Possibilities for preservation of coarse particles in pelleting process to improve feed quality characteristics.

Poultry diets are mainly used in pelleted form because pellets have many advantages compared to mash feed. On the other hand, pelleting causes reduction of feed particle size. The aim of this research was to investigate the possibility of increasing the content of coarse particles in pellets, and, at the same time, to produce pellets with satisfactory quality. In this research, the three grinding treatments of corn were applied using hammer mill with three sieve openings diameter: 3 mm (HM-3), 6 mm (HM-6) and 9 mm (HM-9). These grinding treatments were combined in pelleting process with three gaps between rollers and the die of pellet press (roller-die gap, RDG) (0.30, 1.15 and 2.00 mm) and three moisture contents of the pelleted material (14.5, 16.0 and 17.5%). The increased coarseness of grinding by the hammer mill resulted in the increased amount of coarse particles in pellets, especially when the smallest RDG was applied (0.30 mm), but pellet quality was greatly reduced. Increasing of RDG improved the quality of pellets produced from coarsely ground corn, but reduced the content of coarse particles in pellets and increased specific energy consumption of the pellet press. Increasing the moisture content of material to be pelleted (MC) significantly reduced energy consumption of the pellet press, but there was no significant influence of MC on particle size after pelleting and on the pellet quality. The optimal values of the pelleting process parameters were determined using desirability function method. The results of optimization process showed that to achieve the highest possible quantity of coarse particles in the pellets, and to produce pellets of satisfactory quality, with the lowest possible energy consumption of the pellet press, the coarsest grinding on hammer mill (HM-9), the largest RDG (2 mm) and the highest MC (17.5%) should be applied.

The effects of temperature and scopolamine on N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist-induced neuronal necrosis in the rat.

The effects of temperature and scopolamine on dizocilpine maleate-induced neuronal necrosis in the rat cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, entorhinal/olfactory cortices and the dentate gyrus were studied. Mild, protracted hypothermia (48 h at a brain temperature of 34 degrees C), induced by a servo-controlled "exposure technique" in the awake female rat, significantly reduced dizocilpine maleate (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced neuronal death in the cingulate/retrosplenial and entorhinal/olfactory cortices seven days following drug administration. Scopolamine (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.), putatively neuroprotective [Olney J. W. et al. (1991) Science 254, 1515-1518], did not reduce injury in the cingulate/retrosplenial cortex of female rats following one injection, but did following two and three doses. Scopolamine had no significant effect in the other brain regions. A temperature elevation of only 1 degree C above baseline for 48 h in awake female rats increased dizocilpine maleate-induced damage. Finally, the sex differences in N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist toxicity were replicated and extended to other structures, and found not to be due to temperature differences. Our data show that dizocilpine maleate neurotoxicity is temperature sensitive. Scopolamine treatment needed to be prolonged in order to reduce injury, and even then was only efficacious in one of three brain regions. The results underscore the importance of using neuronal necrosis in several brain regions as the endpoint and for the use of prolonged therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, given the potential hypothermic action of other putative neuroprotective drugs, a mechanistic re-evaluation of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist-induced injury is needed, with precise brain temperature measurement.

