Acid In Blood Serum Research Articles

Зміни в вітамінній ланці антиоксидантної системи корів різних типів вищої нервової діяльності

The article presents the results of the studying the content of some vitamins in blood serum of cows with different types of higher nervous activity depending on the season. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of the typological features of the nervous system on the content of separate vitamins in blood serum of cows depending on the season. The experiment was carried out on the basis of the farm «Kolos» village Borodianka, Kyiv region on clinically healthy cows of Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed of 2–3rd lactation. On the basis of the investigation the conditioned reflex activity, 4 experimental groups of animals were formed with 4 most typical representatives of the identified types of higher nervous activity in each: 1st group – strong balanced mobile type, 2nd group – strong balanced inert type, 3rd group – strong unbalanced type, 4th group – weak type. The research material was blood serum, in which the content of vitamins A, E and C was determined by express method via liquid chromatography. The conducted investigation of ascorbic acid, retinol and tocopherol content in blood serum of cows with different types of higher nervous activity in winter and summer periods shown that its content is significantly dependent on the season. In particular, the content of ascorbic acid in blood serum of cows with different types of higher nervous activity in the winter season was lower by 22–27% in compare with its meaning in the summer season. It should be noted that the largest difference in content of vitamin C in blood serum depending on the season was found in animals of strong balanced inert and weak types of higher nervous activity (by 27.4%, P < 0.001 and 24.0%, P < 0.001 respectively). While in animals of strong balanced mobile and strong unbalanced types of higher nervous activity the content of vitamin C in blood serum was lower by 23.2% (P < 0.001) and 21.7% (P < 0.001), respectively. The content of fat-soluble vitamins in blood serum of cows with different types of higher nervous activity is also largely dependent on the season. Thus, the content of tocopherol was lower in the winter season by 35.8–41.6% (P < 0.001) depending on the type of higher nervous activity. And the retinol content was lower by 49.2–55.3% (P FU=3.0; P FU = 3.0; P < 0.05. However, the main properties of cortical processes did not have a significant influence on the content of retinol in blood serum – F = 2.8 < FU = 3.0; P = 0.06. The season has a significant influence on the content of the above mentioned vitamins – F = 126–348 > FU = 4.3; P < 0.001, which is obviously due to the level of supply the animal’s body with vitamins during different seasons. It should be noted that there is no relationship between the sources of variation (type of higher nervous activity and season), which obviously testifies to the absence of influence of the seasons on the main features of cortical processes (F = 0.37–1.64 < FU = 3.0; P = 0.208–0.775). Thus, the influence of the main features of cortical processes on the content of ascorbic acid, retinol and tocopherol in blood serum of cows is found. In animals of weak type of higher nervous activity the vitamin content in blood serum is lower than in animals of strong types. The lower content of ascorbic acid, retinol and tocopherol in blood serum of cows in the winter season, regardless the type of higher nervous activity, has been established.

УРОВЕНЬ МОЧЕВОЙ КИСЛОТЫ В СЫВОРОТКЕ КРОВИ У БОЛЬНЫХ ВПЕРВЫЕ ВЫЯВЛЕННЫМ ТУБЕРКУЛЕЗОМ ЛЕГКИХ С МНОЖЕСТВЕННОЙ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТЬЮ ВОЗБУДИТЕЛЯ

The level of uric acid in blood serum was investigated in 134 new patients suffering from multiple drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (78 men and 56 women). The tests were performed by admission to hospital and then repeated in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 months of treatment. Prior to chemotherapy the increased uric acid level was observed in 28.2% of men and 37.5% of women. During treatment with pyrazinamide uric acid level increased in this category of patients in 1 month after treatment start and further it went down; however it was above normal during the whole course of treatment. Monitoring of uric acid level in the patients with initially normal rates has shown that the primary increase of uric acid was observed during the whole course of chemotherapy (8 months) and more often during the first 2 months of treatment both in men and women.

THE CONCENTRATION OF FREE AMINO ACIDS IN BLOOD SERUM OF HEALTHY COWS AND COWS WITH SUBCLINICAL KETOSIS

This paper presents the study on determination of the free amino acid in blood serum of cows with high milk production (Herd A) and cows with subclinical ketosis compared to healthy ones (Herd B). In Herd A examinated 12 cows in the first 100 days in milk. A total of 24 cows from a herd B divided into two groups: experimental (12 cows with ketosis) and control (12 healthy cows) were included in the study. Statistically significantly higher concentrations of glutamine, glutamic acid, isoleucine (p ≤ 0.001), and tyrosine (p ≤ 0.05) were found in dairy cows with subclinical ketosis compared to healthy ones. A significant decrease in the concentrations of asparagine, histidine, methionine, and serine (p ≤ 0.001) as well as alanine, leucine, lysine and proline (p ≤ 0.05) was observed. In Herd A was high level of total essential amino acids in blood serum. In our study, the changes, in particular, observed in amino acid concentration in cows with subclinical ketosis indicate its intensive use in both ketogenesis and gluconeogenesis processes.

