The egg is one of the cheapest and most commonly consumed foods for human nutrition. The egg is rich in high-quality protein. Moreover, it is an almost complete vitamin and trace mineral source (Sparks 2006). The external and internal qualities of eggs are very important for consumer health and from a marketing perspective. The egg yield and quality are affected by a number of factors, such as the type of husbandry system (Ozbey & Esen 2007; RaduRusu et al. 2014). For instance, hens housed in large furnished cages had lower productivity and higher egg quality than those housed in small furnished and conventional cages (Meng et al. 2014).Different husbandry systems are available in laying hen breeding such as free-range, organic, cage, and furnished cage. The cage type is one of the most common husbandry systems, which is a controversial subject among advocates for animal welfare and animal rights. The European Union banned battery cage husbandry of chickens in January 2012 for welfare reasons (Leenstra et al. 2014). This experiment was carried out to compare morphological egg quality parameters as well as egg lipid and protein profiles of brown eggs collected from poultry farms with different production systems: cage, free-range, and family type. MATERIAL AND METHODSEgg samples. A total of 270 eggs, 90 from each of the three systems, were collected from (1) a poultry farm with cage system, (2) a free-range poultry farm with nest and 2 m 2 yard per bird, and (3) families possessing chickens in their yard in two villages. Eggs from the first two farms were collected from Lohmann Brown hybrid chickens at the age of 40 weeks that were fed conventional feed formulated to meet nutrient recommendations of the NRC (1994). Eggs collected from the family type units were variable in terms of breed, age, and dietary components of the chickens.All eggs were stored at room temperature for 3 days before performing morphological and biochemical analyses. Morphological characteristics were determined in individual eggs. For biochemical assays, fractions of three eggs were pooled in tubes. Thus, sample sizes per group were 90 and 30 for morphological data and biochemical data, respectively.Morphological measurements. The egg weight was measured with an electronic balance to the nearest 0.01 g. The egg shape index (%) was calculated by the normal method of (diameter/height) × 100. This experiment was carried out to compare morphological egg quality parameters, as well as lipid and protein profiles, of brown eggs laid by chickens reared under different production systems: cage, free-range, and family type. A total of 270 brown eggs were obtained from commercial poultry companies raising Lohmann Brown laying hens in a cage system and free-range unit as well as families possessing hens in their yards. The egg lipid and protein contents, as well as lipid and protein profile, varied among the production systems. However, eggs from the free-range system had similar characteristics to those from the cage system. Quality of eggs from the ...

Ninety-six 28-week-old Lohmann White laying hens were utilized to test the antioxidant effects of flavonoids (hesperidin, naringin, and quercetin at 0.5 g/kg diet) during an 8-wk experimental period. At the end of the experiment blood samples were collected to determine total protein, cholesterol, and malondialdehyde (MDA) serum levels as well as activities of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and level of glutathione (GSH) in erythrocyte lysates. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Naringin supplementation did not alter serum cholesterol concentration, whereas hesperidin and quercetin supplementations decreased serum cholesterol concentration. Naringin and quercetin supplementations did not affect serum protein concentration. All flavonoids decreased MDA concentration as well as increased GSH-Px, GR, GST, and SOD activities and GSH level, being quercetion superior to hesperidin and naringin. In conclusion, flavonoids, especially quercetin, exert antioxidant activity, which may help improve wellbeing when laying hens are exposed to stressors.

