scholarly journals Does larder-hoarding affect the condition of chicks in urban kestrels?

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Rejt
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tarsus Length ◽  
Dead Mouse ◽  
Nestling Period ◽  
The City

AbstractHoarding by urban kestrels and its subsequent exploitation significantly increases the frequency and regularity of feeding during the early stage of the nestling period. Twelve kestrels’ nests situated in various part of the city were chosen to test whether hoarding could affect the chicks’ condition. Four nests (with 22 nestlings) were provided with food — one dead mouse per chick per day (F group) and 8 (43 nestlings) were used as a control group (NF). Nestlings were weighed daily, and the length of their tarsus was also measured when the oldest chick in the nest was 11 days old. 50% of the NF nests experienced a decrease in the number of nestlings but no nestlings were lost in any of the F nests. However, no significant differences were found between the groups either in body mass or tarsus length. A possible reason was the behaviour of the adults which could be interpreted as the regulation of the frequency of prey delivery depending on its presence or absence in the nest.

scholarly journals Effect of neuroactive nutritional supplementation on body weight and composition in growing puppies

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Melissa Brooks ◽  
Cari Gardner ◽  
Norton Milgram
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Lean Body Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Total Body Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractNutritional factors can dramatically affect development of young animals during the early stage of life. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of a neuroactive nutritional supplement (NNS) containing DHA, taurine, carotenoids and vitamins on the body weight and body composition of growing puppies. A total of twenty-four 2-month-old Beagles were fed a nutritionally complete and balanced base diet and a control supplement daily during an initial 1-month baseline assessment, after which they were divided into control and treatment groups. They were fed daily either control or treatment supplements in addition to the base diet from 3 to 12 months of age. Lean body mass and fat mass were assessed using quantitative magnetic resonance scans at 0 (baseline), 3, 6 and 9 months of treatment. Total body weight and lean body mass did not differ between groups over time. The puppies in the treatment group showed a trend of reduced fat gain compared with those in the control group, and with a marginally significant difference at 6 months (P = 0·05). At 3 months, insulin-like growth factor 1 was higher (P = 0·02) in the treatment group compared with the control group. At 9 months, fasting lipid levels were lower (P < 0·05) and fat-oxidation metabolite 3-hydroxybutyrate was higher (P < 0·05) in the treatment group compared with the control group. These results may indicate that NNS has an impact on puppy growth and development, possibly by promoting fat metabolism; further investigation would be necessary to determine the full impact of this supplement on growth and development.

scholarly journals Urban versus forest ecotypes are not explained by divergent reproductive selection

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1882) ◽  
pp. 20180261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aude E. Caizergues ◽  
Arnaud Grégoire ◽  
Anne Charmantier
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Positive Selection ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Tarsus Length ◽  
Phenotypic Divergence ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The City

Increasing urbanization offers a unique opportunity to study adaptive responses to rapid environmental change. Numerous studies have demonstrated phenotypic divergence between urban and rural organisms. However, comparing the direction and magnitude of natural selection between these environments has rarely been attempted. Using seven years of monitoring of great tits ( Parus major ) breeding in nest-boxes across the city of Montpellier and in a nearby oak forest, we find phenotypic divergence in four morphological and two life-history traits between urban and forest birds. We then measure reproductive selection on these traits, and compare selection between the habitats. Urban birds had significantly smaller morphological features than their rural counterparts, with a shorter tarsus, lower body mass, and smaller wing and tail lengths relative to their overall body size. While urban female tarsus length was under stabilizing selection, and forest males show positive selection for tarsus length and negative selection for body mass, selection gradients were significantly divergent between habitats only for body mass. Urban great tits also had earlier laying dates and smaller clutches. Surprisingly, we found selection for earlier laying date in the forest but not in the city. Conversely, we detected no linear selection on clutch size in the forest, but positive selection on clutch size in the urban habitat. Overall, these results do not support the hypothesis that contemporary reproductive selection explains differences in morphology and life history between urban- and forest-breeding great tits. We discuss how further experimental approaches will help confirm whether the observed divergence is maladaptive while identifying the environmental drivers behind it.