The study of fatty-acid spectrum of blood serum in patients with aspirin associated polypous rhinosinusitis

Aim of research – to study the composition of the main representatives of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids in blood serum of patients with chronic polypous rhinosinusitis, associated with intolerance to acetylsalicinic acid.Materials and methods. The fatty-acid composition of blood serum was determined by the method of capillary gas-liquid chromatography in 20 ill and 7 healthy donors.Results: The change of composition of unsaturated fatty acids is in increase of arachidonic acid level, decrease of the content of its main predecessors – linoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids, normal level of intermediate products:α – and γ – linoleic acid and increase of the level of oleic acid. The content of the main saturated fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, arachidic ones is increased. The fatty acids imbalance testifies to the proinflammatory directionality of lipid metabolism.Conclusions:1. The increase of the level of polyunsaturated (arachdonic and oleic acids) leads to the compensatory decrease of the level of the main predecessors of arachinonic – linoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids. This mechanism allows keep the intermediate products of synthesis of arachidonic acid - α – and γ – linoleic acids at the normal level.2. The content of saturated fatty acids with alternative biological effects is increased in blood serum as a compensatory mechanism of leveling of biological effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites,.3. The revealed imbalance of fatty acids testifies to the proinflammatory directionality of the lipid metabolism.4. The changes of fatty-acid spectrum of lipids in the blood serum prove the hypothesis of “genetic block COG1” as the main pathogenetic link of aspirin associated polypous rhinosinusitis

Circadence dynamics features of metabolic and bile secretion processes in rats

The aim of the study was to establish the circadence dynamics of metabolic, bile secretion processes in female and male rats. The chronopharmacology study with blood sampling in experimental rats four times of day (3 am, 9 am, 3 pm and 9 pm) was carried out. As a result of the conducted investigation it was established the existence of circadian fluctuations in the general protein, albumin, cholesterol, general bilirubin levels and activity of alkaline phosphatase and the absence of a clear circadence dynamics of the content of urea and uric acid in blood serum. Significant differences between male and female rats was not revealed. The results of circadence organization of metabolic and bile secretion processes in rats should be taken into account in analyzing of hepatoprotectors and other drugs' chronoformname.

The positional isomers of palmitic and oleic triglycerides, lipolysis, conformation of apoB-100, formation of apoE/B-100 ligand and absorption of lipoproteins of very low density by insulin-dependent cells under action of statins.

The study was carried out to trace back quantitative alterations of positional isomers, oleic and palmitic triglycerides and individual fatty acids in blood serum. After two weeks of taking of Simvastatin (40, 80 mg), analysis of blood serum established decreasing of content of Рhosphatidylcholine and more reliable decreasing of amount of non-etherized alcohol cholesterol. No alterations of content of particular fatty acids were detected. In apoB-100, Рhosphatidylcholine and non-etherized alcohol cholesterol form polar mono-layer; it covers mass of oleic and palmitic triglycerides that was bound by apoB-100 in oleic and palmitic lipoproteins of very low density disturbing bio-availability of substrate (oleic and palmitic triglycerides) for post-heparin lipase. This very pool of non-etherized alcohol cholesterol is inhibited by statins activating lipolysis in oleic and palmitic lipoproteins of very low density. In blood was detected amount of palmitic positional isomersin oleic and palmitic triglycerides (palmitoyl-palmitoyl-palmitate and palmitol-palmitoyl-oleate) and oleic positional isomers (oleyl-oleyl-palmitate and oleyl-oleyl-oleate). The significant difference was marked in content of positional isomers both of oleyl-oleyl-oleate and oleyl-oleyl-palmitate; their content is less in blood of patients of experimental group as compared with healthy people. In case of treatment with Simvastatin (40 mg) the level of palmitic positional isomers and palmitol-palmitoyloleate is decreased. In case of treatment with Simvastatin (80 mg) significant decreasing of positional isomers-palmitolpalmitoyl-oleate and oleyl-oleyl-palmitate as compared with data before treatment. The detection of content of positional isomers triglycerides permits: a) to characterize disorders of metabolism of palmitic fatty acid, oleic fatty acid, oleic and palmitic triglycerides and oleic and palmitic lipoproteins of very low density of the same name; b) to form individual diet therapy; c) to obtain objective information concerning compliance of prescribed recommendations b y patient. The basis of primary prevention of atherosclerosis and atheromatosis is in decreasing up to physiological level in food the content of longchained saturated fatty acids mainly palmitic acid.

