Effect of dietary canthaxanthin and iodine on the production performance and egg quality of laying hens.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of canthaxanthin (CX) and iodine (I) on the production of laying hens, on counteracting debilitation of the vitelline membrane, and on inhibiting Salmonella growth in eggs stored at 30°C. Three hundred hens were reared in cages. Birds were divided into six feeding groups (10 hens × 5 repetitions) that were administered 0, 3 or 6 ppm of CX and 1 or 10 ppm of I with their diets. Laying rate, egg weights, and feed conversion ratios were controlled. The quality of fresh eggs was assessed in wks 25-26, 48-50 and 62-63 of hens lives. An additional batch of eggs was incubated at the temperature of 30°C, and egg quality changes were monitored on days 3, 6 and 9 of storage. Additionally, eggs collected from four experimental groups of hens whose diets had been iodated with 1 or 10 ppm of I and supplemented with 0 or 6 ppm of CX were infected under laboratory conditions with Salmonella, and incubated for 5 and 10 d. The laying rate, egg weights, and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved. Dietary inclusion of CX contributed to a higher resistance of the vitelline membrane of egg yolks, but only for fresh eggs. Vitelline membrane degradation during egg storage at 30°C was significantly counteracted by dietary inclusion of I at a dose of 10 ppm. The same I dose resulted in the complete inhibition of Salmonella growth until day 10 of incubation, but exclusively for eggs collected from 40-week-old hens. Dietary supplementation with 10 ppm of I was found to impart high level of resistance to the vitelline membrane against the growth of Salmonella in case of eggs stored at 30°C; therefore, I was found to be more beneficial by ensuring longer preservation than that of CX. However, dietary supplementation with CX was found to increase the resistance of vitelline membrane in fresh eggs.

Comparative analysis of structure and strength of vitelline membrane and physical parameters of yolk of ostrich, emu, and greater rhea eggs.

In this study, we analyzed selected morphological traits of eggs, as well as structure, strength, and protein composition of the vitelline membrane (VM) of ostrich, emu, and greater rhea eggs. Ninety eggs (30 for species) were analyzed for the following parameters: egg weight, yolk weight, yolk ratio, and yolk index. In addition, pH value, water activity, consistency index, and flow behavior index were determined. The strength of VM was measured using the TA.HDPlus Texture Analyzer. Micrograph images were taken via a scanning electron microscope. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was conducted under denaturing conditions. Ostrich eggs were characterized by the highest egg and yolk weight compared with those of emu and greater rhea eggs, whereas emu eggs had the highest yolk ratio compared with those of ostrich and greater rhea eggs (P > 0.05). Yolk content differed among the species in terms of water activity; it was found to be higher in emu eggs than in ostrich and greater rhea eggs (P > 0.05). Based on flow curves, yolks of the ratites were classified as pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluids. The consistency index was significantly higher in yolks of ostrich and emu than that of greater rhea eggs, whereas the VM of yolks of greater rhea eggs was the most resistant (had the highest breaking force = 26.4 g). All species differed significantly regarding the structure of VM, the outer layer (OL) in particular, which was found to constitute fibers of various thicknesses that were differently arranged. Fibers of the OL of the VM of emu, whose fibers were the least differentiated but formed the most compact network, were the most diverse in characterization. An electropherogram of the VM of ostrich revealed 11 primary protein bands: 6 for the OL and 5 for the inner layer (IL), that of emu revealed 9 bands: 5 for the OL and 4 for the IL, and that of greater rhea revealed 10 bands: 6 for the OL and 4 for the IL.

Identification of Mycobacterium shimoidei by molecular techniques: case report and summary of the literature.

A 53-year-old woman from Melbourne, Australia, with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus was shown by computed tomography (CT) scan to have a left apical cavity and inflammatory changes in the right lung consistent with aspiration. Acid-fast bacilli isolated from bronchial washings were identified biochemically first as Mycobacterium terrae, but later as M. shimoidei on the basis of 1) restriction fragment analysis and 2) sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 16S rDNA. Nine other descriptions of patients with M. shimoidei isolates were collated. The salient feature of isolates considered to be pathogenic was pulmonary cavitation. Most patients had underlying lung disease, including past tuberculosis or malignancy. Six of eight patients died of progressive respiratory illness, although the contribution of M. shimoidei was not always clear, and two patients improved. One patient with the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) died with Salmonella enteritidis and M. shimoidei isolated from blood cultures. One isolate was regarded as a coloniser. There are insufficient clinical or sensitivity data on which to base recommendations for therapy, but a combination of ethambutol, rifabutin and pyrazinamide could be considered.

