Neuroimmune activation and increased brain aging in chronic pain patients after the COVID-19 pandemic onset

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a global impact on both physical and mental health, and clinical populations have been disproportionally affected. To date, however, the mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of the pandemic on pre-existing clinical conditions remain unclear. Here we investigated whether the onset of the pandemic was associated with an increase in brain/blood levels of inflammatory markers and MRI-estimated brain age in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), irrespective of their infection history. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 56 adult participants with cLBP (28 ‘Pre-Pandemic’, 28 ‘Pandemic’) using integrated Positron Emission Tomography/ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) and the radioligand [11C]PBR28, which binds to the neuroinflammatory marker 18 kDa Translocator Protein (TSPO). Image data were collected between November 2017 and January 2020 (‘Pre-Pandemic’ cLBP) or between August 2020 and May 2022 (‘Pandemic’ cLBP). Compared to the Pre-Pandemic group, the Pandemic patients demonstrated widespread and statistically significant elevations in brain TSPO levels (P =.05, cluster corrected). PET signal elevations in the Pandemic group were also observed when 1) excluding 3 Pandemic subjects with a known history of COVID infection, or 2) using secondary outcome measures (volume of distribution -VT- and VT ratio - DVR) in a smaller subset of participants. Pandemic subjects also exhibited elevated serum levels of inflammatory markers (IL-16; P <.05) and estimated BA (P <.0001), which were positively correlated with [11C]PBR28 SUVR (r’s ≥ 0.35; P’s < 0.05). The pain interference scores, which were elevated in the Pandemic group (P <.05), were negatively correlated with [11C]PBR28 SUVR in the amygdala (r = −0.46; P<.05). This work suggests that the pandemic outbreak may have been accompanied by neuroinflammation and increased brain age in cLBP patients, as measured by multimodal imaging and serum testing. This study underscores the broad impact of the pandemic on human health, which extends beyond the morbidity solely mediated by the virus itself

Wykorzystanie owoców krzewów mniej znanych w produkcji suszu

Celem pracy była ocena jakości suszu z mniej znanych owoców jagodowych, otrzymanego metodą konwekcji naturalnej, przy zastosowaniu próżni i promienników podczerwieni. Surowiec do badań stanowiły owoce jagodowe rosnące w okolicach Olsztyna, a mianowicie: aronia czarnoowocowa (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott), bez czarny (Sambucus nigra L.), czeremcha amerykańska (Padus serotina (Ehrh.) Borkh.), świdośliwa kanadyjska (Amelanchier canadensis Medik.) oraz borówka czarna (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). W surowcu oraz suszu owocowym oznaczono: zawartość suchej masy, cukrów prostych i ogółem, kwasowość, zawartość witaminy C oraz związków fenolowych ogółem. Ponadto w przypadku suszu oznaczono zdolność do rehydratacji. Wykazano, że mimo pewnych strat składników biologicznie aktywnych podczas suszenia, susz owocowy nadal stanowi ich cenne źródło. Spośród stosowanych metod najbardziej zachowawczy wpływ na związki fenolowe miało suszenie w próżni. Stwierdzono ponadto, że również stopień rehydratacji suszu różnicowały metody suszenia, a największą zdolnością do pochłaniania wody charakteryzował się susz otrzymany przy zastosowaniu podciśnienia, niezależnie od gatunku suszonych owoców.Estimation of the quality of dried fruits from less known berry fruits, dried by natural convection, use of vacuum and infra-red radiators, was the aim this of work. Raw material were the berry fruits growing in Olsztyn surroundings, and namely: aronia nigra (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott), the elder (Sambucus nigra L.), American bird cherry (Padus serotina (Ehrh.) Borkh.), the juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis Medik.), and the black whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillius L.). In raw material, and in dried fruits, the contents of dry matter, monocarbohydrates and total sugars, vitamin C and total phenolic compounds as well as the acidity were determined. Moreover, in case of dried fruits their rehydration ability was estimated. It was shown that in spite of certain losses of biologically active components during dehydration, dried fruits are still their valuable source. Among used methods, vacuum drying showed the most preservative influence on phenolic compounds. Besides, the rehydration degree of dried fruits depended on dehydration method: the strogest ability to water absorption was shown by dried fruits obtained under vacuum, irrespective of the sort of dried fruits

Quality of milk of cows in the first lactation vs. presence of anti-Ostertagia antibodies in their milk

Invasions of gastrointestinal nematodes in dairy cows may affect animals productivity. The most frequently detected internal parasite of dairy cattle is Ostertagia ostertagi. The objective of this study was to determine O. ostertagi invasion extensiveness in selected herds of dairy cattle, with special consideration to cows being in the first lactation, and to analyze the milk yield and contents of basic constituents of milk originating from sero-positive cows. Five herds of dairy cattle (403), with different populations of cows, were selected for the study. Invasion extensiveness in particular herds was determined and ranged from 11.9% to 27.27%. Cows being in the first lactation, the udder milk of which was shown to contain anti-O. ostertagi antibodies, were producing on average 470 kg of milk annually less than cows being in the same lactation period. The analysis of results did not confirm the statistical significance of this difference, likewise it did not demonstrate any statistically significant differences in contents of fat, protein and dry matter. Despite a lack of the statistical significance a producer suffers great economic losses. The conducted study proves that the occurrence of O. ostertagi invasion in herds of dairy cattle is a global problem and that it affects cost-effectiveness of milk production

Modeling the kinetics of survival of Staphylococcus aureus in regional yogurt from goat’s milk

The aim of this study was to determine the kinetics of the survival of the test strain of Staphylococcus aureus in the product investigated. Yogurt samples were contaminated with S. aureus to an initial level of 103-104 cfu/g. The samples were then stored at four temperatures: 4, 6, 20, 22oC. During storage, the number of S. aureus forming colonies in a gram of yogurt was determined every two hours. Based on the results of the analysis culture the curves of survival were plotted. Three primary models were selected to describe the kinetics of changes in the count of bacteria: Cole's model, a modified model of Gompertz and the model of Baranyi and Roberts. Analysis of the model fit carried out based on the average values of Pearson's correlation coefficient, between the modeled and measured values, showed that the Cole's model had the worst fit. The modified Gompertz model showed the count of S. aureus as a negative value. These drawbacks were not observed in the model of Baranyi and Roberts. For this reason, this model best reflects the kinetics of changes in the number of staphylococci in yogurt

The presence of anti-Hypoderma antibodies in udder milk samples, and correlation with selected parameters of dairy performance

Hypodermosis is responsible for significant economic losses and remains a current problem in animal husbandry. This study determined the extent of Hypoderma spp. invasion in north-eastern Poland in dairy herds. The extent of the invasion, determined on the basis of positive results of an ELISA assay (Bovine Hypodermosis Milk Screening of Institut Pourquier), varied in herds. Statistical analysis performed on the results of milk productivity and content of basic components revealed a decrease in the milk yield and changes in milk protein in animals revealing positive, doubtful and negative results. Statistically significant differences were absent as regards the content of milk fat or milk total solids. The milk yield and the content of particular milk components were determined using the AT4 method, as part of a control program carried out by the Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and Dairy Farmers (PFHBiPM)