Heart rate variability in Konik and purebred Arabian horses in response to different predator vocalisations.

The current predation threat of domestic horses is generally low, and horses do not know predators' frightening cues. We studied whether horses still recognise predation threats. The aim of the study was to analyse the emotional response of purebred Arabian horses (Arabian) and Polish Konik horses (Konik) to an Arabian panther (Panthera pardus nimr) (panther) growl and a grey wolf (Canis lupus) (wolf) howl. Panther vocalisation was known to Arabian ancestors, whereas ancestors of Konik knew wolf vocalisation. The response to the howls of golden jackals (Canis aureus) (jackal), which did not prey on equids, was also studied comparatively. Two groups of 10 adult horses of each breed were subject to predator sounds of one predator daily for 5 min during a turn out on pasture. The test was performed for 18 days in total. The sound of each predator was interchangeably featured from one loudspeaker for 3 days followed by four loudspeakers simultaneously to imitate a group of predators for 3 days. The horses' emotional agitation in response to the sounds was measured based on the parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) using telemetric devices. The results showed that the predators' sounds were identified by horses as stressful or neutral. Horses generally retained their anti-predator responses even in the current habitat, which typically lacks predation cues. The results are not always coherent and may demonstrate that the response is somewhat attenuated. The wolf howl elicited a stronger response in Koniks. The panther growl more strongly influenced Arabians, whereas the jackal howl minimally elicited an agitation in the horses. The differentiated response of the two horse breeds to the three predator species suggests that the response is an innate adaptation to the predation risk in the habitat of the breed ancestors. This response occurs regardless of the emotional arousal specific to a breed, and the frightening cue is not the sound per se but the possible attack of predators. Horses display a type of understanding of the sound meaning. Their HRV response seems to be adequate for the threat signalised by the sound.

Total sialic acid content in endometrial cancer tissue in relation to normal and hyperplastic human endometrium.

The aim of this study was to measure the total sialic acid (TSA) content in endometrial cancer tissue and to assess its relationship to clinicopathologic features of the malignancy. Tissue TSA content was measured in 42 women with endometrial cancer, 14 women with endometrial hyperplasia, and 45 women with normal endometrium in the proliferative phase (n = 16) and secretory phase (n = 29) of the menstrual cycle using the Warren procedure. The mean TSA content in endometrial cancer (2.16 micromol/gm) was significantly higher in comparison to normal endometrium in both proliferative (1.23 micromol/gm) and secretory (1.51 micromol/gm) phases. TSA content in the hyperplastic endometrium (1.56 micromol/gm) was higher as compared to the normal endometrium, but the differences were not statistically significant. An increased TSA content in the neoplastic endometrium in relation to the normal endometrium supports the view that the development of endometrial cancer is associated with the increasing content of sialic acid in the tumor tissue.

Total serum sialic acid concentration as a supporting marker of malignancy in ovarian neoplasia.

The present study was undertaken to establish the diagnostic utility of total sialic acid (SA) determination in the serum of patient with ovarian neoplasia. In a group of 29 patients with histopathologically confirmed ovarian neoplasia, concentrations of total SA was determined. In addition, the two tumor markers: CA125 antigen level and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were determined. The mean value of serum total SA in patients (1.76 mmol/L) was significantly higher than in the control group of healthy women (1.52 mmol/L). The elevation of serum total SA was associated with the burden of the tumor: higher total SA levels were observed in the cases of more developed malignancies. A significant correlation has been found between serum total SA content and CA125 level in patients with undifferentiated ovarian cancers. It has been concluded that total serum sialic acid level reflects the development of malignancy and should be considered as a supporting tumor marker in ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Sialic acid concentration in serum and tissue of endometrial cancer patients.

Serum total sialic acid (TSA) level was determined in the group of 45 patients with endometrial neoplasia. Moreover, the sialic acid content in 23 surgically obtained tumor tissue specimens has been estimated. The mean value of serum total sialic acid level of the cancer patients (2.38 mmol/l) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than the sialic acid level in the control group (1.52 mmol/l). The elevation of serum total sialic acid level was associated with the burden of the tumor (2.30 mmol/l and 2.68 mmol/l for stages I and II + III, respectively). Tissue sialic acid content showed no significant differences between early and advanced clinical stage of the disease.

[Level of sialic acid in blood serum as a tumor marker]. / Poziom kwasu sialowego w surowicy krwi jako wskaznik choroby nowotworowej.