Biological and Phytochemical Screening of Fumaria indica extract on Chemically Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Reference to Biochemical Parameters

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Aziz ◽  
Birendra Shrivastava ◽  
Chandana Venkateswara Rao2 ◽  
Sadath Ali
Keyword(s):  
Free Radicals ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Liver Cancer ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
Hepatoprotective Activity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Industrial Chemicals ◽  
Toxic Industrial Chemicals

Liver disease or liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. Hepatitis viral infection, food additives, alcohol, fungal toxins (aflatoxins), toxic industrial chemicals, air and water pollutants are the major risk factors of liver cancer. Moreover, due to high tolerance of liver, HCC is seldom detected at an early stage and once detected treatment faces a poor prognosis in most cases.Fumaria indica possesses hepatoprotective activity as evidenced by the significant and dose dependent restoring the activities of entire liver cancer marker enzymes, diminution in tumor incidence, decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and increase in the level of antioxidant enzymes (GSH, CAT, SOD, GPx and GST) through scavenging of free radicals, or by enhancing the activity of antioxidant, which then detoxify free radicals. These factors protect cells from ROS damage in NDEA and CCl4-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Histopathological observations of liver tissues too correlated with the biochemical observations. Thus, present investigation suggested that the Fumaria indica would exert a chemoprotective effect by reversing the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance during hepatocarcinogenesis induced by NDEA and CCl4. Besides Fumaria indicais very much effective in preventing NDEA-induced multistage hepatocarcinogenesis possibly through antioxidant and antigenotoxic nature, which was confirmed by various liver injury and biochemical tumour markers enzymes. The hepatoprotective activity of a Fumaria indicaof 50 % ethanolic extract was studied using rats. The animals received a single intraperitoneal injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine 200mg/kg body wt followed by subcutaneous injection of CCl4 in a dose of 3 ml/kg body wt. Fumaria indica extract dose dependently and significantly the increase in serum hepatic enzyme levels after NDEAand CCl4 treatment compared to the toxin control group. The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the Fumaria indicaextract against carbon tetrachlorideand N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In addition to this, studies on molecular aspect of hepatoprotective therapy will give mechanistic information in hepatoprotective therapy and also critical balance should be there between the animal model and clinical research. The hepatoprotective properties of Fumaria indicashould provide useful information in the possible application in hepatic liver disease.

ZINC IN THE RATIONS OF CALVES

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Hair Follicles ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albumin Concentration ◽  
Zinc Compounds ◽  
Entire Duration ◽  
Zinc Salts ◽  
Group A ◽  
Hair Cortex

According to the Tambovagrochemcenter data, zinc deficiency in animal rations exceeds 33%. To de-termine the efficiency of ration additives 3 groups of calves were formed, one of which was control and received regular feed, first test group received additional Zinc Sulphate, and second test group received additional Zinc Bioplex. To assess the results, we take into account the following values: chemical com-position and nutritional values of the feed, body mass value, amount of immunoglobulins in blood, bio-chemical and hematological values of blood, morphological values of fur and skin. Noticeable results were achieved in 4 months, with first and second test groups receiving accordingly 3,15% and 6,13% more body mass increase over the control group. A tendency towards higher albumin concentration in both test groups was noted, and calves of the second test group had higher amounts of hemoglobin and higher concentrations of it per erythrocyte. In samples of epidermis and hairs of the second test group the papillary layer was well developed, with the amount of hair and hair follicles exceeding 7 in the field of view, with the thickness of hairs being at least 70 μm. Inner papilla of hair contained 6 to 8 layers of hair, thickness of awn hairs reaching 80-90 μm, down hairs reaching 40 μm, with the hair cortex making up more than 80% of the hair thickness. Thus, introducing zinc salts and chelated zinc compounds to the milk-fed calves’ ration, has resulted in monetary profit increases over the control group by 255,0 and 612,0 roubles accordingly. By all researched values, the highest results were reached from adding zinc bioplex with approximately 360 mg added per animal for the entire duration of the growth process.

