Biochar effect on sheep feed intake, growth rate and ruminant in vitro and in vivo methane production.

Biochar, which is the product of biomass pyrolysis, has been suggested as a feed supplement to improve performance in livestock systems and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of the current study was to investigate in vitro and in vivo potential of biochar to favourably modify rumen fermentation (e.g., an increase in total Short Chained Fatty Acid (SCFA) concentration and a change in SCFA profile), reduce methane emission and increase sheep growth performance. Four concentrates were produced with biochar inclusion of 0, 10, 23 and 46 g/kg DM. The experimental diets for the in vitro experiments consisted of straw and concentrate in a 60:40 ratio and included measurements of total gas and methane (CH4) production, pH, ammonia nitrogen, SCFA, and microbial assays (total bacteria and methanogenic archaea). Two in vivo experiments were performed where the animals received ad libitum forage with 0.4 kg concentrate daily. Experiment 1 investigated the daily DM intake of sheep while experiment 2 investigated daily growth rate and CH4 emission of lambs. The inclusion of biochar had no impact on in vitro total gas production (ml/200 mg DM substrate) (P = 0.81) and CH4 production (ml/200 mg DM substrate) (P = 0.93). In vitro total SCFA concentration increased (P < 0.05) while acetate to propionate ratio (A:P) tended to decrease (P = 0.05) with both doses of biochar. Total bacteria decreased with the highest biochar inclusion in vitro (P < 0.05). Sheep's DM intake (kg/d) increased when low and medium levels but not when a higher level of biochar was added to the diet (P < 0.001). The inclusion of biochar did not significantly impact the lamb's daily growth rate (g/d) (P = 0.61) or enteric CH4 emissions (g/kg DM) (P = 0.43). We conclude that biochar supplementation had no favourable impacts on in vitro and in vivo CH4 production or on lamb's growth rate. Further research with well-characterised biochar is needed to gain a better understanding of the potential of biochar as a feed additive for ruminant livestock.

The effect of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead on the genotoxic activity of Boletaceae family mushrooms present in Serbia.

The aim of this study was to determine accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids which are widely distributed in the environment and in food chain using wild edible mushrooms belonging to the Boletaceae family mushrooms. In addition, methanol extracts of mushrooms were tested for in vitro protective effect by the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay using chromosome aberrations in human peripheral lymphocytes as a model. The genotoxic activity of methanol extracts prepared at 4 different concentrations (1, 2, 3 or 6 µg/ml) was examined using amifostine and mitomycin C as positive controls. Extracts of species B. regius and B. edulis exhibited the greatest reduction in the frequency of micronuclei (MN). Extract of B. regius at concentrations of 2 µg/ml showed the highest decrease in number of MN. In comparison, extract of mushroom B. edulis at a concentration of 3 µg/ml displayed less reduction. However, as heavy metals and metalloids are found in mushrooms, another aim was to examine whether these agents affected genotoxicity. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified clustering differences between control and heavy metals and metalloids groups and might explain the influence of heavy element content and genotoxic activity in mushrooms.

Involvement of cholinesterases in oxidative stress induced by chlorpyrifos in the brain of Japanese quail.

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used organophosphate pesticide (OP). In birds and mammals OP exhibits a toxic effect via inhibition of cholinesterases [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)] and through oxidative/nitrosative stress. In this study, the influence of chlorpyrifos on cholinesterase activity, parameters of oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA); glutathione (GSH); superoxide dismutase (SOD); nitrite concentration (NO2-); hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)], and inflammatory parameter [activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO)] in the brain of Japanese quail (Coturnix japanica) was examined. The study was conducted on a total of 60 male Japanese quails (one control and 5 experimental groups, n = 10), 3 to 4 wk old. Quails were administered by gavage chlorpyrifos (CPF) for 7 consecutive da at doses of 0.375 mg/kg BW, 0.75 mg/kg BW, 1.5 mg/kg BW, 3 mg/kg BW, and 6 mg/kg BW. Our studies have shown that all doses of CPF significantly inhibited both cholinesterases in brain: AChE from 22.74 to 37.83% and BChE from 19.53 to 61.9%, and that inhibition was dose dependent. Also, CPF has led to an increase in the concentration of MDA, GSH, NO2-, and H2O2 and activity of SOD and MPO. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that CPF causes oxidative stress and inflammatory response. This research was carried out on quails because there is hardly any or not enough data about the neurotoxic effect of CPF and especially about its influence on oxidative stress in birds. This study is highly important because we are witnessing massive avian mortality in certain countries due to pesticides.

Variation of selenium content in growing wild plants during vegetative period.

There is evidence that selenium (Se) is essential for humans, animals, and some species of microorganisms. This study examines the dynamics of the change of Se accumulation in some growing wild plants: Astragalus onobrychis var. Chlorocarpus (Gris.) Stoj. et Stef. (Leguminosae), Oxytropis pilosa (L.) DC., Salvia officinalis, L., and Simphytum ottomanum L. The influences of some ecological factors (Se content in soil, temperature, and rainfall) have also been surveyed. The Se content of plants from Serbia was 44.5 to 177.0 microg/kg of dry weight. Astragalus onobrychis var. Chlorocarpus (Gris.) Stoj. et Stef. (Leguminosae) accumulates the highest Se content in the blooming stage (161.3 microg/kg). All soils studied were deficient in selenium (< 250 microg/kg). We found a significant correlation between Se content in plants and in the soil (p = 0.88). Rainfall has an influence on Se content in Oxytropis, Salvia, and Simphytum, but not in Astragalus. Our results suggest that Se cannot have a similar role in all plants examined.

