Changes in acid-base balance in neonatal goats before and two hours after colostrum intake.

The purpose of the study was to obtain values of acid-base balance and basic biochemical parameters in neonatal kids of the White Shorthaired goat depending on colostrum intake. The research was focused on changes in acid-base balance parameters and basic biochemical parameters in neonatal kids before and two hours after colostrum intake. Total of 66 blood samples were taken from 33 neonatal kids. Blood pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), bicarbonate concentration (cHCO3 -), base excess (BE), oxygen saturation (cSO2), total carbon dioxide (TCO2), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), chloride (Cl-), glucose (Glu), lactate (Lac), creatinine (Crea), hematocrit (Hct) and haemoglobin (Hgb) were measured. There were no statistically significant differences in acid-base balance parameters such as pO2, pCO2, TCO2, cSO2 and biochemical parameters such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, lactate between the two groups - before colostrum intake (group BF) and after colostrum intake (group AF). There were statistically significant differences in acid-base balance parameters such as pH, BE, cHCO3 - between these groups. Differences in acid-base values of pH, BE and cHCO3 - were statistically significant (p˂0.05). Differences in biochemical values of creatinine and glucose were statistically significant (p˂0.05). Differences in values of hematocrit and haemoglobin were statistically significant (p˂0.05). The present results are important for veterinary practice and can improve the neonatal care especially for impaired kids.

The role of CRP, PCT, IL-6 and presepsin in early diagnosis of bacterial infectious complications in paediatric haemato-oncological patients.

Bacterial infection is the most common complication in paediatric oncological patients during cancer treatment. A suitable tool for early prediction of unfavourable course of infection is still needed. We performed a prospective longitudinal observational study to evaluate of the role of serum biomarkers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, presepsin) in the early diagnosis of bacteraemia (gram-negative versus gram-positive) in patients with haematological malignancies. We observed 69 febrile episodes in 33 patients (17 male, 16 female; 1.5-18.9 years, mean 7.31 years, median 5 years). Within this sample, there were 22 cases of positive blood cultures, 16 cases of sepsis, 38 cases of fever with no signs or symptoms of sepsis, and two deaths from infectious complications. All markers tested had good negative predictive value (73% - 93%). CRP was characterized by good specificity for registration bacteraemia (96%, 95% CI: 85% - 99%), but other results were inconclusive. We identified comparably balanced sensitivity (64% - 81%) and specificity (61% - 88%) for interleukin-6 and procalcitonin, and we proved their quality to predict positive blood culture and clinical signs of sepsis as well. Patients with gram-negative bacteraemia had significantly elevated levels of PCT and IL-6 in comparison with a group of patients with gram-positive bacteraemia (p = 0.04 for PCT and p = 0.005 for IL-6). Presepsin was characterized by poor specificity (27%, 95% CI: 15% - 43%) and positive predictive value (24%, 95% CI: 12 - 39%) for predicting bacteraemia, and by better sensitivity (84%, 95% CI: 55% - 98%) and specificity (58%, 95% CI: 42% - 73%) for predicting clinical signs of sepsis.

[Embryonal Tumors with Multilayer Rosettes--Rare Central Nervous System Tumors in Infants]. / Embryonálne tumory s mnohovrstvovými rozetami--vzácne tumory centrálneho nervového systému v detskom veku.

INTRODUCTION: The most recent findings show a histopathological, genetic and clinical uniformity in cases of tumors called embryonal tumors with multilayer rosettes. This group is composed of medulloepithelioma, ependymoblastoma and embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes. Amplification of locus 19q13.42, which includes C19MC cluster containing genes for microRNA, and also LIN28A positivity are present in all three entities. Dysregulation of epigenetic modifiers is very important in pathogenesis of the disease. These tumors manifest in little children (median less than 3 years of age); overall survival is 5-10%. CASE REPORT: Almost three year-old boy diagnosed with brainstem tumor: meduloepithelioma, WHO grade IV confirmed by histological investigation. He presented with dysarthria, bulbar syndrome, central lesion of the facial nerve, quadriparesis with right-side dominancy. He received three induction cycles of chemotherapy from March to May 2014 (according to protocol COG ACNS0334). Only partial improvement of his clinical state was reached. Signs of an intracranial hypertension appeared resulting in VP shunt insertion; impairment of consciousness developed after the induction cycles and before any other treatment could be initiated. He underwent radiotherapy due to vital indication. After application of two fractions (boost in the center of the tumor), the patient became quickly comatose. Spinal cord metastasis was demarked by MRI scan (in the level of 3rd cervical vertebra). A bilateral infiltration in pulmonary parenchyma, according to a radiologist metastasis-wise, was detected by CT scan (histologisation of infiltration was not implemented). The patient died in August 2014--six months after manifestation of first symptoms. CONCLUSION: We reported our first documented case of a patient with tumor from embryonal tumors with multilayer rosettes group in Slovakia. Nowadays, there is no effective treatment of these tumors. Research of molecules targeting to epigenetic modifiers would be one of the possible promises for future therapy.

Age-related changes in unscheduled DNA synthesis by rat hepatocytes.

Ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis was studied as a function of age in hepatocytes isolated from 6- to 32-months-old rats. Unscheduled DNA synthesis was measured by both DNA specific activity and autoradiography. Using both procedures, a significant decline in unscheduled DNA synthesis was observed after 14 months of age.

Inhibition by sodium butyrate of enzyme induction by glucocorticoids and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. A role for the rapid form of histone acetylation.

We have found that butyrate selectively inhibits hormonal induction of a few specific proteins and messenger RNAs in hepatoma cells. The fatty acid salt reversibly abolishes induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by dexamethasone and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in HTC cells by inhibiting the production of tyrosine aminotransferase messenger RNA. Half-maximal inhibition of enzyme induction occurred in 0.9 mM butyrate. This effect is highly specific, since 4 h after the addition of butyrate to induced HTC cells, the relative abundance of only five messenger RNA species out of several hundred observable on two-dimensional gels of translational products is changed. Upon removal of the butyrate from cell cultures pretreated with dexamethasone, tyrosine aminotransferase activity begins to increase more rapidly than if dexamethasone is added to control cultures, indicating that part of the induction process occurs in the presence of butyrate. A dose-dependent reduction of fast histone acetylation by butyrate was demonstrated by treating cells with butyrate followed by a short pulse with [3H]acetate and chase in a high concentration of butyrate. The butyrate concentration test range over which rapid histone acetylation is inhibited is similar to that which inhibits enzyme induction to the same extent. In contrast, the slow form of histone acetylation is unaffected in the concentration range examined. The induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by dexamethasone is delayed in hypoacetylated cells. This lag is consistent with the time required to initiate the recovery of the fast form of histone acetylation after its transient disappearance (Covault, J., Perry, M., and Chalkley, R. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13433-13440). We conclude that sodium butyrate interferes with the ability of dexamethasone and dibutyryl cyclic AMP to increase production of several specific species of messenger RNA in hepatoma cells. This effect correlates well with its ability to reduce rapid acetylation of histones in HTC cells; we discuss potential roles of rapid histone acetylation in modulating hormonal stimulation of transcription.