was 94%, with SUVc > 9.28 (xQ) or > 9.68 (xB); for non-joint lesions ≤ 6 ml, AUCs were 81% (xQ) and 88% (xB), and SUVc > 8.2 (xQ) or > 9.1 (xB). For joint lesions, the AUC was 80% (xQ) and 83% (xB), with SUVc > 8.61 (xQ) or > 13.4 (xB). CONCLUSION: The incorporation of high-resolution CT-based tissue delineation in SPECT reconstruction (xSPECT Bone) provides better resolution and detects smaller lesions (6 ml), and the CT component facilitates lesion characterization. Our approach increases confidence, concordance, and accuracy for readers with a wide range of experience. The xB method retained high reading accuracy, despite the unfamiliar image presentation, having greatest impact for smaller lesions, and better localization of foci relative to bone anatomy. The quantitative assessment yielded an SUV-threshold for sensitively distinguishing benign and malignant lesions. Ongoing efforts shall establish clinically usable protocols and SUV thresholds for decision-making based on quantitative SPECT.

Influence of boron supplementation on performance, immunity and antioxidant status of lambs fed diets with or without adequate level of calcium.

Little is known about biological significance of effects of dietary Boron (B) and Calcium (Ca) interaction on health and production of farm animals. This is a preliminary investigation to evaluate the effects of B supplementation in lambs fed diets with (normal) or without adequate (low) levels of Ca. Twenty-four crossbred ram lambs were randomly distributed into four groups with six animals each in a 2x2 factorial design namely, normal-Ca diet (NCa) and low-Ca diet (LCa) fed without or with 40 ppm B (NCaB-40 and LCaB-40). The lambs were fed paddy straw and hybrid napier hay-based total mixed ration (60 roughage: 40 concentrate) during 180 days experimental period. Compared to control, the LCa diet lowered (P<0.01) average daily gain of lambs, but B-supplementation (LCaB-40) of the same nullified the effect. The lowered (P<0.05) total antioxidant activity and humoral immune response in lambs fed LCa diet were restored (P>0.05) to become at par with the control (NCa) upon supplementation of B (LCaB-40). The mRNA expression of SOD1 was lowered (P<0.05) due to LCa diet feeding which too was normalized on B-supplementation to become at par (P>0.05) with the control (NCa). Further, B-supplementation restored lowered (P<0.05) SOD1 gene expression on LCa diet, but enhanced (P<0.05) that in NCaB-40 group, when compared to the control (NCa) diet fed animals. However, these variations were not reflected in the SOD activity in the erythrocytes. The cell-mediated immune response was higher (P<0.05) in lambs fed LCa and LCaB-40 groups and there was no significant interaction between the levels of either Ca or B in diets with the period of immune response measurement. B- supplementation of LCa diet ameliorated tissue degenerative changes in liver and kidney. It was concluded that feeding LCa diet to lambs resulted in reduced growth rate, total antioxidant activity, humoral immune response along with degenerative changes in liver and kidney tissues, but B-supplementation of such diet restored most of these changes and ameliorated histopathological alterations.

Boron influences immune and antioxidant responses by modulating hepatic superoxide dismutase activity under calcium deficit abiotic stress in Wistar rats.

The influence of Boron (B) supplementation on immune and antioxidant status of rats with or without abiotic stress induced by dietary calcium (Ca) restriction was studied in a feeding trial of 90 days. Wistar strain rats (3-4 wk age, n=84) were divided into 7 dietary groups (4 replicates of 3 each) viz., normal-calcium (100%) basal diet alone (NC, control) or supplemented with B at 5 (NCB-5), 10 (NCB-10), 20 (NCB-20) and 40ppm (NCB-40) levels; low-calcium (50%) basal diet alone (LC) or supplemented with 40ppm B (LCB-40). After 75 days of experimental feeding, rats were challenged with intraperitoneal injection of sheep RBCs to assess their humoral immunity. At the end of the trial, cell-mediated immunity was assessed as foot pad reaction to sheep RBCs injected into the hind leg paws. Eight rats from each group were sacrificed to collect blood for estimation of minerals and total antioxidant activity, and liver for superoxide dismutase gene expression analysis. Supplementation of graded levels of B (5, 10, 20 and 40ppm) as borax in NC diets significantly increased (P<0.01) the footpad thickness and serum total antioxidant activity, hepatic expression levels of both Cu-Zn SOD (SOD1) and Mn-SOD (SOD2) mRNAs. The erythrocytic SOD activity and humoral response did not differ significantly among the dietary groups. In Ca restricted groups, humoral immune response was significantly decreased (P<0.01) compared to control but increased (P<0.05) with 40ppm B supplementation. Serum levels of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) remained similar among the dietary groups, while the manganese (Mn) content was significantly decreased (P<0.01) with increased levels of dietary B. In conclusion, B supplementation increased the hepatic mRNA expression levels of both SOD isoenzymes, thereby improving the immune and antioxidant status.