[The effect of selenium and vitamin E on the healing process of experimental corneal lesions in the eye of the rabbit]. / Wplyw selenu i witaminy E na gojenie doswiadczalnego uszkodzenia rogówki w oku królika.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of antioxidants: selenium and vitamin E efficacy in the treatment of experimental corneal lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Solution of selenium in 0.9% NaCl, concentration 0.01 g/L, to which vitamin E was added to obtain suspension of 2.5 g/L was used in 9 rabbits. The cornea was damaged by removing the epithelium from the central area of 7 mm diameter. To the right eye selenium solution with vitamin E was instilled. RESULTS: In two eyes in which antioxidants were used evident prompt healing of corneal ulceration was noticed. Mean lesion diameter in eyes treated with antioxidants was: on 1st day 5.44 mm, in 2nd day 1.61 mm and on the 3rd day 0.33 mm. In control eyes diameters were: 6.67 mm, 2.28 mm and 0.56 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Solution used in our study was tolerated very well. Faster healing process was noticed in eyes where antioxidants were used.

[Digoxin level as a limited drug toxicity indicator in the assessment of post-digitalis arrhythmia]. / Poziom digoksyny jako ograniczony wskaznik toksycznosci leku w ocenie ponaparstnicowych zaburzen rytmu serca.

A clinical-laboratory analysis was carried out in 18 patients on long-term treatment with digoxin in whom toxic arrhythmia occurred, taking into account serum digoxin level measurement. In 11 patients the toxic arrhythmia correlated with high digoxin concentration in blood, in six cases it was observed with the concentration of the drug within the therapeutic level range, and in one patient it was seen below this range. Blood digoxin level in patients with hypokalemia was significantly lower in comparison to those with normal serum potassium level. Severe clinical condition of patients, especially elderly persons with hypokalemia, respiratory acidosis and renal failure contributes to the development of toxic arrhythmia; for this reason it is useful to apply in these patients the therapy monitored by blood level of the drug. Electrocardiographic features of digitalis action and non-cardiac adverse effects were seldom observed in patients with toxic arrhythmia.

Paecilomyces variotii in peritoneal dialysate.

Four cases of peritonitis caused by the filamentous fungus Paecilomyces variotii in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis are reported. Removal of the Tenckhoff catheter and antifungal chemotherapy led to resolution of symptoms in all cases. Possible contaminating events are discussed, and reported infections with P. variotii are reviewed.

Blocking ELISA for detection of mumps virus antibodies in human sera.

A new blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of mumps virus (MuV) specific antibodies in large numbers of human serum samples was developed. The blocking ELISA is based on the reaction of MuV-specific, conjugated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with immobilized virus antigen, that has previously been incubated with a two-fold dilution of human serum. Mouse hybridomas that produce antibodies against MuV proteins were generated. They could be divided into 4 groups according to their hemagglutination inhibiting- and virus neutralizing capacities and their reaction in the blocking ELISA with MuV strain Enders. Ascites material from 22 mAbs derived from the 4 groups was further characterized with the MuV strains Enders and Jeryl Lynn. When mAbs from different groups were mixed in the blocking ELISA, an additional increase in absorbance could be observed. A mixture of 2 MuV neutralizing mAbs that were directed against HN and F protein, was used to assay 3 consecutive pre-, early post- and late postvaccination serum samples of 138 children, vaccinated at the age of 1.5 yr. A correlation of 94% was found between the blocking ELISA and the normal indirect ELISA, and of 98% between the blocking ELISA and the neutralization enzyme immunoassay (N50-EIA). The specificity and rapidity of the blocking ELISA makes it suitable for routine use in the determination of MuV neutralizing antibodies in large quantities of serum samples.

Fluorescence enhancement of two terpenes commonly present in essential oils.

The fluorescence spectra of anethole and eugenol dissolved in methanol-aqueous binary systems with the addition of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin were studied. Observed enhancement of the fluorescence intensity is possibly due to the higher quantum yield of the cyclodextrin-hydrocarbon inclusion complexes. The measured fluorescence intensities for eugenol and anethole in the presence of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin were processed using principal component analysis. The results obtained suggest 1:1 and 2:1 complexation, as confirmed by a double reciprocal plot for terpenes complexed to cyclodextrins. In both cases (anethole and eugenol) detection limits were improved after addition of cyclodextrins. This phenomenon can be applied for improvement of direct fluorescence and HPLC-fluorescence assays.

