The aim of our study was to estimate methane (CH₄) emissions from a dairy cattle farm using a computer application. Emissions of CH₄ in the air were forecast for a representative dairy farm raising Holstein-Friesian cows. The cowshed was equipped with a mechanical forced ventilation system with a centrally located ventilation duct. The volume of emissions from the emitter was established, taking into account meteorological conditions. For one year of operation of the emitter, the average annual emission was 1.301 kg/h. The maximum emission of CH₄ was estimated at 3.51 kg/h. These data can be helpful in estimating the environmental burden of a dairy farm and in determining the role of ruminants in global warming.

A growing interest in the horse business has resulted in the increased engagement of many people in this area, and the health problems occurring among workers create the need to search for prophylactic measures. The objective of the study was evaluation of the level of exposure to air pollution in a stable, and estimation of the degree of work load among workers engaged in tending horses. The study was conducted twice, during the winter season, in a stable maintaining race horses, and in a social room. In order to evaluate workers' exposure, air samples were collected by the aspiration method. After the incubation of material, the total number of bacteria and fungi in the air was determined, as well as the number of aerobic mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, expressed as the number of colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3). The measurement of total dust concentration in the air was also performed, simultaneously with the measurement of microclimatic parameters. The study of work load also covered the measurement of energy expenditure, evaluation of static physical load, and monotony of movements performed. The stable may be considered as a workplace with considerable risk of the occurrence of unfavourable health effects.

Introduction. Liver cirrhosis is a chronic disease in which progressive fibrosis is noted. This process leads to changed architectonics of the liver parenchyma and the appearance of regenerative nodules, all of which are caused by pathological activation of the hepatic stellate cells. This process is enhanced on a molecular level by many cytokines, with platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) playing the key role. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess serum concentrations of PDGFs active biodymers (PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and to correlate them with the stage of disease. Materials and method. 64 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and a control group of 16 healthy individuals were analysed. Liver cirrhosis was determined based on clinical image, history of the patients' alcohol consumption, laboratory findings and abdominal ultrasonography. The serum PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB concentrations were determined using ELISA kits. Results. Serum concentration of PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB homodimers increases in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (p=0.034 and p0.05). When the stage of the disease increases, the concentrations of PDGF-AA and PGFD-BB in blood also oncrease. Furthermore, the serum level of both PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB correlates significantly with the severity of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (measured by Pugh-Child's scale), the correlation being stronger in the case of PDGF-BB levels than PDGF-A A (R=0.28; p=0.027 and R=0.26; p=0.038, respectively). Conclusions. The plasma levels of PDGF-AA and -BB may be indicators of alcohol-induced liver fibrosis process, and might be considered as future possible treatment targets, with PDGF-BB levels being an even better indicator than PDGF-AA levels.

Introduction and objective: Human oxidative stress-induced growth inhibitor 1 (OSGIN1) is a protein identified in 2001 which belongs to the OKL38 protein family. The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of this protein depending on the severity of alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis....

Blood samples were collected from horses in four time points of the spring-winter training season, according to the difference in effort intensity characteristic for each period. Serum contents of glucose, cholesterol, and creatinine, as well as activity of creatine kinase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, and alkaline phosphatase were determined. Training did not cause muscle damage, and as a result of training, changes in the characteristics of both, contraction and biochemical properties of muscle tissue took place, which was confirmed by the conducted tests.

The environmental impact of companion animals has received little scientific attention compared to that of livestock, even though the global dog population is rapidly increasing, particularly in urban areas. This review addresses the overlooked contribution of dogs to environmental emissions, focusing on feces, urine, packaging waste, and other care-related by-products. The current knowledge from livestock research provides useful analogies for understanding nutrient excretion and gaseous emissions from dog feces, and data on nitrogen and phosphorus inputs highlight their potential to pollute soil and water. We also examine the role of plastic waste from food packaging, waste bags, and accessories, which can degrade into microplastics, and discuss recent developments in biodegradable materials. Evidence shows that owner choices—such as diet composition, protein sources, and product selection—directly affect the environmental pawprint of dogs. Mitigation strategies include optimizing diets to reduce nutrient excretion, applying feed additives developed for livestock, and improving waste management through composting or the use of emission-reducing amendments. In conclusion, dogs should no longer be viewed merely as individual household companions but as a population with a measurable environmental pawprint. Including dogs in emission reporting systems would provide a more accurate basis for mitigation policies and sustainable urban planning.