ScienceRise: Biological Science

Effectiveness of environmentally safe products «VetOks-1000», «Sumerian silver» for the prevention of pseudomonosis of poultry embryos associated with bacteriosis

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The aim: study of the effectiveness of environmentally safe means «Vetoks-1000», «Sumerian silver» for the prevention of pseudomonosis of poultry embryos, associated with bacteriosis.

Materials and methods. The effectiveness of the preparations «VetOks-1000», «Sumerian silver» in relation to E. coli, P. aeruginos, S. aureus, S. typhimurium was determined by the method of researching antimicrobial activity on test objects: galvanized iron, wooden bars (painted and unpainted), red brick and plaster cut-outs, 10 x 10 cm, and a hatching egg.

The effectiveness of «VetOks-1000», «Sumerian silver» solutions compared to formaldehyde for disinfection of hatching eggs and incubation cabinets for the purpose of preventing pseudomonosis of poultry embryos was carried out in the production conditions of the hatchery, where P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. аureus, were periodically isolated from asphyxiated embryos and from the carcasses of chicks of the first 10 days of life by comparing the hatching rate of chicks in the experimental and control groups.

Results. It was established that the «Sumerian silver» had an antimicrobial effect against the causative agents of pseudomonosis and the main bacterioses of poultry in concentrations of 1–3 %, and the drug «VetOx-1000»was effective in concentrations of 0.024 %–0.03 % after exposure for 1-4 hours in depending on the type of surface.

The number of conditioned young birds, obtained with the use of environmentally safe means «VetOks-1000», «Sumerian silver», was higher by (1.1-1.7) % compared to the number of young birds in the control group using formalin.

Conclusions. The proposed method of prevention of associated pseudomonosis of poultry embryos by rotation of environmentally safe means in established bactericidal concentrations (3 % «Sumerian silver» solution and 0.03 % «VetOks 1000» solution) ensures a 1.1–1.7 % higher hatching of young birds compared to control using formalin

The influence of agricultural land on the level of airborne Alternaria spores

Ksenia Havrylenko — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

Aim of the research was to investigate the impact of agricultural activity on the concentration of Alternaria spores.

Materials and methods. The study was carried out at the Department of Medical Biology, Parasitology and Genetics of the ZSMPhU. Samples were collected using a 7-day volumetric sampler of the Hirst type, using the volumetric method. Samples were identified under a light microscope, and spore identification and counting were limited to genus levels. The relationship between seasonal Alternaria spore levels and harvest rates was analysed using Pearson's correlation method. The effect of meteorological conditions and agricultural activity on the daily concentration of Alternaria was analysed using stepwise correlation based on logarithmically transformed daily average spore counts. Classical leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) was used to estimate the mean square error (MSE), associated with this model and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) was used to assess its accuracy.

Results. Seasonal characteristics of Alternaria spores and agricultural activity in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions were analysed. The connection of some seasonal and daily indicators with harvesting rates and meteorological conditions was determined. Two models with 5 and 9 parameters were found that best explain the dynamics of Alternaria spores.

Conclusions. The most significant parameters positively correlated with Alternaria spore levels were temperature, pressure, westerly wind and wheat yield; relative humidity was negatively correlated

Dietary preferences and analysis of the "plant-based food basket" among Ukrainian preteens and teenagers

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The aim. The aim of the study was to analyze aspects related to a healthy diet and lifestyle, more specifically to the consumption of plant-based food among Ukrainian preteens and teenagers aged 10 to 17 years.

Materials and methods. 231 individuals aged 10 to 17 participated in the study, 85 of them were boys, 146 were girls, all of them were residents of Kharkiv city at the time of participation in the study. The respondents were presented with a questionnaire regarding their attitude to a healthy lifestyle, in particular, rational nutrition. The χ² test was used to analyze the qualitative data.

Results and discussion. In the work, it was found that more than half of the respondents led only a partially healthy lifestyle, 60.3 % and 54.1 % among girls and boys, respectively. Only 11.6 % and 18.8 % of girls and boys followed the diet, although the majority of preteens and teenagers did not skip breakfast (80.8 % of girls and 89.4 % of boys). Unfortunately, the vast majority of subjects (58.9 % of girls and 56.5 % of boys) sometimes indulged in "harmful food". Also, the majority of preteens and teenagers consumed food between principal meals (83.6 % of girls and 72.9 % of boys), which, taking into account current ideas, should be considered an alarming trend. The main motivation for choosing food among preteens and teenagers was their own food tastes and family traditions, while food advertising was taken into account by just over 1 % of preteens and teenagers. Self-assessment of the health state shows that only 2/3 to ¾ of preteens and teenagers had no complaints about their health. No sex differences were observed for all the indicated characteristics. The most popular vegetable product among Ukrainian preteens and teenagers was potato, it was consumed by more than ¾ of preteens and teenagers, its popularity grew with age, which can be considered a negative trend (fast food). The least popular plant-based product among preteens and teenagers was seeds, consumed by only 19.9 % of girls and 8.2 % of boys. It was the only plant-based product, for which a statistically significant difference in consumption was found (2.4 times more common among girls than among boys). With age, the frequency of coffee consumption as an "adult drink" increased among preteens and teenagers, while a "leap" in the prevalence of its consumption can be seen when passing from 14-15 years to 16-17 years. Therefore, most of the results obtained should be considered as concerning ones.

