Effect of pregnancy length on the early development of Bengal kittens.

In cat breeding, an important step is reproduction and obtaining healthy offspring. The main factor determining the survival of newborn kittens is the normal course and length of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gestation length on the early development of kittens. It was shown that kittens (premature kittens) later double their body weight (p < .01), have lower daily gains (p < .01) and higher body weight during eye-opening (p < .01), which occurs later than in kittens born on time. In addition, due to a shorter period of prenatal development, they require more time until the day of eye-opening, which, together with the length of pregnancy, was defined as development age.

Assessment of the Learning Process After Introducing a New Liver Transplantation Procedure in a Center With Extensive Experience in Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LTx) is one of the most complex transplant procedures. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the learning process can be observed after the introduction of LTx in a center with extensive previous experience in renal transplantation. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 264 primary LTx procedures performed with the piggyback technique (2005-2016). The procedures were divided into 4 equal groups. The characteristics of the recipients, data related to the surgery, and the postoperative course and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in surgical time and in the anhepatic phase duration between Group 1 and the other groups (median surgical time was 455 minutes vs 415 minutes, 410 minutes and 387 minutes, respectively, P < .05; median anhepatic phase duration was 75 min vs 60 min, 62 min, 60 min, respectively, P < .05). There was a decrease in the number of transfused blood units (median in Group 1 of 6 packs vs 3 packs in Group 4, P < .05) and a decrease in blood recovered from the operating field using the Cell Saver system (median in Group 1 of 1570 mL vs 1057 mL, 1123 mL, and 1045 mL, respectively, P < .05). A significant reduction in the number of hemorrhages was found (1.5% in Group 4 vs 13.6%, 10.6%, and 7.6% in the other groups P < .05). The remaining studied parameters were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive previous transplantation experience affected the lack of typical features of the learning process.

Influence of Experience Acquired by a Liver Transplantation Center on Extension of Donor Acceptance Criteria.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LTx) is the only effective treatment for end-stage liver failure. Due to the ongoing lack of organs available for transplantation, there is a tendency to extend liver donor selection criteria. The aim of the study was to determine whether extension of donor acceptance criteria with increasing experience in LTx occurred at our transplant center. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 288 donors harvested between 2005 and 2016. The donors were divided chronologically into 4 equally sized groups. They were assessed in subsequent groups according to sex, age, height, body mass index (BMI), cause of death, amount of days spent in the intensive care unit, number of episodes of cardiac arrest before organ removal, and results of laboratory and virologic tests. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in the age of accepted donors was observed between group 2 and group 4 (median 40 vs 45 years, P < .05). There was a significant increase in the acceptance of anti-HBc-positive donors (0% in group 1 vs 7% in group 4). The remaining parameters did not show statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Experience acquired by our transplant center during the period of analysis did not lead to extension of liver donor acceptance criteria. Statistically significant differences for liver donor age and virologic profile (anti-HBc) between groups were observed; however, overall analysis did not confirm a clear tendency to extend liver donor acceptance criteria at this center.

Quantum telescope: feasibility and constraints.

The quantum telescope is a recent idea aimed at beating the diffraction limit of spaceborne telescopes and possibly other distant target imaging systems. There is no agreement yet on the best setup of such devices, but some configurations have already been proposed. In this Letter we characterize the predicted performance of quantum telescopes and their possible limitations. Our extensive simulations confirm that the presented model of such instruments is feasible and the device can provide considerable gains in the angular resolution of imaging in the UV, optical, and infrared bands. We argue that it is generally possible to construct and manufacture such instruments using the latest or soon to be available technology. We refer to the latest literature to discuss the feasibility of the proposed QT system design.

Brain glucose metabolism in an animal model of depression.

