Hemoconcentration in calves in relation to actual and corrected values of metabolic profile parameters

Frequent pathogenetic condition of hemoconcentration in calves results in apparent increase in the parameters of metabolic profile above the standard level. These values, however, do not conform to the actual state and often lead to unsubstantiated diagnostic conclusions with pathological deviations. On the basis of experimental study on the dynamics of some parameters of hematological, protein, mineral and electrolytic profile in the calves with experimental hemoconcentration, a correction table and diagram for the calculation of corrected values for some parameters of metabolic profile were elaborated. At hematocrit value increased above the physiologic limit (0.45--0.60) the correction values of parameters in percent are subtracted from the actual value. The correction table was used to correct actual values of those parameters of metabolic profile which during the experimental hemoconcentration were found to have direct relations to the dynamics (Er, Hb, Le, CB, Ig, serum Ca, P and Na). The correction of serum potassium and of some enzymes (AST, ALT, gMT) is not indicated because no relations were determined. Whereas the actual values of the studied parameters reached their maxima (statistically significant differences in Er, Hb, CB, Ig levels) at the culmination of hemoconcentration (6th hour--1st sampling), the differences between the corrected values and initial values were in all parameters insignificant. The correction of actual values of parameters by means of the diagram or table is simple, expeditious and reliable.     

Phagocytosis in calves and its dynamics after experimental treatment

We evaluated the phagocytic capacity of blood neutrophils and monocytes in calves after nonspecific stimulations of the organisms by colloidal charcoal and concentrated blood derivative administered alone, or enriched by immunomodulator (levamizol). Each of the above-mentioned preparations could be characterized by a specific response of the organism with respect to the phagocytic capacity. After administration of colloidal charcoal, both the phagocytic activity (percent of phagocytizing cells) and the particle-ingesting ability, i.e. phagocytic index, which showed two-phase changes in relation to the administration, were simulated. An increase in the phagocytic index was retained until the end of observation (four weeks), but the phagocytic activity (percent of phagocytizing cells) dropped to the level before administration as soon as in 24 hours. The phagocytic activity was also positively stimulated by the concentrated blood derivative administered alone, and the particle-ingesting ability was not influenced very much. The concentrated blood derivative with immunomodulator could be characterized by a fast increase in the phagocytic activity, accompanied by a successive short-time rise of the phagocytic index. A joint feature of all three preparations was a simultaneous increase in the percent of potential phagocytes and in the values of phagocytic activity. In none of the cases was, however, the increase in phagocytic activity accompanied by a rise in the phagocytic index.     

Effect of blood derivatives with immunomodulators on the immunoprotein profile in calves under clinical conditions

The data on the selected humoral and cellular parameters of the immuno-protein profile were evaluated in calves in a critical period of the availability of immunoglobulins (Ig), in dependence on the administration of the blood derivative with levamisole (group AL) and on the administration of levamisole solution (group L). The preparations were administered intramuscularly at a rate of 10 mg levamisole per 1 kg of live weight. No statistical significance was recorded in the comparison of the humoral parameters after repeated administration (interval of five days) of the Algalev (AL) and levamisole (L) preparations. During the same investigation, the administration of AL produced a significant increase in the T lymphocytes of the blood both in comparison with the T lymphocyte concentration before treatment (P less than 0.05 on the 5th, 7th, 11th, 14th and 20th day of experiment) and in comparison with the calves of group L (P less than 0.05 on the 7th, 11th, 14th, and 20th day); in the case of B lymphocytes an increase was recorded only in comparison with the initial value (P less than 0.01 on the 2nd, 5th and 7th day). Administration of levamisole alone led to a positive change in T lymphocyte concentration (P less than 0.05 on the 5th, 7th, 11th, 15th and 20th day) but not in the concentration of the B cells (P greater than 0.05). In another experiment, administration of the AL preparation (repeatedly after six days) led to a significant increase in the percentage of T lymphocytes (P less than 0.01 the 8th day and P less than 0.05 the 2nd, 6th, 15th, 21st and 35th day) and B lymphocytes (P less than 0.01 the 15th and 21st day), in comparison with their levels before administration as well as in comparison with the control (T lymph.: P less than 0.01 the 6th day and P les than 0.05 the 8th, 15th, 21st and 35th day; B lymph.: P less than 0.05 the 15th day). The maximum percent proportion of T lymphocytes after administration of the AL preparation was recorded on the seventh and eighth day after the first administration.     

Methemoglobinemia in calves with emphasis on the dam-calf relationship and after experimental administration of nitrates

A field investigation of methaemoglobinaemia was performed in healthy calves and in calves suffering from diarrhoeas at different age periods; methaemoglobinaemia of dairy cows and their newborn calves was examined at the average age of 2.5 days. In the other part of this study, NO-3-ion was administered experimentally per os to the calf organisms at doses of 0.15 and 0.3 g KNO3.kg-1 liveweight; this treatment induced a low to medium degree of clinical methaemoglobinaemia. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to comment on the physiological standard of methaemoglobinaemia (less than 3% MaHb) in the total haemoglobin, urgent time of methaemoglobin detection after nitrate intake (2 to 8 h) with respect to the fast dynamics of nitrates, and the importance of subclinical form of methaemoglobinaemia and its relationship to the ontogenetic development of piglets.     

