Özgür Kaynar

Physiological profile of juvenile rats: effects of cage size and cage density.

Although there is a general consensus that housing conditions affect the well-being of laboratory animals, the ideal cage size and density for housing laboratory rodents has not been established. The authors investigated the effects of cage size and cage density on growth, organ development, metabolic profile, and hemogram in juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats. Larger cages and increased cage density were associated with depressions in body weight and in the weights of several organs. In general, increasing group size and density correlated more strongly with detrimental effects on the growth of females than males, although hemogram values indicated that males are more prone to emotional stress and immune suppression than females in response to increasing group size and crowding.

Evaluation of 4 Point‐of‐Care Units for the Determination of Blood l‐Lactate Concentration in Cattle

BACKGROUND Despite being used commonly in bovine medicine, information on reliability of point-of-care (POC) lactate meters is limited. OBJECTIVE To determine the validity of 4 commercially available POC lactate meters in cattle. ANIMALS Cattle with various diseases (n = 120). METHODS Blood samples collected from the jugular vein were processed immediately on POC lactate meters. Plasma l-lactate concentration was measured by the enzymatic-colorimetric method (ELISA). Data were subjected to Friedmans test for comparison, Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman plot analyses for reliability, and receiver operating characteristics analysis for sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp). RESULTS The POC lactate meters were highly correlated with ELISA (r = 0.98-0.99) despite disagreements among units. When regressed on ELISA, blood l-lactate concentrations generated from Accutrend Plus and Lactate Pro were linear up to 16.6 and 15.7 mmol/L, respectively, whereas those generated from i-STAT and Lactate Scout were linear up to 19.5 and 19.7 mmol/L, respectively. All POC lactate meters had a Se of 100% with Sp of 95.7-98.6% at a plasma l-lactate cut-off concentration of 4 mmol/L. i-STAT had the best accuracy (99.0%) and precision (99.8%), the best linear fit (y = -0.13 + 1.04X) yielding the lowest bias (-6.6%) as well as the highest Se (100%) and Sp (98.6%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Despite high correlation with the reference method, dilution is needed for Accutrend Plus/Lactate Pro and i-STAT/Lactate Scout if concentrations >15 and 20 mmol/L, respectively. i-STAT provided the most accurate and precise results.

Evaluation of computational modifications in HPTLC with Gel analysis software and flatbed scanner for lipid separation

High-performance thin-layer chromatography plays an important role in the determination of lipid fractions. However, it requires expensive equipment for quantification of lipids spots. In this experiment, flatbed scanner with gel analysis software was employed to determine lipid fractions of egg yolk, with testing some modifications: optical resolution (300 vs. 600 dpi), lane selection method (manual vs. automatic), and background subtraction options (none, lane edge, minimum profile, rubber band, rolling ball, or valley to valley). Data show that using flatbed scanner with gel analysis software is economically feasible and yields reliable and reproducible results. The best chromatogram was achieved at 600 dpi resolution with no background subtraction, regardless of lane selection.

Reliability of the Lactate Scout point-of-care instrument for the determination of blood l-lactate concentration in sheep

BACKGROUND Data on accuracy and precision of the Lactate Scout point-of-care (POC) analyzer in ovine medicine are lacking. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability of the Lactate Scout in sheep. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-seven sheep at varying ages with various diseases were included. Blood lactate concentration in samples collected from the jugular vein was measured immediately on the Lactate Scout. Plasma L-lactate concentration was measured by the Cobas autoanalyzer as the reference method. Data were subjected to Students t-test, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman plot analyses for comparison and assessment of accuracy, precision, and reliability. RESULTS Plasma l-lactate concentration was consistently lower than blood L-lactate concentration (3.06 ± 0.24 vs 3.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L, P < .0001). There was a positive correlation between plasma and blood L-lactate concentrations (r = .98, P < .0001). The Lactate Scout had 99% accuracy and 98% precision with the reference method. Blood (Y) and plasma (X) L-lactate concentrations were fitted to Y = 0.28 + 1.00 · X, with a residual standard deviation of 0.31 and a negligible deviation from the identity line (P = .93). The bias was fitted to Y = 0.10 + 0.05 · X, with Sy.x of 0.44 (P < .07). CONCLUSIONS The Lactate Scout has high accuracy and precision, with a negligible bias. It is a reliable POC analyzer to assess L-lactate concentration in ovine medicine.

The diagnostic value of two commercially available human cTnI assays in goat kids with myocarditis.

BACKGROUND Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a peripheral blood marker for myocardial damage. Because of the unavailability of goat-specific cTnI assays human cTnI assays may be validated for detection of myocarditis in goat kids. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to evaluate 2 commercially available human cTnI assays in goat kids with myocardial damage, and to determine the cTnI expression in cardiac muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plasma cTnI concentrations were measured in healthy goat kids (n = 7) and goat kids with myocardial damage (n = 8) using the Beckman Coulter Access Accu TnI and the Biomérieux Vidas Ultra. The results were correlated with gross necropsy and histopathologic findings, and cTnI immunhistochemistry in cardiac tissue. RESULTS Macro- and microscopic findings confirmed myocardial damage in the myocarditis group. Mean plasma cTnI concentration was significantly higher in the myocarditis group than in the healthy control group (104.82 vs 0.02 ng/mL). The overall mean plasma cTnI concentration measured by Biomérieux Vidas Ultra (61.75 ng/mL, 95% CI: 19.55-103.95) was comparable to the mean measured by Beckman Coulter Access Accu TnI (50.08 ng/mL, 95% CI: 24.11-76.06), and cTnI concentrations measured by these assays were highly correlated (r = .977) with a -6.2% bias. Both assays were precise and accurate. CONCLUSION The human-specific Beckman Coulter Access Accu TnI and the Biomérieux Vidas Ultra can be used for diagnostic confirmation of myocardial damage in caprine medicine.

Sampling factors causing variability in milk constituents in early lactation cows

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of breed, parity, sampling day, and sampling time on somatic cell count (SCC) and milk lipid and protein profiles in intra-mammary infection-free early lactating dairy cows (Holstein, n = 5 and Swiss Brown, n = 6; 34 ± 6 DIM). SCC was assessed by flow cytometry. Milk lipid (free fatty acid, triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, cholesterol, phospholipid) and protein IgG and A, albumin, caseins (α, β, κ), α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin were determined using HPTLC and SDS-PAGE methods. Data were analysed by 4-way ANOVA and subjected to hierarchical backward elimination of insignificant interaction terms. SCC varied by parity and sampling time. Apart from sampling time, other fixed factors altered milk lipids. There was only a breed × parity interaction effect on milk lipid profiles. All proposed factors affected milk proteins. Among proteins only the IgG fraction exhibited diurnal variation. There were significant breed × parity, breed × sampling day, and parity × sampling day interactions for milk proteins. In conclusion, factors relating to the cows themselves (breed and parity), sampling day, and sampling time cause variation in parameters that are pertinent to mammary gland health and milk quality.