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Biomedical subjects

J Rubes

Publications and source records attributed to J Rubes.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

A new Robertsonian translocation in cattle, rob(16;20).

A new centric fusion translocation, rob(16;20), was discovered in a phenotypically normal bull. C-banding revealed the dicentric nature of this centric fusion. This bull is a descendant of a German red pied bull and a Czechoslovakian red pied cow. Its mother and 26 half-brothers had normal karyotypes, indicating that this translocation arose "de novo".

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Teplice program--the impact of air pollution on human health.

The aim of the Teplice Program is to investigate and assess the impact of air pollution on the health of the population in the district of Teplice, Czech Republic. Characterization of the air pollutants demonstrated unusually high concentrations during winter inversions of fine particles dominated by acidic sulfates, genotoxic organic compounds, and toxic trace elements. The major source of airborne fine particles is the burning of coal for heating and power. Human exposure and biomarker studies demonstrated large seasonal variations in air pollution within the Teplice District and higher seasonal average pollution levels than the comparative district, Prachatice. Personal exposures to fine particles and organic carcinogens [e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)] were correlated with excretion of PAH metabolites in urine, several trace metals in blood, and DNA adducts in white blood cells. Respiratory and neurobehavioral studies of school children were conducted using questionnaires and clinical measures. A significantly higher prevalence of adverse respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function were found in the Teplice district than in Prachatice. The neurobehavioral studies indicated significantly higher teacher referrals for clinical assessment in Teplice, but the majority of objective performance measures did not differ. Reproductive studies were conducted in both males and females. A study of the effects of exposure on pregnancy and birth found an excess prevalence of low birth weight and premature births in Teplice; these adverse effects were more common in infants conceived in the winter and whose mothers were smokers. Based on questionnaires and medical examination, the reproductive development of young men was not different between districts and seasons, however, measures of semen quality suggest that exposure to high levels of air pollution are associated with transient decrements in semen quality.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1996

Mutagenicity of feeds and bovine milk in districts with different levels of environmental pollution.

Mutagenic activities of feedstuffs and bovine milk were investigated by the Ames test in two districts of the Czech Republic (Teplice and Prachatice), differing in the levels of industrial pollution. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 with or without metabolic activation were used in the tests. Samples of currently fed feedstuffs and milk were collected in both districts in the spring 1992, autumn 1992, spring 1993, and autumn 1993. The Teplice and Prachatice sets included 12 and 11 representative samples, respectively. The samples were rinsed and extracted with acetone and methanol. Thus each sample was divided into four separate samples. The total number of revertants obtained in the industrial district Teplice was significantly higher than the corresponding value for the Prachatice district. Some between-the-seasons differences were also found within each of the two districts. The strain TA 98 proved to be more sensitive in the mutagenicity tests than the strain TA 100. Thirty-eight and thirty-one milk samples were collected in the districts Teplice and Prachatice, respectively. The overall evaluation demonstrated a significant between-the-districts difference in the total number of revertants induced by the milk samples in the strains TA 98 and TA 100.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1992

Cytogenetic monitoring of farm animals under conditions of environmental pollution.

Cytogenetic examinations were carried out in 13 cattle farms, two herds of horses, one stag farm and 13 pig farms in areas with different levels of environmental contamination. The frequency of aberrant cells per 100 mitoses was 3.67 +/- 1.89 in pigs (n = 260) and 4.16 +/- 2.4 in herbivores (n = 497). This is a significant difference (p < 0.01). Ten times higher frequencies of chromatid exchanges were found in pigs. The examined herds were classified into three groups by the level of environmental contamination (satisfactory, impaired and severely impaired environment). Significant differences in aberrant cell counts were recorded between the groups of herbivorous animals. Significant differences in pigs were recorded only between herds in satisfactory and severely impaired environments. Significantly higher frequencies of aberrant cells were found in farms of herbivorous animals in the industrial area of Pardubice compared with findings in the South Moravian agricultural area (4.7% and 3.1% respectively). The effect of local contamination sources on farm environment was also investigated. A cattle farm located in the vicinity of a large chemical plant was examined five times at 6-month intervals. An autumn examination revealed significantly higher frequencies of aberrant cells compared with the spring examination.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Experimental chronic phenylmercuric chloride poisoning in pigs].

