Marcin Lew

Selected fluorescent techniques for identification of the physiological state of individual water and soil bacterial cells — review

Stimulated by demands of the natural environment conservation, the need for thorough structural and functional identification of microorganisms colonizing different ecosystems has contributed to an intensive advance in research techniques. The article shows that some of these techniques are also a convenient tool for determination of the physiological state of single cells in a community of microorganisms. The paper presents selected fluorescent techniques, which are used in research on soil, water and sediment microorganisms. It covers the usability of determination of the dehydrogenase activity of an individual bacterial cell (CTC+) and of bacteria with intact, functioning cytoplasmic membranes, bacteria with an integrated nucleiod (NuCC+) as well as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).

Can liquorice extract and herbal solution prevent colonic mucosa damage caused by robenacoxib in dogs

UNLABELLED Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in animals, especially in dogs, to manage pain due to inflammatory disease. This study investigated whether plant drugs can prevent mucosal injury induced by robenacoxib. We used fifteen healthy beagle dogs (7 male and 8 female) aged 4 months, weighing 4.2-5.1 kg at the beginning of the study. Endoscopy and biopsy of the colon were performed before and on the 21 day treatment with robenacoxib (1), robenacoxib, herbal solution with liquorice extract (2), placebo - an empty capsule (3). There were 5 animals in each group. The greatest microscopic damage in the colon was observed in animals which received robenacoxib. Plant drug administration reduced the severity of lesions in the colon when administered with robenacoxib (ARI = - 0.15). CONCLUSION concurrent administration of liquorice extract and plant solution with robenacoxib was associated with significant decreased severity of the robenacoxib-induced colonic mucosal lesions.

Electroretinographic findings in day-blind dogs

Cone degeneration (cd; day blindness) is one of the inherited retinal diseases of dogs. Its diagnosis is based on vision testing, fundoscopy, electroretinography (ERG) and, for some breeds, on genetic tests. Typical signs of the disease are day blindness and cone dysfunction during ERG while fundoscopy does not show any abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare behavioural findings, fundoscopic lesions and electroretinographic alterations in 12 cd-affected dogs (Alaskan Malamute, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Dachshund, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Siberian Husky and crossbreeds) examined at our clinic. None of the examined dogs had any fundoscopic lesions, and all of them had normal scotopic vision with strongly impaired or absent photopic vision. Light-adapted transient, cone-mediated and steady-state, 31-Hz cone flicker ERGs were much below the 5th percentile limits of normality or even unrecordable, while the rod-driven ERGs were within normal values. Vision test and ERG results corresponded to each other and, combined with the results of fundoscopy, were typical of cd. To date, our research is one of the few studies in the world presenting ERG alterations compared with vision test findings and fundoscopic results in the course of cd.