Effect of phytase supplementation on growing pigs performance

Dietary concentrations of phytate are crucial for its anti-nutritive properties and its negative impact on P availability. The increase of dietary phytate level is shown to increase endogenous losses of amino acids and minerals in pigs. The partial availability of the P component of phytate to simple-stomached species attains importance as the world's rock phosphate reserves are not renewable, which could lead to a P supply crisis in the future. Supplementing phytase is becoming increasingly common as a method to improve the availability of P in plant ingredients containing high levels of phytate P. Fourty-eight pigs (Swedish Landrace boars × Dutch landrace sows) weaned at day 35 with an initial BW of 8.72±0.28 kg were used for a 40-day weaner performance study. The study was structured as a complete randomized design to evaluate the response of weaner pigs to four concentrations of microbial phytase produced by Aspergillus niger: (T1) basal diet; (T2) basal diet + 1000 FTU/kg; (T3) diet with decreased dicalcium phosphate + 1000 FTU/kg; and (T4) diet with no dicalcium phosphate + 1000 FTU/kg. Control group of piglets (T1) has achieved standard body mass while addition of phytase in meal increased body mass by 6.59% in T2 and 7.52% in T3. Phytase supplementation prevented decreased body weight gain diets where available phosphorous level was reduced by 50. The amount of consumed feed per day was not significantly different. Feed efficiency of T2 and T3 groups was by 3.23% better and of T4 for 11.29% lower compared to the control group of piglets (T1). Lower production results achieved by the use of low phosphorous diets can be avoided to a certain level by the use of microbial phytase. The use of phytase in pig diet significantly improved phosphorous availability, as well as of other mineral substances from the phytate complex. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III46002

Influence of maternal dexamethasone treatment on morphometric characteristics of pituitary GH cells and body weight in near-term rat fetuses.

Growth hormone (GH) and glucocorticoids have a powerful influence on controlling fetal growth, differentiation and maturation of numerous tissues. In the present study, the effect of maternal dexamethasone (Dx) treatment on GH cells and body weight in 19- and 21-day-old rat fetuses was investigated using immunocytochemical and morphometric methods. Pregnant female rats received daily injections of 1.0-0.5-0.5 mg Dx/kg b.w. on days 16-18 of pregnancy (experimental group), while the control group received an equal volume of saline. Dx treatment of pregnant rats enhanced immunostaining intensity and significantly increased (

Modernization of the drainage system and ash slurry handling system in TPP Kostolac A

The paper describes the modernization of ash slurry drainage and handling from Units A1 and A2 devices for receiving, extinguishing and transporting bottom ash and fly ash from the boiler grate to silos and mass/volume process water sumps, with new technical solutions and experiences in exploitation. The main goal of the drainage system modernization and ash slurry handling system in TPP Kostolac A is to improve the system operation and to reduce the number of deadlocks during operation

Multiple dexamethasone treatment affects morphometric parameters of gonadotrophic cells in adult female rats.

Exposure to glucocorticoids leads to numerous changes in various biological systems including the reproductive system. The aim of the present work was to find out whether dexamethasone (Dx) treatment of adult female rats would influence the histological and morphometric characteristics of the pituitary gonadotrophic cells (luteinizing--LH cells and follicle stimulating--FSH cells). One group of female Wistar rats received Dx injections on three consecutive days in doses 1.0, 0.5 and 0.5 mg/kg b.w. respectively, while the control rats were treated with equivalent volumes of saline. Experimental and control animals were sacrificed 24 h and 72 h after the last injection. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunocytochemical procedure was used to study the LH and FSH cells. The stereological and morphometric analyses showed that multiple Dx treatments of female rats significantly decreased the volume of LH cells and the volume of their nuclei 24 h and 72 h after the last Dx injection in comparison with control values. At 24 h after Dx treatment, the volume density of LH cells was significantly increased, but at 72 h differences between the experimental and control groups were insignificant. The increase in number of LH cells per unit area (mm2) was significant at both timepoints (24 h and 72 h). Stereologic and morphometric characteristics of FSH cells was changed after Dx treatment in the same manner as that of LH cells, except for the volume density, where a significant increase was established 24 h and 72 h after the last Dx application. These results clearly demonstrate that 24 h and 72 h after the last of three Dx injections there were changes in the immunocytochemical and morphometric features of gonadotrophic cells

