Influence of method of wheat inclusion and pellet diameter on performance, nutrient utilisation, digestive tract measurements and carcass characteristics of broilers

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of method of wheat inclusion and pellet diameter on performance, nutrient utilisation, digestive tract development and carcass characteristics of broilers. The experimental design was a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, which included three diet forms, namely ground wheat (GW) and 200 g/kg whole wheat (WW) replacing GW before or after pelleting, and two pellet diameters (3.0 and 4.76 mm). Experimental diets were offered ad libitum from Day 11 to Day 35 post-hatch. Pellet durability index was higher (P < 0.05) in GW diets and deteriorated (P < 0.05) with pre-pelleting inclusion of WW when the larger die was used. Larger pellet diameter increased (P < 0.05) the weight gain and lowered (P < 0.05) feed per gain of birds fed diets with GW and post-pellet inclusion of WW. However, in birds fed diets with pre-pelleting inclusion of WW, the larger pellet diameter lowered (P < 0.05) feed intake and weight gain, and increased (P < 0.05) feed per gain. Relative gizzard weight was increased (P < 0.05) by larger pellet diameter with pre-pelleting inclusion of WW, but was unaffected (P > 0.05) in diets containing GW or post-pellet inclusion of WW. Irrespective of the method of WW inclusion, larger pellet diameter increased (P < 0.05) the apparent metabolisable energy and ileal starch digestibility. Larger pellet diameter was associated with reductions (P < 0.05) in the relative length and weight of all components of the digestive tract in GW-fed birds, but had no effect (P > 0.05) on these parameters in birds fed WW diets. Larger pellet diameter increased (P < 0.05) carcass yield in the GW group, reduced (P < 0.05) in the pre-pelleting WW group and had no effect in the post-pelleting WW group. Overall, these results showed that the effect of pellet diameter on broiler performance varied depending on the form of wheat and method of WW inclusion. Adverse effects on weight gain in the pre-pelleting WW group were due primarily to reduced feed intake resulting from poor pellet quality.

Influence of prepelleting inclusion of whole corn on performance, nutrient utilization, digestive tract measurements, and cecal microbiota of young broilers

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of prepelleting inclusion of graded levels of whole corn on performance, digestive tract measurements, nutrient utilization, and cecal microbiota in broiler starters. Five diets, containing 600 g/kg of ground corn or 150, 300, 450, and 600 g/kg of whole corn replacing (wt/wt) ground corn, were formulated and cold-pelleted at 65°C. Each diet was offered ad libitum to 6 replicates (8 birds per replicate cage) from d 1 to 21 posthatch. The proportion of coarse particles (>1 mm) increased with increasing prepelleting inclusion of whole corn. Pellet quality, measured as pellet durability index, increased (quadratic effect, P < 0.001) with the inclusion of whole corn to 450 g/kg and then plateaued. Weight gain and feed intake decreased (linear effect, P < 0.001) with increasing prepelleting inclusion of whole corn. Feed per gain (quadratic effect, P < 0.05) increased as the inclusion level of whole corn increased to 300 g/kg and then plateaued with further inclusions. Relative gizzard weight (quadratic effect, P < 0.05) increased with increasing inclusion of whole corn up to 300 g/kg and then levelled off. The AME (quadratic effect, P < 0.05) increased up to 300 g/kg of whole corn inclusion and then decreased with further inclusion. Apparent ileal digestibility of DM (P < 0.001), N (linear effect, P = 0.07), and starch (linear effect, P < 0.001) increased with increasing inclusion levels of whole corn. Based on the fluorescence in situ hybridization method, a linear (P < 0.05) effect was determined for cecal microbiota numbers. Lactobacillus spp. counts increased and counts of Clostridium spp., Campylobacterium spp., and Bacteroides spp. decreased with increasing inclusion levels of whole corn. The present data showed that, despite increased gizzard weight and nutrient utilization, weight gain of broilers was poorer with prepelleting inclusion of whole corn due to reductions in the feed intake.

Effect of feeding diets based on coarse maize on productive performance, gizzard development and energy utilisation of laying hens

