• 제목/요약/키워드: Serum copper

검색결과 129건 처리시간 0.025초

Studies on Serum Micro-mineral, Hormone and Vitamin Profile and Its Effect on Production and Therapeutic Management of Buffaloes in Haryana State of India

  • Sharma, M.C.;Raju, S.;Joshi, C.;Kaur, H.;Varshney, V.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제16권4호
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    • pp.519-528
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    • 2003
  • A survey was conducted in certain parts of Haryana to record the prevalence of micro mineral deficiency in buffaloes. The prevalence of soil Cu, Co, Zn and Fe deficiency was 55.26%, 6.9%, 59.12% and 7.89% respectively. While that of fodder Cu, Co, Zn and Fe was 60.64%, 6.7%, 61.22% and 11.37% respectively. The overall prevalence of serum Cu, Co, Zn and Fe deficiency in Haryana was 59.2%, 19.1%, 59.2% and 19.9% respectively. The correlation co-efficient of Cu, Co, Zn and Fe in soil, fodder and serum was significant in most of the cases the values were above 0.8. Blood examination revealed significant decrease in haemoglobin and TEC level. However, no variation in level of TLC were observed in mineral deficient buffaloes. In micro mineral deficiency, thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) levels were decreased in buffaloes. Marginally lower concentration of vitamin A and E were observed in mineral deficient buffaloes in Haryana. The highest deficiency of micro minerals was 61.76% in copper at Ambala followed by 65.86% in zinc at Rhotak. For therapeutic studies a mineral mixture was prepared according to defiency obtained and fed to three groups of animals. Observation was recorded on 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days. Group A consist of normal healthy animals and group B mineral deficient animal untreated and group C mineral deficient animal, treated with prepared mineral mixture. 25 gram of mineral mixture was fed daily along with normal ration. There was increase in body weight, milk yield, haemoglobin concentration and total erythrocyte level in group C animals when compared to group B animals. The milk yield in group C animals increased to 6.970${\pm}$0.41 after 60th day of supplement in comparison to 0 day where it was 5.910${\pm}$0.37, similarly the body wt. of group C animals increased from 129.42${\pm}$01.13 (at 0 day) to 159.31${\pm}$03.61 at 60th day of treatment.

Low-dose of organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without compromising performance of laying hens

  • Qiu, Jialing;Lu, Xintao;Ma, Lianxiang;Hou, Chuanchuan;He, Junna;Liu, Bing;Yu, Dongyou;Lin, Gang;Xu, Jiming
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제33권4호
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    • pp.588-596
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    • 2020
  • Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low doses of organic trace minerals (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) on productive performance, egg quality, yolk and tissue mineral retention, and fecal mineral excretion of laying hens during the late laying period. Methods: A total of 405 healthy hens (HY-Line White, 50-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 9 replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments included feeding a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet + inorganic trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (ITM), and a basal diet + proteinated trace minerals at 1/3 commercial levels (TRT). The trial lasted for 56 days. Results: Compared to CON, ITM decreased (p<0.05) egg production, daily egg mass, albumen height, eggshell strength, yolk Fe concentration, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and total protein, and increased (p<0.05) egg loss and feed to egg ratio. Whereas with productive performance, egg quality, yolk mineral retention, and serum indices there were no differences (p>0.05) between CON and TRT. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in the tissue and tibia were changed notably in ITM relative to CON and TRT. Both ITM and TRT reduced (p<0.05) fecal mineral excretion compared to CON. Conclusion: These results indicate that dietary supplementation of low-dose organic trace minerals reduced fecal mineral excretion without negatively impacting hen performance and egg quality.

