Over-processed meat and bone meal and phytase effects on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: Part 3. Bone mineralization and litter quality.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of necrotic enteritis (NE), phytase level and meat and bone meal (MBM) processing on bone mineralization of broilers and litter quality. Ross 308 male broiler chicks (n = 768) were allotted to 48 pens with 16 birds each. There were 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Factors were NE challenge (no or yes), phytase level (500 or 5,000 FTU/kg), and MBM (as-received or over-processed). Half of the birds were challenged with field strains of Eimeria spp. at d 9 and 108 CFU per mL of Clostridium perfringens strain EHE-NE18 on d 14 and 15. The middle toe, tibia and femur of 2 birds per pen were excised at d 16 and 29 for determination of ash, breaking strength (BS) and bone mineralization. At d 42, all were assessed for hock burns and litter was scored and assessed for dry matter (DM). At d 16, challenged birds had lower toe ash (P < 0.01), femur ash (P < 0.001), tibia ash (P < 0.001) and tibial BS (P < 0.001) than unchallenged birds. At d 16, challenged birds fed high phytase and over-processed MBM had higher toe Mn than those fed low phytase and as-received MBM. At d 29 unchallenged birds fed high phytase and as-received MBM had a higher toe Mn than those fed over-processed MBM. At d 16, a phytase × MBM interaction was detected for femur Zn concentration (P < 0.05), where a higher level of Zn was observed in the high phytase group fed over-processed MBM. At d 16, tibial Ca (P < 0.05) and P (P < 0.05) were lower in the challenged whereas the femur K (P < 0.001), Mn (P < 0.01) and Na (P < 0.001) were higher in the challenged at d 16. At d 42, challenged birds had higher litter DM (P = 0.058) and fewer hock burns than those unchallenged (P < 0.05). In conclusion, NE impaired bone traits but high phytase and over-processed MBM increased bone mineral contents. Cases of hock burns may be lower under NE incidences due to lower livability of birds reducing litter wetness.

Over-processed meat and bone meal and phytase effects on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: Part 2. Inositol phosphate esters hydrolysis, intestinal permeability, hematology, jejunal gene expression and intestinal morphology.

This study investigated the hypothesis that feeding broilers over-processed meat and bone meal (MBM) would impair gut health in the absence of phytase and in turn, affect inositol phosphate (inositol x-phosphate, IPx: IP3, IP4, IP5 and IP6) ester hydrolysis, intestinal permeability, hematology, jejunal gene expression and intestinal morphology during necrotic enteritis (NE). Ross 308 male broilers (n = 768) were assigned to one of 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 6 replicate pens per diet and 16 birds per pen in a completely randomized design. Factors were: NE challenge (no or yes), phytase level (500 or 5,000 FTU/kg) and MBM processing (as-received or over-processed). For the NE challenge, half of the birds were challenged with field strains of Eimeria spp. on d 9 and 108 CFU/mL of Clostridium perfringens strain EHE-NE18 on d 14 and 15. A 3-way challenge, phytase and MBM processing interaction was detected for IP5 (P < 0.05) and IP6 (P < 0.05) levels in the ileum. Birds fed low phytase had increased IP5 and IP6 in unchallenged birds only when diets contained over-processed MBM. Challenge with NE increased intestinal permeability as measured by serum fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d; P < 0.001), increased white blood cells (WBC; P < 0.001), decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV; P < 0.001) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH; P < 0.05), and decreased crypt-to-villi ratio (P < 0.05). The over-processed MBM reduced the villi-to-crypt ratio (P < 0.05). A 3-way challenge × phytase × MBM processing interaction was detected for mucin 2 (MUC-2) expression (P < 0.05) where only in unchallenged birds fed over-processed MBM did high phytase reduce MUC-2 expression. A lower expression of aminopeptidase N (APN; P < 0.001) and vitamin D receptor (VDR; P < 0.001) were recorded in NE challenged birds. In conclusion, NE has a negative impact on the gut and hematology of broilers, but its effect on phytate hydrolysis is minimal.

