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Simple Summary: Growth traits are important parameters in husbandry. Especially for meat-type animals, understanding the genetic background and identifying naturally occurring polymorphisms can enhance production. Also, meat quality is a very important factor for food processing and consumers. In this study, we analyse IGFBP genes for possible polymorphisms that may influence growth traits and/or meat quality traits in rabbits. We found one polymorphism that influences the pH value, one of the most important indicators of meat quality, and therefore, this polymorphism may be used in the selection process. Rabbits are important livestock animals, popular for their nutritional value. Nowadays, the molecular background of traits influencing the quality of meat and meat products is in high demand. Therefore, in the current study, we analyse the sequences of IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGFBP4, IGFBP5, and IGFBP6 for possible polymorphisms. Based on a bioinformatics analysis in an association study on 466 animals of different breeds (New Zealand White × Flemish Giant crossbreed (9NZWxFG), Termond White (TW), Popielno White (PW), and Flemish Giant (FG)), we analyse the influence of five polymorphisms within the IGFBP genes. Statistically significant differences were found among the carcass and meat quality traits but not for all of the analysed rabbit breeds. The most promising polymorphism was g.158093018A>T within the IGFBP5 gene. The values of pH24 of m.longissimus lumborum (m.l.l.) and biceps femoris muscles (m.b.f.) were higher for the AT genotypes compared to the AA genotypes for the TW and NZWxFG crossbreeds. Also, for pH24, we found differences in ing.41594308T>C for NZWxFG, where the TT genotype values were higher than the TC values. We found differences in L*24 on m.l.l. for g.41592248A>C for NZWxFG. For m.b.f., significant differences were found in b*45 for g.3431insAC in the FG population and a*45 for g.41592248A>C and g.158093018A>T in the TW population. The shear force statistically differed for g.158093018A>T in TW rabbits and g.41592248A>C for NZWxFG. We conclude that this polymorphism may be promising for better quality rabbit meat and may be implemented in selection processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of heavy metals in the mammary gland secretions of mares should be tested not only because of the possibility of human consumption of mare's milk, but also because these elements influence the development of foals in the suckling period and later in adolescence. The aim of the research was to assess the dependence of the concentration of heavy metals in mammary gland secretions on the age of the mare. The study was carried out on 16 Thoroughbred mares. Mares aged 4 to 19 years were divided into 2 research groups: Group Y - young mares = 10 years of age (n = 8) and Group O - mares older than 10 years of age (n = 8) The experimental material consisted of colostrum collected up to 12 hours after delivery and milk collected on the 3rd day after foaling. The concentrations of metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cd) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (Unicam 929 AAS spectrometer). All elements (Ni, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, and Cd) analysed in the colostrum showed higher concentrations in young mares. Highly significant differences were noted for Ni and Cd and significant differences for Fe. The statistical analysis showed highly significant differences for milk Cu content between older and young mares; highly significant differences for Cu and Cd and significant differences for Zn between the milk and colostrum of older mares; and highly significant differences for Cu and significant differences for Cd between the milk and colostrum of younger mares. Lead (Pb) was not detected in the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A number of studies on using both three-dimensional printing and virtual models in assessment of aortic coarctation have been published, yet none of them uses virtual modelling as a planning tool in a blind retrospective analysis. Aim: Assessment of virtual modelling and virtual reality in planning interventional treatment of aortic coarctation. Material and methods: The study involved computed tomography scans of 20 patients performed prior to interventional treatment of aortic coarctation, which were used to create a virtual three-dimensional model of the aorta in Materialise Mimics. A group of potential stents was modelled in Materialise 3-Matic and complete simulations were assessed in Mimics Viewer using a virtual reality headset in order to choose an optimal stent, which was later compared with the implanted one. Results: In 5 cases identical or very similar stents were proposed, in 12 cases simulations had slight, potentially avoidable misestimations either in stent length or diameter, and in 3 cases differences were more considerable. Overall, in 14 cases the location of the stent was concordant between the simulation and reality and in the remaining 6 cases the simulated stent was located lower than the actual one. Conclusions: The method of computer modelling provided a satisfactory success rate of predicting the possible stents to use during the procedure. Differences in chosen stents may have been caused by individual experience in interventional cardiology, the lack of availability of certain stents in the heart catheterization laboratory, the lack of information about the diameter of the vascular access and differences in dimensions measured on the model, tomography and angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary hypertension in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD-PH) significantly