The copy number variation of GSTM1 as a promising prognostic factor of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the copy number variation (CNV) of GSTM1 and GSTT1 is related to the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) relapses, along the overall and progression-free survival of patients. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 234 OSCC patients were recruited from the Heliópolis hospital and they were distributed among 4 groups according to the occurrence of OSCC relapses. Fisher exact test, odds ratio (OR), and 95% CI were determined to investigate the chances of OSCC progression. The overall and progression-free survival were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods. RESULTS: The CNV of GSTM1 analysis showed that one copy of the gene was associated with reduced chances of OSCC recurrences (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.81) and decreased the risk of tumor progression (HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.33-0.75). Furthermore, one copy of GSTM1 was related to a better overall survival rate (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.0.44-0.91). Regarding the CNV of GSTT1, no copies were associated with the chances of OSCC relapses, the overall survival, or the progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: The CNV of GSTM1 may be applied to predict OSCC relapses and aid the treatment management, which might improve the survival rates of patients.

Exploring the Role of Alcohol Metabolizing Genotypes in a 12-Week Clinical Trial of Naltrexone for Alcohol Use Disorder.

Background: The efficacy of naltrexone in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been associated with a set of variables not directly related with the expression of opioid receptors. All the variables have been found to be highly associated with AUD itself or more severe clinical levels of AUD. Objectives: Given the high association between alcohol metabolizing enzymes (AME) and the outcome of AUD, the present study aims to investigate the role of AME genotype variants in the treatment of AUD with naltrexone. Methods: We carried out a 12-week longitudinal clinical trial based on the treatment of AUD patients with naltrexone (N = 101), stratified by different alcohol metabolization genotypes. Genotyping was performed after the inclusion of the patients in the study, based on the individual presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase)1B (ADH1B*2 and ADH1B*3), ADH1C (ADHC*1) and ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase) 2 (ALDH2*2) genes. The outcome of alcohol use has been monitored employing the timeline follow-back during the treatment. Results: The ADH1C*1 (Ile350Val, rs698) and ALDH2*2 (Glu504Lys, rs671) polymorphisms were associated with a better response to naltrexone treatment, whereas the ADH1B*3 (Arg370Cys, rs2066702) allelic variant showed a negative outcome. Conclusions: The present study explores a genomic setting for the treatment of AUD with naltrexone. According to our findings, the association between ADH1C*1 and ALDH2*2 variants and better outcomes suggests a successful treatment, whereas the ADH1B*3 mutated allele might lead to an unsuccessful treatment. Further studies should be performed to investigate the relationship between alcohol metabolizing genotypes, the family history of alcohol use disorders and the effect of naltrexone on the outcomes. Genotyping may be a valuable tool for precision-medicine and individualized approach, especially in the context of alcohol use disorders. The small number of subjects was the main limitation of the present study.

Polymorphisms of CHRNA3 and CHRNA5: Head and neck cancer and cigarette consumption intensity in a Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette consumption has been identified as the main non-etiological factor in head and neck cancer (HNC) development. One of the main compounds in cigarettes is nicotine, which binds directly to nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) in the body, which are encoded by different genes of the CHRNA family. Polymorphisms in some of these genes have been studied in relation to the risk of HNC and cigarette consumption intensity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there were associations between the CHRNA3 (rs578776) and CHRNA5 (rs16969968) polymorphisms and HNC risk and between the polymorphisms and the intensity of cigarette consumption. METHODS: A total of 1,067 individuals from Heliopolis Hospital in São Paulo were investigated, including 619 patients with HNC and 448 patients without diagnosed tumors. All participants answered a questionnaire about sociodemographic information and cigarette consumption data. The polymorphisms were determined by TaqMan genotyping by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The polymorphisms studied, rs578776 (CHRNA3) and rs16969968 (CHRNA5), did not have an association with HNC risk, but the rs16969968 homozygous genotype was associated with increased cigarette consumption intensity (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.05-3.58). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism CHRNA5 can be considered an indirect risk factor for neoplasms in these Brazilian samples when cigarette consumption increased.

Genetic Variants Involved in One-Carbon Metabolism: Polymorphism Frequencies and Differences in Homocysteine Concentrations in the Folic Acid Fortification Era.

