[Surgical treatment of hand syndactyly in Apert syndrome]. / Chirurgické riesenie syndaktýlií rúk u Apertovho syndrómu.

Authors describe 6 cases (3 women, 3 men) affected by Apert syndrome (acrocephalosyndactyly). Clinical material has been documented since 1953. They concentrate on the description of individual clinical cases on the basis of objective and radiograph examination of patients. They describe surgical procedure of syndactyly between the thumb and 2nd-5th digits on both hands. Prior to 1998 they started with separation of digits at the age of 3-5 years. After 1998 they began with it as early as at the age of 3-6 months. For the reconstruction of lateral aspects of separated digits and for the creation of inter-digital space they use "zig-zag" incision and for covering the resulting skin defects they use skin transplants. During separation of 2nd-4th digits they extirpate all phalanges of 3rd digit and they leave metacarpal III in situ by which they create a three-digit hand with a relatively good functional result.

Effect of endosulfan on peripheral sheep leukocytes in vitro.

The immunotoxic and genotoxic effect of endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide, on sheep peripheral blood leukocytes was examined in in vitro conditions. The immunotoxic effect was evaluated by assays of the metabolic activity of phagocytes and assays for lymphocyte activation--the leucocyte migration-inhibition assay (LMIA) and lympho-proliferation. The significant inhibitory effect of endosulfan on metabolic activity of peripheral blood phagocytes was registered at the actual concentrations of 10(-3)- 10(-4) M. At 10(-3) M the migration of leukocytes was inhibited, both in activated and non-activated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) leukocyte suspensions (p < 0.01) in LMIA. This indicated the direct cytotoxic effect of endosulfan on the polymorphonuclears and monocytes of which the intensity of migration is an indicator of lymphocyte activation with mitogen. At the concentration of 10(-4) M an immunotoxic effect, ie significant decrease of lymphocyte activation with mitogen was recorded in LMIA. Lympho-proliferation test showed the significant inhibition of proliferation for PHA-stimulated lymphocytes at 10(-3) M and 10(-4) M. Micronucleus assay evaluated the genotoxic potential of endosulfan. Higher concentrations of insecticide (10(-5) M, 10(-6) M) resulted in a significant dose dependent increase in the number of micronuclei.

The importance of lymphocyte micronucleus test for the detection of genotoxic events.

DNA lesion induced by xenobiotics is implemented either through direct interaction of the chemical with DNA through covalent binding or intercalation, or indirectly, through interference with the processes of DNA replication and repair, interaction with proteins, nuclease release from lysosomes etc. The present study emphasizes that the assessment of genotoxic risk arising from xenogenous substances demands the development of sensitive, direct and more exact genotoxic testing methods. One of them is micronucleus assay. It is a simple and quick test for investigating of cytogenic damage with the advantage that exposure to both clastogens and aneugens may be detected.

[Personal experience with the Lemperle method of reduction mammaplasty]. / Nase skúsenosti s redukcnou mamaplastikou podla Lemperleho.

The authors describe their experience with Lemperle's method of reduction mammoplasty. It is based on the procedure of Wise and Strombeck and involves resection of the lower quadrants. We used this operation in seventy patients of the age between seventeen and 55 years during last five years. Six of our cases (8.6%) were classified as gigantomasty, four of them (5.7%) as hypertrophy with asymmetry and sixty patients (85.7%) were classified as hypertrophy with ptosis. As to the postoperative complications, two patients (2.8%) developed partial necrosis of the areola with dehiscence of the vertical suture and one patient (1.4%) partial dehiscence of the vertical suture. The resected tissue volumes were between 4,500 g and 400 g. The patients were very pleased with the result of the operation.

[Dermatolipectomy of the abdominal wall]. / Dermatolipektómia brusnej steny.