Quantitative metabolic profiling of NMR spectral signatures of branched chain amino acids in blood serum.

Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are related to different aspects of diseases like pathogenesis, diagnosis and even prognosis. While in some diseases, levels of all the BCAAs are perturbed; in some cases, perturbation occurs in one or two while the rest remain unaltered. In case of ischemic heart disease, there is an enhanced level of plasma leucine and isoleucine but valine level remains unaltered. In 'Hypervalinemia', valine is elevated in serum and urine, but not leucine and isoleucine. Therefore, identification of these metabolites and profiling of individual BCAA in a quantitative manner in body-fluid like blood plasma/serum have long been in demand. (1)H NMR resonances of the BCAAs overlap with each other which complicates quantification of individual BCAAs. Further, the situation is limited by the overlap of broad resonances of lipoprotein with the resonances of BCAAs. The widely used commercially available kits cannot differentially estimate the BCAAs. Here, we have achieved proper identification and characterization of these BCAAs in serum in a quantitative manner employing a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based technique namely T2-edited Correlation Spectroscopy (COSY). This approach can easily be extended to other body fluids like bile, follicular fluids, saliva, etc.

Changes in Serum Amino Acids in Migraine Patients without and with Aura and their Possible Usefulness in the Study of Migraine Pathogenesis.

Results of several studies suggest that serum amino acids monitoring in migraine might be useful as an objective measurement of the disease status. The aim of the present work was to analyze the profile of aliphatic and aromatic amino acids in blood serum of migraine patients without and with aura between attacks. A total number of 37 migraine patients (26 with migraine without aura and 11 with migraine with aura), mean age 39±12 years, and 40 age-matched healthy subjects as the control group, mean age 38±14 years, were included into the study. The levels of glutamic acid, glutamine, histidine (His), valine (Val), isoleucine, leucine (Leu), phenyloalanine, lysine were evaluated. The level of His was significantly higher in both groups of migraine patients (without and with aura) compared to the control group (F(2,74)=10.17, p=0.00). The levels of Val and Leu were significantly different in migraine without but not with aura, when compared with the control group (F(2,74)=4.70, p=0.01 and F(2,74)=4.39, p=0.02, respectively). We found higher level of His in migraine patients without and with aura and lower level of Val and Leu in patients with migraine without aura.

Development of methods of the gas chromatographic determination of phenylcarboxylic acids in blood serum and their adaptation to clinical laboratory conditions

A method has been developed for the determination of phenylcarboxylic acids (benzoic, p� hydroxyphenyllactic, phydroxyphenylacetic, phenyllactic, 3�phenylpropanoic, and phenylacetic) in blood serum by gas chromatography with a flameionization detector ( FID). The quantitative characteristics of analysis obtained with the FID and mass spectrometric detectors are in the same range and exhibit common trends for different groups of samples. It has been shown that the reproducibility of the results increases with the addition of a stage of salting out to the sample preparation procedure. The accuracy of the results is esti� mated using the added-found method. A possibility of the application of widely used FID to the quantitative determination of phenylcarboxylic acids in blood serum has been demonstrated for routine clinical practice.

Fast determination of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and glycolic acid in blood serum and urine for emergency and clinical toxicology by GC-FID

A simple, cost effective, and fast gas chromatography method with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for simultaneous measurement of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and glycolic acid was developed and validated for clinical toxicology purposes. This new method employs a relatively less used class of derivatization agents – alkyl chloroformates, allowing the efficient and rapid derivatization of carboxylic acids within seconds while glycols are simultaneously derivatized by phenylboronic acid. The entire sample preparation procedure is completed within 10min. To avoid possible interference from naturally occurring endogenous acids and quantitation errors 3-(4-chlorophenyl) propionic acid was chosen as an internal standard. The significant parameters of the derivatization have been found using chemometric procedures and these parameters were optimized using the face-centered central composite design. The calibration dependence of the method was proved to be quadratic in the range of 50–5000mgmL−1, with adequate accuracy (92.4–108.7%) and precision (9.4%). The method was successfully applied to quantify the selected compounds in serum of patients from emergency units.