Over-processed meat and bone meal and phytase effects on broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis: Part 1. Performance, intestinal lesions and pH, bacterial counts and apparent ileal digestibility.

This feeding study investigated the hypothesis that over-processing of meat and bone meal (MBM) would impair the performance, gut health and ileal digestibility of nutrients in birds challenged with necrotic enteritis (NE). The effect of phytase (500 vs. 5,000 FTU/kg) was also examined using manufacturers recommended matrix values for 500 FTU for both levels. Ross 308 male broilers (n = 768) were assigned to 8 diets, with 6 replicate pens per diet and 16 birds per replicate pen using a randomized design with a factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were NE challenge (no or yes), MBM (as received or over-processed), and phytase level (500 or 5,000 FTU/kg). Half of the birds were challenged with 5,000 oocysts of field strains of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria brunetti, and 2,500 oocysts of Eimeria maxima on d 9 and 108 CFU/mL of Clostridium perfringens strain EHE-NE18 on d 14 and 15 post-hatch. Challenge × MBM interactions were detected for weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed intake (FI) at d 14, 21 and 28, showing that challenged birds fed over-processed MBM had decreased WG (P < 0.05) and FI (P < 0.05) at d 14, increased FCR (P < 0.05) at d 21 and decreased WG (P < 0.05) and FI (P > 0.05) at d 28. Birds fed low phytase had increased livability (P < 0.05) at d 42. The challenge increased the prevalence and severity of NE induced lesions in the jejunum (P < 0.05) and ileum (P < 0.05). The birds fed over-processed MBM had decreased pH in the jejunum (P < 0.05) and ileum (P < 0.05) at d 16. High phytase increased apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of Ca (P < 0.05) and P (P < 0.05), and over-processed MBM increased AID of carbon (C; P < 0.05) and Ca (P < 0.05) at d 29. The challenge increased the caecal counts of Lactobacillus spp. (P < 0.05) and C. perfringens (P < 0.05) at d 16. The results indicated that supplementation of diets with high phytase reduces the negative impact on performance from over-processed MBM during NE as a result of increased nutrient digestibility.

Volatile basic nitrogen measurement in digesta using a Berthelot reaction in automated Skalar instrumentation.

The undigested nitrogenous fraction entering the hindgut of chickens is further metabolized by microbiota present producing volatile basic metabolites including amines and ammonia (NH3). Ammonia increases pH and may result in overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens further producing toxic metabolites that cause dysbacteriosis or necrotic enteritis (NE). There are few reports in chickens examining the production and concentration of nitrogenous metabolites in the hindgut. A Berthelot reaction using an automated flow, reaction and spectrophotometric instrumentation to detect volatile basic nitrogen in the form of NH3 from cecal contents was carried out. In the Berthelot reaction, NH3 in the sample is chlorinated to monochloramine using dichloroisocyanuric acid that then reacts with salicylate to form 5-aminosalicylate which is stable under alkaline conditions (pH 12 to 13). After oxidation and oxidative coupling, a coloured complex is formed that can be measured at 660 nm. Cecal contents were collected and pooled from 2 birds per pen with 48 pens total in each of 3 experiments and stored in sealed containers at -20 °C prior to analysis. Experiment 1 compared samples collected from birds fed either no meat and bone meal (MBM) or 6% MBM from d 0 to 14, and samples collected from birds fed either no MBM or 5% MBM from d 14 to 42. All birds were challenged with Eimeria on d 9 and C. perfringens on d 14 and 15. Experiment 2 compared cecal contents from birds fed either 0.5% or 0.9% calcium (Ca), and Exp. 3 compared unchallenged with NE challenge on d 16 and 29. Results demonstrated an increase (P < 0.05) in cecal NH3 as a result of feeding MBM or high dietary Ca with a corresponding increase in pH. Birds experimentally challenged with NE had lower cecal NH3 and lower pH on d 16 but not d 29 compared to unchallenged controls. It was concluded that the Berthelot method using Skalar instrumentation equipment is suitable to measure the concentration of volatile nitrogen as NH3 in cecal contents of chickens.

