The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the selected biochemical serum parameters in male Ross 308 broilers during the fattening period. The birds were kept under standard farm conditions and they were fed on commercial mixtures. The blood for analysis was taken from the jugular vein on the 14 th , 21 st , and 42 nd days of age. The concentration of serum protein (total protein, albumins, uric acid, creatinine), lipid (TG, TCHL, HDL) and mineral (Ca, P i , Mg, Fe) indices were determined. The measurements were carried out with the use of Epoll 20 photometer. The content of LDL and VLDL lipoprotein fractions was calculated on the basis of the Friedewald equation. Most of the estimated parameters, except for LDL and P i , were age-dependent (P<0.05). Total protein, albumins and total Ca levels showed a constant increase between the 14 th and 42 nd days of life. A lower (P<0.05) concentration of TG, TCHL, HDL, VLDL, Mg and Fe was determined at the end of the fattening period compared to 14-day-old broilers. A significant decrease of TG, VLDL, Mg and Fe content was noted already in the first age range (days 14-21) while in the case of TCHL and HDL a significant decrease was found between the 21 st and 42 nd days of fattening. The obtained results may be helpful in the evaluation of changes in the metabolic profile, health condition and production patterns in growing broiler chickens reared under farm conditions.

Fructans, which include inulin and fructooligosaccharides, are non-digestible carbohydrates that are fermented in the large intestine. This review focuses on the effect of these prebiotics on gut microflora, fermentation characteristics, gut morphology, enzymes activity, nutrients digestibility and absorption, lipids metabolism and performance parameters in broiler chickens. Inulin-type fructans can improve performance of birds and health by affecting microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract, gut morphology and nutrient digestion. It is documented that dietary fructans influence the intestinal gut microflora of broiler chickens by increasing the population of Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp. and Eubacterium spp. while decreasing the concentration of Clostridium spp. and Escherichia coli in the large intestine and caeca. The supplementation of poultry diets with inulin or oligofructose can lead to an increase of the length of small and large intestines in broilers, elongation of the villus in the chickens jejunal mucosa and increase in the ratio of villus height to crypt depth. The beneficial effect of inulin-type fructans on performance parameters in broilers may be partially explained by the elevated intestinal enzymatic activity under the influence of the fructooligosaccharides and increase of digestibility and absorption of nutrients, mainly protein and fat. The prebiotic effectiveness of inulin-type fructans in broilers depends on a number of factors, like the type of supplement (inulin vs. oligofructose), inclusion level, composition of the basal diet, animal characteristics (age, sex, stage of production) and hygienic conditions (i.e. stress factors).

The study was conducted to determine and compare the resting values of haematological and biochemical blood indices in clinically healthy horses competing in show jumping and used for leisure activities. The experiment included twenty adult horses of Polish half-bred and Wielkopolska breed which were subjected to a daily training programme typical of their type of use. Blood samples were collected at rest before feeding from the jugular external vein. Show jumpers had higher (P<0.05) red blood cell count, haematocrit value and haemoglobin concentration as well as the serum level of total protein, albumin, α 2-and γ-globulin, HDL and iron. The level of βglobulin, magnesium and activity of creatine kinase were significantly higher in recreationally used horses. There were no differences in the values of red blood cell parameters (MCV, MCH, MCHC), number of leucocytes and the percentage of their respective kinds, platelets, concentration of urea, creatinine, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, activity of AST, ALT, LDH and in the content of Na, K, Cl, P, Ca between the tested groups. The results of the present study indicate that the type of training influences some of the resting haematological and biochemical indices in adult horses. Horses used for show jumping have higher aerobic capacity and show a more beneficial lipid profile compared to horses used for recreation.

Alterations in the carnitine shuttle system may be an indication of the presence of cancer. As such, in-depth analyses of this pathway in different malignant tumors could be important for the detection and treatment of this disease. The current study aims to assess the profiles of carnitine and acylcarnitines in gliomas with respect to their grade, the presence of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations, and 1p/19q co-deletion. Brain tumors obtained from 19 patients were sampled on-site using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) immediately following excision. Analytes were desorbed and then analyzed via liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. The results showed that SPME enabled the extraction of carnitine and 22 acylcarnitines. An analysis of the correlation factor revealed the presence of two separate clusters: short-chain and long-chain carnitine esters. Slightly higher carnitine and acylcarnitine concentrations were observed in the higher-malignancy tumor samples (high vs. low grade) and in those samples with worse projected clinical outcomes (without vs. with IDH mutation; without vs. with 1p/19q co-deletion). Thus, the proposed chemical biopsy approach offers a simple solution for on-site sampling that enables sample preservation, thus supporting comprehensive multi-method analyses.