Retinol, α-Tocopherol and Vitamin D3 in White MuscleDisease

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 6029-2018
Author(s):  
HANDAN MERT ◽  
SERKAN YİLDİRİM ◽  
IBRAHİM HAKKİ YORUK ◽  
KİVANC IRAK ◽  
BAHAT COMBA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
White Muscle ◽  
Bone Structure ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Muscle Disease ◽  
Control Group ◽  
White Muscle Disease ◽  
Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for the health of all living organisms. Vitamins E, A, D and K are known as fat-soluble vitamins, and deprivation of vitamin E causes various disorders, especially in the reproduction and cardiovascular systems and in muscle functions. Vitamin A, on the other hand, has roles in various biological functions – like eyesight – and the growth, reproduction and differentiation of epithelial cells. Vitamin A deficiency leads to the keratinization of the epithelium, and disorders related to the metaplasies of the genital and genitourinary systems. Conversely, vitamin D is defined as a pro-hormone and is responsible for Cahomeostasis, and thus indirectly affects the bone metabolism, bone structure, and cellular and neural functions of Ca. White muscle disease (WMD) can occur in newborn lambs, but is more commonly seen in lambs of up to 3 months of age. In this study, 30 lambs of 3 to 50-days-old from different flocks diagnosed with White Muscle Disease (WMD) were selected as research material, while the control group consisted of 8 healthy lambs. With the aim of clarifying the cause of WMD, serum fat-soluble vitamins, retinol, α-tocopherol and vitamin D3 levels were determined in 16 lambs. Gluteal and heart musclet issue samples also were taken from 30 lambs with WMD. The vitamin levels of the samples were analysed by HPLC. The levels of serum α-tocopherol, retinols, and vitamin D3 were foundto be low in the diseased animals, but only retinol (p<0.001) and α-tocopherol (p<0.0011) level differences were statistically relevant. Macroscopically, Zenker’s necrosis was determined in the heart muscles of 17 lambs, and in the gluteal and chest muscles of 6 lambs. 7 lambs displayed necrosis in both their heart and in gluteal muscles. The samples were analyzed microscopically to reach similar findings: swollen homogeneous pink muscles, pycnotic nuclei, and hyperaemic and haemorrhagic blood vessels in gluteal, chest and heart muscles. Hyaline degeneration and Zenker's necrosis, dystrophic regions in necrotic areas, cc was detected as a severe disease in lambs at an early stage of life with advanced degeneration in different muscle tissues. Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins was also detected in the sick animals. Control group lambs had higher levels of α tocopherol and retinol (p<0.001) compared to the sick lambs. .

scholarly journals The Association of Obesity and Liver Enzyme Activities in a Student Population at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease / Veza Između Gojaznosti I Aktivnosti Jetrenih Enzima U Studentskoj Populaciji Sa Povećanim Rizikom Za Nastanak Kardiovaskularnih Bolesti

2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emina Čolak ◽  
Dragana Pap ◽  
Nada Majkić-Singh ◽  
Ivana Obradović
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Liver Enzyme ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Statistical Processing ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Increased Risk

Summary Background: It has been reported that obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk but also with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents is increasing rapidly all over the world. The aim of this study was to analyze the value of liver enzymes: AST, ALT and γGT in a group of obese students in order to establish their correlation to anthropometric parameters such as: BMI (body mass index), WC (waist circumference), HC (hip circumference), and WHR (waist-to-hip ratio) compared to non-obese students who comprised the control group (CG). Methods: In this study, 238 students from the University of Novi Sad of both sexes (126 men and 112 women) with a mean age of 22.32 ± 1.85 years were included. According to the body mass index (BMI) lower and higher than 25 kg/m2 and waist circumference (WC) lower and higher than 94 cm (80 cm for females) the whole group of 238 students was divided into 2 subgroups: the obese group at increased risk for CVD (Group 1) and the group at lower risk for CVD (Group 2). AST, ALT and γGT activities were determined in fasting blood samples. Results: Statistical processing data revealed significantly higher values of AST, ALT and γGT in the group of students with BMI>25 kg/m2, WC>94 cm for males and WC>80 cm for females, HC>108 cm for males and HC>111 cm for females, and WHR>0.90 for males and WHR>0.80 for females (P<0.001). Significant association was established between anthropometric parameters and liver enzyme levels (P<0.0001). Conclusions: Obese students with higher BMI, WC, HC and WHR values have higher liver enzyme activites and a higher chance to develop NAFLD in the future.

scholarly journals The prevalence of underweight in 9–10-year-old schoolchildren in Liverpool: 1998–2006