[Verification of therapeutic levels of procainamide and N-acetyl- procainamide in ventricular arrhythmia]. / Weryfikacja zakresu stezen terapeutycznych prokainamidu i N-acetyloprokainamidu w komorowych zaburzeniach rytmu serca.

Therapeutical efficacy was clinically evaluated in 21 patients with ventricular cardiac arrhythmias. The drug was given orally with preceded intramuscular dose. Therapeutic effect was verified by the measurements of procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide concentrations in blood serum to determine the minimal effective concentration of the drug required to obtain satisfactory antiarrhythmic effect. Procainamide proved effective in cardiac arrhythmias in 14 patients (66.7%) with statistical significance in the acute myocardial infarctions; blood serum procainamide plus N-acetylprocainamide levels being were below the therapeutical range. The poor correlation of the dose of the drug and respective procainamide, N-acetylprocainamide concentrations in blood was observed. Relationship of the therapeutical effects blood serum level of the drug should be estimated basing of the assays of both procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide .

[False results of measuring digoxin levels in patients with renal failure. Comparison of the RIA--FPIA methods]. / Falszywe oznaczenie digoksyny u chorych z niewydolnoscia nerek. Porównanie metod: RIA--FPIA.

During last few years were reports concerning a new endogenous digoxin -like immunologic factor (DLIF) in patients not receiving digitalis. DLIF was stated in pregnant women's blood umbilical and neonatal blood as well as in patients with renal failure or hepatopathy. This phenomenon could be related to hormones changes (pregnancy) as well as alterations of cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, albumins or total protein level (nephropathy, hepatopathy). DLIF overstated determination of serum digoxin concentration, which in the case of exceptional narrow digoxin therapeutic spectrum as well as its concentration-dependent toxicity became a significant clinical problem. Effect extent of DLIF on serum digoxin level could be also related to applied analytic technics. The aim of the study was to compare two routinely applying analytic methods: polarized immunofluorescence (FPIA-TDx Abbott) with radioimmunological assay (RIA). The study was performed in patients with renal failure to estimate DLIF effect on real serum digoxin concentration as well as on extent and DLIF elimination velocity during dialysis. DLIF occurrence in patients with renal failure not receiving digitalis was experimentally stated using both RIA and FPIA methods. However, RIA revealed DLIF in all cases: before and after dialysis as well as in not dialyzed patients with a concentration above 0.3 ng/ml, when FPIA values were respectively: 0.087; 0.043; 0.078 ng/ml, which was less than 10% of digoxine therapeutic range (0.9-2.0 ng/ml). DLIF lowered in a course of dialysis to FPIA advantage, which was proved by FPIA/RIA ratio decrease nearly of a half of its predialysis value. Pre- and postdialysis values of FPIA/RIA ratio were 0,204 and 0,134 respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Therapeutic effectiveness of lidocaine in patients with ventricular arrhythmias estimated relative to measurements of drug concentration in serum]. / Skutecznosc terapeutyczna lidokainy u chorych z komorowymi zaburzeniami rytmu serca, oceniana z uwzglednieniem pomiaru stezenia leku we krwi.

Therapeutic effectiveness of lidocaine intravenous infusions preceded by an initial intravenous dose was studied in 29 patients with ventricular arrhythmias in a course of ischemic heart disease admitted to CCU. Clinical effects were evaluated in correlation with obtained lidocaine concentrations and basic pharmacokinetic parameters. Regression of cardiac arrhythmias was stated in 23 patients (79.3%), inclusive of all acute MI cases. Partial therapeutic effect was observed in 4 patients (13.8%) and no effect in 2 (6.9%). In 12 patients (52.2%) with stated regression of ventricular arrhythmias the full therapeutic effect was observed after initial dose administration. Serum drug concentrations were above the lower limit of the therapeutic range in all cases. Side effects were observed in 3 cases with high serum lidocaine levels caused by impaired drug metabolism or elimination due to the patient's clinical state. Correlation between the infusion rate and obtained stationary condition of drug concentration within therapeutic range seemed to be highly effective in management of ventricular premature beats caused by acute myocardial ischemia but less effective in cases of ischemic and postinfarction cardiomyopathy with heart failure.