Overlapping stimulation of subthalamic nucleus and dentato-rubro-thalamic tract in Parkinson's disease after deep brain stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) reduces tremor, rigidity, and akinesia. According to the literature, the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRTt) is verified target for DBS in essential tremor; however, its role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease is only vaguely described. The aim of our study was to identify the relationship between symptom alleviation in PD patients and the distance of the DBS electrode electric field (EF) to the DRTt. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of patients (N = 30) with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) who underwent DBS between November 2018 and January 2020 was performed. DRTt and STN were visualized using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and tractography protocol of magnetic resonance (MR). The EF was calculated and compared with STN and course of DRTt. Evaluation of patients before and after surgery was performed with use of UPDRS-III scale. The association between distance from EF to DRTt and clinical outcomes was examined. To confirm the anatomical variation between DRTt and STN observed in tractography, white matter dissection was performed with the Klingler technique on ten human brains. RESULTS: Patients with EF overlapping STN and DRTt benefited from significant motor symptoms improvement. Anatomical findings confirmed the presence of population differences in variability of the DRTt course and were consistent with the DRTt visualized by MR. CONCLUSIONS: DRTt proximity to STN, the main target in PD DBS surgery, confirmed by DWI with tractography protocol of MR combined with proper predefined stimulation parameters may improve efficacy of DBS-STN.

Streptococci as the new dominant aetiological factors of mastitis in dairy cows in north-eastern Poland: analysis of the results obtained in 2013-2019.

The objective of our study was to evaluate prevalence of selected bacterial and fungal pathogens of mastitis in dairy cattle in north-eastern Poland. Our study was conducted from 2013 to 2019 in 1,665 clinically and sub-clinically infected quarter milk samples (2013, n = 368; 2014, n = 350; 2015, n = 290; 2016, n = 170; 2017, n = 173; 2018, n = 224; and 2019, n = 90). The isolation and identification of the pathogens were performed in keeping with generally accepted microbiological procedures. In 2013, mastitis was most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (24%), Streptococcus spp. (22%), Streptococcus agalactiae (12%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (11%). In 2014, the most common pathogens were Streptococcus spp. (25%), Staphylococcus aureus (18%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (10%); in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Streptococcus spp. (from 39-49%) were the most frequent strains isolated from the quarter milk samples. Other pathogens were isolated occasionally (below 15% in all years). In conclusion, the role of environmental bacteria has been gradually increasing in the Warmia Province. The importance of infectious pathogens has been decreasing, indicating the efficacy of the applied preventive programmes and a need for the development of new programmes targeting environmental pathogens.

The applicability of the Migratest® kit for evaluating the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats on the example of animals supplemented with ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB).

The objective of this study was to determine the applicability of the Migratest® kit for evaluating the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats. The experiment was performed on 14 goat kids aged 30±2 days, divided into two groups of 7 animals each: C - control group, and E - experimental group, supplemented with ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB), a typical immunostimulant which influences the phagocytic activity of peripheral neutrophils. The feed administered to experimental goat kids was supplemented with HMB at 40 mg/kg BW, whereas control goat kids were administered standard farm-made feed without supplementation. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein immediately before the experiment (day 0) and on experimental days 15, 30 and 60 to determine the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats. The results of the study indicate that the Migratest® kit can be used to evaluate the influence of immunomodulators on the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats. The results of the assay are most effectively presented by calculating the chemotactic index which accounts for the chemotaxis or migration of neutrophils in the presence or absence of a chemotactic factor, respectively, and the percentage of granulocytes that migrate towards fMLP. The results of both presentation methods appear to be identical.

Beyond the Chief Complaint: Our Patients' Worries.

Fourth-year medical students at the University of Colorado School of Medicine distributed cards to patients in the emergency department asking, "What Worries You Most?" The patients' responses provided insight about their most pressing concerns, often unrelated to their "chief complaints."

Phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus spp. isolated from cases of clinical mastitis in dairy cattle in Poland.

