Resting and dobutamine stress test induced serum concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide in German Shepherd dogs

Studies of clinical uses of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) represent one of the most important advances in cardiology since the introduction of echocardiography as a clinical diagnostic procedure. Defining the clinical potential of BNP in canine cardiology has not been completed yet. The aim of this study is to measure BNP concentrations in healthy German Shepherd dogs of different ages as a baseline in resting and when conventional protocol of the dobutamine stress test (DST) is applied to dogs. Concentrations of BNP were measured in blood serum by the radioimmunoassay method. The values of BNP concentrations were compared to cardiac parameters obtained by standard cardiac diagnostic procedures (radiology, electrocardiography and echocardiography). No significant differences in serum BNP concentrations existed in dogs of different ages. A statistically significant increase in BNP concentrations was registered after DST. These changes in BNP concentrations were related to ST/T electrocardiographic changes, and correlated to changes in the left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LVESD). These data suggest that BNP is not increased in aged dogs with normal cardiac systolic function and renal function, and that myocardial ischemia leads to a significant increase in BNP concentrations even in dogs with normal left ventricular function.     

Study of the genetic variability of porcine circovirus type 2 detected in Serbia and Slovenia

Recent variants of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were obtained from tissues of domestic pigs with porcine circovirus associated disease and from randomly selected wild boar samples from Serbia and Slovenia. A 450-base-pair nucleotide sequence was obtained by PCR from the ORF2. The derived nucleotide and amino acid sequences were aligned and compared to the corresponding region of closely related PCV2 sequences determined in previous years and retrieved from the GenBank. The 30 Serbian and 17 Slovenian PCV2 sequences clustered into three previously determined genotypes (PCV2a: 7), (PCV2b: 38) and (PCV2d: 2). Three major variable regions, concerning 29 amino acid position substitutions within the ORF2, were observed, which further supports the segregation of the detected strains into three separate genotypes. This study indicates that PCV2b is the predominant genotype in Serbia and Slovenia and the detected PCV2 strains are closely related to those previously described in Europe and in other parts of the world.     

Changes in the content of free sulphydryl groups during postharvest wheat and flour maturation and their influence on technological quality

The main aim of this study was to determine the changes in free sulphydryl content during postharvest wheat and flour maturation. The content of free sulphydryl groups was determined from wet gluten over 50 days of wheat postharvest maturation and over 14 days of flour maturation by varying incubation temperatures (30 and 37 °C) and incubation times (0, 45, 90 and 135 min). The amount of free sulphydryl groups increased during postharvest wheat and flour maturation as well as with the increase in temperature and gluten incubation time. The additional aim of this study was to find the interrelation between the content of free sulphydryl groups and selected parameters of technological quality by means of Principal Component Analysis. During wheat/flour maturation, the strengthening of protein structure was observed manifested by the increase in gluten index and Mixolab protein network weakening (C2), and changes in dough resistance as well. The incubation temperature of 37 °C affected the weakening of protein structure manifested by the decrease in gluten index and resistance, and increase in extensibility. Strong differentiation of examined varieties in terms of selected quality indicators was observed upon pre-defined maturation period, probably due to the expression of their intrinsic properties.     

Assessment of the retardation of selected herbicides onto Danube sediment based on small column tests

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study utilizes column tests to investigate the retardation of certain herbicides with different hydrophobicities (atrazine, alachlor and trifluralin) during...     

Enantiomeric purity of biodegradation products of juvenogens by newly isolated soil bacteria

Two bacteria were isolated from sand RQ30, characterized as Bacillus simplex and Bacillus sp. strain 05 (GenBank EU399813 ), and were used as biocatalysts for a hydrolytic assay of stability of the cis or trans isomers of ethyl N-{2-{4-{[2-(butanoyl)oxycyclohexyl]methyl}phenoxy}ethyl}carbamate, which are among insect hormonogen substances (juvenogens). The stability tests were performed using simple modeling under laboratory conditions. The structures of the products were assigned as ethyl (1 R,2 R)- N-{2-{4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl}carbamate and ethyl (1 S,2 R)- N-{2-{4-[(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl}carbamate on the basis of (1)H and (13)C NMR, IR, and FAB-MS analyses.     

