The study aimed to explore the relationship between teat structure dimensions and their short-term reaction to milking, to find the optimal dimensions of teat structures in relation to milking-induced teat tissue changes. Teat structures (teat length, canal length, thickness at barrel and apex, wall and cistern width) were measured by ultrasonography before and after milking for 38 Holstein cows at the beginning, middle, and end of lactation. We found that milking-induced changes in teat structures significantly depended on their pre-milking size. Furthermore, we observed that some teat structures and their changes were interconnected, and some did not affect each other. For example, changes in the barrel thickness and cistern width were affected by all structures, while the canal and apex did not influence each other. We deduced that more favorable changes were observed for teats of medium length, medium barrel and apex thickness, with teat canals of medium length, but with wider cisterns and thinner walls. The results of this study may help improve research in the area of milking-induced changes in teat morphology. Our findings could help understand potential health risks to animals in relation to teat morphology, milking equipment, and machine settings.

Determination of somatic cell counts (SCC) becomes more and more important also for ewe's milk. SCC can be a useful indicator of milk quality for milk processors while it can be a mastitis indicator for sheep keepers and an important selection criterion for breeders. The objective of our study was to acquire basic information about factors influencing SCC variability in lambing ewes of the Tsigai (T) and Improved Valachian (IV) breeds. Somatic cell counts (SCC) were determined in 866 milk samples in 2017 and 2018, during lamb sucking and during milking period. An instrument Fossomatic 90 (Foss Electric, Hillerød, Denmark) was used for analysis. Average SCC varied from 270 to 1897 × 103 cells/ml during lamb sucking and from 268 to 2139 × 103 cells/ml during milking period. Differences between the sampling periods were statistically significant in 2017. An increase in SCC was observed at the end of both sucking and milking periods. An overall evaluation of lactation brought about the average SCC at 364 × 103 cells/ml in 2017 (log(10) SCC - 2,25) and at 1,091 × 103 cells/ml in 2018 (log(10) SCC - 2,68). The indicator log(10) was significantly influenced by breed in 2017 (T - 2,61; IV - 2,75). The effect of lactation number and number of sucking lambs did not have any significant influence on SCC.

MtDNA from the skeletal remains of two bodies buried in the grave No. F44 from Nitra-Šindolka (woman and child) was analysed. Cemeteries in Šindolka belong to the Bijelo Brdo culture, where Slavs and Magyars were buried in the 10th – 11th centuries. Surprisingly, the analysis of mtDNA has shown no maternal relationship between buried persons, since the woman belongs to haplogroup T1a and the child to haplogroup J. Since both haplogroups can be found in Near Eastern and European populations at similar frequencies, the tested samples from the tomb No. F44 cannot be clearly assigned to ethnic origin.

The study aimed to explore if milkability parameters could reliably predict the dimensions of teat structures and their milking-induced changes. Ultrasonography repeatedly measured the teat structures of 48 Holstein cows from mid to late lactation. We found that milking-induced changes in each structure are affected by different milkability parameters. Regression models for teat canal change and length change were significant, and variability was found to be 46.03% and 21.50%, respectively. Similarly, the teat structure’s dimensions significantly affected milkability parameters, which differed for each structure. However, regression models only explained between 3.36% (teat length) and 7.59% (cistern) of variability. The prediction potential, performed based on milkability, is limited if the initial dimensions of structures are not provided. If teat dimensions were measured at the beginning of the production life, automatically collected milkability data could be used to calculate milking-induced changes incurred with each milking and the development of teat dimensions over the production life. If perfected, this tool could provide alerts about critical milking-induced changes and risky teat conformation traits, as they have a proven effect on udder health and are reliable indicators of milking effectiveness.

This study investigated how perceived social support (PSS) influences six key health behaviors (smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, healthy eating, regular physical activity, effective stress management, and adherence to prescribed medication) one year after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It also examined which types of PSS and which network members most effectively promote these health behavior changes. Primary data were collected in Hungary (n=151) using snowball sampling. Results showed that smoking cessation was significantly associated with spousal presence (OR=7.68, p=0.03, 95% CI [4.94–11.61]) and appraisal support (4.88 [2.21–9.33]). Alcohol reduction was linked to spousal presence (3.17 [1.78–6.03]) and informational support (6.38 [4.02–10.03]). Healthy nutrition was associated with spousal presence (6.38 [3.28–11.52]) and appraisal support (8.43 [5.04–16.30]). Regular physical activity correlated with the presence of a companion animal (6.28 [3.54–13.39]) and emotional support (4.37 [3.11–9.56]). Stress management was associated with companion animal presence (7.89 [3.23–14.52]) and emotional support (8.69 [5.38–17.29]). Medication adherence was linked to physician presence (9.32 [5.66–18.50]) and informational support (6.95 [4.29–15.07]). These findings highlighted the multifaceted role of PSS and specific social ties, particularly spouses, physicians, companion animals, and children in shaping health behavior following AMI.

Wild ungulates represent valuable bioindicators of environmental quality due to their exposure to contaminants through diet and habitat. This study assessed concentrations of selected toxic and trace elements and evaluated biochemical parameters in red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 37) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, n = 8) to determine their health status, characterize environmental conditions, and compare interspecific differences. Blood samples were analysed for elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Hg, Tl, Zn) using ICP-MS and for biochemical parameters (TP, ABL, GLO, ALT, AST, ALP, GLU, CHOL, TG, CRE, BUN, Ca, P). Cadmium and zinc concentrations were significantly higher in roe deer (p = 0.012; p = 0.018), while other elements did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Manganese showed high variability in both species. No statistically significant interspecific differences were found in biochemical parameters. Slight elevations in ALT, AST, and ALP were likely associated with capture-and handling-related stress rather than pathological conditions. The animals were kept in a game reserve and supplemented with feed during the winter months, which may contribute to a more stable nutritional status and reduced variability in biochemical profiles. Overall, the low levels of toxic elements and absence of major biochemical alterations suggest a relatively unpolluted environment.