The authors describe clinical cases of dermatolipectmy of the abdominal wall performed during the last 15 years: a group of six female patients with excess skin after rapid and excessive reduction of adipose tissue, a second group of 42 patients with cumulation of subcutaneous fat in the region of the hypogastrium with formation of massive skinfolds, the so-called clinical picture of "venter pendulus". The third group of 122 patients with excessive adipose tissue and skin combined with diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles or even prolapse of the abdominal organs. Transverse puboinguinal dermatolipectomy was performed. In 56 patients, high transverse resection is not used by the authors. Vertical lipectomy in the median line was performed in three patients and combined transverse-vertical lipectomy in 104 patients. From the total number of 170, operations satisfactory from the aspect of the surgeon and in particular the patient, were achieved in 122 (71.7%) cases, good results in 43 (25.4%) and satisfactory results in 5 (2.9%).

[Not Available].

Authors evaluate their own experience in the treatment of constricting annular grooves of limbs, especially the hand, which in the total number of treated congenital anomalies of limbs account for 172 cases (17 %). Hands were affected in 152 cases (88,4 %), legs in 20 cases (11,6 %). The authors point out a great variety of the affection by Constricting annular grooves and ensuing from it a strictly individual rational surgical technique. As the most important they consider adequate followup and repeated assessment of the condition of the malformed limb until adult age. They state that even with amputation of part of fingers the patients are able to compensate sufficiently for their loss by the unaffected part of the hand. Therefore it is necessary to accept their negative standpoint as concerns another suggested surgical treatment. Key words: hand, congenital anomalies, constricting annular grooves of the hand.

Acute oral toxicity of the herbicide BUREX EKO in pheasants.

The aim of this study was to determine the acute LD50, clinical symptoms and pathological changes of acute BUREX EKO intoxication in pheasants according to OECD No 205. Medium lethal dose (LD50) of BUREX EKO in pheasant is 3.84 ml/kg body weight with the upper level of reliability 4.50 ml and lower level of reliability 3.27 ml/kg body weight. As far as the calculation to the effective substance is concerned it is 1077 mg of chloridazone per kg body weight with the interval of reliability from 919 to 1263 mg/kg body weight. Calculated the effective substance of chloridazone (3.84 ml is LD50 of BUREX EKO which contains 1077 mg of chloridazone) BUREX EKO can be classified as the moderately toxic substance to pheasants. There were following clinical symptoms of the BUREX EKO intoxication in pheasants: apathy, drowsiness, incapability to move, ruffled feathers, slight diarrhoea, strenuous respiration, tonico-clonical cramps before death, decease with the head expressively bent rearwards. There was a relatively fast beginning of rigor mortis in dead pheasants. Pathologico-anatomical dissection of the pheasants obtained under conditions of acute intoxication did not reveal any changes on the organs of both experimental and control pheasants which would be immediately connected with the effect of the administered substance. Hyperaemia was recorded by histologico-pathological investigation of the liver and kidneys. No changes on the brain and intestine wall were recorded.

[The effect of supermethrin, an insecticide, on health status indicators in sheep during subchronic poisoning]. / Vplyv insekticídu supermetrín na niektoré ukazovatele zdravotného stavu oviec v podmienkach subchronickej intoxikácie.

The effect of supermethrin on the overall health with respect to weight gains, diet intake, triad values (body temperature, pulse rate and breathing rate) and potential intoxication signs was investigated in sheep of the Slovak Mertino breed (age of 8 months, males and females) during 6-week feeding of the insecticide supermethrin (Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Bratislava). This insecticide supermethrin contains a cyanide group in its molecule and can be included in the group of type II pyrethroids. It is an analog of cypermethrin and it has a different proportion of cis- and trans-isomers. Supermethrin mixed with molasses feed M was administered daily at a dose of 50 mg/kg (about 1/70 of LD50) to five sheep of experimental group I, at a dose of 200 mg/kg (about 1/15 of LD50) to five sheep of experimental group II, and the dose increased from 200 mg to 300 mg/kg l.w. (about 1/20 of LD50) since the fourth week of trial. The main signs of its toxic action involved depressive effects on weight gains (Fig. 4) Over the whole period of trial, the live weight rose by 5.44 +/- 1.94 kg in control group, by 2.66 +/- 1.48 kg in experimental group I, which equates a significant decrease by 51.10% and only 0.34 +/- 0.95 kg in experimental group II, which equates a decrease in weight gains by up to 93.75% against the control. We do not believe that the growth depression can be related to diet intake. There were no larger differences in feed intake between the experimental groups and the control. The growth depression was caused by incessant diarrhea. The patho-morphological examination did not reveal hyperemia and/or intestinal inflammation, the histological examination did not show any lesions of epithelium in the intestinal mucosa. An increase in supermethrin dose from 200 to 300 mg/kg l.w. resulted in signs coming from the CNS. Hypersensibility manifested by moderate unrest, head and neck shaking after auditory, and especially after touch stimuli was observed. This tremor was increasing to became spontaneous 3-4 days before trial termination. The above findings clearly suggest that supermethrin administration at lower doses has harmful effects primarily on the digestive tract, but at higher doses these effects are more intensive accompanied by the effects on the CNS. No negative effects on pulse rate (Fig. 1), breathing rate (Fig. 2) and internal body temperature (Fig. 3) were recorded.