[Pulmonary function in persons with kyphoscoliosis]. / Plucna funkcija kod osoba sa kifoskoliozom.

Pulmonary function in 25 patients with a severe degree of kyphoscoliosis was studied. Severe restrictive ventilatory insufficiency and hypoxaemic-hypercapnic respiratory failure were discovered. Isolated deformities of the vertebral column were diagnosed in 15 patients while ten patients, apart from diagnosed kyphoscoliosis, had associated chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Significant differences in pulmonary function impairment between these two groups, i.e. patients with associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were observed. This indicates that associated pulmonary disease accelerates the development and course of respiratory failure. Respiratory blood gas analysis in 11 patients over the course of two years showed significant worsening of hypoxaemia and hypercapnia, which implies that in patients with kyphoscoliosis the disease has a rapid progression once the respiratory failure develops.

[Personal experience in the diagnosis and therapy of pulmonary thromboembolism]. / Nasa iskustva u dijagnostici i lecenju tromboembolijske bolesti pluca.

The analysis of both clinical findings and diagnostic procedures results were performed in 26 patients with thromboembolic pulmonary disease in order to determine the incidence of signs indicating pulmonary thromboembolism. Sudden dyspnea, hemoptysis and chest pains are the most common symptoms of the disease. These symptoms associated with radiographically confirmed pulmonary infiltrations with the elevation of hemidiaphragm and pleural effusion, particularly if they are bilateral, are the main clues for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Perfusion defect on the pulmonary scintigraphy makes this diagnosis almost certain. Hypoxemia and hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis are frequent findings in thromboembolic pulmonary disease, as well. Fever, increases RBC sedimentation rate and leukocytosis are present in a great deal of patients. In addition, the presence of risk factors related to the development of thrombosis of the lower limbs deep veins, and particularly those related to the long term immobilization as well as diagnostically confirmed venous thrombus are basic guidelines for the diagnostic of pulmonary thromboembolism.

[Methodologic characteristics of the radioreceptor test for insulin on erythrocytes]. / Metodoloske karakteristike radioreceptorskog testa za insulin na eritrocitima.

Presented, are the results of the characteristics testing of the radioreceptor test for insulin on erythrocytes (precision, reproductiveness and linearity). Our own modification of the method was used. Testing was done on erythrocytes from the same bottle of preserved blood. The following results were received: the used method is precise enough (correlation coefficient from 3-15%), reproductive (correlation coefficient about 15%), and linear (linear correlation coefficient 0.83) in a wide range of erythrocytes. These characteristics allow the use of the applied radioreceptor test in practice.

[Results of CA-125 tumor marker determination in patients with ovarian carcinoma]. / Rezultati odredivanja tumorskog markera CA-125 u bolesnica sa karcinomom ovarijuma.

The serum level of tumor marker CA-125 was determined by a specific immunoradiometric assay in 45 healthy persons (control group), in patients with benign ovarian tumors (13), patients with ovarian carcinoma in remission (15) and progression (28), patients with non-ovarian carcinoma (39), patients with benign peritoneal processes (6), and patients with malignant (3) or inflammatory (10) hepatic diseases. A follow-up study was carried out for a few months (4-11) in some patients after the primary therapy for ovarian cancer. The serum levels of CA-125 were always below the border value (30 U/ml) in healthy persons, in patients with benign ovarian tumors (without peritoneal affection), in patients with ovarian cancer in remission, patients with extraovarian cancers without metastases or with extraperitoneal metastases, and in patients with acute viral hepatitis. Patients with the progression of ovarian carcinoma and patients with peritoneal affection (malignant or benign) had elevated CA-125 values. The findings were in a good correlation with the clinical course in the follow-up study.

Erythropoietin level and macrocytosis in patients with chronic pulmonary insufficiency.

In 30 patients with respiratory insufficiency due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and with normal red blood cell counts, the effect of hypoxia on erythropoiesis was studied. Pronounced hypoxaemia was ascertained in all the patients by measuring PaO2. The calculated HbO2 saturation was less than 85% in group I and greater than 85% in group II, each consisting of 15 patients. Although the RBC counts and Hb concentration were within the limits of normal values, the packed RBC volume was higher than 45% in all the patients tested. The calculated MCV was increased and the erythropoietin level in plasma, indirectly measured in polycythaemic mouse bioassay, was higher than normal. Macrocytosis was shown to be PaO2-dependent and should be, according to Stohlman's data, the result of erythropoietin excess and the subsequent cessation of nucleic acid synthesis with skipped terminal division of erythroblasts in the bone marrow. The absence of erythrocytosis in these patients could be explained by a shortened survival time of macrocytes and/or other causes.