Effect of Herbal Feed Additives on Goat Milk Volatile Flavor Compounds.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of herbal supplements administered to goats on sensory quality and volatile flavor compounds in their milk. The experiment was conducted on sixty Polish white improved goats randomly allocated into five feeding groups (four experimental and one control) of twelve goats each. The trial lasted 12 weeks. The experimental animals received supplements containing a mixture of seven or nine different species of herbs at 20 or 40 g/animal/day. The control group received feed without any herbal supplements. Milk obtained from experimental and control groups of animals was characterized by a low content of aroma compounds, with only 11 chemical compounds being identified. Decanoic methyl ester, methylo 2-heptanone and methylo-butanoic methyl ester had the highest share in the total variability of the tested aroma compounds (PCA). During the sensory evaluation, the smell and taste of most of the samples were similar (p > 0.05). However, the addition of herbal feed supplements lowered the concentration of Caproic acid (C6:0), Caprylic acid (C8:0) and Capric acid (C10:0), which caused a significant reduction in the goaty smell of milk. The obtained results indicate that the studied herbal supplements can reduce the intensity of goaty smell and allow goat milk production without modification of other sensory features.

The Effect of Herbal Feed Additives in the Diet of Dairy Goats on Intestinal Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Count.

Sixty dairy goats of the Polish white improved breed were randomly assigned to five feeding groups of twelve animals each. The animals received a supplement containing seven herbs at 20 or 40 g/animal/day (experimental groups 1 and 2) and a supplement containing nine herbs at 20 or 40 g/animal/day (experimental groups 3 and 4)m, along with pelleted concentrate feed. Group 5 (the control group) received pelleted feed without any herbal supplements. A significant effect of herbal feed additive on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count was observed (p < 0.001). The highest number density of LAB was found in the goats receiving the feed additive with nine herbs at 20 g/animal per day (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant effect of lactation stage on intestinal LAB count (p < 0.001). Regardless of the feeding group, the highest number density of LAB was found in animals at the peak of lactation. The LAB count was also affected by the interaction of diet group × lactation stage (p < 0.0001). A probiotic strain of Lactobacillus fermentum was identified in the faecal samples of goats receiving the herbal additive, but not in the controls. Genetic identification of the microorganisms isolated from the faeces of the experimental goats did not reveal the presence of harmful mould spores, although spores of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus were detected in the controls.

Contribution of inherited thrombophilia to recurrent miscarriage in the Polish population.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of genetic variants determining inherited thrombophilia to recurrent miscarriage (RM) in the Polish population. The following polymorphisms were analyzed: 1691G>A, 1328T>C of coagulation factor V, 20210G>A of coagulation factor II, R353Q (11496G>A) of coagulation factor VII, 667C>T, 1298A>C, 1793G>A of MTHFR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 359 women with ≥ 2 subsequent recurrent miscarriages (303 < 13 weeks of gestation (w.g.) and 56 between 13-22 w.g.) and 400 healthy controls were included in the study. Frequency of the genetic polymor-phisms was determined with the PCR/RFLP method. RESULTS: Higher frequency of the 20210GA genotype was found in the RM < 13 w.g. (2.97 vs. 1.50% in controls, OR = 2.01, ns) and the RM 13-22 w.g. (5.36 vs. 1.50% in controls, OR = 3.72, p = 0.09) subgroups. Statistically significantly higher frequency of the 11496GA genotype was noted in controls as compared to the RM 13-22 w.g. subgroup (10.71 vs. 23.00% in controls, OR = 0.40, p = 0.02). Statistically significantly higher frequency of the 1793GA genotype was observed in the RM < 13 w.g. subgroup as compared to controls (12.21 vs. 7.75% in controls, OR = 1.66, p = 0.03). No significant correlations were found as far as the rest of the analyzed polymorphisms are concerned. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results suggest that the 1793G>A MTHFR, R353Q (11496G>A) factor VII gene and the 20210G>A factor II gene polymorphisms play a role in the etiology of RM in the Polish population.