[Toxicologic evaluation of supermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, in rabbits and pheasants]. / Toxikologické hodnotenie pyretroidného insekticídu supermetrínu u králikov a bazantov.

Basic information about a toxicologic hazard of the pyrethroid supermethrin (Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Bratislava) is presented in this paper for the conditions of acute intoxication in rabbits and pheasants and in the conditions of subacute intoxication in pheasants. The insecticide supermethrin under observation contains a cyanide groups in its molecule and can be included in the group of type II pyrethroids comprising among other substances also cypermethrin. Supermethrin is an analog of the latter and it has a different proportion of cis- and trans-isomers. At acute intoxication, supermethrin was applied to adult rabbits at doses of 2,000; 3,000; 4,000; 5,000 and 6,000 mg/kg and to adult pheasants at doses of 2,000; 4,000; 5,000 and 6,000 mg/kg live weight. Supermethrin dissolved in sunflower oil at a 1:2 ratio was administered in the above differentiated doses at single application by a peroral tube. Not even the highest supermethrin dose (6,000 mg/kg live weight) caused any clinical signs of intoxication in the birds. This fact suggests that its LD50 for rabbits and pheasants will apparently exceed the value of 6,000 mg/kg l.w. At subacute intoxication, supermethrin was applied as dissolved in sunflower oil (at a 1:2 ratio) by per os tube at a dose of 500 mg/kg l.w. once a day within five days. The subacute doses of supermethrin did not induce, besides mild diarrhea at the end of the trial, any other clinical signs of intoxication in the pheasants. The negative effect of supermethrin (even though negligible) on the digestive tract of pheasants is in agreement with the results determined in sheep in the conditions of subchronic intoxication (Neuschl et al., 1995), Supermethrin administration in sheep resulted in permanent and intensive diarrheas. These findings clearly indicate that supermethrin administered at lower doses primarily affects the function of digestive tract. Tab. 1 shows the effect of supermethrin on the live weight of pheasants in the conditions of subacute intoxication. The negligible decrease in live weight recorded at the end of the trial was not due to supermethrin effects. It was also recorded in the control group. There were no significant differences between the control and experimental group. It was probably induced by the stress resulting from daily applications of the tested substance. In case the guidelines for its areal application (140 g/ha) are observed, it will not be toxic for rabbits and pheasants nor probably for hares and/or other gallinaceous birds. Supermethrin seems to be a little toxic substance according to WHO (1975) classification.

The effect of p-chloroaniline on leucocytes of sheep peripheral blood under the migration-inhibition test conditions.

Toxic and immunotoxic effects of p-chloroaniline--a metabolite of herbicide monolinuron--were investigated in peripheral blood leucocytic suspensions of five sheep using a migration-inhibition test. The toxic effect of p-chloroaniline was recorded at concentrations 1.0 to 0.1 mg.ml-1 and the immunotoxic one at concentrations 0.01-0.001 mg.l-1. The toxic effect was demonstrated by total inhibition of leucocyte migration. The immunotoxic effect, determined as mitogenic activation of leucocytes by phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, was detected at 10 to 100-fold lower concentrations of p-chloroaniline than those which resulted in toxic effects.

