Stress-induced Cushing's syndrome in fur-chewing chinchillas

One of the most serious problems in the chinchilla industry is 'fur-chewing', when the chinchilla bites off areas of its own or some other animal's fur. The condition generally develops in both genders at the age of 6-8 months. In chinchilla farms in Croatia an incidence of 15-20% has been observed. A pathomorphological, microbiological and parasitological investigation was conducted on eleven 6- to 11-month-old chinchillas of both sexes with clinical symptoms of 'fur-chewing' and three chinchillas without such signs. Histopathology of the adrenal glands and of the chewed skin revealed changes typical of Cushing's syndrome in 'fur-chewed' chinchillas, such as hyperkeratinisation of the epidermis, epidermal atrophy, pronounced follicular and sebaceous gland atrophy, hyperkeratinisation of the follicles with comedo formations and the presence of calcium salts in subcutis

Clinical features of the most common fusion genes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Contemporary protocols ensure high-remission rate and long-term free survival in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but small percentage of patients is still incurable. Molecular genetic methods helped to establish submicroscopic classification as well as minimal residual disease follow-up, considered to be responsible for relapse. Our study enrolled 70 pediatric patients with de novo ALL, analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for the presence of four major risk-stratifying translocations (BCR/ABL, MLL/AF4, TEL/AML1, and E2A/PBX1). Bone marrow samples were collected at diagnosis, at the end of induction phase, and after intensive chemotherapy with the aim to establish the correlation between chromosomal aberration, clinical features, and treatment response. Presenting the results of this study, we offer another evidence of variable incidence and clinical characteristics of ALL subtypes

Vodeni ekstrakt kaduljina lišća umanjuje upalu i oksidacijsku genotoksičnost u ljudskim mononuklearnim stanicama periferne krvi

Traditional medicine has used sage (Salvia officinalis L.) preparations for centuries to prevent and treat various inflammatory and oxidative stress-induced conditions. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the bioactive properties of a sage leave extract obtained with environmentally friendly aqueous extraction and lyophilisation in primary human peripheral blood cells. To that end we measured the total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC, respectively) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Non-cytotoxic concentrations determined with the trypan blue assay were used to assess the antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and PAB assay), antigenotoxic (CBMN assay), immunomodulatory (IL-1β and TNF-α), and neuroprotective effects (AChE inhibition). The extract contained high TPC (162 mg GAE/g of dry extract) and TFC (39.47 mg QE/g of dry extract) concentrations, while β-thujone content was unexpectedly low (below 0.9 %). Strong radical-scavenging activity combined with glutathione reductase activation led to a decrease in basal and H2 O 2 - induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. A decrease in TNF-α and increase in IL-1β levels suggest complex immunomodulatory response that could contribute to antioxidant and, together with mild AChE inhibition, neuroprotective effects. Overall, this study has demonstrated that aqueous sage leave extract reduces the levels of thujone, 1,8-cineole, pinene, and terpene ketones that could be toxic in high concentrations, while maintaining high concentrations of biologically active protective compounds which have a potential to prevent and/ or treat inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions.Salvia officinalis L. stoljećima se koristi u tradicionalnoj medicini za prevenciju i liječenje raznih upalnih i oksidacijskim stresom izazvanih poremećaja. U ovoj studiji željeli smo ekstrahirati kaduljino lišće korištenjem ekološki prihvatljivog, “zelenog” pristupa vodenom ekstrakcijom i liofilizacijom te odrediti njegova bioaktivna svojstva u primarnim ljudskim perifernim krvnim stanicama. Ukupni sadržaj fenola i flavonoida i GC-MS korišteni su za karakterizaciju ekstrakta. Necitotoksične koncentracije, određene tripan plavim testom, analizirane su za procjenu antioksidacijskih (DPPH, ABTS i PAB test), antigenotoksičnih (CBMN test), imunomodulacijskih (IL-1β i TNF-α) i neuroprotektivnih učinaka (AChE inhibicija). Ekstrakt je sadržavao visoku koncentraciju ukupnih fenola (162 mg GAE/g liofilizata) i flavonoida (39,47 mg QE/g liofilizata), dok je sadržaj β-tujona bio neočekivano nizak (niži od 0,9 %). Snažna aktivnost hvatanja radikala u kombinaciji s aktivacijom glutation reduktaze dovela je do smanjenja bazalnog i H2 O 2 induciranog oksidacijskog stresa i oštećenja DNA. Smanjenje TNF-α i povišenje razine IL-1β sugeriraju kompleksan imunomodulatorni odgovor koji bi mogao pridonijeti antioksidacijskim i, zajedno s blagom inhibicijom AChE, neuroprotektivnim učincima. Sveukupno, ova je studija pokazala da vodena ekstrakcija kaduljina lišća smanjuje toksične spojeve kao što su tujon, 1,8-cineol, pinen i terpenski ketoni, a održava visoku koncentraciju biološki aktivnih zaštitnih spojeva u ekstraktu, što bi moglo imati potencijal za prevenciju i/ili liječenje oksidacijskih i upalnih poremećaja

