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The content of ferulic acid in sugar beet pulp was determined by reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV/VIS-spectroscopy. The acid extracts of pectin carrying feruloyl groups were prepared for analysis. To release ferulic acid from pectin the hydrolysis in alkaline medium (pH = 12.5) was performed. Both non-hydrolysed and hydrolysed extracts were measured by UV/VIS-spectroscopy after pH adjustment to the value of 10. The absorbance maximum was observed at 372 nm (ester of ferulic acid) for non-hydrolysed extracts and at 345 nm (sodium ferulate) for hydrolysed extracts. The HPLC estimation of ferulic acid was made in hydrolysed extracts only. The content of ferulic acid in sugar beet pulp was in the range of 0.3-0.9% (m/m). The data obtained by application of the particular methods to one set of samples were statistically compared. The results of all methods were in good agreement with each other\

Several ways are recommended how to avoid iodine deficiency in food of many countries' population. In addition to the common use of salt fortified with KI, KJO₃ can also be used in bakery products. It is also a strong oxidizer improving rheological properties of dough. In this paper the effect of KJO₃ on rheological properties of wheat dough and baked products was studied using farinograph and extensograph data and the baking test. The effect of KJO₃ was tested in combination with a commercial complex improver. Loaf volume was increased by the addition of 2 or 3 ppm of iodate to flour. The dose of iodine improving bread volume showed satisfactory correspondence to 50% of recommended daily intake that is allowed for bakery products by the Czech law.

The goal of this work was to verify the spice adulteration by the microscopic analysis. The samples of black powdered pepper and its meat product that did not have the expected spice and aromatic properties were controlled. The results of sensory and chemical investigation corresponded with microscopic findings. The suspected sample of spice and meat product with spice contained pronounced coloured parts that were not present in the usual structure of powdered pepper.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin E and selenium administration on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and selected parameters of cellular immunity (metabolic activity, phagocytic activity, lymphocyte blastogenic response). Nine pregnant sheep with body weight of 42 to 66 kg were divided into two groups. Before lambing, the first group (n = 5) was given subcutaneously 5 mg vitamin E and 0.4 mg selenium per kg body weight while the second group (n = 4) was given no treatment and served as control. Blood samples from all sheep were collected before the treatment, 14 days after lambing and 30 days after lambing. Whole blood GSH-Px activities were significantly higher in the vitamin E and selenium treated sheep than in the control in the samples taken 14 days after lambing and 30 days after lambing (P < 0.01; P < 0.001, respectively). The evaluation of immunological parameters showed declines in immunological parameters measured on days 14 and 30 after lambing. The administered preparation led to significant effects (P < 0.001; P < 0.05) on phagocytic activity index of leukocytes and phagocytic activity index of neutrophils, respectively.

A programme for evaluating the strict morphological analysis of sperm was developed. The programme was verified by conducting 552 morphological analyses of bull, stallion, boar and human ejaculates. The method was evaluated by comparing the results obtained by routinely used morphological examinations with the results received by the automatic method SASMO. The following advantages of the programme were demonstrated: it is possible to obtain information on the proportion of normal and pathological spermatozoa, to determine the frequency of the respective characteristics analysed, to express detected alterations per pathological spermatozoon (teratosperm index), to express frequency of respective alterations per total number of spermatozoa examined, to display alterations according to their frequency and differentiate between developmental and acquired alterations. It was proved that using the detailed morphological evaluation of sperm by the survival test, it is possible to get statistically significant information on the prediction of sperm survival. The programme represents an important aid for making the morphological evaluation of sperm quality more objective both in veterinary and human medicine and in all insemination stations and assisted reproduction centres.

