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Biomedical subjects

B Król

Publications and source records attributed to B Król.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effect of chicory products with different inulin content on rat caecum physiology.

A 4-week experiment carried out on rats addressed the analysis of physiological properties of model casein diets supplemented with 5% cellulose or different preparations of chicory roots: flour, pulp, high- and low-molecular inulin (IN(HM) and IN(LM) respectively). Of all preparations, only pulp did not induce the hypertrophy of caecum walls or an increase in the bulk of caecal digesta. Chicory preparations lowered caecal pH and ammonia concentration (except IN(LM) preparation), evoked increased hydration of caecal digesta and protein content. The highest concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was observed in rats fed a diet containing chicory pulp and IN(HM), whereas the lowest VFA concentration was reported after the administration of an IN(LM)-containing diet. The VFA pool was the highest in rats receiving a diet supplemented with chicory flour. All preparations examined diminished the coefficient of protein digestibility but not decrease nitrogen retention. The lowest levels of glucose and total cholesterol, at concurrently the highest level of HDL fraction, were recorded in serum of rats fed IN(LM). A distinct increase in intestinal wall and intestinal digesta, as well as the highest production of VFA and the lowest pH of caecal digesta indicate that chicory flour ingested to a semi-synthetic diet had the most profitable effect on the functioning of rat caecum, compared with other chicory products. Compared with the IN(HM), the preparation of IN(LM) increased caecal wall hypertrophy without increasing VFA production, still simultaneously increasing ammonia content and pH of caecal digesta, decreasing the total cholesterol concentration and increasing HDL content in serum.

Ammonia↗
PubMed2004

Physiological effects of lactulose and inulin in the caecum of rats.

A model experiment was performed on rats to evaluate the effect of partial or total substitution of saccharose (S) and cellulose (C) by preparations of lactulose and inulin on the development and metabolism of the caecum. In the experimental diets given to rats for 4 weeks, the examined preparations were administered either with an equivalent amount of cellulose (each at 4% of the diet) or as sole source of dietary fibre at 8% of the diet. Compared to the saccharose group cellulose had no effect, and low doses of lactulose and inulin in the diet increased to a medium extent the weight of the caecum wall and caecal digesta. The addition of lactulose and inulin at 8% increased significantly the content of caecal digesta (4.62 and 4.11 g/100g BW, respectively) and the weight of the caecal wall (1.10 and 0.86 g/100g BW, respectively), compared to the groups with saccharose and cellulose (0.73, 0.90 and 0.24, 0.28 g/100g BW, respectively). Cellulose and cellulose partially-substituted with lactulose and inulin caused an increase in the dry matter content of caecal digesta (26.5-27.5%), compared to other groups (21.8-22.8%). The administration of lactulose and inulin preparations was accompanied by a significant drop in pH (5.47-5.81), compared to the groups with cellulose or saccharose (6.83-6.91), and a decrease in the ammonia concentration in the caecal digesta, compared to the cellulose control (0.27-0.40 and 0.62 mg/g, respectively). The group with 8% lactulose was characterized by the highest activities of microbiological alpha- and beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase in the caecal digesta. Cellulose and both preparations significantly decreased the activity of beta-glucuronidase, compared to the saccharose group (0.39-0.89 and 1.52 U/g, respectively). The highest concentration of VFA in the caecal digesta was observed in the saccharose group (89.2 micromol/g), and the lowest concentration in the group where cellulose was totally substituted by lactulose and inulin (55.1 and 57.5 micromol/g, respectively). The total production of VFA in the caecum was fourfold higher with 8 % lactulose and inulin (254.7 and 236.4 micromol/100g BW, respectively) than in both controls groups (65.1 and 67.8 micromol/100g BW, respectively). The high dose of inulin and lactulose increased the share of propionic acid in the VFA profile (C2:C3:C4) compared to both control groups. When 4% inulin was added to the diet a significant increase of butyrate concentration in the caecum was observed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Content of iron, copper and zinc in white sugar samples from Polish and other European sugar factories.

White sugar is a very pure food product, even though it contains very small, significant amounts of soluble and insoluble impurities. The content of these impurities has nutritional significance and determines the usefulness of sugar for various industrial applications. The aim was to evaluate the content of iron, copper and zinc in samples of white sugar from Polish factories compared with commercial white sugar samples from other European countries. The investigations were conducted on 72 campaign-averaged white sugar samples from 37 different Polish sugar factories from 1996 to 2000 and on 16 commercial white sugar samples from nine European countries. The content of iron, copper and zinc in those sugar samples was determined by means of FAAS both in the sediment and in the solution after filtration on 0.45- micro m filters of sugar water solution. The content of iron, copper and zinc was low (averages 0.29, 0.06 and 0.07 mg x kg(-1), respectively) in all the white sugar samples from Polish sugar factories and other European countries. Iron and copper found in all white sugar samples were mainly in insoluble form - 77 and 69%, respectively. The contents of water-insoluble iron and water-soluble zinc in white sugar increase with a lowering of the quality of sugar evaluated according to the standards of the EU sugar market regime.

Copper↗
PubMed1997

Blood lead levels in urban children of Katowice Voivodship, Poland: results of the population-based biomonitoring and surveillance program.

The paper presents the results of the large-scale blood lead levels survey in pre-school urban children living in industrial area of Poland (Katowice Voivodship, Upper Silesian Industrial Zone-USIZ). The program, established in 1993, involves education, screening and medical care of case-children, as its major elements. Until December 1995 six thousand nine hundred sixty nine children aged 2-6 years have been examined in three towns (Chorzów, Kalowice, Sosnowiec). Geometric mean value of blood lead level (PbB) was slightly but not statistically significantly larger in boys (6.68 +/- 1.51 micrograms/dl) than in girls (6.58 +/- 1.54 micrograms/dl). In a multiple regression analysis the following variables explained variation in PbB: town (p = 0.0001), age (p = 0.005), floor on which apartment was located (p = 0.0001), number of siblings (p = 0.0001), apartment quality (p = 0.0001), carpet in a child's room (p = 0.0001), consumption of locally grown vegetables (p = 0.007), frequent trips outside the region (p = 0.0001). The results were verified with PbB as dichotomous variable. The occurrence of PbB above 10 micrograms/dl (frequency, 14.2%-17.2%) was associated with floor on which apartment was located, number of siblings, apartment's quality, the presence of carpet in child's room and frequent trips outside the region. The occurrence of PbB above 15 micrograms/dl (frequency: 2.5%-4.2% of children) was associated with the same variables and additionally, with the place of residence and intensity of vehicle traffic. The findings yield reliable population-based estimates of the risk of over-exposure of "non-hot-spot" urban children to environmental lead and highlight the important role of factors that could be classified as environmental and socio-economical determinants of blood lead level. Among environmental factors deposits of lead are still a problem in a densely populated industrial center of USIZ and the use of leaded gasoline adds to the magnitude of exposure.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of exposure to metallic mercury following the measurement of mercury vapor concentration in air of the working zone where acetic aldehyde and chlorine are produced].

The analysis of mercury vapour concentrations in the working zone indicated considerable variations in full shift measurements--from 1/10 MAC to over 3 MAC at the acetic aldehyde production and 40 MAC at the chlorine electrolysis. Individual dosimeters were used in the sample collection and an absorptive ASA atomic spectometry with cool vapour attachment was applied for qualitative determination. The results obtained correspond, to greater extent, with observed high level of mercury excreted with urine than with data of stationary measurements taken in the period of even higher production.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of occupational exposure to carcinogenic metals in non-ferrous metallurgy in the upper Silesia region].

The authors present the results of a study of occupational exposure to carcinogenic metals: arsenic, nickel and chromium in four nonferrous plants. Air samples were collected from workplaces of a high potential exposure and measured by GFAAS (graphite flameless atomic absorption spectrometry). On the basis of the results obtained, potential health effects of exposure were assessed by comparing concentrations of arsenic, nickel and chromium with hygienic standard values and assessing cancer risk. It was found that concentrations of arsenic, nickel and chromium, expressed by geometric means, were lower at workplaces than hygienic standard values. A relative cancer risk induced by the occupational exposure to nickel and chromium was comparable with a relative cancer risk of environmental exposure of the population living in the Katowice region while in the case of arsenic, cancer risk was almost 50 times higher.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1984

Cadmium-induced changes in the histoenzymatic activity in liver, kidney and duodenum of pregnant rats.

Cadmium was administered in drinking water at a concentration of 50 ppm to female Wistar rats for 5 months before mating, and then continued during gestation. The histochemical evaluation revealed a relative decrease in succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and Mg+2-stimulated ATPase activities in duodenum, liver and kidney in the exposed rats. It is suggested that the resulting decrease in metabolic efficiency in maternal organs would be expected to exert an indirect, inhibitive effect on maternal-fetal transfer of nutrients, as reflected by fetal growth retardation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1980

[Pulmonary ventilation and lead absorption in workers of non-ferrous metallurgical plants].

The biological response to lead, taking into account pulmonary ventilation values, has been checked in nonferrous metal plant workers. Except for lead rolling-mill workers, increased blood lead, decreased delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity in erythrocytes, and increased urinary excretion of lead, delta-aminolevulinic acid and coproporphyrin were found in the metallurgists. The intensity of the biological response to lead was dependent on pulmonary ventilation. A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between these indices. With extensive correlation studies, a lead dose was calculated that is probably absorbed in the respiratory tract during a6-hr shift. This dose ranges between 352 -- 1056 mu g in lead refiners exposed to identical airborne lead concentration (0.163 mg/Pb/m3), the degree of physical effort being different (pulmonary ventilation from 11.8 -- 35.8 1/min). The authors indicate a need for including -- to a greater extent than so far -- pulmonary ventilation measurements in lead exposure evaluation.

Absorption↗