Efficacy evaluation of novel organic iron complexes in laying hens: effects on laying performance, egg quality, egg iron content, and blood biochemical parameters

  • Jiuai Cao;Jiaming Zhu;Qin Zhou;Luyuan Zhao;Chenhao Zou;Yanshan Guo;Brian Curtin;Fei Ji;Bing Liu;Dongyou Yu
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • 제36권3호
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    • pp.498-505
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    • 2023
  • Objective: This study was conducted to determine the optimal dose of novel iron amino acid complexes (Fe-Lys-Glu) by measuring laying performance, egg quality, egg iron (Fe) concentrations, and blood biochemical parameters in laying hens. Methods: A total of 1,260 18-week-old healthy Beijing White laying hens were randomly divided into 7 groups with 12 replicates of 15 birds each. After a 2-wk acclimation to the basal diet, hens were fed diets supplemented with 0 (negative control, the analyzed innate iron content was 75.06 mg/kg), 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mg Fe/kg as Fe-Lys-Glu or 45 mg Fe/kg from FeSO4 (positive control) for 24 wk. Results: Results showed that compared with the negative and positive control groups, dietary supplementation with 30 to 75 mg Fe/kg from Fe-Lys-Glu significantly (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) increased the laying rate (LR) and average daily egg weight (ADEW); hens administered 45 to 75 mg Fe/kg as Fe-Lys-Glu showed a remarkable (linear, p<0.05) decrease in feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences among all groups in egg quality. The iron concentrations in egg yolk and serum were elevated by increasing Fe-Lys-Glu levels, and the highest iron content was found in 75 mg Fe/kg group. In addition, hens fed 45 mg Fe/kg from Fe-Lys-Glu had (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) higher yolk Fe contents than that with the same dosage of FeSO4 supplementation. The red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin content (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) increased obviously in the groups fed with 30 to 75 mg Fe/kg as Fe-Lys-Glu in comparison with the control group. Fe-Lys-Glu supplementation also (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) enhanced the activity of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) in serum, as a result, the serum malonaldehyde content (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) decreased in hens received 60 to 75 mg Fe/kg as Fe-Lys-Glu. Conclusion: Supplementation Fe-Lys-Glu in laying hens could substitute for FeSO4 and the optimal additive levels of Fe-Lys-Glu are 45 mg Fe/kg in layers diets based on the quadratic regression analysis of LR, ADEW, RBC, and Cu/Zn-SOD.

중학생의 혈액 중 중금속 모니터링 (The Monitoring of Heavy Metals in Human Bloods of Middle School Students)

  • 박희라;김미혜;권기성;김순기;허수정;김광진;염태경;최광식;김수연
    • 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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    • 제20권2호
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    • pp.83-88
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    • 2005
  • 1 혈액 중 중금속 분석방법을 확립하기 위하여 GF-hAS를 이용하여 microwave digestion 방법과 혈액희석법의 검출한계 및 회수율을 비교 검토한 결과 혈액희석법이 검출한계 및 회수율이 우수하였으며, 표준시료(CRM)를 이용한 시험방법에 대한 검증에서 만족스런 결과를 나타내었음. 2.중학생 300명을 대상으로 혈액 중 중금속함량을 GF-AhS를 이용하여 측정한 결과 납과 아연에서 남학생이 여학생에 비해 유의적으로 높은 수치를 보였으며,납의 함량은 남학생 약 4 ug/dL, 여학생 약 3 u즈d트으_로 WHO의 권고치 20 uUdL, 미국질병관리센터의 어린이에 대한 권고치 10 ug/dL에 미달하는 수준이었음. 3. 카드윰은 남, 여 모두 평균 0.06 ug/dl으로 WHO의 일반인 권고치 0.5 ug/dL보다 훨씬 낮은 수치를 나타내었음. 4. 또한 아연의 경우 남학생 약 106 ug/dL, 여학생 약 93 ug/dL으로 혈청 정상치인 64-118 ug/dL에 해당하는 수치이었음 5. 구리는 남 $\cdot$ 여학생 모두 약 99 ufdL로 혈청 정상치인 80-121 ug/dL범위내로 나타났음. 6. 남$\cdot$녀 학생 중 빈혈집단과 정상인과의 중금속함량을 분석한 결과 여학생의 빈혈 집단에서 정상집단 보다 납 함량이 다소 높게 나타났음(P>0.05). 7. 혈액 중 납과 철분 간에 음의 상관관계가, 납과 아연간에는 양의 상관관계가 관찰되었음(P<0.001).