An increasing number of data support the involvement of disturbances in glucose metabolism in the pathogenesis of depression. We previously reported that glucose and glycogen concentrations in brain structures important for depression are higher in a prenatal stress model of depression when compared with control animals. A marked rise in the concentrations of these carbohydrates and glucose transporters were evident in prenatally stressed animals subjected to acute stress and glucose loading in adulthood. To determine whether elevated levels of brain glucose are associated with a change in its metabolism in this model, we assessed key glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase), products of glycolysis, i.e., pyruvate and lactate, and two selected enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (pyruvate dehydrogenase and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Additionally, we assessed glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Prenatal stress increased the levels of phosphofructokinase, an important glycolytic enzyme, in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. However, prenatal stress had no effect on hexokinase or pyruvate kinase levels. The lactate concentration was elevated in prenatally stressed rats in the frontal cortex, and pyruvate levels remained unchanged. Among the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, prenatal stress decreased the level of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the hippocampus, but it had no effect on α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. Like in the case of glucose and its transporters, also in the present study, differences in markers of glucose metabolism between control animals and those subjected to prenatal stress were not observed under basal conditions but in rats subjected to acute stress and glucose load in adulthood. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was not reduced by prenatal stress but was found to be even higher in animals exposed to all experimental conditions, i.e., prenatal stress, acute stress, and glucose administration. Our data indicate that glycolysis is increased and the Krebs cycle is decreased in the brain of a prenatal stress animal model of depression.

Better cognitive and physical performance is associated with higher blood pressure in centenarians.

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge of rational, evidence based health care in the hundred-year-old is still poor. The aim of the study was to evaluate health and functional state in hundred-year-old inhabitants of Upper Silesia, Poland, with a focus on the heart and vascular function. PARTICIPANTS: Medical and nursing assessment at places of residence was performed in thirty five 100.7±1.4 (mean±SD) year-old subjects, 28 women, and 7 men. MEASUREMENTS: The protocol included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Barthel Index (BI) and laboratory tests. A telephone follow-up was performed 180 days after the initial examination. RESULTS: Most subjects had increased systolic blood pressure (BP), diminished albumin and folate serum levels as well as decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate. According to the quadratic polynomial regression model MMSE and BI were dependent on BP. Higher BP was associated with better performance and survival. Those who survived more than 180 days had lower levels of CRP and VCAM-1 and higher level of sCD40L. CONCLUSION: The relationships between functional scales, survival and blood pressure suggest a beneficial effect of elevated BP on both mental and physical performance in centenarians. Further studies should determine an optimal balance between risk and benefits of elevated blood pressure in the oldest old people.

Team-based occupational stress reduction: a European overview from the perspective of the OSCAR Project.

Work-related stress is a significant impediment to job satisfaction and healthy psycho-social functioning. It can alter the behaviour of the person involved and impair the quality of their life. In the European Union (EU), over the last decade, work-related stress has been consistently identified as one of the major workplace concerns--a challenge not only to the health of working people but also to the healthiness of their organizations. The study reported below attempted to address the issue of work-related stress through whole team training programmes, on a background of largely ineffective stress reduction training programmes offered to individuals within the workplace. This EU 'framework 5 Quality of Life' project focused instead on tackling the organizational level through training of mental health teams in five countries. The findings have significant implications to the conceptual, methodological and everyday organizational practice levels of tackling this central issue to the health of the workplace.

CCK receptor antagonism by loxiglumide and gall bladder contractions in response to cholecystokinin, sham feeding and ordinary feeding in man.

The postprandial contractions of the gall bladder result from the interaction of neurohormonal factors but their relative contribution is unknown. This study was designed to determine the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) in gall bladder contractions using a highly selective and potent CCK-receptor antagonist, CR-1505 (loxiglumide) in healthy men either infused with exogenous CCK in graded doses (1.56-50 pmol/kg/h) or subjected to modified sham feeding (MSF) and ordinary feeding tests. The gall bladder volume measured by real time ultrasonography showed dose dependent decrease in the gall bladder volume in 10 subjects when CCK8 was infused iv in graded doses reaching about 15% at 1.56 pmol/kg/h and 91% at 50 pmol/kg/h. Close correlation between the decrease in gall bladder volume and the dosage of CCK or the increments in plasma CCK-bioactivity was observed. After pretreatment with loxiglumide, CCK resulted in similar increments in plasma CCK-bioactivity but failed to affect the gall bladder volume at CCK doses up to 6.25 pmol/kg/h and caused only 53% reduction at 50 pmol/kg/h. Modified sham feeding and real feeding reduced the volume of gall bladder by 20% and 70%, respectively and loxiglumide decreased these values to 15% and 30%, respectively. This study provides evidence that loxiglumide is highly potent and selective CCK antagonist and that endogenous CCK plays an important role both in the postprandial contractions of gall bladder.