worsens the prognosis. Pulmonary vasodilators are often used in BPD-PH but the short-term outcome of treatment is not well described. The aim of this study was to evaluate BPD-PH children diagnosed beyond 36 weeks postmenstrual age treated with pulmonary vasodilators (sildenafil, bosentan, or both) and to assess the short and long-term effect of oral pulmonary vasodilators treatment. Twenty patients were included in the study. Cardiology evaluation (WHO-FC, NTproBNP, oxygen saturation, pulmonary to systemic pressure ratio PAP/SAP) was performed at diagnosis and after treatment initiation. In the majority of patients improvement in all evaluated factors was observed. No side effects of vasodilators were observed. PH resolved in 10 patients after a mean of 21.4 months of treatment. Six patients died. The number of poor prognostic factors commonly used to assess patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) decreased significantly during BPD-PH treatment. The influence of BPD-PH perinatal risk factors on prognosis was considered but was not confirmed. In conclusion, the treatment of BPD-PH with pulmonary vasodilators was well tolerated and led to a clinical improvement with the possibility of discontinuation without recurrence of PH. Prognostic factors used in pediatric PAH risk stratification also seem to be useful in assessing treatment efficacy and prognosis in patients with BPD-PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional status assessed by the WHO-FC scale derived from adults is a known prognostic factor for pulmonary hypertension. Data on the usefulness of the Panama-FC scale in assessing children with pulmonary hypertension are limited. The study was performed to compare functional status results (WHO-FC and Panama-FC) and to assess the usefulness of these scales in various clinical situations. The reliability of the Panama-FC questionnaire method for facilitating patient evaluation was also examined. 26 functional status assessments (7 in disease progression/after treatment intensification) in both scales were analyzed in 19 patients with PAH confirmed in RHC. WHO-FC, Panama-FC scales, and questionnaire-based on Panama-FC were conducted independently by three different physicians. Results of assessments were compared with each other and with 6MWD, NTproBNP level, and echo parameters (TAPSE, RV/LV ratio). The Panama-FC scale results obtained using the medical interview method and questionnaire did not differ. Both WHO-FC and Panama-FC classes well-reflected disease advancement confirmed by non-invasive parameters (NTproBNP, 6MWD, TAPSE, RV/LV ratio). Differences between grading the class in both scales were observed: 5pts were classified to II (Panama-FC) vs I (WHO-FC), 2pts were in lower risk group in WHO-FC (II) vs Panama (IIIa). Worsening or improvement after treatment intensification in functional status in both scales was connected with the significant change of NTproBNP level. The 6-min walking distance did not change. TAPSE, RV/LV ratio changed significantly in 3pts with IPAH, accordingly to change in WHO-FC and Panama-FC. WHO-FC and Panama-FC well reflect the disease advancement. The questionnaire method simplified the use of the Panama-FC scale. The Panama-FC scale appears to be better for assessing functional status during long-term follow-up, while the WHO-FC scale was more useful in short-term treatment monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dermal fibroblasts are commonly used as donors of genetic material for somatic cell nuclear transfer in mammals. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a cytokine that regulates proliferation and differentiation of different cell types. The study was aimed at optimizing the cell culture protocol for cat dermal fibroblasts by assessing the influence of culture media and different doses of bFGF on proliferation of fibroblasts and their viability in terms of cell banking and somatic cloning of felids. In Experiment I, skin biopsies of domestic cats were cultured in DMEM (D) and/or DMEM/F12 (F), both supplemented with 5 ng bFGF/ml (D-5, F-5, respectively). After the primary culture reached ~80% of confluency, the cells were passaged (3–4 times) and cultured in media with (D-5, F-5) or without (D-0, F-0) bFGF. To determine the optimal doses of bFGF, in Experiment II, secondary fibroblasts were cultured in DMEM with 0 (D-0), 2.5 (D-2.5), 5 (D-5) or 10 (D-10) ng bFGF/ml. The results showed that in D-5 the cells proliferated faster than in D-0, F-5 and F-0. Due to their poor proliferation, passages IV were not performed for cells cultured in F-0. In experiment II, a dose-dependent effect of bFGF on proliferation of cat dermal fibroblasts was found. In D-5 and D-10, the cells exhibited higher (P<0.05) proliferation compared with D-0. In D-2.5 the cells showed a tendency to proliferate slower than in D-5 and D-10 and at the same faster than in D-0. In conclusion. DMEM supplemented with bFGF provides better proliferation of domestic cat dermal fibroblasts culture than DMEM/F12. Supplementation of culture medium with bFGF has a beneficial effect on cat dermal fibroblast proliferation and could be recommended for addition to culture media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of various activating factors on feline oocytes. The study included activation within the ovary (natural), activation during in vitro maturation (spontaneous activation), chemical activation (ionomycin + 6-DMAP), activation by spermatozoa and injection (ICSI) and mechanical activation (sham ICSI). According to our results, parthenogenetic embryos could emerge at every step of in vitro embryo production (IVP) procedures. After oocyte collection, 6% of parthenogenetic embryos were observed, mainly at the 2–4-blastomere