Transformation of Petroleum Saturated Hydrocarbons during Soil Bioremediation Experiments

This paper presents transformations of saturated hydrocarbons of petroleum type pollutants during ex situ bioremediation of soil on the pilot heap (halde), during a period of 6 months, within the grounds of Petroleum Refinery Pan?evo (Serbia). Samples for analysis were taken in time intervals of 2 weeks (P₁–P₁₂ samples). Organic substance was extracted by Soxhlet’s method and quantified. Isoprenoid aliphatics, in particular pristane and phytane, and polycyclic aliphatics of sterane and triterpane types in saturated hydrocarbon fractions were analysed by GC-MS (SIM method). Significant amounts of n-alkanes have not been detected. The MS-chromatogram revealed only marginal amounts of pristane and phytane in sample P₁. Pristane and phytane occurred in sample P₈, and in even higher quantities in the final sample P_12. The proceeding bioremediation process was accompanied by the decrease of the relative amounts of pentacyclic terpanes of hopane type, compared to tri- and tetracyclic terpanes. In the initial sample P₁ the distribution of steranes and hopanes follows a pattern, which is characteristic for crude oils. However, their identification by SIM method was not possible in samples P₈ and P₁₂ because of the reduced concentration. The observed changes in the alkane fractions’ compositions may be considered as atypical, referring to the fact that during oil biodegradation under natural conditions, decomposition of isoprenoids occurs much easier and faster than decomposition of polycyclic alkanes of tri-, tetra- and pentacyclic terpane, sterane and diasterane types, after the decomposition of n-alkanes has been almost completed.     

Stable isotopes and gut contents indicate differential resource use by coexisting asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Differential use of habitat and prey resources is an important mechanism that may allow coexistence of sympatric species. Unlike interactions between smaller cyprinid and percid fishes, the resource use by coexisting predatory asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is relatively unknown. Here, gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to study ontogenetic dietary shifts and interspecific trophic niche overlap between asp and pikeperch coexisting in two reservoirs. The hypothesis that both species show an ontogenetic dietary shift from small invertebrates to large fish prey, but at the same time use different prey resources to reduce potential competitive interactions, was validated. The isotopic niches of the two predators showed no, or only a moderate, degree of overlap (0%–65%). The ontogenetic changes in the degree of interspecific isotopic niche overlap were different in the two reservoirs, suggesting that trophic segregation can be dynamic and variable among systems. Gut contents revealed that small (<100 mm standard length) asp consumed mostly terrestrial invertebrates and emerged aquatic insects, whereas small pikeperch foraged on zooplankton, larval and pupal stages of aquatic insects and fish. Larger individuals (>100 mm) of both species were predominantly piscivorous, with asp consuming more cyprinid prey and pikeperch more percid prey. Coexisting asp and pikeperch populations are able to utilise different prey resources, thereby reducing potential negative competitive interactions.     

Molecular detection of Theileria sp. in ticks and naturally infected sheep

Seven healthy sheep and 10 sheep diagnosed with piroplasmosis based on clinical signs were tested for the presence of babesiae and theileriae. Using the molecular techniques, two species of theileriae were detected and characterized. Theileria ovis was present mostly in healthy sheep and in Rhipicephalus ticks collected from infected sheep. Theileria sp. OT3 parasite was detected mostly in ill animals which represent additional evidence to the possible pathogenic nature of Theileria sp. OT3. The presence of babesiae in sheep or in ticks was not determined. The results of this study showed that ovine piroplasmosis due to Theileria is present in Southern Croatia. It was concluded that clinical diagnosis of ovine piroplasmosis should be confirmed by molecular analysis in order to identify the species of piroplasm, to select the appropriate treatment and to exclude the threat for public health.