[Changes in the orientation of mouse myeloma immunoglobulin G in monolayers after treatment with sodium deoxycholate]. / Izmenenie orientatsii mielomnogo immunoglobulina myshi v monosloiakh v rezul'tate obrabotki dezoksikholatom natriia.

Molecules of normal mouse IgG are oriented horizontally in monolayers at air-water interface unlike the molecules of mouse IgG1 kappa secreted by MOPC-21 myeloma which have vertical orientation. Sodium desoxycholate processing of both preparations at concentrations below the critical micelle concentration resulted in abnormal IgG1 kappa preservation and normal IgG acquisition of vertical orientation in monolayers. When sodium desoxycholate was used for IgG modification at concentration higher than the critical micelle concentration both normal and abnormal IgG had horizontal orientation in monolayers.

[Effect of cholinesterase (ChE) reactivators on hemodynamics in animals. I. Reactions of the circulatory and respiratory systems of rabbits after administration of ChE reactivators]. / Wplyw reaktywatorów esterazy cholinowej (ChE) na hemodynamike u zwierzat. I. Reakcje ukladu krazenia i oddechowego u królików po podaniu reaktywatorów ChE.

Studies on the dynamics of changes in the circulatory and respiratory system in rabbits were carried out after intravenous injection of ChE reactivators used in treatment of poisoning with phosphoorganic compounds (FO). Blood flow in the carotid artery, arterial pressure, frequency and amplitude of breathing were measured. From the above data pulse rate and coefficient of vesself resistance were calculated. The results obtained indicate that the reactions in the circulatory and respiratory system depend on the kind of the reactivator, the size of its dose and time of action. Pralidoxim--PAM (at a dose of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg) acts cholinergically on the muscular coat o blood vessels, causing their shrinkage, which is proved by decreased blood flow with simultaneous increase of vessel resistance. The increase of vessel resistance was directly proportional to the dose of pralidoxim and often caused an increase in arterial pressure. Pralidoxim did not show a larger effect on the function of the heart. The action of obidoxim--Toxogonin or Toxobidin--does not only depend on the size of the dose but on the time of action as well. At small doses (10 mg/kg), obidoxim increases blood flow after 15 min, then causes shrinkage of blood vessels and decreases blood flow with increased vessel resistance. At larger doses (20, 40 mg/kg) a constant increase of blood flow is maintained, despite frequently decreased arterial pressure with simultaneously decreased vessel resistance. This accounts for blood vessel dilatation. The reactivators studied stimulate the function of the respiratory system by increased frequency of breathing, but its amplitude was effected to a lesser extent. It was also shown that ChE activity in blood was not changed significantly. The action of the indoxims studied was similar to that of Toxobidin (Polfa) and Toxogonin (E. Merck).

[Effect of cholinesterase (ChE) reactivators on hemodynamics in animals. II. Reactions of the circulatory and respiratory systems of dogs after administration of ChE reactivators]. / Wplyw reaktywatorów esterazy cholinowej (ChE) na hemodynamike u zwierzat. II. Reakcje ukladu krazenia i oddechowego u psów po podaniu reaktywatorów ChE.

Different actions of pralidoxim and obidoxim were shown in studies on the influence of ChE reactivators (administered in doses of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg) on the circulatory and respiratory system. Blood flow velocity, arterial blood pressure in the carotid artery, the frequency and amplitude of breathing were recorded continuosly 60 min before and after intravenous injection of the reactivator. From these data the pulse rate, blood flow rate and the coefficient of the peripheral vascular resistance were calculated. At the same time pulse pressure was determined. Pralidoxim (PAM) acts parasympathicolitically on the heart-vascular system. It causes blood vessel shrinkage and decreases blood flow which is accounted for by increased vascular resistance by 20-40%. Such reactions cause, particularly after lower doses, increased arterial pressure and pulse rate by 15%. A 10 mg/kg dose of obidoxim increased pulse rate and blood flow for 15 min after the injection after 15 min the blood flow gradually decreased with simultaneous increase of the vascular resistance by 30%, as compared with the initial values. At larger doses it evoked mainly vascular reactions characterized by a constant increase of blood flow with simultaneous decrease of the vascular area. The ChE reactivators used stimulated the function of the respiratory system, which becomes apparent by increasing frequency of breathing with simultaneous increase of its amplitude. In these studies no differences were found in the action of obidoxim: Toxogonin (E. Merck) and Toxobidin (Polfa).

