Reasons for non-exclusive breast-feeding in the first 6 months.

Background: Maternal sociodemographic, delivery- and infant-related factors as well as hospital practice are relevant for breast-feeding practice. The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic and delivery-related factors that may affect exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) of infants aged 0-6 months in Poland.

Methods: A total of 446 mothers (18-42 years old) of infants aged 0-6 months were interviewed using the computer-assisted Web interview method.

Impact of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Plant: A Critical Review.

An increasing need of nanotechnology in various industries may cause a huge environment dispersion of nanoparticles in coming years. A concern about nanoparticles interaction with flora and fauna is raised due to a growing load of it in the environment. In recent years, several investigators have shown impact of nanoparticles on plant growth and their accumulation in food source.

Health Effects of Carotenoids during Pregnancy and Lactation.

Adequate nutrition is particularly important during pregnancy since it is needed not only for maintaining the health of the mother, but also determines the course of pregnancy and its outcome, fetus development as well as the child's health after birth and during the later period of life. Data coming from epidemiological and interventions studies support the observation that carotenoids intake provide positive health effects in adults and the elderly population. These health effects are the result of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Regulation and physiological role of silicon in alleviating drought stress of mango.

Improvement of drought stress of mango plants requires intensive research that focuses on physiological processes. In three successive seasons (2014, 2015and 2016) field experiments with four different strains of mango were subjected to two water regimes. The growth and physiological parameters of possible relevance for drought stress tolerances in mango were investigated.

Characterisation of equine satellite cell transcriptomic profile response to β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB).

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a popular ergogenic aid used by human athletes and as a supplement to sport horses, because of its ability to aid muscle recovery, improve performance and body composition. Recent findings suggest that HMB may stimulate satellite cells and affect expressions of genes regulating skeletal muscle cell growth. Despite the scientific data showing benefits of HMB supplementation in horses, no previous study has explained the mechanism of action of HMB in this species.

Investigation of nutriactive phytochemical - gamma-oryzanol in experimental animal models.

Gamma-oryzanol (GO) is an abundant dietary antioxidant that is considered to have beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Other potential properties of GO include inhibition of gastric acid secretion and decreased post-exercise muscle fatigue. GO is a unique mixture of triterpene alcohol and sterol ferulates present in rice bran oil, a byproduct of rice processing.

Development of insect resistant maize plants expressing a chitinase gene from the cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis.

Due to the importance of chitinolytic enzymes for insect, nematode and fungal growth, they are receiving attention concerning their development as biopesticides or chemical defense proteins in transgenic plants and as microbial biocontrol agents. Targeting chitin associated with the extracellular matrices or cell wall by insect chitinases may be an effective approach for controlling pest insects and pathogenic fungi. The ability of chitinases to attack and digest chitin in the peritrophic matrix or exoskeleton raises the possibility to use them as insect control method.

Dietary supplementation of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate in animals - a review.

The leucine metabolite β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) has been studied by many researchers over the last two decades. In particular, the utility of HMB supplementation in animals has been shown in numerous studies, which have demonstrated enhanced body weight gain and carcass yield in slaughter animals; positive immunostimulatory effect; decreased mortality; attenuation of sarcopenia in elderly animals; and potential use in pathological conditions such as glucocorticoid-induced muscle loss. The aim of this study was to summarize the body of research on HMB supplementation in animals and to examine possible mechanisms of HMB action.

Dormancy removal in apple embryos by nitric oxide or cyanide involves modifications in ethylene biosynthetic pathway.

The connection between classical phytohormone-ethylene and two signaling molecules, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), was investigated in dormancy removal and germination "sensu stricto" of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) embryos. Deep dormancy of apple embryos was removed by short-term (3-6 h) pre-treatment with NO or HCN.

Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of P-glycoprotein in neoplasms of the mammary gland in bitches.

The aim of the study was to investigate the P-glycoprotein expression in correlation with other neoplasm traits such as: histological type, the differentiation grade, proliferative activity, expression of the cyclooxygenase-2. Material for the investigation comprised 50 tumours of the mammary gland collected from bitches during surgical procedures performed in Warsaw Veterinary Clinics and Small Animal Clinic of the Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW. All together 8 adenomas, 22 complex carcinomas, 15 simple carcinomas and 5 solid carcinomas.

The beneficial effect of small toxic molecules on dormancy alleviation and germination of apple embryos is due to NO formation.

Deep dormancy of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) seeds is terminated by a 3-month-long cold stratification. It is expressed by rapid germination of seeds and undisturbed growth of seedlings.

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) replication in primary murine neurons culture.

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infections cause significant economic losses for equine industries worldwide as a result of abortion, respiratory illness, and neurologic disease in all breeds of horses. The occurrence of abortions caused by EHV-1 has repeatedly been confirmed in Poland, but neurological manifestations of the infection have not been described yet. Also it is unknown how the infection of neurons with non-neuropathogenic strains is regulated.