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 953-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne M Boddy ◽  
Allan F Hackett ◽  
Gareth Stratton
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrum ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fitness Testing ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Substantial Problem ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
The City ◽  
Over Time

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of underweight between 1998 and 2006 in Liverpool schoolchildren aged 9–10 years using recently published underweight cut-off points.Design and settingStature and body mass data collected at the LiverpoolSportsLinx project’s fitness testing sessions were used to calculate BMI.SubjectsData were available on 26 782 (n13 637 boys, 13 145 girls) participants.ResultsOverall underweight declined in boys from 10·3 % in 1998–1999 to 6·9 % in 2005–2006, and all sub-classifications of underweight declined, in particular grade 3 underweight, with the most recent prevalence being 0·1 %. In girls, the prevalence of underweight declined from 10·8 % in 1998–1999 to 7·5 % in 2005–2006. The prevalence of all grades of underweight was higher in girls than in boys. Underweight showed a fluctuating pattern across all grades over time for boys and girls, and overall prevalence in 2005–2006 represents over 200 children across the city.ConclusionsUnderweight may have reduced slightly from baseline, but remains a substantial problem in Liverpool, with the prevalence of overall underweight being relatively similar to the prevalence of obesity. The present study highlights the requirement for policy makers and funders to consider both ends of the body mass spectrum when fixing priorities in child health.

scholarly journals Endothelial glycocalyx degradation is associated with early organ impairment in polytrauma patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Qi ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
Peng Gu ◽  
Zhi-He Tang ◽  
Bao-Feng Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Endothelial Glycocalyx ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Metabolic System ◽  
Metabolic Systems ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Polytrauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Group

Abstract Background Endothelial glycocalyx (EG) abnormal degradation were widely found in critical illness. However, data of EG degradation in multiple traumas is limited. We performed a study to assess the EG degradation and the correlation between the degradation and organ functions in polytrauma patients. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted to enroll health participants (control group) and polytrauma patients (trauma group) at a University affiliated hospital between Feb 2020 and Oct 2020. Syndecan1 (SDC1) and heparin sulfate (HS) were detected in serum sample of both groups. In trauma group, injury severity scores (ISS) and sequential organ failure assessments (SOFA) were calculated. Occurrences of acute kidney injury (AKI), trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) within 48 h and 28-day all-cause mortality in trauma group were recorded. Serum SDC1 and HS levels were compared between two groups. Correlations between SDC1/HS and the indicators of organ systems in the trauma group were analyzed. ROC analyses were performed to assess the predictive value of SDC1 and HS for AKI, TIC within 48 h, and 28-day mortality in trauma group. Results There were 45 polytrauma patients and 15 healthy participants were collected, totally. SDC1 and HS were significantly higher in trauma group than in control group (69.39 [54.18–130.80] vs. 24.15 [13.89–32.36], 38.92 [30.47–67.96] vs. 15.55 [11.89–23.24], P <  0.001, respectively). Trauma group was divided into high degradation group and low degradation group according to SDC1 median. High degradation group had more severe ISS, SOFA scores, worse organ functions (respiratory, kidney, coagulation and metabolic system), and higher incidence of hypothermia, acidosis and shock. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) of SDC1 to predict AKI, TIC occurrence within 48 h and 28-day mortality were 0.838 (95%CI: 0.720–0.957), 0.700 (95%CI: 0.514–0.885) and 0.764 (95%CI: 0.543–0.984), respectively. Conclusions EG degradation was elevated significantly in polytrauma patients, and the degradation was correlated with impaired respiratory, kidney, coagulation and metabolic systems in early stage. Serum SDC1 is a valuable predictive indicator of early onset of AKI, TIC, and 28-day mortality in polytrauma patients.

scholarly journals Sex differences in leptin and cardiometabolic profile after exercise intervention in physically inactive adults with primary hypertension and obesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
SMM Maldonado-Martin ◽  
PC Corres ◽  
AMAB Martinezaguirre-Betolaza ◽  
BJI Jurio-Iriarte ◽  
MTE Tous-Espelosin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Primary Hypertension ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Hypocaloric Diet ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physically Inactive