Folate and other B vitamins are essential co-factors of one-carbon metabolism, and genetic variants, such as polymorphisms, can alter the metabolism. Furthermore, the adoption of food fortification with folic acid showed a decrease of homocysteine concentration. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequencies of the polymorphisms of enzymes and carrier proteins involved in one-carbon metabolism, and to evaluate homocysteine concentrations in the presence of these genetic variants in a population exposed to mandatory food fortification with folic acid. Using data from a population-based cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil, the study population comprised 750 participants above 12 years of age of both genders. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the homocysteine concentrations according to genetic variants and folate level. The results showed that the minor allelic frequencies were 0.33 for MTHFR (rs1801133), 0.24 for MTHFR (rs1801131), 0.19 for MTR (rs1805087), 0.42 for MTRR (rs1801394), 0.46 for RFC1 (rs1051266), and 0.47 for DHFR (19-bp deletion). The genetic variants of MTHFR 677C>T, MTRR 66A>G and RFC-1 80G>A were different according to race. The homocysteine concentrations increased in the CT and TT compared to CC genotypes of polymorphism MTHFR 677C>T in all populations, and differences between the homocysteine concentrations according to the genotypes of MTHFR 677C>T were observed regardless of folate level.

Polymorphisms in the p27kip-1 and prohibitin genes denote novel genes associated with melanoma risk in Brazil, a high ultraviolet index region.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major environmental risk factor to the development of cutaneous melanoma as it induces pyrimidine dimers in DNA. Genes that exert their function by arresting the cell cycle are critical to avoid carcinogenic mutations, allowing the processing of DNA repair systems. This study was carried out to evaluate the role of polymorphisms in cell cycle genes such as TP53, p27, CDKN2A, prohibitin, and GADD153 in melanoma risk as well as their influence on known risk factors in a high UV index region. A hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Brazil to evaluate the contribution of polymorphisms in cell cycle genes toward melanoma risk. The study comprised 202 melanoma patients and 210 controls. The polymorphisms analyzed were TP53 Arg72Pro, p27 Val109Gly, GADD153 Phe10Phe (rs697221), CDKN2A 3'UTR C540G, and prohibitin 3'UTR C1703T. As regards, p27 Val109Gly, both heterozygous and homozygous Gly genotypes were shown to be protective genotypes on calculating both crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for age, sex, and educational level [OR 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.87; P<0.05]. Similarly, the prohibitin TT genotype increased melanoma risk in the crude and adjusted analyses (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.10-5.26; P<0.05). The p27 Gly protective genotype decreased the risk for melanoma in a stratified analysis of the known risk factors such as hair and eye color, sunburns, pigmented lesions, and European ancestry. The prohibitin TT genotype increased the risk of melanoma by such host factors. Our results showed for the first time that polymorphisms in p27 Val109Gly and in prohibitin 3'UTR C1703T genotypes modulate the risk to melanoma in a high UV index region.

Ethnicity and cutaneous melanoma in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Over the last century the incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased worldwide, a trend that has also been observed in Brazil. The identified risk factors for melanoma include the pattern of sun exposure, family history, and certain phenotypic features. In addition, the incidence of melanoma might be influenced by ethnicity. Like many countries, Brazil has high immigration rates and consequently a heterogeneous population. However, Brazil is unique among such countries in that the ethnic heterogeneity of its population is primarily attributable to admixture. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of European ethnicity to the risk of cutaneous melanoma in Brazil. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We carried out a hospital-based case-control study in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We evaluated 424 hospitalized patients (202 melanoma patients and 222 control patients) regarding phenotypic features, sun exposure, and number of grandparents born in Europe. Through multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found the following variables to be independently associated with melanoma: grandparents born in Europe-Spain (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.03-8.77), Italy (OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.41-8.57), a Germanic/Slavic country (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.05-8.93), or ≥ 2 European countries (OR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.06-7.47); eye color-light brown (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.14-3.84) and green/blue (OR = 4.62; 95% CI 2.22-9.58); pigmented lesion removal (OR = 3.78; 95% CI: 2.21-6.49); no lifetime sunscreen use (OR = 3.08; 95% CI: 1.03-9.22); and lifetime severe sunburn (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.03-3.19). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that European ancestry is a risk factor for cutaneous melanoma. Such risk appears to be related not only to skin type, eye color, and tanning capacity but also to others specific characteristics of European populations introduced in the New World by European immigrants.