In the recent quick development of cancer diagnostic methods, attention of researchers is focused onto tumor-derived compounds as possible markers of neoplasia. In this article we have reviewed researchers' opinions about sialic acid as a tumor marker. According to majority of researchers, blood sialic acid may be regarded as a useful marker for a variety of cancers although its specificity is not high.

[High molecular weight forms of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in animals. I. Amount and enzymatic composition of high molecular weight synthetase in cytosol from rabbit liver]. / Wielkoczasteczkowe postacie syntetaz aminoacylo-tRNA w organizmach zwierzecych. Czesc I. Wielkosc i sklad enzymatcyzny wielkoczasteczkowego kompleksu syntetazowego z cytosolu watroby królika.

A high-molecular-weight complex composed of 15 amino acid-tRNA synthetases occurs in the rabbit liver cytosol apart from the free enzymes. The greatest activities in the complex are exhibited by lysyl- and arginyl-tRNA synthetases. The complex has the mass of about 4,000 kDa and the sedimentation constant about 19 S.

[High molecular weight forms of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in animals. II. High molecular weight aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes in lower animals]. / Wielkoczasteczkowe postacie syntetaz aminoacylo-tRNA w organizmach zwierzécych. Czesc II. Wielkoczasteczkowe kompleksy syntetaz aminoacylo-tRNA w organizmach nizszych zwierzat.

High-molecular-weight aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes have been found in hen, frog and carp liver cytosol as well as in cytosol from snails and Paramecium. The complexes from vertebrates and snails contained 13-15 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, revealed mass of about 4,000 kDa and sedimentation constant about 19 S. The complex from Paramecium containing 11 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, revealed a mass of about 1,600 kDa and sedimentation constant 15 S. The results of the present study support the view that the high-molecular-weight synthetase complexes are common entities in the animal kingdom.

Comparison of the thermolability and hydrophobic properties of high- and low-molecular-weight forms of rabbit liver arginyl-tRNA synthetase.

Two preparations with arginyl-tRNA synthetase activity have been obtained from rabbit liver post-microsomal fraction: a) a high-molecular-weight containing the multienzyme aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex and b) a low-molecular-weight preparation containing free enzymes. Thermal inactivation of arginyl-tRNA synthetase in both preparations has been compared in a solution which was successively supplemented with tRNA, reduced glutathione, L-ascorbic acid, ZnCl2 and Triton X 100. Moreover, hydrophobic properties of both enzyme preparations have been compared. It was found that the complexed arginyl-tRNA synthetase is more stable than the free enzyme. A role of hydrophobic interactions in the maintenance of the complexed enzyme stability is suggested.

Heavy and light forms of some aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in fraction X, microsomes and cytosol of rabbit liver.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity for alanine, glutamic acid, lysine and phenylalanine was studied in the three subcellular fractions of rabbit liver: fraction X, microsomes and cytosol. From 60 to 80% of the enzyme activities were found in fraction X and microsomes. Fraction X was especially rich in the synthetase activities. By means of gel chromatography, heavy (over 10(6) daltons) and light (below 480 X 10(3) daltons) forms of lysyl- and phenylalanyl- but only light ones of alanyl- and glutamyl-tRNA synthetase activities were found in all the subcellular fractions studied. It is concluded that in higher organisms (mammals) all aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, at least in part, are associated with cell structural constituents.

[The use of dopamin in shock and heart failure (author's transl)]. / Die Anwendung von Dopamin bei schock und Herzinsuffizienz.

The action of dopamine was evaluated in 18 patients with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction, in 14 patients with heart failure and in 18 patients with low-output syndrome after cardiac surgery. In the patients with shock, dopamine increased significantly systolic arterial blood pressure, myocardial contractility, diuresis and sodium excretion. In patients with heart failure a great increase in diuresis and sodium excretion with decrease of CVP was observed. In patients after cardiac surgery dopamine produced a significant increase of arterial blood pressure and diuresis with decrease of CVP. The clinical application of dopamine and the advantages of the use of dopamine combined with other catecholamines were discussed.

Experiences with dopamine in patients operated with the aid of extracorporeal circulation.

In ten patients dopamine was used for counteracting low cardiac output during and after operations performed with aid of extracorporeal circulation. The changes of arterial and venous pressure, heart rate and one-hour diuresis were measured. In 8 cases the results of treatment were good. Particularly striking was the improvement of diuresis and lowering of the central venous pressure. The authors regard dopamine as a very effective inotropic agent.