Evaluation of Metal-Amino Acid Chelates and Complexes at Various Levels of Copper and Zinc in Weanling Pigs and Broiler Chicks

  • Lee, S.H.;Choi, S.C.;Chae, B.J.;Lee, J.K.;Acda, S.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제14권12호
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    • pp.1734-1740
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    • 2001
  • Feeding trials using weanling pigs and broiler chicks were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different metal-amino acid chelates and complexes at various levels of copper and zinc on the performance and fecal excretions. A total of 200 weanling pigs (Large White ${\times}$ Yorkshire ${\times}$ Duroc, $11.20{\pm}0.81kg$) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments following a randomized complete block design. Each treatment was replicated 4 times with 10 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were designated as : A-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 120 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, B-diet containing 85 ppm Cu from Cu-amino acid chelate (CAC) and 60 ppm Zn from Zn-amino acid chelate (ZAC), C-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from CAC and 120 ppm Zn from ZAC, D-diet containing 85 ppm Cu from Cu-lysine complex (CL) and 60 ppm Zn from Zn-methionine complex (ZM), and E-diet containing 170 ppm Cu from CL and 120 ppm Zn from ZM. On the other trial, 144 of one day old broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 6 dietary treatments following a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 8 chicks per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: 1-diet with 60 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 40 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, 2-diet with 120 ppm Cu from $CuSO_4$ and 80 ppm Zn from $ZnSO_4$, 3-diet with 60 ppm Cu from CAC and 40 ppm Zn from ZAC, 4-diet with 120 ppm Cu from CAC and 80 ppm Zn from ZAC, 5-diet with 60 ppm Cu from CL and 40 ppm Zn from ZM, and 6-diet with 120 ppm Cu from CL and 80 ppm Zn from ZM. In Exp. 1 with pigs, there was no difference on average daily gain and average daily feed intake observed among treatments. There was improvement (p<0.05) on the overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) of pigs fed diet containing 120 ppm Zn and 170 ppm Cu from metal-amino acid chelates relative to those fed diet containing inorganic sources of Cu and Zn but equally efficient as those fed diet containing metal-amino acid complexes. Pigs fed diet containing either metal-amino acid chelates or complexes as sources of Cu and Zn had higher (p<0.05) Cu and Zn concentration in serum and lower (p<0.05) in feces than those receiving diet with inorganic sources. In Exp. 2 with broiler chicks, the overall FCR was not different among treatments. Higher (p<0.05) Cu and Zn concentration in serum was obtained from birds fed diet with 60 ppm Cu and 40 ppm Zn from metal-amino acid chelates compared to those fed diet with inorganic sources of Cu and Zn. Also, the feces collected from birds fed diet with either metal-amino acid chelates or complexes contained generally lower Cu and Zn than those birds fed diet with inorganic sources. The higher the dietary level of Cu and Zn the higher the Cu and Zn concentration in the feces. Based on the results, both metal-amino acid chelates and complexes of Cu and Zn at low levels (Zn 60 ppm, Cu 85 ppm for weanling pigs and Zn 40 ppm, Cu 60 ppm for broiler chicks) are not different from that of high levels of inorganic sources in maintaining growth performance and serum concentration. The fecal excretions for Cu and Zn were greatly reduced when organic sources were used.

사료내 Cu-methionine Chelate와 Cu-soy Proteinate가 산란계의 생산성, 소장내 미생물 균총 및 면역체계에 미치는 영향 (Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Cu-methionine Chelate and Cu-soy Proteinate on the Performance, Small Intestinal Microflora and Immune Response in Laying Hens)