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): University of the Basque Country OnBehalf GIKAFIT PURPOSES. To analyse the change on leptin, body composition, blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and some biochemical parameters in physically inactive women and men with primary hypertension (HTN) and obesity, and to evaluate the potential sex differences in the change after intervention. METHODS. Participants (n = 37 women, n= 40 men, 52.9 ± 6.9 yrs) from the EXERDIET-HTA study were randomized into attention control group (physical activity recommendations) or one of three supervised aerobic exercise groups [two days/week: high-volume (HV) with 45 min of moderate-intensity continuous training, HV and high-intensity interval training (HV-HIIT), and low volume-HIIT (LV-HIIT, 20 min)]. All participants received the same hypocaloric diet. All variables were assessed pre and post intervention (16 weeks). 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring was used to analyze systolic and diastolic BP. A cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). RESULTS. Following the intervention, there were increments (P &lt; 0.01) in CRF by VO2peak (Women, W = 21.1 ± 3.7 vs. 24.6 ± 4.4 mL·kg-1·min-1, Men, M = 26.3 ± 6.0 vs. 33.1 ± 10.2 mL·kg-1·min-1) and decreases (P &lt; 0.05) in leptin (W = 49.5 ± 23.0 vs. 41.8 ± 19.9 ng/mL, M = 20.5 ± 14.8 vs. 12.9 ± 18.6 ng/mL), body mass (W = 84.7 ± 12.1 vs. 80.3 ± 11.5 kg, M = 97.9 ± 14.4 vs. 91.5 ± 13.3 kg), waist perimeter (W = 97.3 ± 10.7 vs. 94.3 ± 10.9 cm, M = 107.9 ± 8.7 vs. 101.5 ± 7.9 cm), fat mass (W = 42.3 ± 5.1 vs. 38.6 ± 8.4 %, M = 31.2 ± 5.0 vs. 28.0 ± 4.4 %), systolic BP (M = 136.5 ± 12.1 vs. 129.3 ± 12.5 mmHg), diastolic BP (W = 76.2 ± 8.9 vs. 74.1 ± 8.7 mmHg, M = 79.3 ± 7.2 vs. 75.0 ± 8.2 mmHg), total cholesterol (M = 216.1 ± 44.5 vs. 196.1 ± 35.0 mg/dL), insulin (W = 13.4 ± 7.9 vs. 9.4 ± 4.2 mU/L) values. There were significant between-sex differences in body mass (W=-5.2%, M=-6.5%, effect size, ES = 0.073), waist circumference (W=-3.1%, M=-5.9%, ES = 0.114), and VO2peak (W = 14.2%, M = 20.5%, ES = 0.059). CONCLUSIONS. Aerobic exercise along with hypocaloric diet is an effective non-pharmacological tool to induce beneficial changes in women and men in BP and leptin as a mediator of obesity-induced HTN, and other regulatory mechanisms such as body composition, CRF and biochemical profile. The found sex-related differences could confirm the need of individual non-pharmacological strategies.

Supplementation of c-type natriuretic peptide during in vitro growth period benefits the development of murine preantral follicles

Zygote ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Li Ang ◽  
Cao Haixia ◽  
Li Hongxia ◽  
Li Ruijiao ◽  
Guo Xingping ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Preantral Follicles

Summary The present study investigated the effects of c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the development of murine preantral follicles during in vitro growth (IVG). Preantral follicles isolated from ovaries of Kunming mice were cultured in vitro. In the culture system, CNP was supplemented in the experimental groups and omitted in the control groups. In Experiment 1, CNP was only supplemented at the early stage and follicle development was evaluated. In Experiments 2 and 3, CNP was supplemented during the whole period of in vitro culture. In Experiment 2, follicle development and oocyte maturity were evaluated. In Experiment 3, follicle development and embryo cleavage after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were assessed. The results showed that in the control groups in all three experiments, granulosa cells migrated from within the follicle and the follicles could not reach the antral stage. In the experimental groups in all three experiments, no migration of granulosa cells was observed and follicle development was assessed as attaining the antral stage, which was significantly superior to that of the control group (P < 0.0001). Oocyte meiotic arrest was effectively maintained, hence giving good developmental competence. In conclusion, CNP supplementation in the culture system during IVG benefited the development of murine preantral follicles.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document