Horses’ rejection behaviour towards the presence of Senecio jacobaea L. in hay

Background Senecio jacobaea contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can induce severe hepatic intoxication in horses, either acute when ingested in high amounts or chronic when consumed over a long period. The aim of this study was to determine horses’ rejection behaviour towards the presence of Senecio jacobaea in hay when fed ad libitum. We hypothesized that adult horses can sort Senecio jacobaea out of the contaminated hay when hay is fed ad libitum. Six warmblood geldings with a mean (±SD) age of 15 ± 2 years were included. In a randomized study, Senecio jacobaea contaminated hay (5% or 10% contamination level) was provided at several timepoints over the day for 1 hour to six. Hay was provided ad libitum for the rest of the day. The horses’ rejection behaviour towards Senecio jacobaea was observed. If a horse ingested two Senecio jacobaea plants twice at different timepoints, then the horse was excluded from the experiment. Results Two out of six horses had to be excluded from the study after three out of 12 observation periods due to repeated Senecio jacobaea intake. Two other horses had to be excluded after nine and 11 out of 12 observation periods. Only two horses were able to sort out the various amounts (5 and 10% contamination level) of Senecio jacobaea during the whole experiment. Conclusions Horses’ intake of Senecio jacobaea cannot be avoided despite being fed with hay ad libitum. Due to the risk of chronic intoxication by pyrrolizidine alkaloids intake, feeding Senecio jacobaea contaminated hay must be avoided, and pastures with Senecio jacobaea growth are considered inappropriate for feed production.

Benzene poisoning

Benzene is a member of the aromatic hydrocarbon group and belongs to the group of blood poisons that cause inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis with the development of hypoplastic or aplastic anemia. The benzene can result in acute and chronic intoxication. Under industrial conditions, the penetration of benzene and its homologues into the human body is possible through the lungs and intact skin. The symptoms of changes in the nervous system and bone marrow hematopoiesis in acute and chronic exposure to benzene are different. Acute intoxication manifests itself with symptoms of damage to the central nervous system with the phenomena of general brain disorders, similar to poisoning with substances with narcotic properties. Chronic intoxication develops slowly, unnoticed by the patient, and is characterized by bone marrow damage with impaired blood cell formation. An atypical form of chronic benzene intoxication is the development of benzene leukemia. Therefore, benzene belongs to the group of industrial carcinogens. Typical forms of acute and chronic benzene intoxication are easy to recognize. To establish the diagnosis of benzene intoxication, it is necessary at first to have data confirming the patient’s contact with benzene. Repeated studies of peripheral blood, bone marrow puncture are important. There are no specific antidotes for benzene intoxication. Symptomatic treatment is performed only. Therefore, it is important to prevent the development of benzene intoxication in the workplace before the stage of deep irreversible disorders.

Investigation of the effect of blackcurrant alcohol-based mors in the composition of an alcoholic beverage on the degree of intoxication of laboratory animals with ethyl alcohol

Результаты исследования в опыте in vivo подтвердили снижение негативных последствий при хронической интоксикации животных для образцов настойки сладкой крепостью 20 %, содержащей черносмородиновый спиртованный морс, по сравнению с раствором этилового спирта аналогичной крепости. The results of the study in the in vivo experiment confirmed a reduction in the negative consequences of chronic intoxication of animals for samples of tincture with a sweet strength of 20 %, containing blackcurrant alcoholic mors, compared with a solution of ethyl alcohol of a similar strength.

Intoxications by lead and its inorganic compounds

Lead belongs to the group of blood poisons that impair the synthesis of porphyrins and heme. Under industrial conditions, only chronic lead poisoning can develop. Lead belongs to the poisons that have the effect of material cumulation. The half-life of lead is 20 years. Once in the body, it is deposited in many organs in the form of the insoluble tribasic lead phosphates. A significant part of the lead is deposited in the trabeculae of the bones. Under the influence of provoking factors, an intensive lead release from the depot can be observed. In such cases, the amount of lead in the circulating blood increases sharply, and remission is replaced by an exacerbation. There is a wavy course of chronic lead intoxication. Lead and its inorganic compounds belong to the group of poisons that have a polytropic effect on the body, affecting many organs and systems. The blood system (anemia with specific characteristics) and the nervous system (polyneuropathy and encephalopathy) are primarily affected. A number of other organs and systems are also affected. The most severe specific syndrome of gastrointestinal tract damage is lead colic. Due to the impaired synthesis of porphyrins and heme in certain biological substrates of the body — in the blood, erythrocytes and urine, substances unused in the synthesis of heme are accumulated. They are markers of chronic intoxication caused by lead, in the presence of a relevant clinical picture. The diagnosis is based on data from a professional history, sanitary and hygienic characteristics of working conditions, clinical and objective characteristics of the disease and data from laboratory examination. The main thing is to stop contact with lead and remove it from the body. Antidotes for lead poisoning are chelators: tetacinum-calcium, pentacinum, D-penicillamine. In combination with technical and sanitary-hygienic measures to prevent chronic intoxication caused by lead, preliminary and periodic medical examinations of persons in contact with lead are of great importance.

The impact of air pollution during the liquidation and recultivation of mine workings on health problems risk of the population in an industrial city

Introduction. The Kemerovo region is the largest coal-producing region in Russia, and coal mining hurts the environment. The earth's developed mineral deposits are sources of pollution of atmospheric air, water, and soil. They increase the risk to public health. The implementation of measures for the reclamation of disturbed land is an urgent problem. The study aims to assess the health of an industrial city from air pollution during the liquidation of mining operations, and reclamation works carried out at a coal mine. Materials and methods. The scientists assessed the distribution and impact of atmospheric emissions at 40 plotted points based on a map of the city of Kisilevsk in the Kemerovo region. We calculated the maximum and average annual concentrations of pollutants and identified the risk of chronic intoxication and carcinogenic risk. Scientists obtained risk values with acceptable levels. The risk values were determined, taking into account the background concentrations of substances. Results. The researchers revealed priority pollutants: inorganic dust, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon (soot), carbon monoxide. There is no excess of the maximum average annual concentrations during the liquidation and reclamation at the coal mine for all pollutants. The combined values of the risk of chronic intoxication and carcinogenic risk do not exceed the acceptable level. The total values of the risk of chronic intoxication, taking into account the background concentrations of pollutants, exceed the proper level at all points of exposure. Conclusions. Activities for the elimination and reclamation of mine workings do not significantly impact the environment and the health of the population of the city of Kiselevsk.

The glutathione system in bone tissue under the action of copper-zinc ore components and antioxidants administration

Aim. To study changes in the glutathione system in bone tissue during chronic intoxication with elements contained in copper-zinc pyrite ore and antioxidant vitamin administration. Methods. 36 mature male white rats were divided into three groups (control, comparison, experimental). The rats of the experimental and comparison groups received intragastrically copper-zinc pyrite ore powder in a 2% starch solution as a suspension at a dosage of 60 mg/100 g bodyweight daily for three months. During the last month, the experimental group received an antioxidant vitamin preparation (the complex of vitamins with a trace element) containing -tocopherol, -carotene, ascorbic acid and selenium. The content of reduced glutathione, free thiol groups in proteins, the activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, glutathione reductase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were determined in homogenates derived from femoral epiphysis. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using Statistica 6.0 software. The median (Me) and percentiles (Q1 and Q2) were calculated, a non-parametric MannWhitney U test was carried out to compare study groups. Results. Chronic intoxication with elements contained in copper-zinc pyrite ore causes impairment of the glutathione system in bone tissue. Intoxicated rats showed a decrease in the reduced glutathione content to 71.9% (р=0.014) and free sulfhydryl groups of proteins to 77.8% (р=0.0143), inhibition of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes activities, and disruption of the glutathione reduction system in tissues, compared to the control group. Antioxidant vitamin administration increased the levels of reduced glutathione and free thiol groups of proteins, activated the enzymes involved in the glutathione system: the reduced glutathione content increased to 94.8% (p=0.2132), glutathione peroxidase activity to 85.7% (p=0.0432), glutathione transferase up to 94.3% (p=0.5251), glutathione reductase up to 86.1% (p=0.0442) compared to the control group. Conclusion. Chronic intoxication with metals contained in copper-zinc pyrite ore leads to decreasing the content of reduced glutathione and free thiol groups of proteins in bones along with reducing glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities, inhibition of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase; an antioxidant vitamin administration increases the activity of glutathione reduction enzymes in bone tissue, the content of reduced glutathione and free sulfhydryl groups of proteins, the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase.