Carcass composition and selected meat quality traits of Pekin ducks from genetic resources flocks.

The aim of the study was to compare P33 (Polish Pekin), P8 (Danish Pekin), and P9 ducks (French Pekin) for body weight, dressing percentage, carcass composition, and selected meat quality traits. A total of 180 ducks, 30 males and 30 females of each strain, were kept indoors on deep litter and fed complete commercial diets ad libitum. At the end of 8 wk, the ducks were weighed and 7 males and 7 females of each strain (42 birds in total) were slaughtered and dissected. The pH and electrical conductivity of breast and leg muscles were determined 24 h postmortem. After dissection, samples of breast and leg muscles were collected to determine of selected meat quality characteristics. At the age of 8 wk, P8 ducks had significantly higher body weight and carcass weight compared to P9 and P33 birds. The carcasses of P8 ducks contained significantly more breast muscles compared to the carcasses of P9 birds. The proportion of abdominal fat was higher in P8 and P9 ducks than in P33 ducks. Regardless of the genetic origin, males had a significantly lower percentage of breast muscles and a higher proportion of neck in the carcass compared to females. P33, P8, and P9 ducks exhibited significant differences in the sodium and magnesium content of breast muscles and in the sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium content of leg muscles. Male breast muscles contained more sodium, and their leg muscles had a lower potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron content compared to females. The breast and leg muscles of P9 ducks exhibited lower electrical conductivity (EC24) compared to P8 and P33 ducks, while the breast muscles of P9 ducks had a significantly higher cooking loss. The strains of ducks under study differed in lightness (L*) and redness (a*), and in hardness, chewiness and gumminess of pectoralis major muscle. Females showed higher hardness and chewiness of breast muscles compared to males.

Testing conception of engagement of imidazoline receptors in imidazoline drugs effects on isolated rat heart atria.

Recently, attention has been payed to the role of imidazolines in physiology of the heart. However, no systematic comparative studies were reported regarding the activity of a representative set of specific ligands towards imidazoline receptors in the heart preparations. The aim of this project was to test effects of a set of ligands on the pharmacological function of putative imidazoline receptors in isolated rat heart atria. Known imidazoline drugs with a postulated high affinity to imidazoline I(1) receptor: AGN192403, rilmenidine, moxonidine and clonidine were used. The specific ligands of imidazoline I(2) receptor: 2-BFI, BU239 and putative natural ligand for imidazoline I(1), I(2) and I(3) receptors, agmatine, were tested also. The spontaneously beating right and left atria, driven electrically, were studied. Dose-response curves for amplitude and rate of the contractions of the atria were produced by administration of increasing doses of the agents. Phentolamine as alpha(1)/alpha(2) adrenergic receptors blocker and idazoxan as I(2)/I(1)/alpha(2) receptors blocker were added in order to inhibit ino- and chronotropic effects of the compounds studied. The -log EC(50) parameters were calculated. The positive inotropic effect on left atria were evoked with the rank order of potency: agmatine >> clonidine > BU239 > rilmenidine > or = moxonidine and these effects were generally diminished by idazoxan. Moxonidine produced a weak positive inotropic effect potentiated by idazoxan. Rilmenidine and moxonidine were assumed to act as partial agonists of imidazoline I(1) receptor. AGN192403 did not change the amplitude of beating of left atria. The positive chronotropic effects on spontaneously beating right heart atria were with in the following order of potency: BU239 > or = agmatine >>> clonidine > AGN192403. Idazoxan markedly antagonized chronotropic effect of both BU239 and agmatine. 2-BFI weakly diminished the rate of beating of atria; moxonidine and rilmenidine had no effect. In conclusion, imidazoline receptors of the I(1) subtype may be involved in inotropic reaction of the agents studied, but this effect depends mainly on the alpha(2)/alpha(1) adrenergic receptors. Engagement of I(2) imidazoline receptors, along with the alpha(2) adrenergic ones, in chronotropic activity of isolated right atria of rat has been demonstrated.

The effect of congenital deafness on cerebral asymmetry in the perception of emotional and non-emotional faces.

Functional hemispheric specialization in recognizing faces expressing emotions was investigated in 18 normal hearing and 18 congenitally deaf children aged 13-14 years. Three kinds of faces were presented: happy, to express positive emotions, sad, to express negative emotions, and neutral. The subjects' task was to recognize the test face exposed for 20 msec in the left or right visual field. The subjects answered by pointing at the exposed stimulus on the response card that contained three different faces. The errors committed in expositions of faces in the left and right visual field were analyzed. In the control group the right hemisphere dominated in case of sad and neutral faces. There were no significant differences in recognition of happy faces. The differentiated hemispheric organization pattern in normal hearing persons supports the hypothesis of different processing of positive and negative emotions expressed by faces. The observed hemispheric asymmetry was a result of two factors: (1) processing of faces as complex patterns requiring visuo-spatial analysis, and (2) processing of emotions contained in them. Functional hemispheric asymmetry was not observed in the group of deaf children for any kind of emotion expressed in the presented faces. The results suggest that lack of auditory experience influences the organization of functional hemispheric specialization. It can be supposed that in deaf children, the analysis of information contained in emotional faces takes place in both hemispheres.