Use of bowel preparation does not reduce postoperative infectious morbidity following minimally invasive or open hysterectomies.

BACKGROUND: Literature on the use of bowel preparation in gynecologic surgery is scarce and limited to minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. The decision on the use of bowel preparation before benign or malignant hysterectomies is mostly driven by extrapolating data from the colorectal literature. OBJECTIVE: Bowel preparation is a controversial element within enhanced recovery protocols, and literature investigating its efficacy in gynecologic surgery is scarce. Our aim was to determine if mechanical bowel preparation alone, oral antibiotics alone, or a combination are associated with decreased rates of surgical site infections or anastomotic leaks compared to no bowel preparation following benign or malignant hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: We identified women who underwent hysterectomy between January 2006 and July 2017 using OptumLabs, a large US commercial health plan database. Inverse propensity score weighting was used separately for benign and malignant groups to balance baseline characteristics. Primary outcomes of 30-day surgical site infection, anastomotic leaks, and major morbidity were assessed using multivariate logistic regression that adjusted for race, census region, household income, diabetes, and other unbalanced variables following propensity score weighting. RESULTS: A total of 224,687 hysterectomies (benign, 186,148; malignant, 38,539) were identified. Median age was 45 years for the benign and 54 years for the malignant cohort. Surgical approach was as follows: benign: laparoscopic/robotic, 27.2%; laparotomy, 32.6%; vaginal, 40.2%; malignant: laparoscopic/robotic, 28.8%; laparotomy, 47.7%; vaginal, 23.5%. Bowel resection was performed in 0.4% of the benign and 2.8% of the malignant cohort. Type of bowel preparation was as follows: benign: none, 93.8%; mechanical bowel preparation only, 4.6%; oral antibiotics only, 1.1%; mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics, 0.5%; malignant: none, 87.2%; mechanical bowel preparation only, 9.6%; oral antibiotics only, 1.8%; mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics, 1.4%. Use of bowel preparation did not decrease rates of surgical site infections, anastomotic leaks, or major morbidity following benign or malignant hysterectomy. Among malignant abdominal hysterectomies, there was no difference in the rates of infectious morbidity between mechanical bowel preparation alone, oral antibiotics alone, or mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics, compared to no preparation. CONCLUSION: Bowel preparation does not protect against surgical site infections or major morbidity following benign or malignant hysterectomy, regardless of surgical approach, and may be safely omitted.

RADON CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED THERMAL WATERS IN SLOVAKIA.

Radon concentration in thermal waters used in selected spas and aqua parks in Slovakia was investigated. In total, 23 thermal water sources were monitored. Measured radon levels varied in a large interval, from 4.1 to 488 Bq l-1. High radon activity (180 Bq l-1) was also found in thermal potable water in fountains used by the patients and the public.

MULTI-YEAR MONITORING OF RADON IN BOREHOLES AT THE MODRA GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY, SLOVAKIA.

Long-term radon monitoring was performed in two boreholes, at a depth of 13 m in the 40 m deep V-2 borehole (August 2003-September 2005), and at 3 m depth in the 10 m deep V-3 borehole (August 2003-April 2008). Diurnal, multi-day and annual variations in radon time-series were observed. Daily average of radon activity in V-2 borehole was significantly higher and ranged from 6.5 to 383.7 kBq/m3, while in V-3 borehole only between 1.2 and 139.4 kBq/m3. The seasonal pattern was more pronounced in V-3 time series, with the maximum occurring from October to March. Multi-day variations (2-10 days) were registered in V-2 and V-3 mostly simultaneously, with higher discrepancy in spring and summer periods, when radon activity in V-3 borehole was low. Diurnal radon variations with two maxima and two minima per day were registered in both boreholes. The influence of meteorological parameters on radon concentrations was investigated. The overall impression is that seasonal variation in radon in V-3 borehole seems to be connected with the temperature variation. Multi-day variations of radon in both boreholes coincided with the atmospheric pressure changes. An increase in radon activity was observed in V-3 borehole after the rainfall in spring and summer seasons.