stages. After 24 h of in vitro maturation, parthenogenetic activation was observed in 7% of oocytes. Using ionomycin and 6-DMAP to artificially activate oocytes, 53% of cleaved embryos were obtained. The results after ICSI (54% cleaved embryos) were not significantly different from the results in Group III using chemical activation (53% cleaved embryos). But only after ICSI were blastocysts obtained (5/73.7%) as a result of in vitro culture. Moreover, embryos after ICSI were of the best morphological quality with minor levels of fragmentation evident in the embryos. After sham mechanical activation, ‘sham ICSI’, 8% of cleaved embryos were noted. Therefore, it is advised to maintain a negative control in parallel with each step of IVP techniques, to avoid misleading results. Chemical methods for artificial activation of feline oocytes are the most promising for application to the cloning and production of parthenogenetic embryos for experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decade the need for Artificial Reproductive Techniques in felids has greatly increased. Mostly, this is a result of growing expectations that these techniques may be applied in conservation biology and thereby contribute to saving wild felids from extinction. In this article we describe three most common methods of obtaining embryos in vitro in the domestic cat and its wild relatives: classic in vitro fertilisation, in vitro fertilisation by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Each of the methods provides a cleavage rate of around 50% and approx. 20% of embryos develop to the blastocyst stage. After the transfer of embryos produced by these methods, scientists obtained living offspring of the domestic cat, as well as several wild cats: the tiger, serval, fishing cat, caracal, ocelot, wild cat, sand cat, black-footed cat and the oncilla. These successes, in spite of the low efficiency of the discussed methods, are promising and suggest that biotechniques of reproduction will be valuable tools in the protection of wild species. Somatic cell nuclear transfer will allow to sustain the narrow gene pool in the critically endangered felids. For these reasons it is necessary to conduct further research on the optimization of artificial reproduction techniques in cats [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of increased levels of prolactin (PRL) on the concentration of immunoglobulins in the blood, colostrum and milk of mares. The study was conducted on 12 mares of the Polish Pony breed (6 in the control and 6 in the experimental group). To induce hyperprolactinaemia in mares of the experimental group, 750 mg sulpiride was administered orally once a day. The initial PRL concentration was 52.22 ± 11.21 ng/ml in the control group and 49.39 ± 10.12 ng/ml in the experimental group. In the subsequent days, the concentration of PRL dynamically changed. Statistical analysis showed highly significant differences (P < 0.01) between the groups. The concentration of immunoglobulins in the blood plasma was at the same level during the experimental period (32.97–29.08 mg/ml in the experimental group and 28.60–18.11 mg/ml in the control group). Statistical analysis showed highly significant differences between the groups in blood plasma immunoglobulin level (P < 0.01). The highest immunoglobulin concentration was obtained within 12 h after parturition in the control and the experimental group (23.49 ± 2.12 mg/ml and 26.94 ±1.72 mg/ml, respectively). The lowest values were obtained on day 12 after parturition in the experimental group (10.15 mg/ml ± 1.47 mg/ml) and on day 7 after parturition in the control group (14.30 mg/ml ± 2.48 mg/ml). In conclusion, this study did not provide evidence that the lactogenic hormone prolactin is involved in the transfer of immunoglobulins into the colostrum in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of immunoglobulin synthesis appears necessary for a better understanding of foal immunity maturity and its influencing factors. At the same time, it encourages studies regarding the influence of the signaling cascade's proteins on the primary immunological response, which provides an opportunity to develop extremely precise methods of regulating acquired immunity. The results revealed that the expression of theTLR3 and TLR4 genes, as well as the levels of immunoglobulins and interleukins, can be modulated by stimulation with the pharmacological agent, and that the expression of the TLR3 and TLR4genes in peripheral blood cells is dependent on age. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms leading to the identification of pathogens by congenital immune receptors in foals up to 60 days of age. The study was conducted on 16 foal Polish Pony Horses (Polish Konik) divided into two study groups: control (n = 9) and experimental (n = 7). Foals from the experimental group received an intramuscular duplicate injection of 5 mL of Biotropina (Biowet) at 35 and 40 days of age. The RNA isolated from venous blood was used to evaluate the expression of theTLR3, TLR4, and TLR7 genes using RT-PCR. The results of the experiment demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the level of TLR3 gene expression and a decrease in the level ofTLR4 gene expression with foal aging. The level of TLR7 gene expression did not show age dependence. Immunostimulation with Biotropina had a significant impact on the level of the genes' expression for Toll-like receptors. It increased the level of TLR4 expression and decreased TLR3 expression. Thus, it was concluded that the expression of theTLR3 and TLR4genes in peripheral blood cells is dependent on age. This experiment demonstrated a strong negative correlation between TLR3 and TLR4 gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]