Effect of super dosing of phytase on growth performance, ileal digestibility and bone characteristics in broilers fed corn-soya-based diets.

A feeding trial was designed to assess the effect of super dosing of phytase in corn-soya-based diets of broiler chicken. One hundred and sixty-eight day-old broilers were selected and randomly allocated to four dietary treatment groups, with 6 replicates having 7 chicks per treatment group. Two-phased diets were used. The starter and finisher diet was fed from 0 to 3 weeks and 4 to 5 weeks of age respectively. The dietary treatments were consisted of normal phosphorus (NP) group without any phytase enzyme (4.5 g/kg available/non-phytin phosphorus (P) during starter and 4.0 g/kg during finisher phase), three low-phosphorus (LP) groups (3.2 g/kg available/non-phytin P during starter and 2.8 g/kg during finisher phase) supplemented with phytase at 500, 2500, 5000 FTU/kg diet, respectively, to full fill their phosphorus requirements. The results showed that super doses of phytase (at 2500 FTU and 5000 FTU/kg) on low-phosphorus diet improved feed intake, body weight gain, ileal digestibility (serine, aspartic acid, calcium, phosphorus), blood P levels and bone minerals such as calcium (Ca), P, magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) content. It could be concluded that super doses of phytase in low-phosphorus diet were beneficial than the normal standard dose (at 500 FTU/kg) of phytase in diet of broiler chicken.

Effect of solvents on photophysical properties and quenching of 2-{[3-(1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) phenyl] carbonoimidoyl}phenol.

The effect of solvents of varying polarity on the absorption and fluorescence emission of the Schiff base, 2-{[3-(1H-benzimidazole-2-yl) phenyl]carbonoimidoyl}phenol, was studied using Lippert-Mataga bulk polarity function, Reichardt's microscopic solvent polarity parameter and Kamlet's multiple linear regression approach. The spectral properties follow Reichardt's microscopic solvent polarity parameter better than Lippert-Mataga bulk polarity parameter, indicating the presence of both general solute-solvent interactions and specific interactions. Catalan's multiple linear regression approach indicates the major role of solvent polarizability/dipolarity influence compared with solvent acidity or basicity. The solvatochromic effect was utilized to calculate the dipole moments of ground and excited states of the Schiff base using different methods. Bathochromic shift in the emission spectrum and the increase in dipole moment in the excited state signifies the intramolecular charge transfer character in the emitting singlet state. Fluorescence quenching by aniline was also studied in 1,4-dioxane and n-butanol, and the results were analyzed using sphere of action static quenching and finite sink approximation models.

Spectrophotometric estimation of risperidone in tablets.

A simple, rapid and highly sensitive spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of risperidone in tablet formulation. The method is based on the oxidation of drug using potassium permanganate in alkaline medium and excess potassium permanganate oxidizes 1,10-phenanthroline Fe(II). The measurement of decrease in absorbance of 1,10-phenanthroline Fe (II) was done at 415 nm. The beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 5.0 to 40.0 µg/ml and molar absorptivity is found to be 7.3932 × 10(4) l/mol/cm. The proposed method is well suited for the pharmaceutical formulations.

A novel mutation in the transglutaminase-1 gene in an autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis patient.

Structure-function implication on a novel homozygous Trp250/Gly mutation of transglutaminase-1 (TGM1) observed in a patient of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis is invoked from a bioinformatics analysis. Structural consequences of this mutation are hypothesized in comparison to homologous enzyme human factor XIIIA accepted as valid in similar structural analysis and are projected as guidelines for future studies at an experimental level on TGM1 thus mutated.

Activation of -N=CH- bond in a Schiff base by divalent nickel monitored by NMR evidence.

The Schiff base, 2-salicylidene-4-aminophenyl benzimidazole in ethanol undergoes activation of -N=CH- bond by Ni(2+) in the presence of ammonia or primary alkyl amine to produce nickel complexes of the formula Ni{o-C(6)H(4)(O)CH NR}(2) . n H(2)O [R = H, Me; n = 0; R = Et, n = 0.5] and 4-aminophenyl benzimidazole. The products have been identified by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements and IR, ESR, mass and extensive NMR spectral studies. The possible mechanism for the activation of -N=CH- bond has also been proposed.

