The effects of four diets (basal diet, Se, Zn, and Se- and Zn-enriched diets) fed to chicks that were administered one of three treatments [Salmonella and aflatoxin inoculation (T1), Salmonella inoculation (T2), or uninoculated (T3)] were investigated for growth and immune responses. We found a significant improvement in growth performance represented by relative body gain (RBG) and feed efficiency (FE), for the Zn- and Se + Zn-enriched diets fed to the T1 and T2 groups. The antibody immune response was significantly improved for the Se enrichment diet in the T1 and T2 groups. The weight of the bursa and thymus, which relate to the level of the immune response, showed significant decreases, whereas the spleen had a significantly increased relative weight (RW) in the T1 group. The variable dietary trace elements supplement increased the thymic RW in the T2 group.
A total of 1,175 poultry feed samples originating from different farms were analyzed for aflatoxin. Poor growth rate and reduced egg production were the main complaints. The rate of contamination with aflatoxin ranged from 10 to 54% of all samples. Of samples examined 30.7% proved positive for aflatoxin with a concentration ranging from 1 to 2,000 ppb. Outbreaks of fowl cholera were diagnosed on two farms where aflatoxin was detected in the rations used. The impact of aflatoxin in the feed on the efficacy of immunization against fowl cholera was monitored by a hemagglutination test and the titers of the involved farms were compared with experimental groups fed on aflatoxin-free rations and vaccinated with the same polyvalent fowl cholera bacterin. The antibody titers of the experimental groups were 4 to 15 times higher than those of the involved farms.
Endothelial dysfunction causes the failure of sildenafil response due to reduced nitric oxide (NO) . This study aimed to compare the biochemical and clinical effects of atorvastatin and vitamin E on endothelial function of sildenafil non‐responders with investigation to the underlying mechanisms.
Methods: Sixty participants were randomly divided into three groups receiving atorvastatin 80 mg daily, or vitamin E 400 IU daily, or placebo capsules. Participants were examined both before and after six weeks for these biochemical tests; NO, glutathione peroxidase (GPO), interlukin 6 (IL‐6), testosterone, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and for erectile function tests; international index of erectile function (IIEF ‐5) scores, rigiscan, and duplex l Results: in comparison to control group, the treated groups showed a significant increase in GPO, and a significant decrease in IL‐6. Atorvastatin only showed a significant increase in NO, eNOS, IIEF‐5 scores and rigiscan rigidity parameters. Other rigiscan parameters, testosterone and duplex ultrasound showed no difference in the three groups
Conclusions: Atorvastatin improves endothelial function of sildenafil non‐responders by increasing NO level attributed to enhancing eNOS activity (main mechanism) added to antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. Atorvastatin is a real promising drug for sildenafil non‐responders.
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