Effect of Disturbances of Zinc and Copper on the Physical and Mental Health Status of Patients with Alcohol Dependence.

The concentrations of copper and zinc in the tissues of alcohol-addicted people can significantly correlate with the variables describing their mental state. Studies on the homeostasis of zinc in alcohol-dependent patients have often been characterized by low hypozincemia detection. This may be caused by a low content of zinc in blood serum (1%) compared to the average zinc level in the body. Unfortunately, most authors have identified extracellular zinc in their studies. In the available literature, data on the level of copper in patients suffering from alcohol dependence are inconsistent. Our study included 100 alcohol-addicted patients (the study group) and 50 healthy subjects (the control group). Mental state was measured using appropriate psychometric scales. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine copper and zinc content. Our results confirm the purposefulness of the use of zinc concentration in erythrocytes as a diagnostic parameter for low zinc status in alcohol-dependent patients. Alcohol-dependent patients with reduced concentrations of zinc in erythrocytes/copper in blood plasma differed significantly from alcohol-dependent patients with normal concentrations in terms of clinical parameters. With regard to zinc in blood plasma and copper in erythrocytes, this situation has not been found. The clinical symptoms of hypozincemia and copper deficiency in patients addicted to alcohol usually relate to disorders in central nervous system functioning, and they result in a decreased quality of physical and mental life.

The effect of supplementing organic diets with fish meal and premix on the performance of pigs and some meat and blood characteristics.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fish meal and mineral-vitamin premix, supplementing organic diets, on the performance of pigs and some meat and blood characteristics. The experiment was conducted on an organic pig fattening farm. The study involved 120 pigs with an approximate 25 kg body weight. Animals were divided into 3 groups, kept in pens, 10 animals each. Group I (control) animals were fed with plant feedstuffs of organic origin. Diets for group II and III were enriched with fish meal or fish meal and vitamin-mineral premix, respectively. The experiment was carried out till pigs reached a weight of 115 kg. Feed samples were subjected to laboratory analyses. Body weight (3 times) and feed intake were recorded. Blood samples were collected (2 times) to determine hematological and biochemical indices. Some parameters in meat samples were also determined. The fish meal addition improved (P < or = 0.05) the average daily gains as well as feed conversion ratio during fattening period and mineral-vitamin premix significantly (P < or = 0.05) fortified fish meal influence. Fish meal supplement improved (P < or = 0.05) also some carcass characteristics. Supplementation of the diet with premix additionally decreased (P < or = 0.05) backfat thickness and increased share of meat in carcass. Fish meal improved (P < or = 0.05) some meat characteristics and elevated content of some polyunsaturated fatty acids. An increase in hemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell and cholesterol level in blood of animals from both experimental groups were also found. The results obtained proved the usefulness of fish meal and mineral-vitamin premix in the fatteners nutrition based on organic diets.

[Pathogenicity and diagnosis of Bacillus anthracis]. / Chorobotwórczosc i diagnostyka Bacillus anthracis.

In Poland cutaneous form of anthrax is occurring sporadically. Most of these cases were recognized in the eastern part of the country adjacent to the eastern border (Lomza region and others). The latest literature on epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of anthrax is reviewed in order to spread modern views on anthrax and to implement changes in the diagnostic methods of anthrax in Poland.

[Legionnaires' pneumonia. Remarks related to a case]. / Legionelowe zapalenie pluc. Uwagi na marginesie przypadku.

A case of 21-years old soldier diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease was presented. Serologic dynamics of antibodies to the organism confirmed the diagnoses (anti-Legionella pneumophila). In this case serologic tests were used in Poland for the first time.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori infections in patients with gastric syndrome.

Results of microbiological and serological studies, as well as QUT (quick urease test) test done for 204 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract's complaints are presented in this paper. Microbiological studies and QUT test were done with mucous membrane biopsies, taken during gastroscopy or during surgery. Serological studies were performed triple on commercial latex tests and on ELISA-test. Results obtained by QUT test, microbiological and serological studies were comparable. ELISA-test can be recommended as reference test for detection of H. pylori infections.

[Helicobacter pylori in mucous membrane of stomach and duodenum of patients with symptoms of ulceration and dyspepsia]. / Helicobacter pylori w blonie sluzowej zoladka i dwunastnicy u chorych z dolegliwosciami dyspeptycznymi i owrzodzeniami.

The material consisted of samples of mucous membrane of stomach and duodenum obtained during endoscopy in patients with clinical symptoms of peptic ulcer of stomach or the duodenum or with dyspeptic problems. Samples were tested for presence of H. pylori by culture on brain-heart agar supplemented with 7% of horse blood. Direct test for urease production was also performed. Isolated strains were identified basing on morphology of growth, Gram-stained preparation, mobility of microorganism, production of oxidase, catalase and urease, and ability to agglutinate in immune goat serum for standard H. pylori strain. Out of tested 217 samples, positive result was obtained in 141 cases. Urease test was positive in 138 cases. Isolated strains were tested for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials. They were all resistant to nalidixic acid and susceptible in 90-100% to cephalothin, furazolidone, gentamicin and ofloxacin.

Nitrogen utilization in growing lambs: effects of grain (starch) and protein sources with various rates of ruminal degradation.

The potential interaction between grain (starch) and protein sources with varying ruminal degradation rates on N utilization in growing lambs was evaluated. Three grain sources with varying ruminal degradation rates, (barley greater than steam-flaked sorghum [SFSG] greater than dry-rolled sorghum [DRSG]) and three protein sources (urea greater than a 50:25:25 mixture of urea: blood meal:corn gluten meal [N basis, U/BC] greater than 50:50 mixture of meal:corn gluten meal [N basis, BC]), were evaluated in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement. Supplemental protein sources provided 33% of dietary N (CP = 11.0%). For each grain-protein combination, a 3 x 3 Latin square metabolism trial was conducted using two sets of three lambs and three periods. Within-square treatments were 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 times maintenance intake levels. No interactions were observed (P greater than .2) between dietary treatments and intake level. Grain sources did not differ (P greater than .2) in N balance or the proportion of N retained. Lambs fed urea diets retained less N (3.6 vs 4.2 and 4.1 g/d for urea vs U/BC and BC, respectively; linear, P = .07; quadratic, P = .12) and utilized N less efficiently (43.1 vs 51.9 and 52.5%, respectively; linear, P less than .001; quadratic, P = .10) than lambs fed BC diets. The grain x protein interaction was significant for most variables. Nitrogen utilization was most efficient (24 to 27% of N intake retained) when rapidly degraded sources (barley and urea) and slowly degraded sources (sorghum and BC) were fed together or when U/BC was the supplemental protein source (interaction P less than .08). An advantage was found for selection of starch and protein sources with similar ruminal degradation rates.

Preparation of antibacterial and antitoxic Clostridium difficile sera.

Preparation of Clostridium difficile antibacterial and antitoxic sera is presented. Fifty one strains (72%) were typeable within Delmee scheme. Twenty strains (28%) belonged to new Polish serogroups designated 18, 27, 70, 71, 72, 88, 89 and NICH. Supernatants of all toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains were neutralized by gamma-globulin fraction of goat Clostridium difficile antitoxin in neutralization assay when it was performed on McCoy cell line. Only 8 toxigenic strains (21%) were positive in counterimmunoelectrophoresis.

Effects of ruminal escape proteins and canola meal on nitrogen utilization by growing lambs.

The effects of ruminal escape proteins and canola meal (CM) on N utilization by growing lambs were evaluated in two experiments. In both experiments, seven supplemental dietary protein treatments were fed. For each of these protein treatments a 3 x 3 Latin square metabolism trial was conducted, using two sets of three lambs and three periods. Within square treatments were 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 times maintenance intake levels. In Exp. 1, protein treatments were control (7.0% CP, DM basis), urea fed at 9.5 or 12% dietary CP, CM fed at 9.5 or 12% dietary CP and a 50:50 (N basis) mixture of blood meal/corn gluten meal (BC) fed at 9.5 or 12% dietary CP. In Exp. 2, protein treatments were urea, 64% urea and 36% BC (all mixtures on a N basis), 36% urea and 64% BC, BC, 50% CM and 50% BC (CM/BC), CM and soybean meal (SBM), all at 10.5% CP. In Exp. 1, apparent N digestibility (AND) was lower for CM diets than for urea (P = .13) and BC (P less than .05) diets (49.0 vs 50.6 and 51.3%, respectively). Absorbed N was utilized with similar efficiencies for all supplemental protein sources. Dietary CP and digestible protein (DP) were closely related (DP = .879[CP%] -3.66; r2 = .91), indicating that for urea, CM and BC total tract N digestibility was not influenced by theoretical ruminal degradability. In Exp. 2, N balance and N utilization efficiency indicated that the optimal extent of ruminal protein degradation was about 50%. Nitrogen balance was similar for the CM, CM/BC and SBM treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of glucose infusion on the metabolism of nitrogen in ruminants.

This work determined the time necessary to stabilize the decrease in urinary N excretion after initiating continuous i.v. glucose infusion and the quantity of glucose required to maximize N balance in growing wether lambs fed a high-protein diet (21.1% CP, DM basis). In the first experiment, six wethers (30 kg) were used in a 10-d crossover design comparing jugular infusion of glucose (600 kcal gross energy/d) plus saline with saline alone. The second infusion experiment was carried out with six wethers (31 kg) assigned to two 3 x 3 plus extra period latin squares, with glucose infusion rates of 0, 300 and 600, and 0, 450 and 900 kcal/d, respectively. Urinary N decreased (P less than .02) by d 2 of glucose infusion, remained stable to the end of the 10-d infusion period, and returned to the preinfusion level within 2 d after glucose infusion was discontinued. Urinary N decreased (P less than .01) and N balance increased (P less than .005) with an increasing level of glucose infusion through 600 kcal/d. Plasma glucose and insulin were elevated (P less than .05) only by infusion of 900 kcal/d of glucose. Glucose was present in the urine of wethers infused with 900 kcal/d of glucose. Glucose infusion had no effect on diet digestibility, hematocrit or plasma urea N. The level of glucose infused into growing wether lambs that maximized reduction of urinary N and was fully utilized for protein deposition without increasing plasma glucose and insulin was about 12 g.Wk-.75.d-1.

[Detection of toxins of Clostridium perfringens type A in infected animals by using the ELISA test]. / Wykrywanie toksyn Clostridium perfringens typu A u zakazonych zwierzat przy uzyciu testu ELISA.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ELISA in toxin detection in guinea pigs experimentally infected with toxinogenic strain of Clostridium perfringens type A. The toxin was detected in blood serum and muscles from 12 hours after infection. The results obtained indicate the advantage of ELISA over to date methods used as immunofluorescence or microscopic examination of muscle exudate or sections. ELISA due to its high sensitivity rapidity and specificity allows to detect toxin in guinea pigs before clinical symptoms of gas gangrene are developed.