Effects of a high-fat-diet supplemented with probiotics and ω3-fatty acids on appetite regulatory neuropeptides and neurotransmitters in a pig model

The pig is a valuable animal model to study obesity in humans due to the physiological similarity between humans and pigs in terms of digestive and associated metabolic processes. The dietary use of vegetal protein, probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids is recommended to control weight gain and to fight obesity-associated metabolic disorders. Likewise, there are recent reports on their beneficial effects on brain functions. The hypothalamus is the central part of the brain that regulates food intake by means of the production of food intake-regulatory hypothalamic neuropeptides, as neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin A and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. Other mesolimbic areas, such as the hippocampus, are also involved in the control of food intake. In this study, the effect of a high fat diet (HFD) alone or supplemented with these additives on brain neuropeptides and neurotransmitters was assessed in forty-three young pigs fed for 10 weeks with a control diet (T1), a high fat diet (HFD, T2), and HFD with vegetal protein supplemented with Bifidobacterium breve CECT8242 alone (T3) or in combination with omega-3 fatty acids (T4). A HFD provoked changes in regulatory neuropeptides and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the hypothalamus and alterations mostly in the dopaminergic system in the ventral hippocampus. Supplementation of the HFD with B. breve CECT8242, especially in combination with omega-3 fatty acids, was able to partially reverse the effects of HFD. Correlations between productive and neurochemical parameters supported these findings. These results confirm that pigs are an appropriate animal model alternative to rodents for the study of the effects of HFD on weight gain and obesity. Furthermore, they indicate the potential benefits of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids on brain function.

Short communication: Performance, intestinal permeability, and metabolic profile of calves fed a milk replacer supplemented with glutamic acid

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential benefits of supplementing glutamic acid in milk replacers (MR) with respect to calf performance, intestinal permeability, and metabolism. Sixty Holstein male calves (3 ± 1.3 d old and 45 ± 5.9 kg body weight) were individually housed and fed a control MR without AA supplementation (24.8% crude protein and 19.1% fat, dry matter basis), or MR supplemented with 0.3% glutamic acid (25.1% crude protein and 20.3% fat, dry matter basis). Animals followed the same MR feeding program and were weaned at 56 d of the study. The amount of starter concentrate offered was restricted to limit the effect of concentrate intake on calf metabolism. Individual daily consumption and weekly body weight were measured, and 4 h after the morning feeding, blood samples were obtained at 14 and 35 d to determine general biochemical parameters and plasma AA concentrations. On d 10 of the study, we conducted an intestinal permeability test by including 21 g of lactulose and 4.2 g of d-mannitol as markers in the MR. We found no differences in calf performance or in intestinal permeability (measured as lactulose:mannitol ratio). Serum glucose concentration was greater in unsupplemented calves than in Glu-supplemented calves. At 14 d, the proportion of plasma Leu was greater in Glu-supplemented calves; the proportion of Ile tended to be greater in Glu-supplemented calves; and the proportion of Met tended to be greater in unsupplemented calves. We observed no other differences. Small changes occurred in AA metabolism when supplementing calf MR with 0.3% glutamic acid, without leading to improvements in calf performance or changes in intestinal permeability.

Fetal growth-retardation and brain-sparing by malnutrition are associated to changes in neurotransmitters profile

The present study assesses possible changes in the levels of different neurotransmitters (catecholamines and indoleamines) in fetuses affected by nutrient shortage. Hence, we determined the concentration of catecholamines and indoleamines at the hypothalamus of 56 swine fetuses obtained at both 70 and 90days of pregnancy (n=33 and 23 fetuses, respectively). The degree of fetal development and the fetal sex affected the neurotransmitters profile at both stages. At Day 70, there were found higher mean concentrations of l-DOPA in both female and male fetuses with severe IUGR; male fetuses with severe IUGR also showed higher concentrations of TRP than normal male littermates. At Day 90 of pregnancy, the differences between sexes were more evident. There were no significant effects from either severe IUGR on the neurotransmitter profile in male fetuses. However, in the females, a lower body-weight was related to lower concentrations of l-DOPA and TRP and those female fetuses affected by severe IUGR evidenced lower HVA concentration. In conclusion, the fetal synthesis and use of neurotransmitters increase with time of pregnancy but, in case of IUGR, both catecholamines and indoleamines pathways are affected by sex-related effects.