  • 백인기;김찬호;박광월
    • 한국가금학회지
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    • 제35권3호
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    • pp.303-311
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    • 2008
  • 본 실험은 Cu-methionine chelate(Cu-Met)와 Cu-soy proteinate(Cu-SP)가 산란계의 생산성과 소장내 미생물 균총 및 면역 체계에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위해 실시하였다. 사양시험은 39주령의 산란계(Hy-line $Brown^{(R)}$) 960수를 선별하여 A형 2단 4열 케이지에 대조구 포함 총 6처리구로 구성하여 처리당 4반복, 반복당 40수씩(2수 수용 케이지 20개) 난괴법으로 임의 배치하였다. 시험 기간 동안 물과 사료는 자유 섭취하게 하였으며, 일반적인 점등 관리(자연 일조+조명; 16 hr)를 실시하였다. 시험구는 대조구, 항생제구(avilamycin 6 ppm), Cu- Met 50(Cu-methionine으로 Cu 50 ppm), Cu-Met 100(Cu- methionine으로 Cu 100 ppm), Cu-SP 50(Cu-soy proteinate로 Cu 50 ppm) 그리고 Cu-SP 100(Cu-soy proteinate로 Cu 100 ppm) 등 총 6처리였다. 일계 산란율(Hen-day egg production)과 산란지수(Hen-house egg production)는 Cu 첨가구들과 항생제 첨가구들이 대조구에 비해 높은 경향을 보였는데, 특히 Cu-Met 100 구는 대조구에 비하여 유의적으로(P<0.05) 높았으며 Cu 처리구들 간에 종류나 첨가 수준에 따른 차이는 유의하지 않았다. 난중에서는 항생제구와 Cu-SP 첨가구들이 대조구보다 무거운 경향을 보였고, Cu-Met 첨가구들보다는 유의하게(P<0.05) 무거웠다. 난각 강도, 난각 두께, 난각색, 난황색, Haugh unit 등 계란 품질에 있어서 처리구간에 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았다. Leukocytes와 erythrocytes 관련 모수들은 평균 적혈구 혈색소량(MCH)을 제외한 모든 항목에서 처리간에 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았다. MCH는 Cu-SP 100이 대조구와 비교하여 유의적으로 높았다(P<0.05). 혈청 IgG와 IgA의 농도는 처리구간에 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 간 내 구리의 함량은 처리간에 유의한(P<0.05) 차이가 있었는데, 구리의 첨가 수준이 높을수록 높아지는 경향이 있었으며 같은 첨가 수준에서는 Cu-SP 첨가구들이 Cu-Met 첨가구들보다 높은 경향이 있었다. 소장 내용물 중 Cl. perfringens의 수는 항생제와 Cu 첨가구들이 대조구에 비해 적었고 E. coli 수는 첨가구들에서 감소하는 경향이 있었으며, Lactobacilli 수는 Cu 첨가구들이 대조구나 항생제구와 비교하였을 때 많았다. 결론적으로 Cu-Met와 Cu-SP는 산란계의 산란율 개선에 있어서 항생제와 유사한 효과를 나타내었다. Cu-SP는 Cu-Met보다 난중을 유의하게 증가시켰으나 다른 항목들에 있어서는 Cu 공급원(Cu-Met vs Cu-SP)과 첨가수준(50 vs 100 ppm)에 따른 유의적 차이는 없었다.

윌슨병 환아에서 이형 접합 보인자 공여간을 이용한 혈연간 생체 부분 간이식 (Living-Related Liver Transplantation with Heterozygote Carrier Graft in Children with Wilson Disease)

  • 김진택;장수희;최보화;김경모;유한욱;이영주;이승규
    • Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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    • 제6권2호
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    • pp.161-166
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    • 2003
  • 목 적: 상염색체 열성 유전 질환인 윌슨병에서 이형 접합 보인자인 부모를 공여자로 생체 부분 간이식을 시행 받은 윌슨병 환아의 치료 경험을 통해 이의 치료 효과를 알아보고자 본 연구를 실시하였다. 방 법: 1994년 12월부터 2002년 3월까지 서울아산병원에서 간이식을 시행받은 75명의 소아 중 윌슨병으로 간이식을 시행 받은 7명을 대상으로 수술 전후의 간 기능과 Kayser-Fleischer ring 소실 여부 및 구리 대사에 관련된 검사 소견 등을 중점으로 의무 기록을 통해 후향적으로 분석하였다. 결 과: 전체 7명의 환자 가운데 5명은 전격성 간염, 2명은 치료에 반응하지 않는 간경변으로 간이식을 받았으며, 공여자는 모두 혈연간 즉 이형 접합 보인자인 부모들이었다. 이식 후 추적 관찰 동안 환자의 생존율은 100%이었으며, 이는 같은 기간 동안 소아 간이식 전체 환자와 대사성 간 질환으로 간이식을 받은 환아의 각각의 5년 생존율 87%, 84%보다 유의하게 높았다(p<0.05). 간이식을 받은 모든 환자는 penicillamine과 구리 제한 식이를 시행하지 않고 이들의 AST치, 총 빌리루빈치 및 프로트롬빈 시간이 정상으로 회복되었고, 추적 관찰 기간 동안 윌슨병 재발의 소견은 없었다. 그리고 혈중 ceruloplasmin치와 혈중 구리 농도는 정상으로 회복되었으며, 24시간 소변 구리 배설양도수술 후 모든 환아에서 현저한 감소를 보였다. Kayser-Fleischer ring은 추적 관찰된 5명 중 4명에서 사라졌고, 추적 관찰이 3개월로 짧았던 한 명에서는 감소되었으나 남아 있었다. 결 론: 윌슨병이 내과적인 약물 치료에 반응하지 않는 간경변으로 진행하거나 전격성 간염으로 발현하여 간이식이 필요한 경우 윌슨병의 이형 접합 보인자인 부모를 이용한 혈연간 생체 부분 간이식은 효과적인 치료법임을 확인할 수 있었다.

