Evaluation of Acute Phase Proteins in Clinically Healthy Dairy Cows in Perinatal Period and During Lactation.

The estimation of acute phase proteins (APP), which are recognized as inflammation markers is a good method for animal health monitoring. Several factors such as obesity, age and sex are also known to modulate APP status. We evaluated the influence of pregnancy and lactation in 65 clinically healthy dairy Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, 2nd÷4th lactation, chosen from 3 different dairy farms located in South West part of Poland. Bovine C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin and fibrinogen were assayed using commercial ELISA kits. The highest values of CRP and haptoglobin were observed in cows during the first month after calving. The highest concentrations of fibrinogen was found in a group of cows prior to expected date of parturition and the level of this protein in blood plasma was decreasing during lactation. The significant differences of analyzed APPs among cows before delivery, during first month after calving and in lactation (1-3 months after delivery) suggested that factors like pregnancy and stage of lactation would have an influence on their concentration.

The investigation of correlation among selected biochemical parameters and vital signs in dairy herd to design the bio-cybernetic dairy cow model.

The paper presents investigations of the relationship between the biochemical parameters and vital signs in dairy cows. We analyzed the welfare and functioning of a dairy herd using biochemical parameters and vital signs. Life and biochemical parameters were examined. In the model indicators useful for monitoring the herd are: the age of the cows, the number of cows' lactating, daily amount of received milk, length of lactation period for cows in the herd, the length of inter-calving period for cows, the number of days to effective insemination, the amount of protein in the feed, the level of ß-oxidation in leucocytes, glucose transport through red blood cells and plasma insulin. Based on the results the mathematical model was designed allowing the presentation of a cybernetic model of cow's organism. There was constructed a multi-equation model which determined the relationships between the selected variables describing the state of dairy cows in the herd and variables that characterize their welfare with its statistical verification.

Influence of vagal input on cerebral blood flow in monkeys and dogs after experimental cerebral vasospasm.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was a response to experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in four monkeys ,and three dogs. Decrease in CBF was observed in the white and gray matter and in the flow measured within the internal carotid artery as the result of SAH. Bilateral vagotomy enhanced CBF in the gray matter and blood flow in the internal carotid artery to values exceeding the control ones. Results suggest the existence of a receptor susceptible to subarachnoid haemorrhage and connected with vagal nuclei.

The effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026 used alone or with vitamin-mineral premix on biochemical parameters of blood and milk in dairy cows.

When evaluating the effects of yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026) supplied with or without a vitamin premix and mineral bioplexes on some intermediates and end-products involved in the synthesis of milk constituents in 30 early-lactation Black and White Lowland cows, no significant differences were found in the glucose level, mineral contents and enzyme activities of the blood serum. The effect of yeast culture on the availability of minerals for milk synthesis depended upon the dynamics of degradation of mineral bioplexes in the rumen and the cows' mineral status. The insignificant increase found in blood total protein content and the simultaneous small differences in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) values in cows supplied with the yeast culture were probably associated with a high ammonia incorporation into microbial protein in the rumen, which increased protein supply for milk protein synthesis and decreased the nitrogen loss.

The effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026 used alone or with vitamin-mineral premix on milk yield and milk composition in dairy cows.

The effect of a yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026) added to the diet with or without supplementation with vitamin premix and mineral bioplexes on milk production responses of 30 early-lactation Black and White Lowland cows was determined in a 17-week experiment. The daily ration (DM) consisted of 55% forages and 45% concentrates. Milk yield and milk composition were only slightly influenced by the yeast culture given without premix, but combined supplementation with yeast culture and premix exerted a significant effect on milk production and composition. Cows supplied with the yeast culture produced 38 kg more milk than the controls by day 120 of lactation, whereas from cows fed yeast culture and premix an additional 150 kg of milk was obtained. In cows treated with the yeast culture alone, the total yield of milk protein, casein and lactose rose by 4.4 kg, 3.0 kg and 6.0 kg, respectively, and that increase was not significant. At the same time, the total yield of milk components increased significantly in cows fed a combination of yeast culture, vitamin premix and mineral bioplexes. The total yield of milk protein, casein and milk fat increased by 9.2 kg, 6.0 kg and 8.2 kg, respectively. The results suggest that mineral bioplexes stimulate the action of yeast culture in the rumen and the availability of nutrients in the mammary gland.

[Effect of the methods of preparing aqueous extracts on the amount of soluble compounds in fascial prostheses]. / Wplyw warunków przygotowania wyciagów wodnych na ilosc zwiazków wymywalnych z protez powiezi miesni.

Methods of testing products made of plastics in medicine do not take into account chemico-toxicological evaluation of biomaterials made of fibres or of foam plastics. According to the project of the monograph Compendium Medicamentorum COMECON, water extracts should be used, where the is proportion would be maintained: 30 g of biomaterial in 100 cm3 of water. The proportion, in case of products with well-developed surface, does not ensure that the material is wholly immersed in fluid. Therefore studies were made on the use of lower concentration of the material in water, with on the other hand, extraction time being prolonged. Summing up, the authors suggest, with regard to grafts, use of the following conditions of water extraction: temperature 120 degrees C, duration 60 min. proportion of the studied material in the amount of distilled water 1:10.

