Evaluation of increasing levels of a microbial phytase in phosphorus deficient broiler diets via live broiler performance, tibia bone ash, apparent metabolizable energy, and amino acid digestibility.

The objective was to investigate increasing concentrations of an evolved microbial phytase on male broiler performance, tibia bone ash, AME, and amino acid digestibility when fed diets deficient in available phosphorus (aP). Experiment 1 evaluated the effects of phytase during a 21 d battery cage study and Experiment 2 was a 42 d grow-out. Experiment 1 included six treatments; negative control (NC) with an aP level of 0.23% (starter) and 0.19% (grower), two positive controls (PC) consisting of an additional 0.12% and 0.22% aP (PC 1 and PC 2), and the NC supplemented with three levels of phytase (250, 500, and 2,000 U/kg). The NC diet reduced (P < 0.05) FC, BW, and bone ash. Phytase increased (P < 0.05) BW with 2,000 U/kg phytase yielding similar results to the PC2, and improved FCR and increased bone ash was observed at all phytase levels. Amino acid digestibility coefficients were increased (P < 0.05) with phytase at 250 U/kg. Phytase at all rates increased (P < 0.05) AME to levels similar level as PC diets. Linear regression analysis indicated average P equivalency values for BW and bone ash of 0.137, 0.147, and 0.226 for phytase inclusion of 250, 500, and 2000 U/kg, respectively. Experiment 2 included a PC consisting of 0.45%, 0.41%, and 0.38% aP for the starter, grower, and finisher, respectively; NC with reduced aP of 0.17%; and phytase at 500 and 2,000 U/kg. Phytase increased BW (P < 0.05) compared to the NC as 2,000 U/kg phytase resulted in further BW increases compared to the PC (starter and grower). Phytase improved FCR to levels comparable to the PC, with supplementation at 2,000 U/kg resulting in improvements beyond the PC in the starter phase. Amino acid digestibility coefficients were increased with phytase at 2,000 U/kg to levels comparable to that of the PC. These data confirm that the inclusion of phytase improves broiler performance and bone mineralization in aP reduced diets and levels beyond the traditional 500 U/kg can result in further improvements.

[Cerebral ischemia in young patients]. / Zespól niedokrwienny mózgu u ludzi mlodych.

The clinical, angiographic and computed tomography (CT) examinations of 19 patients aged from 12 to 30 years with signs of ischaemic brain syndrome are presented. On the basis of these examinations and data obtained from literature it is supposed that in a majority of patients the disease is caused by basal arteriopathies + i.e. pathological changes in the wall of cerebral arteries, mainly of the circulus Willis. The features distinguishing this syndrome from ischaemic disease in adults are presented and discussed. These are first of all: sudden onset connected with physical effort, deep neurological deficit, narrowing or occlusion of basal cerebral arteries seen in angiography and signs of ischaemia within deep cerebral structures visible in CT. The methods of treatment are discussed, mainly STA-MCA anastomosis used in most cases. The results of treatment are discussed. Finally the problem of the cerebral ischaemic syndrome in young people is presented from the point of view of haemodynamics, principally in the aspect of haemodynamic reserve of cerebral blood flow.

[Multiple spinal meningeal cysts in the thoracic region associated with lymphedema of the legs (Milroy's disease)]. / Mnogie torbiele nadoponowe w odcinku piersiowym kregoslupa wspólistniejace z zespolem obrzeku limfatycznego konczyn dolnych (choroba Milroya).

Intraspinal extradural meningeal cysts are uncommon cause of spinal compression. Either the classification or the etiopathology of these changes are indistinct in the literature. A rare case of multiple extradural meningeal cysts associated with lymphedema of the legs is presented. The total surgical removal was followed by the quick neurological improvement. Some etiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of these pathologies have been discussed.

[The study of the role of intervertebral disc neovascularization and immune response in the pathogenesis of lumbar discopathy]. / Badanie roli neowaskularyzacji krazka miedzykregowego oraz odf1wiedzi immunologicznej w patogenezie dyskopatii ledzwiowej.

In adult humans moral intervertebral disc (id) is an avascular tissue and becomes so called sequestrated autoantigen. Any acquired defect of anulus fibrosus may potentially lead to contact of immunocompetent cells circulating in the blood with id antigens thus inducing autoimmune reaction. 34 patients operated on because of lumbar discopathy were studied. The id injury was divided into: a) protrusion, B) simple prolapse, c) subligamentous prolapse, d) sequester. The samples of surgically removed id were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Presence of granulation tissue, neovascularization and humoral response (confirmed by immunopositive reaction to factor VIII and IgG) was found in decreasing pattern in the following groups: I) sequesters, 2) simple prolapses, and 3) subligamentous prolapses. Among protrusions there were only two cases positive for IgG. A negative reaction to C3bR was seen in all the groups of id. The obtained results suggest that immune reaction against lumbar id is rather an effect than a cause of its herniation.

Developmental narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar region.

