Nutrient digestibility, visceral organ changes and carcass yield of rabbits fed with diets containing graded levels of rumen filtrate-fermented rice offal

A total of twenty-five crossbred rabbit bucks with a mean weight of 628.73g were utilized to investigate their nutrient digestibility, visceral organ changes, and carcass yield when fed with diets containing graded levels of rumen filtrate-fermented rice offal (FRO) for 10 weeks. Five rabbits were grouped into five treatments with each rabbit serving as a replicate in a completely randomized design experiment. The control group was fed with a diet containing no rumen filtrate fermented-rice offal meal while the other four groups were fed with diets in which the FRO replaced the maize at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, respectively. The results of the analyzed nutrient composition and energy content of the experimental diets showed no trend across the treatments except for crude protein and metabolizable energy whose values appeared to increase across treatments as the levels of FRO increased from 0% to 20%. Dry Matter (DM), Crude Fiber (CF), Ether Extract (EE) and Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) digestibility values were affected by the inclusion level of the fermented rice offal in the diets of the rabbits, except Crude Protein (CP). Crude fiber values appeared to increase across the treatments as the levels of FRO increased from 0% to 20%. Dressed weight showed significantly (p<0.05) higher values for rabbits fed with diets containing 20% FRO and prime cuts were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by treatments. The result of visceral organ and GIT weights showed treatment effect (p<0.05), except fasted live weights, spleen, and visceral fats. Of the visceral organ lengths, only the esophagus and stomach were similar (p>0.05) across treatment groups. It was therefore concluded that the digestibility of nutrients was not adversely affected; such that 20% inclusion of rumen filtrate-fermented rice offal showed no modification on visceral organ changes and a better carcass yield observed in rabbits on the diets. It was suggested that up to 20% rumen filtrate-fermented rice offal meal can be integrated into rabbit diets without impairing their digestibility, visceral organ characteristics, and carcass yield.

Significance of detailed and careful morphological evaluation of organs in sepsis related deaths

In this retrospective study we studied macroscopic changes and histology of various organs in sepsis related deaths in correlation with relevant clinical, laboratory and microbiology data. Medical records and autopsy records of all patients were reviewed where final cause of death after complete macroscopic and histological examination of organs following autopsy was given as sepsis/septic shock. Sepsis related death in diabetics, hypertensives, and pregnancy related death and unnatural deaths were excluded from this study.Sixty five cases were selected for this study involving detailed morphological examination of different organs. Most common system involved was respiratory system (33.84%). Lungs were chief primary site of infection mainly pneumonia (35.4%) and tuberculosis (7.7% cases) followed by liver abscess (18%), renal abscess/ pyelonephritis (16.4%) and, peritonitis (16.4%). Most frequent non- specific organ changes presented grossly as diffluent/soft mushy spleen with red pulp congestion (83.08%) followed by mild to moderate cerebral oedema(41.5%) and pulmonary oedema(35. 4%). Most frequent findings that contributed to death was intrapulmonary haemorrhage (33.8%), acute tubular necrosis (11, 17%), disseminated intravascular coagulation/ micro thrombi (8, 12.3%) and, acute respiratory distress syndrome (3, 4. 61%). In this study population, the commonest organism obtained on culture was Pseudomonas (24.07%) followed by E. coli and Klebsiella (20.37% each).Careful and detailed morphological evaluation of various organs at autopsy is significant for both pathologist and clinicians to understand the course of events occurred and to reach an accurate diagnosis of sepsis related death.

