Mineral load on the paddock of organic sows in the Netherlands

The main aim of this study was to quantify nutrient deposition on the paddock in Dutch organic pig farms. Observations of excreting behaviour of grazing sows were carried out at three farms in each of two measuring seasons (spring/summer and autumn). The nutrient loads of N, P and K were calculated according to their content in urine and faeces, average weight of urine and faeces per excretion, and number of urinations and defecations done in the paddock. The N and P loads on the paddock varied greatly between the organic pig farms (P<0.01 for N, not significant for P and P<0.05 for K). The total amount of nutrients on two of the farms far exceeded the permitted levels (170 kg.ha-1year-1 for N and 44 kg.ha-1year-1 for P). On all three farms, faeces were unevenly distributed in the paddock. Regular rotation of paddocks resulted in a more uniform distribution

SWOT ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC MARKET IN BULGARIA

In 2009, a big market research has been carried out by Vitosha research company, including 120 producers, retailers and wide number of consumers. This research is a huge document written on 273 pages with a lot of analyses, the most important of which is SWOT analysis of organic market in Bulgaria. Main conclusions from SWOT analysis are: Bulgaria has sufficient objective conditions to become a serious player in the bioproduction. As a serious potential can be reported the presence of a suitable environment and agricultural soils that could be adapted to organic farming. Regulations of organic production, and import and export of such products are clearly regulated and aligned with European requirements. Problems facing the bioproduction are more of economic nature - still lower subsidies per hectare, which have Bulgarian producers. The consumption of organic products is still poorly developed. The reason is low consumer awareness of the benefits of these products, as well as the ability to differentiate organic products from any imitations. Obstacles to consumption could be still limited distribution of organic products - the lack of specialized stores (except big cities like Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv), and also the available information sources, as well as low social status of people. Least popular products in Bulgaria are organic products that are not foods. Such products, with the exception of the essential oils are hardly produced in the country. The main part of organic production in Bulgaria remain foods, herbs, honey

Hemostasis in erysipelas – modern concepts

Introduction: Erysipelas is a common, ubiquitous bacterial infection of the skin mainly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes - group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The current epidemiology of the disease demonstrates an upward trend in cases with primary and recurrent erysipelas, a change in the site of predilection – from face to lower limbs, and an increase of severe cases with a hemorrhagic or bullous-hemorrhagic component. To date, the alterations in hemostasis due to streptococcal bacterial infection are still not well defined. Despite the advanced treatment of erysipelas, in approximately 10% of patients with hemorrhagic and bullous-hemorrhagic erysipelas, a skin necrosis has occurred. The combination of severe types of erysipelas with local and general predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic vessel insufficiency results in recurrences and complications with high percentage of disability. In addition, streptococcal infections may have fulminant progression as for every 1 hour delay of adequate treatment, the percent of mortality increases with 7.5%.Aim:  The purpose of this paper is to establish the current concepts and observations of hemostatic changes in erysipelas.Materials and Methods: Literature referred in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopushas been studied.Results: The hemostasis changes in erysipelas are not well researched. The available literature is insufficient as the studies are based on a small number of patients, which prevents any significant conclusions.  Conclusion: The increasing incidence of patients with severe form of erysipelas stresses the need to intensify the study of hemostasis in erysipelas. Knowing the mechanisms of coagulation changes might help to predict and prevent severe, irreversible complications.

Electrochemical detection of Nitrofural in the presence of sodium amminepentacyanoferrate (II)

The present study deals with the development of a new qualitative electrochemical analytic test for detecting the chemotherapeutic agent Nitrofural. The combination of sodium amminepentacyanoferrate(II) and electric power, provided by a 9V battery, was successfully implemented for the analysis of the medicine in question

Clinical profile of levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone intestinal gel infusion in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease in its advanced stage is a progressive condition that can be treated with levodopa. The long-term complications of this treatment are difficult to manage. A new device-aided therapy has recently been developed to minimize these effects. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of the intestinal gel containing levodopa - carbidopa - entacapone, as well as to see if it had any impact on the disease’s non-motor symptoms. Additionally, we sought to identify the criteria for selecting among the various treatments that were offered. Materials and methods: This study includes the first five patients who started receiving the levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone gel for Parkinson’s disease in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at St Naum University Hospital for Active Treatment in Sofia, Bulgaria. To evaluate the influence of motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease, we used neurological examination and the Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. The Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of the patients. Results: All patients showed improvement in their motor functions, quality of life, and sleep problems in comparison with those receiving oral levodopa. No patient experienced an increase in the dyskinesias. The postural stability continued to be impaired. For now, the medication has shown a protective effect against the levodopa-induced polyneuropathy. The main side effects were diarrhea and weight loss. Conclusions: Levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone therapy is a promising new modality of treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease. The medication has been found to improve the patients’ motor functions and exert a positive effect on some non-motor symptoms. The drug has shown a good safety profile and tolerance. There is still a lack of clear criteria for choosing between the levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone and levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gels