Developmental narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar region is one of the most controversial subjects from the point of view of the significance of the neurological syndrome, the value of spondylometric assessment and methods of treatment. Among 1,196 patients operated on in our neurosurgical centre during the last 18 years because of symptomatic sciatica the authors diagnosed developmental narrowing of the spinal canal in 29 cases (2.4%). The diagnosis was made mainly on routine X-ray plates, functional X-rays, X-ray contrast examination and tomograms with indicator of known size placed at the level of the spinal canal. Among operative methods we used laminectomy and fenestration. The choice of a suitable method for a given case depended mainly on the condition during operation but the extent of the operation depended on myelography. The results of treatment during a 10 years following-up were assessed as satisfactory.

Abscisic acid in Penicillium italicum.

Abscisic acid (ABA) was found in Penicillium italicum Wehmer collected from the surface of infected oranges. After growth and subculturing 6 times on Czapek's medium, the fungus did not contain any detectable ABA.

Omental transposition to brain surface in ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Preliminary report.

There is presented the case of a patient with an ischaemic stroke of the right cerebral hemisphere who was treated surgically by the transposition of omentum to the affected area of the brain. This type of operation is carried out with increasing frequency in countries of the Far East and in arousing more interest over the whole world because of the discovery in recent years that the omentum contains biologically active substances taking part in neurotransmission and having angiogenic and neurotropic action.

Identification of a new squamous cell differentiation marker and its suppression by retinoids.

Rabbit tracheobronchial epithelial cells (RbTE) can undergo squamous cell differentiation under defined culture conditions and, therefore, have been used as a model to study the regulation of squamous cell differentiation markers. In the present study, we identified a 20-kDa protein, designated rSQ20, in the serum-free growth medium conditioned by RbTE cells undergoing squamous cell differentiation. The protein was also found in extracts of squamous differentiated cells. rSQ20 was labeled by cells incubated with [35S]methionine but not with [3H]glucosamine, suggesting that it is not a glycoprotein. Undifferentiated cells did not produce this protein. rSQ20 was detected in the conditioned medium of RbTE cells after they reached a confluent and growth-arrested state, and thereafter its level increased markedly and concurrently with an increase in type I (epidermal) transglutaminase, an established marker of squamous cell differentiation. rSQ20 found in concentrated conditioned medium of squamous differentiated RbTE cells was eluted from a gel filtration column as a protein of 20 kDa, similar to that found by gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, suggesting that it is not a multimeric protein. A protein with an apparent molecular weight of 16 kDa (rSQ16), probably the product of partial proteolysis of rSQ20, was often found in various amounts in the conditioned medium of differentiated RbTE cells. beta-All-trans retinoic acid and other vitamin A analogues (retinoids), which suppress squamous cell differentiation, inhibited the expression of rSQ20 in RbTE cells. RbTE cells immortalized by transfection with SV40 large T antigen as well as malignantly transformed derivatives obtained from the immortalized cells by further transfection with v-Ha-ras secreted SQ20 and SQ16 when grown to high cell densities although their squamous differentiation was impaired. An analogous protein with an apparent molecular weight of 16 kDa, designated hSQ16, was detected in the medium of differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK). No such protein could be detected in the medium in which undifferentiated NHBE or NHEK cells were grown. These results suggest that rSQ20 and hSQ16 are new markers of squamous cell differentiation.

Expression of a preprorelaxin-like gene during squamous differentiation of rabbit tracheobronchial epithelial cells and its suppression by retinoic acid.

Squamous cell differentiation in tracheobronchial epithelial cells is accompanied by many biochemical and molecular changes. One of the molecular changes in rabbit tracheal epithelial (RbTE) cells is the differential expression of a squamous cell-specific mRNA encoded by the complementary DNA SQ10. In this study, we sequenced SQ10 complementary DNA and showed that this gene encodes a preprorelaxin-like protein. The DNA sequence of the coding region of SQ10 has 68% identity with the human preprorelaxin mRNA, whereas the deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 46% identity with human preprorelaxin. An antiserum (pepIV-Ab) was raised against a synthetic 22-amino acid oligopeptide of the protein encoded by SQ10. Immunoblot analysis of cellular extracts of squamous-differentiated cells showed that this antiserum reacted with proteins of 22 and 20 kilodaltons, possibly constituting prepro- and proforms of this protein. These proteins were undetectable in undifferentiated RbTE cells. In agreement with these observations, PepIV-Ab specifically stained the cytosol of squamous-differentiated RbTE cells but failed to stain undifferentiated cells. PepIV-Ab recognized a 20 and 16 kilodalton polypeptide in medium conditioned by squamous-differentiated RbTE cells, indicating that the prorelaxin-like protein is secreted. The amino acid sequences of three peptides that were obtained after tryptic digestion of the secreted 16 kilodalton protein were identical to sequences encoded by SQ10. Retinoids which have been shown to inhibit squamous differentiation suppressed the induction of SQ10 protein as well as mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration at which retinoic acid caused a 50% inhibition of SQ10 mRNA levels was approximately 5 nM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)