[Determination of elements hazardous to health in vegetables grown in the Siedlece district]. / Zawartosc pierwiastków szkodliwych dla zdrowia w warzywach uprawianych w województwie siedleckim.

In the years 1986-1987 the content of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, lead and cadmium was determined by the atomic absorption spectrometry method in vegetables grown by gardeners in Wegrów, Sokolów Podlaski and Siedlce. These elements were measured in cabbages, tomatoes, carrots, parsley, celery (root and leaves), red beet and potatoes. The content of lead in these vegetables was from 0.0 to 0.596 mg/kg, and that of cadmium was from 0.002 to 0.184 mg/kg (fresh mass). The level of cadmium in many samples of vegetables exceeded to limit permitted by the Polish Ministry of Health. Lead level in a sample of parsley leaves was two times above the permitted value.

[Physico-chemical and biological studies of plastic materials intended for long-term contact with blood]. / Badanie fizykochemiczne i biologiczne tworzyw sztucznych przeznaczonych do dlugotrwalego kontaktu z krwia.

The criteria used presently for evaluating the materials for haemotherapy, which are based on chemical, physicochemical and biological extracts of aqueous solutions have been found to differ from the results observed after actual prolonged contact of these materials with blood and its elements. All the investigated plastic materials complied with the required quality standards, and, despite this, some of them, such as natural latex or siliconized rubber, caused considerable adhesion of proteins, release of high amounts of haemoglobin from the erythrocytes, and have been found even most thrombogenic of all 8 plastic materials tested. Investigations by means of scanning microscopy demonstrated that adhesion of fibrinogen and thrombocytes to the surface of the plastic materials depended to a high extent on the smoothness of this surface. It depended also on migration of components specific for each material. This was also the cause of variations in the adsorption of albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen labelled with 125I after their mixing with plasma.

[Value of harmful elements in fruit and vegetables grown in the province of Siedlce]. / Zawartosc pierwiastków szkodliwych dla zdrowia w owocach i warzywach uprawianych w województwie siedleckim.

The content of iron, manganese, nickel, lead, copper, zinc and cadmium was determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry (ASA) in vegetables and fruit grown in the Province of Siedlce. The studied fruits included tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbages, carrots, parsley, celery, red beets, potatoes garden strawberries, black and red currants, raspberries, apples, plums and cherries. The total number of studied samples of fruits and vegetables was 229. In 49 studied samples cadmium exceeded 0.03 mg/kg and in 4 samples lead was above 0.3 mg/kg. In most studied samples of green parts of parsley and celery (80%) zinc was above 10 mg/kg of fresh mass, that is the level permitted in our country for products containing below 20% of dry mass.

Comparison of three methods of toxicity evaluation of medical plastics.

A comparative study on the toxicity of various kinds of plastic and rubber materials (PVC and PE tubes, rubber stoppers) used in medicine and pharmacy was performed. As biological material for testing served: cultures of normal human fibroblasts, aquarium fish (Lebistes reticulatus/sp.) and bull and rat spermatozoa. Almost full correlation between the results of testing on fish cuture cells and bull spermatozoa has been found. Heterogeneity of rat spermatozoa (various stages of maturity) make useless of this biological material. The most simple method of toxicity evaluation is provided by the use of aquarium fish. In fibroblast cultures serum extracts show a higher degree of cytotoxicity than water extracts.

[Osteopoikilosis--case report]. / Plamistosc kosci--opis przypadku.

A case of osteopoikilosis in 15 years old female with painful hip is presented. Genetic background of this condition has been confirmed by finding mother, two brothers and sister of the patient who affected with osteopoikilosis.

Autologous platelet-rich plasma isolated using the Haemonetics Cell Saver 5 and Haemonetics MCS+ for the preparation of platelet gel.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We compared three methods of isolating platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using the Haemonetics Cell Saver 5 and one method of isolating PRP by plateletpheresis using the Haemonetics MCS+. PRP contains both platelets and fibrinogen, which are used in the preparation of haemostatic agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: When the Haemonetics Cell Saver 5 was used, 500 ml of blood from each of 30 normal volunteer donors was collected into 70 ml of citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) anticoagulant. In a further 14 normal volunteers, the Haemonetics MCS+ was used to isolate PRP by plateletpheresis using an acid citrate dextrose (ACD) to blood ratio of 1 : 9. In a separate study, CPD-anticoagulated whole blood from another 30 volunteers was used for measurement of fibrinogen levels in the plasma and cryoprecipitate. RESULTS: A larger volume of PRP can be collected using the Haemonetics Cell Saver 5 than by using the Haemonetics MCS+. The platelet concentration and the total number of platelets were higher in the PRP isolated using the Haemonetics MCS+ than in the PRP isolated by the three methods used with the Haemonetics Cell Saver 5, with differences in platelet concentration and PRP volume among the four methods. The mean fibrinogen level in the plasma was 253 mg % +/- 47 (SD) and in the cryoprecipitate was 1085 mg % +/- 304 (SD). CONCLUSIONS: The most appropriate method of PRP isolation for preparation of platelet gel is dependent upon the specific surgical procedure to be undertaken and the patient's needs.