Comparison of chlorthalidone, propranolol and bopindolol in six-month treatment of arterial hypertension.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that prolonged treatment of mild to moderate hypertension with low-dose thiazide diuretics or beta blockers does not induce any of the major untoward biochemical changes, such as hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia and electrolyte imbalances. The effect of these drugs was analyzed in 100 outpatients (52 males and 48 females) aged 52.0 +/- 7.9 years with mild to moderate hypertension, in a prospective 6-month study. After an appropriate workup, the patients were randomized to either 25 mg chlorthalidone (40 patients), 120 mg propranolol (30 patients), or 2 mg per day bopindolol (30 patients). A significant reduction of approximately 10% in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was recorded in all the groups. At the end of the 6th month, in the chlorthalidone group triglycerides increased to 3.0 +/- 2.1 mmol/l from 2.8 +/- 1.6 mmol/l, while cholesterol after an initial increase to 6.6 +/- 1.6 from 6.4 +/- 1.6 mmol/l returned to the baseline level. Uricemia and serum potassium concentration decreased by 4%. The body weight was reduced to 83.8 +/- 13.4 kg from 86.1 +/- 13.4 kg. There was no change in serum glucose level. In the propranolol group, as expected, heart rate decreased by 20%, but there were no significant changes in glucose and potassium plasma concentration. Triglycerides did not change significantly, while cholesterol, after a small increase, returned to the initial levels. Similar results were obtained in the bopindolol group, apart from the triglycerides, which increased significantly (to 2.5 +/- 1.1 from 2.2 +/- 0.4 mmol/l), probably because of the lower baseline concentration. We conclude that in prolonged treatment, chlorthalidone, propranolol and bopindolol do not induce significant untoward biochemical changes that alone might increase cardiovascular risk.

[Occurrence of thromboembolic complications in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Retrospective-prospective study]. / Ucestalost tromboembolijskih komplikacija u bolesnika s dilatacijskom kardiomiopatijom. Retrospektivno-prospektivna studija.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of thromboembolic events in patients with primary and secondary (ischemic) dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), with regard to basic rhythm, sinus or atrial fibrillation. Retrospectively, over three years, from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1991, the case histories of 75 inpatients with DC, mean age 56.2 +/- 14.1 years, 41 in sinus rhythm and 34 in atrial fibrillation from Clinic Hospital Split were analyzed and compared to those of 75 controls (heart failure with no DC). The incidence of thrombi, embolisms and mortality in both subgroups was similar, while the prevalence of thromboembolic events was significantly higher in the analyzed than in the control group (decompensated patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and without cardiomegaly) (9/75:1/75, p < 0.05). Prospectively, between 9 and 22 months, from December 1, 1991 to September 30, 1993 51 consecutive decompensated outpatients with DC, in NYHA class II and III, mean age 54.2 +/- 15 years, were followed-up. Bilirubin, lactic dehydrogenase, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were determined. 1-D and 2-D transthoracic echocardiographic exam was performed and clinical status was assessed. There were 24 patients in sinus rhythm and 27 patients in atrial fibrillation. The prevalence of thromboembolic events, thrombi and mortality in both subgroups was similar. The laboratory findings, indicators of possible thrombogenesis or thrombolysis, did not show any significant difference in both subgroups. The incidence of thrombi in both parts of this study was low, amounted to only 9.5% (12/126) with no clear signs of thromboembolism (these patients were anticoagulated!). Altogether 12.6% (16/126) patients suffered thromboembolic events, 9 in retrospective and 7 in prospective part of the trial (more patients were anticoagulated in prospective then in retrospective study, 5 versus 19; p < 0.05). We conclude that thromboembolism in patients with decompensated DC are rare, but appear at significantly higher rate than in decompensated patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and no cardiomegaly. The beneficial effects of anticoagulant therapy are to be expected in these patients regardless of the basal rhythm. This hypothesis must, however, be assessed in a prospective, multicentric trial.

[Significance of right ventricular dimensions in the differential diagnosis of primary and secondary dilated cardiomyopathy]. / Znacenje promjera desne klijetke u differencijalnoj dijagnostici primarnih i sekundarnih dilatacijskih kardiomioptija.