COMPARISON OF VARIOUS APPROACHES TO DETERMINING CO2 FLUXES FROM THE SOIL BY 222Rn CALIBRATED METHOD.

Various approaches of determining CO2 fluxes from the soil based on 222Rn calibrated method were tested. It was shown that the exponential fits of CO2 and 222Rn depth profiles led to uncertainties up to 50% if the depth profiles of CO2 and 222Rn concentration were not measured at sufficient depths. However, CO2 fluxes determined from linear fits of CO2 and 222Rn concentrations in the surface layer of the soil are lower than the fluxes determined from exponential fits, and have lower uncertainties. The comparison of CO2 fluxes derived from 222Rn calibrated methods with directly measured CO2 fluxes showed that the latter are usually on the order of tens of percent higher than the former. CO2 flux from sandy-clay and uncultivated soil was estimated to be on the level of 3.0 mmol m-2 h-1 in the spring and around 7.0 mmol m-2 h-1 in the summer.

The BiPo-3 detector.

The BiPo-3 detector is a low radioactive detector dedicated to measuring ultra-low natural contaminations of 208Tl and 214Bi in thin materials, initially developed to measure the radiopurity of the double ß decay source foils of the SuperNEMO experiment at the µBq/kg level. The BiPo-3 technique consists in installing the foil of interest between two thin ultra-radiopure scintillators coupled to low radioactive photomultipliers. The design and performances of the detector are presented. In this paper, the final results of the 208Tl and 214Bi activity measurements of the first enriched 82Se foils are reported for the first time, showing the capability of the detector to reach sensitivities in the range of some µBq/kg.

Temporal variability of radon in the atmosphere of Domica and Vazecká Karst caves (Slovakia).

Continual monitoring of radon activity concentration was performed in two caves: Domica and Vazecká. Radon in the air of the Domica cave was monitored from June 2010 to July 2011. Radon research in the Vazecká cave started in June 2012 and it is still being carried out. Radon concentration in cave atmosphere exhibited seasonal, short-term and daily variations. Daily average of radon in Domica varied from 0.5 to 2.7 kBq m(-3). Seasonal trend was characterised by the highest concentration in September and the lowest from February to March. Radon concentration in the Vazecká cave was significantly higher, and the daily average ranged from 1.0 to 5.3 kBq m(-3). The highest values were registered from June to September and in January. The seasonal and daily variations of 222Rn activity concentration in the atmosphere of both caves are assumed to be associated with the atmospheric temperature. No effect of atmospheric pressure on radon short-term variation was found.

Use of threshold-specific energy model for the prediction of effects of smoking and radon exposure on the risk of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Smoking causes 80-90% of cases of lung cancer. In this study, an attempt was made to assess the impact of cigarette smoking on the risk of lung cancer by the so-called threshold-specific energy model. This model allows to analyse the biological effects of radon daughter products on the lung tissue, and is based on the assumption that the biological effect (i.e. cell inactivation) will manifest itself after the threshold-specific energy z0 deposited in the sensitive volume of the cell is exceeded. Cigarette smoking causes, among others, an increase in the synthesis of the survivin protein that protects cells from apoptosis and thereby reduces their radiosensitivity. Based on these facts, an attempt was made to estimate the shape of the curves describing the increase in the oncological effect of radiation as a function of daily cigarette consumption.

Preliminary results of indoor radon survey in V4 countries.

