Dietary supplementation of Solanum aethiopicum and Solanecio biafrae leaves alters stress and immune responses, antioxidant status, and meat quality in broilers raised in a hot-dry environment

1. This study investigated the influence of dietary supplementation of Solanum aethiopicum and Solanecio biafrae leaves, which have nutraceutical properties, on stress response, cytokine expression, antioxidant status, blood chemistry, abdominal fat and meat quality in broilers reared in a hot, dry environment.2. One day old, Ross 308 chicks (n = 350) were randomly allotted to basal diets containing either no supplement (D1); 2.5 g/kg Solanum aethiopicum leaf (SAL; D2); 5 g/kg SAL (D3); 2.5 g/kg Solanecio biafrae leaf (SBL; D4); or 5 g/kg SBL (D5) for 42 d. Birds were reared at 34 ± 2°C and 40-50% relative humidity for 6 h/d from 22-42 d. Each dietary group was replicated in seven pens containing 10 chicks.3. In the period 1-21 d, body weight gain, feed efficiency and feed intake were not influenced by diet. At 22-42 and 1-42 d, birds supplemented with SAL and SBL had higher (P < 0.05) body weight gain and feed efficiency than the D1 birds. Cloaca temperature, carcase cuts and relative organ weight did not differ between diets. The D3 birds had higher (P < 0.05) erythrocytes and haemoglobin compared with other birds. Dietary supplements reduced (P < 0.05) mortality, abdominal fat, serum total cholesterol, corticosterone, glucose and blood aspartate aminotransferase levels.4. The treatments up-regulated (P < 0.05) splenic intelukin-10, and down-regulated (P < 0.05) tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β genes. A dose-dependent improvement (P < 0.05) in antioxidant enzyme activities and total antioxidant capacity of serum and breast muscle were found in the supplemented birds. The breast meat of the supplemented birds had lower (P < 0.05) carbonyl and malondialdehyde contents, and higher (P < 0.05) water holding capacity and redness compared with the non-supplemented meat.5. These results illustrated that supplementation with either 5 g/kg SAL or 5 g/kg SBL attenuated the deleterious effects of heat stress in broiler chickens.

A Comparative Study of the Wound Healing Properties of Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) and Silver Sulphadiazine

Burns expose the deeper tissues of the skin or body to invasive microbes. Topical preparations for treating burn wounds, to be useful, should ideally have antibiotic power and promote healing. Silver compounds have been the mainstay of topical burn treatment for decades. However, most chemical substances retard wound healing. Several natural agents such as honey and moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) are believed to protect wounds from infection and promote healing without causing any of the adverse effects of purified chemicals. In this study, we compared the wound healing properties of MEBO, a herbal preparation of Chinese origin, with silver sulphadiazine (SSD), a long-standing conventional burn dressing. Ten adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. They were housed in separate cages and received partial-thickness burn wounds on their dorsal skin. They were then treated with MEBO and SSD. The wounds were inspected daily until day 8, when all the animals were sacrificed, perfused with normal saline, and had their wounds excised and prepared for histology. It was found that animals in both groups were well preserved. No clinical infections occurred. Wound healing was at an advanced stage by day 8 in all the animals. Clinical and histological examination showed that the two agents gave the animals comparable protection and healing possibilities. It is concluded that MEBO is a suitable and efficacious alternative to conventional silver-based topical therapies for treating partial-thickness burn wounds.

Ivermectin and onchocercal optic neuritis: short-term effects

In 1982 the macrocyclic lactone, ivermectin, was first tested in human patients with onchocerciasis. It has since undergone phase I to IV trials and is now being widely distributed in onchocercal areas. The previous microfilaricide, diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC), is known to precipitate or exacerbate active optic neuritis in some onchocercal patients, as part of a wider inflammatory response (the Mazzotti reaction). Ivermectin may also cause a mild reaction, especially in people with high microfilarial loads. Few data are available concerning the effect of ivermectin on active optic neuritis. A large, randomised, double-masked, phase IV trial is reported. Individuals were screened for evidence of optic nerve disease (OND), and those identified as possible cases of OND underwent detailed ophthalmic examination, including fluorescein angiography, before being dosed with ivermectin or placebo. A total of 6831 persons were screened of whom 856 (13%) underwent angiography prior to dosing. At 7-14 days after dosing an attempt was made to re-examine 50% of adults over the age of 20 years, including all those with OND. Six hundred and eighty-eight repeat or new angiograms were performed. During this period, 5 new cases of active optic neuritis and one case of exacerbation of existing optic neuritis were identified. Five of these individuals had received placebo and one ivermectin. Two individuals with optic neuritis before dosing had improved after 7-14 days. One had received placebo, the other ivermectin. Ivermectin does not appear to precipitate or exacerbate optic neuritis at a period of 7-14 days.

Distribution and aetiology of blindness and visual impairment in mesoendemic onchocercal communities, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Kaduna Collaboration for Research on Onchocerciasis

During a field trial of ivermectin in Kaduna State, 6831 people age 5 years and above, living in 34 mesoendemic onchocercal communities in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, were examined for ocular disease. Visual function assessments included tests of visual acuity and visual fields. A total of 185 individuals (2.7%) were bilaterally blind by acuity criteria with a further 28 blind by field constriction. The overall prevalence of blindness was 3.1%. A further 118 individuals were visually impaired by WHO criteria. Examination for the cause of blindness revealed that 43% of eyes in bilaterally blind patients were blind due to onchocerciasis. A further 11% were blind from optic atrophy much of which was probably onchocercal in origin. Glaucoma was the next most common cause of blindness in the bilaterally blind (11%). Only 6% of eyes were blind from cataract as the primary cause. In the visually impaired population cataract was the most common primary cause of impaired/blind eyes (31%), followed by onchocerciasis (19%) [corrected].

Genetic variants of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase from human erythrocytes: unique properties of the A - variant isolated from "deficient" cells

The A(-) type of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) has been isolated from human erythrocytes deficient in this enzyme. The specific activity of the purified protein is similar to that previously reported for the enzyme isolated from normal, nondeficient erythrocytes. During the purification procedure, a portion of the A(-) enzyme converts spontaneously, from the native "fraction I", to a "fraction II" having different kinetic and chromatographic properties. The conversion of fraction I to II can be reproduced freely by treatment with iodosobenzoate, and fraction II can be converted back to fraction I by treatment with dithioglycol. We suggest that fraction II is an enzyme species in which one or more sulfhydryl groups have been oxidized to disulfide(s). The tendency to oxidation appears to be a property specific to the A(-) variant and may represent the basis for its rapid rate of inactivation and consequent deficiency in vivo.

Photosynthesis and transpiration of monterey pine seedlings as a function of soil water suction and soil temperature

Rates of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration of Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) were measured under controlled conditions of soil water suction and soil temperature. Air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and air movement were maintained constant. Rates of net photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration decreased with increasing soil water suction. The decrease in the rates of net photosynthesis and transpiration as a function of the soil temperature at low soil water suctions may be attributed to changes in the viscosity of water. At soil water suctions larger than 0.70 bars rates of transpiration and net photosynthesis may be affected in the same proportion by changes in stomatal apertures.