Four gilts, sisters from one litter, aged 70 days and weighing 20-24 kg, were used for a trial. Two experimental gilts (P) were administered an experimental feed mixture containing phenylmercury chloride (40 mg/kg). Two control gilts (K) were fed the same mixture but without phenylmercury chloride. P gilts began to lag behind in their growth from day 60 of the experiment, they manifested nonphysiological postures (dog's sitting posture), paresis of hind limbs and uncoordinated movements. P gilts had cloudy, orange-brown urine from day 70 and from day 75 they began to suffer from diarrhoea. Mercury (Hg) contents in urine and blood serum of P gilts were irregularly variable: urine 0.58-2.15 mg/l, blood serum 0.02-0.37 mg/l. Hg content in excrements of P gilts fluctuated from 23 to 26 mg/kg. Vitamin A concentrations in blood serum and liver decreased in P gilts. Phenylmercury chloride feeding caused mutagenic changes in peripheral lymphocytes of P gilts (an increase in the number of aberrant cells from 2-3% to 8-9%) and reduced IgA, IgM and IgG immunoglobulin levels in blood serum. Pathological lesions were observed in the colon, kidneys and liver. None of the above-mentioned changes were observed in K gilts. Increased resistance to the negative effects of Hg was found in one experimental gilt. In comparison with K gilts, Hg concentrations in P gilts after 130 days of the experiment increased as follows: 427 times in kidneys, 333 times in liver, 106 times in guts, 71 times in pancreas, 53 times in ovaries, 50 times in muscles, 47 times in bristles and 16 times in the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Ecotoxicologic relations on a large pig-fattening farm located in a lignite mining area and near and solid-fuel electical power plant].

Major contaminants identified in 1983-1984 on a pig fattening farm with an output of 60,000 pigs per annum, located in a lignite mining area and near a solid fuel power plant, were mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium and aflatoxin B1 (Tab. I, II, III, IV). Feed samples were collected from througs to assess the contamination load at feed uptake. Permissible concentrations of mercury, chromium, cadmium, aflatoxin B1, lead and atrazin in the feed were exceeded in 56, 50, 31, 19, 6 and 6% samples, respectively (Tab. I). Stable dust deposits, in which the contaminants concentrate, (Tab. I) proved to be a suitable material for assessing the type and level of environmental contamination. Permissible concentrations of mercury, cadmium and lead in porcine muscles were exceeded in 65, 51 and 24% samples, respectively (Tab. III). Corresponding values of mercury, cadmium, lead and aflatoxin B1 in the liver were 27, 27, 16 and 3%, respectively (Tab. III) and those of mercury, lead and chromium in kidneys 24, 22 and 5%, respectively (Tab. III). Rather surprisingly, elevated pancreatic concentrations of aflatoxin B1 were found (Tab. IV). Pigs fattened in the contaminated environment (i.e. fed contaminated feed mixtures, inspiring contaminated dust and absorbing percutaneously contaminants form dust deposits on the body surface) showed: 1) Impairment of the genetic apparatus (percentage of aberrant peripheral leucocytes elevated to 6.2%); 2) a certain degree of immunosuppression (concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA reduced by 16.9, 45.1 and 45.0%, respectively); 3) higher feed consumption per 1 kg weight gain (4 kg) and lower average daily weight gain (0.57 kg); 4) increased incidence of health disorders (dermatitis in 25%, pancreatopathy in 13%, liver dystrophy in 8% and femoral fracture in 6% of the pigs). Unfortunately, the authors were not allowed to analyse ash and solid emissions from the power plant. Therefore the share of the emissions in the overall environmental contamination on the fattening farm could not be quantified. The personnel, working in the contaminated environment for a prolonged period, is endangered most of all by stable dust, being exposed to its mechanical, chemical, allergic and infectious effects (Tab. I). In addition to the chemical contaminants, 21 mould genera and species, six mite species and numerous saprophytic and some pathogenic bacteria were demonstrated in stable dust samples in our earlier experiments. Consumption of meat and organs from pigs fattened in a contaminated environment is associated with the risk of an increased uptake of various contaminants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1991

Somatic chromosome mutations and morphological abnormalities in sperms of boars.