Mastitis of dairy cattle is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases worldwide. The main etiological agents of mastitis are bacteria of the genus Streptococcus spp., in which several antibiotic resistance mechanisms have been identified. However, detailed studies addressing this problem have not been conducted in northeastern Poland. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze, on phenotypic and genotypic levels, the antibiotic resistance pattern of Streptococcus spp. isolated from clinical cases of mastitis from dairy cattle in this region of Poland. The research was conducted using 135 strains of Streptococcus (Streptococcus uberis, n = 53; Streptococcus dysgalactiae, n = 41; Streptococcus agalactiae, n = 27; other streptococci, n = 14). The investigation of the antimicrobial susceptibility to 8 active substances applied in therapy in the analyzed region, as well as a selected bacteriocin (nisin), was performed using the minimum inhibitory concentration method. The presence of selected resistance genes (n = 14) was determined via PCR. We also investigated the correlation between the presence of resistance genes and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the examined strains in vitro. The highest observed resistance of Streptococcus spp. was toward gentamicin, kanamycin, and tetracycline, whereas the highest susceptibility occurred toward penicillin, enrofloxacin, and marbofloxacin. Additionally, the tested bacteriocin showed high efficacy. The presence of 13 analyzed resistance genes was observed in the examined strains [gene mef(A) was not detected]. In most strains, at least one resistance gene, mainly responsible for resistance to tetracyclines [tet(M), tet(K), tet(L)], was observed. However, a relationship between the presence of a given resistance gene and antimicrobial susceptibility on the phenotypic level was not always observed.

Effect of feed supplementation with kynurenic acid on the morphology of the liver, kidney and gills in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792), healthy and experimentally infected with Yersinia ruckeri.

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an endogenous substance produced on the kynurenine pathway which is primarily known for its neuroactive properties. Recently, it has been proven that KYNA is a selective ligand for G protein-coupled receptor (GPR 35), presented on immunocompetent cells such as T lymphocytes. This opens up new possibilities of its application as an immunostimulating substance in aquaculture. Thus far, no histopathological investigations in fish have been completed to evaluate influence of KYNA supplementation in feed. This study has been undertaken to determine the effect of feed supplementation with KYNA (2.5, 25, 250 mg kg-1 of feed) for 28 days on the liver, gills and kidney in healthy fish and experimentally infected with Yersinia ruckeri. In a control group were observed a fatty liver, which is natural for this fish species in the autumn and winter season. As the dose of the supplement was increased, the fat liver changed, it decreased or completely disappeared. Additionally, inflammatory changes occurred in all the analysed organs, and their intensification was dose dependent. In the fish experimentally infected, KYNA caused aggravation of the signs in the liver, kidneys and gills, and the effect was dose dependent. The results implicate that KYNA may be a stressor for fish.

Expression and variability of lipid metabolism genes in intracranial aneurysm.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between mRNA expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA1) gene, apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) gene, low-density lipoprotein (LDLR) gene and RNA gene located in the CDKN2B-CDKN2A cluster (CDKN2B-AS1) involved in lipid metabolism and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Fifty three IA patients, and 27 controls (IA-free) were enrolled in this study and were genotyped for seven single nucleotide polymorphisms. Increased expression of the LDLR gene in IA patients was observed. The A/G genotype and the A allele of the c. -113G>A polymorphism of the APOA1 gene were associated with increased occurrence of IA (ORs 12.36 and 14.14, respectively), while the G/G genotype and G allele showed the opposite tendency (ORs 0.06 and 0.07, respectively). We also detected that the A/A-G/A combined genotype of the c. -113G>A - APOA1 and g.46859A>G - LDLR SNPs was associated with a decreased occurrence of IA. Moreover, the A/G-G/G combined genotype of the c.656G>A - ABCA1 and c. -113G>A - APOA1 was associated with a decreased occurrence of IA. The results of our study suggest the association between expression and variability of lipid metabolism genes and occurrence of IA.

The in vitro effect of kynurenic acid on the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) leukocyte and splenocyte activity.

Kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous neuroprotectant formed along the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation, is a selective ligand of the GPR35 receptor, which can be found on the surface of various populations of human immune cells. In infections and inflammations, KYNA produces an anti-inflammatory effect through this receptor, by depressing the synthesis of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, it is still unrecognized whether receptors for kynurenic acid are also localized on immune cells of poikilothermic animals, or whether KYNA is able to affect these cells. The objective of this study has been to determine the effect of different concentrations of kynurenic acid (12.5 microM to 10 mM) on the viability and mitogenic response of lymphocytes and on the activity of phagocytic cells isolated from blood and the spleen of rainbow trout. The results imply low toxicity of kynurenic acid towards fish immune cells, and the proliferative effect observed at the two lowest concentrations of KYNA (12.5 microM and 25 microM) seems indicative of endogenous kynurenic acid being capable of activating fish lymphocytes. Non-toxic, micromole concentrations of KYNA, however, had no influence on the mitogenic response of lymphocytes nor on the activity of phagocytes in rainbow trout under in vitro conditions. There is some likelihood that such an effect could be observed at lower, nanomole concentrations of KYNA.