Endothelins as mediators in the modulation of cardiac performance

The role of endothelin in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology has been undeniable ever since its discovery. Endothelins in the heart are important for the development, growth and remodeling, as well as for the control of contractility and rhythm. Cardiac endothelial cells in the endocardium and myocardial capillaries represent the main source of endothelin, and cardiomyocytes are their primary targets. Endothelin-1 is one of the most potent substances with a positive inotropic effect known to man; subsequently endothelin plays a key role in the cardiac endothelial-myocardial interaction. The endothelins are a family of 21 amino acid peptidesof which there are three distinct isoforms endothelin-1, endothelin-2 and endothelin-3. Their effects are achieved by the activation of endothelin receptors, ETA and ETB, which belonging to the family of G protein-linked receptors. ETA and ETB receptors are densely distributed in cardiomyocytes, the cells of the cardiovascular system, coronary vascular and endocardial endothelial cells. Under physiological conditions, endothelin is synthesized in endothelial cells, while under pathophysiological conditions in the large number of non-endothelial cells of the heart as well. Endothelin-1 has positively inotropic and chronotropic effects. The administration of ET-1 causes coronary vasoconstriction, leads to myocardial ischemia and a lethal ventricular arrhythmia. In the acute myocardial infarction, ET-1 increases myocardial necrosis and arrhythmia but has a favorable effect on heart recovery after a myocardial infarction at an early stage of cardiac remodeling. ET-1 reverses acidosis-induced negative lusitropic and inotropic effects without the increase of intracellular calcium. Endothelin can resist the arrhythmogenic effects of catecholamines. Thus, low concentrations of endothelin have a protective effect on the heart. Primary indications for the administration of endothelin antagonists are heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and resistant arterial hypertension. Careful and well-designed clinical studies are needed to verify the therapeutic potential of new types of drugs in cardiovascular medicine

P300 event related potential application to cognitive status assessment of the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism

Disturbances of thyroid function are often accompanied by cognitive and affective disorders. Assessment of cognitive status in the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism represents a possibility for early diagnostics of cognitive impairment and timely introduction of necessary pharmacotherapy treatment. The aim of this study was to quantify whether there are P3 event related potential (ERP) deviations as electrophysiological markers of cognitive activity in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. P300 potentials were examined in thirty patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and in 30 healthy subjects of the control group. P300 was recorded using the classic auditory oddball paradigm, with 20% of target and 80% of non-target stimuli. The results analysis showed a significantly longer latency P300 and reduced amplitude P300 in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism compared to euthyroid subjects. There is also a statistically significant negative correlation between the results of a mini mental state examination and the P300 latency at Fz electrode (r= -0.47, p <0.01) and Cz electrode (r= -0.43, p =0.017). P300 ERP is important in the evaluation of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, due to the sensitivity in the detection cognitive disorders

Mixtures of bioethanol and gasoline as a fuel for SI engines

The importance of alternative fuels, especially bioethanol and biodiesel, rises due to the limited oil sources, secure supply, prices changes, and environment pollution. Bioethanol is an alternative fuel which will be important in future, as a fuel produced from different crops and lignocelluloses materials. The quality of bioethanol has significant influence on the characteristics of mixtures with gasoline and engine performance. The investigations were performed with the bioethanol obtained as by-product from sugar industry, which is not denaturated and produced according the requests prescribed by standards for ethanol used in mixtures with gasoline. Main target was to examine the possibility of utilisation of bioethanol obtained as by-product and without additional technologies for purification and additional costs. The results of standard and non-standard investigations and engine tests of bioethanol and gasoline mixtures are presented

the variability in P300 cognitive evoked potential amplitude in the auditory oddball paradigm

