Prevalence and risk factors for Lawsonia intracellularis, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. in finishing pigs in Polish farrow-to-finish swine herds.

The aim of the study was to estimate the herd-level, within-herd prevalence, the frequency of mixed infections and risk factors for L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. in selected farrow-to-finish Polish pig herds. A total of 254 pooled fecal samples were collected from 9 to 24 week-old pigs in 70 herds. Real time PCR for detection of L. intracellularis and B. hyodysenteriae was performed. For Salmonella spp. bacteriological examination was performed. The herd-level prevalences of L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. among examined herds were 65.7%, 1.4% and 8.6%, respectively. The within-herd prevalences (in positive herds) for L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. were 51.5%, 75.0% and 30.4%, respectively. All herds with diarrhea observed during sampling were infected with L. intracellularis and 60% of herds with no diarrhea at the moment of sampling were infected with L. intracellularis (p=0.035). In herds with more than 200 sows the prevalence of Salmonella spp. was significantly higher compared to herds with less than 200 sows (p=0.027). In herds where all-in/all-out (AIAO) was respected, prevalence of L. intracellularis was significantly lower than in herds where this rule was not kept (p=0.024). Obtained results confirm that L. intracellularis is the major cause of bacterial diarrhea in finishing pigs. The present study identified AIAO and herd size as a risk factor, at the herd level, for L. intracellularis and Salmonella spp., respectively.

Effect of various husbandry conditions on the production parameters of swine herds in Poland.

The aim of this study was to collect production data of Polish swine herds, with special emphasis on the production parameters in farrow to finish pig herds. Another goal was to determine differences in the production performance of swine herds with different sizes, various status with regard to biosecurity, and with different veterinary expenditure. For this purpose, questionnaire surveys were carried out in 96 polish farrow to finish pig herds. The data concerning production parameters (e.g. the number of pigs born per sow per year, litters per sow per year, pre- and post-weaning mortality), farm size (small, medium, large), management (all in-all out by room or building), veterinary expenditure (including medication) and the percentage of pigs under medical treatment, were collected. The data obtained in the present study indicate that in general, the efficiency of swine production in evaluated farms was relatively low. It was also found that in large swine farms the efficiency was better than that in small ones and that the proper biosecurity positively influenced the performance of the swine farms. However, only in 10.4% facilities, the biosecurity rules and methods, including the principle "all-in all-out", were implemented and kept. It seems that inefficient swine production on the majority of Polish farms results from poor basic knowledge on pig production and understanding of fundamental economic rules of swine breeding.

Performance of the MDRD, CKD-EPI, and Cockcroft-Gault Formulas in Relation to Nutritional Status in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of the function of the implanted kidney in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) is one of the superior elements of adequate therapeutic actions. The aim of this study was to assess the conventional and unconventional factors affecting the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), and Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) formulas among the RTRs. METHODS: The study included 144 RTRs (mean age 52 years). Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed; eGFR was calculated with MDRD, CKD-EPI, and C-G formulas. We compared the results with MDRD as a reference calculating the percentage of reclassifications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages. Nutritional status was assessed with a body composition analyzer, Tanita BC 418. RESULTS: Multivariable linear regression analysis with MDRD and CKD-EPI formula as a dependent variable retained the following independent predictors: hemoglobin (Hb) (B = .365; P = .000), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) (B = -.191; P = .024). Analysis of variance showed the existence of statistically significant differences (all P for trend <.05) between the CKD-EPI, MDRD, and C-G equations within the total scope of eGFR results (51.2 ± 21.2 vs 47.5 ± 18.7 vs 55.6 ± 20.6, respectively) as well as in quartiles of eGFR. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that (1) with a value of eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), the MDRD formula shows values that are on average 11% lower than in the CKD-EPI and C-G formulas; (2) with a value of eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas do not show statistically significant differences.

Role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in oesophageal mucosal integrity.

