• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2001

The expediency of promoting rabbit production on underutilized by-product feedstuffs prompted the current investigation of caecal fermentation pattern, blood biochemical profile and histopathological changes of vital organs in 48 broiler rabbits fed diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% level of neem seed kernal cake (NSKC) for 6 weeks and subsequently sacrificed. The NSKC incorporation in the diet did not exert any adverse effect on caecal fermentation although the weight of caecum and its contents was significantly (p<0.01; p<0.05) lower in rabbits fed the diet containing 20% NSKC. Except for blood glucose concentration, none of the blood biochemical constituents (serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, haemoglobin) and the activities of different enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, asparatate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) varied significantly due to NSKC feeding. A histopathological examination of the vital organs (liver, kidney, heart, spleen, lungs, intestine and stomach) revealed a variable degree of villus atrophy in the intestine and degenerative changes in the liver and tubular epithelium of kidney in some rabbits when NSKC was fed at levels above 10%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.547-554
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• 1994

This paper presents the effects of supplementary feeding and internal parasites on the growth rates of female weaner goats raised under improved management. A completely randomized $3{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial design was used. Factors were genotype (Thai native: TN, 75% TN $\times$ 25% Anglo-Nubian: An and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN), feeding grazing only, low (1.0% BW/d) and high (1.5% BW/d) supplementation and parasite control (undrenched and drenched). It was shown that native goats had significantly (p<0.05) higher growth rates than did the cross-bred goats from 12-24 weeks of the trial. The growth rate of goats grazing improved pasture depended on the amount of concentrate offered as a supplement. There was no significant difference in growth rates between undrenched and drenched goats. There was no interaction effect on growth rates between the treatments. Drenched goats had significantly (p<0.01) lower egg counts per gram of gastro-intestinal nematode than did undrenched goats. There was no significant difference between the treatments for blood constituents (total protein, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils).

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of a polyherbal aqueous extract (Curcuma longa Linn., Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn., Enicostemma littorale Blume) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Short term experiments showed a decrease in blood glucose levels at $2^{nd}\;hr$ of administration of the aqueous extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats with increase in serum insulin levels. The extract did not show any effect on blood glucose or serum insulin levels in normoglycaemic rats. Treatment with the extract (1.5 g dry plant equivalent extarct/100 g body weight/day) for 20 days in diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels and an increase in serum insulin levels. The aqueous extract also showed an enhanced glucose-induced insulin release at 11.1 mM glucose from isolated rat pancreatic islets. The extract did not show any toxicity at the particular dose used.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.386-394
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• 2008

The tissue extract (TTE) of a marine snail Telescopium telescopium, collected from the coastal regions of West Bengal, India, was extensively screened for pharmacological and biochemical properties. Telescopium telescopium (TTE) produced significant lysis of washed rat erythrocytes (both direct and indirect), produced haemorrhagic lesions in the skin and also released haemoglobin (in vitro tissue damage) from different tissue samples. TTE was found to produce pro-inflammatory effects when injected into the rat hind paw and also increased peritoneal vascular permeability. Furthermore, intravenous administration of TTE produced a decrease in blood pressure (hypotensive effect) in anaesthetized rats. The extract produced potent esterase activity, as was evident from the breakdown of FDA with subsequent release of fluorescein (in vitro). TTE also demonstrated prominent cholinesterase, phospholipase, phosphatase and protease activities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.509-515
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• 2002

Copper deficiency was induced in eight male buffalo calves by adding molybdenum (30 ppm wet basis) to their diet. Copper status was monitored from the liver copper concentration and a level below 30 ppm (DM basis) was considered as deficient. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, total and differential leucocyte numbers were determined. The functions of peripheral neutrophils were assessed by in vitro phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of molybdenum induced copper deficiency on bone marrow was monitored. The mean total leucocyte count was unaffected whereas a significant fall in neutrophil count coincided with the fall in hepatic copper level to $23.9{\pm}2.69$ ppm. Reduced blood neutrophil numbers was not accompanied by any change in the proportion of different neutrophil precursor cells in bone marrow. It was hypothesised that buffalo calves were more tolerant to dietary molybdenum excess than cattle. It was concluded that neutropenia in molybdenum induced copper deficiency occurred without any effect on their synthesis and maturation process. Bone marrow studies in healthy calves revealed higher percentage of neutrophilic myelocytes and metamyelocytes as compared to cattle.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2003

