Differential responses to environmental challenge by common carp Cyprinus carpio highlight the importance of coping style in integrative physiology.

Common carp Cyprinus carpio displaying proactive or reactive stress coping styles were acclimated to two environmental regimes (low oxygen and low temperature), and selected groups were tested for response to an inflammatory challenge (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, LPS). Plasma glucose and lactate levels were measured, as were selected C. carpio-specific messenger (m)RNA transcript abundance, including cortisol receptor (CR), enolase (ENO), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and interleukin-1-beta (IL1ß) was measured in individual whole brain samples. Basal levels (in sham injected fish held in normoxic conditions at 25° C) of plasma lactate and glucose differed between coping styles, being significantly lower in proactive individuals. Both variables increased in response to LPS challenge, with the exception of plasma glucose in reactive fish held in hypoxia. Baseline levels of gene expression under control conditions were significantly different for GAPDH between behavioural phenotypes. The responses to experimental challenge were sometimes diametrically opposed between stress-coping styles in a transcript-specific manner. For CR and GAPDH, for example, the response to LPS injection in hypoxia were opposite between proactive and reactive animals. Proactive fish showed decreased CR and increased GAPDH, whereas reactive showed the opposite response. These results further highlight that screening for stress-coping styles prior to experiments in adaptive physiology can significantly affect the interpretation of data obtained. Further, this leads to a more finely tuned analytical output providing an improved understanding of variation in individual responses to both environmental and inflammatory challenge.

Impact of IL-28B polymorphisms on pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment response in children and adolescents infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 4.

IL-28B polymorphisms are predictors of response to therapy in adults infected with hepatitis C. We do not know whether they are markers of response to therapy in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-28B gene could influence the probability of response to therapy compared with other known baseline prognostic factors and correlate with clinical findings in pediatric patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 or 4. We determined three SNPs of IL-28B (rs12979860, rs12980275, and rs8099917) in 82 patients with chronic HCV infection treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin (peg-IFNα/RBV). Treatment response and clinical data were analyzed. Overall, sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved by 45 % of patients infected with difficult-to-treat HCV genotypes 1 and 4. Except for IL-28B polymorphisms, there was no association of SVR with any other clinical data. IL-28B rs12979860 CC [odds ratio (OR), 6.81; p = 0.001] and rs8099917 TT (OR, 3.14; p = 0.013) genotypes were associated with higher SVR rates. IL-28B rs12980275 was not significantly associated with SVR (p = 0.058). Only the distribution between CC and CT-TT genotypes of rs12979860 significantly differentiated patients achieving early virological response (EVR) (OR, 10.0; p = 0.011). Children with the rs12979860 CC genotype had significantly higher baseline viral load compared with CT-TT patients (p = 0.010). In children and adolescents chronically infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 4, IL-28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms were the only predictors of response to peg-IFN/RBV.

Fish welfare assurance system: initial steps to set up an effective tool to safeguard and monitor farmed fish welfare at a company level.

The objective was to take a first step in the development of a process-oriented quality assurance (QA) system for monitoring and safeguarding of fish welfare at a company level. A process-oriented approach is focused on preventing hazards and involves establishment of critical steps in a process that requires careful control. The seven principles of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) concept were used as a framework to establish the QA system. HACCP is an internationally agreed approach for management of food safety, which was adapted for the purpose of safeguarding and monitoring the welfare of farmed fish. As the main focus of this QA system is farmed fish welfare assurance at a company level, it was named Fish Welfare Assurance System (FWAS). In this paper we present the initial steps of setting up FWAS for on growing of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), carp (Cyprinus carpio) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Four major hazards were selected, which were fish species dependent. Critical Control Points (CCPs) that need to be controlled to minimize or avoid the four hazards are presented. For FWAS, monitoring of CCPs at a farm level is essential. For monitoring purposes, Operational Welfare Indicators (OWIs) are needed to establish whether critical biotic, abiotic, managerial and environmental factors are controlled. For the OWIs we present critical limits/target values. A critical limit is the maximum or minimum value to which a factor must be controlled at a critical control point to prevent, eliminate or reduce a hazard to an acceptable level. For managerial factors target levels are more appropriate than critical limits. Regarding the international trade of farmed fish products, we propose that FWAS needs to be standardized in aquaculture chains. For this standardization a consensus on the concept of fish welfare, methods to assess welfare objectively and knowledge on the needs of farmed fish are required.

