Probiotic Bacteria can Modulate Murine Macrophage's Superoxide Production in Trichinella Spiralis Infection.

The effect of probiotic strains (Enterococcus faecium EF55, E. faecium CCM7420, E. faecium CCM8558, E. durans ED26E/7, Lactobacillus fermentum CCM7421, L. plantarum 17L/1) on the production of superoxide anion (O2 -) in peritoneal macrophages of Trichinella spiralis infected mice was examined. E. faecium EF55 and E. faecium CCM8558 strains increased the O2 -production prior to parasitic infection,at the day7of application.A significant inhibition of the O2 - production caused by T. spiralis infection on day 5 post infection (p.i.) was prevented by all examined strains. Lactobacilli stimulated metabolic activity of macrophages during intestinal and early muscular phase (from day 5 to 25 p.i.) of trichinellosis. Enterococci increased the O2 - production in early intestinal phase (day 5 p.i.) and during the muscular phase of trichinellosis (days 25 and 32 p.i.). Respected increase in macrophage's metabolic activity induced by probiotic treatment in the intestinal phase of trichinellosis augmented the host antiparasite defence (damage and killing of newborn larvae with reactive oxygen species from macrophages).

The International Network of Obstetric Survey System.

OBJECTIVE: To informed about international surveillance network severe maternal morbidity and mortality - INOSS. DESIGN: Literature review. SETTINGS: 1st Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. METHODS: Literate review of articles published till august 2019. RESULTS: The International Network of Obstetric Survey Systems (INOSS) is an international network that connects countries with the same or similar system of surveillance of acute severe maternal morbidity and mortality. The INOSS was established in year 2010 by twelve countries. Nowadays 19 countries are involved in the INOSS. The cooperation between member countries is focused on the acquisition of relevant data about rare severe acute maternal morbidities. INOSS in 2017 year unified definitions of 8 severe acute maternal morbidities according Delphi method: eclampsia, amniotic fluid embolism, peripartum hysterectomy, severe primary postpartum haemorrhage, uterine rupture, abnormally invasive placenta, spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy, and cardiac arrest in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The international cooperation allows the acquisition of relevant epidemiologic data and the optimalization of the treatment according the evidence-based medicine.

Postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis: case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: An analysis of POVT (postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis) case, the importance of prompt diagnosis, antibiotic and anticoagulation therapy management with multidisciplinary team approach. DESIGN: A case report and literature review. SETTING: 1st Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine Comenius University and University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Authors would like to draw attention to the pitfalls of diagnosis and treatment of postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis with combination of antibiotics and anticoagulants after uncomplicated vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Due to potentially life-threatening postpartum complications such as sepsis and pulmonary embolism, prompt diagnosis and treatment of POVT are important. To detection of POVT are MRI and CECT associated with higher sensitivity and specificity compared to colour Doppler ultrasound. For symptomatic POVT many authors suggest anticoagulation for 3 to 6 months (until there is radiologically confirmed thrombus resolution) with the addition of antibiotics for 7 to 10 days (in the case of suspected infection). Multidisciplinary approach is important.

The role of CRP, PCT, IL-6 and presepsin in early diagnosis of bacterial infectious complications in paediatric haemato-oncological patients.

Bacterial infection is the most common complication in paediatric oncological patients during cancer treatment. A suitable tool for early prediction of unfavourable course of infection is still needed. We performed a prospective longitudinal observational study to evaluate of the role of serum biomarkers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, presepsin) in the early diagnosis of bacteraemia (gram-negative versus gram-positive) in patients with haematological malignancies. We observed 69 febrile episodes in 33 patients (17 male, 16 female; 1.5-18.9 years, mean 7.31 years, median 5 years). Within this sample, there were 22 cases of positive blood cultures, 16 cases of sepsis, 38 cases of fever with no signs or symptoms of sepsis, and two deaths from infectious complications. All markers tested had good negative predictive value (73% - 93%). CRP was characterized by good specificity for registration bacteraemia (96%, 95% CI: 85% - 99%), but other results were inconclusive. We identified comparably balanced sensitivity (64% - 81%) and specificity (61% - 88%) for interleukin-6 and procalcitonin, and we proved their quality to predict positive blood culture and clinical signs of sepsis as well. Patients with gram-negative bacteraemia had significantly elevated levels of PCT and IL-6 in comparison with a group of patients with gram-positive bacteraemia (p = 0.04 for PCT and p = 0.005 for IL-6). Presepsin was characterized by poor specificity (27%, 95% CI: 15% - 43%) and positive predictive value (24%, 95% CI: 12 - 39%) for predicting bacteraemia, and by better sensitivity (84%, 95% CI: 55% - 98%) and specificity (58%, 95% CI: 42% - 73%) for predicting clinical signs of sepsis.