Conclusions. The consumption of plant-based food among Ukrainian preteens and teenagers is almost not associated with sex, while the consumption of some types of plant-based food is more closely related to the age of preteens and teenagers, which may indicate the continuation of the process of forming food habits in this ontogenesis period. The practical value of the work lies in potential corrective recommendations from doctors, valeologists, nutritionists, psychologists and other related specialists

Accumulation of heavy metals in leaves of tree species on the ash and slag dumps of the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant

Uliana Semak, Mylenka Myroslava — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

Thermal power plant (TPP) facilities are considered as one of the major reasons for environmental pollution. Ash and slag dumps as a special construction for storage of combustion wastes of TPPs are recognized as sources of heavy metals (HMs) contamination for surrounding ecosystems. The present study is the first report of analyzing HMs contamination of the ash and slag dumps of the Burshtyn TPP.

The aim of the study is to estimate the content of HMs in the technogenic substrates of ash and slag dumps and investigate soil-plant interactions through analyzing potential of HMs accumulation in the leaves of native dominant woody species.

Materials and methods of research. Soil sampling was carried out in the period of July 2021 at previously determined points. The most common woody species (Populus tremula L., Betula pendula Roth., Salix caprea L.) were selected for testing of HMs accumulation abilities. Samples of plants and soil were subjected to an atomic absorption spectrometer for being analyzed for heavy metals: Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Mn and Fe.

Results of research and discussion. The results showed that the substrates of ash and slag dumps of the Burshtyn TPP were mainly contaminated by lead, copper and cadmium. All tested species concentrated high amounts of magnesium, iron, zinc and low concentration of cadmium. Bioaccumulation factor reflected the highest abilities of accumulation of zinc in all tested species and low level of bioaccumulation of cadmium. The highest index of biochemical activity showed Betula pendula. Salix caprea were found as a promising species for remediation due to intensive accumulation of such elements like cadmium, lead, copper, zinc and nickel.

Conclusions and prospects for further research. We consider plant organisms particularly useful for analyzing HMs accumulation as they can provide a cost-effective and long-term approach for bioindication and monitoring HMs pollution. Moreover, vegetation covers could be used for remediation of HMs contaminated sites

Modulation of mesenchymal stromal cells properties by the microenvironment in 3D culture

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The aim of the research was to compare the shape, viability, metabolic and proliferative activity of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) during cultivation in hydrogels and macroporous scaffolds.

Materials and methods. Human adipose tissue MSCs were isolated from lipoaspirates of healthy adult donors after obtaining informed consent. Hydrogels were obtained from platelet-poor human blood plasma and alginate polymer, cross-linked with calcium ions in microspheres. Macroporous scaffolds were prepared from plasma by the cryotropic gelation method. Morphology and viability of cells within carriers were assessed using vital dyes. Metabolic and proliferative activity of MSCs was studied by the Alamar Blue test on the 1^st, 3^rd and 7^th day of 3D culturing.

Results. Three-dimensional blood plasma scaffolds had a branched pore structure with a size sufficient for cell proliferation and migration. When plasma proteins were cross-linked with L-cysteine, almost all MSCs were viable, attached to the pore surface, spread and proliferated, filling carrier cavities. In plasma hydrogels, MSCs occupied spaces and acquired a fibroblast-like morphology, maintaining viability. In alginate microspheres, MSCs were uniform distributed throughout the gel volume, kept their spherical shape, but had high viability. The highest metabolic activity of MSCs was observed in macroporous scaffolds, the lowest one in alginate microspheres. During cultivation, the activity of cells in macroporous scaffolds and plasma hydrogels increased significantly, which indirectly indicated the proliferation processes.

Conclusions. Properties of MSCs during 3D cultivation significantly depend on the microenvironment: in blood plasma carriers, cells acquire a fibroblast-like morphology and proliferate, while in alginate microspheres, they remain spherical and do not proliferate.

Vitamin A accelerates the process of liver regeneration in the initial stages of Сu - induced fibrosis

Anatoly Bozhkov, Svitlana Bilovetska — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

Aim: To test the hypothesis about the possible role of vitamin A in normalizing the functional activity of the liver with Cu-induced fibrosis by increasing the regeneration process.

Materials and methods: Experiments were conducted on 20 sexually mature male Wistar rats, which were divided into 4 groups: a control group that was not exposed to copper sulfate and vitamin A, a group that was at the initial stage of liver fibrosis, which was provided by three consecutive administrations of copper sulfate at a dose of 1 mg/100 g of weight (one series of injections), a group that was at the stage of intensive development of fibrosis (F2), which was carried out by two consecutive series of copper sulfate injections with an interval of 3 days between injections, and a group that received vitamin A three times daily in a dose of 300 IU/100 g of weight between two series of intoxication. Body weight dynamics, relative liver weight, histological changes in liver tissues and the number of binuclear hepatocytes were determined.

Results: It has been found that animals with Cu-induced liver fibrosis did not gain or lose body weight, and the introduction of vitamin A ensured the restoration of body weight growth, and they slightly lagged behind the control group. In animals with liver fibrosis that received vitamin A, the relative weight of the liver was slightly increased and there were 2 times more binuclear hepatocytes. The structural organization of the liver tissue changed to a minor extent, and to the greatest extent there was an increase in the thickness of the Glisson’s capsule, in which immunocompetent cells were incorporated.

Conclusions: Vitamin A contributed to the normalization of liver function against the background of the development of fibrosis. The mechanism of normalization can be ensured due to an increase in the number of binuclear hepatocytes, a slight increase in the relative weight of the liver, and was accompanied by an increase in the thickness of the Glisson’s capsule, in which immunocompetent cells were incorporated