Sixteen dairy cows were studied to assess the status of the natural antioxidant vitamin E and lipid peroxidation in their livers. Cows with liver failure (n = 7) showed clinical signs of a hepatic encephalopathy and had the following values of selected blood indices: AST > 80 U/l and GLDH > 15 U/l in serum, and venous plasma ammonia > 35 mmol/l. The control group (n = 9) consisted of dairy cows which were recovering from surgery (omentopexy) and were free of any health complications. Blood was analysed for α‐tocopherol, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, γ‐glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, ammonia, cholesterol, albumin, free fatty acids, glucose, and β‐hydroxybutyrate. Alpha‐tocopherol, triglyceride and malondialdehyde were measured in wet liver tissue. The cows with hepatic failure were clearly low in α‐tocopherol and had significantly lower (P < 0.01) plasma α‐tocopherol than the controls. Both liver triglycerides and MDA were higher (P < 0.05) in the cows with fatty livers. It is concluded that the cows with liver failure had an increase in the intensity of hepatic lipoperoxidative processes and a low antioxidative status, which should be taken into consideration in cases where treatment of the disease is proposed.

Abstract:Iron-based substrates with polyethylene glycol coating were prepared as possible materials for biodegradable orthopedic implants. Biodegradable materials that provide mechanical support of the diseased tissue at the time of implanting and then disappear gradually during the healing process are sometimes favored instead of permanent implants. The implant degradation rate should match the time of the tissue regrowth. In this work, the degradation behavior of iron-based foams was studied electrochemically during immersion tests in Hanks' solution. The corrosion rate of the polyethylene glycol-coated samples increased and the corrosion potential shifted to more negative values. This indicates an enhanced degradation rate as compared to the uncoated material, fulfilling the goal of being able to tune the degradation rate. It is the interfacial interaction between the hydrophilic polymer layer and the iron surface that is responsible for the enhanced oxidation rate of iron.

Summary Thirty dairy cows with left abomasal displacement (LAD) and 14 healthy control cows were studied to assess the status of the natural antioxidant vitamin E, lipid peroxidation in the liver (malondialdehyde‐formation) and its relationship to hepatic lipidosis. Blood concentrations of α‐tocopherol, aminotransferase, glutamin dehydrogenase, free fatty acids, β‐hydroxybutyrate and glucose were determined, α‐tocopherol, tryglyceride, glycogen and malondialdehyde (MDA) in wet liver tissue samples were examined. The dietary α‐tocopherol intake and its plasma changes in LDA cows were also investigated. Cows were divided into four groups according to their liver triglyceride contents (< 20; 20–80; > 80 mg/g of fresh tissue; and control groups). The lowest plasma vitamin E and the highest liver vitamin E levels were found in cows with highest hepatic triglyceride content. The highest increase in plasma α‐tocopherol within 5 days was seen in cows with the lowest liver triglyceride (P < 0.01). The liver triglyceride was positively correlated with liver MDA (r = 0.38; P < 0.05) and negatively with plasma α‐tocopherol (r = −0.41; P < 0.01).

MudroÀ P., J. Rehage, H. P. Sallmann, M. Höltershinken, H. Scholz: Stress Response in Dairy Cows Related to Blood Glucose. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 37-42.The aim of this study was to investigate whether different pre-surgical blood glucose concentrations have any effect on the course of cortisol and metabolic responses to surgical stress in dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, admitted for treatment of left abomasal displacement (omentopexy), were used in the study. Abdominal surgery (the stressor) was performed in the standing position 16 -24 h after admission and lasted approximately 60 min. Blood samples were drawn from the jugular vein prior to surgery, immediately after and then 2, 5, 24, and 72 h after surgery. In order to test the effect of the different blood glucose levels on stress responses the experimental animals were allocated to two groups: 1) six hypoglycaemic cows (glucose < 2.4 mmol/l); 2) twelve normoglycaemic cows. Surgery increased blood glucose in both groups (p < 0.001), however, the glucose rise was less distinct in the hypoglycaemic cows. The surgical stress resulted in a significant increase in plasma cortisol concentrations in both groups (p < 0.001), however there was no difference in cortisol responses between the groups. Similarly, surgery enhanced the blood concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) and L (+)-lactate in both groups (p < 0.001). In contrast, β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations slightly declined after surgery. On the basis of this study there appears not to be any effect of different plasma glucose on the cortisol and metabolite responses in stressed dairy cows. Therefore, it can be concluded that mechanisms regulating peripheral cortisol concentrations, and thus the animal stress response, are more dependent on the intensity of the stressful stimulus than on the energetic status of animal.