[The effect of bentazone TP, an herbicide, on hematologic indicators in sheep during acute and subchronic poisoning]. / Vplyv herbicídu bentazón TP na hematologické ukazovatele u oviec v podmienkach akútnej a subchronickej intoxikácie.

Hematological changes at poisoning with the bentazone herbicide manufactured by the Research Institute of Chemical Technology in Bratislava were investigated in sheep of the Slovak Merino breed. Acute intoxication in seven head of sheep was induced by a single application of bentazone with cannula at a sublethal dose of 1,450 mg/kg live weight. Bentazone was diluted with sunflower oil at a ratio 1:5. Subchronic intoxication was induced by an administration of bentazone in feed to the sheep for 84 days: a dose of 175 mg/kg live weight (1/10 of LD50) for the first experimental group (six head), and a dose of 97.5 mg/kg live weight (1/12 of LD50) for the second experimental group (six head). The control group did not receive any dietary bentazone. Acute intoxication with herbicide did not cause any statistically significant changes in hemoglobin, erythrocyte and leucocyte counts in the sheep within 120 hours after application. In comparison with the physiological standard, a slight increase in the percentage of neutrophils and a decrease in the lymphocyte percentage were observed. The values of eosinophils, basophils and monocytes remained unchanged. Observation of subchronic intoxication did not reveal any significant negative effect of the two doses of the herbicide within 84 days on the hematological parameters. Our experiments demonstrate that bentazone does not negatively influence blood formation.

[Acute oral toxicity of bentazon, an herbicide developed in Czechoslovakia, in pheasants and rabbits and the clinical symptoms of poisoning]. / Akútna orálna toxicita ceskoslovenského vývojového herbicídu bentazón u bazantov a králikov a klinická symptomatológia otravy.

Adult rabbits of the New Zealand White breed and pheasants were used to determine the rate of acute oral toxicity (LD50), clinical symptomatology of poisoning of organisms loaded with lethal doses, and the recovery of intoxicated individuals from the toxic effects of bentazon, Czechoslovak developmental herbicide (Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Bratislava), administered at sublethal doses within the framework of obligatory toxicological testing of this herbicide. The determined acute oral toxicity (LD50) was 1139 mg/kg in rabbits and 2918 mg/kg of live weight in pheasants. The table shows LD50 of the tested herbicide for various animal species. The LD50 values of bentazon produced abroad (Germany) are also shown for comparison in this table. If the LD50 values of both herbicides are compared, Czechoslovak developmental bentazon appears safer. The administration of lethal doses (1110 and 1170 mg/kg in rabbits, 2750 and 3100 mg/kg of live weight in pheasants) resulted in clinical symptoms of poisoning detected predominantly in the respiratory system. Shallow accelerated breathing and dyspnoea, CNS suppression, pronounced increase in body temperature, rapid onset and high intensity of rigor mortis were observed. Animals which died as a result of asphyxia induced by the sublethal doses (1000 mg/kg in rabbits and 2200 mg/kg in pheasants) were observed after 2-4 days. Difficult accelerated breathing and increased body temperature disappeared after 1-2 days while the remaining symptoms after 2-3 days. The loss of appetite persisted for 2-4 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The immune response of sheep to subclinical chronic exposure to the herbicide Bentazon TP.

A study of the effect of the Czechoslovakian herbicide BENTAZON TP on cells of the sheep immune system was carried out over a 3-mo period. A temporary decline in the number of T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was seen after 6 w of daily feeding of the herbicide. Dose-dependent statistically significant changes in the leucocyte migration index (p < 0.05) were seen at daily doses of 1/10 the LD50 (195 mg/kg body weight) and 1/20 the LD50 (97.5 mg/kg body weight) the 8th and 10th w of feeding, respectively. Significant changes of phagocytic activity and in the phagocytic index were not observed.

[The effect of bentazone manufactured in Czechoslovakia on the synthesis of bacterial proteins in the rumen of sheep]. / Vplyv bentazónu cs. výroby na syntézu bakteriálnych proteínov v bachore oviec.