The antidiabetic efficacy of Enicostemma littorale Blume (chhota chirayata) aqueous extract was examined in newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients taking only the extract and was administered as two divided doses, half an hour before meal as 5g of aqueous extract per single dose. Out of the 20 patients volunteered, 11 successfully completed the 2 month trial and a significant decrease in fasting & postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels were observed along with a significant improvement in the antioxidant parameters of the patients. There was also a significant increase in serum insulin levels in 7 patients after extract treatment as compared to levels before treatment. Serum total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels were decreased significantly with a significant increase in serum HDLCholesterol levels. Other vital parameters remained stable and no side effects were observed. This is the first report showing the hypoglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties of the aqueous extract of E. littorale Blume in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.372-378
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• 2007

A well known Ayurvedic formulation Ashokarista, used for menstrual disorders has been studied in a single blind randomised placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia patients who were taking Ashokarista (20 ml twice daily) for 10 menstrual cycles had an increase in haemoglobin level. Menorrhagia treated group has shown to reduce the erythrocyte sedimentation rate level that has been increased in the menorrhagia control group. The platelet count, total count and differential count were observed unchanged in the study. The Ashokarista did not affect the SGPT and SGOT level, which signify its lack of toxicity in hepatic function. The treated menorrhagic patients showed an increase in serum albumin content and decrease in blood clotting time, whereas the serum protein content was observed unchanged. There was a significant increase in both serum cholesterol and triglyceride level, which usually associated with the use of oral contraceptives. No major side effects were observed by the clinicians during the study.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the computer input frequency of blood glucose self testing in type2 diabetic patients, for three months. Method: 39 participants were recruited from the endocrinology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in an urban city. The computer input frequencies were measured by patients' log in and input of http://www.biodang.com. Glycosylated haemoglobin was determined by a high performance liquid chromatography technique and fasting blood glucose was analyzed by the glucose oxidase method. Diabetes knowledge was measured by a 19 item diabetes knowledge test. Results: The computer input frequency of before breakfast blood glucose was 33.5 for three months. The total blood glucose input frequency tended to be lower in female, aged patients, middle school graduates, those who have no spouse and job, those who have no insulin treatment, obese subjects, and hyperglycemia patients, than in their counterparts. The diabetic knowledge was positively correlated with the computer input frequency of blood glucose self testing. Conclusion: An educational program should be developed to increase the computer input frequency of blood glucose self testing in type2 diabetic patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1304-1307
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• 2001

The laying performance of Japanese quails fed graded levels of high glucosinolate ($92.5{\mu}mole/g$) rapeseed meal (RSM) was assessed. One hundred and twenty Japanese quails aged 1 day-old were assigned at random to four dietary treatments consisting of 0, 50, 75 or 100 g/kg RSM in the diet replacing part of the soybean meal and de-oiled rice bran in a standard quail ration. 12 female representative quails from each diet were selected at random and housed in individual cages from 7-20 wk of age. The egg production, feed intake and FCR was comparable among the different dietary groups. The egg quality characteristics, organoleptic evaluation of boiled eggs as well as the haematological (haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count) and biochemical (glucose, protein, cholesterol, aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase) constituents did not differ significantly among the groups. The gross and histopathological studies of vital organs did not reveal any appreciable changes. The feed cost was reduced by the incorporation of RSM in the diet, but only the production cost of quails fed the 75 g/kg RSM was lower in comparison to other groups. In the present study, the laying potential of Japanese quail was well-maintained up to the 100g/kg dietary level of rapeseed meal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-191
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• 1999

Mineral profile of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 Himalayan Yak (adult female, n=8; adult male n=4 and young male,n=3) was studied in their natural habitat at an altitude of 3300 meters above mean sea level at Sangla in north western Himalayas. The macro and micro minerals estimated in serum and CSF were; Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium and Zinc, Copper and Iron respectively. The values recorded among different Yak groups did not significantly differ from each other except serum iron and haemoglobin which were significantly higher (p<0.05 ) in young male Yaks compared to the adult male and female Yaks. An observation of great significance was considerably higher potassium and lower sodium level in Yaks compared to other bovine species of plains. The serum potassium values in some adult female Yaks were recorded as high as 10.4 mEq/l and the values varied between 6.6 to 9.8 mEq/l in young male Yaks. The serum Sodium values and Na:K ratios in Yak serum ranged between 117.5 to 122.6 mEq/l and 13.7 to 15.3 respectively. The possible relationship of high serum Potassium value with hypoxic conditions and hostile mountain environment has been discussed.