CD36 modulates proinflammatory cytokine responses to Plasmodium falciparum glycosylphosphatidylinositols and merozoites by dendritic cells.

Studies have shown that glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) of Plasmodium falciparum activate macrophages mainly through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-mediated signalling and to certain extent through TLR4-mediated signalling to induce proinflammatory cytokine production. However, the ability of parasite GPIs to activate dendritic cells (DCs) has not been reported. Here, we show that parasite GPIs efficiently activate DCs through TLR2-mediated signalling mechanism and induce the production of TNF-α and IL-12. We also studied the role of scavenger receptor CD36 in P. falciparum GPI- and merozoite-induced cytokine responses by DCs. The results indicate that CD36 modulates the cytokine-inducing activity of the parasite GPIs by collaborating with TLR2 in DCs. Furthermore, our data reveal that CD36 modulates the activity of P. falciparum merozoites, likely by the contribution of phagocytosis-coupled CD36-mediated signalling to the signalling induced by merozoites. Altogether, these results contribute towards understanding of signalling mechanisms in malaria parasite-induced activation of the innate immune system.

Spectrophotometric estimation of azithromycin in tablets.

The present manuscript describes a simple, sensitive, accurate, precise and economical visible spectrophotometric method for the estimation of azithromycin from tablet formulation. The method is based on the reduction of potassium permanganate in alkaline medium with azithromycin. The measurement of decrease in absorbance of potassium permanganate at 547 nm was done, as it decolourises upon reduction by azithromycin. The method was used to determine between 2 and 20 µg/ml of azithromycin in the final measured solution. There is no interference from the ingredients commonly found in azithromycin tablets with this method. The results for the determination of azithromycin in tablets were in good agreement with the labelled quantities and related analytical parameters are calculated.

Neonatal umbilical myiasis with sepsis.

The authors report a 9-day old neonate from a rural area with umbilical myiasis caused by fly larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax. The blowfly causing this infestation belongs to the family Calliphoridae (Diptera) and the genus Cochliomyia that usually infests only open wounds of animals. The new-world screw-worm fly Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an obligate ectoparasite of domestic and wild animals, and in some cases may affect humans. This is the rare reported case of neonatal umbilical myiasis with sepsis in the world literature.

Effect of copper- and zinc-methionine supplementation on bioavailability, mineral status and tissue concentrations of copper and zinc in ewes.

The effect of feeding Cu- and Zn-methionine to ewes was studied in a 240d feeding trial. The plasma and tissue Cu and Zn concentrations and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity were employed to assess the relative bioavailability from Cu- and Zn-methionine. The macro and micronutrient intake, utilization, plasma mineral status, tissue accumulation of Cu and Zn as well as wool concentration of Cu and Zn were studied in ewes (n=12) fed a corn-soybean meal based basal diet with 50% more Cu and Zn supplementation over the basal diet either from Cu- and Zn-sulfate (Cu-Sulf+Zn-Sulf group) or Cu- and Zn-methionine (Cu-Meth+Zn-Meth group). The average daily feed intake and body weight gain of ewes did not differ due to dietary supplementation of Cu- and Zn-methionine. However, dry matter intake was comparatively lower and thus resulted in better feed: gain in Cu- and Zn-methionine group as compared to ewes fed Cu- and Zn-sulfate. Supplementation of Cu and Zn over the basal diet either from methionine-chelated or sulfate sources resulted in increased plasma Cu and Zn as well as Cu/Zn-SOD activity on d-30, which indicated a positive correlation between plasma Cu and Zn and Cu/Zn-SOD activity. The gut absorption, liver concentrations of Cu and Zn, and liver Cu/Zn-SOD activity were significantly (P<0.01) higher in ewes supplemented with Cu- and Zn-methionine compared to Cu- and Zn-sulfate. Periodical analysis of wool samples indicated no significant difference in Cu and Zn content between Cu-and Zn-methionine and Cu- and Zn-sulfate groups. Feeding of Cu and Zn from methionine-chelated source resulted in reduced (P<0.01) excretion of Cu and Zn in feces indicating their better utilization, and this will have positive implication on environment. The gut absorption values, plasma and liver tissue concentrations of Cu and Zn supported the hypothesis that Cu- and Zn-methionine supplements have better bioavailability compared to Cu- and Zn-sulfate and Cu- and Zn-dependent enzyme (Cu/Zn-SOD) could be used to determine the bioavailability of Cu and Zn.