The morphological changes in joints tissues in cases of primary tophus gout

Gout is a chronic disease which is accompanied by a primary violation of the uric acid (purine) metabolism, increased value of uric acid (hyperuricemia) in blood and urates’ deposition in tissues (crystals of the sodium salt of the uric acid). The incidence of gout is increasing in recent years. Men suffer from this pathology in the USA in 0.84% cases, in the Western Europe from 0.1 to 2 % cases, and in persons over 55 years old is about 6 % ones. Prevalence of gouty arthritis in Ukraine is 64.7 per 100 000 of population.Objective: to clarify the morphological changes in the tissues joints and periarticular structures in patients with primary tophaceous gout course.Methods: morphological study of the surgical specimens taken during surgery for removal of gouty tophi and correction of deformations performed in 32 patients with chronic gout (31 men and 1 woman), aged from 39 to 78 years (mean age - 56,1 ± 3,5 years).Results: during the first 1-3 years of tophi form rarely. Just in case of severe pathological process their formation directly depends on value of uremia. With increasing of the disease structural and functional organization changes of the joint capsule progressed. Necrotic and destructive processes predominated. In severe cases of the clinical course of gout accompanied with high content of uric acid in blood serum, frequent (4-5 times a year) and continuous attacks of gout, which intakes 3 to 4 or more joints, bright distinct degenerative and necrotic changes not just in the joint capsule but also in paraarticular tissues, primarily joint cartilage and subchondral bone came out. They firstly characterized with activation of endochondral ossification or dystrophic and necrotic lesions of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone.Conclusions: gouty arthritis is one of the variants of chronic inflammation, which is determined by the deposition of urates of the uric acid into the joint capsule and characterized by active fibroblastic proliferation of cellular elements with the formation of fibrous connective tissue on early stages, and in cases of severe course it characterized by actively progressing degenerative and destructive lesions of all joint tissues leading to disability. The basis of the inflammatory cell infiltrate is combination of macrophages, lymphocytes, cellular elements of the connective tissue (fibroblasts) and giant cell formation. Defined by us pathomorphologic vicissitude of pathologic changes in the joint tissues allows to clarify the therapeutic approach to tophaceous gout. Direct dependence of the severity of pathological changes in the joint tissues on the severity of the clinical course of gout requires active prevention and reduction of the frequency of exacerbations of the pathologic process.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIPID STORAGE DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH HEPATOBILIARY PATHOLOGY

It was recorded that hepatobiliary system disorders, which are associated with lipid storage disorders, in children became more frequent over the last years. The above-stated pathology in childhood is understudied and little-known among practitioners. Background : To study changing rules of lipid metabolism for diagnostics development and prevention of hepatobiliary system disorders associated with dyslipidemia. Patients and methods : 53 children aged 2 to 17 years divided in 3 groups were examined: the 1st — 16 persons with familial hypercholesterolemia and disorders in hepatobiliary system; the 2nd — 11 children with liver glycogenoses; the 3rd — 26 patients with chronic cholecystitis. Results: Changing rules of lipid metabolism showed: in the 1st group — persistent hypercholesterolemia and rise in level of low-density lipoproteins; in the 2nd — combination of hypercholesterolemia with hypertriglyceridemia in roughly the instances, free fatty acids over limits; in the 3rd — decrease in the level of phospholipids in blood serum and (due to BMI > 20 kg/m2) hyperleptinemia. Conclusion: Disorders in the level of phospholipids and free fatty acids in blood serum may be used additional criteria for diagnostics of chronic cholecystitis and liver disease in children, as well reason for prescription of essential phospholipids in therapeutic sequence.

ENERGY STATE OF THE TISSUES AND CONTENT OF AMINO ACIDS IN BLOOD SERUM AND LIVER OF RATS UNDER CONDITIONS OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

In the experimental model of the acute pancreatitis in rats revealed significant violations of energy processes, characterized by a decrease in the content of nicotinamide dinucleotide in the pancreas, liver, and brain. Moreover, in the pancreas and liver redox state of free NAD(P)/NAD(P)H pairs shifted toward reduction. Under these conditions significantly changed the content of most essential and non-essential amino acids in blood serum and liver. Among the semiessential amino acids most varied content of arginine and ornithine. Using of dietary supplement «Alpha + Omega» containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A and E, minerals zinc and selenium, partially restores the energy processes in the tissues of rats with acute pancreatitis, especially in the pancreas by increasing the content of nicotinamide dinucleotide and the ratio of free NAD(P)/NAD(P)H pairs, and facilitated the normalization of the amino acid content in blood serum and liver.