Background: Despite being used commonly in bovine medicine, information on reliability of point-of-care (POC) lactate meters is limited.Objective: To determine the validity of 4 commercially available POC lactate meters in cattle. Animals: Cattle with various diseases (n = 120).Methods: Blood samples collected from the jugular vein were processed immediately on POC lactate meters. Plasma Llactate concentration was measured by the enzymatic-colorimetric method (ELISA). Data were subjected to Friedman's test for comparison, Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman plot analyses for reliability, and receiver operating characteristics analysis for sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp).Results: The POC lactate meters were highly correlated with ELISA (r = 0.98-0.99) despite disagreements among units. When regressed on ELISA, blood L-lactate concentrations generated from Accutrend Plus and Lactate Pro were linear up to 16.6 and 15.7 mmol/L, respectively, whereas those generated from i-STAT and Lactate Scout were linear up to 19.5 and 19.7 mmol/L, respectively. All POC lactate meters had a Se of 100% with Sp of 95.7-98.6% at a plasma L-lactate cut-off concentration of 4 mmol/L. i-STAT had the best accuracy (99.0%) and precision (99.8%), the best linear fit (y = À0.13 + 1.04X) yielding the lowest bias (À6.6%) as well as the highest Se (100%) and Sp (98.6%).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Despite high correlation with the reference method, dilution is needed for Accutrend Plus/Lactate Pro and i-STAT/Lactate Scout if concentrations >15 and 20 mmol/L, respectively. i-STAT provided the most accurate and precise results.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy, seen in athletes and manual labor workers, is an inflammatory condition characterized by chronic tendon pain. Owing to the toxicity that develops in various organs attributed to the use of anti–inflammatory drugs, there is a need for new therapeutic agents. Purpose: In the present study, the effects of quercetin (Que), the one that attracted the most attention of researchers studying this group of flavonoids, were investigated against collagenase–induced tendinopathy. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 35 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. Tendinopathy was created by injecting a single dose of collagenase (10 μL; 10 mg/mL) into the tendons of rats. Thirty minutes after the injection, Que was administered at doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg. Que administration was carried out for 7 days. Animals underwent a motility test at the end of the study. In addition, markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy, as well as the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs 2, 3, 9, and 13), ICAM-1, and STAT3, were measured in tendon tissues with biochemical, molecular, and Western blot techniques. Results: The results showed that oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy were triggered by the injection of collagenase. In addition, MMPs, ICAM-1, and STAT3 were activated to participate in the development of tendinopathy. Que was found to reduce ICAM-1 levels in tendon tissue. Moreover, Que showed antioxidant, anti–inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antiautophagic effects on tendons against tendinopathy. More important, Que suppressed the expression of MMPs in the tendon tissues. Conclusion: Que has protective properties against collagenase–induced tendon damage in rats. Clinical Relevance: We believe that with further study, Que may be shown to be an alternative treatment option for athletes or others who experience tendon injuries.

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1. The aim of this experiment was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation of hesperidin, naringin and quercetin on laying hen performance, egg quality and egg yolk lipid and protein profiles. 2. A total of 96 Lohmann White laying hens weighing an average of 1500 g at 28 weeks of age were randomly assigned to a basal diet and the basal diet supplemented (0.5 g/kg) with either hesperidin, naringin or quercetin. Each treatment was replicated in 6 cages in an 8-week experimental period. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. 3. None of the dietary flavonoids affected laying performance and eggshell quality. Hesperidin and quercetin supplementations decreased albumen and yolk indexes. 4. As compared to the control group, egg yolk cholesterol content decreased and egg yolk protein content increased in response to dietary hesperidin and quercetin supplementation. The mean egg yolk cholesterol (mg/g) and protein (g/100 g) contents were 10.08/14.28, 16.12/14.08, 14.75/15.04 and 15.15/14.85 for the control group and groups supplemented with naringin, hesperidin and quercetin, respectively. 5. Egg yolk lipid and protein profiles were variable. 6. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of hesperidin or quercetin could be used in the diets during the early laying period to reduce egg yolk cholesterol and increase egg yolk protein, which may be attractive to consumers.

In the present study, it is aimed to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) against acute paw inflammation induced by carragenan (Carr) at macro and micro levels. Therefore, in this study, 1 hour after administering intraperitoneal of indomethacin (Ind) or CAPE (10 and 30 mg/kg body weight) to Sprague Dawley rats, Carr was injected intraplantarly into their right paws. The paw volumes of the rats were measured with a plethysmometer until the 4th hour. Also, X-ray and thermal camera images were taken to determine edema and temperature changes. At the end of the study, after the paw tissues and serums were taken, oxidative stress and inflammation status were determined using biochemical, molecular, and western blot techniques. In addition, lipid and protein profiles in paw tissue were determined using HPTLC and electrophoresis methods. The results depicted that a high dose of CAPE against Carr-induced inflammation may be almost as effective as Ind used as reference.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of some antioxidant vitamins and trace elements on some metabolic and postpartum reproductive profiles in dairy cows during transition period. In the study, altogether 20 clinically healthy Brown Swiss dairy cows (aged 4-5 years-old) under the same management and feeding conditions in periparturient period were used. The animals were divided into two equal groups: control (C) and treatment (T) group (n=10 for each group). Vitamins (A, D, E) and trace elements (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) were administered intramuscularly into the cows of the T group, while isotonic saline, as placebo, was injected subcutaneously into those in the C group. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the jugular vein at the beginning of transition period, parturition and 3-weeks after the parturition. The metabolic and reproductive parameters were determined. In the C group, statistically significant changes were observed in the levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total protein (TP) (p<0.05), glucose (GLU), progesterone (P 4 ) (p<0.01), total cholesterol (T.CHOL), triglycerides (TG), UREA, creatinine (CRSC) and total bilirubin (TBIL) (p<0.001). In the T group, significant changes in the levels of NEFA, TBIL (p<0.05), T.CHOL, HDL, LDL (p<0.01), TG, GLU, P 4 , TAC and TOC (p<0.001) were observed. It was concluded that the administration of various vitamins and trace elements could be effective to improve some metabolic and reproductive profiles in dairy cows during the transition period.