The development of selected haematological and biochemical parameters during the laying period was monitored in common pheasant hens housed in an enhanced cage system. The cages were enhanced by the addition of two perches and a shelter formed by strips of cloth hanging in the corner of the cage. The results showed significant changes in the haematological and biochemical parameters monitored during egg laying. At the time when laying capacity approached a maximum, a decrease was observed (P < 0.05) in haematocrit, erythrocytes, and haemoglobin values, whereas monocytes, eosinophils, the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, phosphorus, and calcium exhibited an increase (P < 0.05). At the end of the laying period, an increase (P < 0.05) was recorded in the count of leukocytes, heterophils, lymphocytes and basophils, the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and the concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol, phosphorus, and calcium, whereas lower values (P < 0.05) were recorded for haematocrit and plasma total protein in comparison with the values of the indicators at the beginning of the laying period. The results provide new information about dynamic changes in selected haematological and biochemical parameters in clinically healthy common pheasant hens during the laying period.

Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) hens kept in different housing systems during laying period were exposed to a tonic immobility test. At the end of the laying period, the shortest duration of the tonic immobility, and thus the lowest fear level, was found in birds kept in enriched cages, i.e. cages equipped with 2 perches and a hiding place. The duration of the tonic immobility in hens kept in enriched cages was significantly lower (P<0.05) than in hens kept in conventional cages where other measures against feather pecking were used (beaktrimming and using spectacles, respectively).

The present paper provides new experimental data on the biochemical and haematological profile of blood in pheasant hens, and points out the changes in both biochemical and haematological parameters that occur during the laying period. Significant effects of egg laying on both the biochemical and the haematological blood parameters of pheasant hens were found. Biochemical analyses revealed a significant increase in the metabolites cholesterol, uric acid, lactate, the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the minerals calcium and phosphorous, as well as a significant decrease in total protein, albumin and glucose in the course of the laying period. Haematological analyses revealed a significant increase in the count of leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes due to egg laying. In addition, the erythrocyte count and haemoglobin content significantly decreased in the middle of the laying period and then rebounded at the end of the laying period. The haematocrit content gradually decreased till the end of the laying period. All together, the results of this study underline the impact of the reproduction status of pheasant hens on basic blood parameters. The biochemical and haematological values presented in this study may be of help in assessing disease conditions in laying pheasant hens.

Objective:To assess frequency of masked hypertension (MAH) in middle-aged patients and in the elderly, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CV RF) with special aspects to pts with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and long-term prognosis trends of subjects with MAH.Design and method:A screening study that included 314 consecutive patients aged 35–74 years with normal in-office blood pressure (BP) in hypertension centre. Participants were performed to identify cardiovascular risk factors, underwent following 24-hours blood pressure monitoring to verify the MAH diagnosis, too. Patients with confirmed MAH were periodically clinically monitored for an average of 5.5 years (3.5–7 yrs).Results:MAH was detected in the age category of 45–54 years, in 24.2 % and 9.9 % women, 55–64 years, in 19.4% men and 8.1 % women. Middle-aged and elderly men with MAH frequently identified CV RF compared to evenly aged women - family history of CV diseases, higher rate of smoking and dyslipidemia, lower physical activity prevailed. From a patients with the diagnosis of T2D, a total 44.3% presented normal in-office BP and the pts with the diagnosed MAH were older (63.9 vs. 54.7 years; p < 0.001), also with earlier diagnosis of T2D, higher rate of smokers (26.4 % vs. 1.9%; p = 0.002), and higher levels of HbA1c (10.7 % vs. 9.9%; p = 0.006), creatinine (0.73 vs. 0.65 mg/dl; p = 0.040), and microalbuminuria (139.4 vs. 27.4 mcg/mg; p < 0.001). Patients with MAH at the beginning of the study had long-term risk of progression to sustained office hypertension in 37.9 %, increased frequency of developing T2D 9.3 % and in the two oldest cohorts we observed a trend for a lower cognitive score on the MMSE.Conclusions:MAH is common finding in patients especially in the age category of 45–54 and 55–64 years, in males, smokers ith unfavourable risk profile, and it is also common in diabetics. MAH is associated with progression to sustained office hypertension, increased frequency of developing T2D and in the oldest cohort, patients may show decreased cognitive function compared to patients with normotension.