[The use of the stereomicroscopy in the forensic medicine practice]

INTRO

In everyday medico-legal practice the situations occur when it is necessary to magnify something and bring it up to the level of magnifying glass and closer to the eye of the examiner, and this way to determine the character of wounds, the way and angle of the attack, vicinity of the instrument of assault and where necessary also to determine the option of other person being present and causing the injury mentioned above. One of the options which enables the forensic pathologist to evaluate the case is the stereomicroscopic examination. It can be done at the place of the autopsy being performed (in vivo) and also in a laboratory (in vitro) after taking samples.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the work is to present methodically quite simple, for time, space and finances not too demanding a method, the results of which is possible to apply in medico-legal practice.

METHODS

The work provides the inside of the cases selected by the author in which the stereomicroscopy has been used as one of the examination methods. The clothing of the victim was examined where the victim suffered thoracic injury caused by gunshot in one case, and the skin and parietal bone in the second case of gunshot injury of the head. Furthermore the appearance of stabbing wounds to the skin was investigated with the identification of angles, of the residue of the paint of a motor vehicle on the clothing of a female pedestrian; and the plant seeds obtained from the crime scene which were found on the body of the victim namely in the head wounds.

RESULTS

By further investigations into these cases other options were discovered as to the next more detailed examinations of the cases and the confirmation of the diagnosis. There is a certain value in the photo documentation which was made with every case.

CONCLUSION

Stereomicroscopic examination is a suitable method by means of which it is possible to follow all the morphological findings which the forensic pathologist has to deal with in his work. It significantly broadens the knowledge spectre and the substance and the meaning of the autopsy as such, i. e. it supports the process of determination of the cause of death and the circumstances of the death. It is a simple method which has a great potential to become one of the major investigation methods. The author is the first to present the results of using of the stereomicroscopy in our conditions. This method is not even often used abroad.

The utilization of tachymetry in forensic medicine

INTRODUCTION

Tachymetry is a geodetic method enabling to measure angles and distances. The aim of the work was to demonstrate alternatives of its utilization in daily forensic medicine practice. The work is dealing with confusing cases of gunshot injuries. It is impossible to determine the trajectory of the projectile, the sequence of gunshots, to identify shooting person etc. in these cases only on the base of autopsy findings and investigated circumstances. In these cases the investigation experiments on the crime scene in collaboration with the land surveyors were realized. The work presents two case reports.

METHODS

For our measurements the electronic tachymeter TOPCON 211D was used. These were performed by the means of polar method in local coordinate system with relative heights. In the first case the position of victim was simulated by a figurant according to testimonies of witnesses and the accused. The second case dealed with suicide.

RESULTS

In the first case there were two gunshots. The trajectory of the first gunshot was determined and the projectile was found. Hereby the most authentic testimony could be estimated. Also high grade probability of the relative position of the victim and the accused was figured out. In the case of suicide also the projectile was found and the position of the victim in the time of gunshot was determined.

CONCLUSION

In the both case reports demonstrated the projectiles were not found by ballistics expert investigations. All questions of expert opinions could be answered only with the help of tachymetry. The advantage of this method is its good regional availability even at places far from specialized criminal investigation workplaces.

The responsibility of alcohol-impaired road users in fatal road traffic accidents

The purpose of this paper was to identify the impact of intoxicated road users upon the degree of responsibility for fatal road traffic accidents.

RESULTS

A total of 373 traffic fatalities was recorded. These cases represented 13.5% of all autopsied cases. Alcohol intoxication was determined in 35.9% of persons involved in road traffic accidents. The degree of responsibility of intoxicated persons was 87.3% of all cases, of non-intoxicated persons 56.7% of all cases. The average determined blood alcohol concentration was 1.91 g/kg.

CONCLUSION

The degree of responsibility for fatal road traffic accidents was 1.5 times higher among intoxicated road users than among non-intoxicated road users. Alcohol is still the most abused psychoactive substance in Slovakia. The causes of its excessive consumption are the objectives of many larger studies. It is assumed that excessive alcohol consumption can be considerably attributed to its easy availability and lack of awareness and personal responsibility of road users (Tab. 4, Ref. 35).