European ancestry and polymorphisms in DNA repair genes modify the risk of melanoma: a case-control study in a high UV index region in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: UV radiation is the major environmental factor related to development of cutaneous melanoma. Besides sun exposure and the influence of latitude, some host characteristics such as skin phototype and hair and eye color are also risk factors for melanoma. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes could be good candidates for susceptibility genes, mainly in geographical regions exposed to high solar radiation. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the role of host characteristics and DNA repair polymorphism in melanoma risk in Brazil. METHODS: We carried out a hospital-based case-control study in Brazil to evaluate the contribution of host factors and polymorphisms in DNA repair to melanoma risk. A total of 412 patients (202 with melanoma and 210 controls) were analyzed regarding host characteristics for melanoma risk as well as for 11 polymorphisms in DNA repair genes. RESULTS: We found an association of host characteristics with melanoma development, such as eye and hair color, fair skin, history of pigmented lesions removed, sunburns in childhood and adolescence, and also European ancestry. Regarding DNA repair gene polymorphisms, we found protection for the XPG 1104 His/His genotype (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.13-0.75), and increased risk for three polymorphisms in the XPC gene (PAT+; IV-6A and 939Gln), which represent a haplotype for XPC. Melanoma risk was higher in individuals carrying the complete XPC haplotype than each individual polymorphism (OR 3.64; 95% CI 1.77-7.48). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the host factors European ancestry and XPC polymorphisms contributed to melanoma risk in a region exposed to high sun radiation.

DNA damage and repair in leukocytes of melanoma patients exposed in vitro to cisplatin.

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs can be an obstacle to a successful treatment of cancer patients in part associated with individual response and differences in the DNA repair system. The Comet assay is an informative test to investigate DNA damage and repair in cells in response to a variety of DNA-damaging agents, including chemotherapeutic drugs. The aim of this study was to assess leukocytes damage after in-vitro cisplatin treatment and DNA repair action using the Comet assay in 20 patients with melanoma and 20 cancer-free individuals. Leukocytes' DNA damage before and after cisplatin treatment, in three different concentrations, was analyzed. The DNA repair capability was investigated after 1-5 h of in-vitro cells growing without cisplatin. The Comet score of the patients' basal DNA damage was higher than that observed in controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.85). Although both groups had similar Comet scores to all cisplatin concentrations tested and the DNA repair times, the basal DNA damage (P<0.001) and cisplatin damages (P<0.005) were statistically lower than the different repair times investigated. Considering the progressive increase in the Comet score due to repair time, the negative results here observed could be associated with the reduced cell culture incubation that should be better evaluated. Considering the mutagenic action of cisplatin on tumor cells and the importance of individual DNA repair mechanisms in the chemotherapeutic melanoma treatment, the peripheral leukocytes could be particularly useful as a tool for DNA repair response identified by the Comet assay.

Assessment of occupational genotoxic risk among Brazilian hairdressers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the genotoxic risk to hairdressers exposed daily to chemical substances such as hair dyes, waving and straightening preparations and manicurists' products by the Comet assay test (single-cell gel electrophoresis). METHODS: The Comet assay was performed on blood samples from 69 female hairdressers (36.4 +/- 10.7 years old) currently employed in 21 different beauty institutes in São Paulo, Brazil, and on 55 female control blood donors (32.6 +/- 10.0 years old) from the São Paulo University Clinical Hospital blood bank. All the control subjects had occupations other than hairdresser. Comet assays were performed by evaluating 100 blood lymphocytes per individual and graded by visual score according to comet tail length. RESULTS: The hairdressers showed a higher frequency of DNA damage revealed by Comet Score (159.8 +/- 71) when compared to the control group (125.4 +/- 64.1), and the difference was statistically significant by the Student's t-test (P = 0.005). Multiple regression analysis showed that in addition to the hairdressers' profession, tobacco use contributed to the higher frequency of cells with comets (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The observed DNA damage could be associated with the hairdressers' occupational environment, where different chemicals are chronically manipulated and inhaled. Considering that this profession in many countries, including Brazil, is not officially regulated, more attention should focus on these professionals not only by legislative bodies but also by multidisciplinary teams able to develop and implement risk prevention and control strategies for chemical, physical and biological agents to which hairdressers are exposed.