Numerous analyses are used in the differential diagnosis between primary and secondary dilated cardiomyopathy (PDC, SDC). The aim of this study was to assess the dimensions of heart cavities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) by 1-D and 2-D echocardiography. Thirty-six consecutive patients who satisfied the PDC criteria, and 103 patients with criteria of SDC, were followed-up clinically, radiographically, electrocardiographically and by 1-D and 2-D echocardiography, in the period from December 1991 to April 1994, at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Clinical Hospital Split. The patients with PDC were significantly younger than those with SDC (44.4 +/- 10.4: 64.4 +/- 8.4 year). There were significantly more males than females in both DC subgroups. NYHA classification, sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation did not differ considerably in both DC subcategories. The etiologic factor was ischaemic DC in 85.4% (88/103), systemic arterial hypertension in 11.6% (12/103), and thyrotoxicosis in 2.9% (3/103) of patients with SDC. Alcoholic DC in one patient, peripartal DC in two female patients and viral myocarditis in six patients with PDC were suspected. In the total of 75% (27/36) patients with PDC, a clear etiological factor in case histories was not defined. Left ventricular ejection fraction, diameter and myocardial thickness, as well as left atrium diameter, did not differ significantly in patients with PDC, at variance with SDC patients. Right ventricular enddiastolic diameter (31.55 +/- 4.8 mm: 26.62 +/- 8.6 mm, p < 0.05) and the ratio between enddiastolic diameters of the right and left ventricle were significantly larger in patients with PDC than in those with SDC (0.45 +/- 0.03: 0.37 +/- 0.05, p < 0.05). We conclude that right ventricle is significantly wider in PDC than in SDC patients. Compared with other noninvasive methods, 1-D and 2-D echocardiography is probably the method of choice (particularly in our environment) in the differentiation of primary and secondary DC.

[Problems and perspectives in child health care]. / Problemi i perspektive zdravstvene zastite dece.

Health care protection of children in Vojvodina is of particular importance regarding the negative natural birth rate. In spite of difficult economic situation, health care of children in Vojvodina is permanently carried out and would be significantly better in quality if the education of subspecialized personnel, space facilities, technological innovations, computerization and continuous education were available. Introduction of microanalytic laboratory techniques is essential for monitoring of prematures. Propagation of natural nutrition is an obligation of pediatricians. Respiratory diseases are still on the top of morbidity pyramid but tuberculosis is evidently in increase. An important health care problem is the expansion of allergic diseases. The progressive incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes is also evident. The spheres of juvenile gynecological endocrinology and andrology are still underdeveloped and that also applies to adolescent medicine. Toxicology remains an ongoing problem in pediatrics due to an increased number of accidental poisoning. Pediatricians-gastroenterologists are lacking while paediatric hepatology should be brought into more advanced state. Bone marrow and stem cells transplantation is in the responsibility of the Centre for haematology and oncology. Nephrology department lacks children's haemodialysis, ultrasound biopsy of kidneys, urodynamic analyses and new staff facilities. The increased number of survivals in case of children with with sequeles inevitably asks for better development of rehabilitation, prolonged treatment and teamwork. Intensive care and therapy department requires new staff and high technology capacities. Development of children's surgery department inevitably means the reconstruction of space facilities, modern equipment and new subspecializations. Preventive outpatient service is performed through systematic examinations. ultrasound diagnostics of hips, auditive screening and educational program activities related to addiction and veneral diseases. Genetic health of the population is supremely covered by the Center for Medical Genetics, with the tendenca for development of molecular genetics. It is necessary to develop rehabilitation service, prolonged treatment and teamwork. Diagnostic of convulsive conditions should be advanced with more refined diagnostic methods.

[Comparison of auscultation findings using a classic stethoscope (Litmann 2120) and electronically amplified stethoscope (Medmax2)]. / Usporedba auskultacijskih nalaza stetoskopom s elektronskim pojacalom (Medmax2) prema klascnom (Litmann 2120).

Heart auscultation has one of the key roles in beside diagnosis, especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Sometimes, because of the human cars' low sensitivity, a problem emerges in the proper evaluation of heart sounds and murmurs of lower frequencies. Our study compared two stethoscopes, the classic acoustic stethoscope (Littmann 2120) and an electronic one with the sound amplifier and the noise filtering system (Medmax2) in 10 patients examined by 10 physicians. Significantly better detection of low frequency sounds was found in favour of electronic stethoscope (chi 2 = 17.9; p < 0.0001). It is concluded that the selective amplificator improves the stethoscope performance and has its place in everyday bedside practice, especially in departments of cardiology.

Penetrating war injuries of the heart.

