Influence of the particle size and form of feed on growth performance, digestive tract traits and nutrient digestibility of white egg-laying pullets from 1 to 112 D of age

The influence of the grinding and physical form of diets on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development and nutrient digestibility was studied in layer pullets from hatch to 112 d of age. Diet formed a 2 × 2 factorial with 2 hammer mill screen sizes to grind cereals (4 and 8 mm) and 2 forms (mash and crumble). A total of 864 1-day-old layer chickens were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 treatment groups with 8 replicates (27 birds per replicate). Cumulatively, pullets fed crumbles consumed less feed (P < 0.05) and had better feed conversion ratio (FCR; P < 0.01) than those fed mash. Coarse grinding cereals (CG) improved FCR (P < 0.05) without significant change in cumulative feed consumption compared to that of fine grinding (FG). With regard to body weight gain (BWG), pullets benefited from crumbles from 1 to 56 d of age (P < 0.01). There were interactions (P < 0.05) between screen size and feed form in relation to FCR (1 to 28 d) and overall BWG. At 112 d of age, the relative weight (RW, g/100 g body weight) of the crop, gizzard, pancreas, and liver of crumble-fed birds were lower (P < 0.05) than those for birds fed mash. Pullets fed coarsely ground feed had higher RW of the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and caecum compared to those fed finely ground feed. Compared to mash feeding, pullets fed crumbles increased (P < 0.05) total tract digestibility of ether extract and crude protein and the activities of pancreatic amylase and lipase. Digestibility of ether extract (P < 0.05) and pancreatic amylase activity (P < 0.01) were higher in birds fed a CG diet than in birds fed the FG regimen. Regarding the nutrition of egg-laying pullets, crumbles might be preferred to mash feed when the main objective is to improve FCR. Data also suggested that cereals used for pullet feed can be ground more coarsely than is in current practice.

Effective dose of 5-fluorouracil for myringotomy in rats

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two different doses of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on closure rates and histopathological findings in myringotomy to those of simple myringotomy with saline application.

MATERIAL/METHODS

36 rats were divided into two study groups and a control group of 12 rats each. After bilateral myringotomy, we applied 5-FU 50 mg/ml in group A, 10 mg/ml in group B and saline in the control group for 10 minutes. Examination was made by otoendoscopy on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25. After the follow up examination, two rats from each group were randomly sacrificed on days 7, 15, 25 and 35. Both tympanic membranes were investigated for fibrosis and inflammation by light microscopy.

RESULTS

Most of the tympanic membranes from group B and the control group healed on the 10th day, but 16 myringotomies were patent in group A; by the 25th day, all myringotomies in all three groups were completely healed. The mean healing time was 14.62 days, 10.20 days and 10.40 days respectively in groups A, B and control. Fibrosis and inflammation were less in group A than in group B and the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

5-FU at a concentration of 50 mg/mL is effective in prolonging the patency of myringotomies in rat tympanic membranes, while a concentration of 10 mg/mL has no greater effect than a simple myringotomy procedure with saline application.

[Primary Hodgkin's lymphoma of the parotid gland: a case report]

Primary Hodgkin's lymphoma of the parotid gland is rare. A twenty-one-year-old man presented with a lesion that recurred two years after an excisional biopsy for a parotid gland mass. He underwent superficial parotidectomy. Frozen section examination suggested a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient was treated by radiotherapy. A complete recovery was obtained after a 27-month follow-up.

[A case of giant frontal sinus osteoma]

Osteomas are the most frequent bone tumors of the facial bones, the most involving the frontal sinus and thus leading to symptoms of frontal sinusitis or associated complications. A twenty-one-year-old male patient presented with a growing swelling on the right side of the forehead. Examination revealed a slight facial asymmetry, a laterally shifted right orbital bulb, and disturbed vision. Cranial and orbital computed tomography showed a dense bony mass in the medial wall of the right orbit. The mass was excised totally following a bicoronal incision. The frontal and ethmoid sinuses were filled with fat tissue. Postoperatively, his vision improved to normal after two months and no complications or recurrences were detected in the sixth month.

[The effect of ostioplasty and nasoantral window opening on mucociliary activity in the maxillary sinus: an experimental study in the rabbit]

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effects of ostioplasty and nasoantral window opening techniques employed in endoscopic surgery procedures for maxillary sinuses on mucociliary activity in rabbits.

STUDY DESIGN

The study included 15 adult male New Zealand white rabbits (mean weight 3.5 kg). The animals were divided into three groups equal in number. Following a vertical incision in the midline, one group underwent ostioplasty to widen the natural ostium of the maxillary sinus; a new nasoantral window was opened in another group; the other group (controls) underwent only sinus exploration. Thirty days after surgery, mucociliary activity of the maxillary sinuses was evaluated scintigraphically.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, mucociliary activity decreased significantly in both groups, showing a higher deterioration with the nasoantral window opening technique (p<0.001) than that with the ostioplasty technique (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Since both techniques have adverse effects on the mucociliary activity of the maxillary sinuses, ostioplasty and nasoantral window opening techniques should be reserved for patients in whom they are uniquely required.