A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary hydroalcoholic willow bark extract powder (HWE) supplemented to broilers (14-42 days old) that were exposed to heat stress, on the performance, serum biochemical parameters, liver oxidative status and caecal microflora. The feeding trial was conducted on 120 Cobb 500 broilers (14 days old), assigned to three treatments (T0, T25, and T50), each treatment consisting of eight replicates (five chicks per replicate). The broilers were housed in an experimental hall at a 32 °C constant temperature and 23 hours light regimen. Unlike the dietary control treatment (T0), the experimental treatments were supplemented with 25 g HWE powder/100 kg diet (T25), and 50 g HWE powder 100 kg diet (T50), respectively. Dietary HWE powder did not affect the broilers' performance significantly (14-42 days). A significantly lower amount of malondialdehyde was noticed in the liver of broilers from T25 and T50 treatments in comparison with broilers from T0. Also, the serum cholesterol, triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase were significantly lower in broilers fed with T50, compared with those fed with T0. At 35 and at 42 days, the broilers from T25 and T50 recorded a significantly lower number of E. coli and staphylococci and a higher number of lactobacilli in the caecum than those of T0. It could be concluded that supplementation of dietary HWE powder reduced some of the adverse effects of heat stress, the most effective being the level of 50 g/100 kg diet.

Abstract The aim of this study was to obtain alternative types of smoked sausage by using some vegetable raw materials rich in protein. To this end, smoked sausages with brewer’s spent grain [1.5, 3, and 6% w/w], smoked sausages with mushrooms [10, 17, and 30% w/w], and smoked sausages with mixtures of brewer’s spent grain-mushrooms [3/8% and 1.5/16% w/w] were prepared. Three of these formulations were selected based on panellist’s preference, one for each assortment, and stored under darkness at 4°C and 49% relative humidity for 15 days. Smoked sausage samples were collected at three different storage times (T0, initial state; T1, at day 7 of storage; T2, at day 15 of storage) and evaluated from the physicochemical and microbiological point of view to determine their stability during the intended storage period. Regardless of the type of assortment, storage time had a significant influence on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of smoked sausages. Among all samples, the smoked sausage with a mixture of 3% brewer’s spent grain and 8% mushrooms was the most appreciated by the panellists.

Resumo Fundamento: A maioria dos estudos internacionais sobre epidemiologia da perda de consciência temporária (PCT) foi realizada há muitos anos. Não há dados sobre sua prevalência ao longo da vida na Rússia. Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência ao longo da vida e os supostos mecanismos da PCT em uma população russa urbana. Métodos: 1.796 indivíduos (540 homens 30,1% e 1.256 mulheres 69,9%) com idade entre 20 e 69 anos (idade média, 45,8 ± 11,9 anos) foram selecionados aleatoriamente e entrevistados no contexto de um estudo multicêntrico randomizado observacional. Resultados: A prevalência global de PCT na população estudada foi 23,3% (418/1.796), sendo a mais alta proporção (28%) observada na faixa etária de 40-49 anos. PCT foi significativamente mais comum nas mulheres (27,5% vs 13,5%). A idade média dos pacientes por ocasião do primeiro evento foi 16 (11; 23) anos, com 333 (85%) indivíduos experienciando o primeiro episódio de PCT antes dos 30 anos. O tempo médio após o primeiro episódio de PCT foi 27 (12; 47) anos. Os seguintes mecanismos de PCT foram determinados usando-se um questionário: síncope neuromediada (56,5%), síncope de origem arritmogênica (6,0%), PCT de origem não sincopal (1,4%), episódio único durante a vida (2,1%). A causa de PCT não foi identificada em 34% dos casos, sendo que 27 pacientes (6,5%) relataram história familiar de morte súbita, principalmente aqueles com PCT de suposta origem arritmogênica (24%). Conclusão: Nossos achados sugerem uma alta prevalência global de PCT em indivíduos com idade entre 20 e 69 anos. A causa mais comum de PCT é a síncope neuromediada. Esse dado sobre a epidemiologia pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de abordagem custo-efetiva para PCT.

Abstract Background: Most international studies on epidemiology of transient loss of consciousness (TLC) were performed many years ago. There are no data about the lifetime prevalence of TLC in Russia. Objective: To identify the lifetime prevalence and presumed mechanisms of TLC in an urban Russian population. Methods: 1796 individuals (540 males [30.1%] and 1256 females [69.9%]) aged 20 to 69 years (mean age 45.8 ± 11.9 years) were randomly selected and interviewed within the framework of multicentre randomised observational trial. Results: The overall prevalence of TLC in the studied population was 23.3% (418/1796), with the highest proportion (28%) seen in 40-49 year age group. TLC was significantly more common in women than in men (27.5% vs 13.5%). The mean age of patients at the time of the first event was 16 (11; 23) years, with 333 (85%) individuals experiencing the first episode of TLC under 30 years. The average time after the first episode of TLC was 27 (12; 47) years. The following mechanisms of TLC were determined using the questionnaire: neurally-mediated syncope (56.5%), arrhythmogenic onset of syncope (6.0%), nonsyncopal origin of TLC (1.4%), single episode during lifetime (2.1%). Reasons for TLC remained unidentified in 34% cases. 27 persons (6.5%) reported a family history of sudden death, mainly patients with presumably arrhythmogenic origin (24%). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the overall prevalence of TLC in individuals aged 20-69 years is high. The most common cause of TLC is neurally-mediated syncope. These data about the epidemiology can help to develop cost-effective management approaches to TLC.