The effect of the perorally ingested pesticide bentazone (195 mg.kg-1) of Czechoslovak origin on the amino acid composition of proteins of bacteria adhering to the ventral and dorsal ruminal wall investigated in six sheep. Proteosynthesis of adherent bacteria was studied by a modified and quantified elution method (elution of bacteria by an isotonic buffered solution at 4 degrees C). By the latter, a concentrate of undamaged bacteria a adhering to the sheep ruminal epithelium could be obtained. The yield of the method was estimated by scanning electrone microscopy and it was 93.3% (Legáth et al., 1990). The high correlation coefficient (r = 0.94, p < 0.01) suggested that in comparison with the control group of sheep, bentazone in the diet did not have a marked effect on the amount of amino acids in hydrolyzates of bacteria adhering to the dorsal and ventral ruminal epithelium. From the analysis of the single amino acids, it however follows that bentazone in the feeding ration caused significant changes in the concentrations of some amino acids in the proteins of bacteria adhering to the epithelium in the ventral and dorsal part of the rumen (p < 0.05) (Tab. I, II). In both topographico-anatomical parts of the rumen phenylalanine levels significantly increased whereas those of alanine and glycine decreased (Fig. 1). Pesticides can be one of the factors that negatively affect the biosynthetic processes in the rumen of ruminants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical signs and mechanism of supermethrin intoxication in sheep.

Three Slovak Merino sheep, weighing 38, 40 and 41 kg, were given single doses of 1500, 2700 or 3000 mg supermethrin/kg body weight. Clinical signs of intoxication were observed, and after death or sacrifice free cyanide levels were determined in the rumen contents and liver. The sheep that received 3000 mg supermethrin/kg had 7.2 and 0.58 mg cyanide/kg in the rumen contents and liver, respectively; the sheep that received 2700 mg supermethrin/kg had 5.8 and 0.52 mg cyanide/kg in the rumen contents and liver, respectively; whereas the sheep given 1500 mg supermethrin/kg had no free cyanide detected in the rumen contents or liver.

[Levels of mercury in the organs and tissues of sheep after administration of very low doses]. / Koncentrácie ortute v orgánoch a tkanivách oviec po zátazi organizmu extrémne nízkymi jej dávkami.

Experiments were carried out with six sheep of the Slovak Merino breed, weighing 22-28 kg. For 28 days the animals were given 4 mg inorganic Hg2+ in the feed per animal/day. In contrast with the controls, the following residual mercury concentrations were determined in the single organs and tissues: liver 1.580 +/- 0.326 mg.kg-1 Hg2+ and 0.091 +/- 0.014 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, respectively muscle 0.064 +/- 0.009 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, and 0.026 +/- 0.006 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, resp. spleen 0.142 +/- 0.025 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, and 0.022 +/- 0.010 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, resp. kidney 9.054 +/- 3.794 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, and 0.128 +/- 0.080 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, resp. (Fig. 1), abomasal contents 0.309 +/- 0.069 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, and 0.021 +/- 0.007 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, resp. large intestinal contents 0.267 +/- 0.058 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, and 0.043 +/- 0.004 mg.kg-1 Hg2+, resp. The results suggest that the long-term ingestion of mercury with feed leads to a pronounced Hg accumulation in the kidneys and liver. Much lower levels were observed in the muscle tissue and spleen. The affinity of mercury to the kidney and liver is probably related to the preferential bonds of organic mercury compounds to the SH- groups of the plasma proteins in these organs. It is the bond to the sulphydryl groups of proteins that results in the inhibition of proteosynthesis and thus enzyme and antibody inhibition. Under the conditions of continuing chemical contamination of the environment, a permanent supply of low concentrations of heavy metals the animal organism is observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The effect of Bentazone, a Czechoslovak developmental herbicide, on health status indicators in sheep during subchronic poisoning]. / Vplyv ceskoslovenského vývojového herbicídu bentazón na niektoré ukazovatele zdravotného stavu oviec v podmienkach subchronickej intoxikácie.