Frequencies of chromosomally aberrant peripheral blood lymphocytes and morphologically abnormal spermatozoa were investigated in 10 boars from each of 11 A.I. centres. Highly significant differences were found between A.I. centres concerning both chromosomally aberrant cells and morphologically abnormal sperms. A significant correlation was found for the overall frequency of aberrant lymphocytes and morphologically abnormal sperms in A.I. centres. The coefficient of correlation was 0.675 (p = 0.022). No significant correlation was found when the 110 boars were evaluated regardless of the A.I. centre.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Monitoring chromosome mutations in large-scale breeding operations].

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations and exchanges of sister chromatids (SCEs) in peripheral lymphocytes was studied in 65 pigs from five large breeding herds. Four groups comprised fattened pigs and the fifth group consisted of sows from a large multiplier breeding herd. During the investigation, the dust from the sites was analyzed for the presence of zinc, lead, cadmium, mercury, aflatoxin B1, PCB, DDT, and lindane. The average frequency of aberrant cells (AB.B) in the pigs of group I was 3.85 +/- 1.60%, in group II 2.10 +/- 1.52%, in group III 5.01 +/- 2.1%, in group IV 3.50 +/- 1.58%, and in group V 6.20 +/- 3.21%. The cytogenetic finding corresponded to the differences in the amount of foreign substances found in the dust on the premises where the animals of all groups were kept. The average frequency of the SCEs was 7.00 +/- 1.10 (I), 6.51 +/- 0.89 (II), 6.92 +/- 0.72 (III), 7.10 +/- 0.85 (IV) and 7.06 +/- 1.47 (V) per one cell. Statistically significant differences in the numbers of AB.B. were recorded between groups II and I, II and IV, I and III, IV and V (p less than 0.05) and between groups II and III, II and V (p less than 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of SCEs. The determination of the frequency of chromosomal aberrations can be used for the hygienic control of the degree of exposure of pigs to mutagens.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in swine.

Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes were investigated in 56 swine from 3 herds (I, breeding sows; II and III, fattening pigs). The mean frequencies of aberrant cells (AB.C.) were 3.58 +/- 1.59%, 2.10 +/- 1.52% and 6.20 +/- 3.21%, respectively. The mean numbers of SCEs per cell were 7.73 +/- 0.86, 6.51 +/- 0.89 and 7.06 +/- 1.47, respectively. A significant difference was found between the herds under study with regard to the number of aberrant cells but not the SCE frequency. In a parallel study, the presence of aflatoxin B1, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloromethylmethane (DDT), lindane, mercury, lead and cadmium in the environment of fattening pigs was investigated. The total exposure to mutagens of pigs from herd III with a mean frequency of 6.2% AB.C., was markedly higher than that of herd II with the mean frequency of 2.1% AB.C.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[A method for the cytogenetic detection of early embryos in heifers].

The objective of the study was to work out a simple and reliable method of the cytogenetic examination of bovine embryos. Whole embryos free of the zona pellucida, or parts of these embryos, were cultivated for five hours in a medium with 0.05 microgram colcemide per 1 millilitre. The embryos were hypotonized for 10 to 15 minutes in a mixture of medium and distilled water (1:2 ratio) at the temperature of 37 degrees C. Stepwise fixation was used: first in a mixture of acetic acid, methyl alcohol and water (1:4:5), followed by dropping a mixture of acetic acid and methyl alcohol (1:1) onto the embryo already on the microscope slide during microscopic control. The chromosomes were stained with a 3% solution of Giemsa dye for 10 minutes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Biochemical changes in sows after eleven or more farrowings.

The animals examined were 30 sows after eleven or more farrowings (pluriparous sows) and 26 primiparous sows. The pluriparous animals were 75.1 months old on the average and had farrowed an average of 13.23 litters. The mean age of the primiparous sows was 12.8 months. The blood sera of pluriparous sows had higher concentrations of total protein and urea and lower levels of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids (11-OHCS) and lower aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities than those of primiparous sows. The pluriparous sows showed mild hypoglycaemia and hypocholesterolaemia. When insulin was injected i.m. in the dose of 1 I.U. per kg body mass, a decrease in blood serum glucose, total protein and potassium levels was recorded 60 min later in both pluriparous and primiparous sows; a significant rise in 11-OHCS concentration occurred only in the primiparous sows. It was concluded that the response of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in pluriparous sows to an insulin load is reduced. Studies of pluriparous sows contribute to a better understanding of the ontogenetic development of pigs throughout their postnatal development.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