The influence of subcutaneous injections of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on rabbit performance, hematological and biochemical parameters of blood, antioxidant status, and the residues of silver in meat and blood in two breeds (New Zealand White (NZW) and Jabali) of rabbits growing under high ambient temperature was evaluated. A total of 90 six-week-old rabbits (45 NZW and 45 Jabali) were randomly distributed into three equal treatment groups (control, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg AgNPs/kg body weight). The treated rabbits were injected twice a week for four consecutive weeks. The results revealed that AgNPs administration had no significant effect on average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The NZW breed surpassed the Jabali breed in growth performance traits, carcass weight, dressing percentage, and cuts of mid parts and hind cuts. Administration of AgNPs had a significant effect on hematocrit (HCT) and platelet (PLT) values. Rabbits injected with AgNPs at a dose of 0.5 mg showed a lower plasma concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides than that of control rabbits. The NZW breed had significantly low platelet, total cholesterol, and triglyceride values. Rabbits injected with 0.5 mg/kg BW had the lowest total antioxidant capacity and highest malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase. The Ag residues were higher in blood than those in meat in treated rabbits. The local breed (Jabali) had significantly lower residues than the imported one (NZW) either in meat or in blood. However, the amount of accumulated silver in blood plasma and meat increased with increasing dose.
Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of dietary supplemented propolis in two growing rabbit breeds on growth performance, immune response, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and cecal microflora composition.Methods: A total of 90 growing rabbits aged 6 weeks from two breeds (V-line and Jabali) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary propolis experimental treatments. The experimental treatments consisted of a 2×3 factorial arrangement with two rabbit breeds and three levels of dietary propolis supplementation (0, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg). Each sub-treatment has 15 rabbits. The experimental period lasted six weeks.Results: There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass characteristics due to propolis administration. Propolis supplementation at a high level significantly increased (linear; p<0.05) cellular-mediated immunity compared with the unsupplemented group. Furthermore, the rabbits receiving propolis exhibited a significant increase (linear and quadratic; p<0.03) in IgM immunoglobulins compared to the control. The current study provides further evidence that the dietary inclusion of propolis can significantly reduce pathogenic bacterial colonization in growing rabbits. The total count of microflora, E. coli, and Salmonella spp. was significantly lower (linear; p<0.01) in supplemented rabbit groups compared to the control group according to the microbiological analysis of cecal digesta. Based on breed effect, the results indicated that Jabali rabbits (local) performed better than V-line rabbits (foreign) in the majority of the studied traits.Conclusion: Dietary propolis is promising for further investigation into improving intestinal health and enhancing immunity in growing rabbits.
1 November 2005 in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Background: Ischemic cerebrovascular stroke is defined as an acute neurological dysfunction caused by focal cerebral infarction after decrease in the blood supply of the brain either by stenosis or occlusion leading to gross physical impairment or disability lasting more than 24 hours. Objective: To assess correlation between site of infarction and upper extremity ( UE) function in chronic stroke patients. Methodology: A cross sectional study with (30) Patients with chronic ischemic stroke ( >3 months) suffering from persistent UE motor function impairment, MRI brain done to assess the site of infarction. UE motor function assessment using the Fugl Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) Scale. Results: The current study found that no significant correlation between the site of infarction and UE motor function. Conclusion: We concluded that the site of infarction not correlated with UE motor function in chronic stroke patients.
A 137Cs-loaded sealed source was prepared by contacting silicotitanate gel with a 137Cs solution at pH 7 for 48 h at 25°C, drying at 100°C for 24 h, placing as a radioactive core inside a central cylindrical cavity in a base Perspex half-disc, and assembling a top Perspex half-disc with the base one using epoxy adhesive. The sealed source prepared was standardized using a γ-ray spectrometer and various calculation methods including DETEFF code and different ways of the efficiency transfer concept. For higher accuracy, the effect of the HPGe detector contamination background at different measurement distances was studied. The prepared sealed source was found to have a 137Cs activity of 0.98 ± 0.06 kBq.