Effects of sodium humate (HuNa), containing 61.9% of humic acids in dry matter, on utilisation and retention of dietary iodine were investigated in balance experiments carried out in pigs. A control group was fed a commercial diet containing 0.1 mg of iodine per kg. The daily intake of iodine was 129.2 µg per animal or 4.08 µg per kg live weight. The recommended intake of dietary iodine is 0.25 to 0.30 mg per kg at 88% dry matter. The experimental group (HuNa) was fed the same diet supplemented with 3% of sodium humate which contained 0.5 mg of iodine per kg at 90.04% dry matter. The supplementation increased the daily intake to 141.4 µg per animal, or 4.45 µg per kg live weight. The supplementation of HuNa increased significantly the amount of iodine excreted in faeces (53.2 ± 11.0 vs. 43.0 ± 6.47 µg per animal per day; P < 0.05) and nonsignificantly the urinary iodine excretion (31.8 ± 8.93 vs. 29.0 ± 11.3 µg per animal per day). Differences between the HuNa and the control groups in blood serum iodine concentrations (18.8 vs. 18.1 µg per litre) and urinary iodine concentrations (32.5 vs. 34.4 µg per litre) were nonsignificant. It is evident from the concentrations that the pigs suffered from a serious iodine deficiency. Compared with controls, the HuNa group showed significantly higher triiodothyronine concentration (P < 0.05) and nonsignificantly lower thyroxine and iodine concentrations in blood serum. Dietary iodine utilisation was lower in the HuNa than in the control group (62.3 vs. 66.6%). The results show that utilisation of dietary iodine was limited and that sodium humate (humic acids) reduced iodine utilisation and retention and affected also other parameters indicating their goitrogenic effects.

The stitching of artificially created opening in the stomach to the parietal peritoneum has been experimentally examined so that the missing resected part was covered with the abdominal wall. Stomach contents were in direct contact with the peritoneal surface. In contradiction to common opinions (the rise of peritonitis and subsequent death) all experimental animals (six pigs and ten rats) survived the operation without any apparent complications. Within eight weeks following the laparotomy ("a second look"), the artificial perforation was narrowed down partly with outgrown gastric mucosa and partly with new generated fibrous tissue. The results of this strange experiment turn down common convictions about development of generalised peritonitis. The experiments are not an end in itself but offer possible use in a clinical experiment in humans. A casuistic of one patient with the perforated ulcer-carcinoma is discussed in this report.

The aim of this paper was to register the domestic animals appearing in the iconography of Christian saints and to explain their association. The source of knowledge was literature dealing with hagiographies of saints, sacral iconography and liturgy along with visiting churches, monasteries and museums throughout Croatia. After research in sacral literature and works of art lasting several years, it was observed that the following domestic animals appear as accompanying about seventy Christian saints: bees, bull, camel, cow, dog, donkey, goose, dove, horse, lamb, pig, sheep, steer. Reasons and explanations of their association are most often in practical relations (the animal serves and helps the man). However, in the animal, the most varied symbolic, especially ethical and morality messages are personified very often. Especially interesting are saints honoured as patrons of particular animals and of professionals occupied with animals. In human medicine, they are most frequently protectors from zoonoses, too. In some cases, animals are attributed to saints because of the linguistic association resulting from similarity of the names of animals and saints. In the same way, domestic animals are present in sacral art as a part of ambient decoration, too. In addition, it can also be interesting from the historical and ethnic veterinary point of view. Presented examples show how, by interdisciplinary approach to sacral art and tradition, we can come to other numerous findings surpassing mere religious messages. In this case, these are contributions to the history of veterinary medicine in the widest sense.

The studies were performed involving qualitative and quantitative cytometric analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes in healthy carps at various stages of their ontogeny, i.e., in 3- to 29-month old carps. Three populations of leukocyte line cells were distinguished, which differed in forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (90o, SSC) of laser light. The most abundant leukocyte pool was present in the eldest (23- to 29-month old) fish. Lower numbers of the cells were observed in the youngest (3- to 9-month old) carps while the lowest levels of the cells were detected in carps of the moderate age (11- to 21-month old). The leukocyte populations, distinguished on grounds of FSC/SSC characteristics, were suggested to correspond to lymphocytes/thrombocytes (low FSC, low SSC), granulocytes (high FSC, high SSC) and monocytes (high FSC, low SSC).