The effect of Biolex-MB40 on the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in lambs.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Biolex-MB40 on the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in lambs. The experimental material comprised 32 lambs aged 30 +/- 3 days, divided into two equal groups: control and experimental. Experimental group animals were fed a diet supplemented with the Biolex-MB40 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the amount of 3 g/kg of the concentrate. At the beginning of the experiment (day 0) and on experimental days 15, 30 and 60, blood was sampled from the jugular vein to determine and compare the phagocytic activity (PHAGOTEST) and oxidative metabolism (BURSTTEST) of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. Based on the results of an analysis of granulocyte and monocyte phagocytic activity, statistically higher levels of phagocytic activity were observed in the group of lambs administered Biolex-MB40 than in the control animals, expressed in terms of the percentage of phagocytic cells as well as mean fluorescence intensity. Biolex-MB40 also had a positive effect on the oxidative metabolism of both granulocytes and monocytes after stimulation with Escherichia coli bacteria and with PMA (4-phorbol-12-beta-myristate-13-acetate), expressed in terms of the percentage of oxidative metabolism as well as mean fluorescence intensity.

The effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on selected parameters of humoral immunity in calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HMB on selected parameters of the humoral immunity in calves. The experiment was performed on 14 calves aged 30 +/- 2 days, divided into two equal groups of control (group K) and experimental (group H) animals. The feed administered to the experimental calves was supplemented with HMB at 40 mg/kg BW, whereas the control calves were administered standard farm-made feed without supplementation. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein immediately before the experiment (day 0) and on experimental days 15, 30 and 60 to determine the following immunological parameters: total protein levels, gammaglobulin levels, lysozyme activity and ceruloplasmin activity. An analysis of the results obtained revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.001 respectively) in gammaglobulin levels and lysozyme activity throughout the entire experimental period, an increase (p < 0.05; p < 0.01 respectively) in ceruloplasmin activity on experimental days 15 and 30, but no changes in serum total protein levels of calves administered HMB as compared to those found in the control group.

The effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on the proliferative response of blood lymphocytes and the phagocytic activity of blood monocytes and granulocytes in calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HMB on selected indicators of immunity in calves. The experiment was performed on 14 calves aged 30 +/- 2 days, divided into two equal groups of control (group I) and experimental (group II) animals. The feed administered to experimental group calves was supplemented with HMB at 40 mg/kg BW, whereas control calves were administered standard farm-made feed without supplementation. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein immediately before the experiment (day 0) and on experimental days 15, 30 and 60 to determine the following parameters of immunity: proliferative response of LPS- and ConA-stimulated lymphocytes (MTT), respiratory burst activity (RBA) and potential killing activity (PKA) of phagocytes. The results revealed a significant increase in RBA and MTT values in calves administered HMB in comparison with the control group throughout the experiment. In the group of animals receiving HMB, an increase in PKA values was noted only on day 30.

The in vitro effect of bovine lactoferrin on the activity of organ leukocytes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and wels catfish (Silurus glanis).

Lactoferrin (LF) is a glycoprotein found in milk, neutrophil granules, secretions and selected organs of mammals. Lactoferrin exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, fungicidal, immunoregulatory and other functions. Although fish are devoid of this protein and its cell receptors, LF effect on the immune mechanisms of fish has been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of bovine lactoferrin, applied in vitro, on the activity of head kidney and spleen leukocytes in three freshwater fish species: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and wels catfish (Silurus glanis). The obtained results validate LF beneficial effect on the respiratory burst of phagocytes in rainbow trout and wels catfish despite the fact that the potential killing activity against Aeromonas hydrophila was not stimulated in any of the studied species. Bovine lactoferrin enhanced the proliferation of T-lymphocytes in rainbow trout and European eel, as well as of B-lymphocytes in rainbow trout.

The effect of undecanones and their derivatives on tumor angiogenesis and VEGF content.

The in vivo effects of some derivatives of aliphatic ketones (2-undecanone, 3-undecanone, 4-undecanone and their derivatives) on L-1 sarcoma tumor angiogenesis and VEGF content were studied in Balb/c mice. Mice that inhaled 10% solution of 3-undecanone(3-on) or 1% solution of 2-undecanone propylene acetal (Acpr2) for 3 days after tumor cells implantation, presented lower neovascular response measured by tumor-induced cutaneous angiogenesis test (TIA) and lower tumor VEGF content in 5-days tumors, than non-inhaled controls. Other substances presented various effects on tumor VEGF concentration and angiogenesis. Histological examination of lesions collected from mice inhaled Acpr2, or non-inhaled controls, revealed small diffused areas of necrosis in the former group. In both groups, slight to moderate inflammatory infiltrations were seen at the tumor's margin. In Acpr2 group, there were less small blood vessels at tumor's margin than in the control group.

