The effects of feeding a high level of organic selenium on the level of selenium, antioxidative status of m. longissimus lumborum et thoracis (MLLT) and m. semimembranosus (MSM) and meat quality of pigs (defined on malignant hyperthermia status, DNA based test) were investigated. Treatments consisted in supplementation of organic selenium (0.3 mg Se/kg diet) for the last 97 days to finishing pigs (basic diet with 0.18 mg Se/kg diet) before slaughter. MLLT was further examined for pH (45 min, 24 h), colour and conductivity (24 h), drip loss (48 h) and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI, 5 days). Chemical composition (protein, intramuscular fat) was also estimated. Concentration of Se (spectrofluorometric method) and antioxidative status (rate of oxidation by stimulation with Fe²⁺/ascorbate, production of malondialdehyde – MDA) were estimated in muscle samples obtained post mortem. The level of selenium was more than twice higher (P < 0.05) in muscles from pigs treated with higher selenium than in controls (0.377 vs. 0.922 mg/kg – MLLT and 0.377 vs. 0.836 mg/kg – MSM). The rate of oxidation was positively (P < 0.05) influenced by Se supplementation. Tendencies to lower drip losses were observed in MLLT of pigs supplemented with Se but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). We concluded that dietary organic Se supplementation (0.3 mg Se/kg diet) to basic diet (0.18 mg Se/kg diet) of finishing pigs significantly increased the selenium concentration and improved the antioxidative status of muscle tissue.  

Lactic acid bacteria for the production of new plant and animal GABA-rich products from different natural sources containing GABA precursor can be used.

No abstract

Injection of botulinum toxin (BT) and pneumatic dilatation are available methods in nonsurgical treatment of achalasia. Authors anticipate beneficial effect of prior BT injection on the success of pneumatic dilatation and duration of its effect. There are no long-term data available to assess efficacy of combined treatment. From 1998 to 2007, 51 consecutive patients (20 men and 31 women, age 24-83) with achalasia were included and prospectively followed up. Each patient received injection of 200 IU of BT into the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) during endoscopy and 8 days later pneumatic dilatation (PD) under X-ray control was performed. The follow-up was established every 3 months first year and then annually. The efficacy was evaluated by a questionnaire concerning patient's symptoms and manometry. Results were compared with 40 historical controls (16 men and 24 women, age 26-80) treated by PD alone using the same method and follow-up. Fifty-one patients underwent combined treatment. Four patients failed in follow-up and were not included for analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 48 months with range 12-96 months. Thirty-four of forty-seven (72%) patients were satisfied with results with none or very rare and mild troubles at the time of the last visit. Forty-one patients were followed up more than 2 years. Effect of therapy lasted in 75% (31/41) of them. In 17 patients, more than 5 years after treatment, effect lasted in 12 (70%). Mean tonus of LES before therapy was 29 mm Hg (10-80), 3 months after therapy decreased to 14 mmHg (5-26). The cumulative 5 years remission rate (+/-95% CI) in combined treated patients 69% +/- 8% was higher than in controls 50% +/- 9%; however it, was not statistically significant (P= 0.07). In control group 1, case of perforation (2.5%) occurred. Eight patients (17%) with relapse of dysphagia were referred to laparoscopic Heller myotomy with no surgical complication. The main adverse effect was heartburn that appeared in 17 patients (36%). Initial injection of BT followed by PD seems to be effective for long-term results with fewer complications. But the combined therapy is not significantly superior to PD alone.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of short-term consumption of bitter apricot seeds phytonutrients on cardiovascular risk factors with a special focus on LDL cholesterol subfractions using the Lipoprint system. A group of 34 adult volunteers (21 female/13 male) consumed 60 mg kg−1 of body weight of bitter apricot seeds daily for 42 days. Subjects were divided into two groups: one with normal cholesterol levels (NTC) and one with elevated total cholesterol levels (ETC). Blood serum levels of total cholesterol (T-C), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) did not change significantly (p > 0.05) in NTC group. However, there were significant decreasing of T-C (p ˂ 0.05) and LDL-C (p < 0.01) in ETC group. The LDL1, LDL2, and atherogenic LDL3−7 subfractions progressively decreased after 42 days of apricot seeds consumption in ETC group (p < 0.05). Apricot seeds consumption was associated with a significant increase in the mean LDL particle size especially in ETC group (p ˂ 0.01). The results of the present study support the hypothesis that daily consumption of bitter apricot seeds for 42 days positively modified the lipoprotein profile in the group with elevated total cholesterol.