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DNA 분석을 이용한 ATP7A 유전자의 새로운 돌연변이 발견과 멘케스병의 산전 진단 (Identification of novel mutations of the ATP7A gene and prenatal diagnosis of Menkes disease by mutation analysis)

  • 최진호;김구환;유한욱
    • Journal of Genetic Medicine
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    • 제4권1호
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    • pp.38-44
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    • 2007
  • 목 적 : 멘케스병은 X-연관성 열성으로 유전되는 질환으로 copper-transporting P-type ATPase에 부호화된 ATP7A 유전자의 돌연변이에 의해 발생한다. 임상 증상으로 진행성 신경계 퇴행, 정신 지체, 저색소 피부색, 혈관계 합병증을 나타내며, 조기 진단과 치료가 예후에 중요한다. 저자들은 ATP7A 유전자 분석을 통한 새로운 돌연변이와 산전 진단의 사례를 보고하는 바이다. 방 법 : 영아기에 꾸불꾸불한 머리카락, 진행성 신경계 퇴행, 근긴장저하를 보인 5명의 멘케스병 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 혈청 구리와 세룰로플라즈민 농도는 모든 환자에서 감소되어 있었으며, 뇌 핵자기공명영상 소견상 꾸불꾸불한 뇌혈관의 관찰되었다. 배양된 피부 섬유아세포에서 추출한 cDNA 또는 말초 혈액 백혈구에서 분리한 genomic DNA로 유전자 분석을 시행하였다. 산전 진단은 융모막 채취 또는 양수 검사를 통하여 2명의 태아에서 시행하였다. 결 과 : 4명의 환자에서 4가지 새로운 돌연변이가 발견되었다(c.3511+1G>A (p.E1099_N1171delinsMfsX18), c.4005+5 G>A (p.V1268_R1335del), c.1870_2172del (p.S624_Q724del), c.3352 G>A (p.G1118S)). 나머지 1명의 환자에서 발견된 돌연변이는 이미 보고된 돌연변이이다(c.1933 C>T (p.V1268_R1335del)). 산전 진단에서 1명은 정상이었으며 다른 1명은 여자 보인자로 진단되었다. 결 론 : ATP7A 유전자 분석에서 4가지 새로운 돌연변이가 발견되었다. 유전자 분석과 이를 이용한 산전 진단은 조기진단 또는 치료적 유산을 결정하는데 결정적다. 본 연구에서 유전자 분석을 시행한 결과 대부분 해독틀(frameshift) 돌연변이였으며 산전 진단은 모두 성공적으로 수행되었다.