Overexpression of HER2/neu oncoprotein in cytologic specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the rate of HER2/neu overexpression in cytologic specimens by immunocytochemistry (ICC) and compare these results in matched surgical specimens by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), when available. STUDY DESIGN: All cytologic specimens processed for HER2/neu evaluation by ICC (72 cases) and available corresponding histologic specimens (16 cases) were retrieved from our files. ICC was applied to previously Papanicolaou stained, routine fine needle aspirations specimens (64 cases) and cytocentrifuged, alcohol-fixed, fluid specimens (8 cases). FISH was performed on 6 histologic specimens. RESULTS: Overexpression of HER2/neu was seen in 7/22 breast cancers (31.8%), 3/18 pulmonary adenocarcinomas (16.6%), 2/5 colorectal adenocarcinomas (40%), 1/2 adenocarcinomas of the biliary system (50%), 1/3 thyroid papillary carcinomas (33.3%) and 1/3 prostate adenocarcinomas (33.3%). Sixteen cases had IHC in matched histologic specimens: 14 (87.5%) cases were concordant (11 negative and 3 positive in both specimens), 1 case was negative in the cytologic specimen and positive in the histologic specimen (with no amplification by FISH), and 1 case was positive in the cytologic specimen and negative in the histologic specimen (not informative by FISH). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that overexpression of HER2/neu oncoprotein can be successfully detected in routine cytologic specimens, providing a simple, fast and cost-effective method of selecting patients for specific treatment.

Fusion of COL1A1 exon 29 with PDGFB exon 2 in a der(22)t(17;22) in a pediatric giant cell fibroblastoma with a pigmented Bednar tumor component. Evidence for age-related chromosomal pattern in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and related tumors.

In contrast with classic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DP), genetic information about the juvenile or pigmented variant forms of DP, so-called giant cell fibroblastoma (GCF) and Bednar tumor (BT), is limited. In the sole karyotyped case of BT a supernumerary ring containing chromosomes 17 and 22 sequences, similar to DP rings, was reported, whereas in three GCF cases, t(17;22) or der(22)t(17;22) with COL1A1-PDGFB fusion involving exons 11, 40, and 47, respectively, have been described. Here, we report the first cytogenetic and molecular analysis of a tumor from a 5-year-old child that contained both GCF and BT components. The karyotype and molecular analyses confirmed the common histogenetic origin between DP, GCF, and BT in showing the presence of a der(22)t(17;22) fusing the COL1A1 exon 29 to PDGFB exon 2. Because COL1A1 exon 29 has been involved previously in gene fusion with PDGFB exon 2 in several cases of adult or infantile DP presenting either t(17;22) or ring chromosomes, our results support the concept that DP, GCF, and BT are morphologic variants of a same entity, rather than distinct tumors. Of interest, our findings give prominence to the relation between patient age and the chromosomal rearrangement pattern in DP and related tumors. Whereas only a few adult DP cases presented with translocations, all the infantile cases, either DP, GCF, or mixed BT-GCF, as shown here, contained translocation derivatives but not ring chromosomes. All the ring chromosomes were observed in adult cases. With respect to cytogenetic studies, DP, GCF, and BT appear to be a unique model for age-related chromosomal rearrangement progression.