1. A total of 2200 White Leghorn layers were used to study the effect of feeding coarse maize on productive performance, gizzard weight, apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and egg quality parameters. 2. The experiment was a completely randomised design with 5 treatments, each being replicated 5 times (88 birds per replicate). Dietary treatments included a control diet with 600 g/kg of ground maize (6 mm sieve) and experimental diets with 150, 300, 450 or 600 g/kg coarse maize (10 mm sieve) replacing (w/w) ground maize. Diets, in mash form, were offered from 39 to 62 weeks of age. 3. Over the entire experimental period, dietary treatments had no effect on any of the production parameters, except on feed intake. A quadratic effect was observed for feed intake, where intake increased at 150 g/kg coarse maize inclusion. At higher inclusion levels of coarse maize, feed intake was similar to that of the control diet. But the differences in daily intake between dietary treatments were only around 1 g/bird and may not be of any biological significance. 4. Dietary treatments had no effect on gizzard weight, AME or egg quality. 5. The results indicate that coarse maize could completely replace maize in layer diets with no adverse effect on egg production, egg quality and dietary energy utilisation. In the current work, although the proportion of coarse particles (over 1 mm) increased with increasing inclusion levels of coarse maize, the differences in the percentage of particles above 1 mm between the fine control (0 g/kg coarse maize) and coarsest (600 g/kg coarse maize) diets was only 15%, and this may limit the value of the findings reported herein.

Report of chronic myeloid leukemia SMS Medical College Hospital, Jaipur

This is a retrospective analysis of patients of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) registered and under treatment at the Leukemia Lymphoma Clinic at the Birla Cancer Center, SMS Medical College Hospital, Jaipur. Approximately, two-thirds of the patients are getting imatinib mesylate (IM) through the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program while the rest are on generic IM. In addition to comparison of hematological and molecular responses in the Glivec versus the genetic group, in this analysis, an attempt is also made to assess the socio-economic (SE) status of the patients and its effect on the response rates. Of the 213 patients studied, most (28.6%) are in the age group between 30 years and 40 years and the mean age of the patients in 39 years, a good decade younger that in the west. There is a suggestion that patients in lower SE class present with higher Sokal scores and with more disease burden. Possibly hematological responses are similar with both Glivec and generic IM. No comment can be made with regards to molecular response between the two groups as a significant number of patients in the Glivec arm (42%) do not have molecular assessment because of economic reasons. CML is a common and challenging disease in the developing world with patients presenting at an earlier age with more advanced disease. SE factors play a significant role in therapy and disease monitoring decision making and may impact on response rates and prognosis.

Expertise-based randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic versus small-incision open cholecystectomy (Br J Surg 2013; 100: 886-894)

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Long-range interacting many-body systems with alkaline-earth-metal atoms

Alkaline-earth-metal atoms can exhibit long-range dipolar interactions, which are generated via the coherent exchange of photons on the (3)P(0) - (3)D(1) transition of the triplet manifold. In the case of bosonic strontium, which we discuss here, this transition has a wavelength of 2.6 μm and a dipole moment of 4.03 D, and there exists a magic wavelength permitting the creation of optical lattices that are identical for the states (3)P(0) and (3)D(1). This interaction enables the realization and study of mixtures of hard-core lattice bosons featuring long-range hopping, with tunable disorder and anisotropy. We derive the many-body master equation, investigate the dynamics of excitation transport, and analyze spectroscopic signatures stemming from coherent long-range interactions and collective dissipation. Our results show that lattice gases of alkaline-earth-metal atoms permit the creation of long-lived collective atomic states and constitute a simple and versatile platform for the exploration of many-body systems with long-range interactions. As such, they represent an alternative to current related efforts employing Rydberg gases, atoms with large magnetic moment, or polar molecules.

Effect of carbamazepine on the pharmacokinetic parameters of CDRI-97/78 following coadministration to rats

Coadministration of 2 or more drugs may result in unexpected toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of carbamazepine coadministration on the pharmacokinetics of CDRI-97/78, an 1,2,4-trioxane antimalarial agent. Firstly, 97/78 was administered alone and then 97/78 and carbamazepine were coadministered to male and female rats. An revalidated LC-MS/MS method was used for quantitation of 97/63 since 97/78 is instantly and completely converted to 97/63 (an in-vivo active metabolite). The Tmax and Cmax values of 97/63 were 1.75±0.77 h and 862±306 ng/mL in male rats whereas in female rats they were 5.45±0.76 h and 662.75±95.09 ng/mL after a single dose of 97/78 alone. However, following coadministration of 97/78 and carbamazepine, the values for Tmax and Cmax were 1.06±0.16 h and 533±153 ng/mL in male rats and 2.23±1.93 h and 636.5±112.4 ng/mL in female rats. The half life of 97/63 following a single oral dose of 97/78 or coadministration with carbamazepine to male rats was 6.98±0.63 h and 6.64±0.54 h, respectively; the values in female rats were 7.5±0.5 h and 5.48±0.37 h. A statistically insignificant difference (P>0.05) was observed with the student t-test for the pharmacokinetic parameters of 97/63 following oral administration of 97/78 alone or coadministration of 97/78 and carbamazepine except for MRT in female rats. Intersex statistical comparison also showed an insignificant difference for 97/63 following oral administration of 97/78 alone or in combination with carbamazepine except for MRT, which supports coadministration of 97/78 and carbamazepine.