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AN EXPLORATORY STUDY COMPARING BLOOD METAL CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN STROKE AND NON-STROKE PATIENTS IN KOREANS

  • Lee, Sun-Dong;Ko, Seong-Gyu;Kim, Rok-Ho;Hu, Howard;Amarasiriwardena, Chitra J.;Park, Hae-Mo
    • 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 Proceedings of KSEH.Minamata Forum
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    • pp.87-94
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    • 2005
  • Results from previous studies revealed that metal level in the body is related to certain types of diseases. For example. serum copper level with chronic heart failure, iron and transferrin in the blood serum with acute cerebral vascular diseases, Zn in the CNS, lead with neurotoxicity, hypertension, genetic damage, arsenic with cancer skin lesion, Al with neurobehavioral function (cognitive impairment and memory disorder), and etc. The rate of stroke has increased in recent years and several metals were found to be responsible for causing stroke. This study compared several blood metal concentrations between stroke and non-stroke patients. Patients with stroke (116 samples) and non-stroke (111 samples including lowback pain and others) participated in this study. Total of 227 blood samples were collected and participants completed questionnaires regarding age, gender, occupation, residence, alcohol, smoking, and etc. To be qualified into the stroke group, patients have never experienced stroke previously. Subjects only included ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage patients diagnosed by brain CT and brain MRI. Patients with high risk of metal exposure such as herbal intake and job related exposure were excluded. 10ml of blood samples were analyzed by ICP-MS method at the Center of Nature and Science at Sangji University. Metal geometric mean (SD) concentrations in blood of study subjects showed higher values, 2.64-36.12%, than WHO reference values in Mn, Ni, Hg, Se, and As. Metal concentration in blood of stroke patients non-adjusted for potential confounders was higher except for Hg and also higher except for Ni in adjusted for potential confounders. Co was significantly higher in stroke patients (p=0.002) than non-stroke patients adjusted for potential confounders. Regression coefficient values of stroke patients was 0.17-8.25 in each metals. Odd ratio of stroke patients had 0.96 (Ni)-2.68 (Co) compared to non-stroke cases. This result means that Co increase of 1 raises the risk ratio of stroke by 2.86 times. Based on the results, metal concentration in blood seems to affect incidence of stroke.

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Dietary Calcium and Non-phytin Phosphorus Interaction on Growth, Bone Mineralization and Mineral Retention in Broiler Starter Chicks

  • Rao, S.V. Rama;Raju, M.V.L.N.;Reddy, M.R.;Pavani, P.;Sunder, G. Shyam;Sharma, R.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • 제16권5호
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    • pp.719-725
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    • 2003
  • An experiment was conducted to study the requirement of calcium (Ca) and non-phytin phosphorus (NPP) in commercial broilers during starter phase. Seven hundred and twenty day-old Vencob male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 144 stainless steel battery brooders, 5 birds in each. Four levels each of Ca (6, 7, 8, and 9 g/kg) and NPP (3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 g/kg diet) were fed in a factorial design in a corn-soya basal diet. Levels of dicalcium phosphate and oyster shell grit were adjusted to obtain the desired levels of Ca and NPP. Each diet was fed ad libidum to chicks in 9 battery brooders from one d to 21 d of age. Body weight gain and feed intake were depressed (p<0.01) by increasing the dietary Ca level (8 and 9 g/kg) at lower levels of NPP (3 and 3.5 g/kg diet). The growth depression observed at lower NPP level was alleviated by reducing the Ca content to 6 g/kg diet. The tibia ash content and tibia breaking strength increased with increase in both Ca (>6 g/kg) and NPP (>3 g/kg) levels. The leg abnormality score decreased (p<0.01) with increase in NPP content in the diet at all levels of Ca tested. The serum Ca and inorganic P levels were increased with increase in the level of the respective mineral in the diet, but the serum concentration of Ca and P were inversely related to the level of NPP and Ca, respectively /kg diet. In general, the excretion of macro minerals (Ca, and P), and micro minerals {zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu)} was significantly lower at lower levels of Ca and NPP tested (6 and 3 g/kg diet, respectively). The mineral excretion increased with increase in dietary Ca and NPP levels, more conspicuously at the disproportionate ratio of these minerals (>2:1, Ca and NPP). Similarly, the retention of Zn, Mn, and Fe in liver was significantly higher (p<0.01) at lower levels of Ca and NPP tested. Results from this study indicate that the commercial broilers do not require more than 3 g NPP and 6g Ca/kg diet during starter phase (up to 21 d of age) for optimum weight gain, feed efficiency and utilization of Ca, P, Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu. However, the requirements of these minerals for optimum bone mineralization were higher than the levels suggested above.