Biomarcadores moleculares em câncer: implicaçöes para a pesquisa epidemiológica e a saúde pública / Molecular biomarkers in cancer: implications for epidemiological research and public health

O desenvolvimento das áreas de genética e biologia molecular tem sido admirável nas últimas décadas e isso tem repercutido intensamente na epidemiologia. Discute-se a ampliaçäo das fronteiras da pesquisa epidemiológica em câncer com a incorporaçäo das técnicas da genética e da biologia molecular. Examina-se o conhecimento atual dos biomarcadores de exposiçäo e de suscetibilidade, o papel das mutaçöes genéticas na carcinogênese, a aplicaçäo destas nos estudos epidemiológicos e implicaçöes para a prevençäo. Perscrutando o meio interno dos indivíduos, a epidemiologia molecular e a genética representam um avanço tanto para a avaliaçäo da exposiçäo, quanto para a detecçäo de indivíduos suscetíveis, e possuem imenso potencial para ampliar a compreensäo dos mecanismos da carcinogênese e dos efeitos de fatores de risco no câncer. Entretanto, por serem necessariamente mais invasivas, essas abordagens remetem a importantes questöes no campo da ética. A comunidade científica de saúde pública e a sociedade devem guardar vigilância sobre os usos e aplicaçöes deste novo conhecimento, avaliando seus desdobramentos à luz da bioética.

Nervous system cancer mortality in an industrialized area of Brazil 1980 - 1993

OBJECTIVES: The industrialization process and nervous system cancer (NSC) mortality in a urban region of Brazil. METHOD: From registries of the State System of Data Analysis Foundation (SEADE), 103 males deaths by NSC (ICD-9) in Baixada Santista (BS), from 1980 to 1993 were selected. Mortality ratios were calculated comparing the standardized mortality rate for ages over 10 years old (G1) and for the age group from 35 to 64 years old, in the industrialized and non-industrialized areas in three periods: 1980-1993, 1980-86, 1987-93. RESULTS: A statiscally significant high mortality was observed in the industrialized area, for ages over 10 in all periods and only from 1980 to 1993 for ages from 34 to 64. The highest mortality ratio occurred from 1980-86 for ages over 10 - 4.12 (CI 1.79-9.42). CONCLUSION: High mortality was probably related to the environmental and occupational exposure to many organic and inorganic chemical substances, considered carcinogenics, such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorinated, formaldehyde, nitrogenated compounds and heavy metals, found in the port and industrial complex. We discuss the importance of case-control studies in characterizing the association of these and other risk factors in the determination of NSC.

Genética do leiomioma de útero / Genetics of uterine leiomyomata

Os leiomiomas de útero, também conhecidos como fibromas, säo tumores benignos de músculo liso geralmente associados com sangramento uterino intensivo, infertilidade e dor abdominal. Esses tumores säo considerados os mais frequentes em mulheres em idade reprodutiva constituindo um grave problema de saúde pública. Alteraçöes citogenéticas foram detectadas em cerca de 40 por cento dos leiomiomas, sendo que as anomalias cromossômicas mais frequentes incluem as translocaçöes entre os cromossomos 12q14-15 e 14q23-24, rearranjos no cromossomo 6 especificamente na banda p21 e deleçöes ou translocaçöes, envolvendo o cromossomo 7 na banda q22. Identificaçäo de rearranjos cromossômicos específicos, em leiomiomas uterinos, tem possibilitado a localizaçäo de regiöes do DNA prováveis de conter genes de relevante importância nesse processo. Através de técnicas de citogenética molecular foram identificados dois genes da família de proteínas näo histônicas do DNA, conhecidos como HMGIY e HMGIC. Esses dois genes apresentaram interrupçöes na sua sequência bem como alteraçöes na sua expressäo em fibróides com rearranjos 6p e t(12;14), respectivamente. Outros genes candidatos, possivelmente presentes nas demais aberraçöes cromossômicas observadas nos leiomiomas uterinos vêm sendo também investigados. Os estudos citogenéticos e moleculares, bem como a avaliaçäo de fatores étnicos e de predisposiçäo genética familial poderäo contribuir de forma significativa para elucidaçäo dos mecanismos de formaçäo desses tumores, bem como auxiliar no diagnóstico, prognóstico e prevençäo de leiomioma uterino.