Simultaneous quantification of simvastatin and simvastatin hydroxy acid in blood serum at physiological pH by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS/MS)

Simvastatin attenuates airway inflammation and hyperreactivity, hallmarks of asthma, in allergen-challenged mice. As such, it is under consideration as a novel therapeutic, thus it is important to quantify the levels of simvastatin and its pharmacologically active and interconvertible metabolite, simvastatin hydroxy acid, that can be attained in the body. Methods exist to measure the concentrations of these compounds in biological media; however they do not maintain a physiological pH, and as a result do not accurately measure the ratio of these two compounds that exists in vivo. We developed a new method to measure simvastatin and simvastatin hydroxy acid more accurately in serum from mice by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We minimized the time that the compounds were in aqueous solution, and buffered samples to a physiological pH value of 7.4. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.16 ng mL(-1) extract (1.3 ng mL(-1) serum) for simvastatin, and 8.3 ng mL(-1) extract (66 ng mL(-1) serum) for simvastatin hydroxy acid, respectively. No interconversion was observed, based on spike-and-recovery experiments of solutions containing both compounds. The method was applied using biological samples from mice challenged with house dust mite extract and simultaneously treated with subcutaneous simvastatin injection. Simvastatin hydroxy acid concentrations became significantly increased after a 2 week pre-treatment regime, whereas simvastatin concentrations were below the LOQ for all serum samples.

Content of macro- and trace elements in the liver of pigs of precocious meat breed (CM-1) and their correlations with the level of free amino acids in blood serum

The level of accumulation of three macro- and seven trace elements in the liver of pigs of CM-1 breed, Novosibirsk selection, has been established. The content of seven essential and ten nonessential amino acids in blood serum has been evaluated. The correlations between amino acids and chemical elements in the liver have been revealed and explained.

Perfluorinated Alkyl Acids in Blood Serum from Primiparous Women in Sweden: Serial Sampling during Pregnancy and Nursing, And Temporal Trends 1996–2010

We investigated temporal trends of blood serum levels of 13 perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) in primiparous women (N = 413) from Uppsala County, Sweden, sampled 3 weeks after delivery 1996-2010. Levels of the short-chain perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) increased 11%/y and 8.3%/y, respectively, and levels of the long-chain perfluorononanoate (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) increased 4.3%/y and 3.8%/y, respectively. Concomitantly, levels of FOSA (22%/y), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, 8.4%/y), perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS, 10%/y), and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA, 3.1%/y) decreased. Thus, one or several sources of exposure to the latter compounds have been reduced or eliminated, whereas exposure to the former compounds has recently increased. We explored if maternal levels of PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA during the early nursing period are representative for the fetal development period, using serial maternal serum samples, including cord blood (N = 19). PFAA levels in maternal serum sampled during pregnancy and the nursing period as well as in cord blood were strongly correlated. Strongest correlations between cord blood levels and maternal levels were observed for maternal serum sampled shortly before or after the delivery (r = 0.70-0.89 for PFOS and PFOA). A similar pattern was observed for PFNA, although the correlations were less strong due to levels close to the method detection limit in cord blood.

Development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in children who are in long-term remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Aim. To determine the frequency and nature of myocardial damage in children on the background of long-term remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to assess the significance of the concentration of the N-terminal precursor of the brain natriuretic peptide and of the protein that binds fatty acids in blood serum. Methods. The observation group included 22 children aged 7 to 17 years, who are in long-term remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The average duration of the remission was 6.1±1.0 years. All children were treated according to the standard and intermediate risk group protocol ALL-MB-2002. The control group included 65 children. A clinical and instrumental examination, including 12-lead electrocardiography, as well as complex transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was conducted. Analysis of the diastolic function of the myocardium was performed during assessment of the ratio of peak transmitral flow velocities (E/A), of the index of myocardial stiffness and of the time indicator B(E-Ea). The content of the N-terminal precursor of the brain natriuretic peptide and of the protein that binds fatty acids in blood serum was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Results. In 70% of the children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are in the remission stage for over 5 years, noted was the development of early signs of diastolic myocardial dysfunction, in 50% of the patients of this group reported was a significant increase in the concentration of the marker of heart failure - brain natriuretic peptide. At the same time, in a third of the examined individuals an increase in concentration of the protein that binds fatty acids was revealed, which may be indicative of myocardial damage at the cellular level. Positive correlation links between the indicators of initial manifestations of the evolving left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in children, who are in long-term remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the content of the N-terminal precursor of the brain natriuretic peptide have been revealed. Conclusion. The increase in the levels of the mentioned indicators makes it possible to identify high-risk groups for cardiovascular disease development among the cohort of children who are in long-term remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in order to develop preventive and rehabilitative programs.

Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid in Blood Serum Using an Overoxidized Polypyrrole Film Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The present study reports the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) at pH = 7.0 using an overoxidized polypyrrole (OPPy) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The bare GCE does not separate the voltammetric signals of AA and UA, whereas OPPy-modified GCE not only can completely separate the overlapped oxidation peaks of AA and UA but also dramatically enhances their oxidation currents compared with the bare GCE. Factors influencing determination including pH and scan rate were optimized. A linear response was observed in the concentration range from 7.7 × 10−7 to 2.1 × 10−5 M and 3.8 × 10−5 to 1.1 × 10−3 M with a correlation coefficient of 0.998 and 0.999 for UA and AA, respectively. The detection limit calculated was 7.2 × 10−7 for UA and 1.6 × 10−5 M for AA. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for the oxidation of 7.5 × 10−4 M AA and 5.0 × 10−5 M UA are 3.5% and 1.1%, respectively. The application of the modified electrode was demonstrated by measuring the concentration of UA and AA in human blood serum.

Efficacy of homeopathic remedies as prophylaxis of bovine endometritis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 different homeopathic prophylactic strategies for the prevention of endometritis. The drugs used were Lachesis compositum (Lachesis), Carduus compositum (Carduus), and Traumeel LT (Traumeel). Each drug contained a mixed formula of homeopathic remedies. All 929 cows received the first treatment within 24h postpartum. The second to fourth treatments were conducted at 7 to 13, 14 to 20, and 21 to 27 d in milk, respectively. In the first group, the 4 treatments were Traumeel, Lachesis, Carduus, and Carduus, respectively (n=206). In the second group, Lachesis was administered 3 times, followed by 1 treatment with Carduus (n=198). The control group received 4 injections of saline (n=189). In the fourth week after calving, the prevalence of clinical endometritis, uterine involution, and ovarian activity was monitored by rectal palpation and by ultrasonography. To assess the resumption of ovarian activity, blood samples were taken to determine the concentration of serum progesterone. The concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and nonesterified fatty acids in blood serum were examined to evaluate energy metabolism. The incidence of clinical endometritis at 21 to 27 d in milk did not differ between the groups (44.4, 44.8, and 36.9% in the Traumeel, Lachesis, Carduus, and Carduus group; the 3× Lachesis, followed by Carduus group; and the control group, respectively). The proportion of cows with cyclic activity at 21 to 27 d in milk and the proportion of cows above threshold values of progesterone, β-hydroxybutyrate, and nonesterified fatty acids did not differ significantly between groups. When reproductive performance data were analyzed, no significant differences were found between groups. Hence, the treatment protocols tested were not effective in preventing bovine endometritis or in enhancing reproductive performance in this study.

Peculiarities of inflammatory response during collagenosis

Concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) of α2-macroglobulin (MG), α1-antitrypsin (AT) plasminogen (PL), whole protein, albumin and uric acid in blood serum of patients with collagenosis have been investigated aiming the study of their complex interaction and the possibility of their use during differential diagnostics. The blood serum of 60 healthy donors, 53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 15 patients with reactive arthritis (REA) and 16 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been studied. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations have been defined by ELISA, MG, AT and PL-rocket immunoelectrophoresis, the whole protein, albumin and uric acid — by biochemical methods. The albumin level decreased in all groups of patients. The whole protein concentration decreased at the first RA activity degree. MG, AT and PL levels had no difference at all diseases as compared to the control group. IL-6 concentration increased significantly at all patients groups. TNF-α increased with the RA severity but differed statistically significantly from REA and SLE only at the most severe degree. Analogous trends in IL-1β concentration have been found in cases of RA and SLE but at REA great individual fluctuations with the high average level have been found. Synchronous change of the studied cytokine concentrations without associated MG level change is evidence of the damage of traffic and regulatory functions of this protein. The uric acid can be used for SLE diagnostics and the dynamic supervision of IL-1β and TNF-α can be a prognostic criterion at RA.