Oesophageal mucosa has well established protective mechanisms, which operate within pre-epithelial, epithelial and post-epithelial compartments. Since refluxed acid and pepsin always act from the luminal side of the mucosa, protective factors like EGF, operating as a part of pre-epithelial defence, are thought to be pivotal in the maintenance of the integrity of the oesophageal mucosa. The significant contribution of salivary EGF to the quality of the oesophageal mucosal barrier has been demonstrated in an experimental setting and in a clinical scenario. Patients with low salivary EGF levels are predisposed to severe oesophageal damage if they develop gastro-oesophageal reflux and are a high-risk group for development of Barrett's oesophagus. Not only the salivary glands but also the human oesophagus has a profound ability to elaborate and release EGF. Some changes in luminal release of EGF during oesophageal mucosal exposure to intraluminal damaging factors imply its role in the oesophageal protective mechanisms. To exert biological effects within the oesophageal mucosal compartment, EGF requires binding to the ligand-binding domain of its receptor. This process results in receptor dimerisation, autophosphorylation and activation of intracellular signal transduction pathways. EGF receptors are localised on the basolateral and luminal aspect of the mucosal cells playing an important role in fast regeneration of oesophageal epithelium through the high mitotic activity of its proliferative zone. An increase in the rate of salivary EGF secretion during masticatory stimulation suggests its potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of patients with damaged oesophageal mucosa.

Influence of secretin and caerulein on acid phosphatase activity in human saliva.

Experimental studies have demonstrated a structural and functional correlation between the pancreas and salivary glands. Therefore, one may suppose that caerulein plus secretin, used in functional exploration of the exocrine pancreas, could exert an influence on acid phosphatase activity (AcP) and its isoenzymes (tartrate sensitive-TsAcP, tartrate resistant-TRAP acid phosphatases) in whole saliva in humans. The current study was conducted in 14 asymptomatic volunteers (six woman and eight men, mean age 34, range 27-45). Salivary secretions were collected under basal conditions (intravenous infusion of 0.15 mol l-1 NaCl) and during intravenous infusion of secretin plus caerulein at different doses. Stimulation with secretin (50 mKE kg-1 min-1) and caerulein (2.5 ng kg-1 min-1) resulted in a marked and rapid decrease of salivary flow rate. TRAP activity decreased during the first 20 min of hormonal infusion (1.09 +/- 0.19 mU ml-1 vs. 1.93 +/- 0.18 mU ml-1, 1.16 +/- 0.12 mU ml-1 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.17 mU ml-1, p < 0.05). AcP and TsAcP activity during intravenous infusion of secretin plus caerulein remained unchanged. These results point to a wider than expected participation of the digestive system in hormonal control of biochemical processes taking place inside the oral cavity.

[Maximal oxygen consumption and various physiological and somatic characteristics of students of the Bialystok Medical Academy 1976-1977 and 1980-1986]. / Maksymalne pochlanianie tlenu oraz niektóre cechy fizjologiczne i somatyczne studentów Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku w latach 1976-1977, 1980-1986.

In students (men) of the 2nd course maximum oxygen uptake and some physiological features (rest systolic rate, vital lung capacity, the strength of flexors of both hands) and somatic ones (body weight, height) specific to a marked degree of physical fitness were assessed. The authors tried to find whether there exists a correlation between actual motion activity, cigarette smoking and self assessment of the health state by the students. The results of studies are presented in 16 tables and compared with the literature data.

Antimicrobial metabolites from a bacterial symbiont.

Two types of antibiotics, namely, indoles and dithiolopyrrolones, have been isolated and identified from Xenorhabdus bovienii A2. Compounds 1 and 2 showed strong activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, compounds 3 and 4 showed strong activity against Botrytis cinerea, and compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed significant activity against Phytophthora infestants (2 was not tested). In addition, two lower homologues of xenorhabdins 5 and 6, namely, 6-(N-3'-methylbutanamido)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-dithiolo[4,3-b]pyr rol-5- one [7] and 6-(N-butanamido)[4,5-dihydro-1,2-dithiolo[4,3-b]pyrrol-5-one [8], have been isolated and characterized for the first time.

The surgeon's mental load during decision making at various stages of operations.

In surgeons while opening the wound, during the operation proper, closing the skin and immediately after the operation, the ECG was recorded telemetrically for 5-min periods. From the ECG recordings, indices reflecting cardiac arrhythmia and emotional level were calculated. It is concluded that the process of decision making during the vital stages of operations causes a fall in the CHRV (the coefficient of heart rate variability), S2 (the variance of R-R intervals) and VR (the variability range of R-R intervals). It seems that of the indices studied, the most suitable for evaluation of the degree of mental loading due to decision making processes are the CHRV and S2. During all the stages of surgery studied, and immediately after the operation, an increase in tonus of the sympathetic nervous system occurs in surgeons indicating a rise in emotional level.