Treatment of 12 penetrating heart war wounds were described. Ten wounded (83.3%) died on the spot or during transportation. Only two (16.7%) were brought to the clinic with signs of life, operated on and released from the hospital. The two wounded had not received any therapy before the arrival. The two cases described indicate the importance of a rapid transportation, adequate reanimation and the fastest possible cardiorrhaphy either by means of thoracotomy or medial sternotomy.

[Controlled comparison of nicardipine and propranolol in the treatment of arterial hypertension]. / Kontrolirana usporedba nikardipina i propranolola u lijecenju arterijske hipertenzije.

A randomized collective comparative study between nicardipine (N) and propranolol (P) was conducted over a period of 7 weeks in thirty hypertensive patients of both sexes, aged from 20 to 65 years, with the diastolic pressure over 100, but below 120 mmHg. Thirteen examinees were given N (60-120 mg daily) and seventeen P (120-240 mg daily); the groups were comparable according to a series of relevant parameters. In the placebo-period the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was slightly lowered, by 4.4% (p greater than 0.20). MAP was, however, considerably lowered already at the end of the second week of active treatment both in the N group (from 135.1 +/- 7.4 to 116 +/- 10.8 mmHg, or by 19.1%; P less than 0.01), as well as in the P group (from 131.6 +/- 8.1 to 117 +/- 9.1 mmHg, by an average of 11.1%; P less than 0.05). The values continued to decrease, and at the end of the seventh week of the study MAP averaged 108.5 +/- 6.5 mmHg (-19.7%; P less than 0.01) in the N group, while it was 109.7 +/- 9.1 mmHg (-16.6%; P less than 0.01) in the P group. The heart rate became considerably slower in the P group only, from the initial 84.5 +/- 9.2 to 66.9 +/- 2.7 beats per minute at the end of the seventh week (-20.8%; P less than 0.01), but it was unexpectedly, although not significantly lowered also in the N group, from the initial 78.3 +/- 6.5 to 74.2 +/- 4.0 beats (-5.2%; P greater than 0.20).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diagnostic characteristics of myxoma of the left atrium]. / Dijagnosticke osobitosti miksoma lijevog atrija.

Three middle-aged patients (38, 40 and 41 years old; two women and one man) with left atrial myxoma diagnosed by echocardiography and successfully operated on are presented. Two patients had tumor embolus as the dominant presenting symptom. The time span between the first symptoms and the echocardiographic diagnosis was 6 months, 12 months, and 12 days, respectively. From that moment to surgery the average lag was 6.3 days only, including the complex transportation to distant surgical centres. All the patients are now alive, all with normal findings more than 2 years after the operation.

[Changes in left ventricular function and structure in hypertensive patients treated with methyldopa and urapidil]. / Promjene funkcije i strukture lijeve klijetke u hipertonicara lijecenih metildopom i urapidilom.

In a randomized cross-over and double-blind trial twenty mild-to-moderate hypertensives (11 males, 9 females, mean age 48.4 +/- 7.6 years) were receiving methyldopa (250 mg b.i.d.) or urapidil (30 mg b.i.d.) for 7 weeks and then treated with alternative drug for additional 7 weeks, separated by one week of wash-out period. Both antihypertensives induced significant reduction (P less than 0.01) in systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, while no significant changes (P greater than 0.20) in the body weight and the heart rate were observed. The echocardiographic features of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) did not decrease significantly (P greater than 0.05) on either drug, except for the left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWd), which decreased on methyldopa from 10.4 +/- 1.3 to 9.8 +/- 1.4 mm (P less than 0.05). The drugs under study did not change significantly the echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function. Echocardiography resulted to be more sensitive in detecting LVH than electrocardiography. It is concluded that methyldopa might successfully reduce LVH, while direct and indirect vasodilators (such as urapidil) are less effective.

[Prevention, care and screening of hips of newborn infants]. / Prévention, soins et surveillance des hanches de bébés.

The frequency of C.D.H. and the indications for surgical treatment have been considerably reduced. Since a 3-part prevention protocol has been initiated: screening of newborns, prophylactic triple-diapering in slight flexion-abduction, aided by the availability of the equipment, and repeated examinations of infants.

