Comparison of the nutrient composition of eggs produced in the Guatemalan highlands during the wet and dry seasons.

The potential of chicken eggs as a nutritionally complete protein and source of key micronutrients during the first 1000 days post-conception has been progressively recognized across the globe, particularly in resource-poor settings. Fluctuation of egg nutrient content by season is relatively unknown, which may influence international food composition databases and outcomes in intervention studies using egg supplementation. To better interpret the findings of The Saqmolo' Project, we conducted comprehensive nutrient analyses on eggs produced during the wet and dry seasons in the highlands of central Guatemala.

Argatroban administration reduces leukocyte adhesion and improves capillary perfusion within the intestinal microcirculation in experimental sepsis.

Co-activation of pro-coagulatory pathways in sepsis may result in disseminated intravascular coagulation and contributes to microvascular dysfunction. We investigated the effects of the direct thrombin inhibitor, argatroban (ARG), on the sepsis-induced impairment of the intestinal microcirculation (capillary perfusion, leukocyte adhesion) and the vascular contractility in rats. Forty male Lewis rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: sham surgery (SHAM), experimental sepsis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis--CASP), CASP+ARG, and SHAM+ARG.

Delayed alternation performance in rats following recovery from early iron deficiency.

Early iron deficiency (ID) is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in both developed and developing countries. This condition has been linked to perturbations in myelin formation, alterations of monoamine neurotransmitter systems particularly in the striatum, and deficits in energy metabolism particularly in the hippocampus (HP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in rats. Early ID has also been traced to long-term behavioral consequences in children in domains linked to these neuropathologies.

Health assessment of the ex situ population of St Vincent parrots (Amazona guildingii) in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The St Vincent Amazon parrot (Amazona guildingii), listed as a CITES appendix I animal, is endemic only to the mainland of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Lesser Antilles. A health assessment that included physical examination, hematology, blood parasite evaluation, plasma biochemical analysis, plasma protein electrophoresis, level of exposure to selected infectious agents, and fecal parasites was performed in July 2002 on 37 (51%) of the parrots in the captive population in SVG. Clinical abnormalities noted in the 37 parrots included poor feathers, lipomas, abnormal choanal papillae, obesity, leg ulcers, respiratory abnormalities, cardiac abnormalities, seizure activity, old fractures, missing digits, skin disease associated with mites (Knemidokoptes species), oral granuloma, and a thin, friable beak.

Effect of hen age on intestinal development and glucose tolerance of the Pekin duckling.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether hen age affects intestinal development and glucose clearance in Pekin ducklings after hatching. In Experiment 1, 85- to 92-g eggs were collected from 32- and 44-wk-old hens. The eggs from older hens contained proportionately more yolk, which resulted in a greater mass transfer of yolk sac DM and lipid from 21 to 25 d of incubation, and ducklings from older hens were heavier at hatching (P < or = 0.