SIGNIFICANCE OF THERAPY MONITORING OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE MEDICINES IN RENAL TRANSPLANTATION PATIENTS

Immunosuppressive medicines are characterized by specific pharmacokinetic profile which requires therapy monitoring by means of measuring their blood concentrations. Therapy monitoring, by means of determining blood concentration of the medicine, enables application of an optimal individual immunosuppressive therapy. Due to its variable pharmacokinetics, and small therapeutic index and potential interaction with numerous other medicines, the post-operative monitoring of immunosuppressive medicines is an essential element of therapy protocol for renal transplantation patients. Therapy monitoring represents an efficient way to reduce adverse effects of immunosuppressive medicines and to prevent transplantation rejection, by means of adapting the doses in renal transplantation patients. Determining the concentration of immunosuppressive medicines is of special importance in the modified dosing for patients with renal insufficiency. Pharmacokinetic analysis is important for proper interpretation of immunosuppressive medicines' blood concentrations. The interpretation of the received results must be multidisciplinary, considering that there are numerous factors of variability of patients and immunosuppressive medicines

Ishrana i kvalitet mesa

There are numerous factors which influence the quality of pork meat (genetic basis, rearing conditions, preslaughter procedures, carcass treatment, cooling). It is understandable that nutrition is one of the major factors which influence the quantity and quality of meat. Main objective of proper nutrition is the best utilization of the genetic potential of pigs, and obtaining of meat which will satisfy the consumer or be used as raw material in manufacturing of meat products. Quality of pig meat is most often associated with pH value, colour succulence, tenderness, content of intramuscular fat (marbling), sustainability and, in general, acceptability by consumers. In this paper, the effect of certain modifications in pig nutrition on post mortal changes, selected technological properties of meat (pH value, water binding capacity, and colour), content of intramuscular fat, quality of fat and acceptability of meat is presented.Brojni su činioci koji utiču na kvalitet mesa svinja (genetska osnova, uslovi gajenja, postupci pre klanja, klanje, obrada trupa, hlađenje). Razume se da je ishrana jedan od veoma značajnih činilaca koji utiče i na količinu i na kvalitet mesa. Osnovni cilj pravilne ishrane je što je moguće više iskorišćavanje genetskog potencijala svinja, i dobijanje mesa koje će zadovoljiti potrošača ili naći svoju namenu u izradi proizvoda od mesa. Kvalitet svinjskog mesa se najčešće vezuje za pH vrednost, boju, sočnost, mekoću, sadržaj intramuskularne masti (mramoriranost), održivost i, uopšte, za prihvatljivost od strane potrošača. U ovom radu prikazan je uticaj određenih modifikacija u ishrani svinja na postmortalne promene, odabrane tehnološke osobine mesa (pH vrednost, sposobnost vezivanja vode, boja), sadržaj intramuskularne masti, kvalitet masti i prihvatljivost mesa

Microbiological status of minced pork meat in vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different packaging conditions (vacuum and modified atmosphere) on the microbiological status (total viable count, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and pH in minced pork meat. Pork mince was packaged in vacuum, modified atmosphere with 20% O2, 50% CO2 and 30% N2 (MAP 1) or modified atmosphere with 20% O2, 30% CO2 and 50% N2 (MAP 2), refrigerated at 3±1°C and examined on the days 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 of storage. The average total viable counts and total Enterobacteriaceae counts in vacuum packaged mince were statistically significantly higher (p lt 0.01; p lt 0.05) than in modified atmosphere packaged mince with both combinations of gases, on different days of storage. The largest decrease of total viable count and Enterobacteriaceae count was noted in modified atmosphere packaged mince with the higher concentration (50%) of CO2

Importance of medium chain fatty acids in animal nutrition

Fats in animal and human nutrition are a common subject of research. These studies most often pay attention to particular fat groups (saturated, unsaturated, polyunsaturated fats or fats grouped by the length of their fatty acid chains into short, medium or long chain fatty acids). Medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) have two main sources: milk and coconut oil. To date, research has shown these acids have positive effects on health, production, feed digestibility and lower body and muscle fats in broilers and swine. MCFAs possess antibacterial, anticoccidial and antiviral effects. Also, it has been proven that these acids act synergistically if they are used together with organic acids, essential oils, or probiotics. Nowadays, commercial MCFA products are available for use in animal nutrition as feed additives

Regional inequality in Serbia as a development problem

The aim of this paper, in the context of the contemporary socio-economic changes in Serbia, is to consider changes in the regional development policy, and therefore in the approach to underdeveloped areas. A special attention is paid to regional inequality as a developmental problem since it directly influences the integrative processes, violating them, and therefore leads to side effects (economic, social, demographic, ecological, spatial, etc.). In Serbia, traditionally undeveloped areas (rural, hilly-mountainous and border/peripheral) have formed during a longer historical period, contrary to the new types of areas - municipalities (“devastated areas”) that are connected to the transition period (“transition poverty”). Both appeared by cause and effect reaction to natural, socio-economic, social, demographic, cultural-civilizational and political factors

Determination of staphylococcal enterotoxins in cheese by immunoenzyme assays

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most common foodborne diseases resulting from the ingestion of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) preformed in foods by enterotoxigenic strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS), mainly Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of enterotoxigenic strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci in raw milk during the production process leads to the contamination of products and outbreaks of alimentary intoxication. The problem of Staphylococcus aureus in cheese remains significant on a global level. Domestic cheese contaminated with enterotoxigenic staphylococci can result in the formation of enterotoxin, which can produce foodborne illness when the product is ingested. Due to microbiological contamination, microbiological criteria are tools that can be used in assessing the safety and quality of foods. In order to avoid foodborne illness, the Serbian Regulation on General and Special Conditions for Food Hygiene (Official Gazette of RS, No. 72/10) provides microbiological criteria for staphylococcal enterotoxins in dairy products