Coping strategies in a strongly schooling fish, the common carp Cyprinus carpio.

Individual common carp Cyprinus carpio were screened repeatedly for risk taking (rate of exploration of a novel, potentially dangerous environment) and for competitive ability (success in gaining access to a spatially restricted food source). Marked differences in behaviour were evident, and significant consistency in individual responses across trials was found for both risk taking and competitive ability. In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between individual performance in these two contexts, with fish that explored more quickly in the novel environment tending to be among the first to gain access to restricted food. In two follow-up studies, resting metabolic rate, blood lactate and glucose and the expression of the cortisol receptor gene in the head kidney and brain were compared in fish from the two extremes of the risk-taking spectrum. Mass-specific metabolic rate was significantly higher in risk-taking than in risk-avoiding fish, while plasma lactate and glucose concentrations and expression of the cortisol receptor gene were lower. It was concluded that a behavioural syndrome based on boldness and aggression exists in C. carpio, as it does in many other animals, and that this is associated with differences in metabolic and stress physiology (down to the genomic level) similar to those described in animals with different coping strategies.

Hemiballismus following general anesthesia. A case report.

Hemiballismus is characterized by the abrupt onset of violent proximal flinging movements, affecting the limbs, neck and trunk on one side of the body. It is caused by the lesion in the region of the contralateral subthalamic nucleus of the Luys. Usually it is a self-limiting disease, lasting 6-8 weeks. A 49-year-old man has been admitted to the hospital after flinging movements of his right arm and the right side of the trunk occurred. A few days earlier he had undergone general anesthesia prior to a dental procedure. There was trouble in waking the patient afterwards. The movements lasted a few days. MRI of the brain revealed ischemic lesions areas in T2-weighted images localized in the region of globus pallidus bilaterally. EEG was abnormal, and showed slowed background activity with slow waves in left temporal lobe. He was treated with haloperidol, clonazepam and vasoactive medications. In spite of administered treatment, hemiballic movements reappeared occasionally. Due to increased frequency of the movements the patient was hospitalized again two years later. The second MRI revealed changes described earlier and a new ischaemic focus in left parietal lobe. Continuation of treatment with haloperidol was administered.

Using different types of capillary chromatographic columns as denudation traps: a comparison of sorption properties.

The research presented concerns segments of capillary chromatographic columns of different types (WCOT, SCOT, PLOT) used as traps for collection of samples of volatile organic analytes from a stream of air utilizing the equilibrium denudation technique. During the model experiments (utilizing standard mixtures), values of the partition coefficients (Kfs) were determined for volatile organic compounds frequently occurring as pollutants of atmospheric air (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, chlorobenzene). The conducted research demonstrated that the stationary phase film thickness did not affect the partition coefficient value. It was also proved that there is no dependence between the manner of applying the stationary phase in the column and the partition coefficient value.

The application of an open tubular trap in analysis of organic air pollutants.

The paper presents the studies on equilibrium trapping of organic air pollutants. A piece of a commercial capillary chromatographic column coated with polydimethylsiloxane was used for trapping. This kind of the trap was applied for sampling and enrichment of selected volatile nonpolar organic compounds from workplace atmosphere (woodworking shop). In the method developed, which is based on equilibrium trapping the concentration of analytes in a studied medium can be calculated from the partition coefficients determined in a calibration step and the amount of particular analytes trapped. Simultaneously with equilibrium trapping, analytes were sampled into sorbent packed tubes. The concentrations of analytes in woodworking shop atmosphere obtained with both sampling methods (equilibrium and dynamic) were in good agreement.

[General cerebral and systemic metabolic disturbances occurring in ischemic stroke with special emphasis on glucose and its metabolites]. / Zasadnicze wewnatrzmózgowe i ogólnoustrojowe zaburzenia metaboliczne wystepujace w udarach mózgu ze szczególnym uwzglednieniem losów glukozy i jej metabolitów.

Ischaemic stroke is a stressogenic factor triggering a complex defensive reaction called "alarm reaction" by Selye. Stress gives rise to liberation of catecholamines, dopamine beta-hydroxylase in the blood, cerebro-spinal fluid and urine. Patients with ischaemic stroke were found to have increased adrenaline, noradrenaline, and 3-metoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid level in urine and increased cortisol level in blood serum. Patients, especially those with severe ischaemic stroke have increased concentrations of glucose metabolites in blood and cerebro-spinal fluid: pyruvate acid, lactic acid, acetylacetic acid and hydroxybutyric acid.