Experimental groups of pigs were treated orally with 120 mg (Group O 120), or 480 mg (Group O 480) of iodine per animal, or intramuscularly with 240 mg (Group I 240) of iodine per animal. Iodine was administered in the form of iodised fatty acid esters (IFAE). The treatment resulted in significantly increased iodine concentrations in tissues and a single dose was sufficient to meet the requirement for the whole fattening period (180 days). Urinary iodine concentrations in all the experimental groups were higher than in the control group C receiving iodine only from conventional feed. Urinary excretion of iodine between days 2 and 5 was more distinctive in orally treated than in intramuscularly treated animals (Figure 1). Iodine concentrations at the end of the fattening period (day 180) were higher in the treated than in the control groups. The treatment effect was more marked in Groups O 480 and I 240 than in Group O 120. The dynamics of blood serum iodine concentrations was similar to urinary concentrations (Figure 2). Mean thyroid gland weights in the groups O 120, O 480, I 240, and C were 9.19, 8.51, 7.10, and 12.01 g, respectively. An opposite tendency was observed for iodine concentrations in thyroid gland dry matter (Figure 3). No effects of any of the treatments on total protein, albumin, total lipids, or cholesterol concentrations in blood serum were observed. Group C showed lower tissue iodine concentrations than any of the experimental groups. The only exception was hepatic tissue in which approximately the same iodine concentrations were found in all the groups. Data obtained in Groups O 120, O 480, and I 240 indicate that decisive for tissue concentrations was rather the dose of iodine than the route of administration. Iodine is stored above all in the thyroid gland and adipose tissue. As can be seen in Figure 4, its concentration was higher in muscles with a higher proportion of fat (neck) than in lean muscles (ham).

The objective of this work was the morphologic analysis of apoptosis of neutrophilic granulocytes (hereinafter referred to as neutrophils) in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in comparison with morphological features distinguishable by light microscopy. This study was performed on 12 bovine virgin mammary glands washed with physiological buffered solution (PBS) prior to the induction of cell influx by PBS. Twenty-four hours after influx induction the cell suspension was obtained by the lavage of mammary glands with PBS. The particular lavages were cytologicaly and bacteriologicaly examined. all bacteriological examinations were negative. Mononuclear phagocytes (MoP), lymphocytes and neutrophils were distinguished in the cell suspension of the lavages by means of light microscopy. The neutrophils predominated in differential cell count. Neutrophil population showed some signs of structural features typical for the process of apoptosis that were distinguished in haemocytometer and light microscopy on stained microscopical smears. The process of apoptosis consisted of three structurally different stages: karyopyknosis, zeiosis and the stage of apoptotic bodies. These stages of neutrophil apoptosis were distinguished also by SEM. Karyopyknotic neutrophils assumed spherical shape while they lost all of their superficial pseudopodia. Neutrophils in zeiosis stage showed prominent surface protumberances, bubble-shaped vesicles causing a bizarre deformation of the cells. After the membrane vesicles had split off, they began to form spherical formations (apoptotic bodies). On the basis of neutrophils. specific structural properties it could easily distinguish all the three stages of neutrophil apoptosis by means of SEM technique as well as other morphological methods.

Distribution of leukocyte types present in virgin bovine mammary glands was analysed in dot plots obtained by flow cytometry (FACS) of samples collected from 10 non-pregnant heifers after induction of leukocyte influx. Changes of percentage of leukocyte types during development and resolution of induced influx in comparison with blood leukocyte pattern allow identification of these cell types on FACS dot plot. The positions of mammary gland granulocyte and lymphocyte regions were identical with those of the corresponding peripheral blood cells. Two basic morphologically distinct types occupying separate regions in dot plots were observed in the population of mononuclear phagocytes (MoP): non-vacuolised monocyte-like macrophages (MoMAC) and vacuolised macrophages (MAC). Influx resolution was characterised by a marked shift of the MoMAC region towards that of MAC recognisable in dot plots by a separate region of intermediate MoP forms. The study provides a pattern of dynamics of percentages of mammary gland leukocyte types during influx development and resolution as imaged by FACS.