A three-month feeding trial was conducted with sheep of the Slovak Merino breed (13-14 months of age, males and females) as a part of the obligatory toxicological tests of the Czechoslovak developmental herbicide bentazone (Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Bratislava). Partial results are shown describing the action of this herbicide on the overall health of sheep with respect to weight gains, trias values and intrauterine foetus development. The sheep of the first experimental group were fed bentazone as an additive to molasses feed M at a daily rate of 195 mg/kg lwt. (1/10 from LD50), and the sheep of the second group were fed a rate of 97.5 mg/kg lwt. (1/20 from LD50). No symptoms of the toxic effects of bentazone were observed in the course of the experiment. There were no differences between the experimental and test animals in the dynamics of pulse value changes (Fig. 1), breathing value changes (Fig. 2) and body temperature value changes (Fig. 3) from the beginning till the end of the trial. A slight increase in the pulse and breathing values above the upper reference value observed in the experimental groups in the last two to three weeks of the trial cannot be associated with the bentazone action. This increase reflects the physiological condition of the animals in the given conditions because the identical changes were also found in the control group. We assume that the changes were evoked by the elevated temperature of the external environment due to the fact that the sheep were not sheared.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Changes in amino acid levels in bacteria adhering to rumen epithelium in sheep after oral administration of very low doses of mercury]. / Zmena koncentrácií aminokyselín v baktériach adherovaných na epitel bachora oviec po perorálnej zátazi organizmu extrémne nízkymi dávkami ortute.

The effect of low concentrations of mercury taken in the diet (4 mg per a head and day) on the amino acid composition in the proteins of rumen bacteria adhering to the dorsal and ventral parts of the rumen was studied in six sheep. Though the mercury did not influence the amino acid concentration in hydrolyzates of epimural bacteria, low-mercury doses caused significant changes of some amino acids, as compared with the control group of animals. The levels of alanine, histidine, threonine, serine and glycine were significantly decreased and at the same time the levels of proline, valine, isoleucine, tyrosine, lysine and phenylalanine were significantly increased. It was stated in our experiment that the levels of histidine, alanine and threonine in hydrolyzates of epimural bacteria of the rumen were significantly decreased both in the sheep given the balanced feed ration with additions of mercury and nitrogen (according to the standard) and in the sheep given a low-nitrogen diet. Similarly, the levels of proline, tyrosine and phenylalanine in the hydrolizates of epimural bacteria in rumen were significantly increased both with the low-nitrogen diet and in the normal -nitrogen diet with mercury supplement. The results suggest that unexplained disorders frequently occurring in the microbial synthesis in the rumen might be caused by long-continued administration of feed contaminated with extremely low concentrations of heavy metals. The problem deserves detailed investigation in future studies, oriented to explaining the biosynthesis disorders in rumen, reducing the production ability of ruminants.

[Pathologico-morphologic picture of subchronic trimorfamide poisoning in dogs]. / Patologicko-morfologický obraz subchronickej intoxikácie psov trimorfamidom.

Animals in groups of six dogs and six bitches were given daily in their food, individually, for a period of six months, the fungicide trimorphamide, at dosages of 0, 300 and 500 mg.kg-1 of their weight. After they had been killed, a significant reduction in their weight was observed along with hemosiderosis of the liver, kidneys and spleen of all the experimental animals. No other important structural changes were found by dissection and pathologico-histological examinations of almost all organs and tissues.

[Dynamics of exogenous progesterone in the blood of pigs stressed with polychlorobiphenyls (PCB)]. / Dynamika exogénneho progesterónu v krvi prasiat zatazených polychlórovanými bifenylmi (PCB).

For a period of 70 days, young gilts were given rations containing a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), produced in Czechoslovakia (Delor 105). One group of animals (A) was given feed containing 10 mg chlorobiphenyls per kg, the other group (B) was given feed containing 50 mg chlorobiphenyls per kg; on the whole, each animal of group A got 1 g of PCB mixture and each animal of group B 5 g. In about the mid-time of the experiment and before its termination the animals were given an i. m. injection of progesterone; then the animals were studied for the changes in the concentration of blood plasma progesterone. Statistically significant (P less than 0.05) and highly significant (P less than 0.01) differences in the values of the biological half-life of progesterone were found between the group of PCB-treated animals and the control group, and between groups A and B.