Fumonisins affect the intestinal microbial homeostasis in broiler chickens, predisposing to necrotic enteritis

Fumonisins (FBs) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium fungi. This study aimed to investigate the effect of these feed contaminants on the intestinal morphology and microbiota composition, and to evaluate whether FBs predispose broilers to necrotic enteritis. One-day-old broiler chicks were divided into a group fed a control diet, and a group fed a FBs contaminated diet (18.6 mg FB1+ FB2/kg feed). A significant increase in the plasma sphinganine/sphingosine ratio in the FBs-treated group (0.21 +/- 0.016) compared to the control (0.14 +/- 0.014) indicated disturbance of the sphingolipid biosynthesis. Furthermore, villus height and crypt depth of the ileum was significantly reduced by FBs. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed a shift in the microbiota composition in the ileum in the FBs group compared to the control. A reduced presence of low-GC containing operational taxonomic units in ileal digesta of birds exposed to FBs was demonstrated, and identified as a reduced abundance of Candidatus Savagella and Lactobaccilus spp. Quantification of total Clostridium perfringens in these ileal samples, previous to experimental infection, using cpa gene (alpha toxin) quantification by qPCR showed an increase in C. perfringens in chickens fed a FBs contaminated diet compared to control (7.5 +/- 0.30 versus 6.3 +/- 0.24 log10 copies/g intestinal content). After C. perfringens challenge, a higher percentage of birds developed subclinical necrotic enteritis in the group fed a FBs contaminated diet as compared to the control (44.9 +/- 2.22% versus 29.8 +/- 5.46%)

Changes in Beliefs About Post-Transplant Immunosuppressants Over Time and Its Relation to Medication Adherence and Kidney Graft Dysfunction: A Follow-Up Study

Purpose: The main aim was to evaluate the changes in beliefs about immunosuppressants over a 3-year period in patients after kidney transplantation. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between beliefs, medication adherence, and selected clinical outcomes such as graft functioning. Patients and Methods: This observational follow-up study was conducted in the outpatient post-transplant clinic at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic. Adult patients, at least 4 weeks after kidney transplantation, were invited for the structured interview, which was followed by a self-administered questionnaire survey during their regularly scheduled visits at the clinic. Appropriate paired tests were used to compare two measurements of beliefs about immunosuppressants by BMQ-CZ© in 2016 (baseline) and in 2019 (follow-up). Self-reported adherence was measured by two validated tools (MARS-CZ© and BAASIS©) capturing implementation and discontinuation phases. A generalized linear model was used to investigate the relation between beliefs and the consecutive estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results: The study involved 134 patients. Over time, their perceived treatment necessity beliefs of immunosuppressants decreased, while their treatment-related concerns increased. Overall self-reported non-adherence (ie, taking, dosing and discontinuation of immunosuppressants) was reported by 12% of the patients in both observation periods. In the follow-up period, timing non-adherence was reported by 52 (38.8%) patients. Higher baseline treatment concerns were associated with poor adherence whereas higher baseline treatment necessity beliefs corresponded with better kidney functioning, even after adjusting for age. Conclusion: Higher treatment necessity beliefs corresponded with better kidney functioning, whereas higher treatment concerns were related to non-adherence to immunosuppressants at the beginning of the observed period. Still, most patients accepted their medicines that do not come without risk. Nevertheless, decreasing treatment necessity beliefs on one hand, and increasing treatment concerns on the other, should be considered in clinical practice

Modyfikacje dotyczące powietrza spalania w kotłe pirolitycznym

Kotły zużywają do 90% energii zawartej w drewnie. Istnieje szeroka gama klasycznych kotłów z ręcznym sterowaniem i bezpośrednim spalaniem drewna oraz nowoczesnych automatycznych kotłów zgazowania dostępnych na dzisiejszym rynku. Wielką zaletą tej nowoczesnej technologii jest możliwość wykorzystania do 90% energii zawartej w drewnie, co skutkuje niższym zużyciem paliwa. Ponadto technologia ta ma znacznie niższy negatywny wpływ na środowisko, zmniejsza ilość niespalonych cząstek stałych w popiele i dlatego wymaga niewielkiej konserwacji i czyszczenia. Artykuł dotyczy modyfikacji sprzętu spalania niezbędnego do obniżenia emisji z biomasy w kotle typu MA23. Modyfikacja konstrukcji polegała na zmodyfikowaniu wlotów nawiewanego powietrza wtórnego dla umożliwienia połączenia z gazem drzewnym. Wzrost intensywności mieszania gazów i powietrza z gazem drzewnym zmniejszyło stężenie składnika substancji palnej w gazach spalinowych. Badaniom poddano skład spalin i możliwości wpływania na skład gazów spalinowych i na podstawie doświadczeń zaproponowano sposób modyfikowania i kontrolowania procesu spalania. Tylko jedną z wielu propozycji wybrano do badań. Podczas spalania stanowi ona podstawowy punkt odniesienia w produkcji emisji gazów spalinowych powstających z drewna. Zmodyfikowany sposób montażu sprzętu/kotła został wykorzystany do wtórnej modyfikacji powietrza wlotowego użytego do spalania. Sprzęt został przetestowany zgodnie z normą europejską EN 303-5. Podstawowym wymogiem było ograniczenie emisji, poniżej wymaganych wartości granicznych. W artykule przedstawiono zbiór nowo uzyskanych równań opisujących mechanizm spalania w kotle oraz pokazano jak regulować i kontrolować proces, zwłaszcza regulację prędkości obrotów wentylatora

Bactericidal Effect of Sodium Chlorate on Escherichia coli Concentrations in Bovine Ruminal and Fecal Contents In Vivo

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli causes a potentially fatal disease in humans. Since human infections often occur following consumption of contaminated meat, strategies are sought to rid these pathogens from food-producing animals. E. coli, like most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, possess respiratory nitrate reductase, an enzyme that coincidentally reduces chlorate to toxic chlorite. Consequently, a study was performed to assess the effect of intraruminal chlorate administration on E. coli in the gut of fed and fasted cattle, the latter having been reported to harbor increased concentrations of enteric pathogens. As hypothesized, E. coli concentrations were lower ( p \u3c 0.05) 10 and 24 h post chlorate administration, respectively, in rumen contents and feces of chlorate-treated cows than in untreated cows. Fasting had little effect on gut E. coli concentrations and did not effect the bactericidal effect of chlorate against E. coli. Chlorate treatment had little or no effect on fermentation efficiency, as evidenced by pH, volatile fatty acid production and concentration of total culturable anaerobes, and had no observable adverse effects on any of the cows. These results suggest that chlorate may be useful in the pre-harvest control of E. coli