Application of peracetic acid and quarternary ammonium disinfectants as a part of sanitary treatment in a poultry house and poultry processing plant.

Hygiene and sanitation play a major role in any effective disease control programme for poultry production and processing premises. Various deficiencies in disinfection may induce that chains of infections are not broken from one stock to another. The present study investigated the efficacy of disinfection on a broiler farm and in a plant processing poultry from the investigated farm. Besides inspection of disinfection, the influence of contamination on broiler carcasses and consequences of this contamination on sanitation of the processing lines were studied. Swabs from surfaces coming into contact with the handled raw material were taken and evaluated. The results obtained by a standard microbiological swab method were evaluated and compared with an ATP-bioluminescence method. The investigations included determination of total counts of microorganisms, coliform bacteria and moulds. When employing the standard plate-count method, the total counts of microorganisms (TCM) reached <1, 1-100 and >100 CFU in 0, 12 and 88% swabs on poultry farm and in 22%, 36% and 42% swabs in the processing plant, respectively. The bioluminescence method was used only in the processing plant and contamination corresponding to <100, 100-300 and >300 relative light units (RLU) was detected in 80%, 10% and 10% swabs respectively.

Evolution of temperature and chemical parameters during composting of the pig slurry solid fraction amended with natural zeolite.

A 3-month experiment was conducted at a 300 kg scale to observe decomposition processes in pig slurry solids amended with two different doses of natural Slovak zeolite-clinoptilolite (substrates S1 and S2, 1% and 2% of zeolite by weight, respectively) in comparison with the control (unamended solids). The experimental and control substrates were stored outdoors in sheltered static piles at ambient temperatures ranging from 8.0 to 34.7 degrees C. The solid fraction (SF) of pig slurry was obtained by separation on vibration sieves prior to slurry treatment with activated sludge. The initial water content of the SF was 77.1% and no water was added to the piles during the storage. The temperature in the core of the piles was recorded throughout the experiment. By day 3 and 5 of storage (1% and 2% zeolite, resp.), the temperature in the substrates S1 and S2 exceeded 55 degrees C and remained above this level for 15 days while the highest temperature recorded in the control during the experiment was 29.8 degrees C. Samples from the core of the piles were taken periodically to determine pH, dry matter at 105 degrees C (DM), ash (550 degrees C/4 h), ammonia nitrogen (N-NH(4)(+)), nitrate nitrogen (N-NO(3)(-)), total nitrogen (N(t)), total phosphorus (P(t)); total organic carbon (TOC) was computed. The results showed that pH levels in S1 and S2 remained below that in the control for most of the thermophilic stage. This may be related to water-soluble ammonia and the affinity of zeolites to ammonium ions. A significant decrease in the level of ammonia nitrogen in water extracts from S1 and S2 was observed between days 5 and 35 in comparison with the control. The values of ash also differed and corresponded to the intensity of the decomposition processes in the respective substrates.

Effect of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) on microbial decomposition processes in stored pig-slurry solids.

The solid fraction (SF) of pig slurry obtained in the first stage of aerobic slurry treatment was amended with 1 and 2% zeolite (clinoptilolite) and stored for 12 weeks under anaerobic conditions or with turning after 3 and 6 weeks of storage. In addition to that SF was mixed with 2% zeolite, 50% (V/V) sawdust, and both sawdust and zeolite, and stored for 6 weeks with turning after 1 and 3 weeks. Plate counts of psychrophilic, mesophilic, coliform and fecal coliform bacteria, determined during the storage, corresponded to the development of temperature in the core of the substrates. An effect of amendment of SF with zeolite and sawdust on plate counts of selected bacteria was observed, dependent on the zeolite dose. The thermophilic phase was not reached in any of the investigated substrates. The populations of fecal coliforms in the substrate amended with 1% zeolite and turned after 3 and 6 weeks decreased after 11 weeks down to 500 CFU/g substrate.

Subacute immunotoxicity study of formaldehyde in male rats.