[Comparison of the antihypertensive effects of bopindolol and metoprolol in the treatment of arterial hypertension]. / Usporedba antihipertenzivnih ucinaka Bopindolola i Metoprolola u lijecenju arterijske hipertenzije.

A randomized, double blind clinical trial included 40 hypertension patients of both sexes, aged 18-70 years, with diastolic blood pressure persistently above 100 (13.33 kPa) and below 120 mm Hg (15.99 kPa). After a run-in period on placebo, one half of them was treated with bopindolol (single daily dose 1-3 mg), and the other half with metoprolol (100-300 mg daily in two divided doses). After 4 weeks of formal trial both beta blockaders had significantly decreased the elevated arterial pressure, e.g. the mean arterial pressure in the bopindolol group dropped from an average of 129.1 +/- 6.9 (17.20 +/- 0.92) to 111.6 +/- 6.1 mm Hg (14.87 +/- 0.81 kPa) or by 13.6% and in the metoprolol group from 129.8 +/- 7.1 (17.30 +/- 0.94 kPa) to 114.5 +/- 6.4 mm Hg (15.26 +/- 0.85 kPa) or by 11.8% (p less than 0.02). After 12 weeks the mean pressure was ulteriorly lowered to some 104.3 mm Hg (13.90 kPa) on bopindolol and to some 106.0 mm Hg (14.12 kPa) on metoprolol. The heart rate was expectedly slowed down, from an average of 95 to 69 b.p.m. with bopindolol (27.4% decrease, p less than 0.001) and from 99 to 67 b.p.m. with metoprolol (32.3% decrease, p less than 0.001). The other parameters, including the laboratory results did not change appreciably during this study. Clinically relevant side-effects were not registered, and the observed between-group differences did not reach the level of statistical significance. It is concluded that bopindolol and metoprolol are beta-adrenergic blockaders of comparable antihypertensive efficacy.

[Comparison of single and double doses of hydrochlorothiazide in the treatment of arterial hypertension with special emphasis on changes in vascular reactivity]. / Usporedba jednokratne i dvokratne doze hidroklorotiazida u lijecenju arterijske hipertenzije s posebnim osvrtom na promjenu zilne reaktivnosti.

The hypotensive effects of 100 and 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide (HTZ) were evaluated in 30 mild-to-moderate hypertensives, divided into two groups, with diastolic pressure between 95 and 110 mmHg. In both groups, the average MAP reduction was 15% (P less than 0.05). There were no significant differences in antihypertensive effects between single (50 or 100 mg o.d.) and double (25 or 50 mg b.i.d.) doses of the same drug. Blood pressure control was better after two than after one month on each of the various dosing schedules. Side-effects were mild and well tolerated: observed was a significant increase in triglyceride level from 3.0 +/- 1.8 to 4.8 +/- 2.4 mmol/L under the treatment with 100 mg HTZ o.d. and a statistically significant decrease in potassium level from 4.4 +/- 0.3 mmol/L to 4.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/L after two months treatment with 50 mg HTZ o.d. Unexpectedly, these changes were not dose-related. The venous reflexes showed atenuated response to norepinephrine after HTZ treatment, while arterial inflow, venous capacity and venous outflow increased significantly (P less than 0.05). It is concluded that HTZ exhibits some direct vasodilator activity and that the pharmacokinetic features of this drug do not correlate with the pharmacodynamic ones. At least in the management of mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension single daily dosage is quite adequate.

Rapid dissolution of right atrial thrombus in a patient with congestive cardiomyopathy.

The AA describe a patient with congestive cardiomyopathy, probably alcoholic, who exhibited signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure and a pericardial rub, due to a right atrial thrombus (4 X 2 cm). The thrombus dissolved completely and the symptoms decreased markedly after 14 days of oral anticoagulant therapy alone. We suggest that anticoagulant therapy should be considered before surgery, if an intracardiac mass with no signs of pulmonary embolism is found in a patient with cardiomyopathy.