Effect of increased intake of concentrates and sodium butyrate supplementation on ruminal epithelium structure and function in growing rams.

Increased ruminal butyrate production is considered to have a positive impact on rumen epithelium growth and function. However, excessive ruminal butyrate production may affect the rumen negatively, particularly when the rumen is already challenged with low pH. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the inclusion of concentrates in the diet and sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation on ruminal epithelium growth and function in growing rams. Forty-two rams (27.8 ± 7.3 kg; 9-14 months of age) were allocated into six treatments and fed a diet with low (22.5% of diet DM; LOW) or high (60% of diet DM; HIGH) inclusion of concentrates in combination with no (SB0), 1.6% (SB1.6) or 3.2% (SB3.2) of diet DM inclusion of SB. There was no impact of the investigated factors on papilla dimensions and mucosa surface area, either in the atrium ruminis or ventral rumen (P ≥ 0.11). Stratum corneum thickness was higher for HIGH compared to LOW treatments (P ≤ 0.04), independently of the location in the rumen. In the atrium ruminis, the epithelium and living strata thickness quadratically increased due to SB supplementation for LOW treatments but quadratically decreased for HIGH treatments (concentrate inclusion × butyrate supplementation interaction; P ≤ 0.03); conversely, in the ventral sac of the rumen, a thicker epithelium was observed due to both increased concentrate inclusion in the diet and SB supplementation (P < 0.01) but living strata thickness was increased only by SB supplementation (linear effect; P < 0.01). The epithelium damage index in the ventral sac of the rumen was higher for LOW compared to HIGH treatments (P = 0.02). Increased inclusion of concentrates in the diet increased mRNA expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 in both the epithelium of the atrium ruminis and ventral rumen, occludin in the epithelium of the atrium ruminis and downregulated in adenoma in the epithelium of the ventral rumen (P ≤ 0.02). Protein expression of claudin-4 in the epithelium of the ventral rumen was the highest for the HIGH/SB1.6 and HIGH/SB3.2 treatments (significant effect of interaction between main effects; P < 0.01). Under the conditions of the current study, increased intake of concentrates had mostly positive effects on ruminal epithelium in growing rams, and the same was observed for the effect of SB supplementation. However, the effect of SB supplementation was at least partially affected by the inclusion of concentrates in the diet.

[Long-term observation of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia]. / Wieloletnia obserwacja chorych z niedokrwistosciami autoimmunohemolitycznymi.

Forty-nine cases of idiopathic and secondary autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (AIHA) were observed. Infections developed in 64% of them before the diagnosis of the idiopathic form had been established. In 83% of the patients warm antibodies were found, and in half these cases complement activation was observed on the blood cells. In 16% of cases autoantibodies to other tissues were present as well. Higher grade of anaemia and more severe course of the disease were observed in secondary AIHA. The survival time of patients with malignant lymphoma and haemolysis developing during the proliferation phase was twice as long as in cases with simultaneously diagnosed lymphoma and haemolysis. Idiopathic AIHA was more frequent chronic and mild. During over 2 years of follow-up haemolysis regressed in 44% of cases (in idiopathic AIHA in 65% and in secondary AIHA in 19%). The followed-up group comprised 36 patients. No immediate favourable effect of splenectomy was noted. In 43% of cases infections were a complication of pharmacological treatment and (or) splenectomy. Alloimmunization against blood cells was noted in 16% of cases.

[Treatment of acute leukemias in adults. V. The effect of intrathecal cytostatic therapy on leukemic changes in the central nervous system]. / Leczenie ostrych bialaczek u doroslych V. Wplyw dokanalowego leczenia cytostatycznego na zmiany bialaczkowe w osrodkowym ukladzie nerwowym.

In a period of 5.5 years from 1975 to 1980 the neurological status of 82 patients with various forms of acute leukaemia was assessed at the Institute of Haematology and in 42 cases central nervous system involvement was found. These patients were treated by intrathecal administration of drugs according to three programmes. Remission after intrathecal treatment was achieved in 31 cases. No improvement of the neurological status was obtained in 31 cases. No improvement of the neurological status was obtained in 4 cases. Forty-eight patients without neurological signs received prophylactically intrathecal treatment which failed to prevent central nervous system leukaemia in 8 cases.

[Treatment of leukemic infiltrations of the central nervous system. Preliminary communication]. / Wstepne wyniki leczenia nacieków bialaczkowych osrodkowego ukladu nerwowego.

In a group of 39 patients with acute leukaemias lumbar taps with intrathecal administration of drugs were done. In 20 cases lumbar tap was done at the time of development of neurological signs. In 19 cases one prophylactic intrathecal drug administration was done. In the treatment of leukaemic infiltrations in the central nervous system three methods were used administering intrathecally methotrexate in the first schedule, methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside in the second schedule, and cytosine arabinoside with Ultracorten in the third schedule. These methods caused usually disappearance of most clinical signs and changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 7 cases side effects appeared due to chemical irritation of the meninges but disappeared after several days.

Occurrence of malignant neoplasms in patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

In a group of 280 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia, a coexistence of malignant tumours diagnosed simultaneously with the leukaemia was found in 14 cases or 5.0%. No significant difference was observed between the development of the second malignant neoplasm in the patients studied and the expected incidence in the general population, taking into account also the sex and age of patients and their place of residence. No statistically significant relation was found between the duration of CLL and the occurrence of second malignancies. No significant correlation was found between the total dose of cytostatic drugs, corticosteroids or radiotherapy and the incidence of cancer.