Immune functions were examined in male rats following 28 day oral administration of formaldehyde by gastric tube at dose levels of 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg. Routine parameters examined included hematology, clinical chemistry, and body, thymus, kidney, and liver weights. In addition, cellularity of spleen and lymph nodes, histology of spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, liver kidney, small and large intestines, and histochemistry of spleen and lymph nodes were evaluated. Immune parameters evaluated included serum hemagglutinin antibody response; antibody plaque forming cell response to sheep erythrocytes (lymphocyte-dependent antigen); microbicidal activity of Candida albicans; and phagocytic activity by adhesion of microspheric hydrophilic synthetic particles to leukocyte cell membrane. Body weights were slightly decreased at high dose level (80 mg/kg). The difference was significant when compared to the controls. The lymph node weights were significantly increased in rats receiving formaldehyde. The cellularity of lymphoid organs was not influenced after 28 day exposure to formaldehyde.

[The estrogenic effect of the fungicide Novozír MN 80 on the uterus in neonatal rats]. / Fungicíd Novozír MN 80 a jeho estrogénny úcinok na uterus neonatálnych potkanov.

The estrogenic effect of the ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicide Novozír MN 80 (Duslo, Sal') was studied by means of the screening method determining the reproductive risk of chemical substances, recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Compared to intact controls, a significant increase in relative uterine weight was recorded in the group of animals which received 1/25 of the maximal tolerable concentration of Novozír MN 80. Compared to negative controls (Tween 80), the relative uterine weight was increased significantly after administration of 1/25 and 1/50 of the maximal tolerable concentration of Novozír MN 80. On histologic examination the cuboidal epithelium of the mucous membrane was found to be changed into columnar epithelium, with uneven distribution of enlarged nuclei in the vacuolized cytoplasm. At 1/25 maximal tolerable concentration thickening of the uterine wall was observed.

Combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study of the fungicide trimorphamide in rats.

Trimorphamide, a new fungicide, was fed over 2 years to groups of 50 male and 50 female rats at dietary levels of 0, 67, 330 and 665 mg/kg. No adverse effects on mortality, haematology, urinalysis, organ weights, incidence and severity of tumors were observed. Isolated observations of abnormalities in blood chemistry suggested the possibility of certain renal damage in the highest dosage group; however, the clinical significance of these findings is dubious. According to the results of the present study, 67 mg/kg in the diet can be considered as the "no observed effect level".

Analysis of chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers with occupational exposure to the mancozeb-containing fungicide Novozir Mn80.

Chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were analyzed in short-term cultures of peripheral lymphocytes of 44 workers occupationally exposed to mancozeb during the production of the pesticide Novozir Mn80 and 30 control persons. The results suggest that mancozeb exposure was associated with a significant increase in the frequencies of cells with structural chromosome aberrations (2.07% vs. 1.10% in the controls), and the number of SCEs per cell (9.19 +/- 1.81 vs. 7.82 +/- 1.04 in the controls).

Analysis of chromosomes in peripheral blood lymphocytes of styrene-exposed workers.

A group of 11 workers exposed to an average of 253 mg.m-3 styrene had no elevation of the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in their peripheral lymphocytes when compared to 11 healthy persons.

Results of cytogenetic testing of workers exposed to ethylene oxide.

The present work was undertaken to test cytogenetically workers exposed to Ethylene oxide (EO) aiming at detecting possible adverse effects of this agent to man. In the period 1983-1984, female workers of the Laboratory of Toxicology and the Production laboratory of ethylene oxide production in a chemical plant, and female workers in a sterilization centers in a medical facilities, were repeatedly examined. In 1984, also workers in ethylene oxide production in a chemical plant were tested. For each exposed group a control group was simultaneously examined, using cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. General examination of the health condition of exposed workers were organized in the framework of preventive examinations. The exposure level to ethylene oxide in the working environment was simultaneously monitored. The results have revealed an increase in chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of persons exposed professionally to EO at the given exposure levels. Smoking was associated with increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations in exposed workers; the difference as compared to non-smokers was however insignificant. By contrast, difference in chromosomal aberration frequency between smokers and non-smokers was significant in the control group.

Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in workers exposed to benzene.

In the present study, the method of cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to investigate 66 workers exposed to benzene, and 20 individuals selected from general population from the same locality, not exposed to particular mutagenic or carcinogenic agents (control group). Altogether, 8,600 metaphases were analysed. Frequencies of aberrant cells, including chromatide and chromosomal breaks, and chromatide and chromosomal exchanges, were scored in both groups. A very slight increase in aberrant cell frequencies (2.152% aberrant cells) was observed in the professional exposure group as compared to the control group (1.6% aberrant cells). Increased frequencies of aberrant cells were found in smokers of both the benzene-exposed and the control group. The differences were however not significant. In addition to cytogenetic examination, the workers underwent a general examination of their health condition (preventive examination). Benzene exposure seemed to have no injurious effect on the state of health of exposed workers. Biochemical and haematological tests gave normal values.