CARVEDILOL POPULATION PHARMACOKINETIC ANALYSIS – APPLIED VALIDATION PROCEDURE

Carvedilol is a nonselective beta blocker/alpha-1 blocker, which is used for treatment of essential hypertension, chronic stable angina, unstable angina and ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe carvedilol population pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis as well as the validation of analytical procedure, which is an important step regarding this approach. In contemporary clinical practice, population PK analysis is often more important than standard PK approach in setting a mathematical model that describes the PK parameters. Also, it includes the variables that have particular importance in the drugs pharmacokinetics such as sex, body mass, dosage, pharmaceutical form, pathophysiological state, disease associated with the organism or the presence of a specific polymorphism in the isoenzyme important for biotransformation of the drug. One of the most frequently used approach in population PK analysis is the Nonlinear Modeling of Mixed Effects - NONMEM modeling. Analytical methods used in the data collection period is of great importance for the implementation of a population PK analysis of carvedilol in order to obtain reliable data that can be useful in clinical practice. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of carvedilol is used to confirm the identity of a drug and provide quantitative results and also to monitor the efficacy of the therapy. Analytical procedures used in other studies could not be fully implemented in our research as it was necessary to perform certain modification and validation of the method with the aim of using the obtained results for the purpose of a population pharmacokinetic analysis. Validation process is a logical terminal phase of analytical procedure development that provides applicability of the procedure itself. The goal of validation is to ensure consistency of the method and accuracy of results or to confirm the selection of analytical method for a given sample and drug. This study confirmed the importance of using valid analytical procedure for the purpose of carvedilol population pharmacokinetic analysis. Identification of demographic, pathophysiological and other factors that may influence the population carvedilol PK parameters gives the physician the possibility of a more comprehensive overview of the patient and better optimization of the therapeutical regimen

Effect of dietary supplementation with medium chain fatty acids on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, lipid profile and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) diet supplementation on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, serum biochemistry and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. The study was performed on 180 one-day-old broilers of the same origin (Cobb 500 hybrid), over a 42-day period. They were fed diets supplemented with three treatments: control group (basal diet without supplementation); group with MCFA supplementation; and group with MCFA and coccidiostat supplementation. Broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with MCFAs had a significantly greater final bodyweight. The weights of carcass cuts (breast, drumsticks with thighs and wings) were greater in broilers receiving MCFAs than in control broilers. The addition of MCFAs to broiler diet significantly increased villus length and crypt depth in the duodenum and caecum, and significantly decreased villus width in the duodenum and ileum. Additionally, serum HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were increased significantly in broilers with MCFA dietary supplementation. The results indicated that the MCFA diet supplementation had a beneficial effect on the performance of broiler chickens, their intestinal histomorphology and microflora

Effects of phytobiotics on Cobb broiler production results, meatiness and chemical composition

In order to achieve better results for fattening broilers, various additives can be added to feed, including phytobiotics (phytogenic additives). Phytobiotics protect young broilers' health based on the principles of competitive exclusion and improved usability of nutrients, growth and feed efficiency. Due to the importance and actuality of this topic, it is scientifically justified and interesting to examine the effects of using natural growth stimulators on the performance of intensively bred broilers, as well as the suitability of these compounds for nutritional, health and economic aspects of broiler production. In this study, 120 Cobb 500 broilers were divided into two groups, one control without and one experimental with a mixture of phytobiotics in their feed. At the beginning of the study, all broilers were of equal body mass. In some phases of fattening and at the end (after 42 days), body mass and total gain of the broilers receiving phytobiotics were significantly higher in than control broilers (p lt 0.05 and p lt 0.01, respectively). Total consumption of feed for the whole fattening period was higher in the control than in the phytobiotic-recieving broilers. A better feed conversion rate was determined in the broilers receiving phytobiotics than in the control broilers (P lt 0.05). The carcass meatiness was also improved in the broilers receiving phytobiotics (p lt 0.01). There was no significant difference between control and phytobiotic-receiving broilers with regard to meat chemical composition

Performances, Heal and Cecal Microbial Populations and Histological Characteristics in Broilers Fed Diets Supplemented with Lignocellulose

The effect of dietary lignocellulose on broilers performance, intestinal microbiota and morphology, pH of digesta and litter humidity after 28 and 42 days of the experiment was evaluated. A total of 384 Cobb500 chickens (initial weight: 41.88 +/- 1.56 g) were divided into 4 groups with 24 replications and fed with control diet (C), a control diet with added 0.4% of lignocellulose (T1), a diet with added 0.6% of lignocellulose at the expense of soybean meal and maize (T2), and a diet supplemented with 0.6% of lignocellulose at the expense of soybean meal (T3). T2 treatment significantly influenced body weight, weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). T2 and T3 treatment increased average LAB and Bifidobacterium spp. count, and decreased the number of Escherichia coil in the ileum and cecum, while differences in cecal Clostridium perfringens count among 0.4% and 0.6% treatments were not observed. Feeding the lignocellulose diet did not affect the relative weights of empty proventriculus, gizzard or intestines, but led to a decrease in pHs. T3 treatment caused an increase of the villi heights and significantly lower moisture content in the litter. Even though the addition of lignocellulose into broilers diet positively influenced performances, changes in intestinal microbiota and villi heights, based on the results of the present study, supplementation with 0.6% lignocellulose is recommended