Effect of polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene nonionic block copolymers on performance and recruitment of immune cell subsets in weaned pigs.

BACKGROUND: Because European-wide directives are restricting the non-clinical use of antibiotics as in-feed growth promotors in swine production, there is an intensive search for alternative strategies for control and prevention of losses among young pigs. With the growing knowledge of the porcine immune system and its endogenous modulation, it has been clearly established that exogenous immunomodulation using adjuvants and immune response modifiers (IRMs) represents an important prophylactic/therapeutic approach in the prevention/treatment of both stress- and microbial-induced disorders that accompaning weaning. However, it is essential to select a fully evaluated agent which may act either as a nonspecific IRM or synergistically as an adjuvant with vaccines. The synthetic macromolecules with a long history as adjuvant and IRM are nonionic block copolymers which consist of polyoxyethylene (POE) and polyoxypropylene (POP) molecules. METHODS: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of POE-POP given as a single peroral dose on productivity parameters such as body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, and systemic and intestinal immune parameters by assessing the proportions of CD45+ lymphoid cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and CD21+ B cells in the peripheral blood as well as the number of CD45RA+ naive lymphoid cells residing in the ileal mucosa in weaned pigs during a follow-up study 5 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: Pigs treated with POE-POP had better feed intake (+ 14.57%), higher average body mass at the end of the experiment (20.91 kg vs. 17.61 kg), and higher body weight gain in relation to Day 0 (191.63% vs. 144.58%) as well as in relation to nontreated pigs (+ 18.74%), with a lower feed conversion ratio (- 30.26%) in comparison to the control pigs. A much lower diarrhea severity score (5 vs. 54) was recorded in pigs treated with POE-POP (- 90.74%) than in the control pigs. A higher average diarrhea severity (ADS) was recorded in the control pigs (1.54 vs. 0.14), whereas the treatmant group had much a lower ADS ratio (- 90.91%) after 35 days of the experiment. The pigs that were treated with POE-POP had an increased proportion of CD45+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells at Day 21 (at p < 0.05, p < 0.05 or p < 0.01, respectively), Day 28 (at p < 0.01, respectively) and Day 35 (at p < 0.01, p < 0.05 or p < 0.01, respectively) as well as of CD21+ cells at Day 28 (p < 0.05) and Day 35 of the experiment (p < 0.01). Also, these pigs had more numerous CD45RA+ cells in interfollicular (p < 0.05) and follicular areas (p < 0.01) of the ileal Peyer's patches than did control pigs. CONCLUSION: This property of POE-POP to induce recruitment of circulating and intestinal immune cell subsets in weaned pigs may allow the use of IRM-active block copolymers as adjuvants for vaccines, particularly those orally delivered and targeted to the gut-associated lymphoid tissues that are well known to promote rather tolerogenic than protective immune responses.

A craniometrical analysis of the Early Bronze Age dogs from Vucedol site (East Slavonia, Croatia).

During archaeological campaigne on Vucedol site 7 crania and cranial fragments together with 10 halfs of lower jaws were found. Due to existance of crania and lower jaws damages and therefore lack of preserved craniometrical points, it was not possible to measure the same craniometrical lengths on all the samples. Apart from craniometrical measurements, 6 craniometrical indices and ratios were calculated. Comparison of calculated values and values of craniometrical indices and ratios identify dog's crania from Vucedol site as dolichocephalic cranial type. Mutual comparison of all analyzed craniometrical values for crania and lower jaws of dog's crania don't show a significant difference in size and ratios of individual measures, nor significant deviation in value of the samples of other Vucedol culture sites. This point out on type of dogs with similar appearance which tallness and form respond to smaller dog's breed, in the first place a type of Croatian sheepdog or Hungarian Mudi.

Caries prevalence and periodontal status in 18th century population of Pozega-Croatia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine dental and periodontal status of adult Croatian 18th century population and compare the results with available literature data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 104 specimens from the crypt of Pozega cathedral were grouped into three female and three male groups according to age. Caries was determined by visual inspection and dental probe. Ante and post mortem teeth losses were recorded. Periodontal status was determined according to the length of exposed tooth root from alveolar crest to cemento-enamel junction. The presence of dehiscences and fenestrations was recorded on facial and oral plate of alveolar bone. RESULTS: The whole sample exhibited ante- and post mortem teeth loss of 19.57% and 24.91%, respectively. The teeth most frequently lost postmortem were incisors. The canines were best preserved. The frequency of caries in both jaws was the highest in molars (26.63% in maxilla and 28.10% in mandible), whilst central incisors exhibited the least carious lesions (11.59 and 1.92%). The most frequently affected surfaces were occlusal, then proximal and facio-oral. The percentage of teeth with either moderate or considerable bone loss was higher in females. The frequency of considerable bone loss increased significantly with age. The frequency of dehiscences was 3.11%. It was higher in maxilla than in the mandible. The frequency of fenestrations was 5.65% and it was significantly higher in maxilla. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate poor oral health amongst 18th century population of continental Croatia, exhibiting high antemortem teeth loss, high periodontal disease frequency and occlusal and proximal caries frequency.

