Epidemiologic relations were evaluated between plasma concentrations of nutrients and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 220 cats were assessed: 144 cats with noninduced acquired heart disease and 76 clinically normal cats. Plasma was assayed for taurine, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, retinol, and total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Cardiovascular disease groups included dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 53), left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 28), hyperthyroidism (n = 11), and uncertain classification (n = 52). In cats with dilated cardiomyopathy, mean plasma taurine concentration was the lowest of that in cats of any group, being only 38% of the value in healthy cats; females had less than half the mean value of males. Tocopherol concentration was 20% lower than normal, and retinol concentration was 40% higher than normal. Total cholesterol concentration was 36% lower than normal. Triglycerides concentration was higher in these cats than in any other group-twice the value recorded in healthy cats and 67% higher than that in hyperthyroid cats. In cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, almost 15% had mean plasma taurine concentration < 30 micromol/L. Retinol concentration was 15% higher, and triglycerides concentration was 54% higher than normal. Approximately 27% of hyperthyroid cats had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Hyperthyroid cats had the lowest tocopherol and cholesterol values; both were at least 30% lower than normal. Retinol concentration was 30% higher than Approximately 14% of cats with uncertain classification had mildly decreased plasma taurine concentration. Plasma retinol and triglycerides concentrations were higher than normal in 25 and 38% of these cats, respectively. Plasma selenium concentration, compared between healthy cats and cats with cardiac disease, was not significantly different. This observation may not be meaningful, however, in light of the limited number of cats in which selenium was assessed.

All-trans retinoic acid (AtRA) induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in a variety of tumer cells, including MCF-7 cells. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) system has been reported to be associated with the development of cancer. Although MCF-7 cell with AtRA is to be the major stimulus for the cell growth and apoptosis, the mechanism of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) system remains to be elucidated. Thus, this study was conducted to the effect of AtRA on the gene expression and level of IGF-I and IGFBP-3.

To investigate the effect of the environmental pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on retinoic acid-induced teratogenesis, all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) dissolved in corn oil (120 mg/kg) was administered orally to pregnant rats at the 11th day of gestation with and without the prior intraperitoneal treatment with 10 mg/kg 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) for 3 days. Dams were killed on the 20th day of pregnancy. The examinations of fetuses revealed that 3-MC barely enough to cause induction of P-450 in pregnant dams had profound embryo-toxic effects: the fetal resorption amounted to - 60% of total number of implantations. The fetuses survived weighed less than the control fetuses. All of RA-treated mothers had fetuses with abnormalities, and the main malformations were absence of tail (100%), caudal and sacral malformations (100%), and cleft palate (42%). Pregnant dams received both 3-MC and RA had a reduced severeness of tail anomaly (33%), while the rest, 67%, had short vestigial tail. Caudal and sacral malformations were detected but at a milder degree. We did not observe cleft palate in this group. The concurrent treatment of dams with 3-MC and RA led to an increased inducibility of cytochrome P-450 and subsequently, CYP1A1 dependent enzyme activity higher than those observed after the injection of 3-MC alone. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity was also markedly induced in concurrent 3-MC and RA group higher than that in 3-MC alone. We suggest that the induction of P-450 and alteration of metabolic enzyme activities may play an important role in reducing the teratogenic potency of RA. However, RA-treatment did not retard the embryo-toxic effect of 3-MC but rather potentiated

Investigation of vitamin supply of cattle affected by fascioles in association with strongylatosis of gastro-intestinal tract was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus by an example of white-and-black 3-8 year old cows. Analysis of blood and blood serum of experimental animals showed that content of B1, B2, and E vitamins was lower in group of animals sick with fascioliasis and strongylatosis of gastro-intestinal tract. There were stated no changes in A and C vitamins content. Content of pyroracemic acid exceeded control indexes and was 22,0 +/- 0,173 mg/l. Content of vitamin A did not change and was 0,011 +/- 0,0012 mg/l for sick animals and 0,013 +/- 0,0043 mg/l at healthy animals. Content of vitamin C was different for sick and healthy animals: 1,685 +/- 0,190 mg/l and 1,93 +/- 0,294 mg/l, respectively. Research results proved that treatment of cattle sick with helminth infestation should be realized in complex. It was proposed to apply premixes and vitamin preparations containing B1, B2, as well as A, E, and C vitamins for the increasing of natural protection and for the creation of unfavourable conditions for disease agents

Development of new selenium preparations in a complex with vitamins for the purpose of decrease of trace element toxicity and increase of its bioavailability is the topical problem of veterinary science. A new antioxidant water-soluble complex Aesel, which includes selenium as the activated product of interaction of methionine and sodium selenite, vitamins A and E, is researched. Lethal doses of the preparation for mice and rats were identified through intragastric and subcutaneous introduction. Due to the results of the research it was determined that Aesel is rated among the forth class of danger, so it is dangerous to a very little degree. Lethal doses of the preparation on the pure selenium, calculated on Pershin method, for rats at parenteral introduction is equal 5,48, at enteral introduction - 39, for mice at parenteral introduction - 7,72 mg/kg. Lethal doses of the preparation calculated on all making components equal to 39000 mg/kg.