Influence of pheromone chirality on response byOryzaephilus surinamensis andOryzaephilus mercator (Coleoptera: Cucujidae).

The response of the sawtoothed grain beetle,Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), and the merchant grain beetle,O. mercator (Fauvel), to synthetic racemic and chiral macrolide aggregation pheromones was assessed in pitfall olfactometers.O.mercator utilizes theR enantiomers of (Z)-3-dodecen-11-olide and (Z,Z)-3,6-dodecadien-11-olide.O. surinamensis utilizes theR enantiomers of (Z,Z)-3,6-dodecadien-11-olide and the Synergist (Z,Z)-5,8-tetradecadien-13-olide in combination with achiral (Z,Z)-3,6-dodecadienolide. For both species, the racemates of the respective chiral pheromones were effective attractants. The respectiveS enantiomers were inactive for both species and had no effect on the biological activity of the active antipodes. No diel periodicity in responsiveness to pheromones was detected inOryzaephilus spp. reared either on a 12∶12 light-dark photoperiod or in darkness. Nonpheromone macrolides, naturally released in trace amounts byOryzaephilus spp., did not affect the aggregation response of either species to its pheromones when these additional macrolides were combined with the pheromone mixtures.

Isolation of apigeninidin from leaf sheaths ofSorghum caudatum.

A stable 3-deoxyanthocyanidin, apigeninidin chloride, a potential fungal growth inhibitor and a useful dye, has been isolated with a high yield (10% in dried material) as the major pigment in the sheaths ofSorghum caudatum.

Sex-specific production of ipsdienol and myrcenol byDendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) exposed to myrcene vapors.

Male mountain pine beetles,Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, produced ipsdienol [97.0% ± 0.3S-(+)] and myrcenol (90.3% ± 4.0E) when exposed to myrcene vapors. Females which were exposed to myrcene vapors did not produce any ipsdienol, but did produce low levels of myrcenol (98.0% ± 0.7E). Neither sex produced detectable levels of ipsdienol or myrcenol when fed for 24 hr on lodgepole pine,Pinus contorta var.latifolia Engelmann. The sex-specific conversion of myrcene to ipsdienol and myrcenol suggests that these compounds may have behavioral significance within the species. In addition, the S-(+)-ipsdienol produced by maleD. ponderosae probably functions as a repellent allomone againstIps pini (Say).

Stereochemistry of yeast delta 24-sterol methyl transferase.

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine: delta 24-sterol methyl transferase (24-SMT) mediates introduction of the C-28 carbon of yeast sterols. It has been shown that sulfonium analogues of the presumptive cationic intermediates of the methylenation reaction are potent in vivo and in vitro inhibitors of this process. In the presence of these inhibitors, cultures of yeast produced increased proportions of zymosterol, the natural substrate of the enzyme, while proportions of ergosterol and ergostatetraenol were decreased. New C27-sterol metabolites were also found. The in vivo inhibitory power of the analogues [I50 (microM)] was determined from the proportion of C-24 methylated sterols to C-24 nonmethylated sterols in treated cultures to be in the following order: 25-thiacholesterol iodide (0.07) > 24(S)-methyl-25-thiacholesteryl iodide (0.14) > 24(R)-methyl-25-thiacholesteryl iodide (0.25). Kinetic inhibition as revealed by radiolabeled S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM), crude enzyme and 25-thiacholesteryl iodide revealed this inhibitor to be uncompetitive with respect to zymosterol and competitive with respect to SAM. The greater inhibitory power of 24(S)-methyl-25-thiacholesteryl iodide compared to 24(R)-methyl-25-thiacholesteryl iodide suggests that methyl donation to delta 24 occurs from the si face. When considered in conjunction with Arigoni's previous work, the present results infer the methylenation mediated by yeast 24-SMT proceeds by alkylation from the si face of delta 24 followed by migration of a hydrogen from C-24 to C-25 across the re face and final loss of a hydrogen from C-28 on the re face.