Thermal power of small scale manually fed boiler

This study reviews test results of the combustion of square soybean straw bales used as fuel in manually fed boiler with nominal thermal power of 120 kWth. The influence of the mass flow rate (180, 265, 350, 435, and 520 kg h-1) of inlet air and flue gas recirculation (0%, 16.5%, and 33%) fed to the boiler furnace was continuously monitored. Direct method was used for determination of the boiler thermal power. Correlation between boiler thermal power and bale residence time has been observed and simple empirical equation has been derived. General conclusions are as follows: the increase of the flow rate of inlet air passing through the boiler furnace results in decrease of the bale residence time and increase of the boiler thermal power. Share of the flue gas recirculation of 16.5% increases bale residence time and decreases average boiler thermal power in all regimes except in the regime with inlet air flow rate of 265 kg h-1. In regime with 0% flue gas recirculation boiler thermal power was higher than nominal in regimes with 435 and 520 kg h-1 inlet air flow rates. In regimes having inlet air mass flow rate of 350 kg h-1 boiler thermal power is equal to the nominal power of 120 kWth

Homogeneity of the Hb Lepore gene in FR Yugoslavia

Screening analysis of Yugoslav patients with suspected thalassemia syndromes in last 4 years revealed six patients who were Hb Lepore carriers. Three were compound heterozygotes for Hb Lepore and β-thalassemia, and they were affected with a thalassemia major syndrome. Family studies revealed 12 heterozygous relatives. All heterozygous carriers of Hb Lepore had a clinical phenotype of thalassemia trait. The detection of Hb Lepore was carried out by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and confirmed by gap-polymerase chain reaction analysis of patients' DNA. Sequence analysis of all the Hb Lepore genes showed the same DNA sequence, indicating that the mutation was of the Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington type. Moreover, a single base substitution within the second intervening sequence [IVS-II-74 (G→T)] was detected in all analyzed hybrid genes. The molecular characteristics of this homogeneity represent additional data for the probable Balkan origin of this mutation

Molecular basis of Thalassemia syndromes in Serbia and Montenegro

This study reports the molecular characterization of thalassemia syndromes in Serbian and Montenegrin populations. We identified eight beta-thalassemia mutations [codon 39 (C - gt T), IVS-I-110 (G - gt A), IVS-II-745 (C - gt G), codon 44 (-C), -87 (C - gt G), IVS-II-1 (G - gt A), IVS-I-6 (T - gt C), IVS I-1 (G - gt A)] in 70 members of 29 families using polymerase chain reaction, reverse dot blot, amplification refractory mutation system and direct sequencing analysis. Hemoglobin (Hb) Lepore was found to be the most common cause of the thalassemia phenotype. Hb Sabine and alpha-thalassemia were detected as well. We also studied beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes and their association with the most common mutations. A novel haplotype associated with the Hb Lepore gene was identified. The results presented herein allowed the implementation of a prenatal diagnosis program in Serbia and Montenegro