[Regulation of the orientation of the IgG and IgM molecule at the interface]. / Upravlenie orientatsiei molekul IgG i IgM na granitse razdela faz.

Pathological immunoglobulins (IgG from patients with multiple myeloma and IgM from patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia) have been shown to possess hydrophylic-lipophylic balance (HLB) which differed from normal Ig HLB. HLB deficiency in pathological proteins was due to the increase of hydrophobic area at the surface of protein globe, which was the reason for different normal and abnormal Ig orientations at the aqueous NaCl solution--air interface. The normal IgG and IgM had horizontal orientation while abnormal ones had vertical orientation. Both normal and abnormal Ig changed their orientation in monolayers as a result of sodium deoxycholate processing. The change in orientation depended on protein molecules interaction with single molecules or micelles of sodium deoxycholate.

The lead structure in cardiac glycosides is 5 beta, 14 beta-androstane-3 beta 14-diol.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the lead structure in cardiac glycosides at the receptor level, i.e. the minimal structural requirement for specific and powerful receptor recognition. Accordingly 73 digitalis-like acting steroids were characterized as to the concentration effecting half-maximum inhibition of Na,K-ATPase from human cardiac muscle under standardized turnover conditions. Since the Ki value equaled the apparent KD value, K'D was expressed in terms of the apparent standard Gibbs energy change delta G degrees' of steroid interaction with Na,K-ATPase. This allowed the use of the extrathermodynamic approach as a rational way of correlating in a quantitative manner, the potency and structure of the various steroidal compounds. The results of the present analysis taken in conjunction with relevant findings reported in the literature, favour the following conclusions. Cassaine, canrenone, prednisolone- and progesterone-3,20-bisguanylhydrazone, and chlormadinol acetate are compounds that are not congeneric with digitalis. The butenolide ring of cardenolides or the analogous side-chains at C17 beta of 5 beta, 14 beta-androstane-3 beta, 14-diol are not pharmacophoric substructures, but merely amplifiers of the interaction energy of the steroid lead. All modifications of the structure, geometry and spatial relationship between the steroid nucleus and butenolide side chain of digitoxigenin all at once weaken the close fit interaction with the steroid and butenolide binding subsites of the enzyme in such way that the cardenolide derivatives interact with the receptor binding site area in whatever orientation that will minimize the Gibbs energy of the steroid-receptor-solvent system. The "butenolide carbonyl oxygen distance model" (Ahmed et al. 1983) for the interpretation of the differences in potency of the cardenolide derivatives describes the change in interaction energy through structural modification as a function of the entire molecule. 5 beta, 14 beta-androstane-3 beta, 14-diol, the steroid nucleus of cardiac glycosides of the digitalis type, is the minimum structure for specific receptor recognition and the key structure for inducing protein conformational change and thus Na,K-ATPase inhibition. It is also the structural requirement for maximum contributions of the butenolide substituent at C17 beta and the sugar substituent at C3 beta-OH to the overall interaction energy, i.e. this steroid nucleus is the lead structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Study of Monomolecular layers of immunoglobulin G by IR-spectroscopy]. / Issledovanie monomolekuliarnykh sloev immunoglobulina G metodom IK-spektroskopii.

The deposited immunoglobulin G (IgG) monomolecular layers consisting of native protein molecules oriented either horizontally or vertically towards the Si internal reflection plate, and also of molecules, denatured in monolayers at air-water interface have been studied by attenuated total-reflection (ATR) IR-spectroscopy technique. It was shown that deposition of IgG molecules on Si surface from monolayers at air--water interface did not change conformation and orientation of the molecules. The value of monolayer thickness correlates with the IgG molecule dimensions calculated from X-ray diffraction data. It was also established that beta-conformation prevails in the secondary structure of both native and denaturated molecules.