Effect of Biolex Beta-HP on phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in rats intoxicated by cyclophosphamide.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of beta-1,3/1,6-D-glucan (Biolex-Beta HP) on the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in rats intoxicated by cyclophosphamide. The experimental material comprised 40 adult Wistar rats aged 14 weeks, divided into two equal groups, a control group and an experimental group, each of 20 adult rats, including 10 males and 10 females. In the course of 3 successive days, 20 rats from the experimental group were administered cyclophosphamide intramuscularly at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight/day. On the 8th day of the experiment, 10 control group (K) rats and 10 experimental group (C) rats were sacrificed. Arterial blood samples were collected and diluted with heparin to determine and compare the phagocytic activity (Phatogest) and oxidative metabolism (Bursttest) of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. Starting on the 8th day of the experiment, the feed of the remaining 10 rats from the experimental group (C+G) and 10 rats from the control group (G) was supplemented with Biolex-Beta HP at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 14 consecutive days. On day 22, arterial blood samples were collected from all (C+G) and (C) group rats, diluted with heparin to determine and compare the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. The results showed that Biolex-Beta HP modulated the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of blood neutrophils and monocytes suppressed by cyclophosphamide in rats. The immunorestoring activity of Biolex-Beta HP was observed in this study.

The effect of Chinese medicinal herb Rhodiola kirilowii extracts on cellular immunity in mice and rats.

UNLABELLED: Rhodiola kirilowii (RK) roots and rhizomes are traditionally used in China as a tonic, adaptogen, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug. The aim of this work was to study the in vivo and in vitro effects of aqueous and 50% hydro-alcoholic extracts of RK rhizomes on some parameters of cellular immunity in H-2d mice and rats. We show for the first time that in vitro both extracts stimulated granulocyte activity and increased lymphocyte response to mitogens, and in vivo they enhanced the ability of lymphocytes derived from parental strain mice fed R. kirilowii aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts, to induce local cutaneous graft-versus-host reaction (GVH) in F1 hybrids. CONCLUSION: Rhodiola kirilowii extracts are cellular immunity enhancers.

The effect of Rhodiola quadrifida extracts on cellular immunity in mice and rats.

Rhodiola quadrifida (Rq) roots and rhizomes are traditionally used in Asia as a tonic, adaptogen, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory drug. The aim of this work was to study the in vivo effect of aqueous and 50% hydro-alcoholic extracts of Rq rhizomes on some parameters of cellular immunity in mice and rats. The metabolic activity of blood phagocyting cells was determined based on the measurement of intracellular respiratory burst after stimulation by PMA in RBA test. Potential bactericidal activity of phagocyting cells was determined in isolated blood leukocytes stimulated with killed microorganisms, according to the PKA test. Proliferative response of lymphocytes stimulated by mitogen concanavaline A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were determined by MTT assay. Both extracts stimulated granulocytes activity in vitro and increased lymphocyte response to mitogens. The ability of parental strain mice lymphocytes to induce local cutaneous graft-versus-host reaction (GVH) in F1 hybrids was stimulated by 50% hydro-alcoholic extract only.

Reactivity of the immunological system of turkeys vaccinated with the Newcastle virus after intoxication with carbaryl.

Research has shown that among pesticides, carbaryl is one of the strongest immunosuppressors for numerous animal species. In this paper, the effect of carbaryl on biochemical parameters and on specific and non-specific immunity in carbaryl-intoxicated birds was determined. The results indicate a significant immunosuppressive effect in turkeys, on almost all the investigated biochemical parameters and on the indices of specific and non-specific immunity. The only exception is a slightly elevated level of total protein and reactivity of T lymphocytes to non-specific mitogen in the group of intoxicated birds.

Immunity against viruses in chickens after applying natural and synthetic immunity stimulator.

Comparing the action of biotropin, which is a natural immunomodulator, with a synthetic one--levamisole, leads to the conclusion that biotropin acts as a strong stimulator, both of specific humoral immunity, which manifests itself in higher titres of antibodies HI and SN, and of non-specific humoral immunity, whose feature is a higher activity of lysozyme in comparison with the other groups. Similarly, biotropin increases the phagocytal activity of leucocytes, expressed as the phagocytar index and the percentage of non-phagocyting cells, more effectively than levamisole. However, the specific cell immunity, assessed by the BT and LMI tests, was slightly better stimulated by biotropin immediately after infection and by levamisole in the remaining time.