Effects of Short-term Heating on Total Polyphenols,Anthocyanins, Antioxidant Activity and Lectins of Different Parts of Dwarf Elder (Sambucus ebulus L.)

Dwarf elder (Sambucus ebulus L.) berries are rich in health-promoting phytochemicals such as polyphenols and anthocyanins, and display a significant antioxidant activity. They are also rich in two lectins (ebulin f and SELfd) that share amino acid sequence homology with the elderberry allergen Sam n1 present in Sambucus nigra pollen and fruits. Ebulin f displays toxicity by oral ingestion. This study was aimed at eliminating the toxicity of these lectins whilst having little or no effect on the antioxidant properties of dwarf elder berries. We thus investigated the potential effects of incubation in a boiling water bath of extracts from several parts of the plant on total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, total anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glycoside content, and the sensitivity of purified dwarf elder fruit lectins to a simulated gastric fluid. The study shows that five minutes of said heat treatment fully sensitized both lectins to pepsin digestion, whilst minimally reducing phenol and antioxidant as well as free radical scavenging activities to below 13 %. It proved possible to eliminate the potential risks derived from the presence of lectins in dwarf elder juices without any significant reduction in the content of the antioxidant compounds. Dwarf elder berries may thus be a valuable nutritional source.     

The new carotenoid pigment moraxanthin is associated with toxic microalgae

The new pigment "moraxanthin" was found in natural samples from a fish mortality site in the Inland Bays of Delaware, USA. Pure cultures of the species, tentatively named Chattonella cf. verruculosa, and natural samples contained this pigment as a dominant carotenoid. The pigment, obtained from a 10 L culture of C. cf. verruculosa, was isolated and harvested by HPLC and its structure determined from MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR. The data identified this pigment as a new acylated form of vaucheriaxanthin called moraxanthin after the berry like algal cell. Its presence in pure cultures and in natural bloom samples indicates that moraxanthin is specific to C. cf. verruculosa and can be used as a marker of its presence when HPLC is used to analyze natural blooms samples.     

Influence of organic amendments on Fe,Cu, Mn,and Zn availability and clay minerals of different soils

The effects of application of composted olive mill wastewater sludge (A) and depotassified sugarbeet vinasse (V) on total diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and sequential extracted micronutrients were investigated. The mineralogy of the fine fraction of soils was also studied. The soils used were a Typic Rhodoxeralf (soil R), a Typic Xeropsamment (soil S), and a Typic Xerorthent (soil C). Fertilization with A and V during 3 years, in general did not significantly affect the total concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn versus the control. However, the elements extracted with DTPA generally increased with the organic amendments, more with A than with V. The BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction indicated that the addition of organic matter generally increased Zn and Mn in the two more available fractions. A great amount of Fe was found in the second and third fractions from the unamended and amended soils. Nevertheless, the sum of the three fractions was enhanced for the organic amendment, except for calcareous soil. The distribution of these elements in the different fractions was significantly affected by the type of soil. The addition of both fertilizers caused modifications in particle size and consequence redistribution of the calcite content between the different fractions.     

Wheat Gluten Polymer Structures: The Impact of Genotype,Environment, and Processing on Their Functionality in Various Applications

For a number of applications, gluten protein polymer structures are of the highest importance in determining end‐use properties. The present article focuses on gluten protein structures in the wheat grain, genotype‐ and environment‐related changes, protein structures in various applications, and their impact on quality. Protein structures in mature wheat grain or flour are strongly related to end‐use properties, although influenced by genetic and environment interactions. Nitrogen availability during wheat development and genetically determined plant development rhythm are the most important parameters determining the gluten protein polymer structure, although temperature during plant development interacts with the impact of the mentioned parameters. Glutenin subunits are the main proteins incorporated in the gluten protein polymer in extracted wheat flour. During dough mixing, gliadins are also incorporated through disulfide‐sulfhydryl exchange reactions. Gluten protein polymer size and complexity in the mature grain and changes during dough formation are important for breadmaking quality. When using the gluten proteins to produce plastics, additional proteins are incorporated in the polymer through disulfide‐sulfhydryl exchange, sulfhydryl oxidation, β‐eliminations with lanthionine formation, and isopeptide formation. In promising materials, the protein polymer structure is changed toward β‐sheet structures of both intermolecular and extended type and a hexagonal close‐packed structure is found. Increased understanding of gluten protein polymer structures is extremely important to improve functionality and end‐use quality of wheat‐ and gluten‐based products.