The measurements of radon activity concentration carried out in residential houses of V4 countries (Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) show that radon levels in these countries considerably exceed the world average. Therefore, the new radon data and statistical analysis are required from these four countries. Each partner chose a region in their own country, where radon concentration in residential buildings was expected to be higher. The results of the survey carried out in the period from March 2012 to May 2012 show that radon concentrations are <200 Bq m(-3) in ∼87% of cases. However, dwellings with radon concentration ∼800 Bq m(-3) were found in Poland and Slovakia. It was also found that the distribution of radon frequency follows that of houses according to the year of their construction.

Dispersion of Fukushima radionuclides in the global atmosphere and the ocean.

Large quantities of radionuclides were released in March-April 2011 during the accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant to the atmosphere and the ocean. Atmospheric and marine modeling has been carried out to predict the dispersion of radionuclides worldwide, to compare the predicted and measured radionuclide concentrations, and to assess the impact of the accident on the environment. Atmospheric Lagrangian dispersion modeling was used to simulate the dispersion of (137)Cs over America and Europe. Global ocean circulation model was applied to predict the dispersion of (137)Cs in the Pacific Ocean. The measured and simulated (137)Cs concentrations in atmospheric aerosols and in seawater are compared with global fallout and the Chernobyl accident, which represent the main sources of the pre-Fukushima radionuclide background in the environment. The radionuclide concentrations in the atmosphere have been negligible when compared with the Chernobyl levels. The maximum (137)Cs concentration in surface waters of the open Pacific Ocean will be around 20 Bq/m(3). The plume will reach the US coast 4-5 y after the accident, however, the levels will be below 3 Bq/m(3). All the North Pacific Ocean will be labeled with Fukushima (137)Cs 10 y after the accident with concentration bellow 1 Bq/m(3).

Distributions of (137)Cs and (210)Pb in moss collected from Belarus and Slovakia.

In the present work, moss samples collected in Slovakia and Belarus were assayed with respect to gamma-emitting radionuclides. The results for (137)Cs and (210)Pb are discussed. Moss was used for the first time in Belarus, as a biological indicator of radioactive environmental pollution in consequence of the Chernobyl accident in 1986. In Belarus, the maximum activity of (137)Cs was observed in the Gomel region near Mazyr (6830 Bq/kg) and the minimum activity in the Vitebsyevsk Region near Luzhki-Yazno (5 Bq/kg). "Hot spots" were also observed near the towns Borisow and Yuratsishki. The results of measurements of (137)Cs in moss samples collected in 2000, 2006 and 2009 in the same localities of Slovakia are presented and compared with the results of air monitoring of (137)Cs carried out in Slovakia from 1977 until 2010. Measurements of the (210)Pb concentration in moss samples collected over the territory of Slovakia showed, that the median value exceed 2.3 times median value of (210)Pb obtained for Belarus moss. For that reason, the inhalation dose for man from (210)Pb and (137)Cs in Slovakia is more than twice as high as in Belarus, in spite of the initially very high (137)Cs exposure in the latter country.

Aerosol radioactivity record in Bratislava/Slovakia following the Fukushima accident--a comparison with global fallout and the Chernobyl accident.

Results of radioactivity measurements in Bratislava aerosols following the Fukushima accident showed that at least three radioactive plumes arrived to Bratislava as indicated by (131)I/(137)Cs activity ratios. When compared with the Chernobyl results available for the Bratislava station, the Fukushima radionuclide levels were almost five orders of magnitude lower, with the maximum values for (131)I and (137)Cs of 0.5 and 0.07 mBq/m(3), respectively. The (131)I and (137)Cs vs. (7)Be aerosol activity records showed that the increases in (131)I and (137)Cs activity concentrations were accompanied by (7)Be increases, indicating that both the horizontal and vertical transports of radionuclides were responsible for observed radionuclide concentrations. The (134)Cs/(137)Cs activity ratio was close to 1, as has also been reported by other investigators.

Long-term variations of 14C and 137Cs in the Bratislava air--implications of different atmospheric transport processes.