"Emergency Control of Transboundary Diseases of Livestock in Southern and Eastern Europe", approved in the year 2000 and implemented from September 2001 the CENTAUR is expected to expand significantly. The major objective of this training Regional Project will be to strengthen the national and regional capacities to respond to transboundary animal disease emergencies through technology transfer in the fields of diagnostics, epidemiology and emergency preparedness. The following countries are included in the Project: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina (the Federation and the Serbian Republic), Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey. Southern and Eastern Europe are the strategically important areas especially exposed to Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs). The CENTAUR's main task is to facilitate contacts with international centers of excellence and international organizations in order to achieve full compatibility with OIE and EU standards regarding disease control methods. The first CENTAUR Countries: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have been CENTAUR members since 1997 following the implementation of the previous FAO TCP Project. From the Baltic countries: Lithuania has recently joined the network and Latvia and Estonia have been encouraged to do so. Also the CENTAUR was joined by the Member: Sankt Petersburg Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Russian Federation (2001). It is expected that the Countries and subscribers of the CENTAUR NEWS FLASH INFO published by the Veterinary Research Institute, Brno will play an active role regarding the dissemination of scientific/professional information, regional cooperation and training. Four workshops to be held and other activities proposed in the project are described. Emergency control of transboundary diseases of livestock in Southern and Eastern Europe

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and chromium (chromium picolinate, Cr Pic) on egg production, some egg characteristics, and digestibility of nutrients in laying hens (Hy-Line) reared under a low ambient temperature (6.2°C). Two hundred and ten laying hens (32 week-old) were divided into seven groups, 30 hens per group. The treatment groups were designed in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement using two levels of vitamin C (125 and 250 mg/kg of diet) and three levels of chromium picolinate (200, 400, or 800 µg/kg of diet), and control group was fed basal diet. The highest values of performance were obtained if 250 mg/kg vitamin C was supplemented with either 400 or 800 µg Cr per kg of diet. An interaction between vitamin C and chromium for egg production (P = 0.05) and feed efficiency (P = 0.02) was detected. Similarly, egg weight, specific gravity, egg shell thickness, egg shell weight and Haugh unit improved with diet containing 250 mg vitamin C and either 400 or 800 µg Cr per kg of diet (P £ 0.05). Digestibility of dry matter (DM), ash, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE) were higher with higher dietary vitamin C (P £ 0.05) and also with higher Cr (P £ 0.05). There were no interactions between vitamin C and chromium detected for any parameters measured for egg quality in terms of egg weight, specific gravidity, egg shell thickness, egg shell weight and Haugh unit and digestibility of nutrients (P ³ 0.28). Data obtained in the present study shows that a combination of 250 mg vitamin C and 400 µg chromium per kg of diet gave the best results in laying hens reared under a low ambient temperature and a conclusion is suggested that such a diet can be considered as a protective management practice in poultry to alleviate, at least in part, the depressive effect of cold stress on poultry performance.

The antibody responses to toxoids were measured to investigate whether Clostridium perfringens beta and epsilon toxoids induced protective humoral immune responses in buffalos. Total of 24 buffalos were divided into 4 groups (n = 6), beta toxoid, epsilon toxoid, combination and control groups. These buffalo groups were administered each of the designated toxoids. Immunizations in the beta and epsilon toxoid groups induced strong antibody responses. The neutralizing antibody titres from the beta and epsilon toxoid groups were equally log101.2 on day 21 after inoculation whereas there was no antibody titre detected from the control group. A statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in antibody titre was observed from day 0 to day 14 and 21 after inoculation. The antibody production did not vary significantly due to day of inoculation and toxoid interactions.