Does valproate therapy in epileptic patients contribute to changing atherosclerosis risk factors? The role of lipids and free fatty acids.

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the relationship between the valproate (VPA) treatment versus lipid and serum free fatty acids (FFAs) profiles to be the potential atherosclerosis risk factor in epileptic patients.

Methods: Fasting blood samples were taken from 21 adult VPA-treated patients and 21 controls. The profiles of lipids, FFAs, clinical parameters and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated.

Evaluating oxidative stress, serological- and haematological status of dogs suffering from osteoarthritis, after supplementing their diet with fish or corn oil.

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of disease, and the antioxidant physiological effect of omega-3 from fish oil may lead to improvement of canine spontaneous osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In this prospective randomized, controlled, double-blinded study, we assessed haematological and biochemical parameters in dogs with OA following supplementation with either a concentrated omega-3 deep sea fish oil product or corn oil. Blood samples from 77 client-owned dogs diagnosed as having OA were taken before (baseline) and 16 weeks after having orally ingested 0.

Impact of diets with a high content of greaves-meal protein or carbohydrates on faecal characteristics, volatile fatty acids and faecal calprotectin concentrations in healthy dogs.

Background: Research suggests that dietary composition influences gastrointestinal function and bacteria-derived metabolic products in the dog colon. We previously reported that dietary composition impacts upon the faecal microbiota of healthy dogs. This study aims at evaluating the dietary influences on bacteria-derived metabolic products associated with the changes in faecal microbiota that we had previously reported.

Antioxidant agents and physiological responses in adult epileptic patients treated with lamotrigine.

Background: The aim of our research was to evaluate some biochemical changes in blood during lamotrigine (LTG) monotherapy of adult patients with epilepsy, and to check possible associations between typical selenium status parameters and the frequency of seizures.

Methods: The study was performed by examining aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), creatinine, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), serum uric acid (UA), uric-acid-independent FRAP (UAiFRAP), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX3), selenoprotein P (SelP), plasma superoxide dismutase (pSOD), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in serum and urine, serum selenium (sSe) and zinc (sZn), in 22 adult patients with epilepsy and 22 healthy controls. Additionally, the levels of LTG were determined in patients.

Lipidomics: the function of vital lipids in embryogenesis preventing autism spectrum disorders, treating sterile inflammatory diatheses with a lymphopoietic central nervous system component.

The central role performed by billions of vital central nervous system (CNS) lipids "lipidomics" in medical physiology is usually overlooked. A metabolic deficiency embracing these vital lipids can form the aetiology for a variety of diseases. CNS lipids regulate embryogenesis, cell induction, mental balance by preventing autism spectrum disorders, depression, burn-out syndromes like posttraumatic stress disease PTSD, by guarding normal immunity, treating sterile inflammatory diatheses with a titanium containing lymphopoietic CNS lipid component.

Increase in non-transferrin bound iron and the oxidative stress status in epilepsy patients treated using valproic acid monotherapy.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the alteration of iron homeostasis and oxidative stress status in epilepsy patients treated with valproic acid (VPA) monotherapy.

Materials: 24 epilepsy patients receiving VPA monotherapy (12 men, 12 women, age 27.5 ± 7.

Valproic acid modulates superoxide dismutase, uric acid-independent FRAP and zinc in blood of adult epileptic patients.

We aimed to evaluate changes in antioxidant status in blood during valproate (VPA) monotherapy of adult patients with epilepsy. Antioxidant enzymes [plasma superoxide dismutase (pSOD), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (eSOD)] and non-enzymatic indices [concentration of trace elements in serum: selenium, copper, zinc (sZn) and uric acid (UA), as well as the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and UA-independent FRAP (UAiFRAP)] were evaluated in 21 adult patients with epilepsy and 21 healthy controls. Significant differences between the study group and controls were found for pSOD (p = 0.

Possible involvement of selenium in Staphylococcus aureus inhibition in cow's whey.

Previous investigations have shown that selenium supplementation inhibits growth of mastitis pathogens in cow's milk. The present study was performed to clarify the role of selenium in defence mechanisms of mammary gland. We have examined the effects of selenium supplementation on Staphylococcus aureus growth inhibiting activity in whey.

Assessment of enzymatic cleaning agents and disinfectants against bacterial biofilms.

Purpose: Microbial biofilm has become difficult to control by antibiotic and biocide regimes that are effective against suspended bacteria. Their colonization of surfaces can be a problem and is generally controlled through cleaning and disinfection. This study was undertaken to examine the efficacy of the disinfectants including Bio-Ow, Econase CE, Gamanase GC 140, IndiAge 44L, Mannanase AMB, Multifect P-3000, Neutrase, Pandion, Paradigm, Pectinex Ultra SP-L, Promozyme, Resinase A2X, Spezyme AA300, Spezyme GA300 and Vinozym EC, and the proteinase against bacterial biofilms.

Effects of oral selenium supplementation on mastitis markers and pathogens in Estonian cows.

The effects of selenium supplementation on mastitis parameters in milk and on glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in blood were evaluated. Fifty-five Estonian dairy cows were allocated to selenium-supplemented (n=39) and nonsupplemented (n=16) groups. The supplemented group received 0.

Antioxidant nutrients and mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that are toxic to vertebrates produced by organisms that occur as plant pathogens, soilborne fungi, airborne fungi and aeroallergens. They are distributed worldwide and may be recovered from a wide range of substrates. Their presence in food and feeds, as the result of fungal diseases in crops, can present a danger to animal and human health.

Hereditary and clinical characteristics of lateral luxation of the superficial digital flexor tendon in Shetland sheepdogs.

A study was conducted to define the mode of inheritance of lateral luxation of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon in different lines of Shetland sheepdogs by examination of pedigree data. This pedigree analysis included affected and unaffected dams, sires, and offspring; common clinical signs; and age at onset. The clinical, histopathologic, and radiographic features of the disease were also studied.

Characterization of hemolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitic milk.

Beta (beta) and delta (delta)-hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus strains were cultured in vitro in milk lactoserum (whey) prepared from both healthy and mastitis bovine milk. Production of beta- and delta-hemolysins were detected in 12 out of 50 strains studied. The association between N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activity, plasmin activity (PL) and trypsin inhibitory capacity (TIC), known as inflammatory indicators for mastitis, and hemolytic activity were also studied.

Significance of apoptosis and its relationship to antioxidants after ochratoxin A administration in mice.

A study of the appearance of liver apoptosis after ochratoxin A (OTA) administration was performed in male mice. Administration of OTA twice a week for one or two weeks period results in the occurrence of apoptosis in mice"s liver. The presence of intracellular apoptosis bodies was detected at two weeks after toxin treatment.

Evaluation of the antibacterial and hemolytic activities of Latvian herbal preparation.

Three extracts originating from a combination of various Latvian plant species were tested for their antibacterial activities by evaluating growth delays using a fully automated microturbidimetric method. Ten different human and bovine strains of the genera Staphylococcus and Micrococcus were used as test microorganisms. The inhibitory effect in vitro was defined as the difference between the growth rate without herbs and the growth rate in the presence of an extract.

Characterization of Sphingomonas isolates from Finnish and Swedish drinking water distribution systems.

Sphingomonas species were commonly isolated from biofilms in drinking water distribution systems in Finland (three water meters) and Sweden (five water taps in different buildings). The Sphingomonas isolates (n = 38) were characterized by chemotaxonomic, physiological and phylogenetic methods. Fifteen isolates were designated to species Sphingomonas aromaticivorans, seven isolates to S.

Fumonisin B1-induced DNA damage in rat liver and spleen: effects of pretreatment with coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, alpha-tocopherol and selenium.

Active oxygen radical species are reported to cause organ damage. This study was designed to determine whether oxidative stress contributed to the initiation or progression of hepatic and splenic cell DNA damage induced by fumonisin B1 (FB1) in rats. Another aim was to investigate the protective effects of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), L-carnitine, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and selenium against DNA damage in the liver and spleen of rats treated with FB1.

Measurement of antibacterial activities of T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 using microtitration tray-based turbidimetric techniques.

Various mycotoxins were tested for their antibacterial activity by evaluating growth delays using a fully automated microturbidmetric method. Ten different strains of the genera Escherichia, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Yersinia, Salmonella, Erysipelothrix and Lactobacillus were used as test micro-organisms. T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A (OTA), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) were used as representative mycotoxins.

Effects of tamoxifen, melatonin, coenzyme Q10, and L-carnitine supplementation on bacterial growth in the presence of mycotoxins.

The involvement of toxic oxygen intermediates in the bacteriostatic effects of mycotoxins (T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1, and fumonisin B1) was investigated by producing bacterial growth curves using turbidimetry assays in the presence and absence of oxygen radical-scavenging substances. The strains used in this study included Escherichia coli (FT 101), Streptococcus agalactiae (FT 311, FT 313, FT 315), Staphylococcus aureus (FT 192), Yersinia enterocolitica (FT 430), Salmonella infantis (FT 431), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (FT 432), Lactobacillus plantarum (FT234) and Lactobacillus casei (FT 232). Tamoxifen, melatonin, l-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 were used as radical scavengers against oxygen toxicity to the strains studied.

Evaluation of the possible role of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E in juvenile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (JNCL).

The juvenile type of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) is a recessively inherited, progressive neurodegenerative disease. In this study the levels of the antioxidant factors coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) were measured in plasma samples of 29 JNCL patients and compared to 48 healthy controls. A significant reduction of the coenzyme Q10 level (0.

T-2 toxin-induced DNA damage in mouse livers: the effect of pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 and alpha-tocopherol.

Active oxygen species are reported to cause organ damage. This study was therefore designed to determine whether oxidative stress contributed to the initiation or progression of hepatic DNA damage produced by T-2 toxin. The aim of the study was also to investigate the behaviour of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) against DNA damage in the livers of mice fed T-2 toxin.

Association of cadmium with human breast cancer.

The carcinogenic potential of cadmium might be affected by several factors such as smoking, hormones and presence of other metals, such as selenium and zinc. Cadmium was analyzed in breast-fat tissue of 43 breast cancer patients and 32 healthy control subjects. Patients were thoroughly characterized according to such variables as stage of cancer, smoking habits, and number of children.

Changes in inflammation-related blood constituents of mastitic cows.

The following blood constituents were measured in the blood and/or serum from healthy and mastitic cows: lipid peroxides (LPO), alkaline phosphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclic AMP (cAMP), electrolytes (Na, K), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit, eosinophils, and electrical conductivity. The levels of these blood variables, excluding GSH-Px, erythrocytes variables and conductivity, were higher in mastitic than in healthy animals. In the blood of the mastitic animals, the AP and LPO levels were 44 and 38% higher than in the healthy animals.

Protective effect of antioxidants against free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation induced by DON or T-2 toxin.

An experiment was conducted on rats to investigate the capacity of antioxidants to protect against acute toxicity caused by DON or T-2 toxin. Male rats were fed two different feeds. One group received a feed deficient in vitamins C and E and selenium, whereas the other group was fed with a feed enriched in antioxidants.