Hemispheric asymmetry in event related potentials associated with positive and negative emotions.

Event-related potentials from symmetrical points of the left and right frontal and occipital cortex were recorded while subjects experienced positive and negative emotions. The emotions were elicited by either missing or hitting a target with a photoelectric gun. Twenty three right-handers (10 males and 13 females) were tested. Each subject took part in two sessions. In the first session the subjects were informed about their performance (hit or miss) after each shot. In the second, control session, no feedback was given. The amplitudes of P180 potential registered from the occipital cortex were higher in the right than in the left cerebral hemisphere, irrespectively of subjects' performance (i.e. a miss or a hit). No such tendency was observed in potentials registered from the frontal cortex. These regularities emerged only in the feedback situation, i.e. when subjects were informed about their performance, although higher ERPs were registered for hits than for misses. The results support the hypothesis that the posterior region of the right hemisphere is more engaged than the left one in experiencing emotions, irrespectively of their sign.

Hemispheric differences in the perception of words and faces in deaf and hearing children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate hemispheric functional asymmetry in 18 normal hearing children and 18 congenitally deaf children aged 13-14 years. The task was identification of a visual stimulus (3-letter word or photograph of a face) presented in either the left or right visual field. The children responded by pointing to the target stimulus on a response card which contained four different words or three different faces. The percentage of errors for presentations to the two visual fields were analysed to determine hemispheric dominance. The pattern of hemispheric differences for the hearing children was consistent with that from previous investigations. The results for the deaf children differed from those of the normals. In word perception we observed a right hemisphere advantage and in the face recognition a lack of hemispheric differences. These results point to a lack of auditory experiences which is affecting the functional organization of the two hemispheres. It is suggested that the necessity to make use of visuo-spatial information in the process of communication causes right hemisphere dominance in verbal tasks. This may influence the perception of other visuo-spatial stimuli which may yield a lack of hemispheric asymmetry in face recognition.

[Concepts, experiences and problems in the gradual reintegration into the work process. Results of an inventory taking]. / Konzepte, Erfahrungen und Probleme im Bereich der stufenweisen Wiedereingliederung in den Arbeitsprozess. Ergebnisse einer Bestandsaufnahme.

Within the scope of an exploratory inventory check on measures of gradual reintegration into the work process, basic information has been collected for the first time. The programmes up to now implemented by rehabilitating agencies are presented with regard to their structural principles and various financing schemes. A critical assessment of introduction, implementation and success of these measures and their determinants is given, as well as proposed improvements and demands made by experts and the patients concerned.

[Decaris in the treatment of multiple sclerosis]. / Ocena preparatu Decaris w leczeniu stwardnienia rozsianego.

Decaris was given for 6 months to 57 patients with clinically reliably diagnosed multiple sclerosis. For evaluating the physical fitness of the patients the 10-point scoring system of Kurtzke was used. The drug was given intermittently to 2 groups of patients in a 14-day cycle of 3 tablets daily for 3 days: and in a 7-day cycle of 3 tablets for 3 days. Each tablet contained 50 mg of the drug. The effects of the drug were evaluated on the course of the disease, dynamics of neurological status changes, and side effects. The progression of the disease process was slowed down, the function of the pyramidal system and labyrinthine-cerebellar systems became normal or improved. Sphincter control was better. The best results were obtained in patients with remitting form of the disease treated in the 14-day cycle.

[Comparative evaluation of psychoactive drugs used in patients with subacute and chronic cerebrovascular disorders]. / Ocena porównawcza skutecznosci leków psychoenergizujacych u chorych z podostrymi i przewleklymi zaburzeniami krazenia mózgowego.

The report is based on 315 patients with subacute and chronic cerebral circulatory disturbances caused mostly by atherosclerosis aged 30 to 82 years, treated for 1-6 months. In 90 cases Piracetam (Nootropil) was given, 107 received Piritinol (Encephabol, Enerbol), 77 Piriditol, 41 Centrophenoxin. The patients were allocated randomly to these groups. In the treated patients improvement was achieved in a considerable proportion of cases (44-82%) treated with different drugs. This improvement manifested itself as regression or decreased intensity of neurotic complaints, labyrinthine-cerebellar signs, pyramidal signs, anxiety and fears, improvement of recent memory, attention, psychomotor activity. The best results were obtained with Nootropil, moderately good with Centrophenoxin, Encephabol, and poor with Piriditol. Drug tolerance was best with Encephabol, while that of other drugs was slightly worse. The only disquieting symptoms was activation of epileptic seizures in several patients treated with Nootropil or Centrophenoxin. The best way of administration was giving the drugs in two doses in the morning hours and at noon. The authors regard as useful the treatment of patients with subacute and chronic cerebral circulatory failure with psychoenergizing drugs.

[L-dopa with inhibitor in the treatment of parkinsonian syndrome-results of long-term observations]. / L-dopa z inhibitorem w leczeniu zespolów parkinsonowskich-wyniki dllugotrwalej obserwacji.

The report is based on the observation of 39 patients with parkinsonian syndromes treated with L-DOPA with inhibitor, including 30 patients treated during 2-6 years. It was found that treatment with L-DOPA with the inhibitor gave good or very good results in most patients with these syndromes with a relatively good drug tolerance during the first three months. With passing time the effect of the drug on the manifestations of the disease decreases and the tolerance becomes aver worse. The results of the treatment are worse although the applied daily dose is increased by a metan value of 50%. AT the same time the frequency of such complications as hyperkineses, anxiety and depression labyrinthine-cerebellar signs increases. Urinary passage disturbances and mental degradation develop and their temporal association with L-DOPA treatment is unquestionable, while a cause-and-effect correlation seems likely. In the conclusion the author suggests the need for a careful consideration of each decision of treatment with L-DOPA, and the possibility of improving the results of parkinsonism treatment is seen in the production of new optimal forms of he already present drugs, monitoring blood drug levels, and practical utilization of the synergism between the group of drugs stimulating the dopaminergic system and the group of drugs inhibiting the acetylcholinergic system.

[Preliminary evaluation of Depakine effects in epilepsy]. / Wstepna ocena dzialania Depakiny w padaczce.

Depakine Labaz in doses from 30 to 1200 mg daily was given to 52 patients in an outpatient clinic. In 13% of cases symptoms of drug intolerance developed and the treatment had to be discontinued. In 45 cases treatment was continued. The drug was given usually to patients refractory to previous drugs, with evidence of organic brain disease. The highest degree of clinical improvement was observed in patients with grand mal seizures and seizures without convulsions. The influence of this treatment of partial complex seizures was slightly smaller. The number of patients treated was too small for evaluation of the effects in partial simple seizures. The total proportion of improved patients was about 60%. In EEG curves normalization of background activity was the most frequent findings, without appearance of rapid activity. In some cases manifestation of focal changes was observed. The favourable effect of Depakine on seizure activity manifested itself in later period of treatment and was slight. The drug had a favourable effect on the wellbeing of patients and had no significant toxic effect in the liver or kidneys.

[Preliminary evaluation of Rivotril in epilepsy]. / Wstepna ocena dzialania Rivotrilu w padaczce

Treatment with Rivotril in doses of 2-10 mg daily was given to 26 patients with various forms of epilepsy, mostly refractory to previous treatment. In 2 cases the drug was withdrawn on account of intolerance, in 4 cases treatment was stopped after several days in view of greatly increased frequency of seizures. In the remaining cases the drug was administered during 2 to 27 months, (mean 7 months) in 3 cases as the only medication and in 17 with other anticonvulsants. The best therapeutic results were obtained in patients with partial seizures of complex symptomatology and in generalized non-convulsive seizures, the worst results in generalized seizures. Electroencephalographic findings included particularly disappearance of seizure activity, while focal changes persisted and even grew worse in some cases. Apart from 2 cases of acute intolerance in another 4 cases side effects were observed with somnolence, dizziness, equilibrium disturbances, and in one case granulocytopenia developed. Allergic changes and liver or renal damage were never observed. The authors suggest introduction of the drug in treatment of epilepsy in view of its favourable clinical effect even in cases refractory to previous treatment, especially since the drug is relatively well tolerated.

[Clinico-electroencephalographic observations in epileptic patients during long-term treatment with benzonal]. / Obserwacje kliniczno-elektroencefalograficzne u chorych z padaczka w przebiegu dlugotrwalego leczenia benzonalem

Benzonal was given to 52 epileptics. In 50 cases the duration of treatment ranged from 3 months to 7 years (mean 18 months) in doses of 100-500 mg daily, in 2 cases it had to be withdrawn after a short-term treatment because of intolerance. In all cases the drug was given together with other anticonvulsants: hydantoin, derivatives, mysodin, Tegretol, pheneturid or Ospolot in place of previously administered phenobarbital. It was found that benzonal reduced significantly the frequency of partial simple seizures (in 6 out of 20 cases) and grand mal seizures (in 24 out of 34 cases), while its action on the partial complex seizures was much weaker (improvement in only 7 out of 20 cases). The drug was usually well tolerated, side effects of greater intensity developed in 2 cases only, transient somnolence was observed in another 6 cases. In EEG records a slight favourable effect was exerted on pathological background activity with absent effect in focal changes and increase of seizure activity. The authors believe that in view of its favourable clinical action and good tolerance the drug may be widely used in properly selected cases of epilepsy.