Inbreeding affects fecundity of American mink (Neovison vison) in Danish farm mink.

Inbreeding is an increasing problem in farmed mink, because of limited exchange of individuals between farms. In this study, genetic relatedness within seven American mink (Neovison vison) colour strains originating from 13 different mink farms in Denmark was analysed using 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We detected large differences in the level of relatedness (range 0.017-0.520) within colour strains. Moreover, a very strong and highly significant negative correlation between the level of relatedness and fecundity was observed (r = 0.536, P < 0.001) [Correction added after online publication on 9 March 2011: r(2) has been changed to r]. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such a correlation has been demonstrated for commercially farmed mink.

Activity of serum inhibitory proteases in bronchial secretions from children with various chronic non-specific respiratory diseases.

In a group of 223 children with various chronic, non-specific respiratory diseases, the levels of serum inhibitory proteolytic enzymes in bronchial secretions was measured. Activity of inhibitory proteolytic enzymes was analyzed according to the nature of bronchial lesions observed at bronchoscopy and character and cellular composition of bronchial secretion. Statistically significant increase of the mean inhibitory value in comparison to values in the control group, was found in children with recurrent bronchitis (a-1-AT), cystic fibrosis (a-1-AT and a-1-X), chronic bronchitis (a-1-X), bronchiectases (a-1-X) and in children with obstructive bronchitis (a-2-M).

[Diagnostic difficulties in Shy-Drager syndrome]. / Trudnosci diagnostyczne w rozpoznawaniu zespolu Shy-Dragera.

The authors describe two cases of Shy-Drager Syndrome in the aspect of diagnostic difficulties. The simple tests for evaluation of automatic system function, especially orthostatic test are stressed.

[Cough headache and vertigo as symptoms of the Arnold-Chiari syndrome]. / Kaszlowy ból glowy i zawroty glowy jako wyraz zespolu Arnolda i Chiariego.

Headache with paroxysmal vertigo were induced by cough in a case of the Arnold-Chiari type I malformation. The authors suggest that exertional headache and posterior cranial fossa symptoms of unclear aetiology may indicate presence of the syndrome, and the availability of magnetic resonance imaging made possible the detection of the malformation.

[Morphological characteristics of the changes in the prosencephalon of guinea pigs exposed to general vibrations]. / Charakterystyka morfologiczna zmian powstalych w przodomózgowiu swinek morskich pod wplywem ogólnej wibracji.

After 7 or 30 days of exposure to general vibration (frequency: 40 Hz, amplitude: 1 mm) for 3 hours per day, the prosencephalon of guinea pigs exhibited a wide range of morphological changes, including congestion, haemorrhages, the presence of the heterochromic neurons and perivascular spaces as well as diffuse spongiosis. In contrast, after 14 days' exposure to general vibration of the same parameters, diffuse spongiosis of the prosencephalon was found in all the animals under examination. Hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and periventricular gray matter were unaffected by spongiosis in most of the animals. The nerve fibre sheats were unchanged in all cases.

[Morphological picture of the spinal ganglia in guinea pigs exposed to general vibration]. / Morfologiczny obraz zwojów rdzeniowych swinek morskich poddanych oddzialywaniu ogólnej wibracji.

In the spinal ganglia of guinea pigs exposed to general vibration of 40 Hz frequency and 1 mm amplitude for 3 hrs daily, gradually increasing morphological lesions were found after 7, 14, 30 and 90 days of the experiment. The animals exposed to vibration for up to 30 days exhibited a decrease in the cell nuclei volume, increase in the occurrence of eccentric and marginal cell nuclei and nucleoli, as well as an increase in the number of multiple nucleoli. After 90 days' exposure, such severe lesions as tigrolise, vacuolar degeneration of the cytoplasm, granular disintegration of the myelin sheaths or proliferation of glial cells were found.

[Vibration-induced morphological changes in the brain stem and spinal cord of the guinea pig]. / Zmiany morfologiczne w pniu mózgu i rdzeniu kregowym swinek morskich pod wplywem wibracji.

Some disorders of the brain stem and spinal cord microcirculation were observed in male adult guinea pigs exposed to vertical vibration of frequency 40 Hz and amplitude 1 mm for 3 hours daily during 7, 14, 30 days. These changes after 7 days of vibration were seen as congestion with single small haemorrhages and after 14 days as diffuse spongiosis of the brain stem and spinal cord. After 30 days both congestion with haemorrhages and spongiosis were noted but the first predominated.