The Effects of Renal Nerve Denervation on Blood Pressure and Target Organs in Different Hypertensive Rat Models

Background. Hypertension contributes to the progression of cardiac remodeling and renal damage. In turn, renal sympathetic hyperactivation showed elevated sympathetic nervous system activity and led to blood pressure increase in certain patients. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of renal nerve denervation on blood pressure and target organ changes in two hypertensive rat models. Methods. Hypertensive rats were randomly divided into a renal denervation (RDN) group and sham operation group. Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats of the same age were set as the baseline control group. In the secondary hypertension model, SD rats were randomly divided into five groups. Blood pressure and bodyweight were measured every week until they were euthanized. Results. The two rat models underwent RDN at key timepoints. At these timepoints, the hearts and kidneys were collected for norepinephrine and angiotensin II measurements and histological analysis. Conclusion. RDN performed before development of hypertension showed a significant antihypertensive effect on the secondary hypertension model.

Pathology of COVID-19: A Review of Emerging Evidences from Autopsy Studies

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‑19) is caused by novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus‑2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). The disease was first reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and since then it continues to spread worldwide. Although, there are rapidly increasing number of studies on epidemiologic characteristics and clinical aspects of COVID‑19, its pathology still remains a largely unexplored territory, mainly due to limited autopsy studies. Autopsy studies are essential to demonstrate the spectrum of COVID‑19‑associated organ changes. This article reviews and highlights the important histopathological findings observed in different organ systems as evident from various published and anecdotal reports from across the world. Major histopathological findings in the lungs include different stages of Diffuse Alveolar Damage (DAD) and microthrombi along with variable degree of inflammation. Microscopic analysis of renal parenchyma may show acute tubular injury and fibrin thrombi in the glomerular capillaries. Heart, liver and brain show no significant inflammatory changes.

Gut microbiota is an endocrine organ

The gut microbiota affects the processes of food digestion, intestinal peristalsis, controls the work of the intestinal epithelium, has protective properties against pathogenic microorganisms, activating local immunity and stimulating the secretion of mucus by intestinal cells. Besides the gut microbiota participates in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, mediates the processes of gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, lipogenesis and lipolysis, and affects on feelings of hunger and satiety. All these processes occur because the gut microbiota produces active metabolites throughout their life activity. Gut microbiota and active metabolites of the gut microbiota activate the synthesis of hormones. The gut microbiota affects the synthesis of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon-like peptide-2, YY-peptide, glucose-dependent insu-linotropic peptide, ghrelin, leptin, cholecystokinin, serotonin, and insulin. Disturbance of the secretion of these hormones is one of the links in the pathogenesis of endocrine diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Thus, the gut microbiota is an endocrine organ. Changes in the composition and functions of the gut microbiota lead to metabolic disorders.This article describes the effect of gut germs and active metabolites of the gut microbiota on the synthesis hormones by means of receptor mechanisms, genes, and enzymes.

Macromorphological findings in cases of death in water: a critical view on “drowning signs”

Death in water is a challenging issue in forensic pathology since from natural death to homicide all circumstances of death in water are conceivable. Therefore, the correct interpretation of all abnormal autopsy findings is important. In order to determine a death by drowning, numerous internal and external signs of drowning are already described. However, these are supposed to be influenced by various factors reducing their significance and evidence. Moreover, the autopsy of water corpses often reveals further pathological findings that should not be underestimated for determining the cause of death. The aim of this study was to set frequencies of the observed drowning signs in context to the forensic literature and to identify possible influencing factors. In this study, we observed that pathological organ changes of the cardiovascular system were significantly more common in corpses after shortened (atypical) drowning processes than in classical drowned victims. Furthermore only a complete formation of external foam, immediately after the corpse’s recovery, was exclusively found in drowning victims. All other drowning signs were either also observed in non-drowning deaths in water or no information could be provided with reasonable assurance. In addition, many of the examined drowning signs were negatively affected by prolonged postmortem intervals, putrefaction, or resuscitation attempts. It can be concluded from our analysis that morbidity is an important factor in deaths in water. Morbidity can support a death by drowning in case of incidents in water. For the examined drowning signs, no high diagnostic certainty could be observed. Nevertheless, these findings can increase their diagnostic value—if forensic physicians take influencing factors into consideration.