One of the best-studied responses of cognitive evoked potentials is a so-called 'P300', the late positive wave complex that occurs about 300-500 ms after the stimulus. It is obtained when the subject's attention is focused on a signal that is rare, especially if the signal has a motivational or emotional meaning. In the study of P300 potential, we followed the variations of potential amplitude and latency, so the objective was to examine whether there is a difference in Fz and Cz amplitudes of auditory induced cognitive evoked P300 potential depending on the performance of oddball tasks, both in male and female subjects. The study included 60 subjects (30 female respondents and 30 male respondents). P300 potential is induced by the auditory 'oddball' paradigm with 80% of non-target and 20% of target stimuli that are presented to the patient through headphones. The target tones are high tones of 2000 Hz. The standard, 1000 Hz tones the respondent should ignore but when he hears the target tones the respondent should press the button on the special handle. The value of Fz and Cz amplitudes both in male and female subjects obtained in the classical 'oddball' paradigm when the subject reacted to the signal by pressing the key with the dominant (right) arm were statistically significantly lower (p>0,05) than the values of Fz and Cz amplitudes obtained when the key was pressed by the non-dominant hand. Based on this experiment it can be concluded that both in male and female subjects the performance of oddball tasks does not affect the amplitude of P300 cognitive evoked potentials

Influence of maternal dexamethasone treatment on morphometric characteristics of pituitary GH cells and body weight in near-term rat fetuses.

Growth hormone (GH) and glucocorticoids have a powerful influence on controlling fetal growth, differentiation and maturation of numerous tissues. In the present study, the effect of maternal dexamethasone (Dx) treatment on GH cells and body weight in 19- and 21-day-old rat fetuses was investigated using immunocytochemical and morphometric methods. Pregnant female rats received daily injections of 1.0-0.5-0.5 mg Dx/kg b.w. on days 16-18 of pregnancy (experimental group), while the control group received an equal volume of saline. Dx treatment of pregnant rats enhanced immunostaining intensity and significantly increased (p&lt;0.05) GH nuclear and cell volume, as well as volume density and number of GH cells per square millimeter in 19-day-old fetuses compared to the controls. In 21-day-old fetuses after maternal Dx administration, immunoreactivity, volume density and number of GH cells remained significantly increased (p&lt;0.05). Dx treatment of pregnant rats resulted in marked body weight reduction of 21-day-old but not 19 days old fetuses in comparison with the corresponding controls. The presented results demonstrate that maternal Dx application has pronounced effect on morphometric parameters of GH cells of 19- and 21-day-old fetuses. Also, in near-term rat fetuses body weight was largely independent of pituitary GH cell activity

Somatostatin 14 affects the pituitary-ovarian axis in infant rats

The effects of multiple somatostatin (SRIH- 14) treatment on the pituitary-ovarian axis were examined in infant rats. Female Wistar rats received subcutaneously two daily 20 µg/100g b.w. doses for five consecutive days (from 11 to 15 days of age). Changes in cell volume, volume density and number per unit area (mm2) of follicle-stimulating (FSH), luteinizing (LH) and somatotropic (GH) immunolabeled cells were evaluated by stereology and morphometry. Serum FSH and LH concentrations were determined by RIA. Ovaries were analyzed by simple point counting of follicles. SRIH-14 treatment significantly reduced FSH and LH cell volume, while their volume density and number per unit area were unaltered. Serum concentrations of FSH and LH were significantly reduced. Volume and volume density of GH cells was significantly decresed after SRIH-14 treatment, while their number per unit area was unaltered. In the ovary, SRIH-14 induced a significant increase in the percentage of primordial follicles followed by a significant decrease in percentage of primary follicles. The number of healthy and atretic preantral follicles was unchanged. It can be concluded that SRIH-14 treatment during the infantile period markedly inhibits pituitary FSH, LH and GH cells. In the ovary, SRIH-14 acts by inhibiting initial folliculogenesis without affecting atretic processes