[Evaluation of lactic acid levels in blood of patients with ischemic stroke in the earliest stage of the disease]. / Ocena zawartosci kwasu mlekowego we krwi chorych z zawalem mózgu w najwczesniejszym okresie choroby.

The aim of the study was the assessment of concentrations of lactic acid in the blood of patients with mild course and severe course of ischaemic stroke in the earliest stage of the disease. The subject of the study were 20 patients with a mild ischaemic stroke and 20 patients with a severe one on its 1st, 3rd and 7th day. Enzymatic method for determining lactic acid content in the blood was used (the kits Test-Combination Lactate fully enzymatic of Boehringer Mannheim). In the group of patients with mild ischaemic stroke increase values of lactic acid were shown on all days of the disease, but the differences were statistically insignificant. In patients with severe ischaemic stroke these values were higher than in controls, and the differences were statistically significant. The study showed a positive correlation between high concentrations of lactic acid and severe clinical condition of patients.

[Evaluation of pyruvic acid concentration in blood of patients with ischemic stroke in the earliest stage of the disease]. / Ocena zawartosci kwasu pirogronowego we krwi chorych z zawalem mózgu w najwczesniejszym okresie choroby.

The aim of the study was the assessment of concentrations of pyruvic acid in the blood of patients with mild course and severe course of ischaemic stroke in the earliest stage of the disease. The subject of the study were 20 patients with a mild ischaemic stroke and 20 patients with a severe one on its 1st, 3rd and 7th day. Enzymatic method for determining pyruvic acid content in the blood was used (ready made reagents Test-Combination Pyruvate by Boerhinger Mannheim). In the group of patients with mild ischaemic stroke the concentrations of pyruvic acid were increased on all days of the disease, compared with controls, but the differences were statistically insignificant. In the group of patients with severe ischaemic stroke the concentrations of pyruvic acid were higher than the ones in control group, but only on the 1st and 3rd day of the disease the differences were statistically significant. The results of determinations indicate that there is a positive correlation between levels of pyruvic acid and severity of the clinical course of the disease.

Brain neoplasms with development similar to transient brain ischaemia.

Diagnostics of brain tumours still remains a serious problem in neurologist's career. Difficulties in proper diagnosing refer mainly to endocranial tumours with atypical clinical course. Frequency of brain tumours' vascular manifestation is assessed as 1-4%, and in most cases it is the kind of manifestation which corresponds with intracerebral bleedings and more seldom with ischaemic strokes. Reports on brain tumours with developments similar to transient brain ischaemia (1, 2, 3, 4) are published occasionally. In Neurology Clinic of the Medical Academy in Lublin, we conducted observation of two patients with brain tumours (one metastatic and the other one-primary), where the former as well as the latter case were treated as cerebral circulation failures at their initial stage. Application of typical vasoactive treatment brought about temporary regression of symptoms.

The influence of Nootropil on the content of inorganic phosphorus and lipid phosphorus in the blood of patients with intracerebral haemorrhage.

Nootropil exerts positive impact on both intracortical and cortico-subcortical conduction and increases ATP content in the nerve cell which leads to the increase of ribonucleic acid's synthesis necessary for long duration memory and proteins essential for the production of enzymes (3). The cerebral stroke can change the activity of the central vegetative neurons and induce generalized disturbances of the mechanism of metabolism, e. g. in phosphorus and phospholipid economy (1, 2).

Does a spasm of vertebral canal exist?

During myelographic examination the travel of a contrast medium through the vertebral canal can be observed when it is applied by the lumbar puncture. When the vertebral canal is totally obstructed the contrast medium stops at the verge of the closing forming sometimes (in case of tumours) concave meniscus. In case of incomplete block of the canal the contrast medium flows around the obstacle. Results of myelographic examination do not leave much room for doubts as to the character of discovered disease process. They are very often confirmed during follow up computer tomography imaging of the suitable segment of the spinal column. In some patients being under clinical observation in this Department of Neurology, however, it was difficult to arrive at a specific diagnosis on the basis of the examination of their vertebral canal by means of the contrast medium in spite of the abnormalities observed repeatably and the concomitant severe progressive lessions of their spinal cords.