Cremated human and animal remains of the Roman period--microscopic method of analysis (Sepkovcica, Croatia).

Human and animal cremated osteological remains from twelve graves of Roman Period from archaeological site Sepkovcica near Velika Gorica (Turopolje region, NW Croatia) were analysed. Beside the content of urns and grave pits, fillings of grave vessels like bowls, pots and amphoras from twentytwo grave samples were included in this study. The preservation of osteological and dental remains of human and animal origin was very poor, majority of fragments hardly reach lengths of 10 mm. Weight of each specimen barely exceeds 100 g per person. Apart from traditional macroscopic methods of analysing cremated remains, microscopic method for determination of age at death was also tested. Fragments of femoral bone diaphysis of eighteen persons whose remains had been found on the site were analysed. Person's age at death was presented in the range of five or ten years, and the long bone fragments of a child (infants) were detected. Taxonomic position for each analysed specimen was determined by microscopic analysis of animal cremated bones. Analysis results confirm validity of microscopic method in determination of age at death for human remains and taxonomic qualification of cremated animal remains from archaeological sites.

Anthropological analysis of neolithic and Early Bronze Age skeletons--a classical and molecular approach (East Slavonia, Croatia).

Theories about the first Indo-European migration are numerous. Significant contribution in attempt to resolve these theories is given by analysing skeletal material from two biggest prehistoric archaeological sites from N-E Croatia. Eight skeletons of Starcevo culture from sites "Nama" and "Hotel" at Vinkovci (6100-5500 BC) and seven skeletons of Vucedol culture from the site Vineyard Streim at Vucedol near Vukovar (3000-2500 BC) were analysed. Methods of classical anthropological analysis tried to distinguish the differences among members of both populations, while the methods of molecular genetics were used in defining possible genetic structure of both ancient populations. Established differences speak on the behalf of the theory of Maria Gimbutas about the first Indo-European migration with a cattle breeding population from the east around 3500 BC.

An archeozoological analysis of teeth of lower jaw of pigs coming from the Kostolac culture (3,250-3,000 B.C.), originating from Vucedol, including comparison with recent.

An investigation has been made within the expertise regarding teeth of 10 left halves of mandibles of recent sows as well as teeth of 18 pig mandibles originating from Kostolac culture (3,250-3,000 B.C.) from Vucedol archaeological location. TWS (Tooth Wear Stage) has been determined at all molars, according to Grant method and a corresponding numerical equivalent has been added, so MWS (Mandibular Wear Stage) has been obtained by summing up the above. On the basis of these values and ranges of MWS, an approximate age at the time of death has been determined for each unit. All the recent units have been older than 17 months, while the age of Kostolac units has come out to be between 14 and 17 months.

The importance and representation of teeth in archaeozoological material.

Archaeologists, in most cases, neglect animal bones and teeth, which present common material on archaeological sites. Analysis of archaeozoological material from Vucedol (Baden culture) and prehistoric cave site Vela spila on Korcula, has been applied to stress the importance of that material (especially single animal teeth) in archaeozoological samples. It is obvious that a higher percentage of single teeth influence the number of identified animal species on particular sites. One species were identified only by teeth. For the reconstruction of the environment and behavior of ancient peoples, every evidence obtained from sites is important, and because of that sieving must be part of every excavation.

Biochemical changes in the sublingual and submandibular glands after interruption of chorda tympani.

The left chorda tympani nerve was interrupted through meatus acusticus externus in ten dogs. In total, 40 dog salivary glands (20 submandibular and 20 sublingual) innervated via chorda tympani were examined. Twenty glands (10 submandibular and 10 sublingual) on the left side were deprived of parasympathetic innervation by chordectomy, whereas contraleteral glands, on the right side, served as controls. Biochemical analysis showed that the interruption of chorda tympani did not cause any significant changes in the concentrations of eight enzymes investigated, i.e. lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase. There were no significant changes in the concentrations of most important extracellular ions (sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphorus) in the right glands, but the loss of parasympathetic innervation in the left glands was found to cause a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of potassium as intracellular cation and of phosphorus as extracellular anion.