This study summarizes measurements of atmospheric (14)C and (137)Cs in the Bratislava air since 1976. Higher (14)C levels observed in spring and early summer months until the 1980's confirm injection of the stratospheric air into the troposphere. Later, deep winter minima were observed in (14)C concentrations, probably due to the depletion of the atmospheric (14)C levels in winter months by the injection of large quantities of fossil CO(2). Presently observed (14)C maxima in summer and minima in winter were caused by the depletion of the atmospheric (14)C in winter months, amplified by temperature inversions during winter, rather than by the injection of the stratospheric air into the troposphere. The observed (137)Cs activity concentrations also showed an impact of the stratospheric air on the (137)Cs levels until the early 1980's, documented by typical spring/early summer maxima and winter minima. The global fallout (137)Cs record was then disturbed by the Chernobyl accident (1986) when large quantities of (137)Cs were released to the atmosphere. The recent (137)Cs variations observed in the atmosphere, characterised by winter maxima and summer minima, are assumed to be mainly due to the resuspension of (137)Cs from the soil. A correlation was found between the (137)Cs activity concentration and the dust level in the air (the correlation coefficient r = 0.74), as well as an anticorrelation with the temperature (r = -0.56).

Forty years of atmospheric radiocarbon monitoring around Bohunice nuclear power plant, Slovakia.

Radiocarbon variations in the atmospheric CO(2) with attenuating amplitudes and decreasing mean values with typical maxima in summer and minima in winter have been observed since 1967 in two localities of Slovakia, in Bratislava and Zlkovce, situated about 60 km NE from Bratislava, only 5 km from the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The (14)C record in Bratislava has been influenced mainly by fossil CO(2) emissions, in contrast to the Zlkovce record which has been more variable, as it has clearly been affected by operation of the Bohunice NPP. However, during specific meteorological conditions with NE transport of air masses to Bratislava, the effect of the Bohunice NPP has been visible in Bratislava as well. Maximum (14)C concentrations (up to 120% above a natural background) were observed around A1 NPP which used CO(2) with admixture of air as a cooling agent. The (14)C concentrations around four pressurized light water reactors were up to 30% above the background. The Delta(14)C values in the heavily polluted atmosphere of Bratislava were up to 10% and at Zlkovce up to 5% lower than the European clean air represented by the Jungfraujoch Delta(14)C data. Later the Delta(14)C values were similar at both sites, and from 2003 they were close to the European clean air levels. The observed Delta(14)C behaviour in the atmosphere provides a unique evidence of decreased fossil fuel CO(2) emissions in the region, as well as the long-term effect of the Bohunice NPP on the Bratislava and Zlkovce stations. The estimated annual radiation doses to the local public due to digestion of radiocarbon contaminated food have been estimated to be around 3 microSv.

Impact of the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant on atmospheric radiocarbon.

Radiocarbon variations in the atmospheric CO(2) have been observed at two localities in Slovakia (Bratislava and Zlkovce). Zlkovce is situated about 60 km NE from Bratislava, and only 5 km from the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The observed Delta(14)C levels provide a unique evidence of the long-term impact of the Bohunice NPP on the Bratislava region, as well as on the decreased fossil fuel CO(2) emissions. The radiation doses estimated to the local public have been around 3 microSv/year, 20% of the dose from global fallout (14)C present in the environment.

Use of various microdosimetric models for the prediction of radon induced damage in human lungs.

Exposure to radon and radon decay products in some residential areas and at workplaces constitutes one of the greatest risks from natural sources of ionising radiation. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the precise estimations of this health risk by numerous models. The compartmental model published in ICRP Publication 66 (HRTM) has been used for calculating alpha activity concentration in human lung. Energy deposition in the tissue was calculated by the Bethe-Bloch equation. The aim of this study was to check the performance and to compare the reliability of the microdosimetric models. In this work different thicknesses of mucus in the cases of non-smokers and smokers has been considered. Transformed cells were considered as the radiation risk parameters. The radiation risk evaluation for different exposure levels was based on homogeneous and heterogeneous distributions of target cells. The results of application of these procedures were compared with the epidemiological study of Czechoslovakian uranium miners.