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Adipokines serve as a human clinical biomarker and they regulate mammalian metabolic functions. Research on adipokine regulation of metabolic function in avian species is limited. The current study is to investigate the profile of plasma adiponectin and several biochemical variables in broilers, to establish the pattern of development.A total of one hundred and fifty-two 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were separated by different gender and homogenously divided into 2 groups (male and female), with 6 replicate pens and at least 12 chickens per pen. The data for body weight, plasma variables, and feed consumption were collected at days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 after hatching. Plasma monomer adiponectin, high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and biochemical variables, including triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, glucose, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein were quantified. Monomer adiponectin was highly correlated with age in a negative fashion and with HMW adiponectin in a positive fashion in both genders in broilers. Moreover, body weight was highly correlated with monomer adiponectin in a negative fashion and positively correlated with HMW adiponectin in growing chickens.It was concluded that monomer adiponectin and HMW adiponectin have highly correlation with age, body weight and biochemical variables in chickens and further investigation is needed for physiological or nutritional functions.

A 77-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a 24 h history of diffuse abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. She had hypertension and diabetes but had not had any previous abdominal surgery. On examination, she had abdominal distension, abdominal tenderness that was maximal in the left upper quadrant and decreased bowel sounds. Abnormal blood tests included an elevated white cell count (13 400/mL 3 ), an elevated plasma level of glucose and a low level of potassium (3.0 mmol/L). A plain abdominal radiograph showed dilated loops of small bowel in the left abdomen. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed mild dilatation and thickening of small bowel loops (arrow head), haziness of the mesentery and the impression of a focus in the left abdomen with radiating abnormalities (Fig. 1). At laparotomy, there was a greater than 180°c lockwise rotation of a closed loop of the jejunum associated with gangrenous and ischemic changes (Fig. 2). There was also a moderate amount of blood-stained peritoneal fluid. After correction of the jejunal rotation, a substantial amount of bowel remained ischemic and 180 cm was resected with an end-to-end anastomosis. The patient recovered well from surgery.Volvulus results from abnormal twisting of a bowel loop around the axis of its own mesentery. In adults, volvulus involving the sigmoid colon or cecum is a relatively common cause of large bowel obstruction (20%). In contrast, volvulus involving the small bowel is rare but may take the form of a midgut volvulus or a random volvulus as above. Presumably, the latter is related to a long mobile mesentery, perhaps associated with a short mesenteric root. Rarely, volvulus is precipitated by an abrupt change in diet with the ingestion of a large amount of bulky food after a period of fasting. The typical symptoms of volvulus are those of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting. On CT scans, volvulus has been associated with a variety of radiological changes including the spoke wheel sign (as above) and collapsed loops of adjacent small bowel. In addition, the apex of the volvulus may be associated with a U-shaped abnormality, beak sign, triangular sign or whirl sign. Early diagnosis and early surgical intervention are necessary to reduce early morbidity and mortality and to minimize the extent of a small bowel resection that may result in a short bowel syndrome.