In vitro cytogenetic effects of cannabidiol on human lymphocyte cultures

Investigou-se o efeito in vitro do canabidiol (CBD) sobre o índice mitótico e a frequência de células com aberraçöes cromossômicas numéricas e/ou estruturais, em culturas de linfócitos humanos. Em uma primeira fase o CBD foi dissolvido em álcool etílico absoluto (0,01 ml/ml de meio) nas concentraçöes de 0,001, 0,01 0,1, e 10,0 microng de CBD/ml de meio e, na segunda fase, o etanol foi evaporado antes de ser adicionado o meio de cultura. O efeito clastogênico do CBD foi maior quando associado ao álcool. A açäo do etanol foi predominantemente anti-mitogênica enquanto o CBD teve efeito mais nítido sobre a produçäo de células com aberraçöes cromossômicas. Após a evaporaçäo do etanol, a proporçäo de células com aberraçöes cromossômicas estruturais manteve uma relaçäo aproximadamente crescente com o aumento da taxa de CBD

Carcass traits and meat quality of male lambs fed monensin or lasalocid.

Male lambs, crossbred Merino × Ille de France, were fed a diet supplemented with 31 mg monensin or 32 mg lasalocid per kg of feed dry matter from an initial body weight of 23·6-23·9 kg to the slaughter weight of approximately 40 kg. Carcass traits and meat quality were evaluated after slaughter; the values obtained were compared with those of the control group fed the same diet without the ionophore supplement. There were few significant differences among the individual groups in carcass value, sensoric and technological properties of meat and of its composition. However, the lasalocid-fed group seemed to be somewhat better in muscling and in the composition of meat.

Amino acid composition of meat, fatty acid composition of fat and content of some chemical elements in the tissues of male lambs fed monensin or lasalocid.

Tissues of slaughtered male lambs fed for 56 days on a feed mixture, supplemented with either monensin or lasalocid, were analysed and compared with tissues of control lambs fed similarly but without ionophore supplement. The analyses carried out were for the amino acid composition of meat, fatty acid composition of intramuscular and perirenal fat, and for some chemical elements in meat, liver and kidneys. In meat of both supplemented groups of lambs a significant increase in tyrosine was observed. In the fat tissues of monensin-fed lambs a higher proportion of odd-carbon acid (heptadecanoic acid) was observed; differences in some other fatty acids among the groups were also found. Some significant differences in the chemical elements analysed were observed, particularly in liver, few in kidneys and none in the muscle of ionophore-fed groups. The quality of meat, as judged by the analyses for the substances mentioned, was little changed by supplementation of monensin or lasalocid in the feed of male lambs.

[Foreign substances in the meat and organs of bulls and pigs fed with pastes made from household and food industry waste in addition to pastes made from poultry droppings]. / Cizorodé látky v mase a orgánech býku a prasat po zkrmování pasty z kuchynských a potravinárských odpadu vcetne pasty s drubezím trusem.

The residues of antimicrobial substances, some chlorinated and organophosphate pesticides and chemical elements were studied in the meat and organs of a group of bulls fed food-waste paste for 240 days and a group of bulls fed the same paste with an addition of poultry waste. These residues were also studied in the tissues of pigs fed the food-waste paste for 135 and 151 days until slaughter. The feed ingredients were also examined during the feeding trials. Although some of the residues under study were found in the tissues of the test animals at increased amounts, their concentrations were diluted in the tissues in the majority of cases when the feed pastes were administered. All residue contents recorded in the tissues remained below the permissible limits as given in valid instructions and directives so that the products, i. e. meat and organs, could be deemed digestible on the basis of hygienic evaluation. Hence, from the point of view of the occurrence of residues of foreign substances in edible tissues, the administration of food-waste pastes to farm animals can be considered as admissible.

[Meat quality in broilers affected with inflammation of the feather follicles]. / Kvalita masa kurecích brojleru postizených zánetem pérových folikulu.

Broilers with feather follicle inflammation and birds free of this disorder were selected from the broiler chickens kept on plastic (bralen-)coated metallic slats. Both groups of broilers were killed on a sanitary slaughter line and the samples of breast and thigh muscles were analyzed for the basic composition and characteristics of the metabolism of nitrogenous and lipidic components. The content of individual amino acids in the muscles and the proportion of fatty acids in the intramuscular fat of broilers were determined for the evaluation of nutritive value. The samples of the affected spots of skin and samples of organs (liver) were subjected to microbiological examination. The resultant finding represented the common mesophilous microflora. No substantial statistically significant differences in chemical characteristics were found between the two groups. It follows from the results that the inflammation of feather follicles is a local skin disorder with no effect on the quality of the meat.