Correlation between factor VII and PAI-1 genetic variants and recurrent miscarriage.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms which are presented below may be the cause of inherited thrombophilia and may result in pregnancy loss. The hypothesis is based on a number of cardiology studies which have confirmed the involvement of these polymorphisms in thrombotic incidents. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of polymorphisms of factor VII gene (Arg353Gln, -122T > C) and PAI-1 gene (-675 4G/5G) in the etiology of recurrent miscarriage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 152 women with a positive history of ≥ 2 consecutive pregnancy losses (114 and 38 women with 2 and ≥ 3 miscarriages, respectively), while 180 healthy women were recruited as controls. Genetic analysis was performed with the use of PCR/RFLP. RESULTS: Lower frequency of Arg353/Gln353 was observed in women with 2 and ≥ 3 miscarriages as compared to controls (21.1% vs. 23.9% and 13.2% vs. 23.9%, respectively). The frequency of Gln353 was lower in women with ≥ 3 miscarriages as compared to controls (6.6% vs. 11.9%, p = ns). The frequency of -122TT was higher in women with ≥ 3 miscarriages as compared to controls (86.84% vs. 76.67%, p = ns), whereas -122TC was more frequent in controls (13.16% vs. 22.78% in controls, p = ns). The frequency of -122T was higher in patients with ≥ 3 abortions as compared to controls (93.42% vs. 88.06%, p = ns), and -122C was observed more frequently in controls (6.58% vs. 11.94% in controls, p = ns). There were no significant differences as far as the -675 4G/5G polymorphism was concerned. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results suggest a possible protective role of Gln353 and -122C alleles in recurrent miscarriage.

Influence of the Melissa officinalis Leaf Extract on Long-Term Memory in Scopolamine Animal Model with Assessment of Mechanism of Action.

Melissa officinalis (MO, English: lemon balm, Lamiaceae), one of the oldest and still most popular aromatic medicinal plants, is used in phytomedicine for the prevention and treatment of nervous disturbances. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of subchronic (28-fold) administration of a 50% ethanol extract of MO leaves (200 mg/kg, p.o.) compared with rosmarinic acid (RA, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) and huperzine A (HU, 0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) on behavioral and cognitive responses in scopolamine-induced rats. The results were linked with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and beta-secretase (BACE-1) mRNA levels and AChE and BuChE activities in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats. In our study, MO and HU, but not RA, showed an improvement in long-term memory. The results were in line with mRNA levels, since MO produced a decrease of AChE mRNA level by 52% in the cortex and caused a strong significant inhibition of BACE1 mRNA transcription (64% in the frontal cortex; 50% in the hippocampus). However, the extract produced only an insignificant inhibition of AChE activity in the frontal cortex. The mechanisms of MO action are probably more complicated, since its role as a modulator of beta-secretase activity should be taken into consideration.

[The role of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and LRP5 protein in metabolism of bone tissue and osteoporosis etiology]. / Rola szlaku sygnalowego Wnt/ß-katenina oraz bialka LRPS w metabolizmie tkanki kostnej oraz etiologii osteoporozy.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease, manifested by decreased bone mineral density microarchitectural disturbances of bone tissue, and increased risk of bone fractures. Owing to large-scale morbidity particularly among postmenopausal women, nowadays osteoporosis constitutes a significant global health problem. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the role of signaling Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and LRP protein in the pathomechanism of osteoporosis, indicating a possible contribution of polymorphic variants of the candidate LRP5 gene to disease development. The goal of our study is to present contemporary research on signaling Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and mechanism of LRP protein action in the process of bone tissue metabolism and etiology of osteoporosis.

[Plants supporting the fight against the symptoms of menopause]. / Rosliny wspomagajace zwalczanie objawów menopauzy.

The tradition of the use of plants resources in the fight against many diseases dates back to antiquity. Herbal medicine is used in the fight against less severe, as well as serious diseases. In view of the serious consequences of the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to combat the symptoms of menopause are increasingly used plant medicines. According to the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported, their use is becoming more and more popular. An important advantage of this therapy is to prevent such the development of breast cancer, which is often a side effect of HRT. Therefore, this article also presents the most commonly used plants that help counteract the adverse symptoms of menopause.