Carcinoma erysipeloides of the breast in a patient with advanced invasive lobular breast cancer

Carcinoma erysipeloides (CE) is an uncommon cutaneous metastasis of advanced breast carcinoma, showing distinctive features and presenting as a well-demarcated erythematous macule or plaque varying in size. It also may show a raised border and oedema. The differential diagnoses include erysipelas or cellulitis of the breast, or rarely—radiodermatitis. Most of the time CE is associated with advanced breast cancer and rarely with neoplastic tumours of the colon, pancreas, oesophagus, uterus, etc. We report a 58-year-old woman who presented at the Medical Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a 1-month history of not well-demarcated, erythematous, oedematous patches and plaques on the left and right breast, abdomen and both shins, associated with advanced invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma: a study on 240 patients in a single referral center

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Our study aimed to provide an understanding of the risk factors, pattern and management of HCC in a real-life practice.Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty consecutive patients with HCC were evaluated for an 11-year period (from 2006 to 2016). During the last 5 years the patients were followed up prospectively from the time of the diagnosis to their death. Results: A hundred and seventy-two males and 68 females (mean age 66.4 ± 10.3 and 62.4 ± 9.5 years, respectively) were included in the observation. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection accounted for 40.4% and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection - for 25.8% of the aetiology of liver disease. Cirrhosis is a baseline condition in 82%. HCC was found to be a first complication of liver disease in 2/3 of the studied patients. Using Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system HCC can be categorised as: stage 0 (n=3); stage A (n=32); stage B (n=52); stage C (n=75) and stage D (n=103). Therefore, the prevalence of very early and early HCC was 13%. Radical therapy (resection or ablation) was recommended in 28% of the patients. Importantly, 18 of 55 (32.7%) patients after surgical resection were followed for more than 3 years without tumour relapse. The median survival, based on the main treatment was: 36 months after surgical resection; 24 months after ablation; 10.5 months for patients on Sorafenib; 9.5 months after TACE and only 3 months for palliative care. Conclusion: Our study confirms the observed trends in underlying diseases, the heterogeneity of survival and underscores the need of early diagnosis of HCC

Preliminary studies on the effect of herbs on the growth and health of suckling piglets

The effect of some herbs with strengthening immune system and antiphlogistic action from Bulgaria has been studied in two pilot trials, first with 8 litters (4 control and 4 with herbs in the water) and second with 15 litters (5 control, 5 with herbs in the water and 5 with herbs in the fodder). The growth and health status (score of diarrhoea) during the suckling period has been recorded. Treatment of diarrhoea with herbs has been applied to litters with manifestation of diarrhoea in second trial. The results showed that supplement of herbs in the water or in the fodder of suckling piglets improved growth and health status of piglets and further studies are needed for establishing the best combination of herbs

Attitudes and beliefs of Eastern European consumers towards piglet castration and meat from castrated pigs

Castration of male piglets is a common practice to avoid boar taint but is being questioned. The present work has an exploratory character and aims to investigate the beliefs and attitudes of Eastern European consumers regarding boar taint, surgical castration immunocastration and perception of meat from castrated pigs and to find out possible segments of consumers regarding these attitudes and beliefs. For this purpose, a consumer study was carried out involving 5508 consumers from 13 Eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine). The questionnaire included statements related to beliefs about castration and perception of meat from castrated pigs, attitudes towards meat from castrated pigs. Results show that in general beliefs and attitudes of the consumers are not defined, probably because of the lack of knowledge (information was not provided to the consumers) towards these issues. Three different clusters of consumers were obtained with different beliefs towards castration.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Welfare of pigs on farm

This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of pigs on farm, and is based on literature and expert opinion. All pig categories were assessed: gilts and dry sows, farrowing and lactating sows, suckling piglets, weaners, rearing pigs and boars. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system, highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, as well as related animal-based measures (ABMs), and hazards leading to the welfare consequences. Moreover, measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate the welfare consequences are recommended. Recommendations are also provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of pigs related to tail biting and related to the European Citizen's Initiative ‘End the Cage Age’. For example, the AHAW Panel recommends how to mitigate group stress when dry sows and gilts are grouped immediately after weaning or in early pregnancy. Results of a comparative qualitative assessment suggested that long-stemmed or long-cut straw, hay or haylage is the most suitable material for nest-building. A period of time will be needed for staff and animals to adapt to housing lactating sows and their piglets in farrowing pens (as opposed to crates) before achieving stable welfare outcomes. The panel recommends a minimum available space to the lactating sow to ensure piglet welfare (measured by live-born piglet mortality). Among the main risk factors for tail biting are space allowance, types of flooring, air quality, health status and diet composition, while weaning age was not associated directly with tail biting in later life. The relationship between the availability of space and growth rate, lying behaviour and tail biting in rearing pigs is quantified and presented. Finally, the panel suggests a set of ABMs to use at slaughter for monitoring on-farm welfare of cull sows and rearing pigs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio